सर्गः 31

Then, the greatly effulgent Rama, filled with wonder, again spoke words to Agastya, the best among sages, bowing down to him.

O revered one, O best among Brahmins, when that cruel demon roamed the earth, were the worlds then empty of people?

Or was there no king or king's equal then, where Ravana, the lord of demons, did not meet with defeat or humiliation?

Or perhaps those kings became devoid of valor, and many rulers were conquered and deprived of their excellent weapons.

Having heard the words of Rama, the revered sage Agastya, laughing, spoke to Rama as Brahma would speak to the Lord.

O Rama, O best of kings, O lord of the earth, Ravana thus indeed roamed the earth, oppressing kings.

Then he reached the city named Mahishmati, which shone like a celestial city, and where the presence of Vasuretasa (Agni) always resided.

Its king, named Arjuna, was equal in might to Vasuretasa (Agni), where Agni always resided, known as Sharakuṇḍeśaya.

On that very day, the powerful lord of the Haihayas, Arjuna, had gone to the Narmada river with his wives to sport.

On that very day, Ravana arrived there, and the lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, then inquired of his ministers.

Ravana asks Arjuna's attendants to quickly and properly inform him of Arjuna's whereabouts, declaring his own arrival as Ravana, desirous of battle with the best of men, and instructing them to announce his presence to the king.

Thus addressed by Ravana, those very wise ministers informed the lord of Rakshasas about the king's absence.

Having heard from the citizens that Arjuna had departed, Ravana, the son of Vishravas, also departed and came to the Vindhya mountain, which resembled the Himalayas.

Ravana saw that Vindhya mountain, which seemed to pervade the clouds and bewilder the earth, as if it were scratching the sky.

He saw the mountain endowed with a thousand peaks, its caves inhabited by lions, and its waters falling from waterfalls, resembling the ocean with its loud laughter.

The mountain, of immense height, appeared like heaven itself, with gods, demons, gandharvas, apsaras, and kinnaras playing there with their wives.

The mountain was pervaded by crystal-clear water from flowing rivers, and appeared as if Ananta, the serpent god with his hoods and flickering tongues, had spread himself across it.

Ravana, after observing the Vindhya mountain, which rose high, possessed many caves, and resembled the Himalayas, then proceeded to the Narmada river.

Ravana went to the Narmada river, which was sacred, had water agitated by moving pebbles, and flowed towards the western ocean.

The Narmada's waters were agitated by buffaloes, sṛmara deer, lions, tigers, bears, and magnificent elephants, all of whom were tormented by the heat and seeking to quench their thirst.

The river was surrounded by chakravaka birds, karanda ducks, swans, water-hens, and sarasa cranes, all always joyful and sweetly cooing.

The river was adorned with blooming trees like head-ornaments, pairs of chakravaka birds like breasts, wide sandbanks like hips, and rows of swans like a beautiful girdle.

With her body smeared with pollen, pure water foam as her garment, a refreshing touch like a bath, and auspicious eyes like blooming lotuses, Ravana quickly descended from the Pushpaka to the Narmada, the best of rivers.

Ravana, having entered the Narmada as if embracing a beloved woman, then sat on her beautiful sandbank, which was frequented by various sages.

The foremost of rakshasas, Ravana, then sat with his ministers who were seated nearby, mistakenly declaring the Narmada to be the Ganga.

The lord of rakshasas, having experienced joy from seeing the Narmada, playfully spoke to his ministers Shuka and Sarana there.

This sun, having made the world golden with its thousand rays and causing intense heat, has indeed reached the middle of the sky.

The sun, knowing that I am seated here, indeed acts like the moon (becomes cool).

Even this wind, cool with the Narmada's water, fragrant, and a destroyer of fatigue, blows here very carefully out of fear of me.

This Narmada, the best of rivers and increaser of joy, with its crocodiles, fish, birds, and waves, stands as if a frightened woman.

Therefore, you, who were wounded in battle by kings equal to Indra, are drenched in blood as if with sandalwood paste.

You should plunge into the auspicious and joy-giving Narmada river, just as rutting wild elephants led by Mahapadma plunge into the Ganga, and by bathing in this great river, you will be freed from sin.

I also will gently make a flower offering to Kapardin (Shiva) today on the sandbank, which shines like the autumn moon.

Thus addressed by Ravana, Prahasta, Shuka, Sarana, along with Mahodara and Dhumraksha, plunged into the Narmada river.

The Narmada river was agitated by those chief Rakshasas, who were like great elephants, just as the Ganga is disturbed by great elephants like Vamana, Anjana, and Padma.

Then, those mighty Rākṣasas, having bathed in the Narmada and emerged from the water, brought flowers for Ravana's offering.

On the charming sandbank of the Narmada, which shone like a white cloud, the Rākṣasas swiftly created a mountain of flowers in a moment.

When the flowers were thus brought, Ravana, the lord of Rākṣasas, descended into the river to bathe, just like a great elephant entering the Ganga.

Having bathed there according to ritual and recited the excellent mantra, that Ravana then emerged from the waters of the Narmada.

Then, having discarded his wet garment and now clad in white, Ravana proceeded with folded hands, followed by all the Rākṣasas.

Wherever Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, went, the golden Shiva Lingam, as if an embodied mountain that had come under the sway of his movement, was carried along with him.

Ravana placed that Lingam in the middle of a sand altar and worshipped it with fragrant substances and flowers that smelled like nectar.

Then, having worshipped Shiva, who removes the distress of the virtuous, is the supreme boon, grants boons, and is adorned with the moon's rays, Ravana, the night-wanderer, sang and danced in front of the deity with outstretched hands. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः ।। 31 ।। Thus ends the thirty-first sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.