Bhagavatapurana 9.10: atha daśamo'dhyāyaḥ

9.10.1

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
khaṭvāṅgāddīrghabāhuśca raghustasmāt pṛthuśravāḥ /
ajastato mahārājastasmāddaśaratho 'bhavat //

Śrī Śuka said: / From Khaṭvāṅga came Dīrghabāhu, and from him Raghu of wide renown. / From him came the great king Aja, and from him was born Daśaratha.

1. Sri Suka said:— Of Khatvanga was born Deerghabahu; his son was Raghu of extensive glory; and his son was the great king Aja, of whom Dasaratha was born.

9.10.2

tasyāpi bhagavān eṣa sākṣādbrahmamayo hariḥ /
aṃśāṃśena caturdhāgāt putratvaṃ prārthitaḥ suraiḥ /
rāmalakṣmaṇabharata śatrughnā iti saṃjñayā //

Besought by the gods, this very Lord Hari, composed of Brahman directly, / entered into sonship by an expansion of His portion fourfold, / bearing the names Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, and Śatrughna.

2. & 3. Entreated by the gods the glorious Hari, Perfect Brahman, directly became his son by His amsa of amsas in four forms, under the names of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna and his work and deeds (history), O king, are listened to, and described, by sages who have realised the truth; the (glorious) history of Sita's Lord must have been often listened to by thee also.

9.10.3

tasyānucaritaṃ rājannṛṣibhistattvadarśibhiḥ /
śrutaṃ hi varṇitaṃ bhūri tvayā sītāpatermuhuḥ //

His deeds, O King, have been repeatedly heard by you, / thoroughly described by seers who see the truth, [the deeds] of Sītā's husband:

9.10.3.p1

gurvarthe tyaktarājyo vyacaradanuvanaṃ padmapadbhyāṃ priyāyāḥ $ pāṇisparśākṣamābhyāṃ mṛjitapatharujo yo harīndrānujābhyām &

He who, having abandoned the kingdom for his father's sake, wandered from forest to forest with lotus feet / tenderer than the touch of his beloved's hand, his road-weariness soothed by the monkey-king and his younger brother;

4. May that great ruler of Kosalas protect us, he who is the wild fire to the wicked and who for the sake of his father left the kingdom and wandered through the forest on foot so tender as not

to bear the touch of his beloved consort's hands, whose fatigue of the journey was soothed by Hanuman (Sugriva) and his own brother Lakshmana and who constructed a bridge across the sea that was terrified at a motion of his brows lifted in rage on the separation of his beloved one which came about on disfiguring (mutilating) Surpanakha.

9.10.4

vairūpyāc chūrpaṇakhyāḥ priyaviraharuṣāropitabhrūvijṛmbha % trastābdhirbaddhasetuḥ khaladavadahanaḥ kosalendro 'vatān naḥ //

He who, having bound the bridge across the sea which trembled at the play of His brows raised in wrath at the separation from His beloved caused by the disfigurement of Śūrpaṇakhā, was a forest fire to the wicked—may that Lord of Kosala protect us!

9.10.5

viśvāmitrādhvare yena mārīcādyā niśācarāḥ /
paśyato lakṣmaṇasyaiva hatā nairṛtapuṅgavāḥ //

By whom at Viśvāmitra's sacrifice Mārīca and other night-roaming fiends, / the foremost of the Rakṣases, were slain right before the eyes of Lakṣmaṇa;

5. In the course of Visvamitra's sacrifice Maricha and other great Rakshasas were beaten by him, as Lakshmana stood witnessing it.

9.10.5.p1

yo lokavīrasamitau dhanuraiśamugraṃ $ sītāsvayaṃvaragṛhe triśatopanītam &

Who, in the assembly of the world's heroes, in the hall of Sītā's bridegroom-choice, took up the formidable bow of Śiva brought by three hundred men,

6. In the midst of all the warriors that had assembled at the court arranged for the Svayamvara of Sita, he (Rama), like a sportful young elephant that breaks a stick of sugarcane, lifted the formidable Siva-given bow brought therein by three hundred men, strung it, drew it and broke it, O king, in the middle.

9.10.6

ādāya bālagajalīla ivekṣuyaṣṭiṃ % sajjyīkṛtaṃ nṛpa vikṛṣya babhañja madhye //

and, taking it as easily as a young elephant [takes] a stalk of sugarcane, / strung it, drew it, and broke it in the middle, O King;

9.10.6.p2

jitvānurūpaguṇaśīlavayo 'ṅgarūpāṃ $ sītābhidhāṃ śriyamurasyabhilabdhamānām &

having won [her who was] equal to Him in virtues, conduct, age, and bodily beauty, / named Sītā, the Goddess of Fortune who attained the honor of His breast,

7. Thus he won Sri Lakshmi herself (now called Sita) already honoured with a place on his bosom, who was most becoming him by virtue, character, age, person and beauty; and on the way (to Ayodhya) he humbled the overgrown pride of Parasurama who had thrice seven times swept off the earth the seed of Kshatriyas.

