The Valmiki Ramayana

by Amish Tripathi

  Sarga (77): 19 shlokas

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  Sarga (100): 26 shlokas

  Chapter 7(1)

  When the rakshasas had been slain and Rama had obtained the kingdom, all the rishis came to congratulate Raghava. Koushika, Yavakrita, Raibha, Chyavana, and Medhatithi’s son, Kanva—these were the ones who resided in the eastern direction. Svastyatreya, the illustrious Namuchi, Pramuchi and Agastya were the ones who came from the southern direction. Prishadgu, Kavasha, Dhoumya and the great rishi, Roudreya, were the ones who came with their disciples, from the western direction. Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Atri, Vishvamitra, Goutama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja—there were these seven maharshis.453 Those great-souled ones reached Raghava’s residence, radiant as the fire, and waited for the pratihara.454 Following their words, the great-souled pratihara quickly went. He swiftly entered and approached Raghava. He suddenly saw Rama, who was like the full moon when it has arisen, and told him that Agastya and the other rishis had arrived. The king was like the rising sun in his radiance. Hearing that the sages had come, he told the gatekeeper to ensure they were comfortable and to make them enter. On seeing the sages arrive, Rama stood up and joined his hands in salutation. He controlled himself, greeted them and offered them seats. Those bulls among rishis sat down, as they deserved, on comfortable seats with golden and colourful spreads. Rama asked them about their welfare, together with that of their disciples and their companions.

  The maharshis, who knew about the Vedas, addressed Rama in these words. ‘O descendant of the Raghu lineage! We are well in every possible way. It is good fortune that we see you are well, having slain your enemies. O Rama! We no longer suffer from the burden of Ravana, lord of the rakshasas. There is no doubt that you can conquer the three worlds with your bow. O Rama! It is good fortune that you killed Ravana, with his sons and grandsons. It is good fortune that we see you victorious today, with your wife. It is good fortune that Prahasta, Vikata, Virupaksha, Mahodara and the invincible Akampana, the roamers in the night, have been killed by you. O Rama! Kumbhakarna was gigantic in size and there was no one as large as him in this world. It is good fortune that you brought him down in the battle. It is good fortune that the Indra among rakshasas turned up to have a duel with you. The gods could not kill him, but you were victorious over him. However, Ravana’s defeat in the encounter was hardly surprising. After all, it is good fortune that you killed Ravana’s son, when he turned up to have a duel with you. O mighty-armed one! O brave one! It is good fortune that you could free yourself from the enemy of the gods, who was like Death. You were victorious. O amiable one! On hearing that Indrajit had been killed, we were amazed. All the creatures found it impossible to kill him. He could invoke great maya in a battle. O brave one! O amiable one! You gave us something sacred. As dakshina, you gave us freedom from fear. O Kakutstha! O afflicter of enemies! It is good fortune that you are prospering in your victory.’

  Rama was greatly astounded. He joined his hands in salutation and said, ‘Passing over the two immensely valiant Kumbhakarna and Ravana, the roamer in the night, why are you praising Ravana’s son? Passing over the immensely valiant Mahodara, Prahasta and the rakshasa Virupaksha, why are you praising Ravana’s son? What were his powers? What was his strength and his valour? What was the reason for his being superior to Ravana? If I am capable of hearing it, if you are indeed capable of telling me and if this is not a secret account, I wish to hear the story. How did he defeat Shakra and how did he obtain a boon?’

