104. Chapter 104

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच । अत्र ते श्रृणु वक्ष्यामि वृत्तान्तमिममुत्तमम् । जागतीहेन्द्रजालश्रीश्चित्तायत्ता यथा स्थिता ॥ १ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca | atra te śrṛṇu vakṣyāmi vṛttāntamimamuttamam | jāgatīhendrajālaśrīścittāyattā yathā sthitā || 1 ||

Vasishtha said:—Hear me relate to you Rama a very pretty narrative, representing the world as an enchanted city, stretched out by magic of the magician Mind.

अस्त्यस्मिन्वसुधापीठे नानावनसमाकुलः । उत्तरापाण्डवो नाम स्फीतो जनपदो महान् ॥ २ ॥

astyasminvasudhāpīṭhe nānāvanasamākulaḥ | uttarāpāṇḍavo nāma sphīto janapado mahān || 2 ||

There lies on the surface of this earth a large and populous tract of land by name of Northern Pandava, a country full of forests of various kinds.

नीरन्ध्रघनगम्भीरवनविश्रान्ततापसः । विद्याधरीकृतलतादोलोपवनपत्तनः ॥ ३ ॥

nīrandhraghanagambhīravanaviśrāntatāpasaḥ | vidyādharīkṛtalatādolopavanapattanaḥ || 3 ||

The forests were deep and dense, and there dwell in the fastness of these woods a number of holy hermits; while the Vidyadhara damsels had wrought there many a bower of swinging creepers.

वातोद्धूताञ्जकिञ्जल्कपुञ्जपिञ्जरपर्वतः । लसत्कुसुमसंभारवनमालावतंसकः ॥ ४ ॥

vātoddhūtāñjakiñjalkapuñjapiñjaraparvataḥ | lasatkusumasaṃbhāravanamālāvataṃsakaḥ || 4 ||

Heaps of rubicund farina, wafted by the breeze from full blown lotuses, rose as high as crimson hills on the ground;which was decorated with wreaths and garlands by the loads of flowers, which had fallen thereon from the surrounding trees.

करञ्जमञ्जरीकुञ्जगुच्छपर्यन्तजङ्गलः । खर्जूरान्तरितग्रामो घुंघुमध्वनिताम्बरः ॥ ५ ॥

karañjamañjarīkuñjagucchaparyantajaṅgalaḥ | kharjūrāntaritagrāmo ghuṃghumadhvanitāmbaraḥ || 5 ||

Groves of Karanja plants were decorated with bundles of blossoms, to the utmost boundaries of the jungle; and the firmament resounded with the rustling noise, emitted by the leafy date trees in the villages around.

एकपिङ्गशिलाश्रेणीशालिकेदारपिङ्गलः । नीलकण्ठारवोद्दामवनजङ्गलमण्डितः ॥ ६ ॥

ekapiṅgaśilāśreṇīśālikedārapiṅgalaḥ | nīlakaṇṭhāravoddāmavanajaṅgalamaṇḍitaḥ || 6 ||

There was a range of tawny rocks on one side, and fields brown with ripened corn on another; while the warbling of cerulean doves—reechoed in the resonant groves about.

सारसारवसंरम्भरणत्कनककाननः । तमालपाटलीनीलगिरिग्रामककुण्डलः ॥ ७ ॥

sārasāravasaṃrambharaṇatkanakakānanaḥ | tamālapāṭalīnīlagirigrāmakakuṇḍalaḥ || 7 ||

The shrill cry of the stork resounded in the forest, and the branches of tamala and patali flowers, hang down like earrings of the hills.

विचित्रविहगव्यूहविरावकृतकाकलिः । नदीपरिसरोन्निद्रपारिभद्रद्रुमारुणः ॥ ८ ॥

vicitravihagavyūhavirāvakṛtakākaliḥ | nadīparisaronnidrapāribhadradrumāruṇaḥ || 8 ||

Flocks of various birds, were making a chorus with their vocal music; and the blooming crimson blossoms of paribhadra arbors, were hanging over the banks, all along the length of the running streams.

