Uttara Kanda, Sarga 44

विसृज्य तु सुहृद्वर्गं बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य राघवः । समीपे द्वाःस्थमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 7.44.1 ।।

visṛjya tu suhṛdvargaṃ buddhyā niścitya rāghavaḥ | samīpe dvāḥsthamāsīnamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 7.44.1 ||

Having dismissed his group of friends and having resolved with his intellect, Rama then spoke these words to the doorkeeper who was seated nearby.

शीघ्रमानय सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम् । भरतं च महाभागं शत्रुघ्नमपराजितम् ।। 7.44.2 ।।

śīghramānaya saumitriṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam | bharataṃ ca mahābhāgaṃ śatrughnamaparājitam || 7.44.2 ||

Bring quickly Lakshmana, the son of Sumitra and one with auspicious marks, and also Bharata, the highly fortunate one, and Shatrughna, the unconquered.

रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा द्वाःस्थो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः । लक्ष्मणस्य गृहं गत्वा प्रविवेशानिवारितः ।। 7.44.3 ।।

rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā dvāḥstho mūrdhni kṛtāñjaliḥ | lakṣmaṇasya gṛhaṃ gatvā praviveśānivāritaḥ || 7.44.3 ||

Having heard Rama's command, the doorkeeper, with folded hands placed on his head, went to Lakshmana's house and entered unhindered.

उवाच सुमहात्मानं वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः । द्रष्टुमिच्छति राजा त्वां गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम् ।। 7.44.4 ।।

uvāca sumahātmānaṃ vardhayitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ | draṣṭumicchati rājā tvāṃ gamyatāṃ tatra mā ciram || 7.44.4 ||

With folded hands, he greeted the great-souled Lakshmana and said, 'The king wishes to see you; go there without delay.'

बाढमित्येव सौमित्रिः श्रुत्वा राघवशासनम् । प्राद्रवद्रथमारुह्य राघवस्य निवेशनम् ।। 7.44.5 ।।

bāḍhamityeva saumitriḥ śrutvā rāghavaśāsanam | prādravadrathamāruhya rāghavasya niveśanam || 7.44.5 ||

Having heard Rama's command, Saumitri (Lakshmana) immediately said 'Alright' and hastened to Rama's abode, having mounted his chariot.

प्रयान्तं लक्ष्मणं दृष्ट्वा द्वाःस्थो भरतमन्तिकात् । उवाच भरतं तत्र वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः ।। 7.44.6 ।।

prayāntaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā dvāḥstho bharatamantikāt | uvāca bharataṃ tatra vardhayitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ || 7.44.6 ||

Having seen Lakshmana departing, the doorkeeper, from nearby, then greeted Bharata with folded hands and spoke to him.

विनयावनतो भूत्वा राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति । भरतस्तु वचःश्रुत्वा द्वाःस्थाद्रामसमीरितम् ।। 7.44.7 ।।

vinayāvanato bhūtvā rājā tvāṃ draṣṭumicchati | bharatastu vacaḥśrutvā dvāḥsthādrāmasamīritam || 7.44.7 ||

The doorkeeper informed Bharata that the king, having become humble, wished to see him, and Bharata heard these words spoken by Rama through the doorkeeper.

उत्पपातासनात्तूर्णं पद्भ्यामेव ययौ बली । दृष्ट्वा प्रयान्तं भरतं त्वरमाणः कृताञ्जलिः ।। 7.44.8 ।।

utpapātāsanāttūrṇaṃ padbhyāmeva yayau balī | dṛṣṭvā prayāntaṃ bharataṃ tvaramāṇaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ || 7.44.8 ||

The mighty Bharata quickly sprang from his seat and went on foot, while the doorkeeper, seeing Bharata depart, hurried along with folded hands.

शत्रुघ्नभवनं गत्वा ततो वाक्यमुवाच ह । एह्यागच्छ रघुश्रेष्ठ राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति ।। 7.44.9 ।।

śatrughnabhavanaṃ gatvā tato vākyamuvāca ha | ehyāgaccha raghuśreṣṭha rājā tvāṃ draṣṭumicchati || 7.44.9 ||

The doorkeeper then went to Shatrughna's abode and spoke, saying, "Come, O best of Raghus, the king wishes to see you."

गतो हि लक्ष्मणः पूर्वं भरतश्च महायशाः । श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य शत्रुघ्नः परमासनात् ।। 7.44.10 ।।

gato hi lakṣmaṇaḥ pūrvaṃ bharataśca mahāyaśāḥ | śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya śatrughnaḥ paramāsanāt || 7.44.10 ||

The doorkeeper also informed Shatrughna that Lakshmana had already gone, and the greatly renowned Bharata too, and upon hearing these words, Shatrughna rose from his excellent seat.

शिरसा धरणीं प्राप्य प्रययौ यत्र राघवः । द्वाःस्थस्त्वागम्य रामाय सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः । निवेदयामास तदा भ्रातऽन्स्वान्समुपस्थितान् ।। 7.44.11 ।।

śirasā dharaṇīṃ prāpya prayayau yatra rāghavaḥ | dvāḥsthastvāgamya rāmāya sarvāneva kṛtāñjaliḥ | nivedayāmāsa tadā bhrāta'nsvānsamupasthitān || 7.44.11 ||

Shatrughna, having bowed his head to the ground, went to where Rama was, and then the doorkeeper, with folded hands, reported to Rama that all his brothers had arrived.

