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.'
तास्तु सर्वाः प्रतिश्रुत्य तस्य वाक्यं महात्मनः । ब्रह्मशापभयाद्भीतास्तं देशं नोपचक्रमुः ।। ७.२.
All of them, having promised to obey the words of that great soul, out of fear of the Brahmin's curse, did not approach that place.
तृणबिन्दोस्तु राजर्षेस्तनया न शृणोति तत् ।। ७.२.
But the daughter of the royal sage Tṛṇabindu did not hear this.
गत्वाश्रमपदं तत्र विचचार सुनिर्भया । न सापश्यत्स्थिता तत्र काञ्चिदभ्यागतां सखीम् ।। ७.२.
She went to the hermitage, wandering there without any fear; yet, standing there, she did not see any friend who had arrived.
तस्मिन्काले महातेजाः प्राजापत्यो महानृषिः । स्वाध्यायमकरोत्तत्र तपसा भावितः स्वयम् ।। ७.२.
At that time, the illustrious great sage, a descendant of Prajāpati, was engaged in reciting the Vedas there, absorbed in austerity.
सा तु वेदश्रुतिं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा वै तपसो निधिम् । अभवत्पाण्डुदेहा सा सुव्यञ्जितशरीरजा ।। ७.२.
Hearing the recitation of the Vedas and seeing the embodiment of austerity, she became pale-bodied, her physical transformation clearly visible.
वभूव च समुद्विग्ना दृष्ट्वा तद्दोषमात्मनः । इदं मे किन्त्विति ज्ञात्वा पितुर्गत्वा ऽ ऽश्रमे स्थिता ।। ७.२.
She became greatly disturbed, perceiving this fault in herself; realizing, 'What is this with me?' she went to her father's hermitage and stayed there.
तां तु दृष्ट्वा तथाभूतां तृणविन्दुरथाब्रवीत् । किं त्वमेतत्त्वसदृशं धारयस्यात्मनो वपुः ।। ७.२.
Seeing her in such a state, Tṛṇabindu then said: 'Why do you bear a form so unbefitting of yourself?'
सा तु कृत्वाञ्जलिं दीना कन्योवाच तपोधनम् । न जाने कारणं तात येन मे रूपमीदृशम् ।। ७.२.
With joined palms, the distressed maiden spoke to the ascetic: 'Father, I do not know the reason why my appearance has become like this.'
किं तु पूर्वं गतास्म्येका महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः । पुलस्त्यस्याश्रमं दिव्यमन्वेष्टुं स्वसखीजनम् ।। ७.२.
'But earlier, I alone went to the divine hermitage of the great sage Pulastya, seeking my friends.'
न च पश्याम्यहं तत्र काञ्चिदभ्यागतां सखीम् । रूपस्य तु विपर्यासं दृष्ट्वा त्रासादिहागता ।। ७.२.
'Yet I did not see any friend who had arrived there; but, seeing the change in my appearance, I came here out of fear.'
तृणबिन्दुस्तु राजर्षिस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभः । ध्यानं विवेश तच्चापि ह्यपश्यदृषिकर्मजम् ।। ७.२.
The royal sage Tṛṇabindu, his radiance kindled by austerity, entered meditation and saw the cause of her condition through his yogic vision.
स तु विज्ञाय तं शापं महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः । गृहीत्वा तनयां गत्वा पुलस्त्यमिदमब्रवीत् ।। ७.२.
Having understood the curse of the great sage, he took his daughter and went to Pulastya, and spoke these words:
भगवंस्तनयां मे त्वं गुणैः स्वैरेव भूषिताम् । भिक्षां प्रतिगृहाणेमां महर्षे स्वयमुद्यताम् ।। ७.२.
'Revered one, please accept my daughter, adorned with her own virtues, as an offering; O sage, she herself is willing.'
तपश्चरणयुक्तस्य श्रम्यमाणेन्द्रियस्य ते । शुश्रूषणपरा नित्यं भविष्यति न संशयः ।। ७.२.
'She will always be devoted to serving you, whose senses are restrained by austerity; there is no doubt about this.'
तं ब्रुवाणं तु तद्वाक्यं राजर्षिं धार्मिकं तदा । जिघृक्षुरब्रवीत्कन्यां बाढमित्येव स द्विजः ।। ७.२.
Hearing these words from the righteous royal sage, the twice-born replied, wishing to accept the maiden, 'So be it.'
दत्त्वा स तु यथान्यायं स्वमाश्रमपदं गतः । सापि तत्रावसत्कन्या तोषयन्ती पतिं गुणैः ।। ७.२.
Having duly given her, he returned to his own hermitage; and the maiden stayed there, pleasing her husband with her virtues.
तस्यास्तु शीलवृत्ताभ्यां तुतोष मुनिपुङ्गवः । प्रीतः स तु महातेजा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.२.
The foremost sage was satisfied with her character and conduct; pleased, that illustrious one spoke these words.
परितुष्टो ऽस्मि सुश्रोणि गुणानां सम्पदा भृशम् । तस्माद्देवि ददाम्यद्य पुत्रमात्मसमं तव ।। ७.२.
O fair-hipped lady, I am greatly pleased by the abundance of your virtues; therefore, O goddess, today I shall grant you a son equal to myself.
उभयोर्वंशकर्तारं पौलस्त्य इति विश्रुतम् । यस्मात्तु विश्रुतो वेदस्त्वयैषो ऽध्ययतो मम ।। ७.२.
He will be known as the progenitor of both lineages, renowned as Paulastya; and because this Veda is celebrated as being studied by you, it is now yours from me.
तस्मात्स विश्रवा नाम भविष्यति न संशयः । एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ।। ७.२.
Therefore, he will be named Viśravā, without doubt; thus addressed, that goddess was inwardly overjoyed.