March 22 - Sargas 70,71 and 72 of Uttara Kanda.
Shatrughna is blessed with boons and builds a great city Mathura on the Yamuna.
After ruling well for twelve years, he is unable to resist the great desire to go and meet Sri Rama. On the way, halting at Sage Valmiki's Ashrama, he hears an amazing musical recitation of Sri Rama charita emanating from inside the hermitage. He is simply thrilled.
He meets Sri Rama and feels fulfilled.
***
Lord Indra, Agni, and other gods descend to confer boons in gratitude on Shatrughna. He asks for only one boon - he simply wants the city of Madhupuri to become a great city of beauty, prosperity and peace. The gods are pleased to confer that boon and leave.
Shatrughna's army is encamped so far on the bank of the Ganga awaiting his instruction. The moment he sends for them, the entire army reports.
The next twelve years witness the great rule of Shatrughna, and the creation of a great metropolis of all convenience and beauty. Valmiki describes it with as much enthusiasm as if he is describing Rome. The Mathura city is obviously the future Mathura of Krishna. It is the capital of the kingdom also described as belonging to Shurasena, a king.
Valmiki says
अर्धचन्द्रप्रतीकाशा यमुनातीरशोभिता ।
शोभिता गृहमुख्यैश्च चत्परापणवीथिकैः ।
चातुरवर्ण्यसमायुक्ता नानावाणिज्यशोभिता ॥
"The great city of Mathura was crescent-shaped, skirted by the Yamuna. It shone with splendid mansions as well as a well-laid out matrix of avenues and shopping districts. The city catered to the livelihood of all four varnas equally, being also famous for many kinds of commerce."
Shatrughna proved to be an able king as he improved every aspect of the city after Lavana's demise. Valmiki makes a special mention of the patronage of arts, murals, and architecture. The result was seen throughout the city and pleased even the gods. It attracted merchants from several lands!
After twelve years of his able rule, Shatrughna got an irresistible urge to go and visit Sri Rama in Ayodhya. He decided to go at once, but with only a small complement of his army and support staff. They left and soon reached the hermitage of the great sage Valmiki.
***
Sage Valmiki offered the best of hospitality to Shatrughna and his army. He regaled Shatrughna with many stories. He also pointedly mentioned that he was an invitee to Lord Indra's assembly which went to witness the great battle that Shatrughna fought with Lavana and won with so much ease.
Valmiki said that killing Ravana had been an arduous task with a prolonged battle. Lavana's defeat was done quickly and decisively single-handedly by Shatrughna. So he showered praise on Shatrughna as
a great warrior and smelled his head with great affection. ( This gesture was a time-honoured way for an elder to bless a younger person with affection.)
***
That night, while resting, Shatrughna heard the strains of musical chanting of the story of Sri Rama! Valmiki writes:
तन्त्रीलयसमायुक्तं त्रिस्थानकरणान्वितम् ।
संस्कृतं लक्षणोपेतं समतालसमन्वितम् ॥
शुश्राव रामचरितं तस्मिन्काले पुरा कृतम् ॥
"Shatrughna heard the great composition of Sri Rama's story, apparently already composed some time before as a Sanskrit classic, full of literary adornments and exquisite features of language. It was being sung to the accompaniment of stringed and percussion instruments, in three octaves, with different ragas and talas, with every special musical element possible. It was bewitching in its impact."
Shatrughna shed tears as he lay awake alone, enjoying the recounting of a story he was so close to, the story that sanctified every singer and listener. What a divine treat! It was surely not a human creation but the gift of the Almighty himself!
***
The next morning, all his army thronged Shatrughna, full of their amazement at having heard such a great musical recitation of Sri Rama's story here, of all places! How were they to know that Shatrughna had indeed met Sita and her twins before in this very hermitage?
They wanted Shatrughna to find out how Valmiki ashrama had this Ramayana recitation. Shatrughna dissuaded their enquiries, saying that Sage Valmiki was a Brahmarishi and such curiosity and inquisitiveness was inopportune in his ashrama.
***
On his reaching Ayodhya, you can imagine the great thrill of joy that Shatrughna experienced in homecoming. He saw a radiant Sri Rama on the throne, like Lord Indra himself. His other two brothers and Sri Rama received him with overflowing love. Sri Rama was full of praise for the way Shatrughna had killed Lavana and established his rule over Mathura.
Shatrughna was quite frank. "Dear Sri Rama, you cannot imagine how much I have missed being with you. I want to stay back here." Sri Rama smiled, embraced him warmly, and said,
मा विषादं कृथाः शूर नैतत् क्षत्रियचेष्टितम्
"Oh, brave Shatrughna, know that this kind of sentimental grief does not befit a great kshatriya like you. We have only to rule single-mindedly. All our personal emotions and attachments are totally subservient to our duty as rulers and administrators. "
Sri Rama bade Shatrughna goodbye and sent him back after seven days of great togetherness in Ayodhya. Valmiki says that Bharata and Lakshmana walked behind Shatrughna's chariot for a long distance as he drew away on his way back to Mathura.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
