Uttara Kanda, Sarga 108

ते दूता रामवाक्येन चोदिता लघुविक्रमाः । प्रजग्मुर्मधुरां शीघ्रं चक्रुर्वासं न चाध्वनि ।। 7.108.1 ।।

te dūtā rāmavākyena coditā laghuvikramāḥ | prajagmurmadhurāṃ śīghraṃ cakrurvāsaṃ na cādhvani || 7.108.1 ||

Those messengers, urged by Rama's command and swift in their journey, quickly set forth for Mathura and did not make any halts on the way.

ते तु त्रिभिरहोरात्रैः सम्प्राप्य मधुरामथ । शत्रुघ्नाय यथातत्त्वमाचख्युः सर्वमेव तत् ।। 7.108.2 ।।

te tu tribhirahorātraiḥ samprāpya madhurāmatha | śatrughnāya yathātattvamācakhyuḥ sarvameva tat || 7.108.2 ||

Having reached Mathura in three days and nights, they truthfully narrated all the events to Shatrughna.

लक्ष्मणस्य परित्यागं प्रतिज्ञां राघवस्य च । पुत्रयोरभिषेकं च पौरानुगमनं तथा ।। 7.108.3 ।।

lakṣmaṇasya parityāgaṃ pratijñāṃ rāghavasya ca | putrayorabhiṣekaṃ ca paurānugamanaṃ tathā || 7.108.3 ||

They recounted Lakshmana's abandonment, Rama's vow, the coronation of his two sons, and the citizens' departure with him.

कुशस्य नगरी रम्या विन्ध्यपर्वतरोधसि । कुशावतीति नाम्ना सा कृता रामेण धीमता । श्रावस्तीति पुरी रम्या श्राविता च लवस्य ह ।। 7.108.4 ।।

kuśasya nagarī ramyā vindhyaparvatarodhasi | kuśāvatīti nāmnā sā kṛtā rāmeṇa dhīmatā | śrāvastīti purī ramyā śrāvitā ca lavasya ha || 7.108.4 ||

The wise Rama established a beautiful city named Kushavati on the Vindhya mountain slopes for Kusha, and the beautiful city of Shravasti was assigned to Lava.

अयोध्यां विजनां कृत्वा राघवो भरतस्तथा । स्वर्गस्य गमनोद्योगं कृतवन्तौ महारथौ ।। 7.108.5 ।।

ayodhyāṃ vijanāṃ kṛtvā rāghavo bharatastathā | svargasya gamanodyogaṃ kṛtavantau mahārathau || 7.108.5 ||

Having rendered Ayodhya deserted, Rama and Bharata, the two great warriors, prepared for their journey to heaven.

एवं सर्वं निवेद्याशु शत्रुघ्नाय महात्मने । विरेमुस्ते ततो दूतास्त्वर राजेति चाब्रुवन् ।। 7.108.6 ।।

evaṃ sarvaṃ nivedyāśu śatrughnāya mahātmane | viremuste tato dūtāstvara rājeti cābruvan || 7.108.6 ||

Having quickly reported all this to the great-souled Shatrughna, the messengers then stopped and urged him, "Hasten, O King!"

तच्छ्रुत्वा घोरसङ्काशं कुलक्षयमुपस्थितम् । प्रकृतीस्तु समानीय काञ्चनं च पुरोधसम् ।। 7.108.7 ।।

tacchrutvā ghorasaṅkāśaṃ kulakṣayamupasthitam | prakṛtīstu samānīya kāñcanaṃ ca purodhasam || 7.108.7 ||

Having heard about the dreadful and imminent destruction of his lineage, Rama assembled his subjects and the chief priest Kanchana.

तेषां सर्वं यथावृत्तमब्रवीद्रघनन्दनः । आत्मनश्च विपर्यासं भविष्यं भ्रातृभिः सह ।। 7.108.8 ।।

teṣāṃ sarvaṃ yathāvṛttamabravīdraghanandanaḥ | ātmanaśca viparyāsaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha || 7.108.8 ||

Rama then recounted to them all that had transpired, including his own impending departure and the future of his brothers.

ततः पुत्रद्वयं वीरः सो ऽभ्यषिञ्चन्नराधिपः । सुबाहुर्मधुरां लेभे शत्रुघाती च वैदिशम् ।। 7.108.9 ।।

tataḥ putradvayaṃ vīraḥ so 'bhyaṣiñcannarādhipaḥ | subāhurmadhurāṃ lebhe śatrughātī ca vaidiśam || 7.108.9 ||

Then, the heroic King Rama consecrated the two sons (of Shatrughna), with Subahu receiving Mathura and Shatrughati receiving Vaidisha.

