Uttara Kanda, Sarga 60

तयोः संवदतोरेवं रामलक्ष्मणयोस्तदा । वासन्तिकी निशा प्राप्ता न शीता न च घर्मदा ।। 7.60.1 ।।

tayoḥ saṃvadatorevaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇayostadā | vāsantikī niśā prāptā na śītā na ca gharmadā || 7.60.1 ||

As Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa thus conversed, the spring night arrived, which was neither cold nor hot.

ततः प्रभाते विमले कृतपौर्वाह्णिकक्रियः । अभिचक्राम काकुत्स्थो दर्शनं पौरकार्यवित् ।। 7.60.2 ।।

tataḥ prabhāte vimale kṛtapaurvāhṇikakriyaḥ | abhicakrāma kākutstho darśanaṃ paurakāryavit || 7.60.2 ||

Then, in the clear morning, Rama, having completed his morning rituals and being knowledgeable about the citizens' affairs, proceeded to the audience hall.

ततः सुमन्त्रस्त्वागम्य राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । एते प्रतिहता राजन्द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति तापसाः ।। 7.60.3 ।।

tataḥ sumantrastvāgamya rāghavaṃ vākyamabravīt | ete pratihatā rājandvāri tiṣṭhanti tāpasāḥ || 7.60.3 ||

Then Sumantra approached Rama and informed him, "O King, these ascetics are standing at the door, having been stopped."

भार्गवच्यवनं चैव पुरस्कृत्य महर्षयः । दर्शनं ते महाराज्ञश्चोदयन्ति कृतत्वराः । प्रीयमाणा नरव्याघ्र यमुनातीरवासिनः ।। 7.60.4 ।।

bhārgavacyavanaṃ caiva puraskṛtya maharṣayaḥ | darśanaṃ te mahārājñaścodayanti kṛtatvarāḥ | prīyamāṇā naravyāghra yamunātīravāsinaḥ || 7.60.4 ||

These great sages, residents of the Yamuna bank and pleased to see you, O tiger among men, are eagerly requesting an audience with you, led by Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामः प्रोवाच धर्मवित् । प्रवेश्यन्तां महाभागा भार्गवप्रमुखा द्विजाः ।। 7.60.5 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāmaḥ provāca dharmavit | praveśyantāṃ mahābhāgā bhārgavapramukhā dvijāḥ || 7.60.5 ||

Hearing those words, Rama, the knower of dharma, commanded that the revered Brahmins, led by Chyavana, be admitted.

राज्ञस्त्वाज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य द्वाःस्थो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः । प्रवेशयामास तदा तापसान्सुदुरासदान् ।। 7.60.6 ।।

rājñastvājñāṃ puraskṛtya dvāḥstho mūrdhni kṛtāñjaliḥ | praveśayāmāsa tadā tāpasānsudurāsadān || 7.60.6 ||

Then, the doorkeeper, honoring the king's command by placing it on his head and with folded hands, admitted those ascetics who were otherwise very difficult to approach.

शतं समधिकं तत्र दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा । प्रविष्टं राजभवनं तापसानां महात्मनाम् ।। 7.60.7 ।।

śataṃ samadhikaṃ tatra dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā | praviṣṭaṃ rājabhavanaṃ tāpasānāṃ mahātmanām || 7.60.7 ||

More than a hundred great-souled ascetics, shining with their own spiritual radiance, entered the royal palace.

ते द्विजाः पूर्णकलशैः सर्वतीर्थाम्बुसत्कृतैः । गृहीत्वा फलमूलं च रामस्याभ्याहरन्बहु ।। 7.60.8 ।।

te dvijāḥ pūrṇakalaśaiḥ sarvatīrthāmbusatkṛtaiḥ | gṛhītvā phalamūlaṃ ca rāmasyābhyāharanbahu || 7.60.8 ||

Those Brahmins brought many offerings for Rama, including full pitchers honored with waters from all sacred pilgrimage sites, and various fruits and roots.

प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं रामः प्रीतिपुरस्कृतः । तीर्थोदकानि सर्वाणि फलानि विविधानि च ।। 7.60.9 ।।

pratigṛhya tu tatsarvaṃ rāmaḥ prītipuraskṛtaḥ | tīrthodakāni sarvāṇi phalāni vividhāni ca || 7.60.9 ||

Rama, showing great affection, received all those offerings, including all the sacred waters and various fruits.

