Indrajit's Boons and the Rescue of Madhu

Shloka 1 (uttara.25.1)

स तु दत्त्वा दशग्रीवो वनं घोरं खरस्य तत् । भगिनीं च समाश्वास्य हृष्टः स्वस्थतरो ऽभवत् ।। २५.१ ।।

sa tu dattvā daśagrīvo vanaṃ ghoraṃ kharasya tat | bhaginīṃ ca samāśvāsya hṛṣṭaḥ svasthataro 'bhavat ||

Having thus granted that dreadful forest to Khara, and having consoled his sister, Dashagriva became joyful and more at ease.

Shloka 2 (uttara.25.2)

ततो निकुम्भिला नाम लङ्कोपवनमुत्तमम् । तद्राक्षसेन्द्रो बलवान्प्रविवेश सहानुगः ।। २५.२ ।।

tato nikumbhilā nāma laṅkopavanam uttamam | tad rākṣasendro balavān praviveśa sahānugaḥ ||

Then that mighty lord of rakshasas, with his attendants, entered the excellent grove of Lanka called Nikumbhila.

Shloka 3 (uttara.25.3)

तत्र यूपशताकीर्णं सौम्यचैत्योपशोभितम् । ददर्श विष्ठितं यज्ञं श्रिया सम्प्रज्वलन्निव ।। २५.३ ।।

tatra yūpaśatākīrṇaṃ saumyacaityopaśobhitam | dadarśa viṣṭhitaṃ yajñaṃ śriyā sampravjalann iva ||

There he saw a sacrifice in progress, strewn with hundreds of sacrificial posts, adorned by a serene sacred tree, seeming to blaze with splendor.

Shloka 4 (uttara.25.4)

ततः कृष्णाजिनधरं कमण्डलुशिखाध्वजम् । ददर्श स्वसुतं तत्र मेघनादं भयावहम् ।। २५.४ ।।

tataḥ kṛṣṇājinadharaṃ kamaṇḍaluśikhādhvajam | dadarśa svasutaṃ tatra meghanādaṃ bhayāvaham ||

There he saw his own son, the fearsome Meghanada, clad in a black antelope-hide, bearing a water-pot and the crest that marked a votary.

Shloka 5 (uttara.25.5)

तं समासाद्य लङ्केशः परिष्वज्वाथ बाहुभिः । अब्रवीत्किमिदं वत्स वर्तसे ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ।। २५.५ ।।

taṃ samāsādya laṅkeśaḥ pariṣvajya atha bāhubhiḥ | abravīt kim idaṃ vatsa vartase brūhi tattvataḥ ||

Coming to him, the Lord of Lanka embraced him with his arms and said, "My son, what is this? Tell me truly, what are you doing here?"

Shloka 6 (uttara.25.6)

उशना त्वब्रवीत्तत्र यज्ञसम्पत्समृद्धये । रावणं राक्षसश्रेष्ठं द्विजश्रेष्ठो महातपाः ।। २५.६ ।।

uśanā tv abravīt tatra yajñasampatsamṛddhaye | rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasaśreṣṭhaṃ dvijaśreṣṭho mahātapāḥ ||

Then, for the fulfilment of that sacrifice's success, the foremost of brahmins, the great ascetic Ushanas (Shukracharya), who was present there, spoke to Ravana, chief of rakshasas.

Shloka 7 (uttara.25.7)

अहमाख्यामि ते राजञ्छ्रूयतां सर्वमेव तत् । यज्ञास्ते सप्त पुत्रेण प्राप्तास्सुबहुविस्तराः ।। २५.७ ।।

aham ākhyāmi te rājañ chrūyatāṃ sarvam eva tat | yajñās te sapta putreṇa prāptās subahuvistarāḥ ||

"O king, let me tell you everything; listen. Your son has completed seven sacrifices, each conducted with great elaboration.

