Uttara Kanda, Sarga 109

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां पृथुवक्षा महायशाः । रामः कमलपत्राक्षः पुरोधसमथाब्रवीत् ।। 7.109.1 ।।

prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ pṛthuvakṣā mahāyaśāḥ | rāmaḥ kamalapatrākṣaḥ purodhasamathābravīt || 7.109.1 ||

When the night had dawned, the broad-chested, highly renowned, lotus-eyed Rama then spoke to his chief priest.

अग्निहोत्रं व्रजत्वग्रे दीप्यमानं सह द्विजैः । वाजपेयातपत्रं च शोभमानं महापथे ।। 7.109.2 ।।

agnihotraṃ vrajatvagre dīpyamānaṃ saha dvijaiḥ | vājapeyātapatraṃ ca śobhamānaṃ mahāpathe || 7.109.2 ||

He instructed that the shining sacred fire should go in front with the Brahmins, and the splendid Vajapeya umbrella should also be carried on the great path.

ततो वसिष्ठस्तेजस्वी सर्वं निरवशेषतः । चकार विधिवद्धर्मं महाप्रास्थानिकं विधिम् ।। 7.109.3 ।।

tato vasiṣṭhastejasvī sarvaṃ niravaśeṣataḥ | cakāra vidhivaddharmaṃ mahāprāsthānikaṃ vidhim || 7.109.3 ||

Then, the lustrous Vasishtha completely performed all the rituals for the great departure according to scriptural injunctions.

ततः सूक्ष्माम्बरधरो ब्रह्ममावर्तयन्परम् । कुशान्गृहीत्वा पाणिभ्यां प्रसज्य प्रययावथ ।। 7.109.4 ।।

tataḥ sūkṣmāmbaradharo brahmamāvartayanparam | kuśāngṛhītvā pāṇibhyāṃ prasajya prayayāvatha || 7.109.4 ||

Then, wearing fine garments, meditating upon the supreme Brahman, and holding Kusa grass in his hands, he went forth.

अव्याहरन्क्वचित्किञ्चिन्निश्चेष्टो निःसुखः पथि । निर्जगाम गृहात्तस्माद्दीप्यमान इवांशुमान् ।। 7.109.5 ।।

avyāharankvacitkiñcinniśceṣṭo niḥsukhaḥ pathi | nirjagāma gṛhāttasmāddīpyamāna ivāṃśumān || 7.109.5 ||

Not speaking anything, motionless, and devoid of joy on the path, he departed from that house, shining like the sun.

रामस्य दक्षिणे पार्श्वे सपद्मा श्रीरपाश्रिता । सव्ये तु ह्रीर्महादेवी व्यवसायस्तथाग्रतः ।। 7.109.6 ।।

rāmasya dakṣiṇe pārśve sapadmā śrīrapāśritā | savye tu hrīrmahādevī vyavasāyastathāgrataḥ || 7.109.6 ||

On Rama's right side was Sri, the goddess of prosperity, holding a lotus; on his left was the great goddess Hri (Modesty); and in front of him was Determination.

शरा नानाविधाश्चापि धनुरायतमुत्तमम् । तथा ऽ ऽयुधानि ते सर्वे ययुः पुरुषविग्रहाः ।। 7.109.7 ।।

śarā nānāvidhāścāpi dhanurāyatamuttamam | tathā ' 'yudhāni te sarve yayuḥ puruṣavigrahāḥ || 7.109.7 ||

Various kinds of arrows, an excellent long bow, and all other weapons followed him, having assumed human forms.

वेदा ब्राह्मणरूपेण गायत्री सर्वरक्षिणी । ओङ्कारो ऽथ वषट्कारः सर्वे राममनुव्रताः ।। 7.109.8 ।।

vedā brāhmaṇarūpeṇa gāyatrī sarvarakṣiṇī | oṅkāro 'tha vaṣaṭkāraḥ sarve rāmamanuvratāḥ || 7.109.8 ||

The Vedas in the form of Brahmins, the all-protecting Gayatri mantra, Omkara, and Vasatkara, all followed Rama with devotion.

ऋषयश्च महात्मानः सर्व एव महीसुराः । अन्वगच्छन्महात्मानं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् ।। 7.109.9 ।।

ṛṣayaśca mahātmānaḥ sarva eva mahīsurāḥ | anvagacchanmahātmānaṃ svargadvāramapāvṛtam || 7.109.9 ||

All the great-souled sages and Brahmins followed the great-souled Rama to the open gate of heaven.

तं यान्तमनुगच्छन्ति ह्यन्तःपुरचराः स्त्रियः । सवृद्धबालदासीकाः सवर्षवरकिङ्कराः ।। 7.109.10 ।।

taṃ yāntamanugacchanti hyantaḥpuracarāḥ striyaḥ | savṛddhabāladāsīkāḥ savarṣavarakiṅkarāḥ || 7.109.10 ||

The women of the inner apartments, accompanied by their old and young maidservants, eunuchs, and chief servants, followed him as he went.

सान्तःपुरश्च भरतः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ । रामं गतिमुपागम्य साग्निहोत्रमनुव्रतः ।। 7.109.11 ।।

sāntaḥpuraśca bharataḥ śatrughnasahito yayau | rāmaṃ gatimupāgamya sāgnihotramanuvrataḥ || 7.109.11 ||

Bharata, accompanied by Shatrughna and the women of his inner apartment, went, following Rama's path and bringing his sacred fire with him.

