७.६८.१
पुरा त्रेतायुगे ह्यासीदरण्यं बहुविस्तरम् ।
समन्ताद्योजनशतं निर्मृगं पक्षिवर्जितम् ॥
समन्ताद्योजनशतं निर्मृगं पक्षिवर्जितम् ॥
Summary
AI
Long ago, in the *Tretāyuga*, there was a vast forest extending for a hundred *yojanas* in every direction, devoid of animals and bereft of birds.
M N Dutt
O Răma, in Tretāage, there was a huge forest extending over hundred Yojanas divested of animals and men.
७.६८.२
तस्मिन्निर्मानुषेऽरण्ये कुर्वाणस्तप उत्तमम् ।
अहमाक्रमितुं सौम्य तदरण्यमुपागमम् ॥
अहमाक्रमितुं सौम्य तदरण्यमुपागमम् ॥
Summary
AI
O gentle one, while performing supreme penance, I entered that uninhabited forest to reside there.
M N Dutt
In that forest of without men I used to perform my austere penances. Once on a time I began to roam all over the forest being willing to see well every nook and corner of it. And I saw that it was impossible to ascertain how very pleasant that forest was. In every place there were trees with profuse sweet fruits. and roots.
७.६८.३
तस्य रूपमरण्यस्य निर्देष्टुं न शशाक ह ।
फलमूलैः सुखास्वादैर्बहुरूपैश्च पादपैः ॥
फलमूलैः सुखास्वादैर्बहुरूपैश्च पादपैः ॥
Summary
AI
It was impossible to fully describe the beauty of that forest, which was filled with various types of trees and delicious fruits and roots.
M N Dutt
In that forest of without men I used to perform my austere penances. Once on a time I began to roam all over the forest being willing to see well every nook and corner of it. And I saw that it was impossible to ascertain how very pleasant that forest was. In every place there were trees with profuse sweet fruits. and roots.
७.६८.४
तस्यारण्यस्य मध्ये तु सरो योजनमायतम् ।
पद्मोत्पलसमाकीर्णं समतिक्रान्तशैवलम् ॥
पद्मोत्पलसमाकीर्णं समतिक्रान्तशैवलम् ॥
Summary
AI
In the middle of that forest lay a lake one *yojana* long, crowded with lotuses and lilies, and entirely free from moss.
७.६८.५
तदाश्चर्यमिवात्यर्थं सुखास्वादमनुत्तमम् ।
अरजस्कं तथाक्षोभ्यं श्रीमत्पक्षिगणायुतम् ॥
अरजस्कं तथाक्षोभ्यं श्रीमत्पक्षिगणायुतम् ॥
Summary
AI
The lake was exceedingly wonderful, of incomparable taste, free from dust, undisturbed, and filled with beautiful flocks of birds.
७.६८.६
तस्मिन्सरःसमीपे तु महदद्भुतमाश्रमम् ।
पुराणं पुण्यमत्यर्थं तपस्विजनवर्जितम् ॥
पुराणं पुण्यमत्यर्थं तपस्विजनवर्जितम् ॥
Summary
AI
Near that lake stood a grand, wonderful, ancient, and highly sacred hermitage, though it was then abandoned by ascetics.
७.६८.७
तत्राहमवसं रात्रिं नैदाघीं पुरुषर्षभ ।
प्रभाते काल्यमुत्थाय सरस्तदुपचक्रमे ॥
प्रभाते काल्यमुत्थाय सरस्तदुपचक्रमे ॥
Summary
AI
O best of men, I spent a summer night there. Rising early in the morning, I approached that lake.
M N Dutt
O best among the men, it was summer and I spent that night in that hermitage. Next morning leaving my bed I arrived at the banks of the pond and saw a plump dead body in the waters. None of its limbs was pale and its beauty was not spoiled.
७.६८.८
अथापश्यं शवं तत्र सुपुष्टमजरं क्वचित् ।
तिष्ठन्तं परया लक्ष्म्या तस्मिंस्तोयाशये नृप ॥
तिष्ठन्तं परया लक्ष्म्या तस्मिंस्तोयाशये नृप ॥
Summary
AI
O King, I then saw a well-nourished, undecaying corpse lying in a part of that lake, possessing great beauty.
M N Dutt
O best among the men, it was summer and I spent that night in that hermitage. Next morning leaving my bed I arrived at the banks of the pond and saw a plump dead body in the waters. None of its limbs was pale and its beauty was not spoiled.
