44 shlokas
ततो रामो महातेजा विस्मयात्पुनरेव हि । उवाच प्रणतो वाक्यमगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम् ।। 7.31.1 ।।
tato rāmo mahātejā vismayātpunareva hi | uvāca praṇato vākyamagastyamṛṣisattamam || 7.31.1 ||
Translation
Then Rama of great splendor, once more out of astonishment, bowed and spoke these words to Agastya, the best of sages.
भगवन्राक्षसः क्रूरो यदाप्रभृति मेदिनीम् । पर्यटत्किं तदा लोकाः शून्या आसन्द्विजोत्तम ।। 7.31.2 ।।
bhagavanrākṣasaḥ krūro yadāprabhṛti medinīm | paryaṭatkiṃ tadā lokāḥ śūnyā āsandvijottama || 7.31.2 ||
Translation
"Reverend one, from the time that the cruel rakshasa roamed over the earth, were the worlds then empty, O best of the twice-born?"
राजा वा राजमात्रो वा किं तदा नात्र कश्चन । धर्षणं यत्र न प्राप्तो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ।। 7.31.3 ।।
rājā vā rājamātro vā kiṃ tadā nātra kaścana | dharṣaṇaṃ yatra na prāpto rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ || 7.31.3 ||
Translation
"Was there then no king, nor even one of kingly rank here at all, at whose hands Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, did not meet with humiliation?"
उताहो हतवीर्यास्ते बभूवुः पृथिवीक्षितः । बहिष्कृता वरास्त्रैश्च बहवो निर्जिता नृपाः ।। 7.31.4 ।।
utāho hatavīryāste babhūvuḥ pṛthivīkṣitaḥ | bahiṣkṛtā varāstraiśca bahavo nirjitā nṛpāḥ || 7.31.4 ||
Translation
"Or had those rulers of the earth become bereft of their valor? Were many kings, robbed of their excellent weapons, vanquished by him?"
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ह्यगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः । उवाच रामं प्रहसन्पितामह इवेश्वरम् ।। 7.31.5 ।।
rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā hyagastyo bhagavānṛṣiḥ | uvāca rāmaṃ prahasanpitāmaha iveśvaram || 7.31.5 ||
Translation
Having heard Raghava's words, the reverend sage Agastya, smiling, spoke to Rama, who was like the supreme lord, as the Grandsire Brahma might.
इत्येवं बाधमानस्तु पार्थिवान्पार्थिवर्षभ । चचार रावणो राम पृथिवीं पृथिवीपते ।। 7.31.6 ।।
ityevaṃ bādhamānastu pārthivānpārthivarṣabha | cacāra rāvaṇo rāma pṛthivīṃ pṛthivīpate || 7.31.6 ||
Translation
"Oppressing the kings in this manner, O bull among princes, Ravana roamed over the earth, O lord of the earth, O Rama."
ततो माहिष्मतीं नाम पुरीं स्वर्गपुरीप्रभाम् । सम्प्राप्तो यत्र सान्निध्यं सदासीद्वसुरेतसः ।। 7.31.7 ।।
tato māhiṣmatīṃ nāma purīṃ svargapurīprabhām | samprāpto yatra sānnidhyaṃ sadāsīdvasuretasaḥ || 7.31.7 ||
Translation
"Then he came to the city named Mahishmati, which shone like the city of heaven, where the presence of the Fire, born of the Vasus, was ever established."
तुल्य आसीन्नृपस्तस्य प्रभावाद्वसुरेतसः । अर्जुनो नाम यत्राग्निः शरकुण्डेशयः सदा ।। 7.31.8 ।।
tulya āsīnnṛpastasya prabhāvādvasuretasaḥ | arjuno nāma yatrāgniḥ śarakuṇḍeśayaḥ sadā || 7.31.8 ||
Translation
"There ruled a king equal to that fire-god by his might, named Arjuna, where Agni ever lay in the sacrificial pit of arrows."
