Uttara Kanda, Sarga 18

प्रविष्टायां हुताशं तु वेदवत्यां स रावणः । पुष्पकं तु समारुह्य परिचक्राम मेदिनीम् ।। 7.18.1 ।।

praviṣṭāyāṃ hutāśaṃ tu vedavatyāṃ sa rāvaṇaḥ | puṣpakaṃ tu samāruhya paricakrāma medinīm || 7.18.1 ||

After Vedavati entered the fire, Ravana ascended his Pushpaka chariot and wandered across the earth.

ततो मरुत्तं नृपतिं यजन्तं सह दैवतैः । उशीरबीजमासाद्य ददर्श स तु रावणः ।। 7.18.2 ।।

tato maruttaṃ nṛpatiṃ yajantaṃ saha daivataiḥ | uśīrabījamāsādya dadarśa sa tu rāvaṇaḥ || 7.18.2 ||

Then, having arrived at Ushirabija, Ravana saw King Marutta performing a sacrifice with the deities.

संवर्तो नाम ब्रह्मर्षिः साक्षाद्भ्राता बृहस्पतेः । याजयामास धर्मज्ञः सर्वैर्देवगणैर्वृतः ।। 7.18.3 ।।

saṃvarto nāma brahmarṣiḥ sākṣādbhrātā bṛhaspateḥ | yājayāmāsa dharmajñaḥ sarvairdevagaṇairvṛtaḥ || 7.18.3 ||

The righteous Brahmarshi named Samvarta, who was the direct brother of Brihaspati, officiated the sacrifice, surrounded by all the hosts of gods.

दृष्ट्वा देवास्तु तद्रक्षो वरदानेन दुर्जयम् । तिर्यग्योनिं समाविष्टास्तस्य दर्शनभीरवः ।। 7.18.4 ।।

dṛṣṭvā devāstu tadrakṣo varadānena durjayam | tiryagyoniṃ samāviṣṭāstasya darśanabhīravaḥ || 7.18.4 ||

The gods, fearful of the sight of that demon who was unconquerable due to a boon, assumed animal forms.

इन्द्रो मयूरः संवृत्तो धर्मराजस्तु वायसः । कृकलासो धनाध्यक्षो हंसश्च वरुणो ऽभवत् ।। 7.18.5 ।।

indro mayūraḥ saṃvṛtto dharmarājastu vāyasaḥ | kṛkalāso dhanādhyakṣo haṃsaśca varuṇo 'bhavat || 7.18.5 ||

Indra transformed into a peacock, Yama into a crow, Kubera into a chameleon, and Varuna into a swan.

अन्येष्वपि गतेष्वेवं देवेष्वरिनिषूदन । रावणः प्राविशद्यज्ञं सारमेय इवाशुचिः ।। 7.18.6 ।।

anyeṣvapi gateṣvevaṃ deveṣvariniṣūdana | rāvaṇaḥ prāviśadyajñaṃ sārameya ivāśuciḥ || 7.18.6 ||

O destroyer of enemies, while other gods had also transformed and departed, Ravana entered the sacrifice like an impure dog.

तं च राजानमासाद्य रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । प्राह युद्धं प्रयच्छेति निर्जितो ऽस्मीति वा वद ।। 7.18.7 ।।

taṃ ca rājānamāsādya rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | prāha yuddhaṃ prayaccheti nirjito 'smīti vā vada || 7.18.7 ||

And having approached that king, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, said, "Either give me battle, or declare that I am conquered."

ततो मरुत्तो नृपतिः को भवानित्युवाच तम् । अपहासं ततो मुक्त्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। 7.18.8 ।।

tato marutto nṛpatiḥ ko bhavānityuvāca tam | apahāsaṃ tato muktvā rāvaṇo vākyamabravīt || 7.18.8 ||

Then King Marutta asked him, "Who are you?", whereupon Ravana, letting out a scornful laugh, spoke these words.

अकुतूहलभावेन प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव पार्थिव । धनदस्यानुजं यो मां नावगच्छसि रावणम् ।। 7.18.9 ।।

akutūhalabhāvena prīto 'smi tava pārthiva | dhanadasyānujaṃ yo māṃ nāvagacchasi rāvaṇam || 7.18.9 ||

Ravana said, "O king, I am pleased by your lack of curiosity, as you do not recognize me, Ravana, the younger brother of Kubera."

त्रिषु लोकेषु को ऽन्यो ऽस्ति यो न जानाति मे बलम् । भ्रातरं येन निर्जित्य विमानमिदमाहृतम् । ततो मरुत्तः स नृपस्तं रावणमथाब्रवीत् ।। 7.18.10 ।।

triṣu lokeṣu ko 'nyo 'sti yo na jānāti me balam | bhrātaraṃ yena nirjitya vimānamidamāhṛtam | tato maruttaḥ sa nṛpastaṃ rāvaṇamathābravīt || 7.18.10 ||

Ravana boasts, "Who in the three worlds does not know my strength, by which I conquered my brother and brought this aerial chariot?"; then King Marutta spoke to Ravana.

