Uttara Kanda, Sarga 62

तथोक्ते तानृषीन्रामः प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः । किमाहारः किमाचारो लवणः क्व च वर्तते ।। 7.62.1 ।।

tathokte tānṛṣīnrāmaḥ pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ | kimāhāraḥ kimācāro lavaṇaḥ kva ca vartate || 7.62.1 ||

When the sages had spoken thus, Rama, with folded hands, replied to them, asking what Lavana's food and conduct were, and where he resided.

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषयः सर्व एव ते । ततो निवेदयामासुर्लवणो ववृधे यथा ।। 7.62.2 ।।

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā ṛṣayaḥ sarva eva te | tato nivedayāmāsurlavaṇo vavṛdhe yathā || 7.62.2 ||

Having heard Rama's words, all those sages then reported how Lavana had grown in power.

आहारः सर्वसत्त्वानि विशेषेण च तापसाः । आचारो रौद्रता नित्यं वासो मधुवने तथा ।। 7.62.3 ।।

āhāraḥ sarvasattvāni viśeṣeṇa ca tāpasāḥ | ācāro raudratā nityaṃ vāso madhuvane tathā || 7.62.3 ||

His food consists of all beings, especially ascetics, his conduct is perpetually ferocious, and his dwelling is in the Madhuvana forest.

हत्वा बहुसहस्राणि सिंहव्याघ्रमृगद्विपान् । मानुषांश्चैव कुरुते नित्यमाहारमाह्निकम् ।। 7.62.4 ।।

hatvā bahusahasrāṇi siṃhavyāghramṛgadvipān | mānuṣāṃścaiva kurute nityamāhāramāhnikam || 7.62.4 ||

Having killed many thousands of lions, tigers, deer, elephants, and humans, he makes them his daily meal.

ततो ऽन्तराणि सत्त्वानि खादते स महाबलः । संहारे समनुप्राप्ते व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः ।। 7.62.5 ।।

tato 'ntarāṇi sattvāni khādate sa mahābalaḥ | saṃhāre samanuprāpte vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ || 7.62.5 ||

Then, that mighty one devours other beings, like Yama with an open mouth at the time of cosmic dissolution.

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यमुवाच स महामुनीन् । घातयिष्यामि तद्रक्षो ह्यपगच्छतु वो भयम् ।। 7.62.6 ।।

tacchrutvā rāghavo vākyamuvāca sa mahāmunīn | ghātayiṣyāmi tadrakṣo hyapagacchatu vo bhayam || 7.62.6 ||

Having heard that, Rama spoke these words to the great sages: "I shall indeed kill that demon; let your fear depart."

प्रतिज्ञाय तथा तेषां मुनीनामुग्रतेजसाम् । स भ्रातऽन्सहितान्सर्वानुवाच रघुनन्दनः ।। 7.62.7 ।।

pratijñāya tathā teṣāṃ munīnāmugratejasām | sa bhrāta'nsahitānsarvānuvāca raghunandanaḥ || 7.62.7 ||

Having thus promised those sages of fierce ascetic power, Rama then spoke to all his assembled brothers.

को हन्ता लवणं वीरः कस्यांशः स विधीयताम् । भरतस्य महाबाहोः शत्रुघ्नस्य च धीमतः ।। 7.62.8 ।।

ko hantā lavaṇaṃ vīraḥ kasyāṃśaḥ sa vidhīyatām | bharatasya mahābāhoḥ śatrughnasya ca dhīmataḥ || 7.62.8 ||

"Which hero will kill Lavana? To whom among the mighty-armed Bharata and the intelligent Shatrughna should that task be assigned?"

राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु भरतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ममांशः स विधीयताम् ।। 7.62.9 ।।

rāghaveṇaivamuktastu bharato vākyamabravīt | ahamenaṃ vadhiṣyāmi mamāṃśaḥ sa vidhīyatām || 7.62.9 ||

When Rama thus spoke, Bharata replied, "I will kill him; let that task be assigned to me."

भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा धैर्यशौर्यसमन्वितम् । लक्ष्मणावरजस्तस्थौ हित्वा सौवर्णमासनम् ।। 7.62.10 ।।

bharatasya vacaḥ śrutvā dhairyaśauryasamanvitam | lakṣmaṇāvarajastasthau hitvā sauvarṇamāsanam || 7.62.10 ||

Having heard Bharata's words, which were full of courage and valor, Shatrughna, Lakshmana's younger brother, stood up, leaving his golden seat.

शत्रुघ्नस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रणिपत्य नराधिपम् । कृतकर्मा महाबाहुर्मध्यमो रघुनन्दनः ।। 7.62.11 ।।

śatrughnastvabravīdvākyaṃ praṇipatya narādhipam | kṛtakarmā mahābāhurmadhyamo raghunandanaḥ || 7.62.11 ||

Shatrughna, having bowed down to the king, then spoke, referring to the mighty-armed Bharata, the delight of the Raghu dynasty, as one who has already accomplished great deeds.

