Uttara Kanda, Sarga 78
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। अवाक्शिरास्तथाभूतो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥ १॥
Meaning
Hearing those words of Śrī Rāma capable of doing anything with ease, remaining with the head downwards, he (the ascetic) replied: (1)
शूद्रयोन्यां प्रजातोऽस्मि तप उग्रं समास्थितः। देवत्वं प्रार्थये राम सशरीरो महायशः॥ २॥
Meaning
‘O famous one, I am born in the line of the Śūdra caste, and have resorted to great penance. I desire godhood, O Śrī Rāma, with this body. (2)
न मिथ्याहं वदे राम देवलोकजिगीषया। शूद्रं मां विद्धि काकुत्स्थ शम्बूकं नाम नामतः॥ ३॥
Meaning
‘I do not speak untruth as I wish to conquer the world of the gods, know me as Śūdra, Śambūka by name, O scion of the Kakutsthas, Śrī Rāma.’ (3)
भाषतस्तस्य शूद्रस्य खड्गं सुरुचिरप्रभम्। निष्कृष्य कोशाद् विमलं शिरश्चिच्छेद राघवः॥ ४॥
Meaning
On this the descendant of Raghu, taking out dazling sword from its sheath, chopped off the head of the Śūdra, while he was speaking thus. (4)
तस्मिञ्शूद्रे हते देवाः सेन्द्राः साग्निपुरोगमाः। साधुसाध्विति काकुत्स्थं ते शशंसुर्मुहुर्मुहुः॥ ५॥
Meaning
On the Śūdra being killed, the gods headed by Agni together with Indra repeatedly praised the scion of the Kakutsthas saying: ‘Well done.’ (5)
पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद् दिव्यानां सुसुगन्धिनाम्। पुष्पाणां वायुमुक्तानां सर्वतः प्रपपात ह॥ ६॥
Meaning
A shower of very fragrant divine flowers, carried by the wind, fell from all sides. (6)
सुप्रीताश्चाब्रुवन् रामं देवाः सत्यपराक्रमम्। सुरकार्यमिदं देव सुकृतं ते महामते॥ ७॥
Meaning
The gods highly pleased said to Śrī Rāma of true valour: ‘O king, O wise one, you have done this wonderful job for gods. (7)
गृहाण च वरं सौम्य यं त्वमिच्छस्यरिंदम। स्वर्गभाङ् नहि शूद्रोऽयं त्वत्कृते रघुनन्दन॥ ८॥
Meaning
‘Take whatever boon you desire, O Subjugator of foes, due to your good deed this Śūdra will not attain heaven, O descendant of Raghu’. (8)
देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं सहस्राक्षं पुरंदरम्॥ ९॥
Meaning
Hearing the words of the gods, Śrī Rāma of true valour spoke to Indra the destroyer of enemy fortresses thus: (9)
यदि देवाः प्रसन्ना मे द्विजपुत्रः स जीवतु। दिशन्तु वरमेतं मे ईप्सितं परमं मम॥ १०॥
Meaning
“If the gods are pleased, may that son of the Brāhmaṇa come back to life, grant me this boon, this is the best and most coveted boon for me. (10)
ममापचाराद् बालोऽसौ ब्राह्मणस्यैकपुत्रकः। अप्राप्तकालः कालेन नीतो वैवस्वतक्षयम्॥ ११॥
Meaning
“The only child of the Brāhmaṇa was taken to the abode of Yama, the son of Vivasvān, untimely due to my some wrongful doing. (11)
तं जीवयत भद्रं वो नानृतं कर्तुमर्हथ। द्विजस्य संश्रुतोऽर्थो मे जीवयिष्यामि ते सुतम्॥ १२॥
Meaning
“So please bring the child to life again, may welfare be with you. ‘I shall bring your child back to life,’ thus I have promised to the Brāhmaṇa. May my words not be untrue.” (12)
राघवस्य तु तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा विबुधसत्तमाः। प्रत्यूचू राघवं प्रीता देवाः प्रीतिसमन्वितम्॥ १३॥
Meaning
Hearing these words of Śrī Rāma, the best among the gods, highly pleased, replied to the descendant of Raghu: (13)
निर्वृतो भव काकुत्स्थ सोऽस्मिन्नहनि बालकः। जीवितं प्राप्तवान् भूयः समेतश्चापि बन्धुभिः॥ १४॥
Meaning
‘Be contended, O Scion of Kakutstha, that child has come back to life and joined his kinsmen. (14)
यस्मिन् मुहूर्ते काकुत्स्थ शूद्रोऽयं विनिपातितः। तस्मिन् मुहूर्ते बालोऽसौ जीवेन समयुज्यत॥ १५॥
Meaning
‘The moment the Śūdra was killed, that very moment this child came to life. (15)
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते साधु याम नरर्षभ। अगस्त्यस्याश्रमपदं द्रष्टुमिच्छाम राघव॥ १६॥
Meaning
‘Hail to Thee, we wish your welfare; now we may proceed, O bull among men, O descendant of Raghu, we wish to see the hermitage of Agastya. (16)
तस्य दीक्षा समाप्ता हि ब्रह्मर्षेः सुमहाद्युतेः। द्वादशं हि गतं वर्षं जलशय्यां समासतः॥ १७॥
Meaning
‘The brilliant one, the initiation (vow) of that Ṛṣi (sage) among Brāhmaṇas, Agastya, has come to an end, twelfth year he has passed observing the vow of sleeping on the water. (17)
काकुत्स्थ तद् गमिष्यामो मुनिं समभिनन्दितुम्। त्वं चापि गच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुं तमृषिसत्तमम्॥ १८॥
Meaning
‘Therefore, O scion of Kakutstha, we shall go to applaud the sage, you too should go to see that great sage; we wish your welfare!’(18)
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय देवानां रघुनन्दनः। आरुरोह विमानं तं पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम्॥ १९॥
Meaning
‘The descendant of the Raghus, Śrī Rāma, having promised to do so, ascended the chariot, Puṣpaka, ornamented with gold. (19)
ततो देवाः प्रयातास्ते विमानैर्बहुविस्तरैः। रामोऽप्यनुजगामाशु कुम्भयोनेस्तपोवनम्॥ २०॥
Meaning
Then the gods proceeded on spacious Vimānas, planes : Śrī Rāma too followed them soon to the hermitage of the pitcher-born, Agastya. (20)
दृष्ट्वा तु देवान् सम्प्राप्तानगस्त्यस्तपसां निधिः। अर्चयामास धर्मात्मा सर्वांस्तानविशेषतः॥ २१॥
Meaning
Seeing the gods arrived, Agastya, the repository of penances, the holy one, worshipped all of them without discrimination. (21)
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां सम्पूज्य च महामुनिम्। जग्मुस्ते त्रिदशा हृष्टा नाकपृष्ठं सहानुगाः॥ २२॥
Meaning
Accepting the worship and adoring the great sage, Agastya, the gods highly pleased went away to the upper-most heaven together with their followers. (22)
गतेषु तेषु काकुत्स्थः पुष्पकादवरुह्य च। ततोऽभिवादयामास अगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्॥ २३॥
Meaning
After the gods had departed, the scion of Kakutstha descending from Puṣpaka, made obeisance to the great sage, Agastya. (23)
सोऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा। आतिथ्यं परमं प्राप्य निषसाद नराधिपः॥ २४॥
Meaning
Śrī Rāma paid obeisance to the noble sage, effulgent with the Tapa of austerity and having received the best hospitality, took his seat. (24)
तमुवाच महातेजाः कुम्भयोनिर्महातपाः। स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव॥ २५॥
Meaning
Agastya, the sage of great penances, said to Śrī Rāma : ‘Welcome to you, best among men, O descendant of Raghu, it is my fortune that you have come. (25)
