Ravana and the Fire-God's King: Worship on the Narmada

Shloka 1 (uttara.31.1)

ततो रामो महातेजा विस्मयात्पुनरेव हि । उवाच प्रणतो वाक्यमगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम् ॥ 31.1 ॥

tato rāmo mahātejā vismayātpunareva hi | uvāca praṇato vākyamagastyamṛṣisattamam || 31.1 ||

Then the greatly radiant Rama, again overcome with wonder, humbly spoke these words to Agastya, foremost of sages.

Shloka 2 (uttara.31.2)

भगवन्राक्षसः क्रूरो यदाप्रभृति मेदिनीम् । पर्यटत्किं तदा लोकाः शून्या आसन्द्विजोत्तम ॥ 31.2 ॥

bhagavanrākṣasaḥ krūro yadāprabhṛti medinīm | paryaṭatkiṃ tadā lokāḥ śūnyā āsandvijottama || 31.2 ||

O venerable one, O best of brahmins, were the worlds left empty of protectors from the time that cruel rakshasa began to roam the earth?

Shloka 3 (uttara.31.3)

राजा वा राजमात्रो वा किं तदा नात्र कश्चन । धर्षणं यत्र न प्राप्तो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ॥ 31.3 ॥

rājā vā rājamātro vā kiṃ tadā nātra kaścana | dharṣaṇaṃ yatra na prāpto rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ || 31.3 ||

Was there then no king, or one equal to a king, anywhere on earth, that Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, met defeat nowhere at all?

Shloka 4 (uttara.31.4)

उताहो हतवीर्यास्ते बभूवुः पृथिवीक्षितः । बहिष्कृता वरास्त्रैश्च बहवो निर्जिता नृपाः ॥ 31.4 ॥

utāho hatavīryāste babhūvuḥ pṛthivīkṣitaḥ | bahiṣkṛtā varāstraiśca bahavo nirjitā nṛpāḥ || 31.4 ||

Or had the kings of the earth become bereft of valor, driven out by his superb weapons, many of them simply conquered?

Shloka 5 (uttara.31.5)

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ह्यगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः । उवाच रामं प्रहसन्पितामह इवेश्वरम् ॥ 31.5 ॥

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā hyagastyo bhagavānṛṣiḥ | uvāca rāmaṃ prahasanpitāmaha iveśvaram || 31.5 ||

Hearing these words of Raghava, the blessed sage Agastya, smiling, spoke to Rama as the grandfather Brahma might speak to Ishvara.

Shloka 6 (uttara.31.6)

इत्येवं बाधमानस्तु पार्थिवान्पार्थिवर्षभ । चचार रावणो राम पृथिवीं पृथिवीपते ॥ 31.6 ॥

ityevaṃ bādhamānastu pārthivānpārthivarṣabha | cacāra rāvaṇo rāma pṛthivīṃ pṛthivīpate || 31.6 ||

Thus harassing kings, O Rama, O bull among kings, lord of the earth, Ravana used to roam the world.

Shloka 7 (uttara.31.7)

ततो माहिष्मतीं नाम पुरीं स्वर्गपुरीप्रभाम् । सम्प्राप्तो यत्र सान्निध्यं सदासीद्वसुरेतसः ॥ 31.7 ॥

tato māhiṣmatīṃ nāma purīṃ svargapurīprabhām | samprāpto yatra sānnidhyaṃ sadāsīdvasuretasaḥ || 31.7 ||

Then he arrived at the city named Mahishmati, splendid as the city of the gods, where the presence of the fire-god ever abided.

Shloka 8 (uttara.31.8)

तुल्य आसीन्नृपस्तस्य प्रभावाद्वसुरेतसः । अर्जुनो नाम यत्राग्निः शरकुण्डेशयः सदा ॥ 31.8 ॥

tulya āsīnnṛpastasya prabhāvādvasuretasaḥ | arjuno nāma yatrāgniḥ śarakuṇḍeśayaḥ sadā || 31.8 ||

There reigned a king equal to that fire-god in splendor, named Arjuna, in whose city the sacred fire ever rested in its reed-lined pit.

