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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पञ्चसप्ततितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the seventy-fifth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः । अवाक्छिरास्तथाभूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.७६.
Hearing those words of Rāma, the doer of unblemished deeds, the ascetic with head bowed spoke as follows.
शूद्रयोन्यां प्रसूतो ऽस्मि शम्बूको नाम नामतः । देवत्वं पार्थये राम सशरीरो महायशः ।। ७.७६.
'I was born in the śūdra caste; by name I am called Śambūka. O Rāma of great fame, I seek divinity in this very body.'
न मिथ्या ऽहं वदे राम देवलोकजिगीषया । शूद्रं मां विद्धि काकुत्स्थ तप उग्रं समास्थितम् ।। ७.७६.
'I do not speak falsely, O Rāma; it is with the desire to attain the world of the gods that I, a śūdra, have undertaken this severe penance—know this, descendant of Kakutstha.'
भाषतस्तस्य शूद्रस्य खड्गं सुरुचिरप्रभम् । निष्कृष्य कोशाद्विमलं शिरश्चिच्छेद राघवः ।। ७.७६.
As the śūdra was speaking, Rāghava drew his sword, radiant and spotless, from its sheath and struck off his head.
तस्मिञ्छूद्रे हते देवाः सेन्द्राः साग्निपुरोगमाः । साधु साध्विति काकुत्स्थं प्रशशंसुर्मुहुर्मुहुः ।। ७.७६.
When that śūdra was slain, the gods, along with Indra and Agni at their head, repeatedly praised Kakutstha, saying, 'Well done! Well done!'
पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद्दिव्यानां सुसुगन्धिनाम् । पुष्पाणां वायुमुक्तानां सर्वतः प्रपपात ह ।। ७.७६.
There fell a great shower of flowers, divine and exceedingly fragrant, released by the wind, descending from all sides.
सुप्रीताश्चाब्रुवन्रामं देवाः सत्यपराक्रमम् । सुरकार्यमिदं सौम्य सुकृतं ते महामते ।। ७.७६.
The delighted gods spoke to Rāma, whose valor is true: 'Gentle one, this deed for the sake of the gods is well done by you, O wise one.'
गृहाण च वरं सौम्य यत्त्वमिच्छस्यरिन्दम । स्वर्गभाङ्नहि शूद्रो ऽयं त्वत्कृते रघुनन्दन ।। ७.७६.
'Accept a boon, gentle one, whatever you desire, O subduer of foes; for this śūdra, O delight of the Raghus, cannot attain heaven because of you.'
देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा राघवः सुसमाहितः । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं सहस्राक्षं पुरन्दरम् ।। ७.७६.
Hearing the words of the gods, Rāghava, composed and attentive, spoke with joined palms to Indra, the thousand-eyed lord of the city.
यदि देवाः प्रसन्ना मे द्विजपुत्रः स जीवतु । दिशन्तु वरमेतं मे इप्सितं परमं मम ।। ७.७६.
If the gods are pleased with me, let the son of the Brāhmaṇa live; grant me this boon, which is my highest desire.
ममापचाराद्यातो ऽसौ ब्राह्मणस्यैकपुत्रकः । अप्राप्तकालः कालेन नीतो वैवस्वतक्षयम् ।। ७.७६.
Because of my transgression, that only son of the Brāhmaṇa was taken away; untimely, he was led by Time to the abode of Yama.
तं जीवयथ भद्रं वो नानृतं कर्तुमर्हथ । द्विजस्य संश्रुतो ऽर्थो मे जीवयिष्यामि ते सुतम् ।। ७.७६.
Restore him to life, may blessings be upon you; you ought not to act falsely. I have promised the Brāhmaṇa this, and I will revive his son.
राघवस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा विबुधसत्तमाः । प्रत्युचू राघवं प्रीता देवाः प्रीतिसमन्वितम् ।। ७.७६.
Hearing these words of Rāghava, the foremost among the gods, delighted and filled with joy, replied to Rāghava.
निर्वृतो भव काकुत्स्थ सो ऽस्मिन्नहनि बालकः । जीवितं प्राप्तवान्भूयः समेतश्चापि बन्धुभिः ।। ७.७६.
Be at ease, descendant of Kakutstha; today the boy has regained his life and is reunited with his relatives.
यस्मिन्मुहूर्ते काकुत्स्थ शूद्रो ऽयं विनिपातितः । तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते बालो ऽसौ जीवेन समयुज्यत ।। ७.७६.
At the very moment, O Kakutstha, when the Śūdra was struck down, at that same moment, the boy was joined again with life.
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते साधु याम नरर्षभ । अगस्त्यस्याश्रमपदं द्रष्टुमिच्छाम राघव ।। ७.७६.
May you attain well-being and blessings, O best among men; let us depart, Rāghava, for we wish to see the hermitage of Agastya.
तस्य दीक्षा समाप्ता हि ब्रह्मर्षेः सुमहाद्युतेः । द्वादशं हि गतं वर्षं जलशय्यां समासतः ।। ७.७६.
The vow of that great and radiant sage is now complete; twelve years have passed, spent lying upon water.
काकुत्स्थ तद्गमिष्यामो मुनिं समभिनन्दितुम् । त्वं चाप्यागच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुं तमृषिसत्तमम् ।। ७.७६.
O Kakutstha, let us go to greet the sage; you too, may blessings be upon you, come to see that foremost of Ṛṣis.
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय देवानां रघुनन्दनः । आरुरोह विमानं तं पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम् ।। ७.७६.
Having agreed, Raghunandana boarded that celestial chariot, the Puṣpaka, adorned with gold.