The Slaying of Shambuka

Shloka 1 (uttara.76.1)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः । अवाक्छिरास्तथाभूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.७६.१ ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ | avākchirāstathābhūtvā vākyametaduvāca ha || 7.76.1 ||

Hearing that word of Rama, whose deeds are ever unwearied, he, remaining with his head bowed as before, spoke this word:

Shloka 2 (uttara.76.2)

शूद्रयोन्यां प्रसूतो ऽस्मि शम्बूको नाम नामतः । देवत्वं पार्थये राम सशरीरो महायशः ।। ७.७६.२ ।।

śūdrayonyāṃ prasūto 'smi śambūko nāma nāmataḥ | devatvaṃ pārthaye rāma saśarīro mahāyaśaḥ || 7.76.2 ||

I was born in a shudra womb; my name is Shambuka. O Rama, I long to attain godhood in this very body, and great glory.

Shloka 3 (uttara.76.3)

न मिथ्या ऽहं वदे राम देवलोकजिगीषया । शूद्रं मां विद्धि काकुत्स्थ तप उग्रं समास्थितम् ।। ७.७६.३ ।।

na mithyā 'haṃ vade rāma devalokajigīṣayā | śūdraṃ māṃ viddhi kākutstha tapa ugraṃ samāsthitam || 7.76.3 ||

I do not speak falsely, Rama, out of eagerness to win the world of the gods. Know me, Kakutstha, to be a shudra engaged in fierce austerity.

Shloka 4 (uttara.76.4)

भाषतस्तस्य शूद्रस्य खड्गं सुरुचिरप्रभम् । निष्कृष्य कोशाद्विमलं शिरश्चिच्छेद राघवः ।। ७.७६.४ ।।

bhāṣatastasya śūdrasya khaḍgaṃ suruciraprabham | niṣkṛṣya kośādvimalaṃ śiraściccheda rāghavaḥ || 7.76.4 ||

Even as that shudra was speaking, Raghava drew his bright, unblemished sword from its sheath and struck off his head.

Shloka 5 (uttara.76.5)

तस्मिञ्छूद्रे हते देवाः सेन्द्राः साग्निपुरोगमाः । साधु साध्विति काकुत्स्थं प्रशशंसुर्मुहुर्मुहुः ।। ७.७६.५ ।।

tasmiñchūdre hate devāḥ sendrāḥ sāgnipurogamāḥ | sādhu sādhviti kākutsthaṃ praśaśaṃsurmuhurmuhuḥ || 7.76.5 ||

When the shudra was slain, the gods, with Indra and led by Agni, praised Kakutstha again and again, crying, "Well done, well done!"

Shloka 6 (uttara.76.6)

पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद्दिव्यानां सुसुगन्धिनाम् । पुष्पाणां वायुमुक्तानां सर्वतः प्रपपात ह ।। ७.७६.६ ।।

puṣpavṛṣṭirmahatyāsīddivyānāṃ susugandhinām | puṣpāṇāṃ vāyumuktānāṃ sarvataḥ prapapāta ha || 7.76.6 ||

A great rain of divine, fragrant flowers, borne on the wind, fell from every side.

Shloka 7 (uttara.76.7)

सुप्रीताश्चाब्रुवन्रामं देवाः सत्यपराक्रमम् । सुरकार्यमिदं सौम्य सुकृतं ते महामते ।। ७.७६.७ ।।

suprītāścābruvanrāmaṃ devāḥ satyaparākramam | surakāryamidaṃ saumya sukṛtaṃ te mahāmate || 7.76.7 ||

Greatly pleased, the gods said to Rama of unfailing valor: "Gentle one, great of mind, you have accomplished this work of the gods well."

