Uttara Kanda, Sarga 69

तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । क्रोधामाहारयत्तीव्रं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ।। 7.69.1 ।।

tacchrutvā bhāṣitaṃ tasya śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ | krodhāmāhārayattīvraṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt || 7.69.1 ||

Having heard that speech of the great-souled Shatrughna, he felt intense anger and exclaimed, "Stop! Stop!"

पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान्कटकटाय्य च । लवणो रघुशार्दूलमाह्वयामास चासकृत् ।। 7.69.2 ।।

pāṇau pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantānkaṭakaṭāyya ca | lavaṇo raghuśārdūlamāhvayāmāsa cāsakṛt || 7.69.2 ||

Lavaṇa, pressing his hands together and gnashing his teeth, repeatedly challenged Shatrughna, the foremost of the Raghu dynasty.

तं ब्रुवाणं तथा वाक्यं लवणं घोरदर्शनम् । शत्रुघ्नो देवशत्रुघ्न इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 7.69.3 ।।

taṃ bruvāṇaṃ tathā vākyaṃ lavaṇaṃ ghoradarśanam | śatrughno devaśatrughna idaṃ vacanamabravīt || 7.69.3 ||

To Lavaṇa, who was speaking such words and had a terrible appearance, Shatrughna, the destroyer of the gods' enemy, spoke these words.

न शत्रुघ्नस्तथा जातो यथा ऽन्ये निर्जितास्त्वया । तदद्य बाणाभिहतो व्रज त्वं यमसादनम् ।। 7.69.4 ।।

na śatrughnastathā jāto yathā 'nye nirjitāstvayā | tadadya bāṇābhihato vraja tvaṃ yamasādanam || 7.69.4 ||

Shatrughna declared that he was not like the others Lavaṇa had conquered, and therefore, Lavaṇa would today be struck by his arrows and go to the abode of Yama.

ऋषयो ऽप्यद्य पापात्मन्मया त्वां निहतं रणे । पश्यन्तु विप्रा विद्वांसस्त्रिदशा इव रावणम् ।। 7.69.5 ।।

ṛṣayo 'pyadya pāpātmanmayā tvāṃ nihataṃ raṇe | paśyantu viprā vidvāṃsastridaśā iva rāvaṇam || 7.69.5 ||

Shatrughna wished that the sages, Brahmins, and learned ones, like the gods witnessing Ravana's fall, would today see him slay the evil-souled Lavaṇa in battle.

त्वयि मद्बाणनिर्दग्धे पतिते ऽद्य निशाचर । पुरे जनपदे चापि क्षेममेव भविष्यति ।। 7.69.6 ।।

tvayi madbāṇanirdagdhe patite 'dya niśācara | pure janapade cāpi kṣemameva bhaviṣyati || 7.69.6 ||

Shatrughna declared that with Lavaṇa, the night-wanderer, burnt by his arrows and fallen today, there would indeed be welfare in both the city and the country.

अद्य मद्बाहुनिष्क्रान्तः शरो वज्रनिभाननः । प्रवेक्ष्यते ते हृदयं पद्ममंशुरिवार्कजः ।। 7.69.7 ।।

adya madbāhuniṣkrāntaḥ śaro vajranibhānanaḥ | pravekṣyate te hṛdayaṃ padmamaṃśurivārkajaḥ || 7.69.7 ||

Today, the arrow released from my arm, with its thunderbolt-like tip, will pierce your heart just as a sunbeam penetrates a lotus.

एवमुक्तो महावृक्षं लवणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । शत्रुघ्नोरसि चिक्षेप स च तं शतधाच्छिनत् ।। 7.69.8 ।।

evamukto mahāvṛkṣaṃ lavaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | śatrughnorasi cikṣepa sa ca taṃ śatadhācchinat || 7.69.8 ||

Thus addressed, Lavana, overcome with rage, hurled a massive tree at Shatrughna's chest, but Shatrughna instantly shattered it into a hundred pieces.

