Uttara Kanda, Sarga 71

ततो द्वादशमे वर्षे शत्रघ्नो रामपालिताम् । अयोध्यां चकमे गन्तुमल्पभृत्यबलानुगः ।। 7.71.1 ।।

tato dvādaśame varṣe śatraghno rāmapālitām | ayodhyāṃ cakame gantumalpabhṛtyabalānugaḥ || 7.71.1 ||

Then, in the twelfth year, Shatrughna, accompanied by a small retinue of servants and army, desired to go to Ayodhya, which was protected by Rama.

ततो मन्त्रिपुरोगांश्च बलमुख्यान्निवर्त्य च । जगाम हयमुख्यैश्च रथानां च शतेन सः ।। 7.71.2 ।।

tato mantripurogāṃśca balamukhyānnivartya ca | jagāma hayamukhyaiśca rathānāṃ ca śatena saḥ || 7.71.2 ||

Then, having sent back his chief ministers and military commanders, he proceeded with excellent horses and a hundred chariots.

स गत्वा गणितान्वासान्सप्ताष्टौ रघुनन्दनः । वाल्मीक्याश्रममागत्य वासं चक्रे महायशाः ।। 7.71.3 ।।

sa gatvā gaṇitānvāsānsaptāṣṭau raghunandanaḥ | vālmīkyāśramamāgatya vāsaṃ cakre mahāyaśāḥ || 7.71.3 ||

Having traveled for seven or eight counted days, the greatly renowned Shatrughna, the delight of the Raghus, arrived at Valmiki's hermitage and made his stay there.

सो ऽभिवाद्य ततः पादौ वाल्मीकेः पुरुषर्षभः । पाद्यमर्ध्यं तथातिथ्यं जग्राह मुनिहस्ततः ।। 7.71.4 ।।

so 'bhivādya tataḥ pādau vālmīkeḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | pādyamardhyaṃ tathātithyaṃ jagrāha munihastataḥ || 7.71.4 ||

Then, the best among men, Shatrughna, having saluted Valmiki's feet, accepted the water for washing feet, the respectful offering, and the hospitality from the sage's hand.

बहुरूपाः सुमधुराः कथास्तत्र सहस्रशः । कथयामास स मुनिः शत्रुघ्नाय महात्मने ।। 7.71.5 ।।

bahurūpāḥ sumadhurāḥ kathāstatra sahasraśaḥ | kathayāmāsa sa muniḥ śatrughnāya mahātmane || 7.71.5 ||

That sage narrated thousands of stories, varied in form and very sweet, to the great-souled Shatrughna.

उवाच च मुनिर्वाक्यं लवणस्य वधाश्रितम् । सुदुष्करं कृतं कर्म लवणं निघ्नता त्वया ।। 7.71.6 ।।

uvāca ca munirvākyaṃ lavaṇasya vadhāśritam | suduṣkaraṃ kṛtaṃ karma lavaṇaṃ nighnatā tvayā || 7.71.6 ||

And the sage spoke words concerning the killing of Lavana, saying that the deed of killing Lavana, which you accomplished, was extremely arduous.

बहवः पार्थिवाः सौम्य हताः सबलवाहनाः । लवणेन महाबाहो युध्यमाना महाबलाः ।। 7.71.7 ।।

bahavaḥ pārthivāḥ saumya hatāḥ sabalavāhanāḥ | lavaṇena mahābāho yudhyamānā mahābalāḥ || 7.71.7 ||

O gentle and mighty-armed one, many very powerful kings, along with their armies and vehicles, were killed by Lavana while fighting him.

स त्वया निहतः पापो लीलया पुरुषर्षभ । जगतश्च भयं तत्र प्रशान्तं तव तेजसा ।। 7.71.8 ।।

sa tvayā nihataḥ pāpo līlayā puruṣarṣabha | jagataśca bhayaṃ tatra praśāntaṃ tava tejasā || 7.71.8 ||

O best among men, that wicked one was killed by you with ease, and the fear of the world was pacified by your valor.