Shloka 8 (uttara.76.8)

गृहाण च वरं सौम्य यत्त्वमिच्छस्यरिन्दम । स्वर्गभाङ्नहि शूद्रो ऽयं त्वत्कृते रघुनन्दन ।। ७.७६.८ ।।

gṛhāṇa ca varaṃ saumya yattvamicchasyarindama | svargabhāṅnahi śūdro 'yaṃ tvatkṛte raghunandana || 7.76.8 ||

"Choose a boon, gentle tamer of foes, whatever you desire; for through your act, Raghunandana, this shudra shall not share in heaven."

Shloka 9 (uttara.76.9)

देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा राघवः सुसमाहितः । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं सहस्राक्षं पुरन्दरम् ।। ७.७६.९ ।।

devānāṃ bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā rāghavaḥ susamāhitaḥ | uvāca prāñjalirvākyaṃ sahasrākṣaṃ purandaram || 7.76.9 ||

Hearing the gods' words, Raghava, deeply composed, spoke with joined palms to thousand-eyed Purandara:

Shloka 10 (uttara.76.10)

यदि देवाः प्रसन्ना मे द्विजपुत्रः स जीवतु । दिशन्तु वरमेतं मे इप्सितं परमं मम ।। ७.७६.१० ।।

yadi devāḥ prasannā me dvijaputraḥ sa jīvatu | diśantu varametaṃ me ipsitaṃ paramaṃ mama || 7.76.10 ||

"If the gods are pleased with me, let that brahmin's son live again. Let them grant me this boon — it is my dearest wish."

Shloka 11 (uttara.76.11)

ममापचाराद्यातो ऽसौ ब्राह्मणस्यैकपुत्रकः । अप्राप्तकालः कालेन नीतो वैवस्वतक्षयम् ।। ७.७६.११ ।।

mamāpacārādyāto 'sau brāhmaṇasyaikaputrakaḥ | aprāptakālaḥ kālena nīto vaivasvatakṣayam || 7.76.11 ||

"Through my fault, that brahmin's only son, whose time had not yet come, was untimely carried off by death to Vaivasvata's realm."

Shloka 12 (uttara.76.12)

तं जीवयथ भद्रं वो नानृतं कर्तुमर्हथ । द्विजस्य संश्रुतो ऽर्थो मे जीवयिष्यामि ते सुतम् ।। ७.७६.१२ ।।

taṃ jīvayatha bhadraṃ vo nānṛtaṃ kartumarhatha | dvijasya saṃśruto 'rtho me jīvayiṣyāmi te sutam || 7.76.12 ||

"Bring him back to life — blessings on you; you must not let my word prove false, for I promised that brahmin I would restore his son to life."

Shloka 13 (uttara.76.13)

राघवस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा विबुधसत्तमाः । प्रत्युचू राघवं प्रीता देवाः प्रीतिसमन्वितम् ।। ७.७६.१३ ।।

rāghavasya tu tadvākyaṃ śrutvā vibudhasattamāḥ | pratyucū rāghavaṃ prītā devāḥ prītisamanvitam || 7.76.13 ||

Hearing Raghava's words, the foremost among the gods, pleased, answered joyful Raghava:

Shloka 14 (uttara.76.14)

निर्वृतो भव काकुत्स्थ सो ऽस्मिन्नहनि बालकः । जीवितं प्राप्तवान्भूयः समेतश्चापि बन्धुभिः ।। ७.७६.१४ ।।

nirvṛto bhava kākutstha so 'sminnahani bālakaḥ | jīvitaṃ prāptavānbhūyaḥ sametaścāpi bandhubhiḥ || 7.76.14 ||

"Be at peace, Kakutstha. That boy, on this very day, has already regained his life and is reunited with his kinsfolk."

Shloka 15 (uttara.76.15)

यस्मिन्मुहूर्ते काकुत्स्थ शूद्रो ऽयं विनिपातितः । तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते बालो ऽसौ जीवेन समयुज्यत ।। ७.७६.१५ ।।

yasminmuhūrte kākutstha śūdro 'yaṃ vinipātitaḥ | tasminmuhūrte bālo 'sau jīvena samayujyata || 7.76.15 ||

"The very instant, Kakutstha, this shudra was struck down, that same instant the boy was joined again with life."

