Uttara Kanda, Sarga 10

अथाब्रवीन्मुनिं रामः कथं ते भ्रातरो वने । कीदृशं तु तदा ब्रह्मंस्तपस्तेपुर्महाबलाः ।। 7.10.1 ।।

athābravīnmuniṃ rāmaḥ kathaṃ te bhrātaro vane | kīdṛśaṃ tu tadā brahmaṃstapastepurmahābalāḥ || 7.10.1 ||

Then Rama asked the sage, "O Brahmana, how did your mighty brothers perform penance in the forest, and what kind of penance was it?"

अगस्त्यस्त्वब्रवीत्तत्र रामं सुप्रीतमानसम् । तांस्तान्धर्मविधींस्तत्र भ्रातरस्ते समाविशन् ।। 7.10.2 ।।

agastyastvabravīttatra rāmaṃ suprītamānasam | tāṃstāndharmavidhīṃstatra bhrātaraste samāviśan || 7.10.2 ||

Agastya, with a very pleased mind, then spoke to Rama there, explaining that his brothers had undertaken various religious observances in that place.

कुम्भकर्णस्ततो यत्तो नित्यं धर्मपथे स्थितः । तताप ग्रीष्मकाले तु पञ्चाग्नीन्परितः स्थितः ।। 7.10.3 ।।

kumbhakarṇastato yatto nityaṃ dharmapathe sthitaḥ | tatāpa grīṣmakāle tu pañcāgnīnparitaḥ sthitaḥ || 7.10.3 ||

Then, Kumbhakarna, always diligent and situated on the path of righteousness, performed penance by standing amidst five fires during the summer season.

मेघाम्बुसिक्तो वर्षासु वीरासनमसेवत । नित्यं च शिशिरे काले जलमध्यप्रतिश्रयः ।। 7.10.4 ।।

meghāmbusikto varṣāsu vīrāsanamasevata | nityaṃ ca śiśire kāle jalamadhyapratiśrayaḥ || 7.10.4 ||

In the rainy season, he practiced the Vīrāsana posture, drenched by rainwater, and always took refuge in the middle of water during the cold season.

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि दश तस्यातिचक्रमुः । धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य सत्पथे निष्ठितस्य च ।। 7.10.5 ।।

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi daśa tasyāticakramuḥ | dharme prayatamānasya satpathe niṣṭhitasya ca || 7.10.5 ||

Thus, ten thousand years passed for him, who was striving in righteousness and firmly established on the path of truth.

विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा नित्यं धर्मपरः शुचिः । पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि पादेनैकेन तस्थिवान् ।। 7.10.6 ।।

vibhīṣaṇastu dharmātmā nityaṃ dharmaparaḥ śuciḥ | pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi pādenaikena tasthivān || 7.10.6 ||

But Vibhishana, righteous-souled, always devoted to righteousness, and pure, stood on one foot for five thousand years.

समाप्ते नियमे तस्य ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । पपात पुष्पवर्षं च क्षुभिताश्चापि देवताः ।। 7.10.7 ।।

samāpte niyame tasya nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ | papāta puṣpavarṣaṃ ca kṣubhitāścāpi devatāḥ || 7.10.7 ||

When his austerity was completed, the hosts of apsaras danced, a rain of flowers fell, and the gods too were stirred with joy.

पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि सूर्यं चैवान्ववर्तत । तस्थौ चोर्ध्वशिरोबाहुः स्वाध्यायधृतमानसः ।। 7.10.8 ।।

pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi sūryaṃ caivānvavartata | tasthau cordhvaśirobāhuḥ svādhyāyadhṛtamānasaḥ || 7.10.8 ||

For five thousand years, he worshipped the sun, and he stood with his head and arms raised, his mind fixed on self-study.

एवं विभीषणस्यापि स्वर्गस्थस्येव नन्दने । दशवर्षसहस्राणि गतानि नियतात्मनः ।। 7.10.9 ।।

evaṃ vibhīṣaṇasyāpi svargasthasyeva nandane | daśavarṣasahasrāṇi gatāni niyatātmanaḥ || 7.10.9 ||

In this manner, ten thousand years passed for the self-controlled Vibhishana, as if he were residing in the Nandana garden of heaven.

