The Conquest of the Nivatakavachas and the Sons of Varuna

Shloka 1 (uttara.23.1)

ततो जित्वा दशग्रीवो यमं त्रिदशपुङ्गवम् । रावणस्तु रणश्लाघी स्वसहायान्ददर्श ह ।। २३.१ ।।

tato jitvā daśagrīvo yamaṃ tridaśapuṅgavam | rāvaṇas tu raṇaślāghī svasahāyān dadarśa ha ||

Having thus vanquished Yama, chief among the gods, Ravana, exulting in his victory, looked about for his companions.

Shloka 2 (uttara.23.2)

ततो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गं प्रहारैर्जर्जरीकृतम् । रावणं राक्षसा दृष्ट्वा ह्यष्टवत् समुपागमन् ।। २३.२ ।।

tato rudhirasiktāṅgaṃ prahārair jarjarīkṛtam | rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasā dṛṣṭvā hy aṣṭavat samupāgaman ||

Seeing Ravana, his body drenched in blood and battered by blows, the rakshasas approached him with reverence.

Shloka 3 (uttara.23.3)

जयेन वर्धयित्वा च मारीचप्रमुखास्ततः । पुष्पकं भेजिरे सर्वे सान्त्विता रावणेन तु ।। २३.३ ।।

jayena vardhayitvā ca mārīcapramukhās tataḥ | puṣpakaṃ bhejire sarve sāntvitā rāvaṇena tu ||

Marica and the other chiefs congratulated him upon his victory; consoled by Ravana, they all boarded the Pushpaka.

Shloka 4 (uttara.23.4)

ततो रसातलं गच्छन् प्रविष्टः पयसां निधिम् । दैत्योरगगणाध्युष्टं वरुणेन सुरक्षितम् ।। २३.४ ।।

tato rasātalaṃ gacchan praviṣṭaḥ payasāṃ nidhim | daityoragagaṇādhyuṣṭaṃ varuṇena surakṣitam ||

Then, journeying to the netherworld, he entered the ocean, home to hosts of daityas and serpents, well-guarded by Varuna.

Shloka 5 (uttara.23.5)

स तु भोगवतीं गत्वा पुरीं वासुकिपालिताम् । कृत्वा नागान्वशे हृष्टो ययौ मणिमयीं पुरीम् ।। २३.५ ।।

sa tu bhogavatīṃ gatvā purīṃ vāsukipālitām | kṛtvā nāgān vaśe hṛṣṭo yayau maṇimayīṃ purīm ||

Going to the city of Bhogavati, ruled by Vasuki, he subdued the serpents, and then, delighted, proceeded to the jeweled city of Manimaya.

Shloka 6 (uttara.23.6)

निवातकवचास्तत्र दैत्या लब्धवरा वसन् । राक्षसान्तान्समागम्य युद्धाय समुपाह्वयत् ।। २३.६ ।।

nivātakavacās tatra daityā labdhavarā vasan | rākṣasān tān samāgamya yuddhāya samupāhvayat ||

There dwelt the boon-favored daityas called Nivatakavachas. Ravana, coming upon them, challenged them to battle.

Shloka 7 (uttara.23.7)

ते तु सर्वे सुविक्रान्ता दैतेया बलशालिनः । नानाप्रहरणास्तत्र प्रहृष्टा युद्धदुर्मदाः ।। २३.७ ।।

te tu sarve suvikrāntā daiteyā balaśālinaḥ | nānāpraharaṇās tatra prahṛṣṭā yuddhadurmadāḥ ||

All those daityas, valiant and mighty, armed with various weapons, joyful and intoxicated with the lust for battle, met him there.

Shloka 8 (uttara.23.8)

शूलैस्त्रिशूलैः कुलिशैः पट्टिशासिपरश्वधैः । अन्योन्यं बिभिदुः क्रुद्धा राक्षसा दानवास्तथा ।। २३.८ ।।

śūlaiḥ triśūlaiḥ kuliśaiḥ paṭṭiśāsiparaśvadhaiḥ | anyonyaṃ bibhiduḥ kruddhā rākṣasā dānavās tathā ||

The enraged rakshasas and danavas wounded one another with spears, tridents, thunderbolt-maces, pattishas, swords, and axes.

