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.
अहमाख्यामि ते राजञ्छ्रूयतां सर्वमेव तत् । यज्ञास्ते सप्त पुत्रेण प्राप्तास्सुबहुविस्तराः ।। ७.२५.
'I will explain everything to you, O King; listen to it all. Your son has performed seven great sacrifices, extensive in every way.'
अग्निष्टोमो ऽश्वमेधश्च यज्ञो बहुसुवर्णकः । राजसूयस्तथा यज्ञो गोमेधो वैष्णवस्तथा ।। ७.२५.
'Agniṣṭoma, Ashvamedha, the sacrifice with much gold, Rājasūya, Gomedha, and the Vaishnava sacrifice as well.'
माहेश्वरे प्रवृत्ते तु यज्ञे पुम्भिः सुदुर्लभे । वरांस्ते लब्धवान्पुत्रः साक्षात्पशुपतेरिह ।। ७.२५.
'And in the sacrifice dedicated to Maheshvara, which is extremely rare among men, your son has obtained boons directly from the Lord of Creatures.'
कामगं स्यन्दनं दिव्यमन्तरिक्षचरं ध्रुवम् । मायां च तामसीं नाम यया सम्पद्यते तमः ।। ७.२५.
'A divine chariot that moves at will, traversing the sky, and the power called Tamasi Maya, by which darkness is produced.'
एतया किल सङ्ग्रामे मायया राक्षसेश्वर । प्रयुक्तया गतिः शक्या नहि ज्ञातुं सुरासुरैः ।। ७.२५.
'By this Maya in battle, O lord of rakshasas, when employed, neither gods nor asuras are able to discern its course.'
अक्षयाविषुधी बाणैश्चापं चापि सुदुर्जयम् । अस्त्रं च बलवद्राजञ्छत्रुविध्वंसनं रणे ।। ७.२५.
'An inexhaustible quiver, a bow that is very hard to conquer, and a mighty weapon, O King, that destroys enemies in battle.'
एतान्सर्वान्वरांल्लब्ध्वा पुत्रस्ते ऽयं दशानन । अद्य यज्ञसमाप्तौ च त्वां दिदृक्षुस्स्थितो ह्यहम् ।। ७.२५.
'Having obtained all these boons, your son, O ten-headed one, now stands here at the completion of the sacrifice, wishing to see you.'
ततो ऽब्रवीदृशग्रीवो न शोभनमिदं कृतम् । पूजिताः शत्रवो यस्माद्द्रव्यैरिन्द्रपुरोगमाः ।। ७.२५.
Then the ten-headed one said, 'This is not proper, for enemies led by Indra have been honored with offerings.'
एहीदानीं कृतं विद्धि सुकृतं तन्न संशयः । आगच्छ सौम्य गच्छामः स्वमेव भवनं प्रति ।। ७.२५.
'Come now, know that what has been done is well done, there is no doubt. Come, dear one, let us go to our own home.'
ततो गत्वा दशग्रीवः सपुत्रः सविभीषणः । स्त्रियो ऽवतारयामास सर्वास्ता बाष्पगद्गदाः ।। ७.२५.
Then, having gone, ten-headed Rāvaṇa, with his sons and Vibhīṣaṇa, caused all the women to descend, their voices choked with tears.
लक्षिण्यो रत्नभूताश्च देवदानवरक्षसाम् । तस्य तासु मतिं ज्ञात्वा धर्मत्मा वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ७.२५.
Splendid and jewel-like, belonging to gods, demons, and rākṣasas, those women—knowing his intention among them—the righteous one spoke.
ईदृशैस्त्वं समाचारैर्यशोर्थकुलनाशनैः । धर्षणं ज्ञातिनां ज्ञात्वा स्वमतेन विचेष्टसे ।। ७.२५.
With such conduct, you pursue your own will, knowing that these acts bring ruin to fame and lineage, and violate your kin.
ज्ञातींस्तान्धर्षयित्वेमास्त्वया ऽ ऽनीता वराङ्गनाः । त्वामतिक्रम्य मधुना राजन्कुम्भीनसी हृता ।। ७.२५.
Having violated your kin, you brought these excellent women; yet, O king, Kumbhīnasī was taken from you by Madhu, surpassing you.
रावणस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं नावगच्छामि किं त्विदम् । को ऽयं यस्तु त्वया ऽ ऽख्यातो मधुरित्येव नामतः ।। ७.२५.
Rāvaṇa spoke: 'I do not understand—what is this? Who is this Madhu you mention by name?'
विभीषणस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो भ्रातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । श्रूयतामस्य पापस्य कर्मणः फलमागतम् ।। ७.२५.
Vibhīṣaṇa, enraged, spoke to his brother: 'Let the fruit of this wicked deed be heard.'
मातामहस्य यो भ्राता ज्येष्ठो भ्राता सुमालिनः । माल्यवानिति विख्यातो वृद्धः प्राज्ञो निशाचरः ।। ७.२५.
The elder brother of our maternal grandfather, the eldest brother of Sumāli, is famed as Mālyavān, an aged and wise night-wanderer.
पिता ज्येष्ठो जनन्या नो ह्यस्माकं चार्यको ऽभवत् । तस्य कुम्भीनसी नाम दुहितुर्दुहिता ऽभवत् ।। ७.२५.
He was the eldest of our mother's brothers, and our teacher; his daughter was named Kumbhīnasī.
मातृष्वसुरथास्माकं सा च कन्या ऽनलोद्भवा । भवत्यस्माकमेवैषा भ्रातृणां धर्मतः स्वसा ।। ७.२५.
She is our maternal aunt, and that maiden, born of fire, is rightfully our sister, O brother, by dharma.
सा हृता, मधुना राजन्राक्षसेन बलीयसा । यज्ञप्रवृत्ते पुत्रे तु मयि चान्तर्जलोषिते ।। ७.२५.
She was taken by Madhu, O king, a powerful rākṣasa, while her son was engaged in sacrifice and I was immersed in water.
कुम्भकर्णे महाराज निद्रामनुभवत्यथ । निहत्य राक्षसश्रेष्ठानमात्यानिह सम्मतान् ।। ७.२५.
When Kumbhakarṇa, O great king, was experiencing sleep, Madhu killed the foremost rākṣasas and honored ministers here.