Uttara Kanda, Sarga 63

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण परां व्रीडामुपागमत् । शत्रुघ्नो वीर्यसम्पन्नो मन्दं मन्दमुवाच ह ।। 7.63.1 ।।

evamuktastu rāmeṇa parāṃ vrīḍāmupāgamat | śatrughno vīryasampanno mandaṃ mandamuvāca ha || 7.63.1 ||

Thus addressed by Rama, the valiant Shatrughna felt extreme embarrassment and spoke very slowly.

अधर्मं विद्म काकुत्स्थ ह्यस्मिन्नर्थे नरेश्वर । कथं तिष्ठत्सु ज्येष्ठेषु कनीयानभिषिच्यते ।। 7.63.2 ।।

adharmaṃ vidma kākutstha hyasminnarthe nareśvara | kathaṃ tiṣṭhatsu jyeṣṭheṣu kanīyānabhiṣicyate || 7.63.2 ||

O Kakutstha, O king, I indeed know that this matter is unrighteous; how can a younger brother be consecrated while his elders are present?

अवश्यं करणीयं च शासनं पुरुषर्षभ । तव चैव महाभाग शासनं दुरतिक्रमम् ।। 7.63.3 ।।

avaśyaṃ karaṇīyaṃ ca śāsanaṃ puruṣarṣabha | tava caiva mahābhāga śāsanaṃ duratikramam || 7.63.3 ||

O best among men and illustrious one, your command is certainly to be carried out and is indeed inviolable.

त्वत्तो मया श्रुतं वीर श्रुतिभ्यश्च मया श्रुतम् । नोत्तरं हि मया वाच्यं मध्यमे प्रतिजानति ।। 7.63.4 ।।

tvatto mayā śrutaṃ vīra śrutibhyaśca mayā śrutam | nottaraṃ hi mayā vācyaṃ madhyame pratijānati || 7.63.4 ||

O hero, I have heard from you and from the scriptures that when the middle brother undertakes a task, no reply should indeed be given by me.

व्याहृतं दुर्वचो घोरं हन्तास्मि लवणं मृधे । तस्यैवं मे दुरुक्तस्य दुर्गतिः पुरुषर्षभ ।। 7.63.5 ।।

vyāhṛtaṃ durvaco ghoraṃ hantāsmi lavaṇaṃ mṛdhe | tasyaivaṃ me duruktasya durgatiḥ puruṣarṣabha || 7.63.5 ||

O best among men, I have uttered terrible, harsh words, saying "I will kill Lavana in battle," and such an ill-spoken word of mine will lead to misfortune.

उत्तरं नहि वक्तव्यं ज्येष्ठेनाभिहिते पुनः । अधर्मसहितं चैव परलोकविवर्जितम् ।। 7.63.6 ।।

uttaraṃ nahi vaktavyaṃ jyeṣṭhenābhihite punaḥ | adharmasahitaṃ caiva paralokavivarjitam || 7.63.6 ||

Indeed, a reply should not be spoken again when commanded by the elder brother, as doing so is unrighteous and leads to no good in the afterlife.

सो ऽहं द्वितीयं काकुत्स्थ न वक्ष्यामि तवोत्तरम् । मा द्वितीयेन दण्डो वै निपतेन्मयि मानद ।। 7.63.7 ।।

so 'haṃ dvitīyaṃ kākutstha na vakṣyāmi tavottaram | mā dvitīyena daṇḍo vai nipatenmayi mānada || 7.63.7 ||

Therefore, O scion of Kakutstha, I will not speak a second reply to you, lest a second punishment indeed fall upon me, O giver of honor.

कामकारो ह्यहं राजंस्तवास्मि पुरुषर्षभ । अधर्मं जहि काकुत्स्थ मत्कृते रघुनन्दन ।। 7.63.8 ।।

kāmakāro hyahaṃ rājaṃstavāsmi puruṣarṣabha | adharmaṃ jahi kākutstha matkṛte raghunandana || 7.63.8 ||

Shatrughna tells Rama that he is at Rama's disposal and implores him to destroy this unrighteousness for his sake.