गायत्कलमकेदारदारिकाहृतमन्मथः । पुष्पफलचलद्वातव्याधूतकुसुमाम्बुदः ॥ ९ ॥

gāyatkalamakedāradārikāhṛtamanmathaḥ | puṣpaphalacaladvātavyādhūtakusumāmbudaḥ || 9 ||

Damsels in the cornfields, were exciting the passion of love with their vocal music; and the breezes blowing amidst forests of fruits and flowers, dropped down the blossoms in copious showers.

दरीगृहविनिष्क्रान्तसिद्धचारणबन्दिकम् । स्वर्गादिव समानीय लावण्यमभिनिर्मितः ॥ १० ॥

darīgṛhaviniṣkrāntasiddhacāraṇabandikam | svargādiva samānīya lāvaṇyamabhinirmitaḥ || 10 ||

The birds, Siddhas and seers were sitting and singing outside their homes of mountain caverns; and made the valley symphonious with their celestial strains of holy hymns.

गायत्किन्नरगन्धर्वकदलीखण्डमण्डपः । मन्दानिलरवोद्भूतः पुष्पोपवनपाण्डुरः ॥ ११ ॥

gāyatkinnaragandharvakadalīkhaṇḍamaṇḍapaḥ | mandānilaravodbhūtaḥ puṣpopavanapāṇḍuraḥ || 11 ||

The Kinnara and Gandharva concerts, were singing under their bowers of plantain trees; and the greyish and gaysome groves of flowers, were filled with the hum of the whistling breeze.

तत्रास्ति लवणो नाम राजा परमधार्मिकः । हरिश्चन्द्रकुलोद्भूतो भूमाविव दिवाकरः ॥ १२ ॥

tatrāsti lavaṇo nāma rājā paramadhārmikaḥ | hariścandrakulodbhūto bhūmāviva divākaraḥ || 12 ||

The lord of this romantic country, was the virtuous Lavana, a descendant of king Harish Chandra; and as glorious as his sire the sun upon earth.

यद्यशःकुसुमोत्तंसपाण्डुरस्कन्धमण्डलाः । तत्र शैला विराजन्ते हाराः प्रोद्धूलिता इव ॥ १३ ॥

yadyaśaḥkusumottaṃsapāṇḍuraskandhamaṇḍalāḥ | tatra śailā virājante hārāḥ proddhūlitā iva || 13 ||

His fair fame formed a white diadem to crown his head, and adorn his shoulders with its brightness; it whitened the hills in the form of so many Sivas, besmeared with the hoary ashes upon his tufted head and person.

कृपाणशकलोत्कृत्तनिःशेषारातिमण्डलः । अरातिलोकः प्राप्नोति यदनुस्मरणाज्ज्वरम् ॥ १४ ॥

kṛpāṇaśakalotkṛttaniḥśeṣārātimaṇḍalaḥ | arātilokaḥ prāpnoti yadanusmaraṇājjvaram || 14 ||

His sword had made an end of all his enemies; who trembled as in a fit of fever on the hearing of his august name.

यस्योदारसमारम्भमार्यलोकानुपालनम् । चरितं संस्मरिष्यन्ति हरेरिव चिरं जनाः ॥ १७ ॥

yasyodārasamārambhamāryalokānupālanam | caritaṃ saṃsmariṣyanti hareriva ciraṃ janāḥ || 17 ||

The regent of the skies heard with attention, the songs of the heavenly maids, and the aerial swans and cranes of Brahma, were responsive to their eulogies with their gabbling cries.

यस्याप्सरोमिरद्रीन्द्रमूर्धस्वमरसद्मसु । विकासिपुलकोल्लासं गीयन्ते गुणगीतयः ॥ १६ ॥

yasyāpsaromiradrīndramūrdhasvamarasadmasu | vikāsipulakollāsaṃ gīyante guṇagītayaḥ || 16 ||

The Apsara fairies sang with glee the songs of his praise, sitting in the celestial seats of the gods on the tops of the Himalayan mountains.

