Rama's Establishment of the Rameshvara Lingas at the Bridge

Verse 1 (skanda.6.101.1)

सूत उवाच । एवं तां रजनीं तत्र स उषित्वा रघूत्तमः । उपास्यमानः सर्वैस्तैः सद्भक्त्या वानरोत्तमैः

sūta uvāca evaṁ tāṁ rajanīṁ tatra sa uṣitvā raghūttamaḥ upāsyamānaḥ sarvaistaiḥ sadbhaktyā vānarottamaiḥ

Suta said: Having spent that night there, the best of the Raghus was attended upon with true devotion by all those foremost of vanaras.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.101.2)

ततः प्रभाते विमले प्रोद्गते रविमण्डले । कृत्वा प्राभातिकं कर्म समाहूयाथ पुष्पकम्

tataḥ prabhāte vimale prodgate ravimaṇḍale kṛtvā prābhātikaṁ karma samāhūyātha puṣpakam

Then, at clear dawn, when the sun's orb had risen, having performed the morning rites, he summoned the Pushpaka chariot.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.101.3)

सुग्रीवेण सुषेणेन तारेण कुमुदेन च । अंगदेनाथ कुण्डेन वायुपुत्रेण धीमता

sugrīveṇa suṣeṇena tāreṇa kumudena ca aṁgadenātha kuṇḍena vāyuputreṇa dhīmatā

Together with Sugriva, Sushena, Tara, and Kumuda, with Angada, Kunda, and the wise son of the Wind-god,

Verse 4 (skanda.6.101.4)

गवाक्षेण नलेनेव तथा जांबवतापि च । दशभिर्वानरैः सार्धं समारूढः स पुष्पके

gavākṣeṇa naleneva tathā jāṁbavatāpi ca daśabhirvānaraiḥ sārdhaṁ samārūḍhaḥ sa puṣpake

and with Gavaksha and Nala, and Jambavan too — with these ten vanaras he mounted the Pushpaka.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.101.5)

ततः संप्रस्थितः काले लंकामुद्दिश्य राघवः । मनोजवेन तेनैव विमानेन सुवर्चसा

tataḥ saṁprasthitaḥ kāle laṁkāmuddiśya rāghavaḥ manojavena tenaiva vimānena suvarcasā

Then, at the appointed time, Raghava set out for Lanka in that mind-swift, gloriously radiant chariot.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.101.6)

संप्राप्तस्तत्क्षणादेव लंकाख्यां च महापुरीम् । वीक्षयंस्तान्प्रदेशांश्च यत्र युद्धं पुराऽभवत्

saṁprāptastatkṣaṇādeva laṁkākhyāṁ ca mahāpurīm vīkṣayaṁstānpradeśāṁśca yatra yuddhaṁ purā'bhavat

In that very moment he reached the great city called Lanka, gazing upon those regions where the war had once been fought.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.101.7)

ततो विभीषणो दृष्ट्वा प्रोद्द्योतं पुष्पकोद्भवम् । रामं विज्ञाय संप्राप्तं प्रहृष्टः सम्मुखो ययौ । मंत्रिभिः सकलैः सार्धं तथा भृत्यैः सुतैरपि

tato vibhīṣaṇo dṛṣṭvā proddyotaṁ puṣpakodbhavam rāmaṁ vijñāya saṁprāptaṁ prahṛṣṭaḥ sammukho yayau maṁtribhiḥ sakalaiḥ sārdhaṁ tathā bhṛtyaiḥ sutairapi

Then Vibhishana, seeing the glow that shone from the Pushpaka and recognizing that Rama had come, went out to meet him with delight, together with all his ministers, servants, and sons.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.101.8)

अथ दृष्ट्वा सुदूरात्तं रामदेवं विभीषणः । पपात दण्डवद्भूमौ जयशब्दमुदीरयन्

atha dṛṣṭvā sudūrāttaṁ rāmadevaṁ vibhīṣaṇaḥ papāta daṇḍavadbhūmau jayaśabdamudīrayan

Then, seeing Lord Rama from a distance, Vibhishana fell flat on the ground like a staff, crying out words of victory.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.101.9)

