तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतेनोक्तं दृष्ट्वा चापि ह्यधोमुखान् । पौरान्दुःखेन सन्तप्तान्वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ७.१०७.
Hearing this and seeing the citizens with downcast faces, tormented by sorrow, Bharata spoke, and then Vasiṣṭha addressed them.
वत्स राम इमाः पश्य धरणीं प्रकृतीर्गताः । ज्ञात्वैषामीप्सितं कार्यं मा चैषां विप्रियं कृथाः ।। ७.१०७.
Child Rāma, see these people of the land who have come; know their wish and do not do anything displeasing to them.
वसिष्ठस्य तु वाक्येन उत्थाप्य प्रकृतीजनम् । किं करोमीति काकुत्स्थः सर्वा वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ७.१०७.
Then, at Vasiṣṭha’s words, Rāma raised up the people and said to all, 'What shall I do?'
ततः सर्वाः प्रकृतयो रामं वचनमब्रुवन् । गच्छन्तमनुगच्छामो यत्र राम गमिष्यसि ।। ७.१०७.
Then all the people spoke to Rāma: 'Wherever you go, O Rāma, we will follow you.'
पौरेषु यदि ते प्रीतिर्यदि स्नेहो ह्यनुत्तमः । सपुत्रदाराः काकुत्स्थ समागच्छाम सत्पथम् ।। ७.१०७.
If you have affection and supreme love for the citizens, O descendant of Kakutstha, then with our sons and wives we will join you on the righteous path.
तपोवनं वा दुर्गं वा नदीमम्भोनिधिं तथा । वयं ते यदि न त्याज्याः सर्वान्नो नय ईश्वर ।। ७.१०७.
Whether it be forest, wilderness, river, or ocean, if we are not to be abandoned by you, O Lord, then lead us all.
एषा नः परमा प्रीतिरेष नः परमो वरः । हृद्गता नः सदा प्रीतिस्तवानुगमने नृप ।। ७.१०७.
This is our highest joy, this is our greatest boon; our hearts’ constant delight is to follow you, O King.
पौराणां दृढभक्तिं च बाढमित्येव सो ऽब्रवीत् । स्वकृतान्तं चान्ववेक्ष्य तस्मिन्नहनि राघवः ।। ७.१०७.
Rāma affirmed the citizens’ steadfast devotion, saying, 'So be it,' and, reflecting on his destined end, he did so that very day.
कोसलेषु कुशं वीरमुत्तरेषु तथा लवम् । अभिषिच्य महात्मानावुभौ रामः कुशीलवौ ।। ७.१०७.
Rāma enthroned the heroic Kuśa in Kosala and Lava in the northern lands, both noble sons.
अभिषिक्तौ सुतावङ्के प्रतिष्ठाप्य पुरे ततः । परिष्वज्य महाबाहुर्मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय चासकृत् ।। ७.१०७.
Having installed his sons on the throne, Rāma embraced them, seated them on his lap, and repeatedly kissed their heads.
रथानां तु सहस्राणि नागानामयुतानि च । दशायुतानि चाश्वानामेकैकस्य धनं ददौ ।। ७.१०७.
To each of them he gave thousands of chariots, tens of thousands of elephants, and ten thousand horses, along with wealth.
बहुरत्नौ बहुधनौ हृष्टपुष्टजनावृतौ । स्वे पुरे प्रेषयामास भ्रातरौ तु कुशीलवौ ।। ७.१०७.
He sent the two brothers, Kuśa and Lava, to their own prosperous and wealthy cities, filled with joyful and thriving people.
अभिषिच्य सुतौ वीरौ प्रतिष्ठाप्य पुरे तदा । दूतान्सम्प्रेषयामास शत्रुघ्नाय महात्मने ।। ७.१०७.
Having enthroned his heroic sons and established them in their cities, he then sent messengers to the noble Śatrughna.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तोत्तरशततमः सर्गः
Thus ends the one hundred and seventh sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
ते दूता रामवाक्येन चोदिता लघुविक्रमाः । प्रजग्मुर्मधुरां शीघ्रं चक्रुर्वासं न चाध्वनि ।। ७.१०८.
Those messengers, urged by Rāma’s command and swift in action, quickly set out for Madhurā and did not rest on the way.
ते तु त्रिभिरहोरात्रैः सम्प्राप्य मधुरामथ । शत्रुघ्नाय यथातत्त्वमाचख्युः सर्वमेव तत् ।। ७.१०८.
