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.
एवं कृतस्वस्त्ययनो रथमारुह्य रावणः । त्रैलोक्यविजयाकाङ्क्षी ययौ यत्र धनेश्वरः ।। ७.१३.
Thus having performed the rite of dismissal, Rāvaṇa mounted his chariot, desiring victory over the three worlds, and went to where the lord of wealth was.
ततस्तु सचिवैः सार्धं षड्भिर्नित्यं बलोद्धतैः । महोदरप्रहस्ताभ्यां मारीचशुकसारणैः ।। ७.१४.
Then, together with his six ever-mighty counselors—Mahodara, Prahasta, Mārīca, Śuka, Sāraṇa—
धूम्राक्षेण च वीरेण नित्यं समरगृध्नुना । वृतः संप्रययौ श्रीमान्क्रोधाल्लोकान्दहन्निव ।। ७.१४.
And with the valiant Dhūmrākṣa, ever eager for battle, he set out, blazing with wrath as if to burn the worlds.
पुराणि स नदीः शैलान्वनान्युपवनानि च । अतिक्रम्य मुहूर्तेन कैलासं गिरिमागमत् ।। ७.१४.
Crossing ancient cities, rivers, mountains, forests, and groves in a moment, he reached Mount Kailāsa.
सन्निविष्टं गिरौ तस्मिन्राक्षसेन्द्रं निशम्य तु । युद्धे ऽत्यर्थकृतोत्साहं दुरात्मानं समन्त्रिणम् ।। ७.१४.
Hearing that the lord of the rākṣasas, eager for battle and accompanied by his counselors, was encamped on that mountain,
यक्षा न शेकुः संस्थातुं प्रमुखे तस्य रक्षसः । राज्ञो भ्रातेति विज्ञाय गता यत्र धनेश्वरः ।। ७.१४.
The yakṣas could not stand before that rākṣasa king; knowing him to be the king's brother, they went to the lord of wealth.
ते गत्वा सर्वमाचख्युर्भ्रातुस्तस्य चिकीर्षितम् । अनुज्ञाता ययुर्हष्टा युद्धाय धनदेन ते ।। ७.१४.
Having gone, they reported everything their brother intended; then, permitted by Dhanada, they joyfully went to battle.
ततो बलानां सङ्क्षोभो व्यवर्धत महोदधेः । तस्य नैर्ऋतराजस्य शैलं सञ्चालयन्निव ।। ७.१४.
Then the tumult of armies swelled like the great ocean, as if shaking the mountain for the king of the night-dwellers.
ततो युद्धं समभवद्यक्षराक्षससङ्कुलम् । व्यथिताश्चाभवंस्तत्र सचिवा राक्षसस्य ते ।। ७.१४.
Then a battle arose, crowded with yakṣas and rākṣasas; there, the counselors of the rākṣasa were distressed.