Shloka 9 (uttara.31.9)

तमेव दिवसं सो ऽथ हैहयाधिपतिर्बली । अर्जुनो नर्मदां रन्तुं गतः स्त्रीभिः सहेश्वरः ॥ 31.9 ॥

tameva divasaṃ so 'tha haihayādhipatirbalī | arjuno narmadāṃ rantuṃ gataḥ strībhiḥ saheśvaraḥ || 31.9 ||

On that very day the mighty lord of the Haihayas, King Arjuna, had gone with his queens to sport in the Narmada.

Shloka 10 (uttara.31.10)

तमेव दिवसं सो ऽथ रावणस्तत्र आगतः । रावणो राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु तस्यामात्यानपृच्छत ॥ 31.10 ॥

tameva divasaṃ so 'tha rāvaṇastatra āgataḥ | rāvaṇo rākṣasendrastu tasyāmātyānapṛcchata || 31.10 ||

On that same day Ravana too arrived there; Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, questioned his ministers.

Shloka 11 (uttara.31.11)

क्वार्जुनो नृपतिः शीघ्रं सम्यगाख्यातुमर्हथ । रावणो ऽहमनुप्राप्तो युद्धेप्सुर्नृवरेण ह । ममागमनमप्यग्रे युष्माभिः सन्निवेद्यताम् ॥ 31.11 ॥

kvārjuno nṛpatiḥ śīghraṃ samyagākhyātumarhatha | rāvaṇo 'hamanuprāpto yuddhepsurnṛvareṇa ha | mamāgamanamapyagre yuṣmābhiḥ sannivedyatām || 31.11 ||

'Where is King Arjuna? Tell me quickly and truly. I, Ravana, have come here desiring battle with this excellent king. Let my arrival at once be announced to him.'

Shloka 12 (uttara.31.12)

इत्येवं रावणेनोक्तास्ते ऽमात्याः सुविपश्चितः । अब्रुवन्राक्षसपतिमसान्निध्यं महीपतेः ॥ 31.12 ॥

ityevaṃ rāvaṇenoktāste 'mātyāḥ suvipaścitaḥ | abruvanrākṣasapatimasānnidhyaṃ mahīpateḥ || 31.12 ||

Thus addressed by Ravana, those wise ministers told the lord of the rakshasas that the king was not present.

Shloka 13 (uttara.31.13)

श्रुत्वा विश्रवसः पुत्रः पौराणामर्जुनं गतम् । अपसृत्यागतो विन्ध्यं हिमवत्सन्निभं गिरिम् ॥ 31.13 ॥

śrutvā viśravasaḥ putraḥ paurāṇāmarjunaṃ gatam | apasṛtyāgato vindhyaṃ himavatsannibhaṃ girim || 31.13 ||

Having heard from the citizens that Arjuna had gone away, the son of Vishrava withdrew and came to the Vindhya mountain, which resembled the Himalaya.

Shloka 14 (uttara.31.14)

स तमभ्रमिवाविष्टमुद्भ्रन्तमिव मेदिनीम् । अपश्यद्रावणो विन्ध्यमालिखन्तमिवाम्बरम् ॥ 31.14 ॥

sa tamabhramivāviṣṭamudbhrantamiva medinīm | apaśyadrāvaṇo vindhyamālikhantamivāmbaram || 31.14 ||

Ravana beheld that Vindhya, which seemed to be lost in the clouds, seemed to make the very earth reel, and seemed to scratch the sky.

Shloka 15 (uttara.31.15)

सहस्रशिखरोपेतं सिंहाध्युषितकन्दरम् । प्रपातपतितैस्तोयैः साट्टहासमिवाम्बुधिम् ॥ 31.15 ॥

sahasraśikharopetaṃ siṃhādhyuṣitakandaram | prapātapatitaistoyaiḥ sāṭṭahāsamivāmbudhim || 31.15 ||

Possessed of a thousand peaks, its caves the dwelling of lions, with waters cascading down, it seemed like an ocean laughing aloud.

