Uttara Kanda, Sarga 4

श्रुत्वागस्त्येरितं वाक्यं रामो विस्मयमागतः । कथमासीत्तु लङ्कायां सम्भवो रक्षसां पुरा ।। 7.4.1 ।।

śrutvāgastyeritaṃ vākyaṃ rāmo vismayamāgataḥ | kathamāsīttu laṅkāyāṃ sambhavo rakṣasāṃ purā || 7.4.1 ||

Having heard the words spoken by Agastya, Rama was filled with astonishment, wondering how the Rakshasas could have originated in Lanka in ancient times.

ततः शिरः कम्पयित्वा त्रेताग्निसमविग्रहम् । तमगस्त्यं मुहुर्दृष्ट्वा स्मयमानो ऽभ्यभाषत ।। 7.4.2 ।।

tataḥ śiraḥ kampayitvā tretāgnisamavigraham | tamagastyaṃ muhurdṛṣṭvā smayamāno 'bhyabhāṣata || 7.4.2 ||

Then, shaking his head and repeatedly looking at Agastya, whose body resembled the three sacred fires, Rama smiled and spoke to him.

भगवन्पूर्वमप्येषा लङ्कासीत्पिशिताशिनाम् । श्रुत्वेदं भगवद्वाक्यं जातो मे विस्मयः परः ।। 7.4.3 ।।

bhagavanpūrvamapyeṣā laṅkāsītpiśitāśinām | śrutvedaṃ bhagavadvākyaṃ jāto me vismayaḥ paraḥ || 7.4.3 ||

O revered one, having heard your statement that this Lanka formerly belonged to the flesh-eaters, a great astonishment has arisen within me.

पुलस्त्यवंशादुद्भूता राक्षसा इति नः श्रुतम् । इदानीमन्यतश्चापि सम्भवः कीर्तितस्त्वया ।। 7.4.4 ।।

pulastyavaṃśādudbhūtā rākṣasā iti naḥ śrutam | idānīmanyataścāpi sambhavaḥ kīrtitastvayā || 7.4.4 ||

We have heard that the Rākṣasas originated from Pulastya's lineage, but now you have also spoken of their origin from another source.

रावणात्कुम्भकर्णाच्च प्रहस्ताद्विकटादपि । रावणस्य च पुत्रेभ्यः किं नु ते बलवत्तराः ।। 7.4.5 ।।

rāvaṇātkumbhakarṇācca prahastādvikaṭādapi | rāvaṇasya ca putrebhyaḥ kiṃ nu te balavattarāḥ || 7.4.5 ||

Are these new Rākṣasas indeed more powerful than Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, Prahasta, Vikaṭa, and even Rāvaṇa's own sons?

क एषां पूर्वको ब्रह्मन्किन्नामा च बलोत्कटः । अपराधं च कं प्राप्य विष्णुना द्राविताः कथम् ।। 7.4.6 ।।

ka eṣāṃ pūrvako brahmankinnāmā ca balotkaṭaḥ | aparādhaṃ ca kaṃ prāpya viṣṇunā drāvitāḥ katham || 7.4.6 ||

O Brāhmaṇa, who was their first ancestor, what was his name, and how were these exceedingly powerful beings driven away by Viṣṇu after committing what offense?

एतद्विस्तरतः सर्वं कथयस्व ममानघ । कुतूहलमिदं मह्यं नुद भानुर्यथा तमः ।। 7.4.7 ।।

etadvistarataḥ sarvaṃ kathayasva mamānagha | kutūhalamidaṃ mahyaṃ nuda bhānuryathā tamaḥ || 7.4.7 ||

O sinless one, please narrate all of this to me in detail and dispel my great curiosity, just as the sun dispels darkness.

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा संस्कारालङ्कृतं शुभम् । ईषद्विस्मयमानस्तमगस्त्यः प्राह राघवम् ।। 7.4.8 ।।

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā saṃskārālaṅkṛtaṃ śubham | īṣadvismayamānastamagastyaḥ prāha rāghavam || 7.4.8 ||

Having heard Rāghava's auspicious words, adorned with refinement, Agastya, slightly surprised, spoke to Rāghava.

