Note 10 — Chapter XII

Lohajangha, after suffering this brutal outrage by the machinations of the kuṭṭiní, set out for some holy place of pilgrimage, in order to leave his life there, now that he was separated from his beloved. As he was going along in the wild country,10 with his heart burning with anger against the kuṭṭiní, and his skin with the heat of the summer, he longed for shade. Not being able to find a tree, he lighted on the body of an elephant, which had been stripped of all its flesh11 by jackals making their way into it by the hind-quarters; accordingly Lohajangha being worn out crept into this carcase, which was a mere shell, as only the skin remained, and went to sleep in it, as it was kept cool by the breeze which freely entered. Then suddenly clouds arose from all sides, and began to pour down a pelting shower of rain; that rain made the elephant’s skin contract so that no aperture was left, and immediately a copious inundation came that way, and carrying off the elephant’s hide swept it into the Ganges; so eventually the inundation bore it into the sea. And there a bird of the race of Garuḍa saw that hide, and supposing it to be carrion, took it to the other side of the sea; there it tore open the elephant’s hide with its claws, and, seeing that there was a man inside it, fled away. But Lohajangha was awaked by the bird’s pecking and scratching, and came out through the aperture made by its beak. And finding that he was on the other side of the sea, he was astonished, and looked upon the whole thing as a day-dream; then he saw there to his terror two horrible Rákshasas, and those two for their part contemplated him from a distance with feelings of fear. Remembering how they were defeated by Ráma, and seeing that Lohajangha was also a man who had crossed the sea, they were once more alarmed in their hearts. So, after they had deliberated together, one of them went off immediately and told the whole occurrence to king Vibhíshaṇa; king Vibhíshaṇa too, as he had seen the prowess of Ráma, being terrified at the arrival of a man, said to that Rákshasa; “Go, my good friend, and tell that man from me in a friendly manner, that he is to do me the favour of coming to my palace.” The Rákshasa said, “I will do so,” and timidly approached Lohajangha, and told him that request of his sovereign’s. Lohajangha for his part accepted that invitation with unruffled calm, and went to Lanká with that Rákshasa and his companion. And when he arrived in Lanká, he was astonished at beholding numerous splendid edifices of gold, and entering the king’s palace, he saw Vibhíshaṇa. The king welcomed the Bráhman who blessed him in return, and then Vibhíshaṇa said, “Bráhman, how did you manage to reach this country?” Then the cunning Lohajangha said to Vibhíshaṇa—“I am a Bráhman of the name of Lohajangha residing in Mathurá; and I, Lohajangha being afflicted at my poverty, went to the temple of the god, and remaining fasting, for a long time performed austerities in the presence of Náráyaṇa.12 Then the adorable Hari12 commanded me in a dream, saying, ‘Go thou to Vibhíshaṇa, for he is a faithful worshipper of mine, and he will give thee wealth.’ Then, I said, ‘Vibhíshaṇa is where I cannot reach him’—but the lord continued, ‘To-day shalt thou see that Vibhíshaṇa.’ So the lord spake to me, and immediately I woke up and found myself upon this side of the sea. I know no more.” When Vibhíshaṇa heard this from Lohajangha, reflecting that Lanká was a difficult place to reach, he thought to himself—“Of a truth this man possesses divine power.” And he said to that Bráhman,—“Remain here, I will give you wealth.” Then he committed him to the care of the man-slaying Rákshasas as an inviolable deposit; and sent some of his subjects to a mountain in his kingdom called Swarṇamúla, and brought from it a young bird belonging to the race of Garuḍa; and he gave it to that Lohajangha, (who had to take a long journey to Mathurá,) to ride upon, in order that he might in the meanwhile break it in. Lohajangha for his part mounted on its back, and riding about on it in Lanká, rested there for some time, being hospitably entertained by Vibhíshaṇa.