कुम्भश्चैव निकुम्भश्च राक्षसौ भीमदर्शनौ । दिष्ट्या तौ निहतौ राम कुम्भकर्णसुतौ मृधे ।। ७.१.
Kumbha and Nikumbha, the fearsome-looking rākṣasas—by fortune, those sons of Kumbhakarṇa have been slain by you in battle, O Rāma.
युद्धोन्मत्तश्च मत्तश्च कालान्तकयमोपमौ । यज्ञकोपश्च बलवान्धूम्राक्षो नाम राक्षसः ।। ७.१.
Yuddhonmatta and Matta, both mad for battle and resembling Death at the end of time, and Yajñakopa, the mighty rākṣasa named Dhūmrākṣa—
कुर्वन्तः कदनं घोरमेते शस्त्रास्त्रपारगाः । अन्तकप्रतिमैर्बाणैर्दिष्ट्या विनिहतास्त्वया ।। ७.१.
These, skilled in weapons and missiles, causing dreadful slaughter, have, by fortune, been struck down by you with arrows like Death itself.
दिष्ट्या त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रेण द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागतः । देवतानामवध्येन विजयं प्राप्तवानसि ।। ७.१.
By fortune, you entered single combat with the lord of the rākṣasas, who was invulnerable to the gods, and you have attained victory.
सङ्ख्ये तस्य न किञ्चित्तु रावणस्य पराभवः । द्वन्द्वयुद्धमनुप्राप्तो दिष्ट्या ते रावणिर्हतः ।। ७.१.
In battle, there was never any defeat for Rāvaṇa; yet, by fortune, you engaged him in single combat and have slain the son of Rāvaṇa.
दिष्ट्या तस्य महाबाहो कालस्येवाभिधावतः । मुक्तः सुररिपोर्वीर प्राप्तश्च विजयस्त्वया ।। ७.१.
By fortune, O mighty-armed, you have escaped from him as he rushed like Time itself; O hero, you have won victory over the foe of the gods.
अभिनन्दाम ते सर्वे संश्रुत्येन्द्रजितो वधम् । सो ऽवध्यः सर्वभूतानां महामायाधरो युधि ।। ७.१.
We all rejoice, having heard of Indrajit’s death—he who was invulnerable to all beings and possessed of great magic in battle.
विस्मयस्त्वेष चास्माकं तच्छ्रुत्वेन्द्रजितं हतम् ।। ७.१.
Indeed, we are filled with wonder on hearing that Indrajit has been slain.
एते चान्ये च बहवो राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः । दिष्ट्या त्वया हता वीरा रघूणां कुलवर्द्धन ।। ७.१.
These and many other rākṣasas, able to assume any form at will—by fortune, you have slain these heroes, O increaser of the Raghu line.
दत्त्वा पुण्यामिमां वीर सौम्यामभयदक्षिणाम् ७.१.
O hero, having given this blessed and gentle gift of fearlessness—
श्रुत्वा तु तेषां वचनमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । विस्मयं परमं गत्वा रामः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ।। ७.१.
Hearing the words of those sages of purified minds, Rāma, filled with utmost wonder, spoke with joined palms.
भगवन्तः कुम्भकर्णं रावणं च निशाचरम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यौ किं प्रशंसथ रावणिम् ।। ७.१.
O venerable ones, having passed over Kumbhakarṇa and Rāvaṇa, both of great might among the night-wanderers, why do you praise Rāvaṇa's son?
महोदरं प्रहस्तं च विरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् । मत्तोन्मत्तौ च दुर्धर्षौ देवान्तकनरान्तकौ ७.१.
Mahodara, Prahasta, and the demon Virūpākṣa, as well as the frenzied and unassailable Devāntaka and Narāntaka—
अतिकायं त्रिशिरसं धूम्राक्षं च निशाचरम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यान्किं प्रशंसथ रावणिम् ।। ७.१.
Atikāya, Triśiras, and the night-wanderer Dhūmrākṣa, all of great might—having passed over them, why do you praise Rāvaṇa's son?
कीदृशो वै प्रभावो ऽस्य किं बलं कः पराक्रमः । केन वा कारणेनैष रावणादतिरिच्यते ।। ७.१.
What is his power truly like, what is his strength, what is his valor? And for what reason does he surpass Rāvaṇa?
शक्यं यदि मया श्रोतुं न खल्वाज्ञापयामि वः । यदि गुह्यं न चेद्वक्तुं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम् ।। ७.१.
If it is possible for me to hear, I do not command you; but if it is not a secret that must not be spoken, I wish to hear—please tell me.
