एवं गच्छति काले वै सुशिलो नामतो गुणैः । दारिद्र्यार्तो द्विजं शान्तं पप्रच्छातिबुभुक्षितः
As time passed in this way, a man named Suśīla, virtuous by nature, afflicted by poverty and extremely hungry, approached a peaceful brāhmaṇa and questioned him.
सुशील उवाच भो भूदेव कृपां कृत्वा वदस्वाद्य महामते । कथं दारिद्र्यनाशः स्यादिति मे निश्चयेन वै
Suśīla said: 'O lord of the earth, please show me compassion and tell me today, O wise one, how can poverty be destroyed? This I ask you with certainty.'
धनैषणा मे नैवास्ति धनी स्यामिति मानद । कुटुम्बभरणार्थं वै पृच्छामि त्वां द्विजोत्तम
'I do not desire wealth for myself, nor do I wish to become rich, O honorable one; I ask you, best of brāhmaṇas, only for the sake of supporting my family.'
पुत्री सुतस्तु मे बालो भक्षार्थी रोदते भृशम् । तावन्मात्रं गृहे नान्नं मुष्टिमेकां ददाम्यहम्
'My daughter and young son cry bitterly for food; there is only enough in the house for a single handful, which I give.'
विसर्जितो यतो गेहाद्गतो बालो रुदन्मया । अतो मे दह्यतेऽत्यर्थं किं करोमि धनं विना
'Because the child, crying, was sent out from the house by me, I am greatly tormented; what can I do without wealth?'
विवाहोऽस्ति सुताया मे नास्ति वित्तं करोमि किम् । दशवर्षाधिकायास्तु दानकालोऽपि यात्यलम्
'There is a marriage for my daughter, but I have no means—what can I do? She is over ten years old, and the time for her marriage is passing by.'
तेन शोचामि विप्रेन्द्र सर्वज्ञोऽसि दयानिधे । तपो दानं व्रतं किञ्चिद्ब्रूहि मन्त्रजपं तथा
'For this reason I grieve, O best of brāhmaṇas; you are all-knowing and an ocean of compassion. Tell me of some austerity, charity, vow, or mantra-recitation.'
येनाहं पोष्यवर्गस्य करोमि द्विज पोषणम् । तावन्मे स्याद्धनप्राप्तिर्नाधिकं प्रार्थये किल
'By which, O brāhmaṇa, I may provide for those dependent on me; let me obtain just enough wealth for this—I do not ask for more.'
त्वत्प्रसादात्कुटुम्बं मे सुखितं प्रभवेदिह । तत्कुरुष्व महाभाग ज्ञानेन परिचिन्त्य च
By your grace, may my family prosper happily here; therefore, O greatly fortunate one, please do this, having considered it with wisdom.
व्यास उवाच इति पृष्टस्तथा तेन ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः । उवाच परमप्रीतस्तं वैश्यं नृपसत्तम
Vyāsa said: Thus questioned by him, the brāhmaṇa of firm vows, being greatly pleased, spoke to that Vaiśya, O best of kings.
वैश्यवर्य कुरुष्वाद्य नवरात्रव्रतं शुभम् । पूजनं भगवत्याश्च हवनं भोजनं तथा
O foremost of Vaiśyas, today undertake the auspicious vow of Navarātra, along with the worship of the Goddess, offerings into the fire, and also the giving of food.
वेदपारायणं शक्तिजपहोमादिकं तथा । कुरुष्वाद्य यथाशक्ति तव कार्यं भविष्यति
Recite the Vedas, perform the recitation and oblations related to Śakti, and today do, according to your ability, all that is required.
एतस्मादपरं किञ्चिद्व्रतं नास्ति धरातले । नवरात्राभिधं वैश्य पावनं सुखदं तथा
There is no other vow on earth superior to this; O Vaiśya, the vow called Navarātra is purifying and bestows happiness.
ज्ञानदं मोक्षदं चैव सुखसन्तानवर्धनम् । शत्रुनाशकरं कामं नवरात्रव्रतं सदा
The Navarātra vow always grants knowledge, liberation, increases the continuity of happiness, and destroys enemies as desired.
राज्यभ्रष्टेन रामेण सीताविरहितेन च । किष्किन्धायां व्रतं चैतत्कृतं दुःखातुरेण वै
This vow was performed in Kiṣkindhā by Rāma, deprived of his kingdom and separated from Sītā, tormented by sorrow.