Shloka 8 (uttara.25.8)

अग्निष्टोमो ऽश्वमेधश्च यज्ञो बहुसुवर्णकः । राजसूयस्तथा यज्ञो गोमेधो वैष्णवस्तथा ।। २५.८ ।।

agniṣṭomo 'śvamedhaś ca yajño bahusuvarṇakaḥ | rājasūyas tathā yajño gomedho vaiṣṇavas tathā ||

The Agnishtoma, the Ashvamedha, the sacrifice of much gold, the Rajasuya, the Gomedha, and the Vaishnava —

Shloka 9 (uttara.25.9)

माहेश्वरे प्रवृत्ते तु यज्ञे पुम्भिः सुदुर्लभे । वरांस्ते लब्धवान्पुत्रः साक्षात्पशुपतेरिह ।। २५.९ ।।

māheśvare pravṛtte tu yajñe pumbhiḥ sudurlabhe | varāṃs te labdhavān putraḥ sākṣāt paśupater iha ||

— and now the Maheshvara sacrifice, exceedingly hard for men to attain, is in progress here. Your son has obtained boons directly from Pashupati (Shiva) himself.

Shloka 10 (uttara.25.10)

कामगं स्यन्दनं दिव्यमन्तरिक्षचरं ध्रुवम् । मायां च तामसीं नाम यया सम्पद्यते तमः ।। २५.१० ।।

kāmagaṃ syandanaṃ divyam antarikṣacaraṃ dhruvam | māyāṃ ca tāmasīṃ nāma yayā sampadyate tamaḥ ||

A divine chariot that goes wherever one wills, coursing steadily through the sky; and an illusion called Tamasi, by which darkness can be conjured.

Shloka 11 (uttara.25.11)

एतया किल सङ्ग्रामे मायया राक्षसेश्वर । प्रयुक्तया गतिः शक्या नहि ज्ञातुं सुरासुरैः ।। २५.११ ।।

etayā kila saṅgrāme māyayā rākṣaseśvara | prayuktayā gatiḥ śakyā nahi jñātuṃ surāsuraiḥ ||

"O lord of rakshasas, when this illusion is used in battle, its working cannot even be discerned by gods or asuras.

Shloka 12 (uttara.25.12)

अक्षयाविषुधी बाणैश्चापं चापि सुदुर्जयम् । अस्त्रं च बलवद्राजञ्छत्रुविध्वंसनं रणे ।। २५.१२ ।।

akṣayāv iṣudhī bāṇaiś cāpaṃ cāpi sudurjayam | astraṃ ca balavad rājañ chatruvidhvaṃsanaṃ raṇe ||

Two inexhaustible quivers full of arrows, an unconquerable bow, and, O king, a mighty weapon that annihilates the enemy in battle.

Shloka 13 (uttara.25.13)

एतान्सर्वान्वरांल्लब्ध्वा पुत्रस्ते ऽयं दशानन । अद्य यज्ञसमाप्तौ च त्वां दिदृक्षुस्स्थितो ह्यहम् ।। २५.१३ ।।

etān sarvān varāṃl labdhvā putras te 'yaṃ daśānana | adya yajñasamāptau ca tvāṃ didṛkṣus sthito hy aham ||

"Having obtained all these boons, O Dashanana, this your son now stands here; and today, with the sacrifice concluding, I too have remained here, desiring to see you."

Shloka 14 (uttara.25.14)

ततो ऽब्रवीदृशग्रीवो न शोभनमिदं कृतम् । पूजिताः शत्रवो यस्माद्द्रव्यैरिन्द्रपुरोगमाः ।। २५.१४ ।।

tato 'bravīd daśagrīvo na śobhanam idaṃ kṛtam | pūjitāḥ śatravo yasmād dravyair indrapurogamāḥ ||

Then Dashagriva said: "This that has been done is not good, for by it our enemies, Indra and the rest, have been honored with offerings.

