Uttara Kanda, Sarga 94

तौ रजन्यां प्रभातायां स्नातौ हुतहुताशनौ । यथोक्तमृषिणा पूर्वं सर्वं तत्रोपगायताम् ।। 7.94.1 ।।

tau rajanyāṃ prabhātāyāṃ snātau hutahutāśanau | yathoktamṛṣiṇā pūrvaṃ sarvaṃ tatropagāyatām || 7.94.1 ||

When the night dawned, after bathing and performing their fire oblations, the two boys sang the entire Ramayana as previously narrated by the sage Valmiki in that assembly.

तां स शुश्राव काकुत्स्थः पूर्वाचार्यविजिर्मिताम् । अपूर्वां पाठ्यजातिं च गेयेन समलङ्कृताम् ।। 7.94.2 ।।

tāṃ sa śuśrāva kākutsthaḥ pūrvācāryavijirmitām | apūrvāṃ pāṭhyajātiṃ ca geyena samalaṅkṛtām || 7.94.2 ||

Rama heard that unique form of recitation, composed by the ancient preceptor Valmiki, which was embellished with melody.

प्रमाणैर्बहुभिर्बद्धां तन्त्रीलयसमन्विताम् । बालाभ्यां राघवः श्रुत्वा कौतूहलपरो ऽभवत् ।। 7.94.3 ।।

pramāṇairbahubhirbaddhāṃ tantrīlayasamanvitām | bālābhyāṃ rāghavaḥ śrutvā kautūhalaparo 'bhavat || 7.94.3 ||

Having heard the recitation, which was structured with many meters and accompanied by string instruments and rhythm, from the two boys, Rama became extremely curious.

अथ कर्मान्तरे राजा समाहूय महामुनीन् । पार्थिवांश्च नरव्याघ्रः पण्डितान्नैगमांस्तथा ।। 7.94.4 ।।

atha karmāntare rājā samāhūya mahāmunīn | pārthivāṃśca naravyāghraḥ paṇḍitānnaigamāṃstathā || 7.94.4 ||

Then, during a break in the ceremony, King Rama, the tiger among men, summoned great sages, other kings, scholars, and citizens.

पौराणिकाञ्छब्दविदो ये च वृद्धा द्विजातयः । स्वराणां लक्षणज्ञांश्च उत्सुकान्द्विजसत्तमान् ।। 7.94.5 ।।

paurāṇikāñchabdavido ye ca vṛddhā dvijātayaḥ | svarāṇāṃ lakṣaṇajñāṃśca utsukāndvijasattamān || 7.94.5 ||

He also summoned those learned in Puranas, grammarians, elderly Brahmins, experts in musical notes, and other eager, excellent Brahmins.

लक्षणज्ञांश्च गान्धर्वान्नैगमांश्च विशेषतः । पादाक्षरसमासज्ञांश्छन्दःसु परिनिष्ठितान् ।। 7.94.6 ।।

lakṣaṇajñāṃśca gāndharvānnaigamāṃśca viśeṣataḥ | pādākṣarasamāsajñāṃśchandaḥsu pariniṣṭhitān || 7.94.6 ||

He gathered those who were knowledgeable in characteristics, skilled in music, especially proficient in the Vedas, and well-versed in the intricacies of prosody, including feet, syllables, and compounds.

कलामात्राविशेषज्ञाञ्ज्योतिषे च परं गतान् । क्रियाकल्पविदश्चैव तथा कार्यविदो जनान् ।। 7.94.7 ।।

kalāmātrāviśeṣajñāñjyotiṣe ca paraṃ gatān | kriyākalpavidaścaiva tathā kāryavido janān || 7.94.7 ||

He also gathered people who were experts in the nuances of arts and measures, highly proficient in astronomy, knowledgeable in rituals and procedures, and skilled in practical affairs.

भाषाज्ञानिङ्गितज्ञांश्च नैगमांश्चाप्यशेषतः । हेतूपचारकुशलान् वचने चापि हैतुकान् ।। 7.94.8 ।।

bhāṣājñāniṅgitajñāṃśca naigamāṃścāpyaśeṣataḥ | hetūpacārakuśalān vacane cāpi haitukān || 7.94.8 ||

He assembled those who were proficient in languages, understood gestures, were completely knowledgeable in the Vedas, skilled in reasoning and its application, and adept logicians in speech.

