कश्च तावदसौ यं त्वं विष्णुरित्यभिभाषसे । वीर्येण तपसा चैव भोगेन च बलेन च ७.१७.
Who is this whom you call Viṣṇu? In prowess, austerity, enjoyment, and strength—
इत्युक्तवति तस्मिंस्तु वेदवत्यथ सा ऽब्रवीत् ।। ७.१७.
When he had spoken thus, Vedavatī then replied.
ैव भोगेन च बलेन च ।। मा मैवमिति सा कन्या तमुवाच निशाचरम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपति विष्णुं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । त्वदृते राक्षसेन्द्रान्यः को ऽवमन्येत बुद्धिमान् ।। ७.१७.
In enjoyment and strength—do not speak so. Thus the maiden addressed the night-wanderer: 'Viṣṇu, lord of the three worlds, honored by all beings—who but you, O king of rākṣasas, would disregard him, being wise?'
एवमुक्तस्तया तत्र वेदवत्या निशाचरः । मूर्धजेषु तदा कन्यां कराग्रेण परामृशत् ।। ७.१७.
Thus addressed by Vedavatī, the night-wanderer then touched the maiden's hair with his hand.
ततो वेदवती क्रुद्धा केशान्हस्तेन सा ऽच्छिनत् । असिर्भूत्वा करस्तस्याः केशांश्छिन्नांस्तदा ऽकरोत् ।। ७.१७.
Then Vedavatī, enraged, cut her hair with her hand; her hand became a sword and cut off her hair.
सा ज्वलन्तीव रोषेण दहन्तीव निशाचरम् । उवाचाग्निं समाधाय मरणाय कृतत्वरा ।। ७.१७.
She, blazing with anger as if on fire, burning the night-demon with her fury, spoke after fixing her mind like fire, hastening toward death.
धर्षितायास्त्वयानार्य न मे जीवितमिष्यते । रक्षस्तस्मात्प्रवेक्ष्यामि पश्यतस्ते हुताशनम् ।। ७.१७.
Dishonored by you, O ignoble one, I no longer wish to live; therefore, demon, before your eyes I will enter the sacred fire.
यस्मात्तु धर्षिता चाहं त्वया पापात्मना वने । तस्मात्तव वधार्थं हि समुत्पत्स्ये ह्यहं पुनः ।। ७.१७.
Because I have been violated by you, wicked-souled, in the forest, therefore I shall be born again for your destruction.
न हि शक्यं स्त्रिया हन्तुं पुरुषः पापनिश्चः । शापे त्वयि मयोत्सृष्टे तपसश्च व्ययो भवेत् ।। ७.१७.
Indeed, a woman cannot kill a man whose mind is set on evil; if I were to curse you, my ascetic merit would be lost.
यदि त्वस्ति मया किञ्चित्कृतं दत्तं हुतं तथा । तस्मात्त्वयोनिजा साध्वी भवेयं धर्मिणः सुता ।। ७.१७.
If I have performed any act, given any gift, or offered any oblation, by that may I be born a virtuous daughter, not from a womb.
एवमुक्त्वा प्रविष्टा सा ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् । पपात च दिवो दिव्या पुष्पवृष्टिः समन्ततः ।। ७.१७.
Having spoken thus, she entered the blazing fire, and from the heavens a divine shower of flowers fell all around.
पुनरेव समुद्भूता पद्मे पद्मसमप्रभा । तस्मादपि पुनः प्राप्ता पूर्ववत्तेन रक्षसा ।। ७.१७.
She was born again from a lotus, shining like a lotus, and once more was seized by that demon as before.
कन्यां कमलगर्भाभां प्रगृह्य स्वगृहं ययौ । प्रगृह्य रावणस्त्वेतां दर्शयामास मन्त्रिणे ।। ७.१७.
Taking the maiden, radiant as a lotus bud, Ravana brought her to his house and showed her to his counselor.
लक्षणज्ञो निरीक्ष्यैव रावणं चैवमब्रवीत् । गृहस्थैषां हि सुश्रोणी त्वद्वधायैव दृश्यते ।। ७.१७.
The counselor, skilled in signs, observed her and said to Ravana: 'This beautiful-hipped woman, dwelling in your house, appears destined for your death.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ऽर्णवे राम तां प्रचिक्षेप रावणः । सा चैव क्षितिमासाद्य यज्ञायतनमध्यगा ।। ७.१७.
Hearing this, O Rama, Ravana cast her into the ocean; she reached the earth and entered the midst of a sacrificial altar.