तद्दृष्ट्वा विफलं कर्म राक्षसः पुनरेव तु । पादपान्सुबहून्गृह्य शत्रुघ्नायासृजद्बली ।। 7.69.9 ।।

taddṛṣṭvā viphalaṃ karma rākṣasaḥ punareva tu | pādapānsubahūngṛhya śatrughnāyāsṛjadbalī || 7.69.9 ||

Seeing that action prove fruitless, the powerful demon Lavana again seized very many trees and hurled them at Shatrughna.

शत्रुघ्नश्चापि तेजस्वी वृक्षानापततो बहून् । त्रिभिश्चतुर्भिरेकैकं चिच्छेद नतपर्वभिः ।। 7.69.10 ।।

śatrughnaścāpi tejasvī vṛkṣānāpatato bahūn | tribhiścaturbhirekaikaṃ ciccheda nataparvabhiḥ || 7.69.10 ||

And the powerful Shatrughna, with his bent-shafted arrows, cut down each of the many approaching trees with three or four arrows.

ततो बाणमयं वर्षं व्यसृजद्राक्षसोरसि । शत्रुघ्नो वीर्यसम्पन्नो विव्यथे न स राक्षसः ।। 7.69.11 ।।

tato bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ vyasṛjadrākṣasorasi | śatrughno vīryasampanno vivyathe na sa rākṣasaḥ || 7.69.11 ||

Then, the valorous Shatrughna unleashed a shower of arrows upon the demon's chest, but that demon was not pained by them.

ततः प्रहस्य लवणो वृक्षमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान् । शिरस्यभ्यहनच्छूरं स्रस्ताङ्गः स मुमोह वै ।। 7.69.12 ।।

tataḥ prahasya lavaṇo vṛkṣamudyamya vīryavān | śirasyabhyahanacchūraṃ srastāṅgaḥ sa mumoha vai || 7.69.12 ||

Then, the mighty Lavana laughed, lifted a tree, and struck the brave Shatrughna on the head, causing him to faint with his limbs loosened.

तस्मिन्निपतिते वीरे हाहाकारो महानभूत् । ऋषीणां देवसङ्घानां गन्धर्वाप्सरसां तथा ।। 7.69.13 ।।

tasminnipatite vīre hāhākāro mahānabhūt | ṛṣīṇāṃ devasaṅghānāṃ gandharvāpsarasāṃ tathā || 7.69.13 ||

When that brave warrior fell, a great cry of distress arose from the sages, hosts of gods, Gandharvas, and Apsaras.

तमवज्ञाय तु हतं शत्रुघ्नं भुवि पातितम् । रक्षो लब्धान्तरमपि न विवेश स्वमालयम् ।। 7.69.14 ।।

tamavajñāya tu hataṃ śatrughnaṃ bhuvi pātitam | rakṣo labdhāntaramapi na viveśa svamālayam || 7.69.14 ||

Disregarding Shatrughna, who had fallen to the ground as if killed, the demon, even though he had found an opportunity, did not enter his own abode.

नापि शूलं प्रजग्राह तं दृष्ट्वा भुवि पातितम् । ततो हत इति ज्ञात्वा तान्भक्षान्समुदावहत् ।। 7.69.15 ।।

nāpi śūlaṃ prajagrāha taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhuvi pātitam | tato hata iti jñātvā tānbhakṣānsamudāvahat || 7.69.15 ||

Even after seeing Shatrughna fallen on the ground, Lavana did not pick up his trident; instead, thinking him dead, he carried away his prey.

मुहूर्ताल्लब्धसञ्ज्ञस्तु पुनस्तस्थौ धृतायुधः । शत्रुघ्नो वै पुरद्वारि ऋषिभिः सम्प्रपूजितः ।। 7.69.16 ।।

muhūrtāllabdhasañjñastu punastasthau dhṛtāyudhaḥ | śatrughno vai puradvāri ṛṣibhiḥ samprapūjitaḥ || 7.69.16 ||

In a moment, Shatrughna regained consciousness, and, holding his weapon, he stood again at the city gate, honored by the sages.

