Uttara Kanda, Sarga 67

अथ रात्र्यां प्रवृत्तायां शत्रुघ्नो भृगुनन्दनम् । पप्रच्छ च्यवनं विप्रं लवणस्य यथा बलम् ।। 7.67.1 ।।

atha rātryāṃ pravṛttāyāṃ śatrughno bhṛgunandanam | papraccha cyavanaṃ vipraṃ lavaṇasya yathā balam || 7.67.1 ||

Then, as the night advanced, Shatrughna asked the brahmin Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, about the extent of Lavana's strength.

शूलस्य च बलं ब्रह्मन्के च पूर्वं विनाशिताः । अनेन शूलमुख्येन द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागताः ।। 7.67.2 ।।

śūlasya ca balaṃ brahmanke ca pūrvaṃ vināśitāḥ | anena śūlamukhyena dvandvayuddhamupāgatāḥ || 7.67.2 ||

O Brahmana, Shatrughna further inquired about the strength of the trident and who had previously been destroyed by this formidable trident when they engaged in single combat.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाश्च्यवनो रघुनन्दनम् ।। 7.67.3 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātejāścyavano raghunandanam || 7.67.3 ||

Having heard those words of the great-souled Shatrughna, the greatly effulgent Chyavana replied to the scion of Raghu.

असङ्ख्येयानि कर्माणि यान्यस्य रघुनन्दन । इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवे यद्वृत्तं तच्छृणष्व मे ।। 7.67.4 ।।

asaṅkhyeyāni karmāṇi yānyasya raghunandana | ikṣvākuvaṃśaprabhave yadvṛttaṃ tacchṛṇaṣva me || 7.67.4 ||

O scion of Raghu, listen to me about the innumerable deeds and the story of him who was born in the Ikshvaku lineage.

अयोध्यायां पुरा राजा युवनाश्वसुतो बली । मान्धातेति स विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान् ।। 7.67.5 ।।

ayodhyāyāṃ purā rājā yuvanāśvasuto balī | māndhāteti sa vikhyātastriṣu lokeṣu vīryavān || 7.67.5 ||

Formerly in Ayodhya, there was a powerful king, the son of Yuvanashva, who was renowned as Mandhata and was valorous in the three worlds.

स कृत्वा पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां शासने पृथिवीपतिः । सुरलोकमितो जेतुमुद्योगमकरोन्नृपः ।। 7.67.6 ।।

sa kṛtvā pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ śāsane pṛthivīpatiḥ | suralokamito jetumudyogamakaronnṛpaḥ || 7.67.6 ||

Having brought the entire earth under his rule, that king, the lord of the earth, then made an effort to conquer the world of the gods from here.

इन्द्रस्य च भयं तीव्रं सुराणां च महात्मनाम् । मान्धातरि कृतोद्योगे देवलोकजिगीषया ।। 7.67.7 ।।

indrasya ca bhayaṃ tīvraṃ surāṇāṃ ca mahātmanām | māndhātari kṛtodyoge devalokajigīṣayā || 7.67.7 ||

Intense fear arose in Indra and the great-souled gods when Mandhata made the effort with the desire to conquer the world of the gods.

अर्धासनेन शक्रस्य राज्यार्धेन च पार्थिवः । वन्द्यमानः सुरगणैः प्रतिज्ञामध्यरोहत ।। 7.67.8 ।।

ardhāsanena śakrasya rājyārdhena ca pārthivaḥ | vandyamānaḥ suragaṇaiḥ pratijñāmadhyarohata || 7.67.8 ||

The king, Mandhata, who was honored with half of Indra's seat and half of his kingdom, and saluted by the hosts of gods, then undertook a challenge.

तस्य पापमभिप्रायं विदित्वा पाकशासनः । सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच युवनाश्वजम् ।। 7.67.9 ।।

tasya pāpamabhiprāyaṃ viditvā pākaśāsanaḥ | sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vākyamuvāca yuvanāśvajam || 7.67.9 ||

Knowing Mandhata's sinful intention, Indra, the slayer of Paka, spoke these conciliatory words to the son of Yuvanashva.

