---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 11"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-11"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 11

> सुमाली वरलब्धांस्तु ज्ञात्वा चैतान् निशाचरान्।  
> उदतिष्ठद् भयं त्यक्त्वा सानुगः स रसातलात्॥ १॥

“Again, coming to know that the aforesaid Rākṣasas had obtained boons from Brahmā, Sumālī shedding his fear, rose up from the netherworld with his followers. (1)

> मारीचश्च प्रहस्तश्च विरूपाक्षो महोदरः।  
> उदतिष्ठन् सुसंरब्धाः सचिवास्तस्य रक्षसः॥ २॥

Mārīca and Prahasta, Virūpākṣa and Mahodara, the ministers of that Rākṣasa, also rose up with great fury. (2)

> सुमाली सचिवैः सार्धं वृतो राक्षसपुङ्गवैः।  
> अभिगम्य दशग्रीवं परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत्॥ ३॥

Sumālī accompanied by his ministers and surrounded by other Rākṣasa chieftains, came to Daśagrīva and, embracing him, spoke as follows: (3)

> दिष्ट्या ते वत्स सम्प्राप्तश्चिन्तितोऽयं मनोरथः।  
> यस्त्वं त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठाल्लब्धवान् वरमुत्तमम्॥ ४॥

‘Child, since you have secured from the great personality of the three worlds, Brahmā, the best of boons, you have fortunately obtained what you were cherishing in your mind. (4)

> यत्कृते च वयं लङ्कां त्यक्त्वा याता रसातलम्।  
> तद्गतं नो महाबाहो महद्विष्णुकृतं भयम्॥ ५॥

‘The great fear inspired in us by Viṣṇu, for which we had to leave Laṅkā and enter the netherworld is now gone, O mighty-armed one! (5)

> असकृत् तद्भयाद् भग्नाः परित्यज्य स्वमालयम्।  
> विद्रुताः सहिताः सर्वे प्रविष्टाः स्म रसातलम्॥ ६॥

‘Dispirited and scared away by fear of Viṣṇu, we all had on many occasions to leave our home, Laṅkā, and enter the netherworld alongwith our followers. (6)

> अस्मदीया च लङ्केयं नगरी राक्षसोषिता।  
> निवेशिता तव भ्रात्रा धनाध्यक्षेण धीमता॥ ७॥

‘The city of Laṅkā which has been occupied by your intelligent half-brother, Kubera, the lord of wealth, really belongs to us and was inhabited by ogres. (7)

> यदि नामात्र शक्यं स्यात् साम्ना दानेन वानघ।  
> तरसा वा महाबाहो प्रत्यानेतुं कृतं भवेत्॥ ८॥

‘If, O sinless and mighty-armed one, it could be taken back by sweet reasonableness or by gift or by force, our work will have been accomplished. (8)

> त्वं च लङ्केश्वरस्तात भविष्यसि न संशयः।  
> त्वया राक्षसवंशोऽयं निमग्नोऽपि समुद्धृतः॥ ९॥

‘Nay, without doubt you will be the ruler of Laṅkā, O dear one! The line of Rākṣasas which had sunk to the grove, has again been lifted up by you. (9)

> सर्वेषां नः प्रभुश्चैव भविष्यसि महाबल।  
> अथाब्रवीद् दशग्रीवो मातामहमुपस्थितम्॥ १०॥

‘O ogre of extraordinary might, you will become the overlord of all of us.’ Daśagrīva then said to his maternal grandfather, who had come in person: (10)

> वित्तेशो गुरुरस्माकं नार्हसे वक्तुमीदृशम्।  
> साम्ना हि राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रत्याख्यातो गरीयसा॥ ११॥  
> किंचिन्नाह तदा रक्षो ज्ञात्वा तस्य चिकीर्षितम्।  
> कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य वसन्तं रावणं ततः॥ १२॥  
> उक्तवन्तं तथा वाक्यं दशग्रीवं निशाचरः।  
> प्रहस्तः प्रश्रितं वाक्यमिदमाह सकारणम्॥ १३॥

‘You ought not to speak in this strain; for the lord of wealth is our elder brother.’ “The great Rākṣasa, being rebuked in gentle words by the ruler of the ogres, did not say anything further, knowing his (Daśagrīva’s) intention. After sometime the ogre Prahasta addressed the following humble and well-reasoned words to Rāvaṇa, who was still there and who had spoken in the aforesaid manner: (11—13)