यस्य स्वःसुन्दरीगीता लोकपालचिरश्रुताः । विरिञ्चिहंसैर्ध्वन्यन्ते स्वभ्यासाद्गुणगीतयः ॥ १७ ॥

yasya svaḥsundarīgītā lokapālaciraśrutāḥ | viriñcihaṃsairdhvanyante svabhyāsādguṇagītayaḥ || 17 ||

The regent of the skies heard with attention, the songs of the heavenly maids, and the aerial swans and cranes of Brahma, were responsive to their eulogies with their gabbling cries.

स्वप्नेष्वपि न सामान्या यस्योदारचमत्कृतिः । राम दृष्टा श्रुता वापि दैन्यदोषमयी क्रिया ॥ १८ ॥

svapneṣvapi na sāmānyā yasyodāracamatkṛtiḥ | rāma dṛṣṭā śrutā vāpi dainyadoṣamayī kriyā || 18 ||

His uncommonly magnanimous and wonderous acts, which were free from the fault of niggardliness; were unlike to any thing that was ever heard or seen by any body.

जिह्मतां यो न जानाति न दृष्टा येन धृष्णुता । उदारता येन धृता ब्रह्मणेवाक्षमालिका ॥ १९ ॥

jihmatāṃ yo na jānāti na dṛṣṭā yena dhṛṣṇutā | udāratā yena dhṛtā brahmaṇevākṣamālikā || 19 ||

His nature knew no wiliness, and it was a perfect stranger to pride and arrogance; he kept himself steadfast to his magnanimity, as Brahma held himself fast to his rudraksha beads.

दिनाष्टभागमाकाशमागते दिवसाधिपे । स कदाचित्सभास्थाने सिंहासनगतोऽभवत् ॥ २० ॥

dināṣṭabhāgamākāśamāgate divasādhipe | sa kadācitsabhāsthāne siṃhāsanagato'bhavat || 20 ||

He used to take his seat in the royal throne amidst his courtiers, as the lord of the day occupies his seat in the sky for the eight parts (watches) of the day.

सुखोपविष्टे तत्रास्मिन्राजनीन्दाविवाम्बरे । प्रविशन्तीषु सामन्तसेनासु च ससंभ्रमम् ॥ २१ ॥

sukhopaviṣṭe tatrāsminrājanīndāvivāmbare | praviśantīṣu sāmantasenāsu ca sasaṃbhramam || 21 ||

After he was seated there as gladly as the moon in the firmament, his chieftains and legions appeared before the throne with their salutations.

गायन्तीष्वथ कान्तासु सूपविष्टेषु राजसु । मनो हरति साह्लादे वीणावंशकलारवे ॥ २२ ॥

gāyantīṣvatha kāntāsu sūpaviṣṭeṣu rājasu | mano harati sāhlāde vīṇāvaṃśakalārave || 22 ||

Then as the royal party was seated in the court hall, beautiful songstresses (that were in attendance), began to sing, and ravish the hearts of the hearers, with the music of lutes.

चारुचामरहस्तासु सविलासासु राजनि । देवासुरगुरुप्रख्ये विश्रान्ते मन्त्रिमण्डले ॥ २३ ॥

cārucāmarahastāsu savilāsāsu rājani | devāsuraguruprakhye viśrānte mantrimaṇḍale || 23 ||

Then a set of handsome maids, waved the beautiful chouries which they held in their hands, over the person of the king: and the ministers and counsellors, as wise as the preceptors of the gods and demons (Brihaspati and Sukra), took their seats beside him.

प्रस्तुतेषु प्रविष्टेषु राजकार्येषु मन्त्रिभिः । प्रोक्तासु देशवार्तासु निपुणैश्चारुमन्त्रिभिः ॥ २४ ॥

prastuteṣu praviṣṭeṣu rājakāryeṣu mantribhiḥ | proktāsu deśavārtāsu nipuṇaiścārumantribhiḥ || 24 ||

The ministers were then employed in the public affairs pending before them; and the dextrous officers were engaged in relating the reports of the country to the king.

