28 shlokas
रसातलं प्रविष्टायां वैदेह्यां सर्ववानराः । चुक्रुशुः साधु साध्वीति मुनयो रामसन्निधौ ।। 7.98.1 ।।
rasātalaṃ praviṣṭāyāṃ vaidehyāṃ sarvavānarāḥ | cukruśuḥ sādhu sādhvīti munayo rāmasannidhau || 7.98.1 ||
Translation
When Vaidehi had entered the nether world, all the vanaras and the sages in Rama's presence cried out, 'Well done, virtuous one! Well done!'
दण्डकाष्ठमवष्टभ्य बाष्पव्याकुलितेक्षणः । अवाक्छिरा दीनमना रामो ह्यासीत्सुदुःखितः ।। 7.98.2 ।।
daṇḍakāṣṭhamavaṣṭabhya bāṣpavyākulitekṣaṇaḥ | avākchirā dīnamanā rāmo hyāsītsuduḥkhitaḥ || 7.98.2 ||
Translation
Leaning upon his wooden staff, his eyes brimming with tears, his face cast down and his mind despondent, Rama was overwhelmed with grief.
स रुदित्वा चिरं कालं बहुशो बाष्पमुत्सृजन् । क्रोधशोकसमाविष्टो रामो वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 7.98.3 ।।
sa ruditvā ciraṃ kālaṃ bahuśo bāṣpamutsṛjan | krodhaśokasamāviṣṭo rāmo vacanamabravīt || 7.98.3 ||
Translation
Having wept for a long while and shed tears again and again, Rama, seized by anger and sorrow, spoke these words.
अभूतपूर्वं शोकं मे मनः स्प्रष्टुमिवेच्छति । पश्यतो मे यथा नष्टा सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी ।। 7.98.4 ।।
abhūtapūrvaṃ śokaṃ me manaḥ spraṣṭumivecchati | paśyato me yathā naṣṭā sītā śrīriva rūpiṇī || 7.98.4 ||
Translation
It is as though my mind seeks to touch a grief such as I have never known before, now that, before my very eyes, Sita has vanished like the goddess Shri in bodily form.
सा ऽदर्शनं पुरा सीता लङ्कापारे महोदधेः । ततश्चापि मयानीता किं पुनर्वसुधातलात् ।। 7.98.5 ।।
sā 'darśanaṃ purā sītā laṅkāpāre mahodadheḥ | tataścāpi mayānītā kiṃ punarvasudhātalāt || 7.98.5 ||
Translation
Once before, Sita passed beyond my sight on the far shore of the great ocean at Lanka, and even from there she was brought back by me; how much more shall I recover her now from the surface of the earth!
वसुधे देवि भवति सीता निर्यात्यतां मम । दर्शयिष्यामि वा रोषं यथा मामवगच्छसि ।। 7.98.6 ।।
vasudhe devi bhavati sītā niryātyatāṃ mama | darśayiṣyāmi vā roṣaṃ yathā māmavagacchasi || 7.98.6 ||
Translation
O divine Earth, let Sita be restored to me by you, or else I shall display my wrath, so that you come to know me.
कामं श्वश्रूर्ममैव त्वं त्वत्सकाशाद्धि मैथिली । कर्षता हलहस्तेन जनकेनोद्धृता पुरा ।। 7.98.7 ।।
kāmaṃ śvaśrūrmamaiva tvaṃ tvatsakāśāddhi maithilī | karṣatā halahastena janakenoddhṛtā purā || 7.98.7 ||
Translation
You are indeed my very own mother-in-law, for it was from you that Maithili came forth, when Janaka, plough in hand, drew her up from you long ago as he furrowed the field.
तस्मान्निर्यात्यतां सीता विवरं वा प्रयच्छ मे । पाताले नाकपृष्ठे वा वसेयं सहितस्तया ।। 7.98.8 ।।
tasmānniryātyatāṃ sītā vivaraṃ vā prayaccha me | pātāle nākapṛṣṭhe vā vaseyaṃ sahitastayā || 7.98.8 ||
Translation
Therefore let Sita be given back, or grant me an opening to you; whether in the nether world or upon the vault of heaven, I would dwell together with her.
आनय त्वं हि तां सीतां मत्तो ऽहं मैथिलीकृते । न मे दास्यसि चेत्सीतां यथारूपां महीतले ।। 7.98.9 ।।
ānaya tvaṃ hi tāṃ sītāṃ matto 'haṃ maithilīkṛte | na me dāsyasi cetsītāṃ yathārūpāṃ mahītale || 7.98.9 ||
Translation
Bring that Sita back to me, for I am undone for Maithili's sake; and if you will not give me back Sita in her own form upon the earth,
सपर्वतवनां कृत्स्नां विधमिष्यामि ते स्थितम् । नाशयिष्याम्यहं भूमिं सर्वमापो भवत्विह ।। 7.98.10 ।।
saparvatavanāṃ kṛtsnāṃ vidhamiṣyāmi te sthitam | nāśayiṣyāmyahaṃ bhūmiṃ sarvamāpo bhavatviha || 7.98.10 ||
Translation
then with all your mountains and forests entire I shall destroy your whole abode; I shall lay waste this land, and let everything here become water.
