22 shlokas
तथोक्ते तानृषीन्रामः प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः । किमाहारः किमाचारो लवणः क्व च वर्तते ।। 7.62.1 ।।
tathokte tānṛṣīnrāmaḥ pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ | kimāhāraḥ kimācāro lavaṇaḥ kva ca vartate || 7.62.1 ||
Translation
When this had been spoken, Rama, with palms joined together, replied to those sages: What is Lavana's food, what is his conduct, and where does he dwell?
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषयः सर्व एव ते । ततो निवेदयामासुर्लवणो ववृधे यथा ।। 7.62.2 ।।
rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā ṛṣayaḥ sarva eva te | tato nivedayāmāsurlavaṇo vavṛdhe yathā || 7.62.2 ||
Translation
Having heard Raghava's words, all those sages then related how Lavana had grown to such power.
आहारः सर्वसत्त्वानि विशेषेण च तापसाः । आचारो रौद्रता नित्यं वासो मधुवने तथा ।। 7.62.3 ।।
āhāraḥ sarvasattvāni viśeṣeṇa ca tāpasāḥ | ācāro raudratā nityaṃ vāso madhuvane tathā || 7.62.3 ||
Translation
His food is all living creatures, and the ascetics in particular; his conduct is one of constant ferocity, and his dwelling is in the Madhu forest.
हत्वा बहुसहस्राणि सिंहव्याघ्रमृगद्विपान् । मानुषांश्चैव कुरुते नित्यमाहारमाह्निकम् ।। 7.62.4 ।।
hatvā bahusahasrāṇi siṃhavyāghramṛgadvipān | mānuṣāṃścaiva kurute nityamāhāramāhnikam || 7.62.4 ||
Translation
Having slain many thousands of lions, tigers, deer, and elephants, and men as well, he makes of them his food day by day.
ततो ऽन्तराणि सत्त्वानि खादते स महाबलः । संहारे समनुप्राप्ते व्यादितास्य इवान्तकः ।। 7.62.5 ।।
tato 'ntarāṇi sattvāni khādate sa mahābalaḥ | saṃhāre samanuprāpte vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ || 7.62.5 ||
Translation
Then that one of great strength devours yet other creatures besides, like Death with gaping mouth when the time of dissolution has come.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यमुवाच स महामुनीन् । घातयिष्यामि तद्रक्षो ह्यपगच्छतु वो भयम् ।। 7.62.6 ।।
tacchrutvā rāghavo vākyamuvāca sa mahāmunīn | ghātayiṣyāmi tadrakṣo hyapagacchatu vo bhayam || 7.62.6 ||
Translation
Hearing this, Raghava spoke these words to the great sages: I shall have that demon slain; let your fear depart.
प्रतिज्ञाय तथा तेषां मुनीनामुग्रतेजसाम् । स भ्रातऽन्सहितान्सर्वानुवाच रघुनन्दनः ।। 7.62.7 ।।
pratijñāya tathā teṣāṃ munīnāmugratejasām | sa bhrāta'nsahitānsarvānuvāca raghunandanaḥ || 7.62.7 ||
Translation
Having thus given his promise to those sages of fierce splendor, Raghunandana then addressed all his brothers assembled together.
को हन्ता लवणं वीरः कस्यांशः स विधीयताम् । भरतस्य महाबाहोः शत्रुघ्नस्य च धीमतः ।। 7.62.8 ।।
ko hantā lavaṇaṃ vīraḥ kasyāṃśaḥ sa vidhīyatām | bharatasya mahābāhoḥ śatrughnasya ca dhīmataḥ || 7.62.8 ||
Translation
Which hero shall be the slayer of Lavana? Let that task be assigned as the portion of one of them — of mighty-armed Bharata or of wise Shatrughna.
राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु भरतो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ममांशः स विधीयताम् ।। 7.62.9 ।।
rāghaveṇaivamuktastu bharato vākyamabravīt | ahamenaṃ vadhiṣyāmi mamāṃśaḥ sa vidhīyatām || 7.62.9 ||
Translation
Thus addressed by Raghava, Bharata spoke these words: I shall slay him; let that be assigned as my portion.
भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा धैर्यशौर्यसमन्वितम् । लक्ष्मणावरजस्तस्थौ हित्वा सौवर्णमासनम् ।। 7.62.10 ।।
bharatasya vacaḥ śrutvā dhairyaśauryasamanvitam | lakṣmaṇāvarajastasthau hitvā sauvarṇamāsanam || 7.62.10 ||
Translation
Hearing Bharata's words, full of firmness and valor, the younger brother of Lakshmana rose, leaving his golden seat.
शत्रुघ्नस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रणिपत्य नराधिपम् । कृतकर्मा महाबाहुर्मध्यमो रघुनन्दनः ।। 7.62.11 ।।
śatrughnastvabravīdvākyaṃ praṇipatya narādhipam | kṛtakarmā mahābāhurmadhyamo raghunandanaḥ || 7.62.11 ||
Translation
Then Shatrughna, the mighty-armed delight of the Raghus, the middle one in age, whose task was accomplished, bowed before the king and spoke these words.
