ताम् एव गौतमीं सन्तो वदन्त्य् अम्भःस्वरूपिणीम् हरिब्रह्ममहेशानां मान्या वन्द्या च सैव यत्
'That very Gautamī, whom the virtuous call the embodiment of water, is honored and worshipped by Hari, Brahmā, and Maheśa.'
निस्तीर्यते न केनापि तद् अतिक्रमजं त्व् अघम् पापिनो ऽप्य् आत्मजः कश्चिद् यश् च गङ्गाम् अनुस्मरेत्
'No one can cross over the sin born of transgression, but even a sinner, if he remembers Gaṅgā, or if his son does so—'
सो ऽनेकदुर्गनिरयान् निर्गतो मुक्ततां व्रजेत् किं पुनस् तादृशः पुत्रो गौतमीनिकटे स्थितः
'He is freed from many terrible hells and attains liberation; what then of a son like this, standing near the Gautamī?'
यस्यासौ नरके पक्तुं न कैरपि हि शक्यते दक्षिणाशापतेर् वाक्यं निशम्य यमकिंकराः
'No one can make him suffer in hell, hearing the command of the lord of the southern direction, O attendants of Yama.'
नरके पच्यमानं तम् अयोध्याधिपतिं नृपम् उत्तार्य घोरनरकाद् वचनं चेदम् अब्रुवन्
Having rescued that king, the lord of Ayodhya, who was being tormented in hell, they spoke these words to him from the dreadful hell.
धन्यो ऽसि नृपशार्दूल यस्य पुत्रः स तादृशः इह चामुत्र विश्रान्तिः सुपुत्रः केन लभ्यते
Blessed are you, O best of kings, who has such a son; in this world and the next, who obtains rest through a worthy son?
स विश्रान्तः शनै राजा किंकरान् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Then, as the king found repose, he slowly addressed the attendants with these words.
नरकेष्व् अथ घोरेषु पच्यमानः पुनः पुनः कथं त्व् आकर्षितः शीघ्रं तन् मे वक्तुम् इहार्हथ
While I was being tormented again and again in these terrible hells, how was I swiftly drawn out? You ought to tell me this here.
तत्र कश्चिच् छान्तमना राजानम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
There, one with a tranquil mind spoke these words to the king.
वेदशास्त्रपुराणादाव् एतद् गोप्यं प्रयत्नतः प्रकाश्यते तद् अपि ते सामर्थ्यं पुत्रतीर्थयोः
This is to be carefully kept secret in the Vedas, scriptures, and Purāṇas; yet it is revealed to you because of the power of your son and the sanctity of the pilgrimage.
रामस् तव सुतः श्रीमान् गौतमीतीरम् आगतः तस्मात् त्वं नरकाद् घोराद् आकृष्टो ऽसि नरोत्तम
Your illustrious son Rāma has come to the bank of the Gautamī; therefore, O best of men, you have been drawn out from the dreadful hell.
यदि त्वां तत्र गौतम्यां स्मरेद् रामः सलक्ष्मणः स्नानं कृत्वाथ पिण्डादि ते दद्यात् स नृपोत्तम ततस् त्वं सर्वपापेभ्यो मुक्तो यासि त्रिविष्टपम्
If Rāma, along with Lakṣmaṇa, remembers you there at the Gautamī, performs bathing, and offers you piṇḍa and other rites, then, O best of kings, you will be freed from all sins and ascend to heaven.
तत्र गत्वा भवद्वाक्यम् आख्यास्ये स्वसुतौ प्रति भवन्त एव शरणम् अनुज्ञां दातुम् अर्हथ
Going there, I shall convey your words to your sons; you alone are our refuge, and you ought to grant permission.
तद् राजवचनं श्रुत्वा कृपया यमकिंकराः आज्ञां च प्रददुस् तस्मै राजा प्रागात् सुतौ प्रति
Hearing the king’s words, out of compassion, the attendants of Yama granted him leave, and the king went towards his sons.
भीषणं यातनादेहम् आपन्नो निःश्वसन् मुहुः निरीक्ष्य स्वं लज्जमानः कृतं कर्म च संस्मरन्
Having assumed a terrifying body of torment, he sighed repeatedly, looked at himself in shame, and remembered the deeds he had done.
स्वेच्छया विहरन् गङ्गाम् आससाद च राघवः गौतम्यास् तटम् आश्रित्य रामो लक्ष्मण एव च
Rāghava, wandering as he wished, reached the Gaṅgā, and Rāma, along with Lakṣmaṇa, took refuge on the bank of the Gautamī.
