The Gods Beseech Vishnu

Shloka 1 (bala.15.1)

मेधावी तु ततो ध्यात्वा स किञ्चिदिदमुत्तरम् । लब्धसंज्ञः ततस्तं तु वेदज्ञो नृपमब्रवीत् ॥ 15.1 ॥

medhāvī tu tato dhyātvā sa kiñcididamuttaram | labdhasaṃjñaḥ tatastaṃ tu vedajño nṛpamabravīt

That intelligent one, having reflected a while on his answer, then, his understanding now clear, being versed in the Veda, spoke to the king:

Shloka 2 (bala.15.2)

इष्टिं तेऽहं करिष्यामि पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात् । अथर्वशिरसि प्रोक्तैर्मन्त्रैः सिद्धां विधानतः ॥ 15.2 ॥

iṣṭiṃ te'haṃ kariṣyāmi putrīyāṃ putrakāraṇāt | atharvaśirasi proktairmantraiḥ siddhāṃ vidhānataḥ

‘I shall perform for you, for the sake of a son, the Putriya rite, made efficacious by the mantras declared in the Atharva-shiras, according to due rite.’

Shloka 3 (bala.15.3)

ततः प्राक्रमदिष्टिं तां पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात् । जुहाव चाग्नौ तेजस्वी मन्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥ 15.3 ॥

tataḥ prākramadiṣṭiṃ tāṃ putrīyāṃ putrakāraṇāt | juhāva cāgnau tejasvī mantradṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Then that radiant sage began that Putriya rite for the sake of a son, and made offerings into the fire with rites revealed by mantra.

Shloka 4 (bala.15.4)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । भागप्रतिग्रहार्थं वै समवेता यथाविधि ॥ 15.4 ॥

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ | bhāgapratigrahārthaṃ vai samavetā yathāvidhi

Then the gods, together with the Gandharvas, the Siddhas, and the great sages, duly assembled to receive their portion of the offering.

Shloka 5 (bala.15.5)

ताः समेत्य यथान्यायं तस्मिन् सदसि देवताः । अब्रुवन् लोककर्तारं ब्रह्माणं वचनं ततः ॥ 15.5 ॥

tāḥ sametya yathānyāyaṃ tasmin sadasi devatāḥ | abruvan lokakartāraṃ brahmāṇaṃ vacanaṃ tataḥ

Those deities, having gathered rightly in that assembly, then spoke these words to Brahma, the maker of the worlds:

Shloka 6 (bala.15.6)

भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादेन रावणो नाम राक्षसः । सर्वान्नो बाधते वीर्याच्छासितुं तं न शक्नुमः ॥ 15.6 ॥

bhagavaṃstvatprasādena rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ | sarvānno bādhate vīryācchāsituṃ taṃ na śaknumaḥ

‘O Lord, by your grace, a demon named Ravana torments all of us by his might; and we are unable to restrain him.’

Shloka 7 (bala.15.7)

त्वया तस्मै वरो दत्तः प्रीतेन भगवान् तदा । मानयन्तश्च तं नित्यं सर्वं तस्य क्षमामहे ॥ 15.7 ॥

tvayā tasmai varo dattaḥ prītena bhagavān tadā | mānayantaśca taṃ nityaṃ sarvaṃ tasya kṣamāmahe

‘You, O Lord, once pleased with him, granted him this boon; and, out of respect for that, we continually forbear all his deeds.’

Shloka 8 (bala.15.8)

उद्वेजयति लोकांस्त्रीनुच्छ्रितान् द्वेष्टि दुर्मतिः । शक्रं त्रिदशराजानं प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति ॥ 15.8 ॥

udvejayati lokāṃstrīnucchritān dveṣṭi durmatiḥ | śakraṃ tridaśarājānaṃ pradharṣayitumicchati

‘That evil-minded one torments the three exalted worlds and hates them, and desires to assail Indra, king of the thirty gods.’

Shloka 9 (bala.15.9)

ऋषीन् यक्षान् सगन्धर्वानसुरान् ब्राह्मणांस्तथा । अतिक्रामति दुर्धर्षो वरदानेन मोहितः ॥ 15.9 ॥

ṛṣīn yakṣān sagandharvānasurān brāhmaṇāṃstathā | atikrāmati durdharṣo varadānena mohitaḥ

‘That unassailable one, made arrogant by your boon, oversteps his bounds against sages, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Brahmins alike.’