त्वं मे बहुमतो राम गुणैर्बहुभिरुत्तमैः। अतिथिः पूजनीयश्च मम राजन् हृदि स्थितः॥ २६॥
Meaning
“By your excellent virtues you are worthy of adoration as my honoured guest, O king, you always dwell in my heart. (26)
सुरा हि कथयन्ति त्वामागतं शूद्रघातिनम्। ब्राह्मणस्य तु धर्मेण त्वया जीवापितः सुतः॥ २७॥
Meaning
“The gods say that You have come here after killing the Śūdra and by your righteous act, (of killing the Śūdra) You have thus restored to life the son of the Brāhmaṇa. (27)
उष्यतां चेह रजनीं सकाशे मम राघव। प्रभाते पुष्पकेण त्वं गन्तासि पुरमेव हि॥ २८॥ त्वं हि नारायणः श्रीमांस्त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्। त्वं प्रभुः सर्वदेवानां पुरुषस्त्वं सनातनः॥ २९॥
Meaning
“Stay one night with me, O descendant of Raghu, You are Nārāyaṇa (the abode of all souls), and all is established in You. You are lord of all the gods, the eternal Puruṣa, You may, indeed, go back to your city at dawn. (28-29)
इदं चाभरणं सौम्य निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा। दिव्यं दिव्येन वपुषा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा॥ ३०॥
Meaning
“This divine ornament glowing with its own divine lusture, O gracious one, has been made by Viśvakarmā (the divine artisan). (30)
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व काकुत्स्थ मत्प्रियं कुरु राघव। दत्तस्य हि पुनर्दाने सुमहत् फलमुच्यते॥ ३१॥
Meaning
“Please accept this, O scion of Kakutstha, for my pleasure, a gift when offered again constitutes great merit. (31)
भरणे हि भवाञ्शक्तः फलानां महतामपि। त्वं हि शक्तस्तारयितुं सेन्द्रानपि दिवौकसः॥ ३२॥ तस्मात् प्रदास्ये विधिवत् तत् प्रतीच्छ नराधिप। अथोवाच महात्मानमिक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः॥ ३३॥ रामो मतिमतां श्रेष्ठः क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्। प्रतिग्रहोऽयं भगवन् ब्राह्मणस्याविगर्हितः॥ ३४॥
Meaning
“You are worthy of wearing this ornament. You indeed are capable of giving precious gifts, and also protecting the gods together with Indra. Therefore, duly I give this to you, please accept it.” The wisest among the wise, the great charioteer of Ikṣvāku dynasty, Śrī Rāma while aware of his Kṣatriya duties, asked the Mahātmā: “Sir, accepting donation is not prohibited only for Brāhmaṇas. (32—34)
क्षत्रियेण कथं विप्र प्रतिग्राह्यं भवेत् ततः। प्रतिग्रहो हि विप्रेन्द्र क्षत्रियाणां सुगर्हितः॥ ३५॥ ब्राह्मणेन विशेषेण दत्तं तद् वक्तुमर्हसि। एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण प्रत्युवाच महानृषिः॥ ३६॥
Meaning
“O best among the Brāhmaṇas, it is strictly prohibited for the Kṣatriya to accept any charitable gift. It is more so in case a Brāhmaṇa is the donor. Kindly explain.” Having been thus enquired by Śrī Rāma, the great sage Agastya said in reply: (35-36)
आसन् कृतयुगे राम ब्रह्मभूते पुरायुगे। अपार्थिवाः प्रजाः सर्वाः सुराणां तु शतक्रतुः॥ ३७॥
Meaning
“O Śrī Rāma! In the times during the Satyayuga, an age of Brahma, all the subjects were without a king. Later on Indra was declared as king of gods. (37)
ताः प्रजा देवदेवेशं राजार्थं समुपाद्रवन्। सुराणां स्थापितो राजा त्वया देव शतक्रतुः॥ ३८॥ प्रयच्छास्मासु लोकेश पार्थिवं नरपुङ्गवम्। यस्मै पूजां प्रयुञ्जाना धूतपापाश्चरेमहि॥ ३९॥
