The Sages' Visit and Rama's Question

Shloka 1 (uttara.1.1)

प्राप्तराज्यस्य रामस्य राक्षसानां वधे कृते । आजग्मुर्ऋषयः सर्वे राघवं प्रतिनन्दितुम् ॥ 1.1 ॥

prāptarājyasya rāmasya rākṣasānāṃ vadhe kṛte | ājagmurṛṣayaḥ sarve rāghavaṃ pratinanditum || 1.1 ||

When Rama had obtained his kingdom and the rakshasas had been slain, all the sages came to congratulate Raghava.

Shloka 2 (uttara.1.2)

कौशिको ऽथ यवक्रीतो गार्ग्यो गालव एव च । कण्वो मेधातिथेः पुत्रः पूर्वस्यां दिशि ये श्रिताः ॥ 1.2 ॥

kauśiko 'tha yavakrīto gārgyo gālava eva ca | kaṇvo medhātitheḥ putraḥ pūrvasyāṃ diśi ye śritāḥ || 1.2 ||

Kaushika, Yavakrita, Gargya, and Galava, and Kanva the son of Medhatithi — these were the sages who dwelt in the eastern quarter.

Shloka 3 (uttara.1.3)

स्वस्त्यात्रेयो ऽथ भगवान्नमुचिः प्रमुचिस्तथा । आजग्मुस्ते सहागस्त्या ये श्रिता दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥ 1.3 ॥

svastyātreyo 'tha bhagavānnamuciḥ pramucistathā | ājagmuste sahāgastyā ye śritā dakṣiṇāṃ diśam || 1.3 ||

Svastyatreya, the blessed Namuchi, and Pramuchi as well — they came together with Agastya, those who dwelt in the southern quarter.

Shloka 4 (uttara.1.4)

नृषद्गुः कवषो धौम्यो रौद्रेयश्च महानृषिः । ते ऽप्याजग्मुः सशिष्या वै ये श्रिताः पश्चिमां दिशम् ॥ 1.4 ॥

nṛṣadguḥ kavaṣo dhaumyo raudreyaśca mahānṛṣiḥ | te 'pyājagmuḥ saśiṣyā vai ye śritāḥ paścimāṃ diśam || 1.4 ||

Nrishadgu, Kavasha, Dhaumya, and the great seer Raudreya — they too came with their disciples, those who dwelt in the western quarter.

Shloka 5 (uttara.1.5)

वसिष्ठः कश्यपो ऽथात्रिर्विश्वामित्रः सगौतमः । जमदग्निर्भरद्वाजस्ते ऽपि सप्तर्षयस्तथा ॥ 1.5 ॥

vasiṣṭhaḥ kaśyapo 'thātrirviśvāmitraḥ sagautamaḥ | jamadagnirbharadvājaste 'pi saptarṣayastathā || 1.5 ||

Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Atri, Vishvamitra together with Gautama, Jamadagni, and Bharadvaja — these seven great sages came as well.

Shloka 6 (uttara.1.6)

उदीच्यां दिशि सप्तैते नित्यमेव निवासिनः ॥ 1.6 ॥

udīcyāṃ diśi saptaite nityameva nivāsinaḥ || 1.6 ||

These same seven ever dwell in the northern quarter.

Shloka 7 (uttara.1.7)

सम्प्राप्य ते महात्मानो राघवस्य निवेशनम् । विष्टिताः प्रतिहारार्थं हुताशनसमप्रभाः । वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषो नानाशास्त्रविशारदाः ॥ 1.7 ॥

samprāpya te mahātmāno rāghavasya niveśanam | viṣṭitāḥ pratihārārthaṃ hutāśanasamaprabhāḥ | vedavedāṅgaviduṣo nānāśāstraviśāradāḥ || 1.7 ||

Having reached Raghava's dwelling, those great souls — radiant as fire, learned in the Vedas and their limbs, and versed in many sciences — stood waiting at the entrance for the doorkeeper.

Shloka 8 (uttara.1.8)

द्वाःस्थं प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा अगस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः । निवेद्यतां दाशरथेर्ऋषीनस्मान्समागतान् ॥ 1.8 ॥

dvāḥsthaṃ provāca dharmātmā agastyo munisattamaḥ | nivedyatāṃ dāśaratherṛṣīnasmānsamāgatān || 1.8 ||

The righteous Agastya, foremost of sages, said to the gatekeeper: "Tell the son of Dasharatha that we sages have arrived."

