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.'
राक्षसैः सा परित्यक्ता पुरा विष्णुभयार्दितैः । शून्या रक्षोगणैः सर्वै रसातलतलं गतैः ।। ७.३.
'That city was abandoned by the Rākṣasas of old, afflicted by fear of Viṣṇu; emptied of all the hosts of Rākṣasas, who went to the nethermost regions.'
शून्या सम्प्रति लङ्का सा प्रभुस्तस्या न विद्यते । स त्वं तत्र निवासाय गच्छ पुत्र यथासुखम् ।। ७.३.
'Now Laṅkā is deserted, and has no lord. Therefore, my son, go there to dwell as you wish.'
निर्दोषस्तत्र ते वासो न बाधास्तत्र कस्यचित् । एतच्छुत्वा स धर्मात्मा धर्मिष्ठं वचनं पितुः ।। ७.३.
'Your dwelling there will be blameless; there will be no disturbance for anyone. Having heard these righteous words of his father, that righteous-souled one...'
निवासयामास तदा लङ्कां पर्वतमूर्धनि । नैर्ऋतानां सहस्रैस्तु हृष्टैः प्रमुदुतैः सह ।। ७.३.
Then he settled Lanka upon the mountain's summit, together with thousands of delighted and joyful spirits.
अचिरेणैव कालेन सम्पूर्णा तस्य शासनात् ।। ७.३.
By his command, it was soon completely filled.
स तु तत्रावसत्प्रीतो धर्मात्मा नैर्ऋतर्षभः । समुद्रपरिघायां तु लङ्कायां विश्रवात्मजः ।। ७.३.
There, the righteous lord of the spirits, son of Viśrava, dwelled happily in Lanka, which was encircled by the ocean.
काले काले तु धर्मात्मा पुष्पकेण धनेश्वरः । अभ्यागच्छद्विनीतात्मा पितरं मातरं च हि ।। ७.३.
From time to time, the righteous lord of wealth, with a disciplined mind, would come in the Puṣpaka chariot to visit his father and mother.
स देवगन्धर्वगणैरभिष्टुतस्तथाप्सरोनृत्यविभूषितालयः । गभस्तिभिः सूर्य इवावभासयन्पितुः समीपं प्रययौ स वित्तपः ।। ७.३.
Honored by hosts of gods and gandharvas, his abode adorned with the dances of apsarases, shining like the sun with its rays, that lord of wealth approached his father.
श्रुत्वागस्त्येरितं वाक्यं रामो विस्मयमागतः । कथमासीत्तु लङ्कायां सम्भवो रक्षसां पुरा ।। ७.४.
Hearing Agastya's words, Rāma was filled with wonder: 'How did the race of Rākṣasas first arise in Lanka?'
ततः शिरः कम्पयित्वा त्रेताग्निसमविग्रहम् । तमगस्त्यं मुहुर्दृष्ट्वा स्मयमानो ऽभ्यभाषत ।। ७.४.
Then, shaking his head and gazing repeatedly at Agastya, whose form was like the sacrificial fire, he spoke with a smile.