प्रजापतिः पुरा सृष्ट्वा ह्यपः सलिलसम्भवः । तासां गोपायने सत्त्वानसृजत्पद्मसम्भवः ।। 7.4.9 ।।

prajāpatiḥ purā sṛṣṭvā hyapaḥ salilasambhavaḥ | tāsāṃ gopāyane sattvānasṛjatpadmasambhavaḥ || 7.4.9 ||

In ancient times, Prajapati Brahma, who was born from water and a lotus, first created the waters and then created various beings for their protection.

ते सत्त्वाः सत्त्वकर्तारं विनीतवदुपस्थिताः । किं कुर्म इति भाषन्तः क्षुत्पिपासाभयार्दिताः ।। 7.4.10 ।।

te sattvāḥ sattvakartāraṃ vinītavadupasthitāḥ | kiṃ kurma iti bhāṣantaḥ kṣutpipāsābhayārditāḥ || 7.4.10 ||

Those beings, afflicted by hunger, thirst, and fear, humbly approached their creator and asked, "What shall we do?"

प्रजापतिस्तु तान्याह सत्वानि प्रहसन्निव । आभाष्य वाचा यत्नेन रक्षध्वमिति मानदः ।। 7.4.11 ।।

prajāpatistu tānyāha satvāni prahasanniva | ābhāṣya vācā yatnena rakṣadhvamiti mānadaḥ || 7.4.11 ||

Prajapati, the giver of honor, addressed those beings as if with a smile and instructed them with effort, "Protect!"

रक्षामेति च तत्रान्ये जक्षाम इति चापरे । भुक्षिताभुक्षितैरुक्तस्ततस्तानाह भूतकृत् ।। 7.4.12 ।।

rakṣāmeti ca tatrānye jakṣāma iti cāpare | bhukṣitābhukṣitairuktastatastānāha bhūtakṛt || 7.4.12 ||

Among those beings, some said, "We will protect," while others said, "We will eat"; then, having heard these responses from the hungry and the non-hungry, the creator of beings spoke to them.

रक्षामेति च यैरुक्तं राक्षसास्ते भवन्तु वः । जक्षाम इति यैरुक्तं यक्षा एव भवन्तु वः ।। 7.4.13 ।।

rakṣāmeti ca yairuktaṃ rākṣasāste bhavantu vaḥ | jakṣāma iti yairuktaṃ yakṣā eva bhavantu vaḥ || 7.4.13 ||

To those who said, "We will protect," he declared, "You shall be Rakshasas," and to those who said, "We will eat," he declared, "You shall indeed be Yakshas."

तत्र हेतिः प्रहेतिश्च भ्रातरौ राक्षसाधिपौ । मधुकैटभसङ्काशौ बभूवतुररिन्दमौ ।। 7.4.14 ।।

tatra hetiḥ prahetiśca bhrātarau rākṣasādhipau | madhukaiṭabhasaṅkāśau babhūvaturarindamau || 7.4.14 ||

There existed two demon lords, Heti and Praheti, who were brothers, vanquishers of foes, and resembled Madhu and Kaiṭabha.

प्रहेतिर्धार्मिकस्तत्र तपोवनगतस्तदा । हेतिर्दारक्रियार्थे तु परं यत्नमथाकरोत् ।। 7.4.15 ।।

prahetirdhārmikastatra tapovanagatastadā | hetirdārakriyārthe tu paraṃ yatnamathākarot || 7.4.15 ||

At that time, Praheti, being righteous, went to a hermitage, while Heti made a great effort to find a wife.

स कालभगिनीं कन्यां भयां नाम भयावहाम् । उदावहदमेयात्मा स्वयमेव महामतिः ।। 7.4.16 ।।

sa kālabhaginīṃ kanyāṃ bhayāṃ nāma bhayāvahām | udāvahadameyātmā svayameva mahāmatiḥ || 7.4.16 ||

That great-minded Heti, of immeasurable spirit, himself married a terrifying maiden named Bhaya, who was the sister of Kala (Death).

