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.
स गत्वा विप्रियाण्याह बहूनि मधुनः सुतम् । वदन्तमेवं तं दूतं भक्षयामास राक्षसः ।। ७.६७.
The messenger went and spoke many unpleasant words to Madhu's son; as he spoke thus, the demon devoured the messenger.
चिरायमाणे दूते तु राजा क्रोधसमन्वितः । अर्दयामास तद्रक्षः शरवृष्ट्या समन्ततः ।। ७.६७.
When the messenger delayed, the king, filled with anger, assailed that demon from all sides with a shower of arrows.
ततः प्रहस्य तद्रक्षः शूलं जग्राह पाणिना । वधाय सानुबन्धस्य मुमोचायुधमुत्तमम् ।। ७.६७.
Then, laughing, the demon seized a spear in his hand and hurled the excellent weapon to slay the king along with his retinue.
तच्छूलं दीप्यमानं तु सभृत्यबलवाहनम् । भस्मीकृत्वा नृपं भूयो लवणस्यागमत्करम् ।। ७.६७.
That blazing spear, along with its attendants, army, and vehicles, reduced the king to ashes and then returned to Lavaṇa as tribute.
एवं स राजा सुमहान्हतः सबलवाहनः । शूलस्य तु बलं सौम्य अप्रमेयमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.६७.
Thus that great king, together with his army and vehicles, was slain; O gentle one, the power of the spear is truly immeasurable and unsurpassed.
श्वः प्रभाते तु लवणं वधिष्यसि न संशयः । अगृहीतायुधं क्षिप्रं ध्रुवो हि विजयस्तव ।। ७.६७.
Tomorrow at dawn you will surely slay Lavaṇa; there is no doubt—if he is without his weapon, your victory is certain and swift.
लोकानां स्वस्ति चैव स्यात्कृते कर्मणि च त्वया । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं लवणस्य दुरात्मनः ।। ७.६७.
By your accomplishment, there will be welfare for the worlds; all this concerning the wicked Lavaṇa has been told to you.
शूलस्य च बलं घोरमप्रमेयं नरर्षभ । विनाशश्चैव मान्धातुर्यत्तेनाभूच्च पार्थिव ।। ७.६७.
O best of men, the terrible and immeasurable power of the spear, and the destruction of Māndhātṛ by it, have thus been related to you.
त्वं श्वः प्रभाते लवणं महात्मन्वधिष्यसे नात्र तु संशयो मे । शूलं विना निर्गतमामिषार्थे ध्रुवो जयस्ते भविता नरेन्द्र ।। ७.६७.
Tomorrow at dawn, O great-souled one, you will slay Lavaṇa—of this I have no doubt; when he goes out without his spear in search of flesh, your victory, O king, will surely come.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तषष्टितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the sixty-seventh sarga of the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa in the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by the sage Vālmīki.