Adhyaya 35

Verse 1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । जलमध्ये महादेवः केन तिष्ठति हेतुना । उत्तरं दक्षिणं कूलं वर्जयित्वा द्विजोत्तम

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “For what reason does Mahādeva abide in the midst of the waters, O best of the twice-born? Why does He set aside the northern and the southern bank?”

Verse 2

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच । एतदाख्यानमतुलं पुण्यं श्रुतिमुखावहम् । पुराणे यच्छ्रुतं तात तत्ते वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः

Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: “This incomparable sacred narrative is supremely meritorious and worthy to be heard. O dear one, whatever I have heard in the Purāṇas, I shall recount to you in full, without omission.”

Verse 3

त्रेतायुगे महाभाग रावणो देवकण्टकः । त्रैलोक्यविजयी रौद्रः सुरासुरभयंकरः

“In the Tretā-yuga, O greatly fortunate one, there was Rāvaṇa—the tormentor of the gods—fierce in nature, a conqueror of the three worlds, and a source of terror to both devas and asuras.”

Verse 4

देवदानवगन्धर्वैरृषिभिश्च तपोधनैः । अवध्योऽथ विमानेन यावत्पर्यटते महीम्

“He was deemed unassailable by gods, dānavas, gandharvas, and by the ascetic sages rich in tapas; and then, in his aerial chariot (vimāna), he roamed about the earth at will.”

Verse 5

तावद्धिन्ध्यगिरेर्मध्ये दानवो बलदर्पितः । मयो नामेति विख्यातो गुहावासी तपश्चरन्

Meanwhile, within the Vindhya mountains lived a dānava, proud of his strength, renowned by the name Maya—dwelling in a cave and practicing austerities.

Verse 6

तस्य पार्श्वगतो रक्षो विनयादवनिं गतः । पूजितो दानसन्मानैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

Approaching him, the rākṣasa (Rāvaṇa) descended to the ground out of courtesy; and, honored with gifts and respect, he spoke these words.

Verse 7

कस्येयं पद्मपत्राक्षी पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना । किंनामधेया तपति तप उग्रं कथं विभो

Whose is this maiden with lotus-petal eyes and a face like the full moon? What is her name, and why does she undertake such fierce austerity, O mighty one?

Verse 8

मय उवाच । दानवानां पतिः श्रेष्ठो मयोऽहं नाम नामतः । भार्या तेजोवती नाम तस्यास्तु तनया शुभा

Maya said: “I am Maya by name, a foremost lord among the dānavas. My wife is named Tejovatī, and she has a virtuous daughter.”

Verse 9

मन्दोदरीति विख्याता तपते भर्तृकारणात् । आराधयन्ती भर्तारमुमाया दयितं शुभम्

She is famed as Mandodarī. For the sake of a husband she performs austerity, worshipping as her chosen lord the auspicious beloved of Umā (Śiva).

Verse 10

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य रावणो मदमोहितः । प्रसृतः प्रणतो भूत्वा मयं वचनमब्रवीत्

Hearing his words, Rāvaṇa—deluded by the intoxication of pride—stepped forward; and, bowing in reverence, he addressed Maya with these words.

Verse 11

पौलस्त्यान्वयसंजातो देवदानवदर्पहा । प्रार्थयामि महाभाग सुतां त्वं दातुमर्हसि

Born in the lineage of Paulastya, a subduer of the pride of devas and dānavas, I beseech you, O noble one: be pleased to grant me your daughter.

Verse 12

ज्ञात्वा पैतामहं वृत्तं मयेनापि महात्मना । रावणाय सुता दत्ता पूजयित्वा विधानतः

Having learned the ancestral account, the great-souled Maya too, after duly honoring Rāvaṇa according to proper rite, gave his daughter to Rāvaṇa in marriage.

Verse 13

गृहीत्वा तां तदा रक्षोऽभ्यर्च्यमानो निशाचरैः । देवोद्याने विमानैश्च क्रीडते स तया सह

Then, having taken her as his wife, that Rākṣasa—worshipped by the night-roamers—sportively enjoyed with her in a divine garden, amid the vimānas.

Verse 14

केनचित्त्वथ कालेन रावणो लोकरावणः । पुत्रं पुत्रवतां श्रेष्ठो जनयामास भारत

Then, after some time, Rāvaṇa—renowned among the worlds—begot a son, O Bhārata, becoming foremost among those who have sons.

Verse 15

तेनैव जातमात्रेण रावो मुक्तो महात्मना । संवर्तकस्य मेघस्य तेन लोका जडीकृताः

By him, at the very moment of his birth, a mighty roar was loosed; by that roar the worlds were benumbed, like the dread thunder of the cloud of cosmic dissolution.

