Paumacariya 90

English (machine translation) 90

Language: English

90.1

Now, on the southern range of the excellent Mount Vaitāḍhya, there is a city [named] Ratanapura; / there [ruled] the king of the Vidyādharas, renowned as Rayaṇaraha.

90.2

His beloved wife was named Candravadanā; born from her womb / was Manōramā, possessing beauty, virtues, and youth, equal to a maiden of the gods.

90.3

Having seen her endowed with full youth, loveliness, and splendor, / the king held counsel with his ministers regarding a groom for her.

90.4

Meanwhile, wandering about, Nārada arrived at that city; / seated on an offered seat, Rayaṇaraha, desiring information, said [to him]:

90.5

"The heroic Lakṣmaṇa is the son of King Daśaratha and brother of Padma. / Have you not heard of him, O king of men? To him this maiden should be given."

90.6

Hearing him uttering that, Pavanavega and the other / sons of Rayaṇaraha remembered the slaughter of their kinsmen in battle.

90.7

Then, their servants were ordered by them: "Kill this one!"; / hearing that, terrified and angry, Nārada flew up [into the sky].

90.8

Arriving suddenly at that place, he told the whole / affair of Manōramā to Lakṣmaṇa, that celestial sage.

90.9

Then he showed a painted portrait of the maiden to the abode of Lakṣmī [Lakṣmaṇa], / as if she had been fashioned having surpassed the beauty of all lovely women of the world.

90.10

Having seen her, Lakṣmaṇa was suddenly struck by the arrows of the god of love; / his mind fixed upon her, he reflected in his heart in many ways:

90.11

"If I do not obtain that jewel of a woman, then this entire kingdom / is completely useless, and life itself is entirely empty."

90.12

When the deeds of Rayaṇaraha's sons were recounted by Nārada, / the abode of Lakṣmī [Lakṣmaṇa] was angered, and summoning the kings, he set out.

90.13

Together with the Vidyādharas, crowded with excellent elephants, chariots, horses, and warriors, / the Plough-bearer [Padma] and Nārāyaṇa [Lakṣmaṇa] quickly flew up into the vault of the sky.

90.14

In due course they arrived at Ratanapura, bearing swords, gold, and javelins; / seeing that they had arrived, the sky-goer Rayaṇaraha was enraged.

90.15

Accompanied by a multitude of warriors, he marched out, surpassing the enemy army; / with weapons in his hands, he fought in battle, striking down thousands of warriors.

90.16

Struck down with merciless blows by Rayaṇaraha's warriors, the Vānara army / was blocked at the front of the battle, like the water of the ocean by waves.

90.17

Seeing his own army retreating, the abode of Lakṣmī [Lakṣmaṇa] mounted his chariot; / then he proceeded to fight, striking down many enemy warriors.

90.18

Commanded by Padma, the lord of Kiṣkindhī, Virādhita, and Aṅgada, / and Śrīśaila as well, fought at once with the enemy warriors.

90.19

Broken by the Vānara warriors, struck by sharp blows, that enemy host / with fallen warriors and horses was seen fleeing.

90.20

Seeing Rayaṇaraha's army broken, / Nārada, leaping about joyfully, laughed with a loud roar:

90.21

"Here they are, those extremely fickle, wretched, base sky-goers, / those wicked revilers of Lakṣmaṇa's virtues, fleeing with the speed of the wind!"

90.22

Seeing her father fleeing, Manōramā mounted a chariot, / and with her heart filled with unprecedented affection, quickly reached the abode of Lakṣmī [Lakṣmaṇa].

90.23

Falling at his feet, she said: "Abandon your anger marked by knitted brows! / Grant safety, O abode of Lakṣmī, to these kinsmen of mine!"

90.24

Attaining a calm disposition, Rayaṇaraha came with his sons / with modesty shown; he was received kindly by Rāma and Keśin [Lakṣmaṇa].

90.25

Then laughing, Nārada said to Rayaṇaraha with pride: / "Where has that warrior's boast of yours gone, which was uttered previously?"

90.26

Thus Rayaṇaraha replied to Nārada: "Anger was aroused by you, / through which our friendship with superior men has come to pass."

90.27

Then Rayaṇaraha caused the Plough-bearer and Nārāyaṇa / to enter his own city, which had raised flags and banners and golden ramparts.

90.28

The excellent maiden Śrīdāmā was given by Rayaṇaraha to the Plough-bearer; / and then Manōramā, complete with all virtues, [was given] to the abode of Lakṣmī.

90.29

In due course, the marriage ceremony of both Rāma and Keśin [Lakṣmaṇa] / with the Vidyādhara maidens took place in Ratanapura with supreme splendor.

90.30

Thus, even fierce enemies bow down when the time and place of the fruition of merit arrive; / man's prosperity too is brought about, [O King]; therefore, indeed, practice pure dharma!

90.31

Thus ends the ninetieth chapter of the Paümacariya, entitled "The Acquisition of Manoramā".

Linked texts (1)

Paümacariya — Vimalasūri, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit