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राम

दक्षिणखण्ड · अध्याय 109

Rāvaṇa's Ambition for Universal Rule

Global chapter 255 of 51427 passagesSource PDF pages 406408
Chapter context and opening material

Rāvaṇa worships Śiva at Kailāsa, tears away a peak, and carries the divine mountain-top to Laṅkā for continual service. Emboldened, he imagines conquering the gods, making them his attendants, suppressing Viṣṇu's dharma, and ruling the three worlds with power obtained from Śiva. Rāvaṇa Carries a Peak of Kailāsa to Laṅkā

Passage 1

ब्रह्मोवाच— आराध्नन् गिरिशं देवं राक्षसो विश्वभीषणः। उवास सुचिरं तत्र कैलासे सुमनोहरे॥१॥

Brahmā said: The world-terrifying Rākṣasa remained for a long time upon beautiful Kailāsa, worshiping Lord Śiva.

Passage 2

भक्त्या दिवानिशं शम्भोः परिचर्यामुपाश्रितः। दृप्तो बाहुबलोद्रेकादिदं स चकमेऽतराम्॥२॥

Devotedly serving Śambhu day and night, he became proud of the swelling strength of his arms and intensely desired the following.

Passage 3

उत्पाट्य कैलासगिरिं बलेन श्रीपार्वतीशेन समन्वितं चेत्। प्रसह्य लङ्कानगरीं नयामि तदा भवे मत्प्रतिमस्तु कः स्यात्॥३॥

“If by force I uproot Mount Kailāsa together with glorious Pārvatī's lord and carry it to Laṅkā, who in this world could then equal me?”

Passage 4

अवधार्य हृदात्यर्थमित्थं स दशकन्धरः। उत्पाटयामास गिरेः शृङ्गं कामायधिष्ठितम्॥४॥

Having firmly resolved upon this in his heart, the ten-headed Rāvaṇa uprooted a wish-fulfilling peak of the mountain.

Passage 5

तस्य चोत्पाट्यमानस्य निःस्वनः सुमहानभूत्। यथा वितत्रसुः सर्वे गणा ये प्रमथादयः॥५॥

As it was being torn free, such a tremendous roar arose that all Śiva's attendants, the Pramathas and the rest, trembled.

Passage 6

पार्वती गिरिनिर्भुग्नभीषणध्वनिभीषिता। आलिलिङ्गे जवाद्वक्षः शङ्करस्य भयापहम्॥६॥

Terrified by the dreadful sound of the mountain being wrenched apart, Pārvatī quickly embraced Śaṅkara's fear-dispelling chest.

Passage 7

स्रवद्धातु पतदुग्रावहन्निर्झरवारि तत्। दोर्भिरुत्पाट्य शैलस्य निनाय शिखरोत्तमम्॥७॥

With mineral streams oozing and fierce cascades of water falling from it, Rāvaṇa tore away the mountain's highest summit with his arms and carried it off.

Passage 8

नभःपथेन वीरेन्द्रो वहन् धरणिभृद्धरम्। जगाम तरसा लङ्कामनिरुद्धमनोरथः॥८॥

Bearing the earth-supporting peak through the sky, the lord of heroes swiftly went to Laṅkā, his purpose unobstructed.

Passage 9

स आत्ममन्दिरे सम्यग्रुद्रावासं महीधरम्। स्थापयामास सततं भक्त्या परिचरन् मुहुः॥९॥

He properly installed that mountain, Rudra's dwelling, within his own palace and repeatedly attended it with constant devotion. He Plans the Conquest of the Gods

Passage 10

ततः स उद्धततमो महामानी महामनाः। विजिगीषुर्जगत्सर्वमकामयत चेतसा॥१०॥

Then, more arrogant than ever, immensely proud and ambitious, he formed in his mind the desire to conquer the whole universe.

Passage 11

कथं नु ब्रह्मभवनाज्जित्वा ब्रह्माणमात्मना। आबध्य तरसा पाशैर्नयामि विनयामि च॥११॥

“How might I conquer Brahmā in his own abode, bind him swiftly with ropes, carry him away, and humble him?

Passage 12

आच्छिद्य वाहनं तस्य हंसयुग्मं मनोरमम्। गृह्णीय स्वस्य सुचिरं वाहनीकर्तुमञ्जसा॥१२॥

“How might I seize his delightful pair of swans and keep them for a long time as my own vehicle?

Passage 13

अथो कथं नु साध्यानां वसूनां वरुणस्य च। इन्द्रस्याग्नेर्यमस्यापि निर्ऋतेर्मरुतां तथा॥१३॥

“And how might I take possession of the realms of the Sādhyas, Vasus, Varuṇa, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirṛti, and the Maruts;

Passage 14

आदित्यानां तारकाणां विश्वेषां सोमसूर्ययोः। जित्वा लोकानहं सद्यः स्वात्मसात्करवे क्षणात्॥१४॥

“And of the Ādityas, stars, Viśvedevas, Moon, and Sun—conquering their worlds and making them my own in a single instant?

