40 shlokas
प्रस्थाप्य च बलं सर्वं मासमात्रोषितः पथि । एक एवाशु शत्रुघ्नो जगाम त्वरितं तदा ।। 7.65.1 ।।
prasthāpya ca balaṃ sarvaṃ māsamātroṣitaḥ pathi | eka evāśu śatrughno jagāma tvaritaṃ tadā || 7.65.1 ||
Translation
Having sent the whole army ahead and stayed but a month on the road, Shatrughna then went on swiftly, quite alone and in haste.
द्विरात्रमन्तरे शूर उष्य राघवनन्दनः । वाल्मीकेराश्रमं पुण्यमगच्छद्वासमुत्तमम् ।। 7.65.2 ।।
dvirātramantare śūra uṣya rāghavanandanaḥ | vālmīkerāśramaṃ puṇyamagacchadvāsamuttamam || 7.65.2 ||
Translation
Halting for two nights on the way, the heroic delight of the Raghus came to the holy hermitage of Valmiki, an excellent place to dwell.
सो ऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं वाल्मीकिं मुनिसत्तमम् । कृताञ्जलिरथो भूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। 7.65.3 ।।
so 'bhivādya mahātmānaṃ vālmīkiṃ munisattamam | kṛtāñjaliratho bhūtvā vākyametaduvāca ha || 7.65.3 ||
Translation
Having saluted the great-souled Valmiki, the best of sages, and having joined his palms, he then spoke these words.
भगवन्वस्तुमिच्छामि गुरोः कृत्यादिहागतः । श्वः प्रभाते गमिष्यामि प्रतीचीं वारुणीं दिशम् ।। 7.65.4 ।।
bhagavanvastumicchāmi guroḥ kṛtyādihāgataḥ | śvaḥ prabhāte gamiṣyāmi pratīcīṃ vāruṇīṃ diśam || 7.65.4 ||
Translation
"Reverend one, I wish to lodge here, having come on an errand of my elder; tomorrow at dawn I shall go on toward the western quarter, the region of Varuna."
शत्रुघ्नस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । प्रत्युवाच महात्मानं स्वागतं ते महायशः ।। 7.65.5 ।।
śatrughnasya vacaḥ śrutvā prahasya munipuṅgavaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātmānaṃ svāgataṃ te mahāyaśaḥ || 7.65.5 ||
Translation
Hearing Shatrughna's words, the bull among sages laughed and replied to the great-souled one: "Welcome to you, O greatly renowned one."
स्वमाश्रममिदं सौम्य राघवाणां कुलस्य हि । आसनं पाद्यमर्ध्यं च निर्विशङ्कः प्रतीच्छ मे ।। 7.65.6 ।।
svamāśramamidaṃ saumya rāghavāṇāṃ kulasya hi | āsanaṃ pādyamardhyaṃ ca nirviśaṅkaḥ pratīccha me || 7.65.6 ||
Translation
"This hermitage, gentle one, is indeed your own, belonging to the family of the Raghavas; accept from me without any hesitation a seat, water for the feet, and the guest-offering."
प्रतिगृह्य तदा पूजां फलमूलं च भोजनम् । भक्षयामास काकुत्स्थस्तृप्तिं च परमां गतः ।। 7.65.7 ।।
pratigṛhya tadā pūjāṃ phalamūlaṃ ca bhojanam | bhakṣayāmāsa kākutsthastṛptiṃ ca paramāṃ gataḥ || 7.65.7 ||
Translation
Having received the worship offered him, along with fruits and roots for food, the descendant of Kakutstha ate and attained the highest satisfaction.
स भुक्त्वा फलमूलं च महर्षिं तमुवाच ह । इयं यज्ञविभूतिस्ते कस्याश्रमसमीपतः ।। 7.65.8 ।।
sa bhuktvā phalamūlaṃ ca maharṣiṃ tamuvāca ha | iyaṃ yajñavibhūtiste kasyāśramasamīpataḥ || 7.65.8 ||
Translation
Having eaten the fruits and roots, he said to the great sage: "Near whose hermitage stands this splendor of a sacrifice that is yours?"
