---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 81"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-81"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 81

> तदद्भुततमं वाक्यं श्रुत्वागस्त्यस्य राघवः।  
> गौरवाद् विस्मयाच्चैव भूयः प्रष्टुं प्रचक्रमे॥ १॥

Hearing that most wonderful and marvellous story, narrated by Agastya, Śrī Rāma asked him again, full of dismay and reverence. (1)

> भगवंस्तद् वनं घोरं तपस्तप्यति यत्र सः।  
> श्वेतो वैदर्भको राजा कथं तदमृगद्विजम्॥ २॥

“Sir, how was that fearful forest, where the Vaidarbhaka king Śweta was performing penances, devoid of animals and birds. (2)

> तद् वनं स कथं राजा शून्यं मनुजवर्जितम्।  
> तपश्चर्तुं प्रविष्टः स श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः॥ ३॥

“I wish to know in detail how that king entered that forest, which was barren and uninhabited by men, to perform penances.” (3)

> रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा कौतूहलसमन्वितम्।  
> वाक्यं परमतेजस्वी वक्तुमेवोपचक्रमे॥ ४॥

Hearing the words of Śrī Rāma uttered out of curiosity, the highly powerful one, Agastya, spoke thus: (4)

> पुरा कृतयुगे राम मनुर्दण्डधरः प्रभुः।  
> तस्य पुत्रो महानासीदिक्ष्वाकुः कुलनन्दनः॥ ५॥

“In the former Kṛtayuga, Manu (Vaivasvata) was the king. His son, a joy to his family, was the famous Ikṣvāku. (5)

> तं पुत्रं पूर्वकं राज्ये निक्षिप्य भुवि दुर्जयम्।  
> पृथिव्यां राजवंशानां भव कर्तेत्युवाच तम्॥ ६॥

“Placing the first son, Ikṣvāku, unconquerable on the earth, incharge of the kingdom, Manu said to him: ‘Be the progenitor of all royal families.’ (6)

> तथैव च प्रतिज्ञातं पितुः पुत्रेण राघव।  
> ततः परमसंतुष्टो मनुः पुत्रमुवाच ह॥ ७॥

“Then, O descendant of Raghu, the son promised to do so and being fully satisfied Manu addressed him thus. (7)

> प्रीतोऽस्मि परमोदार कर्ता चासि न संशयः।  
> दण्डेन च प्रजा रक्ष मा च दण्डमकारणे॥ ८॥

“O noble one, I am pleased, you will be the forerunner of all royal families, there is no doubt. By punishment as a sign of authority protect the subjects; do not mete out unnecessary punishments. (8)

> अपराधिषु यो दण्डः पात्यते मानवेषु वै।  
> स दण्डो विधिवन्मुक्तः स्वर्गं नयति पार्थिवम्॥ ९॥

“That form of punishment, which is meted out to the guilty men, being given in proper manner, leads the king to heaven. (9)

> तस्माद् दण्डे महाबाहो यत्नवान् भव पुत्रक।  
> धर्मो हि परमो लोके कुर्वतस्ते भविष्यति॥ १०॥

“Therefore, O dear son of long arms, make efforts to mete out punishment according to prescriptions in the Śāstras. Resorting to just punishment properly, you will attain great righteousness.” (10)

> इति तं बहु संदिश्य मनुः पुत्रं समाधिना।  
> जगाम त्रिदिवं हृष्टो ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्॥ ११॥

Thus, having instructed him, Manu, pleased with himself, went to the eternal abode of Brahmā through Samādhi (trance). (11)

> प्रयाते त्रिदिवं तस्मिन्निक्ष्वाकुरमितप्रभः।  
> जनयिष्ये कथं पुत्रानिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्॥ १२॥

When Manu had left for heaven, Ikṣvāku of unlimited brilliance, fell to thinking, ‘How shall I produce sons?’ (12)

> कर्मभिर्बहुरूपैश्च तैस्तैर्मनुसुतस्तदा।  
> जनयामास धर्मात्मा शतं देवसुतोपमान्॥ १३॥

Through true actions of many types, then the son of Manu, the pious one, procreated the hundred sons, comparable with the sons of the gods. (13)

> तेषामवरजस्तात सर्वेषां रघुनन्दन।  
> मूढश्चाकृतविद्यश्च न शुश्रूषति पूर्वजान्॥ १४॥  
> नाम तस्य च दण्डेति पिता चक्रेऽल्पमेधसः।  
> अवश्यं दण्डपतनं शरीरेऽस्य भविष्यति॥ १५॥

The youngest one of them, was ignorant, and illiterate and did not serve his elders. His father gave him, dull-witted son, the name ‘Daṇḍa’, thinking that physical punishment shall certainly be the fate of this one (son). (14-15)

> अपश्यमानस्तं देशं घोरं पुत्रस्य राघव।  
> विन्ध्यशैवलयोर्मध्ये राज्यं प्रादादरिंदम॥ १६॥

“Not seeing any territory fully fearful, the father gave him the kingdom situated between the Vindhya and Śaivala mountains. (16)

> स दण्डस्तत्र राजाभूद् रम्ये पर्वतरोधसि।  
> पुरं चाप्रतिमं राम न्यवेशयदनुत्तमम्॥ १७॥

“That Daṇḍa became the king of that territory situated at the foot of the mountains and established a city unmatched and the best (among the cities). (17)

> पुरस्य चाकरोन्नाम मधुमन्तमिति प्रभो।  
> पुरोहितं तूशनसं वरयामास सुव्रतम्॥ १८॥

“Daṇḍa named the city Madhumanta, O lord, and chose as his chief priest Uśanā, rich in vows. (18)

> एवं स राजा तद् राज्यमकरोत् सपुरोहितः।  
> प्रहृष्टमनुजाकीर्णं देवराजो यथा दिवि॥ १९॥

“Thus that king, Daṇḍa, ruled over that kingdom together with the chief priest, the Kingdom being filled with joyful men as the king of gods rules in the heaven. (19)

> ततः स राजा मनुजेन्द्रपुत्रः  
> सार्धं च तेनोशनसा तदानीम्।  
> चकार राज्यं सुमहान्महात्मा  
> शक्रो दिवीवोशनसा समेतः॥ २०॥

“Then that King, Daṇḍa, the grandson of Manu, together with Uśana of great fame, ruled as a highly pious king, like Indra ruling over the gods.” (20)

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

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