केन प्रभावेण भवो नित्यं क्रीडति राजवत् । विज्ञातव्यं न जानीते भयस्थानमुपस्थितम् ।। ७.१६.
By what power does Bhava always sport here like a king? It must be known; he does not perceive the danger present.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राम भुजान्विक्षिप्य पर्वते । तोलयामास तं शीघ्रं स शैलं समकम्पत ।। ७.१६.
Having spoken thus, O Rāma, he stretched out his arms upon the mountain and swiftly began to shake it; that mountain trembled.
चालनात्पर्वतस्यैव गणा देवस्य कम्पिताः । चचाल पार्वती चापि तदा ऽ ऽश्लिष्टा महेश्वरम् ।। ७.१६.
From the shaking of the mountain, the hosts of the god were disturbed; even Pārvatī, who was embracing Maheśvara, was shaken at that time.
ततो राम महादवो देवानां प्रवरो हरः । पादाङ्गुष्ठेन तं शैलं पीडयामास लीलया ।। ७.१६.
Then, O Rāma, Hara, the foremost of the gods, playfully pressed that mountain with his big toe.
पीडितास्तु ततस्तस्य शैलस्याधोगता भुजाः । विस्मिताश्चाभवंस्तत्र सचिवास्तस्य रक्षसः ।। ७.१६.
As his arms were crushed downward by the weight of the mountain, the ministers of that Rākṣasa there became astonished.
रक्षसा तेन रोषाच्च भुजानां पीडनात्तदा । मुक्तो विरावः सहसा त्रैलोक्यं येन कम्पितम् ।। ७.१६.
Then, out of anger and from the pain in his arms, the Rākṣasa let out a roar by which the three worlds were shaken.
मेनिरे वज्रनिष्पेषं तस्यामात्या युगक्षये । तदा वर्त्मस्थचलिता देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः ।। ७.१६.
His ministers, at the end of the age, thought it was the crushing of the thunderbolt; at that time, the gods led by Indra, who were standing on the path, were shaken.
समुद्राश्चापि सङ्क्षुब्धाश्चलिताश्चापि पर्वताः । यक्षा विद्याधराः सिद्धाः किमेतदिति चाब्रुवन् ।। ७.१६.
Even the oceans were agitated and the mountains shook; Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, and Siddhas said, 'What is this?'
अथ ते मन्त्रिणस्तस्य विक्रोशन्तमथाब्रुवन् । तोषयस्व महादेवं नीलकण्ठमुमापतिम् ।। ७.१६.
Then those ministers said to him as he cried out, 'Propitiate the great god, Nīlakaṇṭha, the husband of Umā.'
तमृते शरणं नान्यं पश्यामो ऽत्र दशानन । स्तुतिभिः प्रणतो भूत्वा तमेव शरणं व्रज ।। ७.१६.
'Apart from him, O Ten-headed one, we see no other refuge here; having bowed with praises, seek refuge only in him.'
कृपालुः शङ्करस्तुष्टः प्रसादं ते विधास्यति । एवमुक्तस्तदामात्यैस्तुष्टाव वृषभध्वजम् ।। ७.१६.
'Śaṅkara is compassionate; if pleased, he will grant you favor.' Thus addressed by his ministers, he praised the Bull-bannered One.
सामभिर्विविधैः स्तोत्रैः प्रणम्य स दशाननः । संवत्सरसहस्रं तु रुदतो रक्षसो गतम् ।। ७.१६.
With various hymns and songs, bowing down, the Ten-headed one spent a thousand years lamenting.
ततः प्रीतो महादेवः शैलाग्रे विष्ठितः प्रभुः । मुक्त्वा चास्य भुजान्राम प्राह वाक्यं दशाननम् ।। ७.१६.
Then the great god, pleased, standing atop the mountain, released his arms and spoke to Daśānana.
प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव वीर्यस्य शौण्डार्याच्च दशानन । शैलाक्रान्तेन यो मुक्तस्त्वया रावः सुदारुणः ।। ७.१६.
'I am pleased with your strength and heroism, O Ten-headed one; the terrible roar you released while pressing the mountain—'
यस्माल्लोकत्रयं चैतद्रावितं भयमागतम् । तस्मात्त्वं रावणो नाम नाम्ना राजन्भविष्यसि ।। ७.१६.
'Because you caused fear to arise in the three worlds with that roar, therefore, O king, you shall be known by the name Rāvaṇa.'
देवता मानुषा यक्षा ये चान्ये जगतीतले । एवं त्वामभिधास्यन्ति रावणं लोकरावणम् ।। ७.१६.
