The Birth of Ravana

Verse 1 (padma.5.6.1)

शेष उवाच। इत्थं स्वागतसंतुष्टं ब्रह्मचर्यतपोनिधिम् । उवाच मतिमान्वीरः सर्वलोकगुरुर्मुनिम्

śeṣa uvāca itthaṁ svāgatasaṁtuṣṭaṁ brahmacaryataponidhim uvāca matimānvīraḥ sarvalokagururmunim

Shesha said: Thus to that sage, delighted at his welcome, a treasury of celibate austerity, the wise hero, guru of all the worlds, spoke —

Verse 2 (padma.5.6.2)

स्वागतं ते महाभाग कुंभयोने तपोनिधे । त्वद्दर्शनेन सर्वे वै पाविताः सकुटुंबकाः

svāgataṁ te mahābhāga kuṁbhayone taponidhe tvaddarśanena sarve vai pāvitāḥ sakuṭuṁbakāḥ

"Welcome to you, greatly fortunate one, born of a pot, treasury of austerity! By your very sight we all, together with our family, have been purified."

Verse 3 (padma.5.6.3)

कच्चिन्मतिस्ते वेदेषु शास्त्रेषु परिवर्तते । त्वत्तपोविघ्नकर्ता वै नास्ति भूमंडले क्वचित्

kaccinmatiste vedeṣu śāstreṣu parivartate tvattapovighnakartā vai nāsti bhūmaṁḍale kvacit

"Does your mind still ever dwell in the Vedas and scriptures? Is there anyone anywhere on earth who obstructs your austerity?"

Verse 4 (padma.5.6.4)

लोपामुद्रा महाभाग या च ते धर्मचारिणी । यस्याः पतिव्रता धर्मात्सर्वं भवति शोभनम्

lopāmudrā mahābhāga yā ca te dharmacāriṇī yasyāḥ pativratā dharmātsarvaṁ bhavati śobhanam

"Lopamudra, greatly fortunate one, your righteous consort, by whose wifely devotion all things become auspicious — is she well?"

Verse 5 (padma.5.6.5)

अपि शंस महाभाग धर्ममूर्ते कृपानिधे । अलोलुपस्य किं कार्यं करवाणि मुनीश्वर

api śaṁsa mahābhāga dharmamūrte kṛpānidhe alolupasya kiṁ kāryaṁ karavāṇi munīśvara

"Tell me, O embodiment of dharma, ocean of mercy, greatly fortunate one — what service may I do for one so free of desire, O lord of sages?"

Verse 6 (padma.5.6.6)

त्वत्तपोयोगतः सर्वं भवति स्वेच्छया बहु । तथापि मयि कृत्वैव कृपां शंश मुनीश्वरः

tvattapoyogataḥ sarvaṁ bhavati svecchayā bahu tathāpi mayi kṛtvaiva kṛpāṁ śaṁśa munīśvaraḥ

"By the power of your austerity everything comes to you abundantly, exactly as you wish; still, showing me grace, O lord of sages, do tell me."

Verse 7 (padma.5.6.7)

शेष उवाच। इत्युक्तो लोकगुरुणा राजराजेन धीमता । उवाच रामं लोकेशं विनीततरभाषया

śeṣa uvāca ityukto lokaguruṇā rājarājena dhīmatā uvāca rāmaṁ lokeśaṁ vinītatarabhāṣayā

Shesha said: Thus addressed by the wise Rama, guru of the world and king of kings, he spoke to Rama, lord of all worlds, in words of great humility —

Verse 8 (padma.5.6.8)

अगस्त्य उवाच। स्वामिंस्तव सुदुर्दर्शं दर्शनं दैवतैरपि । मत्वा समागतं विद्धि राजराज कृपानिधे

agastya uvāca svāmiṁstava sudurdarśaṁ darśanaṁ daivatairapi matvā samāgataṁ viddhi rājarāja kṛpānidhe

Agastya said: "O lord, know that I have come here considering that even the gods find it exceedingly rare to behold you, O king of kings, ocean of mercy."