छन्दोविदः पुराणज्ञान्वैदिकान्द्विजसत्तमान् । चित्रज्ञान्वृत्तसूत्रज्ञान्गीतनृत्यविशारदान् ।। 7.94.9 ।।

chandovidaḥ purāṇajñānvaidikāndvijasattamān | citrajñānvṛttasūtrajñāngītanṛtyaviśāradān || 7.94.9 ||

He gathered the best among Brahmins who were experts in prosody, Puranas, and Vedas, along with those skilled in painting, conduct, aphorisms, singing, and dancing.

शास्त्रज्ञान्नीतिनिपुणान्वेदान्तार्थप्रबोधकान् । एतान्सर्वान्समानीय गातारौ समवेशयत् ।। 7.94.10 ।।

śāstrajñānnītinipuṇānvedāntārthaprabodhakān | etānsarvānsamānīya gātārau samaveśayat || 7.94.10 ||

Having assembled all these individuals who were knowledgeable in scriptures, skilled in ethics, and capable of explaining the meaning of Vedanta, he then seated the two singers (Lava and Kusha) among them.

दृष्ट्वा मुनिगणाः सर्वे पार्थिवाश्च महौजसः । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां राजानं गायकौ च तौ ।। 7.94.11 ।।

dṛṣṭvā munigaṇāḥ sarve pārthivāśca mahaujasaḥ | pibanta iva cakṣurbhyāṃ rājānaṃ gāyakau ca tau || 7.94.11 ||

All the sages and mighty kings, having seen the king and those two singers, were as if drinking them in with their eyes.

ऊचुः परस्परं चेदं सर्व एव समन्ततः । उभौ रामस्य सदृशौ बिम्बाद्बिम्बमिवोत्थितौ ।। 7.94.12 ।।

ūcuḥ parasparaṃ cedaṃ sarva eva samantataḥ | ubhau rāmasya sadṛśau bimbādbimbamivotthitau || 7.94.12 ||

All of them, from all sides, said this to each other: "Both are similar to Rama, as if one image has arisen from another."

जटिलौ यदि न स्यातां न वल्कलधरौ यदि । विशेषं नाधिगच्छामो गायतो राघवस्य च ।। 7.94.13 ।।

jaṭilau yadi na syātāṃ na valkaladharau yadi | viśeṣaṃ nādhigacchāmo gāyato rāghavasya ca || 7.94.13 ||

If they did not have matted hair and were not wearing bark garments, we would not perceive any difference between the two singers and Rama.

तेषां संवदतामेवं श्रोतऽणां हर्षवर्धनम् । गेयं प्रचक्रतुस्तत्र तावुभौ मुनिदारकौ ।। 7.94.14 ।।

teṣāṃ saṃvadatāmevaṃ śrota'ṇāṃ harṣavardhanam | geyaṃ pracakratustatra tāvubhau munidārakau || 7.94.14 ||

While they were conversing thus, those two sons of the sage performed the song there, which increased the joy of the listeners.

ततः प्रवृत्तं मधुरं गान्धर्वमतिमानुषम् । न च तृप्तिं ययुः सर्वे श्रोतारो गानसम्पदा ।। 7.94.15 ।।

tataḥ pravṛttaṃ madhuraṃ gāndharvamatimānuṣam | na ca tṛptiṃ yayuḥ sarve śrotāro gānasampadā || 7.94.15 ||

Then commenced the sweet, superhuman Gandharva music, and all the listeners could not get enough of the richness of the song.

प्रवृत्तमादितः पूर्वसर्गं नारददर्शितम् । ततः प्रभृति सर्गांश्च यावद्विंशत्यगायताम् ।। 7.94.16 ।।

pravṛttamāditaḥ pūrvasargaṃ nāradadarśitam | tataḥ prabhṛti sargāṃśca yāvadviṃśatyagāyatām || 7.94.16 ||

They sang the Ramayana, starting from the first canto revealed by Narada, and continued singing up to the twentieth canto.

ततो ऽपराह्णसमये राघवः समभाषत । श्रुत्वा विंशतिसर्गांस्तान्भ्रातरं भ्रातृवत्सलः ।। 7.94.17 ।।

tato 'parāhṇasamaye rāghavaḥ samabhāṣata | śrutvā viṃśatisargāṃstānbhrātaraṃ bhrātṛvatsalaḥ || 7.94.17 ||

After hearing those twenty cantos, Rama, who was affectionate towards his brothers, spoke to his brother in the afternoon.

अष्टादशसहस्राणि सुवर्णस्य महात्मनोः । प्रयच्छ शीघ्रं काकुत्स्थ यदन्यदभिकाङ्क्षितम् । ददौ शीघ्रं स काकुत्स्थो बालयोर्वै पृथक्पृथक् ।। 7.94.18 ।।

aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi suvarṇasya mahātmanoḥ | prayaccha śīghraṃ kākutstha yadanyadabhikāṅkṣitam | dadau śīghraṃ sa kākutstho bālayorvai pṛthakpṛthak || 7.94.18 ||

Rama instructed his brother, "O Kakutstha, quickly give eighteen thousand gold coins to these great-souled ones, and whatever else they desire," and his brother promptly gave the two boys their shares separately.

दीयमानं सुवर्णं तु नागृह्णीतां कुशीलवौ । ऊचतुश्च महात्मानौ किमनेनेति विस्मितौ ।। 7.94.19 ।।

dīyamānaṃ suvarṇaṃ tu nāgṛhṇītāṃ kuśīlavau | ūcatuśca mahātmānau kimaneneti vismitau || 7.94.19 ||

But Kusha and Lava, the two great-souled boys, did not accept the gold being offered, and astonished, they asked, "What shall we do with this?"

वन्येन फलमूलेन निरतौ वनवासिनौ । सुवर्णेन हिरण्येन किं करिष्यावहे वने ।। 7.94.20 ।।

vanyena phalamūlena niratau vanavāsinau | suvarṇena hiraṇyena kiṃ kariṣyāvahe vane || 7.94.20 ||

As forest dwellers content with forest produce, fruits, and roots, they questioned what they would do with gold in the forest.

तथा तयोः प्रब्रुवतोः कौतूहलसमन्विताः । श्रोतारश्चैव रामश्च सर्व एव सुविस्मिताः ।। 7.94.21 ।।

tathā tayoḥ prabruvatoḥ kautūhalasamanvitāḥ | śrotāraścaiva rāmaśca sarva eva suvismitāḥ || 7.94.21 ||

As those two (Lava and Kusha) recited, all the listeners, including Rama, were filled with curiosity and greatly astonished.

तस्य चैवागमं रामः काव्यस्य श्रोतुमुत्सुकः । पप्रच्छ तौ महातेजास्तावुभौ मुनिदारकौ ।। 7.94.22 ।।

tasya caivāgamaṃ rāmaḥ kāvyasya śrotumutsukaḥ | papraccha tau mahātejāstāvubhau munidārakau || 7.94.22 ||

The greatly effulgent Rama, eager to hear about the origin of that poem, questioned both those young ascetics.

किम्प्रमाणमिदं काव्यं का प्रतिष्ठा महात्मनः । कर्ता काव्यस्य महतः क्व चासौ मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। 7.94.23 ।।

kimpramāṇamidaṃ kāvyaṃ kā pratiṣṭhā mahātmanaḥ | kartā kāvyasya mahataḥ kva cāsau munipuṅgavaḥ || 7.94.23 ||

Rama inquired about the length of this poem, the fame of its great author, and the whereabouts of that foremost sage who composed this great work.

पृच्छन्तं राघवं वाक्यमूचतुर्मुनिदारकौ ।। 7.94.24 ।।

pṛcchantaṃ rāghavaṃ vākyamūcaturmunidārakau || 7.94.24 ||

The sons of the sage then spoke words to Rama, who was questioning them.

वाल्मीकिर्भगवान्कर्ता सम्प्राप्तो यज्ञसंविधम् । येनेदं चरितं तुभ्यमशेषं सम्प्रदर्शितम् ।। 7.94.25 ।।

vālmīkirbhagavānkartā samprāpto yajñasaṃvidham | yenedaṃ caritaṃ tubhyamaśeṣaṃ sampradarśitam || 7.94.25 ||

The revered Valmiki, the author, has arrived at this sacrificial assembly, and it is by him that this entire story has been revealed to you.

