Marutta's Sacrifice

Shloka 1 (uttara.18.1)

प्रविष्टायां हुताशं तु वेदवत्यां स रावणः । पुष्पकं तु समारुह्य परिचक्राम मेदिनीम् ॥ 18.1 ॥

praviṣṭāyāṃ hutāśaṃ tu vedavatyāṃ sa rāvaṇaḥ | puṣpakaṃ tu samāruhya paricakrāma medinīm || 18.1 ||

When Vedavati had entered the fire, Ravana, mounting the Pushpaka, roamed on over the earth.

Shloka 2 (uttara.18.2)

ततो मरुत्तं नृपतिं यजन्तं सह दैवतैः । उशीरबीजमासाद्य ददर्श स तु रावणः ॥ 18.2 ॥

tato maruttaṃ nṛpatiṃ yajantaṃ saha daivataiḥ | uśīrabījamāsādya dadarśa sa tu rāvaṇaḥ || 18.2 ||

Then, reaching the place called Ushirabija, Ravana saw King Marutta performing sacrifice together with the gods.

Shloka 3 (uttara.18.3)

संवर्तो नाम ब्रह्मर्षिः साक्षाद्भ्राता बृहस्पतेः । याजयामास धर्मज्ञः सर्वैर्देवगणैर्वृतः ॥ 18.3 ॥

saṃvarto nāma brahmarṣiḥ sākṣādbhrātā bṛhaspateḥ | yājayāmāsa dharmajñaḥ sarvairdevagaṇairvṛtaḥ || 18.3 ||

A brahmarishi named Samvarta, the very brother of Brihaspati and knower of dharma, officiated as priest, surrounded by all the hosts of the gods.

Shloka 4 (uttara.18.4)

दृष्ट्वा देवास्तु तद्रक्षो वरदानेन दुर्जयम् । तिर्यग्योनिं समाविष्टास्तस्य दर्शनभीरवः ॥ 18.4 ॥

dṛṣṭvā devāstu tadrakṣo varadānena durjayam | tiryagyoniṃ samāviṣṭāstasya darśanabhīravaḥ || 18.4 ||

Seeing that rakshasa, unconquerable by virtue of a boon, the gods, fearing to be seen by him, entered into animal forms.

Shloka 5 (uttara.18.5)

इन्द्रो मयूरः संवृत्तो धर्मराजस्तु वायसः । कृकलासो धनाध्यक्षो हंसश्च वरुणो ऽभवत् ॥ 18.5 ॥

indro mayūraḥ saṃvṛtto dharmarājastu vāyasaḥ | kṛkalāso dhanādhyakṣo haṃsaśca varuṇo 'bhavat || 18.5 ||

Indra became a peacock, Dharmaraja a crow, the lord of wealth a chameleon, and Varuna became a swan.

Shloka 6 (uttara.18.6)

अन्येष्वपि गतेष्वेवं देवेष्वरिनिषूदन । रावणः प्राविशद्यज्ञं सारमेय इवाशुचिः ॥ 18.6 ॥

anyeṣvapi gateṣvevaṃ deveṣvariniṣūdana | rāvaṇaḥ prāviśadyajñaṃ sārameya ivāśuciḥ || 18.6 ||

O slayer of foes, with the other gods too having thus withdrawn, Ravana entered the sacrifice, unclean, like a dog.

Shloka 7 (uttara.18.7)

तं च राजानमासाद्य रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । प्राह युद्धं प्रयच्छेति निर्जितो ऽस्मीति वा वद ॥ 18.7 ॥

taṃ ca rājānamāsādya rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | prāha yuddhaṃ prayaccheti nirjito 'smīti vā vada || 18.7 ||

Approaching that king, Ravana, lord of rakshasas, said, "Give me battle, or say, 'I am defeated.'"

