The Rakshasas Withdraw to Patala

Shloka 1 (uttara.8.1)

हन्यमाने बले तस्मिन्पद्मनाभेन पृष्ठतः । माल्वान्सन्निवृत्तो ऽथ वेलामेत्य इवार्णवः ॥ 8.1 ॥

hanyamāne bale tasminpadmanābhena pṛṣṭhataḥ | mālvānsannivṛtto 'tha velāmetya ivārṇavaḥ || 8.1 ||

While that army was being cut down from the rear by Padmanabha, Malyavan then turned back, like the ocean turning at the shore.

Shloka 2 (uttara.8.2)

संरक्तनयनः कोपाच्चलन्मौलिर्निशाचरः । पद्मनाभमिदं प्राह वचनं पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ 8.2 ॥

saṃraktanayanaḥ kopāccalanmaulirniśācaraḥ | padmanābhamidaṃ prāha vacanaṃ puruṣottamam || 8.2 ||

His eyes red with fury, his crown shaking, the night-ranger spoke these words to Padmanabha, the Supreme Person:

Shloka 3 (uttara.8.3)

नारायण न जानीषे क्षात्रधर्मं पुरातनम् । अयुद्धमनसो भीतानस्मान्हंसि यथेतरः ॥ 8.3 ॥

nārāyaṇa na jānīṣe kṣātradharmaṃ purātanam | ayuddhamanaso bhītānasmānhaṃsi yathetaraḥ || 8.3 ||

'O Narayana, you do not know the ancient law of warriors -- you slay us, unwilling for battle and afraid, as only a base man would.'

Shloka 4 (uttara.8.4)

पराङ्मुखवधं पापं यः करोत्यसुरेतरः । स हन्ता न गतः स्वर्गं लभते पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥ 8.4 ॥

parāṅmukhavadhaṃ pāpaṃ yaḥ karotyasuretaraḥ | sa hantā na gataḥ svargaṃ labhate puṇyakarmaṇām || 8.4 ||

'Whoever, though no demon himself, commits the sin of slaying one who has turned his back -- that slayer never reaches the heaven won by the virtuous.'

Shloka 5 (uttara.8.5)

युद्धश्रद्धा ऽथवा ते ऽस्ति शङ्खचक्रगदाधर । अहं स्थितो ऽस्मि पश्यामि बलं दर्शय यत्तव ॥ 8.5 ॥

yuddhaśraddhā 'thavā te 'sti śaṅkhacakragadādhara | ahaṃ sthito 'smi paśyāmi balaṃ darśaya yattava || 8.5 ||

'Or if you have any true taste for battle, O bearer of the conch, discus, and mace -- here I stand; show me what strength is yours, and let me see it.'

Shloka 6 (uttara.8.6)

माल्यवन्तं स्थितं दृष्ट्वा माल्यवन्तमिवाचलम् । उवाच राक्षसेन्द्रं तं देवराजानुजो बली ॥ 8.6 ॥

mālyavantaṃ sthitaṃ dṛṣṭvā mālyavantamivācalam | uvāca rākṣasendraṃ taṃ devarājānujo balī || 8.6 ||

Seeing Malyavan standing firm like the unmoving mountain of that name, the mighty younger brother of the king of the gods spoke to that lord of the rakshasas:

Shloka 7 (uttara.8.7)

युष्मत्तो भयभीतानां देवानां वै मया ऽभयम् । राक्षसोत्सादनं दत्तं तदेतदनुपाल्यते ॥ 8.7 ॥

yuṣmatto bhayabhītānāṃ devānāṃ vai mayā 'bhayam | rākṣasotsādanaṃ dattaṃ tadetadanupālyate || 8.7 ||

'To the gods, who were terrified of you, I gave my word that the rakshasas would be destroyed -- and that promise is now being kept.'

Shloka 8 (uttara.8.8)

प्राणैरपि प्रियं कार्यं देवानां हि सदा मया । सो ऽहं वो निहनिष्यामि रसातलगतानपि ॥ 8.8 ॥

prāṇairapi priyaṃ kāryaṃ devānāṃ hi sadā mayā | so 'haṃ vo nihaniṣyāmi rasātalagatānapi || 8.8 ||

'For the gods' sake I will always act, even at the cost of my own life; so I shall slay you, even should you flee to the depths of the netherworld.'

