Uttara Kanda, Sarga 33

रावणग्रहणं तत्तु वायुग्रहणसन्निभम् । ततः पुलस्त्यः शुश्राव कथितं दिवि दैवतैः ।। 7.33.1 ।।

rāvaṇagrahaṇaṃ tattu vāyugrahaṇasannibham | tataḥ pulastyaḥ śuśrāva kathitaṃ divi daivataiḥ || 7.33.1 ||

The capture of Ravana was as futile as trying to grasp the wind, and Pulastya heard the gods speaking of this in heaven.

ततः पुत्रकृतस्नेहात्कम्प्यमानो महाधृतिः । माहिष्मतीपतिं द्रष्टुमाजगाम महानृषिः ।। 7.33.2 ।।

tataḥ putrakṛtasnehātkampyamāno mahādhṛtiḥ | māhiṣmatīpatiṃ draṣṭumājagāma mahānṛṣiḥ || 7.33.2 ||

Then, trembling with affection for his son, the greatly resolute great sage Pulastya came to see the lord of Mahishmati.

स वायुमार्गमास्थाय वायुतुल्यगतिर्द्विजः । पुरीं माहिष्मतीं प्राप्तो मनःसम्पातविक्रमः ।। 7.33.3 ।।

sa vāyumārgamāsthāya vāyutulyagatirdvijaḥ | purīṃ māhiṣmatīṃ prāpto manaḥsampātavikramaḥ || 7.33.3 ||

Taking the aerial path, that brahmin, with speed like the wind and valor like the speed of thought, reached the city of Mahishmati.

सो ऽमरावतिसङ्काशां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम् । प्रविवेश पुरीं ब्रह्मा इन्द्रस्येवामरावतीम् ।। 7.33.4 ।।

so 'marāvatisaṅkāśāṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulām | praviveśa purīṃ brahmā indrasyevāmarāvatīm || 7.33.4 ||

He, Pulastya, entered that city, which resembled Amaravati and was bustling with happy and well-nourished people, just as Brahma would enter Indra's Amaravati.

पादचारमिवादित्यं निष्पतन्तं सुदुर्दशम् । ततस्ते प्रत्यभिज्ञाय अर्जुनाय निवेदयन् ।। 7.33.5 ।।

pādacāramivādityaṃ niṣpatantaṃ sudurdaśam | tataste pratyabhijñāya arjunāya nivedayan || 7.33.5 ||

Then, seeing him appear like the sun walking on foot, very difficult to behold, they recognized him and reported his arrival to Arjuna.

पुलस्त्य इति विज्ञाय वचनाद्धैहयाधिपः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय प्रत्युद्गच्छत्तपस्विनम् ।। 7.33.6 ।।

pulastya iti vijñāya vacanāddhaihayādhipaḥ | śirasyañjalimādhāya pratyudgacchattapasvinam || 7.33.6 ||

The lord of Haihayas, understanding from the words that it was Pulastya, placed his folded hands on his head in reverence and went forward to meet the ascetic.

पुरोहितो ऽस्य गृह्यार्घ्यं मधुपर्कं तथैव च । पुरस्तात्प्रययौ राज्ञः शक्रस्येव बृहस्पतिः ।। 7.33.7 ।।

purohito 'sya gṛhyārghyaṃ madhuparkaṃ tathaiva ca | purastātprayayau rājñaḥ śakrasyeva bṛhaspatiḥ || 7.33.7 ||

His priest, having taken the arghya and madhuparka, went forth in front of the king, just as Brihaspati goes before Indra.

ततस्तमृषिमायान्तमुद्यन्तमिव भास्करम् । अर्जुनो दृश्य सम्भ्रान्तो ववन्देन्द्र इवेश्वरम् ।। 7.33.8 ।।

tatastamṛṣimāyāntamudyantamiva bhāskaram | arjuno dṛśya sambhrānto vavandendra iveśvaram || 7.33.8 ||

Then, Arjuna, seeing that sage approaching like the rising sun, was filled with awe and bowed down, just as Indra bows before the supreme lord.