Shloka 8 (uttara.18.8)

ततो मरुत्तो नृपतिः को भवानित्युवाच तम् । अपहासं ततो मुक्त्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 18.8 ॥

tato marutto nṛpatiḥ ko bhavānityuvāca tam | apahāsaṃ tato muktvā rāvaṇo vākyamabravīt || 18.8 ||

Then King Marutta said to him, "Who are you?" Then, breaking into laughter, Ravana spoke these words:

Shloka 9 (uttara.18.9)

अकुतूहलभावेन प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव पार्थिव । धनदस्यानुजं यो मां नावगच्छसि रावणम् ॥ 18.9 ॥

akutūhalabhāvena prīto 'smi tava pārthiva | dhanadasyānujaṃ yo māṃ nāvagacchasi rāvaṇam || 18.9 ||

"I am pleased, O king, by your lack of curiosity -- that you do not recognize me, Ravana, the younger brother of Dhanada."

Shloka 10 (uttara.18.10)

त्रिषु लोकेषु को ऽन्यो ऽस्ति यो न जानाति मे बलम् । भ्रातरं येन निर्जित्य विमानमिदमाहृतम् । ततो मरुत्तः स नृपस्तं रावणमथाब्रवीत् ॥ 18.10 ॥

triṣu lokeṣu ko 'nyo 'sti yo na jānāti me balam | bhrātaraṃ yena nirjitya vimānamidamāhṛtam | tato maruttaḥ sa nṛpastaṃ rāvaṇamathābravīt || 18.10 ||

"Who else is there in the three worlds who does not know my strength -- by which I conquered my own brother and won this very chariot?" Then King Marutta said to that Ravana:

Shloka 11 (uttara.18.11)

धन्यः खलु भवान्येन ज्येष्ठो भ्राता रणे जितः । न त्वया सदृशः श्लाध्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ॥ 18.11 ॥

dhanyaḥ khalu bhavānyena jyeṣṭho bhrātā raṇe jitaḥ | na tvayā sadṛśaḥ ślādhyastriṣu lokeṣu vidyate || 18.11 ||

"Blessed indeed are you, by whom your own elder brother was conquered in battle! No one your equal in praiseworthiness exists in the three worlds."

Shloka 12 (uttara.18.12)

नाधर्मसहितं श्लाध्यं तल्लोकं प्रतिसंहितम् । कर्म दौरात्म्यकं कृत्वा श्लाघ्यसे भ्रातृनिर्जयात् ॥ 18.12 ॥

nādharmasahitaṃ ślādhyaṃ tallokaṃ pratisaṃhitam | karma daurātmyakaṃ kṛtvā ślāghyase bhrātṛnirjayāt || 18.12 ||

"A deed joined with adharma is not praiseworthy, even if the world approves it. Having done a wicked act, you boast of conquering your own brother."

Shloka 13 (uttara.18.13)

क त्वं प्राक्केवलं धर्मं चरित्वा लब्धवान्वरम् । श्रूतपूर्वं हि न मया भाषसे यादृशं स्वयम् ॥ 18.13 ॥

ka tvaṃ prākkevalaṃ dharmaṃ caritvā labdhavānvaram | śrūtapūrvaṃ hi na mayā bhāṣase yādṛśaṃ svayam || 18.13 ||

"You once obtained a boon by following pure dharma alone; but I have never before heard you speak of yourself as you speak now."

Shloka 14 (uttara.18.14)

तिष्ठेदानीं न मे जीवन्प्रतियास्यसि दुर्मते । अद्य त्वां निशितैर्बाणैः प्रेषयामि यमक्षयम् ॥ 18.14 ॥

tiṣṭhedānīṃ na me jīvanpratiyāsyasi durmate | adya tvāṃ niśitairbāṇaiḥ preṣayāmi yamakṣayam || 18.14 ||

"Stand now! You shall not return from me alive, O evil-minded one. Today I shall dispatch you to Yama's abode with sharpened arrows."

Shloka 15 (uttara.18.15)

ततः शरासनं गृह्य सायकांश्च नराधिपः । रणाय निर्ययौ क्रुद्धः संवर्तो मार्गमावृणोत् ॥ 18.15 ॥

tataḥ śarāsanaṃ gṛhya sāyakāṃśca narādhipaḥ | raṇāya niryayau kruddhaḥ saṃvarto mārgamāvṛṇot || 18.15 ||

Then that king, taking up bow and arrows, set out in fury for battle; Samvarta blocked his path.