द्विधा कृत्वा तु तां सेनां माधुरीं पुत्रयोर्द्वयोः । धनं च युक्तं कृत्वा वै स्थापयामास पार्थिवः ।। 7.108.10 ।।

dvidhā kṛtvā tu tāṃ senāṃ mādhurīṃ putrayordvayoḥ | dhanaṃ ca yuktaṃ kṛtvā vai sthāpayāmāsa pārthivaḥ || 7.108.10 ||

The king (Rama) then divided the Mathura army into two parts for both sons and provided them with appropriate wealth, thus establishing them.

सुबाहुं मधुरायां च वैदेशे शत्रुघातिनम् । ययौ स्थाप्य तदा ऽयोध्यां रथेनैकेन राघवः ।। 7.108.11 ।।

subāhuṃ madhurāyāṃ ca vaideśe śatrughātinam | yayau sthāpya tadā 'yodhyāṃ rathenaikena rāghavaḥ || 7.108.11 ||

Having established Subahu in Mathura and Shatrughati in Vaidisha, Rama then returned to Ayodhya in a single chariot.

स ददर्श महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् । सूक्ष्मक्षौमाम्बरधरं मुनिभिः सार्धमक्षयैः ।। 7.108.12 ।।

sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ jvalantamiva pāvakam | sūkṣmakṣaumāmbaradharaṃ munibhiḥ sārdhamakṣayaiḥ || 7.108.12 ||

He saw the great-souled one, shining like fire, clad in fine silken garments, accompanied by immortal sages.

सो ऽभिवाद्य ततो रामं प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतेन्द्रियः । उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञं धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन् ।। 7.108.13 ।।

so 'bhivādya tato rāmaṃ prāñjaliḥ prayatendriyaḥ | uvāca vākyaṃ dharmajñaṃ dharmamevānucintayan || 7.108.13 ||

Then, having saluted Rama, the knower of Dharma, he spoke with folded hands and controlled senses, contemplating only righteousness.

कृत्वाभिषेकं सुतयोर्द्वयो राघवनन्दन । तवानुगमने राजन्विद्धि मां कृतनिश्चयम् ।। 7.108.14 ।।

kṛtvābhiṣekaṃ sutayordvayo rāghavanandana | tavānugamane rājanviddhi māṃ kṛtaniścayam || 7.108.14 ||

O delight of the Raghus, O King, know that I am resolute in following you, having performed the consecration of both my sons.

न चान्यदपि वक्तव्यमतो वीर न शासनम् । विलोक्यमानमिच्छामि मद्विधेन विशेषतः ।। 7.108.15 ।।

na cānyadapi vaktavyamato vīra na śāsanam | vilokyamānamicchāmi madvidhena viśeṣataḥ || 7.108.15 ||

Therefore, O hero, nothing else is to be said, and I do not wish this to be regarded as a command, especially by one like me.

तस्य तां बुद्धिमक्लीबां विज्ञाय रघुनन्दनः । बाढमित्येव शत्रुघ्नं रामो वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। 7.108.16 ।।

tasya tāṃ buddhimaklībāṃ vijñāya raghunandanaḥ | bāḍhamityeva śatrughnaṃ rāmo vākyamuvāca ha || 7.108.16 ||

Having understood Shatrughna's unwavering resolve, Rama, the delight of the Raghus, simply said "So be it" to him.

तस्य वाक्यस्य वाक्यान्ते वानराः कामरूपिणः । ऋक्षराक्षससङ्घाश्च समापेतुरनेकशः ।। 7.108.17 ।।

tasya vākyasya vākyānte vānarāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ | ṛkṣarākṣasasaṅghāśca samāpeturanekaśaḥ || 7.108.17 ||

At the conclusion of his speech, numerous monkeys capable of changing their forms at will, along with groups of bears and rakshasas, gathered in great numbers.

सुग्रीवं ते पुरस्कृत्य सर्व एव समागताः । तं रामं द्रष्टुमनसः स्वर्गायाभिमुखं स्थितम् ।। 7.108.18 ।।

sugrīvaṃ te puraskṛtya sarva eva samāgatāḥ | taṃ rāmaṃ draṣṭumanasaḥ svargāyābhimukhaṃ sthitam || 7.108.18 ||

All of them gathered, making Sugriva their leader, with the intention of seeing Rama, who was standing facing towards heaven.

देवपुत्रा ऋषिसुता गन्धर्वाणां सुतास्तथा । रामक्षयं विदित्वा ते सर्व एव समागताः ।। 7.108.19 ।।

devaputrā ṛṣisutā gandharvāṇāṃ sutāstathā | rāmakṣayaṃ viditvā te sarva eva samāgatāḥ || 7.108.19 ||

Having learned of Rama's impending departure, the sons of gods, sons of sages, and sons of Gandharvas all gathered there.