तत्तस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा वाल्मीकिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् । शत्रुघ्न शृणु यस्येदं बभूवायतनं पुरा ।। 7.65.9 ।।
tattasya bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā vālmīkirvākyamabravīt | śatrughna śṛṇu yasyedaṃ babhūvāyatanaṃ purā || 7.65.9 ||
Translation
Hearing those words of his, Valmiki spoke: "Listen, Shatrughna, to whom this sacred precinct belonged in former times."
युष्माकं पूर्वको राजा सौदासस्तस्य भूपतेः । पुत्रो वीरसहो नाम वीर्यवानतिधार्मिकः ।। 7.65.10 ।।
yuṣmākaṃ pūrvako rājā saudāsastasya bhūpateḥ | putro vīrasaho nāma vīryavānatidhārmikaḥ || 7.65.10 ||
Translation
"An ancestor of yours was the king Saudasa; that lord of the earth had a son named Virasaha, valiant and exceedingly devoted to dharma."
स बाल एव सौदासो मृगयामुपचक्रमे । चञ्चूर्यमाणं ददृशे स शूरो राक्षसद्वयम् ।। 7.65.11 ।।
sa bāla eva saudāso mṛgayāmupacakrame | cañcūryamāṇaṃ dadṛśe sa śūro rākṣasadvayam || 7.65.11 ||
Translation
"While still a youth, this Saudasa set out upon a hunt; and that hero saw a pair of rakshasas roaming about."
शार्दूलरूपिणौ घोरौ मृगान्बहुसहस्रशः । भक्षमाणावसन्तुष्टौ पर्याप्तिं नैव जग्मतुः ।। 7.65.12 ।।
śārdūlarūpiṇau ghorau mṛgānbahusahasraśaḥ | bhakṣamāṇāvasantuṣṭau paryāptiṃ naiva jagmatuḥ || 7.65.12 ||
Translation
"In the form of two dreadful tigers, devouring many thousands of deer, the two remained unsatisfied and could in no way reach their fill."
स तु तौ राक्षसौ दृष्ट्वा निर्मृगं च वनं कृतम् । क्रोधेन महता ऽ ऽविष्टो जघानैकं महेषुणा ।। 7.65.13 ।।
sa tu tau rākṣasau dṛṣṭvā nirmṛgaṃ ca vanaṃ kṛtam | krodhena mahatā ' 'viṣṭo jaghānaikaṃ maheṣuṇā || 7.65.13 ||
Translation
"But seeing those two rakshasas, and the forest made empty of deer, he was seized with great wrath and slew one of them with a mighty arrow."
विनिपात्य तमेकं तु सौदासः पुरुषर्षभः । विज्वरो विगतामार्षो हतं रक्षो ह्युदैक्षत ।। 7.65.14 ।।
vinipātya tamekaṃ tu saudāsaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | vijvaro vigatāmārṣo hataṃ rakṣo hyudaikṣata || 7.65.14 ||
Translation
"Having struck that one down, Saudasa, the bull among men, free of fever and rid of his vexation, gazed upon the slain demon."
निरीक्षमाणं तं दृष्ट्वा सहायं तस्य रक्षसः । सन्तापमकरोद्घोरं सौदासं चेदमब्रवीत् ।। 7.65.15 ।।
nirīkṣamāṇaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahāyaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ | santāpamakarodghoraṃ saudāsaṃ cedamabravīt || 7.65.15 ||
Translation
"Seeing him gazing on, the companion of that rakshasa made a terrible lamentation and spoke thus to Saudasa."
यस्मादनपराधं त्वं सहायं मम जघ्निवान् । तस्मात्तवापि पापिष्ठ प्रदास्यामि प्रतिक्रियाम् ।। 7.65.16 ।।
yasmādanaparādhaṃ tvaṃ sahāyaṃ mama jaghnivān | tasmāttavāpi pāpiṣṭha pradāsyāmi pratikriyām || 7.65.16 ||
Translation
"Since you have slain my companion, who had done no wrong, therefore upon you too, most wicked one, I shall inflict requital."