'The gods, humans, Yakṣas, and all others on earth will thus call you Rāvaṇa, the one who makes the worlds cry out.'
गच्छ पौलस्त्य विस्रब्धं पथा येन त्वमिच्छसि । मया चैवाभ्यनुज्ञातो राक्षसाधिप गम्यताम् ।। ७.१६.
'Go, O descendant of Pulastya, confidently by whatever path you wish; with my permission, O lord of the Rākṣasas, you may depart.'
एवमुक्तस्तु लङ्केशः शम्भुना स्वयमब्रवीत् । प्रीतो यदि महादेव वरं मे देहि याचतः ।। ७.१६.
Thus addressed by Śambhu, the lord of Laṅkā himself said, 'If you are pleased, O great god, grant me a boon as I request.'
अवध्यत्वं मया प्राप्तं देवगन्धर्वदानवैः । राक्षसैर्गुह्यकैर्नागैर्ये चान्ये बलवत्तराः ।। ७.१६.
'I have obtained invulnerability from gods, Gandharvas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Guhyakas, Nāgas, and all others who are stronger.'
मानुषान्न गणे देव स्वल्पास्ते मम सम्मताः । दीर्घमायुश्च मे प्राप्तं ब्रह्मणस्त्रिपुरान्तक ।। ७.१६.
Among humans and gods, only a few are pleasing to me; I have obtained a long life from Brahmā and from you, O Destroyer of Tripura.
वाञ्छितं चायुषः शेषं शस्त्रं त्वं च प्रयच्छ मे । एवमुक्तस्ततस्तेन रावणेन स शङ्करः ।। ७.१६.
Now grant me the remaining span of life I desire, and the weapon as well; thus addressed by Rāvaṇa, Śaṅkara then—
ददौ खड्गं महादीप्तं चन्द्रहासमिति श्रुतम् । आयुषश्चावशेषं च स्थित्वा भूतपतिस्तदा ।। ७.१६.
Gave him a great, blazing sword, known as Candrahāsa, and also the remainder of his lifespan, as the Lord of beings stood there.
दत्त्वोवाच ततः शम्भुर्नावज्ञेयमिदं त्वया । अवज्ञातं यदि हि ते मामेवैष्यत्यसंशयः ।। ७.१६.
Having given them, Śambhu then said: 'You must not disregard this; if you treat it with contempt, it will certainly return to me.'
एवं महेश्वरेणैव कृतनामा स रावणः । अभिवाद्य महादेवमारुरोहाथ पुष्पकम् ।। ७.१६.
Thus, by Maheśvara himself, Rāvaṇa was given his name; bowing to the great god, he then ascended the Puṣpaka chariot.
ततो महीतले राम पर्यक्रामत रावणः । क्षत्ऺित्रयान्सुमहावीर्यान्बाधमान इतस्ततः ।। ७.१६.
Then, O Rāma, Rāvaṇa roamed the earth, subduing mighty kṣatriyas of great valor here and there.
केचित्तेजस्विनः शूराः क्षत्ऺित्रया युद्धदुर्मदाः । तच्छासनमकुर्वन्तो विनेशुः सपरिच्छदाः ।। ७.१६.
Some of those radiant, heroic kṣatriyas, proud in battle, who did not obey his command, perished along with their retinues.
अपरे दुर्जयं रक्षो जानन्तः प्राज्ञसम्मताः । जिताः स्म इत्यभाषन्त राक्षसं बलदर्पितम् ।। ७.१६.
Others, esteemed as wise and knowing the invincibility of the demon, said, 'We are conquered,' to the arrogant Rākṣasa.
अथ राजन्महाबाहुर्विचरन्स महीतले । हिमवद्वनमासाद्य परिचक्राम रावणः ।। ७.१७.
Then, O King, that mighty-armed one, while wandering the earth, Rāvaṇa reached the Himavat forest and roamed there.
तत्रापश्यत्स वै कन्यां कृष्णाजिनजटाधराम् । आर्षेण विधिना युक्तां दीप्यन्तीं देवतामिव ।। ७.१७.
There he saw a maiden, clad in black antelope skin and matted locks, practicing austerity in the manner of seers, shining like a goddess.
स दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां कन्यां तां सुमहाव्रताम् । काममोहपरीतात्मा पप्रच्छ प्रहसन्निव ।। ७.१७.
Seeing that beautiful maiden, steadfast in great vows, he, overcome by desire and infatuation, questioned her with a smile.