Uttara Kanda, Sarga 9

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य सुमाली नाम राक्षसः । रसातलान्मर्त्यलोकं सर्वं वै विचचार ह ।। 7.9.1 ।।

kasyacittvatha kālasya sumālī nāma rākṣasaḥ | rasātalānmartyalokaṃ sarvaṃ vai vicacāra ha || 7.9.1 ||

Then, after some time, a demon named Sumali wandered throughout the entire mortal world, having come from Rasatala.

नीलजीमूतसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः । कन्यां दुहितरं गृह्य विना पद्ममिव श्रियम् ।। 7.9.2 ।।

nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśastaptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ | kanyāṃ duhitaraṃ gṛhya vinā padmamiva śriyam || 7.9.2 ||

He, resembling a dark cloud and adorned with earrings of molten gold, took his daughter, who was as beautiful as Lakshmi without her lotus.

राक्षसेन्द्रः स तु तदा विचरन्वै महीतलम् । तदापश्यत्स गच्छन्तं पुष्पकेण धनेश्वरम् ।। 7.9.3 ।।

rākṣasendraḥ sa tu tadā vicaranvai mahītalam | tadāpaśyatsa gacchantaṃ puṣpakeṇa dhaneśvaram || 7.9.3 ||

While the king of demons was wandering on the surface of the earth, he then saw Kubera, the lord of wealth, traveling in the Pushpaka chariot.

गच्छन्तं पितरं द्रष्टुं पुलस्त्यतनयं विभुम् । तं दृष्ट्वा ऽमरसङ्काशं स्वच्छन्दं तपनोपमम् ।। 7.9.4 ।।

gacchantaṃ pitaraṃ draṣṭuṃ pulastyatanayaṃ vibhum | taṃ dṛṣṭvā 'marasaṅkāśaṃ svacchandaṃ tapanopamam || 7.9.4 ||

Having seen him, the powerful son of Pulastya (Kubera), who was going to see his father, resembling an immortal, moving freely, and radiant like the sun.

रसातलं प्रविष्टः सन्मर्त्यलोकात्सविस्मयः । इत्येवं चिन्तयामास राक्षसानां महामतिः ।। 7.9.5 ।।

rasātalaṃ praviṣṭaḥ sanmartyalokātsavismayaḥ | ityevaṃ cintayāmāsa rākṣasānāṃ mahāmatiḥ || 7.9.5 ||

Having returned to Rasatala from the mortal world, the great-minded Sumali, filled with wonder, began to ponder in this manner.

किं कृतं श्रेय इत्येवं वर्धेमहि कथं वयम् । अथाब्रवीत्सुतां रक्षः कैकसीं नाम नामतः ।। 7.9.6 ।।

kiṃ kṛtaṃ śreya ityevaṃ vardhemahi kathaṃ vayam | athābravītsutāṃ rakṣaḥ kaikasīṃ nāma nāmataḥ || 7.9.6 ||

The Rakshasa then spoke to his daughter, Kaikasi by name, pondering how they might prosper and what good they should do.

पुत्रि प्रदानकालो ऽयं यौवनं व्यतिवर्तते । प्रत्याख्यानाच्च भीतैस्त्वं न वरैः प्रतिगृह्यसे ।। 7.9.7 ।।

putri pradānakālo 'yaṃ yauvanaṃ vyativartate | pratyākhyānācca bhītaistvaṃ na varaiḥ pratigṛhyase || 7.9.7 ||

O daughter, this is the time for your marriage, and your youth is passing; you are not being accepted by suitors, who are afraid of rejection.

त्वत्कृते च वयं सर्वे यन्त्रिता धर्मबुद्धयः । त्वं हि सर्वगुणोपेता श्रीः साक्षादिव पुत्रिके । कन्यापितृत्वं दुःखं हि सर्वेषां मानकाङ्क्षिणाम् ।। 7.9.8 ।।

tvatkṛte ca vayaṃ sarve yantritā dharmabuddhayaḥ | tvaṃ hi sarvaguṇopetā śrīḥ sākṣādiva putrike | kanyāpitṛtvaṃ duḥkhaṃ hi sarveṣāṃ mānakāṅkṣiṇām || 7.9.8 ||

For your sake, all of us, though righteous-minded, are troubled, for you, O daughter, are indeed endowed with all virtues, like the goddess Shri herself; indeed, the fatherhood of a daughter is a sorrow for all who desire honor.

