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.
तान्भक्षयित्वा तत्रस्थान्महर्षीन्यज्ञमागतान् । वितृप्तो रुधिरैस्तेषां पुनः सम्प्रययौ महीम् ।। ७.१८.
Having devoured the great sages present at the sacrifice, Rāvaṇa, satisfied with their blood, again departed for the earth.
रावणे तु गते देवाः सेन्द्राश्चैव दिवौकसः । ततः स्वां योनिमासाद्य तानि सत्त्वानि चाब्रुवन् ।। ७.१८.
When Rāvaṇa had departed, the gods along with Indra and the celestial beings, having returned to their own abodes, spoke these words to their respective creations.
हर्षात्तदाब्रवीदिन्द्रो मयूरं नीलबर्हिणम् । प्रीतो ऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ भुजङ्गाद्धि न ते भयम् ।। ७.१८.
Then, out of joy, Indra spoke to the peacock with the blue-green tail: 'O knower of righteousness, I am pleased with you; you need not fear serpents.'
इदं नेत्रसहस्रं तु यत्त्वद्बर्हे भविष्यति । वर्षमाणे मयि मुदं प्राप्स्यसे प्रीतिलक्षणाम् । एवमिन्द्रो वरं प्रादान्मयूरस्य सुरेश्वरः ।। ७.१८.
'This thousand-eyed pattern will appear upon your tail-feathers; whenever it rains because of me, you will experience joy marked by delight.' Thus did Indra, lord of the gods, grant a boon to the peacock.
नीलाः किल पुरा बर्हा मयूराणां नराधिप । सुराधिपाद्वरं प्राप्य गताः सर्वे ऽपि बर्हिणः ।। ७.१८.
O king, formerly the tail-feathers of peacocks were blue; but having received the boon from the lord of the gods, all peacocks gained their present appearance.
धर्मराजो ऽब्रवीद्राम प्राग्वंशे वायसं स्थितम् । पक्षिंस्तवास्मि सुप्रीतः प्रीतस्य वचनं शृणु ।। ७.१८.
Dharma-rāja then spoke to the crow, who stood in the ancestral line: 'O bird, I am well pleased with you; listen to the words of one who is pleased.'
यथान्ये विविधै रोगै; पीड्यन्ते प्राणिनो मया । ते न ते प्रभविष्यन्ति मयि प्रीते न संशयः ।। ७.१८.
'Just as other beings are afflicted by various diseases through me, so shall you not be overcome by them, for I am pleased with you—of this there is no doubt.'
मृत्युतस्ते भयं नास्ति वरान्मम विहङ्गम । यावत्त्वां न वधिष्यन्ति नरास्तावद्भविष्यसि ।। ७.१८.
'O bird, you need not fear death from me because of my boon; as long as men do not kill you, so long shall you live.'
एते मद्विषयस्था वै मानवाः क्षुद्भयार्दिताः । त्वयि भुक्ते तु तृप्तास्ते भविष्यन्ति सबान्धवाः ।। ७.१८.
'These men who dwell in my domain, afflicted by hunger and fear, when you have eaten, they and their kin shall become satisfied.'
वरुणस्त्वब्रवीद्धंसं गङ्गातोयविहारिणम् । श्रूयतां प्रीतिसंयुक्तं वचः पत्ररथेश्वर ।। ७.१८.
Then Varuṇa spoke to the swan, who delights in the waters of the Ganges: 'Hear these words, filled with affection, O lord of those who ride upon wings.'