Pulastya Frees Ravana

Shloka 1 (uttara.33.1)

रावणग्रहणं तत्तु वायुग्रहणसन्निभम् । ततः पुलस्त्यः शुश्राव कथितं दिवि दैवतैः ॥ 33.1 ॥

rāvaṇagrahaṇaṃ tattu vāyugrahaṇasannibham | tataḥ pulastyaḥ śuśrāva kathitaṃ divi daivataiḥ || 33.1 ||

That capture of Ravana, like the seizing of the very wind itself, was then heard by Pulastya, as it was told in heaven by the gods.

Shloka 2 (uttara.33.2)

ततः पुत्रकृतस्नेहात्कम्प्यमानो महाधृतिः । माहिष्मतीपतिं द्रष्टुमाजगाम महानृषिः ॥ 33.2 ॥

tataḥ putrakṛtasnehātkampyamāno mahādhṛtiḥ | māhiṣmatīpatiṃ draṣṭumājagāma mahānṛṣiḥ || 33.2 ||

Then, though of great steadiness, shaken by the love he bore for his son's line, that great sage came to see the lord of Mahishmati.

Shloka 3 (uttara.33.3)

स वायुमार्गमास्थाय वायुतुल्यगतिर्द्विजः । पुरीं माहिष्मतीं प्राप्तो मनःसम्पातविक्रमः ॥ 33.3 ॥

sa vāyumārgamāsthāya vāyutulyagatirdvijaḥ | purīṃ māhiṣmatīṃ prāpto manaḥsampātavikramaḥ || 33.3 ||

That brahmin, taking to the path of the wind, his motion equal to the wind's, swift as thought itself, arrived at the city of Mahishmati.

Shloka 4 (uttara.33.4)

सो ऽमरावतिसङ्काशां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम् । प्रविवेश पुरीं ब्रह्मा इन्द्रस्येवामरावतीम् ॥ 33.4 ॥

so 'marāvatisaṅkāśāṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulām | praviveśa purīṃ brahmā indrasyevāmarāvatīm || 33.4 ||

He entered that city, resembling Amaravati, thronged with joyful and prosperous people, as Brahma might enter Indra's own Amaravati.

Shloka 5 (uttara.33.5)

पादचारमिवादित्यं निष्पतन्तं सुदुर्दशम् । ततस्ते प्रत्यभिज्ञाय अर्जुनाय निवेदयन् ॥ 33.5 ॥

pādacāramivādityaṃ niṣpatantaṃ sudurdaśam | tataste pratyabhijñāya arjunāya nivedayan || 33.5 ||

He seemed like the sun itself descending to walk on foot, hard even to gaze upon; recognizing him, the people at once reported it to Arjuna.

Shloka 6 (uttara.33.6)

पुलस्त्य इति विज्ञाय वचनाद्धैहयाधिपः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय प्रत्युद्गच्छत्तपस्विनम् ॥ 33.6 ॥

pulastya iti vijñāya vacanāddhaihayādhipaḥ | śirasyañjalimādhāya pratyudgacchattapasvinam || 33.6 ||

Learning from their words that it was Pulastya, the lord of the Haihayas, placing joined palms upon his head, went forth to meet that ascetic.

Shloka 7 (uttara.33.7)

पुरोहितो ऽस्य गृह्यार्घ्यं मधुपर्कं तथैव च । पुरस्तात्प्रययौ राज्ञः शक्रस्येव बृहस्पतिः ॥ 33.7 ॥

purohito 'sya gṛhyārghyaṃ madhuparkaṃ tathaiva ca | purastātprayayau rājñaḥ śakrasyeva bṛhaspatiḥ || 33.7 ||

His family priest, carrying the guest-offering and the madhuparka, went on ahead of the king, as Brihaspati goes before Indra.

Shloka 8 (uttara.33.8)

ततस्तमृषिमायान्तमुद्यन्तमिव भास्करम् । अर्जुनो दृश्य सम्भ्रान्तो ववन्देन्द्र इवेश्वरम् ॥ 33.8 ॥

tatastamṛṣimāyāntamudyantamiva bhāskaram | arjuno dṛśya sambhrānto vavandendra iveśvaram || 33.8 ||

Then, seeing that sage approaching like the rising sun, Arjuna, overwhelmed, bowed to him as Indra might bow before Ishvara.