न ज्ञायते च कः कन्यां वरयेदिति कन्यके ।। 7.9.9 ।।

na jñāyate ca kaḥ kanyāṃ varayediti kanyake || 7.9.9 ||

And it is not known, O daughter, who would choose to marry such a maiden.

त्वं हि सर्वगुणोपेता श्रीः साक्षादिव पुत्रिके । मातुः कुलं पितृकुलं यत्र चैव प्रदीयते । कुलत्रयं सदा कन्या संशये स्थाप्य तिष्ठति ।। 7.9.10 ।।

tvaṃ hi sarvaguṇopetā śrīḥ sākṣādiva putrike | mātuḥ kulaṃ pitṛkulaṃ yatra caiva pradīyate | kulatrayaṃ sadā kanyā saṃśaye sthāpya tiṣṭhati || 7.9.10 ||

O daughter, you are indeed endowed with all virtues, like the goddess Shri herself; a daughter always keeps three families—her mother's, her father's, and the one to which she is given—in a state of uncertainty.

सा त्वं मुनिवरं श्रेष्ठं प्रजापतिकुलोद्भवम् । भज विश्रवसं पुत्रि पौलस्त्यं वरय स्वयम् ।। 7.9.11 ।।

sā tvaṃ munivaraṃ śreṣṭhaṃ prajāpatikulodbhavam | bhaja viśravasaṃ putri paulastyaṃ varaya svayam || 7.9.11 ||

O daughter, you yourself should choose and resort to Vishravas, the excellent and best of sages, born in the lineage of Prajapati and son of Pulastya.

ईदृशास्ते भविष्यन्ति पुत्राः पुत्रि न संशयः । तेजसा भास्करसमो यादृशो ऽयं धनेश्वरः ।। 7.9.12 ।।

īdṛśāste bhaviṣyanti putrāḥ putri na saṃśayaḥ | tejasā bhāskarasamo yādṛśo 'yaṃ dhaneśvaraḥ || 7.9.12 ||

O daughter, without a doubt, your sons will be like this lord of wealth (Kubera), equal to the sun in splendor.

सा तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कन्यका पितृगौरवात् । तत्रोपागम्य सा तस्थौ विश्रवा यत्र तप्यते ।। 7.9.13 ।।

sā tu tadvacanaṃ śrutvā kanyakā pitṛgauravāt | tatropāgamya sā tasthau viśravā yatra tapyate || 7.9.13 ||

Having heard that instruction, the maiden, out of respect for her father, approached the place where Vishravas was performing penance and stood there.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राम पुलस्त्यतनयो द्विजः । अग्निहोत्रमुपातिष्ठच्चतुर्थ इव पावकः ।। 7.9.14 ।।

etasminnantare rāma pulastyatanayo dvijaḥ | agnihotramupātiṣṭhaccaturtha iva pāvakaḥ || 7.9.14 ||

O Rama, in the meantime, the brahmin Vishravas, son of Pulastya, performed the Agnihotra ritual, appearing like a fourth sacred fire himself.

अविचिन्त्य तु तां वेलां दारुणां पितृगौरवात् । उपसृत्याग्रतस्तस्य चरणाधोमुखी स्थिता । विलिखन्ती मुहुर्भूमिमङ्गुष्ठाग्रेण भामिनी ।। 7.9.15 ।।

avicintya tu tāṃ velāṃ dāruṇāṃ pitṛgauravāt | upasṛtyāgratastasya caraṇādhomukhī sthitā | vilikhantī muhurbhūmimaṅguṣṭhāgreṇa bhāminī || 7.9.15 ||

Disregarding that dreadful time, out of respect for her father, the beautiful maiden approached and stood before him, her face bowed towards his feet, repeatedly scratching the ground with the tip of her big toe.

