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॥ अथ उत्तरकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥
७.२१.१
एवं संचिन्त्य विप्रेन्द्रो जगाम लघुविक्रमः ।
आख्यातुं तद्यथावृत्तं यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥
Summary AI Having reflected thus, the foremost of *Brāhmaṇas* (*Nārada*), moving swiftly, went towards the abode of *Yama* to recount those events as they had occurred.
M N Dutt Having reflected thus, that foremost of Vipras endowed with fleet vigour, bent his steps towards the abode of Yama, for the purpose of relating to him all that had taken place.
७.२१.२
अपश्यत्स यमं तत्र देवमग्निपुरस्कृतम् ।
विधानमुपतिष्ठन्तं प्राणिनो यस्य यादृशम् ॥
Summary AI There he saw the god *Yama*, preceded by *Agni*, attending to the dispensations of living beings according to their respective deeds.
M N Dutt There he saw that god Yama sitting in front of fire and offering into it the good and evil fruits of their actions. * *Ordaining happiness and misery to the lives of people according to their acts.'
७.२१.३
स तु दृष्ट्वा यमः प्राप्तं महर्षिं तत्र नारदम् ।
अब्रवीत्सुखमासीनमर्घ्यमावेद्य धर्मतः ॥
Summary AI Seeing the great sage *Nārada* arrived there, *Yama*, having offered him the traditional respectful water (*arghya*) according to righteousness, spoke to him as he sat comfortably.
M N Dutt Seeing the Maharși Nārada arrive there, Yama offering him arghya according to the ordinance, addressed him saying, when he was seated at his case:
७.२१.४
कच्चित्क्षेमं नु देवर्षे कच्चिद्धर्मो न नश्यति ।
किमागमनकृत्यं ते देवगन्धर्वसेवित ॥
Summary AI O divine sage! Is all well? Does righteousness not perish? O one served by gods and *gandharvas*, what is the purpose of your arrival?
M N Dutt 'O Devarsi, is it well with you? And does virtue deteriorate.'* And, why, O you honoured of deities, and Gandharvas, do you come?' *The Original has: "Do not virtue wane." This in English would imply the very reverse what Nārada intends to say. He says: 'Do religion deteriorate?' i.e. 'I hope, religion does not deteriorate.' This is an idiom and natural usage accounts for it, although that usage must in the nature of things be based on a subtle ground of season.
७.२१.५
अब्रवीत्तु तदा वाक्यं नारदो भगवानृषिः ।
श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि विधानं च विधीयताम् ॥
Summary AI Then the venerable sage *Nārada* spoke these words: "Listen, I shall speak, and let the necessary arrangement be made."
M N Dutt Thereat the reverend sage, Narada, said; Hearken. I shall tell (you); and (after hearing me out) do you what is fit. o king of the Pitrs, here come the night-ranger named ten-necked, for bringing you under his sway you who are incapable of being conquered.
७.२१.६
एष नाम्ना दशग्रीवः पितृराज निशाचरः ।
उपयाति वशं नेतुं विक्रमैस्त्वां सुदुर्जयम् ॥
Summary AI O King of the Manes! This night-stalker named *Daśagrīva* is approaching to subdue you, who are extremely difficult to conquer, through his prowess.
M N Dutt Thereat the reverend sage, Narada, said; Hearken. I shall tell (you); and (after hearing me out) do you what is fit. o king of the Pitrs, here come the night-ranger named ten-necked, for bringing you under his sway you who are incapable of being conquered.
७.२१.७
एतेन कारणेनाहं त्वरितोऽस्म्यागतः प्रभो ।
दण्डप्रहरणस्याद्य तव किं नु करिष्यति ॥
Summary AI O Lord! For this reason, I have come in haste. What indeed will he do today against your weapon, the Staff of Punishment (*daṇḍa*)?
M N Dutt O master, for this reason it is that I have come hither hastily, doubtful what shall befall you who have the rod for your weapon.
७.२१.८
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दूरादंशुमन्तमिवोदितम् ।
ददृशे दिव्यमायान्तं विमानं तस्य रक्षसः ॥
Summary AI In the meantime, the celestial chariot of that *Rākṣasa* was seen approaching from afar, looking like the risen sun.
M N Dutt In the meanwhile they saw the Rākṣasa's car approach from afar, flaming and like to the rayfurnished (one) risen.
७.२१.९
तं देशं प्रभया तस्य पुष्पकस्य महाबलः ।
कृत्वा वितिमिरं सर्वं समीपं समवर्तत ॥
Summary AI The mighty one, having dispelled all darkness in that region with the splendor of that *Puṣpaka* chariot, arrived nearby.
M N Dutt And dispelling the gloom of that region with the effulgence of Pușpaka; that exceedingly powerful (Raksasa) came forward.
७.२१.१०
स त्वपश्यन्महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवस्ततस्ततः ।
प्राणिनः सुकृतं कर्म भुञ्जानांश्चैव दुष्कृतम् ॥
Summary AI Then the mighty-armed *Daśagrīva* saw here and there living beings experiencing the fruits of their good and evil deeds.
M N Dutt The mighty-armed ten-necked one all around saw creatures reaping the consequences of their fair and foul acts.
७.२१.१२
प्रेतेषु मुच्यमानेषु राक्षसेन बलीयसा ।
प्रेतगोपाः सुसंरब्धा राक्षसेन्द्रमभिद्रवन् ॥
Summary AI As the departed souls were being released by the powerful *Rākṣasa*, the highly enraged guardians of the dead rushed towards the lord of *Rākṣasas*.
M N Dutt On being liberated by that Rākṣasa the tennecked one, those creatures in a moment began to enjoy their release, that had come to them without thought or suspense. And on the dead being delivered by the magnanimous Rākşasa, the guards of the dead, getting enraged, rushed at the Rākşasa sovereign.