दशवर्षसहस्रं तु निराहारो दशाननः । पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु शिरश्चाग्नौ जुहाव सः ।। 7.10.10 ।।

daśavarṣasahasraṃ tu nirāhāro daśānanaḥ | pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu śiraścāgnau juhāva saḥ || 7.10.10 ||

Dashanana (Ravana) fasted for ten thousand years, and upon the completion of each thousand years, he offered one of his heads into the fire as an oblation.

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि नव तस्यातिचक्रमुः । शिरांसि नव चाप्यस्य प्रविष्टानि हुताशनम् ।। 7.10.11 ।।

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi nava tasyāticakramuḥ | śirāṃsi nava cāpyasya praviṣṭāni hutāśanam || 7.10.11 ||

In this manner, nine thousand years passed for him, and nine of his heads were offered into the fire.

अथ वर्षसहस्रे तु दशमे दशमं शिरः । छेत्तुकामे दशग्रीवे प्राप्तस्तत्र पितामहः ।। 7.10.12 ।।

atha varṣasahasre tu daśame daśamaṃ śiraḥ | chettukāme daśagrīve prāptastatra pitāmahaḥ || 7.10.12 ||

Then, in the tenth thousand-year period, as Dashagriva (Ravana) was about to cut off his tenth head, Lord Brahma arrived there.

पितामहस्तु सुप्रीतः सार्धं देवैरुपस्थितः । तव तावद्दशग्रीव प्रीतो ऽस्मीत्यभ्यभाषत ।। 7.10.13 ।।

pitāmahastu suprītaḥ sārdhaṃ devairupasthitaḥ | tava tāvaddaśagrīva prīto 'smītyabhyabhāṣata || 7.10.13 ||

The grandfather (Brahma), greatly pleased, appeared there with the gods and addressed Dashagriva (Ravana), saying, "O Dashagriva, I am pleased with you."

शीघ्रं वरय धर्मज्ञ वरो यस्ते ऽभिकाङ्क्षितः । कं ते कामं करोम्यद्य न वृथा ते परिश्रमः ।। 7.10.14 ।।

śīghraṃ varaya dharmajña varo yaste 'bhikāṅkṣitaḥ | kaṃ te kāmaṃ karomyadya na vṛthā te pariśramaḥ || 7.10.14 ||

Brahma tells Ravana, "O righteous one, quickly choose the boon you desire; what wish of yours shall I fulfill today, for your effort will not be in vain."

अथाब्रवीदृशग्रीवः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं हर्षगद्गदया गिरा ।। 7.10.15 ।।

athābravīdṛśagrīvaḥ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā | praṇamya śirasā devaṃ harṣagadgadayā girā || 7.10.15 ||

Then, Dashagriva, with a joyful heart, bowed his head to the god and spoke with a voice choked with happiness.

भगवन्प्राणिनां नित्यं नान्यत्र मरणाद्भयम् । नास्ति मृत्युसमः शत्रुरमरत्वमहं वृणे ।। 7.10.16 ।।

bhagavanprāṇināṃ nityaṃ nānyatra maraṇādbhayam | nāsti mṛtyusamaḥ śatruramaratvamahaṃ vṛṇe || 7.10.16 ||

Ravana addressed Brahma, stating that living beings constantly fear nothing but death, for there is no enemy equal to death, and therefore he desired immortality.

एवमुक्तस्तदा ब्रह्मा दशग्रीवमुवाच ह । नास्ति सर्वामरत्वं ते वरमन्यं वृणीष्व मे ।। 7.10.17 ।।

evamuktastadā brahmā daśagrīvamuvāca ha | nāsti sarvāmaratvaṃ te varamanyaṃ vṛṇīṣva me || 7.10.17 ||

When thus addressed, Brahma then said to Dashagriva that complete immortality was not possible for him, and he should choose another boon from him.

