25 shlokas
ततो द्वादशमे वर्षे शत्रघ्नो रामपालिताम् । अयोध्यां चकमे गन्तुमल्पभृत्यबलानुगः ।। 7.71.1 ।।
tato dvādaśame varṣe śatraghno rāmapālitām | ayodhyāṃ cakame gantumalpabhṛtyabalānugaḥ || 7.71.1 ||
Translation
Then, in the twelfth year, Shatrughna desired to go to Ayodhya, which was ruled by Rama, accompanied by only a small retinue of servants and troops.
ततो मन्त्रिपुरोगांश्च बलमुख्यान्निवर्त्य च । जगाम हयमुख्यैश्च रथानां च शतेन सः ।। 7.71.2 ।।
tato mantripurogāṃśca balamukhyānnivartya ca | jagāma hayamukhyaiśca rathānāṃ ca śatena saḥ || 7.71.2 ||
Translation
Then, having sent back his ministers, who went at the head, and the chief commanders of his army, he set out with his finest horses and with a hundred chariots.
स गत्वा गणितान्वासान्सप्ताष्टौ रघुनन्दनः । वाल्मीक्याश्रममागत्य वासं चक्रे महायशाः ।। 7.71.3 ।।
sa gatvā gaṇitānvāsānsaptāṣṭau raghunandanaḥ | vālmīkyāśramamāgatya vāsaṃ cakre mahāyaśāḥ || 7.71.3 ||
Translation
After traveling for some seven or eight reckoned days' halts, that delight of the Raghus, of great renown, came to the hermitage of Valmiki and took up his lodging there.
सो ऽभिवाद्य ततः पादौ वाल्मीकेः पुरुषर्षभः । पाद्यमर्ध्यं तथातिथ्यं जग्राह मुनिहस्ततः ।। 7.71.4 ।।
so 'bhivādya tataḥ pādau vālmīkeḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | pādyamardhyaṃ tathātithyaṃ jagrāha munihastataḥ || 7.71.4 ||
Translation
Then that bull among men, having saluted the feet of Valmiki, received from the sage's hand water for the feet, the offering of arghya, and the hospitality due a guest.
बहुरूपाः सुमधुराः कथास्तत्र सहस्रशः । कथयामास स मुनिः शत्रुघ्नाय महात्मने ।। 7.71.5 ।।
bahurūpāḥ sumadhurāḥ kathāstatra sahasraśaḥ | kathayāmāsa sa muniḥ śatrughnāya mahātmane || 7.71.5 ||
Translation
There that sage told stories of many kinds and most sweet, by the thousands, to the great-souled Shatrughna.
उवाच च मुनिर्वाक्यं लवणस्य वधाश्रितम् । सुदुष्करं कृतं कर्म लवणं निघ्नता त्वया ।। 7.71.6 ।।
uvāca ca munirvākyaṃ lavaṇasya vadhāśritam | suduṣkaraṃ kṛtaṃ karma lavaṇaṃ nighnatā tvayā || 7.71.6 ||
Translation
And the sage spoke words concerning the slaying of Lavana: "A most difficult deed was the act you performed in slaying Lavana.
बहवः पार्थिवाः सौम्य हताः सबलवाहनाः । लवणेन महाबाहो युध्यमाना महाबलाः ।। 7.71.7 ।।
bahavaḥ pārthivāḥ saumya hatāḥ sabalavāhanāḥ | lavaṇena mahābāho yudhyamānā mahābalāḥ || 7.71.7 ||
Translation
Many kings, gentle one, mighty and of great strength, were slain by Lavana together with their armies and mounts as they fought against him, O mighty-armed one.
स त्वया निहतः पापो लीलया पुरुषर्षभ । जगतश्च भयं तत्र प्रशान्तं तव तेजसा ।। 7.71.8 ।।
sa tvayā nihataḥ pāpo līlayā puruṣarṣabha | jagataśca bhayaṃ tatra praśāntaṃ tava tejasā || 7.71.8 ||
Translation
That sinful one was slain by you as if in sport, O bull among men, and the terror of the world there was stilled by your fiery valor.