राज्ञो हलमुखोत्कृष्टा पुनरप्युत्थिता सती । सैषा जनकराजस्य प्रसूता तनया प्रभो । तव भार्या महाबाहो विष्णुस्त्वं हि सनातनः ।। ७.१७.
Again, she was raised up by the king's plough, and thus was born as the daughter of King Janaka, O mighty-armed one, your wife; for you are the eternal Vishnu.
पूर्वं क्रोधाहितः शत्रुर्यया ऽसौ निहतस्तथा । उपाश्रयित्वा शैलभस्तव वीर्यममानुषम् ।। ७.१७.
Formerly, by her wrath, that enemy was slain; she took refuge in the mountain and relied on your superhuman power.
एवमेषा महाभागा मर्त्येषूत्पत्स्यते पुनः । क्षेत्रे हलमुखोत्कृष्टे वेद्यामग्निशिखोपमा ।। ७.१७.
Thus, this blessed one will be born again among mortals, in a field ploughed by the ploughshare, shining like a flame upon the altar.
एषा वेदवती नाम पूर्वमासीत्कृते युगे । त्रेतायुगमनुप्राप्य वधार्थं तस्य रक्षसः ।। ७.१७.
She was formerly known as Vedavati in the Krita age; in the Treta age, she was born for the destruction of that demon.
उत्पन्ना मैथिलकुले जनकस्य महात्मनः । सीतोत्पन्ना तु सीतेति मानुषैः पुनरुच्यते ।। ७.१७.
Born in the noble line of Mithila, daughter of the great Janaka, she was found in a furrow and is called Sita by men.
प्रविष्टायां हुताशं तु वेदवत्यां स रावणः । पुष्पकं तु समारुह्य परिचक्राम मेदिनीम् ।। ७.१८.
When Vedavati had entered the fire, Ravana mounted the Pushpaka chariot and traveled about the earth.
ततो मरुत्तं नृपतिं यजन्तं सह दैवतैः । उशीरबीजमासाद्य ददर्श स तु रावणः ।। ७.१८.
Then Ravana, reaching the place called Ushirabija, saw King Marutta performing a sacrifice with the gods.
संवर्तो नाम ब्रह्मर्षिः साक्षाद्भ्राता बृहस्पतेः । याजयामास धर्मज्ञः सर्वैर्देवगणैर्वृतः ।। ७.१८.
There, the brahmarshi named Samvarta, the very brother of Brihaspati, versed in righteousness and surrounded by all the gods, was conducting the sacrifice.
दृष्ट्वा देवास्तु तद्रक्षो वरदानेन दुर्जयम् । तिर्यग्योनिं समाविष्टास्तस्य दर्शनभीरवः ।। ७.१८.
Seeing that demon, invincible due to a boon, the gods, terrified at the sight of him, entered the forms of animals.
इन्द्रो मयूरः संवृत्तो धर्मराजस्तु वायसः । कृकलासो धनाध्यक्षो हंसश्च वरुणो ऽभवत् ।। ७.१८.
Indra became a peacock, Dharmarāja a crow, the Lord of Wealth a lizard, and Varuṇa became a swan.
अन्येष्वपि गतेष्वेवं देवेष्वरिनिषूदन । रावणः प्राविशद्यज्ञं सारमेय इवाशुचिः ।। ७.१८.
As the other gods departed thus, O destroyer of enemies, Rāvaṇa entered the sacrifice like an unclean dog.
तं च राजानमासाद्य रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । प्राह युद्धं प्रयच्छेति निर्जितो ऽस्मीति वा वद ।। ७.१८.
Approaching that king, Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, said, 'Grant me battle, or declare that you have been defeated by me.'
ततो मरुत्तो नृपतिः को भवानित्युवाच तम् । अपहासं ततो मुक्त्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ७.१८.
Then King Marutta said to him, 'Who are you?' And Rāvaṇa, after laughing in scorn, spoke these words.
अकुतूहलभावेन प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव पार्थिव । धनदस्यानुजं यो मां नावगच्छसि रावणम् ।। ७.१८.
With an air of indifference, I am pleased with you, O king, for you do not recognize me, Rāvaṇa, the younger brother of the Lord of Wealth.
त्रिषु लोकेषु को ऽन्यो ऽस्ति यो न जानाति मे बलम् । भ्रातरं येन निर्जित्य विमानमिदमाहृतम् । ततो मरुत्तः स नृपस्तं रावणमथाब्रवीत् ।। ७.१८.
Who else is there in the three worlds who does not know my strength, by which I defeated my brother and seized this aerial chariot? Then King Marutta spoke to Rāvaṇa.