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."
निवेश्य ते पुरवरे आत्मजौ सन्निवेश्य च । आगमिष्यति मे भूयः सकाशमतिधार्मिकः ।। ७.१००.
"Having established your sons in those excellent cities, the supremely righteous Bharata will return again to me."
ब्रह्मर्षिमेवमुक्त्वा तु भरतं सबलानुगम् । आज्ञापयामास तदा कुमारौ चाभ्यषेचयत् ।। ७.१००.
After addressing the sage among the Brahmins in this way, he then instructed Bharata, who was accompanied by his army, and at that time anointed the two princes.
नक्षत्रेण च सौम्येन पुरस्कृत्याङ्गिरस्सुतम् । भरतः सह सैन्येन कुमाराभ्यां विनिर्ययौ ।। ७.१००.
With an auspicious star presiding, and having the son of Angiras lead the way, Bharata set out with his army together with the two princes.
सा सेना शक्रयुक्तेव नगरान्निर्ययावथ । राघवानुगता दूरं दुराधर्षा सुरैरपि ।। ७.१००.
That army, like one yoked by Indra himself, departed from the city, following the Raghavas for a great distance, invincible even to the gods.
मांसादानि च सत्त्वानि रक्षांसि सुमहान्ति च । अनुजग्मुर्हि भरतं रुधिरस्य पिपासया ।। ७.१००.
Carnivorous beings and mighty demons also followed Bharata, driven by a thirst for blood.
भूतग्रामाश्च बहवो मांसभक्षाः सुदारुणाः । गन्धर्वपुत्रमांसानि भोक्तुकामाः सहस्रशः ।। ७.१००.
Many hosts of flesh-eating, terrifying spirits, desiring to consume the flesh of the Gandharva prince, followed by the thousands.
सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां खेचराणां च पक्षिणाम् । बहूनि वै सहस्राणि सेनाया ययुरग्रतः ।। ७.१००.
Thousands upon thousands of lions, tigers, boars, and birds that dwell in the sky went ahead of the army.
अध्यर्धमासमुषिता पथि सेना निरामया । हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा केकयं समुपागमत् ।। ७.१००.
After staying on the road for more than half a month, the army, free from illness and filled with joyful and robust people, reached Kekaya.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे शततमः सर्गः
Thus ends the hundredth sarga in the glorious Uttarakanda of the ancient and revered Ramayana composed by the sage Valmiki.
श्रुत्वा सेनापतिं प्राप्तं भरतं केकयाधिपः । युधाजिद्गार्ग्यसहितं परां प्रीतिमुपागमत् ।। ७.१०१.
Hearing that the commander Bharata had arrived, the king of Kekaya, together with Yudhajit of the Gargya line, experienced great joy.