एवमुक्ते तदा राम ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा । दशग्रीव उवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिरथाग्रतः ।। 7.10.18 ।।

evamukte tadā rāma brahmaṇā lokakartṛṇā | daśagrīva uvācedaṃ kṛtāñjalirathāgrataḥ || 7.10.18 ||

O Rama, when Brahma, the creator of the worlds, spoke thus, Dashagriva then, with folded hands before him, said the following.

सुपर्णनागयक्षाणां दैत्यदानवरक्षसाम् । अवध्यो ऽहं प्रजाध्यक्ष देवतानां च शाश्वत ।। 7.10.19 ।।

suparṇanāgayakṣāṇāṃ daityadānavarakṣasām | avadhyo 'haṃ prajādhyakṣa devatānāṃ ca śāśvata || 7.10.19 ||

Ravana declares to Brahma that he is invulnerable to Suparnas, Nagas, Yakshas, Daityas, Danavas, Rakshasas, and gods.

नहि चिन्ता ममान्येषु प्राणिष्वमरपूजित । तृणभूता हि ते मन्ये प्राणिनो मानुषादयः ।। 7.10.20 ।।

nahi cintā mamānyeṣu prāṇiṣvamarapūjita | tṛṇabhūtā hi te manye prāṇino mānuṣādayaḥ || 7.10.20 ||

Ravana states that he has no concern for other creatures, especially humans and the like, whom he considers as insignificant as grass.

एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा दशग्रीवेण रक्षसा । उवाच वचनं देवः सह देवैः पितामहः ।। 7.10.21 ।।

evamuktastu dharmātmā daśagrīveṇa rakṣasā | uvāca vacanaṃ devaḥ saha devaiḥ pitāmahaḥ || 7.10.21 ||

Thus addressed by the Rakshasa Dashagriva, the righteous god Brahma, accompanied by other deities, spoke.

भविष्यत्येवमेतत्ते वचो राक्षसपुङ्गव । एवमुक्त्वा तु तं राम दशग्रीवं पितामहः ।। 7.10.22 ।।

bhaviṣyatyevametatte vaco rākṣasapuṅgava | evamuktvā tu taṃ rāma daśagrīvaṃ pitāmahaḥ || 7.10.22 ||

Brahma granted Ravana's wish, saying, "So shall it be, O chief of Rakshasas," and having thus spoken to Dashagriva, O Rama, the grandfather continued.

शृणु चापि वरो भूयः प्रीतस्येह शुभो मम । हुतानि यानि शीर्षाणि पूर्वमग्नौ त्वयानघ ।। 7.10.23 ।।

śṛṇu cāpi varo bhūyaḥ prītasyeha śubho mama | hutāni yāni śīrṣāṇi pūrvamagnau tvayānagha || 7.10.23 ||

Brahma further offered an auspicious boon, asking Ravana to listen, regarding the heads he had previously offered into the fire.

पुनस्तानि भविष्यन्ति तथैव तव राक्षस । वितरामीह ते सौम्य वरं चान्यं दुरासदम् ।। 7.10.24 ।।

punastāni bhaviṣyanti tathaiva tava rākṣasa | vitarāmīha te saumya varaṃ cānyaṃ durāsadam || 7.10.24 ||

O Rakshasa, those (heads) will be yours again just as before, and here I grant you, O gentle one, another formidable boon.

छन्दतस्तव रूपं च मनसा यद्यथेप्सितम् । भविष्यति न सन्देहो मद्वरात्तवराक्षस ।। 7.10.25 ।।

chandatastava rūpaṃ ca manasā yadyathepsitam | bhaviṣyati na sandeho madvarāttavarākṣasa || 7.10.25 ||

O Rakshasa, whatever form you desire in your mind will be yours according to your will, without a doubt, by virtue of my boon.

एवं पितामहोक्तस्य दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः । अग्नौ हुतानि शीर्षाणि पुनस्तान्युत्थितानि वै ।। 7.10.26 ।।

evaṃ pitāmahoktasya daśagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ | agnau hutāni śīrṣāṇi punastānyutthitāni vai || 7.10.26 ||

Thus, to Dashagriva, the Rakshasa, who was addressed by the grandfather (Brahma), those heads that had been offered into the fire indeed arose again.

एवमुक्त्वा तु तं राम दशग्रीवं पितामहः । विभीषणमथोवाच वाक्यं लोकपितामहः ।। 7.10.27 ।।

evamuktvā tu taṃ rāma daśagrīvaṃ pitāmahaḥ | vibhīṣaṇamathovāca vākyaṃ lokapitāmahaḥ || 7.10.27 ||

O Rama, having thus spoken to Dashagriva, the grandfather of the worlds (Brahma) then spoke these words to Vibhishana.

विभीषण त्वया वत्स धर्मसंहितबुद्धिना । परितुष्टो ऽस्मि धर्मात्मन्वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। 7.10.28 ।।

vibhīṣaṇa tvayā vatsa dharmasaṃhitabuddhinā | parituṣṭo 'smi dharmātmanvaraṃ varaya suvrata || 7.10.28 ||

O Vibhishana, O dear child, I am greatly pleased by you, O righteous-souled one, whose intellect is aligned with dharma; therefore, O virtuous one, choose a boon.

विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा वचनं प्राह साञ्जलिः । वृतः सर्वगुणैर्नित्यं चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिर्यथा ।। 7.10.29 ।।

vibhīṣaṇastu dharmātmā vacanaṃ prāha sāñjaliḥ | vṛtaḥ sarvaguṇairnityaṃ candramā raśmibhiryathā || 7.10.29 ||

The righteous Vibhishana, always adorned with all virtues like the moon surrounded by its rays, spoke with folded hands.

भगवन्कृतकृत्यो ऽहं यन्मे लोकगुरुः स्वयम् । प्रीतेन यदि दातव्यो वरो मे शृणु सुव्रत ।। 7.10.30 ।।

bhagavankṛtakṛtyo 'haṃ yanme lokaguruḥ svayam | prītena yadi dātavyo varo me śṛṇu suvrata || 7.10.30 ||

O Lord of good vows, I am fulfilled because the preceptor of the world himself is pleased with me; if a boon is to be granted to me, please listen.

परमापद्गतस्यापि धर्मे मम मतिर्भवेत् । अशिक्षितं च ब्रह्मास्त्रं भगवन्प्रतिभातु मे ।। 7.10.31 ।।

paramāpadgatasyāpi dharme mama matirbhavet | aśikṣitaṃ ca brahmāstraṃ bhagavanpratibhātu me || 7.10.31 ||

O Lord, may my mind always remain fixed on righteousness even in the greatest calamity, and may the Brahmastra manifest to me even without formal instruction.

या या मे जायते बुद्धिर्येषु येष्वाश्रमेषु च । सा सा भवतु धर्मिष्ठा तं तु धर्मं च पालये ।। 7.10.32 ।।

yā yā me jāyate buddhiryeṣu yeṣvāśrameṣu ca | sā sā bhavatu dharmiṣṭhā taṃ tu dharmaṃ ca pālaye || 7.10.32 ||

May whatever thoughts arise in my mind, in whichever stage of life, always be righteous, and may I always uphold that righteousness.

एष मे परमोदार वरः परमको मतः । नहि धर्माभिरक्तानां लोके किञ्चन दुर्लभम् ।। 7.10.33 ।।

eṣa me paramodāra varaḥ paramako mataḥ | nahi dharmābhiraktānāṃ loke kiñcana durlabham || 7.10.33 ||

This is considered my most noble and supreme boon, for indeed, nothing is difficult to obtain in this world for those who are devoted to righteousness.

पुनः प्रजापतिः प्रीतो विभीषणमुवाच ह । धर्मिष्ठस्त्वं यथा वत्स तथा चैतद्भविष्यति ।। 7.10.34 ।।

punaḥ prajāpatiḥ prīto vibhīṣaṇamuvāca ha | dharmiṣṭhastvaṃ yathā vatsa tathā caitadbhaviṣyati || 7.10.34 ||

Prajapati, being pleased, again said to Vibhishana, "As you are righteous, dear child, so shall this be."

यस्माद्राक्षसयोनौ ते जातस्यामित्रनाशन । नाधर्मे जायते बुद्धिरमरत्वं ददामि ते ।। 7.10.35 ।।

yasmādrākṣasayonau te jātasyāmitranāśana | nādharme jāyate buddhiramaratvaṃ dadāmi te || 7.10.35 ||

Because, O destroyer of enemies, though born in a demon lineage, your mind does not incline towards unrighteousness, I grant you immortality.

इत्युक्त्वा कुम्भकर्णाय वरं दातुमुपस्थितम् । प्रजापतिं सुराः सर्वे वाक्यं प्राञ्जलयो ऽब्रुवन् ।। 7.10.36 ।।

ityuktvā kumbhakarṇāya varaṃ dātumupasthitam | prajāpatiṃ surāḥ sarve vākyaṃ prāñjalayo 'bruvan || 7.10.36 ||

Having thus spoken, when Prajapati was about to grant a boon to Kumbhakarna, all the gods, with folded hands, spoke to him.

न तावत्कुम्भकर्णाय प्रदातव्यो वरस्त्वया । जानीषे हि यथा लोकांस्त्रासयत्येष दुर्मतिः ।। 7.10.37 ।।

na tāvatkumbhakarṇāya pradātavyo varastvayā | jānīṣe hi yathā lokāṃstrāsayatyeṣa durmatiḥ || 7.10.37 ||

"A boon should not be granted by you to Kumbhakarna at this time, for you indeed know how this evil-minded one terrorizes the worlds."

नन्दने ऽप्सरसः सप्त महेन्द्रानुचरा दश । अनेन भक्षिता ब्रह्मन्नृषयो मानुषास्तथा ।। 7.10.38 ।।

nandane 'psarasaḥ sapta mahendrānucarā daśa | anena bhakṣitā brahmannṛṣayo mānuṣāstathā || 7.10.38 ||

O Brahman, by him, seven Apsaras in Nandana, ten followers of Mahendra, as well as sages and humans, have been devoured.

अलब्धवरपूर्वेण यत्कृतं राक्षसेन तु । तदेष वरलब्धः स्याद्भक्षयेद्भुवनत्रयम् ।। 7.10.39 ।।

alabdhavarapūrveṇa yatkṛtaṃ rākṣasena tu | tadeṣa varalabdhaḥ syādbhakṣayedbhuvanatrayam || 7.10.39 ||

Whatever was done by the demon before he obtained a boon, this demon, now having obtained a boon, would indeed devour the three worlds.

वरव्याजेन मोहो ऽस्मै दीयताममितप्रभ । लोकानां स्वस्ति चैवं स्याद्भवेदस्य च सन्नतिः ।। 7.10.40 ।।

varavyājena moho 'smai dīyatāmamitaprabha | lokānāṃ svasti caivaṃ syādbhavedasya ca sannatiḥ || 7.10.40 ||

O one of immeasurable splendor, let delusion be given to him under the guise of a boon, and thus there would be welfare for the worlds and his downfall.

एवमुक्तः सुरैर्ब्रह्मा ऽचिन्तयत् पद्मसम्भवः । चिन्तिता चोपतस्थे ऽस्य पार्श्वं देवी सरस्वती ।। 7.10.41 ।।

evamuktaḥ surairbrahmā 'cintayat padmasambhavaḥ | cintitā copatasthe 'sya pārśvaṃ devī sarasvatī || 7.10.41 ||

Thus addressed by the gods, Brahma, born from a lotus, pondered, and as he thought, the goddess Saraswati approached his side.

प्राञ्जलिः सा तु पार्श्वस्था प्राह वाक्यं सरस्वती । इयमस्म्यागता देव किं कार्यं करवाण्यहम् ।। 7.10.42 ।।

prāñjaliḥ sā tu pārśvasthā prāha vākyaṃ sarasvatī | iyamasmyāgatā deva kiṃ kāryaṃ karavāṇyaham || 7.10.42 ||

Standing by his side with folded hands, Saraswati spoke these words: "Here I am, O god, arrived; what task shall I perform?"