Meaning
Then people went to god Brahmā in order to have a king and prayed to him, ‘O Lord, you have appointed Indra as king of gods. Similarly, for us also provide a worthy man as our king, so that worshipping him we could move about in the world, becoming free of sins. (38-39)
न वसामो विना राज्ञा एष नो निश्चयः परः। ततो ब्रह्मा सुरश्रेष्ठो लोकपालान् सवासवान्॥ ४०॥ समाहूयाब्रवीत् सर्वांस्तेजोभागान् प्रयच्छत। ततो ददुर्लोकपालाः सर्वे भागान् स्वतेजसः॥ ४१॥
Meaning
‘We shall not live without a king, This is our supreme decision.’ Then Brahmā, the highest god, after calling the guardians of regions alongwith Indra, said: ‘All of you give me a portion of your authority.’ Then all the guardians gave away a portion of their power. (40-41)
अक्षुपच्च ततो ब्रह्मा यतो जातः क्षुपो नृपः। तं ब्रह्मा लोकपालानां समांशैः समयोजयत्॥ ४२॥
Meaning
‘Then Brahmā sneezed, whence was born king Kṣupa. Brahmā invested him with the entire might of the guardians (of regions given away by them). (42)
ततो ददौ नृपं तासां प्रजानामीश्वरं क्षुपम्। तत्रैन्द्रेण च भागेन महीमाज्ञापयन्नृपः॥ ४३॥
Meaning
Then he made Kṣupa the ruling king of the people. Kṣupa after becoming king ruled the earth by virtue of the portion of the might given by Indra. (43)
वारुणेन तु भागेन वपुः पुष्यति पार्थिवः। कौबेरेण तु भागेन वित्तपाभां ददौ तदा॥ ४४॥ यस्तु याम्योऽभवद् भागस्तेन शास्ति स्म स प्रजाः। तत्रैन्द्रेण नरश्रेष्ठ भागेन रघुनन्दन॥ ४५॥ प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते तारणार्थं मम प्रभो। तद् रामः प्रतिजग्राह मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः॥ ४६॥ दिव्यमाभरणं चित्रं प्रदीप्तमिव भास्करम्। प्रतिगृह्य ततो रामस्तदाभरणमुत्तमम्॥ ४७॥ आगमं तस्य दीप्तस्य प्रष्टुमेवोपचक्रमे। अत्यद्भुतमिदं दिव्यं वपुषा युक्तमद्भुतम्॥ ४८॥ कथं वा भवता प्राप्तं कुतो वा केन वाऽऽहृतम्। कौतूहलतया ब्रह्मन् पृच्छामि त्वां महायशः॥ ४९॥ आश्चर्याणां बहूनां हि निधिः परमको भवान्। एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्॥ ५०॥ शृणु राम यथावृत्तं पुरा त्रेतायुगे युगे॥ ५१॥
Meaning
The king nourished the people by the portion of power given to him by Varuṇa. By the portion of the mighty Kubera, he then, lent to the people the glory of Kubera, the Lord of riches. By the portion of Yama he devised punishment to the people as and when they committed sin(s). ‘O Śrī Rāma, the foremost among men! (as king, you are also invested with the might of the guardians of regions). For my deliverance accept this ornament through the portion (of the might) of Indra, O Lord ! Prosperity be unto you !’ Then Śrī Rāma accepted the divine ornament, bright like the sun, given by the high-souled hermit, and asked about his acquisition of the ornament. ‘O Eminent Brāhmaṇa ! How and from where did you acquire this divine and wonderful ornament? I am asking this out of curiosity, as you are a great repository of wonders.’ After Śrī Rāma enquired of, the sage said to Śrī Rāma, ‘Listen, O Śrī Rāma, what happened in the old Tretā age.’ (44—51)
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