Skandapurana 3.1.2
English (machine translation) 3.1.2
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3.1.2.1
The seers said:
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How, O highly fortunate Sūta, by Rāma of untiring deeds,
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was the bridge built across the lord of rivers, the bottomless abode of Varuṇa?
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And how many sacred fords are there at the bridge on Mount Gandhamādana?
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Tell this to us who have faith, O best of Purāṇa reciters.
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The venerable Sūta said:
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Indeed, how the bridge was constructed across the abode of Varuṇa by Rāma,
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that I will explain to you, O eminent sages.
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By command of his father, Rāma lived in the Daṇḍaka forest,
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accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, collected in mind at Pañcavaṭī.
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While that great-souled descendant of Raghu was dwelling there,
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his wife was abducted by Rāvaṇa under the pretext of Mārīca, O twice-born.
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Searching for his wife in the forest, Rāma, the son of Daśaratha,
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went to the bank of the Pampā, filled with grief and bewilderment.
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There the son of Daśaratha saw a certain monkey.
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Then that descendant of Raghu was questioned by the monkey: 'Who are you?'
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he truly related his own story to him from the beginning.
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Then, questioned by Rāghava: “Who are you?”
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that monkey also made known to the great-souled Rāghava:
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“I am the monkey named Hanūmān, the minister of Sugrīva.
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And dispatched by him, who desires alliance with you two, I have come.
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Therefore come quickly to Sugrīva; may good fortune be yours.”
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Saying “So be it,” that Rāma went with him, O best of sages,
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and approaching Sugrīva, made friendship witnessed by fire.
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Then Rāma also promised him the slaying of Vālin,
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and Sugrīva [promised] the bringing back of Vaidehī, O twice-born.
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Having thus made an agreement and inspired trust in each other,
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endowed with supreme joy, the lord of men and the lord of monkeys,
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stayed on Mount Ṛṣyamūka, O best of brahmins.
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And to inspire confidence in Sugrīva, the body of Dundubhi
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Rāghava swiftly cast away for many a yojana with his big toe.
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Seven palmyra trees were pierced right through by the great-souled Rāghava.
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Then, delighted in mind, the heroic Sugrīva said to Rāma:
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“I have no fear even from Indra and the other gods, O Rāghava,
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since I have obtained you, possessing great prowess, as a friend.
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Having slain the lord of Laṅkā, I will bring back your wife.”
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Then, accompanied by Sugrīva, the mighty Rāmacandra,
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along with Lakṣmaṇa, went swiftly to Kiṣkindhā, ruled by Vālin.
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Then Sugrīva roared, desiring the arrival of Vālin.
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And Vālin, unable to tolerate the roar of his younger brother,
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came forth from the inner apartments and fought with his younger brother.
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Struck by the blows of Vālin's fists, intensely distressed,
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Sugrīva swiftly fled to where the mighty Rāma was.
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Then the mighty-armed Rāma, on Sugrīva's neck,
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bound a creeper as a mark, and then urged him to battle.
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Having summoned Vālin again with a roar,
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Sugrīva, at Rāma's instigation, then engaged in hand-to-hand combat with him.
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Then Rāghava struck Vālin with a single arrow.
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When Vālin was slain, Sugrīva gained Kiṣkindhā.
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Then, when the rainy season had passed, Sugrīva, the king of monkeys,
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taking a great army of monkeys to bring back Sītā quickly,
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came into the presence of the two prince-brothers.
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He dispatched the monkeys with the desire of searching for Sītā.
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When Vaidehī had been discovered in Laṅkā by the son of the wind-god,
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and the crest-jewel was delivered, Rāghava felt both joy and sorrow.
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Accompanied by Sugrīva, his younger brother, the wise son of the wind-god,
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and other monkeys headed by Jāmbavat and Nala,
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that Rāma, followed [by them] at the abhijit muhūrta, O twice-born,
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traversed various regions and reached Mount Mahendra.
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Then, having gone to Cakratīrtha, he made his dwelling there.
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Right there that righteous Vibhīṣaṇa came,
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the brother of the king of the rākṣasas, together with four counselors.
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Rāma welcomed him with a noble reception.
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Sugrīva, however, suspected: “Could this one be a spy?”
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Rāghava, by his gestures and his upright, beneficial conduct,
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saw him to be free of malice, and honored him.
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He consecrated Vibhīṣaṇa over the whole kingdom of the rākṣasas,
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and made him an eminent minister, equal to the son of the sun-god.
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Having reached Cakratīrtha, the delight of the Raghu race dwelt [there].
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Reflecting, the glorious Rāghava spoke to Sugrīva and the others,
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these timely words in the midst of the monkey chiefs:
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“What means do you have for crossing this ocean?
