Uttara Kanda, Sarga 37

अभिषिक्ते तु काकुत्स्थे धर्मेण विदितात्मनि । व्यतीता या निशा पूर्वा पौराणां हर्षवर्धिनी ।। 7.37.1 ।।

abhiṣikte tu kākutsthe dharmeṇa viditātmani | vyatītā yā niśā pūrvā paurāṇāṃ harṣavardhinī || 7.37.1 ||

When Rama, whose soul was known for righteousness, had been consecrated, the first night, which increased the joy of the citizens, passed.

तस्यां रजन्यां व्युष्टायां प्रातर्नृपतिबोधकाः । वन्दिनः समुपातिष्ठन्सौम्या नृपतिवेश्मनि ।। 7.37.2 ।।

tasyāṃ rajanyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ prātarnṛpatibodhakāḥ | vandinaḥ samupātiṣṭhansaumyā nṛpativeśmani || 7.37.2 ||

As that night dawned, in the morning, gentle bards, who were the awakeners of the king, stood near the king's palace.

ते रक्तकण्ठिनः सर्वे किन्नरा इव शिक्षिताः । तुष्टुवुर्नपतिं वीरं यथावत् सम्प्रहर्षिणः ।। 7.37.3 ।।

te raktakaṇṭhinaḥ sarve kinnarā iva śikṣitāḥ | tuṣṭuvurnapatiṃ vīraṃ yathāvat sampraharṣiṇaḥ || 7.37.3 ||

All of them, with melodious voices, trained like Kinnaras, greatly rejoicing, duly praised the heroic king.

वीर सौम्य प्रबुध्यस्व कौसल्याप्रीतिवर्धन । जगद्धि सर्वं स्वपिति त्वयि सुप्ते नराधिप ।। 7.37.4 ।।

vīra saumya prabudhyasva kausalyāprītivardhana | jagaddhi sarvaṃ svapiti tvayi supte narādhipa || 7.37.4 ||

O heroic and gentle king, who increases Kausalya's joy, please awaken, for indeed, when you sleep, the entire world sleeps.

विक्रमस्ते यथा विष्णो रूपं चैवाश्विनोरिव । बुद्ध्या बृहस्पतेस्तुल्यः प्रजापतिसमो ह्यसि ।। 7.37.5 ।।

vikramaste yathā viṣṇo rūpaṃ caivāśvinoriva | buddhyā bṛhaspatestulyaḥ prajāpatisamo hyasi || 7.37.5 ||

Your valor is like that of Vishnu, your beauty is like that of the Ashvins, you are equal to Brihaspati in intellect, and indeed, you are like Prajapati himself.

क्षमा ते पृथिवीतुल्या तेजसा भास्करोपमः । वेगस्ते वायुना तुल्यो गाम्भीर्यमुदधेरिव ।। 7.37.6 ।।

kṣamā te pṛthivītulyā tejasā bhāskaropamaḥ | vegaste vāyunā tulyo gāmbhīryamudadheriva || 7.37.6 ||

Your patience is like that of the earth, your splendor is comparable to the sun, your speed is equal to the wind, and your depth is like that of the ocean.

अप्रकम्प्यो यता स्थाणुश्चन्द्रे सौम्यत्वमीदृशम् । नेदृशाः पार्थिवाः पूर्वं भवितारो नराधिप ।। 7.37.7 ।।

aprakampyo yatā sthāṇuścandre saumyatvamīdṛśam | nedṛśāḥ pārthivāḥ pūrvaṃ bhavitāro narādhipa || 7.37.7 ||

You are unshakable like a pillar, and possess such gentleness as found in the moon; O king of men, there have been no such kings before, nor will there be in the future.

यथा त्वमतिदुर्धर्षो धर्मनित्यः प्रजाहितः । न त्वां जहाति कीर्तिश्च लक्ष्मीश्च पुरुषर्षभ ।। 7.37.8 ।।

yathā tvamatidurdharṣo dharmanityaḥ prajāhitaḥ | na tvāṃ jahāti kīrtiśca lakṣmīśca puruṣarṣabha || 7.37.8 ||

As you are extremely formidable, always righteous, and devoted to the welfare of your subjects, O best among men, neither fame nor prosperity ever abandons you.

श्रीश्च धर्मश्च काकुत्स्थ त्वयि नित्यं प्रतिष्ठितौ । एताश्चान्याश्च मधुरा वन्दिभिः परिकीर्तिताः ।। 7.37.9 ।।

śrīśca dharmaśca kākutstha tvayi nityaṃ pratiṣṭhitau | etāścānyāśca madhurā vandibhiḥ parikīrtitāḥ || 7.37.9 ||

O Rama, prosperity and righteousness are eternally established in you, and these and other sweet praises were sung by the bards.

सूताश्च संस्तवैर्दिव्यैर्बोधयन्ति स्म राघवम् । स्तुतिभिः स्तूयमानाभिः प्रत्यबुध्यत राघवः ।। 7.37.10 ।।

sūtāśca saṃstavairdivyairbodhayanti sma rāghavam | stutibhiḥ stūyamānābhiḥ pratyabudhyata rāghavaḥ || 7.37.10 ||

The bards, with their divine praises, awakened Rama, and Rama awoke to the sound of these eulogies being sung.

स तद्विहाय शयनं पाण्डराच्छादनास्तृतम् । उत्तस्थौ नागशयनाद्धरिर्नारायणो यथा ।। 7.37.11 ।।

sa tadvihāya śayanaṃ pāṇḍarācchādanāstṛtam | uttasthau nāgaśayanāddharirnārāyaṇo yathā || 7.37.11 ||

He rose from that bed, which was covered with white sheets, just as Lord Narayana (Vishnu) rises from his serpent-bed.

तमुत्थितं महात्मानं प्रह्वाः प्राञ्जलयो नराः । सलिलं भाजनैः शुभ्रैरुपतस्थुः सहस्रशः ।। 7.37.12 ।।

tamutthitaṃ mahātmānaṃ prahvāḥ prāñjalayo narāḥ | salilaṃ bhājanaiḥ śubhrairupatasthuḥ sahasraśaḥ || 7.37.12 ||

Thousands of humble men, with folded hands, approached the risen great-souled Rama, offering him water in pure vessels.

कृतोदकशुचिर्भूत्वा काले हुतहुताशनः । देवागारं जगामाशु पुण्यमिक्ष्वाकुसेवितम् ।। 7.37.13 ।।

kṛtodakaśucirbhūtvā kāle hutahutāśanaḥ | devāgāraṃ jagāmāśu puṇyamikṣvākusevitam || 7.37.13 ||

Having purified himself with ablutions and offered oblations to the sacred fire at the appropriate time, he quickly went to the holy temple, which was traditionally frequented by the Ikshvaku kings.

तत्र देवान्पितऽन्विप्रानर्चयित्वा यथाविधि । बाह्यकक्षान्तरं रामो निर्जगाम जनैर्वृतः ।। 7.37.14 ।।

tatra devānpita'nviprānarcayitvā yathāvidhi | bāhyakakṣāntaraṃ rāmo nirjagāma janairvṛtaḥ || 7.37.14 ||

After duly worshipping the gods, ancestors, and Brahmins, Rama emerged into the outer chamber, surrounded by many people.

उपतस्थुर्महात्मानो मन्त्रिणः सपुरोहिताः । वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे दीप्यमाना इवाग्नयः ।। 7.37.15 ।।

upatasthurmahātmāno mantriṇaḥ sapurohitāḥ | vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ sarve dīpyamānā ivāgnayaḥ || 7.37.15 ||

All the great-souled ministers, along with their priests and headed by Vasishtha, approached Rama, shining brightly like fires.

क्षत्रियाश्च महात्मानो नानाजनपदेश्वराः । रामस्योपाविशन्पार्श्वे शक्रस्येव यथा ऽमराः ।। 7.37.16 ।।

kṣatriyāśca mahātmāno nānājanapadeśvarāḥ | rāmasyopāviśanpārśve śakrasyeva yathā 'marāḥ || 7.37.16 ||

Great-souled Kshatriyas and rulers from various regions sat by Rama's side, just as the immortals sit by Indra.

