स तेषां द्विजमुख्यानां वाक्यमद्भुतदर्शनम् । अश्वमेधाश्रितं श्रुत्वा भृशं प्रीतो ऽभवत्तदा ।। ७.९१.
Upon hearing the wondrous words of the chief among the twice-born, which pertained to the horse sacrifice, he became exceedingly pleased at that moment.
विज्ञाय कर्म तत्तेषां रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् । प्रेषयस्व द्रुतं दूतान् सुग्रीवाय महात्मने ।। ७.९१.
Understanding their ritual, Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa: 'Send messengers quickly to the great-souled Sugrīva.'
यथा महद्भिर्हरिभिर्बहुभिश्च वनौकसाम् । सार्धमागच्छ भद्रं ते ह्यनुभोक्तुं महोत्सवम् ।। ७.९१.
'Let him come with many mighty monkeys and forest dwellers, so that together they may partake in the great festival. May it be auspicious for you.'
बिभीषणश्च रक्षोभिः कामगैर्बहुभिर्वृतः । अश्वमेधं महायज्ञमायात्वतुलविक्रमः ।। ७.९१.
Bibhīṣaṇa, of incomparable valor, should arrive at the horse sacrifice, the great ritual, surrounded by many wish-fulfilling rākṣasas.
राजानश्च महाभागा ये मे प्रियचिकीर्षवः । सानुगाः क्षिप्रमायान्तु यज्ञं द्रष्टुमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.९१.
And those illustrious kings who wish to do me favor, along with their retinues, should come swiftly to witness the supreme sacrifice.
देशान्तरगता ये च द्विजा धर्मसमाहिताः । आमन्त्रयस्व तान्सर्वानश्वमेधाय लक्ष्मण ।। ७.९१.
Lakṣmaṇa, invite all the twice-born who are devoted to righteousness and who reside in distant lands to the horse sacrifice.
ऋषयश्च महाबाहो आहूयन्तां तपोधनाः । देशान्तरगताः सर्वे सदाराश्च द्विजातयः । तथैव तालावचरास्तथैव नटनर्तकाः ।। ७.९१.
O mighty-armed, summon all the ascetics rich in austerity, all twice-born with their wives from distant lands, as well as those dwelling in Tāla forests, and likewise actors and dancers.
यज्ञवाटश्च सुमहान्गोमत्या नैमिशे वने । आज्ञाप्यतां महाबाहो तद्धि पुण्यमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.९१.
Let the great sacrificial enclosure be established in the Naimisha forest on the banks of the Gomati, O mighty-armed; for it is supremely auspicious.
शान्तयश्च महाबाहो प्रवर्त्यन्तां समन्ततः ।। ७.९१.
Let the peaceful ones, O mighty-armed, be engaged everywhere.
शतशश्चापि धर्मज्ञाः क्रतुमुख्यमनुत्तमम् । अनुभूय महायज्ञं नैमिशे रघुनन्दन ।। ७.९१.
Hundreds of those who know righteousness, having experienced the supreme sacrifice, should gather at Naimisha, O descendant of Raghu.
तुष्टः पुष्टश्च सर्वो ऽसौ मानितश्च यथाविधि । प्रीतिं यास्यति धर्मज्ञ शीघ्रमामन्त्र्यतां जनः ।। ७.९१.
All will be satisfied, nourished, and honored as prescribed; invite the people swiftly, O knower of righteousness, so that they may attain joy.
शतं वाहसहस्राणां तण्डुलानां वपुष्मताम् । अयुतं तिलमुद्गानां प्रयात्वग्रे महाबल ।। ७.९१.
Let a hundred thousand loads of fine rice and ten thousand measures of sesame and mung beans be sent ahead, O mighty one.
चणकानां कुलित्थानां माषाणां लवणस्य च । अतो ऽनुरूपं स्नेहं च गन्धं सङ्क्षिप्तमेव च ।। ७.९१.
Let chickpeas, horse gram, black gram, and salt, as well as suitable oil and condensed fragrances, be sent likewise.
सुवर्णकोट्यो बहुला हिरण्यस्य शतोत्तराः । अग्रतो भरतः कृत्वा गच्छत्वग्रे समाधिना ।। ७.९१.
Let many crores of gold and hundreds of measures of silver be sent ahead, with Bharata leading the way in concentration.
अन्तरा पण्यवीथ्यश्च सर्वे च नटनर्तकाः । सूदा नार्यश्च बहवो नित्यं यौवनशालिनः ।। ७.९१.
Let all the merchants along the market streets, actors, dancers, cooks, and many youthful women go forth.