स तु तां वीक्ष्य सुश्रोणीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् । अब्रवीत्परमोदारो दीप्यमानां स्वतेजसा ।। 7.9.16 ।।

sa tu tāṃ vīkṣya suśroṇīṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām | abravītparamodāro dīpyamānāṃ svatejasā || 7.9.16 ||

The exceedingly noble sage, having seen her, who had beautiful hips, a face like the full moon, and was shining with her own radiance, spoke to her.

भद्रे कस्यासि दुहिता कुतो वा त्वमिहागता । किं कार्यं कस्य वा हेतोस्तत्त्वतो ब्रूहि शोभने ।। 7.9.17 ।।

bhadre kasyāsi duhitā kuto vā tvamihāgatā | kiṃ kāryaṃ kasya vā hetostattvato brūhi śobhane || 7.9.17 ||

O gentle lady, whose daughter are you, and from where have you come here; O beautiful one, tell me truly what your purpose is or for what reason you are here.

एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या कृताञ्जलिरथाब्रवीत् । आत्मप्रभावेण मुने ज्ञातुमर्हसि मे मतम् ।। 7.9.18 ।।

evamuktā tu sā kanyā kṛtāñjalirathābravīt | ātmaprabhāveṇa mune jñātumarhasi me matam || 7.9.18 ||

Thus addressed, the maiden, having folded her hands, then spoke, saying, "O sage, you are capable of knowing my intention by your own spiritual power."

किं तु मां विद्धि ब्रह्मर्षे शासनात्पितुरागताम् । कैकसी नाम नाम्नाहं शेषं त्वं ज्ञातुमर्हसि ।। 7.9.19 ।।

kiṃ tu māṃ viddhi brahmarṣe śāsanātpiturāgatām | kaikasī nāma nāmnāhaṃ śeṣaṃ tvaṃ jñātumarhasi || 7.9.19 ||

"But know me, O Brahmarshi, as one who has come by the command of my father; I am named Kaikasi by name, and you are capable of knowing the rest."

स तु गत्वा मुनिर्ध्यानं वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह । विज्ञातं ते मया भद्रे कारणं यन्मनोगतम् ।। 7.9.20 ।।

sa tu gatvā munirdhyānaṃ vākyametaduvāca ha | vijñātaṃ te mayā bhadre kāraṇaṃ yanmanogatam || 7.9.20 ||

The sage, having then entered into meditation, spoke these words: "O gentle lady, the reason that was in your mind has been known by me."

सुताभिलाषो मत्तस्ते मत्तमातङ्गगामिनि । दारुणायां तु वेलायां यस्मात्त्वं मामुपस्थिता ।। 7.9.21 ।।

sutābhilāṣo mattaste mattamātaṅgagāmini | dāruṇāyāṃ tu velāyāṃ yasmāttvaṃ māmupasthitā || 7.9.21 ||

O you who walk like an intoxicated elephant, since you have approached me at this dreadful time with a desire for a son from me.

शृणु तस्मात्सुतान्भद्रे यादृशाञ्जनयिष्यसि । दारुणान्दारुणाकारान्दारुणाभिजनप्रियान् ।। 7.9.22 ।।

śṛṇu tasmātsutānbhadre yādṛśāñjanayiṣyasi | dāruṇāndāruṇākārāndāruṇābhijanapriyān || 7.9.22 ||

Therefore, O auspicious one, listen to the kind of sons you will give birth to: they will be terrible, of dreadful appearance, and fond of cruel deeds.

प्रसविष्यसि सुश्रोणि राक्षसान्क्रूरकर्मणः । सा तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रणिपत्याब्रवीद्वचः ।। 7.9.23 ।।

prasaviṣyasi suśroṇi rākṣasānkrūrakarmaṇaḥ | sā tu tadvacanaṃ śrutvā praṇipatyābravīdvacaḥ || 7.9.23 ||

O lady with beautiful hips, you will give birth to Rakshasas who perform cruel deeds; but she, having heard his words, bowed down and spoke.

