Uttara Kanda, Sarga 100

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य युधाजित्केकयो नृपः । स्वगुरुं प्रेषयामास राघवाय महात्मने । गार्ग्यमङ्गिरसः पुत्रं ब्रह्मर्षिममितप्रभम् ।। 7.100.1 ।।

kasyacittvatha kālasya yudhājitkekayo nṛpaḥ | svaguruṃ preṣayāmāsa rāghavāya mahātmane | gārgyamaṅgirasaḥ putraṃ brahmarṣimamitaprabham || 7.100.1 ||

Then, after some time, King Yudhājit of Kekaya sent his own preceptor, Gārgya, the son of Angiras, a Brahmarshi of immeasurable splendor, to the great-souled Rama.

दश चाश्वसहस्राणि प्रीतिदानमनुत्तमम् ।। 7.100.2 ।।

daśa cāśvasahasrāṇi prītidānamanuttamam || 7.100.2 ||

And ten thousand horses, an unsurpassed gift of affection, were also sent.

कम्बलानि च रत्नानि चित्रवस्त्रमथोत्तमम् । रामाय प्रददौ राजा शुभान्याभरणानि च ।। 7.100.3 ।।

kambalāni ca ratnāni citravastramathottamam | rāmāya pradadau rājā śubhānyābharaṇāni ca || 7.100.3 ||

The king also gave blankets, jewels, excellent colorful garments, and auspicious ornaments to Rama.

श्रुत्वा तु राघवो धीमान्महर्षिं गार्ग्यमागतम् । मातुलस्याश्वपतिनः प्रहितं तन्महाधनम् ।। 7.100.4 ।।

śrutvā tu rāghavo dhīmānmaharṣiṃ gārgyamāgatam | mātulasyāśvapatinaḥ prahitaṃ tanmahādhanam || 7.100.4 ||

The intelligent Rama, having heard that the great sage Gargya, sent by his maternal uncle Ashvapati with great wealth, had arrived.

प्रत्युद्गम्य च काकुत्स्थः क्रोशमात्रं सहानुजः । गार्ग्यं सम्पूजयामास यथा शक्रो बृहस्पतिम् ।। 7.100.5 ।।

pratyudgamya ca kākutsthaḥ krośamātraṃ sahānujaḥ | gārgyaṃ sampūjayāmāsa yathā śakro bṛhaspatim || 7.100.5 ||

And Rama, along with his younger brothers, went forth for a krosa to meet Gargya and honored him greatly, just as Indra honors Brihaspati.

तथा सम्पूज्य तमृषिं तद्धनं प्रतिगृह्य च । पृष्ट्वा प्रतिपदं सर्वं कुशलं मातुलस्य च । उपविष्टं महाभागं रामः प्रष्टुं प्रचक्रमे ।। 7.100.6 ।।

tathā sampūjya tamṛṣiṃ taddhanaṃ pratigṛhya ca | pṛṣṭvā pratipadaṃ sarvaṃ kuśalaṃ mātulasya ca | upaviṣṭaṃ mahābhāgaṃ rāmaḥ praṣṭuṃ pracakrame || 7.100.6 ||

Having thus greatly honored that sage, received the wealth, and inquired about every detail of his maternal uncle's welfare, Rama then began to question the highly fortunate sage who was now seated.

किमाह मातुलो वाक्यं यदर्थं भगवानिह । प्राप्तो वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठः साक्षादिव बृहस्पतिः ।। 7.100.7 ।।

kimāha mātulo vākyaṃ yadarthaṃ bhagavāniha | prāpto vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sākṣādiva bṛhaspatiḥ || 7.100.7 ||

Rama asked what message his maternal uncle had sent, for which purpose the revered sage, who is the best among those skilled in speech, had arrived here, as if Brihaspati himself.

रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा महर्षिः कार्यविस्तरम् । वक्तुमद्भुतसङ्काशं राघवायोपचक्रमे ।। 7.100.8 ।।

rāmasya bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā maharṣiḥ kāryavistaram | vaktumadbhutasaṅkāśaṃ rāghavāyopacakrame || 7.100.8 ||

Having heard Rama's words, the great sage began to narrate the detailed and wonderful matter to Rama.