एवं ब्रुवाणे काकुत्स्थे क्रोधशोकसमन्विते । ब्रह्मा सुरगणैः सार्धमुवाच रघुनन्दनम् ।। 7.98.11 ।।
evaṃ bruvāṇe kākutsthe krodhaśokasamanvite | brahmā suragaṇaiḥ sārdhamuvāca raghunandanam || 7.98.11 ||
Translation
While Kakutstha was speaking thus, filled with anger and grief, Brahma together with the host of gods addressed the delight of Raghu's line.
राम राम न सन्तापं कर्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत । स्मर त्वं पूर्वकं भावं मन्त्रं चामित्रकर्शन ।। 7.98.12 ।।
rāma rāma na santāpaṃ kartumarhasi suvrata | smara tvaṃ pūrvakaṃ bhāvaṃ mantraṃ cāmitrakarśana || 7.98.12 ||
Translation
Rama, Rama, you ought not to grieve, O steadfast in vows; recall, O scorcher of foes, your former nature and the counsel that was yours.
न खलु त्वां महाबाहो स्मारयेयमनुत्तमम् । इमं मुहूर्तं दुर्धर्ष स्मर त्वं जन्म वैष्णवम् ।। 7.98.13 ।।
na khalu tvāṃ mahābāho smārayeyamanuttamam | imaṃ muhūrtaṃ durdharṣa smara tvaṃ janma vaiṣṇavam || 7.98.13 ||
Translation
Surely I need not remind you of that supreme matter, O mighty-armed and invincible one; for this present moment, recall your birth as Vishnu.
सीता हि विमला साध्वी तव पूर्वपरायणा । नागलोकं सुखं प्रायात्त्वदाश्रयतपोबलात् ।। 7.98.14 ।।
sītā hi vimalā sādhvī tava pūrvaparāyaṇā | nāgalokaṃ sukhaṃ prāyāttvadāśrayatapobalāt || 7.98.14 ||
Translation
Sita is indeed pure and chaste, ever devoted to you as before; by the power of her austerity, founded upon her refuge in you, she has gone happily to the world of the Nagas.
स्वर्गे ते सङ्गमो भूयो भविष्यति न संशयः । अस्यास्तु परिषन्मध्ये यद्ब्रवीमि निबोध तत् ।। 7.98.15 ।।
svarge te saṅgamo bhūyo bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | asyāstu pariṣanmadhye yadbravīmi nibodha tat || 7.98.15 ||
Translation
In heaven your reunion with her shall come about once more—of that there is no doubt; and now hear what I tell you in the midst of this assembly.
एतदेव हि काव्यं ते काव्यानामुत्तमं श्रुतम् । सर्वं विस्तरतो राम व्याख्यास्यति न संशयः ।। 7.98.16 ।।
etadeva hi kāvyaṃ te kāvyānāmuttamaṃ śrutam | sarvaṃ vistarato rāma vyākhyāsyati na saṃśayaḥ || 7.98.16 ||
Translation
This very poem of yours is heard to be the foremost among poems, O Rama, and it shall expound everything in full detail—of that there is no doubt.
जन्मप्रभृति ते वीर सुखदुःखोपसेवनम् । भविष्यदुत्तरं चेह सर्वं वाल्मीकिना कृतम् ।। 7.98.17 ।।
janmaprabhṛti te vīra sukhaduḥkhopasevanam | bhaviṣyaduttaraṃ ceha sarvaṃ vālmīkinā kṛtam || 7.98.17 ||
Translation
From your birth onward, O hero, your experience of joys and sorrows, and what is yet to come hereafter—all of it has here been composed by Valmiki.
आदिकाव्यमिदं राम त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । नह्यन्यो ऽर्हति काव्यानां यशोभाग्राघवादृते ।। 7.98.18 ।।
ādikāvyamidaṃ rāma tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | nahyanyo 'rhati kāvyānāṃ yaśobhāgrāghavādṛte || 7.98.18 ||
Translation
This is the first poem, O Rama, and the whole of it rests upon you; for no one other than Raghava is worthy to be the bearer of fame among poems.
श्रुतं ते पूर्वमेतद्धि मया सर्वं सुरैः सह । दिव्यमद्भुतरूपं च सत्यवाक्यमनावृतम् ।। 7.98.19 ।।
śrutaṃ te pūrvametaddhi mayā sarvaṃ suraiḥ saha | divyamadbhutarūpaṃ ca satyavākyamanāvṛtam || 7.98.19 ||
Translation
All this, divine and of wondrous form, this true and unconcealed account, was heard by you before, together with me and the gods.
