Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 9 · Chapter 11
श्रीशुक उवाच भगवानात्मनात्मानं राम उत्तमकल्पकै: । सर्वदेवमयं देवमीजेऽथाचार्यवान् मखै: ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca bhagavan atmanatmanam rama uttama-kalpakaih sarva-devamayam devam ije ’thacaryavan makhaih
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thereafter, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ramacandra, accepted an acarya and performed sacrifices (yajnas) with opulent paraphernalia. Thus He Himself worshiped Himself, for He is the Supreme Lord of all demigods.
होत्रेऽददाद् दिशं प्राचीं ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां प्रभु: । अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं वा उत्तरां सामगाय स: ॥ २ ॥
hotre ’dadad disam pracim brahmane daksinam prabhuh adhvaryave praticim va uttaram samagaya sah
Lord Ramacandra gave the entire east to the hota priest, the entire south to the brahma priest, the west to the adhvaryu priest, and the north to the udgata priest, the reciter of the Sama Veda. In this way, He donated His kingdom.
आचार्याय ददौ शेषां यावती भूस्तदन्तरा । मन्यमान इदं कृत्स्नं ब्राह्मणोऽर्हति नि:स्पृह: ॥ ३ ॥
acaryaya dadau sesam yavati bhus tad-antara manyamana idam krtsnam brahmano ’rhati nihsprhah
Thereafter, thinking that because the brahmanas have no material desires they should possess the entire world, Lord Ramacandra delivered the land between the east, west, north and south to the acarya.
इत्ययं तदलङ्कारवासोभ्यामवशेषित: । तथा राज्ञ्यपि वैदेही सौमङ्गल्यावशेषिता ॥ ४ ॥
ity ayam tad-alankara- vasobhyam avasesitah tatha rajny api vaidehi saumangalyavasesita
After thus giving everything in charity to the brahmanas, Lord Ramacandra retained only His personal garments and ornaments, and similarly the Queen, mother Sita, was left with only her nose ring, and nothing else.
ते तु ब्राह्मणदेवस्य वात्सल्यं वीक्ष्य संस्तुतम् । प्रीता: क्लिन्नधियस्तस्मै प्रत्यर्प्येदं बभाषिरे ॥ ५ ॥
te tu brahmana-devasya vatsalyam viksya samstutam pritah klinna-dhiyas tasmai pratyarpyedam babhasire
All the brahmanas who were engaged in the various activities of the sacrifice were very pleased with Lord Ramacandra, who was greatly affectionate and favorable to the brahmanas. Thus with melted hearts they returned all the property received from Him and spoke as follows.
अप्रत्तं नस्त्वया किं नु भगवन् भुवनेश्वर । यन्नोऽन्तर्हृदयं विश्य तमो हंसि स्वरोचिषा ॥ ६ ॥
aprattam nas tvaya kim nu bhagavan bhuvanesvara yan no ’ntar-hrdayam visya tamo hamsi sva-rocisa
O Lord, You are the master of the entire universe. What have You not given to us? You have entered the core of our hearts and dissipated the darkness of our ignorance by Your effulgence. This is the supreme gift. We do not need a material donation.
नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय रामायाकुण्ठमेधसे । उत्तमश्लोकधुर्याय न्यस्तदण्डार्पिताङ्घ्रये ॥ ७ ॥
namo brahmanya-devaya ramayakuntha-medhase uttamasloka-dhuryaya nyasta-dandarpitanghraye
O Lord, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have accepted the brahmanas as Your worshipable deity. Your knowledge and memory are never disturbed by anxiety. You are the chief of all famous persons within this world, and Your lotus feet are worshiped by sages who are beyond the jurisdiction of punishment. O Lord Ramacandra, let us offer our respectful obeisances unto You.
कदाचिल्लोकजिज्ञासुर्गूढो रात्र्यामलक्षित: । चरन्वाचोऽशृणोद् रामो भार्यामुद्दिश्य कस्यचित् ॥ ८ ॥
kadacil loka-jijnasur gudho ratryam alaksitah caran vaco ’srnod ramo bharyam uddisya kasyacit
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Once while Lord Ramacandra was walking at night incognito, hiding Himself by a disguise to find out the people’s opinion of Himself, He heard a man speaking unfavorably about His wife, Sitadevi.