After three days and nights, they reached Madhura and reported everything exactly as it had happened to Shatrughna.
लक्ष्मणस्य परित्यागं प्रतिज्ञां राघवस्य च । पुत्रयोरभिषेकं च पौरानुगमनं तथा ।। ७.१०८.
They told of Lakshmana's departure, Raghava's vow, the consecration of the two sons, and the people's following as well.
कुशस्य नगरी रम्या विन्ध्यपर्वतरोधसि । कुशावतीति नाम्ना सा कृता रामेण धीमता । श्रावस्तीति पुरी रम्या श्राविता च लवस्य ह ।। ७.१०८.
The beautiful city of Kusha was established by the wise Rama at the foot of the Vindhya mountains and named Kushavati; the lovely city called Shravasti was founded for Lava.
अयोध्यां विजनां कृत्वा राघवो भरतस्तथा । स्वर्गस्य गमनोद्योगं कृतवन्तौ महारथौ ।। ७.१०८.
Having made Ayodhya deserted, both Raghava and Bharata, the great chariot-warriors, prepared to depart for heaven.
एवं सर्वं निवेद्याशु शत्रुघ्नाय महात्मने । विरेमुस्ते ततो दूतास्त्वर राजेति चाब्रुवन् ।। ७.१०८.
Having quickly conveyed all this to the great-souled Shatrughna, the messengers then rested and said, 'Hurry, O King!'
तच्छ्रुत्वा घोरसङ्काशं कुलक्षयमुपस्थितम् । प्रकृतीस्तु समानीय काञ्चनं च पुरोधसम् ।। ७.१०८.
Hearing of the terrible destruction looming over his lineage, he gathered the citizens and the golden priest.
तेषां सर्वं यथावृत्तमब्रवीद्रघनन्दनः । आत्मनश्च विपर्यासं भविष्यं भ्रातृभिः सह ।। ७.१०८.
The descendant of Raghu told them all that had happened, and also spoke of his own impending fate together with his brothers.
ततः पुत्रद्वयं वीरः सो ऽभ्यषिञ्चन्नराधिपः । सुबाहुर्मधुरां लेभे शत्रुघाती च वैदिशम् ।। ७.१०८.
Then the heroic king consecrated his two sons: Subahu received Madhura, and Shatrughati received Vaidiśa.
द्विधा कृत्वा तु तां सेनां माधुरीं पुत्रयोर्द्वयोः । धनं च युक्तं कृत्वा वै स्थापयामास पार्थिवः ।। ७.१०८.
Dividing the Madhura army in two for his sons, and assigning them appropriate wealth, the king established them there.
सुबाहुं मधुरायां च वैदेशे शत्रुघातिनम् । ययौ स्थाप्य तदा ऽयोध्यां रथेनैकेन राघवः ।। ७.१०८.
He stationed Subahu in Madhura and Shatrughati in Vaideśa, and then Raghava set out for Ayodhya in a single chariot.
स ददर्श महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् । सूक्ष्मक्षौमाम्बरधरं मुनिभिः सार्धमक्षयैः ।। ७.१०८.
He saw the great-souled one, shining like blazing fire, clad in fine linen garments, together with the imperishable sages.
सो ऽभिवाद्य ततो रामं प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतेन्द्रियः । उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञं धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन् ।। ७.१०८.
Then, with joined palms and senses controlled, he respectfully greeted Rama and spoke words to the knower of dharma, reflecting only on righteousness.
कृत्वाभिषेकं सुतयोर्द्वयो राघवनन्दन । तवानुगमने राजन्विद्धि मां कृतनिश्चयम् ।। ७.१०८.
O delight of the Raghus, having consecrated your two sons, know, O King, that I am resolved to follow you.
न चान्यदपि वक्तव्यमतो वीर न शासनम् । विलोक्यमानमिच्छामि मद्विधेन विशेषतः ।। ७.१०८.
And nothing else need be said, O hero, nor any command given; I wish especially to be regarded by you as one like myself.
तस्य तां बुद्धिमक्लीबां विज्ञाय रघुनन्दनः । बाढमित्येव शत्रुघ्नं रामो वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। ७.१०८.
Recognizing his unwavering resolve, Rama, the joy of the Raghus, said to Shatrughna, 'So be it.'