स जज्ञे विश्रवा नाम तस्यात्मार्धेन वै द्विजः। प्रतीकाराय सक्रोधस्ततो वैश्रवणस्य वै
From half of his own being, the sage Viśravā was born, filled with wrath, for the sake of retaliation against Vaiśravaṇa.
पितामहस्तुप्रीतात्मा ददौ वैश्रवणस् ह। अमरत्वं धनेशत्वं लोकपालत्वमेव च
The grandfather, pleased in heart, granted Vaiśravaṇa immortality, lordship over wealth, and the office of guardian of the world.
ईशानन तथा सख्यं पुत्रं च नलकूवरम्। राजधानीनिवेसं च लङ्कांरक्षोगणान्विताम्
He also gave him friendship with Śiva, a son named Nalakūvara, and the capital city Laṅkā, filled with hosts of Rākṣasas.
विमानं पुष्पकं नाम कामगं च ददौ प्रभुः। यक्षाणामाधिपत्यंच राजराजत्वमेव च
The lord gave him the flying chariot called Puṣpaka, which could go anywhere at will, lordship over the Yakṣas, and the status of king of kings.
पुलस्त्यस् तु यः क्रोधादर्धदेहोऽभवन्मुनिः। विश्रवानाम सक्रोधं पितरं राक्षसेश्वरः
Pulastya, who out of anger became half-bodied, was the sage; Viśravā, filled with wrath, was the father of the lord of the Rākṣasas.
बुबुधे तं तु सक्रोधं पितरं राक्षसेश्वरः। कुबेरस्तत्प्रसादार्थं यतते स्म सदा नृप
Kubera, the lord of wealth, understood that his father, Viśravā, was angry, and always strove, O king, to win his favor.
स राजराजो लङ्कायां न्यवसन्नरवाहनः। राक्षसीः प्रददौ तिस्रः पितुर्वै परिचारिकाः
That king of kings, Ravana, who resided in Lanka, gave three Rakshasi attendants—his father's servants—to him.
ताः सदा तं महात्मानं संतोषयितुमुद्यताः। ऋषिं भरतशार्दूल नृत्यगीतविशारदाः
Those women, always intent on pleasing that great-souled sage, O tiger among the Bharatas, were skilled in dance and song.
पुष्पोत्कटा च राका च मालिनी च विशांपते। अन्योन्यस्पर्धयाराजञ्श्रेयस्कामाः सुमध्यमाः
Pushpotkata, Raka, and Malini, O lord of the people, each with lovely waists, competed with one another, each desiring superiority.
स तासां भगवांस्तुष्टो महात्मा प्रददौ वरान्। लोकपालोपमान्पुत्रानकैकस्या यथेप्सितान्
Pleased with them, the blessed, great-souled sage granted them boons—sons equal to the guardians of the worlds, as each desired.
पुष्पोत्कटायां जज्ञाते द्वौ पुत्रौ राक्षसेश्वरौ। कुम्भकर्णदशग्रीवौ बलेनाप्रतिमौ भुवि
To Pushpotkata were born two sons, the lords of the Rakshasas—Kumbhakarna and Dashagriva—unmatched in strength on earth.
मालिन जनयामास पुत्रमेकं विभीषणम्। राकार्या मिथुनं जज्ञे खरः शूर्पणखा तथा
Malini gave birth to one son, Vibhishana; and from Raka was born a pair—Khara and Shurpanakha.
विभीषणस्तु रूपेण सर्वेभ्योऽभ्यधिकोऽभवत्। स बभूव महाभागो धर्मगोप्ता क्रियारतिः
Vibhishana surpassed all in appearance; he became greatly fortunate, a protector of righteousness, devoted to sacred rites.
दशग्रीवस्तु सर्वेषां श्रेष्ठो राक्षसपुङ्गवः। महोत्साहो महावीर्यो महासत्वपराक्रमः
But Dashagriva was the foremost of all, the chief among Rakshasas—of great energy, great might, and supreme valor.
कुम्भकर्णओ बलेनासीत्सर्वेभ्योऽभ्यधिको युधि। मायावी रणशौण्डश्चरौद्रश्च रजनीचरः
Kumbhakarna, in strength, surpassed all in battle; he was a master of illusion, skilled in war, fierce, and a night-wanderer.