ते च सर्वे महात्मानः साग्निहोत्राः समागताः । सपुत्रदाराः काकुत्स्थमनुजग्मुर्महामतिम् ।। 7.109.12 ।।

te ca sarve mahātmānaḥ sāgnihotrāḥ samāgatāḥ | saputradārāḥ kākutsthamanujagmurmahāmatim || 7.109.12 ||

All those great-souled individuals, having assembled with their sacred fires, sons, and wives, followed the great-minded Rama.

मन्त्रिणो भृत्यवर्गाश्च सपुत्रपशुबान्धवाः । सर्वे सहानुगा राममन्वगच्छन्प्रहृष्टवत् ।। 7.109.13 ।।

mantriṇo bhṛtyavargāśca saputrapaśubāndhavāḥ | sarve sahānugā rāmamanvagacchanprahṛṣṭavat || 7.109.13 ||

All the ministers and groups of servants, along with their sons, animals, relatives, and followers, joyfully followed Rama.

ततः सर्वाः प्रकृतयो हृष्टपुष्टजनावृताः । गच्छन्तमन्वगछंस्तं राघवं गुणरञ्जिताः ।। 7.109.14 ।।

tataḥ sarvāḥ prakṛtayo hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanāvṛtāḥ | gacchantamanvagachaṃstaṃ rāghavaṃ guṇarañjitāḥ || 7.109.14 ||

Then, all the subjects, filled with joyful and well-nourished people, who were charmed by Rama's virtues, followed him as he departed.

ततः सस्त्रीपुमांसस्ते सपक्षिपशुवाहनाः । राघवस्यानुगाः सर्वे हृष्टा विगतकल्मषाः ।। 7.109.15 ।।

tataḥ sastrīpumāṃsaste sapakṣipaśuvāhanāḥ | rāghavasyānugāḥ sarve hṛṣṭā vigatakalmaṣāḥ || 7.109.15 ||

Then, all of Rama's followers, including men, women, birds, animals, and those with vehicles, were joyful and purified of all sins.

स्नाताः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे हृष्टाः पुष्टाश्च वानराः । दृढं किलकिलाशब्दैः सर्वं राममनुव्रतम् ।। 7.109.16 ।।

snātāḥ pramuditāḥ sarve hṛṣṭāḥ puṣṭāśca vānarāḥ | dṛḍhaṃ kilakilāśabdaiḥ sarvaṃ rāmamanuvratam || 7.109.16 ||

All the monkeys, bathed, greatly delighted, joyful, and well-nourished, loudly cheered with shouts of joy, all devoted to Rama.

न तत्र कश्चिद्दीनो वा व्रीडितो वा ऽपि दुःखितः । हृष्टं समुदितं सर्वं बभूव परमाद्भुतम् ।। 7.109.17 ।।

na tatra kaściddīno vā vrīḍito vā 'pi duḥkhitaḥ | hṛṣṭaṃ samuditaṃ sarvaṃ babhūva paramādbhutam || 7.109.17 ||

There was no one miserable, ashamed, or sorrowful; everything was joyful, prosperous, and extremely wonderful.

द्रष्टुकामो ऽथ निर्यान्तं रामं जानपदो जनः । यः प्राप्तः सो ऽपि दृष्ट्वैव स्वर्गायानुगतो मुदा ।। 7.109.18 ।।

draṣṭukāmo 'tha niryāntaṃ rāmaṃ jānapado janaḥ | yaḥ prāptaḥ so 'pi dṛṣṭvaiva svargāyānugato mudā || 7.109.18 ||

Then, any rural person who arrived, desirous of seeing Rama departing, immediately followed him to heaven with joy upon seeing him.

ऋक्षवानररक्षांसि जनाश्च पुरवासिनः । आगच्छन्परया भक्त्या पृष्ठतः सुसमाहिताः ।। 7.109.19 ।।

ṛkṣavānararakṣāṃsi janāśca puravāsinaḥ | āgacchanparayā bhaktyā pṛṣṭhataḥ susamāhitāḥ || 7.109.19 ||

Bears, monkeys, rakshasas, and the city-dwellers, all well-composed, followed him from behind with supreme devotion.

यानि भूतानि नगरे ऽप्यन्तर्धानगतानि च । राघवं तान्यनुययुः स्वर्गाय समुपस्थितम् ।। 7.109.20 ।।

yāni bhūtāni nagare 'pyantardhānagatāni ca | rāghavaṃ tānyanuyayuḥ svargāya samupasthitam || 7.109.20 ||

Even the invisible beings residing in the city followed Rama, who was ready to depart for heaven.

यानि पश्यन्ति काकुत्स्थं स्थावराणि चराणि च । सर्वाणि रामगमने ह्यनुजग्मुर्हि तान्यपि ।। 7.109.21 ।।

yāni paśyanti kākutsthaṃ sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca | sarvāṇi rāmagamane hyanujagmurhi tānyapi || 7.109.21 ||

All beings, both immobile and mobile, that beheld Rama, indeed followed him at his departure.

नोच्छ्वसत्तदयोध्यायां सुसूक्ष्ममपि दृश्यते । तिर्यग्योनिगताश्चापि सर्वे राममनुव्रताः ।। 7.109.22 ।।

nocchvasattadayodhyāyāṃ susūkṣmamapi dṛśyate | tiryagyonigatāścāpi sarve rāmamanuvratāḥ || 7.109.22 ||

Not even the slightest breathing creature was seen in Ayodhya, as all beings, even those of lower species, were devoted followers of Rama. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे नवाधिकशततमः सर्गः ।। 109 ।। Thus ends the hundred and ninth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.