Uttara Kanda, Sarga 74

तथा तु करुणं तस्य द्विजस्य परिदेवनम् । शुश्राव राघवः सर्वं दुःखशोकसमन्वितम् ।। 7.74.1 ।।

tathā tu karuṇaṃ tasya dvijasya paridevanam | śuśrāva rāghavaḥ sarvaṃ duḥkhaśokasamanvitam || 7.74.1 ||

Rama heard the entire piteous lamentation of that brahmin, which was filled with sorrow and grief.

स दुःखेन च सन्तप्तो मन्त्रिणस्तानुपाह्वयत् । वसिष्ठं वामदेवं च भ्रातरौ सह नैगमान् ।। 7.74.2 ।।

sa duḥkhena ca santapto mantriṇastānupāhvayat | vasiṣṭhaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca bhrātarau saha naigamān || 7.74.2 ||

Distressed by sorrow, Rama summoned his ministers, along with Vasistha, Vamadeva, his two brothers, and the representatives of the city.

ततो द्विजा वसिष्ठेन सार्धमष्टौ प्रवेशिताः । राजानं देवसङ्काशं वर्धस्वेति ततो ऽब्रुवन् ।। 7.74.3 ।।

tato dvijā vasiṣṭhena sārdhamaṣṭau praveśitāḥ | rājānaṃ devasaṅkāśaṃ vardhasveti tato 'bruvan || 7.74.3 ||

Then, eight brahmins, accompanied by Vasistha, were ushered in and, seeing the god-like king, they blessed him saying, "May you prosper!"

मार्कण्डेयो ऽथ मौद्गल्यो वामदेवश्च काश्यपः । कात्यायनो ऽथ जाबालिर्गौतमो नारदस्तथा । एते द्विजर्षभाः सर्वे आसनेषूपवेशिताः ।। 7.74.4 ।।

mārkaṇḍeyo 'tha maudgalyo vāmadevaśca kāśyapaḥ | kātyāyano 'tha jābālirgautamo nāradastathā | ete dvijarṣabhāḥ sarve āsaneṣūpaveśitāḥ || 7.74.4 ||

Markandeya, Maudgalya, Vamadeva, Kashyapa, Katyayana, Jabali, Gautama, and Narada—all these eminent brahmins were seated on their respective seats.

महर्षीन्समनुप्राप्तानभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः । मन्त्रिणो नैगमांश्चैव यथार्हमनुकूलतः ।। 7.74.5 ।।

maharṣīnsamanuprāptānabhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ | mantriṇo naigamāṃścaiva yathārhamanukūlataḥ || 7.74.5 ||

With folded hands, Rama respectfully saluted the arrived great sages, as well as the ministers and citizens, each according to their due.

तेषां समुपविष्टानां सर्वेषां दीप्ततेजसाम् । राघवः सर्वमाचष्टे द्विजो ऽयमुपरोधते ।। 7.74.6 ।।

teṣāṃ samupaviṣṭānāṃ sarveṣāṃ dīptatejasām | rāghavaḥ sarvamācaṣṭe dvijo 'yamuparodhate || 7.74.6 ||

Rama narrated everything to all those seated sages of shining splendor, explaining that this brahmin's situation was causing a hindrance.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राज्ञो दीनस्य नारदः । प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यमृषीणां सन्निधौ नृपम् ।। 7.74.7 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rājño dīnasya nāradaḥ | pratyuvāca śubhaṃ vākyamṛṣīṇāṃ sannidhau nṛpam || 7.74.7 ||

Having heard the distressed king's words, Narada replied with auspicious words to the king in the presence of the sages.

शृणु राजन्यथाकाले प्राप्तो बालस्य सङ्क्षयः । श्रुत्वा कर्तव्यतां राजन्कुरुष्वरघुनन्दन ।। 7.74.8 ।।

śṛṇu rājanyathākāle prāpto bālasya saṅkṣayaḥ | śrutvā kartavyatāṃ rājankuruṣvaraghunandana || 7.74.8 ||

O King, O Rama, listen to how the child's death occurred in due course, and having heard what is to be done, perform your duty.

