---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 72"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-72"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 72

> हते तु लवणे देवाः सेन्द्राः साग्निपुरोगमाः।  
> ऊचुः सुमधुरां वाणीं शत्रुघ्नं शत्रुतापनम्॥ १॥

After Lavaṇa was killed, the gods, together with Indra and Agni as their head, spoke these sweet words to Śatrughna, the tormentor of the foes. (1)

> दिष्ट्या ते विजयो वत्स दिष्ट्या लवणराक्षसः।  
> हतः पुरुषशार्दूल वरं वरय सुव्रत॥ २॥

‘O lion among men, by good fortune, victory is yours and the Rākṣasa is dead, O! of a noble vow! ask us for a boon. (2)

> वरदास्तु महाबाहो सर्व एव समागताः।  
> विजयाकाङ्क्षिणस्तुभ्यममोघं दर्शनं हि नः॥ ३॥

‘All desirous of your victory are intending to grant boon to you. We have come; our presence here will not be fruitless.’ (3)

> देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा शूरो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः।  
> प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुः शत्रुघ्नः प्रयतात्मवान्॥ ४॥

Hearing the words of the gods, Śatrughna, the long-armed one, disciplined in mind, keeping his folded hands on his head replied thus : (4)

> इयं मधुपुरी रम्या मधुरा देवनिर्मिता।  
> निवेशं प्राप्नुयाच्छीघ्रमेष मेऽस्तु वरः परः॥ ५॥

‘This city of Madhu, Madhurā by name, built by the gods, may become the capital soon. This is the only boon that I desire: (5)

> तं देवाः प्रीतमनसो बाढमित्येव राघवम्।  
> भविष्यति पुरी रम्या शूरसेना न संशयः॥ ६॥

The gods said: ‘So be it’ O scion of the Raghus: This beautiful city will be Śūrasenā indeed, possessed of an army of brave men, there is no doubt about it.’ (6)

> ते तथोक्त्वा महात्मानो दिवमारुरुहुस्तदा।  
> शत्रुघ्नोऽपि महातेजास्तां सेनां समुपानयत्॥ ७॥

Thus saying the holy gods then ascended to heaven. Śatrughna too, the powerful one, brought back the army from the banks of the Gaṅgā. (7)

> सा सेना शीघ्रमागच्छच्छ्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नशासनम्।  
> निवेशनं च शत्रुघ्नः श्रावणेन समारभत्॥ ८॥

That army came soon, hearing the news of the death of Lavaṇa at the hands of Śatrughna and commenced the establishment of the capital in the month of Śrāvaṇa (roughly corresponding to July-August). (8)

> सा पुरा दिव्यसंकाशा वर्षे द्वादशमे शुभे।  
> निविष्टः शूरसेनानां विषयश्चाकुतोभयः॥ ९॥

That holy country was established as the territory of the Śūrasenas, in the course of twelve years, as there was no cause for fear. (9)

> क्षेत्राणि सस्ययुक्तानि काले वर्षति वासवः।  
> अरोगवीरपुरुषा शत्रुघ्नभुजपालिता॥ १०॥

The fields were full with grains, Indra (the rain-god) brought forth rain in time, the warriors, protected by Śatrughna, were free of disease. (10)

> अर्धचन्द्रप्रतीकाशा यमुनातीरशोभिता।  
> शोभिता गृहमुख्यैश्च चत्वरापणवीथिकैः।  
> चातुर्वर्ण्यसमायुक्ता नानावाणिज्यशोभिता॥ ११॥

That city, shaped like the half-moon, beautified by the banks of the Yamunā, was also embellished with special mansions and quadrangular market-place. It was inhabited by the four Varṇas (castes) and abounded in all forms of merchandise and trade. (11)

> यच्च तेन पुरा शुभ्रं लवणेन कृतं महत्।  
> तच्छोभयति शत्रुघ्नो नानावर्णोपशोभिताम्॥ १२॥  
> आरामैश्च विहारैश्च शोभमानां समन्ततः।  
> शोभितां शोभनीयैश्च तथान्यैर्देवमानुषैः॥ १३॥

The white mansion that was formerly built by Lavaṇa, Śatrughna further beautified with pictures of various colours, looking beautiful on all sides with rest-houses and Vihāras, and that city was adorned with human and celestial embellishments. (12-13)

> तां पुरीं दिव्यसंकाशां नानापण्योपशोभिताम्।  
> नानादेशगतैश्चापि वणिग्भिरुपशोभिताम्॥ १४॥  
> तां समृद्धां समृद्धार्थः शत्रुघ्नो भरतानुजः।  
> निरीक्ष्य परमप्रीतः परं हर्षमुपागमत्॥ १५॥

The prosperous Śatrughna, the younger brother of Bharata, having seen the city, divine in appearance, filled with all forms of merchandise and inhabited by traders coming from various countries, was much pleased. (14-15)

> तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना निवेश्य मधुरां पुरीम्।  
> रामपादौ निरीक्षेऽहं वर्षे द्वादश आगते॥ १६॥

Then at the commencement of the twelfth year, having established the city Madhurā, he thought ‘I shall see the feet of Śrī Rāma.’ (16)

> ततः स ताममरपुरोपमां पुरीं  
> निवेश्य वै विविधजनाभिसंवृताम्।  
> नराधिपो रघुपतिपाददर्शने  
> दधे मतिं रघुकुलवंशवर्धनः॥ १७॥

Then establishing that city, resembling a celestial one, Śatrughna filling it with men of various types, the enhancer of Raghu’s family, considered it appropriate to see Śrī Rāma’s feet. (17)

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

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