Uttara Kanda, Sarga 91

एतदाख्याय काकुत्स्थो भ्रातृभ्याममितप्रभः । लक्ष्मणं पुनरेवाह धर्मयुक्तमिदं वचः ।। 7.91.1 ।।

etadākhyāya kākutstho bhrātṛbhyāmamitaprabhaḥ | lakṣmaṇaṃ punarevāha dharmayuktamidaṃ vacaḥ || 7.91.1 ||

Having narrated this, Rama of immeasurable splendor then again spoke these righteous words to Lakshmana in the presence of his brothers.

वसिष्ठं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ कश्यपम् । द्विजांश्च सर्वप्रवरानश्वमेधपुरस्कृतान् ।। 7.91.2 ।।

vasiṣṭhaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālimatha kaśyapam | dvijāṃśca sarvapravarānaśvamedhapuraskṛtān || 7.91.2 ||

He spoke about inviting Vasistha, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kashyapa, and all other chief Brahmins who are appointed for the Ashwamedha sacrifice.

एतान्सर्वान्समानीय मन्त्रयित्वा च लक्ष्मण । हयं लक्षणसम्पन्नं विमोक्ष्यामि समाधिना ।। 7.91.3 ।।

etānsarvānsamānīya mantrayitvā ca lakṣmaṇa | hayaṃ lakṣaṇasampannaṃ vimokṣyāmi samādhinā || 7.91.3 ||

O Lakshmana, having assembled all these and consulted with them, I shall release a horse endowed with auspicious marks, with proper ritual observance.

तद्वाक्यं राघवेणोक्तं श्रुत्वा त्वरितविक्रमः । द्विजान्सर्वान्समाहूय दर्शयामास राघवम् ।। 7.91.4 ।।

tadvākyaṃ rāghaveṇoktaṃ śrutvā tvaritavikramaḥ | dvijānsarvānsamāhūya darśayāmāsa rāghavam || 7.91.4 ||

Having heard that statement spoken by Rama, Lakshmana, of swift valor, summoned all the Brahmins and presented them to Rama.

ते दृष्ट्वा देवसङ्काशं कृतपादाभिवन्दनम् । राघवं सुदुराधर्षमाशीर्भिः समपूजयन् ।। 7.91.5 ।।

te dṛṣṭvā devasaṅkāśaṃ kṛtapādābhivandanam | rāghavaṃ sudurādharṣamāśīrbhiḥ samapūjayan || 7.91.5 ||

Having seen Rama, who was god-like, very difficult to overcome, and had just bowed at their feet, they honored him with their blessings.

प्राञ्जलिः स तदा भूत्वा राघवो द्विजसत्तमान् । आचचक्षे ऽश्वमेधस्य ह्यभिप्रायं महायशाः ।। 7.91.6 ।।

prāñjaliḥ sa tadā bhūtvā rāghavo dvijasattamān | ācacakṣe 'śvamedhasya hyabhiprāyaṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 7.91.6 ||

Then, the highly renowned Rama, with folded hands, explained his intention regarding the Ashwamedha sacrifice to the foremost Brahmins.

ते तु रामस्य तच्छ्रुत्वा नमस्कृत्वा वृषध्वजम् । अश्वमेधं द्विजाः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म सर्वशः ।। 7.91.7 ।।

te tu rāmasya tacchrutvā namaskṛtvā vṛṣadhvajam | aśvamedhaṃ dvijāḥ sarve pūjayanti sma sarvaśaḥ || 7.91.7 ||

Having heard Rama's intention, all the Brahmins bowed down to Shiva and then honored the Ashwamedha sacrifice in every way.

स तेषां द्विजमुख्यानां वाक्यमद्भुतदर्शनम् । अश्वमेधाश्रितं श्रुत्वा भृशं प्रीतो ऽभवत्तदा ।। 7.91.8 ।।

sa teṣāṃ dvijamukhyānāṃ vākyamadbhutadarśanam | aśvamedhāśritaṃ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ prīto 'bhavattadā || 7.91.8 ||

Then, having heard the words of wonderful insight from those chief Brahmins regarding the Ashwamedha, he (Rama) became greatly pleased.

विज्ञाय कर्म तत्तेषां रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । प्रेषयस्व द्रुतं दूतान् सुग्रीवाय महात्मने ।। 7.91.9 ।।

vijñāya karma tatteṣāṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt | preṣayasva drutaṃ dūtān sugrīvāya mahātmane || 7.91.9 ||

Having understood their decision, Rama then said to Lakshmana, "Send messengers quickly to the great-souled Sugriva."