आर्येण हि पुरा शून्या त्वयोध्या परिपालिता । सन्तापं हृदये कृत्वा आर्यस्यागमनं प्रति ।। 7.62.12 ।।
āryeṇa hi purā śūnyā tvayodhyā paripālitā | santāpaṃ hṛdaye kṛtvā āryasyāgamanaṃ prati || 7.62.12 ||
Translation
"For in former days, O noble one, the empty Ayodhya was guarded by the noble Bharata, who bore grief in his heart awaiting the return of his noble elder brother."
दुःखानि च बहूनीह ह्यनुभूतानि पार्थिव । शयानो दुःखशय्यासु नन्दिग्रामे ऽवसत्पुरा ।। 7.62.13 ।।
duḥkhāni ca bahūnīha hyanubhūtāni pārthiva | śayāno duḥkhaśayyāsu nandigrāme 'vasatpurā || 7.62.13 ||
Translation
"Many sorrows were endured here, O king; lying upon beds of grief, he dwelt formerly at Nandigrama."
फलमूलाशनो भूत्वा जटी चीरधरस्तथा । अनुभूयेदृशं दुःखमेष राघवनन्दनः । प्रेष्ये मयि स्थिते राजन्न भूयः क्लेशमाप्नुयात् ।। 7.62.14 ।।
phalamūlāśano bhūtvā jaṭī cīradharastathā | anubhūyedṛśaṃ duḥkhameṣa rāghavanandanaḥ | preṣye mayi sthite rājanna bhūyaḥ kleśamāpnuyāt || 7.62.14 ||
Translation
"Living on fruits and roots, wearing matted locks and bark garments, this delight of the Raghus endured such suffering. O king, while I, your servant, am at hand, let him not undergo affliction once again."
तथा ब्रुवति शत्रुघ्ने राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् । एवं भवतु काकुत्स्थ क्रियतां मम शासनम् ।। 7.62.15 ।।
tathā bruvati śatrughne rāghavaḥ punarabravīt | evaṃ bhavatu kākutstha kriyatāṃ mama śāsanam || 7.62.15 ||
Translation
When Shatrughna had spoken thus, Raghava replied once more: "So be it, O scion of Kakutstha; let my command be carried out."
राज्ये त्वामभिषेक्ष्यामि मधोस्तु नगरे शुभे । निवेशय महाबाहो भरतं यद्यवेक्षसे ।। 7.62.16 ।।
rājye tvāmabhiṣekṣyāmi madhostu nagare śubhe | niveśaya mahābāho bharataṃ yadyavekṣase || 7.62.16 ||
Translation
"I shall consecrate you to the kingdom in the auspicious city of Madhu. Settle Bharata there, O mighty-armed one, if you so regard it."
शूरस्त्वं कृतविद्यश्च समर्थश्च निवेशने ।। 7.62.17 ।।
śūrastvaṃ kṛtavidyaśca samarthaśca niveśane || 7.62.17 ||
Translation
"You are valiant, accomplished in learning, and capable of founding a settlement."
यो हि शत्रुं समुत्पाट्य पार्थिवस्य पुनः क्षये । न विधत्ते नृपं तत्र नरकं स हि गच्छति ।। 7.62.18 ।।
yo hi śatruṃ samutpāṭya pārthivasya punaḥ kṣaye | na vidhatte nṛpaṃ tatra narakaṃ sa hi gacchati || 7.62.18 ||
Translation
"For he who, having uprooted an enemy, does not, upon the fall of that king's realm, install a ruler there, surely goes to hell."
स त्वं हत्वा मधुसुतं लवणं पापनिश्चयम् । राज्यं प्रशाधि धर्मेण वाक्यं मे यद्यवेक्षसे ।। 7.62.19 ।।
sa tvaṃ hatvā madhusutaṃ lavaṇaṃ pāpaniścayam | rājyaṃ praśādhi dharmeṇa vākyaṃ me yadyavekṣase || 7.62.19 ||
Translation
"Therefore, having slain Lavana, the son of Madhu, whose resolve was wicked, govern the kingdom in accordance with dharma, if you regard my word."
उत्तरं च न वक्तव्यं शूर वाक्यान्तरे मम । बालेन पूर्वजस्याज्ञा कर्तव्या नात्र संशयः ।। 7.62.20 ।।
uttaraṃ ca na vaktavyaṃ śūra vākyāntare mama | bālena pūrvajasyājñā kartavyā nātra saṃśayaḥ || 7.62.20 ||
Translation
"And no reply is to be made, O hero, in answer to my words. By a younger one the command of an elder must be carried out; in this there is no doubt."
अभिषेकं च काकुत्स्थ प्रतीच्छस्व मयोद्यतम् । वसिष्ठप्रमुखैर्विप्रैर्विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् ।। 7.62.21 ।।
abhiṣekaṃ ca kākutstha pratīcchasva mayodyatam | vasiṣṭhapramukhairviprairvidhimantrapuraskṛtam || 7.62.21 ||
Translation
"And accept, O scion of Kakutstha, the consecration prepared by me, attended by the brahmins led by Vasishtha and furnished with the prescribed rites and sacred mantras."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे द्विषष्टितमः सर्गः ।। 62।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe dviṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ || 62||
Translation
Thus, in the sacred and glorious Ramayana, the first poem composed by Valmiki, in the venerable Uttara Kanda, ends the sixty-second canto.