तथा तयोः प्रब्रुवतोः कौतूहलसमन्विताः । श्रोतारश्चैव रामश्च सर्व एव सुविस्मिताः ।। ७.९४.
As the two spoke thus, filled with curiosity, all the listeners and Rāma himself were greatly astonished.
तस्य चैवागमं रामः काव्यस्य श्रोतुमुत्सुकः । पप्रच्छ तौ महातेजास्तावुभौ मुनिदारकौ ।। ७.९४.
Eager to hear the origin of that poem, Rāma, of great splendor, questioned those two young ascetics.
किम्प्रमाणमिदं काव्यं का प्रतिष्ठा महात्मनः । कर्ता काव्यस्य महतः क्व चासौ मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। ७.९४.
What is the measure of this poem? What is its foundation, O great souls? Who is the author of this great poem, and where is that foremost of sages?
पृच्छन्तं राघवं वाक्यमूचतुर्मुनिदारकौ ।। ७.९४.
To Rāghava, who was asking, the two young ascetics replied.
वाल्मीकिर्भगवान्कर्ता सम्प्राप्तो यज्ञसंविधम् । येनेदं चरितं तुभ्यमशेषं सम्प्रदर्शितम् ।। ७.९४.
The venerable Vālmīki is the author; he has come to the sacrificial assembly, and by whom this entire story has been shown to you.
सन्निबद्धं हि श्लोकानां चतुर्विशत्सहस्रकम् । उपाख्यानशतं चैव भार्गवेण तपस्विना ।। ७.९४.
Indeed, it has been composed by the Bhārgava sage, the ascetic, in twenty-four thousand verses and a hundred tales.
आदिप्रभृति वै राजन्पञ्चसर्गशतानि च । काण्डानि षट् कृतानीह सोत्तराणि महात्मना । कृतानि गुरुणास्माकमृषिणा चरितं तव ।। ७.९४.
From the beginning, O King, five hundred sections and six books, including the Uttara, have been composed here by our venerable sage, narrating your story.
प्रतिष्ठा ऽ ऽजीवितं यावत्तावत्सर्वस्य वर्तते ।। ७.९४.
Existence endures for all as long as life remains.
सोत्तराणि महात्मना । यदि बुद्धिः कृता राजञ्छ्रवणाय महारथ । कर्मान्तरे क्षणीभूतस्तच्छृणुष्व सहानुजः ।। ७.९४.
O king, if the great-souled one has resolved to listen to the subsequent deeds, and if another task has become brief, then hear it together with your brother.
बाढमित्यब्रवीद्रामस्तौ चानुज्ञाप्य राघवम् । प्रहृष्टौ जग्मतुः स्थानं यत्रास्ते मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। ७.९४.
Rama replied, 'So be it,' and, having received permission from Raghava, both departed joyfully to the place where the foremost sage resided.
रामो ऽपि मुनिभिः सार्धं पार्थिवैश्च महात्मभिः । श्रुत्वा तद्गीतिमाधुर्यं कर्मशालामुपागमत् ।। ७.९४.
Rama, together with the sages and noble kings, having heard the sweetness of that song, approached the hall of deeds.
शुश्राव तत्ताललयोपपन्नं सर्गान्वितं स स्वरशब्दयुक्तम् । तन्त्रीलयव्यञ्जनयोगयुक्तं कुशीलवाभ्यां परिगीयमानम् ।। ७.९४.
He listened to that song, accompanied by rhythm and melody, filled with creation, endowed with notes and sounds, skillfully rendered with the interplay of strings and tempo, sung by the two Kusilavas.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुर्नवतितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the ninety-fourth section in the glorious Uttarakanda of the venerable Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
रामो बहून्यहान्येवं तद्गीतं परमं शुभम् । शुश्राव मुनिभिः सार्धं पार्थिवैः सह वानरैः ।। ७.९५.
Rama, for many days, listened to that supremely auspicious song together with the sages, kings, and vanaras.
तस्मिन्गीते तु विज्ञाय सीतापुत्रौ कुशीलवौ । तस्याः परिषदो मध्ये रामो वचनमब्रवीत् । दूताञ्छुद्धसमाचारानाहूयात्ममनीषया ।। ७.९५.
In that song, recognizing the two sons of Sita, Kusha and Lava, Rama spoke in the midst of the assembly, summoning messengers of pure conduct according to his own judgment.