Shloka 15 (uttara.25.15)

एहीदानीं कृतं विद्धि सुकृतं तन्न संशयः । आगच्छ सौम्य गच्छामः स्वमेव भवनं प्रति ।। २५.१५ ।।

ehīdānīṃ kṛtaṃ viddhi sukṛtaṃ tan na saṃśayaḥ | āgaccha saumya gacchāmaḥ svam eva bhavanaṃ prati ||

Well, come now — know that what is done is done; there is no doubt of it. Come, gentle one, let us go on to our own dwelling."

Shloka 16 (uttara.25.16)

ततो गत्वा दशग्रीवः सपुत्रः सविभीषणः । स्त्रियो ऽवतारयामास सर्वास्ता बाष्पगद्गदाः ।। २५.१६ ।।

tato gatvā daśagrīvaḥ saputraḥ savibhīṣaṇaḥ | striyo 'vatārayām āsa sarvās tā bāṣpagadgadāḥ ||

Then, going with his son and Vibhishana, Dashagriva brought down from the chariot all those women, their voices choked with tears.

Shloka 17 (uttara.25.17)

लक्षिण्यो रत्नभूताश्च देवदानवरक्षसाम् । तस्य तासु मतिं ज्ञात्वा धर्मत्मा वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। २५.१७ ।।

lakṣiṇyo ratnabhūtāś ca devadānavarakṣasām | tasya tāsu matiṃ jñātvā dharmātmā vākyam abravīt ||

They were beauteous women, jewel-like treasures of gods, danavas, and rakshasas. Perceiving Ravana's intent regarding them, the righteous Vibhishana spoke these words.

Shloka 18 (uttara.25.18)

ईदृशैस्त्वं समाचारैर्यशोर्थकुलनाशनैः । धर्षणं ज्ञातिनां ज्ञात्वा स्वमतेन विचेष्टसे ।। २५.१८ ।।

īdṛśais tvaṃ samācārair yaśorthakulanāśanaiḥ | dharṣaṇaṃ jñātināṃ jñātvā svamatena viceṣṭase ||

"By such conduct, destructive of your fame, your wealth, and your very lineage, you act on your own whim, even offending your own kinsfolk.

Shloka 19 (uttara.25.19)

ज्ञातींस्तान्धर्षयित्वेमास्त्वया ऽनीता वराङ्गनाः । त्वामतिक्रम्य मधुना राजन्कुम्भीनसी हृता ।। २५.१९ ।।

jñātīṃs tān dharṣayitvemās tvayā 'nītā varāṅganāḥ | tvām atikramya madhunā rājan kumbhīnasī hṛtā ||

You have brought these fine women here by violating your own kin. O king, disregarding even you, Madhu has abducted Kumbhinasi."

Shloka 20 (uttara.25.20)

रावणस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं नावगच्छामि किं त्विदम् । को ऽयं यस्तु त्वया ऽख्यातो मधुरित्येव नामतः ।। २५.२० ।।

rāvaṇas tv abravīd vākyaṃ nāvagacchāmi kiṃ tv idam | ko 'yaṃ yas tu tvayā 'khyāto madhur ity eva nāmataḥ ||

Ravana said, "I do not understand this. Who is this one you have named Madhu?"

Shloka 21 (uttara.25.21)

विभीषणस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो भ्रातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । श्रूयतामस्य पापस्य कर्मणः फलमागतम् ।। २५.२१ ।।

vibhīṣaṇas tu saṅkruddho bhrātaraṃ vākyam abravīt | śrūyatām asya pāpasya karmaṇaḥ phalam āgatam ||

Vibhishana, enraged, said to his brother, "Listen — the fruit of this wicked one's deed has arrived.

Shloka 22 (uttara.25.22)

मातामहस्य यो भ्राता ज्येष्ठो भ्राता सुमालिनः । माल्यवानिति विख्यातो वृद्धः प्राज्ञो निशाचरः ।। २५.२२ ।।

mātāmahasya yo bhrātā jyeṣṭho bhrātā sumālinaḥ | mālyavān iti vikhyāto vṛddhaḥ prājño niśācaraḥ ||

Our grandfather Sumali's elder brother, known by the name Malyavan, was an aged and wise night-wanderer.

