तं दीप्तमिव कालाग्निं युगान्ते समुपस्थिते । दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि परित्रासमुपागमन् ।। ७.६९.
Seeing it blazing like the fire of destruction at the end of an age, all beings were seized with terror.
सदेवासुरगन्धर्वं मुनिभिः साप्सरोगणम् । जगद्धि सर्वमस्वस्थं पितामहमुपस्थितम् ।। ७.६९.
With gods, asuras, gandharvas, sages, and groups of apsaras, the whole world became disturbed, and approached the Grandfather.
उवाच देवदेवेशं वरदं प्रपितामहम् । देवानां भयसंमोहो लोकानां सङ्क्षयं प्रति ।। ७.६९.
They spoke to the lord of gods, the bestower of boons, the Grandfather, about the confusion and fear among the gods and the destruction of the worlds.
नेदृशं दृष्टपूर्वं च न श्रुतं प्रपितामह । देवानां भयसम्मोहो लोकानां सङ्क्षयं प्रति ।। ७.६९.
Nothing like this has ever been seen or heard before, O Grandfather: confusion and fear among the gods, and destruction threatening the worlds.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । भयकारणमाचष्ट लोकानामभयङ्करः । उवाच मधुरां वाणीं शृणुध्वं सर्वदेवताः ।। ७.६९.
Hearing their words, Brahma, the Grandfather of the worlds, who brings fearlessness to all, explained the cause of their fear, and spoke sweetly: 'Listen, all you gods.'
वधाय लवणस्याजौ शरः शत्रुघ्नधारितः । तेजसा तस्य सम्मूढाः सर्वे स्मः सुरसत्तमाः ।। ७.६९.
The arrow held by Shatrughna in battle is for the slaying of Lavaṇa; by its energy, all of us, O best of gods, have become bewildered.
एष पूर्वस्य देवस्य लोककर्तुः सनातनः । शरस्तेजोमयो वत्सा येन वै भयमागतम् ।। ७.६९.
This is the eternal arrow of the ancient god, the creator of worlds, composed of energy, O children, by which fear has arisen.
एष वै कैटभस्यार्थे मधुनश्च महाशरः । सृष्टो महात्मना तेन वधार्थे दैत्ययोस्तयोः ।। ७.६९.
This great arrow was indeed created by the high-souled one for the sake of slaying Kaitabha and Madhu, for the destruction of those two demons.
एक एव प्रजानाति विष्णुस्तेजोमयं शरम् । एषा एव तनुः पूर्वा विष्णोस्तस्य महात्मनः ।। ७.६९.
Only Viṣṇu knows this arrow made of pure energy; this very form was formerly that of the great-souled Viṣṇu.
इतो गच्छत पश्यध्वं वध्यमानं महात्मना । रामानुजेन वीरेण लवणं राक्षसोत्तमम् ।। ७.६९.
Go from here and see Lavaṇa, the foremost of Rākṣasas, being slain by the heroic younger brother of Rāma.
तस्य ते देवदेवस्य निशम्य वचनं सुराः । आजग्मुर्यत्र युध्येते शत्रुघ्नलवणावुभौ ।। ७.६९.
Hearing the words of that god of gods, the gods went to the place where Śatrughna and Lavaṇa were both fighting.
तं शरं दिव्यसङ्काशं शत्रुघ्नकरधारितम् । ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि युगान्ताग्निमिवोत्थितम् ।। ७.६९.
All beings saw that divine, radiant arrow held in Śatrughna's hand, rising up like the fire at the end of an age.
अकाशमावृतं दृष्ट्वा देवैर्हि रघुनन्दनः । सिंहनादं भृशं कृत्वा ददर्श लक्षणं पुनः ।। ७.६९.
Seeing the sky covered, the descendant of Raghu let out a mighty lion's roar, and then looked again at his target.
आहूतश्च पुनस्तेन शत्रुघ्नेन महात्मना । लवणः क्रोधसंयुक्तो युद्धाय समुपस्थितः ।। ७.६९.
Again summoned by the great-souled Śatrughna, Lavaṇa, filled with rage, came forward for battle.
आकर्णात्स विकृष्याथ तद्धनुर्धन्विनां वरः । तं मुमोच महाबाणं लवणस्य महोरसि ।। ७.६९.
Then, drawing his bow to his ear, that best of archers released the great arrow at Lavaṇa's broad chest.
उरस्तस्य विदार्याशु प्रविवेश रसातलम् ।। ७.६९.
Piercing his chest, it swiftly entered the netherworld.
गत्वा रसातलं दिव्यः शरो विबुधपूजितः । पुनरेवागमत्तूर्णमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनम् ।। ७.६९.
Having gone to the netherworld, that divine arrow, honored by the gods, quickly returned again to the delight of the Ikṣvāku line.
शत्रुघ्नशरनिर्भिन्नो लवणः स निशाचरः । पपात सहसा भूमौ वज्राहत इवाचलः ।। ७.६९.
Struck by Śatrughna's arrow, Lavaṇa, that night-wandering demon, fell suddenly to the ground like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.
तच्च शूलं महत्तेन हते लवणराक्षसे । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां रुद्रस्य वशमन्वगात् ।। ७.६९.
And that great spear, when Lavaṇa the Rākṣasa was slain, came under the power of Rudra as all the gods looked on.
एकेषुपातेन भृशं निपात्य लोकत्रयस्यापि रघुप्रवीरः । विनिर्बभावुत्तमचापबाणस्तमः प्रणुद्येव सहस्ररश्मिः ।। ७.६९.
With a single arrow, the mighty Raghu hero struck down even the three worlds; the supreme bowman shone forth, his arrow dispelling darkness like the thousand-rayed sun.
ततो हि देवा ऋषिपन्नगाश्च प्रपूजिरे ह्यप्सरसश्च सर्वाः । दिष्ट्या जयो दाशरथेरवाप्तस्त्यक्त्वा भयं सर्प इव प्रशान्तः ।। ७.६९.
Then the gods, seers, serpents, and all the Apsarases honored him, saying, 'By fortune, victory has come to the son of Daśaratha; let fear be abandoned, as a serpent becomes calm.'
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकोनसप्ततितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the sixty-ninth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa, composed by Vālmīki.
हते तु लवणे देवाः सेन्द्राः साग्निपुरोगमाः । ऊचुः सुमधुरां वाणीं शत्रुघ्नं शत्रुतापनम् ।। ७.७०.
When Lavaṇa was slain, the gods with Indra and Agni at their head spoke sweet words to Śatrughna, the scorcher of foes.
दिष्ट्या ते विजयो वत्स दिष्ट्या लवणराक्षसः । हतः पुरुषशार्दूल वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। ७.७०.
'By fortune, you have won, child; by fortune, Lavaṇa the Rākṣasa is slain. O best of men, O steadfast one, choose a boon.'
वरदास्तु महाबाहो सर्व एव समागताः । विजयाकाङ्क्षिणस्तुभ्यममोघं दर्शनं हि नः ।। ७.७०.
'All of us, O mighty-armed one, have come here as givers of boons, desiring your victory; for our sight is never in vain.'
देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा शूरो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः । प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुः शत्रुघ्नः प्रयतात्मवान् ।। ७.७०.
Hearing the words of the gods, the valiant Shatrughna, with hands joined upon his head, replied, his mind disciplined and his arms mighty.
इयं मधुपुरी रस्या मधुरा देवनिर्मिता । निवेशं प्राप्नुयाच्छीघ्रमेष मे ऽस्तु वरः परः ।। ७.७०.
This city of Madhu is delightful, sweet, and fashioned by the gods; let me quickly obtain its settlement—may this supreme boon be granted to me.
तं देवाः प्रीतमनसो बाढमित्येव राघवम् । भविष्यति पुरी रम्या शूरसेना न संशयः ।। ७.७०.
The gods, well pleased, said to Raghava, 'So be it!'—this city shall indeed be beautiful, O Shurasena, without doubt.
ते तथोक्त्वा महात्मानो दिवमारुरुहुस्तदा । शत्रुघ्नो ऽपि महातेजास्तां सेनां समुपानयत् ।। ७.७०.
Having spoken thus, those great souls then ascended to heaven; and Shatrughna, radiant in energy, gathered his army together.
सा सेना शीघ्रमागच्छच्छ्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नशासनम् । निवेशनं च शत्रुघ्नः श्रावणेन समारभत् ।। ७.७०.
That army came swiftly, having heard Shatrughna’s command; and Shatrughna began the settlement at the time of Shravana.