कुमारानागताञ्छ्रुत्वा चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः । अवाङ्मुखो दीनमना द्वाःस्थं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 7.44.12 ।।

kumārānāgatāñchrutvā cintāvyākulitendriyaḥ | avāṅmukho dīnamanā dvāḥsthaṃ vacanamabravīt || 7.44.12 ||

Having heard that the princes had arrived, Rama, with his senses agitated by worry, a downcast face, and a distressed mind, spoke to the doorkeeper.

प्रवेशय कुमारांस्त्वं मत्समीपं त्वरान्वितः । एतेषु जीवितं मह्यमेते प्राणाः प्रिया मम ।। 7.44.13 ।।

praveśaya kumārāṃstvaṃ matsamīpaṃ tvarānvitaḥ | eteṣu jīvitaṃ mahyamete prāṇāḥ priyā mama || 7.44.13 ||

"You, quickly usher the princes into my presence, for my life is in them, and these are my dear vital breaths."

आज्ञप्तास्तु नरेन्द्रेण कुमाराः शक्रतेजसः । प्रह्वाः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा विविशुस्ते समाहिताः ।। 7.44.14 ।।

ājñaptāstu narendreṇa kumārāḥ śakratejasaḥ | prahvāḥ prāñjalayo bhūtvā viviśuste samāhitāḥ || 7.44.14 ||

Commanded by the king, the princes, who possessed the splendor of Indra, entered composedly, having bowed down with folded hands.

ते तु दृष्ट्वा मुखं तस्य सग्रहं शशिनं यथा । सन्ध्यागतमिवादित्यं प्रभया परिवर्जितम् ।। 7.44.15 ।।

te tu dṛṣṭvā mukhaṃ tasya sagrahaṃ śaśinaṃ yathā | sandhyāgatamivādityaṃ prabhayā parivarjitam || 7.44.15 ||

They, having seen his face, which was like the moon eclipsed or the sun at dusk devoid of its splendor, were struck by his sorrowful appearance.

बाष्पपूर्णे च नयने दृष्ट्वा रामस्य धीमतः । हतशोभं यथा पद्मं मुखं वीक्ष्य च तस्य ते ।। 7.44.16 ।।

bāṣpapūrṇe ca nayane dṛṣṭvā rāmasya dhīmataḥ | hataśobhaṃ yathā padmaṃ mukhaṃ vīkṣya ca tasya te || 7.44.16 ||

And having seen the wise Rama's eyes full of tears, and his face, which was like a lotus that had lost its beauty, they were deeply affected.

ततो ऽभिवाद्य त्वरिताः पादौ रामस्य मूर्धभिः । तस्थुः समाहिताः सर्वे रामस्त्वश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ।। 7.44.17 ।।

tato 'bhivādya tvaritāḥ pādau rāmasya mūrdhabhiḥ | tasthuḥ samāhitāḥ sarve rāmastvaśrūṇyavartayat || 7.44.17 ||

After swiftly saluting Rama's feet with their heads, all of them stood attentively, while Rama, in turn, shed tears.

तान्परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यामुत्थाप्य च महाबलः । आसनेष्वासतेत्युक्त्वा ततो वाक्यं जगाद ह ।। 7.44.18 ।।

tānpariṣvajya bāhubhyāmutthāpya ca mahābalaḥ | āsaneṣvāsatetyuktvā tato vākyaṃ jagāda ha || 7.44.18 ||

The mighty Rama, embracing them with his arms and raising them up, asked them to sit on their seats, and then he spoke these words.

भवन्तो मम सर्वस्वं भवन्तो जीवितं मम । भवद्भिश्च कृतं राज्यं पालयामि नरेश्वराः ।। 7.44.19 ।।

bhavanto mama sarvasvaṃ bhavanto jīvitaṃ mama | bhavadbhiśca kṛtaṃ rājyaṃ pālayāmi nareśvarāḥ || 7.44.19 ||

Rama declared to the kings that they were his everything and his very life, and that he ruled the kingdom which they had helped establish.

भवन्तः कृतशास्त्रार्था बुद्ध्या च परिनिष्ठिताः । सम्भूय च मदर्थो ऽयमन्वेष्टव्यो नरेश्वराः ।। 7.44.20 ।।

bhavantaḥ kṛtaśāstrārthā buddhyā ca pariniṣṭhitāḥ | sambhūya ca madartho 'yamanveṣṭavyo nareśvarāḥ || 7.44.20 ||

Rama further stated that since they were learned in scriptures and perfected in intellect, they should all together investigate this matter of his.

तथा वदति काकुत्स्थे अवधानपरायणाः । उद्विग्नमनसः सर्वे किं नु राजाभिधास्यति ।। 7.44.21 ।।

tathā vadati kākutsthe avadhānaparāyaṇāḥ | udvignamanasaḥ sarve kiṃ nu rājābhidhāsyati || 7.44.21 ||

As Rama spoke thus, all the kings, though very attentive, became anxious in their minds, wondering what the king would say next. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।। 44 ।। Thus ends the forty-fourth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.