The Fruits of Hearing the Ramayana

Shloka 1 (uttara.111.1)

एतावदेतदाख्यानं सोत्तरं ब्रह्मपूजितम् । रामायणमिति ख्यातं मुख्यं वाल्मीकीना कृतम् ।। ७.१११.१ ।।

etāvad etad ākhyānaṃ sottaraṃ brahmapūjitam | rāmāyaṇam iti khyātaṃ mukhyaṃ vālmīkinā kṛtam || 7.111.1 ||

This, then, is the tale, together with its Uttara Kanda, honoured by Brahma -- the principal work, composed by Valmiki, known as the Ramayana.

Shloka 2 (uttara.111.2)

ततः प्रतिष्ठितो विष्णुः स्वर्गलोके यथा पुरम् । येन व्याप्तमिदं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् ।। ७.१११.२ ।।

tataḥ pratiṣṭhito viṣṇuḥ svargaloke yathā puram | yena vyāptam idaṃ sarvaṃ trailokyaṃ sacarācaram || 7.111.2 ||

Then Vishnu became established in the world of heaven, just as before in the city; by him this entire threefold world, with all that moves and moves not, is pervaded.

Shloka 3 (uttara.111.3)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । नित्यं शृण्वन्ति सन्तुष्टाः दिव्यं रामायणं दिवि ।। ७.१११.३ ।।

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāś ca paramarṣayaḥ | nityaṃ śṛṇvanti santuṣṭāḥ divyaṃ rāmāyaṇaṃ divi || 7.111.3 ||

Since then, the gods together with the gandharvas, the siddhas, and the supreme sages, contented, ever listen in heaven to this divine Ramayana.

Shloka 4 (uttara.111.4)

इदमाख्यानमायुष्यं सौभाग्यं पापनाशनम् । रामायणं वेदसमं श्राद्धेषु श्रावयेद्बुधः ।। ७.१११.४ ।।

idam ākhyānam āyuṣyaṃ saubhāgyaṃ pāpanāśanam | rāmāyaṇaṃ vedasamaṃ śrāddheṣu śrāvayed budhaḥ || 7.111.4 ||

This narrative bestows long life, good fortune, and destroys sin; the wise should have this Ramayana, equal to the Veda, recited at ancestral rites.

Shloka 5 (uttara.111.5)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमधनो लभते धनम् । सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्येत पदमप्यस्य यः पठेत् ।। ७.१११.५ ।।

aputro labhate putram adhano labhate dhanam | sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyeta padam apy asya yaḥ paṭhet || 7.111.5 ||

The sonless obtains a son, the wealthless obtains wealth; whoever reads even a single quarter-verse of this is freed from every sin.

Shloka 6 (uttara.111.6)

पापान्यपि च यः कुर्यादहन्यहनि मानवः । पठत्येकमपि श्लोकं पापात्स परिमुच्यते ।। ७.१११.६ ।।

pāpāny api ca yaḥ kuryād ahany ahani mānavaḥ | paṭhaty ekam api ślokaṃ pāpāt sa parimucyate || 7.111.6 ||

And even the man who commits sins day after day -- if he recites but a single verse of this, he is wholly freed from that sin.

Shloka 7 (uttara.111.7)

वाचकाय च दातव्यं वस्त्रं धेनुं हिरण्यकम् । वाचके परितुष्टे तु तुष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः ।। ७.१११.७ ।।

vācakāya ca dātavyaṃ vastraṃ dhenuṃ hiraṇyakam | vācake parituṣṭe tu tuṣṭāḥ syuḥ sarvadevatāḥ || 7.111.7 ||

A garment, a cow, and gold should be given to the reciter; when the reciter is satisfied, all the gods too become satisfied.

Shloka 8 (uttara.111.8)

एतदाख्यानमायुष्यं पठन्रामायणं नरः । सपुत्रपौत्रो लोके ऽस्मिन्प्रेत्य चेह महीयते ।। ७.१११.८ ।।

etad ākhyānam āyuṣyaṃ paṭhan rāmāyaṇaṃ naraḥ | saputrapautro loke 'smin pretya ceha mahīyate || 7.111.8 ||

The man who reads this life-giving narrative, the Ramayana, is honoured, together with his sons and grandsons, both in this world and, having died, hereafter.

Shloka 9 (uttara.111.9)

अयोध्या ऽपि पुरी रम्या शून्या वर्षगणान्बहून् । ऋषभं प्राप्य राजानं निवासमुपयास्यति ।। ७.१११.९ ।।

ayodhyāpi purī ramyā śūnyā varṣagaṇān bahūn | ṛṣabhaṃ prāpya rājānaṃ nivāsam upayāsyati || 7.111.9 ||

And the lovely city of Ayodhya too, though it shall lie empty for many years, upon obtaining a most excellent king, shall again become inhabited.

