नास्मार्ष्म चात्मनात्मानं वियुक्ताश्च परस्परम्
We did not remember ourselves, and were separated from one another.
निर्झरापात शिरसि पातुकामा जलं प्रिये
Desiring water to fall on the head from the cascade, O beloved,
तत्र प्राप्तो यदृच्छातो जगृहे तां भयर्दिताम्
There, arriving by chance, he took her, who was distressed by fear.
अत्युच्चवत्त्वात्पतितो मृतश्चैणीमनुस्मरन्
Falling from a great height, he died, remembering her.
जातो भद्रे न जाने वै क्व गाता भ्रातरो ऽग्रजाः
Born, O good one, I do not know where the elder brothers have gone.
भूतं भविष्यं च तथा शृणु भद्रे वदाम्यहम्
Hear, O good one, I will tell you of the past and the future.
रामस्यास्य भयात्सो ऽपि भक्षितो हरिणा धुना
Out of fear of this Rama, he too was devoured by a deer long ago.
अवाभ्यां तु जलं पीतं मध्यमे पुष्करे त्विह
By us two, water was drunk here in the middle lotus pond.
तेनानेकभवोत्पन्नं पातकं नाशमागतम्
From that, many births arose; the sin has come to destruction.
गमिष्यावः शुभांल्लोकान्येषु गत्वा न शोचति
We shall go to auspicious worlds; having gone there, one does not grieve.
विरराम प्रसन्नात्मा पश्यन्राममना तुरः
With a tranquil mind, he ceased, gazing intently at Rama.
विस्मितो ऽभूच्च राजेन्द्र गन्तुं कृतमतिस्तथा
He became astonished, O king of kings, and resolved to depart.
स्नात्वा नित्यक्रियां कृत्वा प्रतस्थे हर्षितो भृशम्
After bathing and performing his daily rites, he set out, exceedingly joyful.
सिंहस्य संप्रहारेम विस्मितेन महात्मना
He engaged in a contest with a lion, that great-souled one, in amazement.
स्नात्वा माध्याह्निकीं सन्ध्यां चका रातिमुदान्वितः
Having bathed, he performed the midday Sandhya with a mind full of delight.
तावत्तत्पृष्ठसंलग्नं मृगयुग्ममुपागतम्
Just then, a pair of deer approached, closely following behind him.
पश्यतो भार्गवस्यागादगस्त्याश्रमसंमुखम्
As Bhargava watched, they went toward the front of Agastya's hermitage.
विपद्गतं पुष्करं तु पश्यमानो महामनाः
That great-minded one, seeing the pond in distress, gazed upon it.
गत्वोपस्पृश्य शुच्यंभो जगामागस्त्यसंश्रयम्
Going there, he touched the pure water and proceeded to Agastya's refuge.
त्रीन्संपूरयितुं कुण्डानग्निहोत्रस्य वै विधेः
He went to fill three vessels for the prescribed agnihotra ritual.
ददर्श महदाश्चर्यं भार्गवः कुंभजाश्रमम्
Bhargava beheld a great wonder at the hermitage of the son of Kumbha.
कुटरैरर्जुनैर्निंबैः पारिभद्रधवेगुदैः
It was surrounded by arjuna, neem, paribhadra, dhava, and gudā trees.
तत्र प्रविश्य वै रामो ह्यकृतव्रणसंयुतः
There, Rama entered, free from any wounds.
स्तिमितोदसरः प्रख्यं ध्यायन्तं ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्
He saw one absorbed in meditation on the eternal Brahman, resembling a still, clear lake.
ननाम च महाराज स्वाभिधानं समुच्चरन्
And, O great king, he bowed, reciting his own name.
ताद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन नमस्ते लोकभावन
"Know me thus, by my prostration. Salutations to you, creator of the worlds!"
दृष्ट्वा स्वागतमुच्चार्य तस्मायासनमादिशत्
Seeing him, he uttered words of welcome and offered him a seat.
ददौ पप्रच्छ कुशलं तपसश्च कुलस्य च
He gave it and inquired about his welfare, his austerities, and his lineage.
भवत्संदर्शनादीश कुशलं मम सर्वतः
O Lord, by beholding you, well-being has come to me in every way.
मृगश्चैको मया दृष्टो मध्यमे पुष्करे विभो
And, O mighty one, I saw a single deer in the middle Puṣkara.