तथागतं परिष्वज्य सादरं स विभीषणम् । तेनैव सहितः पश्चाल्लंकां तां प्रविवेश ह

tathāgataṁ pariṣvajya sādaraṁ sa vibhīṣaṇam tenaiva sahitaḥ paścāllaṁkāṁ tāṁ praviveśa ha

Embracing that Vibhishana, who had approached him thus, with affection, Rama then entered Lanka together with him.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.101.10)

विभीषणगृहं प्राप्य तत्र सिंहासने शुभे । निविष्टो वानरैस्तैश्च समन्तात्परिवारितः

vibhīṣaṇagṛhaṁ prāpya tatra siṁhāsane śubhe niviṣṭo vānaraistaiśca samantātparivāritaḥ

Reaching Vibhishana's house, he was seated there upon the auspicious throne, surrounded on every side by those vanaras.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.101.11)

ततो निवेदयामास तस्मै सर्वं विभीषणः । राज्यं पुत्रकलत्रादि यच्चान्यदपि किंचन

tato nivedayāmāsa tasmai sarvaṁ vibhīṣaṇaḥ rājyaṁ putrakalatrādi yaccānyadapi kiṁcana

Then Vibhishana offered up everything to him — the kingdom, his sons and wife, and whatever else there was.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.101.12)

ततः प्रोवाच विनयात्कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः । आदेशो दीयतां देव ब्रूहि कृत्यं करोमि किम्

tataḥ provāca vinayātkṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ ādeśo dīyatāṁ deva brūhi kṛtyaṁ karomi kim

Then, standing with hands folded in humility, he said: Give your command, my lord; tell me what I should do.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.101.13)

अकस्मादेव संप्राप्तः किमर्थं वद मे प्रभो । किं नायातः स सौमित्रिस्त्वया सार्ध च जानकी

akasmādeva saṁprāptaḥ kimarthaṁ vada me prabho kiṁ nāyātaḥ sa saumitristvayā sārdha ca jānakī

You have arrived so suddenly — tell me why, my lord. Has Saumitri not come, nor Janaki with you?

Verse 14 (skanda.6.101.14)

सूत उवाच । निवेद्य राघवस्तस्मै सर्वं गद्गदया गिरा । वाष्पपूरप्रतिच्छन्नवक्त्रो भूयो विनिःश्वसन्

sūta uvāca nivedya rāghavastasmai sarvaṁ gadgadayā girā vāṣpapūrapraticchannavaktro bhūyo viniḥśvasan

Suta said: Telling him everything in a choked voice, his face veiled by a flood of tears, sighing again and again,

Verse 15 (skanda.6.101.15)

ततः प्रोवाच सत्यार्थं विभीषणकृते हितम् । तं चापि शोकसंतप्तं संबोध्य रघुनंदनः

tataḥ provāca satyārthaṁ vibhīṣaṇakṛte hitam taṁ cāpi śokasaṁtaptaṁ saṁbodhya raghunaṁdanaḥ

Then, consoling him who was overwhelmed with grief, Raghunandana told the true account, for Vibhishana's own benefit.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.101.16)

अहं राज्यं परित्यज्य सांप्रतं राक्षसोत्तम । यास्यामि त्रिदिवं तूर्णं लक्ष्मणो यत्र संस्थितः

ahaṁ rājyaṁ parityajya sāṁprataṁ rākṣasottama yāsyāmi tridivaṁ tūrṇaṁ lakṣmaṇo yatra saṁsthitaḥ

[Rama said:] "Now that I have given up the kingdom, O best of Rakshasas, I shall go swiftly to heaven, where Lakshmana now abides.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.101.17)

न तेन रहितो मर्त्ये मुहूर्तमपि चोत्सहे । स्थातुं राक्षसशार्दूल बांधवेन महात्मना

na tena rahito martye muhūrtamapi cotsahe sthātuṁ rākṣasaśārdūla bāṁdhavena mahātmanā

Without that great-souled kinsman, O tiger among Rakshasas, I have no wish to remain in the mortal world even for a moment.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.101.18)

अहं शिक्षापणार्थाय तव प्राप्तो विभीषण । तस्मादव्यग्रचित्तेन संशृणुष्व कुरुष्व च

ahaṁ śikṣāpaṇārthāya tava prāpto vibhīṣaṇa tasmādavyagracittena saṁśṛṇuṣva kuruṣva ca

O Vibhishana, I have come to you to give instruction; so listen with a steady mind, and act upon it.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.101.19)