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This army is vast, and the ocean is hard to cross.
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This blue reservoir of waters is agitated with restless waves,
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thronged with leaping fish, huge crocodiles, conches, and pearl-oysters,
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in places engulfed by submarine fire, foamy, and exceedingly terrifying.”
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covered with dark clouds drawn by powerful winds,
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roaring like the clouds of doomsday, full of noise, tossed up by the gale: // 38
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“How shall we cross the unshakeable ocean, the abode of Varuṇa,
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all surrounded by the armies of the mighty monkeys? // 39
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By what means might we reach the lord of rivers and streams?
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How can we, with the whole army, quickly cross the abode of Varuṇa, // 3.1.2.40
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stretching for a hundred yojanas, difficult even for the mind to reach?
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Indeed, there are many obstacles ahead; how is the princess of Mithilā to be regained? // 41
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From hardship we have reached greater hardship today, left without shelter,
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before the ocean of great waters and great winds, offering no refuge. // 42
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What means shall we devise for the forest-dwellers to cross?
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Fallen from kingship, arrived in the forest, Sītā abducted, father dead— // 43
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even more intolerable than these is the grief of crossing the ocean!
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Fie, fie on the roar of the ocean! Fie on this mass of water! // 44
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How could those words of the great seer born from a jar prove false?
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That which he said: ‘Having slain the wicked Rāvaṇa, go swiftly
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to pure Gandhamādana for the expiation of your sin’?” // 45
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Śrī Sūta said:
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Hearing these words of Rāma, Sugrīva and the other leaders then // 46
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spoke with joined palms to that mighty descendant of Raghu:
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“We shall cross it with boats and with various rafts.” // 47
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Then, in the midst of the tens of millions of monkeys, Vibhīṣaṇa spoke:
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“King Rāghava ought to seek refuge with the ocean. // 48
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This ocean, the abode of Varuṇa, was dug out by the sons of Sagara;
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the sea ought to perform this service for Rāma, its kinsman.” // 49
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Addressed thus by Vibhīṣaṇa, the wise rākṣasa,
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Rāghava consoled all the monkeys and said this: // 3.1.2.50
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“Across an expanse of a hundred yojanas, all the monkeys are unable
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to cross this most terrifying ocean on rafts and floats. // 51
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There are not enough boats for so vast an army, O bull-like monkeys!
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And how could one like us cause ruin to merchants? // 52
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Moreover, our army is widespread, and the enemy might strike us when vulnerable;
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therefore crossing by rafts and floats does not please me at all. // 53
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What Vibhīṣaṇa has said pleases me, O monkeys.
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I shall attend upon this ocean to obtain a path. // 54
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If it does not show the path, then I shall burn it
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with irresistible great weapons blazing with extreme fire and wind.” // 55
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Having spoken thus, Rāghava together with the son of Sumitrā sipped water,
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and lay facing the ocean according to the rule upon a bed of kuśa grass. // 56
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Then, on the shore of the lord of rivers and streams, spread with kuśa grass,
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the mighty-armed Rāma lay down like the sacrificial fire upon the altar. // 57
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Pillowing his head upon his arm resembling the coil of Śeṣa,
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the capable descendant of Raghu, with his right arm, waited upon the abode of sea-monsters. // 58
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While Rāma slept on the earth spread with kuśa grass,
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intent on his vow, three nights passed by. // 59
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Having fasted there for three nights, knowing prudent policy and devoted to dharma,
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Rāma then waited upon the ocean to obtain a path. // 3.1.2.60
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Yet the dull-witted ocean did not show itself to Rāma then,
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even though worshiped by the restrained Rāma as was fitting. // 61
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Even so, the ocean did not show its form to Rāma.
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Then, enraged at the ocean, his eyes reddish at the corners, // 62
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Rāma spoke thus to Lakṣmaṇa who stood nearby:
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“Today, with sea-monsters pierced by my arrows, the abode of Varuṇa // 63
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I shall make waterless in an instant, O son of Sumitrā!
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With its nets of conches and oyster shells, along with its fishes and monsters, slowly // 64
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today I shall dry up the ocean with unfailing arrows.
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Endowed as I am with forbearance, this abode of sea-monsters // 69
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deems me powerless; fie on forbearance towards such a being!
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The ocean does not show its form to me through conciliation. // 66
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Bring my bow, O son of Sumitrā, and arrows resembling venomous serpents!”
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"I will dry up the ocean; let the monkeys go on foot! .. 67 ..
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This [ocean] has transgressed its bounds, agitated with thousands of waves;
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I will strip the abode of Varuṇa of its bounds with arrows! .. 68 ..
