शीघ्रं वरय धर्मज्ञ वरो यस्ते ऽभिकाङ्क्षितः । कं ते कामं करोम्यद्य न वृथा ते परिश्रमः ।। ७.१०.
'Quickly choose a boon, O knower of dharma, whichever boon you desire; today I will grant your wish—your effort has not been in vain.'
अथाब्रवीदृशग्रीवः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं हर्षगद्गदया गिरा ।। ७.१०.
Then the ten-headed one, his inner being delighted, bowed his head to the god and spoke with a voice choked with joy.
भगवन्प्राणिनां नित्यं नान्यत्र मरणाद्भयम् । नास्ति मृत्युसमः शत्रुरमरत्वमहं वृणे ।। ७.१०.
'Lord, for living beings there is always fear only from death; there is no enemy equal to death. I choose immortality.'
एवमुक्तस्तदा ब्रह्मा दशग्रीवमुवाच ह । नास्ति सर्वामरत्वं ते वरमन्यं वृणीष्व मे ।। ७.१०.
Thus addressed, Brahmā then spoke to the ten-headed one: 'Universal immortality is not possible for you; choose another boon from me.'
एवमुक्ते तदा राम ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा । दशग्रीव उवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिरथाग्रतः ।। ७.१०.
When the creator Brahmā had spoken thus, O Rāma, the ten-headed one, with joined palms, spoke these words before him.
सुपर्णनागयक्षाणां दैत्यदानवरक्षसाम् । अवध्यो ऽहं प्रजाध्यक्ष देवतानां च शाश्वत ।। ७.१०.
'Let me be invulnerable, O lord of creatures, to Garuḍas, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, and the gods, forever.'
नहि चिन्ता ममान्येषु प्राणिष्वमरपूजित । तृणभूता हि ते मन्ये प्राणिनो मानुषादयः ।। ७.१०.
'I have no concern for other beings, O honored immortal; for I consider humans and the like as insignificant as grass.'
एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा दशग्रीवेण रक्षसा । उवाच वचनं देवः सह देवैः पितामहः ।। ७.१०.
Thus addressed by the righteous ten-headed Rākṣasa, the god Brahmā, together with the gods, spoke these words.
भविष्यत्येवमेतत्ते वचो राक्षसपुङ्गव । एवमुक्त्वा तु तं राम दशग्रीवं पितामहः ।। ७.१०.
'So shall it be as you have said, O foremost of Rākṣasas.' Having spoken thus, O Rāma, the Grandfather addressed the ten-headed one.
शृणु चापि वरो भूयः प्रीतस्येह शुभो मम । हुतानि यानि शीर्षाणि पूर्वमग्नौ त्वयानघ ।। ७.१०.
Hear also, out of affection, another excellent boon of mine: the heads which you previously offered into the fire, O faultless one, O Rakshasa, shall be restored to you.
पुनस्तानि भविष्यन्ति तथैव तव राक्षस । वितरामीह ते सौम्य वरं चान्यं दुरासदम् ।। ७.१०.
Those very heads shall be yours again, just as before, O Rakshasa; and here I grant you, gentle one, another boon, difficult to obtain.
छन्दतस्तव रूपं च मनसा यद्यथेप्सितम् । भविष्यति न सन्देहो मद्वरात्तवराक्षस ।। ७.१०.
By my boon, O best of Rakshasas, your form shall become, without doubt, whatever you desire, according to your will and wish.
एवं पितामहोक्तस्य दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः । अग्नौ हुतानि शीर्षाणि पुनस्तान्युत्थितानि वै ।। ७.१०.
Thus, as spoken by the Grandfather, the heads of the ten-necked Rakshasa, which had been offered into the fire, indeed arose again.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं राम दशग्रीवं पितामहः । विभीषणमथोवाच वाक्यं लोकपितामहः ।। ७.१०.
Having thus addressed the ten-necked one, O Rama, the Grandfather of the worlds then spoke these words to Vibhishana.
विभीषण त्वया वत्स धर्मसंहितबुद्धिना । परितुष्टो ऽस्मि धर्मात्मन्वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। ७.१०.
Vibhishana, my child, endowed with a mind set on righteousness, I am pleased with you; O virtuous one, choose a boon.
विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा वचनं प्राह साञ्जलिः । वृतः सर्वगुणैर्नित्यं चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिर्यथा ।। ७.१०.
Vibhishana, righteous in soul, with joined palms, spoke these words, ever endowed with all virtues, like the moon with its rays.
