03.259
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said.
pulastyasya tu yaḥ krodhād ardha-dehaḥ abhavat muniḥ। viśravā nāma sakrodhaḥ sa vaiśravaṇam aikṣata ॥03-259-1॥
But Viśravā, the sage, who was born as Pulastya's half-bodied son out of anger, looked with anger at Vaiśravaṇa. (03-259-1)
bubudhe taṁ tu sakrodhaṁ pitaraṁ rākṣaseśvaraḥ। kuberas tat-prasādārthaṁ yatate sma sadā nṛpa ॥03-259-2॥
O king, Kubera always indeed strove to win the favor of his father, but the lord of the rākṣasas became aware of him with anger. (03-259-2)
sa rājarājo laṅkāyāṃ nivasannaravāhanaḥ। rākṣasīḥ pradadau tisraḥ piturvai paricārikāḥ॥03-259-3॥
Naravāhana, the king of kings residing in Laṅkā, gave three rākṣasī attendants who had belonged to his father. (03-259-3)
tās tadā taṁ mahātmānaṁ santoṣayitumudyatāḥ। ṛṣiṁ bharataśārdūla nṛttagītaviśāradāḥ॥03-259-4॥
Then they, skilled in dance and song, endeavored to please that great-souled sage, O tiger of the Bharatas. (3-259-4)
puṣpotkaṭā ca rākā ca mālinī ca viśāṃ pate। anyonya-spardhayā rājañ-śreyas-kāmāḥ su-madhyamāḥ ॥03-259-5॥
O king, Puṣpotkaṭā, Rākā, and Mālinī—all women of beautiful waists—each desirous of supremacy, vied with one another, O lord of the people. (03-259-5)
tāsāṃ sa bhagavāṃstuṣṭo mahātmā pradadau varān। lokapālopamānputrānekaikasyā yathepsitān॥03-259-6॥
The Lord, being pleased with them, the great-souled one gave boons—sons equal to the guardians of the worlds—to each one as she desired. (03-259-6)
puṣpotkaṭāyāṃ jajñāte dvau putrau rākṣaseśvarau। kumbhakarṇadaśagrīvau balenāpratimau bhuvi ॥03-259-7॥
In Puṣpotkaṭā two sons were born—lords of the rākṣasas, Kumbhakarṇa and Daśagrīva—who were unmatched in strength on earth. (03-259-7)
mālinī janayāmāsa putram ekaṃ vibhīṣaṇam। rākāyāṃ mithunaṃ jajñe kharaḥ śūrpaṇakhā tathā॥03-259-8॥
Mālinī gave birth to a single son, Vibhīṣaṇa. From Rākā were born twins: Khara and Śūrpaṇakhā. (03-259-8)
vibhīṣaṇas tu rūpeṇa sarvebhyo 'bhyadhiko 'bhavat। sa babhūva mahābhāgo dharmagoptā kriyāratiḥ॥03-259-9॥
But Vibhishana surpassed everyone in appearance. He became a greatly fortunate one, a protector of righteousness, and a devotee of right action. (03-259-9)
daśagrīvastu sarveṣāṃ jyeṣṭho rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ। mahotsāho mahāvīryo mahāsattvaparākramaḥ॥03-259-10॥
But Daśagrīva, the eldest and foremost among all Rākṣasas, was full of great energy, mighty strength, and immense valor. (03-259-10)
kumbhakarṇo balenāsītsarvebhyo'bhyadhikastadā। māyāvī raṇaśauṇḍaś ca raudraś ca rajanīcaraḥ ॥03-259-11॥
At that time, Kumbhakarṇa, by his might, surpassed all others; he was a master of illusions, skilled in battle, fierce, and a night-wandering demon. (03-259-11)
kharaḥ dhanuṣi vikrāntaḥ brahma-dviṭ-piśita-aśanaḥ। siddha-vighna-karī ca api raudrā śūrpaṇakhā tathā ॥03-259-12॥
Khara, who was powerful with his bow, a hater of Brahmins and an eater of flesh; and likewise fierce Śūrpaṇakhā, who obstructed the siddhas, also were there. (03-259-12)
sarve vedavidaḥ śūrāḥ sarve sucaritavratāḥ। ūṣuḥ pitrā saha ratā gandhamādanaparvate॥03-259-13॥
All those who knew the Vedas, who were heroic, and of excellent conduct and vows, lived together joyfully with their father on the Gandhamādana mountain. (03-259-13)
tato vaiśravaṇaṃ tatra dadṛśur naravāhanam। pitrā sārdhaṃ samāsīnam ṛddhyā paramayā yutam॥03-259-14॥
Then, there, they saw Vaiśravaṇa—Naravāhana—sitting together with his father, endowed with supreme prosperity. (03-259-14)
jātaspardhās tataḥ te tu tapase dhṛtaniscayāḥ। brahmāṇaṃ toṣayām āsuḥ ghoreṇa tapasā tadā॥03-259-15॥
Then, being filled with rivalry and steadfast in their resolve for penance, they pleased Brahmā at that time through intense austerity. (03-259-15)