मद्वचो ब्रूत गच्छध्वमितो भगवतो ऽन्तिकम् ।। ७.९५.
Go, speak my words, and proceed to the presence of the venerable sage.
परिषदो मध्ये रामो वचनमब्रवीत् । यदि शुद्धसमाचारा यदि वा वीतकल्मषा । करोत्विहात्मनः शुद्धिमनुमान्य महामुनिम् ।। ७.९५.
In the midst of the assembly, Rama spoke: 'If they are of pure conduct, if they are free from sin, let them, with the approval of the great sage, establish their own purity here.'
छन्दं मुनेश्च विज्ञाय सीतायाश्च मनोगतम् । प्रत्ययं दातुकामायास्ततः शंसत मे लघु ।। ७.९५.
Understanding the sage's intent and Sita's thoughts, and wishing to provide assurance, then quickly inform me.
श्वः प्रभाते तु शपथं मैथिली जनकात्मजा । करोतु परिषन्मध्ये शोधनार्थं ममैव च ।। ७.९५.
Tomorrow morning, let Maithili, daughter of Janaka, take an oath in the midst of the assembly for the sake of purification, and for mine as well.
श्रुत्वा तु ऱागवस्यैतद्वचः परममद्भुतम् । दूताः सम्प्रययुर्बाटं यत्रास्ते मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। ७.९५.
Hearing this most wondrous speech of Raghava, the messengers swiftly went to where the foremost sage was.
ते प्रणम्य महात्मानं ज्वलन्तममितप्रभम् । ऊचुस्ते रामवाक्यानि मृदूनि मधुराणि च ।। ७.९५.
They bowed to the great-souled one, radiant with immeasurable brilliance, and spoke Rama's gentle and sweet words.
तेषां तद्व्याहृतं श्रुत्वा रामस्य च मनोगतम् । विज्ञाय सुमहातेजा मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। ७.९५.
Hearing their speech and understanding Rama's intent, the sage of great splendor then spoke.
एवं भवतु भद्रं वो यथा वदति राघवः । तथा करिष्यते सीता दैवतं हि पतिः स्त्रियाः ।। ७.९५.
So be it; may blessings be upon you. As Raghava says, so shall it be done. Sita will act accordingly, for the husband is indeed the deity of a wife.
तथोक्ता मुनिना सर्वे राजदूता महौजसम् । प्रत्येत्य राघवं क्षिप्रं मुनिवाक्यं बभाषिरे ।। ७.९५.
Thus addressed by the sage, all the royal messengers of great energy quickly returned to Raghava and conveyed the sage's words.
ततः प्रहृष्टः काकुत्स्थः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं महात्मनः । ऋषींस्तत्र समेतांश्च राज्ञश्चैवाभ्यभाषत ।। ७.९५.
Then Kakutstha, delighted upon hearing the words of the great-souled one, addressed the assembled sages and kings there.
भगवन्तः सशिष्या वै सानुगाश्च नराधिपाः । पश्यन्तु सीताशपथं यश्चैवान्यो ऽपि काङ्क्षते ।। ७.९५.
Let the venerable ones, together with their disciples and followers, and the kings with their retinues, witness Sita's oath—and whoever else desires to see it.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः । सर्वेषामृषिमुख्यानां साधुवादो महानभूत् ।। ७.९५.
Hearing these words of the great-souled Raghava, all the foremost sages expressed great approval.
राजानश्च महात्मानः प्रशंसन्ति स्म राघवम् । उपपन्नं नरश्रेष्ठ त्वय्येव भुवि नान्यतः ।। ७.९५.
The noble kings also praised Raghava, saying, 'O best of men, such conduct is fitting only in you on this earth, and in no other.'
एवं विनिश्चयं कृत्वा श्वोभूत इति राघवः । विसर्जयामास तदा सर्वांस्ताञ्छत्रुसूदनः ।। ७.९५.
Having thus made this decision, Raghava, the destroyer of enemies, dismissed all of them for the day.
इति सम्प्रविचार्य राजसिंहः श्वोभूते शपथस्य निश्चयं वै । विससर्ज मुनीन्नृपांश्च सर्वान्स महात्मा महतो महानुभावः ।। ७.९५.
Thus, after careful deliberation, the lion among kings, of great soul and mighty prowess, resolved that the oath would take place the next day and dismissed all the sages and kings.