राजा त्वं मानुषे लोके न तावत्पुरुषर्षभ । अकृत्वा पृथिवीं वश्यां देवराज्यमिहेच्छसि ।। 7.67.10 ।।

rājā tvaṃ mānuṣe loke na tāvatpuruṣarṣabha | akṛtvā pṛthivīṃ vaśyāṃ devarājyamihecchasi || 7.67.10 ||

O best among men, you are a king in the human world, and you desire the kingdom of the gods here without first bringing the entire earth under your control.

यदि वीर समग्रा ते मेदिनी निखिला वशे । देवराज्यं कुरुष्वेह सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। 7.67.11 ।।

yadi vīra samagrā te medinī nikhilā vaśe | devarājyaṃ kuruṣveha sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 7.67.11 ||

O hero, if your entire earth is completely under your control, then you may establish the kingdom of the gods here with your servants, army, and vehicles.

इन्द्रमेवं ब्रुवाणं तं मान्धाता वाक्यमब्रवीत् । क्व मे शक्र प्रतिहतं शासनं पृथिवीतले ।। 7.67.12 ।।

indramevaṃ bruvāṇaṃ taṃ māndhātā vākyamabravīt | kva me śakra pratihataṃ śāsanaṃ pṛthivītale || 7.67.12 ||

To Indra, who was speaking thus, Mandhata replied, "O Indra, where on the surface of the earth is my rule obstructed?"

तमुवाच सहस्राक्षो लवणो नाम राक्षसः । मधुपुत्रो मधुवने न ते ऽ ऽज्ञां कुरुते ऽनघ ।। 7.67.13 ।।

tamuvāca sahasrākṣo lavaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ | madhuputro madhuvane na te ' 'jñāṃ kurute 'nagha || 7.67.13 ||

Indra informed (Shatrughna) that a demon named Lavana, son of Madhu, residing in Madhuvana, does not obey his commands, O sinless one.

तच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रियं घोरं सहस्राक्षेण भाषितम् । व्रीडितो ऽवाङ्मुखो राजा व्याहर्तुं न शशाक ह ।। 7.67.14 ।।

tacchrutvā vipriyaṃ ghoraṃ sahasrākṣeṇa bhāṣitam | vrīḍito 'vāṅmukho rājā vyāhartuṃ na śaśāka ha || 7.67.14 ||

Having heard those terrible and unpleasant words spoken by Indra, the king (Shatrughna) was ashamed and, with a downcast face, was indeed unable to speak.

आमन्त्र्य तु सहस्राक्षं ह्रिया किञ्चिदवाङ्मुखः । पुनरेवागमच्छ्रीमानिमं लोकं नरेश्वरः ।। 7.67.15 ।।

āmantrya tu sahasrākṣaṃ hriyā kiñcidavāṅmukhaḥ | punarevāgamacchrīmānimaṃ lokaṃ nareśvaraḥ || 7.67.15 ||

And having bid farewell to Indra, the glorious lord of men (Shatrughna), still somewhat ashamed and with a downcast face, returned to this world.

स कृत्वा हृदये ऽमर्षं सभृत्यबलवाहनः । आजगाम मधोः पुत्रं वशे कर्तुमरिन्दमः ।। 7.67.16 ।।

sa kṛtvā hṛdaye 'marṣaṃ sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ | ājagāma madhoḥ putraṃ vaśe kartumarindamaḥ || 7.67.16 ||

Holding indignation in his heart, the subduer of enemies (Shatrughna) came with his servants, army, and vehicles to bring Madhu's son (Lavana) under his control.

स काङ्क्षमाणो लवणं युद्धाय पुरुषर्षभः । दूतं सम्प्रेषयामास सकाशं लवणस्य हि ।। 7.67.17 ।।

sa kāṅkṣamāṇo lavaṇaṃ yuddhāya puruṣarṣabhaḥ | dūtaṃ sampreṣayāmāsa sakāśaṃ lavaṇasya hi || 7.67.17 ||

Desiring battle with Lavana, the best among men (Shatrughna) indeed sent a messenger to Lavana's presence.

स गत्वा विप्रियाण्याह बहूनि मधुनः सुतम् । वदन्तमेवं तं दूतं भक्षयामास राक्षसः ।। 7.67.18 ।।

sa gatvā vipriyāṇyāha bahūni madhunaḥ sutam | vadantamevaṃ taṃ dūtaṃ bhakṣayāmāsa rākṣasaḥ || 7.67.18 ||

Having gone and spoken many unpleasant things to Madhu's son, the demon Lavaṇa devoured that messenger who was speaking thus.

