तस्मादेवमहं ब्रह्मन् वैवस्वतवधोद्यतः । गच्छामि दक्षिणामाशां यत्र सूर्यात्मजो नृपः ।। ७.२०.
Therefore, O brāhman, I am now intent on slaying Vaivasvata; I go southward, where the king, son of the sun, resides.
मया हि भगवन्क्रोधात्प्रतिज्ञातं रणार्थिना । अवजेष्यामि चतुरो लोकपालानिति प्रभो ।। ७.२०.
For, O lord, in anger and eager for battle, I have vowed to subdue the four guardians of the world.
तदिह प्रस्थितो ऽहं वै प्रेतराजपुरं प्रति । प्राणिसङ्क्लेशकर्तारं योजयिष्यामि मृत्युना ।। ७.२०.
Therefore, I have set out for the city of the lord of the dead, to subject the inflictor of suffering on living beings to death.
एवमुक्त्वा दशग्रीवो मुनिं तमभिवाद्य च । प्रययौ दक्षिणामाशां प्रविष्टः सह मन्त्रिभिः ।। ७.२०.
Having spoken thus, the ten-headed one, after bowing to the sage, departed toward the southern quarter, entering it together with his counselors.
नारदस्तु महातेजा मुहूर्तं ध्यानमास्थितः । चिन्तयामास विप्रेन्द्रो विधूम इव पावकः ।। ७.२०.
But Nārada, endowed with great brilliance, sat for a moment absorbed in meditation, the foremost of Brahmins, like a smokeless fire.
येन लोकास्त्रयः सेन्द्राः क्लिश्यन्ते सचराचराः । क्षीणे चायुषि धर्मेण स कालो जेष्यते कथम् ।। ७.२०.
He by whom the three worlds, along with Indra, both moving and unmoving beings, are tormented—when his lifespan is spent, how will he be conquered by righteousness and time?
स्वदत्तकृतसाक्षी यो द्वितीय इव पावकः । लब्धसञ्ज्ञा विजेष्यन्ते लोका यस्य महात्मनः ।। ७.२०.
He who is witness to his own gifts, like a second fire, and by whose command the worlds are subdued—how will that great soul be overcome?
यस्य नित्यं त्रयो लोका विद्रवन्ति भयार्दिताः । तं कथं राक्षसेन्द्रो ऽसौ स्वयमेव गमिष्यति ।। ७.२०.
He before whom the three worlds always flee, stricken with fear—how will that king of Rākṣasas go forth on his own?
यो विधाता च धाता च सुकृतं दुष्कृतं तथा । त्रैलोक्यं विजितं येन तं कथं विजयिष्यते ।। ७.२०.
He who is both creator and sustainer, of good deeds and evil as well, by whom the three worlds have been conquered—how will he be defeated?
अपरं किन्तु कृत्वायं विधानं संविधास्यति । कौतूहलसमुत्पन्नो यास्यामि यमसादनम् ।। ७.२०.
Yet, after making some other arrangement, he will bring about this outcome. Filled with curiosity, I will go to the abode of Yama.
विमर्दं द्रष्टुमनयोर्यमराक्षसयोः स्वयम् ।। ७.२०.
I will myself witness the encounter between Yama and the Rākṣasa.
एवं सञ्चिन्त्य विप्रेन्दो जगाम लघुविक्रमः । आख्यातुं तद्यथावृत्तं यमस्य सदनं प्रति ।। ७.२१.
Thus reflecting, the foremost of Brahmins swiftly went to the abode of Yama, to recount all that had transpired.
अपश्यत्स यमं तत्र देवमग्निपुरस्कृतम् । विधानमुपतिष्ठन्तं प्राणिनो यस्य यादृशम् ।। ७.२१.
There he saw Yama, the god, attended by Agni, administering the destinies of beings according to their deeds.
स तु दृष्ट्वा यमः प्राप्तं महर्षिं तत्र नारदम् । अब्रवीत्सुखमासीनमर्घ्यमावेद्य धर्मतः ।। ७.२१.
Seeing the great sage Nārada arrive, Yama, after offering him due hospitality, spoke to him as he sat comfortably, in accordance with righteousness.
कच्चित्क्षेमं तु देवर्षे कच्चिद्धर्मो न नश्यति । किमागमनकृत्यं ते देवगन्धर्वसेवित ।। ७.२१.
