Boons for the Companions

Shloka 1 (uttara.108.1)

ते दूता रामवाक्येन चोदिता लघुविक्रमाः । प्रजग्मुर्मधुरां शीघ्रं चक्रुर्वासं न चाध्वनि ।। ७.१०८.१ ।।

te dūtā rāmavākyena coditā laghuvikramāḥ | prajagmur madhurāṃ śīghraṃ cakrur vāsaṃ na cādhvani || 7.108.1 ||

Those swift-footed messengers, urged on by Rama's word, went quickly toward Madhura, making no halt along the way.

Shloka 2 (uttara.108.2)

ते तु त्रिभिरहोरात्रैः सम्प्राप्य मधुरामथ । शत्रुघ्नाय यथातत्त्वमाचख्युः सर्वमेव तत् ।। ७.१०८.२ ।।

te tu tribhir ahorātraiḥ samprāpya madhurām atha | śatrughnāya yathātattvam ācakhyuḥ sarvam eva tat || 7.108.2 ||

Reaching Madhura after three days and nights, they then told Shatrughna, exactly as it was, all that had happened.

Shloka 3 (uttara.108.3)

लक्ष्मणस्य परित्यागं प्रतिज्ञां राघवस्य च । पुत्रयोरभिषेकं च पौरानुगमनं तथा ।। ७.१०८.३ ।।

lakṣmaṇasya parityāgaṃ pratijñāṃ rāghavasya ca | putrayor abhiṣekaṃ ca paurānugamanaṃ tathā || 7.108.3 ||

The banishment of Lakshmana, Raghava's vow, the consecration of the two princes, and the citizens' resolve to follow him.

Shloka 4 (uttara.108.4)

कुशस्य नगरी रम्या विन्ध्यपर्वतरोधसि । कुशावतीति नाम्ना सा कृता रामेण धीमता । श्रावस्तीति पुरी रम्या श्राविता च लवस्य ह ।। ७.१०८.४ ।।

kuśasya nagarī ramyā vindhyaparvatarodhasi | kuśāvatīti nāmnā sā kṛtā rāmeṇa dhīmatā | śrāvastīti purī ramyā śrāvitā ca lavasya ha || 7.108.4 ||

Kusha's lovely city, on the slopes of the Vindhya mountains, which the wise Rama had named Kushavati; and the lovely city of Shravasti, founded for Lava.

Shloka 5 (uttara.108.5)

अयोध्यां विजनां कृत्वा राघवो भरतस्तथा । स्वर्गस्य गमनोद्योगं कृतवन्तौ महारथौ ।। ७.१०८.५ ।।

ayodhyāṃ vijanāṃ kṛtvā rāghavo bharatas tathā | svargasya gamanodyogaṃ kṛtavantau mahārathau || 7.108.5 ||

Having emptied Ayodhya of its people, Raghava and Bharata -- both great warriors -- had set about preparing to depart for heaven.

Shloka 6 (uttara.108.6)

एवं सर्वं निवेद्याशु शत्रुघ्नाय महात्मने । विरेमुस्ते ततो दूतास्त्वर राजेति चाब्रुवन् ।। ७.१०८.६ ।।

evaṃ sarvaṃ nivedyāśu śatrughnāya mahātmane | viremus te tato dūtās tvara rājeti cābruvan || 7.108.6 ||

Having thus swiftly told everything to the great-souled Shatrughna, the messengers fell silent and said, "Hasten, O king!"

Shloka 7 (uttara.108.7)

तच्छ्रुत्वा घोरसङ्काशं कुलक्षयमुपस्थितम् । प्रकृतीस्तु समानीय काञ्चनं च पुरोधसम् ।। ७.१०८.७ ।।

tac chrutvā ghorasaṅkāśaṃ kulakṣayam upasthitam | prakṛtīs tu samānīya kāñcanaṃ ca purodhasam || 7.108.7 ||

Hearing of this terrible-seeming ruin of the family now come upon them, he summoned the citizens, and Kanchana the priest as well.