७.२१.१३
ते प्रासैः परिघैः शूलैर्मुद्गरैः शक्तितोमरैः ।
पुष्पकं समवर्षन्त शूराः शतसहस्रशः ॥
Summary AI Those warriors, in their hundreds of thousands, showered the *Puṣpaka* chariot with spears, clubs, pikes, mallets, and javelins.
M N Dutt And those heroes by hundreds and by thousands assailed (Puspaka) with prāsas, and bludgeons, and darts and maces, and spears and tomaras. And swiftly swarming like bees, they began to break the seats, blocks, daises and gateways (of the car.)
७.२१.१४
तस्यासनानि प्रासादान्वेदिकास्तरणानि च ।
पुष्पकस्य बभञ्जुस्ते शीघ्रं मधुकरा इव ॥
Summary AI Like bees, they quickly smashed the seats, pavilions, altars, and floor-coverings of that *Puṣpaka* chariot.
M N Dutt And those heroes by hundreds and by thousands assailed (Puspaka) with prāsas, and bludgeons, and darts and maces, and spears and tomaras. And swiftly swarming like bees, they began to break the seats, blocks, daises and gateways (of the car.)
७.२१.१५
देवनिष्ठानभूतं तद्विमानं पुष्पकं मृधे ।
भज्यमानं तथैवासीदक्षयं ब्रह्मतेजसा ॥
Summary AI Though being broken in battle, that chariot *Puṣpaka*, which was a divine abode, remained indestructible due to its *brahmic* power.
M N Dutt In that conflict Pușpaka presided over by divine energy, incapable of being destroyed by virtue of Brahma power, being broken, resumed its former shape.
७.२१.२१
स शूलानि गदाः प्रासाञ्शक्तितोमरसायकान् ।
मुसलानि शिलावृक्षान्मुमोचास्त्रबलाद्बली ॥
Summary AI That mighty Rākṣasa, through the power of his weapons, discharged spears, maces, darts, javelins, iron clubs, arrows, pestles, stones, and trees.
M N Dutt Thereat that powerful one, by virtue of his mastery over weapons, began to hurl darts and maces, prāsas and spears and tomaras and crags and trees.
७.२१.२२
तांस्तु सर्वान्समाक्षिप्य तदस्त्रमपहत्य च ।
जघ्नुस्ते राक्षसं घोरमेकं शतसहस्रकः ॥
Summary AI Those hundreds of thousands of Yama's soldiers repelled all those weapons and, nullifying his celestial power, struck that single, terrible Rākṣasa.
M N Dutt And snapping those weapons and resisting (those volleys of) arms, they smote at the Räkșasa fighting alone by hundreds and thousands.
७.२१.२३
परिवार्य च तं सर्वे शैलं मेघोत्करा इव ।
भिन्दिपालैश्च शूलैश्च निरुच्छ्वासमकारयन् ॥
Summary AI Surrounding him like a multitude of clouds surrounding a mountain, they all rendered him breathless with their slings and spears.
M N Dutt And encompassing him even as clouds encompass mountain, they rendered (Ravana) inert by means of Bhindipālas and darts. And with his mail torn open, his anger raging fiercely, and covered with blood streaming over his person, he, forsaking, his car, stood upon the ground.
७.२१.२५
ततः स कार्मुकी बाणी पृथिव्यां राक्षसाधिपः ।
लब्धसंज्ञो मुहूर्तेन क्रुद्धस्तस्थौ यथान्तकः ॥
Summary AI Then, holding his bow and arrows, that lord of Rākṣasas regained consciousness on the earth within a moment and stood enraged like Antaka (the God of Death).
M N Dutt Then furnished with his bow and holding his shafts, (Ravana) regaining his senses in a short time, increased in energy and stood in the field like the finisher.
७.२१.२६
ततः पाशुपतं दिव्यमस्त्रं संधाय कार्मुके ।
तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति तानुक्त्वा तच्चापं व्यपकर्षत ॥
Summary AI Then, fixing the divine Pāśupata weapon on his bow, he cried out to them, 'Stay! Stay!' and drew back the string of that bow.
M N Dutt Now fixing the divine Pāśupata on his bow, and saying to them, 'stay! stay!' he drew that bow.
७.२१.२७
ज्वालामाली स तु शरः क्रव्यादानुगतो रणे ।
मुक्तो गुल्मान्द्रुमांश्चैव भस्मकृत्वा प्रधावति ॥
Summary AI Released in battle, that arrow, wreathed in garlands of flames and followed by flesh-eating spirits, rushed forward after turning thickets and trees into ashes.
M N Dutt And garlanded with glory that shaft followed byghosts,* in that encounter; rushed on, burning to ashes the loose bushes and trees lying in its way. *The instrument being Siva's, it naturally was followed by ghosts as his attendants.
७.२१.२८
ते तस्य तेजसा दग्धाः सैन्या वैवस्वतस्य तु ।
रणे तस्मिन्निपतिता दावदग्धा नगा इव ॥
Summary AI Burnt by its brilliance in that battle, those soldiers of Vaivasvata fell like trees consumed by a forest fire.
M N Dutt And burnt up by its energy, the most of Vaivasvata fell down in the field like to banners of Mahendra.
७.२१.२९
ततः स सचिवैः सार्धं राक्षसो भीमविक्रमः ।
ननाद सुमहानादं कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥
Summary AI Then that Rākṣasa of terrible prowess, along with his ministers, let out a mighty roar, as if making the earth tremble.
M N Dutt Thereat the Räksasa of terrific prowess along with his councillors began to set up tremendous shouts; as if making the earth tremble.
॥ इति उत्तरकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥

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