9.10.6.p3

jitvānurūpaguṇaśīlavayo 'ṅgarūpāṃ $ sītābhidhāṃ śriyamurasyabhilabdhamānām &

having won [her who was] equal to Him in virtues, conduct, age, and bodily beauty, / named Sītā, the Goddess of Fortune who attained the honor of His breast,

9.10.7

mārge vrajan bhṛgupatervyanayat prarūḍhaṃ % darpaṃ mahīmakṛta yastrirarājabījām //

on the road as He traveled, He subdued the deep-rooted pride of the lord of the Bhṛgus, / who had thrice cleared the earth of the seed of kings;

9.10.7.p2

yaḥ satyapāśaparivītapiturnideśaṃ $ straiṇasya cāpi śirasā jagṛhe sabhāryaḥ &

Who, together with His wife, received upon His head the command of His father, / who was bound by the noose of truth and under the sway of a woman,

8. He with his head (i.e., in perfect submissiveness) accepted the command of his father who, though under the power of the woman, was yet bound by the cords of truthfulness; and having abandoned the kingdom, wealth, the beloved ones, friend, the dwelling (place) he with his queen went to the forest like a Yogin who, free of all attachments, departs from life.

9.10.7.p3

yaḥ satyapāśaparivītapiturnideśaṃ $ straiṇasya cāpi śirasā jagṛhe sabhāryaḥ &

Who, together with His wife, received upon His head the command of His father, / who was bound by the noose of truth and under the sway of a woman,

9.10.8

rājyaṃ śriyaṃ praṇayinaḥ suhṛdo nivāsaṃ % tyaktvā yayau vanamasūn iva muktasaṅgaḥ //

and giving up kingdom, wealth, dear ones, friends, and home, / went to the forest like one free of attachment casting off his vital breaths;

9.10.8.p2

rakṣaḥsvasurvyakṛta rūpamaśuddhabuddhes $ tasyāḥ kharatriśiradūṣaṇamukhyabandhūn &

He disfigured the form of the Rakṣasa's sister, whose mind was impure, / and her principal kinsmen Khara, Triśiras, and Dūṣaṇa,

9. He mutilated the features of the sister of the wicked-hearted Rakshasa and with an irresistible bow in his hand he slew the fourteen thousands of her relations headed by Khara, Trisiras and Dushana and went about living a hard life.

9.10.8.p3

rakṣaḥsvasurvyakṛta rūpamaśuddhabuddhes $ tasyāḥ kharatriśiradūṣaṇamukhyabandhūn &

He disfigured the form of the Rakṣasa's sister, whose mind was impure, / and her principal kinsmen Khara, Triśiras, and Dūṣaṇa,

9.10.9

jaghne caturdaśasahasramapāraṇīya % kodaṇḍapāṇiraṭamāna uvāsa kṛcchram //

and He slew fourteen thousand [demons], and wandering with His bow in hand, / invincible, He endured hardship;

9.10.9.p2

sītākathāśravaṇadīpitahṛcchayena $ sṛṣṭaṃ vilokya nṛpate daśakandhareṇa &

Seeing that [deer] created by the ten-necked Rāvaṇa, whose lust had been kindled by hearing descriptions of Sītā, / O King,

10. O king, just as Rudra cut off Daksha, so, drawn away from the hermitage by a Rakshasa in the form of a wonderful deer, Sri Rama soon killed him with an arrow, perceivivg him to be Maricha

who had been sent by the ten-headed Ravana whose wicked passion had been kindled on hearing the description of Sita.

9.10.9.p3

sītākathāśravaṇadīpitahṛcchayena $ sṛṣṭaṃ vilokya nṛpate daśakandhareṇa &

Seeing that [deer] created by the ten-necked Rāvaṇa, whose lust had been kindled by hearing descriptions of Sītā, / O King,

9.10.10

jaghne 'dbhutaiṇavapuṣāśramato 'pakṛṣṭo % mārīcamāśu viśikhena yathā kamugraḥ //

He, drawn far away from the hermitage by the wonderful deer-form, / quickly struck down Mārīca with an arrow, as the terrible Śiva [struck] Dakṣa;

9.10.10.p2

rakṣo 'dhamena vṛkavadvipine 'samakṣaṃ $ vaideharājaduhitaryapayāpitāyām &

When the daughter of the king of Videha was carried away in the forest / out of sight, like [a lamb] by a wolf, by the vilest of Rakṣases,

11. When by the worst of Rakshasas, like a wolf, the daughter of Videha king was in his absence carried away, Sri Rama, separated from his beloved wife, wandered with his brother through the forest like an afflicted person, exemplifying to the world the life of those that are attached to women.

