The Curse of Vedavati

Shloka 1 (uttara.17.1)

अथ राजन्महाबाहुर्विचरन्स महीतले । हिमवद्वनमासाद्य परिचक्राम रावणः ॥ 17.1 ॥

atha rājanmahābāhurvicaransa mahītale | himavadvanamāsādya paricakrāma rāvaṇaḥ || 17.1 ||

Then, O king, that mighty-armed Ravana, roaming over the earth, reached the forest of the Himalaya and wandered about there.

Shloka 2 (uttara.17.2)

तत्रापश्यत्स वै कन्यां कृष्णाजिनजटाधराम् । आर्षेण विधिना युक्तां दीप्यन्तीं देवतामिव ॥ 17.2 ॥

tatrāpaśyatsa vai kanyāṃ kṛṣṇājinajaṭādharām | ārṣeṇa vidhinā yuktāṃ dīpyantīṃ devatāmiva || 17.2 ||

There he saw a maiden clad in a black antelope skin and wearing matted locks, engaged in sagely observances, blazing like a goddess.

Shloka 3 (uttara.17.3)

स दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां कन्यां तां सुमहाव्रताम् । काममोहपरीतात्मा पप्रच्छ प्रहसन्निव ॥ 17.3 ॥

sa dṛṣṭvā rūpasampannāṃ kanyāṃ tāṃ sumahāvratām | kāmamohaparītātmā papraccha prahasanniva || 17.3 ||

Seeing that maiden, lovely and bound by a great vow, his mind overcome by the delusion of desire, he asked her as if with a smile:

Shloka 4 (uttara.17.4)

किमिदं वर्तसे भद्रे विरुद्धं यौवनस्य ते । नहि युक्ता तवैतस्य रूपस्यैव प्रति क्रिया ॥ 17.4 ॥

kimidaṃ vartase bhadre viruddhaṃ yauvanasya te | nahi yuktā tavaitasya rūpasyaiva prati kriyā || 17.4 ||

"O gentle one, why do you conduct yourself thus, contrary to your youth? Such penance does not befit one of your beauty."

Shloka 5 (uttara.17.5)

रूपं ते ऽनुपमं भीरु कामोन्मादकरं नृणाम् । न युक्तं तपसि स्थातुं निर्गतो ह्येष निर्णयः ॥ 17.5 ॥

rūpaṃ te 'nupamaṃ bhīru kāmonmādakaraṃ nṛṇām | na yuktaṃ tapasi sthātuṃ nirgato hyeṣa nirṇayaḥ || 17.5 ||

"Your beauty, O timid one, is matchless -- it maddens men with desire; to remain in austerity is not fitting for you -- this is a settled truth."

Shloka 6 (uttara.17.6)

कस्यासि किमिदं भद्रे कश्च भर्ता वरानने । येन सम्भुज्यसे भीरु स नरः पुण्यभाग्भुवि ॥ 17.6 ॥

kasyāsi kimidaṃ bhadre kaśca bhartā varānane | yena sambhujyase bhīru sa naraḥ puṇyabhāgbhuvi || 17.6 ||

"Whose daughter are you, gentle one, what is this practice, and who is your husband, O fair-faced one? That man by whom you are enjoyed, O timid one, is fortunate indeed on this earth."

Shloka 7 (uttara.17.7)

पृच्छतः शंस मे सर्वं कस्य हेतोः परिश्रमः । एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या रावणेन यशस्विनी ॥ 17.7 ॥

pṛcchataḥ śaṃsa me sarvaṃ kasya hetoḥ pariśramaḥ | evamuktā tu sā kanyā rāvaṇena yaśasvinī || 17.7 ||

"I ask you -- tell me everything: for what reason is this toil?" Thus questioned by Ravana, that illustrious maiden --

Shloka 8 (uttara.17.8)