Shloka 16 (uttara.18.16)

सो ऽब्रवीत्स्नेहसंयुक्तं मरुत्तं तं महानृषिः । श्रोतव्यं यदि मद्वाक्यं सम्प्रहारो न ते क्षमः ॥ 18.16 ॥

so 'bravītsnehasaṃyuktaṃ maruttaṃ taṃ mahānṛṣiḥ | śrotavyaṃ yadi madvākyaṃ samprahāro na te kṣamaḥ || 18.16 ||

That great sage said to Marutta with affection: "If my word is worth hearing, combat is not fitting for you."

Shloka 17 (uttara.18.17)

माहेश्वरमिदं सत्रमसमाप्तं कुलं दहेत् ॥ 18.17 ॥

māheśvaramidaṃ satramasamāptaṃ kulaṃ dahet || 18.17 ||

"This sacrifice, sacred to Maheshvara, if left unfinished, would consume the entire family."

Shloka 18 (uttara.18.18)

दीक्षितस्य कुतो युद्धं क्रोधित्वं दीक्षिते कुतः । संशयश्च जये नित्यं राक्षसश्च सुदुर्जयः ॥ 18.18 ॥

dīkṣitasya kuto yuddhaṃ krodhitvaṃ dīkṣite kutaḥ | saṃśayaśca jaye nityaṃ rākṣasaśca sudurjayaḥ || 18.18 ||

"How can there be battle for one who is consecrated? How can anger belong to one so consecrated? Victory is ever uncertain, and this rakshasa besides is exceedingly hard to conquer."

Shloka 19 (uttara.18.19)

स निवृत्तो गुरोर्वाक्यान्मरुत्तः पृथिवीपतिः । विसृज्य सशरं चापं स्वस्थो मखमुखो ऽभवत् ॥ 18.19 ॥

sa nivṛtto gurorvākyānmaruttaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ svastho makhamukho 'bhavat || 18.19 ||

Restrained by his guru's word, that lord of the earth laid down his bow with its arrows, and, composed once more, turned his attention back to the sacrifice.

Shloka 20 (uttara.18.20)

ततस्तं निर्जितं मत्वा घोषयामास वै शुकः । रावणो जयतीत्युच्चैर्हर्षान्नादं विमुक्तवान् ॥ 18.20 ॥

tatastaṃ nirjitaṃ matvā ghoṣayāmāsa vai śukaḥ | rāvaṇo jayatītyuccairharṣānnādaṃ vimuktavān || 18.20 ||

Then Shuka, taking him for defeated, proclaimed it aloud: "Ravana is victorious!" -- and let loose a joyful roar.

Shloka 21 (uttara.18.21)

तान्भक्षयित्वा तत्रस्थान्महर्षीन्यज्ञमागतान् । वितृप्तो रुधिरैस्तेषां पुनः सम्प्रययौ महीम् ॥ 18.21 ॥

tānbhakṣayitvā tatrasthānmaharṣīnyajñamāgatān | vitṛpto rudhiraisteṣāṃ punaḥ samprayayau mahīm || 18.21 ||

Having devoured the great sages present there, who had come for the sacrifice, and sated with their blood, he went forth again over the earth.

Shloka 22 (uttara.18.22)

रावणे तु गते देवाः सेन्द्राश्चैव दिवौकसः । ततः स्वां योनिमासाद्य तानि सत्त्वानि चाब्रुवन् ॥ 18.22 ॥

rāvaṇe tu gate devāḥ sendrāścaiva divaukasaḥ | tataḥ svāṃ yonimāsādya tāni sattvāni cābruvan || 18.22 ||

When Ravana had gone, the gods, together with Indra, dwellers of heaven, regaining each their own true form, spoke to those creatures whose forms they had borrowed:

Shloka 23 (uttara.18.23)

हर्षात्तदाब्रवीदिन्द्रो मयूरं नीलबर्हिणम् । प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ भुजङ्गाद्धि न ते भयम् ॥ 18.23 ॥

harṣāttadābravīdindro mayūraṃ nīlabarhiṇam | prīto 'smi tava dharmajña bhujaṅgāddhi na te bhayam || 18.23 ||

Then Indra, joyfully, said to the blue-plumed peacock: "I am pleased with you, O knower of dharma -- you shall have no fear from serpents."

