Lakshmana Counsels the Ashwamedha

Shloka 1 (uttara.84.1)

तथोक्तवति रामे तु भरते च महात्मनि । लक्ष्मणो ऽथ शुभं वाक्यमुवाच रघुनन्दनम् ।। ७.८४.१ ।।

tathoktavati rāme tu bharate ca mahātmani | lakṣmaṇo 'tha śubhaṃ vākyamuvāca raghunandanam || 7.84.1 ||

When Rama had spoken thus, and the great-souled Bharata too, Lakshmana then addressed an auspicious word to the joy of the Raghus.

Shloka 2 (uttara.84.2)

अश्वमेधो महायज्ञः पावनः सर्वपाप्मनाम् । पावनस्तव दुर्धर्षो रोचतां रघुनन्दन ।। ७.८४.२ ।।

aśvamedho mahāyajñaḥ pāvanaḥ sarvapāpmanām | pāvanastava durdharṣo rocatāṃ raghunandana || 7.84.2 ||

"The Ashwamedha is a great sacrifice, purifying of all sins; may this purifying, unassailable rite please you, O joy of the Raghus."

Shloka 3 (uttara.84.3)

श्रूयते हि पुरावृत्तं वासवे सुमहात्मनि । ब्रह्महत्यावृतः शक्रो हयमेधेन पावितः ।। ७.८४.३ ।।

śrūyate hi purāvṛttaṃ vāsave sumahātmani | brahmahatyāvṛtaḥ śakro hayamedhena pāvitaḥ || 7.84.3 ||

"For it is heard that, in ancient times, this occurred concerning the great-souled Vasava: Shakra, enveloped by the sin of brahmin-murder, was purified through the horse-sacrifice."

Shloka 4 (uttara.84.4)

पुरा किल महाबाहो देवासुरसमागमे । वृत्रो नाम महानासीद्दैतेयो लोकसम्मतः ।। ७.८४.४ ।।

purā kila mahābāho devāsurasamāgame | vṛtro nāma mahānāsīddaiteyo lokasammataḥ || 7.84.4 ||

"Long ago indeed, O mighty-armed one, at the time of the meeting of gods and demons, there was a great daitya named Vritra, esteemed by all the worlds."

Shloka 5 (uttara.84.5)

विस्तीर्णो योजनशतमुच्छ्रितस्त्रिगुणं ततः । अनुरागेण लोकांस्त्रीन्स्नेहात्पश्यति सर्वतः ।। ७.८४.५ ।।

vistīrṇo yojanaśatamucchritastriguṇaṃ tataḥ | anurāgeṇa lokāṃstrīnsnehātpaśyati sarvataḥ || 7.84.5 ||

Spread out a hundred yojanas, and thrice that in height, he looked upon the three worlds on every side with affection and love.

Shloka 6 (uttara.84.6)

धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च बुद्ध्या च परिनिष्ठितः । शशास पृथिवीं स्फीतां धर्मेण सुसमाहितः ।। ७.८४.६ ।।

dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca buddhyā ca pariniṣṭhitaḥ | śaśāsa pṛthivīṃ sphītāṃ dharmeṇa susamāhitaḥ || 7.84.6 ||

Knowing dharma, grateful, and accomplished in wisdom, he, well-composed, ruled the flourishing earth with righteousness.

Shloka 7 (uttara.84.7)

तस्मिन्प्रशासति तदा सर्वकामदुघा मही । रसवन्ति प्रभूनानि मूलानि च फलानि च ।। ७.८४.७ ।।

tasminpraśāsati tadā sarvakāmadughā mahī | rasavanti prabhūnāni mūlāni ca phalāni ca || 7.84.7 ||

While he ruled, the earth then yielded every desire like a wish-cow, its roots and fruits abundant and full of savor.

Shloka 8 (uttara.84.8)

अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी सुसम्पन्ना महात्मनः । स राज्यं तादृशं भुङ्क्ते स्फीतमद्भुतदर्शनम् ।। ७.८४.८ ।।

akṛṣṭapacyā pṛthivī susampannā mahātmanaḥ | sa rājyaṃ tādṛśaṃ bhuṅkte sphītamadbhutadarśanam || 7.84.8 ||

The earth, ripening its crops without ploughing, was richly abundant under that great soul; he enjoyed such a kingdom, flourishing and wondrous to behold.

Shloka 9 (uttara.84.9)

तस्य बुद्धिः समुप्तन्ना तपः कुर्यामनुत्तमम् । तपो हि परमं श्रेयः सम्मोहमितरत्सुखम् ।। ७.८४.९ ।।

tasya buddhiḥ samuptannā tapaḥ kuryāmanuttamam | tapo hi paramaṃ śreyaḥ sammohamitaratsukham || 7.84.9 ||

The thought arose in him: "I shall perform supreme austerity"; for austerity indeed is the highest good -- all other happiness is mere delusion.

