Uttara Kanda, Sarga 78

श्रुत्वा तु भाषितं वाक्यं मम राम शुभाक्षरम् । प्राञ्जलिः प्रत्युवाचेदं स स्वर्गी रघुनन्दन ।। 7.78.1 ।।

śrutvā tu bhāṣitaṃ vākyaṃ mama rāma śubhākṣaram | prāñjaliḥ pratyuvācedaṃ sa svargī raghunandana || 7.78.1 ||

O Rama, O delight of the Raghus, having heard my auspicious words, that celestial being replied with folded hands.

शृणु ब्रह्मन्पुरा वृत्तं ममैतत्सुखदुःखयोः । अनतिक्रमणीयं हि यथा पृच्छसि मां द्विज ।। 7.78.2 ।।

śṛṇu brahmanpurā vṛttaṃ mamaitatsukhaduḥkhayoḥ | anatikramaṇīyaṃ hi yathā pṛcchasi māṃ dvija || 7.78.2 ||

O Brahmana, O twice-born, listen to this unavoidable story of my past joys and sorrows, as you have asked me.

पुरा वैदर्भको राजा पिता मम महायशाः । सुदेव इति विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान् ।। 7.78.3 ।।

purā vaidarbhako rājā pitā mama mahāyaśāḥ | sudeva iti vikhyātastriṣu lokeṣu vīryavān || 7.78.3 ||

Formerly, my father was a greatly renowned and valorous king of Vidarbha, famous in all three worlds by the name Sudeva.

तस्य पुत्रद्वयं ब्रह्मन्द्वाभ्यां स्त्रीभ्यामजायत । अहं श्वेत इति ख्यातो यवीयान्सुरथो ऽभवत् ।। 7.78.4 ।।

tasya putradvayaṃ brahmandvābhyāṃ strībhyāmajāyata | ahaṃ śveta iti khyāto yavīyānsuratho 'bhavat || 7.78.4 ||

O Brahmana, he had two sons born from two wives; I was known as Shveta, and the younger one was Suratha.

ततः पितरि स्वर्याते पौरा मामभ्यषेचयन् । तत्राहं कृतवान्राज्यं धर्म्यं च सुसमाहितः ।। 7.78.5 ।।

tataḥ pitari svaryāte paurā māmabhyaṣecayan | tatrāhaṃ kṛtavānrājyaṃ dharmyaṃ ca susamāhitaḥ || 7.78.5 ||

Then, when my father had passed away to heaven, the citizens consecrated me, and I diligently performed righteous kingship there.

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि समतीतानि सुव्रत । राज्यं कारयतो ब्रह्मन्प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षतः ।। 7.78.6 ।।

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi samatītāni suvrata | rājyaṃ kārayato brahmanprajā dharmeṇa rakṣataḥ || 7.78.6 ||

O virtuous one, O Brahmana, thus thousands of years passed while I ruled the kingdom and protected the subjects righteously.

सो ऽहं निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चिद्विज्ञातायुर्द्विजोत्तम । कालधर्मं हृदि न्यस्य ततो वनमुपागमम् ।। 7.78.7 ।।

so 'haṃ nimitte kasmiṃścidvijñātāyurdvijottama | kāladharmaṃ hṛdi nyasya tato vanamupāgamam || 7.78.7 ||

O best of Brahmanas, having known my lifespan due to some cause, I then accepted the law of time in my heart and went to the forest.

सो ऽहं वनमिदं दुर्गं मृगपक्षिविवर्जितम् । तपश्चर्तुं प्रविष्टो ऽस्मि समीपे सरसः शुभे ।। 7.78.8 ।।

so 'haṃ vanamidaṃ durgaṃ mṛgapakṣivivarjitam | tapaścartuṃ praviṣṭo 'smi samīpe sarasaḥ śubhe || 7.78.8 ||

I entered this inaccessible forest, devoid of deer and birds, to perform penance near an auspicious lake.

भ्रातरं सुरथं राज्ये ह्यभिषिच्य महीपतिम् । इदं सरः समासाद्य तपस्तप्तं मया चिरम् ।। 7.78.9 ।।

bhrātaraṃ surathaṃ rājye hyabhiṣicya mahīpatim | idaṃ saraḥ samāsādya tapastaptaṃ mayā ciram || 7.78.9 ||

Indeed, having consecrated my brother Suratha as king in the kingdom, I reached this lake and performed penance for a long time.

सो ऽहं वर्षसहस्राणि तपस्त्रीणि महावने । तप्त्वा सुदुष्करं प्राप्तो ब्रह्मलोकमनुत्तमम् ।। 7.78.10 ।।

so 'haṃ varṣasahasrāṇi tapastrīṇi mahāvane | taptvā suduṣkaraṃ prāpto brahmalokamanuttamam || 7.78.10 ||

Having performed very difficult penance for three thousand years in the great forest, I attained the unsurpassed world of Brahma.

