तत्र देवान्पितऽन्विप्रानर्चयित्वा यथाविधि । बाह्यकक्षान्तरं रामो निर्जगाम जनैर्वृतः ।। ७.३७.
There, having worshipped the gods, ancestors, and brahmins according to the proper rites, Rāma departed to the outer chamber, surrounded by people.
उपतस्थुर्महात्मानो मन्त्रिणः सपुरोहिताः । वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे दीप्यमाना इवाग्नयः ।। ७.३७.
The great-souled ministers, together with the chief priest Vasiṣṭha and all the others, attended him, shining like blazing fires.
क्षत्रियाश्च महात्मानो नानाजनपदेश्वराः । रामस्योपाविशन्पार्श्वे शक्रस्येव यथा ऽमराः ।। ७.३७.
And the great-souled kṣatriyas, lords of various lands, sat beside Rāma, as the immortals do beside Indra.
भरतो लक्ष्मणश्चात्र शत्रुघ्नश्च महायशाः । उपासाञ्चक्रिरे हृष्टा वेदास्त्रय इवाध्वरम् ।। ७.३७.
There, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, and the illustrious Śatrughna, joyful, attended him like the three Vedas at a sacrifice.
याताः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा किङ्करा मुदिताननाः । मुदिता नाम पार्श्वस्था बहवः समुपाविशन् ।। ७.३७.
The servants, with joyful faces and joined palms, approached and sat nearby; many, called the Joyful Ones, sat close by.
वानराश्च महावीर्या विंशतिः कामरूपिणः । सुग्रीवप्रमुखा राममुपासन्ते महौजसः ।। ७.३७.
And twenty mighty vanaras, able to assume any form at will, led by Sugrīva and possessed of great energy, attended upon Rāma.
विभीषणश्च रक्षोभिश्चतुर्भिः परिवारितः । उपासते महात्मानं धनेशमिव गुह्यकाः ।। ७.३७.
Vibhīṣaṇa, surrounded by four rākṣasas, attended the great-souled one, as the guhyakas attend the Lord of Wealth.
तथा निगमवृद्धाश्च कुलीना ये च मानवाः । शिरसा ऽ ऽवन्द्य राजानमुपासन्ते विचक्षणाः ।। ७.३७.
Likewise, the venerable elders of the scriptures, the noble-born, and the wise men, bowing their heads, attended the king.
तथा परिवृतो राजा श्रीमद्भिर्ऋषिभिर्वृतः । राजभिश्च महावीर्यैर्वानरैश्च सराक्षसैः ।। ७.३७.
Thus surrounded, the king, graced by illustrious sages, by mighty kings, by vanaras, and by all the rākṣasas, shone forth.
यथा देवेश्वरो नित्यमृषिभिः समुपास्यते । अधिकस्तेन रूपेण सहस्राक्षाद्विरोचते ।। ७.३७.
Just as the lord of the gods is always worshipped by the sages, so, in that form, he shines forth more brilliantly than Indra with a thousand eyes.
तेषां समुपविष्टानां तास्ताः सुमधुराः कथाः । कथ्यन्ते धर्मसंयुक्ताः पुराणज्ञैर्महात्मभिः ।। ७.३७.
As they sit together, those very sweet stories are told, filled with righteousness, by the great souls who know the ancient lore.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तत्रिंशः सर्गः
Thus ends the thirty-seventh chapter in the glorious Uttarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the ancient epic composed by sage Valmiki.
एवमास्ते महाबाहुरहन्यहनि राघवः । प्रशासत्सर्वकार्याणि पौरजानपदेषु च ।। ७.३८.
Thus, the mighty-armed Raghava remained, day after day, governing all affairs among the citizens and the people of the land.
ततः कतिपयाहःसु वैदेहं मिथिलाधिपम् । राघवः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.३८.
Then, after a few days, Raghava, with joined palms, spoke these words to Vaideha, the king of Mithila.
भवान्हि गतिरव्यग्रा भवता पालिता वयम् । भवतस्तेजसोग्रेण रावणो निहतो मया ।। ७.३८.
You are indeed our unwavering refuge; we are protected by you. By the fierce power of your energy, Ravana was slain by me.