पुरा कृतयुगे राजन्ब्राह्मणा वै तपस्विनः । अब्राह्मणस्तदा राजन्न तपस्वी कथञ्चन ।। 7.74.9 ।।

purā kṛtayuge rājanbrāhmaṇā vai tapasvinaḥ | abrāhmaṇastadā rājanna tapasvī kathañcana || 7.74.9 ||

O King, in the ancient Krita Yuga, only brahmins were ascetics, and no non-brahmin was an ascetic by any means.

तस्मिन्युगे प्रज्वलिते ब्रह्मभूते त्वनावृते । अमृत्यवस्तदा सर्वे जज्ञिरे दीर्घदर्शिनः ।। 7.74.10 ।।

tasminyuge prajvalite brahmabhūte tvanāvṛte | amṛtyavastadā sarve jajñire dīrghadarśinaḥ || 7.74.10 ||

In that resplendent, divine, and unobstructed age, all beings were born immortal and far-seeing.

ततस्त्रेतायुगं नाम मानवानां वपुष्मताम् । क्षत्रियास्तत्र जायन्ते पूर्णेन तपसा ऽन्विताः ।। 7.74.11 ।।

tatastretāyugaṃ nāma mānavānāṃ vapuṣmatām | kṣatriyāstatra jāyante pūrṇena tapasā 'nvitāḥ || 7.74.11 ||

Thereafter, in the age named Treta Yuga, embodied humans, specifically Kshatriyas, were born endowed with complete penance.

वीर्येण तपसा चैव ते ऽधिकाः पूर्वजन्मनि । मानवा ये महात्मानस्त्वत्र त्रेतायुगे युगे ।। 7.74.12 ।।

vīryeṇa tapasā caiva te 'dhikāḥ pūrvajanmani | mānavā ye mahātmānastvatra tretāyuge yuge || 7.74.12 ||

Those great-souled humans who were superior in valor and penance in their previous birth were indeed born in this Treta Yuga.

ब्रह्मक्षत्रं च तत्सर्वं यत्पूर्वमपरं च यत् । युगयोरुभयोरासीत्समवीर्यसमन्वितम् ।। 7.74.13 ।।

brahmakṣatraṃ ca tatsarvaṃ yatpūrvamaparaṃ ca yat | yugayorubhayorāsītsamavīryasamanvitam || 7.74.13 ||

All those Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, both the former and the latter, were endowed with equal valor in both ages.

अपश्यंस्तु न ते सर्वे विशेषमधिकं ततः । स्थापनं चक्रिरे तत्र चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य सम्मतम् ।। 7.74.14 ।।

apaśyaṃstu na te sarve viśeṣamadhikaṃ tataḥ | sthāpanaṃ cakrire tatra cāturvarṇyasya sammatam || 7.74.14 ||

Not seeing any greater distinction among them, all of them then established the approved system of four varnas.

तस्मिन्युगे प्रज्वलिते धर्मभूते ह्यनावृते । अधर्मः पादमेकं तु पातयत्पृथिवीतले ।। 7.74.15 ।।

tasminyuge prajvalite dharmabhūte hyanāvṛte | adharmaḥ pādamekaṃ tu pātayatpṛthivītale || 7.74.15 ||

In that brightly shining age, which was indeed full of unobstructed dharma, unrighteousness nevertheless placed one foot upon the surface of the earth.

अधर्मेण हि संयुक्तस्तेजो मन्दं भविष्यति ।। 7.74.16 ।।

adharmeṇa hi saṃyuktastejo mandaṃ bhaviṣyati || 7.74.16 ||

Indeed, one who is associated with unrighteousness will find their splendor diminished.

आमिषं यच्च पूर्वेषां राजसं च मलं भृशम् । अनृतं नाम तद्भूतं पादेन पृथिवीतले ।। 7.74.17 ।।

āmiṣaṃ yacca pūrveṣāṃ rājasaṃ ca malaṃ bhṛśam | anṛtaṃ nāma tadbhūtaṃ pādena pṛthivītale || 7.74.17 ||

That which was the object of desire for the ancients and a great passionate impurity, that very being named Untruth, manifested on the earth with one foot.

