February 21 - Sargas 7 and 8 of Uttara Kanda.
Mahavishnu drives away the rakshasas who all go and hide in Rasatala.
That is how Kubera/Vaishravana became the resident and ruler of a deserted heavenly city Lanka which then attracted back the rakshasas who felt safe under him.
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नारायणगिरिं ते तु गर्जन्तो राक्षसाम्बुदाः "The huge rakshasa army engulfed Lord Narayana (Mahavishnu) like dense clouds gather around a huge mountain."
Valmiki says that Vishnu was like the dark Anjana peak with dark clouds of rakshasas raining down their weapons on him.
All the weapons launched and directed at him, whom Valmiki now calls Hari (many epithets of Vishnu!), were simply absorbed into his body like moths consumed on entering a blaze.
निरुच्छ्वासं हरिं चक्रुः प्राणायामा इव द्विजम्
"As the rakshasa warriors fought in the skies from their various vehicles and mounts, Hari appeared to be simply holding his breath like someone doing Pranayama! "
Vishnu now took up his Sharnga bow and shot thousands of arrows that started decimating the rakshasas. It was as if a maelstrom was causing a huge cloudburst.
Now Vishnu picked up his Panchajanya and blew the conch such that it shook the three worlds.
सोऽम्बुजो हरिणा ध्मातः सर्वप्राणेन शङ्खराट् "That celestial conch, king of conches, born out of the ocean, was sounded by Hari with all the power of his Prana."
ररास त्रैलोक्यं त्रासयामास राक्षसान् "The sound of the conch resonated in the three worlds and shattered the body and spirit of the rakshasas."
The elephants, horses, and soldiers fell to the ground. The sonic boom was enough to make them want to disappear. Meanwhile, the arrows kept coming at them and tearing them down. Vishnu also launched his chakra and that decimated their army. Their chariots, flags, bows, and other weapons were systematically destroyed.
Valmiki cannot stop himself from comparing the way the rakshasas scattered from Vishnu's onslaught to the effect of an attack by a lion on elephants, by a tiger on leopards, by a cat on rats, and so on.
As his army was running away to Lanka, Sumali was provoked to attack Vishnu. Sumali's arrows covered Vishnu all over. Sumali was roaring loudly to instill confidence in rakshasas. Vishnu now coolly destroyed Sumali's chariot, horses, and the charioteer.
Mali now attacked Vishnu with arrows. Vishnu was unflappable. He responded with a rain of arrows. He also destroyed Mali's vehicle. Mali now leapt down and rushed with his gada. He struck Garuda a terrific blow on his forehead. Garuda was much pained and turned away from the battle, forcingVishnu also to swerve. Seeing this, the rakshasas raised a huge cry of celebration. Vishnu was enraged. He slid around on Garuda and launched his Sudarshana chakra at Mali. In an instant, amid a blaze of light, the chakra went and cut off Mali's head.
There was a leonine roar from the gods now. Seeing their brother dead, Sumali and Malyavan started towards Lanka.
Garuda was himself again, and by the fluttering of his wings, started to drive the rakshasas away. Vishnu's Sharnga bow, Nandaka sword, Kaumodaki Gada, Sudarshana Chakra, and Halayudha all took a severe toll on the rakshasas.
Malyavan now turned back to fight Vishnu. He taunted Vishnu for breaking the rules of war and continuing his attack on rakshasas who were withdrawing. He challenged him to a duel.
Vishnu replied,
युष्मत्तो भयभीतानां देवानां वै मयाभयम् । राक्षसोत्सादनं दत्तं तदेतदनुपाल्यते ॥
"Look Malyavan, you people terrorized the devas (gods) who sought my protection. I am merely fulfilling my promise to them that I shall eradicate all of you rakshasas."
'Even if you run away to Rasatala (netherworld), I shall not spare you."
Malyavan was enraged. He launched his Shakti at Mahavishnu's breast. It shone like lightning as it struck the dark torso of Vishnu. Valmiki says that Shakti was the weapon sanctified by Karttikeya who worshipped Vishnu शक्तिधरप्रियः. Vishnu merely pulled out that Shakti embedded in his chest and launched it back at Malyavan.
Struck now in his own chest by that Shakti, Malyavan managed to hold his own as he launched a trident with iron spikes at Vishnu. He also managed to land a blow on Vishnu with his fist and shook from Vishnu's grasp his bow. साधुसाध्विति चोदितः A loud applause from rakshasas could be heard. This emboldened Malyavan to intensify his attack and he struck Vishnu and Garuda again with his fists.
Garuda had had enough. He flapped his wings such that Malyavan was blown away.
Sumali who was watching Malyavan being blown away now scooted to Lanka with the remaining army.
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Sage Agastya narrates to Sri Rama that this kind of a battle occurred between these rakshasas and Vishnu a few times, and every time the rakshasas had to beat a retreat to Lanka. Finally, they felt it would be safer if they went and hid in Rasatala.
"Dear Sri Rama, know that Pulastya's descendents Malyavan, Sumali, Mali, and another associate Mahabhaga, were all more powerful than even Ravana. Only Mahavishnu could drive them back every time. Indeed, know that you are Lord Narayana, Mahavishnu himself, who has taken birth this time in a human form to deal with rakshasas who cause trouble."
नष्टधर्मव्यवस्थानां काले काले प्रजाकरः उत्पद्यते दस्युवधे शरणागतवत्सलः
"Whenever the Dharma among the people in your creation is attacked by evil forces, for correcting that situation and out of compassion for those surrendered to you, Oh, Lord, you come again and again."
"As Sumali lived for long with his people in Rasatala, Kubera took charge in Lanka and ruled well."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