Shloka 23 (uttara.25.23)

पिता ज्येष्ठो जनन्या नो ह्यस्माकं चार्यको ऽभवत् । तस्य कुम्भीनसी नाम दुहितुर्दुहिता ऽभवत् ।। २५.२३ ।।

pitā jyeṣṭho jananyā no hy asmākaṃ cāryako 'bhavat | tasya kumbhīnasī nāma duhitur duhitā 'bhavat ||

He was the elder to our mother's father, that is, our great-grand-uncle. Kumbhinasi was the daughter of his daughter.

Shloka 24 (uttara.25.24)

मातृष्वसुरथास्माकं सा च कन्या ऽनलोद्भवा । भवत्यस्माकमेवैषा भ्रातृणां धर्मतः स्वसा ।। २५.२४ ।।

mātṛsvasur athāsmākaṃ sā ca kanyā 'nalodbhavā | bhavaty asmākam evaiṣā bhrātṛṇāṃ dharmataḥ svasā ||

She is the daughter of our mother's sister, and born of the sacred fire; thus by rightful kinship she is a sister to us brothers.

Shloka 25 (uttara.25.25)

सा हृता मधुना राजन्राक्षसेन बलीयसा । यज्ञप्रवृत्ते पुत्रे तु मयि चान्तर्जलोषिते ।। २५.२५ ।।

sā hṛtā madhunā rājan rākṣasena balīyasā | yajñapravṛtte putre tu mayi cāntarjaloṣite ||

O king, she was abducted by that powerful rakshasa Madhu, while your son was engaged in his sacrifice and I was dwelling submerged in water in austerity.

Shloka 26 (uttara.25.26)

कुम्भकर्णे महाराज निद्रामनुभवत्यथ । निहत्य राक्षसश्रेष्ठानमात्यानिह सम्मतान् ।। २५.२६ ।।

kumbhakarṇe mahārāja nidrām anubhavaty atha | nihatya rākṣasaśreṣṭhān amātyān iha sammatān ||

And, O great king, Kumbhakarna, too, was then sunk in sleep. Slaying the respected ministers and foremost rakshasas here —

Shloka 27 (uttara.25.27)

धर्षयित्वा हृता सा तु सुप्ताप्यन्तःपुरे तव । श्रुत्वा ऽपि तन्महाराज क्षान्तमेव हतो न सः ।। २५.२७ ।।

dharṣayitvā hṛtā sā tu suptāpy antaḥpure tava | śrutvā 'pi tan mahārāja kṣāntam eva hato na saḥ ||

— he forcibly abducted her even as she slept within your own inner apartments. And, O great king, hearing all this, he was merely let go, not slain.

Shloka 28 (uttara.25.28)

यस्मादवश्यं दातव्या कन्या भर्त्रे हि भ्रातृभिः । तदेतत्कर्मणो ह्यस्य फलं पापस्य दुर्मते ।। २५.२८ ।।

yasmād avaśyaṃ dātavyā kanyā bhartre hi bhrātṛbhiḥ | tad etat karmaṇo hy asya phalaṃ pāpasya durmate ||

Since a maiden must properly be given by her brothers to her husband — this then, O ill-minded one, is the fruit of that sinful act.

Shloka 29 (uttara.25.29)

अस्मिन्नेवाभिसम्प्राप्तं लोके विदितमस्तु ते । विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रः स रावणः । दौरात्म्येनात्मनोद्धूतस्तप्ताम्भ इव सागरः ।। २५.२९ ।।

asminn evābhisamprāptaṃ loke viditam astu te | vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rākṣasendraḥ sa rāvaṇaḥ | daurātmyenātmanoddhūtas taptāmbha iva sāgaraḥ ||

"Know that all this has befallen you right here in this very world." Hearing Vibhishana's words, the lord of rakshasas, Ravana, stirred by his own wickedness, seethed like an ocean churned by scalding water.