ते राममभिवाद्योचुः सर्वे वानरराक्षसाः । तवानुगमने राजन्सम्प्राप्ताः कृतनिश्चयाः ।। 7.108.20 ।।

te rāmamabhivādyocuḥ sarve vānararākṣasāḥ | tavānugamane rājansamprāptāḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ || 7.108.20 ||

All the monkeys and rakshasas, having saluted Rama, said, "O King, we have arrived here with a firm resolve to follow you."

यदि राम विनास्माभिर्गच्छेस्त्वं पुरुषोत्तम । यमदण्डमिवोद्यम्य त्वया स्म विनिपातिताः ।। 7.108.21 ।।

yadi rāma vināsmābhirgacchestvaṃ puruṣottama | yamadaṇḍamivodyamya tvayā sma vinipātitāḥ || 7.108.21 ||

"O Rama, best among men, if you depart without us, it would be as if we were struck down by you, like by the raised staff of Yama."

तैरेवमुक्तः काकुत्स्थो बाढमित्यब्रवीत् स्मयन् ।। 7.108.22 ।।

tairevamuktaḥ kākutstho bāḍhamityabravīt smayan || 7.108.22 ||

Smiling, Rama, thus addressed by them, replied, "Certainly."

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे रामं सुग्रीवो ऽपि महाबलः । प्रणम्य विधिवद्वीरं विज्ञापयितुमुद्यतः ।। 7.108.23 ।।

etasminnantare rāmaṃ sugrīvo 'pi mahābalaḥ | praṇamya vidhivadvīraṃ vijñāpayitumudyataḥ || 7.108.23 ||

Meanwhile, the mighty Sugriva also, having properly bowed to the hero Rama, prepared to make a submission.

अभिषिच्याङ्गदं वीरमागतो ऽस्मि नरेश्वर । तवानुगमने राजन्विद्धि मां कृतनिश्चयम् ।। 7.108.24 ।।

abhiṣicyāṅgadaṃ vīramāgato 'smi nareśvara | tavānugamane rājanviddhi māṃ kṛtaniścayam || 7.108.24 ||

O lord of men, I have come after consecrating the heroic Angada; O king, know me to be resolute in following you.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामो रमयतां वरः । वानरेन्द्रमथोवाचं मैत्रं तस्यानुचिन्तयन् ।। 7.108.25 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāmo ramayatāṃ varaḥ | vānarendramathovācaṃ maitraṃ tasyānucintayan || 7.108.25 ||

Having heard his words, Rama, the best among those who delight, then spoke to the king of monkeys, reflecting upon their friendship.

सखे शृणुष्व सुग्रीव न त्वया ऽहं विनाकृतः । गच्छेयं देवलोकं वा परमं वा पदं महत् ।। 7.108.26 ।।

sakhe śṛṇuṣva sugrīva na tvayā 'haṃ vinākṛtaḥ | gaccheyaṃ devalokaṃ vā paramaṃ vā padaṃ mahat || 7.108.26 ||

"O friend Sugriva, listen," said Rama, "I would not go to the world of gods or to any great supreme abode without you."

बिभीषणमथोवाच राक्षसेन्द्रं महायशाः । यावत्प्रजा धरिष्यन्ति तावत्त्वं वै बिभीषण । राक्षसेन्द्र महावीर्य लङ्कास्थस्त्वं धरिष्यसि ।। 7.108.27 ।।

bibhīṣaṇamathovāca rākṣasendraṃ mahāyaśāḥ | yāvatprajā dhariṣyanti tāvattvaṃ vai bibhīṣaṇa | rākṣasendra mahāvīrya laṅkāsthastvaṃ dhariṣyasi || 7.108.27 ||

The greatly renowned Rama then spoke to Vibhishana, the king of Rakshasas, declaring that as long as people exist, Vibhishana, the greatly valorous king of Rakshasas residing in Lanka, would indeed endure and rule.

यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी । यावच्च मत्कथा लोके तावद्राज्यं तवास्त्विह ।। 7.108.28 ।।

yāvaccandraśca sūryaśca yāvattiṣṭhati medinī | yāvacca matkathā loke tāvadrājyaṃ tavāstviha || 7.108.28 ||

Rama declared that Vibhishana's kingdom would endure as long as the moon and sun exist, as long as the earth remains, and as long as Rama's story is told in the world.

