राम त्वद्दर्शनान्मेऽद्य गतं वै दुष्कृतं किल । संपूर्णो मे मनःकोश आनंदेन सुरोत्तम
Rāma, by seeing you today, all my sins have truly departed; my mind's treasury is filled with joy, O best among gods.
इत्युक्त्वा स बभूवाशु तूष्णीं कुंभसमुद्भवः । रामसंदर्शनाह्लादविह्वलीकृतमानसः
Having spoken thus, the one born from the pot became silent at once, his mind overwhelmed with delight from seeing Rāma.
रामः पप्रच्छ तं भूयो मुनिं ज्ञानविशारदम् । लोकातीतं भवद्भावि सर्वं जानासि सर्वतः
Rāma again questioned that sage, expert in knowledge, saying: You know all that transcends the world, all that is, and all that will be.
मुने कथय मे सर्वं पृच्छतो हि सुविस्तरम् । कोऽसौ मया हतो यो हि रावणो विबुधार्दनः
O sage, tell me everything in detail as I ask: Who is this Rāvaṇa whom I have slain, the destroyer of the gods?
कुंभकर्णोऽपि कस्त्वेष का जातिर्वै दुरात्मनः । देवो दैत्यः पिशाचो वा राक्षसो वा महामुने
And who is this Kumbhakarṇa? What is the lineage of this evil-minded one? Is he a god, a demon, a spirit, or a rākṣasa, O great sage?
सर्वमाख्याहि सर्वज्ञ सर्वं जानासि विस्तरात् । अतः कथय मे सर्वं कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि
Tell me everything, O all-knowing one; you know all in detail. Therefore, kindly show compassion to me and narrate everything.
इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं कुंभजन्मा तपोनिधिः । यत्पृष्टं रघुराजेन प्रवक्तुं तत्प्रचक्रमे
Having heard these words, the sage born from the pot, a treasury of asceticism, began to speak what was asked by the king of the Raghu dynasty.
राजन्सृष्टिकरो ब्रह्मा पुलस्त्यस्तत्सुतोऽभवत् । ततस्तु विश्रवा जज्ञे वेदविद्याविशारदः
O king, Brahmā, the creator of beings, had a son named Pulastya; then Viśravā was born, skilled in Vedic knowledge.
तस्य पत्नीद्वयं जातं पातिव्रत्यचरित्रभृत् । एका मंदाकिनी नाम्नी द्वितीया कैकसी स्मृता
He had two wives, both upholding the conduct of devoted wives; one was named Mandākinī, the other was known as Kaikasī.
पूर्वस्यां धनदो जज्ञे लोकपालविलासभृत् । योऽसौ शिवप्रसादेन लंकावासमचीकरत्
From the first was born Kubera, the lord of wealth, who delights in protecting the worlds; by Śiva's grace, he made Lanka his abode.
विद्युन्मालिसुतायां तु पुत्रत्रयमभून्महत् । रावणः कुंभकर्णश्च तथा पुण्यो बिभीषणः
From Vidyunmālī, three great sons were born: Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, and the virtuous Bibhīṣaṇa.
राक्षस्युदरजन्मत्वात्संध्यासमयसंभवात् । द्वयोरधर्मनिपुणा मतिरासीन्महामते
Because they were born from a rākṣasa mother at twilight, the minds of two were skilled in unrighteousness, O wise one.
एकदा तु विमानेन पुष्पकेण सुशोभिना । कांचनीयोपकल्पेन किंकिणीजालमालिना
Once, in the splendid aerial chariot Puṣpaka, adorned with gold and hung with garlands of bells,
आरुह्य पितरौ द्रष्टुं प्रायाच्छोभासमन्वितः । स्वगणैः संस्तुतो भूत्वा नानारत्नविभूषणैः
He ascended to visit his parents, radiant in appearance, praised by his attendants, and adorned with various precious jewels.
आगत्य पित्रोश्चरणे पतित्वा चिरमात्मजः । हर्षविह्वलितात्मा च रोमांचिततनूरुहः
Having arrived, the son fell at his parents' feet and remained there for a long time, his heart overwhelmed with joy, his body hair standing on end.
