Uttara Kanda, Sarga 70

हते तु लवणे देवाः सेन्द्राः साग्निपुरोगमाः । ऊचुः सुमधुरां वाणीं शत्रुघ्नं शत्रुतापनम् ।। 7.70.1 ।।

hate tu lavaṇe devāḥ sendrāḥ sāgnipurogamāḥ | ūcuḥ sumadhurāṃ vāṇīṃ śatrughnaṃ śatrutāpanam || 7.70.1 ||

Indeed, after Lavana was killed, the gods, led by Indra and with Agni at their forefront, spoke very sweet words to Shatrughna, the tormentor of enemies.

दिष्ट्या ते विजयो वत्स दिष्ट्या लवणराक्षसः । हतः पुरुषशार्दूल वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। 7.70.2 ।।

diṣṭyā te vijayo vatsa diṣṭyā lavaṇarākṣasaḥ | hataḥ puruṣaśārdūla varaṃ varaya suvrata || 7.70.2 ||

O dear and virtuous tiger among men, it is by good fortune that you have achieved victory and the demon Lavana has been killed; now, ask for a boon.

वरदास्तु महाबाहो सर्व एव समागताः । विजयाकाङ्क्षिणस्तुभ्यममोघं दर्शनं हि नः ।। 7.70.3 ।।

varadāstu mahābāho sarva eva samāgatāḥ | vijayākāṅkṣiṇastubhyamamoghaṃ darśanaṃ hi naḥ || 7.70.3 ||

O mighty-armed one, all of us who have assembled here are indeed givers of boons, having desired your victory, and our presence here is certainly not in vain.

देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा शूरो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः । प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुः शत्रुघ्नः प्रयतात्मवान् ।। 7.70.4 ।।

devānāṃ bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā śūro mūrdhni kṛtāñjaliḥ | pratyuvāca mahābāhuḥ śatrughnaḥ prayatātmavān || 7.70.4 ||

Having heard the words of the gods, the brave, mighty-armed, and self-controlled Shatrughna, with folded hands placed on his head, replied.

इयं मधुपुरी रस्या मधुरा देवनिर्मिता । निवेशं प्राप्नुयाच्छीघ्रमेष मे ऽस्तु वरः परः ।। 7.70.5 ।।

iyaṃ madhupurī rasyā madhurā devanirmitā | niveśaṃ prāpnuyācchīghrameṣa me 'stu varaḥ paraḥ || 7.70.5 ||

Shatrughna requested that this delightful and sweet city of Madhu, which was created by the gods, quickly become a populated settlement, declaring this to be his foremost boon.

तं देवाः प्रीतमनसो बाढमित्येव राघवम् । भविष्यति पुरी रम्या शूरसेना न संशयः ।। 7.70.6 ।।

taṃ devāḥ prītamanaso bāḍhamityeva rāghavam | bhaviṣyati purī ramyā śūrasenā na saṃśayaḥ || 7.70.6 ||

With pleased minds, the gods replied to Shatrughna, the descendant of Raghu, saying "So be it," and assured him that the city would indeed become a beautiful one in the region of Shurasena, without a doubt.

ते तथोक्त्वा महात्मानो दिवमारुरुहुस्तदा । शत्रुघ्नो ऽपि महातेजास्तां सेनां समुपानयत् ।। 7.70.7 ।।

te tathoktvā mahātmāno divamāruruhustadā | śatrughno 'pi mahātejāstāṃ senāṃ samupānayat || 7.70.7 ||

After the great sages spoke, they ascended to the heavens, and then the powerful Shatrughna gathered that army.

सा सेना शीघ्रमागच्छच्छ्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नशासनम् । निवेशनं च शत्रुघ्नः श्रावणेन समारभत् ।। 7.70.8 ।।

sā senā śīghramāgacchacchrutvā śatrughnaśāsanam | niveśanaṃ ca śatrughnaḥ śrāvaṇena samārabhat || 7.70.8 ||

That army quickly arrived upon hearing Shatrughna's command, and Shatrughna began the establishment of the city in the month of Shravana.

सा पुरा दिव्यसङ्काशा वर्षे द्वादशमे शुभे । निविष्टा शूरसेनानां विषयश्चाकुतोभयः ।। 7.70.9 ।।

sā purā divyasaṅkāśā varṣe dvādaśame śubhe | niviṣṭā śūrasenānāṃ viṣayaścākutobhayaḥ || 7.70.9 ||

That city, resembling a divine abode, was established in the auspicious twelfth year, becoming a region for brave warriors, free from all fear.