Shloka 9 (uttara.8.9)

देवदेवं ब्रुवाणं तं रक्ताम्बुरुहलोचनम् । शक्त्या बिभेद सङ्क्रुद्धो राक्षसेन्द्रो भुजान्तरे ॥ 8.9 ॥

devadevaṃ bruvāṇaṃ taṃ raktāmburuhalocanam | śaktyā bibheda saṅkruddho rākṣasendro bhujāntare || 8.9 ||

As the god of gods, his eyes like red lotuses, was speaking thus, the enraged lord of the rakshasas pierced him between the arms with his spear.

Shloka 10 (uttara.8.10)

माल्यवद्भुजनिर्मुक्ता शक्तिर्घण्टाकृतस्वना । हरेरुरसि बभ्राज मेघस्थेव शतह्रदा ॥ 8.10 ॥

mālyavadbhujanirmuktā śaktirghaṇṭākṛtasvanā | harerurasi babhrāja meghastheva śatahradā || 8.10 ||

That spear, loosed from Malyavan's arm, ringing like a bell, blazed upon Hari's chest, like lightning within a cloud.

Shloka 11 (uttara.8.11)

ततस्तामेव चोत्कृष्य शक्तिं शक्तिधरप्रियः । माल्यवन्तं समुद्दिश्य चिक्षेपाम्बुरुहेक्षणः ॥ 8.11 ॥

tatastāmeva cotkṛṣya śaktiṃ śaktidharapriyaḥ | mālyavantaṃ samuddiśya cikṣepāmburuhekṣaṇaḥ || 8.11 ||

Then, plucking out that very spear, the lotus-eyed one -- dear to the wielder of the shakti -- hurled it back, aiming straight at Malyavan.

Shloka 12 (uttara.8.12)

स्कन्दोत्सृष्टेव सा शक्तिर्गोविन्दकरनिस्सृता । काङ्क्षन्ती राक्षसं प्रायान्माहेन्द्रीवाञ्जनाचलम् ॥ 8.12 ॥

skandotsṛṣṭeva sā śaktirgovindakaranissṛtā | kāṅkṣantī rākṣasaṃ prāyānmāhendrīvāñjanācalam || 8.12 ||

That spear, loosed from Govinda's hand as if flung by Skanda himself, sped eagerly toward the rakshasa, like Indra's bolt toward Mount Anjana.

Shloka 13 (uttara.8.13)

सा तस्योरसि विस्तीर्णे हारभारा ऽवभासिते । अपतद्राक्षसेन्द्रस्य गिरिकूट इवाशनिः ॥ 8.13 ॥

sā tasyorasi vistīrṇe hārabhārā 'vabhāsite | apatadrākṣasendrasya girikūṭa ivāśaniḥ || 8.13 ||

It struck the broad chest of that rakshasa lord, radiant beneath the weight of his necklaces, like a thunderbolt falling upon a mountain peak.

Shloka 14 (uttara.8.14)

तया भिन्नतनुत्राणः प्राविशद्विपुलं तमः । माल्यवान्पुनराश्वस्तस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः ॥ 8.14 ॥

tayā bhinnatanutrāṇaḥ prāviśadvipulaṃ tamaḥ | mālyavānpunarāśvastastasthau giririvācalaḥ || 8.14 ||

His armor pierced by it, he sank into deep darkness; then, having recovered his senses, Malyavan stood firm again, unmoving as a mountain.

Shloka 15 (uttara.8.15)

ततः कार्ष्णायसं शूलं कण्टकैर्बहुभिर्वतम् । प्रगृह्याभ्यहनद्देवं स्तनयोरन्तरे दृढम् ॥ 8.15 ॥

tataḥ kārṣṇāyasaṃ śūlaṃ kaṇṭakairbahubhirvatam | pragṛhyābhyahanaddevaṃ stanayorantare dṛḍham || 8.15 ||

Then, seizing an iron spear bristling with many spikes, he struck the god a hard blow full upon the chest.

