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.
स त्वं हत्वा मधुसुतं लवणं पापनिश्चयम् । राज्यं प्रशाधि धर्मेण वाक्यं मे यद्यवेक्षसे ।। ७.६२.
Therefore, after slaying Lavaṇa, son of Madhu, intent on evil, rule the kingdom righteously, if you heed my words.
उत्तरं च न वक्तव्यं शूर वाक्यान्तरे मम । बालेन पूर्वजस्याज्ञा कर्तव्या नात्र संशयः ।। ७.६२.
No further word should be spoken, O hero, in response to my command; the younger must obey the elder's order—of this there is no doubt.
अभिषेकं च काकुत्स्थ प्रतीच्छस्व मयोद्यतम् । वसिष्ठप्रमुखैर्विप्रैर्विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ।। ७.६२.
Accept the consecration, O descendant of Kakutstha, which I have prepared for you, performed according to ritual and mantra by Vasiṣṭha and the foremost Brahmins.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे द्विषष्टितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the sixty-second sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण परां व्रीडामुपागमत् । शत्रुघ्नो वीर्यसम्पन्नो मन्दं मन्दमुवाच ह ।। ७.६३.
Thus addressed by Rāma, Shatrughna, endowed with valor, felt deep embarrassment and spoke softly, slowly.
अधर्मं विद्म काकुत्स्थ ह्यस्मिन्नर्थे नरेश्वर । कथं तिष्ठत्सु ज्येष्ठेषु कनीयानभिषिच्यते ।। ७.६३.
We know this is unrighteous, O descendant of Kakutstha, in this matter, O king—how can the younger be anointed while the elders are present?
अवश्यं करणीयं च शासनं पुरुषर्षभ । तव चैव महाभाग शासनं दुरतिक्रमम् ।। ७.६३.
Yet your command must certainly be carried out, O best of men, for your order, O most illustrious one, is not to be transgressed.
त्वत्तो मया श्रुतं वीर श्रुतिभ्यश्च मया श्रुतम् । नोत्तरं हि मया वाच्यं मध्यमे प्रतिजानति ।। ७.६३.
O hero, I have heard from you, and I have also heard from the scriptures; I must not speak any further, for the middle one has made his vow.
व्याहृतं दुर्वचो घोरं हन्तास्मि लवणं मृधे । तस्यैवं मे दुरुक्तस्य दुर्गतिः पुरुषर्षभ ।। ७.६३.
I have uttered harsh and dreadful words: I will slay Lavaṇa in battle; for such harsh speech, O best among men, misfortune is mine.
उत्तरं नहि वक्तव्यं ज्येष्ठेनाभिहिते पुनः । अधर्मसहितं चैव परलोकविवर्जितम् ।। ७.६३.
A reply should not be spoken again when the elder has already spoken; it is accompanied by unrighteousness and devoid of merit in the next world.