  Chapter 7(2)

  Hearing the words of the great-souled Raghava, the immensely energetic Kumbhayoni455 spoke these words. ‘O king! Hear about his conduct and about his great energy and strength, about how he killed enemies in battle, though enemies couldn’t kill him. O Raghava! However, I will start by telling you about Ravana’s lineage and birth. I will tell you about how a boon was bestowed on him. O Rama! Earlier, in krita yuga, the lord Prajapati456 had a son. He was a brahmana rishi named Pulastya and he was like the grandfather himself. It is impossible to recount the qualities about his conduct in following dharma. One can only say that he was Prajapati’s son and mention his name. To observe dharma, he went to the slopes of the large mountain, Meru. The bull among sages went to Trinavindu’s hermitage and resided there. The one with dharma in his soul performed austerities there. He studied and controlled his senses. But maidens went to that hermitage and created obstructions. They were the maidens of gods and serpents, daughters of royal sages and apsaras. They went to that region and sported there. The objects of desire of all the seasons were present there and the grove was beautiful. Those maidens always went to that region and sported. The immensely energetic and great sage became angry and said, “Anyone who comes within my range of vision will become pregnant.” They returned after hearing the great-souled one’s words. Scared of the brahmana’s curse, they did not go to that region again. However, the daughter of the royal sage, Trinavindu, had not heard this. Not scared at all, she went to that hermitage and began to roam around. At that time, the great rishi who was Prajapati’s son was studying there. Because of his austerities, he was radiant and blazed. She heard the sounds of the Vedas being chanted and she saw the store of austerities. Her body turned pale and the signs of her being pregnant were clearly visible. On seeing her form, she became greatly anxious. “How did this happen?” Finding out her state, she went and stood before her father. Seeing her in that state, Trinavindu asked, “How have you come to assume a form like this?” The maiden was distressed. She joined her hands in salutation and spoke to the store of austerities.457 “O father! I do not know the reason why my form has become like this. However, earlier, I was searching for my friends and went alone to maharshi Pulastya’s hermitage. But when I went to the hermitage of the one with the cleansed soul, I did not see any of my friends there. Seeing my distorted form, I came here.” The royal sage, Trinavindu, dazzled in radiance because of his austerities. Meditating, the rishi perceived the act which led to this consequence. He got to know about the curse that the maharshi with the cleansed soul had imposed. Taking his daughter with him, he went to Pulastya and addressed him thus. “O illustrious one! My daughter is adorned with her own qualities. O maharshi! I am myself offering her to you as alms. Accept her. When you engage in austerities, your senses will become exhausted. There is no doubt that she will always serve you devotedly.” Hearing the words of the royal sage who followed dharma, the brahmana agreed and accepted the maiden. Having given her away, the king went to his own hermitage. Since then, the maiden resided there and satisfied her husband with her qualities. The immensely energetic one was pleased and addressed her in these words. “O fortunate one! You possess an abundance of qualities and I am pleased with you. Therefore, I will now grant you a son who will be like me in qualities. He will extend both lineages and will be famous as Poulastya. You heard me chanting the Vedas. Therefore, there is no doubt that his name will be Vishrava.”458 Thus addressed, the maiden was delighted in her inner soul. Within a short period of time, that daughter had a son named Vishrava.459 He was full of purity and dharma and was famous in the three worlds. Vishrava, bull among sages, observed austerities, just like his father.’

 
Chapter 7(3)

  Within a short period of time, Vishrava, Pulastya’s son and bull among sages, started to perform austerities, just like his father. He was truthful, accomplished, devoted to studying, pure, always devoted to dharma, unattached to all objects of pleasure and possessed good conduct. On knowing about his good conduct, the great rishi, Bharadvaja, bestowed his own daughter, Devavarnini, on Vishrava as a wife. Vishrava, bull among sages, was filled with great delight. Following dharma, he accepted Bharadvaja’s daughter. The one with dharma in his soul had an energetic son who was extraordinary, possessing all the qualities of a brahmana. When he was born, his paternal grandfather460 was extremely happy. With the other celestial rishis, he happily gave him a name. “Since he is Vishrava’s son and is like Vishrava himself, he will therefore be known by the name of Vaishravana.” The immensely energetic Vaishravana began to grow up in that hermitage, like a fire into which oblations have been offered. While he was in that hermitage, the great-souled one arrived at the determination, “Since dharma is the supreme objective, I will also control myself and follow dharma.” In the great forest, he tormented himself through austerities for one thousand years. He followed the rituals for a full one thousand years. He lived only on water, he survived only on air, or he ate nothing. In this way, he passed one thousand years as if it was only one year. With large numbers of extremely energetic gods and with Indra, Brahma went to the hermitage and spoke these words. “O child! O one who is good in vows! I am pleased with your deeds. Ask for a boon. It is my view that you are fortunate and deserve to be granted a boon.” The grandfather was in front of him and Vaishravana replied, “O illustrious one! I wish to be a guardian of the world and look after all treasures.” Content in his mind and happy, with the large number of gods, Brahma told Vaishravana that he agreed to this. “After Yama, Indra and Varuna, I was about to create a fourth guardian of the world. That is the status you have asked for. O one who knows about dharma! Therefore, go and become Dhanesha.461 From now, you will become a fourth, after Yama, Indra and Varuna. This Pushpaka vimana is like the sun. Accept this as a vehicle you can move around in, so that you can travel just as the gods do. May you be fortunate. All of us will return to wherever we came from. O son! Having granted you a great boon, we have also become successful.”