Shloka 9 (uttara.23.9)

तेषां तु युध्यमानानां साग्रः संवत्सरो गतः । न चान्यतरयोस्तत्र विजयो वा क्षयो ऽपि वा ।। २३.९ ।।

teṣāṃ tu yudhyamānānāṃ sāgraḥ saṃvatsaro gataḥ | na cānyatarayos tatra vijayo vā kṣayo 'pi vā ||

As they fought thus, more than a year passed, yet neither side achieved victory or defeat.

Shloka 10 (uttara.23.10)

ततः पितामहस्तत्र त्रैलोक्यगतिरव्ययः । आजगाम द्रुतं देवो विमानवरमास्थितः ।। २३.१० ।।

tataḥ pitāmahas tatra trailokyagatir avyayaḥ | ājagāma drutaṃ devo vimānavaram āsthitaḥ ||

Then the imperishable Grandsire, whose movement pervades the three worlds, swiftly arrived there mounted on a fine celestial chariot.

Shloka 11 (uttara.23.11)

निवातकवचानां तु निवार्य रणकर्म तत् । वृद्धः पितामहो वाक्यमुवाच विदितार्थवत् ।। २३.११ ।।

nivātakavacānāṃ tu nivārya raṇakarma tat | vṛddhaḥ pitāmaho vākyam uvāca viditārthavat ||

Halting that battle of the Nivatakavachas, the venerable Grandsire spoke words full of meaning.

Shloka 12 (uttara.23.12)

नह्ययं रावणो युद्धे शक्यो जेतुं सुरासुरैः । न भवन्तः क्षयं नेतुमपि सामरदानवैः ।। २३.१२ ।।

nahy ayaṃ rāvaṇo yuddhe śakyo jetuṃ surāsuraiḥ | na bhavantaḥ kṣayaṃ netum api sāmaradānavaiḥ ||

"This Ravana cannot be conquered in battle even by gods and asuras together; and you too cannot be destroyed even by gods together with danavas.

Shloka 13 (uttara.23.13)

राक्षसस्य सखित्वं च भवद्भिः सह रोचते । अविभक्ताश्च सर्वार्थाः सुहृदां नात्र संशयः ।। २३.१३ ।।

rākṣasasya sakhitvaṃ ca bhavadbhiḥ saha rocate | avibhaktāś ca sarvārthāḥ suhṛdāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ ||

Therefore friendship between this rakshasa and you would be fitting; friends share undivided interests, of this there is no doubt."

Shloka 14 (uttara.23.14)

ततो ऽग्निसाक्षिकं सख्यं कृतवांस्तत्र रावणः । निवातकवचैः सार्धं प्रीतिमानभवत्तदा ।। २३.१४ ।।

tato 'gnisākṣikaṃ sakhyaṃ kṛtavāṃs tatra rāvaṇaḥ | nivātakavacaiḥ sārdhaṃ prītimān abhavat tadā ||

Then Ravana, with fire as witness, made a pact of friendship with the Nivatakavachas, and became joyful thereafter.

Shloka 15 (uttara.23.15)

अर्थतस्तैर्यथान्यायं संवत्सरमथोषितः । स्वपुरान्निर्विशेषं च प्रियं प्राप्तो दशाननः ।। २३.१५ ।।

arthatas tair yathānyāyaṃ saṃvatsaram athoṣitaḥ | svapurān nirviśeṣaṃ ca priyaṃ prāpto daśānanaḥ ||

Dwelling there duly honored for a full year, Dashanana received affection no different from that of his own city.

Shloka 16 (uttara.23.16)

ततोपधार्य मायानां शतमेकं समाप्तवान् । सलिलेन्द्रपुरान्वेषी भ्रमति स्म रसातलम् ।। २३.१६ ।।

tatopadhārya māyānāṃ śatam ekaṃ samāptavān | salilendrapurānveṣī bhramati sma rasātalam ||

Having thereupon learned a full hundred forms of magic illusion, he wandered through the netherworld seeking the city of the lord of waters.

