कथं नारद जायन्ते तस्मिन्द्वीपे महाबलाः। श्वेतद्वीपे कथं वासः प्राप्तस्तैस्तु महात्मभिः॥ एतन्मे सर्वमाख्याहि प्रभो नारद तत्त्वतः। त्वया दृष्टं जगत्सर्वं हस्तामलकवत्सदा॥ रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नारदः प्रत्युवाच ह। अनन्यमनसो नित्यं नारायणपरायणाः॥ तदाराधनसक्ताच तचित्तास्तत्परायणाः। एकान्तभावानुगतास्ते जरा राक्षसाधिप॥ तचित्तास्तद्रतप्राणा नरा नारायणं सदा। श्वेतद्वीपे तु तैर्वास अर्जितः सुमहात्मभिः॥ ये हता लोकनाथेन शाईमानम्य संयुगे। चक्रायुधेन देवेन तेषां वासस्त्रिविष्टपे॥ नहि यज्ञफलैस्तात न तपोभिन संयमैः। न च दानफलैर्मुख्यैः स लोकः प्राप्यते सुखम्॥ नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवः सुविस्मितः। ध्यात्वा तु सुचिरं कालं तेन योत्स्यामि संयुगे॥ आपृच्छ्य नारदं प्रायाच्छेतद्वीपाय रावणः। नारदोऽपि चिरं ध्यात्वा कौतूहलसमन्वितः॥ दिदृक्षुः परमाश्चर्यं तत्रैव त्वरितं ययौ। स हि केलिकरो विप्रो नित्यं च समरप्रियः॥ रावणोऽपि ययौ तत्र राक्षसैः सह राघव। महता सिंहनादेन दारयन्स दिशो दश॥
kathaṃ nārada jāyante tasmindvīpe mahābalāḥ| śvetadvīpe kathaṃ vāsaḥ prāptastaistu mahātmabhiḥ|| etanme sarvamākhyāhi prabho nārada tattvataḥ| tvayā dṛṣṭaṃ jagatsarvaṃ hastāmalakavatsadā|| rāvaṇasya vacaḥ śrutvā nāradaḥ pratyuvāca ha| ananyamanaso nityaṃ nārāyaṇaparāyaṇāḥ|| tadārādhanasaktāca tacittāstatparāyaṇāḥ| ekāntabhāvānugatāste jarā rākṣasādhipa|| tacittāstadrataprāṇā narā nārāyaṇaṃ sadā| śvetadvīpe tu tairvāsa arjitaḥ sumahātmabhiḥ|| ye hatā lokanāthena śāīmānamya saṃyuge| cakrāyudhena devena teṣāṃ vāsastriviṣṭape|| nahi yajñaphalaistāta na tapobhina saṃyamaiḥ| na ca dānaphalairmukhyaiḥ sa lokaḥ prāpyate sukham|| nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā daśagrīvaḥ suvismitaḥ| dhyātvā tu suciraṃ kālaṃ tena yotsyāmi saṃyuge|| āpṛcchya nāradaṃ prāyācchetadvīpāya rāvaṇaḥ| nārado'pi ciraṃ dhyātvā kautūhalasamanvitaḥ|| didṛkṣuḥ paramāścaryaṃ tatraiva tvaritaṃ yayau| sa hi kelikaro vipro nityaṃ ca samarapriyaḥ|| rāvaṇo'pi yayau tatra rākṣasaiḥ saha rāghava| mahatā siṃhanādena dārayansa diśo daśa||
English Meaning
“O celestial saint, why are the inhabitants of Svetadvipa powerful? And how did those highsouled ones come to live there? O lord, do you relate to me everything at length. You do observe the whole universe like a myrobalam in your palms." Hearing the words of Ravana, the celestial saint said:-"o lord of Raksasas, the inhabitants of Svetadvipa are perpetually devoted to Nārāyaņa with whole-mindedness and earnestly worship Him. They have always their hearts and minds devoted to Him and are all high-souled. Having rendered their lives and souls to Nārāyaṇa, they have been blessed with their abode in Svetadvſpa. Those, who are slain in the encounter with his bow bent by Vişnu— the holder of discuss and the preserver of the world, attain to the celestial region. Neither by sacrifice, devout penance, self-control nor excellent gifts may be obtained the celestial region full of bliss.” Hearing the words of Nārada, the Ten-necked demon was worked up with surprise and meditating for some time said "I shall enter into conflict with him." Thereupon inviting Nárada he proceeded to Śvetadvipa. Thinking for a long time and being curious to witness that wondrous encounter, Nārada speedily went there. He was ever fond of sport and warfare. Filling all the quarters with dreadful leonine roars Rāvana with all the Rākşasas moved towards the Svetadvīpa.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)