भगवन्नीदृशान्पुत्रांस्त्वत्तो ऽहं ब्रह्मवादिनः । नेच्छामि सुदुराचारान्प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। 7.9.24 ।।

bhagavannīdṛśānputrāṃstvatto 'haṃ brahmavādinaḥ | necchāmi sudurācārānprasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 7.9.24 ||

O venerable one, O speaker of Brahman, I do not desire such extremely ill-behaved sons from you; please show me your grace.

कन्यया त्वेवमुक्तस्तु विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । उवाच कैकसीं भूयः पूर्णेन्दुरिव रोहिणीम् ।। 7.9.25 ।।

kanyayā tvevamuktastu viśravā munipuṅgavaḥ | uvāca kaikasīṃ bhūyaḥ pūrṇenduriva rohiṇīm || 7.9.25 ||

But Vishrava, the foremost among sages, thus spoken to by the maiden, spoke again to Kaikasi, just as the full moon speaks to Rohini.

पश्चिमो यस्तव सुतो भविष्यति शुभानने । मम वंशानुरूपः स धर्मात्मा च भविष्यति ।। 7.9.26 ।।

paścimo yastava suto bhaviṣyati śubhānane | mama vaṃśānurūpaḥ sa dharmātmā ca bhaviṣyati || 7.9.26 ||

O fair-faced one, your last son will be worthy of my lineage and will be righteous.

एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या राम कालेन केनचित् । जनयामास बीभत्सं रक्षोरूपं सुदारुणम् ।। 7.9.27 ।।

evamuktā tu sā kanyā rāma kālena kenacit | janayāmāsa bībhatsaṃ rakṣorūpaṃ sudāruṇam || 7.9.27 ||

O Rama, that maiden, thus addressed, after some time gave birth to a repulsive and very terrible Rakshasa-shaped child.

दशग्रीवं महादंष्ट्रं नीलाञ्जनचयोपमम् । ताम्रोष्ठं विंशतिभुजं महास्यं दीप्तमूर्धजम् ।। 7.9.28 ।।

daśagrīvaṃ mahādaṃṣṭraṃ nīlāñjanacayopamam | tāmroṣṭhaṃ viṃśatibhujaṃ mahāsyaṃ dīptamūrdhajam || 7.9.28 ||

The child had ten necks, great fangs, resembled a heap of blue collyrium, possessed copper-red lips, twenty arms, a huge mouth, and blazing hair.

तस्मिञ्जाते तु तत्काले सज्वालकवलाः शिवाः । क्रव्यादाश्चापसव्यानि मण्डलानि प्रचक्रमुः ।। 7.9.29 ।।

tasmiñjāte tu tatkāle sajvālakavalāḥ śivāḥ | kravyādāścāpasavyāni maṇḍalāni pracakramuḥ || 7.9.29 ||

At the very moment of his birth, jackals with flaming mouths and other carnivorous animals moved in inauspicious anti-clockwise circles.

ववर्ष रुधिरं देवो मेघाश्च खरनिःस्वनाः । प्रबभौ न च सूर्यो वै महोल्काश्चापतन्भुवि ।। 7.9.30 ।।

vavarṣa rudhiraṃ devo meghāśca kharaniḥsvanāḥ | prababhau na ca sūryo vai maholkāścāpatanbhuvi || 7.9.30 ||

The sky rained blood, clouds roared harshly, the sun did not shine, and great meteors fell upon the earth.

चकम्पे जगती चैव ववुर्वाताः सुदारुणाः । अक्षोभ्यः क्षुभितश्चैव समुद्रः सरितां पतिः ।। 7.9.31 ।।

cakampe jagatī caiva vavurvātāḥ sudāruṇāḥ | akṣobhyaḥ kṣubhitaścaiva samudraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ || 7.9.31 ||

The earth trembled, very fierce winds blew, and even the unshakeable ocean, the lord of rivers, became agitated.

अथ नामाकरोत्तस्य पितामहसमः पिता । दशग्रीवः प्रसूतो ऽयं दशग्रीवो भविष्यति ।। 7.9.32 ।।

atha nāmākarottasya pitāmahasamaḥ pitā | daśagrīvaḥ prasūto 'yaṃ daśagrīvo bhaviṣyati || 7.9.32 ||

Then his father, who was like his grandfather (Brahma), named him Daśagrīva, declaring that this newborn would indeed be Daśagrīva (ten-necked).