Shloka 8 (uttara.108.8)

तेषां सर्वं यथावृत्तमब्रवीद्रघनन्दनः । आत्मनश्च विपर्यासं भविष्यं भ्रातृभिः सह ।। ७.१०८.८ ।।

teṣāṃ sarvaṃ yathāvṛttam abravīd raghanandanaḥ | ātmanaś ca viparyāsaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha || 7.108.8 ||

That joy of the Raghus told them all exactly what had happened, and of the change soon to come upon himself together with his brothers.

Shloka 9 (uttara.108.9)

ततः पुत्रद्वयं वीरः सो ऽभ्यषिञ्चन्नराधिपः । सुबाहुर्मधुरां लेभे शत्रुघाती च वैदिशम् ।। ७.१०८.९ ।।

tataḥ putradvayaṃ vīraḥ so 'bhyaṣiñcan narādhipaḥ | subāhur madhurāṃ lebhe śatrughātī ca vaidiśam || 7.108.9 ||

Then that heroic king consecrated his two sons; Subahu received Madhura, and Shatrughati received Vaidisha.

Shloka 10 (uttara.108.10)

द्विधा कृत्वा तु तां सेनां माधुरीं पुत्रयोर्द्वयोः । धनं च युक्तं कृत्वा वै स्थापयामास पार्थिवः ।। ७.१०८.१० ।।

dvidhā kṛtvā tu tāṃ senāṃ mādhurīṃ putrayor dvayoḥ | dhanaṃ ca yuktaṃ kṛtvā vai sthāpayām āsa pārthivaḥ || 7.108.10 ||

The king divided the army of Madhura into two, and, having apportioned to each fitting wealth, established his two sons.

Shloka 11 (uttara.108.11)

सुबाहुं मधुरायां च वैदेशे शत्रुघातिनम् । ययौ स्थाप्य तदा ऽयोध्यां रथेनैकेन राघवः ।। ७.१०८.११ ।।

subāhuṃ madhurāyāṃ ca vaideśe śatrughātinam | yayau sthāpya tadā 'yodhyāṃ rathenaikena rāghavaḥ || 7.108.11 ||

Having established Subahu in Madhura and Shatrughati in Vaidisha, that scion of Raghu then set out for Ayodhya in a single chariot.

Shloka 12 (uttara.108.12)

स ददर्श महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् । सूक्ष्मक्षौमाम्बरधरं मुनिभिः सार्धमक्षयैः ।। ७.१०८.१२ ।।

sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ jvalantam iva pāvakam | sūkṣmakṣaumāmbaradharaṃ munibhiḥ sārdham akṣayaiḥ || 7.108.12 ||

There he beheld the great-souled Rama, blazing like fire, clad in fine silken garments, seated together with imperishable sages.

Shloka 13 (uttara.108.13)

सो ऽभिवाद्य ततो रामं प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतेन्द्रियः । उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञं धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन् ।। ७.१०८.१३ ।।

so 'bhivādya tato rāmaṃ prāñjaliḥ prayatendriyaḥ | uvāca vākyaṃ dharmajñaṃ dharmam evānucintayan || 7.108.13 ||

He then saluted Rama, with joined palms, senses restrained, and, pondering only on righteousness, spoke these words to the righteousness-knowing one.

Shloka 14 (uttara.108.14)

कृत्वाभिषेकं सुतयोर्द्वयो राघवनन्दन । तवानुगमने राजन्विद्धि मां कृतनिश्चयम् ।। ७.१०८.१४ ।।

kṛtvābhiṣekaṃ sutayor dvayo rāghavanandana | tavānugamane rājan viddhi māṃ kṛtaniścayam || 7.108.14 ||

"Having consecrated my two sons, O joy of the Raghus, know me, O king, to be firmly resolved to follow you."

Shloka 15 (uttara.108.15)

न चान्यदपि वक्तव्यमतो वीर न शासनम् । विलोक्यमानमिच्छामि मद्विधेन विशेषतः ।। ७.१०८.१५ ।।

na cānyad api vaktavyam ato vīra na śāsanam | vilokyamānam icchāmi madvidhena viśeṣataḥ || 7.108.15 ||

"There is nothing more to be said beyond this, hero, no command remains; I wish, especially for one such as myself, only that this be granted."

