अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च सर्वे स्थावरजङ्गमाः । दानवाश्च महाकायाः पाताले पन्नगाधिपाः ।। ७.९७.
All beings, both immobile and mobile, in the sky and on earth, the mighty-bodied demons, and the serpent lords in the netherworld,
केचिद्विनेदुः संहृष्टाः केचिद्ध्यानपरायणाः । केचिद्रामं निरीक्षन्ते केचित्सीतामचेतनाः ।। ७.९७.
Some rejoiced and sang out, some were absorbed in meditation, some gazed at Rama, and some were stunned, looking at Sita.
सीताप्रवेशनं दृष्ट्वा तेषामासीत्समागमः । तन्मुहूर्तमिवात्यर्थं समं सम्मोहितं जगत् ।। ७.९७.
Witnessing Sita’s entry, they all gathered together; for that moment, the entire world was utterly bewildered.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तनवतितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the ninety-seventh chapter in the glorious Uttarakanda of the venerable Ramayana, the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.
रसातलं प्रविष्टायां वैदेह्यां सर्ववानराः । चुक्रुशुः साधु साध्वीति मुनयो रामसन्निधौ ।। ७.९८.
When Vaidehi entered the netherworld, all the monkeys cried out, 'Well done, well done!' and the sages, in Rama’s presence, did likewise.
दण्डकाष्ठमवष्टभ्य बाष्पव्याकुलितेक्षणः । अवाक्छिरा दीनमना रामो ह्यासीत्सुदुःखितः ।। ७.९८.
Clutching a staff, his eyes clouded with tears, head bowed, and mind dejected, Rama sat in great sorrow.
स रुदित्वा चिरं कालं बहुशो बाष्पमुत्सृजन् । क्रोधशोकसमाविष्टो रामो वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ७.९८.
He wept for a long time, shedding many tears, and overwhelmed by anger and grief, Rama spoke these words:
अभूतपूर्वं शोकं मे मनः स्प्रष्टुमिवेच्छति । पश्यतो मे यथा नष्टा सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी ।। ७.९८.
An unprecedented sorrow seems to touch my mind, as I see Sita lost before me, like fortune itself vanishing.
सा ऽदर्शनं पुरा सीता लङ्कापारे महोदधेः । ततश्चापि मयानीता किं पुनर्वसुधातलात् ।। ७.९८.
Once, Sita was hidden from sight across the great ocean in Lanka; then I brought her back—how could she now vanish from the earth?
वसुधे देवि भवति सीता निर्यात्यतां मम । दर्शयिष्यामि वा रोषं यथा मामवगच्छसि ।। ७.९८.
O goddess Earth, let Sita return to me, or I will show you my wrath so you may understand who I am.
कामं श्वश्रूर्ममैव त्वं त्वत्सकाशाद्धि मैथिली । कर्षता हलहस्तेन जनकेनोद्धृता पुरा ।। ७.९८.
Indeed, you are my mother-in-law, for Maithili was drawn out from you by Janaka, wielding the plough.
तस्मान्निर्यात्यतां सीता विवरं वा प्रयच्छ मे । पाताले नाकपृष्ठे वा वसेयं सहितस्तया ।। ७.९८.
Therefore, let Sita come forth, or grant me a passage; I will dwell with her in the netherworld or in heaven.
आनय त्वं हि तां सीतां मत्तो ऽहं मैथिलीकृते । न मे दास्यसि चेत्सीतां यथारूपां महीतले ।। ७.९८.
Bring Sita to me, for I am devoted to Maithili; if you do not give me Sita as she was upon the earth,
सपर्वतवनां कृत्स्नां विधमिष्यामि ते स्थितम् । नाशयिष्याम्यहं भूमिं सर्वमापो भवत्विह ।। ७.९८.
I will destroy all that stands upon you, mountains and forests alike; I will annihilate the earth, and let everything become water here.
एवं ब्रुवाणे काकुत्स्थे क्रोधशोकसमन्विते । ब्रह्मा सुरगणैः सार्धमुवाच रघुनन्दनम् ।। ७.९८.
As Kakutstha spoke thus, filled with anger and grief, Brahma, together with the hosts of gods, addressed the descendant of Raghu:
राम राम न सन्तापं कर्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत । स्मर त्वं पूर्वकं भावं मन्त्रं चामित्रकर्शन ।। ७.९८.
Rama, Rama, you should not grieve, O virtuous one; recall your former nature and the mantra, O destroyer of enemies.