Shloka 24 (uttara.18.24)

इदं नेत्रसहस्रं तु यत्त्वद्बर्हे भविष्यति । वर्षमाणे मयि मुदं प्राप्स्यसे प्रीतिलक्षणाम् । एवमिन्द्रो वरं प्रादान्मयूरस्य सुरेश्वरः ॥ 18.24 ॥

idaṃ netrasahasraṃ tu yattvadbarhe bhaviṣyati | varṣamāṇe mayi mudaṃ prāpsyase prītilakṣaṇām | evamindro varaṃ prādānmayūrasya sureśvaraḥ || 18.24 ||

"This thousand-eyed form of mine shall appear upon your tail-feathers; and when I send down rain, you shall know a joy that is the very mark of my favour." Thus Indra, lord of the gods, granted this boon to the peacock.

Shloka 25 (uttara.18.25)

नीलाः किल पुरा बर्हा मयूराणां नराधिप । सुराधिपाद्वरं प्राप्य गताः सर्वे ऽपि बर्हिणः ॥ 18.25 ॥

nīlāḥ kila purā barhā mayūrāṇāṃ narādhipa | surādhipādvaraṃ prāpya gatāḥ sarve 'pi barhiṇaḥ || 18.25 ||

O king, the tail-feathers of peacocks were formerly plain blue; it was upon receiving this boon from the lord of the gods that all peacocks came to have their eyed plumage.

Shloka 26 (uttara.18.26)

धर्मराजो ऽब्रवीद्राम प्राग्वंशे वायसं स्थितम् । पक्षिंस्तवास्मि सुप्रीतः प्रीतस्य वचनं शृणु ॥ 18.26 ॥

dharmarājo 'bravīdrāma prāgvaṃśe vāyasaṃ sthitam | pakṣiṃstavāsmi suprītaḥ prītasya vacanaṃ śṛṇu || 18.26 ||

O Rama, Dharmaraja then said to the crow perched on a bamboo pole: "O bird, I am well pleased with you; hear the word of one who is pleased."

Shloka 27 (uttara.18.27)

यथान्ये विविधै रोगै; पीड्यन्ते प्राणिनो मया । ते न ते प्रभविष्यन्ति मयि प्रीते न संशयः ॥ 18.27 ॥

yathānye vividhai rogai; pīḍyante prāṇino mayā | te na te prabhaviṣyanti mayi prīte na saṃśayaḥ || 18.27 ||

"As other creatures are afflicted by Me through manifold diseases, such diseases shall have no power over you, for I am pleased with you -- of this there is no doubt."

Shloka 28 (uttara.18.28)

मृत्युतस्ते भयं नास्ति वरान्मम विहङ्गम । यावत्त्वां न वधिष्यन्ति नरास्तावद्भविष्यसि ॥ 18.28 ॥

mṛtyutaste bhayaṃ nāsti varānmama vihaṅgama | yāvattvāṃ na vadhiṣyanti narāstāvadbhaviṣyasi || 18.28 ||

"By my boon, O bird, you shall have no fear of death; so long as men do not slay you, you shall continue to live."

Shloka 29 (uttara.18.29)

एते मद्विषयस्था वै मानवाः क्षुद्भयार्दिताः । त्वयि भुक्ते तु तृप्तास्ते भविष्यन्ति सबान्धवाः ॥ 18.29 ॥

ete madviṣayasthā vai mānavāḥ kṣudbhayārditāḥ | tvayi bhukte tu tṛptāste bhaviṣyanti sabāndhavāḥ || 18.29 ||

"These men dwelling within my domain, tormented by the fear of hunger, once they have fed you their offerings, shall find contentment, together with their kin."