atiṣṭhad-ekapādena sahasraṁ parivatsarān। vāyubhakṣo daśagrīvaḥ pañcāgniḥ susamāhitaḥ ॥03-259-16॥
Daśagrīva stood on one foot for a thousand years, sustaining himself on air, amidst the five fires, deeply concentrated. (03-259-16)
adhaḥśāyī kumbhakarṇo yata-āhāro yata-vrataḥ। vibhīṣaṇaḥ śīrṇa-parṇam ekam abhyavahārayat ॥03-259-17॥
Kumbhakarna, lying below, was self-restrained in food and vow; Vibhishana ate only a single withered leaf. (03-259-17)
upavāsaratirdhīmānsadā japyaparāyaṇaḥ। tameva kālamātiṣṭhattīvraṃ tapa udāradhīḥ ॥03-259-18॥
The wise man, always devoted to fasting and the recitation of prayers, of noble mind, observed that very time practicing intense austerities. (03-259-18)
kharaḥ śūrpaṇakhā caiva teṣāṃ vai tapyatāṃ tapaḥ। paricaryāṃ ca rakṣāṃ ca cakratur hṛṣṭamānasau ॥03-259-19॥
Khara and Śūrpaṇakhā, with delighted minds, indeed rendered service and protection to those practicing austerities. (03-259-19)
pūrṇe varṣa-sahasre tu śiraś-chittvā daśānanaḥ। juhoty-agnau durādharṣas tenātuṣyaj-jagat-prabhuḥ॥03-259-20॥
But when a thousand years were completed, the ten-headed one, unassailable, would cut off his own head and offer it into the fire; by this, the lord of the worlds was pleased. (03-259-20)
tato brahmā svayaṃ gatvā tapasas tān nyavārayat। pralobhya varadānena sarvān eva pṛthak pṛthak ॥03-259-21॥
Then Brahmā himself went and prevented them from penance, enticing all of them separately by offering boons. (03-259-21)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
prīto'smi vo nivartadhvaṃ varān vṛṇuta putrakāḥ. yadyad iṣṭam ṛte tv ekam amaratvaṃ tathāstu tat ॥03-259-22॥
I am pleased with you; return, O sons, choose boons. Whatever is desired, except for the one—immortality—for you, let that be so. (03-259-22)
yadyad agnau hutaṃ sarvaṃ śiras te mahad īpsayā। tathaiva tāni te dehe bhaviṣyanti yath-epsitam ॥03-259-23॥
Whatever you have offered entirely into the fire with your head and great desire, in the same way, those very things will manifest in your body as you desire. (03-259-23)
vairūpyaṃ ca na te dehe kāmarūpadharas tathā। bhaviṣyasi raṇe’rīṇāṃ vijetā asi na saṃśayaḥ॥03-259-24॥
Ugliness will not be present in your body, and you will have the ability to assume any form at will. Thus, you will become the conqueror of enemies in battle; there is no doubt. (03-259-24)
rāvaṇa uvāca॥
Rāvaṇa said.
gandharvadevāsurato yakṣarākṣasatastathā. sarpakiṃnarabhūtebhyo na me bhūyāt parābhavaḥ ॥03-259-25॥
May there not be defeat for me from gandharvas, devas, asuras, yakṣas, rākṣasas, serpents, kinnaras, or beings. (03-259-25)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
ya ete kīrtitāḥ sarve na tebhyo'sti bhayaṃ tava। ṛte manuṣyād bhadraṃ te tathā tadvihitaṃ mayā॥03-259-26॥
Of all those who have been mentioned, there is no fear for you from them; except from humans. Welfare to you; so it was ordained by me. (03-259-26)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
evam-ukto daśagrīvas tuṣṭaḥ samabhavat tadā। avamene hi durbuddhir manuṣyān puruṣādakaḥ॥03-259-27॥
When thus addressed, Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) was pleased. That ill-minded man-eater indeed held men in contempt. (03-259-27)
kumbhakarṇam atho vāca tathaiva prapitāmahaḥ। sa vavre mahatīṃ nidrāṃ tamasā grastacetanaḥ॥03-259-28॥
Then Kumbhakarṇa spoke in the same way to the great grandsire. In that state, he requested great sleep, with his mind overpowered by darkness. (03-259-28)
tathā bhaviṣyatīty-uktvā vibhīṣaṇam uvāca ha. varaṁ vṛṇīṣva putra tvaṁ prīto'smīti punaḥ punaḥ ॥03-259-29॥
Having said, "Thus it shall be", he then spoke to Vibhīṣaṇa: "Choose a boon, my son; I am pleased"—thus again and again. (03-259-29)
vibhīṣaṇa uvāca॥
Vibhīṣaṇa said.