Shloka 16 (uttara.31.16)

देवदानवगन्धर्वैः साप्सरोगणकिन्नरैः । स्वस्त्रीभिः क्रीडमानैश्च स्वर्गभूतं महोच्छ्रयम् ॥ 31.16 ॥

devadānavagandharvaiḥ sāpsarogaṇakinnaraiḥ | svastrībhiḥ krīḍamānaiśca svargabhūtaṃ mahocchrayam || 31.16 ||

Gods, danavas, gandharvas, troops of apsaras and kinnaras sported there with their own women, so that towering mountain seemed to have become heaven itself.

Shloka 17 (uttara.31.17)

नदीभिः स्यन्दमानाभिः स्फटिकप्रतिमं जलम् । फणाभिश्चलजिह्वाभिरनन्तमिव विष्ठितम् ॥ 31.17 ॥

nadībhiḥ syandamānābhiḥ sphaṭikapratimaṃ jalam | phaṇābhiścalajihvābhiranantamiva viṣṭhitam || 31.17 ||

With flowing rivers whose water was clear as crystal, and with the hoods and darting tongues of serpents, it stood as though pervaded by Ananta himself.

Shloka 18 (uttara.31.18)

उत्क्रामन्तं दरीवन्तं हिमवत्सन्निभं गिरिम् । पश्यमानस्ततो विन्ध्यं रावणो नर्मदां ययौ ॥ 31.18 ॥

utkrāmantaṃ darīvantaṃ himavatsannibhaṃ girim | paśyamānastato vindhyaṃ rāvaṇo narmadāṃ yayau || 31.18 ||

Beholding that towering, cave-riddled mountain resembling the Himalaya, Ravana then went on from the Vindhya toward the Narmada —

Shloka 19 (uttara.31.19)

चलोपलजलां पुण्यां पश्चिमोदधिगामिनीम् ॥ 31.19 ॥

calopalajalāṃ puṇyāṃ paścimodadhigāminīm || 31.19 ||

— toward that sacred river, whose water rippled over the stones, flowing on toward the western ocean,

Shloka 20 (uttara.31.20)

महिषैः सृमरैः सिंहैः शार्दूलर्क्षगजोत्तमैः । उष्णाभितप्तैस्तृषितैः सङ्क्षोभितजलाशयाम् ॥ 31.20 ॥

mahiṣaiḥ sṛmaraiḥ siṃhaiḥ śārdūlarkṣagajottamaiḥ | uṣṇābhitaptaistṛṣitaiḥ saṅkṣobhitajalāśayām || 31.20 ||

whose waters, sought by buffaloes, wild deer, lions, tigers, bears and great elephants scorched by heat and thirst, were churned by them,

Shloka 21 (uttara.31.21)

चक्रवाकैः सकारण्डैः सहंसजलकुक्कुटैः । सारसैश्च सदा मत्तैः सुकूजद्भिः समावृताम् ॥ 31.21 ॥

cakravākaiḥ sakāraṇḍaiḥ sahaṃsajalakukkuṭaiḥ | sārasaiśca sadā mattaiḥ sukūjadbhiḥ samāvṛtām || 31.21 ||

which was ever surrounded by sweetly-crying ruddy geese, ducks, swans, water-fowl and ever-intoxicated cranes,

Shloka 22 (uttara.31.22)

फुल्लद्रुमकृतोत्तंसां चक्रवाकयुगस्तनीम् । विस्तीर्णपुलिनश्रोणीं हंसावलिसुमेखलाम् ॥ 31.22 ॥

phulladrumakṛtottaṃsāṃ cakravākayugastanīm | vistīrṇapulinaśroṇīṃ haṃsāvalisumekhalām || 31.22 ||

wearing blossoming trees as her crown, her breasts the pairs of ruddy geese, her broad sandbanks her hips, her lovely girdle the row of swans —

Shloka 23 (uttara.31.23)

