सुकेशं धार्मिकं दृष्ट्वा वरलब्धं च राक्षसम् । ग्रामणीर्नाम गन्धर्वो विश्वावसुसमप्रभः ।। ७.५.
Seeing Sukeśa, the righteous Rākṣasa who had received a boon, the Gandharva chief named Viśvāvasu, equal in brilliance, appeared.
तस्य देववती नाम द्वितीया श्रीरिवात्मजा । त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्याता रूपयौवनशालिनी । तां सुकेशाय धर्मेण ददौ रक्षःश्रियं यथा ।। ७.५.
He had a second daughter named Devavatī, radiant as Lakṣmī, famous in the three worlds for her beauty and youth; he gave her to Sukeśa in accordance with dharma, as one gives the wealth of the Rākṣasas.
वरदानकृतैश्वर्यं सा तं प्राप्य पतिं प्रियम् । आसीद्देववती तुष्टा धनं प्राप्येव निर्धनः ।। ७.५.
Having obtained that beloved husband, endowed with power from the boon, Devavatī was satisfied, like a poor person who has gained wealth.
स तया सह संयुक्तो रराज रजनीचरः । अञ्जनादभिनिष्क्रान्तः करेण्वेव महागजः ।। ७.५.
United with her, that night-wandering Rākṣasa shone forth, like a great elephant emerging from a dark forest.
देववत्यां सुकेशस्तु जनयामास राघव ।। ७.५.
From Devavatī, Sukeśa begot sons, O Rāghava.
त्रीन् पुत्रान् जनयामास त्रेताग्निसमविग्रहान् । माल्यवन्तं सुमालिं च मालिं च बलिनां वरम् । त्रींस्त्रिनेत्रसमान्पुत्रान्राक्षसान्राक्षसाधिपः ।। ७.५.
He begot three sons, equal in form to the sacrificial fire of the Tretā age: Mālyavat, Sumāli, and Māli, foremost among the strong; these three sons of Sukeśa, lords of Rākṣasas, were like the three-eyed god.
त्रयो लोका इवाव्यग्राः स्थितास्त्रय इवाग्नयः । त्रयो मन्त्रा इवात्युग्रास्त्रयो घोरा इवामयाः ।। ७.५.
They stood firm like the three worlds, like three blazing fires, like three powerful mantras, and like three dreadful diseases.
त्रयः सुकेशस्य सुतास्त्रेताग्निसमतेजसः । विवृद्धिमगमंस्तत्र व्याधयोपेक्षिता इव ।। ७.५.
The three sons of Sukeśa, equal in brilliance to the sacrificial fire, grew in strength there, like diseases neglected.
वरप्राप्तिं पितुस्ते तु ज्ञात्वेश्वरतपोबलात् । तपस्तप्तुं गता मेरुं भ्रातरः कृतनिश्चयाः ।। ७.५.
Knowing of their father's attainment of a boon through ascetic power, the brothers, firm in resolve, went to Mount Meru to perform austerities.
प्रगृह्य नियमान्घोरान्राक्षसा नृपसत्तम । विचेरुस्ते तपो घोरं सर्वभूतभयावहम् ।। ७.५.
Having taken up severe vows, those Rākṣasas, O best of kings, practiced fierce austerities, terrifying to all beings.
सत्यार्जवशमोपेतैस्तपोभिरतिदुष्करैः । सन्तापयन्तस्त्रील्लोँकान्सदेवासुरमानुषान् ।। ७.५.
With truth, sincerity, and self-control, they performed extremely difficult austerities, tormenting the three worlds along with the gods, asuras, and humans.
ततो विभुश्चतुर्वक्त्रो विमानवरमास्थितः । सुकेशपुत्रानामन्त्र्य वरदो ऽस्मीत्यभाषत ।। ७.५.
Then the all-pervading, four-faced Lord, seated in a splendid aerial chariot, addressed the sons of Sukeśa, saying, 'I am the giver of boons.'
ब्रह्माणं वरदं ज्ञात्वा सेन्द्रैर्देवगणैर्वृतम् । ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे वेपमाना इव द्रुमाः ।। ७.५.
Recognizing Brahmā, the bestower of boons, surrounded by the hosts of gods and Indra, all of them, with joined palms, spoke, trembling like trees in the wind.
तपसाराधितो देव यदि नो दिशसे वरम् । अजेयाः शत्रुहन्तारस्तथैव चिरजीविनः ।। ७.५.
They said, 'O god, worshipped by our austerities, if you grant us a boon, let us be invincible, destroyers of enemies, and long-lived.'
प्रभविष्ण्वो भवामेति परस्परमनुव्रताः ।। ७.५.