अब्रवीद्विधिवत्कृत्वा तस्यातिथ्यं तपोधना । कुशध्वजो मम पिता ब्रह्मर्षिरमितप्रभः । बृहस्पतिसुतः श्रीमान्बुद्ध्या तुल्यो बृहस्पतेः ॥ 17.8 ॥

abravīdvidhivatkṛtvā tasyātithyaṃ tapodhanā | kuśadhvajo mama pitā brahmarṣiramitaprabhaḥ | bṛhaspatisutaḥ śrīmānbuddhyā tulyo bṛhaspateḥ || 17.8 ||

-- having duly performed the rites of hospitality for him, replied: "My father, O one rich in penance, is Kushadhvaja, a brahmarishi of measureless splendour, son of Brihaspati, glorious, equal to Brihaspati in wisdom."

Shloka 9 (uttara.17.9)

तस्याहं कुर्वतो नित्यं वेदाभ्यासं महात्मनः । सम्भूय वाङ्मयी कन्या नाम्ना वेदवती स्मृता ॥ 17.9 ॥

tasyāhaṃ kurvato nityaṃ vedābhyāsaṃ mahātmanaḥ | sambhūya vāṅmayī kanyā nāmnā vedavatī smṛtā || 17.9 ||

"Born to that great-souled one as he ceaselessly practised recitation of the Veda -- a maiden formed of speech itself, I am known by the name Vedavati."

Shloka 10 (uttara.17.10)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः । ते ऽपि गत्वा हि पितरं वरणं रोचयन्ति मे ॥ 17.10 ॥

tato devāḥ sagandharvā yakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ | te 'pi gatvā hi pitaraṃ varaṇaṃ rocayanti me || 17.10 ||

"Then gods together with gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, and serpents -- all these too went to my father, wishing to seek my hand."

Shloka 11 (uttara.17.11)

न च मां स पिता तेभ्यो दत्तवान्राक्षसर्षभ । कारणं तद्वदिष्यामि निशाचर निशामय ॥ 17.11 ॥

na ca māṃ sa pitā tebhyo dattavānrākṣasarṣabha | kāraṇaṃ tadvadiṣyāmi niśācara niśāmaya || 17.11 ||

"But, O bull among rakshasas, my father gave me to none of them. I shall tell the reason -- listen, O night-wanderer."

Shloka 12 (uttara.17.12)

पितुस्तु मम जामाता विष्णुः किल सुरेश्वरः । अभिप्रेतस्त्रिलोकेशस्तस्मान्नान्यस्य मे पिता ॥ 17.12 ॥

pitustu mama jāmātā viṣṇuḥ kila sureśvaraḥ | abhipretastrilokeśastasmānnānyasya me pitā || 17.12 ||

"My father desired Vishnu alone, the lord of the gods, ruler of the three worlds, as his son-in-law; therefore he would give me to none other."

Shloka 13 (uttara.17.13)

दातुमिच्छति तस्मै तु तच्छ्रुत्वा बलदर्पितः । दम्भुर्नाम ततो राजा दैत्यानां कुपितो ऽभवत् ॥ 17.13 ॥

dātumicchati tasmai tu tacchrutvā baladarpitaḥ | dambhurnāma tato rājā daityānāṃ kupito 'bhavat || 17.13 ||

"He wished to give me to him alone; but hearing this, a king of the daityas named Dambhu, proud of his strength, grew furious."

Shloka 14 (uttara.17.14)

तेन रात्रौ शयानो मे पिता पापेन हिंसितः ॥ 17.14 ॥

tena rātrau śayāno me pitā pāpena hiṃsitaḥ || 17.14 ||

"That wicked one, at night, slew my father as he lay asleep."

Shloka 15 (uttara.17.15)

ततो मे जननी दीना तच्छरीरं पितुर्मम । परिष्वज्य महाभागा प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम् ॥ 17.15 ॥

tato me jananī dīnā taccharīraṃ piturmama | pariṣvajya mahābhāgā praviṣṭā havyavāhanam || 17.15 ||

"Then my grief-stricken mother, that most blessed lady, embracing my father's body, entered into the fire."