एवमुक्त्वा तु तद्राक्षस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । कालपर्याययोगेन राजा मित्रसहो ऽभवत् ।। 7.65.17 ।।
evamuktvā tu tadrākṣastatraivāntaradhīyata | kālaparyāyayogena rājā mitrasaho 'bhavat || 7.65.17 ||
Translation
"Having spoken thus, that rakshasa vanished on the very spot; and in the course of time the king became Mitrasaha."
राजापि यजते यज्ञमस्याश्रमसमीपतः । अश्वमेधं महायज्ञं तं वसिष्ठो ऽभ्यपालयत् ।। 7.65.18 ।।
rājāpi yajate yajñamasyāśramasamīpataḥ | aśvamedhaṃ mahāyajñaṃ taṃ vasiṣṭho 'bhyapālayat || 7.65.18 ||
Translation
The king too performed a sacrifice near his hermitage, a great horse-sacrifice, and Vasishtha presided over it as its protector.
तत्र यज्ञो महानासीद्बहुवर्षगणायुतः । समृद्धः परया लक्ष्म्या देवयज्ञसमो ऽभवत् ।। 7.65.19 ।।
tatra yajño mahānāsīdbahuvarṣagaṇāyutaḥ | samṛddhaḥ parayā lakṣmyā devayajñasamo 'bhavat || 7.65.19 ||
Translation
There the great sacrifice continued for many groups of years; abounding in supreme splendor, it became the equal of a sacrifice of the gods.
अथावसाने यज्ञस्य पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन् । वसिष्ठरूपी राजानमिति होवाच राक्षसः ।। 7.65.20 ।।
athāvasāne yajñasya pūrvavairamanusmaran | vasiṣṭharūpī rājānamiti hovāca rākṣasaḥ || 7.65.20 ||
Translation
Then, at the conclusion of the sacrifice, a rakshasa, remembering an old enmity, took on the form of Vasishtha and spoke thus to the king.
अस्य यज्ञस्य जातो ऽन्तः सामिषं भोजनं मम । दीयतामिह शीघ्रं वै नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। 7.65.21 ।।
asya yajñasya jāto 'ntaḥ sāmiṣaṃ bhojanaṃ mama | dīyatāmiha śīghraṃ vai nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 7.65.21 ||
Translation
"The end of this sacrifice has now come. Let food with meat be given to me here at once; let there be no deliberation in this matter."
तच्छ्रुत्वा व्याहृतं वाक्यं रक्षसा ब्रह्मरूपिणा । भक्ष्यसंस्कारकुशलमुवाच पृथिवीपतिः ।। 7.65.22 ।।
tacchrutvā vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ rakṣasā brahmarūpiṇā | bhakṣyasaṃskārakuśalamuvāca pṛthivīpatiḥ || 7.65.22 ||
Translation
Having heard these words uttered by the rakshasa in the guise of a brahmin, the lord of the earth spoke to the one skilled in preparing dishes.
हविष्यं सामिषं स्वादु यथा भवति भोजनम् । तथा कुरुष्व शीघ्रं वै परितुष्येद्यथा गुरुः ।। 7.65.23 ।।
haviṣyaṃ sāmiṣaṃ svādu yathā bhavati bhojanam | tathā kuruṣva śīghraṃ vai parituṣyedyathā guruḥ || 7.65.23 ||
Translation
"Prepare quickly such sacrificial food with meat as will be sweet and pleasing to eat, so that the preceptor may be fully satisfied."
शासनात्पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य सूदः सम्भ्रान्तमानसः । स राक्षसः पुनस्तत्र सूदवेषमथाकरोत् ।। 7.65.24 ।।
śāsanātpārthivendrasya sūdaḥ sambhrāntamānasaḥ | sa rākṣasaḥ punastatra sūdaveṣamathākarot || 7.65.24 ||
Translation
At the command of the lord of kings, the cook, his mind agitated, once again assumed the appearance of a cook there—for he was that same rakshasa.