उवाच च महाबाहुः सर्वानेव महामुनीन् । इमान्यासनमुख्यानि यथार्हमुपविश्यताम् ।। 7.60.10 ।।

uvāca ca mahābāhuḥ sarvāneva mahāmunīn | imānyāsanamukhyāni yathārhamupaviśyatām || 7.60.10 ||

The mighty-armed Rama then addressed all the great sages, inviting them to take these excellent seats as was appropriate for their stature.

रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा सर्व एव महर्षयः । बृसीषु रुचिराख्यासु निषेदुः काञ्चनीषु ते ।। 7.60.11 ।।

rāmasya bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā sarva eva maharṣayaḥ | bṛsīṣu rucirākhyāsu niṣeduḥ kāñcanīṣu te || 7.60.11 ||

Having heard Rama's words, all the great sages sat down on the beautiful, well-known golden seats.

उपविष्टानृषींस्तत्र दृष्ट्वा परपुरञ्जयः । प्रयतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा राघवो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। 7.60.12 ।।

upaviṣṭānṛṣīṃstatra dṛṣṭvā parapurañjayaḥ | prayataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā rāghavo vākyamabravīt || 7.60.12 ||

Having seen the sages seated there, Rama, the conqueror of enemy cities, reverently and with folded hands, spoke these words.

किमागमनकार्यं वः किं करोमि समाहितः । आज्ञाप्यो ऽहं महर्षीणां सर्वकामकरः सुखम् ।। 7.60.13 ।।

kimāgamanakāryaṃ vaḥ kiṃ karomi samāhitaḥ | ājñāpyo 'haṃ maharṣīṇāṃ sarvakāmakaraḥ sukham || 7.60.13 ||

He asked what the purpose of their visit was and what he could do for them attentively, declaring himself to be at the command of the great sages, ready to fulfill all their desires easily.

इदं राज्यं च सकलं जीवितं च हृदि स्थितम् । सर्वमेतद्द्विदार्थं मे सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः ।। 7.60.14 ।।

idaṃ rājyaṃ ca sakalaṃ jīvitaṃ ca hṛdi sthitam | sarvametaddvidārthaṃ me satyametadbravīmi vaḥ || 7.60.14 ||

Rama declared that his entire kingdom, his very life, and everything he possessed was for the sake of the Brahmins, and he spoke this truth to them.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा साधुकारो महानभूत् । ऋषीणामुग्रतपसां यमुनातीरवासिनाम् ।। 7.60.15 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sādhukāro mahānabhūt | ṛṣīṇāmugratapasāṃ yamunātīravāsinām || 7.60.15 ||

Having heard his words, a great applause arose from the sages of severe austerities who resided on the banks of the Yamuna.

ऊचुश्च ते महात्मानो हर्षेण महता वृताः । उपपन्नं नरश्रेष्ठ तवैव भुवि नान्यतः ।। 7.60.16 ।।

ūcuśca te mahātmāno harṣeṇa mahatā vṛtāḥ | upapannaṃ naraśreṣṭha tavaiva bhuvi nānyataḥ || 7.60.16 ||

And those great souls, filled with great joy, said, "O best among men, such a statement is fitting only for you on earth, and for no one else."

बहवः पार्थिवा राजन्नतिक्रान्ता महाबलाः । कार्यस्य गौरवं मत्वा प्रतिज्ञां नाभ्यरोचयन् ।। 7.60.17 ।।

bahavaḥ pārthivā rājannatikrāntā mahābalāḥ | kāryasya gauravaṃ matvā pratijñāṃ nābhyarocayan || 7.60.17 ||

Many powerful kings who came before you, O King, considered the gravity of this task and did not undertake the vow.

त्वया पुनर्ब्राह्मणगौरवादियं कृता प्रतिज्ञा ह्यनवेक्ष्य कारणम् । ततश्च कर्ता ह्यसि नात्र संशयो महाभयात्ऺत्रातुमृषींस्त्वमर्हसि ।। 7.60.18 ।।

tvayā punarbrāhmaṇagauravādiyaṃ kṛtā pratijñā hyanavekṣya kāraṇam | tataśca kartā hyasi nātra saṃśayo mahābhayātऺtrātumṛṣīṃstvamarhasi || 7.60.18 ||

But you, out of respect for Brahmins, made this vow without considering the difficulty, and therefore you are indeed the one who will accomplish it, without a doubt, and you ought to protect the sages from great fear. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षष्टितमः सर्गः ।। 60 ।। Thus ends the sixtieth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.