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.
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवस्तुष्टः समभवत्तदा। अवमेने हि दुर्बुद्धिर्मनुष्यान्पुरुषादकः
Thus addressed, the ten-headed one was satisfied at that time; but that ill-minded devourer of men scorned humans.
कुम्भकर्णमथोवाच तथैव प्रपितामहः। `वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते प्रीतोस्मीति पुनःपुनः'। स वव्रे महतीं निद्रां तमसा ग्रस्तचेतनः
Then Brahma, the great grandsire, spoke likewise to Kumbhakarna: 'Choose a boon, good fortune to you, for I am pleased,' he said again and again. He chose immense sleep, his mind seized by darkness.
तथाभविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा विभीषणमुवाच ह। वरं वृणीष्व पुत्र त्वं प्रीतोऽस्मीति पुनःपुनः
Having said, 'So it shall be,' he then addressed Vibhishana: 'Choose a boon, my son, for I am pleased,' he said again and again.
परमापद्गतस्यापि नाधर्मे मे मतिर्भवेत्। अशिक्षितं च भगवन्ब्रह्मास्त्रं प्रतिभातु मे
Even in the greatest danger, may my mind never turn to unrighteousness; and, O Lord, may the Brahma-weapon, though unlearned, be manifest to me.
यस्माद्राक्षसयोनौ ते जातस्यामित्रकर्शन। नाधर्मे धीयते बुद्धिरमरत्वं ददानि ते
Because, O subduer of foes, you were born in the Rakshasa race but your mind does not incline to unrighteousness, I grant you immortality.
राक्षसस्तु वरंलब्ध्वा दशग्रीवो विशांपते। लङ्कायाश्च्यावयामास युधि जित्वा धनेश्वरम्
Having obtained his boon, the Rakshasa, the ten-headed one, O king, drove Kubera from Lanka in battle and conquered him.
हित्वास भगवाँल्लङ्कामाविशद्गन्धमादनम्। गन्धर्वयक्षानुगतो रक्षःकिंपुरुषैः सह
Then the blessed one left Lanka and entered Gandhamadana, accompanied by Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, and Kimpurushas.
विमानं पुष्पकं तस्य जहाराक्रम्य रावणः। शशाप तं वैश्रवणो न त्वामेतद्वहिष्यति
Ravana seized his flying chariot, Pushpaka, and took it; but Vaishravana cursed him, saying, 'This will not bear you.'
यस्तु त्वां समरे हन्ता तमेवैतद्वहिष्यति। अवमत्य गुरुं मां च क्षिप्रं त्वंनभविष्यसि
'He who will slay you in battle, he alone shall bear this; having slighted your teacher and me, you will soon perish.'
विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा सतां मार्गमनुस्मरन्। अन्वगच्छन्महाराज श्रिया परमया युतः
But Vibhishana, righteous in soul, remembering the path of the virtuous, followed, O great king, endowed with supreme splendor.
तस्मै स भगवांस्तुष्टो भ्राता भ्रात्रे धनेश्वरः। सैनापत्यं ददौ धीमान्यक्षराक्षससेनयोः
To him, his brother, the wise Lord of Wealth, pleased, granted the command of the armies of Yakshas and Rakshasas.
राक्षसाः पुरुषादाश्च पिशाचाश्च महाबलाः। सर्वे समेत्य राजानमभ्यषिञ्चन्दशाननम्
All the Rakshasas, man-eaters, and mighty Pisachas assembled and anointed the ten-headed one as king.
दशग्रीवश्चदैत्यानां दानवानां बलोत्कटः। आक्रम्य रत्नान्यहरत्कामरूपी विहंगम
Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed one, mighty among the Daityas and Dānavas, seized treasures by force, assuming any form at will, and moving like a bird.
रावयामास लोकान्यत्तस्माद्रावण उच्यते। दशग्रीवः कामबलो देवानां भयमादधत्
He caused the worlds to tremble; thus he is called Rāvaṇa. The ten-headed one, empowered by desire, brought fear to the gods.
ततो ब्रह्मर्षयः सर्वे सिद्धा देवर्षयस्तथा। हव्यवाहं पुरस्कृत्य ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः
Then all the Brahmarṣis, Siddhas, and Devarṣis, led by the fire-god, sought refuge in Brahmā.
योसौ विश्रवसः पुत्रो दशग्रीवो महाबलः। अवध्यो वरदानेन कृतो भगवता पुरा
That son of Viśravas, the ten-headed one of great strength, was made invincible by a boon granted long ago by the Blessed One.
स बाधते प्रजाः सर्वा विप्रकारैर्महाबलः। ततो नस्त्रातु भगवान्नान्यस्त्राता हि विद्यते
He oppresses all creatures with his acts of violence, O mighty one; therefore, O Blessed One, protect us, for no other protector is known.
न स देवासुरैः शक्यो युद्धे जेतुं विभावसो। विहितं तत्रयत्कार्यमभितस्तस्य निग्रहः
He cannot be defeated in battle by gods or asuras, O Fire-god; whatever must be done for his restraint has been ordained.
तदर्थमवतीर्णोऽसौ मन्नियोगाच्चतुर्भुजः। विष्णुः प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठः स तत्कर्म करिष्यति
For that purpose, by my command, the four-armed Viṣṇu, foremost among warriors, has descended; he will accomplish that task.
पितामहस्ततस्तेषां संनिधौ शक्रमब्रवीत्। सर्वैर्देवगणैः सार्धं संभव त्वं महीतले
In their presence, the Grandfather spoke to Indra: 'With all the hosts of gods, you must be born upon the earth.'