"Is all well, O divine sage? Is righteousness not declining? For what purpose have you come, you who are honored by gods and Gandharvas?"
अब्रवीत्तु तदा वाक्यं नारदो भगवानृषिः । श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि विधानं च विधीयताम् ।। ७.२१.
Then the venerable sage Nārada spoke these words: "Listen, I will tell you; let the proper measures be taken."
एष नाम्नो दशग्रीवः पितृराज निशाचरः । उपयाति वशं नेतुं विक्रमैस्त्वां सुदुर्जयम् ।। ७.२१.
"This ten-headed night-wanderer, O king of ancestors, is coming with his might to bring you under his control, though you are very difficult to conquer."
एतेन कारणेनाहं त्वरितो ह्यागतः प्रभो । दण्डप्रहरणस्याद्य तव किं नु भविष्यति ।। ७.२१.
"For this reason, O lord, I have come quickly. What will happen today to your rod of punishment?"
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दुरादंशुमन्तमिवोदितम् । ददृशुर्दीप्तमायान्तं विमानं तस्य रक्षसः ।। ७.२१.
Meanwhile, they saw a radiant aerial chariot approaching, shining like the sun, difficult to look at, belonging to that Rākṣasa.
तं देशं प्रभया तस्य पुष्पकस्य महाबलः । कृत्वा वितिमिरं सर्वं समीपं सो ऽभ्यवर्तत ।। ७.२१.
With the brilliance of that Puṣpaka chariot, the mighty one made the whole region dark, and he drew near.
सो ऽपश्यत्स महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवस्ततस्ततः । प्राणिनः सुकृतं कर्म भुञ्जानांश्चैव दुष्कृतम् ।। ७.२१.
There, the mighty-armed ten-headed one saw beings enjoying the results of good deeds and also those of evil deeds.
अपश्यत्सैनिकांश्चास्य यमस्यानुचरैः सह । यमस्य पुरुषैरुग्रैर्घोररूपैर्भयानकैः ।। ७.२१.
He saw the soldiers of Yama together with his attendants—Yama’s fierce men, terrifying in form and dreadful in appearance.
ददर्श वध्यमानांश्च क्लिश्यमानांश्च देहिनः । क्रोशतश्च महानादं तीव्रनिष्टनतत्परान् ।। ७.२१.
He saw embodied beings being slain and tormented, crying out with loud wails, intensely groaning in agony.
कृमिभिर्भक्ष्यमाणांश्च सारमेयैश्च दारुणैः ।। ७.२१.
He saw them being devoured by worms and by savage dogs.
क्षोत्रायासकरा वाचो वदतश्च भयावहाः । सन्तार्यमाणान्वैतरणीं बहुशः शोणितोदकाम् ।। ७.२१.
He heard voices uttering fearful words, and saw many being forced across the Vaitarani river, whose waters were blood.
वालुकासु च तप्तासु तप्यमानान्मुहूर्मुहुः । असिपत्रवने चैव भिद्यमानानधार्मिकान् ।। ७.२१.
He saw those suffering again and again on burning sands, and the unrighteous being pierced in the forest of sword-leaves.
रौरवे क्षारनद्यां च क्षुरधारासु चैव हि । पानीयं याचमानांश्च तृषितान्क्षुधितानपि ।। ७.२१.
He saw them in the Raurava hell, in the river of brine, and on razor-sharp blades, begging for water, thirsty and hungry.
शवभूतान्कृशान्दीनान्विवर्णान्मुक्तमूर्धजान् । मलपङ्कधरान्दीनान्रूक्षांश्च परिधावतः ।। ७.२१.
He saw corpses—emaciated, miserable, discolored, with loose hair—covered in filth and mud, wretched, and running about in distress.
ददर्श रावणो मार्गे शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः । कांश्चिच्च गृहमुख्येषु गीतवादित्रनिःस्वनैः । प्रमोदमानानद्राक्षीद्रावणः सुकृतैः स्वकैः ।। ७.२१.
Ravana saw, along the way, hundreds and thousands; and some, in the chief houses, rejoicing with songs and music, enjoying themselves through their own good deeds.
गौरसं गोप्रदातारो ह्यन्नं चैवान्नदायिनः । गृहांश्च गृहदातारः स्वकर्मफलमश्नतः ।। ७.२१.
He saw those who gave cows and land, those who gave food, and those who gave houses, enjoying the fruits of their own actions.