Shloka 17 (uttara.23.17)

ततो ऽश्मनगरं नाम कालकेयैरधिष्ठितम् । गत्वा तु कालकेयांश्च हत्वा तत्र बलोत्कटान् ।। २३.१७ ।।

tato 'śmanagaraṃ nāma kālakeyair adhiṣṭhitam | gatvā tu kālakeyāṃś ca hatvā tatra balotkaṭān ||

Then, arriving at the city called Ashmanagara, held by the Kalakeyas, he slew there those exceedingly powerful Kalakeyas.

Shloka 18 (uttara.23.18)

शूर्पणख्याश्च भर्तारमसिना प्राच्छिनत्तदा । श्यालं च बलवन्तं च विद्युज्जिह्वं बलोत्कटम् । जिह्वया संलिहन्तं च राक्षसं समरे तथा ।। २३.१८ ।।

śūrpaṇakhyāś ca bhartāram asinā prācchinat tadā | śyālaṃ ca balavantaṃ ca vidyujjihvaṃ balotkaṭam | jihvayā saṃlihantaṃ ca rākṣasaṃ samare tathā ||

In that same battle, with his sword, he cut down Shurpanakha's husband — his own exceedingly mighty brother-in-law, the rakshasa Vidyujjihva, who fought there licking with his tongue.

Shloka 19 (uttara.23.19)

तं विजित्य मुहूर्तेन जघ्ने दैत्यांश्चतुःशतम् ।। २३.१९ ।।

taṃ vijitya muhūrtena jaghne daityāṃś caturśatam ||

Defeating him in an instant, he slew four hundred daityas.

Shloka 20 (uttara.23.20)

ततः पाण्डुरमेघाभं कैलासमिव भास्वरम् । वरुणस्यालयं दिव्यमपश्यद्राक्षसाधिपः ।। २३.२० ।।

tataḥ pāṇḍurameghābhaṃ kailāsam iva bhāsvaram | varuṇasyālayaṃ divyam apaśyad rākṣasādhipaḥ ||

Then the lord of rakshasas beheld Varuna's divine abode, radiant as a white cloud, gleaming like Mount Kailasa.

Shloka 21 (uttara.23.21)

क्षरन्तीं च पयस्तत्र सुरभिं गामवस्थिताम् । यस्याः पयोभिनिष्यन्दात्क्षीरोदो नाम सागरः ।। २३.२१ ।।

kṣarantīṃ ca payas tatra surabhiṃ gām avasthitām | yasyāḥ payobhiniṣyandāt kṣīrodo nāma sāgaraḥ ||

There he saw the celestial cow Surabhi, ever-flowing with milk, from whose milky stream the ocean called Kshiroda (the Sea of Milk) had its source.

Shloka 22 (uttara.23.22)

ददर्श रावणस्तत्र गोवृषेन्द्रवरारणिम् । यस्माच्चन्द्रः प्रभवति शीतरश्मिर्निशाकरः ।। २३.२२ ।।

dadarśa rāvaṇas tatra govṛṣendravarāraṇim | yasmāc candraḥ prabhavati śītaraśmir niśākaraḥ ||

There Ravana saw that supreme source of the finest bulls, from which the moon, maker of night with its cool rays, had its origin.

Shloka 23 (uttara.23.23)

यं समाश्रित्य जीवन्ति फेनपाः परमर्षयः । अमृतं यत्र चोत्पन्नं स्वधा च स्वधभोजिनाम् ।। २३.२३ ।।

yaṃ samāśritya jīvanti phenapāḥ paramarṣayaḥ | amṛtaṃ yatra cotpannaṃ svadhā ca svadhabhojinām ||

By taking refuge in which the great sages who live on foam sustain their lives, and from which arose the nectar of immortality and the svadha-offering of the ancestors who feed on svadha.