Verse 9 (padma.5.6.9)

हतस्त्वया रावणाख्यस्त्वसुरो लोककंटकः । दिष्ट्याद्य देवाः सुखिनो दिष्ट्या राजा बिभीषणः

hatastvayā rāvaṇākhyastvasuro lokakaṁṭakaḥ diṣṭyādya devāḥ sukhino diṣṭyā rājā bibhīṣaṇaḥ

"The demon named Ravana, thorn of the world, has been slain by you; blessed indeed are the gods today, and blessed is King Vibhishana!"

Verse 10 (padma.5.6.10)

राम त्वद्दर्शनान्मेऽद्य गतं वै दुष्कृतं किल । संपूर्णो मे मनःकोश आनंदेन सुरोत्तम

rāma tvaddarśanānme'dya gataṁ vai duṣkṛtaṁ kila saṁpūrṇo me manaḥkośa ānaṁdena surottama

"O Rama, by the very sight of you today my sin has surely departed; my heart's vessel, O best of gods, is filled to overflowing with joy."

Verse 11 (padma.5.6.11)

इत्युक्त्वा स बभूवाशु तूष्णीं कुंभसमुद्भवः । रामसंदर्शनाह्लादविह्वलीकृतमानसः

ityuktvā sa babhūvāśu tūṣṇīṁ kuṁbhasamudbhavaḥ rāmasaṁdarśanāhlādavihvalīkṛtamānasaḥ

Having said this, the pot-born sage at once fell silent, his mind overwhelmed with the joy of beholding Rama.

Verse 12 (padma.5.6.12)

रामः पप्रच्छ तं भूयो मुनिं ज्ञानविशारदम् । लोकातीतं भवद्भावि सर्वं जानासि सर्वतः

rāmaḥ papraccha taṁ bhūyo muniṁ jñānaviśāradam lokātītaṁ bhavadbhāvi sarvaṁ jānāsi sarvataḥ

Rama again questioned that sage, skilled in knowledge: "You know all things, beyond ordinary perception, both what has been and what will be, in every way."

Verse 13 (padma.5.6.13)

मुने कथय मे सर्वं पृच्छतो हि सुविस्तरम् । कोऽसौ मया हतो यो हि रावणो विबुधार्दनः

mune kathaya me sarvaṁ pṛcchato hi suvistaram ko'sau mayā hato yo hi rāvaṇo vibudhārdanaḥ

"O sage, tell me all in full detail, as I ask — who was this Ravana, tormentor of the gods, whom I slew?"

Verse 14 (padma.5.6.14)

कुंभकर्णोऽपि कस्त्वेष का जातिर्वै दुरात्मनः । देवो दैत्यः पिशाचो वा राक्षसो वा महामुने

kuṁbhakarṇo'pi kastveṣa kā jātirvai durātmanaḥ devo daityaḥ piśāco vā rākṣaso vā mahāmune

"And who indeed was this Kumbhakarna? What was the lineage of that evil-souled one — god, demon, spirit, or rakshasa, O great sage?"

Verse 15 (padma.5.6.15)

सर्वमाख्याहि सर्वज्ञ सर्वं जानासि विस्तरात् । अतः कथय मे सर्वं कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि

sarvamākhyāhi sarvajña sarvaṁ jānāsi vistarāt ataḥ kathaya me sarvaṁ kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mamopari

"Tell me everything, O omniscient one — you know all in full. So, showing me grace, tell me everything."

Verse 16 (padma.5.6.16)

इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं कुंभजन्मा तपोनिधिः । यत्पृष्टं रघुराजेन प्रवक्तुं तत्प्रचक्रमे

iti śrutvā tato vākyaṁ kuṁbhajanmā taponidhiḥ yatpṛṣṭaṁ raghurājena pravaktuṁ tatpracakrame

Having heard these words, the pot-born treasury of austerity began to relate what the king of Raghus had asked —

Verse 17 (padma.5.6.17)

राजन्सृष्टिकरो ब्रह्मा पुलस्त्यस्तत्सुतोऽभवत् । ततस्तु विश्रवा जज्ञे वेदविद्याविशारदः

rājansṛṣṭikaro brahmā pulastyastatsuto'bhavat tatastu viśravā jajñe vedavidyāviśāradaḥ

"O king, Brahma the creator had Pulastya as his son; from him was born Vishrava, learned in Vedic knowledge."