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल धर्मेण सुसमाहितः । शेषं भविष्यं काकुत्स्थ काव्यं रामायणं शृणु ।। 7.98.20 ।।
sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla dharmeṇa susamāhitaḥ | śeṣaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ kākutstha kāvyaṃ rāmāyaṇaṃ śṛṇu || 7.98.20 ||
Translation
Therefore you, O tiger among men, O Kakutstha, being well-composed in righteousness, hear now the remainder, the future portion, the poem called the Ramayana.
उत्तरं नाम काव्यस्य शेषमत्र महायशः । तच्छृणुष्व महातेज ऋषिभिः सार्धमुत्तमम् ।। 7.98.21 ।।
uttaraṃ nāma kāvyasya śeṣamatra mahāyaśaḥ | tacchṛṇuṣva mahāteja ṛṣibhiḥ sārdhamuttamam || 7.98.21 ||
Translation
There remains here, O greatly renowned one, the portion of the poem called the Uttara; hear that excellent portion, O one of great splendor, together with the sages.
न खल्वन्येन काकुत्स्थ श्रोतव्यमिदमुत्तमम् । परमम् ऋषिणा वीर त्वयैव रघुनन्दन ।। 7.98.22 ।।
na khalvanyena kākutstha śrotavyamidamuttamam | paramam ṛṣiṇā vīra tvayaiva raghunandana || 7.98.22 ||
Translation
Indeed, O Kakutstha, this supreme and excellent portion is not to be heard by any other, but by you alone, O hero, O delight of the Raghus, as by a sage.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं ब्रह्मा त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । जगाम त्रिदिवं देवो देवैः सह सबान्धवैः ।। 7.98.23 ।।
etāvaduktvā vacanaṃ brahmā tribhuvaneśvaraḥ | jagāma tridivaṃ devo devaiḥ saha sabāndhavaiḥ || 7.98.23 ||
Translation
Having spoken this much, Brahma, the lord of the three worlds, that god, went to heaven together with the gods and his kinsmen.
ये च तत्र महात्मान ऋषयो ब्राह्मलौकिकाः । ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञाता न्यवर्तन्त महौजसः । उत्तरं श्रोतुमनसो भविष्यं यच्च राघवे ।। 7.98.24 ।।
ye ca tatra mahātmāna ṛṣayo brāhmalaukikāḥ | brahmaṇā samanujñātā nyavartanta mahaujasaḥ | uttaraṃ śrotumanaso bhaviṣyaṃ yacca rāghave || 7.98.24 ||
Translation
And those great-souled sages who were there, dwellers in Brahma's world, men of great might, being permitted by Brahma, departed, their minds set on hearing the Uttara, the future that concerns Raghava.
ततो रामः शुभां वाणीं देवदेवस्य भाषिताम् । श्रुत्वा परमतेजस्वी वाल्मीकिमिदमब्रवीत् ।। 7.98.25 ।।
tato rāmaḥ śubhāṃ vāṇīṃ devadevasya bhāṣitām | śrutvā paramatejasvī vālmīkimidamabravīt || 7.98.25 ||
Translation
Then Rama, of supreme splendor, having heard that auspicious speech uttered by the god of gods, spoke thus to Valmiki.
भगवन् श्रोतुमनस ऋषयो ब्राह्मलौकिकाः । भविष्यदुत्तरं यन्मे श्वोभूते सम्प्रवर्तताम् ।। 7.98.26 ।।
bhagavan śrotumanasa ṛṣayo brāhmalaukikāḥ | bhaviṣyaduttaraṃ yanme śvobhūte sampravartatām || 7.98.26 ||
Translation
"O reverend one, the sages who dwell in Brahma's world are eager to hear; let that future Uttara which concerns me be recited tomorrow when the day has come."
एवं विनिश्चयं कृत्वा सम्प्रगृह्य कुशीलवौ । तं जनौघं विसृज्याथ पर्णशालामुपागमत् । तामेव शोचतः सीतां सा व्यतीयाय शर्वरी ।। 7.98.27 ।।
evaṃ viniścayaṃ kṛtvā sampragṛhya kuśīlavau | taṃ janaughaṃ visṛjyātha parṇaśālāmupāgamat | tāmeva śocataḥ sītāṃ sā vyatīyāya śarvarī || 7.98.27 ||
Translation
Having made this resolve and taking Kusha and Lava with him, and then dismissing that multitude of people, Valmiki went to his leaf-hut; and for him, grieving for that very Sita, the night passed away.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टनवतितमः सर्गः ।। 98 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe 'ṣṭanavatitamaḥ sargaḥ || 98 ||
Translation
Thus ends the ninety-eighth canto in the venerable Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana, the first poem, composed by the sage Valmiki.