रावणस्य वधो घोरो यत्नेन महता कृतः । इदं तु सुमहत्कर्म त्वया कृतमयत्नतः ।। 7.71.9 ।।
rāvaṇasya vadho ghoro yatnena mahatā kṛtaḥ | idaṃ tu sumahatkarma tvayā kṛtamayatnataḥ || 7.71.9 ||
Translation
The dreadful slaying of Ravana was accomplished with great effort, but this exceedingly great deed was done by you without effort.
प्रीतिश्चास्मिन्परा जाता देवानां लवणे हते । भूतानां चैव सर्वेषां जगतश्च प्रियं कृतम् ।। 7.71.10 ।।
prītiścāsminparā jātā devānāṃ lavaṇe hate | bhūtānāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ jagataśca priyaṃ kṛtam || 7.71.10 ||
Translation
Supreme joy arose among the gods at the slaying of Lavana, and a thing was done that pleased all beings and the whole world.
तच्च युद्धं मया दृष्टं यथावत्पुरुषर्षभ । सभायां वासवस्याथ उपविष्टेन राघव ।। 7.71.11 ।।
tacca yuddhaṃ mayā dṛṣṭaṃ yathāvatpuruṣarṣabha | sabhāyāṃ vāsavasyātha upaviṣṭena rāghava || 7.71.11 ||
Translation
And that battle was witnessed by me just as it happened, O bull among men, as I sat in the assembly hall of Vasava (Indra), O Raghava.
ममापि परमा प्रीतिर्हृदि शत्रुघ्न वर्तते । उपाघ्रास्यामि ते मूर्ध्नि स्नेहस्यैषा परा गतिः ।। 7.71.12 ।।
mamāpi paramā prītirhṛdi śatrughna vartate | upāghrāsyāmi te mūrdhni snehasyaiṣā parā gatiḥ || 7.71.12 ||
Translation
In my heart too, Shatrughna, there abides the highest joy; I shall kiss you upon the head, for this is the supreme expression of affection."
इत्युक्त्वा मूर्ध्नि शत्रुघ्नमुपाघ्राय महामुनिः । आतिथ्यमकरोत्तस्य ये च तस्य पदानुगाः ।। 7.71.13 ।।
ityuktvā mūrdhni śatrughnamupāghrāya mahāmuniḥ | ātithyamakarottasya ye ca tasya padānugāḥ || 7.71.13 ||
Translation
Having spoken thus, the great sage smelled Shatrughna upon the head and extended his hospitality to him and to those who were his attendants.
स भुक्तवान्नरश्रेष्ठो गीतमाधुर्यमुत्तमम् । शुश्राव रामचरितं तस्मिन्काले यथाकृमम् ।। 7.71.14 ।।
sa bhuktavānnaraśreṣṭho gītamādhuryamuttamam | śuśrāva rāmacaritaṃ tasminkāle yathākṛmam || 7.71.14 ||
Translation
That best of men, having eaten, then heard in due order the supremely sweet song, the story of Rama.
तन्त्रीलयसमायुक्तं त्रिस्थानकरणान्वितम् । संस्कृतं लक्षणोपेतं समतालसमन्वितम् । शुश्राव रामचरितं तस्मिन्काले पुरा कृतम् ।। 7.71.15 ।।
tantrīlayasamāyuktaṃ tristhānakaraṇānvitam | saṃskṛtaṃ lakṣaṇopetaṃ samatālasamanvitam | śuśrāva rāmacaritaṃ tasminkāle purā kṛtam || 7.71.15 ||
Translation
At that time he heard the story of Rama, composed long ago, set to the rhythm of strings, endowed with the three vocal registers, refined in language, furnished with proper characteristics, and accompanied by even measure.
तान्यक्षराणि सत्यानि यथावृत्तानि पूर्वशः । श्रुत्वा पुरुषशार्दूलो विसञ्ज्ञो बाष्पलोचनः ।। 7.71.16 ।।
tānyakṣarāṇi satyāni yathāvṛttāni pūrvaśaḥ | śrutvā puruṣaśārdūlo visañjño bāṣpalocanaḥ || 7.71.16 ||
Translation
Hearing those true syllables, recounting in proper order from the beginning the events just as they had happened, that tiger among men became overwhelmed, with tears in his eyes.
