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.
नदीं बाहुसहस्रेण रुन्धन्तमरिमर्दनम् । गिरिं पादसहस्रेण रुन्धन्तमिव मेदिनीम् ।। ७.३२.
With a thousand arms he blocked the river, subduer of foes, and with a thousand feet he seemed to hold back the earth like a mountain.
बालानां वरनारीणां सहस्रेण समावृतम् । समदानां करेणूनां सहस्रेणेव कुञ्जरम् ।। ७.३२.
He was surrounded by a thousand beautiful young women, like an elephant encircled by a thousand intoxicated female elephants.
तमद्भुततमं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसौ शुकसारणौ । सन्निवृत्तावुपागम्य रावणं तमथोचतुः ।। ७.३२.
Beholding that most wondrous sight, the two rakshasas, Shuka and Sarana, turned back and approached Ravana, and spoke to him.
बृहत्सालप्रतीकाशः को ऽप्यसौ राक्षसेश्वर । नर्मदां रोधवद्रुद्ध्वा क्रीडापयति योषितः ।। ७.३२.
"O lord of the rakshasas, there is someone there, massive as a great sala tree, who, having blocked the Narmada, sports with women."
तेन बाहुसहस्रेण सन्निरुद्धजला नदी । सागरोद्गारसङ्काशानुद्गारान्सृजते मुहुः ।। ७.३२.
"By his thousand arms the river’s waters are restrained, and she, resembling the ocean’s surge, repeatedly emits great waves."
इत्येवं भाषमाणौ तौ निशाम्य शुकसारणौ । रावणो ऽर्जुन इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ युद्धलालसः ।। ७.३२.
Hearing Shuka and Sarana speak thus, Ravana said, "That is Arjuna," and, eager for battle, set out.
अर्जुनाभिमुखे तस्मिन्रावणे राक्षसाधिपे । चण्डः प्रवाति पवनः सनादः सुरजास्तथा ।। ७.३२.
As Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, advanced toward Arjuna, a fierce, resounding wind arose, and the gods trembled.
सकृदेव कृतो रावः सरक्तः प्रेषितो घनैः । महोदरमहापार्श्वधूम्राक्षशुकसारणैः ।। ७.३२.
At once a blood-red cloud, sent forth by Mahodara, Mahaparsva, Dhumraksha, Shuka, and Sarana, gathered around Ravana.
संवृतो राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु तत्रागाद्यत्र चार्जुनः । अदीर्घेणैव कालेन स तदा राक्षसो बली । तं नर्मदाह्रदं भीममाजगामाञ्जनप्रभः ।। ७.३२.
Thus surrounded, the king of the rakshasas arrived where Arjuna was; and in a short time, that mighty rakshasa, dark as collyrium, reached the dreadful pool of the Narmada.
स तत्र स्त्रीपरिवृतं वाशिताभिरिव द्विपम् । नरेन्द्रं पश्यते राजा राक्षसानां तदार्जुनम् ।। ७.३२.
There, the king of the Rakshasas beheld the king surrounded by women, like an elephant encircled by trumpeting females.