Shloka 16 (uttara.76.16)

स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते साधु याम नरर्षभ । अगस्त्यस्याश्रमपदं द्रष्टुमिच्छाम राघव ।। ७.७६.१६ ।।

svasti prāpnuhi bhadraṃ te sādhu yāma nararṣabha | agastyasyāśramapadaṃ draṣṭumicchāma rāghava || 7.76.16 ||

"Fare well; blessings upon you. Let us now go on well, bull among men. We wish, Raghava, to see Agastya's hermitage."

Shloka 17 (uttara.76.17)

तस्य दीक्षा समाप्ता हि ब्रह्मर्षेः सुमहाद्युतेः । द्वादशं हि गतं वर्षं जलशय्यां समासतः ।। ७.७६.१७ ।।

tasya dīkṣā samāptā hi brahmarṣeḥ sumahādyuteḥ | dvādaśaṃ hi gataṃ varṣaṃ jalaśayyāṃ samāsataḥ || 7.76.17 ||

"The consecration of that most radiant brahmin-sage is now complete, for the twelfth year of his lying upon the water in vow has passed."

Shloka 18 (uttara.76.18)

काकुत्स्थ तद्गमिष्यामो मुनिं समभिनन्दितुम् । त्वं चाप्यागच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुं तमृषिसत्तमम् ।। ७.७६.१८ ।।

kākutstha tadgamiṣyāmo muniṃ samabhinanditum | tvaṃ cāpyāgaccha bhadraṃ te draṣṭuṃ tamṛṣisattamam || 7.76.18 ||

"So, Kakutstha, we shall go to greet the sage; come with us too, may good befall you, to see that best of seers."

Shloka 19 (uttara.76.19)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय देवानां रघुनन्दनः । आरुरोह विमानं तं पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम् ।। ७.७६.१९ ।।

sa tatheti pratijñāya devānāṃ raghunandanaḥ | āruroha vimānaṃ taṃ puṣpakaṃ hemabhūṣitam || 7.76.19 ||

Assenting with "so be it," Raghunandana mounted that gold-adorned Pushpaka chariot.

Shloka 20 (uttara.76.20)

ततो देवाः प्रयातास्ते विमानैर्बहुविस्तरैः । रामो ऽप्यनुजगामाशु कुम्भयोनेस्तपोवनम् ।। ७.७६.२० ।।

tato devāḥ prayātāste vimānairbahuvistaraiḥ | rāmo 'pyanujagāmāśu kumbhayonestapovanam || 7.76.20 ||

Then those gods departed in their vast chariots, and Rama too swiftly followed toward the penance-grove of the Kumbha-born sage.

Shloka 21 (uttara.76.21)

दृष्ट्वा तु देवान्सम्प्राप्तानगस्त्यस्तपसां निधिः । अर्चयामास धर्मात्मा सर्वांस्तानविशेषतः ।। ७.७६.२१ ।।

dṛṣṭvā tu devānsamprāptānagastyastapasāṃ nidhiḥ | arcayāmāsa dharmātmā sarvāṃstānaviśeṣataḥ || 7.76.21 ||

Seeing that the gods had arrived, Agastya, treasury of austerity and righteous of soul, honored them all impartially.

Shloka 22 (uttara.76.22)

प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां सम्पूज्य च महामुनिम् । जग्मुस्ते त्रिदशा हृष्टा नाकपृष्ठं सहानुगैः ।। ७.७६.२२ ।।

pratigṛhya tataḥ pūjāṃ sampūjya ca mahāmunim | jagmuste tridaśā hṛṣṭā nākapṛṣṭhaṃ sahānugaiḥ || 7.76.22 ||

Having accepted his hospitality and honored the great sage in turn, the gods, joyful, went with their attendants to the summit of heaven.

