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.
धन्यः खलु भवान्येन ज्येष्ठो भ्राता रणे जितः । न त्वया सदृशः श्लाध्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ।। ७.१८.
Truly fortunate are you, by whom your elder brother was conquered in battle; but there is no one in the three worlds worthy of praise like you.
नाधर्मसहितं श्लाध्यं तल्लोकं प्रतिसंहितम् । कर्म दौरात्म्यकं कृत्वा श्लाघ्यसे भ्रातृनिर्जयात् ।। ७.१८.
That which is joined with unrighteousness is not praiseworthy in the world; having committed a wicked deed, you boast of conquering your brother.
क त्वं प्राक्केवलं धर्मं चरित्वा लब्धवान्वरम् । श्रूतपूर्वं हि न मया भाषसे यादृशं स्वयम् ।। ७.१८.
Who are you, who, having formerly practiced only righteousness, obtained a boon? For I have never heard before one speak as you do.
तिष्ठेदानीं न मे जीवन्प्रतियास्यसि दुर्मते । अद्य त्वां निशितैर्बाणैः प्रेषयामि यमक्षयम् ।। ७.१८.
Now you shall not escape alive, O wicked-minded one; today I will send you to the abode of Yama with sharp arrows.
ततः शरासनं गृह्य सायकांश्च नराधिपः । रणाय निर्ययौ क्रुद्धः संवर्तो मार्गमावृणोत् ।। ७.१८.
Then the king, seizing his bow and arrows, went out angrily for battle; Saṃvarta blocked his path.
सो ऽब्रवीत्स्नेहसंयुक्तं मरुत्तं तं महानृषिः । श्रोतव्यं यदि मद्वाक्यं सम्प्रहारो न ते क्षमः ।। ७.१८.
That great sage, with affection, said to Marutta, 'If you are willing to listen to my words, combat is not suitable for you.'
माहेश्वरमिदं सत्रमसमाप्तं कुलं दहेत् ।। ७.१८.
This sacrifice of Maheśvara, if unfinished, would destroy the lineage.
दीक्षितस्य कुतो युद्धं क्रोधित्वं दीक्षिते कुतः । संशयश्च जये नित्यं राक्षसश्च सुदुर्जयः ।। ७.१८.
How can one who is consecrated fight? How can one who is consecrated become angry? There is always doubt in victory, and the rākṣasa is very difficult to conquer.
स निवृत्तो गुरोर्वाक्यान्मरुत्तः पृथिवीपतिः । विसृज्य सशरं चापं स्वस्थो मखमुखो ऽभवत् ।। ७.१८.
Thus instructed by his teacher, King Marutta withdrew, set aside his bow and arrows, and calmly resumed the sacrifice.
ततस्तं निर्जितं मत्वा घोषयामास वै शुकः । रावणो जयतीत्युच्चैर्हर्षान्नादं विमुक्तवान् ।। ७.१८.
Then Śuka, thinking him defeated, loudly proclaimed, 'Rāvaṇa is victorious!' and Rāvaṇa, in delight, let out a great roar.