"Thereupon with the arrows the infantry were greatly exhausted like unto young elephants six years old, fallen in mire. Beholding Varuna's sons thus worn out and overwhelmed the highly powerful Rāvana roared in delight like unto clouds. Thereupon emitting loud cries the Rākshaha, like unto a cloud, with a downpour of diverse shafts, destroyed the offspring of Varuna. Thereupon they were all defeated and fell dead on the ground and all their followers fled away from the field of battle to their homes. Rāvana spoke unto them.—'Do ye communicate this to Varuna.' Whereto his minister Prahasta replied unto Rāvana saying—'O great king—Varuna's sons are slain and the lord of waters, whom thou art inviting for battle, hath gone to the region of Brahmā, to hear songs. While the king is away, what is the use of taking trouble, O hero? And all these heroic sons (of Varuna) have been vanquished.' Hearing these words and spreading his own name the lord of Rākshasas expressing sign of joy, issued out of Varuna's abode. And returning by the way by which he had come, the Raksha, stationed in the welkin, proceeded towards Lankā."
| [59] | Cyalā means a wife's brother, Vidyujjibha was however, the husband of his sister.—T.
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| [60] | This explanation is the commentator's.
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| [61] | Lit. the sea of milk.
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| [62] | A typical instance of the lengths which the self-denial of the Hindu sages went is furnished by the case of a certain class of ascetics, who, abstaining from every other kind of food, lived solely on the froth of milk, falling off from the udders after the calf had drunk it. This froth-drinking, in preference to drinking the milk itself was dictated by a motive of charity—viz, not to deprive the calf of her legitimate fare.—T
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| [64] | Ere this Rāvana was fighting on Pushpaka, while Varuna's sous fought on the earth.
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| [65] | By virtue of their immortal origin.
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| [66] | An arrow with a crescent-shaped head.
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SECTION XXIV.