thumb|सप्तसप्ततितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे सप्तसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥१-
This is the seventy-seventh sarga; listen.
गते रामे प्रशान्तात्मा रामो दाशरथिर्धनुः। वरुणायाप्रमेयाय ददौ हस्ते महायशाः
When Rāma had departed, the tranquil-minded Rāma, son of Daśaratha, with great fame, placed the bow into the hands of the immeasurable Varuṇa.
अभिवाद्य ततो रामो वसिष्ठप्रमुखानृषीन्। पितरं विकलं दृष्ट्वा प्रोवाच रघुनन्दनः
Then Rāma, after bowing to the sages led by Vasiṣṭha, saw his father distressed and spoke to him, the delight of the Raghu line.
जामदग्न्यो गतो रामः प्रयातु चतुरंगिणी। अयोध्याभिमुखी सेना त्वया नाथेन पालिता
Jāmadagnya Rāma has gone; let the fourfold army now proceed towards Ayodhyā, protected by you as its lord.
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दशरथः सुतम्। बाहुभ्यां सम्परिष्वज्य मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय राघवम्
Hearing Rāma's words, King Daśaratha embraced his son Rāghava with both arms and kissed his head.
गतो राम इति श्रुत्वा हृष्टः प्रमुदितो नृपः। पुनर्जातं तदा मेने पुत्रमात्मानमेव च
Hearing that Rāma had departed, the king was delighted and overjoyed; at that moment, he felt as if his son and himself had been born anew.
चोदयामास तां सेनां जगामाशु ततः पुरीम्। पताकाध्वजिनीं रम्यां तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिताम्
He ordered the army to advance and swiftly went to the city, beautiful with banners and flags, resounding with the noise of drums and musical instruments.
सिक्तराजपथारम्यां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्। राजप्रवेशसुमुखैः पौरैर्मङ्गलपाणिभिः
The royal road was sprinkled and lovely, strewn with heaps of flowers, and the townspeople, auspicious in hand, greeted the king at the entrance.
सम्पूर्णां प्राविशद् राजा जनौघैः समलंकृताम्। पौरैः प्रत्युद्गतो दूरं द्विजैश्च पुरवासिभिः
The king entered the city, filled and adorned with crowds of people, welcomed from afar by citizens, Brahmins, and city dwellers.
पुत्रैरनुगतः श्रीमान् श्रीमद्भिश्च महायशाः। प्रविवेश गृहं राजा हिमवत्सदृशं प्रियम्
Accompanied by his sons and glorious companions, the illustrious king entered his beloved palace, splendid as Mount Himavat.
ननन्द स्वजनै राजा गृहे कामैः सुपूजितः। कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च कैकेयी च सुमध्यमा
The king rejoiced with his own people in the house, honored with every desire fulfilled; Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and the fair-waisted Kaikeyī also rejoiced.
वधूप्रतिग्रहे युक्ता याश्चान्या राजयोषितः। ततः सीतां महाभागामूर्मिलां च यशस्विनीम्
Engaged in welcoming the brides, as were the other royal women, they then received Sītā, greatly fortunate, and the illustrious Urmilā.
कुशध्वजसुते चोभे जगृहुर्नृपयोषितः। मंगलालापनैर्होमैः शोभिताः क्षौमवाससः
The royal women took both daughters of Kuśadhvaja, adorned with auspicious words and offerings, clad in fine garments.
देवतायतनान्याशु सर्वास्ताः प्रत्यपूजयन्। अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांश्च सर्वा राजसुतास्तदा
All of them quickly worshipped the shrines of the gods, and at that time, all the royal sons paid respects to those worthy of respect.
रेमिरे मुदिताः सर्वा भर्तृभिर्मुदिता रहः। कृतदाराः कृतास्त्राश्च सधनाः ससुहृज्जनाः
All the women, joyful, delighted in private with their husbands, having accomplished marriage, skilled in arms, possessing wealth and friends.