Shloka 30 (uttara.25.30)

ततो ऽब्रवीदृशग्रीवः क्रुद्धः संरक्तलोचनः । कल्प्यतां मे रथः शीघ्रं शूराः सज्जीभवन्तु नः ।। २५.३० ।।

tato 'bravīd daśagrīvaḥ kruddhaḥ saṃraktalocanaḥ | kalpyatāṃ me rathaḥ śīghraṃ śūrāḥ sajjībhavantu naḥ ||

Then the enraged, red-eyed Dashagriva said: "Let my chariot be readied at once; let our warriors arm themselves.

Shloka 31 (uttara.25.31)

भ्राता मे कुम्भकर्णश्च ये च मुख्या निशाचराः । वाहनान्यधिरोहन्तु नानाप्रहरणायुधाः ।। २५.३१ ।।

bhrātā me kumbhakarṇaś ca ye ca mukhyā niśācarāḥ | vāhanāny adhirohantu nānāpraharaṇāyudhāḥ ||

Let my brother Kumbhakarna, and the other chief night-wanderers, mount their vehicles, armed with various weapons.

Shloka 32 (uttara.25.32)

अद्य तं समरे हत्वा मधुं रावणनिर्भयम् । सुरलोकं गमिष्यामि युद्धकाङ्क्षी सुहृद्वृतः ।। २५.३२ ।।

adya taṃ samare hatvā madhuṃ rāvaṇanirbhayam | suralokaṃ gamiṣyāmi yuddhakāṅkṣī suhṛdvṛtaḥ ||

Today, having slain in battle that Madhu who fears not even Ravana, surrounded by my friends and eager for war, I shall go on even to conquer the realm of the gods."

Shloka 33 (uttara.25.33)

अक्षौहिणीसहस्राणि चत्वार्यग्र्याणि रक्षसाम् । नानाप्रहरणान्याशु निर्ययुर्युद्धकाङ्क्षिणाम् ।। २५.३३ ।।

akṣauhiṇīsahasrāṇi catvāry agryāṇi rakṣasām | nānāpraharaṇāny āśu niryayur yuddhakāṅkṣiṇām ||

Four foremost akshauhini-hosts of rakshasas, eager for battle and armed with manifold weapons, at once set forth.

Shloka 34 (uttara.25.34)

इन्द्रजित्त्वग्रतः सैन्यात्सैनिकान्परिगृह्य च । जगाम रावणो मध्ये कुम्भकर्णश्च पृष्ठतः ।। २५.३४ ।।

indrajit tv agrataḥ sainyāt sainikān parigṛhya ca | jagāma rāvaṇo madhye kumbhakarṇaś ca pṛṣṭhataḥ ||

Indrajit, taking soldiers with him, marched at the head of the army; Ravana went in the middle, and Kumbhakarna brought up the rear.

Shloka 35 (uttara.25.35)

विभीषणश्च धर्मात्मा लङ्कायां धर्मामाचरत् । शोषाः सर्वे महाभागा ययुर्मधुपुरं प्रति ।। २५.३५ ।।

vibhīṣaṇaś ca dharmātmā laṅkāyāṃ dharmam ācarat | śeṣāḥ sarve mahābhāgā yayur madhupuraṃ prati ||

The righteous Vibhishana remained in Lanka, pursuing his religious observances; all the other illustrious ones marched on toward Madhupuri.

Shloka 36 (uttara.25.36)

खरैरुष्ट्रैर्हयैर्दीप्तैः शिंशुमारैर्महोरगैः । राक्षसाः प्रययुः सर्वे कृत्वा ऽकाशं निरन्तरम् ।। २५.३६ ।।

kharair uṣṭrair hayair dīptaiḥ śiṃśumārair mahoragaiḥ | rākṣasāḥ prayayuḥ sarve kṛtvā 'kāśaṃ nirantaram ||

Mounted on donkeys, camels, gleaming horses, crocodiles, and great serpents, all the rakshasas advanced, filling the sky without a gap.

