७.५४.१
तथोक्ते तानृषीन्रामः प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः ।
किमाहारः किमाचारो लवणः क्व च वर्तते ॥
किमाहारः किमाचारो लवणः क्व च वर्तते ॥
Summary
AI
When the sages spoke, Rāma responded with folded hands, inquiring about Lavaṇa's diet, behavior, and where he resides.
M N Dutt
Thus accosted (by the sages), Rāma answered them with joined hands: "What does he live on? What are his ways? And where does Lavana live?"
७.५४.२
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषयः सर्व एव ते ।
ततो निवेदयामासुर्लवणो ववृधे यथा ॥
ततो निवेदयामासुर्लवणो ववृधे यथा ॥
Summary
AI
Upon hearing Rāghava's inquiry, all those sages described the manner in which Lavaṇa had grown powerful.
M N Dutt
Hearing Räghava's words, the sages informed him of the way in which Lavana increased in power.
७.५४.३
आहारः सर्वसत्त्वानि विशेषेण च तापसाः ।
आचारो रौद्रता नित्यं वासो मधुवने सदा ॥
आचारो रौद्रता नित्यं वासो मधुवने सदा ॥
Summary
AI
The sages explained that Lavaṇa feeds on all living beings, especially ascetics, behaves with constant ferocity, and always resides in Madhuvana.
M N Dutt
His food is every creature specially ascetics; his manner of life is regulated by ferocity and his constant home is Madhuvana.
७.५४.४
हत्वा दशसहस्राणि सिंहव्याघ्रमृगद्विपान् ।
मानुषांश्चैव कुरुते नित्यमाहारमाह्निकम् ॥
मानुषांश्चैव कुरुते नित्यमाहारमाह्निकम् ॥
Summary
AI
Killing ten thousand lions, tigers, deer, and elephants, as well as humans, he makes them his daily meal.
M N Dutt
Slaying constantly thousands on thousands of lions and tigers and deer, and birds and human beings, he provides his daily food (with their flesh.)
७.५४.५
ततोऽपराणि सत्त्वानि खादते स महाबलः ।
संहारे समनुप्राप्ते व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः ॥
संहारे समनुप्राप्ते व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः ॥
Summary
AI
That mighty demon devours other beings like the open-mouthed Antaka at the time of universal destruction.
M N Dutt
And like the Destroyer on the occasion of the universal dissolution, that one possessed of gigantic strength feeds on other creatures as well.
७.५४.६
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यमुवाच स महामुनीन् ।
घातयिष्यामि तद्रक्षो व्यपगच्छतु वो भयम् ॥
घातयिष्यामि तद्रक्षो व्यपगच्छतु वो भयम् ॥
Summary
AI
After hearing this, Rāghava told the great sages that he would slay the demon and that they should no longer fear.
M N Dutt
Hearing this, Rāghava spoke to the mighty ascetics: "I will slay that Raksasa. Let your depart."
७.५४.७
तथा तेषां प्रतिज्ञाय मुनीनामुग्रतेजसाम् ।
स भ्रातॄन्सहितान्सर्वानुवाच रघुनन्दनः ॥
स भ्रातॄन्सहितान्सर्वानुवाच रघुनन्दनः ॥
Summary
AI
Having given his word to those fiercely energetic sages, the descendant of Raghu spoke to all his brothers together.
M N Dutt
Having thus bound himself with that promise to the ascetics of fierce energy, Raghu's son along with his brothers spoke.
७.५४.८
को हन्ता लवणं वीराः कस्यांशः स विधीयताम् ।
भरतस्य महाबाहोः शत्रुघ्नस्याथ वा पुनः ॥
भरतस्य महाबाहोः शत्रुघ्नस्याथ वा पुनः ॥
Summary
AI
He asked his brothers, "O heroes, who will be the slayer of Lavaṇa? Shall this task be assigned to the mighty-armed Bharata or to Śatrughna?"
M N Dutt
What hero shall slay Lavana? Do you decide this. On whom shall devolve this duty? Whether the mighty armed Bharata or the intelligent Śatrughna shall (do this work?).
७.५४.९
राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु भरतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।
अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ममांशः स विधीयताम् ॥
अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ममांशः स विधीयताम् ॥
Summary
AI
Addressed thus by Rāghava, Bharata declared that he would kill the demon and requested the task be assigned to him.
M N Dutt
Thus addressed by Raghava Bharata remarked: "I will slay this. Let this task be entrusted to me."
७.५४.१०
भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शौर्यवीर्यसमन्वितम् ।
लक्ष्मणावरजस्तस्थौ हित्वा सौवर्णमासनम् ॥
लक्ष्मणावरजस्तस्थौ हित्वा सौवर्णमासनम् ॥
Summary
AI
Hearing Bharata's courageous and heroic words, the younger brother of Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, rose from his golden seat.
