Shatrughna's Coronation

Shloka 1 (uttara.63.1)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण परां व्रीडामुपागमत् । शत्रुघ्नो वीर्यसम्पन्नो मन्दं मन्दमुवाच ह ।। 63.1 ।।

evamuktastu rāmeṇa parāṃ vrīḍāmupāgamat | śatrughno vīryasampanno mandaṃ mandamuvāca ha || 63.1 ||

Thus addressed by Rama, the valorous Shatrughna felt deep embarrassment, and spoke very softly.

Shloka 2 (uttara.63.2)

अधर्मं विद्म काकुत्स्थ ह्यस्मिन्नर्थे नरेश्वर । कथं तिष्ठत्सु ज्येष्ठेषु कनीयानभिषिच्यते ।। 63.2 ।।

adharmaṃ vidma kākutstha hyasminnarthe nareśvara | kathaṃ tiṣṭhatsu jyeṣṭheṣu kanīyānabhiṣicyate || 63.2 ||

"O Kakutstha, O lord of men, I recognize the wrong in this matter — how can the younger be crowned while the elders yet remain uncrowned?

Shloka 3 (uttara.63.3)

अवश्यं करणीयं च शासनं पुरुषर्षभ । तव चैव महाभाग शासनं दुरतिक्रमम् ।। 63.3 ।।

avaśyaṃ karaṇīyaṃ ca śāsanaṃ puruṣarṣabha | tava caiva mahābhāga śāsanaṃ duratikramam || 63.3 ||

Yet, bull among men, your command must certainly be obeyed; O illustrious one, your ordinance cannot be transgressed.

Shloka 4 (uttara.63.4)

त्वत्तो मया श्रुतं वीर श्रुतिभ्यश्च मया श्रुतम् । नोत्तरं हि मया वाच्यं मध्यमे प्रतिजानति ।। 63.4 ।।

tvatto mayā śrutaṃ vīra śrutibhyaśca mayā śrutam | nottaraṃ hi mayā vācyaṃ madhyame pratijānati || 63.4 ||

I have heard it from you, O hero, and I have heard it from the scriptures too, that once a middle brother makes his vow, no further reply from him should follow.

Shloka 5 (uttara.63.5)

व्याहृतं दुर्वचो घोरं हन्तास्मि लवणं मृधे । तस्यैवं मे दुरुक्तस्य दुर्गतिः पुरुषर्षभ ।। 63.5 ।।

vyāhṛtaṃ durvaco ghoraṃ hantāsmi lavaṇaṃ mṛdhe | tasyaivaṃ me duruktasya durgatiḥ puruṣarṣabha || 63.5 ||

I spoke a rash and terrible word — 'I shall slay Lavana in battle' — for having spoken so ill-advisedly, bull among men, let misfortune fall on me alone.

Shloka 6 (uttara.63.6)

उत्तरं नहि वक्तव्यं ज्येष्ठेनाभिहिते पुनः । अधर्मसहितं चैव परलोकविवर्जितम् ।। 63.6 ।।

uttaraṃ nahi vaktavyaṃ jyeṣṭhenābhihite punaḥ | adharmasahitaṃ caiva paralokavivarjitam || 63.6 ||

No reply ought to be given once the elder has spoken again — such a thing is fraught with unrighteousness and forfeits the world beyond.

Shloka 7 (uttara.63.7)

सो ऽहं द्वितीयं काकुत्स्थ न वक्ष्यामि तवोत्तरम् । मा द्वितीयेन दण्डो वै निपतेन्मयि मानद ।। 63.7 ।।

so 'haṃ dvitīyaṃ kākutstha na vakṣyāmi tavottaram | mā dvitīyena daṇḍo vai nipatenmayi mānada || 63.7 ||

Therefore, Kakutstha, I shall not speak a second reply to you; let not, O giver of honor, the punishment for a second offense fall upon me.

Shloka 8 (uttara.63.8)

कामकारो ह्यहं राजंस्तवास्मि पुरुषर्षभ । अधर्मं जहि काकुत्स्थ मत्कृते रघुनन्दन ।। 63.8 ।।

kāmakāro hyahaṃ rājaṃstavāsmi puruṣarṣabha | adharmaṃ jahi kākutstha matkṛte raghunandana || 63.8 ||

O king, bull among men, I am wholly at your disposal; O Kakutstha, O Raghunandana, destroy this wrong that has arisen because of me."

