कुशमुष्टिमुपादाय लवं चैव तु स द्विजः । वाल्मीकिः प्रददौ ताभ्यां रक्षां भूतविनाशिनीम् ।। ७.६६.
Taking a handful of kuśa grass and also some lava, the sage Vālmīki gave to them a protective rite that destroys evil beings.
यस्तयोः पूर्वजो जातः स कुशैर्मन्त्रसत्कृतैः । निर्मार्जनीयस्तु तदा कुश इत्यस्य नाम तत् ।। ७.६६.
The elder of the two, who was consecrated with mantras along with kuśa grass, was then to be purified and thus received the name Kuśa.
यश्चावरो भवेत्ताभ्यां लवेन स समाहितः । निर्मार्जनीयो वृद्धाभिर्लव इत्येव नामतः ।। ७.६६.
The younger, who was consecrated with lava, was to be purified by the elder women and thus received the name Lava.
एवं कुशलवौ नाम्ना तावुभौ यमजातकौ । मत्कृताभ्यां च नामभ्यां ख्यातियुक्तौ भविष्यतः ।। ७.६६.
Thus, the two sons born to Sītā were named Kuśa and Lava; by the names I have given, they will become renowned.
तां रक्षां जगृहुस्ताश्च मुनिहस्तात्समाहिताः । अकुर्वंश्च ततो रक्षां तयोर्विगतकल्मषाः ।। ७.६६.
They received that protective rite from the sage’s hand with concentration, and then, purified of all stain, they performed the protective rite.
तथा तां क्रियमाणां च वृद्धाभिर्जन्म नाम च । सङ्कीर्तनं च रामस्य सीतायाः प्रसवौ शुभौ ।। ७.६६.
As that rite was being performed by the elder women, there was mention of their birth, the naming, and the auspicious birth of Sītā’s sons, along with the recitation of Rāma’s name.
अर्धरात्रे तु शत्रुघ्नः शुश्राव सुमहत्प्रियम् । पर्णशालां ततो गत्वा मातर्दिष्ट्येति चाब्रवीत् ।। ७.६६.
At midnight, Śatrughna heard exceedingly joyful news; going to the leaf-hut, he said to his mother, 'By good fortune!'
तथा तस्य प्रहृष्टस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । व्यतीता वार्षिकी रात्रिः श्रावणी लघुविक्रमः ।। ७.६६.
Thus, for the delighted and noble Śatrughna, the annual night of the month of Śrāvaṇa, swift in its passing, elapsed.
प्रभाते सुमहावीर्यः कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकीं क्रियाम् । मुनिं प्राञ्जलिरामन्त्र्य ययौ पश्चान्मुखः पुनः ।। ७.६६.
At dawn, the mighty one, having performed the morning rites, respectfully took leave of the sage with joined palms and then departed, facing west.
स गत्वा यमुनातीरं सप्तरात्रोषितः पथि । ऋषीणां पुण्यकीर्तीनामाश्रमे वासमभ्ययात् ।। ७.६६.
Having reached the bank of the Yamunā and spent seven nights on the journey, he arrived at the hermitage of the sages of holy renown.
स तत्र मुनिभिः सार्धं भार्गवप्रमुखैर्नृपः । कथाभिरभिरूपाभिर्वासं चक्रे महायशाः ।। ७.६६.
There, together with the sages led by Bhārgava, the illustrious king spent his time in delightful conversations.
स काञ्चनाद्यैर्मुनिभिः समेतो रघुप्रवीरो रजनीं तदानीम् । कथाप्रकारैर्बहुभिर्महात्मा विरामयामास नरेन्द्रसूनुः ।। ७.६६.
Then, surrounded by sages adorned with gold ornaments, the heroic scion of Raghu, the noble son of the king, passed the night with many kinds of stories.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षट्षष्टितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the sixty-sixth sarga of the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa in the ancient and sacred Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
अथ रात्र्यां प्रवृत्तायां शत्रुघ्नो भृगुनन्दनम् । पप्रच्छ च्यवनं विप्रं लवणस्य यथा बलम् ।। ७.६७.
Then, as night fell, Śatrughna questioned Cyavana, the descendant of Bhṛgu, about the strength of Lavaṇa.
शूलस्य च बलं ब्रह्मन्के च पूर्वं विनाशिताः । अनेन शूलमुख्येन द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागताः ।। ७.६७.