Shloka 16 (uttara.108.16)

तस्य तां बुद्धिमक्लीबां विज्ञाय रघुनन्दनः । बाढमित्येव शत्रुघ्नं रामो वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। ७.१०८.१६ ।।

tasya tāṃ buddhim aklībāṃ vijñāya raghunandanaḥ | bāḍham ity eva śatrughnaṃ rāmo vākyam uvāca ha || 7.108.16 ||

Recognizing that unshaken resolve of his, the joy of the Raghus, Rama, said to Shatrughna simply, "So be it."

Shloka 17 (uttara.108.17)

तस्य वाक्यस्य वाक्यान्ते वानराः कामरूपिणः । ऋक्षराक्षससङ्घाश्च समापेतुरनेकशः ।। ७.१०८.१७ ।।

tasya vākyasya vākyānte vānarāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ | ṛkṣarākṣasasaṅghāś ca samāpetur anekaśaḥ || 7.108.17 ||

As soon as his words ended, the shape-shifting vanaras, and the hosts of bears and rakshasas too, came together there in great numbers.

Shloka 18 (uttara.108.18)

सुग्रीवं ते पुरस्कृत्य सर्व एव समागताः । तं रामं द्रष्टुमनसः स्वर्गायाभिमुखं स्थितम् ।। ७.१०८.१८ ।।

sugrīvaṃ te puraskṛtya sarva eva samāgatāḥ | taṃ rāmaṃ draṣṭumanasaḥ svargāyābhimukhaṃ sthitam || 7.108.18 ||

Placing Sugriva at their head, all of them gathered there, eager to see Rama, who sat facing toward heaven.

Shloka 19 (uttara.108.19)

देवपुत्रा ऋषिसुता गन्धर्वाणां सुतास्तथा । रामक्षयं विदित्वा ते सर्व एव समागताः ।। ७.१०८.१९ ।।

devaputrā ṛṣisutā gandharvāṇāṃ sutās tathā | rāmakṣayaṃ viditvā te sarva eva samāgatāḥ || 7.108.19 ||

The sons of gods, the sons of sages, and the sons of gandharvas too -- learning of Rama's departure, all of them gathered there.

Shloka 20 (uttara.108.20)

ते राममभिवाद्योचुः सर्वे वानरराक्षसाः । तवानुगमने राजन्सम्प्राप्ताः कृतनिश्चयाः ।। ७.१०८.२० ।।

te rāmam abhivādyocuḥ sarve vānararākṣasāḥ | tavānugamane rājan samprāptāḥ kṛtaniścayāḥ || 7.108.20 ||

All those vanaras and rakshasas, having saluted Rama, said: "O king, we have come here firmly resolved to follow you."

Shloka 21 (uttara.108.21)

यदि राम विनास्माभिर्गच्छेस्त्वं पुरुषोत्तम । यमदण्डमिवोद्यम्य त्वया स्म विनिपातिताः ।। ७.१०८.२१ ।।

yadi rāma vināsmābhir gacchestvaṃ puruṣottama | yamadaṇḍam ivodyamya tvayā sma vinipātitāḥ || 7.108.21 ||

"If, O Rama, best of men, you should go without us, it would be as if you yourself had raised the rod of Yama and struck us down."

Shloka 22 (uttara.108.22)

तैरेवमुक्तः काकुत्स्थो बाढमित्यब्रवीत् स्मयन् ।। ७.१०८.२२ ।।

tair evam uktaḥ kākutstho bāḍham ity abravīt smayan || 7.108.22 ||

Thus addressed by them, Kakutstha, smiling, said, "So be it."

Shloka 23 (uttara.108.23)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे रामं सुग्रीवो ऽपि महाबलः । प्रणम्य विधिवद्वीरं विज्ञापयितुमुद्यतः ।। ७.१०८.२३ ।।

etasminn antare rāmaṃ sugrīvo 'pi mahābalaḥ | praṇamya vidhivad vīraṃ vijñāpayitum udyataḥ || 7.108.23 ||

Meanwhile, the mighty Sugriva too, having duly saluted the heroic Rama, made ready to submit his own request.