Shloka 9 (uttara.1.9)

प्रतीहारस्ततस्तूर्णमगस्त्यवचनाद्द्रुतम् । समीपं राघवस्याशु प्रविवेश महात्मनः ॥ 1.9 ॥

pratīhārastatastūrṇamagastyavacanāddrutam | samīpaṃ rāghavasyāśu praviveśa mahātmanaḥ || 1.9 ||

Then, at Agastya's word, the gatekeeper swiftly hastened into the presence of the great-souled Raghava.

Shloka 10 (uttara.1.10)

नयेङ्गितज्ञः सद्वृत्तो दक्षो धैर्यसमन्वितः । स रामं दृश्य सहसा पूर्णचन्द्रसमप्रभम् ॥ 1.10 ॥

nayeṅgitajñaḥ sadvṛtto dakṣo dhairyasamanvitaḥ | sa rāmaṃ dṛśya sahasā pūrṇacandrasamaprabham || 1.10 ||

He — skilled at reading intent, of good conduct, capable, and possessed of steadiness — beheld Rama, radiant as the full moon.

Shloka 11 (uttara.1.11)

अगस्त्यं कथयामास सम्प्राप्तमृषिभिः सह ॥ 1.11 ॥

agastyaṃ kathayāmāsa samprāptamṛṣibhiḥ saha || 1.11 ||

and told Rama that Agastya had arrived, together with the sages.

Shloka 12 (uttara.1.12)

श्रुत्वा प्राप्तान्मुनींस्तांस्तु बालसूर्यसमप्रभान् । प्रत्युवाच ततो द्वास्स्थं प्रवेशय यथासुखम् ॥ 1.12 ॥

śrutvā prāptānmunīṃstāṃstu bālasūryasamaprabhān | pratyuvāca tato dvāssthaṃ praveśaya yathāsukham || 1.12 ||

Hearing that those sages, radiant as the rising sun, had come, Rama replied to the doorkeeper: "Let them enter, as they please."

Shloka 13 (uttara.1.13)

तान् सम्प्राप्तान् मुनीन् दृष्ट्वा प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः । पाद्यार्घ्यादिभिरानर्च गां निवेद्य च सादरम् ॥ 1.13 ॥

tān samprāptān munīn dṛṣṭvā pratyutthāya kṛtāñjaliḥ | pādyārghyādibhirānarca gāṃ nivedya ca sādaram || 1.13 ||

Seeing the sages who had come, Rama rose with joined palms and honored them with water for the feet, offerings of welcome, and the rest, reverently presenting them with a cow.

Shloka 14 (uttara.1.14)

रामो ऽभिवाद्य प्रयत आसनान्यादिदेश ह । तेषु काञ्चनचित्रेषु महत्सु च वरेषु च ॥ 1.14 ॥

rāmo 'bhivādya prayata āsanānyādideśa ha | teṣu kāñcanacitreṣu mahatsu ca vareṣu ca || 1.14 ||

Rama, bowing to them with reverence, then had seats set out — magnificent ones, adorned with gold, ample and excellent.

Shloka 15 (uttara.1.15)

कुशान्तर्धानदत्तेषु मृगचर्मयुतेषु च । यथार्हमुपविष्टास्ते आसनेष्वृषिपुङ्गवाः ॥ 1.15 ॥

kuśāntardhānadatteṣu mṛgacarmayuteṣu ca | yathārhamupaviṣṭāste āsaneṣvṛṣipuṅgavāḥ || 1.15 ||

Seats lined with kusha grass and spread with deerskins — on these the foremost of sages seated themselves, each according to his rank.

Shloka 16 (uttara.1.16)

रामेण कुशलं पृष्टाः सशिष्याः सपुरोगमाः । महर्षयो वेदविदो रामं वचनमब्रुवन् ॥ 1.16 ॥

rāmeṇa kuśalaṃ pṛṣṭāḥ saśiṣyāḥ sapurogamāḥ | maharṣayo vedavido rāmaṃ vacanamabruvan || 1.16 ||

When Rama asked after their welfare, the great sages, versed in the Vedas, together with their disciples and their leaders, spoke these words to Rama.

Shloka 17 (uttara.1.17)

कुशलं नो महाबाहो सर्वत्र रघुनन्दन । त्वां तु दिष्ट्या कुशलिनं पश्यामो हतशात्रवम् ॥ 1.17 ॥

kuśalaṃ no mahābāho sarvatra raghunandana | tvāṃ tu diṣṭyā kuśalinaṃ paśyāmo hataśātravam || 1.17 ||

"We are well in every way, O mighty-armed joy of the Raghus. And by good fortune we see you too in good health, your foes slain."