सन्निबद्धं हि श्लोकानां चतुर्विशत्सहस्रकम् । उपाख्यानशतं चैव भार्गवेण तपस्विना ।। 7.94.26 ।।

sannibaddhaṃ hi ślokānāṃ caturviśatsahasrakam | upākhyānaśataṃ caiva bhārgaveṇa tapasvinā || 7.94.26 ||

This epic, consisting of twenty-four thousand verses and a hundred sub-stories, was indeed composed by the ascetic Valmiki.

आदिप्रभृति वै राजन्पञ्चसर्गशतानि च । काण्डानि षट् कृतानीह सोत्तराणि महात्मना । कृतानि गुरुणास्माकमृषिणा चरितं तव ।। 7.94.27 ।।

ādiprabhṛti vai rājanpañcasargaśatāni ca | kāṇḍāni ṣaṭ kṛtānīha sottarāṇi mahātmanā | kṛtāni guruṇāsmākamṛṣiṇā caritaṃ tava || 7.94.27 ||

O King, from the very beginning, this work, comprising five hundred sargas and six sections including the Uttara Kanda, has been composed here by our great sage and preceptor, detailing your deeds.

प्रतिष्ठा ऽ ऽजीवितं यावत्तावत्सर्वस्य वर्तते ।। 7.94.28 ।।

pratiṣṭhā ' 'jīvitaṃ yāvattāvatsarvasya vartate || 7.94.28 ||

As long as life exists, so long will the fame of this work endure for everyone.

सोत्तराणि महात्मना । यदि बुद्धिः कृता राजञ्छ्रवणाय महारथ । कर्मान्तरे क्षणीभूतस्तच्छृणुष्व सहानुजः ।। 7.94.29 ।।

sottarāṇi mahātmanā | yadi buddhiḥ kṛtā rājañchravaṇāya mahāratha | karmāntare kṣaṇībhūtastacchṛṇuṣva sahānujaḥ || 7.94.29 ||

O King, O great warrior, if you have formed the intention to listen to this work, including the Uttara Kanda, composed by the great soul, then find a moment during your work interval and listen to it with your younger brothers.

बाढमित्यब्रवीद्रामस्तौ चानुज्ञाप्य राघवम् । प्रहृष्टौ जग्मतुः स्थानं यत्रास्ते मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। 7.94.30 ।।

bāḍhamityabravīdrāmastau cānujñāpya rāghavam | prahṛṣṭau jagmatuḥ sthānaṃ yatrāste munipuṅgavaḥ || 7.94.30 ||

Rama said, "Certainly," and those two (Kusha and Lava), having taken leave from Rama, went delighted to the place where the best of sages (Valmiki) resided.

रामो ऽपि मुनिभिः सार्धं पार्थिवैश्च महात्मभिः । श्रुत्वा तद्गीतिमाधुर्यं कर्मशालामुपागमत् ।। 7.94.31 ।।

rāmo 'pi munibhiḥ sārdhaṃ pārthivaiśca mahātmabhiḥ | śrutvā tadgītimādhuryaṃ karmaśālāmupāgamat || 7.94.31 ||

Rama, accompanied by great-souled sages and kings, approached the sacrificial hall after hearing the sweetness of their song.

शुश्राव तत्ताललयोपपन्नं सर्गान्वितं स स्वरशब्दयुक्तम् । तन्त्रीलयव्यञ्जनयोगयुक्तं कुशीलवाभ्यां परिगीयमानम् ।। 7.94.32 ।।

śuśrāva tattālalayopapannaṃ sargānvitaṃ sa svaraśabdayuktam | tantrīlayavyañjanayogayuktaṃ kuśīlavābhyāṃ parigīyamānam || 7.94.32 ||

He heard that song, which was endowed with rhythm and tempo, contained cantos, was rich in notes and words, and harmonized with string instruments and clear articulation, being sung by Kusha and Lava. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुर्नवतितमः सर्गः ।। 94 ।। Thus ends the ninety-fourth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.