भार्गवच्यवनं चैव पुरस्कृत्य महर्षयः । दर्शनं ते महाराज्ञश्चोदयन्ति कृतत्वराः । प्रीयमाणा नरव्याघ्र यमुनातीरवासिनः ।। ७.६०.
Led by Bhārgava Cyavana, the great sages, eager and delighted, dwellers on the banks of the Yamunā, urge for an audience with you, O great king.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामः प्रोवाच धर्मवित् । प्रवेश्यन्तां महाभागा भार्गवप्रमुखा द्विजाः ।। ७.६०.
Hearing these words, Rāma, knower of dharma, said: 'Let the illustrious Brāhmaṇas, with Bhārgava at their head, be admitted.'
राज्ञस्त्वाज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य द्वाःस्थो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः । प्रवेशयामास तदा तापसान्सुदुरासदान् ।। ७.६०.
With the king’s command, the doorkeeper, palms joined on his head, ushered in those ascetics—difficult to approach.
शतं समधिकं तत्र दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा । प्रविष्टं राजभवनं तापसानां महात्मनाम् ।। ७.६०.
There entered the royal palace more than a hundred ascetics of great soul, shining with their own radiance.
ते द्विजाः पूर्णकलशैः सर्वतीर्थाम्बुसत्कृतैः । गृहीत्वा फलमूलं च रामस्याभ्याहरन्बहु ।। ७.६०.
Those Brāhmaṇas, carrying full water pots filled with water from all sacred fords, and bearing fruits and roots, brought many offerings to Rāma.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं रामः प्रीतिपुरस्कृतः । तीर्थोदकानि सर्वाणि फलानि विविधानि च ।। ७.६०.
Rāma, filled with joy, graciously accepted all the sacred waters and the various fruits.
उवाच च महाबाहुः सर्वानेव महामुनीन् । इमान्यासनमुख्यानि यथार्हमुपविश्यताम् ।। ७.६०.
The mighty-armed Rāma then addressed all the great sages: 'Here are the chief seats—please be seated as is fitting.'
रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा सर्व एव महर्षयः । बृसीषु रुचिराख्यासु निषेदुः काञ्चनीषु ते ।। ७.६०.
Hearing Rāma’s words, all the great sages sat down upon the beautiful golden seats called bṛsīs.
उपविष्टानृषींस्तत्र दृष्ट्वा परपुरञ्जयः । प्रयतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा राघवो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ७.६०.
Seeing those sages seated there, the conqueror of enemy cities, Rāghava, with joined palms and self-restraint, spoke these words:
किमागमनकार्यं वः किं करोमि समाहितः । आज्ञाप्यो ऽहं महर्षीणां सर्वकामकरः सुखम् ।। ७.६०.
'For what purpose have you come? What shall I do with full attention? I am to be commanded by the great sages, able to fulfill every wish for your comfort.'
इदं राज्यं च सकलं जीवितं च हृदि स्थितम् । सर्वमेतद्द्विदार्थं मे सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः ।। ७.६०.
'This entire kingdom, and my very life, are held in my heart for your sake alone. This is the truth I speak to you.'
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा साधुकारो महानभूत् । ऋषीणामुग्रतपसां यमुनातीरवासिनाम् ।। ७.६०.
Hearing these words of his, a great acclamation arose among the sages of fierce austerity, dwellers on the banks of the Yamunā.
ऊचुश्च ते महात्मानो हर्षेण महता वृताः । उपपन्नं नरश्रेष्ठ तवैव भुवि नान्यतः ।। ७.६०.
And those great souls, filled with great joy, said: 'O best of men, such conduct is fitting for you alone on earth, not for any other.'
बहवः पार्थिवा राजन्नतिक्रान्ता महाबलाः । कार्यस्य गौरवं मत्वा प्रतिज्ञां नाभ्यरोचयन् ।। ७.६०.
Many kings, O ruler, powerful though they were, refrained from making a promise, considering the gravity of the matter.
त्वया पुनर्ब्राह्मणगौरवादियं कृता प्रतिज्ञा ह्यनवेक्ष्य कारणम् । ततश्च कर्ता ह्यसि नात्र संशयो महाभयात्ऺत्रातुमृषींस्त्वमर्हसि ।। ७.६०.