पुष्परेण्वनुलिप्ताङ्गीं जलफेनामलांशुकाम् । जलावगाहसंस्पर्शां फुल्लोत्पलशुभेक्षणाम् । पुष्पकादवरुह्याशु नर्मदां सरितां वराम् ॥ 31.23 ॥

puṣpareṇvanuliptāṅgīṃ jalaphenāmalāṃśukām | jalāvagāhasaṃsparśāṃ phullotpalaśubhekṣaṇām | puṣpakādavaruhyāśu narmadāṃ saritāṃ varām || 31.23 ||

her body anointed with flower-pollen, her spotless robe the foam of the water, her caress the plunge into her waves, her lovely eyes the blooming lotuses — Ravana quickly descended from the Pushpaka to that finest of rivers, the Narmada.

Shloka 24 (uttara.31.24)

इष्टामिव वरां नारीमवगाह्य दशाननः । स तस्याः पुलिने रम्ये नानामुनिनिषेविते ॥ 31.24 ॥

iṣṭāmiva varāṃ nārīmavagāhya daśānanaḥ | sa tasyāḥ puline ramye nānāmuniniṣevite || 31.24 ||

The ten-headed Ravana entered her waters as though embracing a beloved and excellent woman, and then, on her lovely sandbank frequented by many sages,

Shloka 25 (uttara.31.25)

उपोपविष्टैः सचिवैः सार्धं राक्षसपुङ्गवः । प्रख्याय नर्मदां सो ऽथ गङ्गेयमिति रावणः ॥ 31.25 ॥

upopaviṣṭaiḥ sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ | prakhyāya narmadāṃ so 'tha gaṅgeyamiti rāvaṇaḥ || 31.25 ||

that bull among rakshasas sat down there together with his ministers close by, and recognizing the Narmada, Ravana said — 'this is the Ganga itself' —

Shloka 26 (uttara.31.26)

नर्मदादर्शजं हर्षमाप्तवान् राक्षसाधिपः । उवाच सचिवांस्तत्र सलीलं शुकसारणौ ॥ 31.26 ॥

narmadādarśajaṃ harṣamāptavān rākṣasādhipaḥ | uvāca sacivāṃstatra salīlaṃ śukasāraṇau || 31.26 ||

the lord of the rakshasas, filled with delight at the sight of the Narmada, playfully said there to his ministers Shuka and Sarana —

Shloka 27 (uttara.31.27)

एष रश्मिसहस्रेण जगत्कृत्वैव काञ्चनम् । तीक्ष्णतापकरः सूर्यो नभसो ऽर्धं समाश्रितः ॥ 31.27 ॥

eṣa raśmisahasreṇa jagatkṛtvaiva kāñcanam | tīkṣṇatāpakaraḥ sūryo nabhaso 'rdhaṃ samāśritaḥ || 31.27 ||

'This sun, maker of fierce heat, having turned the whole world golden with his thousand rays, has now reached the midpoint of the sky;'

Shloka 28 (uttara.31.28)

मामासीनं विदित्वैव चन्द्रायति दिवाकरः ॥ 31.28 ॥

māmāsīnaṃ viditvaiva candrāyati divākaraḥ || 31.28 ||

'— knowing that I am seated here, this maker of the day has, as it were, turned as mild as the moon.'

Shloka 29 (uttara.31.29)

नर्मदाजलशीतश्च सुगन्धिः श्रमनाशनः । मद्भयादनिलो ऽप्यत्र वात्येष सुसमाहितः ॥ 31.29 ॥

narmadājalaśītaśca sugandhiḥ śramanāśanaḥ | madbhayādanilo 'pyatra vātyeṣa susamāhitaḥ || 31.29 ||

'This breeze too, cooled by the waters of the Narmada, fragrant, dispeller of weariness, blows here so gently and composed, as if out of fear of me.'