नाहं बिभर्मि त्वां दुष्टामसतीं परवेश्मगाम् । स्त्रैणो हि बिभृयात् सीतां रामो नाहं भजे पुन: ॥ ९ ॥
naham bibharmi tvam dustam asatim para-vesma-gam straino hi bibhryat sitam ramo naham bhaje punah
(Speaking to his unchaste wife, the man said) You go to another man’s house, and therefore you are unchaste and polluted. I shall not maintain you any more. A henpecked husband like Lord Rama may accept a wife like Sita, who went to another man’s house, but I am not henpecked like Him, and therefore I shall not accept you again.
इति लोकाद् बहुमुखाद् दुराराध्यादसंविद: । पत्या भीतेन सा त्यक्ता प्राप्ता प्राचेतसाश्रमम् ॥ १० ॥
iti lokad bahu-mukhad duraradhyad asamvidah patya bhitena sa tyakta prapta pracetasasramam
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Men with a poor fund of knowledge and a heinous character speak nonsensically. Fearing such rascals, Lord Ramacandra abandoned His wife, Sitadevi, although she was pregnant. Thus Sitadevi went to the asrama of Valmiki Muni.
अन्तर्वत्न्यागते काले यमौ सा सुषुवे सुतौ । कुशो लव इति ख्यातौ तयोश्चक्रे क्रिया मुनि: ॥ ११ ॥
antarvatny agate kale yamau sa susuve sutau kuso lava iti khyatau tayos cakre kriya munih
When the time came, the pregnant mother Sitadevi gave birth to twin sons, later celebrated as Lava and Kusa. The ritualistic ceremonies for their birth were performed by Valmiki Muni.
अङ्गदश्चित्रकेतुश्च लक्ष्मणस्यात्मजौ स्मृतौ । तक्ष: पुष्कल इत्यास्तां भरतस्य महीपते ॥ १२ ॥
angadas citraketus ca laksmanasyatmajau smrtau taksah puskala ity astam bharatasya mahipate
O Maharaja Pariksit, Lord Laksmana had two sons, named Angada and Citraketu, and Lord Bharata also had two sons, named Taksa and Puskala.
सुबाहु: श्रुतसेनश्च शत्रुघ्नस्य बभूवतु: । गन्धर्वान् कोटिशो जघ्ने भरतो विजये दिशाम् ॥ १३ ॥ तदीयं धनमानीय सर्वं राज्ञे न्यवेदयत् । शत्रुघ्नश्च मधो: पुत्रं लवणं नाम राक्षसम् । हत्वा मधुवने चक्रे मथुरां नाम वै पुरीम् ॥ १४ ॥
subahuh srutasenas ca satrughnasya babhuvatuh gandharvan kotiso jaghne bharato vijaye disam tadiyam dhanam aniya sarvam rajne nyavedayat satrughnas ca madhoh putram lavanam nama raksasam hatva madhuvane cakre mathuram nama vai purim
Satrughna had two sons, named Subahu and Srutasena. When Lord Bharata went to conquer all directions, He had to kill many millions of Gandharvas, who are generally pretenders. Taking all their wealth, He offered it to Lord Ramacandra. Satrughna also killed a Raksasa named Lavana, who was the son of Madhu Raksasa. Thus He established in the great forest known as Madhuvana the town known as Mathura.
मुनौ निक्षिप्य तनयौ सीता भर्त्रा विवासिता । ध्यायन्ती रामचरणौ विवरं प्रविवेश ह ॥ १५ ॥
munau niksipya tanayau sita bhartra vivasita dhyayanti rama-caranau vivaram pravivesa ha
Being forsaken by her husband, Sitadevi entrusted her two sons to the care of Valmiki Muni. Then, meditating upon the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra, she entered into the earth.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् रामो रुन्धन्नपि धिया शुच: । स्मरंस्तस्या गुणांस्तांस्तान्नाशक्नोद् रोद्धुमीश्वर: ॥ १६ ॥
tac chrutva bhagavan ramo rundhann api dhiya sucah smarams tasya gunams tams tan nasaknod roddhum isvarah
After hearing the news of mother Sita’s entering the earth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was certainly aggrieved. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, upon remembering the exalted qualities of mother Sita, He could not check His grief in transcendental love.