तमेव दिवसं सो ऽथ हैहयाधिपतिर्बली । अर्जुनो नर्मदां रन्तुं गतः स्त्रीभिः सहेश्वरः ।। 7.31.9 ।।
tameva divasaṃ so 'tha haihayādhipatirbalī | arjuno narmadāṃ rantuṃ gataḥ strībhiḥ saheśvaraḥ || 7.31.9 ||
Translation
"On that very day Arjuna, the mighty lord of the Haihayas, had gone with his women to sport in the river Narmada."
तमेव दिवसं सो ऽथ रावणस्तत्र आगतः । रावणो राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु तस्यामात्यानपृच्छत ।। 7.31.10 ।।
tameva divasaṃ so 'tha rāvaṇastatra āgataḥ | rāvaṇo rākṣasendrastu tasyāmātyānapṛcchata || 7.31.10 ||
Translation
"On that very day Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, came there, and he questioned the ministers of that king."
क्वार्जुनो नृपतिः शीघ्रं सम्यगाख्यातुमर्हथ । रावणो ऽहमनुप्राप्तो युद्धेप्सुर्नृवरेण ह । ममागमनमप्यग्रे युष्माभिः सन्निवेद्यताम् ।। 7.31.11 ।।
kvārjuno nṛpatiḥ śīghraṃ samyagākhyātumarhatha | rāvaṇo 'hamanuprāpto yuddhepsurnṛvareṇa ha | mamāgamanamapyagre yuṣmābhiḥ sannivedyatām || 7.31.11 ||
Translation
"'Where is King Arjuna? You ought to tell me at once and truly. I, Ravana, have come here desiring battle with the best of men; let my arrival also first be announced by you.'"
इत्येवं रावणेनोक्तास्ते ऽमात्याः सुविपश्चितः । अब्रुवन्राक्षसपतिमसान्निध्यं महीपतेः ।। 7.31.12 ।।
ityevaṃ rāvaṇenoktāste 'mātyāḥ suvipaścitaḥ | abruvanrākṣasapatimasānnidhyaṃ mahīpateḥ || 7.31.12 ||
Translation
"Thus addressed by Ravana, those very wise ministers told the lord of the rakshasas of the king's absence."
श्रुत्वा विश्रवसः पुत्रः पौराणामर्जुनं गतम् । अपसृत्यागतो विन्ध्यं हिमवत्सन्निभं गिरिम् ।। 7.31.13 ।।
śrutvā viśravasaḥ putraḥ paurāṇāmarjunaṃ gatam | apasṛtyāgato vindhyaṃ himavatsannibhaṃ girim || 7.31.13 ||
Translation
"Hearing from the townsfolk that Arjuna had gone away, the son of Vishravas withdrew and came to the Vindhya, the mountain resembling the Himalaya."
स तमभ्रमिवाविष्टमुद्भ्रन्तमिव मेदिनीम् । अपश्यद्रावणो विन्ध्यमालिखन्तमिवाम्बरम् ।। 7.31.14 ।।
sa tamabhramivāviṣṭamudbhrantamiva medinīm | apaśyadrāvaṇo vindhyamālikhantamivāmbaram || 7.31.14 ||
Translation
"Ravana beheld that Vindhya mountain, which seemed as though wreathed in cloud, as if making the earth tremble, and as if scratching the sky."
सहस्रशिखरोपेतं सिंहाध्युषितकन्दरम् । प्रपातपतितैस्तोयैः साट्टहासमिवाम्बुधिम् ।। 7.31.15 ।।
sahasraśikharopetaṃ siṃhādhyuṣitakandaram | prapātapatitaistoyaiḥ sāṭṭahāsamivāmbudhim || 7.31.15 ||
Translation
"It was endowed with a thousand peaks, its caverns inhabited by lions, and with its waters falling down in cascades it seemed like the ocean roaring with loud laughter."
