ताः समेत्य यथान्यायं तस्मिन् सदसि देवताः । अब्रुवँल्लोककर्तारं ब्रह्माणं वचनं ततः ॥१-१५-
Having gathered as prescribed, the deities in that assembly spoke these words to Brahmā, the creator of the worlds.
भगवंस्त्वत्प्रसादेन रावणो नाम राक्षसः । सर्वान् नो बाधते वीर्याच्छासितुं तं न शक्नुमः ॥१-१५-
O Lord, by your grace, a Rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa oppresses us all with his strength; we are unable to restrain him.
त्वया तस्मै वरो दत्तः प्रीतेन भगवंस्तदा । मानयन्तश्च तं नित्यं सर्वं तस्य क्षमामहे ॥१-१५-
You granted him a boon out of affection, O Lord, and we always honor him; we endure everything from him.
उद्वेजयति लोकांस्त्रीनुच्छ्रितान् द्वेष्टि दुर्मतिः । शक्रं त्रिदशराजानं प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति ॥१-१५-
That wicked-minded one agitates the three worlds, despises them, and desires to violate Indra, king of the gods.
ऋषीन् यक्षान् सगन्धर्वान् ब्राह्मणानसुरांस्तदा । अतिक्रामति दुर्धर्षो वरदानेन मोहितः ॥१-१५-
He transgresses against sages, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Brāhmaṇas, and Asuras, emboldened by the boon and rendered arrogant.
नैनं सूर्यः प्रतपति पार्श्वे वाति न मारुतः । चलोर्मिमाली तं दृष्ट्वा समुद्रोऽपि न कम्पते ॥१-१५-
The sun does not burn him, nor does the wind blow near him; even the ocean, seeing him, does not stir its waves.
तन्महन्नो भयं तस्माद् राक्षसाद् घोरदर्शनात् । वधार्थं तस्य भगवन्नुपायं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥१-१५-
Therefore, O Lord, there is great fear from that terrifying Rākṣasa; you ought to devise a means for his destruction.
एवमुक्तः सुरैः सर्वैश्चिन्तयित्वा ततोऽब्रवीत् । हन्तायं विदितस्तस्य वधोपायो दुरात्मनः ॥१-१५-
Thus addressed by all the gods, Brahmā, after pondering, spoke: 'The means for the destruction of that evil one is now known.'
तेन गन्धर्वयक्षाणां देवदानवरक्षसाम् । अवध्योऽस्मीति वागुक्ता तथेत्युक्तं च तन्मया ॥१-१५-
By him, it was declared, 'I am invulnerable to Gandharvas, Yakṣas, gods, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas,' and I affirmed it accordingly.
नाकीर्तयदवज्ञानात् तद् रक्षो मानुषांस्तदा । तस्मात् स मानुषाद् वध्यो मृत्युर्नान्योऽस्य विद्यते ॥१-१५-
Out of disdain, that Rākṣasa did not mention humans; therefore, he is vulnerable to death from a human, and no other death is possible for him.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णुरुपयातो महाद्युतिः । शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासा जगत्पतिः ॥१-१५-
Meanwhile, Viṣṇu, of great splendor, arrived, holding conch, discus, and mace, clad in yellow garments, the lord of the universe.
वैनतेयं समारुह्य भास्करस्तोयदम् यथा । तप्तहाटककेयूरो वन्द्यमानः सुरोत्तमैः ॥१-१५-
Mounted upon Garuda, like the sun upon a rain cloud, adorned with blazing golden armlets, he was praised by the best of the gods.
ब्रह्मणा च समागत्य तत्र तस्थौ समाहितः । तमब्रुवन् सुराः सर्वे समभिष्टूय संनताः ॥१-१५-
There, Brahma himself arrived and stood with focused mind; all the gods, bowing and extolling him, addressed him.
त्वां नियोक्ष्यामहे विष्णो लोकानां हितकाम्यया । राज्ञो दशरथस्य त्वमयोध्याधिपतेर्विभो ॥१-१५-
O Vishnu, desiring the welfare of the worlds, we appoint you; you must become the son of King Dasharatha, the lord of Ayodhya.
धर्मज्ञस्य वदान्यस्य महर्षिसमतेजसः । तस्य भार्यासु तिसृषु ह्रीश्रीकीर्त्युपमासु च ॥१-१५-
He is righteous, generous, and equal in brilliance to great sages; among his three wives, who are comparable to Modesty, Fortune, and Fame—
विष्णो पुत्रत्वमागच्छ कृत्वाऽऽत्मानं चतुर्विधम् । तत्र त्वं मानुषो भूत्वा प्रवृद्धं लोककण्टकम् ॥१-१५-
O Vishnu, become his son, dividing yourself into four forms; there, taking human birth, you must destroy the great scourge of the worlds.
