इन्द्रेण व्यसनं प्राप्तं पुरा वै रघुनन्दन । नहुषः स्थापितो देवैः सर्वैर्मघवतः पदे
Once, O joy of the Raghus, even Indra was struck by misfortune; Nahusha was installed by all the gods in the place of Maghavat.
स्थितः पङ्कजमध्ये च बहुवर्षगणानपि । अज्ञातवासं मघवा भीतस्त्यक्त्वा निजं पदम्
Maghavat, abandoning his own position out of fear, dwelled unknown for many years in the midst of a lotus.
पुनः प्राप्तं निजस्थानं काले विपरिवर्तिते । नहुषः पतितो भूमौ शापादजगराकृतिः
When time had turned, he regained his own place; Nahusha, due to a curse, fell to the earth in the form of a serpent.
इन्द्राणीं कामयानस्तु ब्राह्मणानवमन्य च । अगस्तिकोपात्सञ्जातः सर्पदेहो महीपतिः
Desiring Indrani and disrespecting the Brahmins, the king was transformed into a serpent's body by the wrath of Agastya.
तस्माच्छोको न कर्तव्यो व्यसने सति राघव । उद्यमे चित्तमास्थाय स्थातव्यं वै विपश्चिता
Therefore, O Rāghava, one should not grieve in adversity; the wise must set their mind on effort and stand firm.
सर्वज्ञोऽसि महाभाग समर्थोऽसि जगत्पते । किं प्राकृत इवात्यर्थं कुरुषे शोकमात्मनि
You are all-knowing, O greatly fortunate one, and capable, O lord of the world; why do you, like an ordinary man, indulge in such excessive grief?
व्यास उवाच इति लक्ष्मणवाक्येन बोधितो रघुनन्दनः । त्यक्त्वा शोकं तथात्यर्थं बभूव विगतज्वरः
Vyāsa said: Thus, instructed by Lakṣmaṇa's words, Rāghava abandoned his deep sorrow and became free from distress.
रामाय देवीवरदानम् व्यास उवाच एवं तौ संविदं कृत्वा यावत्तूष्णीं बभूवतुः । आजगाम तदाऽऽकाशान्नारदो भगवानृषिः
Vyāsa said: After the two had thus conversed and become silent, at that moment the venerable sage Nārada descended from the sky.
रणयन्महतीं वीणां स्वरग्रामविभूषिताम् । गायन्बृहद्रथं साम तदा तमुपतस्थिवान्
Playing a great vīṇā adorned with melodious notes, singing the Brhadratha Sāma, he approached them.
दृष्ट्वा तं राम उत्थाय ददावथ वृषं शुभम् । आसनं चार्घ्यपाद्यञ्च कृतवानमितद्युतिः
Seeing him, Rāma rose and offered him a fine bull, as well as a seat, water for washing the feet, and arghya, his splendor undiminished.
पूजां परमिकां कृत्वा कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थितः । उपविष्टः समीपे तु कृताज्ञो मुनिना हरिः
Having performed the highest worship, Rāma stood before the sage with joined palms; then, Hari, having expressed his gratitude, sat nearby the sage.
उपविष्टं तदा रामं सानुजं दुःखमानसम् । पप्रच्छ नारदः प्रीत्या कुशलं मुनिसत्तमः
Then Nārada, the best of sages, seeing Rāma seated with his brother and troubled in mind, affectionately inquired about his welfare.
कथं राघव शोकार्तो यथा वै प्राकृतो नरः । हृतां सीतां च जानामि रावणेन दुरात्मना
How can Rāghava, afflicted by grief like an ordinary man, know that Sītā has been taken by the wicked Rāvaṇa?
सुरसद्मगतश्चाहं श्रुतवाञ्जनकात्मजाम् । पौलस्त्येन हृतां मोहान्मरणं स्वमजानता
I, dwelling in the abode of the gods, have heard that the daughter of Janaka was abducted by the descendant of Pulastya, who, blinded by delusion, was unaware of his own impending death.
तव जन्म च काकुत्स्थ पौलस्त्यनिधनाय वै । मैथिलीहरणं जातमेतदर्थं नराधिप
Your birth, O Kākutstha, was indeed for the destruction of the Pulastya lineage; the abduction of Maithilī happened for this very purpose, O king among men.