एवमुक्ते तु शूरेण शत्रुघ्नेन महात्मना । उवाच रामः संहृष्टो भरतं लक्ष्मणं तथा ।। 7.63.9 ।।

evamukte tu śūreṇa śatrughnena mahātmanā | uvāca rāmaḥ saṃhṛṣṭo bharataṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ tathā || 7.63.9 ||

When the brave and great-souled Shatrughna had thus spoken, Rama, greatly delighted, addressed Bharata and Lakshmana.

सम्भारानभिषेकस्य आनयध्वं समाहिताः । अद्यैव पुरुषव्याघ्रमभिषेक्ष्यामि राघवम् ।। 7.63.10 ।।

sambhārānabhiṣekasya ānayadhvaṃ samāhitāḥ | adyaiva puruṣavyāghramabhiṣekṣyāmi rāghavam || 7.63.10 ||

Rama commanded them to carefully bring the materials for the consecration, declaring that he would anoint Bharata, the tiger among men and descendant of Raghu, today itself.

पुरोहितं च काकुत्स्थं नैगमानृत्विजस्तथा । मन्त्रिणश्चैव तान्सर्वानानयध्वं ममाज्ञया ।। 7.63.11 ।।

purohitaṃ ca kākutsthaṃ naigamānṛtvijastathā | mantriṇaścaiva tānsarvānānayadhvaṃ mamājñayā || 7.63.11 ||

Rama further instructed them to bring the chief priest, the citizens, the ritual priests, and all the ministers by his command.

राज्ञः शासनमाज्ञाय तथा ऽकुर्वन्महारथाः । अभिषेकसमारम्भं पुरस्कृत्य पुरोधसम् । प्रविष्टा राजभवनं राजानो ब्राह्मणास्तथा ।। 7.63.12 ।।

rājñaḥ śāsanamājñāya tathā 'kurvanmahārathāḥ | abhiṣekasamārambhaṃ puraskṛtya purodhasam | praviṣṭā rājabhavanaṃ rājāno brāhmaṇāstathā || 7.63.12 ||

Having understood the king's command, the great charioteers (Bharata and Lakshmana) acted accordingly, and then the kings and Brahmins, honoring the chief priest, entered the royal palace for the commencement of the consecration.

तथो ऽभिषेको ववृधे शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । सम्प्रहर्षकरः श्रीमान्राघवस्य पुरस्य च ।। 7.63.13 ।।

tatho 'bhiṣeko vavṛdhe śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ | sampraharṣakaraḥ śrīmānrāghavasya purasya ca || 7.63.13 ||

Then, the glorious anointing of the great-souled Shatrughna, which brought immense joy to Rama and the entire city, flourished.

अभिषिक्तस्तु शत्रुघ्नो बभौ चादित्यसन्निभः । अभिषिक्तः पुरा स्कन्दः सेन्द्रैरिव मरुद्गणैः ।। 7.63.14 ।।

abhiṣiktastu śatrughno babhau cādityasannibhaḥ | abhiṣiktaḥ purā skandaḥ sendrairiva marudgaṇaiḥ || 7.63.14 ||

Having been consecrated, Shatrughna shone like the sun, just as Skanda had shone in ancient times when consecrated by Indra and the Marut hosts.

अभिषिक्ते तु शत्रुघ्ने रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । पौराः प्रमुदिताश्चासन्ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः ।। 7.63.15 ।।

abhiṣikte tu śatrughne rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā | paurāḥ pramuditāścāsanbrāhmaṇāśca bahuśrutāḥ || 7.63.15 ||

When Shatrughna was consecrated by Rama, whose deeds were effortless, the citizens and the highly learned Brahmins were greatly delighted.

कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च मङ्गलं केकयी तथा । चक्रुस्ता राजभवने याश्चान्या राजयोषितः ।। 7.63.16 ।।

kausalyā ca sumitrā ca maṅgalaṃ kekayī tathā | cakrustā rājabhavane yāścānyā rājayoṣitaḥ || 7.63.16 ||

Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi, along with other royal ladies, performed auspicious rites in the royal palace.

ऋषयश्च महात्मानो यमुनातीरवासिनः । हतं लवणमाशंसुः शत्रुघ्नस्याभिषेचनात् ।। 7.63.17 ।।

ṛṣayaśca mahātmāno yamunātīravāsinaḥ | hataṃ lavaṇamāśaṃsuḥ śatrughnasyābhiṣecanāt || 7.63.17 ||

The great-souled sages dwelling on the banks of the Yamuna predicted that Lavana would be slain as a result of Shatrughna's consecration.

ततो ऽभिषिक्तं शत्रुघ्नमङ्कमारोप्य राघवः । उवाच मधुरां वाणीं तेजस्तस्याभिपूरयन् ।। 7.63.18 ।।

tato 'bhiṣiktaṃ śatrughnamaṅkamāropya rāghavaḥ | uvāca madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ tejastasyābhipūrayan || 7.63.18 ||

Then, Rama, having placed the consecrated Shatrughna on his lap, spoke sweet words, thereby enhancing his splendor and might.

अयं शरस्त्वमोघस्ते दिव्यः परपुरञ्जयः । अनेन लवणं सौम्य हन्ता ऽसि रघुनन्दन ।। 7.63.19 ।।

ayaṃ śarastvamoghaste divyaḥ parapurañjayaḥ | anena lavaṇaṃ saumya hantā 'si raghunandana || 7.63.19 ||

O gentle Shatrughna, this divine arrow of yours is unfailing and capable of conquering enemy cities; with this, you will surely kill Lavana.

सृष्टः शरो ऽयं काकुत्स्थ यदा शेते महार्णवे ।। 7.63.20 ।।

sṛṣṭaḥ śaro 'yaṃ kākutstha yadā śete mahārṇave || 7.63.20 ||

O Kakutstha, this arrow was created when (Vishnu) rested in the great cosmic ocean.

स्वयम्भूरजितो देवो यन्नापश्यन्सुरासुराः । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां तेनायं तु शरोत्तमः ।। 7.63.21 ।।

svayambhūrajito devo yannāpaśyansurāsurāḥ | adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tenāyaṃ tu śarottamaḥ || 7.63.21 ||

This arrow is indeed the best of arrows because it was created by the self-born, unconquered God (Vishnu) in a form that was invisible to all gods, demons, and other beings.

सृष्टः क्रोधाभिभूतेन विनाशार्थं दुरात्मनोः । मधुकैटभयोर्वीर विघाते वर्तमानयोः । स्रष्टुकामेन लोकांस्त्रींस्तौ चानेन हतौ युधि ।। 7.63.22 ।।

sṛṣṭaḥ krodhābhibhūtena vināśārthaṃ durātmanoḥ | madhukaiṭabhayorvīra vighāte vartamānayoḥ | sraṣṭukāmena lokāṃstrīṃstau cānena hatau yudhi || 7.63.22 ||

O hero, this arrow was created by the angry (Vishnu) for the destruction of the two wicked demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, who were obstructing the creation of the three worlds, and indeed, those two were killed in battle by this very arrow.

तौ हत्वा जनभोगार्थं कैटभं तु मधुं तथा । अनेन शरमुख्येन ततो लोकांश्चकार सः ।। 7.63.23 ।।

tau hatvā janabhogārthaṃ kaiṭabhaṃ tu madhuṃ tathā | anena śaramukhyena tato lokāṃścakāra saḥ || 7.63.23 ||

Having killed Kaitabha and Madhu for the benefit of mankind, he (Vishnu) then created the worlds with this excellent arrow.