ततो दिव्यममोघं तं जग्राह शरमुत्तमम् । ज्वलन्तं तेजसा घोरं पूरयन्तं दिशो दश ।। 7.69.17 ।।

tato divyamamoghaṃ taṃ jagrāha śaramuttamam | jvalantaṃ tejasā ghoraṃ pūrayantaṃ diśo daśa || 7.69.17 ||

Then he took that excellent, divine, and unfailing arrow, which was blazing with dreadful splendor and filling all ten directions.

वज्राननं वज्रवेगं मेरुमन्दरसन्निभम् । नतं पर्वसु सर्वेषु संयुगेष्वपराजितम् ।। 7.69.18 ।।

vajrānanaṃ vajravegaṃ merumandarasannibham | nataṃ parvasu sarveṣu saṃyugeṣvaparājitam || 7.69.18 ||

The arrow had a thunderbolt-like tip and speed, resembled Mount Meru and Mandara, was perfectly bent at all its joints, and remained unconquered in all battles.

असृक्चन्दनदिग्धाङ्गं चारुपत्रं पतत्रिणम् । दानवेन्द्राचलेन्द्राणामसुराणां च दारणम् ।। 7.69.19 ।।

asṛkcandanadigdhāṅgaṃ cārupatraṃ patatriṇam | dānavendrācalendrāṇāmasurāṇāṃ ca dāraṇam || 7.69.19 ||

Its body was smeared with blood and sandalwood, it had beautiful feathers, and it was capable of splitting the lords of Danavas, the lords of mountains, and the Asuras.

तं दीप्तमिव कालाग्निं युगान्ते समुपस्थिते । दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि परित्रासमुपागमन् ।। 7.69.20 ।।

taṃ dīptamiva kālāgniṃ yugānte samupasthite | dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni paritrāsamupāgaman || 7.69.20 ||

Seeing that arrow blazing like the fire of destruction at the end of a cosmic age, all beings were struck with great terror.

सदेवासुरगन्धर्वं मुनिभिः साप्सरोगणम् । जगद्धि सर्वमस्वस्थं पितामहमुपस्थितम् ।। 7.69.21 ।।

sadevāsuragandharvaṃ munibhiḥ sāpsarogaṇam | jagaddhi sarvamasvasthaṃ pitāmahamupasthitam || 7.69.21 ||

Indeed, the entire world, including gods, asuras, gandharvas, sages, and groups of Apsaras, became uneasy and approached Brahma.

उवाच देवदेवेशं वरदं प्रपितामहम् । देवानां भयसंमोहो लोकानां सङ्क्षयं प्रति ।। 7.69.22 ।।

uvāca devadeveśaṃ varadaṃ prapitāmaham | devānāṃ bhayasaṃmoho lokānāṃ saṅkṣayaṃ prati || 7.69.22 ||

The gods addressed Brahma, the great-grandfather and bestower of boons, regarding the fear and bewilderment among the gods and the impending destruction of the worlds.

नेदृशं दृष्टपूर्वं च न श्रुतं प्रपितामह । देवानां भयसम्मोहो लोकानां सङ्क्षयं प्रति ।। 7.69.23 ।।

nedṛśaṃ dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ ca na śrutaṃ prapitāmaha | devānāṃ bhayasammoho lokānāṃ saṅkṣayaṃ prati || 7.69.23 ||

They declared to Brahma that such fear and bewilderment among the gods, concerning the destruction of the worlds, had never been seen or heard of before.

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । भयकारणमाचष्ट लोकानामभयङ्करः । उवाच मधुरां वाणीं शृणुध्वं सर्वदेवताः ।। 7.69.24 ।।

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | bhayakāraṇamācaṣṭa lokānāmabhayaṅkaraḥ | uvāca madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ śṛṇudhvaṃ sarvadevatāḥ || 7.69.24 ||

Having heard their words, Brahma, the great-grandfather and dispeller of fear for the worlds, explained the cause of their fear and spoke sweet words, asking all the gods to listen.

