Uttara Kanda, Sarga 3

अथ पुत्रः पुलस्त्यस्य विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । अचिरेणैव कालेन पितेव तपसि स्थितः ।। 7.3.1 ।।

atha putraḥ pulastyasya viśravā munipuṅgavaḥ | acireṇaiva kālena piteva tapasi sthitaḥ || 7.3.1 ||

Then, Vishrava, the son of Pulastya and foremost among sages, soon became engaged in penance just like his father.

सत्यवाञ्छीलवाञ्छान्तः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः । सर्वभोगेष्वसंसक्तो नित्यं धर्मपरायणः ।। 7.3.2 ।।

satyavāñchīlavāñchāntaḥ svādhyāyanirataḥ śuciḥ | sarvabhogeṣvasaṃsakto nityaṃ dharmaparāyaṇaḥ || 7.3.2 ||

He was truthful, virtuous, peaceful, devoted to Vedic study, pure, unattached to all worldly enjoyments, and constantly dedicated to righteousness.

ज्ञात्वा तस्य तु तद्वृत्तं भरद्वाजो महामुनिः । ददौ विश्रवसे भार्यां स्वसुतां देववर्णिनीम् ।। 7.3.3 ।।

jñātvā tasya tu tadvṛttaṃ bharadvājo mahāmuniḥ | dadau viśravase bhāryāṃ svasutāṃ devavarṇinīm || 7.3.3 ||

Understanding Vishrava's excellent character, the great sage Bharadvaja gave his own daughter, Devavarnini, as a wife to Vishrava.

प्रतिगृह्य तु धर्मेण भरद्वाजसुतां तदा । प्रजान्वेक्षिकया बुद्ध्या श्रेयो ह्यस्य विचिन्तयन् ।। 7.3.4 ।।

pratigṛhya tu dharmeṇa bharadvājasutāṃ tadā | prajānvekṣikayā buddhyā śreyo hyasya vicintayan || 7.3.4 ||

Then, Vishrava, having righteously accepted Bharadvaja's daughter, contemplated his welfare with an intellect focused on the desire for progeny.

मुदा परमया युक्तो विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । स तस्यां वीर्यसम्पन्नमपत्यं परमाद्भुतम् ।। 7.3.5 ।।

mudā paramayā yukto viśravā munipuṅgavaḥ | sa tasyāṃ vīryasampannamapatyaṃ paramādbhutam || 7.3.5 ||

The foremost sage Vishrava, filled with supreme joy, begot in her an exceedingly wonderful offspring endowed with great valor.

जनयामास धर्मज्ञः सर्वैर्ब्रह्मगुणैर्युतम् । तस्मिञ्जाते तु संहृष्टः सम्बभूव पितामहः ।। 7.3.6 ।।

janayāmāsa dharmajñaḥ sarvairbrahmaguṇairyutam | tasmiñjāte tu saṃhṛṣṭaḥ sambabhūva pitāmahaḥ || 7.3.6 ||

This knower of Dharma begot a child endowed with all divine qualities, and when he was born, the grandfather (Brahma) became greatly delighted.

दृष्ट्वा श्रेयस्करीं बुद्धिं धनाध्यक्षो भविष्यति । नाम तस्याकरोत्प्रीतः सार्धं देवर्षिभिस्तदा ।। 7.3.7 ।।

dṛṣṭvā śreyaskarīṃ buddhiṃ dhanādhyakṣo bhaviṣyati | nāma tasyākarotprītaḥ sārdhaṃ devarṣibhistadā || 7.3.7 ||

Having perceived his auspicious intention to become the lord of wealth, the pleased grandfather (Brahma), together with the divine sages, then gave him a name.

यस्माद्विश्रवसो ऽपत्यं सादृश्याद्विश्रवा इव । तस्माद्वैश्रवणो नाम भविष्यत्वेष विश्रुतः ।। 7.3.8 ।।

yasmādviśravaso 'patyaṃ sādṛśyādviśravā iva | tasmādvaiśravaṇo nāma bhaviṣyatveṣa viśrutaḥ || 7.3.8 ||

Because this offspring of Vishrava resembles Vishrava himself, he will therefore be renowned by the name Vaishravana.

स तु वैश्रवणस्तत्र तपोवनगतस्तदा । अवर्धताहुतिहुतो महातेजा यथानलः ।। 7.3.9 ।।

sa tu vaiśravaṇastatra tapovanagatastadā | avardhatāhutihuto mahātejā yathānalaḥ || 7.3.9 ||

Then, Vaishravana, having gone to the hermitage, grew there, greatly effulgent, like a fire nourished by oblations.