प्रजापतिस्तुं तां प्राप्तां प्राह वाक्यं सरस्वतीम् । वाणि त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भव या देवतेप्सिता ।। 7.10.43 ।।

prajāpatistuṃ tāṃ prāptāṃ prāha vākyaṃ sarasvatīm | vāṇi tvaṃ rākṣasendrasya bhava yā devatepsitā || 7.10.43 ||

The lord of creation then spoke these words to Saraswati, who had arrived: "O Saraswati, you become the desired deity of the king of demons."

तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रविष्टा सा प्रजापतिरथाब्रवीत् । कुम्भकर्ण महाबाहो वरं वरय यो मतः ।। 7.10.44 ।।

tathetyuktvā praviṣṭā sā prajāpatirathābravīt | kumbhakarṇa mahābāho varaṃ varaya yo mataḥ || 7.10.44 ||

After Saraswati entered, Prajapati Brahma then addressed Kumbhakarna, the mighty-armed one, telling him to choose whatever boon he desired.

कुम्भकर्णस्तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वचनमब्रवीत् । स्वप्तुं वर्षाण्यनेकानि देवदेव ममेप्सितम् ।। 7.10.45 ।।

kumbhakarṇastu tadvākyaṃ śrutvā vacanamabravīt | svaptuṃ varṣāṇyanekāni devadeva mamepsitam || 7.10.45 ||

Hearing those words, Kumbhakarna then spoke, saying, "O God of gods, it is my desire to sleep for many years."

एवमस्त्विति तं चोक्त्वा प्रायाद्ब्रह्मा सुरैः समम् । देवी सरस्वती चैव राक्षसं तं जहौ पुनः ।। 7.10.46 ।।

evamastviti taṃ coktvā prāyādbrahmā suraiḥ samam | devī sarasvatī caiva rākṣasaṃ taṃ jahau punaḥ || 7.10.46 ||

Having said "So be it" to him, Brahma departed with the gods, and Goddess Saraswati then abandoned that demon.

ब्रह्मणा सह देवेषु गतेषु च नभःस्थलम् । विमुक्तो ऽसौ सरस्वत्या स्वां सञ्ज्ञां च ततो गतः ।। 7.10.47 ।।

brahmaṇā saha deveṣu gateṣu ca nabhaḥsthalam | vimukto 'sau sarasvatyā svāṃ sañjñāṃ ca tato gataḥ || 7.10.47 ||

When Brahma and the gods had ascended to the sky, Kumbhakarna, released by Saraswati, then regained his own consciousness.

कुम्भकर्णस्तु दुष्टात्मा चिन्तयामास दुःखितः । ईदृशं किमिदं वाक्यं ममाद्य वदनाच्च्युतम् ।। 7.10.48 ।।

kumbhakarṇastu duṣṭātmā cintayāmāsa duḥkhitaḥ | īdṛśaṃ kimidaṃ vākyaṃ mamādya vadanāccyutam || 7.10.48 ||

The evil-minded Kumbhakarna, now distressed, pondered, "What kind of words have I uttered from my mouth today?"

अहं व्यामोहितो देवैरिति मन्ये तदा ऽ ऽगतैः । एवं लब्धवराः सर्वे भ्रातरो दीप्ततेजसः । श्लेष्मातकवनं गत्वा तत्र ते न्यवसन्सुखम् ।। 7.10.49 ।।

ahaṃ vyāmohito devairiti manye tadā ' 'gataiḥ | evaṃ labdhavarāḥ sarve bhrātaro dīptatejasaḥ | śleṣmātakavanaṃ gatvā tatra te nyavasansukham || 7.10.49 ||

I believe I was deluded by the gods who had come then; thus, all the brothers, having obtained boons and possessing blazing splendor, went to the Shlesmataka forest and resided there happily. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे दशमः सर्गः ।। 10 ।। Thus ends the tenth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.