Uttara Kanda — Sarga 62

तथोक्ते तानृषीरामः प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः। किमाहारः किमाचारो लवणः क्व च वर्तते॥

Thus accosted (by the sages), Rāma answered them with joined hands: "What does he live on? What are his ways? And where does Lavana live?"

Uttara Kanda 62.1

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषयः सर्व एव ते। ततो निवेदयामासुर्लवणो ववृधे यथा॥

Hearing Räghava's words, the sages informed him of the way in which Lavana increased in power.

Uttara Kanda 62.2

आहारः सर्वसत्त्वानि विशेषेण च तापसाः। आचारो रौद्रता नित्यं वासो मधुवने तथा॥

His food is every creature specially ascetics; his manner of life is regulated by ferocity and his constant home is Madhuvana.

Uttara Kanda 62.3

हत्वा बहुसहस्राणि सिंहव्याघ्रमृगाण्डनान्। मानुषांश्चैव कुरुते नित्यमाहारमाह्निकम्॥

Slaying constantly thousands on thousands of lions and tigers and deer, and birds and human beings, he provides his daily food (with their flesh.)

Uttara Kanda 62.4

ततोऽन्तराणि सत्त्वानि खादते स महाबलः। संहारे समनुप्राप्ते व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः॥

And like the Destroyer on the occasion of the universal dissolution, that one possessed of gigantic strength feeds on other creatures as well.

Uttara Kanda 62.5

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यमुवाच स महामुनीन्। घातयिष्यामि तद्रक्षो व्यपगच्छतु वो भयम्॥

Hearing this, Rāghava spoke to the mighty ascetics: "I will slay that Raksasa. Let your depart."

Uttara Kanda 62.6

प्रतिज्ञाय तदा तेषां मुनीनामुग्रतेजसाम्। स भ्रातृन्सहितान्सर्वानुवाच रघुनन्दनः।७।।

Having thus bound himself with that promise to the ascetics of fierce energy, Raghu's son along with his brothers spoke.

Uttara Kanda 62.7

को हन्ता लवणं वीरः कस्यांशः स विधीयताम्। भरतस्य महाबाहोः शत्रुघ्नस्य च धीमतः॥

What hero shall slay Lavana? Do you decide this. On whom shall devolve this duty? Whether the mighty armed Bharata or the intelligent Śatrughna shall (do this work?).

Uttara Kanda 62.8

राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु भरतो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ममांशः स विधीयताम्।।

Thus addressed by Raghava Bharata remarked: "I will slay this. Let this task be entrusted to me."

Uttara Kanda 62.9

भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा धैर्यशौर्यसमन्वितम्। लक्ष्मणावरजस्तस्थौ हित्वा सौवर्णमासनम्॥ शत्रुघ्नस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रणिपत्य नराधिपम्। कृतकर्मा महाबाहुर्मध्यमो रघुनन्दन॥ आर्येण हि पुरा शून्या त्वयोध्या परिपालिता। संतापं हृदये कृत्वा आर्यस्यागमनं प्रति॥

Hearing Bharata's speech instinct with fortitude and valour, the younger brother of Lakş maņa stood up, leaving his golden seat. And Śatrughna, saluting the king represented: “The mighty-armed second son of Raghu has already achieved a grand work: he formerly governed Ayodhyā empty of the noble one,* bearing in his heart the grief connected with his return. *Rama.

Uttara Kanda 62.10

दुःखानि च बहूनीह अनुभूतानि पार्थिव। शयानो दुःखशय्यासु नन्दिग्रामे महायशाः॥ फलमूलाशनो भूत्वा जटी चीरधरस्तथा।

Undergoing many a hardship, o king, that illustrious one passed his days, lying down on a bed of sorrow, and living on fruits and roots, and wearing rags.

Uttara Kanda 62.11

अनुभूयेदृशं दुःखमेष राघवनन्दनः॥ प्रेष्ये मयि स्थिते राजन्न भूयः क्लेशमाप्नुयात्।

Having suffered such misery, Raghu's son should not be suffered to undergo trouble, while, O king I his servant is by.

Uttara Kanda 62.12

तथा ब्रुवति शत्रुघ्ने राघवः पुनरब्रवीत्॥ एवं भवतु काकुत्स्थ क्रियतां मम शासनम्। राज्ये त्वामभिषेक्ष्यामि मधोस्तु नगरे शुभे॥ निवेशय महाबाहो भरतं यद्यवेक्षसे। शूरस्त्वं कृतविद्यश्च समर्थश्च निवेशने॥ नगरं यमुनाजुष्टं तथा जनपदाशुभान्। यो हि वंशं समुत्पाद्य पार्थिवस्य निवेशने॥ न विधत्ते नृपं तत्र नरकं स हि गच्छति।

On Satrughna saying this, Raghava again said: Let this be so. Do you do my bidding. I shall install you on the graceful city of Madhu; or if you wish without and entrust Bharata with this task, O long-armed Heroic, and accomplished, you are combatant to found a city on the Yamună as well as flourishing provinces. He that, having people's dominion, does not flourish it with a king. Go to hell. one.

Uttara Kanda 62.13

स त्वं हत्वा मधुसुतं लवणं पापनिश्चयम्॥ राज्यं प्रशाधि धर्मेण वाक्यं मे यद्यवेक्षसे। उत्तरं च न वक्तव्यं शूर वाक्यान्तरे मम॥ बालेन पूर्वजस्याज्ञा कर्तव्या नात्र संशयः। अभिषेकं च काकुत्स्थ प्रतीच्छस्व ममोद्यतम्। वसिष्ठप्रमुखैविप्रैर्विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम्॥

So if you accept my words, then slaying Madhu's son, the sinful Lavana, rule the kingdom righteously. O hero, you must say anything after what I have spoken. Without doubt, a youthful younger brother must obey the injunctions of his elder brother. Do you, o Kākutstha, accept the installation which I confer on the, precluded by the prescribed religious formulae uttered by Vipras headed by Vasiştha."

Uttara Kanda 62.14