But you, out of respect for the Brāhmaṇas, made this promise without considering the reason; therefore, you must act—there is no doubt—so you should save the sages from great danger.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षष्टितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the sixtieth sarga of the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa in the venerable Rāmāyaṇa, the first poem, composed by Vālmīki.
एवं ब्रुवद्भिर्ऋषिभिः काकुत्स्थो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । किं कार्यं ब्रूत मुनयो भयं तावदपैतु वः ।। ७.६१.
As the sages spoke thus, Kakutstha addressed them: 'Tell me what must be done, O sages, so that your fear may be dispelled.'
तथा ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे भार्गवो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । भयानां शृणु यन्मूलं देशस्य च नरेश्वर ।। ७.६१.
As Kakutstha spoke in this way, Bhārgava said: 'Listen, king, to the root of these fears and of this land.'
पूर्वं कृतयुगे राजन्दैतेयः सुमहाबलः । लोलापुत्रो ऽभवज्ज्येष्ठो मधुर्नाम महासुरः ।। ७.६१.
In the former Kṛta Yuga, O king, there was a mighty Daitya, the eldest son of Lolatā, named Madhu, a great Asura.
ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च बुद्ध्या च परिनिष्ठितः । सुरैश्च परमोदारैः प्रीतिस्तस्यातुला ऽभवत् ।। ७.६१.
He was devoted to the Brāhmaṇas, a giver of refuge, and steadfast in wisdom; the most generous of the gods held him in incomparable affection.
स मधुर्वीर्यसम्पन्नो धर्मे च सुसमाहितः । बहुवर्षसहस्राणि रुद्रप्रीत्या ऽकरोत्तपः ।। ७.६१.
That Madhu, endowed with great strength and firmly established in righteousness, performed austerities for many thousands of years to please Rudra.
रुद्रः प्रीतो ऽभवत्तस्मै वरं दातुं ययौ च सः । बहुमानाच्च रुद्रेण दत्तस्तस्याद्भुतो वरः ।। ७.६१.
Rudra, being pleased, came to grant him a boon; and out of great respect, Rudra gave him a wondrous boon.
शूलं शूलाद्विनिष्कृष्य महावीर्यं महाप्रभम् । ददौ महात्मा सुप्रीतो वाक्यं चैतदुवाच ह ।। ७.६१.
Drawing forth a trident, mighty and radiant, from his own trident, the great-souled one, well-pleased, gave it to him and spoke these words.
त्वयायमतुलो धर्मो मत्प्रसादकरः कृतः । प्रीत्या परमया युक्तो ददाम्यायुधमुत्तमम् ।। ७.६१.
Because you have performed this incomparable act of righteousness, pleasing to me, with utmost devotion, I give you this supreme weapon.
यावत्सुरैश्च विप्रैश्च न विरुध्येर्महासुर । तावच्छूलं तवेदं स्यादन्यथा नाशमेप्यति ।। ७.६१.
As long as you do not act against the gods or Brāhmaṇas, O great Asura, this trident will remain yours; otherwise, it will surely be destroyed.
यश्च त्वामभियुञ्जीत युद्धाय विगतज्वरः । तं शूलो भस्मसात्कृत्वा पुनरेष्यति ते करम् ।। ७.६१.
And whoever attacks you in battle, without fear, this trident will reduce him to ashes and then return to your hand.
एवं रुद्राद्वरं लब्ध्वा भूय एव महासुरः । प्रणिपत्य महादेवं वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.६१.
Having thus received the boon from Rudra, the great Asura again bowed to Mahādeva and spoke these words.
भगवन्मम वंशस्य शूलमेतदनुत्तमम् । भवेत्तु सततं देव सुराणामीश्वरो ह्यसि ।। ७.६१.
'Lord, may this supreme trident always belong to my lineage, for you are indeed the lord of the gods.'
तं ब्रुवाणं मधुं देवः सर्वभूतपतिः शिवः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजा नैतदेवं भविष्यति ।। ७.६१.
To Madhu, as he spoke thus, the god Śiva, lord of all beings, replied with great brilliance: 'It shall not be so.'
मा भूत्ते विफला वाणी मत्प्रसादकृता शुभा । भवतः पुत्रमेकं तु शूलमेतद्भजिष्यते ।। ७.६१.
'Let not your words, spoken through my favor, be fruitless; but only one son of yours shall possess this trident.'