Uttara Kanda: Chapter 99

रजन्यां तु प्रभातायं समानीय महामुनीन्। गीयतामविशङ्काभ्यां रामः पुत्रावुवाच ह॥
The night being over and having invited the leading ascetics, Rāma told his sons to sing the poem fearlessly.

ततः समुपविष्टेषु महर्षिषु महात्मसु। भविष्यदुत्तरं काव्यं जगतुस्तौ कुशीलवौ॥
There upon the high-souled Rșis having taken their seats Kusa and Lava began the last portion of the Uttarakāņdam.

प्रविष्टायां तु सीतायां भूतलं सत्यसंपदा। तस्यावसाने यज्ञस्य रामः परमदुर्मनाः॥
Sītā having entered Pātāla by the strength of her vow, and the sacrifice having terminated, Rāma grew poorly in spirit.

अपश्यमानो वैदेहीं मेने शून्यमिदं जगत्। शोकेन परमायस्तो न शान्ति मनसागमत्॥
In Janaki's absence the whuic orld appeared to him as blank. Now being overwhelmed with grief he lost all mental peace.

विसृज्य पार्थिवान्सर्वानृक्षवानरराक्षसान्। जनौघं विप्रमुख्यानां वित्तपूर्वं विसृज्य च॥ ततो विसृज्य तान्सर्वान्रामो राजीवलोचनः। हृदि कृत्वा सदा सीतामयोध्यां प्रविवेश ह॥
Having conferred various gifts upon the kings, Rākşasas, monkeys and leading Brāhmaṇas, Räma sent them away and meditating upon Sītā's absence entered Ayodhyā.

न सीतायाः परां भार्यां ववे स रघुनन्दनः। यज्ञे यज्ञे च पल्यर्थं जानकी काञ्चनीभवत्॥
And from the time of Sita's entering into Pātāla he did not take any other spouse. And having made a golden image of Sītā he engage in the performance of various sacrifices.

दशवर्षसहस्राणि वाजिमेधानथाकरोत्। वाजपेयान्दशगुणांस्तथा बहुसुवर्णकान्।।।। अग्निष्टोमातिरावाभ्यां गोसवैश्च महाधनैः। ईजे क्रतुभिरन्यैश्च स श्रीमानाप्तदक्षिणैः॥
In this wise for thousand years he celebrated many Horse-sacrifices, many Vajapeyas with profuse gold, Agnistomas, Atiratras, numberless Gomedhas and various other sacrifices.

एवं स कालः सुमहानराज्यस्थस्य महात्मनः। धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य व्यतीयाद्राघवस्य च ॥
Rāma being engaged in governing the kingdom and performing many pious rites long time passed away.

ऋक्षवानररक्षांसि स्थिता रामस्य शासने। अनुरञ्जन्ति राजानो ह्यहन्यहनि राघवम्॥
And being under his subjection, bears monkeys, Raksasa and kings always afforded delight to him.

काले वर्षति पर्जन्यः सुभिक्षं विमला दिशः। हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णं पुरं जनपदास्तथा॥
On account of showers in proper time there was enough of food in his kingdom. The quarters were pure and delightful. The citizens and villagers were happy and healthy.

नाकाले म्रियते कश्चिन्न व्याधिः प्राणिनां तथा। नानर्थो विद्यते कश्चिद्रामे राज्यं प्रशासति॥
None met with premature death. In fact, in his regime all calamities were removed.

अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य राममाता यशस्विनी। पुत्रपौत्रैः परिवृता कालधर्ममुपागमत्॥
There upon after many years, the illustrious, Kausalyā, Rāma's mother, surrounded by her sons and grand-sons, breathed her last.

अन्वियाय सुमित्रा च कैकेयी च यशस्विनी। धर्मं कृत्वा बहुविधं त्रिदिवे पर्यवस्थिता॥ सर्वाः प्रमुदिताः स्वर्गे राज्ञा दशरथेन च। समागता महाभागाः सर्वधर्म च लेभिरे॥
Performing many pious observances Kaikayi followed her and obtained peace in the land of immortals. Those noble ladies, being united with the king Dasaratha, in heaven, were greatly delighted and obtained all virtues.

तासां रामो महादानं काले काले प्रयच्छति। मातृणामविशेषेण ब्राह्मणेषु तपस्विषु॥ पित्र्याणि ब्रह्मरत्नानि यज्ञान्परमदुस्तरान्। चकार रामो धर्मात्मा पितृन्देवान्विवर्धयन्॥
Besides, having worshipped the deities and manes on the occasion of his father's Śrădha ceremony the high-souled Rāma distributed many jewels and engaged in the performance of a very difficult sacrifice.

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि बहून्यथ ययुः सुखम्। यज्ञैर्बहुविधं धर्म वर्धयानस्य सर्वदा॥
In this wise having performed many sacrifices and multiplied pieties he spent many thousand years in happiness.