दशवर्षसहस्राणि वाजिमेघानथाकरोत् । वाजपेयान्दशगुणांस्तथा बहुसुवर्णकान् ।। ७.९९.
For ten thousand years he performed horse sacrifices, and also ten times as many Vājapeya sacrifices, as well as many with abundant gold.
अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां गोसवैश्च महाधनैः । ईजे क्रतुभिरन्यैश्च स श्रीमानाप्तदक्षिणैः ।। ७.९९.
He worshipped with Agniṣṭoma and Atirātra sacrifices, with great wealth in cow-sacrifices, and with other rituals, all with ample gifts.
एवं स कालः सुमहान्राज्यस्थस्य महात्मनः । धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य व्यतीयाद्राघवस्य तु ।। ७.९९.
Thus, a very long time passed for the great-souled Rāghava, who was established in the kingdom and devoted to righteousness.
अनुरञ्जन्ति राजानमहन्यहनि राघवम् । ऋक्षवानररक्षांसि स्थिता रामस्य शासने ।। ७.९९.
Day after day, the bears, monkeys, and demons, remaining under Rāma’s rule, delighted the king Rāghava.
काले वर्षति पर्जन्यः सुभिक्षं विमला दिशः । हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णं पुरं जनपदास्तथा ।। ७.९९.
In due season the clouds rained, the directions were clear, and the city and countryside were filled with joyful and prosperous people.
नाकाले म्रियते कश्चिन्न व्याधिः प्राणिनां तथा । नानर्थो विद्यते कश्चिद्रामे राज्यं प्रशासति ।। ७.९९.
No one died before their time, nor did any living being suffer disease; no misfortune was found while Rāma ruled the kingdom.
अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य राममाता यशस्विनी । पुत्रपौत्रैः परिवृता कालधर्ममुपागमत् ।। ७.९९.
Then, after a long time, Rāma’s illustrious mother, surrounded by her sons and grandsons, reached the destined end.
अन्वियाय सुमित्रा च कैकेयी च यशस्विनी । धर्मं कृत्वा बहुविधं त्रिदिवे पर्यवस्थिता ।। ७.९९.
Sumitrā and the renowned Kaikeyī also followed, having performed many acts of righteousness, and attained the heavenly realm.
सर्वाः प्रमुदिताः स्वर्गे राज्ञा दशरथेन च । समागता महाभागाः सर्वधर्मं च लेभिरे ।। ७.९९.
All those noble women, together with King Daśaratha, rejoiced in heaven, having attained all virtue.
तासां रामो महादानं काले काले प्रयच्छति । मातऽणामविशेषेण ब्राह्मणेषु तपस्विषु ।। ७.९९.
Rāma gave great gifts to the ascetics and Brahmins, especially on behalf of his mothers, at the proper times.
पित्र्याणि ब्रह्मरत्नानि यज्ञान्परमदुस्तरान् । चकार रामो धर्मात्मा पितऽन्देवान्विवर्धयन् ।। ७.९९.
Rāma, righteous-souled, performed ancestral rites, difficult sacrifices, and honored the gods and his ancestors.
एवं वर्षसहस्राणि बहून्यथ ययुः सुखम् । यज्ञैर्बहुविधं धर्मं वर्धयानस्य सर्वदा ।। ७.९९.
Thus, many thousands of years passed happily, as he always increased righteousness through various sacrifices.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकोनशततमः सर्गः
Thus ends the ninety-ninth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य युधाजित्केकयो नृपः । स्वगुरुं प्रेषयामास राघवाय महात्मने । गार्ग्यमङ्गिरसः पुत्रं ब्रह्मर्षिममितप्रभम् ।। ७.१००.
At a certain time, King Yudhājit of the Kekayas sent his own preceptor, the illustrious sage Gārgya, son of Aṅgiras, radiant as a great seer, to the noble Rāghava.
दश चाश्वसहस्राणि प्रीतिदानमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.१००.
And as a supreme token of affection, he gave ten thousand horses.
कम्बलानि च रत्नानि चित्रवस्त्रमथोत्तमम् । रामाय प्रददौ राजा शुभान्याभरणानि च ।। ७.१००.
He also presented blankets, jewels, exquisite garments, and splendid ornaments to Rāma.
