उत्क्रामन्तं दरीवन्तं हिमवत्सन्निभं गिरिम् । पश्यमानस्ततो विन्ध्यं रावणो नर्मदां ययौ ।। ७.३१.
Seeing the mountain rising and stretching, resembling the Himalayas, Rāvaṇa then went to the Narmadā.
चलोपलजलां पुण्यां पश्चिमोदधिगामिनीम् ।। ७.३१.
He approached the sacred river, with moving stones and waters, flowing westward to the ocean.
महिषैः सृमरैः सिंहैः शार्दूलर्क्षगजोत्तमैः । उष्णाभितप्तैस्तृषितैः सङ्क्षोभितजलाशयाम् ।। ७.३१.
Its waters disturbed by buffaloes, crocodiles, lions, tigers, bears, and elephants, all scorched by heat and thirst.
चक्रवाकैः सकारण्डैः सहंसजलकुक्कुटैः । सारसैश्च सदा मत्तैः सुकूजद्भिः समावृताम् ।। ७.३१.
Filled with chakravākas, karandhas, swans, waterfowl, and cranes, always intoxicated and singing sweetly.
फुल्लद्रुमकृतोत्तंसां चक्रवाकयुगस्तनीम् । विस्तीर्णपुलिनश्रोणीं हंसावलिसुमेखलाम् ।। ७.३१.
Adorned with blooming trees, breasts like pairs of chakravākas, wide sandy banks like hips, and rows of swans like beautiful girdles.
पुष्परेण्वनुलिप्ताङ्गीं जलफेनामलांशुकाम् । जलावगाहसंस्पर्शां फुल्लोत्पलशुभेक्षणाम् । पुष्पकादवरुह्याशु नर्मदां सरितां वराम् ।। ७.३१.
Her limbs smeared with pollen, her garments pure as foam, touched by the water, her eyes shining like blossoming lotuses; swiftly descending from his aerial chariot, he entered the Narmadā, best of rivers.
इष्टामिव वरां नारीमवगाह्य दशाननः । स तस्याः पुलिने रम्ये नानामुनिनिषेविते ।। ७.३१.
Immersing himself in her, as one would a beloved woman, Daśānana, on her delightful bank frequented by many sages,
उपोपविष्टैः सचिवैः सार्धं राक्षसपुङ्गवः । प्रख्याय नर्मदां सो ऽथ गङ्गेयमिति रावणः ।। ७.३१.
The foremost of rākṣasas, seated with his ministers, praised the Narmadā, and then Rāvaṇa called her 'daughter of Gaṅga.'
नर्मदादर्शजं हर्षमाप्तवान् राक्षसाधिपः । उवाच सचिवांस्तत्र सलीलं शुकसारणौ ।। ७.३१.
The lord of rākṣasas, delighted by the sight of Narmadā, spoke playfully to his ministers, Śuka and Sāraṇa.
एष रश्मिसहस्रेण जगत्कृत्वैव काञ्चनम् । तीक्ष्णतापकरः सूर्यो नभसो ऽर्धं समाश्रितः ।। ७.३१.
This sun, with a thousand rays, has made the world golden, and with intense heat, occupies half the sky.
मामासीनं विदित्वैव चन्द्रायति दिवाकरः ।। ७.३१.
Knowing that I am seated here, the sun now becomes like the moon.
नर्मदाजलशीतश्च सुगन्धिः श्रमनाशनः । मद्भयादनिलो ऽप्यत्र वात्येष सुसमाहितः ।। ७.३१.
The cool, fragrant water of Narmadā relieves fatigue; even the wind here, fearing me, blows gently and calmly.
इयं वापि सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा नर्मदा नर्मवर्धिनी । नक्रमीनविहङ्गोर्मिः सभयेवाङ्गना स्थिता ।। ७.३१.
This best of rivers, Narmadā, increasing delight, with crocodiles, birds, and waves, stands timid like a woman.
तद्भवन्तः क्षताः शस्त्रैर्नृपैरिन्द्रसमैर्युधि । चन्दनस्य रसेनेव रुधिरेण समुक्षिताः ।। ७.३१.
Then you, wounded by weapons in battle by kings equal to Indra, are covered with blood as if with the essence of sandalwood.
ते यूयमवगाहध्वं नर्मदां शर्मदां शुभाम् । महापद्ममुखा मत्ता गङ्गामिव गहागजाः । अस्यां स्नात्वा महानद्यां पाप्मानं विप्रमोक्ष्यथ ।। ७.३१.
Now you all should enter the auspicious Narmada, the giver of happiness, just as intoxicated elephants enter the Ganga at the mouth of the great lotus; by bathing in this great river, you will be freed from sin.