एषा राज्योद्भवा लक्ष्मीर्मदं संजनयेन्नृणाम् । मद्यवत्स्वल्पबुद्धीनां तस्मात्कार्यो न स त्वया

eṣā rājyodbhavā lakṣmīrmadaṁ saṁjanayennṛṇām madyavatsvalpabuddhīnāṁ tasmātkāryo na sa tvayā

This royal fortune born of kingship intoxicates men, like liquor to those of feeble wisdom; therefore you must never let it be misused.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.101.20)

शक्राद्या अमराः सर्वे त्वया पूज्याः सदैव हि । मान्याश्च येन ते राज्यं जायते शाश्वतं सदा

śakrādyā amarāḥ sarve tvayā pūjyāḥ sadaiva hi mānyāśca yena te rājyaṁ jāyate śāśvataṁ sadā

Indra and all the other immortals are always to be worshipped by you; by honoring them your kingdom will remain everlasting forever.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.101.21)

मम सत्यं भवेद्वाक्यमेतस्मादहमागतः । प्राप्तराज्यप्रतिष्ठोऽपि तव भ्राता महाबलः

mama satyaṁ bhavedvākyametasmādahamāgataḥ prāptarājyapratiṣṭho'pi tava bhrātā mahābalaḥ

Let my word prove true — it is for this that I have come; your mighty brother, even though he had attained the establishment of the kingdom,

Verse 22 (skanda.6.101.22)

विनाशं सहसा प्राप्तस्तस्मान्मान्याः सुराः सदा । यदि कश्चित्समायाति मानुषोऽत्र कथंचन । मत्काय एव द्रष्टव्यः सर्वैरेव निशाचरैः

vināśaṁ sahasā prāptastasmānmānyāḥ surāḥ sadā yadi kaścitsamāyāti mānuṣo'tra kathaṁcana matkāya eva draṣṭavyaḥ sarvaireva niśācaraiḥ

met sudden destruction; therefore the gods must always be honored. If any human being should ever happen to come here, he must be regarded by all the rakshasas as my very own body.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.101.23)

तथा निशाचराः सर्वे त्वया वार्या विभीषण । मम सेतुं समुल्लंघ्य न गंतव्यं धरातले

tathā niśācarāḥ sarve tvayā vāryā vibhīṣaṇa mama setuṁ samullaṁghya na gaṁtavyaṁ dharātale

And, O Vibhishana, you must restrain all the rakshasas — they must not cross beyond my bridge onto the earth.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.101.24)

विभीषण उवाच । एवं विभो करिष्यामि तवादेशमसंशयम् । परं त्वया परित्यक्ते मर्त्ये मे जीवितं व्रजेत्

vibhīṣaṇa uvāca evaṁ vibho kariṣyāmi tavādeśamasaṁśayam paraṁ tvayā parityakte martye me jīvitaṁ vrajet

Vibhishana said: "So be it, my lord; I shall carry out your command without fail. But once you leave this mortal world, my own life too would depart —

Verse 25 (skanda.6.101.25)

तस्मान्मामपि तत्रैव त्वं विभो नेतुमर्हसि । आत्मना सह यत्रास्ते प्राग्गतो लक्ष्मणस्तव

tasmānmāmapi tatraiva tvaṁ vibho netumarhasi ātmanā saha yatrāste prāggato lakṣmaṇastava

therefore, my lord, you ought to take me there too, to that place where your Lakshmana, who went before, now dwells with you."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.101.26)

श्रीराम उवाच । मया तेऽक्षयमादिष्टं राज्यं राक्षससत्तम । तस्मान्नार्हसि मां कर्तुं मिथ्याचारं कथंचन

śrīrāma uvāca mayā te'kṣayamādiṣṭaṁ rājyaṁ rākṣasasattama tasmānnārhasi māṁ kartuṁ mithyācāraṁ kathaṁcana

Sri Rama said: "I have granted you an imperishable kingdom, O best of rakshasas; therefore you must not, in any way, make my word untrue.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.101.27)