श्रुत्वा तु राघवो धीमान्महर्षिं गार्ग्यमागतम् । मातुलस्याश्वपतिनः प्रहितं तन्महाधनम् ।। ७.१००.
Hearing that the great sage Gārgya, sent by his maternal uncle, the lord of horses, had arrived with abundant wealth, the wise Rāghava rejoiced.
प्रत्युद्गम्य च काकुत्स्थः क्रोशमात्रं सहानुजः । गार्ग्यं सम्पूजयामास यथा शक्रो बृहस्पतिम् ।। ७.१००.
Then Kākutstha, together with his brothers, went out a league to meet Gārgya and honored him as Indra would honor Bṛhaspati.
तथा सम्पूज्य तमृषिं तद्धनं प्रतिगृह्य च । पृष्ट्वा प्रतिपदं सर्वं कुशलं मातुलस्य च । उपविष्टं महाभागं रामः प्रष्टुं प्रचक्रमे ।। ७.१००.
Having thus honored the sage and accepted the gifts, Rāma inquired at every step about the well-being of his maternal uncle, and when the illustrious sage was seated, Rāma began to ask him.
किमाह मातुलो वाक्यं यदर्थं भगवानिह । प्राप्तो वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठः साक्षादिव बृहस्पतिः ।। ७.१००.
"What message has my maternal uncle sent, for which you, revered sage, best among speakers, have come here, like Bṛhaspati himself?"
रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा महर्षिः कार्यविस्तरम् । वक्तुमद्भुतसङ्काशं राघवायोपचक्रमे ।। ७.१००.
Hearing Rāma's words, the great sage, wondrous in his bearing, began to relate in detail the purpose of his coming.
मातुलस्ते महाबाहो वाक्यमाह नरर्षभः । युधाजित्प्रीतिसंयुक्तं श्रूयतां यदि रोचते ।। ७.१००.
"Your mighty-armed maternal uncle, the foremost among men, has sent this message, filled with affection. Listen, if it pleases you."
अयं गन्धर्वविषयः फलमूलोपशोभितः । सिन्धोरुभयतः पार्श्वे देशः परमशोभनः ।। ७.१००.
"This land of the Gandharvas, adorned with fruits and roots, lies on both banks of the river Sindhu and is exceedingly beautiful."
तं च रक्षन्ति गन्धर्वाः सायुधा युद्धकोविदाः । शैलूषस्य सुता वीर त्रिकोट्यो वै महाबलाः ।। ७.१००.
"That region is guarded by the Gandharvas, skilled in warfare and armed, three crores in number, the mighty sons of Śailūṣa, O hero."
तान्विनिर्जित्य काकुत्स्थ गन्धर्वनगरं शुभम् । निवेशय महाबोहो स्वे पुरे सुसमाहिते ।। ७.१००.
"Having conquered them, O Kākutstha, establish your sons in that splendid city of the Gandharvas, with careful attention."
अन्यस्य न गतिस्तत्र देशः परमशोभनः । रोचतां ते महाबाहो नाहं त्वामहितं वदे ।। ७.१००.
"No one else can reach that land, so supremely beautiful. If it pleases you, mighty-armed one, I do not speak to you anything unwholesome."
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवः प्रीतो महर्षेर्मातुलस्य च । उवाच बाढमित्येव भरतं चान्ववैक्षत ।। ७.१००.
Hearing this, Rāghava was pleased with both the sage and his maternal uncle, and replied, 'So be it,' glancing at Bharata.
सो ऽब्रवीद्राघवः प्रीतः साञ्जलिप्रग्रहो द्विजम् । इमौ कुमारौ तं देशं ब्रह्मर्षे विचरिष्यतः ।। ७.१००.
Then Rāghava, delighted, with joined palms, said to the sage, "These two princes will explore that land, O Brahmarṣi."
भरतस्यात्मजौ वीरौ तक्षः पुष्कल एव च । मातुलेन सुगुप्तौ तु धर्मेण सुसमाहितौ ।। ७.१००.
"The two valiant sons of Bharata, Takṣa and Puṣkala, well protected by their maternal uncle and firmly established in righteousness, will go."
भरतं चाग्रतः कृत्वा कुमारौ सबलानुगौ । निहत्य गन्धर्वसुतान्द्वे पुरे विभजिष्यतः ।। ७.१००.
"With Bharata at their head, the princes accompanied by their forces will defeat the sons of the Gandharvas and divide the two cities."