Shloka 18 (uttara.1.18)

दिष्ट्या त्वया हतो राजन्रावणो लोकरावणः । न हि भारः स ते राम रावणः पुत्रपौत्रवान् ॥ 1.18 ॥

diṣṭyā tvayā hato rājanrāvaṇo lokarāvaṇaḥ | na hi bhāraḥ sa te rāma rāvaṇaḥ putrapautravān || 1.18 ||

"By good fortune, O king, Ravana who made all the worlds cry out has been slain by you. Indeed, Rama, Ravana with his sons and grandsons was no great burden for you."

Shloka 19 (uttara.1.19)

सधनुस्त्वं हि लोकांस्त्रीन्विजयेथा न संशयः । दिष्ट्या त्वया हतो राम रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ॥ 1.19 ॥

sadhanustvaṃ hi lokāṃstrīnvijayethā na saṃśayaḥ | diṣṭyā tvayā hato rāma rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ || 1.19 ||

"With your bow alone you could conquer the three worlds, there is no doubt. By good fortune, O Rama, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, has been slain by you."

Shloka 20 (uttara.1.20)

दिष्ट्या विजयिनं त्वाद्य पश्यामः सह सीतया । लक्ष्मणेन च धर्मात्मन्भ्रात्रा त्वद्धितकारिणा ॥ 1.20 ॥

diṣṭyā vijayinaṃ tvādya paśyāmaḥ saha sītayā | lakṣmaṇena ca dharmātmanbhrātrā tvaddhitakāriṇā || 1.20 ||

"By good fortune we see you today victorious, together with Sita, and with your righteous brother Lakshmana, ever devoted to your welfare."

Shloka 21 (uttara.1.21)

मातृभिर्भ्रातृसहितं पश्यामो ऽद्य वयं नृप । दिष्ट्या प्रहस्तो विकटो विरूपाक्षो महोदरः । अकम्पनश्च दुर्धर्षो निहतास्ते निशाचराः ॥ 1.21 ॥

mātṛbhirbhrātṛsahitaṃ paśyāmo 'dya vayaṃ nṛpa | diṣṭyā prahasto vikaṭo virūpākṣo mahodaraḥ | akampanaśca durdharṣo nihatāste niśācarāḥ || 1.21 ||

"Today, O king, we see you together with your mothers and brothers. By good fortune those night-rangers — Prahasta, Vikata, Virupaksha, Mahodara, and the unassailable Akampana — have been slain by you."

Shloka 22 (uttara.1.22)

यस्य प्रमाणाद्विपुलं प्रमाणं नेह विद्यते । दिष्ट्या ते समरे राम कुम्भकर्णो निपातितः ॥ 1.22 ॥

yasya pramāṇādvipulaṃ pramāṇaṃ neha vidyate | diṣṭyā te samare rāma kumbhakarṇo nipātitaḥ || 1.22 ||

"He whose vastness of form none in this world could exceed — by good fortune, O Rama, Kumbhakarna has been struck down by you in battle."

Shloka 23 (uttara.1.23)

त्रिशिराश्चातिकायश्च देवान्तकनरान्तकौ । दिष्ट्या ते निहता राम महावीर्या निशाचराः ॥ 1.23 ॥

triśirāścātikāyaśca devāntakanarāntakau | diṣṭyā te nihatā rāma mahāvīryā niśācarāḥ || 1.23 ||

"Trishira, Atikaya, and Devantaka and Narantaka — by good fortune, O Rama, these mighty night-rangers have been slain by you."

Shloka 24 (uttara.1.24)

कुम्भश्चैव निकुम्भश्च राक्षसौ भीमदर्शनौ । दिष्ट्या तौ निहतौ राम कुम्भकर्णसुतौ मृधे ॥ 1.24 ॥

kumbhaścaiva nikumbhaśca rākṣasau bhīmadarśanau | diṣṭyā tau nihatau rāma kumbhakarṇasutau mṛdhe || 1.24 ||

"Kumbha and Nikumbha, the two rakshasas of dreadful appearance — by good fortune, O Rama, those two sons of Kumbhakarna have been slain by you in battle."