स्त्रीपुंप्रसङ्ग एतादृक्सर्वत्र त्रासमावह: । अपीश्वराणां किमुत ग्राम्यस्य गृहचेतस: ॥ १७ ॥
stri-pum-prasanga etadrk sarvatra trasam-avahah apisvaranam kim uta gramyasya grha-cetasah
The attraction between man and woman, or male and female, always exists everywhere, making everyone always fearful. Such feelings are present even among the controllers like Brahma and Lord Siva and is the cause of fear for them, what to speak of others who are attached to household life in this material world.
तत ऊर्ध्वं ब्रह्मचर्यं धार्यन्नजुहोत् प्रभु: । त्रयोदशाब्दसाहस्रमग्निहोत्रमखण्डितम् ॥ १८ ॥
tata urdhvam brahmacaryam dharyann ajuhot prabhuh trayodasabda-sahasram agnihotram akhanditam
After mother Sita entered the earth, Lord Ramacandra observed complete celibacy and performed an uninterrupted Agnihotra-yajna for thirteen thousand years.
स्मरतां हृदि विन्यस्य विद्धं दण्डककण्टकै: । स्वपादपल्लवं राम आत्मज्योतिरगात् तत: ॥ १९ ॥
smaratam hrdi vinyasya viddham dandaka-kantakaih sva-pada-pallavam rama atma-jyotir agat tatah
After completing the sacrifice, Lord Ramacandra, whose lotus feet were sometimes pierced by thorns when He lived in Dandakaranya, placed those lotus feet in the hearts of those who always think of Him. Then He entered His own abode, the Vaikuntha plane beyond the brahmajyoti.
नेदं यशो रघुपते: सुरयाच्ञयात्त- लीलातनोरधिकसाम्यविमुक्तधाम्न: । रक्षोवधो जलधिबन्धनमस्त्रपूगै: किं तस्य शत्रुहनने कपय: सहाया: ॥ २० ॥
nedam yaso raghupateh sura-yacnayatta- lila-tanor adhika-samya-vimukta-dhamnah rakso-vadho jaladhi-bandhanam astra-pugaih kim tasya satru-hanane kapayah sahayah
Lord Ramacandra’s reputation for having killed Ravana with showers of arrows at the request of the demigods and for having built a bridge over the ocean does not constitute the factual glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Ramacandra, whose spiritual body is always engaged in various pastimes. Lord Ramacandra has no equal or superior, and therefore He had no need to take help from the monkeys to gain victory over Ravana.
यस्यामलं नृपसद:सु यशोऽधुनापि गायन्त्यघघ्नमृषयो दिगिभेन्द्रपट्टम् । तं नाकपालवसुपालकिरीटजुष्ट- पादाम्बुजं रघुपतिं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ २१ ॥
yasyamalam nrpa-sadahsu yaso ’dhunapi gayanty agha-ghnam rsayo dig-ibhendra-pattam tam nakapala-vasupala-kirita-justa- padambujam raghupatim saranam prapadye
Lord Ramacandra’s spotless name and fame, which vanquish all sinful reactions, are celebrated in all directions, like the ornamental cloth of the victorious elephant that conquers all directions. Great saintly persons like Markandeya Rsi still glorify His characteristics in the assemblies of great emperors like Maharaja Yudhisthira. Similarly, all the saintly kings and all the demigods, including Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, worship the Lord by bowing down with their helmets. Let me offer my obeisances unto His lotus feet.
