1128 An abstract Translation from the Pudma Pooran. [No. 131. 



force to attack them, and fought for twenty-four hours without intermis- 

 sion, when the battle was terminated by the death of Koombha-kurna, 

 who was killed by an arrow from the bow of Rama. 



On hearing the news of his brother's death, Indrajit came forth with 

 an immense army, and waged such a war as never before had been wit- 

 nessed by deotas or giants ; the arrows, mountains, trees, and all kinds 

 of missiles fell upon Rama's army as the rains descend in the season of 

 the monsoon. At last Indrajit fell by the hand of Luchmun. As soon as 

 the intelligence reached Ravana, he sallied forth with his principal minis- 

 ters and disciplined troops, and fought seven days and nights with 

 Rama, who riding on the shoulders of Hunooman, discharged quivers 

 of arrows at the giant, and cut off several of his heads and hands, 

 but they immediately grew up as before. In the mean time Rama was 

 growing faint in the exertion, from the pain of a wound from one of 

 Ravana's arrows, which had pierced through, and was sticking in his side, 

 from which blood flowed as fast as the water of the Red river. At this 

 critical period, a rut or chariot descended from heaven, sent by Indra, 

 driven by Matully, a skilful charioteer. Vebeshun at the same time inform- 

 ed Rama, that Ravana could not be slain until the cup of nectar which 

 he carried in his breast should be destroyed. On hearing this, Rama as- 

 cended the car, charged the enemy, and aimed an arrow of flaming fire, 

 called agnia-astrum, which flew like a thunderbolt, and split the breast-plate 

 of Ravana to pieces, and crushed the cup. He then aimed 101 arrows 

 to cut off the heads and hands of the giants, but again and again they 

 grew up before until all the nectar was dried up, which had been spilt over 

 his body. Then Rama discharged the arrow brumahstrum, which put an 

 end to his existence. The war being thus concluded, Vebeshun was placed 

 on the throne of Lunka. For the purification of Seta, a large fire was 

 prepared with camphor, tar, wax, sandal-wood, &c. Then Seta bathed her- 

 self in a stream, and adorning herself with ornaments and flowers, walked 

 three times round the blazing fire, and then on a signal given by Rama, 

 threw herself into the fire, which, however, was immediately transformed 

 into a man, who caught her in the palm of his hand, and presented her un- 

 injured to Rama, who having accepted her, they mounted the car Poos- 

 poca Vemanum, and with Luchmun, Soogreva, &c, returned to Ayodea- 

 nugur, (Oude,) where Rama dismissed his allies with numerous presents, 

 seated himself on the throne of his fathers, and ruled over the kingdom 

 for 10,000 years, when he departed to Vicoontum, his celestial abode. 



8th Incarnation, or Krishn Avatar. 

 MSS. Imperfect. 