अहमस्मिन्स्वके सेतौ शंकरत्रितयं शुभम् । स्थापयिष्यामि कीर्त्यर्थं तत्पूज्यं भवता सदा । भक्तिमान्प्रतिसंधाय यावच्चंद्रार्कतारकम्

ahamasminsvake setau śaṁkaratritayaṁ śubham sthāpayiṣyāmi kīrtyarthaṁ tatpūjyaṁ bhavatā sadā bhaktimānpratisaṁdhāya yāvaccaṁdrārkatārakam

On this bridge of mine, I shall establish three auspicious lingas of Shankara, for its enduring fame, to be worshipped by you with devotion for as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.101.28)

एवमुक्त्वा रघुश्रेष्ठो राक्षसेन्द्रं विभीषणम् । दशरात्रं तत्र तस्थौ लंकायां वानरैः सह

evamuktvā raghuśreṣṭho rākṣasendraṁ vibhīṣaṇam daśarātraṁ tatra tasthau laṁkāyāṁ vānaraiḥ saha

Having spoken thus to Vibhishana, lord of the rakshasas, the best of the Raghus remained there in Lanka for ten nights, together with the vanaras.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.101.29)

कुर्वन्युद्धकथाश्चित्रा याः कृताः पूर्वमेव हि । पश्यन्युद्धस्य सर्वाणि स्थानानि विविधानि च

kurvanyuddhakathāścitrā yāḥ kṛtāḥ pūrvameva hi paśyanyuddhasya sarvāṇi sthānāni vividhāni ca

recounting the wondrous stories of the battle that had earlier taken place there, and viewing all the various sites of that war —

Verse 30 (skanda.6.101.30)

शंसमानः प्रवीरांस्तान्राक्षसान्बलवत्तरान् । कुम्भकर्णेन्द्रजित्पूर्वान्संख्ये चाभिमुखागतान्

śaṁsamānaḥ pravīrāṁstānrākṣasānbalavattarān kumbhakarṇendrajitpūrvānsaṁkhye cābhimukhāgatān

praising those most powerful rakshasa heroes, foremost among them Kumbhakarna and Indrajit, who had come forward to face him in that war.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.101.31)

ततश्चैकादशे प्राप्ते दिवसे रघुनंदनः । पुष्पकं तत्समारुह्य प्रस्थितः स्वपुरीं प्रति

tataścaikādaśe prāpte divase raghunaṁdanaḥ puṣpakaṁ tatsamāruhya prasthitaḥ svapurīṁ prati

Then, when the eleventh day arrived, Raghunandana mounted the Pushpaka and set out toward his own city,

Verse 32 (skanda.6.101.32)

वानरैस्तैः समोपेतो विभीषणपुरःसरः । ततः संस्थापयामास सेतुप्रांते महेश्वरम्

vānaraistaiḥ samopeto vibhīṣaṇapuraḥsaraḥ tataḥ saṁsthāpayāmāsa setuprāṁte maheśvaram

accompanied by those vanaras, with Vibhishana going before him; then he established Maheshvara at the end of the bridge.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.101.33)

मध्ये चैव तथादौ च श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा । रामेश्वरत्रयं राम एवं तत्र विधाय सः

madhye caiva tathādau ca śraddhāpūtena cetasā rāmeśvaratrayaṁ rāma evaṁ tatra vidhāya saḥ

in the middle, and likewise at the start, with a heart made pure by devotion — thus Rama, having in this way established the three Rameshvara-lingas there,

Verse 34 (skanda.6.101.34)

सेतुबंधं तथासाद्य प्रस्थितः स्वगृहं प्रति । तावद्विभीषणेनोक्तः प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः

setubaṁdhaṁ tathāsādya prasthitaḥ svagṛhaṁ prati tāvadvibhīṣaṇenoktaḥ praṇipatya muhurmuhuḥ

having thus completed the consecration of the setu, he set out for his own home; whereupon Vibhishana, bowing again and again, spoke to him —

Verse 35 (skanda.6.101.35)

विभीषण उवाच । अनेन सेतुमार्गेण रामेश्वरदिदृक्षया । मानवा आगमिष्यंति कौतुकाच्छ्रद्धयाविताः

vibhīṣaṇa uvāca anena setumārgeṇa rāmeśvaradidṛkṣayā mānavā āgamiṣyaṁti kautukācchraddhayāvitāḥ

Vibhishana said: "By this bridge-road, men will come here out of a desire to behold Rameshvara, drawn by curiosity and by faith.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.101.36)

