अदितिश्च दितिश्चैव भगिन्यौ सहिते हि ते । भार्ये परमरूपिण्यौ कश्यपस्य प्रजापतेः ।। ७.११.
Aditi and Diti, indeed, are sisters, both supremely beautiful wives of Kaśyapa, the lord of creatures.
अदितिर्जनयामास देवांस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरान् । दितिस्त्वजनयत्पुत्रान्कश्यपस्यात्मसम्भवान् ।। ७.११.
Aditi gave birth to the gods, the rulers of the three worlds; but Diti bore sons, the offspring of Kaśyapa himself.
दैत्यानां किल धर्मज्ञ पुरीयं सवनार्णवा । सपर्वता मही वीर ते ऽभवन्प्रभविष्णवः ।। ७.११.
It is said, O knower of righteousness, that this earth with its oceans and mountains was once ruled by the powerful Daityas.
निहत्य तांस्तु समरे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । देवानां वशमानीतं त्रैलोक्यमिदमव्ययम् ।। ७.११.
But when those Daityas were slain in battle by Viṣṇu, the mighty one, this imperishable threefold world was brought under the dominion of the gods.
नैतदेको भवानेव करिष्यति विपर्ययम् । सुरासुरैराचरितं तत्कुरुष्व वचो मम ।। ७.११.
You alone will not bring about a reversal of this; what has been done by gods and demons—do you follow my advice.
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं वै बाढमित्येव सो ऽब्रवीत् ।। ७.११.
Thus addressed, the ten-headed one, delighted in his heart, after pondering for a moment, said, 'So be it.'
स तु तेनैव हर्षेण तस्मिन्नहनि वीर्यवान् । वनं गतो दशग्रीवः सह तैः क्षणदाचरैः ।। ७.११.
Then, filled with that same joy, the valiant ten-headed one went to the forest that very day, together with those night-wanderers.
त्रिकूटस्थः स तु तदा दशग्रीवो निशाचरः । प्रेषयामास दौत्येन प्रहस्तं वाक्यकोविदम् ।। ७.११.
Then, while staying on Trikūṭa, the ten-headed night-wanderer sent Prahasta, skilled in speech, as a messenger.
प्रहस्त शीघ्रं गच्छ त्वं ब्रूहि नैर्ऋतपुङ्गवम् । वचसा मम वित्तेशं सामपूर्वमिदं वचः ।। ७.११.
'Prahasta, go quickly and speak to the foremost among the Nairṛtas; say these words of mine to Kubera, first with conciliation.'
इयं लङ्का पुरी राजन्राक्षसानां महात्मनाम् । त्वया निवेशिता सौम्य नैतद्युक्तं तवानघ ।। ७.११.
'This city of Laṅkā, O king, of the great-souled Rākṣasas, was established by you, gentle one; this is not fitting for you, O faultless one.'
तद्भवान्यदि नो ह्यद्य दद्यादतुलविक्रम । कृता भवेन्मम प्रीतिर्धुर्मश्चैवानुपालितः ।। ७.११.
'Therefore, if today, O one of incomparable valor, you would give it to us, my wish would be fulfilled and duty too would be observed.'
स तु गत्वा पुरीं लङ्कां धनदेन सुरक्षिताम् । अब्रवीत्परमोदारं वित्तपालमिदं वचः ।। ७.११.
Having gone to the city of Laṅkā, well-guarded by Kubera, he spoke these words to the exceedingly generous lord of wealth.
प्रेषितो ऽहं तव भ्रात्रा दशग्रीवेण सुव्रत । त्वत्समीपं महाबाहो सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वर ।। ७.११.
'I have been sent by your brother, the ten-headed one, O steadfast one, to your presence, O mighty-armed, best of all who bear arms.'
तच्छ्रूयतां महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । वचनं मम वित्तेश यद्ब्रवीति दशाननः ।। ७.११.
Hear now, O greatly wise and learned in all the scriptures, what message the Lord of Wealth brings, as spoken by the Ten-Headed One.
इयं किल पुरी रम्या सुमालिप्रमुखैः पुरा । भुक्तपूर्वा विशालाक्ष राक्षसैर्भीमविक्रमैः ।। ७.११.
This charming city, O wide-eyed one, was once enjoyed by the mighty Rakshasas led by Sumali, who were of terrible valor.