Shloka 10 (bala.15.10)

नैनं सूर्यः प्रतपति पार्श्वे वाति न मारुतः । चलोर्मिमाली तं दृष्ट्वा समुद्रोऽपि न कंपते ॥ 15.10 ॥

nainaṃ sūryaḥ pratapati pārśve vāti na mārutaḥ | calormimālī taṃ dṛṣṭvā samudro'pi na kaṃpate

‘The sun does not scorch him; the wind does not blow beside him; and even the ocean, garlanded with restless waves, does not stir at the sight of him.’

Shloka 11 (bala.15.11)

तन्महन्नो भयं तस्माद्राक्षसाद्घोरदर्शनात् । वधार्थं तस्य भगवन्नुपायं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 15.11 ॥

tanmahanno bhayaṃ tasmādrākṣasādghoradarśanāt | vadhārthaṃ tasya bhagavannupāyaṃ kartumarhasi

‘Great, therefore, is our fear of that demon, terrible to behold; it behooves you, O Lord, to devise a means for his destruction.’

Shloka 12 (bala.15.12)

एवमुक्तः सुरैः सर्वैः चिन्तयित्वा ततोऽब्रवीत् । हन्तायं विदितस्तस्य वधोपायो दुरात्मनः ॥ 15.12 ॥

evamuktaḥ suraiḥ sarvaiḥ cintayitvā tato'bravīt | hantāyaṃ viditastasya vadhopāyo durātmanaḥ

Thus addressed by all the gods, Brahma reflected a while, and then said: ‘Ah — the means for the destruction of that evil-souled one has come to mind.’

Shloka 13 (bala.15.13)

तेन गन्धर्वयक्षाणां देवतानां च रक्षसाम् । अवध्योऽस्मीति वागुक्ता तथेक्तं च तन्मया ॥ 15.13 ॥

tena gandharvayakṣāṇāṃ devatānāṃ ca rakṣasām | avadhyo'smīti vāguktā tathektaṃ ca tanmayā

‘By him it was said, in seeking his boon, “Let me be unslayable by Gandharvas, Yakshas, gods, and demons” — and I granted it accordingly.’

Shloka 14 (bala.15.14)

नाकीर्तयदवज्ञानात्तद्रक्षो मानुषांस्तदा । तस्मात् स मानुषाद्वध्यो मृत्युर्नान्योऽस्य विद्यते ॥ 15.14 ॥

nākīrtayadavajñānāttadrakṣo mānuṣāṃstadā | tasmāt sa mānuṣādvadhyo mṛtyurnānyo'sya vidyate

‘Out of contempt, that demon did not then name mankind among those he feared. Therefore he can be slain only by a man; no other death is possible for him.’

Shloka 15 (bala.15.15)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रियं वाक्यं ब्रह्मणा समुदाहृतम् । देवा महर्षयः सर्वे प्रहृष्टास्तेऽभवंस्तदा ॥ 15.15 ॥

etacchrutvā priyaṃ vākyaṃ brahmaṇā samudāhṛtam | devā maharṣayaḥ sarve prahṛṣṭāste'bhavaṃstadā

Hearing this welcome word spoken by Brahma, all the gods and great sages were then filled with joy.

Shloka 16 (bala.15.16)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णुरुपयातो महाद्युतिः । श्ङ्खचक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासा जगत्पतिः ॥ 15.16 ॥

etasminnantare viṣṇurupayāto mahādyutiḥ | śṅkhacakragadāpāṇiḥ pītavāsā jagatpatiḥ

At that very moment, the greatly radiant Vishnu arrived — the lord of the universe, bearing conch, discus, and mace in hand, clad in yellow garments,

Shloka 17 (bala.15.17)

वैनतेयं समारुह्य भास्करस्तोयदं यथा । तप्तहाटककेयूरो वन्द्यमानः सुरोत्तमैः ॥ 15.17 ॥

vainateyaṃ samāruhya bhāskarastoyadaṃ yathā | taptahāṭakakeyūro vandyamānaḥ surottamaiḥ

mounted upon Garuda, as the sun rides upon a cloud; his armlets of molten gold, honoured by the foremost of gods.

