Uttara Kanda, Sarga 98

रसातलं प्रविष्टायां वैदेह्यां सर्ववानराः । चुक्रुशुः साधु साध्वीति मुनयो रामसन्निधौ ।। 7.98.1 ।।

rasātalaṃ praviṣṭāyāṃ vaidehyāṃ sarvavānarāḥ | cukruśuḥ sādhu sādhvīti munayo rāmasannidhau || 7.98.1 ||

When Vaidehi entered the netherworld, all the monkeys and sages present before Rama cried out "Excellent! Excellent!"

दण्डकाष्ठमवष्टभ्य बाष्पव्याकुलितेक्षणः । अवाक्छिरा दीनमना रामो ह्यासीत्सुदुःखितः ।। 7.98.2 ।।

daṇḍakāṣṭhamavaṣṭabhya bāṣpavyākulitekṣaṇaḥ | avākchirā dīnamanā rāmo hyāsītsuduḥkhitaḥ || 7.98.2 ||

Leaning upon a staff, with his eyes agitated by tears, his head bowed down, and his mind filled with sorrow, Rama was indeed extremely distressed.

स रुदित्वा चिरं कालं बहुशो बाष्पमुत्सृजन् । क्रोधशोकसमाविष्टो रामो वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 7.98.3 ।।

sa ruditvā ciraṃ kālaṃ bahuśo bāṣpamutsṛjan | krodhaśokasamāviṣṭo rāmo vacanamabravīt || 7.98.3 ||

Having wept for a long time and shedding many tears, Rama, overcome by both anger and sorrow, then spoke these words.

अभूतपूर्वं शोकं मे मनः स्प्रष्टुमिवेच्छति । पश्यतो मे यथा नष्टा सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी ।। 7.98.4 ।।

abhūtapūrvaṃ śokaṃ me manaḥ spraṣṭumivecchati | paśyato me yathā naṣṭā sītā śrīriva rūpiṇī || 7.98.4 ||

My mind seems to desire an unprecedented sorrow, as Sita, who was like the embodied goddess of fortune, disappeared right before my eyes.

सा ऽदर्शनं पुरा सीता लङ्कापारे महोदधेः । ततश्चापि मयानीता किं पुनर्वसुधातलात् ।। 7.98.5 ।।

sā 'darśanaṃ purā sītā laṅkāpāre mahodadheḥ | tataścāpi mayānītā kiṃ punarvasudhātalāt || 7.98.5 ||

Formerly, Sita disappeared on the other side of Lanka, beyond the great ocean, and even from there I brought her back; how much more difficult will it be to retrieve her from the surface of the earth now?

वसुधे देवि भवति सीता निर्यात्यतां मम । दर्शयिष्यामि वा रोषं यथा मामवगच्छसि ।। 7.98.6 ।।

vasudhe devi bhavati sītā niryātyatāṃ mama | darśayiṣyāmi vā roṣaṃ yathā māmavagacchasi || 7.98.6 ||

O Goddess Earth, bring forth Sita to me, or else I will show you my wrath so that you understand who I am.

कामं श्वश्रूर्ममैव त्वं त्वत्सकाशाद्धि मैथिली । कर्षता हलहस्तेन जनकेनोद्धृता पुरा ।। 7.98.7 ।।

kāmaṃ śvaśrūrmamaiva tvaṃ tvatsakāśāddhi maithilī | karṣatā halahastena janakenoddhṛtā purā || 7.98.7 ||

Indeed, you are my mother-in-law, for Maithili was certainly taken out from you by Janaka, who was ploughing with a plough in hand, long ago.

तस्मान्निर्यात्यतां सीता विवरं वा प्रयच्छ मे । पाताले नाकपृष्ठे वा वसेयं सहितस्तया ।। 7.98.8 ।।

tasmānniryātyatāṃ sītā vivaraṃ vā prayaccha me | pātāle nākapṛṣṭhe vā vaseyaṃ sahitastayā || 7.98.8 ||

Therefore, bring forth Sita, or grant me an opening, so that I may dwell with her either in the netherworld or on the surface of heaven.

आनय त्वं हि तां सीतां मत्तो ऽहं मैथिलीकृते । न मे दास्यसि चेत्सीतां यथारूपां महीतले ।। 7.98.9 ।।

ānaya tvaṃ hi tāṃ sītāṃ matto 'haṃ maithilīkṛte | na me dāsyasi cetsītāṃ yathārūpāṃ mahītale || 7.98.9 ||

You must indeed bring that Sita, as I am maddened for Maithili's sake; if you do not give Sita to me in her true form on the surface of the earth, then...

सपर्वतवनां कृत्स्नां विधमिष्यामि ते स्थितम् । नाशयिष्याम्यहं भूमिं सर्वमापो भवत्विह ।। 7.98.10 ।।

saparvatavanāṃ kṛtsnāṃ vidhamiṣyāmi te sthitam | nāśayiṣyāmyahaṃ bhūmiṃ sarvamāpo bhavatviha || 7.98.10 ||

I will destroy your entire existence, including all mountains and forests, I will annihilate the earth, and let everything here become water.

एवं ब्रुवाणे काकुत्स्थे क्रोधशोकसमन्विते । ब्रह्मा सुरगणैः सार्धमुवाच रघुनन्दनम् ।। 7.98.11 ।।

evaṃ bruvāṇe kākutsthe krodhaśokasamanvite | brahmā suragaṇaiḥ sārdhamuvāca raghunandanam || 7.98.11 ||

While Rama, filled with anger and sorrow, was speaking thus, Brahma, accompanied by the hosts of gods, addressed him.

राम राम न सन्तापं कर्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत । स्मर त्वं पूर्वकं भावं मन्त्रं चामित्रकर्शन ।। 7.98.12 ।।

rāma rāma na santāpaṃ kartumarhasi suvrata | smara tvaṃ pūrvakaṃ bhāvaṃ mantraṃ cāmitrakarśana || 7.98.12 ||

O virtuous Rama, you should not grieve; O destroyer of enemies, remember your ancient divine nature and the sacred incantation.

न खलु त्वां महाबाहो स्मारयेयमनुत्तमम् । इमं मुहूर्तं दुर्धर्ष स्मर त्वं जन्म वैष्णवम् ।। 7.98.13 ।।

na khalu tvāṃ mahābāho smārayeyamanuttamam | imaṃ muhūrtaṃ durdharṣa smara tvaṃ janma vaiṣṇavam || 7.98.13 ||

O mighty-armed and unconquerable one, I would indeed remind you of your unsurpassed divine nature; at this very moment, remember your divine birth as Vishnu.

सीता हि विमला साध्वी तव पूर्वपरायणा । नागलोकं सुखं प्रायात्त्वदाश्रयतपोबलात् ।। 7.98.14 ।।

sītā hi vimalā sādhvī tava pūrvaparāyaṇā | nāgalokaṃ sukhaṃ prāyāttvadāśrayatapobalāt || 7.98.14 ||

Indeed, Sita, pure, virtuous, and solely devoted to you from the beginning, happily went to the Naga world by the power of her penance and devotion to you.

स्वर्गे ते सङ्गमो भूयो भविष्यति न संशयः । अस्यास्तु परिषन्मध्ये यद्ब्रवीमि निबोध तत् ।। 7.98.15 ।।

svarge te saṅgamo bhūyo bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | asyāstu pariṣanmadhye yadbravīmi nibodha tat || 7.98.15 ||

There is no doubt that your union with her will happen again in heaven; but understand what I am about to tell you in the midst of this assembly.

एतदेव हि काव्यं ते काव्यानामुत्तमं श्रुतम् । सर्वं विस्तरतो राम व्याख्यास्यति न संशयः ।। 7.98.16 ।।

etadeva hi kāvyaṃ te kāvyānāmuttamaṃ śrutam | sarvaṃ vistarato rāma vyākhyāsyati na saṃśayaḥ || 7.98.16 ||

This poem, which you have heard, is indeed the best among all poems, and Rama will explain everything in detail without a doubt.

जन्मप्रभृति ते वीर सुखदुःखोपसेवनम् । भविष्यदुत्तरं चेह सर्वं वाल्मीकिना कृतम् ।। 7.98.17 ।।

janmaprabhṛti te vīra sukhaduḥkhopasevanam | bhaviṣyaduttaraṃ ceha sarvaṃ vālmīkinā kṛtam || 7.98.17 ||

O hero, Valmiki has composed everything, from your birth and the experiences of joy and sorrow, to the future events that will unfold.

आदिकाव्यमिदं राम त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । नह्यन्यो ऽर्हति काव्यानां यशोभाग्राघवादृते ।। 7.98.18 ।।

ādikāvyamidaṃ rāma tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | nahyanyo 'rhati kāvyānāṃ yaśobhāgrāghavādṛte || 7.98.18 ||

O Rama, this primeval poem is entirely founded upon you, and indeed, no one else but you, O Raghava, deserves the glory among poems.

श्रुतं ते पूर्वमेतद्धि मया सर्वं सुरैः सह । दिव्यमद्भुतरूपं च सत्यवाक्यमनावृतम् ।। 7.98.19 ।।

śrutaṃ te pūrvametaddhi mayā sarvaṃ suraiḥ saha | divyamadbhutarūpaṃ ca satyavākyamanāvṛtam || 7.98.19 ||

Indeed, I have previously heard all of this, which is divine, of wondrous form, and contains unconcealed truthful words, along with the gods.

