एवं ते राक्षसा तेन हरिणा कमलेक्षण । बहुशः संयुगे भग्ना हतप्रवरनायकाः ।। ७.८.
Thus, O lotus-eyed one, those Rākṣasas were repeatedly defeated in battle by that Hari, their foremost leaders slain.
अशक्नुवन्तस्ते विष्णुं प्रतियोद्धुं भयार्दिताः । त्यक्त्वा लङ्कां गता वस्तुं पातालं सहपत्नयः ।। ७.८.
Unable to withstand Viṣṇu, terrified, they abandoned Laṅkā and went to dwell in the netherworld with their wives.
सुमालिनं समासाद्य राक्षसं रघुसत्तम । स्थिताः प्रख्यातवीर्यास्ते वंशे सालकटङ्कटे ।। ७.८.
O best of the Raghu line, having met Sumālī, the Rākṣasa, those of renowned valor remained in the lineage of Sālakaṭaṅkaṭa.
ये त्वया निहतास्ते तु पौलस्त्या नाम राक्षसाः । सुमाली माल्यवान्माली ये च तेषां पुरःसराः ७.८.
But those whom you slew, they were the Rākṣasas called Paulastyas—Sumālī, Mālyavān, Mālī, and their leaders.
न चान्यो राक्षसान्हन्ता सुरारीन्देवकण्टकान् । ऋते नारायणं देवं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् ।। ७.८.
No one else but Nārāyaṇa, the god bearing conch, discus, and mace, can slay the Rākṣasas, those thorns to the gods.
भवान्नारायणो देवश्चतुर्बाहुः सनातनः । राक्षसान्हन्तुमुत्पन्नो ह्यजेयः प्रभुरव्ययः ।। ७.८.
You are that Nārāyaṇa, the eternal four-armed god, born to destroy the Rākṣasas—invincible, lordly, and imperishable.
नष्टधर्मव्यवस्थाता काले काले प्रजाकरः । उत्पद्यते दस्युवधे शरणागतवत्सलः ।। ७.८.
He who restores lost righteousness, who creates beings in every age, is born to destroy evil-doers and cherishes those who seek refuge.
एषा मया तव नराधिप राक्षसानामुत्पत्तिरद्य कथिता सकला यथावत् । भूयो निबोध रघुसत्तम रावणस्य जन्मप्रभावमतुलं ससुतस्य सर्वम् ।। ७.८.
O king, I have now told you in full detail the origin of the rakshasas as it truly happened. Listen further, O best of the Raghu lineage, to the unparalleled birth and power of Ravana and his sons.
चिरात्सुमाली व्यचरद्रसातलं स राक्षसो विष्णुभयार्दितस्तदा । पुत्रैश्च पौत्रैश्च समन्वितो बली ततस्तु लङ्कामवसद्धनेश्वरः ।। ७.८.
For a long time, Sumali, the rakshasa, wandered in the netherworld, afflicted by fear of Vishnu. Accompanied by his sons and grandsons, mighty in strength, he then settled in Lanka as the lord of wealth.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य सुमाली नाम राक्षसः । रसातलान्मर्त्यलोकं सर्वं वै विचचार ह ।। ७.९.
At a certain time, Sumali, the rakshasa, roamed from the netherworld throughout the entire mortal realm.
नीलजीमूतसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः । कन्यां दुहितरं गृह्य विना पद्ममिव श्रियम् ।। ७.९.
Resembling a dark rain cloud, adorned with blazing golden earrings, he took his daughter, radiant like Lakshmi without the lotus.
राक्षसेन्द्रः स तु तदा विचरन्वै महीतलम् । तदापश्यत्स गच्छन्तं पुष्पकेण धनेश्वरम् ।। ७.९.
That king of the rakshasas, while wandering the earth, saw the lord of wealth traveling in the Pushpaka chariot.
गच्छन्तं पितरं द्रष्टुं पुलस्त्यतनयं विभुम् । तं दृष्ट्वा ऽमरसङ्काशं स्वच्छन्दं तपनोपमम् ।। ७.९.
He saw him going to visit his father, Pulastya's son, the illustrious one—shining like a god, moving freely, radiant like the sun.
रसातलं प्रविष्टः सन्मर्त्यलोकात्सविस्मयः । इत्येवं चिन्तयामास राक्षसानां महामतिः ।। ७.९.
Entering the netherworld from the mortal realm, filled with wonder, the wise leader of the rakshasas began to ponder.
किं कृतं श्रेय इत्येवं वर्धेमहि कथं वयम् । अथाब्रवीत्सुतां रक्षः कैकसीं नाम नामतः ।। ७.९.
What should be done for our welfare? How can we prosper? Then the rakshasa spoke to his daughter, named Kaikesi.
