अहो दुर्वृत्तमास्थाय नात्मानं वैजुगुप्सते । सर्वथा सदृशस्तावद्विक्रमो ऽस्य दुरात्मनः ।। ७.२४.
Alas, having adopted wicked conduct, he does not feel any shame; indeed, such is the valor of this evil-minded one.
इदं त्वसदृशं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । यस्मादेष परक्यासु रमते राक्षसाधमः ।। ७.२४.
But this act—violating other men's wives—is unworthy; for this vile Rākṣasa delights in women who belong to others.
तस्माद्वै स्त्रीकृतेनैव प्राप्स्यते दुर्मतिर्वधम् । सतीभिर्वरनारीभिरेवं वाक्ये ऽभ्युदीरिते ।। ७.२४.
Therefore, by the very women he has wronged, this wicked-minded one will meet his death; thus spoke those noble and faithful wives.
नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः खस्थाः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात च । शप्तः स्त्रीभिः स तु समं हतौजा इव निष्प्रभः ।। ७.२४.
The drums in the sky did not resound, nor did a shower of flowers fall; cursed by the women, he became as if bereft of strength and luster.
पतिव्रताभिः साध्वीभिर्बभूव विमना इव । एवं विलपितं तासां शृण्वन्राक्षसपुङ्गवः । प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः ।। ७.२४.
Afflicted by the words of those virtuous and faithful wives, he seemed dispirited; hearing their lamentations, the foremost of the Rākṣasas entered the city of Laṅkā, honored by the night-dwellers.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे घोरा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी । सहसा पतिता भूमौ भगिनी रावणस्य सा ।। ७.२४.
Meanwhile, a dreadful Rākṣasī, capable of assuming any form at will, suddenly fell to the ground—she was the sister of Rāvaṇa.
तां स्वसारं समुत्थाप्य रावणः परिसान्त्वयन् । अब्रवीत्किमिदं भद्रे वक्तुकामा ऽसि मे द्रुतम् ।। ७.२४.
Rāvaṇa, raising his sister and consoling her, said: 'What is this, dear one? Tell me quickly what you wish to say.'
सा बाष्पपरिरुद्धाक्षी रक्ताक्षी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । कृता ऽस्मि विधवा राजंस्त्वया बलवता बलात् ।। ७.२४.
With eyes choked by tears and reddened, she spoke: 'I have been made a widow by your overpowering force, O king.'
एते राजंस्त्वया वीरा दैत्या विनिहता रणे । कालकेया इति ख्याताः सहस्राणि चतुर्दश ।। ७.२४.
'O king, those mighty Daityas known as the Kālakeyas, fourteen thousand in number, were slain in battle by you.'
प्राणेभ्यो ऽपि गरीयान्मे तत्र भर्ता महाबलः ।। ७.२४.
'Among them, my husband—of great might—was dearer to me than life itself.'
सो ऽपि त्वया हतस्तात रिपुणा भ्रातृगृध्नुना । त्वया ऽस्मि निहता राजन्स्वयमेव हि बन्धुना ।। ७.२४.
'He too, father, was slain by you, my enemy, greedy for brothers; by you, my own kinsman, I have been destroyed, O king.'
राजन्वैधव्यशब्दं च भोक्ष्यामि त्वत्कृते ह्यहम् । ननु नाम त्वया रक्ष्यो जामाता समरेष्वपि । स त्वया निहतो युद्धे स्वयमेव न लज्जसे ।। ७.२४.
'O king, because of you I must now bear the name of widow; surely, even in battle, a son-in-law ought to be protected by you. Yet you killed him in combat yourself, and do not feel ashamed.'
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवो भगिन्या क्रोशमानया । अब्रवीत्सान्त्वयित्वा तां सामपूर्वमिदं वचः ।। ७.२४.
Thus addressed by his weeping sister, the ten-headed one, after consoling her, spoke these gentle words:
अलं वत्से रुदित्वा ते न भेतव्यं च सर्वशः । दानमानप्रसादैस्त्वां तोषयिष्यामि यत्नतः ।। ७.२४.
'Enough, child, with your weeping; you need not fear at all. By gifts, honor, and kindness, I will strive to satisfy you.'
युद्धप्रमत्तो व्याक्षिप्तो जयाकाङ्क्षी क्षिपञ्छरान् । नावगच्छामि युद्धेषु स्वान्परान्वाप्यहं शुभे ।। ७.२४.
'Distracted in battle, eager for victory, loosing arrows, I did not recognize friend from foe in the fight, O noble one.'