Shloka 16 (uttara.8.16)

तथैव रणरक्तस्तु मुष्टिना वासवानुजम् । ताडयित्वा धनुर्मात्रमपक्रान्तो निशाचरः ॥ 8.16 ॥

tathaiva raṇaraktastu muṣṭinā vāsavānujam | tāḍayitvā dhanurmātramapakrānto niśācaraḥ || 8.16 ||

And likewise, flushed with the fury of battle, the night-ranger struck Vasava's younger brother with his fist, then withdrew the space of a bow's length.

Shloka 17 (uttara.8.17)

ततो ऽम्बरे महाञ्छब्दः साधुसाध्विति चोदितः । आहत्य राक्षसो विष्णुं गरुडं चाप्यताडयत् ॥ 8.17 ॥

tato 'mbare mahāñchabdaḥ sādhusādhviti coditaḥ | āhatya rākṣaso viṣṇuṃ garuḍaṃ cāpyatāḍayat || 8.17 ||

Then a great shout of 'well done, well done!' rang out in the sky -- and the rakshasa, having struck Vishnu, struck Garuda as well.

Shloka 18 (uttara.8.18)

वैनतेयस्ततः क्रुद्धः पक्षवातेन राक्षसम् । व्यपोहद्बलवान्वायुः शुष्कपर्णचयं यथा ॥ 8.18 ॥

vainateyastataḥ kruddhaḥ pakṣavātena rākṣasam | vyapohadbalavānvāyuḥ śuṣkaparṇacayaṃ yathā || 8.18 ||

Then Vinata's son, in fury, swept the rakshasa away with the wind of his wings, as a mighty wind sweeps away a heap of dry leaves.

Shloka 19 (uttara.8.19)

द्विजेन्द्रपक्षवातेन द्रावितं दृश्य पूर्वजम् । सुमाली स्वबलैः सार्धं लङ्कामभिमुखो ययौ ॥ 8.19 ॥

dvijendrapakṣavātena drāvitaṃ dṛśya pūrvajam | sumālī svabalaiḥ sārdhaṃ laṅkāmabhimukho yayau || 8.19 ||

Seeing his elder brother driven off by the gust of the king of birds' wings, Sumali, together with his own forces, set out toward Lanka.

Shloka 20 (uttara.8.20)

पक्षवातबलोद्धूतो माल्यवानपि राक्षसः । स्वबलेन समागम्य ययौ लङ्कां ह्रिया वृतः ॥ 8.20 ॥

pakṣavātabaloddhūto mālyavānapi rākṣasaḥ | svabalena samāgamya yayau laṅkāṃ hriyā vṛtaḥ || 8.20 ||

Malyavan too, that rakshasa, swept away by the force of the wing-wind, rejoined his own troops and, overcome with shame, went off to Lanka.

Shloka 21 (uttara.8.21)

एवं ते राक्षसा तेन हरिणा कमलेक्षण । बहुशः संयुगे भग्ना हतप्रवरनायकाः ॥ 8.21 ॥

evaṃ te rākṣasā tena hariṇā kamalekṣaṇa | bahuśaḥ saṃyuge bhagnā hatapravaranāyakāḥ || 8.21 ||

Thus, O lotus-eyed Rama, those rakshasas were broken again and again in battle by Hari, their foremost champions slain.

Shloka 22 (uttara.8.22)

अशक्नुवन्तस्ते विष्णुं प्रतियोद्धुं भयार्दिताः । त्यक्त्वा लङ्कां गता वस्तुं पातालं सहपत्नयः ॥ 8.22 ॥

aśaknuvantaste viṣṇuṃ pratiyoddhuṃ bhayārditāḥ | tyaktvā laṅkāṃ gatā vastuṃ pātālaṃ sahapatnayaḥ || 8.22 ||

Unable to stand against Vishnu, and stricken with fear, they abandoned Lanka and went, with their wives, to dwell in Patala.

