Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— तस्यासीत्तनयो घोरो मेघनाद इति श्रुतः। जातमात्रस्तु योऽरावीन्मेघवद्विपुलस्वरम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Rāvaṇa had a formidable son known as Meghanāda, who at the moment of his birth roared with the tremendous voice of a cloud.
Passage 2
स क्रमेण बलोद्रिक्तो वर्धमानो दिने दिने। राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भवनं भूषयामास तेजसा॥२॥
Growing day by day, he gradually became swollen with strength and adorned the Rākṣasa king's palace with his splendor.
Passage 3
शेषस्य तनयां साध्वीं महीन्द्रस्य मनस्विनीम्। सुलोचना नाम बलादुपयेमे स ऊर्जितः॥३॥
The mighty prince married Sulochanā, the virtuous and high-minded daughter of Śeṣa, lord of the earth.
Passage 4
स राक्षससुतैर्घोरैर्बलिभिर्विक्रमोर्जितः। पुरस्तात्पितुरासीन इदमूचे विनीतवत्॥४॥
Surrounded by formidable, powerful Rākṣasa princes and endowed with valor, he sat before his father and spoke respectfully.
Passage 5
तात त्वमतिचित्तेन सचिन्त इव लक्ष्यसे। तस्य मे कारणं ब्रूहि का चिन्ता मयि जाग्रति॥५॥
“Father, you appear deeply preoccupied and worried. Tell me its cause—what concern regarding me is awake in your mind?”
Passage 6
तमाह राक्षसाधीशो वत्स त्वं किमु वेत्स्यसि। चिन्तामूलमगाधं मे मनोरथवलन्मतेः॥६॥
The Rākṣasa lord said to him: “Child, how could you know the unfathomable root of the concern in my desire-filled mind?
Passage 7
अहं हि प्रथमं देवान् स्वस्वविष्टपवर्तिनः। जिगीषुरस्मि विपुलामाजिहीर्षुश्च तच्छ्रियम्॥७॥
“First I intend to conquer the gods who rule their respective realms and seize their vast prosperity.
Passage 8
स एव पुरुषो लोके मात्रं समजनि स्फुटम्। यस्य ख्यातिः परा पूर्वान् परांश्चाप्यतिवर्तते॥८॥
“Only that man has truly been born in this world whose exalted fame surpasses both his ancestors and his descendants.
Passage 9
यत्कीर्तिर्ब्रह्मभवने राजहंसायते सदा। महेन्द्रभवने चापि स्वर्गङ्गैव विराजते॥९॥
“His glory should move like a royal swan in Brahmā's abode and shine in Indra's palace like the celestial Gaṅgā.
Passage 10
यं भवे वर्तमानं च जानन्त्युत्कर्षभाजनम्। यस्याज्ञा विधिशक्रादिशिरोमाला लम्बिनी॥१०॥
“He alone should be recognized in this world as a vessel of eminence, his command hanging like a garland over the heads of Brahmā, Indra, and the other gods.
Passage 11
स एव जातो जगति जनानां मध्यगोचरः। न चेत्कृमिप्रसूः किं नु कृमिं जनयते बत॥११॥
“He alone is truly born among the people of this world. Otherwise, alas, what difference is there between a mother bearing a man and a worm producing another worm?
Passage 12
को विशेषोऽत्र जगति कृमिपुंसोः प्रसूतयोः। ख्यातिर्वा जातयोर्लोके वृथोदरभृतोरपि॥१२॥
“What distinction is there in this world between the births of a worm and a man if both merely fill their bellies and neither wins renown?
Passage 13
अतः पराक्रमं पुत्र कृत्वा त्वं विदितो भव। लोकेऽस्मिन् कालवशः को न जातो न जनिष्यते॥१३॥
“Therefore, son, perform a deed of valor and become renowned. Subject to time, who has not been born in this world, and who will not be born?
Passage 14
येषां नामानि लोकेऽस्मिन् गीयन्ते कविसत्तमैः। त एव मात्रा जनिता जना जाग्रति भूतले॥१४॥
“Only those whose names are sung in this world by eminent poets were truly born from a mother and remain alive upon the earth.” Meghanāda Accepts His Father's Charge
Passage 15
इति पितुर्वचनं विनिशम्य स प्रकृतितीक्ष्णमहोद्धतमानसः। अवददङ्कूतवाक्पटुतानिधिः पितरमानतमर्त्यसुरासुरम्॥१५॥
Hearing his father's words, Meghanāda—fierce by nature, exceedingly proud, and a treasury of skill in discerning intention and speech—addressed the father before whom mortals, gods, and Asuras bowed.