नायं मया शरः पूर्वं रावणस्य वधार्थिना । मुक्तः शत्रुघ्न भूतानां महांस्त्रासो भवेदिति ।। 7.63.24 ।।

nāyaṃ mayā śaraḥ pūrvaṃ rāvaṇasya vadhārthinā | muktaḥ śatrughna bhūtānāṃ mahāṃstrāso bhavediti || 7.63.24 ||

O Shatrughna, I did not release this arrow previously, even when desiring Ravana's death, thinking that it would cause great terror to all beings.

यच्च तस्य महच्छूलं त्र्यम्बकेण महात्मना । दत्तं शत्रुविनाशाय मधोरायुधमुत्तमम् ।। 7.63.25 ।।

yacca tasya mahacchūlaṃ tryambakeṇa mahātmanā | dattaṃ śatruvināśāya madhorāyudhamuttamam || 7.63.25 ||

And that great trident, Madhu's excellent weapon, was given to him by the great-souled Tryambaka (Shiva) for the destruction of enemies.

स तं निक्षिप्य भवने पूज्यमान पुनः पुनः । दिशः सर्वाः समासाद्य प्राप्नोत्याहारमुत्तमम् ।। 7.63.26 ।।

sa taṃ nikṣipya bhavane pūjyamāna punaḥ punaḥ | diśaḥ sarvāḥ samāsādya prāpnotyāhāramuttamam || 7.63.26 ||

Having placed that (trident) in his dwelling, and being worshipped repeatedly, he (Madhu) would traverse all directions and obtain excellent food.

यदा तु युद्धमाकाङ्क्षन् कश्चिदेनं समाह्वयेत् । तदा शूलं गहीत्वा तं भस्म रक्षः करोति हि ।। 7.63.27 ।।

yadā tu yuddhamākāṅkṣan kaścidenaṃ samāhvayet | tadā śūlaṃ gahītvā taṃ bhasma rakṣaḥ karoti hi || 7.63.27 ||

But when someone desiring battle would challenge him, the demon (Madhu) would then take the trident and indeed reduce that challenger to ashes.

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल तमायुधविनाकृतम् । अप्रविष्टं पुरं पूर्वं द्वारि तिष्ठ धृतायुधः ।। 7.63.28 ।।

sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla tamāyudhavinākṛtam | apraviṣṭaṃ puraṃ pūrvaṃ dvāri tiṣṭha dhṛtāyudhaḥ || 7.63.28 ||

O best among men, you should stand at the city gate, armed, and wait for him, who is deprived of weapons and has not yet entered the city.

अप्रविष्टं च भवनं युद्धाय पुरुषर्षभ । आह्वयेथा महाबाहो ततो हन्तासि राक्षसम् ।। 7.63.29 ।।

apraviṣṭaṃ ca bhavanaṃ yuddhāya puruṣarṣabha | āhvayethā mahābāho tato hantāsi rākṣasam || 7.63.29 ||

O best among men, O mighty-armed one, you should challenge him for battle before he enters his dwelling, and then you will be able to kill the demon.

अन्यथा क्रियमाणे तु अवध्यः स भविष्यति । यदि त्वेवं कृते वीर विनाशमुपयास्यति ।। 7.63.30 ।।

anyathā kriyamāṇe tu avadhyaḥ sa bhaviṣyati | yadi tvevaṃ kṛte vīra vināśamupayāsyati || 7.63.30 ||

If this is done otherwise, he will become unkillable, but if you act in this manner, O hero, he will certainly meet his destruction.

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं शूलस्य च विपर्ययः । श्रीमतः शितिकण्ठस्य कृत्यं हि दुरतिक्रमम् ।। 7.63.31 ।।

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ śūlasya ca viparyayaḥ | śrīmataḥ śitikaṇṭhasya kṛtyaṃ hi duratikramam || 7.63.31 ||

All this has been explained to you, including the reversal of the spear's power, for the deed of the glorious blue-throated Shiva is indeed impossible to transgress. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे त्रिषष्टितमः सर्गः ।। 63 ।। Thus ends the sixty-third sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.