Shloka 9 (uttara.63.9)

एवमुक्ते तु शूरेण शत्रुघ्नेन महात्मना । उवाच रामः संहृष्टो भरतं लक्ष्मणं तथा ।। 63.9 ।।

evamukte tu śūreṇa śatrughnena mahātmanā | uvāca rāmaḥ saṃhṛṣṭo bharataṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ tathā || 63.9 ||

When the heroic, great-souled Shatrughna had spoken thus, Rama, delighted, said to Bharata and Lakshmana.

Shloka 10 (uttara.63.10)

सम्भारानभिषेकस्य आनयध्वं समाहिताः । अद्यैव पुरुषव्याघ्रमभिषेक्ष्यामि राघवम् ।। 63.10 ।।

sambhārānabhiṣekasya ānayadhvaṃ samāhitāḥ | adyaiva puruṣavyāghramabhiṣekṣyāmi rāghavam || 63.10 ||

"Carefully bring together the materials for the consecration; this very day I shall anoint the tiger among men, Raghava.

Shloka 11 (uttara.63.11)

पुरोहितं च काकुत्स्थं नैगमानृत्विजस्तथा । मन्त्रिणश्चैव तान्सर्वानानयध्वं ममाज्ञया ।। 63.11 ।।

purohitaṃ ca kākutsthaṃ naigamānṛtvijastathā | mantriṇaścaiva tānsarvānānayadhvaṃ mamājñayā || 63.11 ||

By my order, summon the family priest of the House of Kakutstha, the leading citizens, the officiating priests, and all the ministers as well."

Shloka 12 (uttara.63.12)

राज्ञः शासनमाज्ञाय तथा ऽकुर्वन्महारथाः । अभिषेकसमारम्भं पुरस्कृत्य पुरोधसम् । प्रविष्टा राजभवनं राजानो ब्राह्मणास्तथा ।। 63.12 ।।

rājñaḥ śāsanamājñāya tathā 'kurvanmahārathāḥ | abhiṣekasamārambhaṃ puraskṛtya purodhasam | praviṣṭā rājabhavanaṃ rājāno brāhmaṇāstathā || 63.12 ||

Receiving the king's command, the great chariot-warriors did accordingly; placing the priest at the fore, the consecration began, and kings and brahmins entered the royal palace.

Shloka 13 (uttara.63.13)

तथो ऽभिषेको ववृधे शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । सम्प्रहर्षकरः श्रीमान्राघवस्य पुरस्य च ।। 63.13 ।।

tatho 'bhiṣeko vavṛdhe śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ | sampraharṣakaraḥ śrīmānrāghavasya purasya ca || 63.13 ||

Thus grew the glorious consecration of the great-souled Shatrughna, bringing joy alike to Raghava and to the city.

Shloka 14 (uttara.63.14)

अभिषिक्तस्तु शत्रुघ्नो बभौ चादित्यसन्निभः । अभिषिक्तः पुरा स्कन्दः सेन्द्रैरिव मरुद्गणैः ।। 63.14 ।।

abhiṣiktastu śatrughno babhau cādityasannibhaḥ | abhiṣiktaḥ purā skandaḥ sendrairiva marudgaṇaiḥ || 63.14 ||

Once consecrated, Shatrughna shone like the sun, as Skanda once shone when anointed by the Maruts together with Indra.

Shloka 15 (uttara.63.15)

अभिषिक्ते तु शत्रुघ्ने रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । पौराः प्रमुदिताश्चासन्ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः ।। 63.15 ।।

abhiṣikte tu śatrughne rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā | paurāḥ pramuditāścāsanbrāhmaṇāśca bahuśrutāḥ || 63.15 ||

When Shatrughna was thus consecrated by Rama of untiring deeds, the citizens and the learned brahmins were filled with delight.