राक्षसानां महाराज जातिः क्रूरतमा मता । दृष्ट्वा मानुषमायांतं मांसस्येच्छा प्रजायते

rākṣasānāṁ mahārāja jātiḥ krūratamā matā dṛṣṭvā mānuṣamāyāṁtaṁ māṁsasyecchā prajāyate

The rakshasa race, great king, is known to be the cruelest of all; on seeing a human being approach, a craving for flesh arises in them.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.101.37)

यदा कश्चिज्जनं कश्चिद्राक्षसो भक्षयिष्यति । आज्ञाभंगो ध्रुवं भावी मम भक्तिरतस्य च

yadā kaścijjanaṁ kaścidrākṣaso bhakṣayiṣyati ājñābhaṁgo dhruvaṁ bhāvī mama bhaktiratasya ca

If any rakshasa should ever devour some person, then a breach of your command would surely follow, along with an injury to my own devotion.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.101.38)

भविष्यंति कलौ काले दरिद्रा नृपमानवाः । तेऽत्र स्वर्णस्य लोभेन देवतादर्शनाय च

bhaviṣyaṁti kalau kāle daridrā nṛpamānavāḥ te'tra svarṇasya lobhena devatādarśanāya ca

In the age of Kali, poor and destitute men will come here, drawn by greed for gold and by the wish to behold the deity;

Verse 39 (skanda.6.101.39)

नित्यं चैवागमिष्यन्ति त्यक्त्वा रक्षःकृतं भयम् । तेषां यदि वधं कश्चिद्राक्षसात्प्रापयिष्यति

nityaṁ caivāgamiṣyanti tyaktvā rakṣaḥkṛtaṁ bhayam teṣāṁ yadi vadhaṁ kaścidrākṣasātprāpayiṣyati

they will keep coming here regularly, having cast off their fear of the rakshasas; and if some rakshasa should cause the death of any of them,

Verse 40 (skanda.6.101.40)

भविष्यति च मे दोषः प्रभुद्रोहोद्भवः प्रभो । तस्मात्कंचिदुपायं त्वं चिन्तयस्व यथा मम । आज्ञाभंगकृतं पापं जायते न गुरो क्वचित्

bhaviṣyati ca me doṣaḥ prabhudrohodbhavaḥ prabho tasmātkaṁcidupāyaṁ tvaṁ cintayasva yathā mama ājñābhaṁgakṛtaṁ pāpaṁ jāyate na guro kvacit

then, my lord, the fault of betraying my sovereign will fall upon me. So devise some means by which the sin of breaking the command may never arise from me, O venerable one."

Verse 41 (skanda.6.101.41)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ततः स रघुसत्तमः । बाढमित्येव चोक्त्वाथ चापं सज्जीचकार सः

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tataḥ sa raghusattamaḥ bāḍhamityeva coktvātha cāpaṁ sajjīcakāra saḥ

Having heard his words, the best of the Raghus said, "So be it," and made his bow ready for use.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.101.42)

ततस्तं कीर्तिरूपं च मध्यदेशे रघूत्तमः । अच्छिनन्निशितैर्बाणैर्दशयोजनविस्तृतम्

tatastaṁ kīrtirūpaṁ ca madhyadeśe raghūttamaḥ acchinanniśitairbāṇairdaśayojanavistṛtam

Then, with sharp arrows, the best of the Raghus cut through that famed middle stretch, ten yojanas in extent.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.101.43)

तेन संस्थापितो यत्र शिखरे शंकरः स्वयम् । शिखरं तत्सलिंगं च पतितं वारिधेर्जले

tena saṁsthāpito yatra śikhare śaṁkaraḥ svayam śikharaṁ tatsaliṁgaṁ ca patitaṁ vāridherjale

The peak upon which Shankara himself had been established there — that peak, together with its linga, fell into the ocean's waters.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.101.44)

एवं मार्गमगम्यं तं कृत्वा सेतुसमुद्भवम् । वानरै राक्षसैः सार्धं ततः संप्रस्थितो गृहम्

evaṁ mārgamagamyaṁ taṁ kṛtvā setusamudbhavam vānarai rākṣasaiḥ sārdhaṁ tataḥ saṁprasthito gṛham

Thus, having made that section of the bridge impassable, he then set out for home, accompanied by the vanaras and the rakshasas.