इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे त्रिचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Thus ends the forty-third sarga in the glorious Uttarakanda of the ancient and noble Ramayana composed by the sage Valmiki.
विसृज्य तु सुहृद्वर्गं बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य राघवः । समीपे द्वाःस्थमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ७.४४.
Having dismissed his circle of friends and resolved in his mind, Raghava spoke these words to the doorkeeper seated nearby.
शीघ्रमानय सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम् । भरतं च महाभागं शत्रुघ्नमपराजितम् ।। ७.४४.
Quickly bring Saumitri, Lakshmana of auspicious marks, and also the illustrious Bharata and the undefeated Shatrughna.
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा द्वाःस्थो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः । लक्ष्मणस्य गृहं गत्वा प्रविवेशानिवारितः ।। ७.४४.
Hearing Rama's command, the doorkeeper, with hands joined in reverence, went to Lakshmana's house and entered unimpeded.
उवाच सुमहात्मानं वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः । द्रष्टुमिच्छति राजा त्वां गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम् ।। ७.४४.
With joined palms, he respectfully addressed the great-souled one: 'The king wishes to see you; please go there without delay.'
बाढमित्येव सौमित्रिः श्रुत्वा राघवशासनम् । प्राद्रवद्रथमारुह्य राघवस्य निवेशनम् ।। ७.४४.
Hearing Raghava's order, Saumitri replied, 'Very well,' and, mounting his chariot, swiftly proceeded to Rama's residence.
प्रयान्तं लक्ष्मणं दृष्ट्वा द्वाःस्थो भरतमन्तिकात् । उवाच भरतं तत्र वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः ।। ७.४४.
Seeing Lakshmana departing, the doorkeeper approached Bharata and, with joined palms, addressed him there.
विनयावनतो भूत्वा राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति । भरतस्तु वचःश्रुत्वा द्वाःस्थाद्रामसमीरितम् ।। ७.४४.
Bowing with humility, he said, 'The king wishes to see you.' Hearing the words spoken by Rama through the doorkeeper—
उत्पपातासनात्तूर्णं पद्भ्यामेव ययौ बली । दृष्ट्वा प्रयान्तं भरतं त्वरमाणः कृताञ्जलिः ।। ७.४४.
Bharata, strong and swift, immediately sprang up from his seat and went on foot. Seeing Bharata departing, the doorkeeper, hurrying with joined palms—
शत्रुघ्नभवनं गत्वा ततो वाक्यमुवाच ह । एह्यागच्छ रघुश्रेष्ठ राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति ।। ७.४४.
Went to Shatrughna's house and spoke these words: 'Come, O best of the Raghus, the king wishes to see you.'
गतो हि लक्ष्मणः पूर्वं भरतश्च महायशाः । श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य शत्रुघ्नः परमासनात् ।। ७.४४.
'Lakshmana has already gone, and the illustrious Bharata as well.' Hearing these words, Shatrughna rose from his excellent seat.
शिरसा धरणीं प्राप्य प्रययौ यत्र राघवः । द्वाःस्थस्त्वागम्य रामाय सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः । निवेदयामास तदा भ्रातऽन्स्वान्समुपस्थितान् ।। ७.४४.
Touching the earth with his head, he went to where Raghava was. The doorkeeper, arriving, reported to Rama with joined palms that all his brothers had come.
कुमारानागताञ्छ्रुत्वा चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः । अवाङ्मुखो दीनमना द्वाःस्थं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ७.४४.
Hearing that the princes had arrived, his senses troubled with anxious thought, Rama, downcast and dejected in mind, spoke to the doorkeeper.
प्रवेशय कुमारांस्त्वं मत्समीपं त्वरान्वितः । एतेषु जीवितं मह्यमेते प्राणाः प्रिया मम ।। ७.४४.
'Quickly admit the princes to my presence; in them is my life, they are dearer to me than breath itself.'
आज्ञप्तास्तु नरेन्द्रेण कुमाराः शक्रतेजसः । प्रह्वाः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा विविशुस्ते समाहिताः ।। ७.४४.
Commanded by the king, the princes, radiant as Indra, entered with joined palms, humble and composed.