Verse 18 (padma.5.6.18)

तस्य पत्नीद्वयं जातं पातिव्रत्यचरित्रभृत् । एका मंदाकिनी नाम्नी द्वितीया कैकसी स्मृता

tasya patnīdvayaṁ jātaṁ pātivratyacaritrabhṛt ekā maṁdākinī nāmnī dvitīyā kaikasī smṛtā

"He had two wives, both of virtuous, chaste conduct — one named Mandakini, the second known as Kaikasi."

Verse 19 (padma.5.6.19)

पूर्वस्यां धनदो जज्ञे लोकपालविलासभृत् । योऽसौ शिवप्रसादेन लंकावासमचीकरत्

pūrvasyāṁ dhanado jajñe lokapālavilāsabhṛt yo'sau śivaprasādena laṁkāvāsamacīkarat

"From the first was born Dhanada, Kubera, enjoying the splendor of a world-guardian, who by Shiva's grace made his dwelling in Lanka."

Verse 20 (padma.5.6.20)

विद्युन्मालिसुतायां तु पुत्रत्रयमभून्महत् । रावणः कुंभकर्णश्च तथा पुण्यो बिभीषणः

vidyunmālisutāyāṁ tu putratrayamabhūnmahat rāvaṇaḥ kuṁbhakarṇaśca tathā puṇyo bibhīṣaṇaḥ

"From Kaikasi, daughter of Vidyunmali, were born three great sons — Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and the virtuous Vibhishana."

Verse 21 (padma.5.6.21)

राक्षस्युदरजन्मत्वात्संध्यासमयसंभवात् । द्वयोरधर्मनिपुणा मतिरासीन्महामते

rākṣasyudarajanmatvātsaṁdhyāsamayasaṁbhavāt dvayoradharmanipuṇā matirāsīnmahāmate

"O wise one, because they were born of a rakshasi's womb, conceived at the twilight hour, the two elder ones had minds skilled in unrighteousness."

Verse 22 (padma.5.6.22)

एकदा तु विमानेन पुष्पकेण सुशोभिना । कांचनीयोपकल्पेन किंकिणीजालमालिना

ekadā tu vimānena puṣpakeṇa suśobhinā kāṁcanīyopakalpena kiṁkiṇījālamālinā

"One day, mounted upon the splendid Pushpaka chariot, made of gold, hung with strings of tinkling bells —"

Verse 23 (padma.5.6.23)

आरुह्य पितरौ द्रष्टुं प्रायाच्छोभासमन्वितः । स्वगणैः संस्तुतो भूत्वा नानारत्नविभूषणैः

āruhya pitarau draṣṭuṁ prāyācchobhāsamanvitaḥ svagaṇaiḥ saṁstuto bhūtvā nānāratnavibhūṣaṇaiḥ

"he set out, resplendent, honored by his own retinue adorned with various jewels, to see his parents."

Verse 24 (padma.5.6.24)

आगत्य पित्रोश्चरणे पतित्वा चिरमात्मजः । हर्षविह्वलितात्मा च रोमांचिततनूरुहः

āgatya pitroścaraṇe patitvā ciramātmajaḥ harṣavihvalitātmā ca romāṁcitatanūruhaḥ

"Arriving, that son fell for a long while at his parents' feet, his heart overcome with joy, his body thrilling with delight —"

Verse 25 (padma.5.6.25)

उवाच मेऽद्य सुदिनं महाभाग्यफलोदयः । यन्मे युष्मत्पदौ दृष्टौ महापुण्यददर्शनौ

uvāca me'dya sudinaṁ mahābhāgyaphalodayaḥ yanme yuṣmatpadau dṛṣṭau mahāpuṇyadadarśanau

"and said, 'This is truly a fortunate day for me, the ripening fruit of great merit, in that I have seen your two feet, whose very sight grants great merit.'"

Verse 26 (padma.5.6.26)

इत्यादिभिः स्तुतिपदैः स्तुत्वागान्मंदिरं स्वकम् । पितरावपि संहृष्टौ पुत्रस्नेहाद्बभूवतुः

ityādibhiḥ stutipadaiḥ stutvāgānmaṁdiraṁ svakam pitarāvapi saṁhṛṣṭau putrasnehādbabhūvatuḥ

"Having praised them thus with words of adoration, he went to his own palace; his parents too became overjoyed out of love for their son."