प्रतप्तेनापि रामेण सीताविरहवह्निना । विधिवत्पूजिता देवी नवरात्रव्रतेन वै
Even though Rāma was scorched by the fire of Sītā's separation, he duly worshipped the Goddess through the Navarātra vow.
तेन प्राप्ताऽथ वैदेही कृत्वा सेतुं महार्णवे । हत्वा मन्दोदरीनाथं कुम्भकर्णं महाबलम्
By that, he regained Vaidehī, built a bridge over the great ocean, and slew Mandodarī's lord and the mighty Kumbhakarṇa.
मेघनादं सुतं हत्वा कृत्वा भूपं बिभीषणम् । पश्चादयोध्यामागत्य प्राप्तं राज्यमकण्टकम्
Having slain Meghanāda, the son, and installing Bibhīṣaṇa as king, he later returned to Ayodhyā and obtained an untroubled kingdom.
नवरात्रव्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेण विशांवर । सुखं भूमितले प्राप्तं रामेणामिततेजसा
O best of kings, by the power of this Navarātra vow, Rāma of immeasurable brilliance attained happiness on earth.
व्यास उवाच इति विप्रवचः श्रुत्वा स वैश्यस्तं द्विजं गुरुम् । कृत्वा जग्राह सन्मन्त्रं मायाबीजाभिधं नृप
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words of the brāhmaṇa, the Vaiśya, having made him his guru, received the mantra called Māyābīja, O king.
जजाप परया भक्त्या नवरात्रमतन्द्रितः । नानाविधोपहारैश्च पूजयामास सादरम्
With supreme devotion, he recited the Navarātra without fatigue, and worshipped with various kinds of offerings, showing great respect.
नवसंवत्सरं चैव मायाबीजपरायणः । नवमे वत्सरान्ते तु महाष्टम्यां महेश्वरी
For nine years, he was devoted to the Māyābīja; at the end of the ninth year, on the great eighth day, the great Goddess—
अर्धरात्रे तु सञ्जाते प्रत्यक्षं दर्शनं ददौ । नानावरप्रदानैश्च कृतकृत्यञ्चकार तम्
At midnight, she appeared before him in person and, granting various boons, made him fulfilled.
रामचरित्रवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच कथं रामेण तच्चीर्णं व्रतं देव्याः सुखप्रदम् । राज्यभ्रष्टः कथं सोऽथ कथं सीता हृता पुनः
Description of Rāma's story. Janamejaya said: How did Rāma perform that vow of the Goddess which bestows happiness? How was he deprived of his kingdom, and how was Sītā taken and then restored?
व्यास उवाच राजा दशरथः श्रीमानयोध्याधिपतिः पुरा । सूर्यवंशधरश्चासीद्देवब्राह्मणपूजकः
Vyāsa said: Formerly, King Daśaratha, illustrious lord of Ayodhyā, belonged to the solar dynasty and was a worshipper of gods and brāhmaṇas.
चत्वारो जज्ञिरे तस्य पुत्रा लोकेषु विश्रुताः । रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्ना भरतश्चेति नामतः
He had four sons, renowned in the world, named Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata.
राज्ञः प्रियकराः सर्वे सदृशा गुणरूपतः । कौसल्यायाः सुतो रामः कैकेय्या भरतः स्मृतः
All were dear to the king, equal in virtue and appearance; Rama, son of Kausalya, and Bharata, remembered as Kaikeyi’s son.
सुमित्रातनयौ जातौ यमलौ द्वौ मनोहरौ । ते जाता वै किशोराश्च धनुर्बाणधराः किल
The two charming twins, sons of Sumitra, were born; they grew as youths, indeed, bearing bow and arrows.
सूनवः कृतसंस्कारा भूपतेः सुखवर्धकाः । कौशिकेन तदाऽऽगत्य प्रार्थितो रघुनन्दनः
The sons, well-trained, increased the happiness of the king; then, at that time, Raghunandana was requested by Kaushika, who had arrived.
राघवं मखरक्षार्थं सूनुं षोडशवार्षिकम् । तस्मै सोऽयं ददौ रामं कौशिकाय सलक्ष्मणम्
For the protection of the sacrifice, he gave his sixteen-year-old son, Raghava, along with Lakshmana, to Kaushika.