When the mighty great Indra had been conquered by the son of Ravana, the gods then, placing the Lord of Creatures (Brahma) at their head, went to Lanka.
tatra rāvaṇamāsādya putrabhrātṛbhirāvṛtam | abravīdgagane tiṣṭhansāmapūrvaṃ prajāpatiḥ || 7.30.2 ||
Translation
There, approaching Ravana, who was surrounded by his sons and brothers, the Lord of Creatures, standing in the sky, spoke, beginning with conciliatory words.
"And this son of yours, Ravana, of immense strength and valor, shall become renowned throughout the world by the very name Indrajit (Conqueror of Indra)."
"Therefore, O mighty-armed one, let great Indra, the chastiser of Paka, be released; and for the sake of his release, let the dwellers of heaven offer something."
"...whether of four-footed creatures, of those that move through the air, or of others of great might — of trees, shrubs, bushes, creepers, grasses, stones, and mountains."
tato 'bravīnmahātejā meghanādaṃ prajāpatiḥ | nāsti sarvāmaratvaṃ hi kasyacitprāṇino bhuvi | catuṣpadaḥ pakṣiṇaśca bhūtānāṃ vā mahaujasām || 7.30.11 ||
Translation
Then the Lord of Creatures of great splendor spoke to Meghanada: "There is no complete immortality for any living being on earth — neither for four-footed creatures, nor for birds, nor for beings of great might."
"You are not in debt to any living being upon the earth." Then the mighty Meghanada said to him who stood there: "Let it be heard, that there may be a means whereby the performer of a hundred sacrifices may be released."
"It is my wish that, having always worshipped the Fire with oblations and with sacred mantras, when I desire to overcome my enemies and to descend into battle—
"—a chariot yoked with horses should rise up for me from the Fire; and for me, when stationed in that chariot, let there be immortality. This is my chosen boon."
tasminyadyasamāpte ca japyahome vibhāvasau | yudhyeyaṃ deva saṅgrāme tadā me syādvināśanam || 7.30.16 ||
Translation
"But if, O god, while that muttered prayer and oblation in the Fire is left unfinished, I should fight in battle, then let there be destruction for me."
"O lord of the immortals, O master, many creatures were created by me, and they were all of one color, of like speech, and of one form in every respect."
tāsāṃ nāsti viśeṣo hi darśane lakṣaṇe 'pi vā | tato 'hamekāgramanāstāḥ prajāḥ paricintayam || 7.30.22 ||
Translation
"Among them there was no distinction whatever, neither in appearance nor in marks; therefore, with single-minded attention, I pondered over those creatures."
"So, for the sake of distinction among them, I fashioned a single woman; and whatever was most excellent in each limb of the creatures, that was drawn out and taken up."
"Then by me, through her beauty and qualities, the woman Ahalya was fashioned. Here 'hala' means ugliness, and 'halya' would be that which arises from it."
nirmitāyāṃ ca devendra tasyāṃ nāryāṃ surarṣabha | bhaviṣyatīti kasyaiṣā mama cintā tato 'bhavat || 7.30.26 ||
Translation
"And when that woman had been fashioned, O lord of the gods, O bull among the immortals, the anxious thought then arose in me as to whose she should become."
sā mayā nyāsabhūtā tu gautamasya mahātmanaḥ | nyastā bahūni varṣāṇi tena niryātitā ca ha || 7.30.28 ||
Translation
"But she was placed by me as a thing held in trust with the great-souled Gautama; deposited with him for many years, she was afterward returned by him."
tatastasya parijñāya mahāsthairyaṃ mahāmuneḥ | jñātvā tapasi siddhiṃ ca patnyarthaṃ sparśitā tadā || 7.30.29 ||
Translation
"Then, having recognized the great steadfastness of that great sage, and knowing his perfection in austerity, she was at that time given to him to be his wife."
sā tvayā dharṣitā śakra kāmārtena samanyunā | dṛṣṭastvaṃ ca tadā tena hyāśrame paramarṣiṇā || 7.30.31 ||
Translation
"She was violated by you, O Shakra, afflicted with desire and full of passion; and at that time you were seen there in the hermitage by that supreme sage."
ayaṃ tu bhāvo durbuddhe yastvayeha pravartitaḥ | mānuṣeṣvapi lokeṣu bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 7.30.34 ||
Translation
And this deed which has been set in motion by you here, O evil-minded one, shall come to pass among the worlds of men as well; of this there is no doubt.
tatrārdhaṃ tasya yaḥ kartā tvayyardhaṃ nipatiṣyati | na ca te sthāvaraṃ sthānaṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 7.30.35 ||
Translation
Therein half of that deed shall fall upon whoever commits it, and the other half shall descend upon you; and your station shall not be stable, of this there is no doubt.
'Through ignorance was I violated, O brahmin, by the dweller in heaven in your form; not through willful desire, O sage among brahmins—it behooves you to show grace.'
'known in the world as Rama by name, and he shall come to the forest; the mighty-armed one, for the sake of a brahmin, Vishnu in human form. When you behold him, O gentle lady, then you shall become purified.'
Therefore call to mind, O mighty-armed one, the wrongdoing that was committed by you; through that, O Vasava, you fell into the seizing by your enemy and through no other cause.
This is the might of him named Indrajit which has been recounted by me; by him the lord of the gods himself was vanquished—how much more, then, other living beings?
"How wonderful!" exclaimed both Rama and Lakshmana then; and the vanaras and the rakshasas too, having heard the words of Agastya, were filled with wonder.
"Thus, O Rama, arose Ravana, that thorn in the side of the world, by whom, together with his son, Shakra the lord of the gods was vanquished in battle."