Shloka 37 (uttara.25.37)

दैत्याश्च शतशस्तत्र कृतवैराश्च दैवतैः । रावणं प्रेक्ष्य गच्छन्तमन्वगच्छन्हि पृष्ठतः ।। २५.३७ ।।

daityāś ca śataśas tatra kṛtavairāś ca daivataiḥ | rāvaṇaṃ prekṣya gacchantam anvagacchan hi pṛṣṭhataḥ ||

There, hundreds of daityas, who were at enmity with the gods, seeing Ravana marching forth, followed close behind him.

Shloka 38 (uttara.25.38)

स तु गत्वा मधुपुरं प्रविश्य च दशाननः । न ददर्श मधुं तत्र भगिनीं तत्र दृष्टवान् ।। २५.३८ ।।

sa tu gatvā madhupuraṃ praviśya ca daśānanaḥ | na dadarśa madhuṃ tatra bhaginīṃ tatra dṛṣṭavān ||

Reaching Madhupuri and entering the city, Dashanana did not find Madhu there, but he did see his sister.

Shloka 39 (uttara.25.39)

सा च प्रह्वाञ्जलिर्भूत्वा शिरसा चरणौ गता ।। २५.३९ ।।

sā ca prahvāñjalir bhūtvā śirasā caraṇau gatā ||

She, bowing with joined palms, humbly, came and touched his feet with her head.

Shloka 40 (uttara.25.40)

तस्य राक्षसराजस्य त्रस्ता कुम्भीनसी तदा । तां समुत्थापयामास न भेतव्यमिति ब्रुवन् ।। २५.४० ।।

tasya rākṣasarājasya trastā kumbhīnasī tadā | tāṃ samutthāpayām āsa na bhetavyam iti bruvan ||

Frightened before that rakshasa-king, Kumbhinasi was raised up by him as he said, "You need not fear."

Shloka 41 (uttara.25.41)

रावणो राक्षसश्रेष्ठः किं चापि करवाणि ते । साब्रवीद्यदि मे राजन्प्रसन्नस्त्वं महाभुज । भर्तारं न ममेहाद्य हन्तुमर्हसि मानद ।। २५.४१ ।।

rāvaṇo rākṣasaśreṣṭhaḥ kiṃ cāpi karavāṇi te | sābravīd yadi me rājan prasannas tvaṃ mahābhuja | bhartāraṃ na mamehādya hantum arhasi mānada ||

Ravana, foremost of rakshasas, said, "What may I do for you?" She said, "O king, O mighty-armed one, if you are pleased with me, then, O giver of honor, do not slay my husband today.

Shloka 42 (uttara.25.42)

न हीदृशं भयं किञ्चित्कुलस्त्रीणामिहोच्यते । भयानामपि सर्वेषां वैधव्यं व्यसनं महत् ।। २५.४२ ।।

na hīdṛśaṃ bhayaṃ kiñcit kulastrīṇām ihocyate | bhayānām api sarveṣāṃ vaidhavyaṃ vyasanaṃ mahat ||

For women of noble family, no fear is said to compare with this; among all misfortunes, widowhood is the greatest calamity.

Shloka 43 (uttara.25.43)

सत्यवाग्भव राजेन्द्र मामवेक्षस्व याचतीम् । त्वयाप्युक्तं महाराज न भेतव्यमिति स्वयम् ।। २५.४३ ।।

satyavāg bhava rājendra mām avekṣasva yācatīm | tvayāpy uktaṃ mahārāja na bhetavyam iti svayam ||

O lord of kings, make your word true; look upon me who begs of you. O great king, you yourself just said that there was no need to fear."

Shloka 44 (uttara.25.44)

रावणस्त्वब्रवीद्धृष्टः स्वसारं तत्र संस्थिताम् । क्व चासौ तव भर्ता वै मम शीघ्रं निवेद्यताम् ।। २५.४४ ।।

rāvaṇas tv abravīd dhṛṣṭaḥ svasāraṃ tatra saṃsthitām | kva cāsau tava bhartā vai mama śīghraṃ nivedyatām ||

Ravana, pleased, said to his sister standing there, "Where indeed is your husband? Tell me quickly.

