अचिरेणैव कालेनासूत विश्रवसं सुतम् । त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं यशोधर्मसमन्वितम् ।। ७.२.
In a short time, she gave birth to a son, Viśravas, famed throughout the three worlds, endowed with glory and righteousness.
श्रुतिमान्समदर्शी च व्रताचाररतस्तथा । पितेव तपसा युक्तो ह्यभवद्विश्रवा मुनिः ।। ७.२.
He was learned in the scriptures, impartial in vision, devoted to vows and right conduct; Viśravas the sage became endowed with austerity like his father.
अथ पुत्रः पुलस्त्यस्य विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । अचिरेणैव कालेन पितेव तपसि स्थितः ।। ७.३.
Then the son of Pulastya, Viśravas, foremost among sages, in a short time became established in austerity like his father.
सत्यवाञ्छीलवाञ्छान्तः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः । सर्वभोगेष्वसंसक्तो नित्यं धर्मपरायणः ।। ७.३.
Truthful, virtuous, tranquil, devoted to self-study, pure, unattached to all enjoyments, and always devoted to righteousness.
ज्ञात्वा तस्य तु तद्वृत्तं भरद्वाजो महामुनिः । ददौ विश्रवसे भार्यां स्वसुतां देववर्णिनीम् ।। ७.३.
Knowing his conduct, the great sage Bharadvāja gave his own daughter, radiant as a goddess, as a wife to Viśravas.
प्रतिगृह्य तु धर्मेण भरद्वाजसुतां तदा । प्रजान्वेक्षिकया बुद्ध्या श्रेयो ह्यस्य विचिन्तयन् ।। ७.३.
Having duly accepted Bharadvāja's daughter, he, considering what would be best for her offspring, reflected with wisdom.
मुदा परमया युक्तो विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । स तस्यां वीर्यसम्पन्नमपत्यं परमाद्भुतम् ।। ७.३.
Filled with supreme joy, Viśravas, the foremost sage, begot in her a son endowed with great strength, truly wondrous.
जनयामास धर्मज्ञः सर्वैर्ब्रह्मगुणैर्युतम् । तस्मिञ्जाते तु संहृष्टः सम्बभूव पितामहः ।। ७.३.
That knower of righteousness begot a son endowed with all the qualities of Brahmā; when he was born, the Grandfather was delighted.
दृष्ट्वा श्रेयस्करीं बुद्धिं धनाध्यक्षो भविष्यति । नाम तस्याकरोत्प्रीतः सार्धं देवर्षिभिस्तदा ।। ७.३.
Seeing his auspicious intelligence, the Lord of Wealth, together with the divine sages, joyfully gave him the name.
यस्माद्विश्रवसो ऽपत्यं सादृश्याद्विश्रवा इव । तस्माद्वैश्रवणो नाम भविष्यत्वेष विश्रुतः ।। ७.३.
Because he was the son of Viśravas and resembled Viśravas, he became renowned as Vaiśravaṇa.
स तु वैश्रवणस्तत्र तपोवनगतस्तदा । अवर्धताहुतिहुतो महातेजा यथानलः ।। ७.३.
Then Vaiśravaṇa, possessing great brilliance, dwelling in the forest of austerity, grew like fire fed by offerings.
तस्याश्रमपदस्थस्य बुद्धिर्जज्ञे महात्मनः । चरिष्ये परमं धर्मं धर्मो हि परमा गतिः ।। ७.३.
While residing at his hermitage, that great soul resolved: 'I shall practice the highest righteousness, for righteousness is the supreme goal.'
स तु वर्षसहस्राणि तपस्तप्त्वा महावने । यन्त्रितो नियमैरुग्रैश्चकार सुमहत्तपः ।। ७.३.
He performed severe austerity for thousands of years in the great forest, restrained by rigorous disciplines, undertaking immense penance.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रान्ते तं तं विधिमकल्पयत् । जलाशी मारुताहारो निराहारस्तथैव च ।। ७.३.
At the end of a thousand years, he established various practices: subsisting on water, living on air, and even fasting completely.
एवं वर्षसहस्राणि जग्मुस्तान्येकवर्षवत् । अथ प्रीतो महातेजाः सेन्द्रैः सुरगणैः सह ।। ७.३.
Thus, those thousands of years passed as if a single year; then the greatly radiant one, pleased, together with Indra and the hosts of gods—
गत्वा तस्याश्रमपदं ब्रह्मेदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । परितुष्टो ऽस्मि ते वत्स कर्मणानेन सुव्रत । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते वरार्हस्त्वं महामते ।। ७.३.