Shloka 30 (uttara.31.30)

इयं वापि सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा नर्मदा नर्मवर्धिनी । नक्रमीनविहङ्गोर्मिः सभयेवाङ्गना स्थिता ॥ 31.30 ॥

iyaṃ vāpi saricchreṣṭhā narmadā narmavardhinī | nakramīnavihaṅgormiḥ sabhayevāṅganā sthitā || 31.30 ||

'And this best of rivers, Narmada, increaser of delight, stands here too, with her crocodiles, fish, birds and waves, as if she were a frightened woman.'

Shloka 31 (uttara.31.31)

तद्भवन्तः क्षताः शस्त्रैर्नृपैरिन्द्रसमैर्युधि । चन्दनस्य रसेनेव रुधिरेण समुक्षिताः ॥ 31.31 ॥

tadbhavantaḥ kṣatāḥ śastrairnṛpairindrasamairyudhi | candanasya raseneva rudhireṇa samukṣitāḥ || 31.31 ||

'Now you who have been wounded in battle by the weapons of kings equal to Indra, sprinkled with blood as though with the essence of sandal —'

Shloka 32 (uttara.31.32)

ते यूयमवगाहध्वं नर्मदां शर्मदां शुभाम् । महापद्ममुखा मत्ता गङ्गामिव गहागजाः । अस्यां स्नात्वा महानद्यां पाप्मानं विप्रमोक्ष्यथ ॥ 31.32 ॥

te yūyamavagāhadhvaṃ narmadāṃ śarmadāṃ śubhām | mahāpadmamukhā mattā gaṅgāmiva gahāgajāḥ | asyāṃ snātvā mahānadyāṃ pāpmānaṃ vipramokṣyatha || 31.32 ||

'— plunge into this auspicious, blessing-bestowing Narmada, as intoxicated elephants with lotus-like trunks enter the Ganga; bathing in this great river you shall be freed of all sin.'

Shloka 33 (uttara.31.33)

अहमप्यद्य पुलिने शरदिन्दुसमप्रभे । पुष्पोपहारं शनकैः करिष्यामि कपर्दिनः ॥ 31.33 ॥

ahamapyadya puline śaradindusamaprabhe | puṣpopahāraṃ śanakaiḥ kariṣyāmi kapardinaḥ || 31.33 ||

'I too shall now, upon this sandbank bright as the autumn moon, slowly make a flower-offering to Kapardin, the matted-haired one.'

Shloka 34 (uttara.31.34)

रावणेनैवमुक्तास्तु प्रहस्तशुकसारणाः । समहोदरधूम्राक्षा नर्मदां विजगाहिरे ॥ 31.34 ॥

rāvaṇenaivamuktāstu prahastaśukasāraṇāḥ | samahodaradhūmrākṣā narmadāṃ vijagāhire || 31.34 ||

Thus addressed by Ravana, Prahasta, Shuka, Sarana, together with Mahodara and Dhumraksha, plunged into the Narmada.

Shloka 35 (uttara.31.35)

राक्षसेन्द्रगजैस्तैस्तु क्षोभिता नर्मदा नदी । वामनाञ्जनपद्माद्यैर्गङ्गा इव महागजैः ॥ 31.35 ॥

rākṣasendragajaistaistu kṣobhitā narmadā nadī | vāmanāñjanapadmādyairgaṅgā iva mahāgajaiḥ || 31.35 ||

The river Narmada was churned by those elephant-like rakshasa lords, just as the Ganga is churned by the great elephants Vamana, Anjana, Padma and the rest.

Shloka 36 (uttara.31.36)

ततस्ते राक्षसाः स्नात्वा नर्मदायां महाबलाः । उत्तीर्य पुष्पाण्याजह्रुर्बल्यर्थं रावणस्य तु ॥ 31.36 ॥

tataste rākṣasāḥ snātvā narmadāyāṃ mahābalāḥ | uttīrya puṣpāṇyājahrurbalyarthaṃ rāvaṇasya tu || 31.36 ||

Then those mighty rakshasas, having bathed in the Narmada, came out and gathered flowers for Ravana's worship.