Shloka 16 (uttara.17.16)

ततो मनोरथं सत्यं पितुर्नारायणं प्रति । करोमीति तमेवाहं हृदयेन समुद्वहे ॥ 17.16 ॥

tato manorathaṃ satyaṃ piturnārāyaṇaṃ prati | karomīti tamevāhaṃ hṛdayena samudvahe || 17.16 ||

"'I shall fulfil my father's true wish concerning Narayana' -- this very resolve I carry within my heart."

Shloka 17 (uttara.17.17)

इति प्रतिज्ञामारुह्य चरामि विपुलं तपः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया राक्षसपुङ्गव ॥ 17.17 ॥

iti pratijñāmāruhya carāmi vipulaṃ tapaḥ | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ mayā rākṣasapuṅgava || 17.17 ||

"Holding fast to this vow, I perform great austerity. All this, O foremost of rakshasas, has now been told to you by me."

Shloka 18 (uttara.17.18)

नारायणो मम पतिर्न त्वन्यः पुरुषोत्तमात् । आश्रये नियमं घोरं नारायणपरीप्सया । विज्ञातस्त्वं हि मे राजन्गच्छ पौलस्त्यनन्दन ॥ 17.18 ॥

nārāyaṇo mama patirna tvanyaḥ puruṣottamāt | āśraye niyamaṃ ghoraṃ nārāyaṇaparīpsayā | vijñātastvaṃ hi me rājangaccha paulastyanandana || 17.18 ||

"Narayana alone is my husband, none other than that Supreme Person; it is out of desire to attain Narayana that I hold to this severe discipline. I know you now, O king; go, O delight of Pulastya."

Shloka 19 (uttara.17.19)

जानामि तपसा सर्वं त्रैलोक्ये यद्धि वर्तते ॥ 17.19 ॥

jānāmi tapasā sarvaṃ trailokye yaddhi vartate || 17.19 ||

"By the power of my penance, I know all that occurs throughout the three worlds."

Shloka 20 (uttara.17.20)

सो ऽब्रवीद्रावणो भूयस्तां कन्यां सुमहाव्रताम् । अवरुह्य विमानाग्रात्कन्दर्पशरपीडितः ॥ 17.20 ॥

so 'bravīdrāvaṇo bhūyastāṃ kanyāṃ sumahāvratām | avaruhya vimānāgrātkandarpaśarapīḍitaḥ || 17.20 ||

Tormented by the arrows of desire, Ravana descended from the front of his aerial chariot and spoke again to that maiden of the great vow:

Shloka 21 (uttara.17.21)

अवलिप्ता ऽसि सुश्रोणि यस्यास्ते मतिरीदृशी । वृद्धानां मृगशावाक्षि भ्राजते पुण्यसञ्चयः ॥ 17.21 ॥

avaliptā 'si suśroṇi yasyāste matirīdṛśī | vṛddhānāṃ mṛgaśāvākṣi bhrājate puṇyasañcayaḥ || 17.21 ||

"You are conceited, O fair-hipped one, that your mind should be such. O fawn-eyed one, a store of merit befits the aged, not the young."

Shloka 22 (uttara.17.22)

त्वं सर्वंगुणसम्पन्ना नार्हसे वक्तुमीदृशम् । त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी भीरु यौवनं ते निवर्तते ॥ 17.22 ॥

tvaṃ sarvaṃguṇasampannā nārhase vaktumīdṛśam | trailokyasundarī bhīru yauvanaṃ te nivartate || 17.22 ||

"You, endowed with every virtue, ought not to speak thus. O timid one, most beautiful in the three worlds, your youth itself is passing away."