मातुलस्ते महाबाहो वाक्यमाह नरर्षभः । युधाजित्प्रीतिसंयुक्तं श्रूयतां यदि रोचते ।। 7.100.9 ।।

mātulaste mahābāho vākyamāha nararṣabhaḥ | yudhājitprītisaṃyuktaṃ śrūyatāṃ yadi rocate || 7.100.9 ||

Yudhājit, your maternal uncle, O mighty-armed Rama, has spoken words filled with affection, which you should hear if they please you.

अयं गन्धर्वविषयः फलमूलोपशोभितः । सिन्धोरुभयतः पार्श्वे देशः परमशोभनः ।। 7.100.10 ।।

ayaṃ gandharvaviṣayaḥ phalamūlopaśobhitaḥ | sindhorubhayataḥ pārśve deśaḥ paramaśobhanaḥ || 7.100.10 ||

This region of the Gandharvas, adorned with fruits and roots, lies on both banks of the Sindhu river and is exceedingly beautiful.

तं च रक्षन्ति गन्धर्वाः सायुधा युद्धकोविदाः । शैलूषस्य सुता वीर त्रिकोट्यो वै महाबलाः ।। 7.100.11 ।।

taṃ ca rakṣanti gandharvāḥ sāyudhā yuddhakovidāḥ | śailūṣasya sutā vīra trikoṭyo vai mahābalāḥ || 7.100.11 ||

O hero, that region is protected by three crores of very powerful Gandharvas, the sons of Shailūṣa, who are armed and skilled in warfare.

तान्विनिर्जित्य काकुत्स्थ गन्धर्वनगरं शुभम् । निवेशय महाबोहो स्वे पुरे सुसमाहिते ।। 7.100.12 ।।

tānvinirjitya kākutstha gandharvanagaraṃ śubham | niveśaya mahāboho sve pure susamāhite || 7.100.12 ||

O mighty-armed Rama, descendant of Kakutstha, having conquered those Gandharvas, establish your own well-governed and auspicious city in that Gandharva region.

अन्यस्य न गतिस्तत्र देशः परमशोभनः । रोचतां ते महाबाहो नाहं त्वामहितं वदे ।। 7.100.13 ।।

anyasya na gatistatra deśaḥ paramaśobhanaḥ | rocatāṃ te mahābāho nāhaṃ tvāmahitaṃ vade || 7.100.13 ||

No one else has access to that exceedingly beautiful region; O mighty-armed one, may this proposal please you, for I would never speak anything harmful to you.

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवः प्रीतो महर्षेर्मातुलस्य च । उवाच बाढमित्येव भरतं चान्ववैक्षत ।। 7.100.14 ।।

tacchrutvā rāghavaḥ prīto maharṣermātulasya ca | uvāca bāḍhamityeva bharataṃ cānvavaikṣata || 7.100.14 ||

Hearing the proposal from the great sage and his maternal uncle, Rama, pleased, agreed and then looked at Bharata.

सो ऽब्रवीद्राघवः प्रीतः साञ्जलिप्रग्रहो द्विजम् । इमौ कुमारौ तं देशं ब्रह्मर्षे विचरिष्यतः ।। 7.100.15 ।।

so 'bravīdrāghavaḥ prītaḥ sāñjalipragraho dvijam | imau kumārau taṃ deśaṃ brahmarṣe vicariṣyataḥ || 7.100.15 ||

Pleased, Rama, with folded hands, said to the Brahmarshi Valmiki, "O Brahmarshi, these two princes will go forth to that region."

भरतस्यात्मजौ वीरौ तक्षः पुष्कल एव च । मातुलेन सुगुप्तौ तु धर्मेण सुसमाहितौ ।। 7.100.16 ।।

bharatasyātmajau vīrau takṣaḥ puṣkala eva ca | mātulena suguptau tu dharmeṇa susamāhitau || 7.100.16 ||

These are Bharata's valiant sons, Taksha and Pushkala, who are well-protected by their maternal uncle and well-trained in righteousness.

