सर्गः 10

Then Rama asked the sage, "O Brahmana, how did your mighty brothers perform penance in the forest, and what kind of penance was it?"

Agastya, with a very pleased mind, then spoke to Rama there, explaining that his brothers had undertaken various religious observances in that place.

Then, Kumbhakarna, always diligent and situated on the path of righteousness, performed penance by standing amidst five fires during the summer season.

In the rainy season, he practiced the Vīrāsana posture, drenched by rainwater, and always took refuge in the middle of water during the cold season.

Thus, ten thousand years passed for him, who was striving in righteousness and firmly established on the path of truth.

But Vibhishana, righteous-souled, always devoted to righteousness, and pure, stood on one foot for five thousand years.

When his austerity was completed, the hosts of apsaras danced, a rain of flowers fell, and the gods too were stirred with joy.

For five thousand years, he worshipped the sun, and he stood with his head and arms raised, his mind fixed on self-study.

In this manner, ten thousand years passed for the self-controlled Vibhishana, as if he were residing in the Nandana garden of heaven.

Dashanana (Ravana) fasted for ten thousand years, and upon the completion of each thousand years, he offered one of his heads into the fire as an oblation.

In this manner, nine thousand years passed for him, and nine of his heads were offered into the fire.

Then, in the tenth thousand-year period, as Dashagriva (Ravana) was about to cut off his tenth head, Lord Brahma arrived there.

The grandfather (Brahma), greatly pleased, appeared there with the gods and addressed Dashagriva (Ravana), saying, "O Dashagriva, I am pleased with you."

Brahma tells Ravana, "O righteous one, quickly choose the boon you desire; what wish of yours shall I fulfill today, for your effort will not be in vain."

Then, Dashagriva, with a joyful heart, bowed his head to the god and spoke with a voice choked with happiness.

Ravana addressed Brahma, stating that living beings constantly fear nothing but death, for there is no enemy equal to death, and therefore he desired immortality.

When thus addressed, Brahma then said to Dashagriva that complete immortality was not possible for him, and he should choose another boon from him.

O Rama, when Brahma, the creator of the worlds, spoke thus, Dashagriva then, with folded hands before him, said the following.

Ravana declares to Brahma that he is invulnerable to Suparnas, Nagas, Yakshas, Daityas, Danavas, Rakshasas, and gods.

Ravana states that he has no concern for other creatures, especially humans and the like, whom he considers as insignificant as grass.

Thus addressed by the Rakshasa Dashagriva, the righteous god Brahma, accompanied by other deities, spoke.

Brahma granted Ravana's wish, saying, "So shall it be, O chief of Rakshasas," and having thus spoken to Dashagriva, O Rama, the grandfather continued.

Brahma further offered an auspicious boon, asking Ravana to listen, regarding the heads he had previously offered into the fire.

O Rakshasa, those (heads) will be yours again just as before, and here I grant you, O gentle one, another formidable boon.

O Rakshasa, whatever form you desire in your mind will be yours according to your will, without a doubt, by virtue of my boon.

Thus, to Dashagriva, the Rakshasa, who was addressed by the grandfather (Brahma), those heads that had been offered into the fire indeed arose again.

O Rama, having thus spoken to Dashagriva, the grandfather of the worlds (Brahma) then spoke these words to Vibhishana.

O Vibhishana, O dear child, I am greatly pleased by you, O righteous-souled one, whose intellect is aligned with dharma; therefore, O virtuous one, choose a boon.

The righteous Vibhishana, always adorned with all virtues like the moon surrounded by its rays, spoke with folded hands.

O Lord of good vows, I am fulfilled because the preceptor of the world himself is pleased with me; if a boon is to be granted to me, please listen.

O Lord, may my mind always remain fixed on righteousness even in the greatest calamity, and may the Brahmastra manifest to me even without formal instruction.

May whatever thoughts arise in my mind, in whichever stage of life, always be righteous, and may I always uphold that righteousness.

This is considered my most noble and supreme boon, for indeed, nothing is difficult to obtain in this world for those who are devoted to righteousness.

Prajapati, being pleased, again said to Vibhishana, "As you are righteous, dear child, so shall this be."

Because, O destroyer of enemies, though born in a demon lineage, your mind does not incline towards unrighteousness, I grant you immortality.

Having thus spoken, when Prajapati was about to grant a boon to Kumbhakarna, all the gods, with folded hands, spoke to him.

"A boon should not be granted by you to Kumbhakarna at this time, for you indeed know how this evil-minded one terrorizes the worlds."

O Brahman, by him, seven Apsaras in Nandana, ten followers of Mahendra, as well as sages and humans, have been devoured.

Whatever was done by the demon before he obtained a boon, this demon, now having obtained a boon, would indeed devour the three worlds.

O one of immeasurable splendor, let delusion be given to him under the guise of a boon, and thus there would be welfare for the worlds and his downfall.

Thus addressed by the gods, Brahma, born from a lotus, pondered, and as he thought, the goddess Saraswati approached his side.

Standing by his side with folded hands, Saraswati spoke these words: "Here I am, O god, arrived; what task shall I perform?"

The lord of creation then spoke these words to Saraswati, who had arrived: "O Saraswati, you become the desired deity of the king of demons."

After Saraswati entered, Prajapati Brahma then addressed Kumbhakarna, the mighty-armed one, telling him to choose whatever boon he desired.

Hearing those words, Kumbhakarna then spoke, saying, "O God of gods, it is my desire to sleep for many years."

Having said "So be it" to him, Brahma departed with the gods, and Goddess Saraswati then abandoned that demon.

When Brahma and the gods had ascended to the sky, Kumbhakarna, released by Saraswati, then regained his own consciousness.

The evil-minded Kumbhakarna, now distressed, pondered, "What kind of words have I uttered from my mouth today?"

I believe I was deluded by the gods who had come then; thus, all the brothers, having obtained boons and possessing blazing splendor, went to the Shlesmataka forest and resided there happily. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे दशमः सर्गः ।। 10 ।। Thus ends the tenth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.