Shloka 23 (uttara.17.23)

अहं लङ्कापतिर्भद्रे दशग्रीव इति श्रुतः । तस्य मे भव भार्या त्वं भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्यथासुखम् ॥ 17.23 ॥

ahaṃ laṅkāpatirbhadre daśagrīva iti śrutaḥ | tasya me bhava bhāryā tvaṃ bhuṅkṣva bhogānyathāsukham || 17.23 ||

"I, O gentle one, am the lord of Lanka, known as Dashagriva. Become my wife, and enjoy pleasures as you please."

Shloka 24 (uttara.17.24)

कश्च तावदसौ यं त्वं विष्णुरित्यभिभाषसे । वीर्येण तपसा चैव भोगेन च बलेन च ।। न मया स समो भद्रे यं त्वं कामयसे ऽङ्गने ॥ 17.24 ॥

kaśca tāvadasau yaṃ tvaṃ viṣṇurityabhibhāṣase | vīryeṇa tapasā caiva bhogena ca balena ca || na mayā sa samo bhadre yaṃ tvaṃ kāmayase 'ṅgane || 17.24 ||

"And who, after all, is this one you call Vishnu? In valour, in penance, in enjoyment, and in strength -- he whom you desire, O gentle one, is not my equal."

Shloka 25 (uttara.17.25)

इत्युक्तवति तस्मिंस्तु वेदवत्यथ सा ऽब्रवीत् ॥ 17.25 ॥

ityuktavati tasmiṃstu vedavatyatha sā 'bravīt || 17.25 ||

When he had spoken thus, Vedavati then replied --

Shloka 26 (uttara.17.26)

मा मैवमिति सा कन्या तमुवाच निशाचरम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपति विष्णुं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । त्वदृते राक्षसेन्द्रान्यः को ऽवमन्येत बुद्धिमान् ॥ 17.26 ॥

mā maivamiti sā kanyā tamuvāca niśācaram | trailokyādhipati viṣṇuṃ sarvalokanamaskṛtam | tvadṛte rākṣasendrānyaḥ ko 'vamanyeta buddhimān || 17.26 ||

"No, no -- do not say such a thing!" -- thus that maiden said to the night-wanderer. "Other than you, O lord of rakshasas, what wise being would dare to disrespect Vishnu, lord of the three worlds, revered by all the world?"

Shloka 27 (uttara.17.27)

एवमुक्तस्तया तत्र वेदवत्या निशाचरः । मूर्धजेषु तदा कन्यां कराग्रेण परामृशत् ॥ 17.27 ॥

evamuktastayā tatra vedavatyā niśācaraḥ | mūrdhajeṣu tadā kanyāṃ karāgreṇa parāmṛśat || 17.27 ||

Thus addressed by Vedavati, the night-wanderer then touched the maiden's hair with the tips of his fingers.

Shloka 28 (uttara.17.28)

ततो वेदवती क्रुद्धा केशान्हस्तेन सा ऽच्छिनत् । असिर्भूत्वा करस्तस्याः केशांश्छिन्नांस्तदा ऽकरोत् ॥ 17.28 ॥

tato vedavatī kruddhā keśānhastena sā 'cchinat | asirbhūtvā karastasyāḥ keśāṃśchinnāṃstadā 'karot || 17.28 ||

Enraged at this, Vedavati cut off her own hair with her own hand -- her hand, becoming a sword, cut off her hair that very instant.

Shloka 29 (uttara.17.29)

सा ज्वलन्तीव रोषेण दहन्तीव निशाचरम् । उवाचाग्निं समाधाय मरणाय कृतत्वरा ॥ 17.29 ॥

sā jvalantīva roṣeṇa dahantīva niśācaram | uvācāgniṃ samādhāya maraṇāya kṛtatvarā || 17.29 ||

Blazing as if with fury, as if consuming the night-wanderer with her very gaze, she, hastening toward death, kindled a fire and spoke:

Shloka 30 (uttara.17.30)

धर्षितायास्त्वयानार्य न मे जीवितमिष्यते । रक्षस्तस्मात्प्रवेक्ष्यामि पश्यतस्ते हुताशनम् ॥ 17.30 ॥

dharṣitāyāstvayānārya na me jīvitamiṣyate | rakṣastasmātpravekṣyāmi paśyataste hutāśanam || 17.30 ||

"Violated by you, O ignoble one, I no longer wish to live. Therefore, O rakshasa, I shall enter the fire before your very eyes."

