तस्मिन्द्वापरसञ्ज्ञे तु वर्तमाने युगक्षये । अधर्मश्चानृतं चैव ववृधे पुरुषर्षभ ।। ७.७४.
In that age called Dvāpara, as the yuga declined, unrighteousness and falsehood increased, O best of men.
तस्मिन्द्वापरसङ्ख्याते तपो वैश्यान्समाविशत् । त्रिभ्यो युगेभ्यस्त्रीन्वर्णान्क्रमाद्वै तप आविशत् ।। ७.७४.
In that age called Dvāpara, austerity entered the Vaiśyas; in each of the three yugas, austerity entered the three varṇas in order.
त्रिभ्यो युगेभ्यस्त्रीन्वर्णान्धर्मश्च परिनिष्ठितः । न शुद्धो लभते धर्मं युगतस्तु नरर्षभ । हीनवर्णो नृपश्रेष्ठ तप्यते सुमहत्तपः ।। ७.७४.
From the three yugas, the three varṇas and righteousness became established; one who is not pure does not attain righteousness in the yuga, O best of men; and one of lower varṇa, O best of kings, undertakes great austerity.
भविष्यच्छूद्रयोन्यां वै तपश्चर्या कलौ युगे । अधर्मः परमो राजन्द्वापरे शूद्रजन्मनः ।। ७.७४.
In the Kali age, ascetic practice will arise among those born in the Śūdra class; O King, in Dvāpara, unrighteousness will be supreme among those of Śūdra birth.
स वै विषयपर्यन्ते तव राजन्महातपाः । अद्य तप्यति दुर्बुद्धिस्तेन बालवधो ह्ययम् ।। ७.७४.
Indeed, O King, that wicked-minded ascetic is now performing austerities at the border of your realm; therefore, this killing of the child has occurred.
यो ह्यधर्ममकार्यं वा विषये पार्थिवस्य तु । करोति चाश्रीमूलं तत्पुरे वा दुर्मतिर्नरः । क्षिप्रं च नरकं याति स च राजा न संशयः ।। ७.७४.
Whoever, within the king’s domain, commits unrighteous or improper acts, or brings misfortune to the city, that evil-minded man quickly goes to hell, and so does the king—of this there is no doubt.
अधीतस्य च तप्तस्य कर्मणः सुकृतस्य च । षष्ठं भजति भागं तु प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ।। ७.७४.
By protecting his subjects with righteousness, the king receives a sixth portion of the merit from their study, austerity, and good deeds.
षङ्भागस्य न भोक्ता ऽसौ रक्षते न प्रजाः कथम् ।। ७.७४.
If he does not partake of the sixth share, how can he protect his subjects?
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल मार्गस्व विषयं स्वकम् । दुष्कृतं यत्र पश्येथास्तत्र यत्नं समाचर ।। ७.७४.
Therefore, O best of men, examine your realm; wherever you see wrongdoing, there apply your effort.
एवं चेद्धर्मवृद्धिश्च नृणां चायुर्विवर्धनम् । भविष्यति नरश्रेष्ठ बालस्यास्य च जीवितम् ।। ७.७४.
If you do so, there will be an increase of righteousness among men, their lifespan will grow, O best of men, and this child will live.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुःसप्ततितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the seventy-fourth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
नारदस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा ऽमृतमयं तदा । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे लक्ष्मणं चेदमब्रवीत् ।। ७.७५.
Hearing those nectar-like words of Nārada, Lakṣmaṇa then experienced incomparable joy and spoke these words:
गच्छ सौम्य द्विजश्रेष्ठं समाश्वासय सुव्रतम् । बालस्य तु शरीरं तत्तैलद्रोण्यां निधापय ।। ७.७५.
Go, gentle one, comfort the best of the twice-born, who is steadfast in his vows, and place the child’s body in a vessel of oil.
गन्धैश्च परमोदारैस्तैलैश्चापि सुगन्धिभिः । यथा न क्षीयते बालस्तथा सौम्य विधीयताम् ।। ७.७५.
With the finest fragrances and sweet-smelling oils, O gentle one, arrange it so that the child does not decay.
यथा शरीरो बालस्य गुप्तः सन् शिष्टकर्मणः । विपत्तिः परिभेदो वा न भवेच्च तथा कुरु ।। ७.७५.
Take care that, while the child’s body is preserved and the proper rites are performed, there is no harm or damage—do so accordingly.
एवमादिश्य काकुत्स्थो लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम् । मनसा पुष्पकं दध्यावागच्छेति महायशाः ।। ७.७५.
Having thus instructed Lakṣmaṇa, who bore auspicious marks, the illustrious descendant of Kakutstha summoned the Puṣpaka chariot by thought, saying, 'Come.'
