Passage 1
भरत उवाच— कथं लीलारसं तेने प्रमोदवनचन्द्रमाः। एतन्मम समाचक्ष्व श्रीरामप्रिय लक्ष्मण॥१॥
Bharata said: “Lakṣmaṇa, beloved of Śrī Rāma, tell me how the moon of Pramodā Forest spread the rasa of līlā.
Passage 2
कथं च सहजादेव्या चिक्रीडे रामसुन्दरः। किमेकरूपो बहु वा प्रमोदविपिने रसः॥२॥
“How did beautiful Rāma sport with the goddess Sahajā? Is the rasa in Pramodā Forest a single form, or is it manifold?
Passage 3
आविर्भावि कथं चात्र प्रमोदविपिनान्तरे। स्वैरस्य पूर्णकामस्य निष्कामपदभागिनः॥३॥
“How did the one who is wholly free, whose every desire is fulfilled, and who abides in the desireless state manifest here within Pramodā Forest?
Passage 4
किमेष सगुणो वा उत निर्गुणः पुरुषः परः। विश्वात्मा विश्वकर्ता च रामो विश्वातिगो गुणैः॥४॥
“Is this supreme person qualified by attributes or beyond all attributes? Rāma is the soul and maker of the universe, yet by his qualities he transcends the universe.
Passage 5
एवं प्रियकथाः शृण्वन्न तृप्यामि प्रियस्य मे। स्वयं भगवतो भ्रातुः सुहृदः सख्युरात्मनः॥५॥
“I am never satisfied from hearing such beloved accounts of one so dear to me—God himself, my brother, well-wisher, friend, and very self.” The Curse Becomes an Occasion for Heroic Līlā
Passage 6
लक्ष्मण उवाच— साधु पृष्टं त्वया भद्र साधु संस्मारितोऽस्मि तत्। प्रमोदवनविश्रान्तिलीलाविलसिते सखे॥६॥
Lakṣmaṇa said: “Noble friend, you have asked well and have fittingly reminded me of that radiant līlā which finds its repose in Pramodā Forest.
Passage 7
श्रीरामनित्यसंसर्गी सर्वं चानुबभूविथ। तथापि तन्मायया त्वं न स्मरस्यद्भुतं हि तत्॥७॥
“You are Rāma's eternal companion and experienced all of it yourself. Yet through his māyā you do not remember that wondrous event.
Passage 8
नित्यमस्ति स्वयं रामः प्रमोदविपिने वसन्। तथापि ते प्रवक्ष्यामि कालेनाविर्भवं विभोः॥८॥
“Rāma eternally exists, dwelling in Pramodā Forest. Nevertheless, I shall tell you how the all-pervading Lord manifested within time.
Passage 9
रामस्यैव कलाव्यूहः श्रीमान् नारायणः प्रभुः। रमावैकुण्ठनिलयो रमया नित्यसेवितः॥९॥
“The glorious Lord Nārāyaṇa is an ordered expansion of Rāma's own powers. He dwells with Ramā in Vaikuṇṭha and is served by her eternally.
Passage 10
सहजांशस्वरूपिण्या प्रमोदविपिनांशके। वैकुण्ठे चिदचिद्रूपस्वरूपानन्दविग्रहः॥१०॥
“There in Vaikuṇṭha—a partial manifestation of Pramodā Forest—he is accompanied by her who embodies a portion of Sahajā, and his blissful form is the true ground of both sentient and insentient being.
Passage 11
हरिः सन्तोषयामास ब्रह्मण्यो ब्राह्मणोत्तमान्। ततः सानुशयास्ते वै प्रोचुर्लज्जानताननाः॥११॥
“Hari, the protector of sacred wisdom, consoled the foremost Brahmins. Filled with remorse, they bowed their faces in shame and spoke.