Shloka 24 (uttara.23.24)

यां ब्रुवन्ति नरा लोके सुरभिं नाम नामतः । प्रदक्षिणं तु तां कृत्वा रावणः परमाद्भुताम् ।। २३.२४ ।।

yāṃ bruvanti narā loke surabhiṃ nāma nāmataḥ | pradakṣiṇaṃ tu tāṃ kṛtvā rāvaṇaḥ paramādbhutām ||

Whom people in the world call by the name Surabhi. Having circumambulated that most wondrous cow, Ravana —

Shloka 25 (uttara.23.25)

प्रविवेश महाघोरं गुप्तं बहुविधैर्बलैः । ततो धाराशताकीर्णं शारदाभ्रनिभं तदा । नित्यप्रहृष्टं ददृशे वरुणस्य गृहोत्तमम् ।। २३.२५ ।।

praviveśa mahāghoraṃ guptaṃ bahuvidhair balaiḥ | tato dhārāśatākīrṇaṃ śāradābhranibhaṃ tadā | nityaprahṛṣṭaṃ dadṛśe varuṇasya gṛhottamam ||

He entered that most fearsome place, guarded by manifold forces. There he beheld Varuna's supreme dwelling, laced with hundreds of streams of water, white as an autumn cloud, ever full of joy.

Shloka 26 (uttara.23.26)

ततो हत्वा बलाध्यक्षान्समरे तैश्च ताडितः । अब्रवीच्च ततो योधान्राजा शीघ्रं निवेद्यताम् ।। २३.२६ ।।

tato hatvā balādhyakṣān samare taiś ca tāḍitaḥ | abravīc ca tato yodhān rājā śīghraṃ nivedyatām ||

Then, having slain the army commanders and himself struck by them, he said to the warriors: "Inform your king at once."

Shloka 27 (uttara.23.27)

युद्धार्थी रावणः प्राप्तस्तस्य युद्धं प्रदीयताम् । वद वा न भयं ते ऽस्ति निर्जितो ऽस्मीति साञ्जलिः ।। २३.२७ ।।

yuddhārthī rāvaṇaḥ prāptas tasya yuddhaṃ pradīyatām | vada vā na bhayaṃ te 'sti nirjito 'smīti sāñjaliḥ ||

"Ravana has come, seeking battle; give him battle. Or else, with joined palms, say: 'Have no fear, I concede defeat.'"

Shloka 28 (uttara.23.28)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धा वरुणस्य महात्मनः । पुत्राः पौत्राश्च निष्क्रामन्गौश्च पुष्कर एव च ।। २३.२८ ।।

etasminn antare kruddhā varuṇasya mahātmanaḥ | putrāḥ pautrāś ca niṣkrāman gauś ca puṣkara eva ca ||

Meanwhile, the sons and grandsons of the great-souled Varuna, angered, along with his sons Gau and Pushkara, came forth.

Shloka 29 (uttara.23.29)

ते तु वीर्यगुणोपेता बलैः परिवृताः स्वकैः । युङ्क्त्वा रथान्कामगमानुद्यद्भास्वरवर्चसः ।। २३.२९ ।।

te tu vīryaguṇopetā balaiḥ parivṛtāḥ svakaiḥ | yuṅktvā rathān kāmagamān udyadbhāsvaravarcasaḥ ||

Endowed with valor, surrounded by their own forces, radiant as the rising sun, they yoked their chariots that moved at will.

Shloka 30 (uttara.23.30)

ततो युद्धं समभवद्दारुणं रोमहर्षणम् । सलिलेन्द्रस्य पुत्राणां रावणस्य च धीमतः ।। २३.३० ।।

tato yuddhaṃ samabhavad dāruṇaṃ romaharṣaṇam | salilendrasya putrāṇāṃ rāvaṇasya ca dhīmataḥ ||

Then a terrible, hair-raising battle broke out between the sons of the Lord of Waters and the wise Ravana.

Shloka 31 (uttara.23.31)

अमात्यैश्च महावीर्यैर्दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः । वारुणं तद्बलं कृत्स्नं क्षणेन विनिपातितम् ।। २३.३१ ।।

amātyaiś ca mahāvīryair daśagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ | vāruṇaṃ tad balaṃ kṛtsnaṃ kṣaṇena vinipātitam ||

By the mighty-valored ministers of the rakshasa Dashagriva, that entire army of Varuna was struck down in a moment.