आर्येण हि पुरा शून्या त्वयोध्या परिपालिता । सन्तापं हृदये कृत्वा आर्यस्यागमनं प्रति ।। 7.62.12 ।।

āryeṇa hi purā śūnyā tvayodhyā paripālitā | santāpaṃ hṛdaye kṛtvā āryasyāgamanaṃ prati || 7.62.12 ||

Indeed, Ayodhya, though desolate, was formerly protected by the noble Bharata, who kept sorrow in his heart regarding the return of the noble Rama.

दुःखानि च बहूनीह ह्यनुभूतानि पार्थिव । शयानो दुःखशय्यासु नन्दिग्रामे ऽवसत्पुरा ।। 7.62.13 ।।

duḥkhāni ca bahūnīha hyanubhūtāni pārthiva | śayāno duḥkhaśayyāsu nandigrāme 'vasatpurā || 7.62.13 ||

O King, Bharata indeed experienced many sufferings here, formerly residing in Nandigrama, lying on uncomfortable beds.

फलमूलाशनो भूत्वा जटी चीरधरस्तथा । अनुभूयेदृशं दुःखमेष राघवनन्दनः । प्रेष्ये मयि स्थिते राजन्न भूयः क्लेशमाप्नुयात् ।। 7.62.14 ।।

phalamūlāśano bhūtvā jaṭī cīradharastathā | anubhūyedṛśaṃ duḥkhameṣa rāghavanandanaḥ | preṣye mayi sthite rājanna bhūyaḥ kleśamāpnuyāt || 7.62.14 ||

Bharata, having become an ascetic eating fruits and roots, with matted hair and bark garments, and having experienced such sorrow, should not again suffer while I, your servant, am present, O King.

तथा ब्रुवति शत्रुघ्ने राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् । एवं भवतु काकुत्स्थ क्रियतां मम शासनम् ।। 7.62.15 ।।

tathā bruvati śatrughne rāghavaḥ punarabravīt | evaṃ bhavatu kākutstha kriyatāṃ mama śāsanam || 7.62.15 ||

While Shatrughna was speaking thus, Rama again said, "So be it, O Kakutstha; let my command be carried out."

राज्ये त्वामभिषेक्ष्यामि मधोस्तु नगरे शुभे । निवेशय महाबाहो भरतं यद्यवेक्षसे ।। 7.62.16 ।।

rājye tvāmabhiṣekṣyāmi madhostu nagare śubhe | niveśaya mahābāho bharataṃ yadyavekṣase || 7.62.16 ||

I shall install you in the auspicious city of Madhu's kingdom; O mighty-armed one, establish Bharata there if you care for him.

शूरस्त्वं कृतविद्यश्च समर्थश्च निवेशने ।। 7.62.17 ।।

śūrastvaṃ kṛtavidyaśca samarthaśca niveśane || 7.62.17 ||

You are brave, learned, and capable in establishing a kingdom.

यो हि शत्रुं समुत्पाट्य पार्थिवस्य पुनः क्षये । न विधत्ते नृपं तत्र नरकं स हि गच्छति ।। 7.62.18 ।।

yo hi śatruṃ samutpāṭya pārthivasya punaḥ kṣaye | na vidhatte nṛpaṃ tatra narakaṃ sa hi gacchati || 7.62.18 ||

Indeed, whoever uproots an enemy and, in the destruction of that king's domain, does not establish a new ruler there, he certainly goes to hell.

स त्वं हत्वा मधुसुतं लवणं पापनिश्चयम् । राज्यं प्रशाधि धर्मेण वाक्यं मे यद्यवेक्षसे ।। 7.62.19 ।।

sa tvaṃ hatvā madhusutaṃ lavaṇaṃ pāpaniścayam | rājyaṃ praśādhi dharmeṇa vākyaṃ me yadyavekṣase || 7.62.19 ||

If you respect my words, then you, having killed Lavana, the evil-minded son of Madhu, should rule the kingdom righteously.

उत्तरं च न वक्तव्यं शूर वाक्यान्तरे मम । बालेन पूर्वजस्याज्ञा कर्तव्या नात्र संशयः ।। 7.62.20 ।।

uttaraṃ ca na vaktavyaṃ śūra vākyāntare mama | bālena pūrvajasyājñā kartavyā nātra saṃśayaḥ || 7.62.20 ||

O hero, do not speak a reply while I am speaking, for a younger brother must obey the command of an elder, there is no doubt about this.

अभिषेकं च काकुत्स्थ प्रतीच्छस्व मयोद्यतम् । वसिष्ठप्रमुखैर्विप्रैर्विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ।। 7.62.21 ।।

abhiṣekaṃ ca kākutstha pratīcchasva mayodyatam | vasiṣṭhapramukhairviprairvidhimantrapuraskṛtam || 7.62.21 ||

O Kakutstha, accept this consecration prepared by me, which is performed by prominent Brahmins like Vasistha, accompanied by proper rituals and mantras. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे द्विषष्टितमः सर्गः ।। 62।। Thus ends the sixty-second sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.