देवदानवगन्धर्वैः साप्सरोगणकिन्नरैः । स्वस्त्रीभिः क्रीडमानैश्च स्वर्गभूतं महोच्छ्रयम् ।। 7.31.16 ।।
devadānavagandharvaiḥ sāpsarogaṇakinnaraiḥ | svastrībhiḥ krīḍamānaiśca svargabhūtaṃ mahocchrayam || 7.31.16 ||
Translation
It was a lofty place that had become like heaven itself, where the gods, danavas, and gandharvas, together with the hosts of apsaras and kinnaras, sported with their own women.
नदीभिः स्यन्दमानाभिः स्फटिकप्रतिमं जलम् । फणाभिश्चलजिह्वाभिरनन्तमिव विष्ठितम् ।। 7.31.17 ।।
nadībhiḥ syandamānābhiḥ sphaṭikapratimaṃ jalam | phaṇābhiścalajihvābhiranantamiva viṣṭhitam || 7.31.17 ||
Translation
With its flowing streams its water was like crystal, and with its serpent-hoods and flickering tongues it spread out, seeming as endless as Ananta the serpent.
उत्क्रामन्तं दरीवन्तं हिमवत्सन्निभं गिरिम् । पश्यमानस्ततो विन्ध्यं रावणो नर्मदां ययौ ।। 7.31.18 ।।
utkrāmantaṃ darīvantaṃ himavatsannibhaṃ girim | paśyamānastato vindhyaṃ rāvaṇo narmadāṃ yayau || 7.31.18 ||
Translation
Then, gazing upon the Vindhya mountain rising up with its caverns and resembling the Himalaya, Ravana came to the river Narmada.
चलोपलजलां पुण्यां पश्चिमोदधिगामिनीम् ।। 7.31.19 ।।
calopalajalāṃ puṇyāṃ paścimodadhigāminīm || 7.31.19 ||
Translation
She was holy, her waters rolling over moving stones, and she flowed toward the western ocean.
महिषैः सृमरैः सिंहैः शार्दूलर्क्षगजोत्तमैः । उष्णाभितप्तैस्तृषितैः सङ्क्षोभितजलाशयाम् ।। 7.31.20 ।।
mahiṣaiḥ sṛmaraiḥ siṃhaiḥ śārdūlarkṣagajottamaiḥ | uṣṇābhitaptaistṛṣitaiḥ saṅkṣobhitajalāśayām || 7.31.20 ||
Translation
Her pools were stirred up by buffaloes, srimara deer, lions, tigers, bears, and lordly elephants, who, scorched by the heat and tormented by thirst, plunged into them.
चक्रवाकैः सकारण्डैः सहंसजलकुक्कुटैः । सारसैश्च सदा मत्तैः सुकूजद्भिः समावृताम् ।। 7.31.21 ।।
cakravākaiḥ sakāraṇḍaiḥ sahaṃsajalakukkuṭaiḥ | sārasaiśca sadā mattaiḥ sukūjadbhiḥ samāvṛtām || 7.31.21 ||
Translation
She was thronged on every side by chakravaka birds together with karandava ducks, by swans and water-fowl, and by saras cranes ever in their rut, sweetly calling.
फुल्लद्रुमकृतोत्तंसां चक्रवाकयुगस्तनीम् । विस्तीर्णपुलिनश्रोणीं हंसावलिसुमेखलाम् ।। 7.31.22 ।।
phulladrumakṛtottaṃsāṃ cakravākayugastanīm | vistīrṇapulinaśroṇīṃ haṃsāvalisumekhalām || 7.31.22 ||
Translation
Her ornament upon the head was the blossoming trees, the pair of chakravaka birds her breasts, the broad sandbanks her hips, and the rows of swans her lovely girdle.
पुष्परेण्वनुलिप्ताङ्गीं जलफेनामलांशुकाम् । जलावगाहसंस्पर्शां फुल्लोत्पलशुभेक्षणाम् । पुष्पकादवरुह्याशु नर्मदां सरितां वराम् ।। 7.31.23 ।।
puṣpareṇvanuliptāṅgīṃ jalaphenāmalāṃśukām | jalāvagāhasaṃsparśāṃ phullotpalaśubhekṣaṇām | puṣpakādavaruhyāśu narmadāṃ saritāṃ varām || 7.31.23 ||
Translation
Her limbs were anointed with the pollen of flowers, the foam of her waters her spotless garment, her touch that of waters entered for bathing, and the blossoming lotuses her beautiful eyes — and Dashanana, descending swiftly from the Pushpaka, plunged into the Narmada, best of rivers,
इष्टामिव वरां नारीमवगाह्य दशाननः । स तस्याः पुलिने रम्ये नानामुनिनिषेविते ।। 7.31.24 ।।
iṣṭāmiva varāṃ nārīmavagāhya daśānanaḥ | sa tasyāḥ puline ramye nānāmuniniṣevite || 7.31.24 ||
Translation
as though plunging into a cherished and lovely woman. Then, upon her delightful sandbank, frequented by sages of many kinds,
उपोपविष्टैः सचिवैः सार्धं राक्षसपुङ्गवः । प्रख्याय नर्मदां सो ऽथ गङ्गेयमिति रावणः ।। 7.31.25 ।।
upopaviṣṭaiḥ sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ | prakhyāya narmadāṃ so 'tha gaṅgeyamiti rāvaṇaḥ || 7.31.25 ||
Translation
that bull among rakshasas, Ravana, sat down together with his ministers who had seated themselves nearby, and proclaiming, "This Narmada is like the Ganga,"
नर्मदादर्शजं हर्षमाप्तवान् राक्षसाधिपः । उवाच सचिवांस्तत्र सलीलं शुकसारणौ ।। 7.31.26 ।।
narmadādarśajaṃ harṣamāptavān rākṣasādhipaḥ | uvāca sacivāṃstatra salīlaṃ śukasāraṇau || 7.31.26 ||
Translation
the lord of the rakshasas, having taken delight at the sight of the Narmada, then sportively addressed his ministers there, Shuka and Sarana:
एष रश्मिसहस्रेण जगत्कृत्वैव काञ्चनम् । तीक्ष्णतापकरः सूर्यो नभसो ऽर्धं समाश्रितः ।। 7.31.27 ।।
eṣa raśmisahasreṇa jagatkṛtvaiva kāñcanam | tīkṣṇatāpakaraḥ sūryo nabhaso 'rdhaṃ samāśritaḥ || 7.31.27 ||
Translation
"Yonder the sun, fierce with his burning heat, having made the whole world golden with his thousand rays, has reached the midst of the sky;
मामासीनं विदित्वैव चन्द्रायति दिवाकरः ।। 7.31.28 ।।
māmāsīnaṃ viditvaiva candrāyati divākaraḥ || 7.31.28 ||
Translation
yet, knowing that I am seated here, the day-maker becomes mild like the moon.
नर्मदाजलशीतश्च सुगन्धिः श्रमनाशनः । मद्भयादनिलो ऽप्यत्र वात्येष सुसमाहितः ।। 7.31.29 ।।
narmadājalaśītaśca sugandhiḥ śramanāśanaḥ | madbhayādanilo 'pyatra vātyeṣa susamāhitaḥ || 7.31.29 ||
Translation
And here the breeze, cooled by the waters of the Narmada, fragrant and dispelling fatigue, blows gently and well-composed, as if out of fear of me.
इयं वापि सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा नर्मदा नर्मवर्धिनी । नक्रमीनविहङ्गोर्मिः सभयेवाङ्गना स्थिता ।। 7.31.30 ।।
iyaṃ vāpi saricchreṣṭhā narmadā narmavardhinī | nakramīnavihaṅgormiḥ sabhayevāṅganā sthitā || 7.31.30 ||
Translation
This Narmada too, best of rivers, increaser of delight, with her crocodiles, fish, and birds for her waves, stands like a frightened woman.
तद्भवन्तः क्षताः शस्त्रैर्नृपैरिन्द्रसमैर्युधि । चन्दनस्य रसेनेव रुधिरेण समुक्षिताः ।। 7.31.31 ।।
tadbhavantaḥ kṣatāḥ śastrairnṛpairindrasamairyudhi | candanasya raseneva rudhireṇa samukṣitāḥ || 7.31.31 ||
Translation
You have been wounded by the weapons of kings equal to Indra in battle, and are sprinkled with blood as though with the juice of sandalwood.
ते यूयमवगाहध्वं नर्मदां शर्मदां शुभाम् । महापद्ममुखा मत्ता गङ्गामिव गहागजाः । अस्यां स्नात्वा महानद्यां पाप्मानं विप्रमोक्ष्यथ ।। 7.31.32 ।।
te yūyamavagāhadhvaṃ narmadāṃ śarmadāṃ śubhām | mahāpadmamukhā mattā gaṅgāmiva gahāgajāḥ | asyāṃ snātvā mahānadyāṃ pāpmānaṃ vipramokṣyatha || 7.31.32 ||
Translation
So plunge into the Narmada, that auspicious bestower of bliss, as rutting elephants with great lotuses at their mouths plunge into the Ganga; bathing in this great river you shall wash away your sin.
अहमप्यद्य पुलिने शरदिन्दुसमप्रभे । पुष्पोपहारं शनकैः करिष्यामि कपर्दिनः ।। 7.31.33 ।।
ahamapyadya puline śaradindusamaprabhe | puṣpopahāraṃ śanakaiḥ kariṣyāmi kapardinaḥ || 7.31.33 ||
Translation
I too this day, upon this sandbank that shines like the autumn moon, will slowly make an offering of flowers to Kapardin (Shiva).
रावणेनैवमुक्तास्तु प्रहस्तशुकसारणाः । समहोदरधूम्राक्षा नर्मदां विजगाहिरे ।। 7.31.34 ।।
rāvaṇenaivamuktāstu prahastaśukasāraṇāḥ | samahodaradhūmrākṣā narmadāṃ vijagāhire || 7.31.34 ||
Translation
Thus addressed by Ravana, Prahasta, Shuka, and Sarana, together with Mahodara and Dhumraksha, plunged into the Narmada.
राक्षसेन्द्रगजैस्तैस्तु क्षोभिता नर्मदा नदी । वामनाञ्जनपद्माद्यैर्गङ्गा इव महागजैः ।। 7.31.35 ।।
rākṣasendragajaistaistu kṣobhitā narmadā nadī | vāmanāñjanapadmādyairgaṅgā iva mahāgajaiḥ || 7.31.35 ||
Translation
By those elephant-like lords of rakshasas the river Narmada was stirred up, as the Ganga is by great elephants such as Vamana, Anjana, Padma, and the rest.
ततस्ते राक्षसाः स्नात्वा नर्मदायां महाबलाः । उत्तीर्य पुष्पाण्याजह्रुर्बल्यर्थं रावणस्य तु ।। 7.31.36 ।।
tataste rākṣasāḥ snātvā narmadāyāṃ mahābalāḥ | uttīrya puṣpāṇyājahrurbalyarthaṃ rāvaṇasya tu || 7.31.36 ||
Translation
Then those mighty Rakshasas, having bathed in the Narmada and come up from the river, gathered flowers for the oblation on Ravana's behalf.
नर्मदापुलिने हृद्ये शुभ्राभ्रसदृशप्रभे । राक्षसैस्तु मुहूर्तेन कृतः पुष्पमयो गिरिः ।। 7.31.37 ।।
narmadāpuline hṛdye śubhrābhrasadṛśaprabhe | rākṣasaistu muhūrtena kṛtaḥ puṣpamayo giriḥ || 7.31.37 ||
Translation
On the lovely sandy bank of the Narmada, which gleamed like a white cloud, the Rakshasas in a single moment heaped up a mountain made of flowers.
पुष्पेषूपहृतेष्वेवं रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । अवतीर्णो नदीं स्नातुं गङ्गामिव महागजः ।। 7.31.38 ।।
puṣpeṣūpahṛteṣvevaṃ rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | avatīrṇo nadīṃ snātuṃ gaṅgāmiva mahāgajaḥ || 7.31.38 ||
Translation
When the flowers had thus been brought, Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas, descended into the river to bathe, like a great elephant entering the Ganga.
तत्र स्नात्वा च विधिवज्जप्त्वा जप्यमनुत्तमम् । नर्मदासलिलात्तस्मादुत्ततार स रावणः ।। 7.31.39 ।।
tatra snātvā ca vidhivajjaptvā japyamanuttamam | narmadāsalilāttasmāduttatāra sa rāvaṇaḥ || 7.31.39 ||
Translation
Having bathed there according to the prescribed rites and softly recited the supreme prayer, Ravana then came up out of those waters of the Narmada.
ततः क्लिन्नाम्बरं त्यक्त्वा शुक्लवस्त्रसमावृतम् । रावणं प्राञ्जलिं यान्तमन्वयुः सर्वराक्षसाः ।। 7.31.40 ।।
tataḥ klinnāmbaraṃ tyaktvā śuklavastrasamāvṛtam | rāvaṇaṃ prāñjaliṃ yāntamanvayuḥ sarvarākṣasāḥ || 7.31.40 ||
Translation
Then, casting off his wet garment and clothing himself in white raiment, Ravana went forward with joined palms, and all the Rakshasas followed after him.
तद्गतीवशमापन्ना मूर्तिमन्त इवाचलाः । यत्र यत्र च याति स्म रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । जाम्बूनदमयं लिङ्गं तत्र तत्र स्म नीयते ।। 7.31.41 ।।
tadgatīvaśamāpannā mūrtimanta ivācalāḥ | yatra yatra ca yāti sma rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | jāmbūnadamayaṃ liṅgaṃ tatra tatra sma nīyate || 7.31.41 ||
Translation
Submissive, as it were, to his movement, like embodied mountains, wherever Ravana the lord of the Rakshasas went, there a linga made of gold was carried along with him.
वालुकावेदिमध्ये तु तल्लिङ्गं स्थाप्य रावणः । अर्चयामास गन्धैश्च पुष्पैश्चामृतगन्धिभिः ।। 7.31.42 ।।
vālukāvedimadhye tu talliṅgaṃ sthāpya rāvaṇaḥ | arcayāmāsa gandhaiśca puṣpaiścāmṛtagandhibhiḥ || 7.31.42 ||
Translation
Setting that linga in the midst of an altar of sand, Ravana worshipped it with fragrant pastes and with flowers whose scent was like nectar.
ततः सतामार्तिहरं परं वरं वरप्रदं चन्द्रमयूखभूषणम् । समर्चयित्वा स निशाचरो जगौ प्रसार्य हस्तान्प्रणनर्त चाग्रतः ।। 7.31.43 ।।
tataḥ satāmārtiharaṃ paraṃ varaṃ varapradaṃ candramayūkhabhūṣaṇam | samarcayitvā sa niśācaro jagau prasārya hastānpraṇanarta cāgrataḥ || 7.31.43 ||
Translation
Then, having fully worshipped that supreme one, the remover of the afflictions of the good, the excellent granter of boons, adorned with the rays of the moon, the night-ranging Ravana sang aloud and, stretching forth his hands, danced before him.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः ।। 31 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe ekatriṃśaḥ sargaḥ || 31 ||
Translation
Thus ends the thirty-first sarga of the glorious Uttara Kanda in the sacred Ramayana, the first poem, composed by the seer Valmiki.