तस्याश्रमपदस्थस्य बुद्धिर्जज्ञे महात्मनः । चरिष्ये परमं धर्मं धर्मो हि परमा गतिः ।। 7.3.10 ।।

tasyāśramapadasthasya buddhirjajñe mahātmanaḥ | cariṣye paramaṃ dharmaṃ dharmo hi paramā gatiḥ || 7.3.10 ||

A thought arose in the mind of the great sage residing in his hermitage that he would practice supreme righteousness, for righteousness is indeed the ultimate goal.

स तु वर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्त्वा महावने । यन्त्रितो नियमैरुग्रैश्चकार सुमहत्तपः ।। 7.3.11 ।।

sa tu varṣasahasrāṇi tapastaptvā mahāvane | yantrito niyamairugraiścakāra sumahattapaḥ || 7.3.11 ||

Indeed, he performed very great penance for thousands of years in the great forest, having restrained himself with severe vows.

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रान्ते तं तं विधिमकल्पयत् । जलाशी मारुताहारो निराहारस्तथैव च ।। 7.3.12 ।।

pūrṇe varṣasahasrānte taṃ taṃ vidhimakalpayat | jalāśī mārutāhāro nirāhārastathaiva ca || 7.3.12 ||

At the completion of each thousand years, he adopted various methods of austerity, such as subsisting only on water, then only on air, and then completely without food.

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि जग्मुस्तान्येकवर्षवत् । अथ प्रीतो महातेजाः सेन्द्रैः सुरगणैः सह ।। 7.3.13 ।।

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi jagmustānyekavarṣavat | atha prīto mahātejāḥ sendraiḥ suragaṇaiḥ saha || 7.3.13 ||

Thus, those thousands of years passed as if they were a single year, and then the greatly effulgent Brahma, pleased, came with Indra and the hosts of gods.

गत्वा तस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मेदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । परितुष्टो ऽस्मि ते वत्स कर्मणानेन सुव्रत । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते वरार्हस्त्वं महामते ।। 7.3.14 ।।

gatvā tasyāśramapadaṃ brahmedaṃ vākyamabravīt | parituṣṭo 'smi te vatsa karmaṇānena suvrata | varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te varārhastvaṃ mahāmate || 7.3.14 ||

Having gone to his hermitage, Brahma spoke these words: "O child of good vows, I am greatly pleased with this deed of yours; choose a boon, may there be welfare for you, O great-minded one, for you are deserving of a boon."

अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणः पितामहमुपस्थितम् । भगवँल्लोकपालत्वमिच्छेयं वित्तरक्षणम् ।। 7.3.15 ।।

athābravīdvaiśravaṇaḥ pitāmahamupasthitam | bhagavaँllokapālatvamiccheyaṃ vittarakṣaṇam || 7.3.15 ||

Then Vaishravana, standing before his grandfather Brahma, said, "O Lord, I desire to be a guardian of the world and a protector of wealth."

अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणं परितुष्टेन चेतसा । ब्रह्मा सुरगणैः सार्धं बाढमित्येव हृष्टवत् ।। 7.3.16 ।।

athābravīdvaiśravaṇaṃ parituṣṭena cetasā | brahmā suragaṇaiḥ sārdhaṃ bāḍhamityeva hṛṣṭavat || 7.3.16 ||

Then Brahma, with a very pleased mind, joyfully spoke to Vaishravana in the presence of the hosts of gods, saying, "So be it."

अहं वै लोकपालानां चतुर्थं स्रष्टुमुद्यतः ।। 7.3.17 ।।

ahaṃ vai lokapālānāṃ caturthaṃ sraṣṭumudyataḥ || 7.3.17 ||

Brahma declared, "Indeed, I was about to create the fourth among the world-protectors."

यमेन्द्रवरुणानां च पदं यत्तव चेप्सितम् । तद्गच्छ त्वं हि धर्मज्ञ निधीशत्वमवाप्नुहि । शक्राम्बुपयमानां च चतुर्थस्त्वं भविष्यसि ।। 7.3.18 ।।

yamendravaruṇānāṃ ca padaṃ yattava cepsitam | tadgaccha tvaṃ hi dharmajña nidhīśatvamavāpnuhi | śakrāmbupayamānāṃ ca caturthastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi || 7.3.18 ||

Brahma continued, "O righteous one, attain that desired position alongside Yama, Indra, and Varuna; indeed, obtain the lordship of treasures, and you shall be the fourth among Indra, Varuna, and Yama."