Shloka 16 (uttara.63.16)

कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च मङ्गलं केकयी तथा । चक्रुस्ता राजभवने याश्चान्या राजयोषितः ।। 63.16 ।।

kausalyā ca sumitrā ca maṅgalaṃ kekayī tathā | cakrustā rājabhavane yāścānyā rājayoṣitaḥ || 63.16 ||

Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi, along with the other royal women, performed the auspicious rites in the palace.

Shloka 17 (uttara.63.17)

ऋषयश्च महात्मानो यमुनातीरवासिनः । हतं लवणमाशंसुः शत्रुघ्नस्याभिषेचनात् ।। 63.17 ।।

ṛṣayaśca mahātmāno yamunātīravāsinaḥ | hataṃ lavaṇamāśaṃsuḥ śatrughnasyābhiṣecanāt || 63.17 ||

The great sages dwelling on the banks of the Yamuna, seeing Shatrughna's consecration, took it as a sign that Lavana was already as good as slain.

Shloka 18 (uttara.63.18)

ततो ऽभिषिक्तं शत्रुघ्नमङ्कमारोप्य राघवः । उवाच मधुरां वाणीं तेजस्तस्याभिपूरयन् ।। 63.18 ।।

tato 'bhiṣiktaṃ śatrughnamaṅkamāropya rāghavaḥ | uvāca madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ tejastasyābhipūrayan || 63.18 ||

Then Raghava took the newly consecrated Shatrughna upon his lap and, infusing him with his own radiance, spoke these sweet words.

Shloka 19 (uttara.63.19)

अयं शरस्त्वमोघस्ते दिव्यः परपुरञ्जयः । अनेन लवणं सौम्य हन्ता ऽसि रघुनन्दन ।। 63.19 ।।

ayaṃ śarastvamoghaste divyaḥ parapurañjayaḥ | anena lavaṇaṃ saumya hantā 'si raghunandana || 63.19 ||

"This divine arrow, unfailing and conqueror of enemy cities, is yours; with it, gentle Raghunandana, you shall slay Lavana.

Shloka 20 (uttara.63.20)

सृष्टः शरो ऽयं काकुत्स्थ यदा शेते महार्णवे ।। 63.20 ।।

sṛṣṭaḥ śaro 'yaṃ kākutstha yadā śete mahārṇave || 63.20 ||

This arrow, Kakutstha, was fashioned when He reclines upon the great ocean.

Shloka 21 (uttara.63.21)

स्वयम्भूरजितो देवो यन्नापश्यन्सुरासुराः । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां तेनायं तु शरोत्तमः ।। 63.21 ।।

svayambhūrajito devo yannāpaśyansurāsurāḥ | adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tenāyaṃ tu śarottamaḥ || 63.21 ||

The self-existent, unconquerable god, whom neither gods nor demons can behold, invisible to all beings — from him alone did this supreme arrow come forth.

Shloka 22 (uttara.63.22)

सृष्टः क्रोधाभिभूतेन विनाशार्थं दुरात्मनोः । मधुकैटभयोर्वीर विघाते वर्तमानयोः । स्रष्टुकामेन लोकांस्त्रींस्तौ चानेन हतौ युधि ।। 63.22 ।।

sṛṣṭaḥ krodhābhibhūtena vināśārthaṃ durātmanoḥ | madhukaiṭabhayorvīra vighāte vartamānayoḥ | sraṣṭukāmena lokāṃstrīṃstau cānena hatau yudhi || 63.22 ||

O hero, filled with wrath, and wishing to create the three worlds, he fashioned it for the destruction of the two wicked ones, Madhu and Kaitabha, who stood obstructing that creation — and by this same arrow, in battle, both were slain.

Shloka 23 (uttara.63.23)

तौ हत्वा जनभोगार्थं कैटभं तु मधुं तथा । अनेन शरमुख्येन ततो लोकांश्चकार सः ।। 63.23 ।।

tau hatvā janabhogārthaṃ kaiṭabhaṃ tu madhuṃ tathā | anena śaramukhyena tato lokāṃścakāra saḥ || 63.23 ||

Having slain both Kaitabha and Madhu with this foremost arrow, he then fashioned the worlds for the enjoyment of all beings.