9.10.10.p3

rakṣo 'dhamena vṛkavadvipine 'samakṣaṃ $ vaideharājaduhitaryapayāpitāyām &

When the daughter of the king of Videha was carried away in the forest / out of sight, like [a lamb] by a wolf, by the vilest of Rakṣases,

9.10.11

bhrātrā vane kṛpaṇavat priyayā viyuktaḥ % strīsaṅgināṃ gatimiti prathayaṃścacāra //

He wandered in the forest with His brother, bereaved of His beloved like a helpless mortal, / thereby demonstrating the fate of those who are attached to women;

9.10.11.p2

dagdhvātmakṛtyahatakṛtyamahan kabandhaṃ $ sakhyaṃ vidhāya kapibhirdayitāgatiṃ taiḥ &

Having cremated Kabandha whose funeral rites had been prevented by his deeds, and made friendship with the monkeys, / and having learned through them of the destination of His beloved,

12. He burnt Jatayu's body, performed the funeral rites for him who was killed on his account; (then) he slew Kabandha; having made friendship (with Sugriva) and after ascertaining the whereabouts of his beloved one through the monkeys and on the destruction of Vali, Sri Rama whose feet are worshipped by Brahma and Siva, [though now in the form of a man] reached, accompanied by his brother, the sea-shore with the armies of Sugriva, king of monkeys.

9.10.11.p3

dagdhvātmakṛtyahatakṛtyamahan kabandhaṃ $ sakhyaṃ vidhāya kapibhirdayitāgatiṃ taiḥ &

Having cremated Kabandha whose funeral rites had been prevented by his deeds, and made friendship with the monkeys, / and having learned through them of the destination of His beloved,

9.10.12

buddhvātha vālini hate plavagendrasainyair % velāmagāt sa manujo 'jabhavārcitāṅghriḥ //

and then, when Vālin was slain, He, the mortal whose feet are worshipped by Brahmā and Śiva, / went with armies of the monkey-lords to the seashore;

9.10.12.p2

yadroṣavibhramavivṛttakaṭākṣapāta $ sambhrāntanakramakaro bhayagīrṇaghoṣaḥ &

At the fall of whose glance, rolling in the agitation of wrath, / the alligators and sea monsters were thrown into panic, and its roar was swallowed in fear;

13. When (in his bowels) the alligators and monstrous fishes were agitated by the force of the hero's glances darted in seeming anger, the sea was stilled through fear, assumed a human form and bore on his head articles of worship, fell at the lotus-like feet of Rama and spoke thus.

9.10.12.p3

yadroṣavibhramavivṛttakaṭākṣapāta $ sambhrāntanakramakaro bhayagīrṇaghoṣaḥ &

At the fall of whose glance, rolling in the agitation of wrath, / the alligators and sea monsters were thrown into panic, and its roar was swallowed in fear;

9.10.13

sindhuḥ śirasyarhaṇaṃ parigṛhya rūpī % pādāravindamupagamya babhāṣa etat //

the Ocean, having assumed embodied form and bearing an offering upon his head, / approached His lotus feet and spoke this:

9.10.13.p2

na tvāṃ vayaṃ jaḍadhiyo nu vidāma bhūman $ kūṭasthamādipuruṣaṃ jagatāmadhīśam &

“We of dull intellect do not know You, O Infinite One, / the changeless Primeval Person, the sovereign Lord of the universes,

14. "We, dull-witted creatures, could not understand Thee, O Perfect One, to be the unchanging First and Perfect Person, the Supreme Ruler of the worlds; Thou art that Ruler of the gunas, under whose control the gods are created through Satva and Prajapatis through Rajas and the chief Bhutas and spirits through anger (Tamas).

9.10.13.p3

na tvāṃ vayaṃ jaḍadhiyo nu vidāma bhūman $ kūṭasthamādipuruṣaṃ jagatāmadhīśam &

“We of dull intellect do not know You, O Infinite One, / the changeless Primeval Person, the sovereign Lord of the universes,

9.10.14

yatsattvataḥ suragaṇā rajasaḥ prajeśā % manyośca bhūtapatayaḥ sa bhavān guṇeśaḥ //

from whose purity arise the hosts of gods, from passion the lords of beings, / and from wrath the masters of spirits—You are that Lord of the qualities.

9.10.14.p2

kāmaṃ prayāhi jahi viśravaso 'vamehaṃ $ trailokyarāvaṇamavāpnuhi vīra patnīm &

Proceed at will! Slay the polluted filth of Viśravas, / Rāvaṇa who makes the three worlds weep, and recover Your wife, O hero!

15. O Lord, mayst Thou be pleased to proceed as Thou choosest and to do away with the refuse of Visravas that makes the three worlds weep, O warrior, to recover Thy consort! And here mayest Thou construct a bridge across for the spread of Thy fame, reaching which victorious kings may (in the future) sing Thy glory!

9.10.14.p3

kāmaṃ prayāhi jahi viśravaso 'vamehaṃ $ trailokyarāvaṇamavāpnuhi vīra patnīm &

Proceed at will! Slay the polluted filth of Viśravas, / Rāvaṇa who makes the three worlds weep, and recover Your wife, O hero!

9.10.15

badhnīhi setumiha te yaśaso vitatyai % gāyanti digvijayino yamupetya bhūpāḥ //

Build a bridge here for the spread of Your glory, / approaching which world-conquering kings will sing it!”

