Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 23 Aug 2011 12:01 and updated at 23 Aug 2011 12:01
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 7: UTTARA KANDA
SECTION 84
Therupon on the completion of the twelfth year, Satrughna, with few servants, soldiers and followers, desired to proceed to Ayodhya protected by Rama. Having prevented his minister and leading generals he proceeded with one hundred chariots and cavalry. And having counted seven halting stations on his way, the highly illustrious descendant of Raghu Satrughna, arrived at the hermitage of Valmiki.
And having bowed unto the feet of the leading Muni, that foremost of men took from his hands water to wash feet and Arghya and accepted his hospitality. The great ascetic Valmiki addressed to the high souled Satrughna many sweet words. Having referred at first to Lavana s destruction, he said :"Having slain Lavana thou hast performed a very hard work.
O gentle one, O foremost of men,Lavana had slain in conflict many hundred highly powerful kings with their army and conveyances. And thou hast easily slain that vicious souled Rakshasa, Lavana. By thy prowess the whole world hath been divested of fear.
With great dificulty Rama had slain Ravana but without any trouble whatsoever thou hast accomplished this mighty work. Lavana being slain, the Devas have been greatly delighted what more the well being of the whole universe and all creatures has been brought about. 0 Raghava, O foremost of men, being present in theassemblage of Vasava I duly witnessed your combat.
O Satrughna, 1 too have been greatly delighted I therefore smell thy crown for this is the best expression of love." Saying this the high minded Valmiki smelled his crown and made arrangements for his reception as well as that of his followers. After meals, Satrughna, the foremost of men, listened to themes relating to Rama and set in musical notes.
Those themes were composed describing the early actions of Rama. They were composed in Sanskrit, set to the tune of a musical instrument, adorned with all the marks of vocal music and arranged in accompaniment with notes. Satrughna, the foremost of men, heard them from the beginning to the end, pregnant with truth and composed of those words.
And on hearing it he was beside himself with joy and his eyes were full of tears. And remaining stunned for some time and regaining his sense afterwards he began to breathe hard out of excess of surprise. He heard, in that song, of past events as things passing on.
And hearing it, his followers, with their heads down and sorrowfully said "Wonder" ;and saying this they began to converse with one another: "Alas !Where are we ?Is this a dream ?We have been hearing at this hermitage what we had not seen before. What wonder, that in a dream we hear such an excellent song." Being in this wise greatly surprised they said to Satrughna: O foremost of men, do thou ask particularly, about this, Valmiki, the foremost of ascetics.
They being all thus struck with curiosity, Satrughna said "It is not poper for us, O Ye soldiers, to question him in this way. There are many such wonders in the hermitage of this ascetic. It is not therefore becoming to ask him about this out of curiosity.
Having thus addressed the soldiers and bowed onto the ascetic, Satrughna, the desendant of Raghu, entered his own quarter.
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