यथा महद्भिर्हरिभिर्बहुभिश्च वनौकसाम् । सार्धमागच्छ भद्रं ते ह्यनुभोक्तुं महोत्सवम् ।। 7.91.10 ।।

yathā mahadbhirharibhirbahubhiśca vanaukasām | sārdhamāgaccha bhadraṃ te hyanubhoktuṃ mahotsavam || 7.91.10 ||

Come with many great forest-dwelling monkeys to indeed enjoy this great festival, and may you be well.

बिभीषणश्च रक्षोभिः कामगैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । अश्वमेधं महायज्ञमायात्वतुलविक्रमः ।। 7.91.11 ।।

bibhīṣaṇaśca rakṣobhiḥ kāmagairbahubhirvṛtaḥ | aśvamedhaṃ mahāyajñamāyātvatulavikramaḥ || 7.91.11 ||

Let Vibhishana, of unequalled valor, come to the great Ashwamedha sacrifice, surrounded by many Rakshasas who can travel at will.

राजानश्च महाभागा ये मे प्रियचिकीर्षवः । सानुगाः क्षिप्रमायान्तु यज्ञं द्रष्टुमनुत्तमम् ।। 7.91.12 ।।

rājānaśca mahābhāgā ye me priyacikīrṣavaḥ | sānugāḥ kṣipramāyāntu yajñaṃ draṣṭumanuttamam || 7.91.12 ||

Let all the highly fortunate kings who wish me well come quickly with their followers to witness this unsurpassed sacrifice.

देशान्तरगता ये च द्विजा धर्मसमाहिताः । आमन्त्रयस्व तान्सर्वानश्वमेधाय लक्ष्मण ।। 7.91.13 ।।

deśāntaragatā ye ca dvijā dharmasamāhitāḥ | āmantrayasva tānsarvānaśvamedhāya lakṣmaṇa || 7.91.13 ||

Lakshmana, invite all those Brahmins who are devoted to dharma and have gone to other countries for the Ashwamedha sacrifice.

ऋषयश्च महाबाहो आहूयन्तां तपोधनाः । देशान्तरगताः सर्वे सदाराश्च द्विजातयः । तथैव तालावचरास्तथैव नटनर्तकाः ।। 7.91.14 ।।

ṛṣayaśca mahābāho āhūyantāṃ tapodhanāḥ | deśāntaragatāḥ sarve sadārāśca dvijātayaḥ | tathaiva tālāvacarāstathaiva naṭanartakāḥ || 7.91.14 ||

O mighty-armed one, let all sages whose wealth is penance, all Brahmins who have gone to other countries along with their wives, and similarly musicians, actors, and dancers be invited.

यज्ञवाटश्च सुमहान्गोमत्या नैमिशे वने । आज्ञाप्यतां महाबाहो तद्धि पुण्यमनुत्तमम् ।। 7.91.15 ।।

yajñavāṭaśca sumahāngomatyā naimiśe vane | ājñāpyatāṃ mahābāho taddhi puṇyamanuttamam || 7.91.15 ||

O mighty-armed one, let a very large sacrificial enclosure be arranged in the Naimisha forest near the Gomati river, for that indeed is an unsurpassed meritorious act.

शान्तयश्च महाबाहो प्रवर्त्यन्तां समन्ततः ।। 7.91.16 ।।

śāntayaśca mahābāho pravartyantāṃ samantataḥ || 7.91.16 ||

And O mighty-armed one, let peace rites be performed everywhere.

शतशश्चापि धर्मज्ञाः क्रतुमुख्यमनुत्तमम् । अनुभूय महायज्ञं नैमिशे रघुनन्दन ।। 7.91.17 ।।

śataśaścāpi dharmajñāḥ kratumukhyamanuttamam | anubhūya mahāyajñaṃ naimiśe raghunandana || 7.91.17 ||

O delight of the Raghus, let hundreds of knowers of dharma, having experienced this great and unsurpassed chief of sacrifices in Naimisha...

तुष्टः पुष्टश्च सर्वो ऽसौ मानितश्च यथाविधि । प्रीतिं यास्यति धर्मज्ञ शीघ्रमामन्त्र्यतां जनः ।। 7.91.18 ।।

tuṣṭaḥ puṣṭaśca sarvo 'sau mānitaśca yathāvidhi | prītiṃ yāsyati dharmajña śīghramāmantryatāṃ janaḥ || 7.91.18 ||

O knower of dharma, let all those people be quickly invited, so that they will be satisfied, nourished, and properly honored, thereby attaining great joy.