धन्यः खलु भवान्येन ज्येष्ठो भ्राता रणे जितः । न त्वया सदृशः श्लाध्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ।। 7.18.11 ।।

dhanyaḥ khalu bhavānyena jyeṣṭho bhrātā raṇe jitaḥ | na tvayā sadṛśaḥ ślādhyastriṣu lokeṣu vidyate || 7.18.11 ||

Marutta sarcastically remarks, "Indeed, you are blessed, by whom the elder brother was conquered in battle; there is no one praiseworthy like you in the three worlds."

नाधर्मसहितं श्लाध्यं तल्लोकं प्रतिसंहितम् । कर्म दौरात्म्यकं कृत्वा श्लाघ्यसे भ्रातृनिर्जयात् ।। 7.18.12 ।।

nādharmasahitaṃ ślādhyaṃ tallokaṃ pratisaṃhitam | karma daurātmyakaṃ kṛtvā ślāghyase bhrātṛnirjayāt || 7.18.12 ||

Marutta continues, "An act associated with unrighteousness is not praiseworthy among people; having performed such a wicked deed, you boast about conquering your brother."

क त्वं प्राक्केवलं धर्मं चरित्वा लब्धवान्वरम् । श्रूतपूर्वं हि न मया भाषसे यादृशं स्वयम् ।। 7.18.13 ।।

ka tvaṃ prākkevalaṃ dharmaṃ caritvā labdhavānvaram | śrūtapūrvaṃ hi na mayā bhāṣase yādṛśaṃ svayam || 7.18.13 ||

Marutta questions, "How did you, who formerly practiced only righteousness, obtain a boon? Indeed, I have never heard you speak such words as you now utter."

तिष्ठेदानीं न मे जीवन्प्रतियास्यसि दुर्मते । अद्य त्वां निशितैर्बाणैः प्रेषयामि यमक्षयम् ।। 7.18.14 ।।

tiṣṭhedānīṃ na me jīvanpratiyāsyasi durmate | adya tvāṃ niśitairbāṇaiḥ preṣayāmi yamakṣayam || 7.18.14 ||

Marutta declares, "Stop now, O evil-minded one, you will not return alive from me; today I will send you to Yama's abode with sharp arrows."

ततः शरासनं गृह्य सायकांश्च नराधिपः । रणाय निर्ययौ क्रुद्धः संवर्तो मार्गमावृणोत् ।। 7.18.15 ।।

tataḥ śarāsanaṃ gṛhya sāyakāṃśca narādhipaḥ | raṇāya niryayau kruddhaḥ saṃvarto mārgamāvṛṇot || 7.18.15 ||

Then, the enraged King Marutta, having taken his bow and arrows, went forth for battle, but the sage Samvarta blocked his path.

सो ऽब्रवीत्स्नेहसंयुक्तं मरुत्तं तं महानृषिः । श्रोतव्यं यदि मद्वाक्यं सम्प्रहारो न ते क्षमः ।। 7.18.16 ।।

so 'bravītsnehasaṃyuktaṃ maruttaṃ taṃ mahānṛṣiḥ | śrotavyaṃ yadi madvākyaṃ samprahāro na te kṣamaḥ || 7.18.16 ||

That great sage Samvarta affectionately spoke to Marutta, saying that if his words were to be heard, then battle was not suitable for him.

माहेश्वरमिदं सत्रमसमाप्तं कुलं दहेत् ।। 7.18.17 ।।

māheśvaramidaṃ satramasamāptaṃ kulaṃ dahet || 7.18.17 ||

This sacrifice dedicated to Maheshvara, if left unfinished, would consume the whole lineage.

दीक्षितस्य कुतो युद्धं क्रोधित्वं दीक्षिते कुतः । संशयश्च जये नित्यं राक्षसश्च सुदुर्जयः ।। 7.18.18 ।।

dīkṣitasya kuto yuddhaṃ krodhitvaṃ dīkṣite kutaḥ | saṃśayaśca jaye nityaṃ rākṣasaśca sudurjayaḥ || 7.18.18 ||

For one consecrated for a sacrifice, whence comes battle, and whence comes anger; moreover, there is always doubt in victory, and the demon is very difficult to conquer.

स निवृत्तो गुरोर्वाक्यान्मरुत्तः पृथिवीपतिः । विसृज्य सशरं चापं स्वस्थो मखमुखो ऽभवत् ।। 7.18.19 ।।

sa nivṛtto gurorvākyānmaruttaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ svastho makhamukho 'bhavat || 7.18.19 ||

Following his guru's words, King Marutta turned back, abandoned his bow and arrows, and became composed and intent on his sacrifice.