Shloka 10 (uttara.111.10)

एतदाख्यानमायुष्यं सभविष्यं सहोत्तरम् । कृतवान्प्रचेतसः पुत्रस्तद्ब्रह्माप्यन्वमन्यत ।। ७.१११.१० ।।

etad ākhyānam āyuṣyaṃ sabhaviṣyaṃ sahottaram | kṛtavān pracetasaḥ putras tad brahmāpy anvamanyata || 7.111.10 ||

This life-giving narrative, together with what is yet to come, together with its Uttara Kanda, the son of Pracetas [Valmiki] composed, and Brahma too approved it.

Shloka 11 (uttara.111.11)

अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य वाजपेयायुतस्य च । लभते श्रावणादेव सर्गस्यैकस्य मानवः ।। ७.१११.११ ।।

aśvamedhasahasrasya vājapeyāyutasya ca | labhate śrāvaṇād eva sargasyaikasya mānavaḥ || 7.111.11 ||

By merely hearing a single canto, a man obtains the merit of a thousand horse-sacrifices and of ten thousand Vajapeya sacrifices.

Shloka 12 (uttara.111.12)

प्रयागादीनि तीर्थानि गङ्गाद्याः सरितस्तथा । नैमिशादीन्यरण्यानि कुरुक्षेत्रादिकान्यपि । गतानि तेन लोके ऽस्मिन्येन रामायणं श्रुतम् ।। ७.१११.१२ ।।

prayāgādīni tīrthāni gaṅgādyāḥ saritas tathā | naimiśādīny araṇyāni kurukṣetrādikāny api | gatāni tena loke 'smin yena rāmāyaṇaṃ śrutam || 7.111.12 ||

The sacred fords beginning with Prayaga, the rivers beginning with the Ganga, the forests beginning with Naimisha, and places like Kurukshetra -- their merit is obtained in this world by whoever has heard the Ramayana.

Shloka 13 (uttara.111.13)

हेमभारं कुरुक्षेत्रे ग्रस्ते भानौ प्रयच्छति । यश्च रामायणं लोके शृणोति सदृशावुभौ ।। ७.१११.१३ ।।

hemabhāraṃ kurukṣetre graste bhānau prayacchati | yaś ca rāmāyaṇaṃ loke śṛṇoti sadṛśāv ubhau || 7.111.13 ||

He who gives away a weight of gold at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse, and he who listens to the Ramayana in this world -- these two are equal.

Shloka 14 (uttara.111.14)

सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमायुक्तः शृणुते राघवीं कथाम् । सर्वपापात्प्रमुच्येत विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ।। ७.१११.१४ ।।

samyakchraddhāsamāyuktaḥ śṛṇute rāghavīṃ kathām | sarvapāpāt pramucyeta viṣṇulokaṃ sa gacchati || 7.111.14 ||

He who, endowed with perfect faith, listens to this story of Raghava, is freed from every sin and goes to the world of Vishnu.

Shloka 15 (uttara.111.15)

आदिकाव्यमिदं त्वार्षं पुरा वाल्मीकिना कृतम् । यः शृणोति सदा भक्त्या स गच्छेद्वैष्णवीं तनुम् ।। ७.१११.१५ ।।

ādikāvyam idaṃ tv ārṣaṃ purā vālmīkinā kṛtam | yaḥ śṛṇoti sadā bhaktyā sa gacched vaiṣṇavīṃ tanum || 7.111.15 ||

This first of poems, the seer's work, was composed long ago by Valmiki; he who ever listens to it with devotion attains to the very form of Vishnu.

Shloka 16 (uttara.111.16)

पुत्रदाराश्च वर्धन्ते सम्पदः सन्ततिस्तथा । सत्यमेतद्विदित्वा तु श्रोतव्यं नियतात्मभिः ।। ७.१११.१६ ।।

putradārāś ca vardhante sampadaḥ santatis tathā | satyam etad viditvā tu śrotavyaṃ niyatātmabhiḥ || 7.111.16 ||

One's children, one's wife, one's prosperity, and one's line all increase; knowing this to be true, those of disciplined self should listen to it.

Shloka 17 (uttara.111.17)

गायत्र्याश्च स्वरूपं तद्रामायणमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.१११.१७ ।।

gāyatryāś ca svarūpaṃ tad rāmāyaṇam anuttamam || 7.111.17 ||

This supreme Ramayana is itself the very embodiment of the Gayatri.

Shloka 18 (uttara.111.18)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमधनो लभते धनम् । सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्येत पदमप्यस्य यः पठेत् ।। ७.१११.१८ ।।

aputro labhate putram adhano labhate dhanam | sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyeta padam apy asya yaḥ paṭhet || 7.111.18 ||

The sonless obtains a son, the wealthless obtains wealth; whoever reads even a single quarter-verse of this is freed from every sin.