  ‘With Brahma at the forefront, all the gods left through the sky. Dhanesha went to his father and bowed down in humility, addressing him in these words. “O illustrious one! I have obtained a boon from the one who was generated from a lotus.462 O lord! However, Prajapati has not indicated a place for me to live in. O illustrious one! O lord! Therefore, search out and indicate a residence for me, so that no suffering of any type is caused to any being there.” Thus addressed by his son, Vishrava, bull among sages, replied in these words. “O one who knows about dharma! O one who is learned about dharma! Listen. Vishvakarma constructed a beautiful city named Lanka for the rakshasas to reside in. It is like Indra’s Amaravati. It is a beautiful city, with turrets made out of gold and lapis lazuli. In earlier times, because they were afflicted by fear of Vishnu, the rakshasas abandoned it and it is empty. All the large number of rakshasas have gone to the nether regions of rasatala. Make your mind agreeable to the prospect of dwelling there. There will be no taint associated with your residing there and no one will be obstructed in any way.” The one who had dharma in his soul heard the words of his father, who abided by dharma. He dwelt in Lanka, on the summit of a mountain. Within a short period of time, thousands of happy and delighted nairittas gathered around and filled the place up, under his rule. Vishrava’s son, the lord of the nairittas, happily resided there, in Lanka, with the ocean as the frontier. From time to time, the lord of treasures, humble in his soul, used Pushpaka to happily go and visit his father and his mother. He would be praised by gods, large numbers of gandharvas, siddhas and charanas. Prosperous and surrounded by them, like the sun with the energy of its rays, he would travel to his father’s presence.’

  Chapter 7(4)

  Hearing Agastya’s words, Rama was filled with surprise. He repeatedly looked towards Agastya, whose form was like that of tretagni.463 How was it possible for the rakshasas to have resided in Lanka earlier? He shook his head, smiled and said, ‘O illustrious one! The devourers of flesh used to live in Lanka earlier. Hearing you say this, I am filled with wonder. We have heard that the rakshasas were born from Pulastya’s lineage. However, on the basis of what you have recounted, I now think their origins lie elsewhere. Were they stronger than Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Prahasta, Vikata and Ravana’s sons? O brahmana! Who was their ancestor? What was his name? What was the strength of his austerities? What were the crimes they committed that they were driven away by Vishnu earlier? O unblemished one! You should tell me everything about this. You have generated a curiosity in me. Dispel it, the way the sun drives away darkness.’