Shloka 23 (uttara.76.23)

गतेषु तेषु काकुत्स्थः पुष्पकादवरुह्य च । ततो ऽभिवादयामास ह्यगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम् ।। ७.७६.२३ ।।

gateṣu teṣu kākutsthaḥ puṣpakādavaruhya ca | tato 'bhivādayāmāsa hyagastyamṛṣisattamam || 7.76.23 ||

When they had departed, Kakutstha descended from the Pushpaka and then bowed in homage to Agastya, best of sages.

Shloka 24 (uttara.76.24)

सो ऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । आतिथ्यं परमं प्राप्य निषसाद नराधिपः ।। ७.७६.२४ ।।

so 'bhivādya mahātmānaṃ jvalantamiva tejasā | ātithyaṃ paramaṃ prāpya niṣasāda narādhipaḥ || 7.76.24 ||

Having bowed to that great soul, blazing as it were with splendor, and having received the highest hospitality, the king sat down.

Shloka 25 (uttara.76.25)

तमुवाच महातेजाः कुम्भयोनिर्महातपाः । स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो ऽसि राघव ।। ७.७६.२५ ।।

tamuvāca mahātejāḥ kumbhayonirmahātapāḥ | svāgataṃ te naraśreṣṭha diṣṭyā prāpto 'si rāghava || 7.76.25 ||

The Kumbha-born, of great splendor and great austerity, said to him: "Welcome, best of men. By good fortune, Raghava, you have come here."

Shloka 26 (uttara.76.26)

त्वं मे बहुमतो राम गुणैर्बहुभिरुत्तमैः । अतिथिः पूजनीयश्च मम नित्यं हृदि स्थितः ।। ७.७६.२६ ।।

tvaṃ me bahumato rāma guṇairbahubhiruttamaiḥ | atithiḥ pūjanīyaśca mama nityaṃ hṛdi sthitaḥ || 7.76.26 ||

"You are held in high regard by me, Rama, for your many excellent virtues; you are a guest worthy of worship, ever present in my heart."

Shloka 27 (uttara.76.27)

सुरा हि कथयन्ति त्वामागतं शूद्रघातिनम् । ब्राह्मणस्य तु धर्मेण त्वया जीवापितः सुतः ।। ७.७६.२७ ।।

surā hi kathayanti tvāmāgataṃ śūdraghātinam | brāhmaṇasya tu dharmeṇa tvayā jīvāpitaḥ sutaḥ || 7.76.27 ||

"The gods have told me that you have come, having slain the shudra, and that, in accordance with dharma, you have restored the brahmin's son to life."

Shloka 28 (uttara.76.28)

उष्यतां चेह रजनी सकाशे मम राघव । प्रभाते पुष्पकेण त्वं गन्ता ऽसि पुरमेव हि ।। ७.७६.२८ ।।

uṣyatāṃ ceha rajanī sakāśe mama rāghava | prabhāte puṣpakeṇa tvaṃ gantā 'si purameva hi || 7.76.28 ||

"Spend this night here with me, Raghava; in the morning you shall go by the Pushpaka straight back to the city."

Shloka 29 (uttara.76.29)

त्वं हि नारायणः श्रीमांस्त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । त्वं प्रभुः सर्वदेवानां पुरुषस्त्वं सनातनः ।। ७.७६.२९ ।।

tvaṃ hi nārāyaṇaḥ śrīmāṃstvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | tvaṃ prabhuḥ sarvadevānāṃ puruṣastvaṃ sanātanaḥ || 7.76.29 ||

"You are indeed the glorious Narayana; in you all things rest. You are the lord of all the gods, the eternal Purusha."

Shloka 30 (uttara.76.30)

इदं चाभरणं सौम्य निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा । दिव्यं दिव्येन वपुषा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा । प्रतिगृह्णीष्व काकुत्स्थ मत्प्रियं कुरु राघव ।। ७.७६.३० ।।

idaṃ cābharaṇaṃ saumya nirmitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā | divyaṃ divyena vapuṣā dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā | pratigṛhṇīṣva kākutstha matpriyaṃ kuru rāghava || 7.76.30 ||

"This ornament, gentle one, was fashioned by Vishvakarma — divine, of divine form, gleaming with its own radiance. Accept it, Kakutstha; do this to please me, Raghava."