Passage 16
यदात्थ तत्तथैवेह विक्रमेणैव लभ्यते। कीर्तिः सुरासुरनरमौलिमालावलम्बिनी॥१६॥
“What you have said is certainly true: only through valor does one obtain fame that hangs like a garland above the crowned heads of gods, Asuras, and men.
Passage 17
दैवं चेदनुकूलं स्यात्साधयेत्सर्वमेव तत्। महतां कुलजो विद्वान् स्वकुलोचितमूर्जितः॥१७॥
“If destiny is favorable, a learned and mighty descendant of a great lineage should accomplish everything worthy of his family.”
Passage 18
इत्युक्त्वा राक्षसवरकुमारैः सहितो बली। सभामण्डपतः सद्य उत्तस्थौ कुटिलाशयः॥१८॥
Having spoken, the powerful prince, accompanied by the foremost young Rākṣasas and concealing his purpose, immediately rose from the assembly hall.
Passage 19
नत्वा पितुः स चरणौ ततो दत्तं वीटकं करे। समादाय महावीरः स्वात्मनः सदनं ययौ॥१९॥
The great hero bowed at his father's feet, accepted in his hand the betel roll his father gave him, and went to his own residence.
Passage 20
यस्मिन् सुलोचनादेवी शेषनागेन्द्रकन्यका। सखीसमाजमध्यस्था भासयत्यखिला दिशः॥२०॥
There Lady Sulochanā, daughter of the serpent king Śeṣa, sat among her companions and illuminated every direction.
Passage 21
तद्गृहं पानभोज्यादिसर्वसम्भारसम्भृतम्। उपेत्य राक्षसाधीशतनयो नारमत् तमाम्॥२१॥
The Rākṣasa king's son entered that residence, furnished with every provision for drink, food, and enjoyment, yet took no pleasure there at all.
Passage 22
शोकचिन्तासमाविष्टो न क्रीडति न भाषते। पित्रोक्तं वचनं चित्ते संस्मरन् विक्रमस्पृहः॥२२॥
Filled with sorrowful thought, he neither sported nor spoke; longing for a deed of valor, he pondered his father's words.
Passage 23
तं तथा शोकसंवीतं दृष्ट्वा देवी सुलोचना। उवाच सादरं सम्यक् सम्पूज्य प्रश्नयान्विता॥२३॥
Seeing him thus wrapped in sorrow, Lady Sulochanā respectfully honored him and spoke with a question. Sulochanā Praises Her Husband
Passage 24
सुलोचनोवाच— रक्षोऽधिनाथस्य दशाननस्य त्रैलोक्यनाथस्य महाविभूतेः। भवान् कुमारोऽप्रतिमः प्रसिद्धेः पराक्रमैश्चापधृगद्वितीयः॥२४॥
Sulochanā said: “You are the peerless son of the ten-headed lord of the Rākṣasas, the immensely powerful master of the three worlds, and as an archer you are unequaled in fame and valor.
Passage 25
विभूतयो या नरकिन्नराणां पुलोमजेशस्य सुरासुराणाम्। भुजङ्गमानां च दिगीश्वराणां लोकेश्वराणां च धरापतीनाम्॥२५॥
“The riches possessed by humans and Kinnaras, by Indra, gods and Asuras, by serpents, guardians of the quarters, world-rulers, and earthly kings—
Passage 26
तास्ते गृहे भवितुं नाथ योग्या भवन्ति चैवाप्रतिमाः श्रियस्ते। न कञ्चनोत्कृष्टगुणं भवत्तः प्रत्येमि लङ्कावनिनाथसूनो॥२६॥
“All are fit to dwell within your palace, lord, yet even they cannot equal your splendor. Son of Laṅkā's sovereign, I know no one whose excellent qualities surpass yours.
Passage 27
भवान् यदास्फाल्य रणे स्वचापं पयोदसंघट्टगभीरघोषम्। विमुञ्चतीद्धा शरघोरवर्षं तदास्तु कः सम्मुखदेशवर्ती॥२७॥
“When in battle you brandish your bow, whose deep sound is like colliding storm clouds, and openly release a dreadful rain of arrows, who could remain before you?
Passage 28
द्रष्टुं च शक्नोतु भवन्तमारात् कः स्वित्पुमान् लब्धवरोऽपि नाथ। सुरासुरानीकधुरन्धराणां ह्रसन्ति वीर्याणि तवेक्षणाद्यत्॥२८॥
“Lord, what man, even one who has received a boon, could bear to look upon you from nearby? At the sight of you, the prowess of champions bearing the armies of gods and Asuras diminishes.