अहमप्यद्य पुलिने शरदिन्दुसमप्रभे । पुष्पोपहारं शनकैः करिष्यामि कपर्दिनः ।। ७.३१.
Today, I too, on the shining bank, radiant as the autumn moon, will slowly offer flowers to the matted-haired One.
रावणेनैवमुक्तास्तु प्रहस्तशुकसारणाः । समहोदरधूम्राक्षा नर्मदां विजगाहिरे ।। ७.३१.
Thus addressed by Ravana, Prahasta, Shuka, Sarana, along with Mahodara and Dhumraksha, entered the Narmada.
राक्षसेन्द्रगजैस्तैस्तु क्षोभिता नर्मदा नदी । वामनाञ्जनपद्माद्यैर्गङ्गा इव महागजैः ।। ७.३१.
Disturbed by those elephant-like leaders of the Rakshasas, the river Narmada was like the Ganga agitated by great elephants such as Vamana, Anjana, and Padma.
ततस्ते राक्षसाः स्नात्वा नर्मदायां महाबलाः । उत्तीर्य पुष्पाण्याजह्रुर्बल्यर्थं रावणस्य तु ।। ७.३१.
Then those mighty Rakshasas, having bathed in the Narmada, crossed over and gathered flowers for Ravana's offering.
नर्मदापुलिने हृद्ये शुभ्राभ्रसदृशप्रभे । राक्षसैस्तु मुहूर्तेन कृतः पुष्पमयो गिरिः ।। ७.३१.
On the lovely bank of the Narmada, shining like a white cloud, the Rakshasas in a moment made a mountain of flowers.
पुष्पेषूपहृतेष्वेवं रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । अवतीर्णो नदीं स्नातुं गङ्गामिव महागजः ।। ७.३१.
When the flowers had been brought, Ravana, lord of the Rakshasas, descended to the river to bathe, like a great elephant entering the Ganga.
तत्र स्नात्वा च विधिवज्जप्त्वा जप्यमनुत्तमम् । नर्मदासलिलात्तस्मादुत्ततार स रावणः ।। ७.३१.
There, having bathed according to the proper rite and recited the supreme mantra, Ravana emerged from the waters of the Narmada.
ततः क्लिन्नाम्बरं त्यक्त्वा शुक्लवस्त्रसमावृतम् । रावणं प्राञ्जलिं यान्तमन्वयुः सर्वराक्षसाः ।। ७.३१.
Then, casting off his wet garment and clothed in pure white, Ravana, with joined palms, was followed by all the Rakshasas.
तद्गतीवशमापन्ना मूर्तिमन्त इवाचलाः । यत्र यत्र च याति स्म रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । जाम्बूनदमयं लिङ्गं तत्र तत्र स्म नीयते ।। ७.३१.
Subject to his command, as if they were embodied mountains, wherever Ravana, lord of the Rakshasas, went, there too was carried the golden lingam.
वालुकावेदिमध्ये तु तल्लिङ्गं स्थाप्य रावणः । अर्चयामास गन्धैश्च पुष्पैश्चामृतगन्धिभिः ।। ७.३१.
Placing that lingam in the midst of a sand altar, Ravana worshipped it with fragrant scents and flowers of ambrosial fragrance.
ततः सतामार्तिहरं परं वरं वरप्रदं चन्द्रमयूखभूषणम् । समर्चयित्वा स निशाचरो जगौ प्रसार्य हस्तान्प्रणनर्त चाग्रतः ।। ७.३१.
Then, having worshipped the supreme boon-giving Lord, remover of the suffering of the good, adorned with moonbeams, that night-wanderer sang, spreading out his hands, and danced before him.
नर्मदापुलिने यत्र राक्षसेन्द्रः सुदारुणः । पुष्पोपहारं कुरुते तस्माद्देशाददूरतः ।। ७.३२.
On the bank of the Narmada, where the terrible lord of the Rakshasas was making a floral offering, not far from that place—
अर्जुनो जयतां श्रेष्ठो माहिष्मत्याः पतिः प्रभुः । क्रीडते सह नारीभिर्नर्मदातोयमाश्रितः ।। ७.३२.
Arjuna, best of the victorious, lord and master of Mahishmati, was sporting with women, enjoying the waters of the Narmada.
तासां मध्यगतो राजा रराज च तदार्जुनः । करेणूनां सहस्रस्य मध्यस्थ इव कुञ्जरः ।। ७.३२.
Amidst those women, King Arjuna shone, just as an elephant stands out in the midst of a thousand female elephants.
जिज्ञासुः स तु बाहूनां सहस्रस्योत्तमं बलम् । रुरोध नर्मदावेगं बाहुभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः ।। ७.३२.
Desiring to test the supreme strength of his thousand arms, he, surrounded by many, blocked the current of the Narmada with his arms.