सीतया सह वैदेह्या सस्नौ चैव यथाविधि नैव तत्राभवद् भोज्यं भक्ष्यं वा गौतमीतटे
There, together with Sītā, the daughter of Videha, he bathed according to the prescribed rite; but on the bank of the Gautamī, there was neither food nor anything to eat.
तद्दिने तत्र वसतां गौतमीतीरवासिनाम् तद् दृष्ट्वा दुःखितो भ्राता लक्ष्मणो रामम् अब्रवीत्
On that day, as they stayed there among the dwellers on the bank of the Gautamī, seeing this, Lakṣmaṇa, distressed, spoke to Rāma.
पुत्रौ दशरथस्यावां तवापि बलम् ईदृशम् नास्ति भोज्यम् अथास्माकं गङ्गातीरनिवासिनाम्
We are the sons of Daśaratha, and your strength is such; yet there is no food for us or for the dwellers on the bank of the Gaṅgā.
भ्रातर् यद् विहितं कर्म नैव तच् चान्यथा भवेत् पृथिव्याम् अन्नपूर्णायां वयम् अन्नाभिलाषिणः
Brother, whatever deed is ordained cannot be otherwise; though the earth is full of food, we are desirous of food.
सौमित्रे नूनम् अस्माभिर् न ब्राह्मणमुखे हुतम् अवज्ञया महीदेवांस् तर्पयन्त्य् अर्चयन्ति न
Saumitri, surely we have not offered oblations into the mouths of Brāhmaṇas; out of neglect, we have not satisfied or worshipped the deities of the earth.
ते ये लक्ष्मण जायन्ते सर्वदैव बुभुक्षिताः स्नात्वा देवान् अथाभ्यर्च्य होतव्यश् च हुताशनः ततः स्वसमये देवो विधास्यत्य् अशनं तु नौ
Those, O Lakṣmaṇa, who are always hungry are born thus; after bathing and worshipping the gods, one should offer oblations into the fire; then, at the proper time, the god will provide us with food.
भ्रात्रोः संजल्पतोर् एवं पश्यतोः कर्मणो गतिम् शनैर् दशरथो राजा तं देशम् उपजग्मिवान्
As the two brothers conversed thus, observing the course of events, King Dasharatha gradually arrived at that place.
तं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणः शीघ्रं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् धनुर् आकृष्य कोपेन रक्षस् त्वं दानवो ऽथवा
Seeing him, Lakshmana quickly said, 'Stop, stop!' and, drawing his bow in anger, declared, 'You are a demon or a rakshasa!'
आसन्नं च पुनर् दृष्ट्वा याहि याह्य् अत्र पुण्यभाक् रामो दाशरथी राजा धर्मभाक् पश्य वर्तते
Again, seeing him approach, Rama, son of Dasharatha, said, 'Go, go! Here is a righteous king, a virtuous man; observe how he stands.'
गुरुभक्तः सत्यसंधो देवब्राह्मणसेवकः त्रैलोक्यरक्षादक्षो ऽसौ वर्तते यत्र राघवः
Where Raghava stands, devoted to his elders, steadfast in truth, serving gods and brahmins, and skilled in protecting the three worlds.
न तत्र त्वादृशाम् अस्ति प्रवेशः पापकर्मणाम् यदि प्रविशसे पाप ततो वधम् अवाप्स्यसि
There is no entry for those like you, who perform evil deeds; if you enter, you will surely meet your death.
तत् पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा शनैर् आहूय वाचया उवाचाधोमुखो भूत्वा स्नुषां पुत्रौ कृताञ्जलिः मुहुर् अन्तर् विनिध्यायन् गतिं दुष्कृतकर्मणः
Hearing his son's words, he slowly called and spoke, becoming downcast, with folded hands to his daughter-in-law and sons, repeatedly pondering the fate of one who has committed evil.
अहं दशरथो राजा पुत्रौ मे शृणुतं वचः तिसृभिर् ब्रह्महत्याभिर् वृतो ऽहं दुःखम् आगतः छिन्नं पश्यत मे देहं नरकेषु च पातितम्
I am King Dasharatha; listen, my sons, to my words. Surrounded by three acts of brahma-hatya, I have come into suffering. Behold my body, severed and cast into hell.
ततः कृताञ्जली रामः सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च भूमौ प्रणेमुस् ते सर्वे वचनं चैतद् अब्रुवन्
Then Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, with joined palms, bowed to the earth; all of them spoke these words.