Shloka 37 (uttara.31.37)

नर्मदापुलिने हृद्ये शुभ्राभ्रसदृशप्रभे । राक्षसैस्तु मुहूर्तेन कृतः पुष्पमयो गिरिः ॥ 31.37 ॥

narmadāpuline hṛdye śubhrābhrasadṛśaprabhe | rākṣasaistu muhūrtena kṛtaḥ puṣpamayo giriḥ || 31.37 ||

On the delightful sandbank of the Narmada, bright as a white cloud, the rakshasas in a mere moment raised up a mountain of flowers.

Shloka 38 (uttara.31.38)

पुष्पेषूपहृतेष्वेवं रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । अवतीर्णो नदीं स्नातुं गङ्गामिव महागजः ॥ 31.38 ॥

puṣpeṣūpahṛteṣvevaṃ rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | avatīrṇo nadīṃ snātuṃ gaṅgāmiva mahāgajaḥ || 31.38 ||

When the flowers had thus been brought, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, descended into the river to bathe, as a great elephant enters the Ganga.

Shloka 39 (uttara.31.39)

तत्र स्नात्वा च विधिवज्जप्त्वा जप्यमनुत्तमम् । नर्मदासलिलात्तस्मादुत्ततार स रावणः ॥ 31.39 ॥

tatra snātvā ca vidhivajjaptvā japyamanuttamam | narmadāsalilāttasmāduttatāra sa rāvaṇaḥ || 31.39 ||

Having bathed there and duly recited the supreme prayer, Ravana then rose up out of the waters of the Narmada.

Shloka 40 (uttara.31.40)

ततः क्लिन्नाम्बरं त्यक्त्वा शुक्लवस्त्रसमावृतम् । रावणं प्राञ्जलिं यान्तमन्वयुः सर्वराक्षसाः ॥ 31.40 ॥

tataḥ klinnāmbaraṃ tyaktvā śuklavastrasamāvṛtam | rāvaṇaṃ prāñjaliṃ yāntamanvayuḥ sarvarākṣasāḥ || 31.40 ||

Then, having cast off his wet garment and clothed himself in white, Ravana walked on with joined palms, and all the rakshasas followed him.

Shloka 41 (uttara.31.41)

तद्गतीवशमापन्ना मूर्तिमन्त इवाचलाः । यत्र यत्र च याति स्म रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । जाम्बूनदमयं लिङ्गं तत्र तत्र स्म नीयते ॥ 31.41 ॥

tadgatīvaśamāpannā mūrtimanta ivācalāḥ | yatra yatra ca yāti sma rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | jāmbūnadamayaṃ liṅgaṃ tatra tatra sma nīyate || 31.41 ||

As though mountains themselves had taken living form to follow his movement — wherever Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, went, there that golden linga too was carried along.

Shloka 42 (uttara.31.42)

वालुकावेदिमध्ये तु तल्लिङ्गं स्थाप्य रावणः । अर्चयामास गन्धैश्च पुष्पैश्चामृतगन्धिभिः ॥ 31.42 ॥

vālukāvedimadhye tu talliṅgaṃ sthāpya rāvaṇaḥ | arcayāmāsa gandhaiśca puṣpaiścāmṛtagandhibhiḥ || 31.42 ||

Then, setting that linga upon an altar of sand, Ravana worshipped it with fragrant substances and flowers of nectar-like scent.

Shloka 43 (uttara.31.43)

ततः सतामार्तिहरं परं वरं वरप्रदं चन्द्रमयूखभूषणम् । समर्चयित्वा स निशाचरो जगौ प्रसार्य हस्तान्प्रणनर्त चाग्रतः ॥ 31.43 ॥

tataḥ satāmārtiharaṃ paraṃ varaṃ varapradaṃ candramayūkhabhūṣaṇam | samarcayitvā sa niśācaro jagau prasārya hastānpraṇanarta cāgrataḥ || 31.43 ||

Having thus worshipped that supreme and excellent god, remover of the afflictions of the virtuous, granter of boons, adorned with the crescent moon, that night-wanderer Ravana sang aloud, and stretching out his arms, danced before him.