Shloka 31 (uttara.76.31)

दत्तस्य हि पुनर्दाने सुमहत्फलमुच्यते । भरणे हि भवान् शक्तः सेन्द्राणां मरुतामपि ।। ७.७६.३१ ।।

dattasya hi punardāne sumahatphalamucyate | bharaṇe hi bhavān śaktaḥ sendrāṇāṃ marutāmapi || 7.76.31 ||

"For giving anew what was already given is said to bear very great fruit; and you indeed are capable of sustaining even the Maruts together with Indra."

Shloka 32 (uttara.76.32)

त्वं हि शक्तस्तारयितुं सेन्द्रानपि दिवौकसः । तस्मात्प्रदास्ये विधिवत्तत्प्रतीच्छ नराधिप ।। ७.७६.३२ ।।

tvaṃ hi śaktastārayituṃ sendrānapi divaukasaḥ | tasmātpradāsye vidhivattatpratīccha narādhipa || 7.76.32 ||

"You are able to deliver even the heaven-dwellers together with Indra; therefore I shall duly bestow it — accept it, lord of men."

Shloka 33 (uttara.76.33)

दिव्यमाभरणं चित्रं प्रदीप्तमिव भास्करम् ।। ७.७६.३३ ।।

divyamābharaṇaṃ citraṃ pradīptamiva bhāskaram || 7.76.33 ||

The wondrous divine ornament shone as if it were a blazing sun.

Shloka 34 (uttara.76.34)

अथोवाच महात्मानमिक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः । रामो मतिमतां श्रेष्ठः क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन् ।। ७.७६.३४ ।।

athovāca mahātmānamikṣvākūṇāṃ mahārathaḥ | rāmo matimatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kṣatradharmamanusmaran || 7.76.34 ||

Then Rama, the great warrior of the Ikshvakus, foremost of the wise, recalling the duty of a kshatriya, spoke to that great soul:

Shloka 35 (uttara.76.35)

प्रतिग्रहो ऽयं भगवन्ब्राह्मणस्याविगर्हितः । गृह्णीयां क्षत्रियो ऽहं वै कथं ब्राह्मणपुङ्गव ।। ७.७६.३५ ।।

pratigraho 'yaṃ bhagavanbrāhmaṇasyāvigarhitaḥ | gṛhṇīyāṃ kṣatriyo 'haṃ vai kathaṃ brāhmaṇapuṅgava || 7.76.35 ||

"Holy one, accepting a gift is blameless for a brahmin — but how, foremost of brahmins, could I, being a kshatriya, accept it?"

Shloka 36 (uttara.76.36)

ब्राह्मणेन विशेषेण दत्तं तद्वक्तुमर्हसि । एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण प्रत्युवाच महानृषिः ।। ७.७६.३६ ।।

brāhmaṇena viśeṣeṇa dattaṃ tadvaktumarhasi | evamuktastu rāmeṇa pratyuvāca mahānṛṣiḥ || 7.76.36 ||

"Please explain to me why exactly it is a brahmin who gives this." Thus addressed by Rama, the great sage replied:

Shloka 37 (uttara.76.37)

आसन्कृतयुगे राम ब्रह्मभूते पुरायुगे । अपार्थिवाः प्रजाः सर्वाः सुराणां तु शतक्रतुः ।। ७.७६.३७ ।।

āsankṛtayuge rāma brahmabhūte purāyuge | apārthivāḥ prajāḥ sarvāḥ surāṇāṃ tu śatakratuḥ || 7.76.37 ||

"In the Krita age, Rama, in that former age that was one with Brahman, all beings had no earthly king; yet among the gods there was Shatakratu."