Shloka 45 (uttara.25.45)

सह तेन गमिष्यामि सुरलोकं जयावहे । तव कारुण्यसौहार्दान्निवृत्तो ऽस्मि मधोर्वधात् ।। २५.४५ ।।

saha tena gamiṣyāmi suralokaṃ jayāvahe | tava kāruṇyasauhārdān nivṛtto 'smi madhor vadhāt ||

I shall go together with him to conquer the realm of the gods. It is out of tenderness and love for you that I withdraw from slaying Madhu."

Shloka 46 (uttara.25.46)

इत्युक्ता सा समुत्थाप्य प्रसुप्तं तं निशाचरम् । अब्रवीत्सम्प्रहृष्टेव राक्षसी सा पतिं वचः ।। २५.४६ ।।

ity uktā sā samutthāpya prasuptaṃ taṃ niśācaram | abravīt samprahṛṣṭeva rākṣasī sā patiṃ vacaḥ ||

Hearing this, that rakshasi, greatly delighted, woke her sleeping husband, that night-wanderer, and spoke these words to him.

Shloka 47 (uttara.25.47)

एष प्राप्तो दशग्रीवो मम भ्राता महाबलः । सुरलोकजयाकाङ्क्षी साहाय्ये त्वां वृणोति च ।। २५.४७ ।।

eṣa prāpto daśagrīvo mama bhrātā mahābalaḥ | suralokajayākāṅkṣī sāhāyye tvāṃ vṛṇoti ca ||

"Here has come my mighty brother Dashagriva. Desiring to conquer the realm of the gods, he seeks you as his ally.

Shloka 48 (uttara.25.48)

तदस्य त्वं सहायार्थं सबन्धुर्गच्छ राक्षस । स्निग्धस्य भजमानस्य युक्तमर्थाय कल्पितुम् ।। २५.४८ ।।

tad asya tvaṃ sahāyārthaṃ sabandhur gaccha rākṣasa | snigdhasya bhajamānasya yuktam arthāya kalpitum ||

Therefore, O rakshasa, go with your kinsfolk to help him. It is fitting to be of service to one who approaches us affectionately."

Shloka 49 (uttara.25.49)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तथेत्याह मधुर्वचः ।। २५.४९ ।।

tasyās tad vacanaṃ śrutvā tathety āha madhur vacaḥ ||

Hearing her words, Madhu said, "So be it," in reply.

Shloka 50 (uttara.25.50)

ददर्श राक्षसश्रेष्ठं यथान्यायमुपेत्य सः । पूजयमास धर्मेण रावणं राक्षसाधिपम् ।। २५.५० ।।

dadarśa rākṣasaśreṣṭhaṃ yathānyāyam upetya saḥ | pūjayām āsa dharmeṇa rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam ||

He went, in due form, to that foremost of rakshasas, and duly honored Ravana, the lord of rakshasas, with proper rites.

Shloka 51 (uttara.25.51)

प्राप्य पूजां दशग्रीवो मधुवेश्मानि वीर्यवान् । तत्र चैकां निशामुष्य गमनायोपचक्रमे ।। २५.५१ ।।

prāpya pūjāṃ daśagrīvo madhuveśmāni vīryavān | tatra caikāṃ niśām uṣya gamanāyopacakrame ||

That valiant Dashagriva, having received honor in Madhu's dwelling, spent one night there and then made ready to depart.

Shloka 52 (uttara.25.52)

ततः कैलासमासाद्य शैलं वैश्रवणालयम् । राक्षसेन्द्रो महेन्द्राभः सेनामुपनिवेशयत् ।। २५.५२ ।।

tataḥ kailāsam āsādya śailaṃ vaiśravaṇālayam | rākṣasendro mahendrābhaḥ senām upaniveśayat ||

Then, arriving at Mount Kailasa, the abode of Vaishravana (Kubera), the lord of rakshasas, resplendent as Mahendra, encamped his army there.