एतच्च पुष्पकं नाम विमानं सूर्यसन्निभम् । प्रतिगृह्णीष्व यानार्थं त्रिदशैः समतां व्रज ।। 7.3.19 ।।

etacca puṣpakaṃ nāma vimānaṃ sūryasannibham | pratigṛhṇīṣva yānārthaṃ tridaśaiḥ samatāṃ vraja || 7.3.19 ||

"And accept this aerial chariot named Pushpaka, which resembles the sun, for your travels, and thereby attain equality with the gods."

स्वस्ति ते ऽस्तु गमिष्यामः सर्व एव यथागतम् । कृतकृत्या वयं तात दत्त्वा तव वरद्वयम् ।। 7.3.20 ।।

svasti te 'stu gamiṣyāmaḥ sarva eva yathāgatam | kṛtakṛtyā vayaṃ tāta dattvā tava varadvayam || 7.3.20 ||

Brahma declared that they had accomplished their purpose by granting two boons and would now depart as they had arrived, wishing well-being upon the recipient.

इत्युक्त्वा स गतो ब्रह्मा स्वस्थानं त्रिदशैः सह ।। 7.3.21 ।।

ityuktvā sa gato brahmā svasthānaṃ tridaśaiḥ saha || 7.3.21 ||

Having spoken thus, Brahma returned to his own abode accompanied by the gods.

गतेषु ब्रह्मपूर्वेषु देवेष्वथ नभस्थलम् । वने स पितरं प्राह प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतात्मवान् । निवासनं न मे देवो विदधे स प्रजापतिः ।। 7.3.22 ।।

gateṣu brahmapūrveṣu deveṣvatha nabhasthalam | vane sa pitaraṃ prāha prāñjaliḥ prayatātmavān | nivāsanaṃ na me devo vidadhe sa prajāpatiḥ || 7.3.22 ||

After Brahma and the other gods departed to the heavens, Ravana, with folded hands and a controlled mind, addressed his father in the forest, stating that Brahma had not provided him with a dwelling place.

भगवँल्लब्धवानस्मि वरमिष्टं पितामहात् । तं पश्य भगवन्कञ्चिन्निवासं साधु मे प्रभो ।। 7.3.23 ।।

bhagavaँllabdhavānasmi varamiṣṭaṃ pitāmahāt | taṃ paśya bhagavankañcinnivāsaṃ sādhu me prabho || 7.3.23 ||

Ravana informed his father that he had received his desired boon from Brahma and requested his father to find a suitable dwelling place for him.

न च पीडा भवेद्यत्र प्राणिनो यस्य कस्यचित् । एवमुक्तस्तु पुत्रेण विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। 7.3.24 ।।

na ca pīḍā bhavedyatra prāṇino yasya kasyacit | evamuktastu putreṇa viśravā munipuṅgavaḥ || 7.3.24 ||

Ravana further specified that the dwelling place should be one where no living being would suffer any harm, and upon hearing this request from his son, Vishrava, the foremost among sages, considered it.

वचनं प्राह धर्मज्ञः श्रूयतामिति सत्तमः । दक्षिणस्योदधेस्तीरे त्रिकूटो नाम पर्वतः ।। 7.3.25 ।।

vacanaṃ prāha dharmajñaḥ śrūyatāmiti sattamaḥ | dakṣiṇasyodadhestīre trikūṭo nāma parvataḥ || 7.3.25 ||

The righteous and excellent one spoke, saying, "Listen! On the shore of the southern ocean, there is a mountain named Trikuta."

तस्याग्रे तु विशाला सा महेन्द्रस्य पुरी यथा । लङ्का नाम पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा ।। 7.3.26 ।।

tasyāgre tu viśālā sā mahendrasya purī yathā | laṅkā nāma purī ramyā nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā || 7.3.26 ||

On the top of that mountain, there is a vast and beautiful city named Lanka, constructed by Vishwakarma, resembling the city of Mahendra (Indra).

राक्षसानां निवासार्थं यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती । तत्र त्वं वस भद्रं ते लङ्कायां नात्र संशयः ।। 7.3.27 ।।

rākṣasānāṃ nivāsārthaṃ yathendrasyāmarāvatī | tatra tvaṃ vasa bhadraṃ te laṅkāyāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ || 7.3.27 ||

That city is meant for the residence of Rakshasas, just as Amaravati is for Indra; you should dwell there in Lanka, and there is no doubt that it will bring you good fortune.