Shloka 38 (uttara.76.38)

ताः प्रजा देवदेवेशं राजार्थं समुपाद्रवन् । सुराणां स्थापितो राजा त्वया देव शतक्रतुः ।। ७.७६.३८ ।।

tāḥ prajā devadeveśaṃ rājārthaṃ samupādravan | surāṇāṃ sthāpito rājā tvayā deva śatakratuḥ || 7.76.38 ||

Those creatures went to the god of gods to seek a king, saying: "You, O god, have appointed Shatakratu as king over the gods —"

Shloka 39 (uttara.76.39)

प्रयच्छ नो हि लोकेश पार्थिवं नरपुङ्गवम् । यस्मै पूजां प्रयुञ्जाना धूतपापाश्चरेमहि । न वसामो विना राज्ञा एष नो निश्चयः परः ।। ७.७६.३९ ।।

prayaccha no hi lokeśa pārthivaṃ narapuṅgavam | yasmai pūjāṃ prayuñjānā dhūtapāpāścaremahi | na vasāmo vinā rājñā eṣa no niścayaḥ paraḥ || 7.76.39 ||

"— grant us too, lord of the worlds, an earthly king, foremost among men, whom we may serve and honor and so live free from sin. We will not dwell without a king; this is our final resolve."

Shloka 40 (uttara.76.40)

प्रजानां वचनं श्रुत्वा निश्चयित्वा ऽर्थमुत्तमम् ।। ७.७६.४० ।।

prajānāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā niścayitvā 'rthamuttamam || 7.76.40 ||

Hearing the plea of the creatures, and having settled on the best course of action —

Shloka 41 (uttara.76.41)

ततो ब्रह्मा सुरश्रेष्ठो लोकपालान्सवासवान् । समाहूयाब्रवीत्सर्वांस्तेजोभागान्प्रयच्छत ।। ७.७६.४१ ।।

tato brahmā suraśreṣṭho lokapālānsavāsavān | samāhūyābravītsarvāṃstejobhāgānprayacchata || 7.76.41 ||

— then Brahma, foremost among gods, summoned the guardians of the quarters together with Vasava, and said to them all: "Each of you give a portion of your own splendor."

Shloka 42 (uttara.76.42)

ततो ददुर्लोकपालाः सर्वे भागान्स्वतेजसः । अक्षुपच्च ततो ब्रह्मा यतो जातः क्षुपो नृपः ।। ७.७६.४२ ।।

tato dadurlokapālāḥ sarve bhāgānsvatejasaḥ | akṣupacca tato brahmā yato jātaḥ kṣupo nṛpaḥ || 7.76.42 ||

Then all the guardians of the quarters gave portions of their own splendor, and from that Brahma formed him — thus the king Kshupa was born.

Shloka 43 (uttara.76.43)

तं ब्रह्मा लोकपालानां सहांशैः समयोजयत् । ततो ददौ नृपं तासां प्रजानामीश्वरं क्षुपम् ।। ७.७६.४३ ।।

taṃ brahmā lokapālānāṃ sahāṃśaiḥ samayojayat | tato dadau nṛpaṃ tāsāṃ prajānāmīśvaraṃ kṣupam || 7.76.43 ||

Brahma joined him with portions from the guardians of the world, and then gave Kshupa as ruler and lord to those creatures.

Shloka 44 (uttara.76.44)

तत्रैन्द्रेण च भागेन महीमाज्ञापयन्नृपः । वारुणेन तु भागेन वपुः पुष्यति पार्थिवः ।। ७.७६.४४ ।।

tatraindreṇa ca bhāgena mahīmājñāpayannṛpaḥ | vāruṇena tu bhāgena vapuḥ puṣyati pārthivaḥ || 7.76.44 ||

With the portion of Indra, the king governs the earth; and with the portion of Varuna, the king sustains his body.