शक्रो ऽपि विजितस्तेन कथं लब्धवरश्च सः । कथं च बलवानन्पुत्रो न पिता तस्य रावणः ।। ७.१.
Even Indra was conquered by him—how did he obtain such a boon? And how is it that the son is powerful, not his father Rāvaṇa?
कथं पितुश्चाभ्यधिको महाहवे शक्रस्य जेता हि कथं स राक्षसः । वराश्च लब्धाः कथयस्व मे ऽद्य तत्पृच्छतश्चास्य मुनीन्द्र सर्वम् ।। ७.१.
How did he surpass his father in great battle, and how did that demon become the conqueror of Indra? Tell me today about the boons he obtained, O foremost of sages, for I am asking you everything.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः । कुम्भयोनिर्मिहातेजा राममेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.२.
Hearing these words of the great-souled Rāghava, Kumbhayoni, radiant in ascetic power, spoke thus to Rāma.
शृणु राम कथावृत्तं तस्य तेजोबलं महत् । जघान शत्रून्येनासौ न च वध्यः स शत्रुभिः ।। ७.२.
Hear, O Rāma, the account of his deeds, his great splendor and strength; by these he struck down his enemies, yet by them he could not be slain by his foes.
तावत्ते रावणस्येदं कुलं जन्म च राघव । वरप्रदानं च तथा तस्मै दत्तं ब्रवीमि ते ।। ७.२.
Now I will tell you, O Rāghava, of Rāvaṇa's lineage and birth, and also of the boon that was granted to him.
पुरा कृतयुगे राम प्रजापतिसुतः प्रभुः । पुलस्त्यो नाम ब्रह्मर्षिः साक्षादिव पितामहः ।। ७.२.
Long ago, in the Kṛta Yuga, O Rāma, there was a lord, a son of the progenitor, a brahmarṣi named Pulastya, who was like the Grandfather himself.
नानुकीर्त्या गुणास्तस्य धर्मतः शीलतस्तथा । प्रजापतेः पुत्र इति वक्तुं शक्यं हि नामतः ।। ७.२.
His virtues cannot be fully recounted—whether of righteousness or character; it is enough to say by name that he was the son of the progenitor.
प्रजापतिसुतत्वेन देवानां वल्लभो हि सः । हृष्टः सर्वस्य लोकस्य गुणैः शुभ्रैर्महामतिः ।। ७.२.
As the son of the progenitor, he was beloved of the gods, and, delighted by his pure virtues, the whole world rejoiced in this great-minded one.
स तु धर्मप्रसङ्गेन मेरोः पार्श्वे महागिरेः । तृणविन्द्वाश्रमं गत्वा न्यवसन्मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। ७.२.
He, through devotion to righteousness, went to the hermitage of Ṭṛṇavindya on the side of the great mountain Meru, and there the foremost of sages dwelt.
तपस्तेपे स धर्मात्मा स्वाध्यायनियतेन्द्रियः । गत्वाश्रमपदं तस्य विघ्नं कुर्वन्ति कन्यकाः ।। ७.२.
That righteous soul performed austerities, self-controlled and devoted to study; but when he reached his hermitage, maidens began to cause him disturbance.
देवपन्नगकन्याश्च राजर्षितनयाश्च याः । क्रीडन्त्यो ऽप्सरसश्चैव तं देशमुपपेदिरे ।। ७.२.
Daughters of gods and serpents, and daughters of royal sages, as well as playful apsarases, came to that place.
सर्वर्तुषृपभोग्यत्वाद्रम्यत्वात्काननस्य च । नित्यशस्तास्तु तं देशं गत्वा क्रीडन्ति कन्यकाः ।। ७.२.
Because the forest was delightful and enjoyable in every season, those maidens would always go there and play.
देशस्य रमणीयत्वात्पुलस्त्यो यत्र स द्विजः । गायन्त्यो वादयन्त्यश्च लासयन्त्यस्तथैव च । मुनेस्तपस्विनस्तस्य विघ्नं चक्रुरनिन्दिताः ।। ७.२.
Because of the beauty of that place, O Rāma, Pulastya the twice-born dwelt there; singing, playing instruments, and dancing, those blameless maidens disturbed the sage engaged in austerities.
अथ क्रुद्धो महातेजा व्याजहार महामुनिः । या मे दर्शनमागच्छेत्सा गर्भं धारयिष्यति ।। ७.२.
Then, enraged, the great sage of immense brilliance declared: 'Whichever one of you comes into my sight shall bear a child.'