  Hearing Raghava’s words, embellished with cleansed speech, Agastya seemed a little surprised and spoke to him. ‘In ancient times, Brahma was born from the lotus in the waters.464 He first created the waters and to protect them, created various creatures. Those creatures humbly presented themselves before the one who had created the creatures.465 They were scared and afflicted because of hunger and thirst and asked, “What shall we do?” Prajapati smiled at all of them. The one who confers honours said, “Take care and protect.” Among those hungry creatures, there were some who said, “We shall protect.” There were some, who despite being devoured, said, “We shall be swift.” “Those of you who said we shall protect shall be rakshasas. Those of you who said we shall be swift shall be yakshas.”466 There were two brothers who were bulls among rakshasas and they were Heti and Praheti. Those two scorchers of enemies were like Madhu and Kaitabha.467 Praheti was devoted to dharma and did not desire a wife. However, for the sake of obtaining a wife, Heti undertook supreme efforts. There was a maiden named Bhaya and she caused great fear. She was Kala’s468 sister. The immensely intelligent one, immeasurable in his soul, himself went and sought to marry her. Through her, Heti, bull among rakshasas, had a son. He was best among sons and he was known as Vidyutkesha. Heti’s son, Vidyutkesha, was as radiant as a blazing fire. The immensely energetic one started to grow up, like a lotus in the water. When the fortunate roamer in the night became a youth, his father sought to get him married off. Sandhya’s daughter was like Sandhya herself in powers. For his son, Heti, the bull among rakshasas, sought her. O Raghava! Sandhya thought, “She will certainly have to be given to someone else.” Therefore, she bestowed her on Vidyutkesha. Vidyutkesha, the roamer in the night, obtained Sandhya’s daughter. Like Maghavan with Poulami, he pleasured with her. O Rama! Within a short time, through Vidyutkesha, Salakantakata469 was conceived, just as dense clouds are conceived from the waters of the ocean. The foetus in the rakshasi’s womb was as radiant as a cloud. She went to Mandara and delivered, like Ganga delivering Agni’s son.470 Having delivered, she desired Vidyutkesha again. Forgetting her own son, she found pleasure with her husband. The child she delivered was like the autumn sun in his radiance. He covered his face in his hands and wept as loudly as a cloud. For a beneficial purpose, the lord Hara was proceeding on his bull. With Uma, he saw the weeping son of the rakshasa. Parvati was overcome by compassion. Therefore, the destroyer of Tripura471 made the son of the rakshasa as old as his mother. Mahadeva is without decay and without change. He also made the child immortal. To cause pleasure to Parvati, he also gave him a city472 that could travel through the sky. O son of a king! Uma also gave boons to rakshasis. They would deliver as soon as they conceived and the infant would instantly acquire the same age as that of the mother. Sukesha473 became insolent because of the boons he received. Thanks to that proximity with the lord Hara, he obtained prosperity. Having obtained the city that travelled through the sky, like Purandara, the immensely intelligent one travelled everywhere in the sky.’

  Chapter 7(5)