७.५४.११
शत्रुघ्नस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रणिपत्य नराधिपम् ।
कृतकर्मा महाबाहुर्मध्यमो रघुनन्दनः ॥
कृतकर्मा महाबाहुर्मध्यमो रघुनन्दनः ॥
Summary
AI
Prostrating before the king, Śatrughna remarked that the mighty-armed middle brother of the Raghu dynasty had already accomplished great deeds.
७.५४.१२
आर्येण हि पुरा शून्या अयोध्या रक्षिता पुरी ।
संतापं हृदये कृत्वा आर्यस्यागमनं प्रति ॥
संतापं हृदये कृत्वा आर्यस्यागमनं प्रति ॥
Summary
AI
He reminded Rāma that Bharata had previously protected the empty city of Ayodhyā while enduring great heart-felt agony awaiting Rāma's return.
७.५४.१३
दुःखानि च बहूनीह अनुभूतानि पार्थिव ।
शयानो दुःखशय्यासु नन्दिग्रामे महात्मना ॥
शयानो दुःखशय्यासु नन्दिग्रामे महात्मना ॥
Summary
AI
In Nandigrāma, that high-souled king Bharata experienced many sorrows while sleeping on a bed of grief.
M N Dutt
Undergoing many a hardship, o king, that illustrious one passed his days, lying down on a bed of sorrow, and living on fruits and roots, and wearing rags.
७.५४.१४
फलमूलाशनो भूत्वा जटाचीरधरस्तथा ।
अनुभूयेदृशं दुःखमेष राघवनन्दनः ।
प्रेष्ये मयि स्थिते राजन्न भूयः क्लेशमाप्नुयात् ॥
अनुभूयेदृशं दुःखमेष राघवनन्दनः ।
प्रेष्ये मयि स्थिते राजन्न भूयः क्लेशमाप्नुयात् ॥
Summary
AI
Living on fruits and roots and wearing matted hair and bark clothes, Bharata has already suffered much; Śatrughna insists that Bharata should not face further hardship while he is there to serve.
M N Dutt
Having suffered such misery, Raghu's son should not be suffered to undergo trouble, while, O king I his servant is by.
७.५४.१५
तथा ब्रुवति शत्रुघ्ने राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् ।
एवं भवतु काकुत्स्थ क्रियतां मम शासनम् ॥
एवं भवतु काकुत्स्थ क्रियतां मम शासनम् ॥
Summary
AI
As Śatrughna spoke thus, Rāghava replied, "O Kākutstha, let it be so. My command shall be executed."
७.५४.१६
राज्ये त्वामभिषेक्ष्यामि मधोस्तु नगरे शुभे ।
निवेशय महाबाहो भरतं यद्यवेक्षसे ॥
निवेशय महाबाहो भरतं यद्यवेक्षसे ॥
Summary
AI
Rāma declared he would consecrate Śatrughna as king in the beautiful city of Madhu, urging him to establish the kingdom if he truly cared for Bharata.
७.५४.१७
शूरस्त्वं कृतविद्यश्च समर्थः संनिवेशने ।
नगरं मधुना जुष्टं तथा जनपदाञ्शुभान् ॥
नगरं मधुना जुष्टं तथा जनपदाञ्शुभान् ॥
Summary
AI
Rāma praised Śatrughna as a brave and learned hero capable of establishing the city formerly enjoyed by Madhu along with its beautiful provinces.
७.५४.१८
यो हि वंशं समुत्पाट्य पार्थिवस्य पुनः क्षये ।
न विधत्ते नृपं तत्र नरकं स निगच्छति ॥
न विधत्ते नृपं तत्र नरकं स निगच्छति ॥
Summary
AI
Rāma explained that a leader who uproots a king’s lineage but fails to appoint a new ruler over the ruined territory goes to hell.
७.५४.१९
स त्वं हत्वा मधुसुतं लवणं पापनिश्चयम् ।
राज्यं प्रशाधि धर्मेण वाक्यं मे यद्यवेक्षसे ॥
राज्यं प्रशाधि धर्मेण वाक्यं मे यद्यवेक्षसे ॥
Summary
AI
Rāma commanded him to kill the evil-minded Lavaṇa, son of Madhu, and to rule the kingdom righteously according to his words.
७.५४.२०
उत्तरं च न वक्तव्यं शूर वाक्यान्तरे मम ।
बालेन पूर्वजस्याज्ञा कर्तव्या नात्र संशयः ॥
बालेन पूर्वजस्याज्ञा कर्तव्या नात्र संशयः ॥
Summary
AI
Rāma concluded by telling the hero not to argue further, stating that a younger brother must undoubtedly obey the command of the elder.
७.५४.२१
अभिषेकं च काकुत्स्थ प्रतीच्छस्व मयोद्यतम् ।
वसिष्ठप्रमुखैर्विप्रैर्विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ॥
वसिष्ठप्रमुखैर्विप्रैर्विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ॥
Summary
AI
O Kākutstha! Accept this consecration offered by me, which is performed by the brāhmaṇas led by Vasiṣṭha and sanctified by sacred rituals and mantras.
॥ इति उत्तरकाण्डे चतुःपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥
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