> दशग्रीव महाबाहो नार्हसे वक्तुमीदृशम्।  
> सौभ्रात्रं नास्ति शूराणां शृणु चेदं वचो मम॥ १४॥

‘O mighty-armed Daśagrīva, you ought not to speak like this; there is no such thing as brotherly feeling among heroes. Nay, listen to my following words: (14)

> अदितिश्च दितिश्चैव भगिन्यौ सहिते हि ते।  
> भार्ये परमरूपिण्यौ कश्यपस्य प्रजापतेः॥ १५॥

‘The sisters, Aditi and Diti, both highly beautiful, are the mutually loving wives of Kaśyapa, a lord of creation. (15)

> अदितिर्जनयामास देवांस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरान्।  
> दितिस्त्वजनयद् दैत्यान् कश्यपस्यात्मसम्भवान्॥ १६॥

‘Aditi bore the gods, the lords of the worlds; Diti gave birth to the Daityas, both being the progeny of Kaśyapa. (16)

> दैत्यानां किल धर्मज्ञ पुरेयं सवनार्णवा।  
> सपर्वता मही वीर तेऽभवन् प्रभविष्णवः॥ १७॥

‘This earth (filled) with its forests, seas and mountains belonged of yore to the Daityas; for they were all powerful. (17)

> निहत्य तांस्तु समरे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना।  
> देवानां वशमानीतं त्रैलोक्यमिदमव्ययम्॥ १८॥

‘After killing them in war, all these three worlds were for their part brought under the lasting sway of the gods by the powerful Viṣṇu. (18)

> नैतदेको भवानेव करिष्यति विपर्ययम्।  
> सुरासुरैराचरितं तत् कुरुष्व वचो मम॥ १९॥

‘You are not the only one who will act in opposition to a brother; this was done in the past by the gods and demons alike. Hence, do as I say.’ (19)

> एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना।  
> चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं वै बाढमित्येव सोऽब्रवीत्॥ २०॥

“Having been addressed thus, Daśagrīva, pleased at heart, thought for a while and then said, ‘All right’. (20)

> स तु तेनैव हर्षेण तस्मिन्नहनि वीर्यवान्।  
> वनं गतो दशग्रीवः सह तैः क्षणदाचरैः॥ २१॥

“With the same joy, the valiant Daśagrīva went to the forest the very day accompanied by the Rākṣasas. (21)

> त्रिकूटस्थः स तु तदा दशग्रीवो निशाचरः।  
> प्रेषयामास दौत्येन प्रहस्तं वाक्यकोविदम्॥ २२॥

“Stationed on Mount Trikūṭa, Daśagrīva, the Rākṣasa, sent Prahasta, skilled in the art of expression, as a messenger, saying: (22)

> प्रहस्त शीघ्रं गच्छ त्वं ब्रूहि नैर्ऋतपुङ्गवम्।  
> वचसा मम वित्तेशं सामपूर्वमिदं वचः॥ २३॥

‘O Prahasta, go quickly and convey to the lord of riches, the foremost of ogres, these words, as coming from me, in a polite manner: (23)

> इयं लङ्का पुरी राजन् राक्षसानां महात्मनाम्।  
> त्वया निवेशिता सौम्य नैतद् युक्तं तवानघ॥ २४॥

‘This city of Laṅkā, O king, which belonged to the mighty Rākṣasas, has been occupied by you. O gentle and sinless one, this is not proper for you. (24)

> तद् भवान् यदि नो ह्यद्य दद्यादतुलविक्रम।  
> कृता भवेन्मम प्रीतिधर्मश्चैवानुपालितः॥ २५॥

‘If you, O hero of peerless strength, could give it back to us now, you will at once have pleased me and done the right thing.’ (25)

> स तु गत्वा पुरीं लङ्कां धनदेन सुरक्षिताम्।  
> अब्रवीत् परमोदारं वित्तपालमिदं वचः॥ २६॥

“Proceeding to Laṅkā, well-protected by Kubera, Prahasta addressed the following words to the highly magnanimous lord of wealth: (26)