इतिह्यसमये पुण्ये वाच्यमाने च पुस्तके । पठत्सु च स्तुतीः पुण्याः पुरः प्रह्वेषु वन्दिषु ॥ २५ ॥

itihyasamaye puṇye vācyamāne ca pustake | paṭhatsu ca stutīḥ puṇyāḥ puraḥ prahveṣu vandiṣu || 25 ||

There were the learned pandits reciting the holy legends from their books, and the courteous panegyrists chaunting their sacred eulogies on one side.

सभां विवेश साटोपः कश्चित्तामैन्द्रजालिकः । वर्षेणाहितसंरम्भो वसुधामिव वारिदः ॥ २६ ॥

sabhāṃ viveśa sāṭopaḥ kaścittāmaindrajālikaḥ | varṣeṇāhitasaṃrambho vasudhāmiva vāridaḥ || 26 ||

There appeared at this time a magician in his fantastic attire, and with his blustering vauntings before the Court; in the manner of a roaring cloud, threatening to deluge the earth with his showers of rain.

स ननाम महीपालं शिखरोदारकन्धरम् । पादोपान्तगतः कान्तं शैलं फलतरुर्यथा ॥ २७ ॥

sa nanāma mahīpālaṃ śikharodārakandharam | pādopāntagataḥ kāntaṃ śailaṃ phalataruryathā || 27 ||

He bowed down to the ruler of the earth, and lowly bent his capped head and neck before the court; as a tree hangs down its loads of fruits, at the foot of a mountain.

सच्छायस्योन्नतांसस्य फलिनः पुष्पभासिनः । स विवेश पुरो राज्ञस्तरोरग्रे कपिर्यथा ॥ २८ ॥

sacchāyasyonnatāṃsasya phalinaḥ puṣpabhāsinaḥ | sa viveśa puro rājñastaroragre kapiryathā || 28 ||

He approached before the king, as a monkey advances to a shady and lofty tree, loaded with fruits and flowers.

चपलो लम्पटोऽर्थानामामोदसुखमारुतम् । उवाचोत्कन्धरं भूपं सपद्ममिव षट्पदः ॥ २९ ॥

capalo lampaṭo'rthānāmāmodasukhamārutam | uvācotkandharaṃ bhūpaṃ sapadmamiva ṣaṭpadaḥ || 29 ||

The flippant brat then conveyed the fragrance of his sense, with the breath of his mouth; and addressed the lofty headed king with his sweet voice, as the humble bee hums to the lotus.

विलोकय विभो तावदेकामिह खरोलिकाम् । पीठस्थ एव साश्चर्यां व्योम्नि चन्द्र इवावनिम् ॥ ३० ॥

vilokaya vibho tāvadekāmiha kharolikām | pīṭhastha eva sāścaryāṃ vyomni candra ivāvanim || 30 ||

Reign O lord! that sittest on the earthly throne like the moon enthroned on high, to mark one wonderful feat of my art, known as the trick of Kharolikika.

इत्युक्त्वा पिच्छिका तेन भ्रामिता भ्रमदायिनी । नानाविरचनाबीजं मायेव परमात्मनः ॥ ३१ ॥

ityuktvā picchikā tena bhrāmitā bhramadāyinī | nānāviracanābījaṃ māyeva paramātmanaḥ || 31 ||

Saying so, he began to twirl about his magic staff set with peacocks' feathers, which began to display many wonders like the wonderful works of creation.

तां ददर्श महीपालस्तेजोरेणुविराजिताम् । शक्रः सुरविमानस्थः स्वकार्मुकलतामिव ॥ ३२ ॥

tāṃ dadarśa mahīpālastejoreṇuvirājitām | śakraḥ suravimānasthaḥ svakārmukalatāmiva || 32 ||

The king beheld it describing a bright circlet, emitting the particles of its rays around; and viewed in the manner, that the god Indra views his variegated rainbow sparkling afar in the sky.

सभां सैन्धवसामन्तो विवेशास्मिन्क्षणे तदा । तारापरिकरापूर्णां व्योमवीथीमिवाम्बुदः ॥ ३३ ॥

sabhāṃ saindhavasāmanto viveśāsminkṣaṇe tadā | tārāparikarāpūrṇāṃ vyomavīthīmivāmbudaḥ || 33 ||

As this time a chieftain of Sinde (who was the master of horse), entered the court, as a cloud appears in the starry heaven.