9.10.15.p2

baddhvodadhau raghupatirvividhādrikūṭaiḥ $ setuṃ kapīndrakarakampitabhūruhāṅgaiḥ &

Having built a bridge across the ocean with various mountain peaks / whose trees were shaken by the hands of the monkey kings,

16. The foremost of Raghu's race constructed a bridge with various mountains covered with trees of which the branches were shaken off by the hands of great monkeys; and accompained by the

9.10.15.p3

baddhvodadhau raghupatirvividhādrikūṭaiḥ $ setuṃ kapīndrakarakampitabhūruhāṅgaiḥ &

Having built a bridge across the ocean with various mountain peaks / whose trees were shaken by the hands of the monkey kings,

9.10.16

sugrīvanīlahanumatpramukhairanīkair % laṅkāṃ vibhīṣaṇadṛśāviśadagradagdhām //

the Lord of the Raghus, with armies led by Sugrīva, Nīla, and Hanumān, / entered Laṅkā—already burned beforehand—under the guidance of Vibhīṣaṇa.

forces led by Sugriva, Nila, Hanuman and others and with the counsel of Vibheshana, entered Lanka already burnt (by Hanuman).

9.10.16.p2

sā vānarendrabalaruddhavihārakoṣṭha $ śrīdvāragopurasadovalabhīviṭaṅkā &

Laṅkā, whose pleasure grounds, storehouses, / splendid gates, city towers, assembly halls, balconies, and pigeon-cotes were blocked by the monkey forces,

17. The city was tossed up and down like a deep pool when entered by herds of elephants; and there play-grounds, granaries, treasuries, entrances, city-gates, court-halls, roofs and balconies were completely occupied by the army of the great monkey (Sugriva), and platforms, flags, golden crests, squares were knocked down.

9.10.16.p3

sā vānarendrabalaruddhavihārakoṣṭha $ śrīdvāragopurasadovalabhīviṭaṅkā &

Laṅkā, whose pleasure grounds, storehouses, / splendid gates, city towers, assembly halls, balconies, and pigeon-cotes were blocked by the monkey forces,

9.10.17

nirbhajyamānadhiṣaṇadhvajahemakumbha % śṛṅgāṭakā gajakulairhradinīva ghūrṇā //

and whose public platforms, flags, golden pots, / and crossroads were shattered, was agitated like a lake by herds of elephants.

9.10.17.p2

rakṣaḥpatistadavalokya nikumbhakumbha $ dhūmrākṣadurmukhasurāntakanarāntakādīn &

Seeing that, the lord of Rakṣases [marshaled] Nikumbha, Kumbha, / Dhūmrākṣa, Durmukha, Surāntaka, Narāntaka, and the rest,

18. The Lord of Rakshasas (Ravana) sent (to vanquish the enemy) Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhumraksha, Durmukha, Surantaka, Narantaka and others, his son Indrajit (his son), Prahasta, Atikaya, Vikampana (Akampana) and others; all his followers, and then Kumbhakarna his brother.

9.10.17.p3

rakṣaḥpatistadavalokya nikumbhakumbha $ dhūmrākṣadurmukhasurāntakanarāntakādīn &

Seeing that, the lord of the rākṣasas sent forth Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhūmrākṣa, Durmukha, Surāntaka, Narāntaka, and the others,

9.10.18

putraṃ prahastamatikāyavikampanādīn % sarvānugān samahinodatha kumbhakarṇam //

his son [Indrajit], Prahasta, Atikāya, Vikampana, and others, all his followers, and then Kumbhakarṇa.

9.10.18.p2

tāṃ yātudhānapṛtanāmasiśūlacāpa $ prāsarṣṭiśaktiśaratomarakhaḍgadurgām &

Against that army of rākṣasas, impassable with swords, tridents, bows, / barbed darts, spears, javelins, arrows, clubs, and scimitars,

19. With Sugriva, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Ghandamada, Nila, Angada, Jambavan, Panasa, and others Sri Rama advanced towards that army of Rakshas impenetrable on account of the swords, tridents, bows, Prasas, Rishtis, Saktis, Arrows, Thomaras, and long swords.

9.10.18.p3

tāṃ yātudhānapṛtanāmasiśūlacāpa $ prāsarṣṭiśaktiśaratomarakhaḍgadurgām &

against that army of rākṣasas, impassable with swords, tridents, bows, / barbed darts, spears, javelins, arrows, clubs, and scimitars,

9.10.19

sugrīvalakṣmaṇamarutsutagandhamāda % nīlāṅgadarkṣapanasādibhiranvito 'gāt //

he marched, accompanied by Sugrīva, Lakṣmaṇa, the son of the wind-god [Hanumān], Gandhamādana, / Nīla, Aṅgada, the bear [Jāmbavān], Panasa, and the rest.

9.10.19.p2

te 'nīkapā raghupaterabhipatya sarve $ dvandvaṃ varūthamibhapattirathāśvayodhaiḥ &

All those commanders of the lord of the Raghus attacked and fought duel-by-duel with the divisions / of elephant-riders, infantry, charioteers, and horse-warriors;

20. Those generals of Sri Rama's armies, Angada and others, all fell on, and engaged, the opponents in a hand to hand struggle, and the army of Ravana composed of elephants, foot-soldiers, chariots, and cavalry and struck it down with trees, hills, Gadas (maces) and arrows. For their (its) lord Ravana had lost all auspiciousness (all possibility of success) on account of his offence to Sita.

9.10.19.p3

te 'nīkapā raghupaterabhipatya sarve $ dvandvaṃ varūthamibhapattirathāśvayodhaiḥ &

all those commanders of the lord of the Raghus attacked and fought duel-by-duel with the divisions / of elephant-riders, infantry, charioteers, and horse-warriors;

9.10.20

jaghnurdrumairgirigadeṣubhiraṅgadādyāḥ % sītābhimarṣahatamaṅgalarāvaṇeśān //

Aṅgada and the others slew with trees, mountains, clubs, and arrows / Rāvaṇa’s generals, whose good fortune was destroyed by the violation of Sītā.

9.10.20.p2

rakṣaḥpatiḥ svabalanaṣṭimavekṣya ruṣṭa $ āruhya yānakamathābhisasāra rāmam &

Seeing the destruction of his own army, the enraged lord of the rākṣasas / mounted his aerial vehicle and rushed against Rāma;

21. Observing the loss of his army the chief of the Rakshas (Ravana), greatly enraged, mounted his vehicle and directly made towards Rama who was shining pre-eminent in the radient chariot of the celestial world brought down by Matali and struck Rama with knife-like missiles.

9.10.20.p3

rakṣaḥpatiḥ svabalanaṣṭimavekṣya ruṣṭa $ āruhya yānakamathābhisasāra rāmam &

seeing the destruction of his own army, the enraged lord of the rākṣasas / mounted his aerial vehicle and rushed against Rāma;

9.10.21

svaḥsyandane dyumati mātalinopanīte % vibhrājamānamahanan niśitaiḥ kṣurapraiḥ //

shining in the celestial chariot brought by Mātali, / he struck him with sharp crescent-tipped arrows.

9.10.21.p2

rāmastamāha puruṣādapurīṣa yan naḥ $ kāntāsamakṣamasatāpahṛtā śvavat te &

Rāma said to him: “O filth of man-eaters, because like a dog / our beloved wife was carried off by you in our absence,

22. Then Rama said to him, "O worthless worm of man-eater, I shall, as Kala (Time) of irresistible force that bears the fruit to the author of an action, bestow on thee, a detestable creature, devoid of shame, the fruit of thy action in having stolen away like a dog (our) (my) beloved one in our (my) absence".

9.10.21.p3

rāmastamāha puruṣādapurīṣa yan naḥ $ kāntāsamakṣamasatāpahṛtā śvavat te &

Rāma said to him: “O filth of man-eaters, because like a dog / our beloved wife was carried off by you in our absence,

9.10.22

tyaktatrapasya phalamadya jugupsitasya % yacchāmi kāla iva karturalaṅghyavīryaḥ //

today, like Time itself, with irresistible valor, I dispense / the fruit to the shameless perpetrator of this detestable deed.”

9.10.22.p2

evaṃ kṣipan dhanuṣi sandhitamutsasarja $ bāṇaṃ sa vajramiva taddhṛdayaṃ bibheda &

Reproaching him thus, he released an arrow fitted to his bow; / like a thunderbolt, it pierced his heart.

23. Thus reproaching him, Sri Rama discharged the shaft he had fixed in the bow; it split his bosom which was as if rivetted with Vajra; and even like a meritorious man exhausted of his merit.

9.10.22.p3

evaṃ kṣipan dhanuṣi sandhitamutsasarja $ bāṇaṃ sa vajramiva taddhṛdayaṃ bibheda &

Reproaching him thus, he released an arrow fitted to his bow; / like a thunderbolt, it pierced his heart.

9.10.23

so 'sṛg vaman daśamukhairnyapatadvimānād % dhāheti jalpati jane sukṛtīva riktaḥ //

Vomiting blood from his ten mouths, he fell from his chariot, / while the people cried ‘Alas, alas!’, just like an exhausted person of meritorious deeds [falling from heaven].

he fell down from his vehicle vomiting blood through his ten mouths and hurled down from Svarga, and people screamed Ha! Ha!.

9.10.24

tato niṣkramya laṅkāyā yātudhānyaḥ sahasraśaḥ /
mandodaryā samaṃ tatra prarudantya upādravan //

Then, issuing forth from Laṅkā by thousands, / the rākṣasa women ran forward along with Mandodarī, weeping aloud.

24. Then along with Mandodari, came loudly wailing thousands of Rakshasa women out of Lanka and ran to the place.

9.10.25

svān svān bandhūn pariṣvajya lakṣmaṇeṣubhirarditān /
ruruduḥ susvaraṃ dīnā ghnantya ātmānamātmanā //

Embracing their respective kinsmen afflicted by Lakṣmaṇa’s arrows, / beating themselves with their own hands, the wretched women wept in piercing voices:

25. They embraced severally their relations struck down by the shafts of Lakshmana, beat themselves with their own hand and helplessly wailed loud in tones expressive of their deep sorrow.

9.10.26

hā hatāḥ sma vayaṃ nātha lokarāvaṇa rāvaṇa /
kaṃ yāyāc charaṇaṃ laṅkā tvadvihīnā parārditā //

“Alas, we are undone, O lord, O Rāvaṇa who made the world weep! / To whom shall Laṅkā go for refuge, deprived of you and tormented by enemies?

26. Alas! undone are we, O Lord! O Ravana! O terror of the world! To whom could this Lanka, beaten by the enemy and left by thee, go for protection?

9.10.27

na vai veda mahābhāga bhavān kāmavaśaṃ gataḥ /
tejo 'nubhāvaṃ sītāyā yena nīto daśāmimām //

Indeed, O illustrious one, fallen under the sway of lust, you did not know / the fiery majesty and power of Sītā, by which you have been brought to this state.

27. O great master, swayed by the passion of love thou didst not know this great power of Sita's virtue by which thou art brought to this plight.

9.10.28

kṛtaiṣā vidhavā laṅkā vayaṃ ca kulanandana /
dehaḥ kṛto 'nnaṃ gṛdhrāṇāmātmā narakahetave //

This Laṅkā and we have been widowed, O delight of the family! / Your body has been made food for vultures, and your soul destined for hell.”

28. This Lanka is widowed as we have been, O joy of thy race. Thy body is made a prey to kites and thy soul fit for hell.

9.10.29

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
svānāṃ vibhīṣaṇaścakre kosalendrānumoditaḥ /
pitṛmedhavidhānena yaduktaṃ sāmparāyikam //

Śrī Śuka said: / Approved by the lord of Kosala, Vibhīṣaṇa performed for his kinsmen / whatever funeral rites for the next world were prescribed by the rules of the ancestral sacrifice.

29. Sri Suka said:— Approved by Sri Rama, Vibheshana performed the funeral-rites for his people in the manner laid down in the rules for the purpose.

9.10.30

tato dadarśa bhagavān aśokavanikāśrame /
kṣāmāṃ svavirahavyādhiṃ śiṃśapāmūlamāśritām //

Then the Lord saw, in the hermitage of the Aśoka grove, / her who was emaciated by the disease of separation from him, seated at the root of a śiṃśapā tree.

30. Then in the retreat of Asoka garden, the glorious Rama espied Sita thin and suffering from his separation and sitting at the bottom of a Simsupa tree.

9.10.31

rāmaḥ priyatamāṃ bhāryāṃ dīnāṃ vīkṣyānvakampata /
ātmasandarśanāhlāda vikasanmukhapaṅkajām //

Beholding his dearest wife wretched, her lotus face blooming / with the joy of seeing him, Rāma was moved with compassion.

31. Rama was pained to see his beloved wife in that helpless condition; now her face like unto a lotus cheered up with the joy of meeting him.

9.10.32

āropyāruruhe yānaṃ bhrātṛbhyāṃ hanumadyutaḥ /
vibhīṣaṇāya bhagavān dattvā rakṣogaṇeśatām //

Having seated her and mounted the chariot with his two brothers, together with Hanumān, / the Lord, having granted to Vibhīṣaṇa the sovereignty over the hosts of rākṣasas,

32. & 33. He placed her in the vehicle Pushpaka and himself mounted it with his brother Lakshmana and Sugriva and also with Hanuman. The glorious Lord bestowed on Vibheshana Lanka and lordship over the Rakshasa races and also length of life to the end of the kalpa. Thus having accomplished his under taking Sri Rama returned to his city Ayodhya, showered over on the way with flowers offerred by the Protectors of the world.

9.10.33

laṅkāmāyuśca kalpāntaṃ yayau cīrṇavrataḥ purīm /
avakīryamāṇaḥ sukusumairlokapālārpitaiḥ pathi //

as well as Laṅkā and a lifespan lasting until the end of the kalpa, his vow completed, departed for his city, / being showered along the way with exquisite flowers offered by the world-guardians,

9.10.34

upagīyamānacaritaḥ śatadhṛtyādibhirmudā /
gomūtrayāvakaṃ śrutvā bhrātaraṃ valkalāmbaram //

his deeds joyfully sung by Brahmā and the other gods. / Hearing that his brother was subsisting on barley cooked in cow's urine and wearing garments of bark,

34. 35. & 36. His heroic deeds were (then) joyfully sung by Brahma and others; Sri Rama heard that his brother Bharata wore bark and ate food dressed with Gomutra and, being most merciful, was very much pained to hear of him as wearing matted hair and sleeping

9.10.35

mahākāruṇiko 'tapyaj jaṭilaṃ sthaṇḍileśayam /
bharataḥ prāptamākarṇya paurāmātyapurohitaiḥ //

the exceedingly compassionate one grieved for him, matted-haired and sleeping on bare ground. / Having heard that he had arrived, Bharata, along with the citizens, ministers, and domestic priests,

ing on naked earth. Hearing of Rama's arrival, accompanied by citizens, ministers and priests and with Sri Rama's sandals on his head, Bharata went forth [from his camp at Nandigrama] to meet his elder brother Rama with musicians singing and musical instruments played.

