Uttara Kanda, Sarga 103

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य रामे धर्मपरे स्थिते । कालस्तापसरूपेण राजद्वारमुपागमत् ।। 7.103.1 ।।

kasyacittvatha kālasya rāme dharmapare sthite | kālastāpasarūpeṇa rājadvāramupāgamat || 7.103.1 ||

Then, after some time, while Rama was abiding devoted to righteousness, Time, in the form of an ascetic, approached the royal gate.

सो ऽब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं वाक्यं धृतिमन्तं यशश्विनम् । मां निवेदय रामाय सम्प्राप्तं कार्यगौरवात् ।। 7.103.2 ।।

so 'bravīllakṣmaṇaṃ vākyaṃ dhṛtimantaṃ yaśaśvinam | māṃ nivedaya rāmāya samprāptaṃ kāryagauravāt || 7.103.2 ||

He spoke to the resolute and glorious Lakshmana, saying, "Announce my arrival to Rama, as I have come due to the grave importance of my mission."

दूतो ऽस्म्यतिबलस्याहं महर्षेरमितौजसः । रामं दिदृक्षुरायातः कार्येण हि महाबल ।। 7.103.3 ।।

dūto 'smyatibalasyāhaṃ maharṣeramitaujasaḥ | rāmaṃ didṛkṣurāyātaḥ kāryeṇa hi mahābala || 7.103.3 ||

"O mighty one, I am indeed a messenger of a very powerful great sage of immeasurable energy, and I have arrived desirous of seeing Rama for an important purpose."

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सौमित्रिस्त्वरया ऽन्वितः । न्यवेदयत रामाय तापसं तं समागतम् ।। 7.103.4 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā saumitristvarayā 'nvitaḥ | nyavedayata rāmāya tāpasaṃ taṃ samāgatam || 7.103.4 ||

Having heard his words, Lakshmana, filled with haste, informed Rama about the arrival of that ascetic.

जयस्व राम धर्मेण उभौ लोकौ महाद्युते । दूतस्त्वां द्रष्टुमायातस्तपसा भास्करप्रभः ।। 7.103.5 ।।

jayasva rāma dharmeṇa ubhau lokau mahādyute | dūtastvāṃ draṣṭumāyātastapasā bhāskaraprabhaḥ || 7.103.5 ||

O greatly radiant Rama, conquer both worlds through righteousness; a messenger, radiant like the sun due to his penance, has arrived to see you.

तद्वाक्यं लक्ष्मणेनोक्तं श्रुत्वा राम उवाच ह । प्रवेश्यतां मुनिस्तात महौजास्तस्य वाक्यधृत् ।। 7.103.6 ।।

tadvākyaṃ lakṣmaṇenoktaṃ śrutvā rāma uvāca ha | praveśyatāṃ munistāta mahaujāstasya vākyadhṛt || 7.103.6 ||

Having heard those words spoken by Lakshmana, Rama indeed said, "O dear one, let that greatly powerful sage, who is a bearer of a message, be admitted."

सौमित्रिस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रावेशयत तं मुनिम् । ज्वलन्तमेव तेजोभिः प्रदहन्तमिवांशुभिः ।। 7.103.7 ।।

saumitristu tathetyuktvā prāveśayata taṃ munim | jvalantameva tejobhiḥ pradahantamivāṃśubhiḥ || 7.103.7 ||

And Lakshmana, having said "So be it," led in that sage who was blazing with his own splendor, as if burning with rays of light.

सो ऽभिगम्य रघुश्रेष्ठं दीप्यपानं स्वतेजसा । ऋषिर्मधुरया वाचा वर्धस्वेत्याह राघवम् ।। 7.103.8 ।।

so 'bhigamya raghuśreṣṭhaṃ dīpyapānaṃ svatejasā | ṛṣirmadhurayā vācā vardhasvetyāha rāghavam || 7.103.8 ||

Having approached Rama, the best of the Raghus, who was shining with his own splendor, the sage said to him with a sweet voice, "May you prosper."