हेमप्राकारपरिघा यन्त्रशस्त्रसमावृता । रमणीया पुरी सा हि रुक्मवैडूर्यतोरणा ।। 7.3.28 ।।

hemaprākāraparighā yantraśastrasamāvṛtā | ramaṇīyā purī sā hi rukmavaiḍūryatoraṇā || 7.3.28 ||

That delightful city is indeed equipped with golden ramparts and moats, fortified with machines and weapons, and adorned with archways made of gold and lapis lazuli.

राक्षसैः सा परित्यक्ता पुरा विष्णुभयार्दितैः । शून्या रक्षोगणैः सर्वै रसातलतलं गतैः ।। 7.3.29 ।।

rākṣasaiḥ sā parityaktā purā viṣṇubhayārditaiḥ | śūnyā rakṣogaṇaiḥ sarvai rasātalatalaṃ gataiḥ || 7.3.29 ||

That city was formerly abandoned by all the hordes of Rakshasas, who, afflicted by fear of Vishnu, had gone to the nethermost regions, leaving it deserted.

शून्या सम्प्रति लङ्का सा प्रभुस्तस्या न विद्यते । स त्वं तत्र निवासाय गच्छ पुत्र यथासुखम् ।। 7.3.30 ।।

śūnyā samprati laṅkā sā prabhustasyā na vidyate | sa tvaṃ tatra nivāsāya gaccha putra yathāsukham || 7.3.30 ||

That Lanka is now empty and without a master, so you, my son, should go and reside there comfortably.

निर्दोषस्तत्र ते वासो न बाधास्तत्र कस्यचित् । एतच्छुत्वा स धर्मात्मा धर्मिष्ठं वचनं पितुः ।। 7.3.31 ।।

nirdoṣastatra te vāso na bādhāstatra kasyacit | etacchutvā sa dharmātmā dharmiṣṭhaṃ vacanaṃ pituḥ || 7.3.31 ||

Your dwelling there will be without hindrance, and there will be no obstacles from anyone; having heard this most righteous command from his father, that righteous soul (Kubera)...

निवासयामास तदा लङ्कां पर्वतमूर्धनि । नैर्ऋतानां सहस्रैस्तु हृष्टैः प्रमुदुतैः सह ।। 7.3.32 ।।

nivāsayāmāsa tadā laṅkāṃ parvatamūrdhani | nairṛtānāṃ sahasraistu hṛṣṭaiḥ pramudutaiḥ saha || 7.3.32 ||

...then settled Lanka, situated on the mountain top, with thousands of delighted and greatly joyful Rakshasas.

अचिरेणैव कालेन सम्पूर्णा तस्य शासनात् ।। 7.3.33 ।।

acireṇaiva kālena sampūrṇā tasya śāsanāt || 7.3.33 ||

In a very short time, Lanka was completely filled by his command.

स तु तत्रावसत्प्रीतो धर्मात्मा नैर्ऋतर्षभः । समुद्रपरिघायां तु लङ्कायां विश्रवात्मजः ।। 7.3.34 ।।

sa tu tatrāvasatprīto dharmātmā nairṛtarṣabhaḥ | samudraparighāyāṃ tu laṅkāyāṃ viśravātmajaḥ || 7.3.34 ||

That righteous soul, the chief of Rakshasas and son of Vishrava (Kubera), happily dwelt there in Lanka, which was surrounded by the ocean.

काले काले तु धर्मात्मा पुष्पकेण धनेश्वरः । अभ्यागच्छद्विनीतात्मा पितरं मातरं च हि ।। 7.3.35 ।।

kāle kāle tu dharmātmā puṣpakeṇa dhaneśvaraḥ | abhyāgacchadvinītātmā pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca hi || 7.3.35 ||

The righteous and humble Kubera, the lord of wealth, used to visit his father and mother from time to time in his Pushpaka chariot.

स देवगन्धर्वगणैरभिष्टुतस्तथाप्सरोनृत्यविभूषितालयः । गभस्तिभिः सूर्य इवावभासयन्पितुः समीपं प्रययौ स वित्तपः ।। 7.3.36 ।।

sa devagandharvagaṇairabhiṣṭutastathāpsaronṛtyavibhūṣitālayaḥ | gabhastibhiḥ sūrya ivāvabhāsayanpituḥ samīpaṃ prayayau sa vittapaḥ || 7.3.36 ||

Praised by hosts of gods and Gandharvas, and with his abode adorned by the dances of Apsaras, that lord of wealth, Kubera, approached his father, shining like the sun with its rays. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे तृतीयः सर्गः ।। 3 ।। Thus ends the third sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.