तं चैवानुजगामाश्वः सौम्यः परमवेगवान् । देवलोकोन्मुखं तुष्टं शक्रमुच्चैःश्रवा इव ॥ ३४ ॥

taṃ caivānujagāmāśvaḥ saumyaḥ paramavegavān | devalokonmukhaṃ tuṣṭaṃ śakramuccaiḥśravā iva || 34 ||

He was followed by his swift and beautiful courser, as the Uchcha Srava horse of Indra follows his master in the celestial regions.

स तमश्वमुपादाय पार्थिवं समुवाच ह । सोच्चैःश्रवा इव क्षीरसागरो मरुतां पतिम् ॥ ३५ ॥

sa tamaśvamupādāya pārthivaṃ samuvāca ha | soccaiḥśravā iva kṣīrasāgaro marutāṃ patim || 35 ||

The chieftain brought the horse before the king and said this horse my lord! is a match for the Uchcha Srava, who was produced from the milky ocean, and flies with the swiftness of the mind.

इदमुच्चैःश्रवःप्रख्यं हयरत्नं महीपते । जवोडुयनशीलेन मूर्तिमानिव मारुतः ॥ ३६ ॥

idamuccaiḥśravaḥprakhyaṃ hayaratnaṃ mahīpate | javoḍuyanaśīlena mūrtimāniva mārutaḥ || 36 ||

This horse of mine, O king of the earth! is the best of his kind, and a compeer of Uchcha Sravas; he is a personification of the wind in the swiftness of his flight.

अश्वोऽयमस्मत्प्रभुणा प्रभो संप्रहितस्त्वयि । राजते हि पदार्थश्रीर्महतामर्पणाच्छुभा ॥ ३७ ॥

aśvo'yamasmatprabhuṇā prabho saṃprahitastvayi | rājate hi padārthaśrīrmahatāmarpaṇācchubhā || 37 ||

My master has made a present of this horse to you, my lord; because the best of things is a suitable present to the best of men.

इत्युक्तवति तस्मिंस्तु प्रत्युवाचैन्द्रजालिकः । जलदस्तनिते शान्ते चातकोऽम्बुधरं यथा ॥ ३८ ॥

ityuktavati tasmiṃstu pratyuvācaindrajālikaḥ | jaladastanite śānte cātako'mbudharaṃ yathā || 38 ||

After he had ended his speech the magician spoke in a voice, as sweet as that of the swallow, after the roaring of the cloud is hushed to silence.

सदश्वमेनमारुह्य भुवनं विहर प्रभो । स्वप्रतापाहितानल्पशोभामुर्वीं रविर्यथा ॥ ३९ ॥

sadaśvamenamāruhya bhuvanaṃ vihara prabho | svapratāpāhitānalpaśobhāmurvīṃ raviryathā || 39 ||

Do you my lord ride upon this horse, and wander at your pleasure with full lustre on earth; as the sun shines forth in splendour by his revolving round the heavens.

अश्वमालोकयामास तेनोक्त इति पार्थिवः । निर्घातस्तनितं मेघं मयूर इव सूत्करः ॥ ४० ॥

aśvamālokayāmāsa tenokta iti pārthivaḥ | nirghātastanitaṃ meghaṃ mayūra iva sūtkaraḥ || 40 ||

Hearing this the king looked at the horse, and ordered him to be brought before him, in a voice like that of the peacock answering the roaring cloud.

अथानिमेषया दृष्ट्या राजा चित्रोपमाकृतिः । बभूवालोकयन्नश्वं लिपिकर्मार्पितोपमः ॥ ४१ ॥

athānimeṣayā dṛṣṭyā rājā citropamākṛtiḥ | babhūvālokayannaśvaṃ lipikarmārpitopamaḥ || 41 ||

The king saw the horse brought before him as a figure drawn in painting, and gazed upon him with his fixed eyes and without closing his eye-lids, as he was himself turned to a painting.