जामातरं न जाने स्म प्रहरन्युद्धदुर्मदः । तेनासौ निहतः सङ्ख्ये मया भर्ता तव स्वसः ।। ७.२४.
'In my battle-fury I did not know he was my son-in-law when I struck; thus, your husband was slain by me in combat, sister.'
अस्मिन्काले तु यत्प्राप्तं तत्करिष्यामि ते हितम् । भ्रातुरैश्वर्ययुक्तस्य खरस्य वस पार्श्वतः ।। ७.२४.
'Now, at this time, I will do what is beneficial for you; dwell near your brother Khara, who is endowed with sovereignty.'
चतुर्दशानां भ्राता ते सहस्राणां भविष्यति । प्रभुः प्रयाणे दाने च राक्षसानां महाबलः ।। ७.२४.
'He, your brother, will be lord over fourteen thousand mighty Rākṣasas, commanding them in expeditions and gifts.'
तत्र मातृष्वसेयस्ते भ्राता ऽयं वै खरः प्रभुः । भविष्यति तवादेशं सदा कुर्वन्निशाचरः ।। ७.२४.
'There, Khara, your mother's sister's son, will be your lord; this night-wanderer will always act according to your command.'
शीघ्रं गच्छत्वयं वीरो दण्डकान्परिरक्षितुम् । दूषणो ऽस्य बलाध्यक्षो भविष्यति महाबलः ।। ७.२४.
'Let this hero quickly go to protect the Daṇḍaka forest; Dūṣaṇa, of great might, will be the commander of his forces.'
तत्र ते वचनं शूरः करिष्यति सदा खरः । रक्षसां कामरूपाणां प्रभुरेष भविष्यति ।। ७.२४.
'There, brave Khara will always carry out your wishes; he will be the lord of the Rākṣasas who can assume any form at will.'
एवमुक्त्वा दशग्रीवः सैन्यमस्यादिदेश ह । चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां वीर्यशालिनाम् ।। ७.२४.
Having spoken thus, the ten-headed one gave orders to his army—fourteen thousand mighty rakshasas.
स तैः परिवृतस्सर्वै राक्षसैर्घोरदर्शनैः । आगच्छत खरः शीघ्रं दण्डकानकुतोभयः ।। ७.२४.
Surrounded by all those terrifying rakshasas, Khara swiftly set out in every direction of the Dandaka forest.
स तत्र कारयामास राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् । सा च शूर्पणखा तत्र न्यवसद्दण्डकावने ।। ७.२४.
There he established a kingdom, free from enemies, and Shurpanakha also dwelled there in the Dandaka forest.
स तु दत्त्वा दशग्रीवो वनं घोरं स्वरस्य तत् । भगिनीं च समाश्वास्य हृष्टः स्वस्थतरो ऽभवत् ।। ७.२५.
Then the ten-headed one, having given that dreadful forest to his sister and consoled her, became cheerful and more at ease.
ततो निकुम्भिला नाम लङ्कोपवनमुत्तमम् । तद्राक्षसेन्द्रो बलवान्प्रविवेश सहानुगः ।। ७.२५.
After that, the powerful king of the rakshasas entered Nikumbhila, the excellent grove of Lanka, along with his followers.
ततो यूपशताकीर्णं सौम्यचैत्योपशोभितम् । ददर्श विष्ठितं यज्ञं श्रिया सम्प्रज्वलन्निव ।। ७.२५.
There he saw a sacrifice established, adorned with hundreds of sacrificial posts and beautiful shrines, blazing with splendor.
ततः कृष्णाजिनधरं कमण्डलुशिखाध्वजम् । ददर्श स्वसुतं तत्र मेघनादं भयावहम् ।। ७.२५.
Then he saw his own son, Meghnada, fearsome in appearance, wearing a black antelope skin and bearing a water-pot and a tufted staff.
तं समासाद्य लङ्केशः परिष्वज्वाथ बाहुभिः । अब्रवीत्किमिदं वत्स वर्तसे ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ।। ७.२५.
Approaching him, the lord of Lanka embraced him with his arms and said, 'What is this, my son? Tell me truly how you are engaged.'
उशना त्वब्रवीत्तत्र यज्ञसम्पत्समृद्धये । रावणं राक्षसश्रेष्ठं द्विजश्रेष्ठो महातपाः ।। ७.२५.
Then Ushanas, the foremost of twice-born and a great ascetic, spoke to Ravana, the best of rakshasas, for the success of the sacrifice.