राक्षसस्य सखित्वं च भवद्भिः सह रोचते । अविभक्ताश्च सर्वार्थाः सुहृदां नात्र संशयः ।। ७.२३.
It is fitting that you form a friendship with the Rākṣasa; in all matters, friends are inseparable—of this there is no doubt.
ततो ऽग्निसाक्षिकं सख्यं कृतवांस्तत्र रावणः । निवातकवचैः सार्धं प्रीतिमानभवत्तदा ।। ७.२३.
Then Rāvaṇa, together with the Nivātakavacas, made a pact of friendship with fire as witness, and was pleased.
अर्थतस्तैर्यथान्यायं संवत्सरमथोषितः । स्वपुरान्निर्विशेषं च प्रियं प्राप्तो दशाननः ।। ७.२३.
Having dwelled with them for a year as was proper, Daśānana returned to his city, having received their full affection.
ततोपधार्य मायानां शतमेकं समाप्तवान् । सलिलेन्द्रपुरान्वेषी भ्रमति स्म रसातलम् ।। ७.२३.
Then, having discerned a hundred kinds of illusions, he wandered through the netherworld seeking the cities of the lord of waters.
ततो ऽश्मनगरं नाम कालकेयैरधिष्ठितम् । गत्वा तु कालकेयांश्च हत्वा तत्र बलोत्कटान् ।। ७.२३.
He then went to the city of stone, inhabited by the Kālakeyas, and there slew the mighty Kālakeyas.
शूर्पणख्याश्च भर्तारमसिना प्राच्छिनत्तदा । श्यालं च बलवन्तं च विद्युज्जिह्वं बलोत्कटम् । जिह्वया संलिहन्तं च राक्षसं समरे तथा ।। ७.२३.
He then struck down with his sword the husband of Śūrpaṇakhā, as well as his powerful brother-in-law, Vidyujjihva, who was licking a Rākṣasa in battle with his tongue.
तं विजित्य मुहूर्तेन जघ्ने दैत्यांश्चतुःशतम् ।। ७.२३.
Having conquered him in a moment, he slew four hundred Daityas.
ततः पाण्डुरमेघाभं कैलासमिव भास्वरम् । वरुणस्यालयं दिव्यमपश्यद्राक्षसाधिपः ।। ७.२३.
Then the lord of the Rākṣasas beheld the divine abode of Varuṇa, shining like Mount Kailāsa and resembling a pale cloud.
क्षरन्तीं च पयस्तत्र सुरभिं गामवस्थिताम् । यस्याः पयोभिनिष्यन्दात्क्षीरोदो नाम सागरः ।। ७.२३.
There he saw Surabhi, the cow, standing and pouring forth milk, from whose abundant flow the ocean called Kṣīroda arose.
ददर्श रावणस्तत्र गोवृषेन्द्रवरारणिम् । यस्माच्चन्द्रः प्रभवति शीतरश्मिर्निशाकरः ।। ७.२३.
There Ravana saw the supreme wish-fulfilling cow, the best among bulls, the wondrous churner, from whom the moon, the cool-rayed lord of night, arises.
यं समाश्रित्य जीवन्ति फेनपाः परमर्षयः । अमृतं यत्र चोत्पन्नं स्वधा च स्वधभोजिनाम् ।। ७.२३.
Relying on her, the foam-born sages and the great seers live; there, too, arose the nectar of immortality and the sacred oblation for those who partake of it.
यां ब्रुवन्ति नरा लोके सुरभिं नाम नामतः । प्रदक्षिणं तु तां कृत्वा रावणः परमाद्भुताम् ।। ७.२३.
Men in the world call her by name Surabhi; having circumambulated her, that most marvelous being, Ravana proceeded onward.
प्रविवेश महाघोरं गुप्तं बहुविधैर्बलैः । ततो धाराशताकीर्णं शारदाभ्रनिभं तदा । नित्यप्रहृष्टं ददृशे वरुणस्य गृहोत्तमम् ।। ७.२३.
He entered then the exceedingly dreadful abode, guarded by many kinds of forces; there, covered with hundreds of streams and resembling an autumn cloud, he beheld the splendid, ever-joyful mansion of Varuna.
ततो हत्वा बलाध्यक्षान्समरे तैश्च ताडितः । अब्रवीच्च ततो योधान्राजा शीघ्रं निवेद्यताम् ।। ७.२३.
Then, having slain the commanders of the forces in battle and being struck by them, he spoke to the warriors, 'Quickly inform the king.'
युद्धार्थी रावणः प्राप्तस्तस्य युद्धं प्रदीयताम् । वद वा न भयं ते ऽस्ति निर्जितो ऽस्मीति साञ्जलिः ।। ७.२३.