Shloka 31 (uttara.17.31)

यस्मात्तु धर्षिता चाहं त्वया पापात्मना वने । तस्मात्तव वधार्थं हि समुत्पत्स्ये ह्यहं पुनः ॥ 17.31 ॥

yasmāttu dharṣitā cāhaṃ tvayā pāpātmanā vane | tasmāttava vadhārthaṃ hi samutpatsye hyahaṃ punaḥ || 17.31 ||

"Since I have been violated by you, O evil-souled one, in this forest, I shall be born again solely for the sake of your destruction."

Shloka 32 (uttara.17.32)

न हि शक्यं स्त्रिया हन्तुं पुरुषः पापनिश्चः । शापे त्वयि मयोत्सृष्टे तपसश्च व्ययो भवेत् ॥ 17.32 ॥

na hi śakyaṃ striyā hantuṃ puruṣaḥ pāpaniścaḥ | śāpe tvayi mayotsṛṣṭe tapasaśca vyayo bhavet || 17.32 ||

"A wicked man cannot be slain by a woman; and were a curse to be let loose by me upon you, it would only waste my penance."

Shloka 33 (uttara.17.33)

यदि त्वस्ति मया किञ्चित्कृतं दत्तं हुतं तथा । तस्मात्त्वयोनिजा साध्वी भवेयं धर्मिणः सुता ॥ 17.33 ॥

yadi tvasti mayā kiñcitkṛtaṃ dattaṃ hutaṃ tathā | tasmāttvayonijā sādhvī bhaveyaṃ dharmiṇaḥ sutā || 17.33 ||

"But if I have performed, given, or offered any merit, then by its power may I be born again without birth from a womb, a virtuous daughter of a righteous man."

Shloka 34 (uttara.17.34)

एवमुक्त्वा प्रविष्टा सा ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् । पपात च दिवो दिव्या पुष्पवृष्टिः समन्ततः ॥ 17.34 ॥

evamuktvā praviṣṭā sā jvalitaṃ jātavedasam | papāta ca divo divyā puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ samantataḥ || 17.34 ||

Having said this, she entered the blazing fire; and from the sky, on every side, a divine shower of flowers fell down.

Shloka 35 (uttara.17.35)

पुनरेव समुद्भूता पद्मे पद्मसमप्रभा । तस्मादपि पुनः प्राप्ता पूर्ववत्तेन रक्षसा ॥ 17.35 ॥

punareva samudbhūtā padme padmasamaprabhā | tasmādapi punaḥ prāptā pūrvavattena rakṣasā || 17.35 ||

She, radiant as a lotus, arose again upon a lotus; and from there too that rakshasa seized her once more, just as before.

Shloka 36 (uttara.17.36)

कन्यां कमलगर्भाभां प्रगृह्य स्वगृहं ययौ । प्रगृह्य रावणस्त्वेतां दर्शयामास मन्त्रिणे ॥ 17.36 ॥

kanyāṃ kamalagarbhābhāṃ pragṛhya svagṛhaṃ yayau | pragṛhya rāvaṇastvetāṃ darśayāmāsa mantriṇe || 17.36 ||

Taking that maiden, radiant as the heart of a lotus, he went to his own home; and taking her along, Ravana showed her to a minister.

