11 - Manifestation of Vishnu as Rama (continued):

Narada said:

1. The well-honoured sages Agastya and others went to Rāghava, who was ruling the country (and said), “You are fortunate and are victorious because you have killed Indrajit.

2. Pulastya was the son of Brahmå. Viśravas was (the son of Pulastya). Kaikasi (was his wife). (His) first (wife) was Pushpotkațā.¹ The lord of wealth (Kubera) was her son.

1. The name of the first wife of Visravas is given as Devavarņini, daughter of Bharadvája. See Ram. VII.ii.

Visravas blessed Kaikas, the daughter of Sumálin, whenshe had come to him desirous of progeny. But the progeny would be dreadful asshe had come to him at twilight, said the sage. Whenshe agaia entreated him, he blessed hor that her next son would be like himself pursuing righteous life, See Rdm. VII. ix.

3. Råvaņa was born to Kaikasi (possessing) 20 arms and 10 faces. By means of (his) penance he got a boon from Brahmå and conquered celestials.

4. Kumbhakarna was always sleeping, Vibhishaņa became deep-rooted in dharma. Their sister (was) Śūrpanakhā, Meghanåda (was born) from Råvaņa.

5. Having conquered Indra, he became Indrajit. He was stronger than Råvaņa. Desirous of welfare of the celestials, (he) was killed by you (and) Lakshmaņa".

6-7. Having told (thus) those sages Agastya and others had gone after being prostrated by (Rama). Satrughna directed by Råma as per desires of celestials, became the killer of Lavaņa at some place (known as) Mathura. Being directed by Rama, Bharata killed three crores of sons of Sailūsha withsharp arrows.

8-9. (Having killed) Sailūsha, the wicked Gandharva, a resident on the banks of the river) Sindhu and having established his sons Taksha and Pushkara in those countries, Bharata went to Raghava along with Lakshmana and remained worshipping him after having killed the wicked in the battle and protected the pious.

10. The two sons Kuša and Lava, the excellent brothers were born in the hermitage of Valmiki to Sità abandoned on account of rumour among the people; and were known from the hearing of (their) good episode.

11. After having been anointed in the kingdom and being bent on contemplation with (the attitude of) “I am brahman”, (and then) the son of Sità after having ruled for 11,000 years and after performing sacrifices went to heaven along with the citizens and (his) brother, and being attended to by the people and honoured by the celestials.

Agni said:

12. Välmīki composed the Rāmāyaṇa in elaborate (form) after hearing from Närada. One who hears this will go to heaven.

Summary of chapter 11 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

The chapter opens with the divine plan by which Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa descended into the prison of Mathurā as the eighth son of Vasudeva and Devakī, at the midnight hour of the Aṣṭamī tithi. Kaṃsa, the demonic king, had imprisoned the couple after receiving a prophecy that Devakī's eighth child would slay him. Bhagavān's luminous four-armed form appeared first to his parents before assuming the form of an infant. Vasudeva miraculously carried the child across the flooded Yamunā to Gokula, where he was exchanged with the daughter of Yaśodā and Nanda. The chapter describes Kṛṣṇa's childhood in Vṛndāvana — the killing of Pūtanā, Tṛṇāvarta, Śakaṭāsura — and the miracles that revealed his divine nature to those with eyes to see.