9.10.36

pāduke śirasi nyasya rāmaṃ pratyudyato 'grajam /
nandigrāmāt svaśibirādgītavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ //

placing the wooden sandals upon his head, set out from his camp at Nandigrāma / to meet his elder brother Rāma, amidst sounds of songs and musical instruments,

9.10.37

brahmaghoṣeṇa ca muhuḥ paṭhadbhirbrahmavādibhiḥ /
svarṇakakṣapatākābhirhaimaiścitradhvajai rathaiḥ //

and the repeated chanting of the Veda by knowers of the Veda reciting aloud, / with chariots adorned with gold-trimmed banners and multicolored golden flags,

37. 38. & 39. With brahmins who were loudly singing Vedic hymns, with flags of gilt edges, with chariots of gold decked with beautiful flags, good horses in golden caparisons, with warriors wearing golden armours, with artists and dancing women, with servants following on foot, in well-arranged lines he brought the royal insignia and articles of various kinds, offered them, and fell on his feet with his heart and eyes melting into tears on account of his affection.

9.10.38

sadaśvai rukmasannāhairbhaṭaiḥ puraṭavarmabhiḥ /
śreṇībhirvāramukhyābhirbhṛtyaiścaiva padānugaiḥ //

with noble horses in gold trappings, warriors clad in golden armor, / guilds of merchants, chief courtesans, servants, and foot soldiers,

9.10.39

pārameṣṭhyānyupādāya paṇyānyuccāvacāni ca /
pādayornyapatat premṇā praklinnahṛdayekṣaṇaḥ //

taking royal insignia and various articles of merchandise. / He fell at his feet out of love, his heart and eyes moist [with tears],

9.10.40

pāduke nyasya purataḥ prāñjalirbāṣpalocanaḥ /
tamāśliṣya ciraṃ dorbhyāṃ snāpayan netrajairjalaiḥ //

having placed the sandals before him, with folded hands and tear-filled eyes. / Embracing him for a long time with both arms, bathing him with waters born of his eyes,

40. He placed the sandals in front of him and stood with joined hands and with eyes full of tears. Rama embraced him with his arms for a long while and bathed him with waters that flowed from his eyes.

9.10.41

rāmo lakṣmaṇasītābhyāṃ viprebhyo ye 'rhasattamāḥ /
tebhyaḥ svayaṃ namaścakre prajābhiśca namaskṛtaḥ //

Rāma, along with Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā, bowed himself before the brāhmaṇas who were most worthy of honor, / and was saluted in return by the subjects.

41. Rama together with Lakshmana and Sita bowed to the brahmins (there) most worthy of respect and he was also bowed to by his subjects.

9.10.42

dhunvanta uttarāsaṅgān patiṃ vīkṣya cirāgatam /
uttarāḥ kosalā mālyaiḥ kiranto nanṛturmudā //

Waving their upper garments upon seeing their lord arrived after a long time, / the people of northern Kosala, scattering garlands, danced with joy.

42. At the sight of their lord who returned after a long absence the people of Uttara Kosala country waved their upper cloths, showered him with flowers and danced in joy.

9.10.43

pāduke bharato 'gṛhṇāc cāmaravyajanottame /
vibhīṣaṇaḥ sasugrīvaḥ śvetacchatraṃ marutsutaḥ //

Bharata carried the two sandals; Vibhīṣaṇa along with Sugrīva carried two exquisite chowrie-fans; / the son of the wind-god carried the white umbrella;

43. Bharata bore the sandals; Vibhīshaṇa and Sugrīva waved the chamaras and the fan and Hanuman held the white umbrella (over Sri Rama).

9.10.44

dhanurniṣaṅgān chatrughnaḥ sītā tīrthakamaṇḍalum /
abibhradaṅgadaḥ khaḍgaṃ haimaṃ carmarkṣarāṇ nṛpa //

Śatrughna carried the bow and quivers; Sītā held the water pot filled with holy water; / Aṅgada carried the sword, and the king of the bears [Jāmbavān] bore the golden shield, O king.

44. Satrughna bore the bow and the quivers, Sita the jar of water, Angada the sword, and Jambavan, king of bears, the golden shield.

9.10.45

puṣpakastho nutaḥ strībhiḥ stūyamānaśca vandibhiḥ /
vireje bhagavān rājan grahaiścandra ivoditaḥ //

Seated in the Puṣpaka aerial chariot, praised by women and extolled by bards, / the Lord shone, O king, like the moon arisen amidst the planets.

45. Seated in the Pushpaka Vimana, attended by maid-servants, praised by bards, the glorious Lord shone, O king, like the rising moon in the midst of planets.

9.10.46

bhrātrābhinanditaḥ so 'tha sotsavāṃ prāviśat purīm /
praviśya rājabhavanaṃ gurupatnīḥ svamātaram //

Welcomed by his brother, he then entered the celebratory city. / Entering the royal palace, worshipped [by all], he greeted in turn the wives of the elders, his own mother,

46. & 47. Welcomed by the brothers he (gladly) entered the festive city and on entering the palace he duly honoured the wife of

the preceptor, his own mother, preceptors, friends, and younger brothers and received honour done to him; Sita and Lakshmana also behaved as they ought to do.

9.10.47

gurūn vayasyāvarajān pūjitaḥ pratyapūjayat /
vaidehī lakṣmaṇaścaiva yathāvat samupeyatuḥ //

the elders, friends, and younger brothers; / Vaidehī [Sītā] and Lakṣmaṇa also approached them in the proper manner.

9.10.48

putrān svamātarastāstu prāṇāṃstanva ivotthitāḥ /
āropyāṅke 'bhiṣiñcantyo bāṣpaughairvijahuḥ śucaḥ //

Placing their sons on their laps, like bodies to which their vital breaths had returned, / the mothers bathed them with torrents of tears and gave up their sorrows.

48. (Then) their mothers severally received their sons like the bodies their returning souls and placed them on their laps, showered them with the flood tears flowed from their eyes and forgot their grief.

9.10.49

jaṭā nirmucya vidhivat kulavṛddhaiḥ samaṃ guruḥ /
abhyaṣiñcadyathaivendraṃ catuḥsindhujalādibhiḥ //

Having untied his matted hair according to ritual rule, the family priest, together with the family elders, / consecrated him with waters of the four oceans and other sacred waters, just as Indra [was consecrated].

49. Preceptor Vasishta, together with the elderly members of the family, caused the jatas (matted hair) to be untied and performed for him, like unto Indra, the abhisheka of coronation with the waters brought from the four seas and other holy sources.

9.10.50

evaṃ kṛtaśiraḥsnānaḥ suvāsāḥ sragvyalaṅkṛtaḥ /
svalaṅkṛtaiḥ suvāsobhirbhrātṛbhirbhāryayā babhau //

Having thus taken the bath of head-cleansing, finely clad, garlanded, and adorned, / he shone alongside his well-adorned, beautifully dressed brothers and his wife.

50. Thus bathed in holy waters, dressed in clothes, adorned with wreaths of flowers and princely ornaments with his well-adorned and well-dressed brothers and wife beside him, he shone foremost.

9.10.51

agrahīdāsanaṃ bhrātrā praṇipatya prasāditaḥ /
prajāḥ svadharmaniratā varṇāśramaguṇānvitāḥ /
jugopa pitṛvadrāmo menire pitaraṃ ca tam //

Bowed down to and propitiated by his brother, he took the throne. / Rāma protected like a father the subjects who were devoted to their own dharma / and endowed with the virtues of the social orders and stages of life, and they regarded him as their father.

51. When his brother (Bharata) bowed down and requested him he took his seat on the throne and like a father protected his subjects, constant in their respective duties peculiar to their Varna and Asrama (caste and order) and they also regarded him as their father.

9.10.52

tretāyāṃ vartamānāyāṃ kālaḥ kṛtasamo 'bhavat /
rāme rājani dharmajñe sarvabhūtasukhāvahe //

While the Tretā age was prevailing, the era became equal to the Kṛta age / under Rāma, the king who knew dharma and brought happiness to all living beings.

52. Though it was Treta Yuga, the time was like Krita Yuga when Rama with deep insight into dharma was the king and brought happiness to all beings.

9.10.53

vanāni nadyo girayo varṣāṇi dvīpasindhavaḥ /
sarve kāmadughā āsan prajānāṃ bharatarṣabha //

The forests, rivers, mountains, realms, continents, and oceans / all yielded every desire for the subjects, O best of the Bharatas.

53. Forests, rivers, mountains, sub-continents, continents, the seas and all-yielded every thing desired by the people, O, bull among the Bharatas.

9.10.54

nādhivyādhijarāglāni duḥkhaśokabhayaklamāḥ /
mṛtyuścānicchatāṃ nāsīdrāme rājanyadhokṣaje //

There were no mental agony, physical illness, old age, exhaustion, sorrow, grief, fear, or fatigue; / and there was no death for those who did not desire it, when Rāma, who is Adhokṣaja, was king.

54. Anxieties, diseases, old age, fatigue, pain, (hunger, thirst) grief, fear, and loss of strength found no place; and when Sri Adhokshaja as Rama was reigning, even death did not overtake the people when they did not welcome it.

9.10.55

ekapatnīvratadharo rājarṣicaritaḥ śuciḥ /
svadharmaṃ gṛhamedhīyaṃ śikṣayan svayamācarat //

Observing the vow of having only one wife, behaving like a royal sage, pure, / he personally practiced and taught the householder's own dharma.

55. Firm in his vow to have but one wife, living a life of piety like great Rishis, he himself observed and taught the world the round of proper duties of a householder.

9.10.56

premṇānuvṛttyā śīlena praśrayāvanatā satī /
bhiyā hriyā ca bhāvajñā bhartuḥ sītāharan manaḥ //

With love, compliance, good character, and bowed with modesty, the virtuous [Sītā], / knowing his inner feelings, captivated her husband's mind through both reverence and bashfulness.

56. By her affection, obedience, pious character [by her intelligence (fearfulness) and modesty] the virtuous Sita suppliant with devotion understood the disposition of her lord.