भरतो लक्ष्मणश्चात्र शत्रुघ्नश्च महायशाः । उपासाञ्चक्रिरे हृष्टा वेदास्त्रय इवाध्वरम् ।। 7.37.17 ।।

bharato lakṣmaṇaścātra śatrughnaśca mahāyaśāḥ | upāsāñcakrire hṛṣṭā vedāstraya ivādhvaram || 7.37.17 ||

There, the highly renowned Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna attended upon Rama with delight, just as the three Vedas attend upon a sacrifice.

याताः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा किङ्करा मुदिताननाः । मुदिता नाम पार्श्वस्था बहवः समुपाविशन् ।। 7.37.18 ।।

yātāḥ prāñjalayo bhūtvā kiṅkarā muditānanāḥ | muditā nāma pārśvasthā bahavaḥ samupāviśan || 7.37.18 ||

Many servants with joyful faces came with folded hands and, indeed joyful, sat down by his side.

वानराश्च महावीर्या विंशतिः कामरूपिणः । सुग्रीवप्रमुखा राममुपासन्ते महौजसः ।। 7.37.19 ।।

vānarāśca mahāvīryā viṃśatiḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ | sugrīvapramukhā rāmamupāsante mahaujasaḥ || 7.37.19 ||

Twenty greatly valorous and powerful monkeys, led by Sugriva, who can assume any form at will, serve Rama.

विभीषणश्च रक्षोभिश्चतुर्भिः परिवारितः । उपासते महात्मानं धनेशमिव गुह्यकाः ।। 7.37.20 ।।

vibhīṣaṇaśca rakṣobhiścaturbhiḥ parivāritaḥ | upāsate mahātmānaṃ dhaneśamiva guhyakāḥ || 7.37.20 ||

And Vibhishana, surrounded by four rakshasas, serves the great-souled Rama, just as Guhyakas serve Kubera, the lord of wealth.

तथा निगमवृद्धाश्च कुलीना ये च मानवाः । शिरसा ऽ ऽवन्द्य राजानमुपासन्ते विचक्षणाः ।। 7.37.21 ।।

tathā nigamavṛddhāśca kulīnā ye ca mānavāḥ | śirasā ' 'vandya rājānamupāsante vicakṣaṇāḥ || 7.37.21 ||

Similarly, the wise elders of the guilds and noble-born men serve the king, Rama, having bowed down with their heads.

तथा परिवृतो राजा श्रीमद्भिर्ऋषिभिर्वृतः । राजभिश्च महावीर्यैर्वानरैश्च सराक्षसैः ।। 7.37.22 ।।

tathā parivṛto rājā śrīmadbhirṛṣibhirvṛtaḥ | rājabhiśca mahāvīryairvānaraiśca sarākṣasaiḥ || 7.37.22 ||

Thus, the king Rama is surrounded by glorious sages, greatly valorous kings, monkeys, and rakshasas.

यथा देवेश्वरो नित्यमृषिभिः समुपास्यते । अधिकस्तेन रूपेण सहस्राक्षाद्विरोचते ।। 7.37.23 ।।

yathā deveśvaro nityamṛṣibhiḥ samupāsyate | adhikastena rūpeṇa sahasrākṣādvirocate || 7.37.23 ||

Just as the lord of gods, Indra, is always served by sages, Rama shines with a splendor superior to that of the thousand-eyed Indra.

तेषां समुपविष्टानां तास्ताः सुमधुराः कथाः । कथ्यन्ते धर्मसंयुक्ताः पुराणज्ञैर्महात्मभिः ।। 7.37.24 ।।

teṣāṃ samupaviṣṭānāṃ tāstāḥ sumadhurāḥ kathāḥ | kathyante dharmasaṃyuktāḥ purāṇajñairmahātmabhiḥ || 7.37.24 ||

To those who were seated, various very sweet stories imbued with righteousness were narrated by great souls who were learned in the Puranas. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तत्रिंशः सर्गः ।। 37 ।। Thus ends the thirty-seventh sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.