स यै: स्पृष्टोऽभिदृष्टो वा संविष्टोऽनुगतोऽपि वा । कोसलास्ते ययु: स्थानं यत्र गच्छन्ति योगिन: ॥ २२ ॥
sa yaih sprsto ’bhidrsto va samvisto ’nugato ’pi va kosalas te yayuh sthanam yatra gacchanti yoginah
Lord Ramacandra returned to His abode, to which bhakti-yogis are promoted. This is the place to which all the inhabitants of Ayodhya went after they served the Lord in His manifest pastimes by offering Him obeisances, touching His lotus feet, fully observing Him as a fatherlike King, sitting or lying down with Him like equals, or even just accompanying Him.
पुरुषो रामचरितं श्रवणैरुपधारयन् । आनृशंस्यपरो राजन् कर्मबन्धैर्विमुच्यते ॥ २३ ॥
puruso rama-caritam sravanair upadharayan anrsamsya-paro rajan karma-bandhair vimucyate
O King Pariksit, anyone who aurally receives the narrations concerning the characteristics of Lord Ramacandra’s pastimes will ultimately be freed from the disease of envy and thus be liberated from the bondage of fruitive activities.
श्रीराजोवाच कथं स भगवान् रामो भ्रातृन् वा स्वयमात्मन: । तस्मिन् वा तेऽन्ववर्तन्त प्रजा: पौराश्च ईश्वरे ॥ २४ ॥
sri-rajovaca katham sa bhagavan ramo bhratrn va svayam atmanah tasmin va te ’nvavartanta prajah pauras ca isvare
Maharaja Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: How did the Lord conduct Himself, and how did He behave in relationship with His brothers, who were expansions of His own self? And how did His brothers and the inhabitants of Ayodhya treat Him?
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच अथादिशद् दिग्विजये भ्रातृंस्त्रिभुवनेश्वर: । आत्मानं दर्शयन् स्वानां पुरीमैक्षत सानुग: ॥ २५ ॥
sri-badarayanir uvaca athadisad dig-vijaye bhratrms tri-bhuvanesvarah atmanam darsayan svanam purim aiksata sanugah
Sukadeva Gosvami replied: After accepting the throne of the government by the fervent request of His younger brother Bharata, Lord Ramacandra ordered His younger brothers to go out and conquer the entire world, while He personally remained in the capital to give audience to all the citizens and residents of the palace and supervise the governmental affairs with His other assistants.
आसिक्तमार्गां गन्धोदै: करिणां मदशीकरै: । स्वामिनं प्राप्तमालोक्य मत्तां वा सुतरामिव ॥ २६ ॥
asikta-margam gandhodaih karinam mada-sikaraih svaminam praptam alokya mattam va sutaram iva
During the reign of Lord Ramacandra, the streets of the capital, Ayodhya, were sprinkled with perfumed water and drops of perfumed liquor, thrown about by elephants from their trunks. When the citizens saw the Lord personally supervising the affairs of the city in such opulence, they appreciated this opulence very much.
प्रासादगोपुरसभाचैत्यदेवगृहादिषु । विन्यस्तहेमकलशै: पताकाभिश्च मण्डिताम् ॥ २७ ॥
prasada-gopura-sabha- caitya-deva-grhadisu vinyasta-hema-kalasaih patakabhis ca manditam
The palaces, the palace gates, the assembly houses, the platforms for meeting places, the temples and all such places were decorated with golden waterpots and bedecked with various types of flags.
पूगै: सवृन्तै रम्भाभि: पट्टिकाभि: सुवाससाम् । आदर्शैरंशुकै: स्रग्भि: कृतकौतुकतोरणाम् ॥ २८ ॥
pugaih savrntai rambhabhih pattikabhih suvasasam adarsair amsukaih sragbhih krta-kautuka-toranam
Wherever Lord Ramacandra visited, auspicious welcome gates were constructed, with banana trees and betel nut trees, full of flowers and fruits. The gates were decorated with various flags made of colorful cloth and with tapestries, mirrors and garlands.