Shloka 25 (uttara.1.25)

युद्धोन्मत्तश्च मत्तश्च कालान्तकयमोपमौ । यज्ञकोपश्च बलवान्धूम्राक्षो नाम राक्षसः ॥ 1.25 ॥

yuddhonmattaśca mattaśca kālāntakayamopamau | yajñakopaśca balavāndhūmrākṣo nāma rākṣasaḥ || 1.25 ||

"Yuddhonmatta and Matta, resembling Kala, Antaka, and Yama, and the mighty Yajnakopa and the rakshasa named Dhumraksha —"

Shloka 26 (uttara.1.26)

कुर्वन्तः कदनं घोरमेते शस्त्रास्त्रपारगाः । अन्तकप्रतिमैर्बाणैर्दिष्ट्या विनिहतास्त्वया ॥ 1.26 ॥

kurvantaḥ kadanaṃ ghoramete śastrāstrapāragāḥ | antakapratimairbāṇairdiṣṭyā vinihatāstvayā || 1.26 ||

"— these masters of weapons and missiles, who wrought terrible carnage, have by good fortune been slain by you with arrows like unto Death."

Shloka 27 (uttara.1.27)

दिष्ट्या त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रेण द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागतः । देवतानामवध्येन विजयं प्राप्तवानसि ॥ 1.27 ॥

diṣṭyā tvaṃ rākṣasendreṇa dvandvayuddhamupāgataḥ | devatānāmavadhyena vijayaṃ prāptavānasi || 1.27 ||

"By good fortune, having entered single combat with that lord of rakshasas — unslayable even by the gods — you have won the victory."

Shloka 28 (uttara.1.28)

सङ्ख्ये तस्य न किञ्चित्तु रावणस्य पराभवः । द्वन्द्वयुद्धमनुप्राप्तो दिष्ट्या ते रावणिर्हतः ॥ 1.28 ॥

saṅkhye tasya na kiñcittu rāvaṇasya parābhavaḥ | dvandvayuddhamanuprāpto diṣṭyā te rāvaṇirhataḥ || 1.28 ||

"In that reckoning, Ravana's own defeat is no great wonder — but by good fortune his son Ravani, who met you in single combat, has been slain by you."

Shloka 29 (uttara.1.29)

दिष्ट्या तस्य महाबाहो कालस्येवाभिधावतः । मुक्तः सुररिपोर्वीर प्राप्तश्च विजयस्त्वया ॥ 1.29 ॥

diṣṭyā tasya mahābāho kālasyevābhidhāvataḥ | muktaḥ surariporvīra prāptaśca vijayastvayā || 1.29 ||

"By good fortune, O mighty-armed hero, you have been delivered from that foe of the gods who charged like Death itself, and you have won the victory."

Shloka 30 (uttara.1.30)

अभिनन्दाम ते सर्वे संश्रुत्येन्द्रजितो वधम् । सो ऽवध्यः सर्वभूतानां महामायाधरो युधि ॥ 1.30 ॥

abhinandāma te sarve saṃśrutyendrajito vadham | so 'vadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ mahāmāyādharo yudhi || 1.30 ||

"We all rejoice to hear of the death of Indrajit — he who was unslayable by all beings, a wielder of great illusion in battle."

Shloka 31 (uttara.1.31)

विस्मयस्त्वेष चास्माकं तच्छ्रुत्वेन्द्रजितं हतम् ॥ 1.31 ॥

vismayastveṣa cāsmākaṃ tacchrutvendrajitaṃ hatam || 1.31 ||

"And this indeed is our astonishment — to hear that Indrajit has been slain."

Shloka 32 (uttara.1.32)

एते चान्ये च बहवो राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः । दिष्ट्या त्वया हता वीरा रघूणां कुलवर्द्धन ॥ 1.32 ॥

ete cānye ca bahavo rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ | diṣṭyā tvayā hatā vīrā raghūṇāṃ kulavarddhana || 1.32 ||

"These, and many other rakshasas who could take any form at will — by good fortune, O hero, increaser of the Raghu line, have been slain by you."

Shloka 33 (uttara.1.33)

दत्त्वा पुण्यामिमां वीर सौम्यामभयदक्षिणाम् ।। दिष्ट्या वर्धसि काकुत्स्थ जयेनामित्रकर्शन ॥ 1.33 ॥

dattvā puṇyāmimāṃ vīra saumyāmabhayadakṣiṇām || diṣṭyā vardhasi kākutstha jayenāmitrakarśana || 1.33 ||

"Having bestowed this sacred and gentle gift of freedom from fear, by good fortune you flourish through this victory, O Kakutstha, destroyer of foes."