अवध्यं दैवतैर्विष्णो समरे जहि रावणम् । स हि देवान् सगन्धर्वान् सिद्धांश्च ऋषिसत्तमान् ॥१-१५-
O Vishnu, slay Ravana in battle, who cannot be killed by the gods; for he torments the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the best of sages.
राक्षसो रावणो मूर्खो वीर्योद्रेकेण बाधते । ऋषयश्च ततस्तेन गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥१-१५-
That foolish Rakshasa Ravana, in his excess of power, oppresses the sages, and likewise the Gandharvas and Apsaras.
क्रीडन्तो नन्दनवने रौद्रेण विनिपातिताः । वधार्थं वयमायातास्तस्य वै मुनिभिः सह ॥१-१५-
While playing in the Nandana grove, they were struck down by his cruelty; for the purpose of his destruction, we have come here together with the sages.
सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च ततस्त्वां श्ररणं गताः । त्वं गतिः परमा देव सर्वेषाम् नः परंतपः ॥१-१५-
Therefore, the Siddhas, Gandharvas, and Yakshas have sought refuge in you; you are the supreme refuge for all of us, O subduer of foes.
वधाय देवशतॄणां नृणां लोके मनः कुरु । एवं स्तुतस्तु देवेशो विष्णुस्त्रिदशपुंगवः ॥१-१५-
Turn your mind, O god, to the destruction of the enemies of the gods and of men in this world; thus praised, Vishnu, lord of the gods, foremost among the immortals—
पितामहपुरोगांस्तान् सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः । अब्रवीत् त्रिदशान् सर्वान् समेतान् धर्मसंहितान् ॥१-१५-
Honored by all the worlds, with Brahma at their head, he spoke to all the assembled gods, who were devoted to righteousness.
भयं त्यजत भद्रं वो हितार्थं युधि रावणम् । सपुत्रपौत्रं सामात्यं समन्त्रिज्ञातिबान्धवम् ॥१-१५-
Abandon fear, may good be yours; for your welfare, I will slay Ravana in battle—together with his sons, grandsons, ministers, counselors, kin, and allies.
हत्वा क्रूरं दुराधर्षं देवर्षीणां भयावहम् । दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च ॥१-१५-
Having slain that cruel, formidable terror of gods and sages, I shall dwell in the world of men for ten thousand and one thousand years.
वत्स्यामि मानुषे लोके पालयन् पृथिवीमिमाम् । एवं दत्त्वा वरं देवो देवानां विष्णुरात्मवान् ॥१-१५-
I will remain on this earth, protecting it, for that time among humans; thus, granting this boon, the self-possessed Vishnu spoke to the gods.
मानुष्ये चिन्तयामास जन्मभूमिमथात्मनः । ततः पद्मपलाशाक्षः कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् ॥१-१५-
Then, considering his own place of birth among humans, the lotus-eyed one divided himself into four forms.
पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् । ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः सरुद्राः साप्सरोगणाः । स्तुतिभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिस्तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम् ॥१-१५-
At that time, he chose King Dasharatha as his father; then the gods, sages, Gandharvas, Rudras, and hosts of Apsaras praised Madhusudana with hymns of divine form.
तमुद्धतं रावणमुग्रतेजसं :::प्रवृद्धदर्पं त्रिदशेश्वरद्विषम् । विरावणं साधु तपस्विकण्टकं :::तपस्विनामुद्धर तं भयावहम् ॥१-१५-
That arrogant Ravana, fierce in energy, swollen with pride, hater of the lords of the gods, roaring, a thorn to ascetics—remove that terror, O savior of ascetics.
तमेव हत्वा सबलं सबान्धवम् :::विरावणं रावणमुग्रपौरुषम् । स्वर्लोकमागच्छ गतज्वरश्चिरं सुरेन्द्रगुप्तं गतदोषकल्मषम् ॥१-१५-
Having slain that roaring Ravana, fierce in valor, along with his forces and kin, come to the heavenly world, freed from all distress, guarded by Indra, and cleansed of all fault and sin.
thumb|षोडशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे षोडशः सर्गः ॥१-
Having filled the divine vessel with celestial porridge, holding it close like a beloved wife, with his broad arms he grasped it himself, as if it were a creation of illusion.