Shloka 9 (uttara.33.9)

स तस्य मधुपर्कं गां पाद्यमर्घ्यं निवेद्य च । पुलस्त्यमाह राजेन्द्रो हर्षगद्गदया गिरा ॥ 33.9 ॥

sa tasya madhuparkaṃ gāṃ pādyamarghyaṃ nivedya ca | pulastyamāha rājendro harṣagadgadayā girā || 33.9 ||

Having offered him the madhuparka, a cow, water for the feet and the guest-offering, that foremost of kings addressed Pulastya in a voice choked with joy —

Shloka 10 (uttara.33.10)

अद्यैवममरावत्या तुल्या माहिष्मती कृता । अद्याहं तु द्विजेन्द्र त्वां यस्मात्पश्यामि दुर्दशम् ॥ 33.10 ॥

adyaivamamarāvatyā tulyā māhiṣmatī kṛtā | adyāhaṃ tu dvijendra tvāṃ yasmātpaśyāmi durdaśam || 33.10 ||

'This very day my Mahishmati has been made the equal of Amaravati; for today, O lord of brahmins, I behold you, whom it is so hard to behold.'

Shloka 11 (uttara.33.11)

अद्य मे कुशलं देव अद्य मे कुशलं व्रतम् । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफलं तपः । यस्माद्देवगणैर्वन्द्यौ वन्दे ऽहं चरणौ तव ॥ 33.11 ॥

adya me kuśalaṃ deva adya me kuśalaṃ vratam | adya me saphalaṃ janma adya me saphalaṃ tapaḥ | yasmāddevagaṇairvandyau vande 'haṃ caraṇau tava || 33.11 ||

'Today my well-being is complete, O lord; today my vow bears fruit; today my birth bears fruit, today my austerity bears fruit — for I now bow to your two feet, worshipped even by the hosts of gods.'

Shloka 12 (uttara.33.12)

इदं राज्यमिमे पुत्रा इमे दारा इमे वयम् । ब्रह्मन्किं कुर्मि किं कार्यमाज्ञापयतु नो भवान् ॥ 33.12 ॥

idaṃ rājyamime putrā ime dārā ime vayam | brahmankiṃ kurmi kiṃ kāryamājñāpayatu no bhavān || 33.12 ||

'This kingdom, these sons, these wives, this very self of mine — all are yours, O brahmin. What shall I do? What is to be done? Let your lordship command us.'

Shloka 13 (uttara.33.13)

तं धर्मे ऽग्निषु पुत्रेषु शिवं पृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम् । पुलस्त्योवाच राजानं हैहयानां तथा ऽर्जुनम् ॥ 33.13 ॥

taṃ dharme 'gniṣu putreṣu śivaṃ pṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam | pulastyovāca rājānaṃ haihayānāṃ tathā 'rjunam || 33.13 ||

Having asked that king after his welfare in matters of dharma, sacred fires and sons, Pulastya then spoke to Arjuna, king of the Haihayas —

Shloka 14 (uttara.33.14)

नरेन्द्राम्बुजपत्राक्ष पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानन । अतुलं ते बलं येन दशग्रीवस्त्वया जितः ॥ 33.14 ॥

narendrāmbujapatrākṣa pūrṇacandranibhānana | atulaṃ te balaṃ yena daśagrīvastvayā jitaḥ || 33.14 ||

'O king with eyes like lotus-petals, whose face resembles the full moon, incomparable indeed is your strength, by which the ten-necked one has been conquered.'

Shloka 15 (uttara.33.15)

भयाद्यस्योपतिष्ठेतां निष्पन्दौ सागरानिलौ । सो ऽयं मृधे त्वया बद्धः पौत्रो मे रणदुर्जयः ॥ 33.15 ॥

bhayādyasyopatiṣṭhetāṃ niṣpandau sāgarānilau | so 'yaṃ mṛdhe tvayā baddhaḥ pautro me raṇadurjayaḥ || 33.15 ||

'He, out of fear of whom the very ocean and the wind stand motionless — this same one, my grandson, unconquerable in battle, has been bound by you in combat.'

Shloka 16 (uttara.33.16)

पुत्रकस्य यशः पीतं नाम विश्रावितं त्वया । मद्वाक्याद्याच्यमानो ऽद्य मुञ्च वत्सं दशाननम् ॥ 33.16 ॥

putrakasya yaśaḥ pītaṃ nāma viśrāvitaṃ tvayā | madvākyādyācyamāno 'dya muñca vatsaṃ daśānanam || 33.16 ||

'My child's fame, once drunk in by all, has today by you become notorious — now, entreated by my own word, release today this child of mine, the ten-headed one.'