Passage 29
गर्जन् समुच्चारितसिंहनादं पिता तवायोधनगो दशास्यः। परान् जयत्यायुधपातलक्ष्यमन्वेषयानो नितरां त्रिलोक्याम्॥२९॥
“Your ten-headed father enters battle roaring a resounding lion's roar and conquers his enemies, tirelessly seeking targets for his falling weapons throughout the three worlds.
Passage 30
भवानपि स्फूर्जति नाथ युद्धे दोर्विक्रमाकृष्टजगद्विभूतिः। विभीषयन् मार्गणचण्डवृष्ट्या मनांसि देवासुरपुङ्गवानाम्॥३०॥
“You too blaze forth in battle, lord, drawing the world's prosperity to yourself through the might of your arms and terrifying the hearts of the foremost gods and Asuras with a fierce rain of arrows.
Passage 31
रक्षोबलैरेव जगत्यधीशास्तातेन तेऽद्धा करदीकृतास्ते। येषां पदाब्जे बत रञ्जयन्ति भूपाः किरीटाग्रमणिप्रकाशैः॥३१॥
“With Rākṣasa forces alone, your father has truly made tributaries of those world-rulers whose lotus feet earthly kings color with the radiance of the jewels upon their crowns.
Passage 32
आज्ञेव नूनं भवता प्रतीच्या तातस्य कर्हि प्रभुतालसस्य। क्रूरश्रुवा चेतसि लक्षितस्य विनिर्जये कस्यचिदासुरेश॥३२॥
“Lord of Asuras, surely you have received some command from your father, whose sovereign energy never tires, to conquer a fearsome foe upon whom your mind has fixed.
Passage 33
अतोऽनुशोचामि तवापि शोके किं कारणं सिद्धवरायुधस्य। किं कश्चिदास्ते जगतीह वीरो विनिर्जयं काङ्क्षसि यस्य युद्धे॥३३॥
“That is why I grieve when you grieve. What cause of sorrow can there be for one equipped with perfected divine weapons? Is there some hero in this world whom you long to defeat in battle?
Passage 34
अद्य प्रभो कौणपचक्रवर्तिचूडामणेः साधनदुर्लभं किम्। यच्चिन्तनेनात्तविशालतर्षो भवान् विमुह्यत्यसकृत्सुभूते॥३४॥
“Lord, what attainment could now be difficult for you, crown jewel of the Rākṣasa emperor? What thought has awakened such vast longing that you repeatedly lose yourself in it despite your great fortune?
Passage 35
मृगीदृशो मामनुदेवनागगन्धर्वविद्याधरवर्यकन्याः। त्वयैव सार्धं स्पृहयन्ति चित्ते ननु त्रिलोक्यामसमोर्ध्ववीर्य॥३५॥
“Doe-eyed maidens among humans, gods, Nāgas, Gandharvas, and Vidyādharas all yearn in their hearts to be with you, whose prowess has no equal or superior in the three worlds.
Passage 36
वैयात्यमेतदपि नाथ मम स्वभावाल्लोलायमानं स्त्रिय उदन्तवरानुयोगे। यत्तादृशस्त्रिजगतामधिपालकस्य रक्षःपतेर्गुह्यकथा ननु केन तर्क्या॥३६॥
“Forgive even this boldness of mine, lord: a woman's nature becomes restless to ask about important news. Who could otherwise presume to reason about the secret purpose of such a guardian of the three worlds and lord of Rākṣasas?
Passage 37
भूर्युत्कर्षोऽसि भूतेः पदि पदि च भवान् भूय एवासि भूष्णुस्त्रैलोक्ये ख्यातिभाजामसि किमपि भवान् मौलिहीरः कुमार। दुस्तर्क्यं नाम वृत्तं तव पितुरथवा यत्तवैवापि तत्किं मत्तोऽपि स्त्रीस्वभावाच्चपललघुमते रक्ष्यते गोपनीयम्॥३७॥
“Prince, you possess immense excellence and grow ever more prosperous at every step; among the renowned of the three worlds you are a wondrous crown jewel. Whatever unfathomable matter concerns your father or yourself, must it be kept secret even from me merely because a woman's nature is restless and her understanding thought light?” इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे दक्षिणखण्डे सुलोचनाप्रश्नो नाम दशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः॥ ११० ॥ Thus ends Chapter 110, “Sulochanā's Question,” 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 408–410 (printed pages 381–383; physical PDF pages 409–411). - All 37 numbered passages are presented in order. Chapter 109 ends and Chapter 110 begins on physical PDF page 409; Chapter 110 ends and Chapter 111 begins on physical PDF page 411. - The English is a fresh, direct translation prepared for this edition.