Shloka 24 (uttara.108.24)

अभिषिच्याङ्गदं वीरमागतो ऽस्मि नरेश्वर । तवानुगमने राजन्विद्धि मां कृतनिश्चयम् ।। ७.१०८.२४ ।।

abhiṣicyāṅgadaṃ vīram āgato 'smi nareśvara | tavānugamane rājan viddhi māṃ kṛtaniścayam || 7.108.24 ||

"Having consecrated the heroic Angada, O lord of men, I have come here; know me too, O king, to be firmly resolved to follow you."

Shloka 25 (uttara.108.25)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामो रमयतां वरः । वानरेन्द्रमथोवाचं मैत्रं तस्यानुचिन्तयन् ।। ७.१०८.२५ ।।

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rāmo ramayatāṃ varaḥ | vānarendram athovāca maitraṃ tasyānucintayan || 7.108.25 ||

Hearing his words, Rama, foremost among those who bring delight, recalling Sugriva's friendship, then spoke to that lord of vanaras.

Shloka 26 (uttara.108.26)

सखे शृणुष्व सुग्रीव न त्वया ऽहं विनाकृतः । गच्छेयं देवलोकं वा परमं वा पदं महत् ।। ७.१०८.२६ ।।

sakhe śṛṇuṣva sugrīva na tvayāhaṃ vinākṛtaḥ | gaccheyaṃ devalokaṃ vā paramaṃ vā padaṃ mahat || 7.108.26 ||

"Listen, friend Sugriva: never, without you, would I go to the world of the gods, or to that supreme, great abode."

Shloka 27 (uttara.108.27)

बिभीषणमथोवाच राक्षसेन्द्रं महायशाः । यावत्प्रजा धरिष्यन्ति तावत्त्वं वै बिभीषण । राक्षसेन्द्र महावीर्य लङ्कास्थस्त्वं धरिष्यसि ।। ७.१०८.२७ ।।

bibhīṣaṇam athovāca rākṣasendraṃ mahāyaśāḥ | yāvat prajā dhariṣyanti tāvat tvaṃ vai bibhīṣaṇa | rākṣasendra mahāvīrya laṅkāsthas tvaṃ dhariṣyasi || 7.108.27 ||

Then the far-famed Rama said to Bibhishana, king of the rakshasas: "As long as living beings endure, so long, Bibhishana, great in valour, king of rakshasas, shall you hold sway, dwelling in Lanka."

Shloka 28 (uttara.108.28)

यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी । यावच्च मत्कथा लोके तावद्राज्यं तवास्त्विह ।। ७.१०८.२८ ।।

yāvac candraś ca sūryaś ca yāvat tiṣṭhati medinī | yāvac ca matkathā loke tāvad rājyaṃ tavāstv iha || 7.108.28 ||

"As long as the moon and sun endure, as long as the earth stands, and as long as my story lives in the world, so long may this kingdom remain yours."

Shloka 29 (uttara.108.29)

शासितस्त्वं सखित्वेन कार्यं ते मम शासनम् । प्रजाः संरक्ष धर्मेण नोत्तरं वक्तुमर्हसि ।। ७.१०८.२९ ।।

śāsitas tvaṃ sakhitvena kāryaṃ te mama śāsanam | prajāḥ saṃrakṣa dharmeṇa nottaraṃ vaktum arhasi || 7.108.29 ||

"As your friend I lay this charge upon you; my command must be your task. Protect the people with righteousness; you need make no reply."

Shloka 30 (uttara.108.30)

किञ्चान्यद्वक्तुमिच्छामि राक्षसेन्द्र महामते ।। ७.१०८.३० ।।

kiñcānyad vaktum icchāmi rākṣasendra mahāmate || 7.108.30 ||

"There is something more still, O king of rakshasas, O great-minded one, that I wish to say."

Shloka 31 (uttara.108.31)

आराधय जगन्नाथमिक्ष्वाकुकुलदैवतम् । आराधनीयमनिशं सर्वैर्दैवैः सवासवैः ।। ७.१०८.३१ ।।

ārādhaya jagannātham ikṣvākukuladaivatam | ārādhanīyam aniśaṃ sarvair daivaiḥ savāsavaiḥ || 7.108.31 ||

"Worship the Lord of the World, the tutelary deity of the Ikshvaku line, ever fit to be worshipped by all the gods together with Vasava [Indra]."