चिरायमाणे दूते तु राजा क्रोधसमन्वितः । अर्दयामास तद्रक्षः शरवृष्ट्या समन्ततः ।। 7.67.19 ।।

cirāyamāṇe dūte tu rājā krodhasamanvitaḥ | ardayāmāsa tadrakṣaḥ śaravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ || 7.67.19 ||

When the messenger delayed, the king, filled with anger, attacked that demon Lavaṇa from all sides with a shower of arrows.

ततः प्रहस्य तद्रक्षः शूलं जग्राह पाणिना । वधाय सानुबन्धस्य मुमोचायुधमुत्तमम् ।। 7.67.20 ।।

tataḥ prahasya tadrakṣaḥ śūlaṃ jagrāha pāṇinā | vadhāya sānubandhasya mumocāyudhamuttamam || 7.67.20 ||

Then, that demon Lavaṇa laughed loudly, took the excellent trident in his hand, and released that supreme weapon to kill the king along with his retinue.

तच्छूलं दीप्यमानं तु सभृत्यबलवाहनम् । भस्मीकृत्वा नृपं भूयो लवणस्यागमत्करम् ।। 7.67.21 ।।

tacchūlaṃ dīpyamānaṃ tu sabhṛtyabalavāhanam | bhasmīkṛtvā nṛpaṃ bhūyo lavaṇasyāgamatkaram || 7.67.21 ||

That brightly shining trident, having reduced the king along with his servants, army, and vehicles to ashes, then returned to Lavaṇa's hand.

एवं स राजा सुमहान्हतः सबलवाहनः । शूलस्य तु बलं सौम्य अप्रमेयमनुत्तमम् ।। 7.67.22 ।।

evaṃ sa rājā sumahānhataḥ sabalavāhanaḥ | śūlasya tu balaṃ saumya aprameyamanuttamam || 7.67.22 ||

Thus, that very great king was killed along with his army and vehicles; indeed, O gentle one, the power of that trident is immeasurable and unsurpassed.

श्वः प्रभाते तु लवणं वधिष्यसि न संशयः । अगृहीतायुधं क्षिप्रं ध्रुवो हि विजयस्तव ।। 7.67.23 ।।

śvaḥ prabhāte tu lavaṇaṃ vadhiṣyasi na saṃśayaḥ | agṛhītāyudhaṃ kṣipraṃ dhruvo hi vijayastava || 7.67.23 ||

Tomorrow morning, you will certainly kill Lavana, and your victory is assured, especially when he has not taken up his weapon.

लोकानां स्वस्ति चैव स्यात्कृते कर्मणि च त्वया । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं लवणस्य दुरात्मनः ।। 7.67.24 ।।

lokānāṃ svasti caiva syātkṛte karmaṇi ca tvayā | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ lavaṇasya durātmanaḥ || 7.67.24 ||

The welfare of the worlds will be achieved by this deed done by you, and all this about the wicked Lavana has been told to you.

शूलस्य च बलं घोरमप्रमेयं नरर्षभ । विनाशश्चैव मान्धातुर्यत्तेनाभूच्च पार्थिव ।। 7.67.25 ।।

śūlasya ca balaṃ ghoramaprameyaṃ nararṣabha | vināśaścaiva māndhāturyattenābhūcca pārthiva || 7.67.25 ||

O best among men, the terrible and immeasurable strength of the trident, and the destruction of Mandhata which was caused by him, has also been recounted, O king.

त्वं श्वः प्रभाते लवणं महात्मन्वधिष्यसे नात्र तु संशयो मे । शूलं विना निर्गतमामिषार्थे ध्रुवो जयस्ते भविता नरेन्द्र ।। 7.67.26 ।।

tvaṃ śvaḥ prabhāte lavaṇaṃ mahātmanvadhiṣyase nātra tu saṃśayo me | śūlaṃ vinā nirgatamāmiṣārthe dhruvo jayaste bhavitā narendra || 7.67.26 ||

O great-souled one, you will kill Lavana tomorrow morning; there is no doubt in my mind about this, and your victory will be certain, O king, when he has gone out without his trident for the sake of food. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तषष्टितमः सर्गः ।। 67 ।। Thus ends the sixty-seventh sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.