> प्रेषितोऽहं तव भ्रात्रा दशग्रीवेण सुव्रत।  
> त्वत्समीपं महाबाहो सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वर॥ २७॥

‘O pious and best among all those who bear arms, I have been sent by Daśagrīva, your half-brother, to your presence, O mighty-armed one! (27)

> तच्छ्रूयतां महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद।  
> वचनं मम वित्तेश यद् ब्रवीति दशाननः॥ २८॥

‘O lord of wealth, learned in all the Śāstras and highly intelligent, listen to my submission, which is precisely what Daśagrīva says: (28)

> इयं किल पुरी रम्या सुमालिप्रमुखैः पुरा।  
> भुक्तपूर्वा विशालाक्ष राक्षसैर्भीमविक्रमैः॥ २९॥

‘This charming city, O large-eyed one, was previously ruled over by Rākṣasas of terrible might, of whom Sumālī was the foremost. (29)

> तेन विज्ञाप्यते सोऽयं साम्प्रतं विश्रवात्मज।  
> तदेषा दीयतां तात याचतस्तस्य सामतः॥ ३०॥

‘O son of Viśravā, this requisition is being made by him now. Let it be given back to him who is asking for it in a peaceful manner.’ (30)

> प्रहस्तादपि संश्रुत्य देवो वैश्रवणो वचः।  
> प्रत्युवाच प्रहस्तं तं वाक्यं वाक्यविदां वरः॥ ३१॥

“Hearing these words from Prahasta, god Vaiśravaṇa, the best of speakers, replied as follows to Prahasta: (31)

> दत्ता ममेयं पित्रा तु लङ्का शून्या निशाचरैः।  
> निवेशिता च मे रक्षो दानमानादिभिर्गुणैः॥ ३२॥

“This city of Laṅkā evacuated by the Rākṣasas, was given to me by my father. It then came to be peopled by me by inducements of gifts and honour etc. (32)

> ब्रूहि गच्छ दशग्रीवं पुरी राज्यं च यन्मम।  
> तत्राप्येतन्महाबाहो भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यमकण्टकम्॥ ३३॥  
> अविभक्तं त्वया सार्धं राज्यं यच्चापि मे वसु।  
> एवमुक्त्वा धनाध्यक्षो जगाम पितुरन्तिकम्॥ ३४॥

“Go and tell Daśagrīva, “my city and kingdom as well belong to you. My kingdom as well as all my wealth stands undivided with you. Enjoy it (with me) without any fear of rivalry.” Having spoken thus, the lord of wealth sought the presence of his father. (33-34)

> अभिवाद्य गुरुं प्राह रावणस्य यदीप्सितम्।  
> एष तात दशग्रीवो दूतं प्रेषितवान् मम॥ ३५॥  
> दीयतां नगरी लङ्का पूर्वं रक्षोगणोषिता।  
> मयात्र यदनुष्ठेयं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रत॥ ३६॥

Paying respects to his father, he conveyed Daśagrīva’s desire in the following words: ‘Father, Daśagrīva has just sent an emissary to me saying: “Let Laṅkā, which was previously occupied by the Rākṣasas, be given back to me. Please tell me, O pious one, what I should do in this connection.” (35-36)

> ब्रह्मर्षिस्त्वेवमुक्तोऽसौ विश्रवा मुनिपुङ्गवः।  
> प्राञ्जलिं धनदं प्राह शृणु पुत्र वचो मम॥ ३७॥

“Being addressed thus, Viśravā, the Brahmarṣi, the best of sages, told the lord of wealth, who was standing with joined palms, ‘My son, listen to my words. (37)

> दशग्रीवो महाबाहुरुक्तवान् मम संनिधौ।  
> मया निर्भर्त्सितश्चासीद् बहुशोक्तः सुदुर्मतिः॥ ३८॥  
> स क्रोधेन मया चोक्तो ध्वंससे च पुनः पुनः।  
> श्रेयोऽभियुक्तं धर्म्यं च शृणु पुत्र वचो मम॥ ३९॥

‘Daśagrīva, the mighty-armed, said the same thing in my presence also. I rebuked him and exhorted that highly evil-minded fellow in several ways. In anger I repeatedly said, You shall be destroyed. Son, listen to my words which will do you good and which are consonant with Dharma. (38-39)