अनृतं पातयित्वा तु पादमेकमधर्मतः । ततः प्रादुष्कृतं पूर्वमायुषः परिनिष्ठितम् ।। 7.74.18 ।।

anṛtaṃ pātayitvā tu pādamekamadharmataḥ | tataḥ prāduṣkṛtaṃ pūrvamāyuṣaḥ pariniṣṭhitam || 7.74.18 ||

Indeed, when untruth caused one foot of Dharma to fall due to unrighteousness, then the duration of life was previously determined and established.

पतिते त्वनृते तस्मिन्नधर्मे च महीतले । शुभान्येवाचरँल्लोकः सत्यधर्मपरायणः ।। 7.74.19 ।।

patite tvanṛte tasminnadharme ca mahītale | śubhānyevācaraँllokaḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ || 7.74.19 ||

Indeed, even when that untruth and unrighteousness had descended upon the earth, people devoted to truth and righteousness still performed only auspicious deeds.

त्रेतायुगे च वर्तन्ते ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रियाश्च ये । तपो ऽतप्यन्त ते सर्वे शुश्रूषामपरे जनाः ।। 7.74.20 ।।

tretāyuge ca vartante brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyāśca ye | tapo 'tapyanta te sarve śuśrūṣāmapare janāḥ || 7.74.20 ||

In the Treta Yuga, all those Brahmins and Kshatriyas who existed performed penance, while other people performed service.

स धर्मः परमस्तेषां वैश्यशूद्रं समागमत् । पूजां च सर्ववर्णानां शूद्राश्चक्रुर्विशेषतः ।। 7.74.21 ।।

sa dharmaḥ paramasteṣāṃ vaiśyaśūdraṃ samāgamat | pūjāṃ ca sarvavarṇānāṃ śūdrāścakrurviśeṣataḥ || 7.74.21 ||

That supreme righteousness, which was previously universal, now reached the Vaiśyas and Śūdras, and the Śūdras, in particular, began to perform worship for all castes.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तेषामधर्मे चानृते च ह । ततः पूर्वे भृशं ह्रासमगमन्नृपसत्तम ।। 7.74.22 ।।

etasminnantare teṣāmadharme cānṛte ca ha | tataḥ pūrve bhṛśaṃ hrāsamagamannṛpasattama || 7.74.22 ||

O best of kings, in this interval, as unrighteousness and falsehood increased among the people, the former state of righteousness greatly diminished.

ततः पादमधर्मस्स द्वितीयमवतारयत् । ततो द्वापरसञ्ज्ञा ऽस्य युगस्य समजायत ।। 7.74.23 ।।

tataḥ pādamadharmassa dvitīyamavatārayat | tato dvāparasañjñā 'sya yugasya samajāyata || 7.74.23 ||

Then, unrighteousness manifested its second quarter, and consequently, this age came to be known as Dvāpara.

तस्मिन्द्वापरसञ्ज्ञे तु वर्तमाने युगक्षये । अधर्मश्चानृतं चैव ववृधे पुरुषर्षभ ।। 7.74.24 ।।

tasmindvāparasañjñe tu vartamāne yugakṣaye | adharmaścānṛtaṃ caiva vavṛdhe puruṣarṣabha || 7.74.24 ||

O best of men, during the prevailing Dvāpara age, which marked a decline, both unrighteousness and falsehood greatly increased.

तस्मिन्द्वापरसङ्ख्याते तपो वैश्यान्समाविशत् । त्रिभ्यो युगेभ्यस्त्रीन्वर्णान्क्रमाद्वै तप आविशत् ।। 7.74.25 ।।

tasmindvāparasaṅkhyāte tapo vaiśyānsamāviśat | tribhyo yugebhyastrīnvarṇānkramādvai tapa āviśat || 7.74.25 ||

In that age designated as Dvāpara, austerity entered the Vaiśyas, as indeed, austerity successively entered the three castes over the course of the three ages (Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara).