७.६८.९
तमर्थं चिन्तयानोऽहं मुहूर्तं तत्र राघव ।
विष्ठितोऽस्मि सरस्तीरे किं न्विदं स्यादिति प्रभो ॥
विष्ठितोऽस्मि सरस्तीरे किं न्विदं स्यादिति प्रभो ॥
Summary
AI
O *Rāghava*, O Lord, wondering 'What could this be?', I stood on the shore of the lake for a moment, reflecting on that sight.
७.६८.१०
अथापश्यं मुहूर्तात्तु दिव्यमद्भुतदर्शनम् ।
विमानं परमोदारं हंसयुक्तं मनोजवम् ॥
विमानं परमोदारं हंसयुक्तं मनोजवम् ॥
Summary
AI
Then, after a moment, I saw a divine and wonderful celestial vehicle, exceedingly magnificent, drawn by swans and swift as thought.
७.६८.११
अत्यर्थं स्वर्गिणं तत्र विमाने रघुनन्दन ।
उपास्तेऽप्सरसां वीर सहस्रं दिव्यभूषणम् ।
गान्ति गेयानि रम्याणि वादयन्ति तथापराः ॥
उपास्तेऽप्सरसां वीर सहस्रं दिव्यभूषणम् ।
गान्ति गेयानि रम्याणि वादयन्ति तथापराः ॥
Summary
AI
O descendant of *Raghu*, O hero, a thousand *apsarases* adorned with divine ornaments were attending to a celestial being in that vehicle. Some sang beautiful songs while others played instruments.
७.६८.१२
पश्यतो मे तदा राम विमानादवरुह्य च ।
तं शवं भक्षयामास स स्वर्गी रघुनन्दन ॥
तं शवं भक्षयामास स स्वर्गी रघुनन्दन ॥
Summary
AI
O *Rāma*, O descendant of *Raghu*, as I watched, that celestial being descended from the vehicle and ate that corpse.
M N Dutt
O Rāma, the foremost of Raghu's race, like to the moon renouncing the summit of the Sumeru mount that celestial wight got down from his seat in the car and engaged in devouring the dead body.
७.६८.१३
ततो भुक्त्वा यथाकामं मांसं बहु च सुष्ठु च ।
अवतीर्य सरः स्वर्गी संस्प्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे ॥
अवतीर्य सरः स्वर्गी संस्प्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे ॥
Summary
AI
Having eaten his fill of the abundant and well-preserved flesh, the celestial being descended into the lake and began to perform his ablutions.
M N Dutt
And having taken enough flesh he got down into waters and duly performed ablution. O Rāma, there after that heavenly being again addressed himself for ascending the car.
७.६८.१४
उपस्पृश्य यथान्यायं स स्वर्गी पुरुषर्षभ ।
आरोढुमुपचक्राम विमानवरमुत्तमम् ॥
आरोढुमुपचक्राम विमानवरमुत्तमम् ॥
Summary
AI
O best of men, having sipped water according to the prescribed rules, that celestial being began to ascend his excellent and supreme vehicle.
७.६८.१५
तमहं देवसंकाशमारोहन्तमुदीक्ष्य वै ।
अथाहमब्रुवं वाक्यं तमेव पुरुषर्षभ ॥
अथाहमब्रुवं वाक्यं तमेव पुरुषर्षभ ॥
Summary
AI
O best of men, seeing that god-like being ascending his vehicle, I then spoke these words to him.
M N Dutt
O foremost of men, beholding that heavenly being about to get up I accosted him, saying, Who are you? I see, you have a celestial firm, then why have you taken such an abominable food?
७.६८.१६
को भवान्देवसंकाश आहारश्च विगर्हितः ।
त्वयायं भुज्यते सौम्य किं कर्थं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥
त्वयायं भुज्यते सौम्य किं कर्थं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥
Summary
AI
O god-like one, O gentle one, who are you? This loathsome food is being consumed by you. You ought to tell me what this is and why this is happening.
M N Dutt
O foremost of men, beholding that heavenly being about to get up I accosted him, saying, Who are you? I see, you have a celestial firm, then why have you taken such an abominable food?
७.६८.१७
आश्चर्यमीदृशो भावो भास्वरो देवसंमतः ।
आहारो गर्हितः सौम्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥
आहारो गर्हितः सौम्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥
Summary
AI
O gentle one, it is a wonder that you possess such a radiant and divine appearance, yet your diet is so despicable. I wish to hear the truth of this matter.
॥ इति उत्तरकाण्डे अष्टषष्टितमः सर्गः ॥
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