Shatrughna's Reunion with Rama

Shloka 1 (uttara.72.1)

तं शयानं नरव्याघ्रं निद्रा नाभ्यागमत्तदा । चिन्तयन्तमनेकार्थं रामगीतमनुत्तमम् ।। 72.1 ।।

taṃ śayānaṃ naravyāghraṃ nidrā nābhyāgamattadā | cintayantamanekārthaṃ rāmagītamanuttamam || 72.1 ||

Sleep did not come to that tiger among men as he lay there, his mind dwelling again and again on the many meanings held in that peerless song of Rama.

Shloka 2 (uttara.72.2)

तस्य शब्दं सुमधुरं तन्त्रीलयसमन्वितम् । श्रुत्वा रात्रिर्जगामाशु शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः ।। 72.2 ।।

tasya śabdaṃ sumadhuraṃ tantrīlayasamanvitam | śrutvā rātrirjagāmāśu śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ || 72.2 ||

Listening to that most sweet sound, blended with the rhythm of the lute-strings, the night passed quickly for the great-souled Shatrughna.

Shloka 3 (uttara.72.3)

तस्यां निशायां व्युष्टायां कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकं क्रमम् । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं शत्रुघ्नो मुनिपुङ्गवम् ।। 72.3 ।।

tasyāṃ niśāyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ kṛtvā paurvāhṇikaṃ kramam | uvāca prāñjalirvākyaṃ śatrughno munipuṅgavam || 72.3 ||

When that night had passed, and he had completed his morning observances, Shatrughna, hands joined in reverence, spoke these words to that foremost of sages.

Shloka 4 (uttara.72.4)

भगवन्द्रष्टुमिच्छामि राघवं रघुनन्दनम् । त्वया ऽनुज्ञातुमिच्छामि सहैभिः संशितव्रतैः ।। 72.4 ।।

bhagavandraṣṭumicchāmi rāghavaṃ raghunandanam | tvayā 'nujñātumicchāmi sahaibhiḥ saṃśitavrataiḥ || 72.4 ||

"Reverend sir, I wish to see Raghava, the delighter of the Raghus. Together with these men of firm vows, I ask your leave to go."

Shloka 5 (uttara.72.5)

इत्येवंवादिनं तं तु शत्रुघ्नं शत्रुतापनम् । वाल्मीकिः सम्परिष्वज्य विससर्ज च राघवम् ।। 72.5 ।।

ityevaṃvādinaṃ taṃ tu śatrughnaṃ śatrutāpanam | vālmīkiḥ sampariṣvajya visasarja ca rāghavam || 72.5 ||

To Shatrughna, scorcher of his foes, who spoke thus, Valmiki, embracing him warmly, granted leave to go to Raghava.

Shloka 6 (uttara.72.6)

सो ऽभिवाद्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं रथमारुह्य सुप्रभम् । अयोध्यामगमत्तूर्णं राघवोत्सुकदर्शनः ।। 72.6 ।।

so 'bhivādya muniśreṣṭhaṃ rathamāruhya suprabham | ayodhyāmagamattūrṇaṃ rāghavotsukadarśanaḥ || 72.6 ||

Bowing to that foremost of sages and mounting his splendid chariot, he set out swiftly for Ayodhya, eager for the sight of Raghava.

Shloka 7 (uttara.72.7)

स प्रविष्टः पुरीं रम्यां श्रीमानिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः । प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्यत्र रामो महाद्युतिः ।। 72.7 ।।

sa praviṣṭaḥ purīṃ ramyāṃ śrīmānikṣvākunandanaḥ | praviveśa mahābāhuryatra rāmo mahādyutiḥ || 72.7 ||

That glorious delighter of the Ikshvakus, entering that lovely city, the mighty-armed one went straight to where Rama of great splendor was.

Shloka 8 (uttara.72.8)

स रामं मन्त्रिमध्यस्थं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननम् । पश्यन्नमरमध्यस्थं सहस्रनयनं यथा ।। 72.8 ।।

sa rāmaṃ mantrimadhyasthaṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanam | paśyannamaramadhyasthaṃ sahasranayanaṃ yathā || 72.8 ||

He saw Rama seated among his ministers, his face like the full moon—as though beholding the thousand-eyed Indra enthroned amid the gods.

Shloka 9 (uttara.72.9)

सो ऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ।। 72.9 ।।

so 'bhivādya mahātmānaṃ jvalantamiva tejasā | uvāca prāñjalirvākyaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam || 72.9 ||

Bowing to that great soul who blazed as though ablaze with splendor, he spoke, palms joined, these words to Rama of true valor.

Shloka 10 (uttara.72.10)

यदाज्ञप्तं महाराज सर्वं तत्कृतवानहम् । हतः स लवणः पापः पुरी चास्य निवेशिता ।। 72.10 ।।

yadājñaptaṃ mahārāja sarvaṃ tatkṛtavānaham | hataḥ sa lavaṇaḥ pāpaḥ purī cāsya niveśitā || 72.10 ||

"O great king, all that you commanded, I have accomplished. That sinful Lavana has been slain, and his city has been founded."