क्षेत्राणि सस्ययुक्तानि काले वर्षति वासवः । अरोगवीरपुरुषा शत्रुघ्नभुजपालिता ।। 7.70.10 ।।

kṣetrāṇi sasyayuktāni kāle varṣati vāsavaḥ | arogavīrapuruṣā śatrughnabhujapālitā || 7.70.10 ||

The fields were full of crops, Indra rained at the proper time, and the region, protected by Shatrughna's arm, had healthy and brave men.

अर्धचन्द्रप्रतीकाशा यमुनातीरशोभिता । शोभिता गृहमुख्यैश्च चत्वरापणवीथिकैः । चातुर्वर्ण्यसमायुक्ता नानावाणिज्यशोभिता ।। 7.70.11 ।।

ardhacandrapratīkāśā yamunātīraśobhitā | śobhitā gṛhamukhyaiśca catvarāpaṇavīthikaiḥ | cāturvarṇyasamāyuktā nānāvāṇijyaśobhitā || 7.70.11 ||

The city, resembling a half-moon and beautified by the Yamuna's banks, was adorned with grand houses, squares, shops, and streets, inhabited by people of all four varnas, and bustling with diverse commerce.

यच्च तेन पुरा शुभ्रं लवणेन कृतं महत् । तच्छोभयति शत्रुघ्नो नानावर्णोपशोभिताम् ।। 7.70.12 ।।

yacca tena purā śubhraṃ lavaṇena kṛtaṃ mahat | tacchobhayati śatrughno nānāvarṇopaśobhitām || 7.70.12 ||

Shatrughna now beautifies that great and pure city, which was formerly created by Lavana, adorning it with various colors.

आरामैश्च विहारैश्च शोभमानं समन्ततः । शोभितां शोभनीयैश्च तथा ऽन्यैर्दैवमानुषैः ।। 7.70.13 ।।

ārāmaiśca vihāraiśca śobhamānaṃ samantataḥ | śobhitāṃ śobhanīyaiśca tathā 'nyairdaivamānuṣaiḥ || 7.70.13 ||

The city was adorned all around with gardens and pleasure-grounds, and beautified by other divine and human elements.

तां पुरीं दिव्यसङ्काशां नानापण्योपशोभिताम् । नानादेशागतैश्चापि वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम् ।। 7.70.14 ।।

tāṃ purīṃ divyasaṅkāśāṃ nānāpaṇyopaśobhitām | nānādeśāgataiścāpi vaṇigbhirupaśobhitām || 7.70.14 ||

That city, resembling a divine abode, was adorned with various merchandise and beautified by merchants who had arrived from diverse lands.

तां समृद्धां समृद्धार्थः शत्रुघ्नो भरतानुजः । निरीक्ष्य परमप्रीतः परं हर्षमुपागमत् ।। 7.70.15 ।।

tāṃ samṛddhāṃ samṛddhārthaḥ śatrughno bharatānujaḥ | nirīkṣya paramaprītaḥ paraṃ harṣamupāgamat || 7.70.15 ||

Shatrughna, the younger brother of Bharata, whose purpose was fulfilled, observed that prosperous city and attained supreme joy, being extremely pleased.

तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना निवेश्य मधुरां पुरीम् । रामपादौ निरीक्षे ऽहं वर्षे द्वादश आगते ।। 7.70.16 ।।

tasya buddhiḥ samutpannā niveśya madhurāṃ purīm | rāmapādau nirīkṣe 'haṃ varṣe dvādaśa āgate || 7.70.16 ||

A thought arose in his mind that after establishing the city of Mathura, he would go to see Rama's feet when the twelfth year arrived.

ततः स ताममरपुरोपमां पुरीं निवेश्य वै विविधजनाभिसंवृताम् । नराधिपो रघुपतिपाददर्शने दधे मतिं रघुकुलवंशवर्धनः ।। 7.70.17 ।।

tataḥ sa tāmamarapuropamāṃ purīṃ niveśya vai vividhajanābhisaṃvṛtām | narādhipo raghupatipādadarśane dadhe matiṃ raghukulavaṃśavardhanaḥ || 7.70.17 ||

After establishing that city, which resembled the city of gods and was filled with various people, the king Shatrughna, the enhancer of the Raghu lineage, set his mind on seeing the feet of Lord Rama. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्ततितमः सर्गः ।। 70 ।। Thus ends the seventieth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.