शुश्रूषमाणाः पितरं वर्तयन्ति नरर्षभाः। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य राजा दशरथः सुतम्
The best of men, attentive to their father, served him; then, after some time, King Daśaratha said to his son—
भरतं कैकयीपुत्रमब्रवीद् रघुनन्दनः। अयं केकयराजस्य पुत्रो वसति पुत्रक
To Bharata, son of Kaikeyī, the delight of the Raghu line spoke: 'This is the son of the king of Kekaya, residing here, dear son.'
त्वां नेतुमागतो वीरो युधाजिन्मातुलस्तव। श्रुत्वा दशरथस्यैतद् भरतः कैकयीसुतः
'Your heroic maternal uncle Yudhājit has come to take you.' Hearing this from Daśaratha, Bharata, son of Kaikeyī—
गमनायाभिचक्राम शत्रुघ्नसहितस्तदा। आपृच्छ्य पितरं शूरो रामं चाक्लिष्टकारिणम्
Then, accompanied by Shatrughna, the hero set out to depart, having taken leave of his father and Rama, the doer of untroubled deeds.
मातॄश्चापि नरश्रेष्ठः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ। युधाजित् प्राप्य भरतं सशत्रुघ्नं प्रहर्षितः
Along with Shatrughna, the best among men went to his mothers; Yudhajit, upon finding Bharata and Shatrughna, was greatly delighted.
स्वपुरं प्राविशद् वीरः पिता तस्य तुतोष ह। गते च भरते रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः
The hero entered his own city, and his father was pleased; with Bharata departed, Rama and the mighty Lakshmana remained.
पितरं देवसंकाशं पूजयामासतुस्तदा। पितुराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य पौरकार्याणि सर्वशः
At that time, they honored their father, who was like a god; placing their father's command foremost, they carried out all the duties of the citizens.
चकार रामः सर्वाणि प्रियाणि च हितानि च। मातृभ्यो मातृकार्याणि कृत्वा परमयन्त्रितः
Rama performed all that was pleasing and beneficial; having fulfilled the duties toward his mothers, he acted with utmost restraint.
गुरूणां गुरुकार्याणि काले कालेऽन्ववैक्षत। एवं दशरथः प्रीतो ब्राह्मणा नैगमास्तथा
He attended to the duties owed to his teachers at the proper times; thus, Dasharatha was pleased, as were the Brahmins and townsfolk.
रामस्य शीलवृत्तेन सर्वे विषयवासिनः। तेषामतियशा लोके रामः सत्यपराक्रमः
Because of Rama's character and conduct, all the inhabitants of the realm were delighted; Rama, steadfast in truth and valor, became renowned among them.
स्वयंभूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः। रामश्च सीतया सार्धं विजहार बहूनृतून्
Rama became the most virtuous among beings, like the self-born creator; together with Sita, he enjoyed many seasons.
मनस्वी तद्गतमनास्तस्या हृदि समर्पितः। प्रिया तु सीता रामस्य दाराः पितृकृता इति
He was thoughtful, his mind fixed upon her, and she was placed in his heart; Sita, dear to Rama, was his wife, chosen by his father.
गुणाद्रूपगुणाच्चापि प्रीतिर्भूयोऽभिवर्धते। तस्याश्च भर्ता द्विगुणं हृदये परिवर्तते
Because of her virtues and beauty, affection grew ever stronger; and her husband occupied twice the place in her heart.
अन्तर्गतमपि व्यक्तमाख्याति हृदयं हृदा। तस्य भूयो विशेषेण मैथिली जनकात्मजा। देवताभिः समा रूपे सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी
Even what is hidden is revealed, as heart speaks to heart; especially for him, the Maithili, daughter of Janaka, equal to the gods in form, Sita, radiant like fortune herself.
तया स राजर्षिसुतोऽभिकामया। समेयिवानुत्तमराजकन्यया। अतीव रामः शुशुभे मुदान्वितो विभुः श्रिया विष्णुरिवामरेश्वरः
With her, the royal sage's son, full of desire, united with the noble princess; Rama shone greatly, filled with joy, like Vishnu, lord of immortals, radiant with fortune.