Shloka 19 (uttara.111.19)

यः पठेच्छृणुयान्नित्यं चरितं राघवस्य ह । भक्त्या निष्कल्मषो भूत्वा दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुयात् ।। ७.१११.१९ ।।

yaḥ paṭhec chṛṇuyān nityaṃ caritaṃ rāghavasya ha | bhaktyā niṣkalmaṣo bhūtvā dīrgham āyur avāpnuyāt || 7.111.19 ||

Whoever daily reads or hears this story of Raghava, becoming, through devotion, free of sin, attains long life.

Shloka 20 (uttara.111.20)

चिन्तयेद्राघवं नित्यं श्रेयः प्राप्तुं य इच्छति । श्रावयेदिदमाख्यानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो दिने दिने ।। ७.१११.२० ।।

cintayed rāghavaṃ nityaṃ śreyaḥ prāptuṃ ya icchati | śrāvayed idam ākhyānaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo dine dine || 7.111.20 ||

He who desires to attain the highest good should ever think upon Raghava, and should have this narrative recited to brahmins day after day.

Shloka 21 (uttara.111.21)

यस्त्विदं रघुनाथस्य चरितं सकलं पठेत् । सो ऽसुक्षये विष्णुलोकं गच्छत्येव न संशयः ।। ७.१११.२१ ।।

yas tv idaṃ raghunāthasya caritaṃ sakalaṃ paṭhet | so 'sukṣaye viṣṇulokaṃ gacchaty eva na saṃśayaḥ || 7.111.21 ||

And whoever reads this entire story of the Lord of the Raghus, at the end of his life-breath, goes without doubt to the world of Vishnu.

Shloka 22 (uttara.111.22)

पिता पितामहस्तस्य तथैव प्रपितामहः । तत्पिता तत्पिता चैव विष्णुं यान्ति न संशयः ।। ७.१११.२२ ।।

pitā pitāmahas tasya tathaiva prapitāmahaḥ | tatpitā tatpitā caiva viṣṇuṃ yānti na saṃśayaḥ || 7.111.22 ||

His father, his grandfather, and likewise his great-grandfather, that one's father, and that one's father too -- all of them, without doubt, go to Vishnu.

Shloka 23 (uttara.111.23)

चतुर्वर्गप्रदं नित्यं चरितं राघवस्य तु । तस्माद्यत्नवता नित्यं श्रोतव्यं परमं सदा ।। ७.१११.२३ ।।

caturvargapradaṃ nityaṃ caritaṃ rāghavasya tu | tasmād yatnavatā nityaṃ śrotavyaṃ paramaṃ sadā || 7.111.23 ||

This story of Raghava ever bestows the four aims of life [righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation]; therefore, one who strives should ever listen to it always, with the utmost care.

Shloka 24 (uttara.111.24)

शृण्वन्रामायणं भक्त्या यः पादं पदमेव वा । स याति ब्रह्मणः स्थानं ब्रह्मणा पूज्यते सदा ।। ७.१११.२४ ।।

śṛṇvan rāmāyaṇaṃ bhaktyā yaḥ pādaṃ padam eva vā | sa yāti brahmaṇaḥ sthānaṃ brahmaṇā pūjyate sadā || 7.111.24 ||

Whoever, with devotion, hears even a single quarter-verse or a single word of the Ramayana, goes to the abode of Brahma, and is ever honoured by Brahma himself.

Shloka 25 (uttara.111.25)

एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तमाख्यानं भद्रमस्तु वः । प्रव्याहरत विस्रब्धं बलं विष्णोः प्रवर्धताम् ।। ७.१११.२५ ।। इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे श्रीमद्वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रिकायां संहितायां श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः ।। १११ ।। इत्युत्तरकाण्डः समाप्तः ।। इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमद्रामायणं सम्पूर्णम् ।। श्रीसीतारामचन्द्रार्पणमस्तु ।।

evam etat purāvṛttam ākhyānaṃ bhadram astu vaḥ | pravyāharata visrabdhaṃ balaṃ viṣṇoḥ pravardhatām || 7.111.25 || iti ārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe śrīmadvālmīkīye ādikāvye caturviṃśatsahasrikāyāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe ekādaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ || 111 || iti uttarakāṇḍaḥ samāptaḥ || iti ārṣe śrīmadvālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmadrāmāyaṇaṃ sampūrṇam || śrīsītārāmacandrārpaṇam astu ||

"Thus is this ancient tale that has come to pass; may blessing be upon you. Recite it with full confidence; may the power of Vishnu ever increase." Thus ends the hundred-and-eleventh sarga of the venerable Uttara Kanda, in the collection of twenty-four thousand verses, in the Adi Kavya of the venerable Valmiki, the venerable Ramayana. Thus the Uttara Kanda is concluded. Thus, in the ancient work of the venerable Valmiki, the Adi Kavya, the venerable Ramayana is complete. May this be offered to Sri Sita-Ramachandra.