तस्मै रामो महातेजाः पूजामर्घ्यपुरोगमाम् । ददौ कुशलमव्यग्रं प्रष्टुमेवोपचक्रमे ।। 7.103.9 ।।

tasmai rāmo mahātejāḥ pūjāmarghyapurogamām | dadau kuśalamavyagraṃ praṣṭumevopacakrame || 7.103.9 ||

The greatly effulgent Rama offered him honor, preceded by arghya, and calmly began to inquire about his well-being.

पृष्टश्च कुशलं तेन रामेण वदतां वरः । आसने काञ्चने दिव्ये निषसाद महायशाः ।। 7.103.10 ।।

pṛṣṭaśca kuśalaṃ tena rāmeṇa vadatāṃ varaḥ | āsane kāñcane divye niṣasāda mahāyaśāḥ || 7.103.10 ||

And being asked about his welfare by Rama, the greatly renowned one, who was the best among speakers, sat down on a divine golden seat.

तमुवाच ततो रामः स्वागतं ते महामुने । प्रापयास्य च वाक्यानि यतो दूतस्त्वमागतः ।। 7.103.11 ।।

tamuvāca tato rāmaḥ svāgataṃ te mahāmune | prāpayāsya ca vākyāni yato dūtastvamāgataḥ || 7.103.11 ||

Then Rama said to him, "Welcome to you, O great sage; please deliver the messages of him from whom you have come as a messenger."

चोदितो राजसिंहेन मुनिर्वाक्यमभाषत । द्वन्द्वमेतत्प्रवक्तव्यं हितं वै यद्यपेक्षसे ।। 7.103.12 ।।

codito rājasiṃhena munirvākyamabhāṣata | dvandvametatpravaktavyaṃ hitaṃ vai yadyapekṣase || 7.103.12 ||

Urged by the lion among kings, the sage spoke these words: "This secret must be spoken if you indeed desire what is beneficial."

यः शृणोति निरीक्षेद्वा स वध्यो भविता तव । भवेद्वै मुनिमुख्यस्य वचनं यद्यपेक्षसे ।। 7.103.13 ।।

yaḥ śṛṇoti nirīkṣedvā sa vadhyo bhavitā tava | bhavedvai munimukhyasya vacanaṃ yadyapekṣase || 7.103.13 ||

Whoever listens or looks will be punishable by death by you, if you truly desire to heed the words of the chief of sages.

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । द्वारि तिष्ठ महाबाहो प्रतिहारं विसर्जय ।। 7.103.14 ।।

sa tatheti pratijñāya rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt | dvāri tiṣṭha mahābāho pratihāraṃ visarjaya || 7.103.14 ||

Having agreed to the condition, Rama spoke to Lakshmana, instructing him to stand at the door and dismiss the doorkeeper.

स मे वध्यः खलु भवेत् कथाद्वन्द्वं समीरितम् । ऋषेर्मम च सौमित्रे पश्येद्वा शृणुयाच्च यः ।। 7.103.15 ।।

sa me vadhyaḥ khalu bhavet kathādvandvaṃ samīritam | ṛṣermama ca saumitre paśyedvā śṛṇuyācca yaḥ || 7.103.15 ||

Rama declared that anyone who sees or hears the private conversation between him and the sage would indeed be worthy of death.

ततो निक्षिप्य काकुत्स्थो लक्ष्मणं द्वारि सङ्ग्रहम् । तमुवाच मुने वाक्यं कथयस्वेति राघवः ।। 7.103.16 ।।

tato nikṣipya kākutstho lakṣmaṇaṃ dvāri saṅgraham | tamuvāca mune vākyaṃ kathayasveti rāghavaḥ || 7.103.16 ||

Then, having stationed Lakshmana as a guard at the door, Rama (Kakutstha) spoke to the sage, saying, "O sage, please tell me the matter."

यत्ते मनीषितं वाक्यं येन वा ऽसि समाहितः । कथयस्वाविशङ्कस्त्वं ममापि हृदि वर्तते ।। 7.103.17 ।।

yatte manīṣitaṃ vākyaṃ yena vā 'si samāhitaḥ | kathayasvāviśaṅkastvaṃ mamāpi hṛdi vartate || 7.103.17 ||

Rama urged the sage to speak without hesitation whatever message he desired or was intent upon, for a similar thought was also present in Rama's heart. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे त्र्युत्तरशततमः सर्गः ।। 103 ।। Thus ends the hundred and third sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.