Shloka 32 (uttara.108.32)

तथेति प्रतिजग्राह रामवाक्यं विभीषणः । राजा राक्षसमुख्यानां राघवाज्ञामनुस्मरन् ।। ७.१०८.३२ ।।

tatheti pratijagrāha rāmavākyaṃ vibhīṣaṇaḥ | rājā rākṣasamukhyānāṃ rāghavājñām anusmaran || 7.108.32 ||

"So be it," said Bibhishana, king of the chief rakshasas, accepting Rama's word, ever mindful of Raghava's command.

Shloka 33 (uttara.108.33)

तमेवमुक्त्वा काकुत्स्थो हनूमन्तमथाब्रवीत् । जीविते कृतबुद्धिस्त्वं मा प्रतिज्ञां विलोपय ।। ७.१०८.३३ ।।

tam evam uktvā kākutstho hanūmantam athābravīt | jīvite kṛtabuddhis tvaṃ mā pratijñāṃ vilopaya || 7.108.33 ||

Having spoken thus to him, Kakutstha then said to Hanuman: "You have resolved to remain living; do not break that vow."

Shloka 34 (uttara.108.34)

मत्कथाः प्रचरिष्यन्ति यावल्लोके हरीश्वर । तावद्रमस्व सुप्रीतो मद्वाक्यमनुपालयन् ।। ७.१०८.३४ ।।

matkathāḥ pracariṣyanti yāval loke harīśvara | tāvad ramasva suprīto madvākyam anupālayan || 7.108.34 ||

"As long as my story continues to circulate in the world, O lord of the vanaras, so long remain here, joyful, upholding my word."

Shloka 35 (uttara.108.35)

एवमुक्तस्तु हनुमान्राघवेण महात्मना । वाक्यं विज्ञापयामास परं हर्षमवाप्य च ।। ७.१०८.३५ ।।

evam uktas tu hanumān rāghaveṇa mahātmanā | vākyaṃ vijñāpayām āsa paraṃ harṣam avāpya ca || 7.108.35 ||

Thus addressed by the great-souled Raghava, Hanuman, filled with the utmost joy, submitted this reply.

Shloka 36 (uttara.108.36)

यावत्तव कथा लोके विचरिष्यति पावनी । तावत्स्थास्यामि मेदिन्यां तवाज्ञामनुपालयन् ।। ७.१०८.३६ ।।

yāvat tava kathā loke vicariṣyati pāvanī | tāvat sthāsyāmi medinyāṃ tavājñām anupālayan || 7.108.36 ||

"As long as your sacred story shall wander through the world, so long shall I remain upon this earth, upholding your command."

Shloka 37 (uttara.108.37)

जाम्बवन्तं तथोक्त्वा तु वृद्धं ब्रह्मसुतं तथा । मैन्दं च द्विविदं चैव पञ्च जाम्बवता सह । यावत्कलिश्च सम्प्राप्तस्तावज्जीवत सर्वदा ।। ७.१०८.३७ ।।

jāmbavantaṃ tathoktvā tu vṛddhaṃ brahmasutaṃ tathā | maindaṃ ca dvividaṃ caiva pañca jāmbavatā saha | yāvat kaliś ca samprāptas tāvaj jīvata sarvadā || 7.108.37 ||

And likewise, having spoken to aged Jambavan, son of Brahma, and to Mainda and Dvivida -- to these five together with Jambavan -- he said: "Until the age of Kali arrives, live on forever."

Shloka 38 (uttara.108.38)

तानेवमुक्त्वा काकुत्स्थः सर्वांस्तानृक्षवानरान् । उवाच बाढं गच्छध्वं मया सार्धं यथेप्सितम् ।। ७.१०८.३८ ।।

tān evam uktvā kākutsthaḥ sarvāṃs tān ṛkṣavānarān | uvāca bāḍhaṃ gacchadhvaṃ mayā sārdhaṃ yathepsitam || 7.108.38 ||

Having thus spoken to all those bears and vanaras, Kakutstha said: "Very well -- now come with me, as each of you desires."