Shloka 17 (uttara.33.17)

पुलस्त्याज्ञां प्रगृह्योचे न किञ्चन वचो ऽर्जुनः । मुमोच वै पार्थिवेन्द्रो राक्षसेन्द्रं प्रहृष्टवत् ॥ 33.17 ॥

pulastyājñāṃ pragṛhyoce na kiñcana vaco 'rjunaḥ | mumoca vai pārthivendro rākṣasendraṃ prahṛṣṭavat || 33.17 ||

Accepting Pulastya's command, Arjuna spoke not a word in reply; that foremost of kings, with delight, released the lord of the rakshasas.

Shloka 18 (uttara.33.18)

स तं प्रमुच्य त्रिदशारिमर्जुनः प्रपूज्य दिव्याभरणस्रगम्बरैः । अहिंसकं सख्यमुपेत्य साग्निकं प्रणम्य तं ब्रह्मसुतं गृहं ययौ ॥ 33.18 ॥

sa taṃ pramucya tridaśārimarjunaḥ prapūjya divyābharaṇasragambaraiḥ | ahiṃsakaṃ sakhyamupetya sāgnikaṃ praṇamya taṃ brahmasutaṃ gṛhaṃ yayau || 33.18 ||

Having thus released the enemy of the thirty gods, and honored him with divine ornaments, garlands and garments, Arjuna entered into a non-violent friendship sealed before the sacred fire, and bowing to that son of Brahma, returned to his home.

Shloka 19 (uttara.33.19)

पुलस्त्येनापि सन्त्यक्तो राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान् । परिष्वक्तः कृतातिथ्यो लज्जमानो विनिर्जितः ॥ 33.19 ॥

pulastyenāpi santyakto rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān | pariṣvaktaḥ kṛtātithyo lajjamāno vinirjitaḥ || 33.19 ||

That powerful lord of the rakshasas, embraced and given the honor of a guest, and then let go even by Pulastya, went his way ashamed, for he had been utterly defeated.

Shloka 20 (uttara.33.20)

पितामहसुतश्चापि पुलस्त्यो मुनिपुङ्गवः । मोचयित्वा दशग्रीवं ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह ॥ 33.20 ॥

pitāmahasutaścāpi pulastyo munipuṅgavaḥ | mocayitvā daśagrīvaṃ brahmalokaṃ jagāma ha || 33.20 ||

And Pulastya, that bull among sages, son of the Grandsire Brahma, having thus freed the ten-necked one, returned to the world of Brahma.

Shloka 21 (uttara.33.21)

एवं स रावणः प्राप्तः कार्तवीर्यात्प्रधर्षणम् । पुलस्त्यवचनाच्चापि पुनर्मुक्तो महाबलः ॥ 33.21 ॥

evaṃ sa rāvaṇaḥ prāptaḥ kārtavīryātpradharṣaṇam | pulastyavacanāccāpi punarmukto mahābalaḥ || 33.21 ||

Thus that mighty Ravana suffered defeat at the hands of Kartavirya, and was set free again only through the word of Pulastya.

Shloka 22 (uttara.33.22)

एवं बलिभ्यो बलिनः सन्ति राघवनन्दन । नावज्ञा हि परे कार्या य इच्छेत् प्रियमात्मनः ॥ 33.22 ॥

evaṃ balibhyo balinaḥ santi rāghavanandana | nāvajñā hi pare kāryā ya icchet priyamātmanaḥ || 33.22 ||

'Thus, O delight of the Raghus, there are ever stronger ones beyond the strong; one who desires his own welfare should never hold another in contempt.'

Shloka 23 (uttara.33.23)

ततः स राजा पिशिताशनानां सहस्रबाहोरुपलभ्य मैत्रीम् । पुनर्नृपाणां कदनं चकार चचार सर्वां पृथिवीं च दर्पात् ॥ 33.23 ॥

tataḥ sa rājā piśitāśanānāṃ sahasrabāhorupalabhya maitrīm | punarnṛpāṇāṃ kadanaṃ cakāra cacāra sarvāṃ pṛthivīṃ ca darpāt || 33.23 ||

Then that king of the flesh-eaters, having gained the friendship of the thousand-armed one, again wrought slaughter among kings, and roamed over the whole earth in his pride.