'Ravana, seeking battle, has arrived; let him be granted combat. Or, if you have no fear, say with joined palms, "I have been defeated."'
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धा वरुणस्य महात्मनः । पुत्राः पौत्राश्च निष्क्रामन्गौश्च पुष्कर एव च ।। ७.२३.
Meanwhile, the sons and grandsons of the great-souled Varuna, along with the cows and the lotus-born, came forth in anger.
ते तु वीर्यगुणोपेता बलैः परिवृताः स्वकैः । युङ्क्त्वा रथान्कामगमानुद्यद्भास्वरवर्चसः ।। ७.२३.
Endowed with valor and virtues, surrounded by their own forces, they yoked their wish-moving chariots, shining with blazing splendor.
ततो युद्धं समभवद्दारुणं रोमहर्षणम् । सलिलेन्द्रस्य पुत्राणां रावणस्य च धीमतः ।। ७.२३.
Then there arose a fierce and hair-raising battle between the sons of the lord of waters and the wise Ravana.
अमात्यैश्च महावीर्यैर्दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः । वारुणं तद्बलं कृत्स्नं क्षणेन विनिपातितम् ।। ७.२३.
And with the mighty ministers of the ten-headed Rakshasa, the entire force of Varuna was destroyed in a moment.
समीक्ष्य स्वबलं सङ्ख्ये वरुणस्य सुतास्तदा । अर्दिताः शरजालेन निवृत्ता रणकर्मणः ।। ७.२३.
Seeing their own army struck down in battle, the sons of Varuna, overwhelmed by a shower of arrows, withdrew from the fight.
महीतलगतास्ते तु रावणं दृश्य पुष्पके । आकाशमाशु विविशुः स्यन्दनैः शीघ्रगामिभिः ।। ७.२३.
Those who had fallen to the ground, seeing Ravana in the Pushpaka chariot, swiftly entered the sky in their fast-moving vehicles.
महादासीत्ततस्तेषां तुल्यं स्थानमवाप्य तत् । आकाशयुद्धं तुमुलं देवदानवयोरिव ।। ७.२३.
There, having reached an equal position, a tumultuous aerial battle arose among them, like that between gods and demons.
ततस्ते रावणं युद्धे शरैः पावकसन्निभैः । विमुखीकृत्य सन्तुष्टा विनेदुर्विविधान्रवान् ।। ७.२३.
Then, in battle, they turned Ravana away with arrows blazing like fire; satisfied, they uttered various loud cries.
ततो महोदरः क्रुद्धो राजानं दृश्य धर्षितम् । त्यक्त्वा मृत्युभयं वीरो युद्धकाङ्क्षी व्यलोकयत् ।। ७.२३.
Then Mahodara, enraged on seeing the king humiliated, disregarding fear of death, the hero, eager for battle, gazed intently.
तेन ते दारुणा युद्धे कामगाः पवनोपमाः । महोदरेण गदया हता वै प्रययुः क्षितिम् ।। ७.२३.
By Mahodara, with his mace, those fierce, wish-moving, wind-like chariots were struck down in battle and fell to the earth.
तेषां वरुणपुत्राणां हत्वा योधान्हयाञ्छतान् । मुमोचाशु महानादं विरथान्प्रेक्ष्य तान्स्थितान् ।। ७.२३.
Having slain hundreds of warriors, horses, and charioteers among the sons of Varuna, he let out a great roar, seeing them stand deprived of their chariots.
ते तु तेषां रथाः साश्वाः सह सारथिभिर्हतैः । महोदरेण निहताः पतिताः पृथिवीतले ।। ७.२३.
Their chariots, with horses and charioteers slain by Mahodara, fell to the ground together.
ते तु त्यक्त्वा रथान्पुत्रा वरुणस्य महात्मनः । आकाशे विष्ठिताः शूराः स्वप्रभावान्न विव्यथुः ।। ७.२३.
But those sons of the great-souled Varuṇa, abandoning their chariots, stood firm in the sky; courageous, they did not waver, relying on their own power.
धनूंषि कृत्वा सज्जानि विनिर्भिद्य महोदरम् । रावणं समरे क्रुद्धाः सहिताः समभिद्रवन् ।। ७.२३.
Having readied their bows and pierced Rāvaṇa's great chest, the enraged warriors together charged at him in battle.
सायकैश्चापविभ्रष्टैर्वज्रकल्पैः सुदारुणैः । दारयन्ति स्म सङ्क्रुद्धा मेघा इव महागिरिम् ।। ७.२३.
Furious, they tore at him with arrows fallen from their bows, dreadful as thunderbolts, as clouds would rend a great mountain.