Verse 16

श्रुत्वा तन्नर्दितं घोरं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । नाम चक्रे तदा तस्य मेघनादो भविष्यति

Hearing that dreadful roar, Brahmā—the grandsire of the worlds—then bestowed a name upon him: “He shall be called Meghanāda.”

Verse 17

एवंनामा कृतः सोऽपि परमं व्रतमास्थितः । तोषयामास देवेशमुमया सह शङ्करम्

Thus named, he too undertook a supreme vow, and by his observance he pleased Śaṅkara, the Lord of the gods, together with Umā.

Verse 18

व्रतैर्नियमदानैश्च होमजाप्यविधानतः । कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणैर्नित्यं कृशं कुर्वन्कलेवरम्

By vows, disciplines and gifts, and by duly performed fire-offerings and recitations—by constant Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa austerities—he made his body emaciated through tapas.

Verse 19

एवमन्यद्दिने तात कैलासं धरणीधरम् । गत्वा लिङ्गद्वयं गृह्य प्रस्थितो दक्षिणामुखः

Thus, on another day, O dear one, he went to Kailāsa, the mountain that upholds the earth; taking up two liṅgas, he set out facing south.

Verse 20

नर्मदातटमाश्रित्य स्नातुकामो महाबलः । निक्षिप्य पूजयन् देवं कृतजाप्यो नरेश्वर

Reaching the bank of the Narmadā, the mighty one—desiring to bathe—set it down and worshipped the Lord; having completed his japa, O king.

Verse 21

तत्रायतनावासेन स्नातो हुतहुताशनः । कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मानयित्वा निशाचरः

There, by staying at that sacred abode, he bathed and performed offerings into the consecrated fire; and the night-roamer, esteeming himself as though his duty were accomplished, remained satisfied.

Verse 22

गन्तुकामः परं मार्गं लङ्कायां नृपसत्तम । एकमुद्धरतो लिङ्गं प्रणतः सव्यपाणिना

O best of kings, longing to proceed onward to Laṅkā, he lifted up one liṅga; bowing in reverence, he raised his left hand in salutation.

Verse 23

द्वितीयं तु द्वितीयेन भक्त्या पौलस्त्यनन्दनः । तावदेव महालिङ्गं पतितं नर्मदांभसि

Then, with the same devotion, the son of Paulastya lifted a second; at that very moment the great liṅga fell into the waters of the Narmadā.

Verse 24

याहि याहीति चेत्युक्त्वा जलमध्ये प्रतिष्ठितः । नमित्वा रावणिस्तस्य देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः

Saying, ‘Go on, go on!’ he became established in the midst of the waters; and Rāvaṇi, bowing to that supreme Lord among the gods, offered his reverence.

Verse 25

जगामाकाशमाविश्य पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः । तदा प्रभृति तत्तीर्थं मेघनादेति विश्रुतम्

He departed, entering the sky, honored by the night-roamers; from that time onward, that sacred ford became renowned as “Meghanāda Tīrtha”.

Verse 26

पूर्वं तु गर्जनं नाम सर्वपापक्षयंकरम् । तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु राजेन्द्र यस्तु स्नानं समाचरेत्

Formerly it was called “Garjana”, the destroyer of all sins. O king of kings, whoever performs bathing at that tīrtha—

Verse 27

अहोरात्रोषितो भूत्वा अश्वमेधफलं लभेत् । पिण्डदानं तु यः कुर्यात्तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नराधिप

If one stays there for a full day and night, one gains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. And, O king, whoever offers piṇḍa (funeral oblations) at that tīrtha—

Verse 28

यत्फलं सत्त्रयज्ञेन तद्भवेन्नात्र संशयः । तेन द्वादशवर्षाणि पितरः संप्रतर्पिताः

Whatever fruit arises from a Sattra sacrifice—this indeed is obtained here, without doubt. By that act, the forefathers are fully satisfied for twelve years.

Verse 29

यस्तु भोजयते विप्रं षड्रसात्रेन भारत । अक्षयपुण्यमाप्नोति तत्र तीर्थे नरोत्तम

But whoever feeds a vipra (brāhmaṇa) with a meal of the six tastes, O Bhārata, attains imperishable merit at that tīrtha, O best of men.

Verse 30

प्राणत्यागं तु यः कुर्याद्भावितो भावितात्मना । स वसेच्छाङ्करे लोके यावदा भूतसम्प्लवम्

And whoever, with a mind purified and steeped in contemplation, relinquishes life there—he dwells in Śaṅkara’s realm until the dissolution of all beings.

Verse 31

एषा ते नरशार्दूल गर्जनोत्पत्तिरुत्तमा । कथिता स्नेहबन्धेन सर्वपापक्षयकरी

Thus, O tiger among men, bound by affection, I have told you the excellent origin of Garjana, which destroys all sins.

Verse 35

। अध्याय

“Chapter.”