War between Lord Vishnu and the Rakshasas
The three Rakshasas, Malyavan,Sumali and Mali, having obtained nice boons from Lord Brahma and having settled in a nice city called Lanka,now began tormenting the gods and sages. They all went to Lord Shiva and prayed him to protect them by killing those wicked Rakshasas. But Lord Shiva,as he had benedicted Sukesha, the father of the three demons,he said he couldn't kill them and asked the Devas and Rishis to go to Lord Vishnu with the same prayer. The gods and sages accordingly went to Lord Vishnu and prayed him with the same request. Lord Vishnu assured them fearlessness and agreed to kill the demons. At this, the gods and sages felt happy and returned to their abodes.
Now Malyavan who came to know of this, told his brothers the same, telling them that Lord Vishnu was very powerful, asked their opinion. At this, his brothers said,"O brother! We too are powerful! Lord Vishnu doesn't have any enemity with us! But it is the Devas who have provoked him to fight with us! Hence let us ourselves attack the Devas!"
Malyavan agreed to this. The three brothers then marched to the abode of Devas with a huge army of Rakshasas. At that time,a lot of I'll omens occurred, but the Rakshasas didn't care. Once they reached heaven, a messenger of gods immediately rushed to Lord Vishnu and told him of his arrival. Lord Vishnu immediately wore an armour,took his arms and left for the battle on Garuda,his giant bird vehicle. As soon as he arrived, the Rakshasas got shaken just by the wind blown by Garuda's wings! The Rakshasas then showered lots of arrows upon him! But they all entered his body just as all the worlds would enter him at the time of deluge! For a moment they made him breathless by surrounding him from all sides and attacking him! But then Lord Vishnu began showering lots of arrows upon them from his Sharnga bow and cut off the heads of many of them! Many Rakshasas got scattered away far and wide from the onslaught of his arrows which were showering like rains from the clouds! He then blew his conch Panchajanya very loudly at which the Rakshasas shook with fear! Many of them fell from their chariots! Horses stood still and elephants lost their power! The Rakshasas, unable to bear the onslaught of his arrows, the sounds of his conch and the twang of his bow, ran away in fear towards Lanka!
Now,Sumali came forward to fight with Lord Vishnu. He covered Vishnu with his arrows and roared loudly filling courage in the Rakshasas! At this Lord Vishnu shit an arrow and cut off his charioteer's head! Without the charioteer, the horses of Sumali's chariot ran helter skeler and took him far away! Then, Mali attacked Lord Vishnu with his arrows. But just as a self controlled person doesn't get disturbed by mental afflictions,Lord Vishnu, didn't get disturbed. He then shot his arrows and dropped the crown of Mali! He then cut off his chariot flag, and his bow, and killed his chariot's horses! However,Mali didn't flee from the battlefield but came rushing with a mace. He hit Garuda's head with the mace! At this,Garuda turned back with pain and thus made Vishnu turn back! The Rakshasas,seeing this,roared in happiness! Vishnu however,sat opposite on Garuda and immediately hurled his discus, Sudarshana Chakra at Mali and cut off his head!
Mali thus dead,Sumali and Malyavan became depressed and turned towards Lanka. By then,Garuda, having recovered from pain turned back and Vishnu chased the Rakshasas. Seeing this, Malyavan turned to him and said,"O Vishnu! You do not seem to know the ancient dharma of Kshatriyas! One who kills those who are running away from war shall not go to heaven! Anyway,if you want to fight,I am standing before you! Show me your prowess!"
At this,Lord Vishnu said,"O Rakshasa! I have assured fearlessness to the Devas who were tormented by you! Hence I shall kill all of you even if you flee to Patala, the nether world!"
Malyavan,very angry at this,took a spear and hurled it at the chest of Vishnu which stuck there! Vishnu plucked it from his chest and hurled it back at Malyavan. Malyavan's armour got torn by this and he too fell unconscious! He however again got up and hurled a spear with thorny sticks at Vishnu's chest and also hit him with his fist! This made Vishnu move behind by the space of a bow! At this, the Rakshasas praised Malyavan! Malyavan then hit Garuda too! Garuda,angered by this, blew off Malyavan just with the wind of his wings very far! Seeing this,Sumali, with his army rushed to Lanka! Malyavan too, who fell far away,ran to Lanka with his army in shame.
Lord Vishnu however didn't leave the Rakshasas. He further chased them to Lanka. The Rakshasas,who fought many wars with him couldn't bare him and ran away with their wives and children to Patala, the nether world leaving Lanka! They lived there under the leadership of Sumali.
Thus narrating,Sage Agastya said to Lord Rama that the Rakshasas whom he killed were called Paulastyas,who came from Sage Pulastya. Mali and others who were before Ravana were even more powerful than him! Only Lord Vishnu could kill them and he, Rama was Lord Vishnu himself.
To continue