रावणस्य वधो घोरो यत्नेन महता कृतः । इदं तु सुमहत्कर्म त्वया कृतमयत्नतः ।। 7.71.9 ।।

rāvaṇasya vadho ghoro yatnena mahatā kṛtaḥ | idaṃ tu sumahatkarma tvayā kṛtamayatnataḥ || 7.71.9 ||

The terrible killing of Ravana was accomplished with great effort, but this very great deed was done by you effortlessly.

प्रीतिश्चास्मिन्परा जाता देवानां लवणे हते । भूतानां चैव सर्वेषां जगतश्च प्रियं कृतम् ।। 7.71.10 ।।

prītiścāsminparā jātā devānāṃ lavaṇe hate | bhūtānāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ jagataśca priyaṃ kṛtam || 7.71.10 ||

Upon Lavana's death, great joy arose among the gods and all beings, and good was done for the entire world.

तच्च युद्धं मया दृष्टं यथावत्पुरुषर्षभ । सभायां वासवस्याथ उपविष्टेन राघव ।। 7.71.11 ।।

tacca yuddhaṃ mayā dṛṣṭaṃ yathāvatpuruṣarṣabha | sabhāyāṃ vāsavasyātha upaviṣṭena rāghava || 7.71.11 ||

O best among men, O Raghava, that battle was seen by me exactly as it happened, while I was seated in the assembly of Indra.

ममापि परमा प्रीतिर्हृदि शत्रुघ्न वर्तते । उपाघ्रास्यामि ते मूर्ध्नि स्नेहस्यैषा परा गतिः ।। 7.71.12 ।।

mamāpi paramā prītirhṛdi śatrughna vartate | upāghrāsyāmi te mūrdhni snehasyaiṣā parā gatiḥ || 7.71.12 ||

O Shatrughna, supreme joy also resides in my heart, and I will kiss your head, for this is the highest expression of affection.

इत्युक्त्वा मूर्ध्नि शत्रुघ्नमुपाघ्राय महामुनिः । आतिथ्यमकरोत्तस्य ये च तस्य पदानुगाः ।। 7.71.13 ।।

ityuktvā mūrdhni śatrughnamupāghrāya mahāmuniḥ | ātithyamakarottasya ye ca tasya padānugāḥ || 7.71.13 ||

Having thus spoken and kissed Shatrughna on the head, the great sage offered hospitality to him and his followers.

स भुक्तवान्नरश्रेष्ठो गीतमाधुर्यमुत्तमम् । शुश्राव रामचरितं तस्मिन्काले यथाकृमम् ।। 7.71.14 ।।

sa bhuktavānnaraśreṣṭho gītamādhuryamuttamam | śuśrāva rāmacaritaṃ tasminkāle yathākṛmam || 7.71.14 ||

After eating, the best among men, Shatrughna, heard the excellent sweetness of the song narrating the deeds of Rama, in due order at that time.

तन्त्रीलयसमायुक्तं त्रिस्थानकरणान्वितम् । संस्कृतं लक्षणोपेतं समतालसमन्वितम् । शुश्राव रामचरितं तस्मिन्काले पुरा कृतम् ।। 7.71.15 ।।

tantrīlayasamāyuktaṃ tristhānakaraṇānvitam | saṃskṛtaṃ lakṣaṇopetaṃ samatālasamanvitam | śuśrāva rāmacaritaṃ tasminkāle purā kṛtam || 7.71.15 ||

At that time, he heard the previously composed deeds of Rama, which were endowed with the rhythm of string instruments, accompanied by actions in three registers, refined, characterized by rules, and perfectly rhythmic.

तान्यक्षराणि सत्यानि यथावृत्तानि पूर्वशः । श्रुत्वा पुरुषशार्दूलो विसञ्ज्ञो बाष्पलोचनः ।। 7.71.16 ।।

tānyakṣarāṇi satyāni yathāvṛttāni pūrvaśaḥ | śrutvā puruṣaśārdūlo visañjño bāṣpalocanaḥ || 7.71.16 ||

Having heard those true words, which recounted events exactly as they had formerly happened, Rama, the tiger among men, became bewildered with tearful eyes.

