उपविष्टं ततो राममाशीर्भिरभिनन्दितम्
Then, as Rāma sat down, he was greeted with blessings.
कुशलं खलु ते वत्स पित्रोश्च किमनामयम्
Are you well, dear child? And are your parents free from trouble?
किमर्थमागतो ऽत्र त्वमधुनामम सन्निधिम्
For what purpose have you come here now, into my presence?
ततोरामो यथान्यायं तस्मै सर्वमशेषतः
Then Rāma, as was proper, told him everything in full.
पितुर्मातुश्च वृत्तान्त भ्रातॄणां च महात्मनाम्
He spoke of the affairs of his father and mother, and of his noble brothers.
एतदन्यच्च सकलं भृगोः सप्रश्रयं मुदा
All this, and more besides, he respectfully and gladly recounted to Bhṛgu.
श्रुत्वैतदखिलं राजन्रामेण समुदीरितम्
Hearing all this, O King, as spoken by Rāma,
एवं तस्य प्रियं कुर्वन्नुत्कृष्टैरात्मकर्मभिः
He sought to please him by performing excellent personal services.
ततः कदाचिदेकान्ते रामं मुनिवरोत्तमः
Then, once, when they were alone, the best of sages approached Rāma.
सो ऽभिगम्य तमासीनमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः
He came to him as he sat, offered his respects with joined palms.
आशीर्भिरभिनन्द्याथ भृगुस्तं प्रीत मानसः
Bhṛgu, his mind pleased, then greeted him with blessings.
श्रुणु वत्स वचो मह्य यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम्
Listen, my child, to the words I will now speak to you.
गच्छ पुत्र ममादेशाद्धिमवन्तं महागिरिम्
Go, my son, at my command, to the great mountain Himavat.
तत्रगत्वा महाभाग कृत्वाश्रमापदं शुभम्
Having gone there, O greatly fortunate one, establish a pure hermitage.
प्रीतिमुत्पाद्य तस्य त्वं भक्त्यानन्यगया चिरात्
By your unwavering devotion, bring about his joy for a long time.
तरसा तव भक्त्या च प्रीतो भवति शङ्करः
By your zeal and devotion, Śaṅkara will be pleased.
तुष्टे तस्मिञ्जगन्नाथे शङ्करे भक्तवत्सले
When that Lord of the universe, Śaṅkara, who is devoted to his devotees, is pleased,
त्वया हितार्थं देवानां करणीयं सुदुष्करम्
You must undertake, for the welfare of the gods, what is extremely difficult to accomplish.
तस्मात्त्वं देवदेवेशं समाराधय शङ्करम्
Therefore, worship Śaṅkara, the Lord of the gods, with devotion.
भक्त्या परमया युक्तस्ततो ऽभीष्टमवाप्स्यसि
Endowed with supreme devotion, you will then obtain your desired boon.
इति श्रीब्रह्माण्डे महापुराणे वायुप्रोक्ते मध्यभागे तृतीय उपोद्धातपादे एकविंशति तमौध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-first chapter of the third section, in the middle part, of the Vāyu-proclaimed Śrī Brahmāṇḍa Mahāpurāṇa.
रामस्तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातश्चकार गमने मनः
Having been permitted by them, Rāma set his mind on departure.
परिष्वक्तस्तथा ताभ्यामाशीर्भिराभिनन्दितः
He was embraced by them and joyfully blessed with their good wishes.
निश्चक्रमाश्रमात्तस्मात्तपसे कृतनिश्चयः
With firm resolve for austerity, he departed from that hermitage.
हिमवन्तं गिरिवरं ययौ रामो महामनाः
Rāma, of great mind, went to Himavat, the best of mountains.
वनानि मुनिमुख्यानामावासांश्चात्यगाच्छनैः
He slowly passed through forests and the dwellings of eminent sages.
तीर्थेषु क्षेत्रमुख्येषु निवसन्वा ययौ शनैः
Dwelling at holy sites and foremost sacred places, he proceeded slowly.
आससादच लश्रेष्ठं हिमवन्तमनुत्तमम्
He reached the excellent and unsurpassed Himavat.
ददर्श विपुलैः शृङ्गैरुल्लिखन्तमिवांबरम्
He saw it, with its vast peaks seeming to scratch the sky.
रत्नौषधीभिरभितः स्फुरद्भिरभिशोभितम्
It was adorned all around with shining jewels and medicinal herbs.