तस्य मे स्वर्गभूतस्य क्षुत्पिपासे द्विजोत्तम । बाधेते परमोदार ततो ऽहं व्यथितेन्द्रियः । गत्वा त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठं पितामहमुवाच ह ।। 7.78.11 ।।

tasya me svargabhūtasya kṣutpipāse dvijottama | bādhete paramodāra tato 'haṃ vyathitendriyaḥ | gatvā tribhuvanaśreṣṭhaṃ pitāmahamuvāca ha || 7.78.11 ||

O best of Brahmins and most generous one, even after attaining heaven, hunger and thirst afflicted me, causing my senses distress, so I went and spoke to the grandfather, Brahma, the best of the three worlds.

भगवन्ब्रह्मलोको ऽयं क्षुत्पिपासाविवर्जितः । कस्यायं कर्मणः पाकः क्षुत्पिपासानुगो ह्यहम् ।। 7.78.12 ।।

bhagavanbrahmaloko 'yaṃ kṣutpipāsāvivarjitaḥ | kasyāyaṃ karmaṇaḥ pākaḥ kṣutpipāsānugo hyaham || 7.78.12 ||

O venerable one, this Brahma-loka is free from hunger and thirst, so what deed's consequence is it that I am indeed still afflicted by hunger and thirst?

आहारः कश्च मे देव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ।। 7.78.13 ।।

āhāraḥ kaśca me deva tanme brūhi pitāmaha || 7.78.13 ||

O divine grandfather, please tell me what my food should be.

पितामहस्तु मामाह तवाहारः सुदेवज । स्वादूनि स्वानि मांसानि तानि भक्षय नित्यशः ।। 7.78.14 ।।

pitāmahastu māmāha tavāhāraḥ sudevaja | svādūni svāni māṃsāni tāni bhakṣaya nityaśaḥ || 7.78.14 ||

The grandfather, Brahma, then told me, "O son of a good god, your food shall be your own delicious flesh, which you must eat constantly."

स्वशरीरं त्वया पुष्टं कुर्वता तप उत्तमम् । अनुप्तं रोहते श्वेत न कदाचिन्महामते ।। 7.78.15 ।।

svaśarīraṃ tvayā puṣṭaṃ kurvatā tapa uttamam | anuptaṃ rohate śveta na kadācinmahāmate || 7.78.15 ||

O great-minded and white one, your body, which you nourished through excellent penance, will not grow back once consumed, just as something unsown never sprouts.

तृप्तिर्न ते ऽस्ति सूक्ष्मा ऽपि वने सत्वनिषेविते । पुरा तु भिक्षमाणाय भिक्षा वै यतये नृप । न हि दत्ता त्वयेन्द्राभ यस्मादतिथये ऽपि वै ।। 7.78.16 ।।

tṛptirna te 'sti sūkṣmā 'pi vane satvaniṣevite | purā tu bhikṣamāṇāya bhikṣā vai yataye nṛpa | na hi dattā tvayendrābha yasmādatithaye 'pi vai || 7.78.16 ||

O King, even a little satisfaction is not yours in this forest inhabited by creatures, because formerly, O Indra-like one, you did not give alms to a begging ascetic, nor indeed to any guest.

दत्तं न ते ऽस्ति सूक्ष्मो ऽपि तप एव निषेवसे । तेन स्वर्गगतो वत्स बाध्यसे क्षुत्पिपासया ।। 7.78.17 ।।

dattaṃ na te 'sti sūkṣmo 'pi tapa eva niṣevase | tena svargagato vatsa bādhyase kṣutpipāsayā || 7.78.17 ||

You have not given even a little charity, having only practiced penance; therefore, O child, even after reaching heaven, you are tormented by hunger and thirst.

स त्वं सुपुष्टमाहारैः स्वशरीरमनुत्तमम् । भक्षयित्वामृतरसं तेन तृप्तिर्भविष्यति ।। 7.78.18 ।।

sa tvaṃ supuṣṭamāhāraiḥ svaśarīramanuttamam | bhakṣayitvāmṛtarasaṃ tena tṛptirbhaviṣyati || 7.78.18 ||

You, having eaten the nectar-like essence of your own excellent body, which was well-nourished with food, will then find satisfaction.

यदा तु तद्वनं श्वेत अगस्त्यः सुमहानृषिः । आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षस्तदा कृच्छ्राद्विमोक्ष्यते ।। 7.78.19 ।।

yadā tu tadvanaṃ śveta agastyaḥ sumahānṛṣiḥ | āgamiṣyati durdharṣastadā kṛcchrādvimokṣyate || 7.78.19 ||

But, O Śveta, when the great and unconquerable sage Agastya comes to that forest, then you will be liberated from your distress.

स हि तारयितुं सौम्य शक्तः सुरगणानपि । किं पुनस्त्वां महाबाहो क्षुत्पिपासावशं गतम् ।। 7.78.20 ।।

sa hi tārayituṃ saumya śaktaḥ suragaṇānapi | kiṃ punastvāṃ mahābāho kṣutpipāsāvaśaṃ gatam || 7.78.20 ||

Indeed, O gentle one, he is capable of saving even the hosts of gods; how much more so can he save you, O mighty-armed one, who have fallen under the sway of hunger and thirst?