'Let us be powerful and devoted to each other.'
एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा सुकेशतनयान्विभुः । स ययौ ब्रह्मलोकाय ब्रह्मा ब्राह्मणवत्सलः ।। ७.५.
Saying, 'So it shall be,' the Lord granted the boon to Sukeśa's sons, and Brahmā, fond of the Brāhmaṇas, departed for Brahmaloka.
वरं लब्ध्वा तु ते सर्वे राम रात्रिञ्चरास्तदा । सुरासुरान्प्रबाधन्ते वरदानसुनिर्भयाः ।। ७.५.
Having obtained the boon, O Rāma, all those night-wandering Rākṣasas then oppressed the gods and asuras, fearless because of the boon they had received.
तैर्वध्यमानास्त्रिदशाः सर्षिसङ्घाः सचारणाः । त्रातारं नाधिगच्छन्ति निरयस्था यथा नराः ।। ७.५.
Assailed by them, the gods together with the hosts of seers and celestial beings found no protector, just as men in hell find none to save them.
अथ ते विश्वकर्माणं शिल्पिनां वरमव्ययम् । ऊचुः समेत्य संहृष्टा राक्षसा रघुसत्तम ।। ७.५.
Then those delighted Rākṣasas, having assembled, addressed Viśvakarman, the foremost and imperishable among craftsmen.
ओजस्तेजोबलवतां महतामात्मतेजसा । गृहकर्ता भवानेव देवानां हृदयेप्सितम् ।। ७.५.
You alone, endowed with the greatest strength, brilliance, and power, and with your own inner radiance, are the builder of homes most desired in the hearts of the gods.
अस्माकमपि तावत्त्वं गृहं कुरु महामते । हिमवन्तमपाश्रित्य मेरुमन्दरमेव वा । महेश्वरगृहप्रख्यं गृहं नः क्रियतां महत् ।। ७.५.
O greatly wise one, build a house for us as well, on Himavat or Meru or Mandara, a great mansion like that of Maheśvara.
विश्वकर्मा ततस्तेषां राक्षसानां महाभुजः । निवासं कथयामास शक्रस्येवामरावतीम् ।। ७.५.
Then Viśvakarman, mighty-armed, described to those Rākṣasas a dwelling like Amarāvatī, the city of Indra.
दक्षिणस्योदधेस्तीरे त्रिकूटो नाम पर्वतः । सुवेल इति चाप्यन्यो द्वितीयस्तत्र सत्तमाः ।। ७.५.
On the southern shore of the ocean stands a mountain named Trikūṭa, and another, called Suvela, O best of beings.
शिखरे तस्य शैलस्य मध्यमे ऽम्बुदसन्निभे । शकुनैरपि दुष्प्रापे टङ्कच्छिन्नचतुर्दिशि ।। ७.५.
On the middle peak of that mountain, resembling a mass of clouds, inaccessible even to birds, with all sides cut sheer as if by an axe—
त्रिंशद्योजनक्स्तीर्णा शतयोजनमायता । स्वर्णप्राकारसंवीता हेमतोरणसंवृता ।। ७.५.
Thirty yojanas wide, a hundred yojanas long, surrounded by walls of gold and adorned with golden gateways—
मया लङ्केति नगरी शक्राज्ञप्तेन निर्मिता । तस्यां वसत दुर्धर्षा यूयं राक्षसपुङ्गवाः ।। ७.५.
By me, at the command of Śakra, the city called Laṅkā was built; in that city, you mighty Rākṣasas may dwell unassailable.
अमरावतीं समासाद्य सेन्द्रा इव दिवौकसः । लङ्कादुर्गं समासाद्य राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृताः ।। ७.५.
Just as the gods with Indra dwell in Amarāvatī, so you, surrounded by many Rākṣasas, may occupy the fortress of Laṅkā.
भविष्यथ दुराधर्षाः शत्रूणां शत्रुसूदनाः ।। ७.५.
You will become invincible to your enemies, destroyers of foes.
विश्वकर्मवचः श्रुत्वा ततस्ते राक्षसोत्तमाः । सहस्रानुचरा भूत्वा गत्वा तामवसन्पुरीम् ।। ७.५.
Hearing Viśvakarman's words, those foremost Rākṣasas, with thousands of followers, went and took up residence in that city.
दृढप्राकारपरिखां हैमैर्गृहशतैर्वृताम् । लङ्कामवाप्य ते हृष्टा न्यवसन्रजनीचराः ।। ७.५.
Reaching Laṅkā, encircled by strong walls and moats and filled with hundreds of golden houses, the delighted night-wanderers settled there.