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.
स रोषाद्रक्तनयनो राक्षसेन्द्रो बलोद्धतः ।। ७.३२.
The lord of the Rakshasas, his eyes red with anger, was swollen with strength.
इत्येवमर्जुनामात्यनाह गम्भीरया गिरा । अमात्याः क्षिप्रमाख्यात हैहयस्य नृपस्य वै ।। ७.३२.
Thus, Arjuna's minister spoke with a deep voice: 'Quickly announce to the king Haihaya.'
युद्धार्थी समनुप्राप्तो रावणो नाम राक्षसः । रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणो ऽथार्जुनस्य ते । उत्तस्थुः सायुधास्त्राश्च रावणं वाक्यमब्रुवन् ।। ७.३२.
Ravana, the Rakshasa, has arrived seeking battle. Hearing Ravana's words, Arjuna's ministers rose, armed and equipped, and addressed Ravana.
युद्धस्य कालो विज्ञेयः साधु भोः साधु रावण ।। ७.३२.
The time for battle must be determined. Well done, Ravana, well done.
चः श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणो ऽथार्जुनस्य ते । यः क्षीबं स्त्रीवृतं चैव योद्धुमुत्सहते नृपम् । स्त्रीसमक्षं कथं यत्तद्योद्धुमुत्सहसे ऽर्जुनम् । वाशितामध्यगं मत्तं शार्दूल इव कुञ्जरम् ।। ७.३२.
Hearing this, Arjuna's ministers said: 'Who would dare to fight a king surrounded by women? How can you, Arjuna, wish to fight in the presence of women, like a tiger attacking a drunken elephant among trumpeting females?'
क्षमस्वाद्य दशग्रीव चोष्यतां रजनी त्वया । युद्धे श्रद्धा च यद्यस्ति श्वस्तात समरे ऽर्जुनम् ।। ७.३२.
Forgive now, O ten-headed one; let the night be spent by you. If you have faith in battle, tomorrow you may fight Arjuna.
यद्यद्यास्ति मतिर्योद्धुं युद्धतृष्णासमावृता । निहत्यास्मांस्ततो युद्धमर्जुनेनोपयास्यसि ।। ७.३२.
If you truly desire to fight, your mind filled with thirst for battle, then, after defeating us, you may approach Arjuna for combat.
ततस्ते रावणामात्यैरमात्याः पार्थिवस्य तु । सूदिताश्चापि ते युद्धे भक्षिताश्च बुभुक्षितैः ।। ७.३२.
Then, by Ravana's ministers, the ministers of the king were slain in battle, and devoured by the hungry ones.
ततो हलहलाशब्दो नर्मदातीर आबभौ । अर्जुनस्यानुयातऽणां रावणस्य च मन्त्रिणाम् ।। ७.३२.
Then a tumultuous sound arose on the banks of the Narmada, from Arjuna's followers and Ravana's ministers.
इषुभिस्तोमरैः शूलैस्त्रिशूलैर्वज्रकर्षणैः । सरावणानर्दयन्तः समन्तात्समभिद्रुताः ।। ७.३२.
With arrows, spears, tridents, and thunderbolt-drawing weapons, they rushed from all sides, tormenting the Rakshasas.