स मानुषमथो मांसं पार्थिवाय न्यवेदयत् । इदं स्वादु हविष्यं च सामिषं चान्नमाहृतम् ।। 7.65.25 ।।
sa mānuṣamatho māṃsaṃ pārthivāya nyavedayat | idaṃ svādu haviṣyaṃ ca sāmiṣaṃ cānnamāhṛtam || 7.65.25 ||
Translation
He then presented human flesh to the king, saying: "This sweet sacrificial food, with meat, has been brought."
स भोजनं वसिष्ठाय पत्न्या सार्धमुपाहरत् । मदयन्त्या नरव्याघ्र सामिषं रक्षसा हृतम् ।। 7.65.26 ।।
sa bhojanaṃ vasiṣṭhāya patnyā sārdhamupāharat | madayantyā naravyāghra sāmiṣaṃ rakṣasā hṛtam || 7.65.26 ||
Translation
O tiger among men, the king offered that food, taken by the rakshasa and mixed with meat, to Vasishtha together with his wife Madayanti.
ज्ञात्वा तदामिषं विप्रो मानुषं भाजनं गतम् । क्रोधेन महता ऽ ऽविष्टो व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। 7.65.27 ।।
jñātvā tadāmiṣaṃ vipro mānuṣaṃ bhājanaṃ gatam | krodhena mahatā ' 'viṣṭo vyāhartumupacakrame || 7.65.27 ||
Translation
When the brahmin perceived that the flesh was human and that such a dish had been set before him, possessed by great wrath he began to speak.
यस्मात्त्वं भोजनं राजन्ममैतद्दातुमिच्छसि । तस्माद्भोजनमेतत्ते भविष्यति न संशयः ।। 7.65.28 ।।
yasmāttvaṃ bhojanaṃ rājanmamaitaddātumicchasi | tasmādbhojanametatte bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 7.65.28 ||
Translation
"Because, O king, you wish to give me this food, therefore this very food shall become yours—of this there is no doubt."
ततः क्रुद्धस्तु सौदासस्तोयं जग्राह पाणिना । वसिष्ठं शप्तुमारेभे भार्या चैनमवारयत् ।। 7.65.29 ।।
tataḥ kruddhastu saudāsastoyaṃ jagrāha pāṇinā | vasiṣṭhaṃ śaptumārebhe bhāryā cainamavārayat || 7.65.29 ||
Translation
Then the enraged Saudasa took water in his hand and began to curse Vasishtha, but his wife restrained him.
राजन्प्रभुर्यतो ऽस्माकं वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः । प्रतिशप्तुं न शक्तस्त्वं देवतुल्यं पुरोधसम् ।। 7.65.30 ।।
rājanprabhuryato 'smākaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ | pratiśaptuṃ na śaktastvaṃ devatulyaṃ purodhasam || 7.65.30 ||
Translation
"O king, since the venerable seer Vasishtha is our lord and master, you are not able to curse in return the godlike family priest."
ततः क्रोधमयं तोयं तेजोबलसमन्वितम् । व्यसर्जयत धर्मात्मा ततः पादौ सिषेच च ।। 7.65.31 ।।
tataḥ krodhamayaṃ toyaṃ tejobalasamanvitam | vyasarjayata dharmātmā tataḥ pādau siṣeca ca || 7.65.31 ||
Translation
Then the righteous-souled king released that water charged with wrath and endowed with energy and power, and with it he sprinkled his own feet.
तेनास्य राज्ञस्तौ पादौ तदा कल्माषतां गतौ । तदाप्रभृति राजा ऽसौ सौदासः सुमहायशाः । कल्माषपादः संवृत्तः ख्यातश्चैव तथा नृपः ।। 7.65.32 ।।
tenāsya rājñastau pādau tadā kalmāṣatāṃ gatau | tadāprabhṛti rājā 'sau saudāsaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ | kalmāṣapādaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ khyātaścaiva tathā nṛpaḥ || 7.65.32 ||
Translation
By that, the two feet of this king then became spotted; and from that time onward this king Saudasa of great renown became known as Kalmashapada, the king with the spotted foot.