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I will dry up the great ocean crowded with great Dānavas,
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abounding in great sea-monsters and crocodiles, turbulent with immense waves." .. 69 ..
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Having spoken thus, bow in hand, his eyes agitated with wrath,
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Rāma became invincible, like Śiva, the destroyer of Tripura. .. 3.1.2.70 ..
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Drawing his bow in anger, making the world tremble with his arrows,
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he released fierce shafts, just as Bhava [shot arrows] against the three cities. .. 71 ..
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Those blazing and terrible arrows, illuminating the ten directions,
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entered the water of the ocean filled with arrogant Dānavas. .. 72 ..
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Then the ocean, terrified, trembling, with folded hands,
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having no other refuge, O brahmins, rose up himself from Pātāla. .. 73 ..
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He took refuge in Rāghava, the cause of the state of absolute liberation;
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becoming [manifest], O brahmins, he praised Rāghava with pleasing words: .. 74 ..
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.. The ocean said: ..
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"I bow to your lotus feet, O Rāghava, husband of Sītā, bestower of bliss through serving your feet!
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I bow to the dust of your glorious feet, which brought liberation to Gautama's wife, and is served by the hosts of gods. .. 76 ..
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Homage to the tearer of the body of Sunda's beloved! Homage, homage to you, protector of Kauśika's sacrifice!
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Homage to the breaker of Mahādeva's bow! Homage, homage to the destroyer of the hosts of rākṣasas! .. 76 ..
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Rāma, Rāma! I bow to you, who grant the desires of your devotees,
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who descended into the lineage of Raghu desiring to accomplish the purpose of the gods! .. 77 ..
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[I bow to] Nārāyaṇa, without beginning or end, the giver of liberation, auspicious, the imperishable!
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Rāma, Rāma, mighty-armed one! Protect me, who have sought refuge! .. 78 ..
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Restrain your wrath, O king of kings! Forgive me, O abode of compassion!
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Earth, wind, space, water, and luminaries, O descendant of Raghu,
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remain according to the natures with which they were created
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by Brahmā, the Supreme Lord; and my nature is unfathomable depth. .. 3.1.2.80 ..
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Shallowness would be a deviation [from my nature]; this truth I speak.
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Neither out of greed, nor desire, nor fear, nor passion, O descendant of Raghu,
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could I ever abandon the quality born of my nature.
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Yet I will render assistance for the crossing of your army." .. 82 ..
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To the ocean, lord of rivers, who spoke thus, Rāma said:
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"With my army I must go to Laṅkā ruled by Rāvaṇa. .. 83 ..
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Therefore dry up now for the purpose of my crossing."
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Addressed thus, the abode of Varuṇa spoke again to Rāghava: .. 84 ..
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"Listen attentively, O Rāma, and having heard, act as must be done.
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If by your command I dry up for you wishing to go with your army, .. 85 ..
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others too will command me thus by the power of their bow.
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I shall speak of another means for the crossing of your army. .. 86 ..
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There is here a monkey named Nala, approved by artisans,
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the mighty son of Tvaṣṭṛ Viśvakarman, O descendant of Kakutstha. .. 87 ..
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Whatever wood, grass, or stone he throws into me,
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all that I will support; that will become your bridge. .. 88 ..
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By that bridge go to Laṅkā ruled by Rāvaṇa."
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Having spoken thus, when he had disappeared, Rāma said to Nala: .. 89 ..
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"Build a bridge over the ocean, for you are capable, O wise one!"
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Then Nala spoke these words to Rāma, the best of upholders of dharma: .. 3.1.2.90 ..
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"I will construct a bridge across the fathomless abode of Varuṇa.
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A boon was granted to me by my father, and in skill I am equal to him. .. 91 ..
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A boon was granted to my mother on Mount Mandara by Viśvakarman:
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'Your son will be equal to me in craftsmanship.' .. 92 ..
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I am his legitimate son, equal indeed to Viśvakarman.
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Let the eminent monkeys build the bridge this very day as desired!" .. 93 ..
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Then, dispatched by Rāma, those most powerful monkeys
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brought mountains, mountain peaks, creepers, grass, and trees, .. 94 ..
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huge-bodied, with the speed of Garuḍa and the wind.
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Nala built the great bridge in the midst of the lord of rivers and streams, .. 95 ..
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ten yojanas broad and a hundred yojanas long.
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Thus Rāma, the delight of Jānakī, caused the bridge to be built. .. 96 ..
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through Nala, the lord of monkeys, the son of Viśvakarman.
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Reaching such a bridge built by Rāmacandra,
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all sinful mortals are liberated from all sins.
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Śiva is not so pleased with vows, gifts, austerities, and oblations,
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Linked texts (1)
- Skandapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit