---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 69"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-69"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 69

> अथ रात्र्यां प्रवृत्तायां शत्रुघ्नो भृगुनन्दनम्।  
> पप्रच्छ च्यवनं विप्रं लवणस्य यथाबलम्॥ १॥  
> शूलस्य च बलं ब्रह्मन् के च पूर्वं विनाशिताः।  
> अनेन शूलमुख्येन द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागताः॥ २॥

Then as the night appeared, Śatrughna asked the Brāhmaṇa, Cyavana, son of Bhṛgu the exact might of Lavaṇa, and the power of the trident also. He enquired, ‘O Brāhmaṇa, who were killed by this special trident having entered into a duel with Lavaṇa.’ (1-2)

> तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः।  
> प्रत्युवाच महातेजाश्च्यवनो रघुनन्दनम्॥ ३॥

Hearing these words of the noble Śatrughna, the mighty Cyavana said in reply to the scion of the Raghus: (3)

> असंख्येयानि कर्माणि यान्यस्य रघुनन्दन।  
> इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवे यद् वृत्तं तच्छृणुष्व मे॥ ४॥

‘Among the innumerable doings of this Lavaṇa listen to me that which took place in the context of the originator of the family of Ikṣvāku (Māndhātā). (4)

> अयोध्यायां पुरा राजा युवनाश्वसुतो बली।  
> मान्धाता इति विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान्॥ ५॥

‘In the old days, there was a powerful king, the son of Yuvanāśva, known as Māndhātā, noted for his might in the three worlds. (5)

> स कृत्वा पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां शासने पृथिवीपतिः।  
> सुरलोकमितो जेतुमुद्योगमकरोन्नृपः॥ ६॥

‘Having ruled over the entire earth, that king, lord of the earth, embarked on a conquest of the world of the gods from here, the earth. (6)

> इन्द्रस्य च भयं तीव्रं सुराणां च महात्मनाम्।  
> मान्धातरि कृतोद्योगे देवलोकजिगीषया॥ ७॥

‘Great fear overcame Indra and other mighty gods, when Māndhātā prepared to fight with a desire to conquer the world of gods. (7)

> अर्धासनेन शक्रस्य राज्यार्धेन च पार्थिवः।  
> वन्द्यमानः सुरगणैः प्रतिज्ञामध्यरोहत॥ ८॥

Propitiated by the host of gods, Māndhātā, the king, having vowed to take one half of Indra’s kingdom and the other half of earthly sovereignty, went up to raid heaven. (8)

> तस्य पापमभिप्रायं विदित्वा पाकशासनः।  
> सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच युवनाश्वजम्॥ ९॥

‘Indra, the conqueror of Pāka Daitya, having known his evil intentions, uttered these conciliatory words to the progeny of Yuvanāśva. (9)

> राजा त्वं मानुषे लोके न तावत् पुरुषर्षभ।  
> अकृत्वा पृथिवीं वश्यां देवराज्यमिहेच्छसि॥ १०॥

‘O bull among men, Māndhātā, you are still not established as a king in the mortal worlds, and you desire the kingdom of the gods here without subjugating the earth. (10)

> यदि वीर समग्रा ते मेदिनी निखिला वशे।  
> देवराज्यं कुरुष्वेह सभृत्यबलवाहनः॥ ११॥

‘O brave one, if the entire earth is indeed under your sway then you may rule over the kingdom of the gods together with your attendants, army and carriers. (11)

> इन्द्रमेवं ब्रुवाणं तं मान्धाता वाक्यमब्रवीत्।  
> क्व मे शक्र प्रतिहतं शासनं पृथिवीतले॥ १२॥

Māndhātā said to Indra: ‘O Indra, where does my rule over the earth is obstructed’? (12)

> तमुवाच सहस्राक्षो लवणो नाम राक्षसः।  
> मधुपुत्रो मधुवने न तेऽऽज्ञां कुरुतेऽनघ॥ १३॥

The thousand-eyed Indra told him, ‘O sinless one, the son of Madhu, the Rākṣasa Lavaṇa by name, does not obey your orders.’ (13)

> तच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रियं घोरं सहस्राक्षेण भाषितम्।  
> व्रीडितोऽवाङ्मुखो राजा व्याहर्तुं न शशाक ह॥ १४॥

Having heard the dreadful unpleasant words, conveyed by Indra, the King put to shame with face downcast, could not speak. (14)

> आमन्त्र्य तु सहस्राक्षं प्रायात् किंचिदवाङ्मुखः।  
> पुनरेवागमच्छ्रीमानिमं लोकं नरेश्वरः॥ १५॥

Taking leave of the thousand-eyed god, with his face turned somewhat downwards, the lord of the mortals proceeded and came back again to this world. (15)

> स कृत्वा हृदयेऽमर्षं सभृत्यबलवाहनः।  
> आजगाम मधोः पुत्रं वशे कर्तुमरिंदमः॥ १६॥

That king, the destroyer of foes, with anger in his heart and together with his attendants and carriers came to bring the son of Madhu, Lavaṇa, under his sway. (16)

> स काङ्क्षमाणो लवणं युद्धाय पुरुषर्षभः।  
> दूतं सम्प्रेषयामास सकाशं लवणस्य सः॥ १७॥

Desirous to fight with Lavaṇa, the bull among men, Māndhātā, sent a messenger to Lavaṇa. (17)

> स गत्वा विप्रियाण्याह बहूनि मधुनः सुतम्।  
> वदन्तमेवं तं दूतं भक्षयामास राक्षसः॥ १८॥

He, the messenger, having approached the son of Madhu, said many unpleasant words; the Rākṣasa devoured that messenger while he was speaking thus. (18)

> चिरायमाणे दूते तु राजा क्रोधसमन्वितः।  
> अर्दयामास तद् रक्षः शरवृष्ट्या समन्ततः॥ १९॥

The messenger, on being late in returning, the King possessed of anger, inflicted injury on the Rākṣasa by shower of arrows on all sides. (19)

> ततः प्रहस्य तद् रक्षः शूलं जग्राह पाणिना।  
> वधाय सानुबन्धस्य मुमोचायुधमुत्तमम्॥ २०॥

Then that Rākṣasa laughed and took the trident in his hand and released the best among weapons, the trident, for the purpose of slaying Māndhātā with all his followers. (20)

> तच्छूलं दीप्यमानं तु सभृत्यबलवाहनम्।  
> भस्मीकृत्वा नृपं भूयो लवणस्यागमत् करम्॥ २१॥

That enflamed trident on its part, having rendered to ashes the king together with his attendant, army and carriers—came back to the hand of Lavaṇa. (21)

> एवं स राजा सुमहान् हतः सबलवाहनः।  
> शूलस्य तु बलं सौम्य अप्रमेयमनुत्तमम्॥ २२॥

Thus that great King was killed together with his army and carriers, O gracious one, the power of the trident is impossible to fathom. (22)

> श्वः प्रभाते तु लवणं वधिष्यसि न संशयः।  
> अगृहीतायुधं क्षिप्रं ध्रुवो हि विजयस्तव॥ २३॥

Tomorrow morning, you shall soon kill Lavaṇa while he is without the weapon, there is no doubt that your victory is certain. (23)

> लोकानां स्वस्ति चैवं स्यात् कृते कर्मणि च त्वया।  
> एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं लवणस्य दुरात्मनः॥ २४॥  
> शूलस्य च बलं घोरमप्रमेयं नरर्षभ।  
> विनाशश्चैव मान्धातुर्यत्नेनाभूच्च पार्थिव॥ २५॥

By you performing this deed the welfare of the worlds will be achieved. Thus all has been narrated to you, O bull among men, about the might of the wicked Lavaṇa and the unfathomable dreadful power of the trident, O king Māndhātā; Lavaṇa perished due to his own misdeeds. (24-25)

> त्वं श्वः प्रभाते लवणं महात्मन्  
> वधिष्यसे नात्र तु संशयो मे।  
> शूलं विना निर्गतमामिषार्थे  
> ध्रुवो जयस्ते भविता नरेन्द्र॥ २६॥

Tomorrow morning you will slay Lavaṇa I have no doubt, O noble one, when he will proceed for flesh, having not the trident with him, victory shall be yours, O king of men. (26)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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