Shloka 37 (uttara.17.37)

लक्षणज्ञो निरीक्ष्यैव रावणं चैवमब्रवीत् । गृहस्थैषां हि सुश्रोणी त्वद्वधायैव दृश्यते ॥ 17.37 ॥

lakṣaṇajño nirīkṣyaiva rāvaṇaṃ caivamabravīt | gṛhasthaiṣāṃ hi suśroṇī tvadvadhāyaiva dṛśyate || 17.37 ||

That minister, skilled in reading omens, having examined her, said to Ravana: "This fair-hipped one, once in your household, appears destined only for your death."

Shloka 38 (uttara.17.38)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा ऽर्णवे राम तां प्रचिक्षेप रावणः । सा चैव क्षितिमासाद्य यज्ञायतनमध्यगा ॥ 17.38 ॥

etacchrutvā 'rṇave rāma tāṃ pracikṣepa rāvaṇaḥ | sā caiva kṣitimāsādya yajñāyatanamadhyagā || 17.38 ||

Hearing this, O Rama, Ravana cast her into the ocean; and she, reaching the earth, came to rest in the midst of a sacrificial ground.

Shloka 39 (uttara.17.39)

राज्ञो हलमुखोत्कृष्टा पुनरप्युत्थिता सती । सैषा जनकराजस्य प्रसूता तनया प्रभो । तव भार्या महाबाहो विष्णुस्त्वं हि सनातनः ॥ 17.39 ॥

rājño halamukhotkṛṣṭā punarapyutthitā satī | saiṣā janakarājasya prasūtā tanayā prabho | tava bhāryā mahābāho viṣṇustvaṃ hi sanātanaḥ || 17.39 ||

Turned up by the tip of a king's ploughshare, she, virtuous, rose up once again. She it is, O lord, who was born as the daughter of King Janaka -- your very wife, O mighty-armed one, for you yourself are the eternal Vishnu.

Shloka 40 (uttara.17.40)

पूर्वं क्रोधाहितः शत्रुर्यया ऽसौ निहतस्तथा । उपाश्रयित्वा शैलभस्तव वीर्यममानुषम् ॥ 17.40 ॥

pūrvaṃ krodhāhitaḥ śatruryayā 'sau nihatastathā | upāśrayitvā śailabhastava vīryamamānuṣam || 17.40 ||

She who once, through righteous wrath, brought that foe to his reckoning shall now, through your mountain-like superhuman valour, bring about his very destruction.

Shloka 41 (uttara.17.41)

एवमेषा महाभागा मर्त्येषूत्पत्स्यते पुनः । क्षेत्रे हलमुखोत्कृष्टे वेद्यामग्निशिखोपमा ॥ 17.41 ॥

evameṣā mahābhāgā martyeṣūtpatsyate punaḥ | kṣetre halamukhotkṛṣṭe vedyāmagniśikhopamā || 17.41 ||

Thus this most fortunate one shall be born again among mortals, in a field turned up by a ploughshare, upon an altar, resembling a tongue of flame.

Shloka 42 (uttara.17.42)

एषा वेदवती नाम पूर्वमासीत्कृते युगे । त्रेतायुगमनुप्राप्य वधार्थं तस्य रक्षसः ॥ 17.42 ॥

eṣā vedavatī nāma pūrvamāsītkṛte yuge | tretāyugamanuprāpya vadhārthaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ || 17.42 ||

This one, named Vedavati, existed formerly in the Krita age; having come again in the Treta age, for the destruction of that very rakshasa --

Shloka 43 (uttara.17.43)

उत्पन्ना मैथिलकुले जनकस्य महात्मनः । सीतोत्पन्ना तु सीतेति मानुषैः पुनरुच्यते ॥ 17.43 ॥

utpannā maithilakule janakasya mahātmanaḥ | sītotpannā tu sīteti mānuṣaiḥ punarucyate || 17.43 ||

-- she was born into the Mithila lineage of the great-souled Janaka; and having sprung from a furrow (sita), she is again called by men as Sita.