Paumacariya 73

English (machine translation) 73

Language: English

73.1

Seeing that the disc-jewel had manifested for Lakṣmaṇa, the monkey warriors / were overjoyed, and being confident, they said to one another:

73.2

"This is that very clear and evident [outcome] which was foretold of old by Anantavīrya! / Now the entire enterprise of Baladeva and Keśava has been accomplished!

73.3

Indeed, this one is the disc-wielder; he has arisen as the Nārāyaṇa! / And he who is mounted upon the lion-chariot is the Baladeva!

73.4

These two high-souled ones, Rāma and Saumitri, in Bhāratavarṣa / have arisen as the eighth Baladeva and Vāsudeva by rule!"

73.5

Seeing Saumitri with the disc in hand, Rāvaṇa reflected: / "That which was proclaimed by Anantavīrya has now come to pass!

73.6

Seeing whose parasol in battle, the enemy champions among the Vidyādharas, though equipped with masses of elephant-troops, / would flee, agitated and disordered by fear—

73.7

the earth-maiden, bounded by the ocean's waters, whose ornamental territory is the Himalaya, / was obedient to my commands, like a slave girl under my control.

73.8

How have I, the ten-necked one, been conquered and brought low by a mere mortal? / Such a condition has arrived—is this not indeed a wonder?

73.9

Fie! Royal sovereignty is a traveler without endurance, pleasing for only a moment; / once it has resolved to abandon [a man], it acts just like a wicked friend.

73.10

Sensual pleasures are like the kiṃpāka fruit: bitter in their aftermath, / causing much suffering and evil rebirth, always condemned by good men!

73.11

Blessed are those great men, Bharata and the others, who, abandoning royal fortune, / renounced the world, practiced austerities, and attained the supreme, unshakeable state of bliss!

73.12

How then was I, conquered by delusion that lengthens saṃsāra? / Or why should I now die, when fearful dread has arisen?"

73.13

Seeing Saumitri with the disc in his hand, facing Rāvaṇa, / Vibhīṣaṇa spoke to the ten-faced one with sweet words:

73.14

"Even now heed my words, O lord! Knowing what is beneficial, / live by the grace of Padma, handing back Sītā!

73.15

That very royalty will be yours; acting thus, long life / will inevitably belong here to the man who shatters his pride, O Rāvaṇa!"

73.16

Disregarding the words of his brother, Rāvaṇa said: / "Hey, you earth-dweller! Terrible pride has indeed arisen in you!

73.17

Elephants roar only so long as they do not behold coming to face them / a lion, its mouth formidable with fangs, radiant with a broad forehead!

73.18

I am that very Rāvaṇa, son of Ratnaśravas, who has destroyed his foes! / I will swiftly show you a state that brings an end to your life!"

73.19

And he was addressed by Lakṣmaṇa: "What is the use of so much speaking? / I have arisen as your enemy, the killer—the Nārāyaṇa!"

73.20

[Rāvaṇa said:] "You who were banished at that time by your father, living on forest fruits, / your status as Nārāyaṇa was recognized only through my unfortunate era!

73.21

Whether you are truly the Nārāyaṇa or anyone else, / I shall surely crush your pride here today without a doubt!

73.22

You have become arrogant, O Lakṣmaṇa, with this disc resting in your hand; / or rather, even a trifle is a grand festival for vulgar folk!

73.23

With the disc, along with the Vidyādharas, horses, and chariot, / I shall send you to Pātāla! What is the use of saying more?"

73.24

Having said this much, the Nārāyaṇa hurled the disc, / spinning it, directly against the lord of Laṅkā in great anger.

73.25

Beholding the flaming disc coming, terrible with the roar of thunderclouds, / [Rāvaṇa] strove to avert it with arrows, javelins, and clubs.

73.26

Though obstructed from the front, that jewel of a disc still came on; / for when the end of one's merit arrives, O Śreṇika, death draws near.

73.27

Then, straight against the proud lord of Laṅkā in the battle, / by that disc his broad chest was instantly severed.

73.28

Like Mount Añjana broken by a fierce gale, his limbs dark like dense tamāla trees or swarms of bees, / the ten-faced one fell in the midst of the battlefield.

73.29

Like the sleeping god of love, or like a god fallen to the earth's surface, / the lord of Laṅkā lay shining, like the sun resting on the setting mountain.

73.30

Then, seeing their master slain, the broken army of night-wanderers / turned their faces and fled, pushing and jostling one another.

73.31

A warrior was pushed by a horse, an excellent chariot by a mighty elephant; / and a soldier overcome with cowardice fell right there, distraught with fear.

73.32

As that host of night-wanderers was thus fleeing without refuge, / both Sugrīva and Vibhīṣaṇa set out to reassure them:

73.33

"Do not fear, do not flee! This Nārāyaṇa is your refuge!" / At those words, O Śreṇika, the entire army was comforted.

73.34

In the dark fortnight of Jyeṣṭha, when the fourth part of the day was remaining, / on the eleventh day, know that Rāvaṇa's death occurred.

Thus, when their merit comes to an end, even heroes amidst the tumult of horses and elephant troops, holding swords and gold in hand, go to destruction when the time of death arrives. / Even that sun, after illumining this whole world with its brilliance, sets; but when happy dusk arrives, does not the moon with its spotless rays rise?

73.36

Thus ends the seventy-third canto of the Paümacariya, titled 'The Manner of the Slaying of the Ten-Faced One'.

Linked texts (1)

Paümacariya — Vimalasūri, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit