114 PAUMACARIU He XV Sandhi. Defeat of Sahasrakirana and Nala k ūbara He marched against Sahasrakirana. As Sahasrakirana was coming out from water, guards informed him of the onset of some hostile king. He took his bow and stood ready to face the army (1). He comforted his highly frightened queens by telling them to fully trust the strength of his thousand arms (2). Seeing the whole army of Demons fighting from the sky with magic wea- pons on one side and Sahasrakirana alone fighting from the earth on the other, gods denounced it as immoral. Thus shamed, the Demons came down to earth and forsook the use of magic wea- pons. Sahasrakirana fought bravely (3). Hearing that Sahasra- kirana, though single-handed had kept the whole army at bay, Rāvana went forth mounted upon his elephant and destroyed Sahasrakiraņas chariot (4). Sahasrakirana mounting on an ele- phant destroyed Ravana's armour and laughed at him as a novice in archery. Enraged thereby, Rāvana struck him with a lance and with a jump captured him (5). Rāvana brought him as a captive to his residence. Some Janghācāraņa sages informed śatakara, Sahasraki- rana's father, who was a recluse. He came to Ravana (6). asked Rāvana to release Sahasrakirana, as he was a caramdenin destined to get slvation during the current existence). Rāvana obeyed and offered Sahasrakirana his kingdom back. But the latter said: 'After enjoying such water-sports and such a fight with you, I find kingship tasteless. I prefer to strive for emancipa- tion (7). He installed his son in his place and renounced the world. As these news were communicated to Anaranya, the king of Ayodhyā, he too with his son Anantaratha renounced the world, putting the reins of the kingdom in Dasaratha's charge. Rāvana proceeded onwards and destroying the sacrifice (of King Marutta) marched towards Magadha (8). Comforting Nārada, subduing Marut and marrying his daughter he stayed there for nine years and thence went to Magadha. He married his daughter to Madhu, the King of Mathurā, to whom Camaren- dra had presented Sūlāyudha. Thence he went to Kailasa. Pay- ing obeisance to the shrines of the Jinas, Rävaņa showed to his people places where Bharata and Bahubali had attained Nirvāņa and where being pressed down by Vālin's foot. his body was con- torted (9). Hearing the news that Rāvana was nearby Nalakūbara, the governor of Durlanghya City of Surendra, on the advice of his minister, planted machines for defence and put the Asālī charm round the City, which was thus rendered impregnable. Rāvana's forces besieged the city (10). But they informed Rävana that such machines were planted that nobody moving within Yojana of their range would escape alive. Ravana was very much worried by this. Here Nalakübara's wife Uparambha fell in love with Rāvana and unable to bear separation, told her friend that only in meeting Rāvana lay the fulfilment of her youth and life (11). Her friend Vicitramälă undertook to arrange the meeting. Uparambhā told her: 'In case he shows unwillingness to accept me, tempt him with the offer of the secret of the Asali charm and promise the Sudarśana Cakra.' Vicitramālā went to Råvana and one