Shloka 32 (uttara.23.32)

समीक्ष्य स्वबलं सङ्ख्ये वरुणस्य सुतास्तदा । अर्दिताः शरजालेन निवृत्ता रणकर्मणः ।। २३.३२ ।।

samīkṣya svabalaṃ saṅkhye varuṇasya sutās tadā | arditāḥ śarajālena nivṛttā raṇakarmaṇaḥ ||

Seeing their own forces thus in battle, Varuna's sons, harassed by the net of arrows, withdrew from the fighting.

Shloka 33 (uttara.23.33)

महीतलगतास्ते तु रावणं दृश्य पुष्पके । आकाशमाशु विविशुः स्यन्दनैः शीघ्रगामिभिः ।। २३.३३ ।।

mahītalagatās te tu rāvaṇaṃ dṛśya puṣpake | ākāśam āśu viviśuḥ syandanaiḥ śīghragāmibhiḥ ||

Standing upon the earth, seeing Ravana in the Pushpaka above, they swiftly rose into the sky in their fast-moving chariots.

Shloka 34 (uttara.23.34)

महादासीत्ततस्तेषां तुल्यं स्थानमवाप्य तत् । आकाशयुद्धं तुमुलं देवदानवयोरिव ।। २३.३४ ।।

mahad āsīt tatas teṣāṃ tulyaṃ sthānam avāpya tat | ākāśayuddhaṃ tumulaṃ devadānavayor iva ||

Then, having gained equal footing, a great and tumultuous battle raged in the sky between them, like that between gods and danavas.

Shloka 35 (uttara.23.35)

ततस्ते रावणं युद्धे शरैः पावकसन्निभैः । विमुखीकृत्य सन्तुष्टा विनेदुर्विविधान्रवान् ।। २३.३५ ।।

tatas te rāvaṇaṃ yuddhe śaraiḥ pāvakasannibhaiḥ | vimukhīkṛtya santuṣṭā vinedur vividhān ravān ||

Then, with arrows like fire, they drove Ravana back in that battle, and, exultant, roared out various cries.

Shloka 36 (uttara.23.36)

ततो महोदरः क्रुद्धो राजानं दृश्य धर्षितम् । त्यक्त्वा मृत्युभयं वीरो युद्धकाङ्क्षी व्यलोकयत् ।। २३.३६ ।।

tato mahodaraḥ kruddho rājānaṃ dṛśya dharṣitam | tyaktvā mṛtyubhayaṃ vīro yuddhakāṅkṣī vyalokayat ||

Then Mahodara, enraged at seeing his king thus overwhelmed, casting aside all fear of death, looked about for battle with heroic resolve.

Shloka 37 (uttara.23.37)

तेन ते दारुणा युद्धे कामगाः पवनोपमाः । महोदरेण गदया हता वै प्रययुः क्षितिम् ।। २३.३७ ।।

tena te dāruṇā yuddhe kāmagāḥ pavanopamāḥ | mahodareṇa gadayā hatā vai prayayuḥ kṣitim ||

In that terrible battle, Mahodara, with his mace, struck down those wind-swift steeds that moved at will, and they fell to the earth.

Shloka 38 (uttara.23.38)

तेषां वरुणपुत्राणां हत्वा योधान्हयाञ्छतान् । मुमोचाशु महानादं विरथान्प्रेक्ष्य तान्स्थितान् ।। २३.३८ ।।

teṣāṃ varuṇaputrāṇāṃ hatvā yodhān hayāñ chatān | mumocāśu mahānādaṃ virathān prekṣya tān sthitān ||

Having slain the warriors and hundreds of horses of Varuna's sons, and seeing them standing chariotless, he at once let out a mighty roar.

