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.
कार्तवीर्यभुजासक्तं तज्जलं प्राप्य निर्मलम् । कूलोपहारं कुर्वाणं प्रतिस्रोतः प्रधावति ।। ७.३२.
The pure water, held back by Kartavirya's arms, as he made an embankment, began to flow upstream against the current.
समीननक्रमकरः सपुष्पकुशसंस्तरः । स नर्मदाम्भसो वेगः प्रावृट्काल इवाबभौ ।। ७.३२.
The current of the Narmada, adorned with fish, crocodiles, and a bed of flowers and sacred grass, surged forth like the river in the rainy season.
स वेगः कार्तवीर्येण सम्प्रेषित इवाम्भसः । पुष्पोपहारं सकलं रावणस्य जहार ह ।। ७.३२.
That torrent, as if sent forth by Kartavirya, swept away all of Ravana’s floral offerings.
रावणो ऽर्धसमाप्तं तमुत्सृज्य नियमं तदा । नर्मदां पश्यते कान्तां प्रतिकूलां यथा प्रियाम् ।। ७.३२.
Then Ravana, abandoning his half-completed observance, gazed upon the beloved Narmada, now turned hostile like a dear one estranged.
पश्चिमेन तु तं दृष्ट्वा सागरोद्गारसन्निभम् । वर्धन्तमम्भसो वेगं पूर्वामाशां प्रविश्य तु ।। ७.३२.
Looking westward, he saw the river’s swelling surge, like the roar of the ocean, advancing and entering the eastern quarter.
ततो ऽनुभ्रान्तशकुनां स्वभावोपरमे स्थिताम् । निर्विकाराङ्गनाभासामपश्यद्रावणो नदीम् ।। ७.३२.
There Ravana beheld the river, unmoved in her natural state, with birds trailing behind her, resembling a woman of unshaken composure.
सव्येतरकराङ्गुल्या सशब्दं च दशाननः । वेगप्रभावमन्वेष्टुं सो ऽदिशच्छुकसारणौ ।। ७.३२.
Then the ten-headed one, snapping the fingers of his left hand with a sound, ordered Shuka and Sarana to investigate the force of the current.
तौ तु रावणसन्दिष्टौ भ्रातरौ शुकसारणौ । व्योमान्तरगतौ वीरौ प्रस्थितौ पश्चिमामुखौ ।। ७.३२.
Thus commanded by Ravana, the heroic brothers Shuka and Sarana set out westward, soaring through the sky.
अर्धयोजनमात्रं तु गत्वा तौ रजनीचरौ । पश्येतां पुरुषं तोये क्रीडन्तं सहयोषितम् ।। ७.३२.
After traveling half a yojana, those two night-stalkers saw a man sporting in the water with his women.
बृहत्सालप्रतीकाशं तोयव्याकुलमूर्धजम् । मदरक्तान्तनयनं मदव्याकुलतेजसम् ।। ७.३२.
He was massive as a great sala tree, his hair disordered by the water, his eyes reddened with intoxication, and his radiance bewildered by wine.