ततस्तं निर्जितं मत्वा घोषयामास वै शुकः । रावणो जयतीत्युच्चैर्हर्षान्नादं विमुक्तवान् ।। 7.18.20 ।।

tatastaṃ nirjitaṃ matvā ghoṣayāmāsa vai śukaḥ | rāvaṇo jayatītyuccairharṣānnādaṃ vimuktavān || 7.18.20 ||

Then, Shuka, considering Marutta defeated, loudly proclaimed with joy, "Ravana is victorious!"

तान्भक्षयित्वा तत्रस्थान्महर्षीन्यज्ञमागतान् । वितृप्तो रुधिरैस्तेषां पुनः सम्प्रययौ महीम् ।। 7.18.21 ।।

tānbhakṣayitvā tatrasthānmaharṣīnyajñamāgatān | vitṛpto rudhiraisteṣāṃ punaḥ samprayayau mahīm || 7.18.21 ||

Having devoured those great sages who had come to the sacrifice and were there, and being fully satisfied with their blood, he again went to the earth.

रावणे तु गते देवाः सेन्द्राश्चैव दिवौकसः । ततः स्वां योनिमासाद्य तानि सत्त्वानि चाब्रुवन् ।। 7.18.22 ।।

rāvaṇe tu gate devāḥ sendrāścaiva divaukasaḥ | tataḥ svāṃ yonimāsādya tāni sattvāni cābruvan || 7.18.22 ||

When Ravana had indeed gone, the gods, along with Indra and other dwellers of heaven, then regained their own forms and spoke to those beings.

हर्षात्तदाब्रवीदिन्द्रो मयूरं नीलबर्हिणम् । प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ भुजङ्गाद्धि न ते भयम् ।। 7.18.23 ।।

harṣāttadābravīdindro mayūraṃ nīlabarhiṇam | prīto 'smi tava dharmajña bhujaṅgāddhi na te bhayam || 7.18.23 ||

Then, from joy, Indra spoke to the blue-feathered peacock, saying, "O knower of dharma, I am pleased with you, and indeed, you shall have no fear from serpents."

इदं नेत्रसहस्रं तु यत्त्वद्बर्हे भविष्यति । वर्षमाणे मयि मुदं प्राप्स्यसे प्रीतिलक्षणाम् । एवमिन्द्रो वरं प्रादान्मयूरस्य सुरेश्वरः ।। 7.18.24 ।।

idaṃ netrasahasraṃ tu yattvadbarhe bhaviṣyati | varṣamāṇe mayi mudaṃ prāpsyase prītilakṣaṇām | evamindro varaṃ prādānmayūrasya sureśvaraḥ || 7.18.24 ||

Indra, the lord of gods, thus granted a boon to the peacock, saying that the thousand eyes would appear on its tail-feathers, and it would experience joy, a sign of pleasure, when he (Indra) rained.

नीलाः किल पुरा बर्हा मयूराणां नराधिप । सुराधिपाद्वरं प्राप्य गताः सर्वे ऽपि बर्हिणः ।। 7.18.25 ।।

nīlāḥ kila purā barhā mayūrāṇāṃ narādhipa | surādhipādvaraṃ prāpya gatāḥ sarve 'pi barhiṇaḥ || 7.18.25 ||

O king of men, it is said that formerly the feathers of peacocks were blue, and having obtained a boon from the lord of gods, all peacocks became (as they are now, with the characteristic 'eyes' on their feathers).

धर्मराजो ऽब्रवीद्राम प्राग्वंशे वायसं स्थितम् । पक्षिंस्तवास्मि सुप्रीतः प्रीतस्य वचनं शृणु ।। 7.18.26 ।।

dharmarājo 'bravīdrāma prāgvaṃśe vāyasaṃ sthitam | pakṣiṃstavāsmi suprītaḥ prītasya vacanaṃ śṛṇu || 7.18.26 ||

Dharmaraja (Yama) addressed the crow, who was formerly Rama, situated in the eastern part of the house, saying, "O bird, I am very pleased with you; listen to the words of one who is pleased."

यथान्ये विविधै रोगै; पीड्यन्ते प्राणिनो मया । ते न ते प्रभविष्यन्ति मयि प्रीते न संशयः ।। 7.18.27 ।।

yathānye vividhai rogai; pīḍyante prāṇino mayā | te na te prabhaviṣyanti mayi prīte na saṃśayaḥ || 7.18.27 ||

Just as other living beings are tormented by various diseases through me, those diseases will not affect you when I am pleased, of this there is no doubt.