शतं वाहसहस्राणां तण्डुलानां वपुष्मताम् । अयुतं तिलमुद्गानां प्रयात्वग्रे महाबल ।। 7.91.19 ।।

śataṃ vāhasahasrāṇāṃ taṇḍulānāṃ vapuṣmatām | ayutaṃ tilamudgānāṃ prayātvagre mahābala || 7.91.19 ||

O mighty one, let a hundred thousand cartloads of excellent rice grains and ten thousand cartloads of sesame and mung beans be sent ahead.

चणकानां कुलित्थानां माषाणां लवणस्य च । अतो ऽनुरूपं स्नेहं च गन्धं सङ्क्षिप्तमेव च ।। 7.91.20 ।।

caṇakānāṃ kulitthānāṃ māṣāṇāṃ lavaṇasya ca | ato 'nurūpaṃ snehaṃ ca gandhaṃ saṅkṣiptameva ca || 7.91.20 ||

Therefore, suitable oil and collected spices, along with chickpeas, horse gram, black gram, and salt, should also be taken.

सुवर्णकोट्यो बहुला हिरण्यस्य शतोत्तराः । अग्रतो भरतः कृत्वा गच्छत्वग्रे समाधिना ।। 7.91.21 ।।

suvarṇakoṭyo bahulā hiraṇyasya śatottarāḥ | agrato bharataḥ kṛtvā gacchatvagre samādhinā || 7.91.21 ||

Bharata should go forth at the head, having placed many crores of gold and hundreds more of other gold wealth, with careful arrangement.

अन्तरा पण्यवीथ्यश्च सर्वे च नटनर्तकाः । सूदा नार्यश्च बहवो नित्यं यौवनशालिनः ।। 7.91.22 ।।

antarā paṇyavīthyaśca sarve ca naṭanartakāḥ | sūdā nāryaśca bahavo nityaṃ yauvanaśālinaḥ || 7.91.22 ||

Along the way, there should be market streets, and all actors and dancers, as well as many cooks and perpetually youthful women.

भरतेन तु सार्धं ते यान्तु सैन्यानि चाग्रतः । नैगमा बलवृद्धाश्च द्विजाश्च सुसमाहिताः ।। 7.91.23 ।।

bharatena tu sārdhaṃ te yāntu sainyāni cāgrataḥ | naigamā balavṛddhāśca dvijāśca susamāhitāḥ || 7.91.23 ||

Indeed, let the armies go forth with Bharata, and also the merchants, the strong and old, and the well-prepared Brahmins.

कर्मान्तिकान्वर्धकिनः कोशाध्यक्षांश्च नैगमान् । मम मातऽस्तथा सर्वाः कुमारान्तःपुराणि च ।। 7.91.24 ।।

karmāntikānvardhakinaḥ kośādhyakṣāṃśca naigamān | mama māta'stathā sarvāḥ kumārāntaḥpurāṇi ca || 7.91.24 ||

Also, workers, carpenters, treasurers, merchants, all my mothers, and the inner chambers of the princes should similarly accompany them.

काञ्चनीं मम पत्नीं च दीक्षायां ज्ञांश्च कर्मणि । अग्रतो भरतः कृत्वा गच्छत्वग्रे महायशाः ।। 7.91.25 ।।

kāñcanīṃ mama patnīṃ ca dīkṣāyāṃ jñāṃśca karmaṇi | agrato bharataḥ kṛtvā gacchatvagre mahāyaśāḥ || 7.91.25 ||

Rama commanded that the greatly renowned Bharata should proceed first, carrying his golden idol of Sita, who represented his wife for the initiation, and also leading those who were knowledgeable in the rituals.

उपकार्या महार्हाश्च पार्थिवानां महौजसाम् । सानुगानां नरश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश महाबलः ।। 7.91.26 ।।

upakāryā mahārhāśca pārthivānāṃ mahaujasām | sānugānāṃ naraśreṣṭho vyādideśa mahābalaḥ || 7.91.26 ||

The mighty Rama, the best among men, commanded that splendid temporary dwellings be arranged for the powerful kings and their retinues. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकनवतितमः सर्गः ।। 91 ।। Thus ends the ninety-first sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.