Having gone to his hermitage, Brahmā spoke these words: 'I am pleased with you, my child, for this deed, O steadfast one. Choose a boon, good fortune to you; you are worthy of a boon, O wise one.'
अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणः पितामहमुपस्थितम् । भगवँल्लोकपालत्वमिच्छेयं वित्तरक्षणम् ।। ७.३.
Then Vaiśravaṇa spoke to the assembled Grandfather: 'Lord, I desire the guardianship of wealth, the office of protector of riches.'
अथाब्रवीद्वैश्रवणं परितुष्टेन चेतसा । ब्रह्मा सुरगणैः सार्धं बाढमित्येव हृष्टवत् ।। ७.३.
Then Brahmā, with a heart well-pleased, said to Vaiśravaṇa, together with the hosts of gods, 'So be it,' joyfully.
अहं वै लोकपालानां चतुर्थं स्रष्टुमुद्यतः ।। ७.३.
I am now intent on creating the fourth among the guardians of the worlds.
यमेन्द्रवरुणानां च पदं यत्तव चेप्सितम् । तद्गच्छ त्वं हि धर्मज्ञ निधीशत्वमवाप्नुहि । शक्राम्बुपयमानां च चतुर्थस्त्वं भविष्यसि ।। ७.३.
The station of Yama, Indra, and Varuṇa which you desire, that you shall attain, knower of righteousness; obtain the lordship over treasures. You shall be the fourth among Śakra, Varuṇa, and Yama.
एतच्च पुष्पकं नाम विमानं सूर्यसन्निभम् । प्रतिगृह्णीष्व यानार्थं त्रिदशैः समतां व्रज ।। ७.३.
And this aerial chariot named Puṣpaka, shining like the sun, accept it for your conveyance, and attain equality with the gods.
स्वस्ति ते ऽस्तु गमिष्यामः सर्व एव यथागतम् । कृतकृत्या वयं तात दत्त्वा तव वरद्वयम् ।। ७.३.
May all be well with you; we shall now depart as we came. Our purpose is fulfilled, dear one, having granted you these two boons.
इत्युक्त्वा स गतो ब्रह्मा स्वस्थानं त्रिदशैः सह ।। ७.३.
Having spoken thus, Brahmā departed to his own abode together with the gods.
गतेषु ब्रह्मपूर्वेषु देवेष्वथ नभस्थलम् । वने स पितरं प्राह प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतात्मवान् । निवासनं न मे देवो विदधे स प्रजापतिः ।। ७.३.
When Brahmā and the gods had departed to the heavens, he, with mind composed and hands joined, spoke to his father in the forest: 'The Lord, the Creator, has not provided me a dwelling.'
भगवँल्लब्धवानस्मि वरमिष्टं पितामहात् । तं पश्य भगवन्कञ्चिन्निवासं साधु मे प्रभो ।। ७.३.
'Lord, I have obtained the desired boon from Grandfather. Now, O revered one, please show me some suitable dwelling, O master.'
न च पीडा भवेद्यत्र प्राणिनो यस्य कस्यचित् । एवमुक्तस्तु पुत्रेण विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। ७.३.
'And let there be no suffering there for any living being.' Thus addressed by his son, Viśravas, foremost of sages,
वचनं प्राह धर्मज्ञः श्रूयतामिति सत्तमः । दक्षिणस्योदधेस्तीरे त्रिकूटो नाम पर्वतः ।। ७.३.
The righteous sage spoke these words: 'Listen, O excellent one. On the southern shore of the ocean is a mountain called Trikūṭa.'
तस्याग्रे तु विशाला सा महेन्द्रस्य पुरी यथा । लङ्का नाम पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा ।। ७.३.
'In front of it is a vast and splendid city, like that of Mahendra, called Laṅkā, delightful and built by Viśvakarman.'
राक्षसानां निवासार्थं यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती । तत्र त्वं वस भद्रं ते लङ्कायां नात्र संशयः ।। ७.३.
'For the dwelling of the Rākṣasas, just as Amarāvatī is for Indra. There you should reside, good fortune to you, in Laṅkā; there is no doubt.'
हेमप्राकारपरिघा यन्त्रशस्त्रसमावृता । रमणीया पुरी सा हि रुक्मवैडूर्यतोरणा ।। ७.३.
'That charming city is surrounded by golden ramparts and moats, filled with machines and weapons, with gateways of gold and beryl.'