स मुहूर्तमिवासञ्ज्ञो विनिःश्वस्य मुहुर्मुहुः । तस्मिन् गीते यथावृत्तं वर्तमानमिवाशृणोत् ।। 7.71.17 ।।

sa muhūrtamivāsañjño viniḥśvasya muhurmuhuḥ | tasmin gīte yathāvṛttaṃ vartamānamivāśṛṇot || 7.71.17 ||

For a moment, he remained as if bewildered, sighing repeatedly, and in that song, he heard the past events as if they were unfolding in the present.

पदानुगाश्च ये राज्ञस्तां श्रुत्वा गीतिसम्पदम् । अवाङ्मुखाश्च दीनाश्च ह्याश्चर्यमिति चाब्रुवन् ।। 7.71.18 ।।

padānugāśca ye rājñastāṃ śrutvā gītisampadam | avāṅmukhāśca dīnāśca hyāścaryamiti cābruvan || 7.71.18 ||

And the king's followers, having heard that excellent song, became downcast and distressed, exclaiming, "This is indeed a wonder!"

परस्परं च ये तत्र सैनिकाः सम्बभाषिरे । किमिदं क्व च वर्तामः किमेतत्स्वप्नदर्शनम् ।। 7.71.19 ।।

parasparaṃ ca ye tatra sainikāḥ sambabhāṣire | kimidaṃ kva ca vartāmaḥ kimetatsvapnadarśanam || 7.71.19 ||

And the soldiers present there spoke to each other, wondering, "What is this? Where are we? Is this a dream vision?"

अर्थो यो नः पुरा दृष्टस्तमाश्रमपदे पुनः । शृणुमः किमिदं स्वप्नो गीतबन्धं श्रियो भवेत् ।। 7.71.20 ।।

artho yo naḥ purā dṛṣṭastamāśramapade punaḥ | śṛṇumaḥ kimidaṃ svapno gītabandhaṃ śriyo bhavet || 7.71.20 ||

They wondered if what they were hearing in the hermitage, which seemed to be a previously seen event, was a dream or a beautiful song.

विस्मयं ते परं गत्वा शत्रुघ्नमिदमब्रुवन् । साधु पृच्छ नरश्रेष्ठ वाल्मीकिं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।। 7.71.21 ।।

vismayaṃ te paraṃ gatvā śatrughnamidamabruvan | sādhu pṛccha naraśreṣṭha vālmīkiṃ munipuṅgavam || 7.71.21 ||

Filled with great astonishment, they said to Shatrughna, "O best among men, please properly ask Valmiki, the foremost among sages."

शत्रुघ्नस्त्वब्रवीत्सर्वान्कौतूहलसमन्वितान् । सैनिका न क्षमो ऽस्माकं परिप्रष्टुमिहेदृशः ।। 7.71.22 ।।

śatrughnastvabravītsarvānkautūhalasamanvitān | sainikā na kṣamo 'smākaṃ paripraṣṭumihedṛśaḥ || 7.71.22 ||

But Shatrughna said to all the curious soldiers, "O soldiers, it is not proper for us to make such inquiries here."

आश्चर्याणि बहूनीह भवन्त्यस्याश्रमे मुनेः । न तु कौतूहलाद्युक्तमन्वेष्टुं तं महामुनिम् ।। 7.71.23 ।।

āścaryāṇi bahūnīha bhavantyasyāśrame muneḥ | na tu kautūhalādyuktamanveṣṭuṃ taṃ mahāmunim || 7.71.23 ||

Many wonders occur here in this sage's hermitage, but it is not proper to question that great sage out of mere curiosity.

एवं तद्वाक्यमुक्त्वा च सैनिकान्रघुनन्दनः । अभिवाद्य महर्षिं तं स्वं निवेशं ययौ तदा ।। 7.71.24 ।।

evaṃ tadvākyamuktvā ca sainikānraghunandanaḥ | abhivādya maharṣiṃ taṃ svaṃ niveśaṃ yayau tadā || 7.71.24 ||

Having thus spoken that statement to the soldiers, Shatrughna then saluted the great sage and returned to his own camp. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकसप्ततिमः सर्गः ।। 71 ।। Thus ends the seventy-first sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.