पुत्रि प्रदानकालो ऽयं यौवनं व्यतिवर्तते । प्रत्याख्यानाच्च भीतैस्त्वं न वरैः प्रतिगृह्यसे ।। ७.९.
Daughter, the time for your marriage has come; your youth is passing. Because you have rejected suitors out of fear, you have not accepted any proposals.
त्वत्कृते च वयं सर्वे यन्त्रिता धर्मबुद्धयः । त्वं हि सर्वगुणोपेता श्रीः साक्षादिव पुत्रिके । कन्यापितृत्वं दुःखं हि सर्वेषां मानकाङ्क्षिणाम् ।। ७.९.
For your sake, we all, guided by righteousness, have been restrained. You possess every virtue, O daughter, like Lakshmi herself. The burden of having an unmarried daughter brings sorrow to all who value honor.
न ज्ञायते च कः कन्यां वरयेदिति कन्यके ।। ७.९.
And, my child, it is not known who will choose you as his bride.
त्वं हि सर्वगुणोपेता श्रीः साक्षादिव पुत्रिके । मातुः कुलं पितृकुलं यत्र चैव प्रदीयते । कुलत्रयं सदा कन्या संशये स्थाप्य तिष्ठति ।। ७.९.
You possess every virtue, O daughter, like Lakshmi herself. Wherever a girl is given, the families of her mother, father, and husband are all involved. A daughter always places the three families in uncertainty.
सा त्वं मुनिवरं श्रेष्ठं प्रजापतिकुलोद्भवम् । भज विश्रवसं पुत्रि पौलस्त्यं वरय स्वयम् ।। ७.९.
Therefore, you should choose for yourself the foremost sage, born in the lineage of Prajapati—Visravas, the son of Pulastya.
ईदृशास्ते भविष्यन्ति पुत्राः पुत्रि न संशयः । तेजसा भास्करसमो यादृशो ऽयं धनेश्वरः ।। ७.९.
Such sons will be born to you, daughter, without doubt—equal in brilliance to the lord of wealth whom you see.
सा तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कन्यका पितृगौरवात् । तत्रोपागम्य सा तस्थौ विश्रवा यत्र तप्यते ।। ७.९.
Hearing these words, the maiden, out of respect for her father, approached and stood where Visravas was engaged in austerities.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राम पुलस्त्यतनयो द्विजः । अग्निहोत्रमुपातिष्ठच्चतुर्थ इव पावकः ।। ७.९.
Meanwhile, O Rama, Pulastya's son, the twice-born sage, was performing the fire ritual, glowing like a fourth flame.
अविचिन्त्य तु तां वेलां दारुणां पितृगौरवात् । उपसृत्याग्रतस्तस्य चरणाधोमुखी स्थिता । विलिखन्ती मुहुर्भूमिमङ्गुष्ठाग्रेण भामिनी ।। ७.९.
Without considering the harshness of the moment, out of reverence for her father, she approached and stood before him, her head bowed at his feet, repeatedly tracing the ground with her toe.
स तु तां वीक्ष्य सुश्रोणीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् । अब्रवीत्परमोदारो दीप्यमानां स्वतेजसा ।। ७.९.
Seeing her, beautiful-hipped, with a face like the full moon, the noble sage, radiant with his own brilliance, spoke to her.
भद्रे कस्यासि दुहिता कुतो वा त्वमिहागता । किं कार्यं कस्य वा हेतोस्तत्त्वतो ब्रूहि शोभने ।। ७.९.
O noble lady, whose daughter are you, and from where have you come here? What is your purpose, and for what reason? Tell me truly, O beautiful one.
एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या कृताञ्जलिरथाब्रवीत् । आत्मप्रभावेण मुने ज्ञातुमर्हसि मे मतम् ।। ७.९.
Thus addressed, the maiden, with hands joined in reverence, spoke: By my own power, O sage, you are able to know my intention.
किं तु मां विद्धि ब्रह्मर्षे शासनात्पितुरागताम् । कैकसी नाम नाम्नाहं शेषं त्वं ज्ञातुमर्हसि ।। ७.९.
But know me, O Brahmin sage, as one who has come by her father's command; my name is Kaikasi. The rest you are able to know.
स तु गत्वा मुनिर्ध्यानं वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह । विज्ञातं ते मया भद्रे कारणं यन्मनोगतम् ।। ७.९.
Then the sage entered into meditation and spoke these words: I have understood, O noble lady, the reason that is in your mind.
सुताभिलाषो मत्तस्ते मत्तमातङ्गगामिनि । दारुणायां तु वेलायां यस्मात्त्वं मामुपस्थिता ।। ७.९.
Your desire for sons is known to me, O one with the gait of a proud elephant; and because you have approached me at such a harsh time—