खरो धनुषि विक्रान्तो ब्रह्मद्विट् पिशिताशनः। सिद्धविघ्नकरी चापि रौद्री शूर्पणखा तदा
Khara was mighty with the bow, a hater of Brahmanas, eater of flesh; and Shurpanakha, fierce, was an obstacle to the accomplished.
सर्वे वेदविदः शूराः सर्वेसुचरितव्रताः। ऊषुः पित्रा सह रता गन्धमादनपर्वते
All were learned in the Vedas, heroic, and steadfast in good vows; they dwelled with their father, delighting on Mount Gandhamadana.
ततो वैश्रवणं तत्र ददृशुर्नरवाहनम्। पित्रा सार्धं समासीनमृद्ध्या परमया युतम्
There they saw Vaishravana, riding his celestial vehicle, seated with his father, endowed with supreme prosperity.
जातामर्षास्ततस्ते तु तपसे धृतनिश्चयाः। ब्रह्माणं तोषयामासुर्घोरेण तपसा तदा
Then, filled with jealousy, they became resolute in asceticism and sought to please Brahma with fierce austerities.
अतिष्ठदेकपादेन सहस्रं परिवत्सरान्। वायुभक्षो दशग्रीवः पञ्चाग्निः सुसमाहितः
Dashagriva stood on one foot for a thousand years, subsisting on air, steadfast amid five fires.
अधःशायी कुम्भकर्णो यताहारो यतव्रतः। विभीषणः शीर्णपर्णमेकमभ्यवहारयन्
Kumbhakarna lay upon the ground, disciplined in food and vow; Vibhishana ate only fallen leaves, observing a single meal.
उपवासरतिर्धीमान्सदा जप्यपरायणः। तमेव कालमातिष्ठत्तीव्रं तप उदारधीः
Wise and devoted to fasting, always intent on recitation, that noble-minded one performed severe austerity for that entire time.
स्वरः शूर्पणखा चैव तेषां वै तप्यतां तपः। परिचर्यां च रक्षां च चक्रतुर्हष्टमानसौ
Shurpanakha and Svara, too, as they practiced austerity, joyfully attended and protected them.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रेतु शिरश्छित्त्वा दशाननः। जुहोत्यग्नौ दुराधर्षस्तेनातुष्यज्जगत्प्रभुः
When a thousand years were complete, Dashanana cut off his own head and offered it into the fire; by this, the Lord of the worlds was pleased.
ततो ब्रह्मा स्वयं गत्वा तपसस्तान्न्यवारयत्। प्रलोभ्यवरदानेन सर्वानेवपृथक्पृथक्
Then Brahma himself went there and restrained them from their austerities, enticing each one separately with the granting of boons.
प्रीतोऽस्मि वो निवर्तध्वं वरान्वृणुत पुत्रकाः। यद्यदिष्टमृते त्वेकममरत्वं तथाऽस्तु तत्
Pleased, he said: 'Cease your austerities, my sons, and choose your boons—whatever you desire, except for immortality; let it be so.'
यद्यदग्नौ हुतं सर्वं शिरस्ते महदीप्सया। तथैव तानि ते देहे भविष्यन्ति यथेप्सया
Whatever you have offered into the fire with great longing, all of that shall manifest in your body just as you wish.
वैरूप्यं च न ते देहे कामरूपधरस्तथा। भविष्यसि रणेऽरीणां विजेता न च संशयः
There will be no deformity in your body, and you shall be able to assume any form at will; in battle, you will be the victor over your enemies—of this there is no doubt.
गन्धर्वदेवासुरतो यक्षराक्षसतस्तथा। सर्पकिंनरभूतेभ्यो न मे भूयात्पराभवः
May there be no defeat for me at the hands of Gandharvas, Devas, Asuras, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Serpents, Kinnaras, or Bhutas.
य एते कीर्तिताः सर्वे न तेभ्योस्ति भयं रतव। ऋते मनुष्याद्भद्रं ते तथा तद्विहितं मया
Of all those just named, you need not fear any of them, O mighty one; except from humans—good fortune to you—thus have I ordained.