त्रिभ्यो युगेभ्यस्त्रीन्वर्णान्धर्मश्च परिनिष्ठितः । न शुद्धो लभते धर्मं युगतस्तु नरर्षभ । हीनवर्णो नृपश्रेष्ठ तप्यते सुमहत्तपः ।। 7.74.26 ।।

tribhyo yugebhyastrīnvarṇāndharmaśca pariniṣṭhitaḥ | na śuddho labhate dharmaṃ yugatastu nararṣabha | hīnavarṇo nṛpaśreṣṭha tapyate sumahattapaḥ || 7.74.26 ||

For the three ages (Krita, Treta, Dvapara), dharma is established for the three higher varnas, and a Shudra does not obtain religious merit by performing penance in these ages; yet, O best of kings, a person of lower caste is performing very great penance.

भविष्यच्छूद्रयोन्यां वै तपश्चर्या कलौ युगे । अधर्मः परमो राजन्द्वापरे शूद्रजन्मनः ।। 7.74.27 ।।

bhaviṣyacchūdrayonyāṃ vai tapaścaryā kalau yuge | adharmaḥ paramo rājandvāpare śūdrajanmanaḥ || 7.74.27 ||

Indeed, the performance of penance by a Shudra will be permissible in the Kali Yuga, but in the Dvapara Yuga, O King, it is the greatest unrighteousness for one born as a Shudra.

स वै विषयपर्यन्ते तव राजन्महातपाः । अद्य तप्यति दुर्बुद्धिस्तेन बालवधो ह्ययम् ।। 7.74.28 ।।

sa vai viṣayaparyante tava rājanmahātapāḥ | adya tapyati durbuddhistena bālavadho hyayam || 7.74.28 ||

That very great ascetic, O King, is indeed performing penance today at the border of your kingdom, and it is by this foolish act that this child's death has occurred.

यो ह्यधर्ममकार्यं वा विषये पार्थिवस्य तु । करोति चाश्रीमूलं तत्पुरे वा दुर्मतिर्नरः । क्षिप्रं च नरकं याति स च राजा न संशयः ।। 7.74.29 ।।

yo hyadharmamakāryaṃ vā viṣaye pārthivasya tu | karoti cāśrīmūlaṃ tatpure vā durmatirnaraḥ | kṣipraṃ ca narakaṃ yāti sa ca rājā na saṃśayaḥ || 7.74.29 ||

Indeed, any evil-minded person who commits unrighteousness or an improper act, which is the root of misfortune, in the king's kingdom or city, quickly goes to hell, and so does the king, without a doubt.

अधीतस्य च तप्तस्य कर्मणः सुकृतस्य च । षष्ठं भजति भागं तु प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ।। 7.74.30 ।।

adhītasya ca taptasya karmaṇaḥ sukṛtasya ca | ṣaṣṭhaṃ bhajati bhāgaṃ tu prajā dharmeṇa pālayan || 7.74.30 ||

A king who protects his subjects righteously obtains a sixth share of the merit from their Vedic studies, penance, and good deeds.

षङ्भागस्य न भोक्ता ऽसौ रक्षते न प्रजाः कथम् ।। 7.74.31 ।।

ṣaṅbhāgasya na bhoktā 'sau rakṣate na prajāḥ katham || 7.74.31 ||

How can a king who does not protect his subjects be entitled to receive the sixth part of their produce as tax?

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल मार्गस्व विषयं स्वकम् । दुष्कृतं यत्र पश्येथास्तत्र यत्नं समाचर ।। 7.74.32 ।।

sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla mārgasva viṣayaṃ svakam | duṣkṛtaṃ yatra paśyethāstatra yatnaṃ samācara || 7.74.32 ||

O tiger among men, you should search your own kingdom, and wherever you find an evil deed, there you must make an effort to rectify it.

एवं चेद्धर्मवृद्धिश्च नृणां चायुर्विवर्धनम् । भविष्यति नरश्रेष्ठ बालस्यास्य च जीवितम् ।। 7.74.33 ।।

evaṃ ceddharmavṛddhiśca nṛṇāṃ cāyurvivardhanam | bhaviṣyati naraśreṣṭha bālasyāsya ca jīvitam || 7.74.33 ||

O best of men, if this is done, there will be an increase in righteousness and the lifespan of men, and this child's life will also be restored. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुःसप्ततितमः सर्गः ।। 74 ।। Thus ends the seventy-fourth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.