Shloka 39 (uttara.23.39)

ते तु तेषां रथाः साश्वाः सह सारथिभिर्हतैः । महोदरेण निहताः पतिताः पृथिवीतले ।। २३.३९ ।।

te tu teṣāṃ rathāḥ sāśvāḥ saha sārathibhir hataiḥ | mahodareṇa nihatāḥ patitāḥ pṛthivītale ||

Their chariots, with horses and their charioteers slain, were destroyed by Mahodara and fell to the earth.

Shloka 40 (uttara.23.40)

ते तु त्यक्त्वा रथान्पुत्रा वरुणस्य महात्मनः । आकाशे विष्ठिताः शूराः स्वप्रभावान्न विव्यथुः ।। २३.४० ।।

te tu tyaktvā rathān putrā varuṇasya mahātmanaḥ | ākāśe viṣṭhitāḥ śūrāḥ svaprabhāvān na vivyathuḥ ||

Then, abandoning their chariots, those valiant sons of the great Varuna stood their ground in the sky, undismayed, sustained by their own power.

Shloka 41 (uttara.23.41)

धनूंषि कृत्वा सज्जानि विनिर्भिद्य महोदरम् । रावणं समरे क्रुद्धाः सहिताः समभिद्रवन् ।। २३.४१ ।।

dhanūṃṣi kṛtvā sajjāni vinirbhidya mahodaram | rāvaṇaṃ samare kruddhāḥ sahitāḥ samabhidravan ||

Readying their bows, piercing through Mahodara, they all together, enraged, rushed upon Ravana in that battle.

Shloka 42 (uttara.23.42)

सायकैश्चापविभ्रष्टैर्वज्रकल्पैः सुदारुणैः । दारयन्ति स्म सङ्क्रुद्धा मेघा इव महागिरिम् ।। २३.४२ ।।

sāyakaiś cāpavibhraṣṭair vajrakalpaiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ | dārayanti sma saṅkruddhā meghā iva mahāgirim ||

Loosing thunderbolt-like, terrible arrows from their bows, in fury they rent him as clouds might rend a great mountain.

Shloka 43 (uttara.23.43)

ततः क्रुद्धो दशग्रीवः कालाग्निरिव निर्गतः । शरवर्षैर्महाघोरैस्तेषां मर्मस्वताडयत् ।। २३.४३ ।।

tataḥ kruddho daśagrīvaḥ kālāgnir iva nirgataḥ | śaravarṣair mahāghorais teṣāṃ marmasv atāḍayat ||

Then the enraged Dashagriva, blazing forth like the fire of universal dissolution, struck at their vital points with terrible showers of arrows.

Shloka 44 (uttara.23.44)

ततस्तेनैव सहसा सीदन्ति स्म पदातयः । मुसलानि विचित्राणि ततो भल्लशतानि च ।। २३.४४ ।।

tatas tenaiva sahasā sīdanti sma padātayaḥ | musalāni vicitrāṇi tato bhallaśatāni ca ||

Then, struck by him alone, his foot-soldiers suddenly began to fall; he then hurled strange iron clubs and hundreds of broad-headed arrows.

Shloka 45 (uttara.23.45)

पट्टिशांश्चैव शक्तीश्च शतघ्नीस्तोमरांस्तथा । पातयामास दुर्धर्षस्तेषामुपरि विष्ठितः ।। २३.४५ ।।

paṭṭiśāṃś caiva śaktīś ca śataghnīs tomarāṃs tathā | pātayām āsa durdharṣas teṣām upari viṣṭhitaḥ ||

That indomitable one, positioned above them, rained down pattishas, javelins, shataghnis, and lances upon them.

Shloka 46 (uttara.23.46)

अपविद्धास्तु ते वीरा विनिष्पेतुः पदातयः । महापङ्कमिवासाद्य कुञ्जराष्षष्टिहायनाः ।। २३.४६ ।।

apaviddhās tu te vīrā viniṣpetuḥ padātayaḥ | mahāpaṅkam ivāsādya kuñjarāḥ ṣaṣṭihāyanāḥ ||

Struck down, those valiant foot-soldiers fell like sixty-year-old elephants sinking into deep mire.