Shloka 23 (uttara.8.23)

सुमालिनं समासाद्य राक्षसं रघुसत्तम । स्थिताः प्रख्यातवीर्यास्ते वंशे सालकटङ्कटे ॥ 8.23 ॥

sumālinaṃ samāsādya rākṣasaṃ raghusattama | sthitāḥ prakhyātavīryāste vaṃśe sālakaṭaṅkaṭe || 8.23 ||

Having joined the rakshasa Sumali, O best of the Raghus, they, famed for their prowess, settled in the Salakatankata lineage.

Shloka 24 (uttara.8.24)

ये त्वया निहतास्ते तु पौलस्त्या नाम राक्षसाः । सुमाली माल्यवान्माली ये च तेषां पुरःसराः ।। सर्वे तेभ्यो महाभागा रावणाद्बलवत्तराः ॥ 8.24 ॥

ye tvayā nihatāste tu paulastyā nāma rākṣasāḥ | sumālī mālyavānmālī ye ca teṣāṃ puraḥsarāḥ || sarve tebhyo mahābhāgā rāvaṇādbalavattarāḥ || 8.24 ||

Those whom you yourself slew, O Rama, were rakshasas of the line of Pulastya -- Sumali, Malyavan, Mali, and those who marched before them; all of them were illustrious, and mightier even than Ravana.

Shloka 25 (uttara.8.25)

न चान्यो राक्षसान्हन्ता सुरारीन्देवकण्टकान् । ऋते नारायणं देवं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् ॥ 8.25 ॥

na cānyo rākṣasānhantā surārīndevakaṇṭakān | ṛte nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam || 8.25 ||

And there was no slayer of these rakshasas -- enemies of the gods, thorns in the side of the gods -- other than the god Narayana, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace.

Shloka 26 (uttara.8.26)

भवान्नारायणो देवश्चतुर्बाहुः सनातनः । राक्षसान्हन्तुमुत्पन्नो ह्यजेयः प्रभुरव्ययः ॥ 8.26 ॥

bhavānnārāyaṇo devaścaturbāhuḥ sanātanaḥ | rākṣasānhantumutpanno hyajeyaḥ prabhuravyayaḥ || 8.26 ||

You yourself are that god Narayana, four-armed and eternal, the unconquerable, imperishable Lord, who was born to destroy the rakshasas.

Shloka 27 (uttara.8.27)

नष्टधर्मव्यवस्थाता काले काले प्रजाकरः । उत्पद्यते दस्युवधे शरणागतवत्सलः ॥ 8.27 ॥

naṣṭadharmavyavasthātā kāle kāle prajākaraḥ | utpadyate dasyuvadhe śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ || 8.27 ||

The restorer of dharma when it has decayed, the fashioner of beings, he takes birth age after age to destroy the wicked, ever tender toward those who come to him for refuge.

Shloka 28 (uttara.8.28)

एषा मया तव नराधिप राक्षसानामुत्पत्तिरद्य कथिता सकला यथावत् । भूयो निबोध रघुसत्तम रावणस्य जन्मप्रभावमतुलं ससुतस्य सर्वम् ॥ 8.28 ॥

eṣā mayā tava narādhipa rākṣasānāmutpattiradya kathitā sakalā yathāvat | bhūyo nibodha raghusattama rāvaṇasya janmaprabhāvamatulaṃ sasutasya sarvam || 8.28 ||

This, O lord of men, is the entire origin of the rakshasas, related to you by me just as it happened; now hear further, O best of the Raghus, the whole matchless glory of Ravana's birth, together with that of his sons.

Shloka 29 (uttara.8.29)

चिरात्सुमाली व्यचरद्रसातलं स राक्षसो विष्णुभयार्दितस्तदा । पुत्रैश्च पौत्रैश्च समन्वितो बली ततस्तु लङ्कामवसद्धनेश्वरः ॥ 8.29 ॥

cirātsumālī vyacaradrasātalaṃ sa rākṣaso viṣṇubhayārditastadā | putraiśca pautraiśca samanvito balī tatastu laṅkāmavasaddhaneśvaraḥ || 8.29 ||

For a long time that rakshasa Sumali, tormented then by fear of Vishnu, wandered through Rasatala; and meanwhile the mighty lord of wealth, together with his sons and grandsons, dwelt in Lanka.