Shloka 18 (bala.15.18)

ब्रह्मणा च समागम्य तत्र तस्थौ समाहितः । तमब्रुवन् सुराः सर्वे समभिष्टूय संनताः ॥ 15.18 ॥

brahmaṇā ca samāgamya tatra tasthau samāhitaḥ | tamabruvan surāḥ sarve samabhiṣṭūya saṃnatāḥ

Having come together with Brahma, he stood there composed; and all the gods, bowing low and praising him, said to him:

Shloka 19 (bala.15.19)

त्वां नियोक्ष्यामहे विष्णो लोकानां हितकाम्यया । राज्ञो दशरथस्य त्वमयोध्याधिपतेः विभोः ॥ 15.19 ॥

tvāṃ niyokṣyāmahe viṣṇo lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā | rājño daśarathasya tvamayodhyādhipateḥ vibhoḥ

‘O Vishnu, for the welfare of the worlds we now entreat you: become the son of King Dasharatha, the mighty lord of Ayodhya,’

Shloka 20 (bala.15.20)

धर्मज्ञस्य वदान्यस्य महर्षिसमतेजसः । अस्य भार्यासु तिसृषु ह्रीश्रीकीर्त्युपमासु च ॥ 15.20 ॥

dharmajñasya vadānyasya maharṣisamatejasaḥ | asya bhāryāsu tisṛṣu hrīśrīkīrtyupamāsu ca

‘—a knower of righteousness, generous, radiant as a great sage — through his three wives, who are like Modesty, Fortune, and Fame incarnate.’

Shloka 21 (bala.15.21)

विष्णो पुत्रत्वमागच्छ कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् । तत्र त्वं मानुषो भूत्वा प्रवृद्धं लोककण्टकम् ॥ 15.21 ॥

viṣṇo putratvamāgaccha kṛtvātmānaṃ caturvidham | tatra tvaṃ mānuṣo bhūtvā pravṛddhaṃ lokakaṇṭakam

‘O Vishnu, dividing yourself into four, come to be his son; there, having become a man, slay in battle that thorn grown great in the world’s side—’

Shloka 22 (bala.15.22)

अवध्यं दैवतैर्विष्णो समरे जहि रावणम् । स हि देवान् सगन्धर्वान् सिद्धांश्च ऋषिसत्तमान् ॥ 15.22 ॥

avadhyaṃ daivatairviṣṇo samare jahi rāvaṇam | sa hi devān sagandharvān siddhāṃśca ṛṣisattamān

—‘Ravana, who cannot be slain by the gods. For he oppresses the gods, together with the Gandharvas and Siddhas, and the foremost of sages,’

Shloka 23 (bala.15.23)

राक्षसो रावणो मूर्खो वीर्योद्रेकेण बाधते । ऋषयश्च ततस्तेन गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥ 15.23 ॥

rākṣaso rāvaṇo mūrkho vīryodrekeṇa bādhate | ṛṣayaśca tatastena gandharvāpsarasastathā

—‘that foolish demon Ravana, through the excess of his might. And by him the sages, and likewise the Gandharvas and Apsarases,’

Shloka 24 (bala.15.24)

क्रीडन्तो नन्दनवने रौद्रेण विनिपातिताः । वधार्थं वयमायातास्तस्य वै मुनिभिः सह ॥ 15.24 ॥

krīḍanto nandanavane raudreṇa vinipātitāḥ | vadhārthaṃ vayamāyātāstasya vai munibhiḥ saha

—‘while sporting in the Nandana grove, have been violently struck down by that fierce one. For his destruction we have come here, together with the sages;’

Shloka 25 (bala.15.25)

सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च ततस्त्वां शरणं गताः । त्वं गतिः परमा देव सर्वेषां नः परंतप ॥ 15.25 ॥

siddhagandharvayakṣāśca tatastvāṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ | tvaṃ gatiḥ paramā deva sarveṣāṃ naḥ paraṃtapa

—‘and the Siddhas, Gandharvas, and Yakshas too have therefore come to you for refuge. You are our supreme resort, O God, O scourge of foes.’

Shloka 26 (bala.15.26)

वधाय देवशतॄणां नृणां लोके मनः कुरु । एवं स्तुतस्तु देवेशो विष्णुस्त्रिदशपुंगवः ॥ 15.26 ॥

vadhāya devaśatṝṇāṃ nṛṇāṃ loke manaḥ kuru | evaṃ stutastu deveśo viṣṇustridaśapuṃgavaḥ

‘Set your mind upon being born in the world of men, for the destruction of the gods’ enemies.’ Thus praised, Vishnu, lord of gods, foremost of the immortals,

Shloka 27 (bala.15.27)