स तस्य मधुपर्कं गां पाद्यमर्घ्यं निवेद्य च । पुलस्त्यमाह राजेन्द्रो हर्षगद्गदया गिरा ।। 7.33.9 ।।

sa tasya madhuparkaṃ gāṃ pādyamarghyaṃ nivedya ca | pulastyamāha rājendro harṣagadgadayā girā || 7.33.9 ||

Having offered madhuparka, a cow, water for washing feet, and arghya to Pulastya, the king of kings then spoke to him with a voice choked with joy.

अद्यैवममरावत्या तुल्या माहिष्मती कृता । अद्याहं तु द्विजेन्द्र त्वां यस्मात्पश्यामि दुर्दशम् ।। 7.33.10 ।।

adyaivamamarāvatyā tulyā māhiṣmatī kṛtā | adyāhaṃ tu dvijendra tvāṃ yasmātpaśyāmi durdaśam || 7.33.10 ||

"Today, my city Mahishmati has been made equal to Amaravati, because today, O chief of brahmins, I am able to see you, who are so rarely seen."

अद्य मे कुशलं देव अद्य मे कुशलं व्रतम् । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफलं तपः । यस्माद्देवगणैर्वन्द्यौ वन्दे ऽहं चरणौ तव ।। 7.33.11 ।।

adya me kuśalaṃ deva adya me kuśalaṃ vratam | adya me saphalaṃ janma adya me saphalaṃ tapaḥ | yasmāddevagaṇairvandyau vande 'haṃ caraṇau tava || 7.33.11 ||

O revered one, today is auspicious for me, my vow is fulfilled, my life is fruitful, and my penance is successful, because I bow to your feet, which are worshipped even by the hosts of gods.

इदं राज्यमिमे पुत्रा इमे दारा इमे वयम् । ब्रह्मन्किं कुर्मि किं कार्यमाज्ञापयतु नो भवान् ।। 7.33.12 ।।

idaṃ rājyamime putrā ime dārā ime vayam | brahmankiṃ kurmi kiṃ kāryamājñāpayatu no bhavān || 7.33.12 ||

O Brahmana, this kingdom, these sons, these wives, and we ourselves are at your disposal; please command us what we should do or what task is to be performed.

तं धर्मे ऽग्निषु पुत्रेषु शिवं पृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम् । पुलस्त्योवाच राजानं हैहयानां तथा ऽर्जुनम् ।। 7.33.13 ।।

taṃ dharme 'gniṣu putreṣu śivaṃ pṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam | pulastyovāca rājānaṃ haihayānāṃ tathā 'rjunam || 7.33.13 ||

Having inquired about the welfare of that king, Kartavirya Arjuna, regarding his dharma, sacred fires, and sons, sage Pulastya then spoke to him.

नरेन्द्राम्बुजपत्राक्ष पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानन । अतुलं ते बलं येन दशग्रीवस्त्वया जितः ।। 7.33.14 ।।

narendrāmbujapatrākṣa pūrṇacandranibhānana | atulaṃ te balaṃ yena daśagrīvastvayā jitaḥ || 7.33.14 ||

O king, whose eyes are like lotus petals and whose face resembles the full moon, your strength is incomparable, by which Dashagriva (Ravana) was conquered by you.

भयाद्यस्योपतिष्ठेतां निष्पन्दौ सागरानिलौ । सो ऽयं मृधे त्वया बद्धः पौत्रो मे रणदुर्जयः ।। 7.33.15 ।।

bhayādyasyopatiṣṭhetāṃ niṣpandau sāgarānilau | so 'yaṃ mṛdhe tvayā baddhaḥ pautro me raṇadurjayaḥ || 7.33.15 ||

That grandson of mine, who is unconquerable in battle and from fear of whom the ocean and the wind stand motionless, has been bound by you in combat.

पुत्रकस्य यशः पीतं नाम विश्रावितं त्वया । मद्वाक्याद्याच्यमानो ऽद्य मुञ्च वत्सं दशाननम् ।। 7.33.16 ।।

putrakasya yaśaḥ pītaṃ nāma viśrāvitaṃ tvayā | madvākyādyācyamāno 'dya muñca vatsaṃ daśānanam || 7.33.16 ||

You have diminished my son's fame and spread your own reputation, so now, at my request, release this child Dashanana.