Shloka 45 (uttara.76.45)

कौबेरेण तु भागेन वित्तमासां ददौ तदा । यस्तु याम्यो ऽभवद्भागस्तेन शास्ति स्म स प्रजाः ।। ७.७६.४५ ।।

kauvereṇa tu bhāgena vittamāsāṃ dadau tadā | yastu yāmyo 'bhavadbhāgastena śāsti sma sa prajāḥ || 7.76.45 ||

With the portion of Kubera he then granted them wealth, and with the portion derived from Yama he governed those creatures.

Shloka 46 (uttara.76.46)

तत्रैन्द्रेण नरश्रेष्ठ भागेन रघुनन्दन । प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते तारणार्थं मम प्रभो ।। ७.७६.४६ ।।

tatraindreṇa naraśreṣṭha bhāgena raghunandana | pratigṛhṇīṣva bhadraṃ te tāraṇārthaṃ mama prabho || 7.76.46 ||

"So, best of men, Raghunandana — with that portion born of Indra, accept it, may good befall you; do this, lord, for my deliverance."

Shloka 47 (uttara.76.47)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ऋषेः परमधार्मिकम् । तद्रामः प्रतिजग्राह मुनेराभरणं वरम् ।। ७.७६.४७ ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā ṛṣeḥ paramadhārmikam | tadrāmaḥ pratijagrāha muner ābharaṇaṃ varam || 7.76.47 ||

Hearing that most righteous speech of the sage, Rama then accepted the sage's excellent ornament.

Shloka 48 (uttara.76.48)

प्रतिगृह्य ततो रामस्तदाभरणमुत्तमम् । आगमं तस्य दीप्तस्य प्रष्टुमेवोपचक्रमे ।। ७.७६.४८ ।।

pratigṛhya tato rāmastadābharaṇamuttamam | āgamaṃ tasya dīptasya praṣṭumevopacakrame || 7.76.48 ||

Having received that supreme ornament, Rama then began to inquire into the origin of that shining thing.

Shloka 49 (uttara.76.49)

अत्यद्भुतमिदं दिव्यं वपुषा युक्तमुत्तमम् । कथं वा भगवता प्राप्तं कुतो वा केन वा हृतम् ।। ७.७६.४९ ।।

atyadbhutamidaṃ divyaṃ vapuṣā yuktamuttamam | kathaṃ vā bhagavatā prāptaṃ kuto vā kena vā hṛtam || 7.76.49 ||

"This is exceedingly wondrous, divine, of supreme form — how, holy one, did you obtain it? From where, and by whom, was it brought?"

Shloka 50 (uttara.76.50)

कुतूहलितया ब्रह्मन्पृच्छामि त्वां महायशः । आश्चर्याणां बहूनां हि निधिः परमको भवान् ।। ७.७६.५० ।।

kutūhalitayā brahmanpṛcchāmi tvāṃ mahāyaśaḥ | āścaryāṇāṃ bahūnāṃ hi nidhiḥ paramako bhavān || 7.76.50 ||

"Out of curiosity, holy one, I ask you, greatly renowned sage; for you are indeed the supreme treasure-house of many wonders."

Shloka 51 (uttara.76.51)

एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् । शृणु राम यथावृत्तं पुरा त्रेतायुगे युगे ।। ७.७६.५१ ।।

evaṃ bruvati kākutsthe munirvākyamathābravīt | śṛṇu rāma yathāvṛttaṃ purā tretāyuge yuge || 7.76.51 ||

When Kakutstha spoke thus, the sage then said: "Listen, Rama, to how it happened, long ago, in the Treta age."

Shloka 52 (uttara.76.52)

रमणीयप्रदेशे ऽस्मिन् वने यद्दृष्टवानहम् । आश्चर्यं मे महाबाहो दानमाश्रित्य केवलम् ।। ७.७६.५२ ।।

ramaṇīyapradeśe 'smin vane yaddṛṣṭavānaham | āścaryaṃ me mahābāho dānamāśritya kevalam || 7.76.52 ||

"What I beheld, mighty-armed one, in this delightful forest region, was a wonder resting purely upon an act of giving."