Passage 15

अन्येषां चापि देवानामधिकारांस्तथा गृहान्। विभूतीश्च क्षणाज्जित्वा कथं नु वशयाम्यहम्॥१५॥

“How might I swiftly conquer the offices, abodes, and powers of all the other gods and bring them under my control?

Passage 16

सर्वे देवाश्च नागाश्च यावत्परिचरन्ति नो। मामशेषजगन्नाथं तावत्तुष्याम्यहं कथम्॥१६॥

“How can I be satisfied until every god and Nāga serves me as lord of the entire universe?

Passage 17

शशी मां कोमलैरंशुसंदोहैः सन्ततं निशि। चन्दनालेपमङ्गेषु दधातु प्रीणयत्वपि॥१७॥

“At night let the Moon continually spread a sandalwood-like anointing over my limbs with masses of gentle rays and give me pleasure.

Passage 18

सूर्योऽतिमृदुलैस्तावत्तु करैस्तपतु वासरे। यावन्निशाहिमकणान् हरेदूष्मणि मामके॥१८॥

“By day let the Sun warm me with exceedingly soft rays, only until he has removed the night's drops of frost from my body.

Passage 19

मरुतस्तालपत्रेषु समाविश्य त्रिधा सुखम्। वितन्वन्तु मयि श्रान्ते रतिखेदेन रात्रिषु॥१९॥

“At night, when I am weary from the exertion of love, let the winds enter palm-leaf fans and refresh me pleasantly in three ways.

Passage 20

इन्द्रो मत्परिचर्यायामिन्द्राण्या सह तत्परः। अस्तु स्नानासनालेपपानभोजनकर्मसु॥२०॥

“Let Indra and Indrāṇī devote themselves to attending me in bathing, seating, anointing, drinking, and dining.

Passage 21

वरुणो मम पानीयहारी भवतु सन्ततम्। वाक्पतिस्त्रिदशाचार्यो वन्दीव स्तौतु मां सदा॥२१॥

“Let Varuṇa always be my water-bearer, and let Vākpati, teacher of the thirty gods, continually praise me like a court bard.

Passage 22

ब्रह्मा मम स्वस्त्ययनं कल्पयत्वनिशं पठन्। ऋग्यजुःसाममन्त्रोघान् सुस्वरं हृदि रोचनम्॥२२॥

“Let Brahmā continually secure my welfare by beautifully reciting hosts of pleasing Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma mantras. Rāvaṇa Rejects Viṣṇu's Dharma

Passage 23

अथो विष्णुमहं द्वेष्मि मम पूर्वविरोधिनम्। तन्मूलश्चापि यो धर्मस्तमहं छेदयामि च॥२३॥

“I hate Viṣṇu, my enemy from former times, and I shall cut down the dharma that has him as its root.

Passage 24

सत्त्वेन किं मया कार्यं सत्त्वं लिङ्गं हि वैष्णवम्। रजस्तमोभ्यां मे स्वार्थस्तामसो राजसो भवे॥२४॥

“What use have I for sattva, since sattva is the mark of a Vaiṣṇava? My purpose lies in rajas and tamas; let me be rajasic and tamasic.

Passage 25

शम्भुमाराध्य सततं कायेन मनसा गिरा। अनन्यसामान्यसुखो भवेयं त्रिजगत्पतिः॥२५॥

“By continually worshiping Śambhu with body, mind, and speech, may I become lord of the three worlds and enjoy happiness unequaled by any other.

Passage 26

चिकीर्षितमिदं नित्यं यन्मे मनसि वर्तते। तत्पूरयितुमीशोऽयं शम्भुरेव महेश्वरः॥२६॥

“This is the undertaking that always fills my mind, and Lord Śambhu alone is capable of bringing it to fulfillment.”

Passage 27

इति मनसि निधाय मन्त्रमेष स्मरहरभक्तिकलाभ्युपेतचेताः। रथमतुलमयुङ्क्त विश्वजैत्रं दशवदनो बलवान्निशाचरेन्द्रः॥२७॥

Having fixed this resolve in his mind, his heart furnished with the art of devotion to the destroyer of Kāma, the mighty ten-headed lord of the night-rangers yoked his peerless, world-conquering chariot. इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे दक्षिणखण्डे रावणमन्त्रो नाम नवाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः॥ १०९ ॥ Thus ends Chapter 109, “Rāvaṇa's Resolve,” 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 406–408 (printed pages 379–381; physical PDF pages 407–409). - All 27 numbered passages are presented in order. Chapter 108 ends and Chapter 109 begins on physical PDF page 407; Chapter 109 ends and Chapter 110 begins on physical PDF page 409. - The English is a fresh, direct translation prepared for this edition.