स मुहूर्तमिवासञ्ज्ञो विनिःश्वस्य मुहुर्मुहुः । तस्मिन् गीते यथावृत्तं वर्तमानमिवाशृणोत् ।। 7.71.17 ।।
sa muhūrtamivāsañjño viniḥśvasya muhurmuhuḥ | tasmin gīte yathāvṛttaṃ vartamānamivāśṛṇot || 7.71.17 ||
Translation
For a moment, as though he had lost his senses, sighing again and again, he listened to that song in which the events that had occurred seemed to be unfolding in the present.
पदानुगाश्च ये राज्ञस्तां श्रुत्वा गीतिसम्पदम् । अवाङ्मुखाश्च दीनाश्च ह्याश्चर्यमिति चाब्रुवन् ।। 7.71.18 ।।
padānugāśca ye rājñastāṃ śrutvā gītisampadam | avāṅmukhāśca dīnāśca hyāścaryamiti cābruvan || 7.71.18 ||
Translation
And those who were the king's attendants, having heard that wealth of song, with faces bent down and dejected, exclaimed, "How marvelous!"
परस्परं च ये तत्र सैनिकाः सम्बभाषिरे । किमिदं क्व च वर्तामः किमेतत्स्वप्नदर्शनम् ।। 7.71.19 ।।
parasparaṃ ca ye tatra sainikāḥ sambabhāṣire | kimidaṃ kva ca vartāmaḥ kimetatsvapnadarśanam || 7.71.19 ||
Translation
And the soldiers who were there spoke to one another: "What is this? Where are we? Is this some vision seen in a dream?"
अर्थो यो नः पुरा दृष्टस्तमाश्रमपदे पुनः । शृणुमः किमिदं स्वप्नो गीतबन्धं श्रियो भवेत् ।। 7.71.20 ।।
artho yo naḥ purā dṛṣṭastamāśramapade punaḥ | śṛṇumaḥ kimidaṃ svapno gītabandhaṃ śriyo bhavet || 7.71.20 ||
Translation
"The matter that we once witnessed, we now hear again here in this hermitage. What is this—a dream? Could this binding of song be a manifestation of the goddess of fortune?"
विस्मयं ते परं गत्वा शत्रुघ्नमिदमब्रुवन् । साधु पृच्छ नरश्रेष्ठ वाल्मीकिं मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।। 7.71.21 ।।
vismayaṃ te paraṃ gatvā śatrughnamidamabruvan | sādhu pṛccha naraśreṣṭha vālmīkiṃ munipuṅgavam || 7.71.21 ||
Translation
Having reached the height of amazement, they said this to Shatrughna: "It would be well, O best of men, to ask Valmiki, that bull among sages."
शत्रुघ्नस्त्वब्रवीत्सर्वान्कौतूहलसमन्वितान् । सैनिका न क्षमो ऽस्माकं परिप्रष्टुमिहेदृशः ।। 7.71.22 ।।
śatrughnastvabravītsarvānkautūhalasamanvitān | sainikā na kṣamo 'smākaṃ paripraṣṭumihedṛśaḥ || 7.71.22 ||
Translation
But Shatrughna said to all of them, who were filled with curiosity: "O soldiers, it is not fitting for us to make such an inquiry here."
आश्चर्याणि बहूनीह भवन्त्यस्याश्रमे मुनेः । न तु कौतूहलाद्युक्तमन्वेष्टुं तं महामुनिम् ।। 7.71.23 ।।
āścaryāṇi bahūnīha bhavantyasyāśrame muneḥ | na tu kautūhalādyuktamanveṣṭuṃ taṃ mahāmunim || 7.71.23 ||
Translation
"Many marvels occur here in this hermitage of the sage; but it is not proper, out of mere curiosity, to question that great sage."
एवं तद्वाक्यमुक्त्वा च सैनिकान्रघुनन्दनः । अभिवाद्य महर्षिं तं स्वं निवेशं ययौ तदा ।। 7.71.24 ।।
evaṃ tadvākyamuktvā ca sainikānraghunandanaḥ | abhivādya maharṣiṃ taṃ svaṃ niveśaṃ yayau tadā || 7.71.24 ||
Translation
Having spoken these words to the soldiers, the delight of the Raghus then saluted that great sage and went to his own lodging.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकसप्ततिमः सर्गः ।। 71 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe ekasaptatimaḥ sargaḥ || 71 ||
Translation
Thus ends the seventy-first sarga in the venerable Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana, the first poem, composed by the sage Valmiki.