तमुपेयुस्तत्र तत्र पौरा अर्हणपाणय: । आशिषो युयुजुर्देव पाहीमां प्राक्त्वयोद्धृताम् ॥ २९ ॥
tam upeyus tatra tatra paura arhana-panayah asiso yuyujur deva pahimam prak tvayoddhrtam
Wherever Lord Ramacandra visited, the people approached Him with paraphernalia of worship and begged the Lord’s blessings O Lord they said, as You rescued the earth from the bottom of the sea in Your incarnation as a boar, may You now maintain it.
तत: प्रजा वीक्ष्य पतिं चिरागतं दिदृक्षयोत्सृष्टगृहा: स्त्रियो नरा: । आरुह्य हर्म्याण्यरविन्दलोचन- मतृप्तनेत्रा: कुसुमैरवाकिरन् ॥ ३० ॥
tatah praja viksya patim ciragatam didrksayotsrsta-grhah striyo narah aruhya harmyany aravinda-locanam atrpta-netrah kusumair avakiran
Thereafter, not having seen the Lord for a long time, the citizens, both men and women, being very eager to see Him, left their homes and got up on the roofs of the palaces. Being incompletely satiated with seeing the face of the lotus-eyed Lord Ramacandra, they showered flowers upon Him.
अथ प्रविष्ट: स्वगृहं जुष्टं स्वै: पूर्वराजभि: । अनन्ताखिलकोषाढ्यमनर्घ्योरुपरिच्छदम् ॥ ३१ ॥ विद्रुमोदुम्बरद्वारैर्वैदूर्यस्तम्भपङ्क्तिभि: । स्थलैर्मारकतै: स्वच्छैर्भ्राजत्स्फटिकभित्तिभि: ॥ ३२ ॥ चित्रस्रग्भि: पट्टिकाभिर्वासोमणिगणांशुकै: । मुक्ताफलैश्चिदुल्लासै: कान्तकामोपपत्तिभि: ॥ ३३ ॥ धूपदीपै: सुरभिभिर्मण्डितं पुष्पमण्डनै: । स्त्रीपुम्भि: सुरसङ्काशैर्जुष्टं भूषणभूषणै: ॥ ३४ ॥
atha pravistah sva-grham justam svaih purva-rajabhih anantakhila-kosadhyam anarghyoruparicchadam vidrumodumbara-dvarair vaidurya-stambha-panktibhih sthalair marakataih svacchair bhrajat-sphatika-bhittibhih citra-sragbhih pattikabhir vaso-mani-ganamsukaih mukta-phalais cid-ullasaih kanta-kamopapattibhih dhupa-dipaih surabhibhir manditam puspa-mandanaih stri-pumbhih sura-sankasair justam bhusana-bhusanaih
Thereafter, Lord Ramacandra entered the palace of His forefathers. Within the palace were various treasures and valuable wardrobes. The sitting places on the two sides of the entrance door were made of coral, the yards were surrounded by pillars of vaidurya-mani, the floor was made of highly polished marakata-mani, and the foundation was made of marble. The entire palace was decorated with flags and garlands and bedecked with valuable stones, shining with a celestial effulgence. The palace was fully decorated with pearls and surrounded by lamps and incense. The men and women within the palace all resembled demigods and were decorated with various ornaments, which seemed beautiful because of being placed on their bodies.
तस्मिन्स भगवान् राम: स्निग्धया प्रिययेष्टया । रेमे स्वारामधीराणामृषभ: सीतया किल ॥ ३५ ॥
tasmin sa bhagavan ramah snigdhaya priyayestaya reme svarama-dhiranam rsabhah sitaya kila
Lord Ramacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, chief of the best learned scholars, resided in that palace with His pleasure potency, mother Sita, and enjoyed complete peace.
बुभुजे च यथाकालं कामान् धर्ममपीडयन् । वर्षपूगान् बहून् नृणामभिध्याताङ्घ्रिपल्लव: ॥ ३६ ॥
bubhuje ca yatha-kalam kaman dharmam apidayan varsa-pugan bahun nrnam abhidhyatanghri-pallavah
Without transgressing the religious principles, Lord Ramacandra, whose lotus feet are worshiped by devotees in meditation, enjoyed with all the paraphernalia of transcendental pleasure for as long as needed.