paramāpad-gatasya-api nā-dharme me matir bhavet। aśikṣitaṃ ca bhagavan brahmāstraṃ pratibhātu me॥03-259-30॥
May my mind not incline toward unrighteousness, even if I reach the highest achievement. And, O Lord, may the knowledge of the Brahma weapon, though unlearned, occur to me. (03-259-30)
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
yasmād rākṣasa-yonau te jātasya amitrakarśana। na adharme ramate buddhiḥ amaratvaṃ dadāmi te ॥03-259-31॥
Because you were born in the lineage of Rākṣasas, O tormentor of enemies, your mind does not delight in unrighteousness. I grant you immortality. (03-259-31)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said;
rākṣasastu varaṃ labdhvā daśagrīvo viśāṃ pate। laṅkāyāścyāvayāmāsa yudhi jitvā dhaneśvaram॥03-259-32॥
But the demon, the ten-headed one (Rāvaṇa), O lord of men, after obtaining the boon, conquered the lord of wealth in battle and drove him out of Laṅkā. (03-259-32)
hitvā sa bhagavān laṅkām āviśad gandhamādanam। gandharva-yakṣa-anugataḥ rakṣaḥ-kimpuruṣaiḥ saha ॥03-259-33॥
Leaving Laṅkā, the venerable one entered Gandhamādana mountain, accompanied by Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Kimpuruṣas. (03-259-33)
vimānaṃ puṣpakaṃ tasya jahārākramya rāvaṇaḥ। śaśāpa taṃ vaiśravaṇo na tvāmetadvahiṣyati ॥03-259-34॥
Rāvaṇa, having mounted his Puṣpaka vehicle, took it away. Vaiśravaṇa cursed him, saying, "This will not bear thee." (03-259-34)
yastu tvāṁ samare hantā tamevaitadvahiṣyati। avamany guruṁ māṁ ca kṣipraṁ tvaṁ na bhaviṣyasi॥03-259-35॥
But the one who kills you in battle—he alone will bear this. If you disregard your teacher and me, you will quickly cease to exist. (03-259-35)
vibhīṣaṇas tu dharmātmā satāṃ dharmam anusmaran। anvagacchan mahārāja śriyā paramayā yutaḥ ॥03-259-36॥
But Vibhīṣaṇa, who was righteous and mindful of the dharma of the virtuous, O great king, followed, endowed with supreme glory. (03-259-36)
tasmai sa bhagavāṃstuṣṭo bhrātā bhrātre dhaneśvaraḥ। senāpatyaṃ dadau dhīmānyakṣarākṣasasenayoḥ॥03-259-37॥
To him, the venerable and wise Dhaneśvara, who is the brother, being pleased, gave to his brother the command of the armies of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas. (03-259-37)
rākṣasāḥ puruṣādāś ca piśācāś ca mahābalāḥ। sarve sametya rājānam abhyaṣiñcad daśānanam ॥03-259-38॥
The rākṣasas, cannibals, and the very powerful piśācas all gathered together and anointed Daśānana (the ten-headed one, Rāvaṇa) as king. (03-259-38)
daśagrīvastu daityānāṁ devānāṁ ca balotkaṭaḥ। ākramya ratnānyaharatkāmarūpī vihaṅgamaḥ॥03-259-39॥
But the ten-necked one, powerful among the demons and gods, having assaulted them, seized their gems; being able to assume any form at will, like a bird. (03-259-39)
rāvayāmāsa lokānyattasmādrāvaṇa ucyate। daśagrīvaḥ kāmabalo devānāṁ bhayamādadhat॥03-259-40॥
He made the worlds cry out; therefore, he is called 'Rāvaṇa'. The ten-headed one, powerful with desire, instilled fear among the gods. (03-259-40)
