यावत्करस्थः शूलो ऽयं भविष्यति सुतस्य ते । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां शूलहस्तो भविष्यति ।। ७.६१.
'As long as this trident is in your son's hand, he will be invincible to all beings—he who holds the trident.'
एवं मधुर्वरं लब्ध्वा देवात्सुमहदद्भुतम् । भवनं सो ऽसुरश्रेष्ठः कारयामास सुप्रभम् ।। ७.६१.
Thus, having obtained that wondrous and supreme boon from the god, that foremost of asuras caused a splendid palace to be constructed.
तस्य पत्नी महाभागा प्रिया कुम्भीनसीति या । विश्वावसोरपत्यं सा ह्यनलायां महाप्रभा ।। ७.६१.
His greatly fortunate and beloved wife was Kumbhīnasī, the illustrious daughter of Viśvāvasu and the radiant Analā.
तस्याः पुत्रो महावीर्यो लवणो नाम दारुणः । बाल्यात्प्रभृति दुष्टात्मा पापान्येव समाचरत् ।। ७.६१.
Her son, fierce and mighty, was named Lavaṇa; from childhood he was wicked in nature and always engaged in evil deeds.
तं पुत्रं दुर्विनीतं तु दृष्ट्वा क्रोधसमन्वितः । मधुः स शोकमापेदे न चैनं किञ्चिदब्रवीत् ।। ७.६१.
Seeing his son undisciplined, Madhu, filled with anger and sorrow, did not speak a word to him.
स विहाय त्विमं लोकं प्रविष्टो वरुणालयम् । शूलं निवेश्य लवणे वरं तस्मै न्यवेदयत् ।। ७.६१.
Abandoning this world, he entered the abode of Varuṇa, placing the spear with Lavaṇa and granting him the boon.
स प्रभावेण शूलस्य दौरात्म्येनात्मनस्तथा । सन्तापयति लोकांस्त्रीन्विशेषेण च तापसान् ।। ७.६१.
By the power of that spear and his own wickedness, he torments the three worlds, especially the ascetics.
एवंप्रभावो लवणः शूलं चैव तथाविधम् । श्रुत्वा प्रमाणं काकुत्स्थ त्वं हि नः परमा गतिः ।। ७.६१.
Such is the might of Lavaṇa and the nature of that spear; having heard this account, O descendant of Kakutstha, you are indeed our supreme refuge.
बहवः पार्थिवा राम भयार्तैर्ऋषिभिः पुरा । अभयं याचिता वीर त्रातारं न च विद्महे ।। ७.६१.
Many kings, O Rāma, were once entreated by terrified sages for protection, but, O hero, we have found no savior.
ते वयं रावणं श्रुत्वा हतं सबलवाहनम् । त्रातारं विद्महे तात नान्यं भुवि नराधिपम् । तत्परित्रातुमिच्छामो लवणाद्भयपीडितान् ।। ७.६१.
Hearing that Rāvaṇa, with his forces and vehicles, has been slain, O dear one, we know you alone as protector among men on earth; therefore, we wish you to deliver us, afflicted by the fear of Lavaṇa.
इति राम निवेदितं तु ते भयजं कारणमुत्थितं च यत् । विनिवारयितुं भवान्क्षमः कुरु तं काममहीनविक्रम ।। ७.६१.
Thus, O Rāma, we have presented to you the cause of our fear that has arisen; you alone are able to remove it—fulfill this wish with your heroic might.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकषष्टितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the sixty-first sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa, composed by the sage Vālmīki.
तथोक्ते तानृषीन्रामः प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः । किमाहारः किमाचारो लवणः क्व च वर्तते ।। ७.६२.
When this was spoken, Rāma, with joined palms, addressed those sages: 'What is Lavaṇa's food, what is his conduct, and where does he dwell?'
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषयः सर्व एव ते । ततो निवेदयामासुर्लवणो ववृधे यथा ।। ७.६२.
Hearing the words of Rāghava, all those sages then began to recount how Lavaṇa had grown.
आहारः सर्वसत्त्वानि विशेषेण च तापसाः । आचारो रौद्रता नित्यं वासो मधुवने तथा ।। ७.६२.
His food is all living beings, especially ascetics; his conduct is ever cruel, and his dwelling is in Madhuvana.