तेन विज्ञाप्यते सो ऽयं साम्प्रतं विश्रवात्मज । तदेषा दीयतां तात याचतस्तस्य सामतः ।। ७.११.
Now, the son of Vishrava requests you through me; therefore, O father, grant this city to him who asks, with your consent.
प्रहस्तादभिसंश्रुत्य देवो वैश्रवणो वचः । प्रत्युवाच प्रहस्तं तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः ।। ७.११.
Having heard the words of Prahasta, Lord Vaishravana, skilled in speech, replied to Prahasta in these words.
दत्ता ममेयं पित्रा तु लङ्का शून्या निशाचरैः । निवासिते च मे यक्षैर्दानमानादिभिर्गुणैः ।। ७.११.
This Lanka, once deserted by the night-wandering demons, was given to me by my father, and I have settled Yakshas here, endowed with generosity, respect, and other virtues.
ब्रूहि गच्छ दशग्रीवं पुरं राज्यं च यन्मम । तवाप्येतन्महाबाहो भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यमकण्टकम् ।। ७.११.
Go and tell Dashagriva: the city and kingdom that are mine, O mighty-armed one, you too may enjoy this kingdom without hindrance.
एवमुक्त्वा धनाध्यक्षो जगाम पितुरन्तिकम् ।। ७.११.
Having spoken thus, the Lord of Wealth went to his father's presence.
अभिवाद्य गुरुं प्राह रावणस्य यदीप्सितम् । एष तात दशग्रीवो दूतं प्रेषितवान्मम ।। ७.११.
After bowing to his teacher, he spoke of Ravana's desire: 'Father, this Dashagriva has sent me as his messenger.'
दीयतां नगरी लङ्का पूर्वं रक्षोगणोषिता । मयात्र यदनुष्ठेयं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रत ।। ७.११.
'Let the city of Lanka, once inhabited by Rakshasas, be given; tell me, O virtuous one, what I should do here.'
ब्रह्मर्षिस्त्वेवमुक्तो ऽसौ विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः । प्राञ्जलिं धनदं प्राह शृणु पुत्र वचो मम ।। ७.११.
Thus addressed, the eminent sage Vishrava, foremost among sages, spoke to Dhanada with joined palms: 'Hear, my son, my words.'
दशग्रीवो महाबाहुरुक्तवान्मम सन्निधौ । मया निर्भर्त्सितश्चासीद्बहुशोक्तः सुदुर्मतिः ।। ७.११.
The mighty-armed Dashagriva spoke in my presence, and that wicked-minded one was rebuked by me many times and in many ways.
स क्रोधेन मया चोक्तो ध्वंसते च पुनः पुनः । श्रेयो ऽभियुक्तं धर्म्यं च शृणु पुत्र वचो मम ।। ७.११.
In anger I spoke to him, and again and again I warned him; listen, my son, to my words, which are for your good and in accord with righteousness.
वरप्रदानसम्मूढो मान्या ऽमान्यान् स दुर्मतिः । न वेत्ति मम शापाच्च प्रकृतिं दारुणां गतः ।। ७.११.
Deluded by the granting of boons, that wicked one honors the unworthy and dishonors the worthy; he does not know, because of my curse, and has come to a cruel nature.
तस्माद्गच्छ महाबाहो कैलासं धरणीधरम् । निवेशय निवासार्थं त्यक्त्वा लङ्कां सहानुगः ।। ७.११.
Therefore, O mighty-armed one, go to Mount Kailasa, the lord of mountains; settle there for your dwelling, leaving Lanka with your followers.
तत्र मन्दाकिनी रम्या नदीनामुत्तमा नदी । काञ्चनैः सूर्यसङ्काशैः पङ्कजैः संवृतोदका ।। ७.११.
There flows the delightful Mandakini, the best of rivers, whose waters are covered with golden, sun-like lotuses.
कुमुदैरुत्पलैश्चैव तथा ऽन्यैश्च सुगन्धिभिः ।। ७.११.
And with white water-lilies, blue lotuses, and other fragrant flowers as well.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः साप्सरोरगकिंनराः । विहारशीलाः सततं रमन्ते सर्वदा ऽ ऽश्रिताः ।। ७.११.
There, gods with Gandharvas, Apsaras, Nagas, and Kinnaras, always delighting in play, continually dwell.