hen supplicated the gods assembled for their share of
the sacrifice (saying), "This devout king Dasaratha, who, through the
desire of offspring, confiding in you, has performed sacred austerities,
and who has offered to you the sacrifice called Asvamedha, is about to
perform another sacrifice for the sake of obtaining sons: To him thus
desirous of offspring be pleased to grant the blessing: I supplicate you
all with joined hands. May he have four sons, renowned through the
universe." The gods replied to the sage's son supplicating with joined
hands, "Be it so: thou, O Brahman, art ever to be regarded by us, as the
king is in a peculiar manner. The lord of men by this sacrifice shall
obtain the great object of his desires." Having thus said, the gods
preceded by Indra, disappeared.

They all then having seen that (sacrifice) performed by the great sage
according to the ordinance went to Prajapati the lord of mankind, and with
joined hands addressed Brahma the giver of blessings, "O Brahma, the
Raksha Ravana by name, to whom a blessing was awarded by thee, through
pride troubleth all of us the gods, and even the great sages, who
perpetually practise sacred austerities. We, O glorious one, regarding the
promise formerly granted by thy kindness that he should be invulnerable to
the gods, the Danavas and the Yakshas have born (_sic_) all, (his
oppression); this lord of Rakshas therefore distresses the universe; and,
inflated by this promise unjustly vexes the divine sages, the Yakshas, and
Gandharvas, the Asuras, and men: where Ravana remains there the sun loses
his force, the winds through fear of him do not blow; the fire ceases to
burn; the rolling ocean, seeing him, ceases to move its waves. Visravas,
distressed by his power, has abandoned Lanka and fled. O divine one save
us from Ravana, who fills the world with noise and tumult. O giver of
desired things, be pleased to contrive a way for his destruction."

Brahma thus informed by the devas, reflecting, replied, "Oh! I have
devised the method for slaying this outrageous tyrant. Upon his
requesting, 'May I be invulnerable to the divine sages, the Gaundharvas,
the Yakshas, the Rakshasas and the serpents,' I replied 'Be it so.' This
Raksha, through contempt, said nothing respecting man; therefore this
wicked one shall be destroyed by man." The gods, preceded by Sakra,
hearing these words spoken by Brahma, were filled with joy.

At this time Vishnu the glorious, the lord o