ते तु दृष्ट्वा मुखं तस्य सग्रहं शशिनं यथा । सन्ध्यागतमिवादित्यं प्रभया परिवर्जितम् ।। ७.४४.
But seeing his face, troubled like the moon seized by Rahu, like the sun at dusk deprived of its brilliance—
बाष्पपूर्णे च नयने दृष्ट्वा रामस्य धीमतः । हतशोभं यथा पद्मं मुखं वीक्ष्य च तस्य ते ।। ७.४४.
And seeing the wise Rama's eyes filled with tears, his face, its beauty lost like a lotus, they gazed upon him.
ततो ऽभिवाद्य त्वरिताः पादौ रामस्य मूर्धभिः । तस्थुः समाहिताः सर्वे रामस्त्वश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ।। ७.४४.
Then, quickly bowing with their heads at Rāma’s feet, all of them stood attentively; Rāma wiped away his tears.
तान्परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यामुत्थाप्य च महाबलः । आसनेष्वासतेत्युक्त्वा ततो वाक्यं जगाद ह ।। ७.४४.
The mighty Rāma embraced them with his arms, raised them up, and, having said, 'Be seated,' he then spoke these words.
भवन्तो मम सर्वस्वं भवन्तो जीवितं मम । भवद्भिश्च कृतं राज्यं पालयामि नरेश्वराः ।। ७.४४.
You are my everything; you are my very life. It is by your actions that I rule this kingdom, O lords of men.
भवन्तः कृतशास्त्रार्था बुद्ध्या च परिनिष्ठिताः । सम्भूय च मदर्थो ऽयमन्वेष्टव्यो नरेश्वराः ।। ७.४४.
You are accomplished in the meaning of the scriptures and established in wisdom; gathered together, you must seek out this matter for my sake, O kings.
तथा वदति काकुत्स्थे अवधानपरायणाः । उद्विग्नमनसः सर्वे किं नु राजाभिधास्यति ।। ७.४४.
As the descendant of Kakutstha spoke thus, all, intent on attention and anxious at heart, wondered what the king would say.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Thus ends the forty-fourth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
तेषां समुपविष्टानां सर्वेषां दीनचेतसाम् । उवाच वाक्यं काकुत्स्थो मुखेन परिशुष्यता ।। ७.४५.
As they all sat, their hearts dejected, Kakutstha spoke words with a parched mouth.
सर्वे शृणुत भद्रं वो मा कुरुध्वं मनो ऽन्यथा । पौराणां मम सीतायां यादृशी वर्तते कथा ।। ७.४५.
Hear me, all of you—may good befall you! Do not let your minds stray, regarding the story about Sītā that circulates among the citizens.
पौरापवादः सुमहांस्तथा जनपदस्य च । वर्तते मयि बीभत्सा सा मे मर्माणि कृन्तति ।। ७.४५.
A great reproach is spoken among the townspeople and likewise in the countryside about me, a vile rumor that cuts me to the core.
अहं किल कुले जात इक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम् । सीता ऽपि सत्कुले जाता जनकानां महात्मनाम् ।। ७.४५.
I was indeed born in the noble line of the great Ikṣvākus, and Sītā too was born in the honored house of the great Janakas.
जानासि त्वं यथा सौम्य दण्डके विजने वने । रावणेन हृता सीता स च विध्वंसितो मया ।। ७.४५.
You know well, gentle one, how Sītā was taken by Rāvaṇa in the lonely Daṇḍaka forest, and how I destroyed him.
तत्र मे बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना जनकस्य सुतां प्रति । अत्रोषितामिमां सीतामानयेयं कथं पुरीम् ।। ७.४५.
There, a thought arose in me concerning Janaka’s daughter: how could I bring Sītā, who had stayed there, back to the city?
प्रत्ययार्थं ततः सीता विवेश ज्वलनं तदा । प्रत्यक्षं तव सौमित्रे देवानां हव्यवाहनः । अपापां मैथिलीमाह वायुश्चाकाशगोचरः ।। ७.४५.
Then, for the sake of proof, Sītā entered the fire; in your presence, O Saumitri, the fire-god, witness of the gods, and the wind, who moves through the sky, declared the daughter of Mithilā to be pure.