Shloka 34 (uttara.1.34)

श्रुत्वा तु तेषां वचनमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । विस्मयं परमं गत्वा रामः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ॥ 1.34 ॥

śrutvā tu teṣāṃ vacanamṛṣīṇāṃ bhāvitātmanām | vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā rāmaḥ prāñjalirabravīt || 1.34 ||

Hearing these words of the sages of purified soul, Rama, overcome with great wonder, spoke with joined palms.

Shloka 35 (uttara.1.35)

भगवन्तः कुम्भकर्णं रावणं च निशाचरम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यौ किं प्रशंसथ रावणिम् ॥ 1.35 ॥

bhagavantaḥ kumbhakarṇaṃ rāvaṇaṃ ca niśācaram | atikramya mahāvīryau kiṃ praśaṃsatha rāvaṇim || 1.35 ||

"O venerable ones, passing over Kumbhakarna and the night-ranger Ravana, both of tremendous might, why do you praise Ravani alone?"

Shloka 36 (uttara.1.36)

महोदरं प्रहस्तं च विरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् । मत्तोन्मत्तौ च दुर्धर्षौ देवान्तकनरान्तकौ ।। अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यान् किं प्रशंसथ रावणिम् ॥ 1.36 ॥

mahodaraṃ prahastaṃ ca virūpākṣaṃ ca rākṣasam | mattonmattau ca durdharṣau devāntakanarāntakau || atikramya mahāvīryān kiṃ praśaṃsatha rāvaṇim || 1.36 ||

"Passing over Mahodara, Prahasta, the rakshasa Virupaksha, the indomitable Matta and Unmatta, and Devantaka and Narantaka — all of them of great might — why do you praise Ravani alone?"

Shloka 37 (uttara.1.37)

अतिकायं त्रिशिरसं धूम्राक्षं च निशाचरम् । अतिक्रम्य महावीर्यान्किं प्रशंसथ रावणिम् ॥ 1.37 ॥

atikāyaṃ triśirasaṃ dhūmrākṣaṃ ca niśācaram | atikramya mahāvīryānkiṃ praśaṃsatha rāvaṇim || 1.37 ||

"Passing over Atikaya, Trishira, and the night-ranger Dhumraksha, all of great might, why do you praise Ravani alone?"

Shloka 38 (uttara.1.38)

कीदृशो वै प्रभावो ऽस्य किं बलं कः पराक्रमः । केन वा कारणेनैष रावणादतिरिच्यते ॥ 1.38 ॥

kīdṛśo vai prabhāvo 'sya kiṃ balaṃ kaḥ parākramaḥ | kena vā kāraṇenaiṣa rāvaṇādatiricyate || 1.38 ||

"What was his power like? What was his strength, his valor? And for what reason did he surpass even Ravana?"

Shloka 39 (uttara.1.39)

शक्यं यदि मया श्रोतुं न खल्वाज्ञापयामि वः । यदि गुह्यं न चेद्वक्तुं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम् ॥ 1.39 ॥

śakyaṃ yadi mayā śrotuṃ na khalvājñāpayāmi vaḥ | yadi guhyaṃ na cedvaktuṃ śrotumicchāmi kathyatām || 1.39 ||

"If it is proper for me to hear, I am not commanding you — but if it is no secret, and fit to be spoken, I wish to hear it; please tell me."

Shloka 40 (uttara.1.40)

शक्रो ऽपि विजितस्तेन कथं लब्धवरश्च सः । कथं च बलवानन्पुत्रो न पिता तस्य रावणः ॥ 1.40 ॥

śakro 'pi vijitastena kathaṃ labdhavaraśca saḥ | kathaṃ ca balavānanputro na pitā tasya rāvaṇaḥ || 1.40 ||

"How did he conquer even Indra, and how did he win his boons? And how is it that his father Ravana, mighty as he was, could not equal the son?"

Shloka 41 (uttara.1.41)

कथं पितुश्चाभ्यधिको महाहवे शक्रस्य जेता हि कथं स राक्षसः । वराश्च लब्धाः कथयस्व मे ऽद्य तत्पृच्छतश्चास्य मुनीन्द्र सर्वम् ॥ 1.41 ॥

kathaṃ pituścābhyadhiko mahāhave śakrasya jetā hi kathaṃ sa rākṣasaḥ | varāśca labdhāḥ kathayasva me 'dya tatpṛcchataścāsya munīndra sarvam || 1.41 ||

"How was that rakshasa superior even to his father in the great battle, and how did he become the conqueror of Indra? And what boons did he obtain — tell me all this today, O lord of sages, since I ask it of you."