Shloka 24 (uttara.63.24)

नायं मया शरः पूर्वं रावणस्य वधार्थिना । मुक्तः शत्रुघ्न भूतानां महांस्त्रासो भवेदिति ।। 63.24 ।।

nāyaṃ mayā śaraḥ pūrvaṃ rāvaṇasya vadhārthinā | muktaḥ śatrughna bhūtānāṃ mahāṃstrāso bhavediti || 63.24 ||

This arrow, Shatrughna, I did not release before, even when I sought Ravana's death — thinking it would bring great terror upon all beings.

Shloka 25 (uttara.63.25)

यच्च तस्य महच्छूलं त्र्यम्बकेण महात्मना । दत्तं शत्रुविनाशाय मधोरायुधमुत्तमम् ।। 63.25 ।।

yacca tasya mahacchūlaṃ tryambakeṇa mahātmanā | dattaṃ śatruvināśāya madhorāyudhamuttamam || 63.25 ||

As for that great spear which the great-souled Tryambaka gave to Madhu for the destruction of enemies — that is his most excellent weapon.

Shloka 26 (uttara.63.26)

स तं निक्षिप्य भवने पूज्यमान पुनः पुनः । दिशः सर्वाः समासाद्य प्राप्नोत्याहारमुत्तमम् ।। 63.26 ।।

sa taṃ nikṣipya bhavane pūjyamāna punaḥ punaḥ | diśaḥ sarvāḥ samāsādya prāpnotyāhāramuttamam || 63.26 ||

He keeps that spear enshrined in his palace, worshipping it again and again, and roams every quarter to obtain his choice fare.

Shloka 27 (uttara.63.27)

यदा तु युद्धमाकाङ्क्षन् कश्चिदेनं समाह्वयेत् । तदा शूलं गहीत्वा तं भस्म रक्षः करोति हि ।। 63.27 ।।

yadā tu yuddhamākāṅkṣan kaścidenaṃ samāhvayet | tadā śūlaṃ gahītvā taṃ bhasma rakṣaḥ karoti hi || 63.27 ||

Whenever someone, seeking battle, challenges him, he seizes that spear and reduces the challenger to ashes — such is the demon's power.

Shloka 28 (uttara.63.28)

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल तमायुधविनाकृतम् । अप्रविष्टं पुरं पूर्वं द्वारि तिष्ठ धृतायुधः ।। 63.28 ।।

sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla tamāyudhavinākṛtam | apraviṣṭaṃ puraṃ pūrvaṃ dvāri tiṣṭha dhṛtāyudhaḥ || 63.28 ||

Therefore, tiger among men, stand ready at his gate, weapon in hand, while he is without that spear of his and has not yet entered the city.

Shloka 29 (uttara.63.29)

अप्रविष्टं च भवनं युद्धाय पुरुषर्षभ । आह्वयेथा महाबाहो ततो हन्तासि राक्षसम् ।। 63.29 ।।

apraviṣṭaṃ ca bhavanaṃ yuddhāya puruṣarṣabha | āhvayethā mahābāho tato hantāsi rākṣasam || 63.29 ||

Before he has entered his palace, bull among men, mighty-armed one, challenge him to battle — only then will you be able to slay the rakshasa.

Shloka 30 (uttara.63.30)

अन्यथा क्रियमाणे तु अवध्यः स भविष्यति । यदि त्वेवं कृते वीर विनाशमुपयास्यति ।। 63.30 ।।

anyathā kriyamāṇe tu avadhyaḥ sa bhaviṣyati | yadi tvevaṃ kṛte vīra vināśamupayāsyati || 63.30 ||

If it is done otherwise, he will prove unslayable; but if done as I say, hero, he will surely meet his destruction.

Shloka 31 (uttara.63.31)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं शूलस्य च विपर्ययः । श्रीमतः शितिकण्ठस्य कृत्यं हि दुरतिक्रमम् ।। 63.31 ।।

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ śūlasya ca viparyayaḥ | śrīmataḥ śitikaṇṭhasya kṛtyaṃ hi duratikramam || 63.31 ||

All this I have told you, along with the way to defeat that spear — for the gift of the glorious blue-throated one (Shiva) is not one to be lightly overcome."