> वरप्रदानसम्मूढो मान्यामान्यं सुदुर्मतिः।  
> न वेत्ति मम शापाच्च प्रकृतिं दारुणां गतः॥ ४०॥

‘This most evil-minded fellow, deluded as he is by the boons that have been granted to him, does not distinguish between people to be respected and those not to be respected. Again, by my curse he is evil-minded by nature. (40)

> तस्माद् गच्छ महाबाहो कैलासं धरणीधरम्।  
> निवेशय निवासार्थं त्यक्त्वा लङ्कां सहानुगः॥ ४१॥

‘Hence, O mighty-armed one, leave Laṅkā and proceed to Mount Kailāsa with your followers and people it for your residence. (41)

> तत्र मन्दाकिनी रम्या नदीनामुत्तमा नदी।  
> काञ्चनैः सूर्यसंकाशैः पङ्कजैः संवृतोदका॥ ४२॥  
> कुमुदैरुत्पलैश्चैव अन्यैश्चैव सुगन्धिभिः।  
> तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः साप्सरोरगकिंनराः॥ ४३॥  
> विहारशीलाः सततं रमन्ते सर्वदाश्रिताः।  
> नहि क्षमं तवानेन वैरं धनद रक्षसा॥ ४४॥  
> जानीषे हि यथानेन लब्धः परमको वरः॥ ४५॥

‘The Mandākinī, the best of rivers, whose waters are covered all over with lotus flowers of golden hue and bright like the sun, as also with white water-lilies, blue lotuses and other flowers of sweet fragrance, flows there. Gods with Gandharvas, Apsarās, Nāgas and Kinnaras, all of a sportive nature, always resort to that place and constantly revel there. Since you know how he (Daśagrīva) has obtained an excellent boon, it is not advisable for you to antagonize him.’ (42—45)

> एवमुक्तो गृहीत्वा तु तद्वचः पितृगौरवात्।  
> सदारपुत्रः सामात्यः सवाहनधनो गतः॥ ४६॥

Told thus and following his advice out of respect for his father, Kubera left the place with his wife and sons, his ministers, his vehicles and his wealth. (46)

> प्रहस्तोऽथ दशग्रीवं गत्वा वचनमब्रवीत्।  
> प्रहृष्टात्मा महात्मानं सहामात्यं सहानुजम्॥ ४७॥  
> शून्या सा नगरी लङ्का त्यक्त्वैनां धनदो गतः।  
> प्रविश्य तां सहास्माभिः स्वधर्मं तत्र पालय॥ ४८॥

“Prahasta, overjoyed, sought the mighty Daśagrīva, who was being attended by his ministers and brothers and said, ‘Kubera has left the city of Laṅkā and has gone away. It is now vacant. Entering it now in our company, discharge your duty there.’ ” (47-48)

> एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः प्रहस्तेन महाबलः।  
> विवेश नगरीं लङ्कां भ्रातृभिः सबलानुगैः॥ ४९॥

Told thus by Prahasta, Rāvaṇa of great strength entered Laṅkā alongwith his brothers, forces and other followers. (49)

> धनदेन परित्यक्तां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्।  
> आरुरोह स देवारिः स्वर्गं देवाधिपो यथा॥ ५०॥

That enemy of the gods stepped into Laṅkā—whose main streets were well laid out, and which had been evacuated by the god of riches—just as Indra ascended heaven. (50)

> स चाभिषिक्तः क्षणदाचरैस्तदा  
> निवेशयामास पुरीं दशाननः।  
> निकामपूर्णा च बभूव सा पुरी  
> निशाचरैर्नीलबलाहकोपमैः ॥ ५१॥

Consecrated by the Rākṣasas as its ruler, Daśagrīva peopled that city. It was soon filled to capacity with Rākṣasas, dark as clouds. (51)

> धनेश्वरस्त्वथ पितृवाक्यगौरवा-  
> न्न्यवेशयच्छशिविमले गिरौ पुरीम्।  
> स्वलंकृतैर्भवनवरैर्विभूषितां  
> पुरंदरस्येव तदाऽमरावतीम्॥ ५२॥

Out of respect for his father’s word, Kubera built on the hill, white as the moon, a city adorned with well-decorated mansions even as Indra laid out Amarāvatī in heaven. (52)

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