Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— लङ्कां गच्छन् कौणपेन्द्रः संगतो मुनिना सह। विषण्णः स्वापमानेन महामानीदमूचिवान्॥१॥
Brahmā said: As the proud lord of the Rākṣasas traveled toward Laṅkā with the sage, he brooded over his humiliation and spoke.
Passage 2
धिङ्मे तपोबलं शौर्यं धिङ्मानं धिक्पराक्रमम्। बलान्निबध्य शुकवत्पञ्जरे यो निपातितः॥२॥
“Shame on my strength born of austerity, shame on my valor and honor, and shame on my prowess—for I was forcibly bound and thrown into a cage like a parrot!
Passage 3
नाहं लङ्कां गमिष्यामि हृतमानो हृतोद्धतिः। किं तस्य जीवितं पुंसो यो जीवेन्मानवाजितः॥३॥
“I shall not go to Laṅkā, robbed of honor and pride. What value is there in the life of a man who continues living after defeat by a human?
Passage 4
किं मुखं दर्शयिष्यामि राक्षसानां सुदुःखितः। तप एव करिष्येऽहं भग्नमानमदोऽधुना॥४॥
“How can I show my face to the Rākṣasas in this wretched state? Now that my pride and arrogance are broken, I shall practice austerity alone.
Passage 5
दृश्येऽहं तथा युद्धे हैहयेन पराजितः। निबध्य पाशैः सुदृढैर्नीयमानो निजां पुरीम्॥५॥
“How can I be seen after defeat in battle by the Haihaya, bound with strong fetters and led away to his own city?
Passage 6
तेषां पुरोऽहमास्फाल्य दोर्दण्डान् वितथोद्धवान्। किं नु गर्वापितेदानीमधिक्षिप्य सुरासुरान्॥६॥
“Before my people I once slapped my staff-like arms, raised now in vain. How can I boast any longer and pour scorn upon gods and Asuras?
Passage 7
अधो विधाय तान् सर्वान् स्वर्णसिंहासनस्थितः। किं नु राज्यमदप्रौढिं वोढेदानीमहं पुरे॥७॥
“How can I now sit upon my golden throne, place all others beneath me, and carry myself through the city with the swelling intoxication of sovereignty?
Passage 8
अपि योगीन्द्र भगवन् प्रजास्ते वयमीदृशीम्। दुर्गतिं तात यत्प्राप्तास्तत्तवापि ह्यनौचिती॥८॥
“Revered lord and foremost yogin, we are your descendants. Father, the fact that we have fallen into such a miserable condition is unworthy of you as well.
Passage 9
अतोऽहं मानभङ्गेन विषण्णहृदयोऽधुना। आराधयिष्ये गिरिशं प्रवेक्ष्ये वा हुताशनम्॥९॥
“My heart is now desolate because my honor has been broken. I shall either worship Lord Śiva or enter the fire.
Passage 10
धिग्जनुस्तस्य लोकस्य स्वानां यः पुरतोऽरिणा। ईदृक् पराभवं प्राप्तोऽप्यसून् मुञ्चति न द्रुतम्॥१०॥
“Shame on the life of anyone who suffers such a defeat by an enemy before his own people, yet does not quickly give up his life!
Passage 11
किं करोमि न मे प्राणा निर्यान्ति वपुषो बहिः। ईदृक् पराभवं प्राप्ता अधुनापि जिजीविषा॥११॥
“What can I do? My life-breaths will not leave my body. Even after undergoing such defeat, the desire to live remains.” Pulastya Consoles Rāvaṇa
Passage 12
इत्थं भृशं विषीदन्तं लङ्केशं दशकन्धरम्। उवाच करुणायुक्तः पुलस्त्यो मुनिपुङ्गवः॥१२॥
As the ten-headed lord of Laṅkā grieved so deeply, Pulastya, foremost of sages and filled with compassion, addressed him.
Passage 13
मा विषीद तमां चित्ते राक्षसेन्द्र महाबल। जीवन् लोकेषु विपुलां ख्यातिं त्वं समवाप्स्यसि॥१३॥
“Do not sink into such despair, mighty lord of the Rākṣasas. By living on, you will attain immense renown throughout the worlds.
Passage 14
स हि राजा महाबाहुश्चक्रावतरणं हरेः। सहस्रबाहुर्द्रष्टव्यो न सामान्यधिया त्वया॥१४॥
“That mighty-armed king is an incarnation of Hari's discus. You should understand the thousand-armed ruler in that light, not regard him as an ordinary being.
