Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c27.s2.8

c27.s2.8

The account continues. These Āgastyas were thus classed along with the great body of Rākṣasas, and they together with another group called Vaiśvāmitras or Kauśikas were reckoned Paulastya Rākṣasas.⁷ How the Vaiśvāmitras or Kauśikas came to be treated as such is not explained (but see chapter XXI, note). The Paulastyas thus comprised three groups, Pulastya’s own descendants, the Āgastyas and the Vaiśvāmitras or Kauśikas; and Kubera was king of all the Yakṣas and of the Āgastyas and Vaiśvāmitras, who were Paulastya Rākṣasas, cruel brahma-rākṣasas,¹ who studied the Veda and performed austerities and religious exercises.² There were four other groups who were reckoned Rākṣasas, three of which were active in the day time, but the Paulastyas, Agastyas, Kauśikas and Nairṛtas were active at night.³ Wise Agastya brahma-rākṣasas are said to attend on Kauberaka (Kubera?) on Hiraṇyaśṛṅga.⁴