Uttara Kanda, Sarga 66

Meaning

Having thus spoken to the scion of Kakutstha and eulogizing him again and again, the descendant of the Raghus, Śrī Rāma, spoke again to him: (1)

Meaning

‘These four thousand of horses, two thousand chariots and a hundred of the best elephants, the rows of stalls (inside the city), laden with goods for sale and purchase, may follow you O Śatrughna, the scion of Kakutstha and so also the actors and dancers. O Śatrughna, O bull among men, having taken a lac of pure gold-coins well-equipped with wealth and carriers (elephants and horses), you proceed to Madhurā. (2-3)

Meaning

‘O brave one, keep the army that is well-formed, in such good cheer that its constituents are happy and satisfied, and not arrogant, with your good words. (4-5)

Meaning

‘There (at the encounter) neither wealth nor spouse, nor even relatives are at your side, as the servants when kept happy. (6)

Meaning

‘Thus, having dispatched the mighty army full of happy men, you alone, with bow in your hand, can go to the forest of Madhu. (7)

Meaning

‘You should go in a manner in which the son of Madhu, Lavaṇa does not know that you are going to him for an encounter. (8)

Meaning

‘O bull among men, there is indeed no other way in which Lavaṇa would die, whosoever goes to attack him, is killed by Lavaṇa, indeed. (9)

Meaning

‘Thus when summer is passed, and the rainy season comes, you should kill Lavaṇa. O graceful one, that is the time of death for this wicked one. (10)

Meaning

‘Your warriors may proceed with the great Ṛṣis at their head, so that by the end of the summer season, they may cross the Gaṅgā, the daughter of Jāhnu. (11)

Meaning

‘Then having stationed your army at the banks there, O one of speedy steps, you go ahead carefully alone with the bow.’ (12)

Meaning

Thus being spoken to by Śrī Rāma, Śatrughna, having gathered together the brave chiefs of the army spoke thus to them: (13)

Meaning

‘These are the decided places where you can dwell, according to your liking; wherever you are stay amicably.’ (14)

Meaning

Thus ordering them and despatching the mighty army, he made obeisance to Kausalyā, Sumitrā and Kaikeyī. (15)

Meaning

Paying salutation to Śrī Rāma with his head and going round Him, and falling at the feet of Lakṣmaṇa and Bharata, and the chief priest Vasiṣṭha, Śatrughna of pious mind, the torturer of the foes, the mighty one going round Śrī Rāma again, departed. (16-17)

Meaning

Sending ahead the army then, full of elephants and horses, he himself lived there with Śrī Rāma for a month and then he too started. (18)