तथावृत्तं तु विज्ञाय दशग्रीवं धनेश्वरः । कुलानुरूपं धर्मज्ञो वृत्तं संस्मृत्य चात्मनः ।। ७.१३.
Having learned of these deeds, the lord of wealth, knowing righteousness and recalling his own conduct befitting his lineage, considered Daśagrīva.
सौभ्रात्रदर्शनार्थं तु दूतं वैश्रवणस्तदा । लङ्कां सम्प्रेषयामास दशग्रीवस्य वै हितम् ।। ७.१३.
Then, for the sake of brotherly affection, Vaiśravaṇa sent a messenger to Laṅkā, for the welfare of Daśagrīva.
स गत्वा नगरीं लङ्कामाससाद विभीषणम् । मानितस्तेन धर्मेण पृष्टश्चागमनं प्रति ।। ७.१३.
He went to the city of Laṅkā and met Vibhīṣaṇa, who honored him according to righteousness and asked about his arrival.
पृष्ट्वा च कुशलं राज्ञो ज्ञातीनां च बिभीषणः । सभायां दर्शयामास तमासीनं दशाननम् ।। ७.१३.
After inquiring about the well-being of the king and his relatives, Vibhīṣaṇa showed him Daśānana seated in the assembly.
स दृष्ट्वा तत्र राजानं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा । जयेति वाचा सम्पूज्य तूष्णीं समभिवर्तत ।। ७.१३.
Seeing the king there, shining with his own brilliance, he honored him with the words 'Victory!' and then stood silently.
तं तत्रोत्तमपर्यङ्के वरास्तरणशोभिते । उपविष्टं दशग्रीवं दूतो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। ७.१३.
Then, seated on that excellent couch adorned with splendid coverings, the messenger spoke these words to the ten-headed one.
राजन्वदामि ते सर्वं भ्राता तव यदब्रवीत् । उभयोः सदृशं वीर वृत्तस्य च कुलस्य च ।। ७.१३.
King, I will tell you everything your brother has said; it is fitting for both your conduct and your lineage, O hero.
साधु पर्याप्तमेतावत्कृतश्चारित्रसङ्ग्रहः । साधु धर्मे व्यवस्थानं क्रियतां यदि शक्यते ।। ७.१३.
Well done, this much is sufficient; the collection of virtues has been accomplished. Well done—if it is possible, remain established in righteousness.
दृष्टं मे नन्दनं भग्नमृषयो निहताः श्रुताः । देवतानां समुद्योगस्त्वत्तो राजन्मम श्रुतः ।। ७.१३.
I have seen Nandana destroyed, I have heard that the sages were slain; and, O king, I have learned of the gods’ preparations against you.
निराकृतश्च बहुशस्त्वया ऽहं राक्षसाधिप । अपराद्धा हि बाल्याच्च रमणीयाः स्वबान्धवाः ।। ७.१३.
I have been rejected by you many times, O lord of the Rākṣasas; indeed, in your youth, you wronged your own dear kinsfolk.
अहं तु हिमवत्पृष्ठं गतो धर्ममुपासितुम् । रौद्रं व्रत्तं समास्थाय नियतो नियतेन्द्रियः ।। ७.१३.
But I went to the summit of Himavat to practice righteousness, undertaking a fierce vow, disciplined and with controlled senses.
तत्र देवो मया दृष्टः सह देव्या मया प्रभुः । सव्यं चक्षुर्मया दैवात्तत्र देव्यां निपातितम् ।। ७.१३.
There, I saw the great god with his consort; by divine will, my left eye fell upon the goddess.
का न्वियं स्यादिति शुभा न खल्वन्येन हेतुना । रूपं ह्यनुपमं कृत्वा रुद्राणी तत्र तिष्ठति ।। ७.१३.
I wondered, 'Who might this beautiful one be?'—for surely, for no other reason, Rudrāṇī stood there, having assumed an incomparable form.
देव्या दिव्यप्रभावेण दग्धं सव्यं ममेक्षणम् । रेणुध्वस्तमिव ज्योतिः पिङ्गुलत्वमुपागतम् ।। ७.१३.
By the goddess’s divine radiance, my left eye was burned, becoming tawny like a light covered with dust.
ततो ऽहमन्यद्विस्तीर्णं गत्वा तस्य गिरेस्तटम् । तूष्णीं वर्षशतान्यष्टौ समाधारं महाव्रतम् ।। ७.१३.