न खलु त्वां महाबाहो स्मारयेयमनुत्तमम् । इमं मुहूर्तं दुर्धर्ष स्मर त्वं जन्म वैष्णवम् ।। ७.९८.
Indeed, O mighty-armed one, I would not remind you of this supreme truth, but for this moment, O invincible one, remember your Vaishnava birth.
सीता हि विमला साध्वी तव पूर्वपरायणा । नागलोकं सुखं प्रायात्त्वदाश्रयतपोबलात् ।। ७.९८.
Sītā, pure and virtuous, devoted to you from the beginning, happily attained the realm of the nāgas by the power of asceticism gained through her reliance on you.
स्वर्गे ते सङ्गमो भूयो भविष्यति न संशयः । अस्यास्तु परिषन्मध्ये यद्ब्रवीमि निबोध तत् ।। ७.९८.
There will again be union with her in heaven, without doubt; now listen carefully to what I say in the midst of this assembly.
एतदेव हि काव्यं ते काव्यानामुत्तमं श्रुतम् । सर्वं विस्तरतो राम व्याख्यास्यति न संशयः ।। ७.९८.
This is indeed the poem for you, the foremost among poems, which has been heard; Rāma will explain everything in detail, without doubt.
जन्मप्रभृति ते वीर सुखदुःखोपसेवनम् । भविष्यदुत्तरं चेह सर्वं वाल्मीकिना कृतम् ।। ७.९८.
From your birth, O hero, the experience of happiness and sorrow, and whatever is yet to come here, has all been composed by Vālmīki.
आदिकाव्यमिदं राम त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । नह्यन्यो ऽर्हति काव्यानां यशोभाग्राघवादृते ।। ७.९८.
This is the first poem, Rāma, and everything in it is established upon you; no one else, apart from you, Rāghava, is worthy of the glory of poems.
श्रुतं ते पूर्वमेतद्धि मया सर्वं सुरैः सह । दिव्यमद्भुतरूपं च सत्यवाक्यमनावृतम् ।। ७.९८.
All this has been heard by you before, together with me and the gods; it is divine, wondrous in form, truthful, and unhidden.
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल धर्मेण सुसमाहितः । शेषं भविष्यं काकुत्स्थ काव्यं रामायणं शृणु ।। ७.९८.
Therefore, O tiger among men, firmly established in righteousness, listen to the remaining future portion of the poem, the Rāmāyaṇa, O descendant of Kakutstha.
उत्तरं नाम काव्यस्य शेषमत्र महायशः । तच्छृणुष्व महातेज ऋषिभिः सार्धमुत्तमम् ।। ७.९८.
The remaining portion of the poem is called 'Uttara,' O illustrious one; listen to it, O great one, together with the sages, the most excellent.
न खल्वन्येन काकुत्स्थ श्रोतव्यमिदमुत्तमम् । परमम् ऋषिणा वीर त्वयैव रघुनन्दन ।। ७.९८.
Indeed, O Kakutstha, this excellent portion is not to be heard by anyone else; it is supreme, O hero, and meant only for you, O delight of the Raghu lineage.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं ब्रह्मा त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । जगाम त्रिदिवं देवो देवैः सह सबान्धवैः ।। ७.९८.
Having spoken thus, Brahmā, lord of the three worlds, departed to heaven, accompanied by the gods and his kin.
ये च तत्र महात्मान ऋषयो ब्राह्मलौकिकाः । ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञाता न्यवर्तन्त महौजसः । उत्तरं श्रोतुमनसो भविष्यं यच्च राघवे ।। ७.९८.
And those great-souled sages, both divine and worldly, having been permitted by Brahmā, withdrew with their great energy, their minds intent on hearing the future Uttara portion concerning Rāghava.
ततो रामः शुभां वाणीं देवदेवस्य भाषिताम् । श्रुत्वा परमतेजस्वी वाल्मीकिमिदमब्रवीत् ।। ७.९८.
Then Rāma, having heard the auspicious words spoken by the god of gods, addressed Vālmīki, radiant with supreme brilliance.
भगवन् श्रोतुमनस ऋषयो ब्राह्मलौकिकाः । भविष्यदुत्तरं यन्मे श्वोभूते सम्प्रवर्तताम् ।। ७.९८.
O revered one, the sages, both divine and worldly, are eager to hear the future Uttara portion; let it begin for me tomorrow.