Passage 12
सनकाद्या ऊचुः— अहो अनार्यमस्माकं कर्मैतद्दुष्टचेतसाम्। यदीश तावकौ दिव्यौ शप्तौ पार्षदसत्तमौ॥१२॥
Sanaka and the other sages said: “‘Alas, Lord, what an ignoble deed we wicked-minded ones have done by cursing your two divine and excellent attendants!
Passage 13
इहापि चागत्य कुभाव एष रोषादयो नामीशसेवातिगानाम्। न यत्र माया च मदो न मत्सरो न क्षुद्रकाणां गमनं च दृश्यते॥१३॥
“‘Even after reaching this realm, how did such an evil disposition—anger and the rest—arise in us, who are counted among the Lord's servants? Here neither māyā, pride, nor envy exists, and no petty being is seen to enter.
Passage 14
तत्रागता वयं तावत् श्रीकृपाभाजनत्वतः। अनुगृह्यापि नाविद्या श्रीमता पहृता कुतः॥१४॥
“‘We came here because we had become vessels of divine grace. Why, then, did the glorious Lord favor us without removing our ignorance?’
Passage 15
श्रीभगवानुवाच— द्वारपालाविव विप्रेन्द्रा इमौ दुर्मदपीडितौ। स्वशापहेतुतां यातौ स्वयमेव न संशयः॥१५॥
The blessed Lord said: “‘Best of Brahmins, these two gatekeepers were afflicted by wicked pride and undoubtedly made themselves the cause of their own curse.
Passage 16
ममेवाभिमतार्थाय शाप एष भविष्यति। काले करिष्यत इमौ वीरलीलारसं मम॥१६॥
“‘This curse will serve a purpose cherished by me. In due time these two will become the occasion for the rasa of my heroic līlā.
Passage 17
जन्मभिस्त्रिभिरेतौ वै विशुद्धौ च भविष्यतः। त्रिभिश्चैवावतारैर्मे वीरकेली भविष्यति॥१७॥
“‘They will be purified through three births, and through three descents of mine the play of heroic valor will unfold.’ Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu
Passage 18
इति प्रसाद्य भगवान् महर्षीन् व्यसृजद्विभुः। हिरण्यकशिपुर्वीरो हिरण्याक्षस्तथापरः॥१८॥
Having thus reassured the great sages, the all-pervading Lord dismissed them. The two attendants then appeared as the mighty Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa.
Passage 19
अभूतां भुवने तौ च देवराज्यापहारकौ। सर्वत्रैलोक्यदुर्धर्षौ तपोघोरतयोल्बणौ॥१९॥
They arose in the world as usurpers of the gods' dominion, unassailable throughout the three worlds and made formidable by terrible austerity.
Passage 20
यज्ञभागाशिनौ ब्रह्मविष्णुभागादिलोपिनौ। स्वयं सूर्यौ स्वयं चन्द्रौ स्वयमिन्द्रौ स्वयं विधी॥२०॥
They consumed the sacrificial shares and abolished the portions due to Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and the other gods. They set themselves up as the suns, moons, Indras, and creators.
Passage 21
स्वयं विष्णू स्वयं रुद्रौ स्वयं वह्निप्रजापती। स्वयं यमौ स्वयं शक्रौ स्वयं वरुणतां गतौ॥२१॥
They made themselves Viṣṇus and Rudras, Fires and Prajāpatis; they assumed the stations of the two Yamas, Indras, and Varuṇas.
Passage 22
स्वयं ग्रहौ स्वयं राशी स्वयं ज्योतिःकदम्बकौ। लोकपालौ दिशः पालौ देवप्रत्यधिदेवतौ॥२२॥
They made themselves the planets and constellations, the whole clusters of heavenly lights, the guardians of the worlds and directions, and the presiding and counter-presiding deities.
Passage 23
स्वभूपातालराज्येशौ ब्रह्माण्डक्षयकारकौ। तौ च पश्चाद्भगवता निहतौ युद्धकेलिभिः॥२३॥
They became lords of earth and the subterranean realms and brought ruin upon the cosmic egg. Later the Lord slew them through his sportive battles.