इक्ष्वाकूणां च सर्वेषां मैथिलानां च सर्वशः । अतुलाः प्रीतयो राजन्सम्बन्धकपुरोगमाः ।। ७.३८.
Among all the Ikshvakus and all the people of Mithila, O king, there are incomparable bonds of affection, led by kinship.
तद्भवान्स्वपुरं यातु रत्नान्यादाय पार्थिव । भरतश्च सहायार्थं पृष्ठतस्ते ऽनुयास्यति ।। ७.३८.
Therefore, O ruler, return to your own city, taking your jewels with you. Bharata will follow behind you as your companion.
स तथेति नृपः कृत्वा राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । प्रीतो ऽस्मि भवतो राजन्दर्शनेन नयेन च ।। ७.३८.
He agreed, and the king spoke to Raghava: 'I am pleased by your kingship and by seeing you, O king.'
यान्येतानि तु रत्नानि मदर्थं सञ्चितानि वै । दुहित्रे तानि वै राजन्सर्वाण्येव ददामि च ।। ७.३८.
But these jewels, which have been gathered for my sake, O king, I give all of them to my daughter.
एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थं जनको हृष्टमानसः । प्रययौ मिथिलां श्रीमांस्तमनुज्ञाय राघवम् ।। ७.३८.
Having spoken thus to Kakutstha, Janaka, with a joyful heart, departed for glorious Mithila, after taking leave of Raghava.
ततः प्रयाते जनके केकयं मातुलं प्रभुः । राघवः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.३८.
After Janaka departed, Raghava, with joined palms, spoke these words to his maternal uncle, the lord of Kekaya.
इदं राज्यमहं चैव भरतश्च सलक्ष्मणः । आयत्तास्त्वं हि नो राजन्गतिश्च पुरुषर्षभ ।। ७.३८.
This kingdom, myself, Bharata, and Lakshmana are all dependent on you, O king, and our path as well, best of men.
राजा हि वृद्धः सन्तापं त्वदर्थमुपयास्यति । तस्माद्गमनमद्यैव रोचते तव पार्थिव ।। ७.३८.
The king is aged and will come to you out of concern for your sake; therefore, O ruler, it is fitting for you to depart today.
लक्ष्मणेनानुयात्रेण पृष्ठतो ऽनुगमिष्यते । धनमादाय विपुलं रत्नानि विविधानि च ।। ७.३८.
With Lakshmana accompanying you, you will follow behind, taking abundant wealth and various jewels.
युधाजित्तु तथेत्याह गमनं प्रति राघवम् । रत्नानि च धनं चैव त्वय्येवाक्षय्यमस्त्विति ।। ७.३८.
Yudhajit agreed to Raghava regarding the departure, saying, 'May the jewels and wealth remain inexhaustible with you.'
प्रदक्षिणं स राजानं कृत्वा केकयवर्धनः । रामेण हि कृतः पूर्वमभिवाद्य प्रदक्षिणम् ।। ७.३८.
Having circumambulated the king, the lord of Kekaya, after first being saluted and circumambulated by Rama, departed.
लक्ष्मणेन सहायेन प्रयातः केकयेश्वरः । हते ऽसुरे यथा वृत्रे विष्णुना सह वासवः ।। ७.३८.
Accompanied by Lakshmana, the lord of Kekaya departed, just as Indra departed with Vishnu after the demon Vritra was slain.
तं विसृज्य ततो रामो वयस्यमकुतोभयम् । प्रतर्दनं काशिपतिं परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत् ।। ७.३८.
Then, having dismissed him, Rāma embraced his fearless friend, Pratardana, king of Kāśī, and spoke these words:
दर्शिता भवता प्रीतिर्दर्शितं सौहृदं परम् । उद्योगश्च कृतो राजन्भरतेन त्वया सह ।। ७.३८.
You have shown affection, you have shown the highest friendship, and, O king, you have made efforts together with Bharata.
तद्भवानद्य काशेय पुरीं वाराणसीं व्रज । रमणीयां त्वया गुप्तां सुप्रकाशां सुतोरणाम् ।। ७.३८.
Therefore, O prince of Kāśī, now return to your city Vārāṇasī, beautiful, well-guarded by you, splendid and with grand gateways.