Shloka 10 (uttara.84.10)

स निक्षिप्य सुतं ज्येष्ठं पौरेषु मधुरेश्वरम् । तप उग्रं समातिष्ठत्तापयन्सर्वदेवताः ।। ७.८४.१० ।।

sa nikṣipya sutaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ paureṣu madhureśvaram | tapa ugraṃ samātiṣṭhattāpayansarvadevatāḥ || 7.84.10 ||

Having entrusted his eldest son as lord over the citizens of Madhura, he undertook fierce austerity, scorching all the gods.

Shloka 11 (uttara.84.11)

तपस्तप्यति वृत्रे तु वासवः परमार्तवत् । विष्णुं समुपसङ्क्रम्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.८४.११ ।।

tapastapyati vṛtre tu vāsavaḥ paramārtavat | viṣṇuṃ samupasaṅkramya vākyametaduvāca ha || 7.84.11 ||

But while Vritra performed his austerity, Vasava, utterly distressed, approaching Vishnu, spoke this word.

Shloka 12 (uttara.84.12)

तपस्यता महाबाहो लोकाः वृत्रेण निर्जिताः । बलवान्स हि धर्मात्मा नैनं शक्ष्यामि शासितुम् ।। ७.८४.१२ ।।

tapasyatā mahābāho lokāḥ vṛtreṇa nirjitāḥ | balavānsa hi dharmātmā nainaṃ śakṣyāmi śāsitum || 7.84.12 ||

"O mighty-armed one, through his austerities Vritra has conquered the worlds; for he is powerful and righteous-souled -- I am unable to restrain him."

Shloka 13 (uttara.84.13)

यद्यसौ तप आतिष्ठेद्भूय एवासुरेश्वर । यावल्लोका धरिष्यन्ति तावदस्य वशानुगाः ।। ७.८४.१३ ।।

yadyasau tapa ātiṣṭhedbhūya evāsureśvara | yāvallokā dhariṣyanti tāvadasya vaśānugāḥ || 7.84.13 ||

"If he should continue his austerity still further, O lord over the asuras, then as long as the worlds endure, they shall remain under his sway."

Shloka 14 (uttara.84.14)

तं चैनं परमोदारमुपेक्षसि महाबलम् । क्षणं हि न भवेद्वृत्रः क्रुद्धे त्वयि सुरेश्वर ।। ७.८४.१४ ।।

taṃ cainaṃ paramodāramupekṣasi mahābalam | kṣaṇaṃ hi na bhavedvṛtraḥ kruddhe tvayi sureśvara || 7.84.14 ||

"And though you may disregard this most magnanimous, mighty one -- yet, O lord of the gods, Vritra would not last a moment were you to grow angry."

Shloka 15 (uttara.84.15)

यदा हि प्रीतिसंयोगं त्वया विष्णो समागतः । तदाप्रभृति लोकानां नाथत्वमुपलब्धवान् ।। ७.८४.१५ ।।

yadā hi prītisaṃyogaṃ tvayā viṣṇo samāgataḥ | tadāprabhṛti lokānāṃ nāthatvamupalabdhavān || 7.84.15 ||

"For, Vishnu, from the time he came into a bond of affection with you, from then he has obtained lordship over the worlds."

Shloka 16 (uttara.84.16)

स त्वं प्रसादं लोकानां कुरुष्व सुसमाहितः । त्वत्कृतेन हि सर्वं स्याप्रशान्तमरुजं जगत् ।। ७.८४.१६ ।।

sa tvaṃ prasādaṃ lokānāṃ kuruṣva susamāhitaḥ | tvatkṛtena hi sarvaṃ syāpraśāntamarujaṃ jagat || 7.84.16 ||

"Do you, therefore, well-composed, show grace to the worlds; for by your doing alone, the whole world would become tranquil and free of affliction."

Shloka 17 (uttara.84.17)

इमे हि सर्वे विष्णो त्वां निरीक्षन्ते दिवौकसः । वृत्रघातेन महता तेषां साह्यं कुरुष्व ह ।। ७.८४.१७ ।।

ime hi sarve viṣṇo tvāṃ nirīkṣante divaukasaḥ | vṛtraghātena mahatā teṣāṃ sāhyaṃ kuruṣva ha || 7.84.17 ||

"For all these dwellers of heaven, Vishnu, look to you alone; render them great aid through the slaying of Vritra."

Shloka 18 (uttara.84.18)

त्वया हि नित्यशः साह्यं कृतमेषां महात्मनाम् । असह्यमिदमन्येषामगतीनां गतिर्भवान् ।। ७.८४.१८ ।।

tvayā hi nityaśaḥ sāhyaṃ kṛtameṣāṃ mahātmanām | asahyamidamanyeṣāmagatīnāṃ gatirbhavān || 7.84.18 ||

"For aid has ever been rendered to these great souls by you alone; this task is unbearable for any other -- you are the refuge of those without refuge."