O Brāhmaṇa, tell me also the power of the spear, and who were previously destroyed by this foremost of spears when they engaged in single combat.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाश्च्यवनो रघुनन्दनम् ।। ७.६७.
Hearing those words of Śatrughna, the great-souled one, Cyavana, radiant in energy, replied to the descendant of Raghu.
असङ्ख्येयानि कर्माणि यान्यस्य रघुनन्दन । इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवे यद्वृत्तं तच्छृणष्व मे ।। ७.६७.
Countless are the deeds performed by the progenitor of the Ikṣvāku dynasty, O descendant of Raghu; listen to what has transpired, as I recount it to you.
अयोध्यायां पुरा राजा युवनाश्वसुतो बली । मान्धातेति स विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान् ।। ७.६७.
Long ago in Ayodhyā, there was a powerful king, son of Yuvanāśva, renowned as Māndhātā, whose valor was celebrated in all three worlds.
स कृत्वा पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां शासने पृथिवीपतिः । सुरलोकमितो जेतुमुद्योगमकरोन्नृपः ।। ७.६७.
Having brought the entire earth under his rule, that lord of the land prepared to conquer the realm of the gods.
इन्द्रस्य च भयं तीव्रं सुराणां च महात्मनाम् । मान्धातरि कृतोद्योगे देवलोकजिगीषया ।। ७.६७.
When Māndhātā undertook preparations to seize the world of the gods, intense fear arose in Indra and the great-souled deities.
अर्धासनेन शक्रस्य राज्यार्धेन च पार्थिवः । वन्द्यमानः सुरगणैः प्रतिज्ञामध्यरोहत ।। ७.६७.
Honored by the hosts of gods, the king ascended to a vow: to share Indra's throne and half his kingdom.
तस्य पापमभिप्रायं विदित्वा पाकशासनः । सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच युवनाश्वजम् ।। ७.६७.
Knowing his sinful intent, Indra, lord of the gods, addressed Yuvanāśva's son with words of gentle persuasion.
राजा त्वं मानुषे लोके न तावत्पुरुषर्षभ । अकृत्वा पृथिवीं वश्यां देवराज्यमिहेच्छसि ।। ७.६७.
You are king among men, O best of men; without first making the earth obedient, you desire the kingdom of the gods.
यदि वीर समग्रा ते मेदिनी निखिला वशे । देवराज्यं कुरुष्वेह सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। ७.६७.
If, O hero, the entire earth is under your control, then, with your servants, armies, and vehicles, you may rule the kingdom of the gods here.
इन्द्रमेवं ब्रुवाणं तं मान्धाता वाक्यमब्रवीत् । क्व मे शक्र प्रतिहतं शासनं पृथिवीतले ।। ७.६७.
To Indra, who spoke thus, Māndhātā replied: Where, O Śakra, is my authority hindered upon the earth?
तमुवाच सहस्राक्षो लवणो नाम राक्षसः । मधुपुत्रो मधुवने न ते ऽ ऽज्ञां कुरुते ऽनघ ।। ७.६७.
The thousand-eyed one answered him: There is a demon named Lavaṇa, son of Madhu, in Madhuvana, who does not obey your command, O blameless one.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रियं घोरं सहस्राक्षेण भाषितम् । व्रीडितो ऽवाङ्मुखो राजा व्याहर्तुं न शशाक ह ।। ७.६७.
Hearing these harsh and dreadful words spoken by Indra, the king was ashamed, cast down his face, and was unable to respond.
आमन्त्र्य तु सहस्राक्षं ह्रिया किञ्चिदवाङ्मुखः । पुनरेवागमच्छ्रीमानिमं लोकं नरेश्वरः ।। ७.६७.
After addressing Indra, the king, somewhat abashed, returned again to his own world.
स कृत्वा हृदये ऽमर्षं सभृत्यबलवाहनः । आजगाम मधोः पुत्रं वशे कर्तुमरिन्दमः ।। ७.६७.
Harboring resentment in his heart, accompanied by his servants, armies, and vehicles, the subduer of foes went to bring Madhu's son under his control.
स काङ्क्षमाणो लवणं युद्धाय पुरुषर्षभः । दूतं सम्प्रेषयामास सकाशं लवणस्य हि ।। ७.६७.
Desiring battle with Lavaṇa, the foremost of men sent a messenger to Lavaṇa's presence.