भगवन्कृतकृत्यो ऽहं यन्मे लोकगुरुः स्वयम् । प्रीतेन यदि दातव्यो वरो मे शृणु सुव्रत ।। ७.१०.
O Lord, I am fulfilled, for the Teacher of the world himself addresses me; but if, out of affection, you wish to grant me a boon, hear it, O virtuous one.
परमापद्गतस्यापि धर्मे मम मतिर्भवेत् । अशिक्षितं च ब्रह्मास्त्रं भगवन्प्रतिभातु मे ।। ७.१०.
Even in the greatest danger, may my mind remain fixed on righteousness; and may the knowledge of the Brahma-weapon, though unlearned, arise in me, O Lord.
या या मे जायते बुद्धिर्येषु येष्वाश्रमेषु च । सा सा भवतु धर्मिष्ठा तं तु धर्मं च पालये ।। ७.१०.
Whatever understanding arises in me, in whatever ashram or situation, may each one be firmly established in righteousness, and may I uphold that dharma.
एष मे परमोदार वरः परमको मतः । नहि धर्माभिरक्तानां लोके किञ्चन दुर्लभम् ।। ७.१०.
This, to me, is the highest and most noble boon; for nothing is difficult to obtain in this world for those devoted to righteousness.
पुनः प्रजापतिः प्रीतो विभीषणमुवाच ह । धर्मिष्ठस्त्वं यथा वत्स तथा चैतद्भविष्यति ।। ७.१०.
Again, the pleased Lord of Creatures spoke to Vibhishana: 'You are indeed righteous, my child; so shall it be.'
यस्माद्राक्षसयोनौ ते जातस्यामित्रनाशन । नाधर्मे जायते बुद्धिरमरत्वं ददामि ते ।। ७.१०.
Because, O destroyer of foes, though born in the Rakshasa race, your mind does not incline to unrighteousness, I grant you immortality.
इत्युक्त्वा कुम्भकर्णाय वरं दातुमुपस्थितम् । प्रजापतिं सुराः सर्वे वाक्यं प्राञ्जलयो ऽब्रुवन् ।। ७.१०.
Having thus spoken, when he was about to grant a boon to Kumbhakarna, all the gods, with joined palms, addressed the Lord of Creatures.
न तावत्कुम्भकर्णाय प्रदातव्यो वरस्त्वया । जानीषे हि यथा लोकांस्त्रासयत्येष दुर्मतिः ।। ७.१०.
You should not grant a boon to Kumbhakarna, for you know how this evil-minded one terrifies the worlds.
नन्दने ऽप्सरसः सप्त महेन्द्रानुचरा दश । अनेन भक्षिता ब्रह्मन्नृषयो मानुषास्तथा ।। ७.१०.
In Nandana, seven Apsaras and ten attendants of Mahendra, as well as sages and humans, have been devoured by him, O Brahman.
अलब्धवरपूर्वेण यत्कृतं राक्षसेन तु । तदेष वरलब्धः स्याद्भक्षयेद्भुवनत्रयम् ।। ७.१०.
What the Rakshasa has done without previously obtaining a boon—if he now gains a boon, he would devour the three worlds.
वरव्याजेन मोहो ऽस्मै दीयताममितप्रभ । लोकानां स्वस्ति चैवं स्याद्भवेदस्य च सन्नतिः ।। ७.१०.
By the pretext of a boon, O one of immeasurable radiance, let delusion be given to him; thus, there will be welfare for the worlds and restraint for him.
एवमुक्तः सुरैर्ब्रह्मा ऽचिन्तयत् पद्मसम्भवः । चिन्तिता चोपतस्थे ऽस्य पार्श्वं देवी सरस्वती ।। ७.१०.
Thus addressed by the gods, Brahmā, the lotus-born, reflected; and as he pondered, the goddess Sarasvatī appeared at his side.
प्राञ्जलिः सा तु पार्श्वस्था प्राह वाक्यं सरस्वती । इयमस्म्यागता देव किं कार्यं करवाण्यहम् ।। ७.१०.
Standing beside him with joined palms, Sarasvatī spoke: 'O Lord, I have arrived—what task shall I perform?'
प्रजापतिस्तुं तां प्राप्तां प्राह वाक्यं सरस्वतीम् । वाणि त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भव या देवतेप्सिता ।। ७.१०.
The Lord of Creatures then addressed Sarasvatī, who had come: 'O Vāṇī, become the speech that the lord of the Rākṣasas desires, O goddess.'