इङ्गितं स तु विज्ञाय पुष्पको हेमभूषितः । आजगाम मुहूर्तेन समीपे राघवस्य वै ।। ७.७५.
Perceiving the intention, the Puṣpaka, adorned with gold, arrived in a moment before Rāghava.
सो ऽब्रवीत्प्रणतो भूत्वा अयमस्मि नराधिप । वश्यस्तव महाबाहो किङ्करः समुपस्थितः ।। ७.७५.
Having bowed, it said: 'Here I am, O lord of men, obedient to you, mighty-armed one; your servant stands ready.'
भाषितं रुचिरं श्रुत्वा पुष्पकस्य नराधिपः । अभिवाद्य महर्षींस्तान् विमानं सो ऽध्यरोहत ।। ७.७५.
Hearing the pleasing words of Puṣpaka, the lord of men respectfully greeted the great sages and then boarded the aerial chariot.
धनुर्गृहीत्वा तूणी च खड्गं च रुचिरप्रभम् । निक्षिप्य नगरे वीरौ सौमित्रिभरतावुभौ ।। ७.७५.
Taking his bow, quiver, and shining sword, he left the two valiant ones, Saumitri and Bharata, in the city.
प्रायात्प्रतीचीं हरितं विचिन्वंश्च ततस्ततः । उत्तरामगमच्छ्रीमान्दिशं हिमवता वृताम् ।। ७.७५.
He set out westward, searching here and there, and then the illustrious one reached the northern region, surrounded by the Himālaya.
अपश्यमानस्तत्रापि स्वल्पमप्यथ दुष्कृतम् । पूर्वामपि दिशं सर्वामथो ऽपश्यन्नराधिपः ।। ७.७५.
Even there, the king did not see the slightest wrongdoing, nor in any of the eastern directions.
प्रविशुद्धसमाचारामादर्शतलनिर्मलाम् । पुष्पकस्थो महाबाहुस्तदापश्यन्नराधिपः ।। ७.७५.
Then, seated in the Pushpaka chariot, the mighty-armed king beheld a region of utterly pure conduct, spotless as a mirror.
दक्षिणां दिशमाक्रामत्ततो राजर्षिनन्दनः । शैवलस्योत्तरे पार्श्वे ददर्श सुमहत्सरः ।। ७.७५.
After that, the scion of the royal sages proceeded southward and, on the northern bank of the Shaivala, saw a great lake.
तस्मिन्सरसि तप्यन्तं तापसं सुमहत्तपः । ददर्श राघवः श्रीमाँल्लम्बमानमधोमुखम् ।। ७.७५.
In that lake, Rāghava, resplendent, saw an ascetic of immense austerity, standing with head bowed and body hanging down.
राघवस्तमुपागम्य तप्यन्तं तप उत्तमम् । उवाच स तदा वाक्यं धन्यस्त्वमसि सुव्रत ।। ७.७५.
Approaching that ascetic engaged in supreme penance, Rāghava spoke these words: 'Blessed are you, O steadfast one.'
कस्यां योन्यां तपोवृद्ध वर्तसे दृढविक्रम । कौतूहलात्त्वां पृच्छामि रामो दाशरथिर्ह्यहम् ।। ७.७५.
'Of what birth are you, O one advanced in austerity, firm in resolve? Out of curiosity I ask you—Rāma, son of Daśaratha, am I.'
को ऽर्थो मनीषितस्तुभ्यं स्वर्गलाभः परो ऽथवा । वराश्रयो यदर्थं त्वं तपस्यसि सुदुष्करम् । यमाश्रित्य तपस्तप्तं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तापस ।। ७.७५.
'What is your aim—attainment of heaven, or some other supreme reward? For what purpose do you practice this most difficult austerity? By relying on what do you undertake this penance? I wish to hear, O ascetic.'
ब्राह्मणो वा ऽसि भद्रं ते क्षत्रियो वा ऽसि दुर्जयः । वैश्यस्तृतीयवर्णो वा शूद्रो वा सत्यवाग्भव ।। ७.७५.
'Are you a brāhmaṇa—may good befall you—or an invincible kṣatriya? Or are you a vaiśya, of the third class, or a śūdra? Speak truthfully.'
इत्येवमुक्तः स नराधिपेन ह्यवाक्छिरा दाशरथाय तस्मै । उवाच जातिं नृपपुङ्गवाय यत्कारणे चैव तपःप्रयत्नः ।। ७.७५.
Thus addressed by the king, the ascetic with head bowed spoke to Daśaratha's son, declaring his lineage and the reason for his penance to the foremost of kings.