Passage 24
एकः श्रीमद्वराहेण नृकेसरिणापरः। कल्पद्वयं च युयुधे हिरण्याक्षेण केशवः॥२४॥
The glorious Varāha killed one and the Man-Lion killed the other. Keśava battled Hiraṇyākṣa for the span of two kalpas.
Passage 25
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि दिव्यानि युयुधे हरिः। हिरण्यकशिपुना सार्धं बलिना बलिनां वरः॥२५॥
Hari, strongest of the strong, fought the mighty Hiraṇyakaśipu for sixty thousand divine years.
Passage 26
ततस्तौ पातितौ हत्वा निस्तुलेन स्वतेजसा। अवापतुः पुनर्जन्म कुम्भकर्णदशाननौ॥२६॥
After striking both down with his incomparable power, they obtained another birth as Kumbhakarṇa and the ten-headed Rāvaṇa.
Passage 27
यौ तौ लङ्काभटौ ख्यातौ बलवीर्यातिदर्पितौ। आर्येणैव निहन्तव्यौ कालौ धारापणधनौ॥२७॥
Those two famous warriors of Laṅkā were exceedingly proud of their strength and valor. They were like embodied Time, rich in streams of weapons, and destined to be slain by the noble Lord alone. The Rise of Rāvaṇa
Passage 28
अथ पुत्रः पुलस्त्यस्य मुनेः परमतेजसः। कालेन ववृधे श्रीमानसुरो घोरतेजसा॥२८॥
In time the glorious demon, a son in the line of the supremely radiant sage Pulastya, grew in terrible power.
Passage 29
घोरघोरं तपश्चक्रे द्वीपेषु लवणोदधेः। सिन्धुतीरे तपश्चक्रे पुण्यारण्येषु चापि सः॥२९॥
He practiced the most dreadful austerity on the islands of the salt ocean, along the shore of the Sindhu, and in sacred forests.
Passage 30
रेवातीरे च गोमत्यास्तीरे सीमातटे तथा। कावेरीपुलिने कृष्णातटे गङ्गातटे तथा॥३०॥
He performed austerity on the banks of the Revā and Gomatī, at the region's boundary, upon the sands of the Kāverī, and beside the Kṛṣṇā and Gaṅgā.
Passage 31
यमुनायास्तटे चापि पुण्यशैलतटेषु च। चण्डीशं समुपासीनो देव्या चण्डिकया सह॥३१॥
He also practiced beside the Yamunā and upon holy mountains, worshiping Lord Śiva together with the goddess Caṇḍikā.
Passage 32
वेदाभ्यासं प्रकुर्वाणस्त्रैलोक्यभयदोऽसुरः। आजहार महायज्ञान् बहून् सोऽध्वरदीक्षितः॥३२॥
The demon who terrified the three worlds studied the Vedas, undertook many great sacrifices, and received initiation for the sacrificial rites.
Passage 33
त्रैलोक्यं तापयामास तपस्तेजोभिरुद्धतैः। लक्षवर्षाणि विषमं स तेपे दुश्चरं तपः॥३३॥
With the fierce heat of his austerity he scorched the three worlds. For a hundred thousand years he performed harsh and nearly impossible penance.
Passage 34
शम्भुलब्धवरः प्राप्य लङ्काराज्यं महोदयम्। त्रैलोक्यं करदीकृत्य जृम्भते राक्षसेश्वरः॥३४॥
Having received a boon from Śambhu and gained Laṅkā's magnificent kingdom, the lord of the Rākṣasas made the three worlds tributary and rose in splendor.
Passage 35
स याति हरसेवार्थं कैलासे नित्यमुद्यतः। लङ्कायाः परतश्चापि देवी श्रीवरदेश्वरी॥३५॥
Ever intent upon serving Hara, he journeyed to Kailāsa. Beyond Laṅkā also dwelt the goddess Śrī Varadeśvarī.
