Verse 1
मेधावी तु ततो ध्यात्वा स किञ्चिदिदमुत्तरम् । लब्धसंज्ञस्ततस्तं तु वेदज्ञो नृपमब्रवीत् ॥
Then the wise and learned Rishyasringa, knowing the Vedas, reflected for a while and, having determined what was to be done, spoke to King Dasharatha.
Verse 2
इष्टिं तेऽहं करिष्यामि पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात् । अथर्वशिरसि प्रोक्तैर्मन्त्रैः सिद्धां विधानतः ॥
For the sake of obtaining sons, I shall perform the Putrakāmeṣṭi sacrifice for you, according to the prescribed procedure, with the mantras taught in the Atharva Veda.
Verse 3
ततः प्राक्रमदिष्टिं तां पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात् । जुहाव चाग्नौ तेजस्वी मन्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥
Then the radiant Rishyasringa commenced that sacrifice for the sake of obtaining sons and offered oblations into the sacred fire according to the rites prescribed by the mantras.
Verse 4
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । भागप्रतिग्रहार्थं वै समवेता यथाविधि ॥
Then the gods, together with the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great sages, assembled according to the proper procedure to receive their respective shares of the offerings.
Verse 5
ताः समेत्य यथान्यायं तस्मिन् सदसि देवताः । अब्रुवन् लोककर्तारं ब्रह्माणं वचनं ततः ॥
Having assembled there according to the proper order, the gods then spoke these words to Brahma, the creator of the worlds.
Verse 6
भगवन् त्वत्प्रसादेन रावणो नाम राक्षसः । सर्वान् नो बाधते वीर्यात् शासितुं तं न शक्नुमः ॥
O Lord, by your grace the Rakshasa named Ravana is troubling all of us by his power, and we are unable to restrain him.
Verse 7
त्वया तस्मै वरो दत्तः प्रीतेन भगवन् तदा । मानयन्तश्च तं नित्यं सर्वं तस्य क्षमामहे ॥
O Lord, you granted him a boon when you were pleased with his austerities. Therefore, always honoring the power of that boon, we tolerate all that he does.
Verse 8
उद्वेजयति लोकांस्त्रीन् उच्छ्रितान् द्वेष्टि दुर्मतिः । शक्रं त्रिदशराजानं प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति ॥
That wicked one troubles all the three worlds. He hates the exalted ones and desires to attack Shakra, the king of the gods.
Verse 9
ऋषीन्यक्षान् सगन्धर्वानसुरान् ब्राह्मणांस्तथा । अतिक्रामति दुर्धर्षो वरदानेन मोहितः ॥
That invincible one, deluded by the boon he received, oppresses the sages, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Brahmanas.
Verse 10
नैनं सूर्यः प्रतपति पार्श्वे वाति न मारुतः । चलोर्मिमाली तं दृष्ट्वा समुद्रोऽपि न कम्पते ॥
The Sun does not scorch him, the wind does not blow against his sides, and even the ocean, with its moving waves, does not tremble upon seeing him.
Verse 11
तन्महन्नो भयं तस्माद्राक्षसाद्घोरदर्शनात् । वधार्थं तस्य भगवन् उपायं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
Therefore, we have great fear of that terrible-looking Rakshasa. O Lord, you should devise a means for his destruction.
Verse 12
एवमुक्तः सुरैः सर्वैश्चिन्तयित्वा ततोऽब्रवीत् । हन्तायं विदितस्तस्य वधोपायो दुरात्मनः ॥
Thus addressed by all the gods, Brahma reflected and then said, “Indeed, the means of killing that evil-minded one is known.”
Verse 13
तेन गन्धर्वयक्षाणां देवानां च रक्षसाम् । अवध्योऽस्मीति वागुक्ता तथेति उक्तं च तन्मया ॥
When seeking his boon, he said, “I shall not be killed by Gandharvas, Yakshas, gods, or Rakshasas.” And I granted his request, saying, “So be it.”
Verse 14
नाकीर्तयदवज्ञानात्तद्रक्षो मानुषांस्तदा । तस्मात्स मानुषाद्वध्यो मृत्युरन्योऽस्य विद्यते ॥
That Rakshasa did not mention human beings because of his contempt for them. Therefore, he can be killed by a human being, and no other means of death for him exists.
Verse 15
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रियं वाक्यं ब्रह्मणा समुदाहृतम् । देवा महर्षयः सर्वे प्रहृष्टास्तेऽभवन् तदा ॥
Hearing these pleasing words spoken by Brahma, all the gods and great sages became delighted.
Verse 16
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णुरुपयातो महाद्युतिः । शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासा जगत्पतिः ॥
In the meantime, the greatly resplendent Vishnu, Lord of the universe, arrived, holding the conch, discus, and mace and wearing yellow garments.
Verse 17
वैनतेयं समारुह्य भास्करतोयदं यथा । तप्तहाटककेयूरो वन्द्यमानः सुरोत्तमैः ॥
Mounted upon Garuda, the son of Vinata, and adorned with bracelets of shining gold, he appeared like the sun upon a rain-bearing cloud, while the foremost of the gods praised him.
Verse 18
ब्रह्मणा च समागम्य तत्र तस्थौ समाहितः । तमब्रुवन् सुराः सर्वे समभिष्टूय संनताः ॥
Having approached Brahma, Vishnu stood there composed and attentive. Then all the gods, bowing before him and praising him, spoke to him.
Verse 19
त्वां नियोक्ष्यामहे विष्णो लोकानां हितकाम्यया । राज्ञो दशरथस्य त्वमयोध्याधिपतेर्विभोः ॥
O Vishnu, for the welfare of all the worlds, we ask you to become the son of King Dasharatha, the mighty ruler of Ayodhya.
Verse 20
धर्मज्ञस्य वदान्यस्य महर्षिसमतेजसः । अस्य भार्यासु तिसृषु ह्रीश्रीकीर्त्युपमासु च ॥
That king is righteous, generous, and equal in splendor to the great sages. His three wives are comparable to Hri, Shri, and Kirti.
Verse 21
विष्णो पुत्रत्वमागच्छ कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् । तत्र त्वं मानुषो भूत्वा प्रवृद्धं लोककण्टकम् ॥
O Vishnu, become his son by manifesting yourself in four forms. Taking birth there as a human being, destroy the one who has become a thorn to the worlds.
Verse 22
अवध्यं दैवतैर्विष्णो समरे जहि रावणम् । स हि देवान् सगन्धर्वान् सिद्धांश्च ऋषिसत्तमान् ॥
O Vishnu, kill Ravana in battle, for he cannot be killed by the gods. He is troubling the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the most excellent sages.
Verse 23
राक्षसो रावणो मूर्खो वीर्योद्रेकेण बाधते । ऋषयश्च ततस्तेन गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥
The foolish Rakshasa Ravana, swollen with his power, is troubling them. Because of him, sages, Gandharvas, and Apsaras also suffer.
Verse 24
क्रीडन्तो नन्दनवने रौद्रेण विनिपातिताः । वधार्थं वयमायातास्तस्य वै मुनिभिः सह ॥
Those who were enjoying themselves in the Nandana forest have been cast down by that fierce one. Therefore, together with the sages, we have come for his destruction.
Verse 25
सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च ततस्त्वां शरणं गताः । त्वं गतिः परमा देव सर्वेषां नः परंतपः ॥
The Siddhas, Gandharvas, and Yakshas have therefore sought refuge in you. O Lord, you are the supreme refuge of all of us, O tormentor of enemies.
Verse 26
वधाय देवशत्रूणां नृणां लोके मनः कुरु । एवं स्तुतस्तु देवेशो विष्णुस्त्रिदशपुङ्गवः ॥
Therefore, set your mind upon taking birth in the world of human beings for the destruction of the enemies of the gods. Thus praised, Vishnu, the Lord of the gods and foremost among them—
Verse 27
पितामहपुरोगांस्तान् सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः । अब्रवीत्त्रिदशान् सर्वान् समेतान् धर्मसंहितान् ॥
—who was honored by all the worlds, spoke to all the assembled gods, with Brahma at their head, who were devoted to righteousness.
Verse 28
भयं त्यजत भद्रं वो हितार्थं युधि रावणम् । सपुत्रपौत्रं सामात्यं समित्रज्ञातिबान्धवम् ॥
Give up your fear. May good be upon you. For your welfare, I shall kill Ravana in battle, together with his sons, grandsons, ministers, friends, relatives, and kinsmen.
Verse 29
हत्वा क्रूरं दुराधर्षं देवर्षीणां भयावहम् । दश वर्षसहस्राणि दश वर्षशतानि च ॥
Having killed that cruel and invincible one who causes fear to the gods and sages, I shall remain—
Verse 30
वत्स्यामि मानुषे लोके पालयन् पृथ्वीमिमाम् । एवं दत्त्वा वरं देवो देवानां विष्णुरात्मवान् ॥
—I shall dwell in the human world, ruling this earth, for ten thousand years and another one thousand years. Having granted this assurance to the gods, the self-possessed Lord Vishnu—
Verse 31
मानुषे चिन्तयामास जन्मभूमिमथात्मनः । ततः पद्मपलाशाक्षः कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् ॥
—then began to consider his place of birth in the human world. The lotus-petal-eyed Lord decided to manifest himself in four forms.
Verse 32
पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् । तदा देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः सरुद्राः साप्सरोगणाः । स्तुतिभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिस्तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम् ॥
Then he chose King Dasharatha as his father. At that time, the gods, sages, Gandharvas, Rudras, and groups of Apsaras praised Madhusudana with divine hymns.
Verse 33
तमुद्धतं रावणमुग्रतेजसं प्रवृद्धदर्पं त्रिदशेश्वरद्विषम् । विरावणं साधुतपस्विकण्टकं तपस्विनामुद्धर तं भयावहम् ॥
Destroy that arrogant Ravana, who possesses fierce power, whose pride has greatly increased, who hates the Lord of the gods, who causes cries of distress, who has become a thorn to the righteous and ascetics, and who brings fear to those devoted to austerity.
Verse 34
तमेव हत्वा सबलं सबान्धवं विरावणं रावणमुग्रपौरुषम् । स्वर्लोकमागच्छ गतज्वरश्चिरं सुरेन्द्रगुप्तं गतदोषकल्मषम् ॥
Having killed that Ravana of terrible might, together with his army and kinsmen, and having ended his cries and oppression, return thereafter to the heavenly world, free from distress, to the realm protected by the Lord of the gods and free from fault and impurity.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे पञ्चदशः सर्गः ॥