स तस्यां जनयामास हेती राक्षसपुङ्गवः । पुत्रं पुत्रवतां श्रेष्ठो विद्युत्केश इति श्रुतम् ।। 7.4.17 ।।

sa tasyāṃ janayāmāsa hetī rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ | putraṃ putravatāṃ śreṣṭho vidyutkeśa iti śrutam || 7.4.17 ||

Heti, the foremost among Rākṣasas and best among those with sons, begot a son named Vidyutkeśa in her (Bhaya).

विद्युत्केशो हेतिपुत्रः स दीप्तार्कसमप्रभः । व्यवर्धत महातेजास्तोयमध्य इवाम्बुदः ।। 7.4.18 ।।

vidyutkeśo hetiputraḥ sa dīptārkasamaprabhaḥ | vyavardhata mahātejāstoyamadhya ivāmbudaḥ || 7.4.18 ||

Vidyutkeśa, Heti's son, of great splendor and brilliance like the blazing sun, grew like a cloud in the midst of water.

स यदा यौवनं भद्रमनुप्राप्तो निशाचरः । ततो दारक्रियां तस्य कर्तुं व्यवसितः पिता ।। 7.4.19 ।।

sa yadā yauvanaṃ bhadramanuprāpto niśācaraḥ | tato dārakriyāṃ tasya kartuṃ vyavasitaḥ pitā || 7.4.19 ||

When the night-wanderer (Vidhyutkesha) attained auspicious youth, his father then resolved to perform his marriage ceremony.

सन्ध्यायास्तनयां सो ऽथ सन्ध्यातुल्यां प्रभावतः । वरयामास पुत्रार्थं हेती राक्षसपुङ्गवः ।। 7.4.20 ।।

sandhyāyāstanayāṃ so 'tha sandhyātulyāṃ prabhāvataḥ | varayāmāsa putrārthaṃ hetī rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ || 7.4.20 ||

Then Heti, the chief of Rakshasas, sought Sandhya's daughter, who was equal to Sandhya in splendor, as a bride for his son.

अवश्यमेव दातव्या परस्मै सेति सन्ध्यया । चिन्तयित्वा सुता दत्ता विद्युत्केशाय राघव ।। 7.4.21 ।।

avaśyameva dātavyā parasmai seti sandhyayā | cintayitvā sutā dattā vidyutkeśāya rāghava || 7.4.21 ||

O Rama, Sandhya, having thought that her daughter must certainly be given to another, thus gave her daughter to Vidhyutkesha.

सन्ध्यायास्तनयां लब्ध्वा विद्युत्केशो निशाचरः । रमते स्म तया सार्धं पौलोम्या मघवानिव ।। 7.4.22 ।।

sandhyāyāstanayāṃ labdhvā vidyutkeśo niśācaraḥ | ramate sma tayā sārdhaṃ paulomyā maghavāniva || 7.4.22 ||

Having obtained Sandhya's daughter, the night-wanderer Vidhyutkesha enjoyed with her, just as Maghavan (Indra) enjoys with Paulomi.

केनचित्त्वथ कालेन राम सालकटङ्कटा । विद्युत्केशाद्गर्भमाप घनराजिरिवार्णवात् ।। 7.4.23 ।।

kenacittvatha kālena rāma sālakaṭaṅkaṭā | vidyutkeśādgarbhamāpa ghanarājirivārṇavāt || 7.4.23 ||

O Rama, after some time, Salakatankata conceived from Vidhyutkesha, just as a line of clouds obtains moisture from the ocean.

ततः सा राक्षसी गर्भं घनगर्भसमप्रभम् । प्रसूता मन्दरं गत्वा गङ्गा गर्भमिवाग्निजम् ।। 7.4.24 ।।

tataḥ sā rākṣasī garbhaṃ ghanagarbhasamaprabham | prasūtā mandaraṃ gatvā gaṅgā garbhamivāgnijam || 7.4.24 ||

Then, that female demon, having gone to the Mandara mountain, gave birth to an offspring shining like a thundercloud, just as Ganga gave birth to the fire-born embryo (Kartikeya).

समुत्सृज्य तु सा गर्भं विद्युत्केशरतार्थिनी । रेमे तु सार्धं पतिना विस्मृत्य सुतमात्मजम् ।। 7.4.25 ।।

samutsṛjya tu sā garbhaṃ vidyutkeśaratārthinī | reme tu sārdhaṃ patinā vismṛtya sutamātmajam || 7.4.25 ||

Having abandoned her offspring, she, desiring union with Vidyutkesha, then enjoyed herself with her husband, completely forgetting her own son.