Passage 36
सुवर्णपर्वते भाति तत्सेवार्थं च नित्यशः। प्रयाति लोकराज्येन्द्रो रावणो लोकरावणः॥३६॥
She shines upon the Golden Mountain, and Rāvaṇa—the lord of worldly kingdoms who made the worlds cry out—went there continually to serve her. The Battle with Nandī
Passage 37
कदाचिदलसो भूत्वा स इत्थं समचिन्तयत्। शंकरं चाम्बिकां देवीमेकीकृत्य क्षणादुभौ॥३७॥
One day, becoming weary of the journey, he thought: “I shall bring Śaṅkara and the goddess Ambikā together to my own home at once.
Passage 38
स्वगृहे वासयिष्यामि बलादानीय पर्वतम्। इत्युक्त्वा सहसोत्थाय कैलासशिखरं बली॥३८॥
“I shall make them dwell there by carrying off the mountain by force.” Saying this, the powerful Rāvaṇa suddenly rose and seized Kailāsa's peak.
Passage 39
लङ्कामागन्तुमारेभे ततः क्रुद्धोऽभवद्धरः। किमेष गिरिचालोऽद्य नन्दिन् हेतुविलोकय॥३९॥
He began to carry it toward Laṅkā. Hara grew angry and said, “Nandī, see what has caused the mountain to move today.”
Passage 40
क्रुद्धं हरं समालोक्य नन्दी पर्यचलद्द्रुतम्। ततस्तत्र समभवत् संग्रामो भृशदारुणः॥४०॥
Seeing Hara enraged, Nandī moved swiftly. A fiercely terrible battle then arose there.
Passage 41
परस्परप्रजविनोर्नन्दिनो रावणस्य च। पाषाणैश्च तथोल्काभिर्वज्रपातैश्च दारुणैः॥४१॥
The swift Nandī and Rāvaṇa attacked one another with boulders, blazing missiles, and terrible thunderbolt-like blows.
Passage 42
द्रुमैः शिलाभिः परिघैर्नानायुधनिपातनैः। मूर्ध्ना वहन् गिरेः शृङ्गं रावणो युयुधे बली॥४२॥
They fought with trees, stones, iron clubs, and blows from many weapons. Mighty Rāvaṇa battled while carrying the mountain peak upon his head.
Passage 43
ततः पराजितो नन्दी रावणेन महौजसा। महाप्रहारिणा भूयो रणदुर्मदबाहुना॥४३॥
Then Nandī was defeated by the immensely powerful Rāvaṇa, whose battle-maddened arms struck tremendous blows.
Passage 44
भृशं निष्पीडितो नन्दी मूर्च्छितो न्यपतद्भुवि। पृथिव्यां पतितं प्राह मिषन्तं नन्दिनं बली॥४४॥
Badly crushed, Nandī fainted and fell to the ground. As he lay there blinking, powerful Rāvaṇa addressed him.
Passage 45
रावण उवाच— कपेरिव मुखं विभ्रत् समायातोऽसि मां युधे। किमर्थं पतितो वत्स प्रहारश्लथविग्रहः॥४५॥
Rāvaṇa said: “‘Bearing a face like a monkey's, you came to fight me. Why have you fallen, child, your body made limp by my blow?’
Passage 46
नन्द्युवाच— यदा त्वां कपयो वीराः समायास्यन्ति दुर्मदाः। तदैव ते वधो भूयाद्यदि सत्यो गुरुः शिवः॥४६॥
Nandī said: “‘When proud and heroic monkeys come against you, they shall bring about your death—if my guru Śiva is true.’
Passage 47
इति शप्त्वा गते तस्मिन् हरः पर्यकरोद्भरम्। येनातिदुर्भरं शैलं सद्यस्तत्याज रावणः॥४७॥
After Nandī had pronounced this curse and departed, Hara made the mountain unbearably heavy. Rāvaṇa therefore released it at once.