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.
किमिदं वर्तसे भद्रे विरुद्धं यौवनस्य ते । नहि युक्ता तवैतस्य रूपस्यैव प्रति क्रिया ।। ७.१७.
'Why, O gentle one, do you live in a way contrary to your youth? This practice does not suit your beauty at all.'
रूपं ते ऽनुपमं भीरु कामोन्मादकरं नृणाम् । न युक्तं तपसि स्थातुं निर्गतो ह्येष निर्णयः ।। ७.१७.
'Your beauty, O timid one, is incomparable, stirring passion in men; it is not fitting for you to remain in asceticism—this is the clear conclusion.'
कस्यासि किमिदं भद्रे कश्च भर्ता वरानने । येन सम्भुज्यसे भीरु स नरः पुण्यभाग्भुवि ।। ७.१७.
'Whose daughter are you, O gentle one? Who is your husband, O lovely-faced? The man who enjoys you, O timid one, is truly fortunate on earth.'
पृच्छतः शंस मे सर्वं कस्य हेतोः परिश्रमः । एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या रावणेन यशस्विनी ।। ७.१७.
'Tell me everything, as I ask: for what reason do you undertake this austerity?' Thus addressed by Rāvaṇa, the illustrious maiden—
अब्रवीद्विधिवत्कृत्वा तस्यातिथ्यं तपोधना । कुशध्वजो मम पिता ब्रह्मर्षिरमितप्रभः । बृहस्पतिसुतः श्रीमान्बुद्ध्या तुल्यो बृहस्पतेः ।। ७.१७.
Having offered him hospitality according to custom, the ascetic maiden said: 'Kuśadhvaja is my father, a Brahmarṣi of boundless radiance, son of Bṛhaspati, illustrious and equal to Bṛhaspati in wisdom.'
तस्याहं कुर्वतो नित्यं वेदाभ्यासं महात्मनः । सम्भूय वाङ्मयी कन्या नाम्ना वेदवती स्मृता ।। ७.१७.
'As he, the great-souled one, constantly practiced recitation of the Vedas, I was born as his daughter from his speech, and am known by the name Vedavatī.'
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः । ते ऽपि गत्वा हि पितरं वरणं रोचयन्ति मे ।। ७.१७.
'Then, gods with Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and serpents, all came to my father, seeking me in marriage.'
न च मां स पिता तेभ्यो दत्तवान्राक्षसर्षभ । कारणं तद्वदिष्यामि निशाचर निशामय ।। ७.१७.
Nor did my father give me to them, O foremost of the rākṣasas. I will tell you the reason for this, O night-wanderer, listen.
पितुस्तु मम जामाता विष्णुः किल सुरेश्वरः । अभिप्रेतस्त्रिलोकेशस्तस्मान्नान्यस्य मे पिता ।। ७.१७.
My father's son-in-law is Viṣṇu, indeed the lord of the gods; he is desired by the ruler of the three worlds, therefore I have no other father.
दातुमिच्छति तस्मै तु तच्छ्रुत्वा बलदर्पितः । दम्भुर्नाम ततो राजा दैत्यानां कुपितो ऽभवत् ।। ७.१७.
Wishing to give me to him, upon hearing this, Dambha, the king of the daityas, proud of his strength, became enraged.