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.
एवमुक्त्वा तु लङ्केशो दूतं खड्गेन जघ्निवान् । ददौ भक्षयितुं ह्येनं राक्षसानां दुरात्मनाम् ।। ७.१३.
Having spoken thus, the lord of Lanka struck the messenger with his sword and gave him to the wicked rākṣasas to be devoured.