Verse 27 (padma.5.6.27)

तं दृष्ट्वा रावणो धीमाञ्जगाद निजमातरम् । कोऽयं पुमान्सुरो वाथ यक्षो वाथ नरोत्तमः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇo dhīmāñjagāda nijamātaram ko'yaṁ pumānsuro vātha yakṣo vātha narottamaḥ

"Seeing him, wise Ravana said to his own mother: 'Who was that man — a god, a yaksha, or the finest among men —"

Verse 28 (padma.5.6.28)

योऽसौ मम पितुःपादौ सन्निषेव्य गतः पुनः । महाभाग्यनिधिः स्वीयैर्गणैः सुपरिवारितः

yo'sau mama pituḥpādau sanniṣevya gataḥ punaḥ mahābhāgyanidhiḥ svīyairgaṇaiḥ suparivāritaḥ

"'who, having paid homage to my father's feet, again departed, that treasury of great fortune, well-attended by his own retinue?"

Verse 29 (padma.5.6.29)

केनेदं तपसा लब्धं विमानं वायुवेगधृक् । उद्यानारामलीलादि विलासस्थानमुत्तमम्

kenedaṁ tapasā labdhaṁ vimānaṁ vāyuvegadhṛk udyānārāmalīlādi vilāsasthānamuttamam

"'By what austerity did he obtain this wind-swift chariot, this excellent pleasure-place with its gardens, groves, and sport?'"

Verse 30 (padma.5.6.30)

शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य जननी रोषविक्लवा । उवाच पुत्रं विमनाः किंचिन्नेत्रविकारिणी

śeṣa uvāca iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya jananī roṣaviklavā uvāca putraṁ vimanāḥ kiṁcinnetravikāriṇī

Shesha said: Hearing these words, his mother, distressed with anger, dejected, her eyes somewhat changed, spoke to her son —

Verse 31 (padma.5.6.31)

रे पुत्र शृणु मद्वाक्यं बहुशिक्षासमन्वितम् । एतस्य जन्मकर्मादि विचारचतुराधिकम्

re putra śṛṇu madvākyaṁ bahuśikṣāsamanvitam etasya janmakarmādi vicāracaturādhikam

"'O son, listen to my words, full of much instruction — the matter of his birth and deeds calls for careful thought."

Verse 32 (padma.5.6.32)

सपत्न्या मम कुक्षिस्थं विधानं समुपस्थितम् । येन स्वमातुर्विमलं कुलमुज्ज्वलितं महत्

sapatnyā mama kukṣisthaṁ vidhānaṁ samupasthitam yena svamāturvimalaṁ kulamujjvalitaṁ mahat

"'While he was still in my co-wife's womb, an ordinance came about by which his mother's spotless, great lineage was made resplendent."

Verse 33 (padma.5.6.33)

त्वं तु मत्कुक्षिजः कीटः पापः स्वोदरपूरकः । यथा खरः स्वकं भारं जानाति न च तद्गुणम्

tvaṁ tu matkukṣijaḥ kīṭaḥ pāpaḥ svodarapūrakaḥ yathā kharaḥ svakaṁ bhāraṁ jānāti na ca tadguṇam

"'But you, born of my own womb, are a sinful worm, filling only your own belly; as a donkey knows only its own burden and not its worth,"

Verse 34 (padma.5.6.34)

तथा त्वं लक्ष्यसेऽज्ञानी शयनासनभोगवान् । सुप्तो गतः क्वचिद्भ्रष्ट इत्येव तव संभवः

tathā tvaṁ lakṣyase'jñānī śayanāsanabhogavān supto gataḥ kvacidbhraṣṭa ityeva tava saṁbhavaḥ

"'so too you appear ignorant, given only to lying about, sitting, and eating — sometimes asleep, sometimes gone off somewhere, fallen — such alone is your existence."

Verse 35 (padma.5.6.35)

अनेन तपसा लब्धं शिवसंतोषकारिणा । लंकावासो मनोवेगं विमानं राज्यसंपदः

anena tapasā labdhaṁ śivasaṁtoṣakāriṇā laṁkāvāso manovegaṁ vimānaṁ rājyasaṁpadaḥ

"'By that austerity of his, pleasing to Shiva, he obtained his dwelling in Lanka, that mind-swift chariot, and the wealth of a kingdom."