भरतं चाग्रतः कृत्वा कुमारौ सबलानुगौ । निहत्य गन्धर्वसुतान्द्वे पुरे विभजिष्यतः ।। 7.100.17 ।।

bharataṃ cāgrataḥ kṛtvā kumārau sabalānugau | nihatya gandharvasutāndve pure vibhajiṣyataḥ || 7.100.17 ||

With Bharata leading, the two princes, accompanied by an army, will kill the sons of the Gandharvas and then establish two cities.

निवेश्य ते पुरवरे आत्मजौ सन्निवेश्य च । आगमिष्यति मे भूयः सकाशमतिधार्मिकः ।। 7.100.18 ।।

niveśya te puravare ātmajau sanniveśya ca | āgamiṣyati me bhūyaḥ sakāśamatidhārmikaḥ || 7.100.18 ||

Having established those excellent cities and settled his sons there, the very righteous Bharata will return to my presence again.

ब्रह्मर्षिमेवमुक्त्वा तु भरतं सबलानुगम् । आज्ञापयामास तदा कुमारौ चाभ्यषेचयत् ।। 7.100.19 ।।

brahmarṣimevamuktvā tu bharataṃ sabalānugam | ājñāpayāmāsa tadā kumārau cābhyaṣecayat || 7.100.19 ||

Having thus spoken to the Brahmarshi Vashistha, Rama then commanded Bharata, who was accompanied by his army and followers, and consecrated the two princes.

नक्षत्रेण च सौम्येन पुरस्कृत्याङ्गिरस्सुतम् । भरतः सह सैन्येन कुमाराभ्यां विनिर्ययौ ।। 7.100.20 ।।

nakṣatreṇa ca saumyena puraskṛtyāṅgirassutam | bharataḥ saha sainyena kumārābhyāṃ viniryayau || 7.100.20 ||

Bharata, honoring Vashistha (the son of Angiras) and choosing an auspicious constellation, set out with his army and the two princes.

सा सेना शक्रयुक्तेव नगरान्निर्ययावथ । राघवानुगता दूरं दुराधर्षा सुरैरपि ।। 7.100.21 ।।

sā senā śakrayukteva nagarānniryayāvatha | rāghavānugatā dūraṃ durādharṣā surairapi || 7.100.21 ||

That army, as if accompanied by Indra, then departed far from the city, following Bharata, and was unconquerable even by the gods.

मांसादानि च सत्त्वानि रक्षांसि सुमहान्ति च । अनुजग्मुर्हि भरतं रुधिरस्य पिपासया ।। 7.100.22 ।।

māṃsādāni ca sattvāni rakṣāṃsi sumahānti ca | anujagmurhi bharataṃ rudhirasya pipāsayā || 7.100.22 ||

Indeed, flesh-eating creatures and very great Rakshasas followed Bharata, driven by a thirst for blood.

भूतग्रामाश्च बहवो मांसभक्षाः सुदारुणाः । गन्धर्वपुत्रमांसानि भोक्तुकामाः सहस्रशः ।। 7.100.23 ।।

bhūtagrāmāśca bahavo māṃsabhakṣāḥ sudāruṇāḥ | gandharvaputramāṃsāni bhoktukāmāḥ sahasraśaḥ || 7.100.23 ||

And many thousands of very terrible flesh-eating spirits, desirous of consuming the flesh of the Gandharva princes, also followed.

सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां खेचराणां च पक्षिणाम् । बहूनि वै सहस्राणि सेनाया ययुरग्रतः ।। 7.100.24 ।।

siṃhavyāghravarāhāṇāṃ khecarāṇāṃ ca pakṣiṇām | bahūni vai sahasrāṇi senāyā yayuragrataḥ || 7.100.24 ||

Many thousands of lions, tigers, boars, and various birds marched in front of the army.

अध्यर्धमासमुषिता पथि सेना निरामया । हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा केकयं समुपागमत् ।। 7.100.25 ।।

adhyardhamāsamuṣitā pathi senā nirāmayā | hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākīrṇā kekayaṃ samupāgamat || 7.100.25 ||

After staying on the road for one and a half months, the army, healthy and filled with joyful and well-nourished people, arrived in Kekaya. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे शततमः सर्गः ।। 100 ।। Thus ends the hundredth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.