भरतेन तु सार्धं ते यान्तु सैन्यानि चाग्रतः । नैगमा बलवृद्धाश्च द्विजाश्च सुसमाहिताः ।। ७.९१.
Let the armies go ahead together with Bharata, along with the powerful citizens, the elders of the city, and the well-composed twice-born priests.
कर्मान्तिकान्वर्धकिनः कोशाध्यक्षांश्च नैगमान् । मम मातऽस्तथा सर्वाः कुमारान्तःपुराणि च ।। ७.९१.
Let those engaged in final tasks, the craftsmen, the treasurers, and the citizens, as well as all my mothers, the princes, and the women of the inner chambers, also go.
काञ्चनीं मम पत्नीं च दीक्षायां ज्ञांश्च कर्मणि । अग्रतो भरतः कृत्वा गच्छत्वग्रे महायशाः ।। ७.९१.
Let my golden wife and those knowledgeable in the ritual be placed at the front by Bharata, the illustrious one, and let him proceed at the head.
उपकार्या महार्हाश्च पार्थिवानां महौजसाम् । सानुगानां नरश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश महाबलः ।। ७.९१.
The mighty one, best among men, gave orders to the highly esteemed attendants and the great kings of immense strength, along with their followers.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकनवतितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the ninety-first sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
तत्सर्वमखिलेनाशु प्रस्थाप्य भरताग्रजः । हयं लक्षणसम्पन्नं कृष्णसारं मुमोच ह ।। ७.९२.
Having quickly dispatched all of that, the elder brother of Bharata released the horse, marked with auspicious signs and of dark-deer color.
ऋत्विग्भिर्लक्ष्मणं सार्धमश्वतन्त्रे नियोज्य च । ततो ऽभ्यगच्छत्काकुत्स्थः सह सैन्येन नैमिशम् ।। ७.९२.
Having assigned Lakṣmaṇa together with the officiating priests to the horse-sacrifice ritual, then Kakutstha, accompanied by the army, went to Naimisha.
यज्ञवाटं महाबाहुर्दृष्ट्वा परममद्भुतम् । प्रबर्षमतुलं लेभे श्रीमानिति वचो ऽब्रवीत् ।। ७.९२.
Seeing the sacrificial enclosure, wondrous beyond compare, the mighty-armed and illustrious one was filled with supreme amazement and spoke these words.
नैमिषे वसतस्तस्य सर्व एव नराधिपाः । आनिन्युरुपहारांश्च तान्रामः प्रत्यपूजयत् ।। ७.९२.
While he was residing in Naimisha, all the kings brought offerings, and Rāma received them with honor.
उपकार्या महार्हाश्च पार्थिवानां महात्मनाम् । सानुगानां नरश्रेष्ठो व्यादिदेश महामतिः ।। ७.९२.
The wise and mighty best of men gave orders to the highly esteemed attendants and the great-souled kings, along with their followers.
अन्नपानानि वस्त्राणि सानुगानां महात्मनाम् । भरतः सन्ददावाशु शत्रुघ्नसहितस्तदा ।। ७.९२.
Bharata, together with Śatrughna, quickly arranged food, drink, and garments for the great-souled ones and their followers.
वानराश्च महात्मानः सुग्रीवसहितास्तदा । विप्राणां प्रणताः सर्वे चक्रिरे परिवेषणम् ।। ७.९२.
At that time, the great-souled monkeys, together with Sugrīva, humbly served the brahmins with offerings.
बिभीषणश्च रक्षोभिर्बहुभिः स्रग्विभिर्वृतः । ऋषीणामुग्रतपसां पूजां चक्रे महात्मनाम् ।। ७.९२.
And Vibhīṣaṇa, surrounded by many garlanded rākṣasas, performed worship for the great-souled sages of fierce austerity.
एवं सुविहितो यज्ञो हयमेधो ऽभ्यवर्तत । लक्ष्मणेनागुप्ता च हयचर्या प्रवर्तत । ईदृशं राजसिंहस्य यज्ञप्रवरमुत्तमम् ।। ७.९२.
Thus, the horse-sacrifice was conducted in excellent order; the guarding of the horse was carried out by Lakṣmaṇa. Such was the supreme and foremost sacrifice of the lion among kings.
नान्यः शब्दो ऽभवत्तत्र हयमेधे महात्मनः । छन्दतो देहि विस्रब्धो यावत्तुष्यन्ति याचकाः ।। ७.९२.
No other sound was heard there at the horse-sacrifice of the great-souled one, except, 'Give freely and confidently as long as the petitioners are satisfied.'