Verse 36 (padma.5.6.36)

सुधन्या जननी त्वस्य सुभाग्या सुमहोदया । यस्याः पुत्रो निजगुणैर्लब्धवान्महतां पदम्

sudhanyā jananī tvasya subhāgyā sumahodayā yasyāḥ putro nijaguṇairlabdhavānmahatāṁ padam

"'Blessed indeed, most fortunate, of great prosperity, is his mother, whose son has attained, by his own virtues, the very station of the great.'"

Verse 37 (padma.5.6.37)

इति क्रुधा भाषितमार्तया तया मात्रा स्वयाऽकर्ण्य दुरात्मसत्तमः । रोषं विधायात्मगतं पुनर्वचो जगाद तां निश्चयभृत्तपः प्रति

iti krudhā bhāṣitamārtayā tayā mātrā svayā'karṇya durātmasattamaḥ roṣaṁ vidhāyātmagataṁ punarvaco jagāda tāṁ niścayabhṛttapaḥ prati

Having heard these angry, grieving words spoken by his own mother, that most evil-souled one, suppressing his inward rage, resolved firmly upon austerity, spoke to her again —

Verse 38 (padma.5.6.38)

रावण उवाच। जनन्याकर्णय वचो मम गर्वसमन्वितम् । रत्नगर्भा त्वमेवासि यस्याः पुत्रास्त्रयो वयम्

rāvaṇa uvāca jananyākarṇaya vaco mama garvasamanvitam ratnagarbhā tvamevāsi yasyāḥ putrāstrayo vayam

Ravana said: "Mother, hear my words, spoken with pride — you alone are the womb of jewels, whose sons we three are."

Verse 39 (padma.5.6.39)

कोऽसौ कीटः स धनदः क्व तपः स्वल्पकं पुनः । कालं का किंतु तद्राज्यं स्वल्पसेवकसंयुतम्

ko'sau kīṭaḥ sa dhanadaḥ kva tapaḥ svalpakaṁ punaḥ kālaṁ kā kiṁtu tadrājyaṁ svalpasevakasaṁyutam

"Who is that worm, that Dhanada? What is his petty austerity, and how brief its duration? And what indeed is his kingdom, attended by so few servants?"

Verse 40 (padma.5.6.40)

मातः शृणु ममोत्साहात्प्रतिज्ञां करुणान्विते । न केनापि कृतां कर्त्रा महाभाग्ये हि कैकसि

mātaḥ śṛṇu mamotsāhātpratijñāṁ karuṇānvite na kenāpi kṛtāṁ kartrā mahābhāgye hi kaikasi

"Mother, compassionate one, hear now my vow, made with resolve — a vow such as no one before has ever made, O most fortunate Kaikasi."

Verse 41 (padma.5.6.41)

यद्यहं भुवनं सर्वं वशेन स्थापयामि वै । तपोभिर्दुष्कृतैः कृत्वा ब्रह्मसंतोषकारकैः

yadyahaṁ bhuvanaṁ sarvaṁ vaśena sthāpayāmi vai tapobhirduṣkṛtaiḥ kṛtvā brahmasaṁtoṣakārakaiḥ

"If, through austerities harsh enough to please Brahma, I do not bring the whole world under my sway —"

Verse 42 (padma.5.6.42)

अन्नोदके सदा त्यक्त्वा निद्रां क्रीडां तथा पुनः । चेत्तदा पितृलोकस्य घातात्पापं भवेन्मम

annodake sadā tyaktvā nidrāṁ krīḍāṁ tathā punaḥ cettadā pitṛlokasya ghātātpāpaṁ bhavenmama

"forsaking food and water, sleep and play forever — then let the sin of slaying my own ancestors fall upon me."

Verse 43 (padma.5.6.43)

कुंभकर्णोऽपि कृतवान्विभीषणसमन्वितः । रावणेन सहभ्रात्रेत्युक्त्वागाद्गिरिकाननम्

kuṁbhakarṇo'pi kṛtavānvibhīṣaṇasamanvitaḥ rāvaṇena sahabhrātretyuktvāgādgirikānanam

Saying, "We shall do this together with our brother Ravana," Kumbhakarna too, along with Vibhishana, set out for the mountain forest.