Then I went to another vast slope of that mountain and, in silence, practiced a great vow for eight hundred years.
समाप्ते नियमे तस्मिंस्तत्र देवो महेश्वरः । प्रीतः प्रीतेन मनसा प्राह वाक्यमिदं प्रभुः ।। ७.१३.
When that discipline was completed, there the great god Maheśvara, pleased and with a delighted mind, spoke these words to me.
पैङ्गल्यं यदवाप्तं हि देव्या रूपनिरीक्षणात् । प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ तपसा नेन सुव्रत ।। ७.१३.
Because you obtained tawny vision from gazing upon the goddess’s form, I am pleased with your austerity, O steadfast one, knower of righteousness.
मया चैतद्व्रतं चीर्णं त्वया चैव धनाधिप । तृतीयः पुरुषो नास्ति यश्चरेव्रतमीदृशम् ।। ७.१३.
This vow has been performed by me and by you, O lord of wealth; there is no third person who has undertaken such a vow.
व्रतं सुनिश्चयं ह्येतन्मया ह्युत्पादितं पुरा । तत्सखित्वं मया सौम्य रोचयस्व धनेश्वर ।। ७.१३.
This firm vow was indeed established by me long ago; therefore, O lord of wealth, accept my friendship.
तपसा निर्जितश्चैव सखा भव ममानघ । देव्या दग्धं प्रभावेण यच्च सव्यं तवेक्षणम् ।। ७.१३.
Conquered by your austerity, be my friend, O faultless one; and as for your left eye, which was burned by the goddess’s radiance—
एकाक्षिपिङ्गलेत्येव नाम स्थास्यति शाश्वतम् । एवं तेन सखित्वं च प्राप्यानुज्ञां च शङ्करात् ।। ७.१३.
The name 'One with a tawny left eye' will endure forever. Thus, having gained friendship and permission from Śaṅkara—
आगत्य च श्रुतो ऽयं मे तव पापविनिश्चयः ।। ७.१३.
Having returned, I learned of your resolve toward evil.
तदधर्मिष्ठसंयोगान्निवर्त कुलदूषणात् । चिन्त्यते हि वधोपायः सर्षिसङ्घैः सुरैस्तव ।। ७.१३.
Therefore, turn away from this unrighteous alliance and the disgrace of your lineage; for the gods, together with the sages, are considering means for your destruction.
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः क्रुद्धसंरक्तलोचनः । हस्तौ दन्तांश्च सम्पीड्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.१३.
Thus addressed, the ten-headed one, his eyes bloodshot with anger, clenched his fists and teeth and spoke these words:
विज्ञातं ते मया दूत वाक्यं यस्य प्रभाषसे । नैतत्त्वमसि नैवासौ भ्रात्रा येनासि चोदितः ।। ७.१३.
I have understood, O messenger, the words you speak and whose message you carry; you are not truly that person, nor were you sent by my brother.
हितं नैष ममैतद्धि ब्रवीति धनरक्षकः । महेश्वरसखित्वं तु मूढ श्रावयते किल ।। ७.१३.
This is not advice for my welfare that the guardian of wealth gives; fool, he merely boasts of friendship with the great lord.
न चेदं क्षमणीयं मे यदेतद्भाषितं त्वया । यदेतावन्मया कालं दूत तस्य तु मर्षितम् ।। ७.१३.
Nor is it fitting for me to tolerate what you have spoken; yet, messenger, I have endured it for this long.
न हन्तव्यो गुरुर्ज्येष्ठो मया ऽयमिति मन्यते । तस्य त्विदानीं श्रुत्वा मे वाक्यमेषा कृता मतिः ।। ७.१३.
He thinks, 'He is my elder, my guru, so I should not kill him'; but now, having heard his words, I have made up my mind.
त्रीँल्लोकानपि जेष्यामि बाहुवीर्यमुपाश्रितः ।। ७.१३.
Relying on the strength of my arms, I will conquer even the three worlds.
एतन्मुहूर्तमेवाहं तस्यैकस्य तु वै कृते । चतुरो लोकपालांस्तान्नयिष्यामि यमक्षयम् ।। ७.१३.
In just this moment, for his sake alone, I will send the four guardians of the worlds to the abode of Yama.