मृत्युतस्ते भयं नास्ति वरान्मम विहङ्गम । यावत्त्वां न वधिष्यन्ति नरास्तावद्भविष्यसि ।। 7.18.28 ।।

mṛtyutaste bhayaṃ nāsti varānmama vihaṅgama | yāvattvāṃ na vadhiṣyanti narāstāvadbhaviṣyasi || 7.18.28 ||

O bird, you have no fear of death due to my boon; you will continue to exist as long as humans do not kill you.

एते मद्विषयस्था वै मानवाः क्षुद्भयार्दिताः । त्वयि भुक्ते तु तृप्तास्ते भविष्यन्ति सबान्धवाः ।। 7.18.29 ।।

ete madviṣayasthā vai mānavāḥ kṣudbhayārditāḥ | tvayi bhukte tu tṛptāste bhaviṣyanti sabāndhavāḥ || 7.18.29 ||

Indeed, these humans in my realm, afflicted by the fear of hunger, will become satisfied along with their relatives when you are eaten.

वरुणस्त्वब्रवीद्धंसं गङ्गातोयविहारिणम् । श्रूयतां प्रीतिसंयुक्तं वचः पत्ररथेश्वर ।। 7.18.30 ।।

varuṇastvabravīddhaṃsaṃ gaṅgātoyavihāriṇam | śrūyatāṃ prītisaṃyuktaṃ vacaḥ patraratheśvara || 7.18.30 ||

Then Varuna spoke to the swan, who was sporting in the waters of the Ganga, saying, "O lord of birds, listen to these words filled with affection."

वर्णो मनोहरः सौम्यश्चन्द्रमण्डलसन्निभः । भविष्यति तवोदग्रः शुद्धफेनसमप्रभः ।। 7.18.31 ।।

varṇo manoharaḥ saumyaścandramaṇḍalasannibhaḥ | bhaviṣyati tavodagraḥ śuddhaphenasamaprabhaḥ || 7.18.31 ||

Your complexion will be charming, gentle, resembling the moon's disc, excellent, and will possess the luster of pure foam.

मच्छरीरं समासाद्य कान्तो नित्यं भविष्यसि । प्राप्स्यसे चातुलां प्रीतिमेतन्मे प्रीतिलक्षणम् ।। 7.18.32 ।।

maccharīraṃ samāsādya kānto nityaṃ bhaviṣyasi | prāpsyase cātulāṃ prītimetanme prītilakṣaṇam || 7.18.32 ||

By obtaining my body, you will always be beautiful and will attain incomparable joy, for this is a sign of my favor.

हंसानां हि पुरा राम नीलवर्णः सपाण्डुरः । पक्षा नीलाग्रसंवीताः क्रोडाः शष्पाग्रनिर्मलाः ।। 7.18.33 ।।

haṃsānāṃ hi purā rāma nīlavarṇaḥ sapāṇḍuraḥ | pakṣā nīlāgrasaṃvītāḥ kroḍāḥ śaṣpāgranirmalāḥ || 7.18.33 ||

Indeed, O Rama, in the past, swans were blue-colored with a whitish tinge, their wings were covered with blue tips, and their breasts were pure like the tips of fresh grass.

अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणः कृकलासं गिरौ स्थितम् । हैरण्यं सम्प्रयच्छामि वर्णं प्रीतस्तवाप्यहम् ।। 7.18.34 ।।

athābravīdvaiśravaṇaḥ kṛkalāsaṃ girau sthitam | hairaṇyaṃ samprayacchāmi varṇaṃ prītastavāpyaham || 7.18.34 ||

Then Vaishravana, pleased, spoke to the chameleon situated on the mountain, saying, "I bestow upon you a golden color."

सद्रव्यं च शिरो नित्यं भविष्यति तवाक्षयम् । एष काञ्चनको वर्णो मत्प्रीत्या ते भविष्यति ।। 7.18.35 ।।

sadravyaṃ ca śiro nityaṃ bhaviṣyati tavākṣayam | eṣa kāñcanako varṇo matprītyā te bhaviṣyati || 7.18.35 ||

Your head will always be rich and inexhaustible, and this golden color will be yours by my favor.

एवं दत्त्वा वरांस्तेभ्यस्तस्मिन्यज्ञोत्सवे सुराः । निवृत्ताः सह राज्ञा ते पुनः स्वभवनं गताः ।। 7.18.36 ।।

evaṃ dattvā varāṃstebhyastasminyajñotsave surāḥ | nivṛttāḥ saha rājñā te punaḥ svabhavanaṃ gatāḥ || 7.18.36 ||

After granting boons to them during that sacrificial festival, the gods, along with the king, returned to their respective abodes. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टादशः सर्गः ।। 18 ।। Thus ends the eighteenth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.