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल धर्मेण सुसमाहितः । शेषं भविष्यं काकुत्स्थ काव्यं रामायणं शृणु ।। 7.98.20 ।।

sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla dharmeṇa susamāhitaḥ | śeṣaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ kākutstha kāvyaṃ rāmāyaṇaṃ śṛṇu || 7.98.20 ||

Therefore, O best among men, O Kakutstha, being well-composed and attentive to righteousness, listen to the remaining future events of the Ramayana poem.

उत्तरं नाम काव्यस्य शेषमत्र महायशः । तच्छृणुष्व महातेज ऋषिभिः सार्धमुत्तमम् ।। 7.98.21 ।।

uttaraṃ nāma kāvyasya śeṣamatra mahāyaśaḥ | tacchṛṇuṣva mahāteja ṛṣibhiḥ sārdhamuttamam || 7.98.21 ||

O greatly renowned and effulgent Rama, listen here to this excellent concluding part of the epic poem, named Uttara, along with the sages.

न खल्वन्येन काकुत्स्थ श्रोतव्यमिदमुत्तमम् । परमम् ऋषिणा वीर त्वयैव रघुनन्दन ।। 7.98.22 ।।

na khalvanyena kākutstha śrotavyamidamuttamam | paramam ṛṣiṇā vīra tvayaiva raghunandana || 7.98.22 ||

Indeed, O Kakutstha, O hero, O delight of the Raghus, this excellent and supreme work, composed by the sage, is not to be heard by anyone else, but only by you.

एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं ब्रह्मा त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । जगाम त्रिदिवं देवो देवैः सह सबान्धवैः ।। 7.98.23 ।।

etāvaduktvā vacanaṃ brahmā tribhuvaneśvaraḥ | jagāma tridivaṃ devo devaiḥ saha sabāndhavaiḥ || 7.98.23 ||

Having spoken thus, Brahma, the lord of the three worlds, the god, went to heaven along with the other gods and his associates.

ये च तत्र महात्मान ऋषयो ब्राह्मलौकिकाः । ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञाता न्यवर्तन्त महौजसः । उत्तरं श्रोतुमनसो भविष्यं यच्च राघवे ।। 7.98.24 ।।

ye ca tatra mahātmāna ṛṣayo brāhmalaukikāḥ | brahmaṇā samanujñātā nyavartanta mahaujasaḥ | uttaraṃ śrotumanaso bhaviṣyaṃ yacca rāghave || 7.98.24 ||

And those great-souled, greatly powerful sages from Brahma's world, who were desirous to hear the Uttara Kanda and the future events concerning Rama, returned after being permitted by Brahma.

ततो रामः शुभां वाणीं देवदेवस्य भाषिताम् । श्रुत्वा परमतेजस्वी वाल्मीकिमिदमब्रवीत् ।। 7.98.25 ।।

tato rāmaḥ śubhāṃ vāṇīṃ devadevasya bhāṣitām | śrutvā paramatejasvī vālmīkimidamabravīt || 7.98.25 ||

Then, the most effulgent Rama, having heard the auspicious words spoken by Brahma, the god of gods, said this to Valmiki.

भगवन् श्रोतुमनस ऋषयो ब्राह्मलौकिकाः । भविष्यदुत्तरं यन्मे श्वोभूते सम्प्रवर्तताम् ।। 7.98.26 ।।

bhagavan śrotumanasa ṛṣayo brāhmalaukikāḥ | bhaviṣyaduttaraṃ yanme śvobhūte sampravartatām || 7.98.26 ||

Valmiki addresses the venerable sages from Brahma's realm, expressing his desire for the future, latter part of his Ramayana to be commenced on the following day for them to hear.

एवं विनिश्चयं कृत्वा सम्प्रगृह्य कुशीलवौ । तं जनौघं विसृज्याथ पर्णशालामुपागमत् । तामेव शोचतः सीतां सा व्यतीयाय शर्वरी ।। 7.98.27 ।।

evaṃ viniścayaṃ kṛtvā sampragṛhya kuśīlavau | taṃ janaughaṃ visṛjyātha parṇaśālāmupāgamat | tāmeva śocataḥ sītāṃ sā vyatīyāya śarvarī || 7.98.27 ||

Having made this decision and accepted Kusha and Lava, Rama dismissed the crowd and returned to his hermitage, where that night passed as he grieved for Sita. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टनवतितमः सर्गः ।। 98 ।। Thus ends the ninety-eighth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.