e
must fulfil his promise to the gods by slaying the Rakshasas, and that he
would destroy them even if they fled to Patala. These Rakshasas, Agastya
says, were more powerful than Ravana, and, could only be destroyed by
Narayana, _i.e._ by Rama himself, the eternal, indestructible god. Sumali
with his family lived for along time in Patala, while Kuvera dwelt in
Lanka. In section 9 it is related that Sumali once happened to visit the
earth, when he observed Kuvera going in his chariot to see his father
Visravas. This leads him to consider how he might restore his own
fortunes. He consequently desires his daughter Kaikasi to go and woo
Visravas, who receives her graciously. She becomes the mother of the
dreadful Ravana, of the huge Kumbhakarna, of Surpanakha, and of the
righteous Vibhishana, who was the last son. These children grow up in the
forest. Kumbhakarna goes about eating rishis. Kuvera comes to visit his
father, when Kaikasi takes occasion to urge her son Ravana to strive to
become like his brother (Kuvera) in splendour. This Ravana promises to do.
He then goes to the hermitage of Gokarna with his brothers to perform
austerity. In section 10 their austere observances are described: after a
thousand years' penance Ravana throws his head into the fire. He repeats
this oblation nine times after equal intervals, and is about to do it the
tenth time, when Brahma appears, and offers a boon. Ravana asks
immortality, but is refused. He then asks that he may be indestructible by
all creatures more powerful than men; which boon is accorded by Brahma
together with the recovery of all the heads he had sacrificed and the
power of assuming any shape he pleased. Vibhishana asks as his boon that
even amid the greatest calamities he may think only of righteousness, and
that the weapon of Brahma may appear to him unlearnt, etc. The god grants
his request, and adds the gift of immortality. When Brahma is about to
offer a boon to Kumbhakarna, the gods interpose, as, they say, he had
eaten seven Apsarases and ten followers of Indra, besides rishis and men;
and beg that under the guise of a boon stupefaction may be inflicted on
him. Brahma thinks on Sarasvati, who arrives and, by Brahma's command,
enters into Kumbhakarna's mouth that she may speak for him. Under this
influence he asks that he may receive the boon of sleeping for many years,
which is granted. When however Sarasvati has left him, and he recovers his
own consciousness, he p