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राम

उत्तरखण्ड · अध्याय 44

Yama Releases Duṣprīti and Accepts Ayodhyā's Protection

Global chapter 505 of 51410 passagesSource PDF pages 396396
Chapter context and opening material

Source: Volume 3, physical PDF page 396 (printed page 375). Structure: Ten sequential Sanskrit passages; passages 7 and 10 are single-line units. Summary: Yama acknowledges that his uninformed messengers acted negligently and asks Garuḍa to forgive him. He releases Duṣprīti, promises that his messengers will never again seize any human, animal, bird, or outcaste who dies within Ayodhyā's twelve-yojana circuit, and sends the man with Garuḍa to Sāketa. Rāma closes the episode by teaching that every resident of Ayodhyā attains his state, and that this is all the more certain for pure-hearted devotees who follow scripture and the disciplines of varṇa and āśrama. Editorial note: The chapter is fully contained on a single physical page. The short passages 7 and 10 each carry one printed marker and are retained as independent canonical units.

Passage 1

यम उवाच— नागान्तक खगाधीश सुपर्ण हरिवाहन। अजानद्भिः प्रमादेन कृतं कार्यमिदं खलु॥१॥

Yama said: Destroyer of serpents, lord of birds, Suparṇa, vehicle of Hari, this deed was indeed done negligently by those who did not know.

Passage 2

मम दूतैस्तस्य फलं प्राप्तमेतावदाततम्। अतः परं क्षमस्वैनमपराधं मम प्रभो॥२॥

My messengers have received its consequence, extended to this great length. Therefore, my lord, now forgive this offense of mine.

Passage 3

अयोध्यामण्डलस्थोऽयं यदानीतो विजानता। अतः परं पुनरपि न कार्यं कृत्यमीदृशम्॥३॥

This man belonged to the circuit of Ayodhyā, yet he was brought here by one who did not understand. From now on an act like this must never be done again.

Passage 4

गृह्यतामेष भगवन् साकेतं नीयतां पुनः। अयोध्यामण्डले तस्मिन् रवियोजनसम्मिते॥४॥

Take him, Bhagavān, and conduct him again to Sāketa. Within that circuit of Ayodhyā measuring twelve yojanas,

Passage 5

यः कश्चिन्म्रियतां नाम पशुपक्ष्यन्त्यजोऽपि वा। स दूतैर्मम नानेयः प्रतिजानेऽस्मि सत्यतः॥५॥

whoever should die—whether an animal, a bird, or even an outcaste—must not be brought here by my messengers. I pledge this in truth.

Passage 6

इत्युक्त्वा सन्निवेद्योच्चैर्गरुडाय तमान्त्यजम्। कृताञ्जलिर्नमस्कृत्य गरुत्मन्तं व्यसर्जयत्॥६॥

Having spoken thus, Yama formally handed that outcaste over to Garuḍa. With joined palms he bowed and sent Garutmān on his way.

Passage 7

गरुडः पृष्ठमारोप्य मम धाम निनाय तम्॥७॥

Garuḍa placed him upon his back and carried him to my abode.

Passage 8

श्रीरामचन्द्र उवाच— एवमेतन्मया प्रोक्तमयोध्यावैभवं जनाः। इह संवसतां नृणां सर्वथा मत्फलं भवेत्॥८॥

Śrī Rāmacandra said: People, I have thus described this glory of Ayodhyā. Those who dwell here attain my state in every way.

Passage 9

किं पुनः शुद्धचित्तानां शास्त्रमार्गानुयायिनाम्। वर्णाश्रमाचारवतां मद्भक्तिकलितात्मनाम्॥९॥

How much more certain is this for those of pure heart who follow the path of scripture, observe the disciplines of varṇa and āśrama, and whose whole being is filled with devotion to me?

Passage 10

तस्मादत्रैव विमुक्ताः स्थ नात्र कार्या विचारणा॥१०॥

Therefore you are liberated here itself; no further deliberation about this is needed.