पुलस्त्याज्ञां प्रगृह्योचे न किञ्चन वचो ऽर्जुनः । मुमोच वै पार्थिवेन्द्रो राक्षसेन्द्रं प्रहृष्टवत् ।। 7.33.17 ।।

pulastyājñāṃ pragṛhyoce na kiñcana vaco 'rjunaḥ | mumoca vai pārthivendro rākṣasendraṃ prahṛṣṭavat || 7.33.17 ||

Having accepted Pulastya's command, Arjuna spoke not a word, and indeed, the king of kings joyfully released the lord of Rakshasas.

स तं प्रमुच्य त्रिदशारिमर्जुनः प्रपूज्य दिव्याभरणस्रगम्बरैः । अहिंसकं सख्यमुपेत्य साग्निकं प्रणम्य तं ब्रह्मसुतं गृहं ययौ ।। 7.33.18 ।।

sa taṃ pramucya tridaśārimarjunaḥ prapūjya divyābharaṇasragambaraiḥ | ahiṃsakaṃ sakhyamupetya sāgnikaṃ praṇamya taṃ brahmasutaṃ gṛhaṃ yayau || 7.33.18 ||

Having released Ravana, the enemy of the gods, Arjuna honored him with divine ornaments, garlands, and garments, then, having established a non-violent friendship witnessed by fire and bowed to Pulastya, the son of Brahma, he returned home.

पुलस्त्येनापि सन्त्यक्तो राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान् । परिष्वक्तः कृतातिथ्यो लज्जमानो विनिर्जितः ।। 7.33.19 ।।

pulastyenāpi santyakto rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān | pariṣvaktaḥ kṛtātithyo lajjamāno vinirjitaḥ || 7.33.19 ||

The mighty lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, though released by Pulastya, embraced, and offered hospitality, felt ashamed, having been defeated.

पितामहसुतश्चापि पुलस्त्यो मुनिपुङ्गवः । मोचयित्वा दशग्रीवं ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह ।। 7.33.20 ।।

pitāmahasutaścāpi pulastyo munipuṅgavaḥ | mocayitvā daśagrīvaṃ brahmalokaṃ jagāma ha || 7.33.20 ||

And also, Pulastya, the son of Brahma and the foremost among sages, having released Dashagriva, indeed went to the world of Brahma.

एवं स रावणः प्राप्तः कार्तवीर्यात्प्रधर्षणम् । पुलस्त्यवचनाच्चापि पुनर्मुक्तो महाबलः ।। 7.33.21 ।।

evaṃ sa rāvaṇaḥ prāptaḥ kārtavīryātpradharṣaṇam | pulastyavacanāccāpi punarmukto mahābalaḥ || 7.33.21 ||

Thus, the mighty Ravana, having experienced humiliation at the hands of Kartavirya, was again released due to the intervention and words of Pulastya.

एवं बलिभ्यो बलिनः सन्ति राघवनन्दन । नावज्ञा हि परे कार्या य इच्छेत् प्रियमात्मनः ।। 7.33.22 ।।

evaṃ balibhyo balinaḥ santi rāghavanandana | nāvajñā hi pare kāryā ya icchet priyamātmanaḥ || 7.33.22 ||

Thus, O delight of the Raghus, there are indeed stronger individuals than the strong, and one who desires their own welfare should never show disrespect towards others.

ततः स राजा पिशिताशनानां सहस्रबाहोरुपलभ्य मैत्रीम् । पुनर्नृपाणां कदनं चकार चचार सर्वां पृथिवीं च दर्पात् ।। 7.33.23 ।।

tataḥ sa rājā piśitāśanānāṃ sahasrabāhorupalabhya maitrīm | punarnṛpāṇāṃ kadanaṃ cakāra cacāra sarvāṃ pṛthivīṃ ca darpāt || 7.33.23 ||

Then, that king of the flesh-eaters, having obtained a truce from Sahasrabahu, again caused the slaughter of kings and roamed all over the earth with arrogance. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे त्रयस्त्रिंशः सर्गः ।। 33 ।। Thus ends the thirty-third sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.