उत्सृष्टस्तु तदा गर्भो घनशब्दसमस्वनः । तयोत्सृष्टः स तु शिशुः शरदर्कसमद्युतिः । निधायास्ये स्वयं मुष्टिं रुरोद शनकैस्तदा ।। 7.4.26 ।।

utsṛṣṭastu tadā garbho ghanaśabdasamasvanaḥ | tayotsṛṣṭaḥ sa tu śiśuḥ śaradarkasamadyutiḥ | nidhāyāsye svayaṃ muṣṭiṃ ruroda śanakaistadā || 7.4.26 ||

The abandoned offspring, who had a roar like thunder and a luster like the autumn sun, then cried slowly, having placed his own fist in his mouth.

ततो वृषभमास्थाय पार्वत्या सहितः शिवः । वायुमार्गेण गच्छन्वै शुश्राव रुदितस्वनम् ।। 7.4.27 ।।

tato vṛṣabhamāsthāya pārvatyā sahitaḥ śivaḥ | vāyumārgeṇa gacchanvai śuśrāva ruditasvanam || 7.4.27 ||

Then Shiva, accompanied by Parvati and mounted on a bull, was traveling through the sky and heard the sound of crying.

अपश्यदुमया सार्धं रुदन्तं राक्षसात्मजम् । कारुण्यभावात्पार्वत्या भवस्त्रिपुरसूदनः ।। 7.4.28 ।।

apaśyadumayā sārdhaṃ rudantaṃ rākṣasātmajam | kāruṇyabhāvātpārvatyā bhavastripurasūdanaḥ || 7.4.28 ||

Shiva, the destroyer of Tripura, then saw the demon's son crying, accompanied by Uma, moved by Parvati's feeling of compassion.

तं राक्षसात्मजं चक्रे मातुरेव वयःसमम् । अमरं चैव तं कृत्वा महादेवो ऽक्षरो ऽव्ययः ।। 7.4.29 ।।

taṃ rākṣasātmajaṃ cakre mātureva vayaḥsamam | amaraṃ caiva taṃ kṛtvā mahādevo 'kṣaro 'vyayaḥ || 7.4.29 ||

The imperishable and immutable Lord Mahadeva made that son of the demon, Sukesha, immortal and equal in age to his mother.

पुरमाकाशगं प्रादात्पार्वत्याः प्रियकाम्यया । उमयापि वरो दत्तो राक्षसानां नृपात्मज ।। 7.4.30 ।।

puramākāśagaṃ prādātpārvatyāḥ priyakāmyayā | umayāpi varo datto rākṣasānāṃ nṛpātmaja || 7.4.30 ||

To please Parvati, Shiva gave him a city that could move in the sky, and O son of the king, Uma also granted a boon to the demons.

सद्योपलब्धिर्गर्भस्य प्रसूतिः सद्य एव च । सद्य एव वयःप्राप्तिर्मातुरेव वयस्समम् ।। 7.4.31 ।।

sadyopalabdhirgarbhasya prasūtiḥ sadya eva ca | sadya eva vayaḥprāptirmātureva vayassamam || 7.4.31 ||

The boon granted by Uma was that conception would be immediate, birth would be immediate, and the child would immediately attain an age equal to that of its mother.

ततः सुकेशो वरदानगर्वितः श्रियं प्रभोः प्राप्य हरस्य पार्श्वतः । चचार सर्वत्र महान्महामतिः खगं पुरं प्राप्य पुरन्दरो यथा ।। 7.4.32 ।।

tataḥ sukeśo varadānagarvitaḥ śriyaṃ prabhoḥ prāpya harasya pārśvataḥ | cacāra sarvatra mahānmahāmatiḥ khagaṃ puraṃ prāpya purandaro yathā || 7.4.32 ||

Then, Sukesha, proud of the boon and having obtained glory from the presence of Lord Shiva, roamed everywhere, great and of great intellect, just as Indra does after obtaining his celestial city. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः ।। 4 ।। Thus ends the fourth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.