क्षणमालोक्य पीठस्थस्तस्थौ संस्थगितेक्षणः । दृष्ट्याऽऽक्षुब्धः समुद्रोऽद्रिमीनकैः करवो यथा ॥ ४२ ॥

kṣaṇamālokya pīṭhasthastasthau saṃsthagitekṣaṇaḥ | dṛṣṭyā''kṣubdhaḥ samudro'drimīnakaiḥ karavo yathā || 42 ||

Having looked upon him for a long time, he mounted on his back, and sat still with his closed eye-lids, as the sage Agastya was confounded at the sight of the sea and its rocks.

तस्थौ मुहूर्तयुग्मं स ध्यानासक्त इवात्मनि । वीतरागो मुनिः क्षुब्धः परानन्द इव स्थितः ॥ ४३ ॥

tasthau muhūrtayugmaṃ sa dhyānāsakta ivātmani | vītarāgo muniḥ kṣubdhaḥ parānanda iva sthitaḥ || 43 ||

He continued for a couple of hours as if he was drowned in his meditation, and as insensible saints remain in the enjoyment of their internal and spiritual stupor.

बोधितः केनचिन्नासौ स्वप्रतापजितोर्जितः । धिया कामप्ययं भूयश्चिन्तां चिन्तयतीति च ॥ ४४ ॥

bodhitaḥ kenacinnāsau svapratāpajitorjitaḥ | dhiyā kāmapyayaṃ bhūyaścintāṃ cintayatīti ca || 44 ||

He remained as spell-bound and overpowered by his own might, and could not be roused from his stupefaction by any body, but was absorbed in some thoughts of his own mind.

बभूवुः केवलं तत्र निःस्पन्दसितचामराः । चामरिण्यो हि शर्वर्यः स्तम्भितेन्दुकरा इव ॥ ४५ ॥

babhūvuḥ kevalaṃ tatra niḥspandasitacāmarāḥ | cāmariṇyo hi śarvaryaḥ stambhitendukarā iva || 45 ||

The flapping chouries ceased to wave about his person, and the holders of the flappers remained as still as the moon beams at night.

विरेजुर्विस्मयापूर्णा निःस्पन्दास्ते सभासदः । निःस्पन्दकिञ्जल्कदलाः पद्माः पङ्ककृता इव ॥ ४६ ॥

virejurvismayāpūrṇā niḥspandāste sabhāsadaḥ | niḥspandakiñjalkadalāḥ padmāḥ paṅkakṛtā iva || 46 ||

The Courtiers remained motionless at seeing his quiescence, as when the filaments of the lotus, remain unmoved, by their being besmeared in the mud.

प्रशशाम सभास्थाने जनकोलाहलः शनैः । प्रशान्तप्रावृषि व्योमन्याम्भोदमिव गर्जितम् ॥ ४७ ॥

praśaśāma sabhāsthāne janakolāhalaḥ śanaiḥ | praśāntaprāvṛṣi vyomanyāmbhodamiva garjitam || 47 ||

The noise of the people in the Courtyard, was all hushed and quiet;as the roaring of the clouds is stopped at the end of the rains.

संदेहसागरे मग्ना जग्मुश्चिन्तां सुमन्त्रिणः । विषीदति गदापाणावसुराजाविवामराः ॥ ४८ ॥

saṃdehasāgare magnā jagmuścintāṃ sumantriṇaḥ | viṣīdati gadāpāṇāvasurājāvivāmarāḥ || 48 ||

The ministers were drowned in their thoughtfulness and doubts at the state of their king, as the host of the gods were filled with anxiety on seeing the club bearing Vishnu fighting with the demons.

विततविस्मितजिह्नितया तया जनतया भयमोहविषण्णया । स्तिमितचक्षुषि भूमिपतौ स्थिते मुकुलिताज्जवनस्य धृता द्युतिः ॥ ४९ ॥

vitatavismitajihnitayā tayā janatayā bhayamohaviṣaṇṇayā | stimitacakṣuṣi bhūmipatau sthite mukulitājjavanasya dhṛtā dyutiḥ || 49 ||

The people were struck with terror and dismay, at seeing this apoplexy of their prince who remained with his closed eyes, like closed lotuses shorn of their beauty.