33 shlokas
श्रुत्वागस्त्येरितं वाक्यं रामो विस्मयमागतः । कथमासीत्तु लङ्कायां सम्भवो रक्षसां पुरा ।। 7.4.1 ।।
śrutvāgastyeritaṃ vākyaṃ rāmo vismayamāgataḥ | kathamāsīttu laṅkāyāṃ sambhavo rakṣasāṃ purā || 7.4.1 ||
Translation
Having heard the words uttered by Agastya, Rama was struck with wonder, wondering how the origin of the Rakshasas in Lanka had come about in former times.
ततः शिरः कम्पयित्वा त्रेताग्निसमविग्रहम् । तमगस्त्यं मुहुर्दृष्ट्वा स्मयमानो ऽभ्यभाषत ।। 7.4.2 ।।
tataḥ śiraḥ kampayitvā tretāgnisamavigraham | tamagastyaṃ muhurdṛṣṭvā smayamāno 'bhyabhāṣata || 7.4.2 ||
Translation
Then, shaking his head and gazing again and again upon that Agastya, whose form was like the three sacred fires, he spoke smilingly.
भगवन्पूर्वमप्येषा लङ्कासीत्पिशिताशिनाम् । श्रुत्वेदं भगवद्वाक्यं जातो मे विस्मयः परः ।। 7.4.3 ।।
bhagavanpūrvamapyeṣā laṅkāsītpiśitāśinām | śrutvedaṃ bhagavadvākyaṃ jāto me vismayaḥ paraḥ || 7.4.3 ||
Translation
"O venerable one, was this Lanka inhabited even before by the flesh-eaters? Having heard these words of yours, the greatest wonder has arisen in me."
पुलस्त्यवंशादुद्भूता राक्षसा इति नः श्रुतम् । इदानीमन्यतश्चापि सम्भवः कीर्तितस्त्वया ।। 7.4.4 ।।
pulastyavaṃśādudbhūtā rākṣasā iti naḥ śrutam | idānīmanyataścāpi sambhavaḥ kīrtitastvayā || 7.4.4 ||
Translation
"We had heard that the Rakshasas sprang from the lineage of Pulastya; but now you have declared their origin to be from another source as well."
रावणात्कुम्भकर्णाच्च प्रहस्ताद्विकटादपि । रावणस्य च पुत्रेभ्यः किं नु ते बलवत्तराः ।। 7.4.5 ।।
rāvaṇātkumbhakarṇācca prahastādvikaṭādapi | rāvaṇasya ca putrebhyaḥ kiṃ nu te balavattarāḥ || 7.4.5 ||
Translation
"Than Ravana and Kumbhakarna, than Prahasta and Vikata, and than the sons of Ravana, were those Rakshasas indeed mightier?"
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 ||
Translation
"Who, O Brahmin, was their forefather, and what was the name of that one swollen with strength? Having incurred what offence, and how, were they driven away by Vishnu?"
एतद्विस्तरतः सर्वं कथयस्व ममानघ । कुतूहलमिदं मह्यं नुद भानुर्यथा तमः ।। 7.4.7 ।।
etadvistarataḥ sarvaṃ kathayasva mamānagha | kutūhalamidaṃ mahyaṃ nuda bhānuryathā tamaḥ || 7.4.7 ||
Translation
"Relate all this to me in full detail, O sinless one. Dispel this curiosity of mine, even as the sun dispels the darkness."
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा संस्कारालङ्कृतं शुभम् । ईषद्विस्मयमानस्तमगस्त्यः प्राह राघवम् ।। 7.4.8 ।।
rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā saṃskārālaṅkṛtaṃ śubham | īṣadvismayamānastamagastyaḥ prāha rāghavam || 7.4.8 ||
Translation
Having heard the auspicious words of Raghava, adorned with refinement, Agastya, marveling somewhat, said to him.
प्रजापतिः पुरा सृष्ट्वा ह्यपः सलिलसम्भवः । तासां गोपायने सत्त्वानसृजत्पद्मसम्भवः ।। 7.4.9 ।।
prajāpatiḥ purā sṛṣṭvā hyapaḥ salilasambhavaḥ | tāsāṃ gopāyane sattvānasṛjatpadmasambhavaḥ || 7.4.9 ||
Translation
In ancient times Prajapati, the lotus-born one sprung from the waters, having first created the waters, brought forth beings for the guarding of those waters.
ते सत्त्वाः सत्त्वकर्तारं विनीतवदुपस्थिताः । किं कुर्म इति भाषन्तः क्षुत्पिपासाभयार्दिताः ।। 7.4.10 ।।
te sattvāḥ sattvakartāraṃ vinītavadupasthitāḥ | kiṃ kurma iti bhāṣantaḥ kṣutpipāsābhayārditāḥ || 7.4.10 ||
Translation
Those beings, tormented by hunger, thirst, and fear, approached the maker of beings with submission, saying, 'What are we to 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 ||
Translation
But Prajapati, the bestower of honor, addressed those beings as if smiling, speaking earnestly, saying, 'Guard them!'
रक्षामेति च तत्रान्ये जक्षाम इति चापरे । भुक्षिताभुक्षितैरुक्तस्ततस्तानाह भूतकृत् ।। 7.4.12 ।।
rakṣāmeti ca tatrānye jakṣāma iti cāpare | bhukṣitābhukṣitairuktastatastānāha bhūtakṛt || 7.4.12 ||
Translation
Thereupon some among them said 'We will guard,' while others said 'We will devour.' Thus addressed by the eager and the hungry, the creator of beings then said 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 ||
Translation
'Those of you who said "We will guard" (raksham), let them become Rakshasas; and those of you who said "We will devour" (jaksham), let them become Yakshas.'
तत्र हेतिः प्रहेतिश्च भ्रातरौ राक्षसाधिपौ । मधुकैटभसङ्काशौ बभूवतुररिन्दमौ ।। 7.4.14 ।।
tatra hetiḥ prahetiśca bhrātarau rākṣasādhipau | madhukaiṭabhasaṅkāśau babhūvaturarindamau || 7.4.14 ||
Translation
Among them there arose two brothers, lords of the rakshasas and subduers of foes, Heti and Praheti, resembling Madhu and Kaitabha.
प्रहेतिर्धार्मिकस्तत्र तपोवनगतस्तदा । हेतिर्दारक्रियार्थे तु परं यत्नमथाकरोत् ।। 7.4.15 ।।
prahetirdhārmikastatra tapovanagatastadā | hetirdārakriyārthe tu paraṃ yatnamathākarot || 7.4.15 ||
Translation
Of these, Praheti, being righteous, betook himself to the forest of austerities at that time; but Heti made the greatest effort for the sake of taking 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 ||
Translation
That high-souled one of great wisdom himself took to wife the maiden named Bhaya, the terror-inspiring sister of Kala (Death), of immeasurable spirit.
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 ||
Translation
Upon her Heti, that bull among rakshasas, best of those blessed with sons, begot a son known as Vidyutkesha.
विद्युत्केशो हेतिपुत्रः स दीप्तार्कसमप्रभः । व्यवर्धत महातेजास्तोयमध्य इवाम्बुदः ।। 7.4.18 ।।
vidyutkeśo hetiputraḥ sa dīptārkasamaprabhaḥ | vyavardhata mahātejāstoyamadhya ivāmbudaḥ || 7.4.18 ||
Translation
Vidyutkesha, the son of Heti, blazing with splendor like the burning sun, of great might, grew up like a cloud in the midst of the waters.
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 ||
Translation
When that night-roamer attained the auspicious bloom of youth, his father then resolved to arrange a marriage for him.
सन्ध्यायास्तनयां सो ऽथ सन्ध्यातुल्यां प्रभावतः । वरयामास पुत्रार्थं हेती राक्षसपुङ्गवः ।। 7.4.20 ।।
sandhyāyāstanayāṃ so 'tha sandhyātulyāṃ prabhāvataḥ | varayāmāsa putrārthaṃ hetī rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ || 7.4.20 ||
Translation
Then Heti, that bull among rakshasas, sought for his son the daughter of Sandhya (Twilight), who in power was equal to Sandhya herself.
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 ||
Translation
Reflecting that 'she must indeed be given to another,' Sandhya gave her daughter to Vidyutkesha, O Raghava.
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 ||
Translation
Having obtained the daughter of Sandhya, Vidyutkesha the night-roamer sported with her as Maghavan (Indra) does with Paulomi (Shachi).
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन राम सालकटङ्कटा । विद्युत्केशाद्गर्भमाप घनराजिरिवार्णवात् ।। 7.4.23 ।।
kenacittvatha kālena rāma sālakaṭaṅkaṭā | vidyutkeśādgarbhamāpa ghanarājirivārṇavāt || 7.4.23 ||
Translation
Then after some time, O Rama, Salakatankata conceived a child by Vidyutkesha, as a line of clouds gathers 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 ||
Translation
Then that rakshasi, having gone to Mount Mandara, brought forth the embryo, radiant as the heart of a thundercloud, as the Ganga brought forth the embryo born of Agni (Skanda).
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 ||
Translation
Having cast off the offspring, she, longing for dalliance with Vidyutkesha, sported together with her husband, forgetting the son born of herself.
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 ||
Translation
The infant thus abandoned, whose cry rang out like the rumble of a cloud, that child cast off by her, with a luster like the autumn sun, placing his own fist in his mouth, then wailed softly.
ततो वृषभमास्थाय पार्वत्या सहितः शिवः । वायुमार्गेण गच्छन्वै शुश्राव रुदितस्वनम् ।। 7.4.27 ।।
tato vṛṣabhamāsthāya pārvatyā sahitaḥ śivaḥ | vāyumārgeṇa gacchanvai śuśrāva ruditasvanam || 7.4.27 ||
Translation
Then Shiva, mounted upon his bull and accompanied by Parvati, while travelling along the path of the wind, heard the sound of that weeping.
अपश्यदुमया सार्धं रुदन्तं राक्षसात्मजम् । कारुण्यभावात्पार्वत्या भवस्त्रिपुरसूदनः ।। 7.4.28 ।।
apaśyadumayā sārdhaṃ rudantaṃ rākṣasātmajam | kāruṇyabhāvātpārvatyā bhavastripurasūdanaḥ || 7.4.28 ||
Translation
Bhava, the destroyer of Tripura, together with Uma, beheld the son of the Rakshasa weeping; and out of 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 ||
Translation
the great god Mahadeva, the imperishable and unchanging one, made that son of the Rakshasa equal in age to his very mother, and moreover rendered him immortal.
पुरमाकाशगं प्रादात्पार्वत्याः प्रियकाम्यया । उमयापि वरो दत्तो राक्षसानां नृपात्मज ।। 7.4.30 ।।
puramākāśagaṃ prādātpārvatyāḥ priyakāmyayā | umayāpi varo datto rākṣasānāṃ nṛpātmaja || 7.4.30 ||
Translation
To please Parvati he granted him a city that moves through the sky; and Uma too, O prince, bestowed a boon upon the Rakshasas.
सद्योपलब्धिर्गर्भस्य प्रसूतिः सद्य एव च । सद्य एव वयःप्राप्तिर्मातुरेव वयस्समम् ।। 7.4.31 ।।
sadyopalabdhirgarbhasya prasūtiḥ sadya eva ca | sadya eva vayaḥprāptirmātureva vayassamam || 7.4.31 ||
Translation
The boon was that the conception of their offspring should be instantaneous, the delivery likewise instantaneous, and the attainment of full age also instantaneous, each child becoming at once equal in age to 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 ||
Translation
Then Sukesha, proud of the granting of the boon, having obtained splendor from the side of the Lord Hara, ranged everywhere, that great and high-minded one, just as Indra, the destroyer of cities, ranges after obtaining his sky-faring city.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः ।। 4 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe caturthaḥ sargaḥ || 4 ||
Translation
Thus ends the fourth Sarga in the glorious Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana, the first poem composed by the sage Valmiki.