तस्य त्वनन्तरं जातः कुम्भकर्णो महाबलः । प्रमाणाद्यस्य विपुलं प्रमाणं नेह विद्यते ।। 7.9.33 ।।

tasya tvanantaraṃ jātaḥ kumbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ | pramāṇādyasya vipulaṃ pramāṇaṃ neha vidyate || 7.9.33 ||

After him, the immensely powerful Kumbhakarna was born, whose vast size and measure had no equal in this world.

ततः शूर्पणखा नाम सञ्जज्ञे विकृतानना । विभीषणश्च धर्मात्मा कैकस्याः पश्चिमः सुतः ।। 7.9.34 ।।

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā nāma sañjajñe vikṛtānanā | vibhīṣaṇaśca dharmātmā kaikasyāḥ paścimaḥ sutaḥ || 7.9.34 ||

Then Shurpanakha, named for her deformed face, was born, followed by Vibhishana, the righteous-souled last son of Kaikasi.

तस्मिञ्जाते महासत्त्वे पुष्पवर्षं पपात ह ।। 7.9.35 ।।

tasmiñjāte mahāsattve puṣpavarṣaṃ papāta ha || 7.9.35 ||

Indeed, when that great being (Vibhishana) was born, a shower of flowers fell.

नभःस्थाने दुन्दुभयो देवानां प्राणदंस्तदा । वाक्यं चैवान्तरिक्षे च साधु साध्विति तत्तदा ।। 7.9.36 ।।

nabhaḥsthāne dundubhayo devānāṃ prāṇadaṃstadā | vākyaṃ caivāntarikṣe ca sādhu sādhviti tattadā || 7.9.36 ||

Then, drums of the gods sounded in the sky, and a voice from the heavens exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent!"

तौ तु तत्र महारण्ये ववृधाते महौजसौ । कुम्भकर्णदशग्रीवौ लोकोद्वेगकरौ तदा ।। 7.9.37 ।।

tau tu tatra mahāraṇye vavṛdhāte mahaujasau | kumbhakarṇadaśagrīvau lokodvegakarau tadā || 7.9.37 ||

Then, those two, Kumbhakarna and Dashagriva, grew up in that great forest, becoming exceedingly powerful and a cause of distress to the world.

कुम्भकर्णः प्रमत्तस्तु महर्षीन्धर्मवत्सलान् । त्रैलोक्यं भक्षयन्नित्यासन्तुष्टो विचचार ह ।। 7.9.38 ।।

kumbhakarṇaḥ pramattastu maharṣīndharmavatsalān | trailokyaṃ bhakṣayannityāsantuṣṭo vicacāra ha || 7.9.38 ||

Kumbhakarna, reckless and ever unsatisfied, roamed about, devouring great sages devoted to dharma and causing havoc in the three worlds.

विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा नित्यं धर्मे व्यवस्थितः । स्वाध्यायनियताहार उवास विजितेन्द्रियः ।। 7.9.39 ।।

vibhīṣaṇastu dharmātmā nityaṃ dharme vyavasthitaḥ | svādhyāyaniyatāhāra uvāsa vijitendriyaḥ || 7.9.39 ||

In contrast, Vibhishana, a righteous soul, always remained steadfast in dharma, living with self-study, a controlled diet, and mastery over his senses.

अथ वैश्रवणो देवस्तत्र कालेन केनचित् । आगतः पितरं द्रष्टुं पुष्पकेण धनेश्वरः ।। 7.9.40 ।।

atha vaiśravaṇo devastatra kālena kenacit | āgataḥ pitaraṃ draṣṭuṃ puṣpakeṇa dhaneśvaraḥ || 7.9.40 ||

Then, after some time, the god Vaishravana, the lord of wealth, came there in his Pushpaka chariot to see his father.