Shloka 47 (uttara.23.47)

सीदमानान्सुतान्दृष्ट्वा विह्वलान्सुमहौजसः । ननाद रावणो हर्षान्महानम्बुधरो यथा ।। २३.४७ ।।

sīdamānān sutān dṛṣṭvā vihvalān sumahaujasaḥ | nanāda rāvaṇo harṣān mahān ambudharo yathā ||

Seeing those mighty sons of Varuna falling and dismayed, Ravana roared with joy like a great thundercloud.

Shloka 48 (uttara.23.48)

ततो रक्षो महानादान्मुक्त्वा हन्ति स्म वारुणान् । नानाप्रहरणोपेतैर्धारापातैरिवाम्बुदः ।। २३.४८ ।।

tato rakṣo mahānādān muktvā hanti sma vāruṇān | nānāpraharaṇopetair dhārāpātair ivāmbudaḥ ||

Then that rakshasa, roaring loudly, slew Varuna's sons with streams of various weapons, as a cloud pours down its torrents.

Shloka 49 (uttara.23.49)

ततस्ते विमुखाः सर्वे पतिता धरणीतले । रणात्स्वपुरुषैः शीघ्रं गृहाण्येव प्रवेशिताः ।। २३.४९ ।।

tatas te vimukhāḥ sarve patitā dharaṇītale | raṇāt svapuruṣaiḥ śīghraṃ gṛhāṇy eva praveśitāḥ ||

Then, all of them, defeated, fell to the ground, and their own attendants swiftly carried them from the battlefield into their homes.

Shloka 50 (uttara.23.50)

तानब्रवीत्ततो रक्षो वरुणाय निवेद्यताम् ।। २३.५० ।।

tān abravīt tato rakṣo varuṇāya nivedyatām ||

Then that rakshasa said to them: "Let this be reported to Varuna."

Shloka 51 (uttara.23.51)

रावणं त्वब्रवीन्मन्त्री प्रहस्तो नाम वारुणः । गतः खलु महाराजो ब्रह्मलोकं जलेश्वरः ।। २३.५१ ।।

rāvaṇaṃ tv abravīn mantrī prahasto nāma vāruṇaḥ | gataḥ khalu mahārājo brahmalokaṃ jaleśvaraḥ ||

Then Varuna's minister, named Prahasta, said to Ravana: "The great king, lord of the waters, has indeed gone to the realm of Brahma."

Shloka 52 (uttara.23.52)

गान्धर्वं वरुणः श्रोतुं यं त्वमाह्वयसे युधि । तत्किं तव वृथा वीर परिश्रम्य गते नृपे । ये तु सन्निहिता वीराः कुमारास्ते पराजिताः ।। २३.५२ ।।

gāndharvaṃ varuṇaḥ śrotuṃ yaṃ tvam āhvayase yudhi | tat kiṃ tava vṛthā vīra pariśramya gate nṛpe | ye tu sannihitā vīrāḥ kumārās te parājitāḥ ||

"Varuna, whom you challenge to battle, has gone to hear gandharva music. O hero, since the king is away, your exertion here is in vain. As for the valiant princes who were present — they have already been defeated."

Shloka 53 (uttara.23.53)

राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः । हर्षान्नादं विमुञ्चन्वै निष्क्रान्तो वरुणालयात् ।। २३.५३ ।।

rākṣasendras tu tac chrutvā nāma viśrāvya cātmanaḥ | harṣān nādaṃ vimuñcan vai niṣkrānto varuṇālayāt ||

Hearing this, the lord of rakshasas, proclaiming his own name, let out a joyous roar and departed from Varuna's abode.

Shloka 54 (uttara.23.54)

आगतस्तु पथा येन तेनैव विनिवृत्य सः । लङ्कामभिमुखो रक्षो नभस्तलगतो ययौ ।। २३.५४ ।।

āgatas tu pathā yena tenaiva vinivṛtya saḥ | laṅkām abhimukho rakṣo nabhastalagato yayau ||

Returning by the very path he had come, that rakshasa, coursing through the sky, journeyed on toward Lanka.