विसर्जति नरान्भवान्करुणया प्रपाल्य क्षितौ निवेदयितुमुद्भवः परात्परं स्वकीयं पदम्
Out of compassion, you send forth men to protect the earth, and you manifest yourself to reveal your own supreme abode.
माधुर्य्यैर्मधुभिस्सुगंधवदनः स्वर्णांबुजानां वनं कारुण्या मृतनिर्झरैरुपचितः सत्प्रेमहेमाचलः
With sweetness and honeyed fragrance, his face is like a golden lotus grove; by streams of compassion, he is adorned as a mountain of true love and gold.
देवारातिजनैरधर्मजनितैस्सपीडितेयं मही संकुच्याशु कलौ कलेवरमिदं बीजाय हा वर्तते
This earth, afflicted by the enemies of the gods and those born of unrighteousness, quickly contracts in Kali Yuga, and this body remains only as a seed.
बृहस्पतिमुपागम्य देवा वचनमब्रुवन्
The gods approached Bṛhaspati and spoke these words.
वयं रुद्रा महाभाग इमे च वसवोऽश्विनौ तत्सर्वं कृपया देव वक्तु मर्हति नो भवान्
We are the Rudras, O greatly fortunate one, and these are the Vasus and the Aśvins; out of compassion, O god, you ought to tell us everything.
पुरा पूर्वभवे चासीन्मृगव्याधो द्विजाधमः
In a previous birth, there was a hunter, the lowest among twice-born men.
हत्वा द्विजान्महामूढस्तेषां यज्ञोपवीतकम्
Having slain the twice-born, that most deluded one took their sacred threads.
ब्राह्मणस्य च यद्द्रव्यं सुधोपममनुत्तमम्
And whatever pure and excellent wealth belonged to the brāhmaṇa—
शूद्रस्य वस्तु रुधिरमिति ज्ञात्वा द्विजा धमः 3.4.10.
Knowing that the property of a śūdra is blood, O lowest of the twice-born—
द्विजनाशात्सुरास्सर्वे भयभीतास्समंततः
Because of the destruction of the twice-born, all the gods everywhere became fearful.
श्रुत्वा च दुःखितो ब्रह्मा सप्तर्षीन्प्राह लोकगान्
Hearing this, Brahmā, distressed, spoke to the Seven Sages and the worlds.
इति श्रुत्वा मरीचिस्तु वशिष्ठादिभिरन्वितः ४३ मृगव्याधस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा धनुर्बाणधरो बली
Having heard thus, Marīci, accompanied by Vasiṣṭha and others, and the mighty hunter, seeing them, with bow and arrow in hand—
मरीचाद्या विहस्याहुः किमर्थं हंतुमुद्यतः
Marīci and the others laughed and said, 'For what reason have you set out to kill?'
इत्युक्तस्तान्द्विजः प्राह कुलार्थं चात्मनो हिते
Thus addressed, the twice-born replied, 'For the sake of the family and for my own welfare.'
श्रुत्वा तमाहुस्ते विप्रा गच्छ शीघ्रं धनुर्धर
Hearing this, those brahmins said, 'Go quickly, O archer!'
इति श्रुत्वा तु घोरात्मा तेषां दृष्ट्या सुनिर्मलः
Hearing this, that fierce-souled one became utterly pure in their sight.
तत्पापकं भवद्भिश्च ग्रहणीयं धनं यथा
That sinful wealth must be seized by you all, as is proper.
साक्षीयं भूमिरचला साक्षी सूर्योऽयमुत्तमः 3.4.10.
The earth, unshakable, is witness, and this excellent sun is witness.
यथा पापं क्षयं याति तथा माज्ञातुमर्हथ
Just as sin is destroyed, so you should understand.
राम नाम हि तज्ज्ञेयं सर्वाघौघविनाशनम्
Know that the name 'Rama' destroys all floods of sin.
इत्युक्त्वा ते गता विप्रास्तीर्थात्तीर्थान्तरं प्रति
Having said this, those brahmins departed from one holy place to another.
जपप्रभावादभवद्वनमुत्पलसंकुलम्
By the power of recitation, the forest became filled with lotuses.
ततः सप्तर्षयः प्राप्ता वल्मीकात्तं निराकृतम्
Then the seven sages arrived, having rejected him from the anthill.
वल्मीकान्निस्सृतो यस्मात्तस्माद्वाल्मीकिरुत्तमम्
Because he emerged from the anthill, he is called the excellent Vālmīki.
एवमुक्त्वा ययुर्लोकं स तु रामायणं मुनिः
Having spoken thus, they went to their worlds, and that sage composed the Rāmāyaṇa.
चकार निर्मलं पद्यैः सर्वाघौघविनाशनम्
He made it pure with verses that destroy all floods of sin.
अद्यापि संस्थितः स्वामी मृगव्याधः सनातनः
Even today, the lord remains, the eternal hunter of deer.
वैवस्वतेऽन्तरे प्राप्ते चाद्ये सत्ययुगे शुभे 3.4.10.
When the Vaivasvata period arrived, and now in this auspicious Satya Yuga,
तदा सरस्वती देवी नदी भूत्वा समागता
Then the goddess Sarasvatī came together, having become a river.
बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रियं चैव चोरुभ्यां वैश्यमुत्तमम्
With her arms she took the Kṣatriya, and with her thighs the excellent Vaiśya.