Shloka 11 (uttara.72.11)

द्वादशैते गता वर्षास्त्वां विना रघुनन्दन । नोत्सहेयमहं वस्तुं त्वया विरहितो नृप ।। 72.11 ।।

dvādaśaite gatā varṣāstvāṃ vinā raghunandana | notsaheyamahaṃ vastuṃ tvayā virahito nṛpa || 72.11 ||

"These twelve years have passed without you, O delighter of the Raghus. O king, parted from you, I no longer have the heart to remain there."

Shloka 12 (uttara.72.12)

स मे प्रसादं काकुत्स्थ कुरुष्वामितविक्रम । मातृहीनो यथा वत्सो न चिरं प्रवसाम्यहम् ।। 72.12 ।।

sa me prasādaṃ kākutstha kuruṣvāmitavikrama | mātṛhīno yathā vatso na ciraṃ pravasāmyaham || 72.12 ||

"So, O Kakutstha of measureless valor, grant me this favor: like a calf bereft of its mother, I cannot bear to stay long away."

Shloka 13 (uttara.72.13)

एवं ब्रुवाणं शत्रुघ्नं परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत् । मा विषादं कृथाः शूर नैतत्क्षत्रियचेष्टितम् ।। 72.13 ।।

evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ śatrughnaṃ pariṣvajyedamabravīt | mā viṣādaṃ kṛthāḥ śūra naitatkṣatriyaceṣṭitam || 72.13 ||

Embracing Shatrughna, who spoke thus, Rama said to him: "Do not grieve, O hero; such despondency does not befit a kshatriya."

Shloka 14 (uttara.72.14)

नावसीदन्ति राजानो विप्रवासेषु राघव । प्रजा नः परिपाल्या हि क्षत्रधर्मेण राघव ।। 72.14 ।।

nāvasīdanti rājāno vipravāseṣu rāghava | prajā naḥ paripālyā hi kṣatradharmeṇa rāghava || 72.14 ||

"Kings do not falter during time spent away, O Raghava; it is by the duty of kshatriyas that we must govern our subjects, O Raghava."

Shloka 15 (uttara.72.15)

काले काले तु मां वीर अयोध्यामवलोकितुम् । आगच्छ त्वं नरश्रेष्ठ गन्तासि च पुरं तव ।। 72.15 ।।

kāle kāle tu māṃ vīra ayodhyāmavalokitum | āgaccha tvaṃ naraśreṣṭha gantāsi ca puraṃ tava || 72.15 ||

"But from time to time, O hero, O best of men, come to Ayodhya to see me, and then you shall return again to your own city."

Shloka 16 (uttara.72.16)

ममापि त्वं सुदयितः प्राणैरपि न संशयः । अवश्यं करणीयं च राज्यस्य परिपालनम् ।। 72.16 ।।

mamāpi tvaṃ sudayitaḥ prāṇairapi na saṃśayaḥ | avaśyaṃ karaṇīyaṃ ca rājyasya paripālanam || 72.16 ||

"To me too you are dearer than life itself, without doubt; yet the governing of the realm must be attended to without fail."

Shloka 17 (uttara.72.17)

तस्मात्त्वं वस काकुत्स्थ सप्तरात्रमिहावस । ऊर्ध्वं गन्तासि मधुरां सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। 72.17 ।।

tasmāttvaṃ vasa kākutstha saptarātramihāvasa | ūrdhvaṃ gantāsi madhurāṃ sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 72.17 ||

"Therefore, O Kakutstha, stay—remain here for seven nights; thereafter you shall go on to Madhura, together with your retainers, forces, and mounts."

Shloka 18 (uttara.72.18)

रामस्यैतद्वचः श्रुत्वा धर्मयुक्तं मनोगतम् । शत्रुघ्नो दीनया वाचा बाढमित्येव चाब्रवीत् ।। 72.18 ।।

rāmasyaitadvacaḥ śrutvā dharmayuktaṃ manogatam | śatrughno dīnayā vācā bāḍhamityeva cābravīt || 72.18 ||

Hearing this righteous and heartfelt speech of Rama's, Shatrughna, in a subdued voice, said only, "So be it."

Shloka 19 (uttara.72.19)

सप्तरात्रं च काकुत्स्थो राघवस्य यथाज्ञया । उष्य तत्र महेष्वासो गमनायोपचक्रमे ।। 72.19 ।।

saptarātraṃ ca kākutstho rāghavasya yathājñayā | uṣya tatra maheṣvāso gamanāyopacakrame || 72.19 ||

And Kakutstha, that great archer, having remained there seven nights in accordance with Raghava's command, then made ready to depart.

Shloka 20 (uttara.72.20)

आमन्त्र्य तु महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् । भरतं लक्ष्मणं चैव महारथमुपारुहत् ।। 72.20 ।।

āmantrya tu mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam | bharataṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva mahārathamupāruhat || 72.20 ||

Taking leave of the great-souled Rama of true valor, and of Bharata and Lakshmana, he mounted his great chariot.

Shloka 21 (uttara.72.21)

दूरमाभ्यामनुगतो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । भरतेन च शत्रुघ्नो जगामाशु पुरं ततः ।। 72.21 ।।

dūramābhyāmanugato lakṣmaṇena mahātmanā | bharatena ca śatrughno jagāmāśu puraṃ tataḥ || 72.21 ||

Escorted far along the way by the great-souled Lakshmana and by Bharata, Shatrughna then swiftly went on to his own city.