कृतकृत्यो गुरुजनं द्रष्टुं गन्तुमियेष सः
Having accomplished his purpose, he wished to go to see his elders.
विवेश कन्दरं रामो भाविकर्मप्रचोदितः
Urged by destiny, Rāma entered the cave.
व्याघ्रेण विप्रतनयं रुदन्तं भीतभीतवत्
By a tiger, the terrified and weeping son of the Brahmin was seized.
तिष्ठतिष्ठेति तं व्याघ्रं वदन्नुच्चैरथान्वयात्
Calling out loudly, 'Stop! Stop!' to that tiger, he pursued it.
आससाद वने घोरं शार्दूलमतिभीषणम्
In the forest, he encountered a dreadful and exceedingly fearsome tiger.
निपपात द्विजसुतस्त्रस्तः प्राणभयातुरः
The Brahmin's son, terrified and overwhelmed by fear for his life, fell down.
तृणमूलं समादाय कुशास्त्रेणाभ्यमन्त्रयत्
Taking some grass roots, he recited mantras over them with blades of kuśa grass.
दृष्ट्वा ननादसुभृशं रोदसी कम्पयन्निव
Seeing him, the tiger roared fiercely, as if shaking the heavens and the earth.
अकृतव्रणमेवाशु मोक्षयामास तं द्विजम्
Without causing any wound, he swiftly released that Brahmin.
गान्धर्वं वपुरास्थाय राममाहेति सादरम्
Assuming a celestial form, he respectfully said, 'O Rama, I am blessed.'
गच्छामि मोचितः शापात्त्वयाहमधुना दिवम्
'Freed by you from the curse, I now ascend to heaven.'
पतितं द्विजपुत्रं तं कृपया व्यवपद्यत
Out of compassion, he tended to the fallen Brahmin's son.
परमृशत्तदङ्गानि शनैरुज्जीवयन्नृप
Touching his limbs gently, O King, he revived him.
विलोकयन्ददर्शाग्रे भृगुश्रेष्ठमवस्थितम्
Looking around, he saw before him the eminent sage Bhrigu.
गतभीराह कस्त्वं भोः कथं वेह समागतः
Freed from fear, he said, 'Who are you, sir, and how have you come here?'
तरक्षुर्भीषणाकारः साक्षान्मृत्युरिवापरः
A terrifying figure, Tarakṣu, appeared like Death himself.
हते ऽपि तस्मिन्नखिला भान्ति वै तन्मया दिशः
Even though he was slain, all directions still shone with his presence.
परमापदमापन्नं त्वं मां समुपजीवयन्
You have sustained me, who had fallen into great distress.
पुत्रस्तस्यास्मि तीर्थार्थी शालग्राममयासिषम्
I am his son, seeking holy places; I had gone to Śālagrāma.
नानामुनिगणैर्जुष्टं पुण्यं बदरिकाश्रमम्
Blessed by many groups of sages, I went to the sacred hermitage of Badarikā.
प्रविशन्गहनं रम्यं प्रदेशालोकनाकुलम्
Entering a dense and delightful thicket, filled with the confusion of many sights,
ततो दिष्टवशेनाहं प्राद्रवं भयपीडितः
Then, by the force of destiny, I fled, afflicted by fear.
इत्येष मम वृत्तान्तः साकल्येनोदितस्तव
Thus, my story has been told to you in its entirety.
कथयामास राजेन्द्र रामस्तस्मै यथाक्रमम्
Rama then narrated to him, O king, everything in due order.
स्थित्वा नातिचिरं कालमथ गन्तुमियेष सः
After staying not for a long time, he then wished to depart.
निष्क्रम्यावसथं पित्रोः संप्रतस्थे मुदान्वितः
Leaving the dwelling, he set out joyfully for his parents’ abode.
रामेण रक्षितश्चाभुद्यस्माद्ध्याघ्रं विनिघ्नता
He was protected by Rama, who had slain the tiger.
विप्रपुत्रस्य राजेन्द्र तदेतत्सो ऽकृतव्रणः
O king, this is the son of the sage, who was uninjured.
बभूव मित्रमत्यर्थं सर्वावस्थासु पार्थिव
He became a most devoted friend in all circumstances, O ruler of men.
दृष्ट्वा ख्यातिं च सो ऽभ्येत्य विनयेनाभ्यवादयत्
Seeing his fame, he approached and greeted him with humility.