पितामहपुरोगांस्तान् सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः अब्रवीत् त्रिदशान् सर्वान् समेतान् धर्मसंहितान् ॥ 15.27 ॥

pitāmahapurogāṃstān sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ abravīt tridaśān sarvān sametān dharmasaṃhitān

he who is honoured by all the worlds, spoke to all those assembled, righteous gods, with the Grandsire foremost among them:

Shloka 28 (bala.15.28)

भयं त्यजत भद्रं वो हितार्थं युधि रावणम् । सपुत्रपौत्रं सामात्यं समित्रज्ञातिबान्धवम् ॥ 15.28 ॥

bhayaṃ tyajata bhadraṃ vo hitārthaṃ yudhi rāvaṇam | saputrapautraṃ sāmātyaṃ samitrajñātibāndhavam

‘Cast off your fear; may good befall you. For your welfare, in battle, I shall slay Ravana, together with his sons and grandsons, his ministers, his friends, kinsmen, and relatives,’

Shloka 29 (bala.15.29)

हत्वा क्रूरं दुराधर्षं देवर्षीणां भयावहम् । दश वर्ष सहस्राणि दश वर्ष शतानि च ॥ 15.29 ॥

hatvā krūraṃ durādharṣaṃ devarṣīṇāṃ bhayāvaham | daśa varṣa sahasrāṇi daśa varṣa śatāni ca

—‘having slain that cruel one, hard to overcome, the terror of gods and sages. For eleven thousand years’

Shloka 30 (bala.15.30)

वत्स्यामि मानुषे लोके पालयन् पृथिवीमिमाम् । एवं दत्वा वरं देवो देवानां विष्णुरात्मवान् ॥ 15.30 ॥

vatsyāmi mānuṣe loke pālayan pṛthivīmimām | evaṃ datvā varaṃ devo devānāṃ viṣṇurātmavān

—‘I shall dwell in the world of men, ruling over this earth.’ Having thus granted this boon to the gods, the self-possessed lord Vishnu

Shloka 31 (bala.15.31)

मानुषे चिन्तयामास जन्मभूमिमथात्मनः । ततः पद्मपलाशाक्षः कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् ॥ 15.31 ॥

mānuṣe cintayāmāsa janmabhūmimathātmanaḥ | tataḥ padmapalāśākṣaḥ kṛtvātmānaṃ caturvidham

then turned his thought to the place of his own birth among men. Then that lotus-petal-eyed one, having divided himself into four parts,

Shloka 32 (bala.15.32)

पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् । तदा देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः सरुद्राः साप्सरो गणाः । स्तुतिभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिस्तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम् ॥ 15.32 ॥

pitaraṃ rocayāmāsa tadā daśarathaṃ nṛpam | tadā devarṣigandharvāḥ sarudrāḥ sāpsaro gaṇāḥ | stutibhirdivyarūpābhistuṣṭuvurmadhusūdanam

chose King Dasharatha to be his father. Then the gods, sages, and Gandharvas, together with the Rudras and hosts of Apsarases, extolled Lord Madhusudana with hymns of divine praise.

Shloka 33 (bala.15.33)

तमुद्धतं रावणमुग्रतेजसम् प्रवृद्धदर्पं त्रिदशेश्वरद्विषम् । विरावणं साधुतपस्विकण्टकम् तपस्विनामुद्धर तं भयावहम् ॥ 15.33 ॥

tamuddhataṃ rāvaṇamugratejasam pravṛddhadarpaṃ tridaśeśvaradviṣam | virāvaṇaṃ sādhutapasvikaṇṭakam tapasvināmuddhara taṃ bhayāvaham

‘That arrogant Ravana, of terrible power, swollen with pride, the enemy of the lord of the gods — that howling one, a thorn to the virtuous ascetics — deliver the ascetics from him, that source of terror!’

Shloka 34 (bala.15.34)

तमेव हत्वा सबलं सबान्धवम् विरावणं रावणमुग्रपौरुषम् । स्वर्लोकमागच्छ गतज्वरश्चिरम् सुरेन्द्रगुप्तं गतदोषकल्मषम् ॥ 15.34 ॥

tameva hatvā sabalaṃ sabāndhavam virāvaṇaṃ rāvaṇamugrapauruṣam | svarlokamāgaccha gatajvaraściram surendraguptaṃ gatadoṣakalmaṣam

‘Having slain that very Ravana of terrible manhood — that howling one, with all his army and kinsmen — return, your fever gone, for a long age, to the heavenly world guarded by Indra, freed of all fault and stain.’