Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 162

. RÅVAŅA'S EXPEDITION OF CONQUEST 127 post, Daśāsya camped in the same place for the night and at dawn presided over the assembly with his retinue. A Vidyādhara, Pavanavega, wounded, came there, announced by the door-keeper, bowed, and said:
"Your Majesty, Suryarajas and Rkşarajas, sons of King Kişkindhi of Pātālalankā, went to Kişkindhā. A fight took place between them and King Yama who put life in doubt, very terrible like another Yama. After they had fought for a long time, Süryarajas and Rkşrajas were bound firmly by Yama and thrown at once into prison like thieves. He arranged dwellings in hell near Vaitaraại and made them and their followers undergo pain of cutting, piercing, et cetera. These are your hereditary servitors, Dasakandhara. Have them released. Your command is not to be transgressed. The insult is to you alone."
· Råvaņa replied: "That is so beyond a doubt. A dependent is injured because of the weakness of the protector. I shall show the result of my vassals being bound by him secretly with evil intent and being thrown into prison."
With these words he, whose strength of arm was formidable, eager for war, went with his army to the city Kişkindhă ruled by the Dikpāla Yama. Dasakandhara saw there seven hells cruel with drinking of tin, beating with rocks, cutting with axes, et cetera. Daśānana, angered, saw his own vassals being tortured and he terrified the Paramadhārmikas 108 there, like Garuda terrifying snakes. He had his own vassals released and also others in the place. For whom is the coming of the great not a means of removing trouble quickly?
The guards of the hells went at once and reported the release of the heli-dwellers to Yama, with groans and with arms raised. Red-eyed from anger, Vama left the city at once to fight, stage-manager of the play of battle, like
108 147. See I, n. 58.