स राजा सह पत्न्या वै प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः । पुनर्वसिष्ठं प्रोवाच यदुक्तं ब्रह्मरूपिणा ।। 7.65.33 ।।
sa rājā saha patnyā vai praṇipatya muhurmuhuḥ | punarvasiṣṭhaṃ provāca yaduktaṃ brahmarūpiṇā || 7.65.33 ||
Translation
That king, together with his wife, bowing down again and again, told Vasishtha once more what had been said by the one in the brahmin's form.
तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य रक्षसा विकृतं च तत् । पुनः प्रोवाच राजानं वसिष्ठः पुरुषर्षभम् ।। 7.65.34 ।।
tacchrutvā pārthivendrasya rakṣasā vikṛtaṃ ca tat | punaḥ provāca rājānaṃ vasiṣṭhaḥ puruṣarṣabham || 7.65.34 ||
Translation
Having heard that the king's deed had been distorted by the rakshasa, Vasishtha spoke again to the king, that bull among men.
मया रोषपरीतेन यदिदं व्याहृतं वचः । नैतच्छक्यं वृथा कर्तुं प्रदास्यामि च ते वरम् ।। 7.65.35 ।।
mayā roṣaparītena yadidaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ vacaḥ | naitacchakyaṃ vṛthā kartuṃ pradāsyāmi ca te varam || 7.65.35 ||
Translation
"This utterance that I spoke while overcome with anger cannot be rendered void; yet I will grant you a boon."
कालो द्वादश वर्षाणि शापस्यान्तो भविष्यति । मत्प्रासादाच्च राजेन्द्र व्यतीतं न स्मरिष्यसि ।। 7.65.36 ।।
kālo dvādaśa varṣāṇi śāpasyānto bhaviṣyati | matprāsādācca rājendra vyatītaṃ na smariṣyasi || 7.65.36 ||
Translation
"The duration of the curse shall be twelve years, and at the end of that time it will cease; and by my grace, O lord of kings, you will not remember what has passed."
एवं स राजा तं शापमुपभुज्यारिसूदनः । प्रतिलेभे पुना राज्यं प्रजाश्चैवान्वपालयत् ।। 7.65.37 ।।
evaṃ sa rājā taṃ śāpamupabhujyārisūdanaḥ | pratilebhe punā rājyaṃ prajāścaivānvapālayat || 7.65.37 ||
Translation
Thus that king, the destroyer of his foes, having undergone the curse, regained his kingdom once more and continued to protect his subjects.
तस्य कल्माषपादस्य यज्ञस्यायतनं शुभम् । आश्रमस्य समीपे ऽस्य यन्मां पृच्छसि राघव ।। 7.65.38 ।।
tasya kalmāṣapādasya yajñasyāyatanaṃ śubham | āśramasya samīpe 'sya yanmāṃ pṛcchasi rāghava || 7.65.38 ||
Translation
That auspicious sacrificial enclosure of Kalmashapada, about which you ask me, O Raghava, lies near this very hermitage.
तस्य तां पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य कथां श्रुत्वा सुदारुणाम् । विवेश पर्णशालायां महर्षिमभिवाद्य च ।। 7.65.39 ।।
tasya tāṃ pārthivendrasya kathāṃ śrutvā sudāruṇām | viveśa parṇaśālāyāṃ maharṣimabhivādya ca || 7.65.39 ||
Translation
Having heard that most terrible account of that lord of kings, Shatrughna saluted the great sage and then entered the leaf-hut.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पञ्चषष्टितमः सर्गः ।। 65 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe pañcaṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ || 65 ||
Translation
Thus ends the sixty-fifth sarga in the venerable Uttara Kanda of the sacred Ramayana, the first poem composed by Valmiki the seer.