Shloka 30 (uttara.18.30)

वरुणस्त्वब्रवीद्धंसं गङ्गातोयविहारिणम् । श्रूयतां प्रीतिसंयुक्तं वचः पत्ररथेश्वर ॥ 18.30 ॥

varuṇastvabravīddhaṃsaṃ gaṅgātoyavihāriṇam | śrūyatāṃ prītisaṃyuktaṃ vacaḥ patraratheśvara || 18.30 ||

Varuna then said to the swan sporting in the waters of the Ganga: "Hear these words, joined with affection, O lord of winged creatures."

Shloka 31 (uttara.18.31)

वर्णो मनोहरः सौम्यश्चन्द्रमण्डलसन्निभः । भविष्यति तवोदग्रः शुद्धफेनसमप्रभः ॥ 18.31 ॥

varṇo manoharaḥ saumyaścandramaṇḍalasannibhaḥ | bhaviṣyati tavodagraḥ śuddhaphenasamaprabhaḥ || 18.31 ||

"Your hue shall become lovely, gentle, resembling the orb of the moon, radiant, splendid as pure foam."

Shloka 32 (uttara.18.32)

मच्छरीरं समासाद्य कान्तो नित्यं भविष्यसि । प्राप्स्यसे चातुलां प्रीतिमेतन्मे प्रीतिलक्षणम् ॥ 18.32 ॥

maccharīraṃ samāsādya kānto nityaṃ bhaviṣyasi | prāpsyase cātulāṃ prītimetanme prītilakṣaṇam || 18.32 ||

"Having taken on a hue like my own body, you shall be forever lovely; and as the very mark of my favour, you shall attain unmatched delight."

Shloka 33 (uttara.18.33)

हंसानां हि पुरा राम नीलवर्णः सपाण्डुरः । पक्षा नीलाग्रसंवीताः क्रोडाः शष्पाग्रनिर्मलाः ॥ 18.33 ॥

haṃsānāṃ hi purā rāma nīlavarṇaḥ sapāṇḍuraḥ | pakṣā nīlāgrasaṃvītāḥ kroḍāḥ śaṣpāgranirmalāḥ || 18.33 ||

For, O Rama, swans were formerly of a dark hue mixed with pale, their wings edged with dark tips, their breasts as pure as fresh, tender grass-shoots.

Shloka 34 (uttara.18.34)

अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणः कृकलासं गिरौ स्थितम् । हैरण्यं सम्प्रयच्छामि वर्णं प्रीतस्तवाप्यहम् ॥ 18.34 ॥

athābravīdvaiśravaṇaḥ kṛkalāsaṃ girau sthitam | hairaṇyaṃ samprayacchāmi varṇaṃ prītastavāpyaham || 18.34 ||

Then Vaishravana said to the chameleon standing upon the mountain: "I too, pleased with you, shall grant you a golden hue."

Shloka 35 (uttara.18.35)

सद्रव्यं च शिरो नित्यं भविष्यति तवाक्षयम् । एष काञ्चनको वर्णो मत्प्रीत्या ते भविष्यति ॥ 18.35 ॥

sadravyaṃ ca śiro nityaṃ bhaviṣyati tavākṣayam | eṣa kāñcanako varṇo matprītyā te bhaviṣyati || 18.35 ||

"Your head shall ever bear a precious, undiminishing substance; this golden hue shall be yours through my favour."

Shloka 36 (uttara.18.36)

एवं दत्त्वा वरांस्तेभ्यस्तस्मिन्यज्ञोत्सवे सुराः । निवृत्ताः सह राज्ञा ते पुनः स्वभवनं गताः ॥ 18.36 ॥

evaṃ dattvā varāṃstebhyastasminyajñotsave surāḥ | nivṛttāḥ saha rājñā te punaḥ svabhavanaṃ gatāḥ || 18.36 ||

Having thus granted boons to them at that sacrificial festival, the gods, together with the king, returned and went back again to their own abodes.