  ‘There was a gandharva named Gramani and he was like Vishvavasu474 in his resplendence.475 He ha
d a daughter named Devavati and she was like a second Shri. He saw that the rakshasa Sukesha followed dharma and had obtained boons. Following dharma, he bestowed her on Sukesha, like Daksha bestowing Shri.476 She obtained a beloved husband who was prosperous because he had obtained boons. Devavati was content, like a poor person who has got riches. United with her, the roamer in the night was also resplendent. He was like a giant elephant born from Anjana,477 in the company of a female elephant. O Raghava! Through Devavati, Sukesha, lord of the rakshasas, had three sons who were like three eyes to the rakshasa. They were Malyavat, Sumali and Mali—supreme among strong ones. Like the three worlds, they were without any anxiety. They were as stable as the three fires. They were as sharp as the three mantras.478 They were as terrible as the three that cause disease.479 Sukesha’s three sons dazzled like the three fires. They grew up without any impediments, just as a disease that is ignored does. They realized that their father had obtained great prosperity because of his boons. Therefore, the brothers made up their minds to go to Meru and torment themselves through austerities. O supreme among kings! The rakshasas resorted to terrible rituals. They observed terrible austerities that terrified all creatures. Resorting to truth, uprightness and self-control, they performed austerities that are extremely difficult to undertake on earth. The three worlds, with the gods, the asuras and humans, were tormented. The lord with the four faces480 was on a supreme vimana. He came before Sukesha’s sons and invited them, “I will grant boons.”481 Knowing that Brahma was about to grant boons, with all the large number of gods, together with Indra, surrounding him, they trembled like trees. They joined their hands in salutation and said, “O god! If we have worshipped you, if you wish to grant us boons, let us be invincible. Let us slay our enemies and let us live forever. Through the powers of Vishnu, let us be devoted to each other.” The lord Brahma, devoted to brahmanas, told Sukesha’s sons that it would indeed be that way. He then went to Brahma’s world. O Rama! All those roamers in the night obtained the boon. Because they had obtained the boon, they became fearless and started to oppress the gods and the asuras. The gods, the large number of rishis and the charanas were slaughtered by them. Like men in hell, they could not find a protector. O supreme among the Raghu lineage! The undecaying Vishvakarma was an excellent artisan. Happy, the rakshasas went to him and said, “You are the one who builds residences for the gods, according to what they want. O immensely wise one! Build a similar residence for us too, on the Himalayas, Meru or Mandara. Create a great residence for us that is like Maheshvara’s residence.” The mighty-armed Vishvakarma told them about a residence for the rakshasas that would be like Shakra’s Amaravati. “There is a mountain named Trikuta on the shores of the southern ocean. There is a peak in the middle of that mountain and it is like a cloud. Even the birds find it extremely difficult to approach, since there are ragged slopes on four sides. It482 extends for thirty yojanas and has golden ramparts and gates. Following Shakra’s command, I will construct the city of Lanka. O excellent rakshasas! You will reside in that impenetrable city, just as Indra and the gods dwell in Amaravati. O slayers of enemies! When you reach the fortified city of Lanka and are surrounded by many rakshasas, enemies will find it impossible to assail you.” O Rama! Hearing Vishvakarma’s words, the rakshasas went to Lanka with one thousand followers and started to reside there. There were firm walls and moats. The place was full of hundreds of golden houses. Having reached Lanka, those cheerful roamers in the night found pleasure there. There was a gandharvi483 named Narmada and she followed all kinds of dharma. She had three daughters who were as radiant as Hri, Shri and Kirti.484 The rakshasi485 followed the order, eldest downwards, and bestowed them on the rakshasas. The daughters possessed faces that were like the full moon and having bestowed them, she was delighted. The three Indras among the rakshasas obtained the three daughters of the gandharvi. The immensely fortunate mother bestowed them in the nakshatra when Bhaga is the divinity.486 O Rama! O lord! Thus, Sukesha’s sons obtained wives. They sported with those wives, like the immortals do with apsaras. Malyavat’s wife was the beautiful Sundari.487 O Rama! Hear about the offspring Sundari had. The sons were Vajramushti, Virupaksha, the rakshasa Durmukha, Suptaghna, Yajnakopa, Matta and Unmatta, and there was a beautiful daughter, Anala. Sumali’s wife had a face that was like the full moon. Her name was Ketumati and he loved her more than his own life. O great king! In due order, hear about the offspring that Sumali, roamer in the night, had through Ketumati—Prahasta, Kampana, Vikata, Kalakarmuka, Dhumaraksha, Danda, the immensely strong Suparshva, Sahladi, Praghasa and the rakshasa Bhasakarna. Sumali’s daughters were Raka, Pushpotkata, the sweet-smiling Kaikasi and Kumbhinasi. Mali’s wife was the gandharvi Vasuda and she was beautiful in form. Her eyes were like the petals of lotuses and these eyes made her resemble an excellent yakshi.488 O Raghava! Hear about the offspring Sumali’s younger brother had through her. I will recount them. Mali’s sons were Anala, Anila, Hara and Sampati and they are Vibhishana’s advisers.489 Thus, those three roamers in the night, bulls among rakshasas, were surrounded by hundreds of sons. Insolent because of their strength and valour, they oppressed the gods, together with Indra, the rishis, the serpents and the danavas. Like the wind, they roamed around the entire universe. They were controlled and in battles, they were like Death. They were extremely insolent because of the boons they had received. They destroyed all the sacrifices and rituals.’