Passage 15
यस्य वीर्यं बलं चैव सदापरिमितं भवे। यः साक्षाद्विदितः शिष्य आत्रेयस्य महामुनेः॥१५॥
“His valor and strength are always immeasurable in this world, and he is directly known as a disciple of the great sage Ātreya.
Passage 16
येनाष्टादशद्वीपाढ्या मही करतले कृता। स्मृतिमात्रेण यः पुंसां धर्माधर्मविवेचकः॥१६॥
“He has brought the earth, adorned with eighteen islands, into the palm of his hand; merely remembering him gives people discernment between dharma and adharma.
Passage 17
न तेन स्पर्धितुं योग्यः कोऽपि लोके चराचरे। प्रसाददृष्टिं वाञ्छन्ति तस्य सर्वोऽपि सन्ततम्॥१७॥
“No moving or unmoving being in the world is fit to rival him. Everyone continually longs for his gracious glance.
Passage 18
रममाणः स महीषीयूथेन विधुजाम्भसि। व्यर्थं प्रक्षोभितो वत्स भवताविदितौजसा॥१८॥
“Child, while he was delighting with his company of queens in the waters of the moon-born river, you needlessly provoked him without knowing his power.
Passage 19
स्वयमेव समाधत्स्व हृदयं स्वं महाभुज। अथो तपस्व विपुलं तपः स्वोत्कर्षसिद्धये॥१९॥
“Compose your own heart, mighty-armed one, and then perform abundant austerity to attain still greater excellence.
Passage 20
मया चापि प्रदत्तस्ते वरः सामान्यभूतिकृत्। आराध्य भूयो भूतेशं लभस्वाभीष्टमात्मनः॥२०॥
“The boon I granted you has produced only ordinary prosperity. Worship the Lord of beings once more and obtain what your heart truly desires.
Passage 21
सद्यस्ते वरदो भूयात्पिनाकी गिरिजापतिः। लभस्व चासमां भूतिं तत आराधिताद्विभो॥२१॥
“May Pināka-bearing Śiva, husband of Girijā, promptly grant you a boon. By worshiping that lord, obtain incomparable power.
Passage 22
विमनायितव्यं ते नैव न च कार्या विरागिता। भव भूष्णुर्भाविकवानुद्युञ्जीत विशेषतः॥२२॥
“You must not become despondent or lose your resolve. Be intent on future attainment, become prosperous, and exert yourself especially.” Rāvaṇa Turns Toward Kailāsa
Passage 23
इत्थं समाहितस्तेन पुलस्त्येन सयोगिना। अतीवामर्षयुक्तोऽपि प्रशान्तिमगमत् खलः॥२३॥
Thus steadied by the yogin Pulastya, the wicked Rāvaṇa attained calm even though he remained filled with intense wounded pride.
Passage 24
मध्ये मार्गं विसृज्यासौ मुनीन्द्रं स्वाश्रमं प्रति। कैलासमगमद्घोर आरिराधयिषुः शिवम्॥२४॥
Partway along the road, he sent the lord of sages back toward his hermitage and, determined to worship Śiva, the fierce Rāvaṇa went to Kailāsa.
Passage 25
अतुल्यतेजा भवितुं भवेऽस्मिन् दशाननो घोरतपश्चिकीर्षुः। कपालिनोऽभ्याशमगात्तमोऽथो नितान्तमाराधयितुं तमीशम्॥२५॥
Desiring incomparable splendor in this world and intent on fearsome austerity, the ten-headed king went into Kapālin's presence to worship that lord with utmost intensity. इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे दक्षिणखण्डे रावणकृतोद्यमो नामाष्टाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः॥ १०८ ॥ Thus ends Chapter 108, “Rāvaṇa's Undertaking,” in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the venerable Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi. --- Source Note - Source witness: Bhuśuṇḍi Rāmāyaṇa, Volume 2, Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa. - This chapter was collated directly from source leaves 404–406 (printed pages 377–379; physical PDF pages 405–407). - All 25 numbered passages are presented in order. Chapter 107 ends and Chapter 108 begins on physical PDF page 405; Chapter 108 ends and Chapter 109 begins on physical PDF page 407. - The English is a fresh, direct translation prepared for this edition.