वधाय लवणस्याजौ शरः शत्रुघ्नधारितः । तेजसा तस्य सम्मूढाः सर्वे स्मः सुरसत्तमाः ।। 7.69.25 ।।

vadhāya lavaṇasyājau śaraḥ śatrughnadhāritaḥ | tejasā tasya sammūḍhāḥ sarve smaḥ surasattamāḥ || 7.69.25 ||

Brahma revealed that the gods' bewilderment was caused by the immense radiance of the arrow held by Shatrughna, intended for the killing of Lavana in battle.

एष पूर्वस्य देवस्य लोककर्तुः सनातनः । शरस्तेजोमयो वत्सा येन वै भयमागतम् ।। 7.69.26 ।।

eṣa pūrvasya devasya lokakartuḥ sanātanaḥ | śarastejomayo vatsā yena vai bhayamāgatam || 7.69.26 ||

Brahma further explained that this radiant arrow, which caused their fear, is the eternal weapon of the ancient god, the creator of the worlds.

एष वै कैटभस्यार्थे मधुनश्च महाशरः । सृष्टो महात्मना तेन वधार्थे दैत्ययोस्तयोः ।। 7.69.27 ।।

eṣa vai kaiṭabhasyārthe madhunaśca mahāśaraḥ | sṛṣṭo mahātmanā tena vadhārthe daityayostayoḥ || 7.69.27 ||

This great arrow was indeed created by that great-souled one for the purpose of killing those two demons, Kaitabha and Madhu.

एक एव प्रजानाति विष्णुस्तेजोमयं शरम् । एषा एव तनुः पूर्वा विष्णोस्तस्य महात्मनः ।। 7.69.28 ।।

eka eva prajānāti viṣṇustejomayaṃ śaram | eṣā eva tanuḥ pūrvā viṣṇostasya mahātmanaḥ || 7.69.28 ||

Only Vishnu truly knows this arrow, which is full of splendor, for this is indeed the ancient form of that great-souled Vishnu himself.

इतो गच्छत पश्यध्वं वध्यमानं महात्मना । रामानुजेन वीरेण लवणं राक्षसोत्तमम् ।। 7.69.29 ।।

ito gacchata paśyadhvaṃ vadhyamānaṃ mahātmanā | rāmānujena vīreṇa lavaṇaṃ rākṣasottamam || 7.69.29 ||

Go from here and witness Lavana, the chief of Rakshasas, being killed by the great-souled hero, Rama's younger brother.

तस्य ते देवदेवस्य निशम्य वचनं सुराः । आजग्मुर्यत्र युध्येते शत्रुघ्नलवणावुभौ ।। 7.69.30 ।।

tasya te devadevasya niśamya vacanaṃ surāḥ | ājagmuryatra yudhyete śatrughnalavaṇāvubhau || 7.69.30 ||

Having heard the words of that God of gods, the deities arrived at the place where both Shatrughna and Lavana were engaged in battle.

तं शरं दिव्यसङ्काशं शत्रुघ्नकरधारितम् । ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि युगान्ताग्निमिवोत्थितम् ।। 7.69.31 ।।

taṃ śaraṃ divyasaṅkāśaṃ śatrughnakaradhāritam | dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtāni yugāntāgnimivotthitam || 7.69.31 ||

All beings saw that divine-looking arrow, held in Shatrughna's hand, shining like the risen fire of the cosmic dissolution.

अकाशमावृतं दृष्ट्वा देवैर्हि रघुनन्दनः । सिंहनादं भृशं कृत्वा ददर्श लक्षणं पुनः ।। 7.69.32 ।।

akāśamāvṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā devairhi raghunandanaḥ | siṃhanādaṃ bhṛśaṃ kṛtvā dadarśa lakṣaṇaṃ punaḥ || 7.69.32 ||

Indeed, having seen the sky covered by gods, Shatrughna, after letting out a loud lion's roar, saw Lakshmana again.