उवाच मेऽद्य सुदिनं महाभाग्यफलोदयः । यन्मे युष्मत्पदौ दृष्टौ महापुण्यददर्शनौ
He said: 'Today is truly an auspicious day for me, the fruit of great fortune, for I have seen your feet, a vision of supreme merit.'
इत्यादिभिः स्तुतिपदैः स्तुत्वागान्मंदिरं स्वकम् । पितरावपि संहृष्टौ पुत्रस्नेहाद्बभूवतुः
Having praised them with such words of adoration, he went to his own abode; and the parents, too, became delighted out of affection for their son.
तं दृष्ट्वा रावणो धीमाञ्जगाद निजमातरम् । कोऽयं पुमान्सुरो वाथ यक्षो वाथ नरोत्तमः
Seeing him, the wise Rāvaṇa spoke to his own mother: 'Who is this man—god, yakṣa, or best of men—'
योऽसौ मम पितुःपादौ सन्निषेव्य गतः पुनः । महाभाग्यनिधिः स्वीयैर्गणैः सुपरिवारितः
'—who, having reverently served my father's feet, departed again, a treasure of great fortune, well attended by his own followers?'
केनेदं तपसा लब्धं विमानं वायुवेगधृक् । उद्यानारामलीलादि विलासस्थानमुत्तमम्
'By what austerity was this flying palace, swift as the wind, obtained—this supreme place for gardens, groves, and delights?'
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य जननी रोषविक्लवा । उवाच पुत्रं विमनाः किंचिन्नेत्रविकारिणी
Śeṣa said: Hearing these words, the mother, agitated with anger, spoke to her son, her mind disturbed, her eyes slightly altered.
रे पुत्र शृणु मद्वाक्यं बहुशिक्षासमन्वितम् । एतस्य जन्मकर्मादि विचारचतुराधिकम्
'Listen, my son, to my words, full of much instruction: the matter of his birth and deeds is exceedingly worthy of discernment.'
सपत्न्या मम कुक्षिस्थं विधानं समुपस्थितम् । येन स्वमातुर्विमलं कुलमुज्ज्वलितं महत्
'By my co-wife, while he was in the womb, destiny was established, by which his mother's pure lineage was greatly illumined.'
त्वं तु मत्कुक्षिजः कीटः पापः स्वोदरपूरकः । यथा खरः स्वकं भारं जानाति न च तद्गुणम्
'But you, born from my womb, are a worm, sinful, filling only your own belly; just as a donkey knows its own burden but not its worth.'
तथा त्वं लक्ष्यसेऽज्ञानी शयनासनभोगवान् । सुप्तो गतः क्वचिद्भ्रष्ट इत्येव तव संभवः
'So you are seen as ignorant, enjoying bed and seat; you have fallen somewhere in sleep—that is your very origin.'
अनेन तपसा लब्धं शिवसंतोषकारिणा । लंकावासो मनोवेगं विमानं राज्यसंपदः
'By his austerity, pleasing to Śiva, were obtained the dwelling in Laṅkā, the mind-swift chariot, and the wealth of kingship.'
सुधन्या जननी त्वस्य सुभाग्या सुमहोदया । यस्याः पुत्रो निजगुणैर्लब्धवान्महतां पदम्
'His mother is truly blessed, fortunate, and of great destiny, whose son, by his own virtues, has attained a lofty position.'
इति क्रुधा भाषितमार्तया तया मात्रा स्वयाऽकर्ण्य दुरात्मसत्तमः । रोषं विधायात्मगतं पुनर्वचो जगाद तां निश्चयभृत्तपः प्रति
Hearing these harsh words spoken in anger by his own mother, the wicked but eminent one, having kindled inner wrath, again spoke to her, firmly resolved regarding austerity.
रावण उवाच। जनन्याकर्णय वचो मम गर्वसमन्वितम् । रत्नगर्भा त्वमेवासि यस्याः पुत्रास्त्रयो वयम्
Rāvaṇa said: 'Mother, hear my words, filled with pride: you alone are the jewel-bearing one, whose three sons are we.'
कोऽसौ कीटः स धनदः क्व तपः स्वल्पकं पुनः । कालं का किंतु तद्राज्यं स्वल्पसेवकसंयुतम्
'Who is that worm, that Dhanada? What is his meager austerity? What is his time? But that kingdom is attended by only a few servants.'