शासितस्त्वं सखित्वेन कार्यं ते मम शासनम् । प्रजाः संरक्ष धर्मेण नोत्तरं वक्तुमर्हसि ।। 7.108.29 ।।

śāsitastvaṃ sakhitvena kāryaṃ te mama śāsanam | prajāḥ saṃrakṣa dharmeṇa nottaraṃ vaktumarhasi || 7.108.29 ||

Rama instructed Vibhishana as a friend that he must obey Rama's command to protect his subjects righteously, and he should not offer any counter-argument.

किञ्चान्यद्वक्तुमिच्छामि राक्षसेन्द्र महामते ।। 7.108.30 ।।

kiñcānyadvaktumicchāmi rākṣasendra mahāmate || 7.108.30 ||

Rama then added that he wished to speak something else to Vibhishana, the greatly intelligent king of Rakshasas.

आराधय जगन्नाथमिक्ष्वाकुकुलदैवतम् । आराधनीयमनिशं सर्वैर्दैवैः सवासवैः ।। 7.108.31 ।।

ārādhaya jagannāthamikṣvākukuladaivatam | ārādhanīyamaniśaṃ sarvairdaivaiḥ savāsavaiḥ || 7.108.31 ||

Rama further advised Vibhishana to constantly worship the Lord of the World, who is the deity of the Ikshvaku lineage and is worshipped by all gods, including Indra.

तथेति प्रतिजग्राह रामवाक्यं विभीषणः । राजा राक्षसमुख्यानां राघवाज्ञामनुस्मरन् ।। 7.108.32 ।।

tatheti pratijagrāha rāmavākyaṃ vibhīṣaṇaḥ | rājā rākṣasamukhyānāṃ rāghavājñāmanusmaran || 7.108.32 ||

King Vibhishana, remembering Rama's command, accepted Rama's words, saying "So be it."

तमेवमुक्त्वा काकुत्स्थो हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् । जीविते कृतबुद्धिस्त्वं मा प्रतिज्ञां विलोपय ।। 7.108.33 ।।

tamevamuktvā kākutstho hanūmantamathābravīt | jīvite kṛtabuddhistvaṃ mā pratijñāṃ vilopaya || 7.108.33 ||

Having thus spoken to Vibhishana, Rama then addressed Hanuman, saying, "You who have resolved to live, do not violate your vow."

मत्कथाः प्रचरिष्यन्ति यावल्लोके हरीश्वर । तावद्रमस्व सुप्रीतो मद्वाक्यमनुपालयन् ।। 7.108.34 ।।

matkathāḥ pracariṣyanti yāvalloke harīśvara | tāvadramasva suprīto madvākyamanupālayan || 7.108.34 ||

O chief of monkeys, as long as my stories are current in the world, you shall remain very pleased, obeying my command.

एवमुक्तस्तु हनुमान्राघवेण महात्मना । वाक्यं विज्ञापयामास परं हर्षमवाप्य च ।। 7.108.35 ।।

evamuktastu hanumānrāghaveṇa mahātmanā | vākyaṃ vijñāpayāmāsa paraṃ harṣamavāpya ca || 7.108.35 ||

Having been thus addressed by the great-souled Rama, Hanuman, filled with supreme joy, submitted his reply.

यावत्तव कथा लोके विचरिष्यति पावनी । तावत्स्थास्यामि मेदिन्यां तवाज्ञामनुपालयन् ।। 7.108.36 ।।

yāvattava kathā loke vicariṣyati pāvanī | tāvatsthāsyāmi medinyāṃ tavājñāmanupālayan || 7.108.36 ||

As long as your purifying story spreads throughout the world, I shall remain on earth, obeying your command.

जाम्बवन्तं तथोक्त्वा तु वृद्धं ब्रह्मसुतं तथा । मैन्दं च द्विविदं चैव पञ्च जाम्बवता सह ।

jāmbavantaṃ tathoktvā tu vṛddhaṃ brahmasutaṃ tathā | maindaṃ ca dvividaṃ caiva pañca jāmbavatā saha |

Having thus spoken to the aged Jambavan, the son of Brahma, and also to Mainda and Dvivida, making a total of five including Jambavan.

तानेवमुक्त्वा काकुत्स्थः सर्वांस्तानृक्षवानरान् । उवाच बाढं गच्छध्वं मया सार्धं यथेप्सितम् ।। 7.108.38 ।।

tānevamuktvā kākutsthaḥ sarvāṃstānṛkṣavānarān | uvāca bāḍhaṃ gacchadhvaṃ mayā sārdhaṃ yathepsitam || 7.108.38 ||

Having thus spoken to all those bears and monkeys, Rama, the descendant of Kakutstha, told them, "Certainly, go with me as you desire.". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टोतरशततमः सर्गः ।। 108 ।। Thus ends the hundred and eighth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.