आहूतश्च पुनस्तेन शत्रुघ्नेन महात्मना । लवणः क्रोधसंयुक्तो युद्धाय समुपस्थितः ।। 7.69.33 ।।

āhūtaśca punastena śatrughnena mahātmanā | lavaṇaḥ krodhasaṃyukto yuddhāya samupasthitaḥ || 7.69.33 ||

And again, challenged by the great-souled Shatrughna, Lavana, filled with anger, appeared ready for battle.

आकर्णात्स विकृष्याथ तद्धनुर्धन्विनां वरः । तं मुमोच महाबाणं लवणस्य महोरसि ।। 7.69.34 ।।

ākarṇātsa vikṛṣyātha taddhanurdhanvināṃ varaḥ | taṃ mumoca mahābāṇaṃ lavaṇasya mahorasi || 7.69.34 ||

Then, the best among archers, Shatrughna, having drawn that bow up to his ear, released that great arrow onto Lavana's broad chest.

उरस्तस्य विदार्याशु प्रविवेश रसातलम् ।। 7.69.35 ।।

urastasya vidāryāśu praviveśa rasātalam || 7.69.35 ||

Quickly piercing his chest, the arrow entered the netherworld.

गत्वा रसातलं दिव्यः शरो विबुधपूजितः । पुनरेवागमत्तूर्णमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनम् ।। 7.69.36 ।।

gatvā rasātalaṃ divyaḥ śaro vibudhapūjitaḥ | punarevāgamattūrṇamikṣvākukulanandanam || 7.69.36 ||

Having gone to the netherworld, the divine arrow, worshipped by gods, quickly returned to Shatrughna, the delight of the Ikshvaku family.

शत्रुघ्नशरनिर्भिन्नो लवणः स निशाचरः । पपात सहसा भूमौ वज्राहत इवाचलः ।। 7.69.37 ।।

śatrughnaśaranirbhinno lavaṇaḥ sa niśācaraḥ | papāta sahasā bhūmau vajrāhata ivācalaḥ || 7.69.37 ||

That demon Lavana, pierced by Shatrughna's arrow, suddenly fell to the ground like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.

तच्च शूलं महत्तेन हते लवणराक्षसे । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां रुद्रस्य वशमन्वगात् ।। 7.69.38 ।।

tacca śūlaṃ mahattena hate lavaṇarākṣase | paśyatāṃ sarvadevānāṃ rudrasya vaśamanvagāt || 7.69.38 ||

And that great trident, after the demon Lavana was killed by Shatrughna, returned to the control of Rudra while all the gods watched.

एकेषुपातेन भृशं निपात्य लोकत्रयस्यापि रघुप्रवीरः । विनिर्बभावुत्तमचापबाणस्तमः प्रणुद्येव सहस्ररश्मिः ।। 7.69.39 ।।

ekeṣupātena bhṛśaṃ nipātya lokatrayasyāpi raghupravīraḥ | vinirbabhāvuttamacāpabāṇastamaḥ praṇudyeva sahasraraśmiḥ || 7.69.39 ||

Having completely struck down the terror of the three worlds with a single arrow, the great hero of the Raghu dynasty, Shatrughna, shone forth with his excellent bow and arrow, just like the sun dispelling darkness.

ततो हि देवा ऋषिपन्नगाश्च प्रपूजिरे ह्यप्सरसश्च सर्वाः । दिष्ट्या जयो दाशरथेरवाप्तस्त्यक्त्वा भयं सर्प इव प्रशान्तः ।। 7.69.40 ।।

tato hi devā ṛṣipannagāśca prapūjire hyapsarasaśca sarvāḥ | diṣṭyā jayo dāśaratheravāptastyaktvā bhayaṃ sarpa iva praśāntaḥ || 7.69.40 ||

Then indeed, all the gods, sages, serpents, and Apsaras worshipped him, exclaiming that fortunately, victory had been obtained by Dasharatha's son, and they were now calm, having abandoned fear, like a pacified serpent. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकोनसप्ततितमः सर्गः ।। 69 ।। Thus ends the sixty-ninth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.