हत्वा बहुसहस्राणि सिंहव्याघ्रमृगद्विपान् । मानुषांश्चैव कुरुते नित्यमाहारमाह्निकम् ।। ७.६२.
Having slain many thousands of lions, tigers, deer, and elephants, as well as humans, he makes them his daily food.
ततो ऽन्तराणि सत्त्वानि खादते स महाबलः । संहारे समनुप्राप्ते व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः ।। ७.६२.
Thereafter, that mighty one devours the creatures in between, and when destruction approaches, he appears like Death with gaping mouth.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यमुवाच स महामुनीन् । घातयिष्यामि तद्रक्षो ह्यपगच्छतु वो भयम् ।। ७.६२.
Hearing this, Rāghava spoke to those great sages: 'I will slay that rākṣasa; let your fear depart.'
प्रतिज्ञाय तथा तेषां मुनीनामुग्रतेजसाम् । स भ्रातऽन्सहितान्सर्वानुवाच रघुनन्दनः ।। ७.६२.
Having thus pledged to those sages of fierce energy, the descendant of Raghu addressed all his brothers together.
को हन्ता लवणं वीरः कस्यांशः स विधीयताम् । भरतस्य महाबाहोः शत्रुघ्नस्य च धीमतः ।। ७.६२.
Who will slay Lavaṇa, the valiant one? To whom shall this task be assigned—Bharata, mighty-armed, or wise Shatrughna?
राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु भरतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ममांशः स विधीयताम् ।। ७.६२.
Thus addressed by Rāghava, Bharata spoke these words: 'I will kill him; let this task be assigned to me.'
भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा धैर्यशौर्यसमन्वितम् । लक्ष्मणावरजस्तस्थौ हित्वा सौवर्णमासनम् ।। ७.६२.
Hearing Bharata's words, full of courage and heroism, Shatrughna, the younger brother of Lakṣmaṇa, stood up, leaving his golden seat.
शत्रुघ्नस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रणिपत्य नराधिपम् । कृतकर्मा महाबाहुर्मध्यमो रघुनन्दनः ।। ७.६२.
Shatrughna, having accomplished his duties, mighty-armed and the middle son, bowed to the king and spoke these words.
आर्येण हि पुरा शून्या त्वयोध्या परिपालिता । सन्तापं हृदये कृत्वा आर्यस्यागमनं प्रति ।। ७.६२.
O noble one, in former times, Ayodhyā was protected by you while empty, bearing sorrow in your heart, awaiting your elder's return.
दुःखानि च बहूनीह ह्यनुभूतानि पार्थिव । शयानो दुःखशय्यासु नन्दिग्रामे ऽवसत्पुरा ।। ७.६२.
And many hardships were endured here, O king, lying on beds of suffering, dwelling in Nandigrāma in those days.
फलमूलाशनो भूत्वा जटी चीरधरस्तथा । अनुभूयेदृशं दुःखमेष राघवनन्दनः । प्रेष्ये मयि स्थिते राजन्न भूयः क्लेशमाप्नुयात् ।। ७.६२.
Living on fruits and roots, wearing matted hair and bark garments—such suffering was experienced by this son of Raghu. If I remain as your servant, O king, let him not again encounter hardship.
तथा ब्रुवति शत्रुघ्ने राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् । एवं भवतु काकुत्स्थ क्रियतां मम शासनम् ।। ७.६२.
As Shatrughna spoke thus, Rāghava replied again: 'So be it, descendant of Kakutstha; let my command be carried out.'
राज्ये त्वामभिषेक्ष्यामि मधोस्तु नगरे शुभे । निवेशय महाबाहो भरतं यद्यवेक्षसे ।। ७.६२.
I will anoint you as king in the auspicious city of Madhurā; mighty-armed one, settle Bharata there if you so desire.
शूरस्त्वं कृतविद्यश्च समर्थश्च निवेशने ।। ७.६२.
You are brave, accomplished in knowledge, and capable of establishing the settlement.
यो हि शत्रुं समुत्पाट्य पार्थिवस्य पुनः क्षये । न विधत्ते नृपं तत्र नरकं स हि गच्छति ।। ७.६२.
For he who, having uprooted the enemy and restored the king's realm, does not install a ruler there—he surely goes to hell.