तं दृष्ट्वा कैकसी तत्र ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । आगम्य राक्षसी तत्र दशग्रीवमुवाच ह ।। 7.9.41 ।।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā kaikasī tatra jvalantamiva tejasā | āgamya rākṣasī tatra daśagrīvamuvāca ha || 7.9.41 ||

Having seen him (Kubera) shining with splendor there, Kaikasi, the demoness, came to Dashagriva (Ravana) and indeed spoke to him.

पुत्र वैश्रवणं पश्य भ्रातरं तेजसा वृतम् । भ्रातृभावे समे चापि पश्यात्मानं त्वमीदृशम् ।। 7.9.42 ।।

putra vaiśravaṇaṃ paśya bhrātaraṃ tejasā vṛtam | bhrātṛbhāve same cāpi paśyātmānaṃ tvamīdṛśam || 7.9.42 ||

"O son, behold your brother Vaishravana, endowed with splendor, and even though you are equal in brotherhood, behold yourself in such a state."

दशग्रीव तथा यत्नं कुरुष्वामितविक्रम । यथा त्वमसि मे पुत्र भव र्वैश्रवणोपमः ।। 7.9.43 ।।

daśagrīva tathā yatnaṃ kuruṣvāmitavikrama | yathā tvamasi me putra bhava rvaiśravaṇopamaḥ || 7.9.43 ||

"O Dashagriva, O one of immeasurable valor, make such an effort, my son, so that you become equal to Vaishravana."

मातुस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान् । अमर्षमतुलं लेभे प्रतिज्ञां चाकरोत्तदा ।। 7.9.44 ।।

mātustadvacanaṃ śrutvā daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān | amarṣamatulaṃ lebhe pratijñāṃ cākarottadā || 7.9.44 ||

Having heard that speech of his mother, the valorous Dashagriva felt unequalled indignation and then made a vow.

सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि भ्रातृतुल्यो ऽधिको ऽपि वा । भविष्याम्योजसा चैव सन्तापं त्यज हृद्गतम् ।। 7.9.45 ।।

satyaṃ te pratijānāmi bhrātṛtulyo 'dhiko 'pi vā | bhaviṣyāmyojasā caiva santāpaṃ tyaja hṛdgatam || 7.9.45 ||

"Truly, I promise you that I shall become either equal to or even superior to my brother in might; therefore, abandon the sorrow residing in your heart."

ततस्तेनैव कोपेन दशग्रीवः सहानुजः । चिकीर्षुर्दुष्करं कर्म तपसे धृतमानसः ।। 7.9.46 ।।

tatastenaiva kopena daśagrīvaḥ sahānujaḥ | cikīrṣurduṣkaraṃ karma tapase dhṛtamānasaḥ || 7.9.46 ||

Then, filled with that very anger, Dashagriva, along with his younger brothers, set his mind on performing a difficult penance.

प्राप्स्यामि तपसा काममिति कृत्वा ऽध्यवस्य च । आगच्छदात्मसिद्ध्यर्थं गोकर्णस्याश्रमं शुभम् ।। 7.9.47 ।।

prāpsyāmi tapasā kāmamiti kṛtvā 'dhyavasya ca | āgacchadātmasiddhyarthaṃ gokarṇasyāśramaṃ śubham || 7.9.47 ||

Having resolved that he would achieve his desires through penance, he then came to the auspicious hermitage of Gokarna for the accomplishment of his own purpose.

स राक्षसस्तत्र सहानुजस्तदा तपश्चकारातुलमुग्रविक्रमः । अतोषयच्चापि पितामहं विभुं ददौ स तुष्टश्च वराञ्जयावहान् ।। 7.9.48 ।।

sa rākṣasastatra sahānujastadā tapaścakārātulamugravikramaḥ | atoṣayaccāpi pitāmahaṃ vibhuṃ dadau sa tuṣṭaśca varāñjayāvahān || 7.9.48 ||

That demon of fierce prowess, along with his younger brothers, then performed incomparable penance there, and he also pleased the lord Brahma, who, being pleased, granted him boons that brought victory. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे नवमः सर्गः ।। 9 ।। Thus ends the ninth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.