सो ऽहं भगवतः श्रुत्वा देवदेवस्य निश्चयम् । आहारं गर्हितं स्वशरीरं द्विजोत्तम ।। 7.78.21 ।।

so 'haṃ bhagavataḥ śrutvā devadevasya niścayam | āhāraṃ garhitaṃ svaśarīraṃ dvijottama || 7.78.21 ||

O best of brahmins, having heard the resolve of the venerable god of gods (Shiva), I consider my own body as condemned food.

बहून्वर्षगणान्ब्रह्मन्भुज्यमानमिदं मया । क्षयं नाभ्येति ब्रह्मर्षे तृप्तिश्चापि ममोत्तमा ।। 7.78.22 ।।

bahūnvarṣagaṇānbrahmanbhujyamānamidaṃ mayā | kṣayaṃ nābhyeti brahmarṣe tṛptiścāpi mamottamā || 7.78.22 ||

O Brahmin, O Brahmarshi, though this body has been consumed by me for many years, it does not undergo destruction, and my satisfaction is also supreme.

तस्य मे कृच्छ्रभूतस्य कृच्छ्रादस्माद्विमोचय । अन्येषां न गतिर्ह्यत्र कुम्भयोनिमृते द्विजम् ।। 7.78.23 ।।

tasya me kṛcchrabhūtasya kṛcchrādasmādvimocaya | anyeṣāṃ na gatirhyatra kumbhayonimṛte dvijam || 7.78.23 ||

Therefore, release me, who am in this great distress, from this predicament, for indeed, there is no other way or refuge here for anyone except the pot-born brahmin (Agastya).

इदमाभरणं सौम्य तारणार्थं द्विजोत्तम । प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। 7.78.24 ।।

idamābharaṇaṃ saumya tāraṇārthaṃ dvijottama | pratigṛhṇīṣva bhadraṃ te prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 7.78.24 ||

O gentle one, O best of brahmins, please accept this ornament for my deliverance; may good fortune be yours, and you ought to grant this favor.

इदं तावत्सुवर्णं च धनं वस्त्राणि च द्विज । भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च ब्रह्मर्षे ददात्याभरणानि च ।। 7.78.25 ।।

idaṃ tāvatsuvarṇaṃ ca dhanaṃ vastrāṇi ca dvija | bhakṣyaṃ bhojyaṃ ca brahmarṣe dadātyābharaṇāni ca || 7.78.25 ||

O brahmin, O Brahmarshi, this indeed gives gold, wealth, clothes, food to be chewed, food to be eaten, and ornaments.

सर्वान्कामान्प्रयच्छामि भोगांश्च मुनिपुङ्गव । तारणे भगवन्मह्यं प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। 7.78.26 ।।

sarvānkāmānprayacchāmi bhogāṃśca munipuṅgava | tāraṇe bhagavanmahyaṃ prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 7.78.26 ||

The king pleaded with Agastya, "O best among sages, O venerable one, I grant all desires and enjoyments; please grant me the favor of liberation."

तस्याहं स्वर्गिणो वाक्यं श्रुत्वा दुःखसमन्वितम् । तारणायोपजग्राह तदाभरणमुत्तमम् ।। 7.78.27 ।।

tasyāhaṃ svargiṇo vākyaṃ śrutvā duḥkhasamanvitam | tāraṇāyopajagrāha tadābharaṇamuttamam || 7.78.27 ||

Having heard the sorrowful plea of that king who desired heaven, I accepted his excellent ornament for the purpose of his liberation.

मया प्रतिगृहीते तु तस्मिन्नाभरणे शुभे । मानुषः पूर्वको देहो राजर्षेर्विननाश ह ।। 7.78.28 ।।

mayā pratigṛhīte tu tasminnābharaṇe śubhe | mānuṣaḥ pūrvako deho rājarṣervinanāśa ha || 7.78.28 ||

Indeed, as soon as that auspicious ornament was accepted by me, the former human body of that royal sage perished.

प्रनष्टे तु शरीरे ऽसौ राजर्षिः परया मुदा । तृप्तः प्रमुदितो राजा जगाम त्रिदिवं सुखम् ।। 7.78.29 ।।

pranaṣṭe tu śarīre 'sau rājarṣiḥ parayā mudā | tṛptaḥ pramudito rājā jagāma tridivaṃ sukham || 7.78.29 ||

Indeed, when his body perished, that royal sage, the king, filled with supreme joy, satisfied and greatly delighted, happily ascended to heaven.

तेनेदं शक्रतुल्येन दिव्यमाभरणं मम । तस्मिन्निमित्ते काकुत्स्थ दत्तमद्भुतदर्शनम् ।। 7.78.30 ।।

tenedaṃ śakratulyena divyamābharaṇaṃ mama | tasminnimitte kākutstha dattamadbhutadarśanam || 7.78.30 ||

O Kakutstha, this divine ornament of wondrous appearance was given to me by that king, who was equal to Indra, on that very occasion. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः ।। 78 ।। Thus ends the seventy-eighth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.