पूर्वजन्मनि वैदेही मुनिपुत्री तपस्विनी । रावणेन वने दृष्टा तपस्यन्ती शुचिस्मिता
In a previous birth, Vaidehī was the daughter of a sage, devoted to austerity; Rāvaṇa saw her in the forest, engaged in penance, radiant with a pure smile.
प्रार्थिता रावणेनासौ भव भार्येति राघव । तिरस्कृतस्तयाऽसौ वै जग्राह कबरं बलात्
Rāvaṇa desired her, saying, 'Become my wife,' O Rāghava; rejected by her, he forcibly seized her hair.
शशाप तत्क्षणं राम रावणं तापसी भृशम् । कुपिता त्यक्तुमिच्छन्ती देहं संस्पर्शदूषितम्
At that very moment, O Rāma, the ascetic woman, angered and wishing to abandon her body tainted by his touch, cursed Rāvaṇa severely.
दुरात्मंस्तव नाशार्थं भविष्यामि धरातले । अयोनिजा वरा नारी त्यक्त्वा देहं जहावपि
For the destruction of that wicked one, I shall be born on earth as a woman not born from a womb; having abandoned her body, she departed.
सेयं रमांशसम्भूता गृहीता तेन रक्षसा । विनाशार्थं कुलस्यैव व्याली स्रगिव सम्भ्रमात्
She, born from a portion of Ramā, was seized by that demon; for the destruction of his lineage, she entered like a garland, trembling with agitation.
तव जन्म च काकुत्स्थ तस्य नाशाय चामरैः । प्रार्थितस्य हरेरंशादजवंशेऽप्यजन्मनः
Your birth, O Kākutstha, was for his destruction, sought by the immortals; from a portion of Hari, you were born in the race of Ajā, though unborn yourself.
कुरु धैर्यं महाबाहो तत्र सा वर्ततेऽवशा । सती धर्मरता सीता त्वां ध्यायन्ती दिवानिशम्
Be steadfast, O mighty-armed one; she remains there, helpless. Sītā, devoted to righteousness, meditates on you day and night.
कामधेनुपयः पात्रे कृत्वा मघवता स्वयम् । पानार्थं प्रेषितं तस्याः पीतं चैवामृतं यथा
Having placed the milk of the wish-fulfilling cow in a vessel, Maghavan himself sent it for her to drink, and she drank it as if it were nectar.
सुरभीदुग्धपानात्सा क्षुत्तुड्दुःखविवर्जिता । जाता कमलपत्राक्षी वर्तते वीक्षिता मया
By drinking the milk of Surabhī, she is free from hunger and suffering; born with lotus-like eyes, she remains, and I have seen her.
उपायं कथयाम्यद्य तस्य नाशाय राघव । व्रतं कुरुष्व श्रद्धावानाश्विने मासि साम्प्रतम्
I will tell you today, O Rāghava, the means for his destruction: undertake a vow with faith in the current month of Āśvina.
नवरात्रोपवासञ्च भगवत्याः प्रपूजनम् । सर्वसिद्धिकरं राम जपहोमविधानतः
Observe fasting for nine nights and worship the Goddess; through recitation and ritual offerings, O Rāma, it grants all accomplishments.
मेघ्यैश्च पशुभिर्देव्या बलिं दत्त्वा विशंसितैः । दशांशं हवनं कृत्वा सशक्तस्त्वं भविष्यसि
Offer sacrifice to the Goddess with animals marked for the clouds; having performed a tenth part as oblation, you will become empowered.
विष्णुना चरितं पूर्वं महादेवेन ब्रह्मणा । तथा मघवता चीर्णं स्वर्गमध्यस्थितेन वै
This vow was previously performed by Viṣṇu, by Mahādeva, by Brahmā, and likewise by Maghavan, who dwells in heaven.
सुखिना राम कर्तव्यं नवरात्रव्रतं शुभम् । विशेषेण च कर्तव्यं पुंसा कष्टगतेन वै
O Rāma, the auspicious nine-night vow should be performed happily; especially it must be done by one who has fallen into hardship.
विश्वामित्रेण काकुत्स्थ कृतमेतन्न संशयः । भृगुणाऽथ वसिष्ठेन कश्यपेन तथैव च
O Kākutstha, this was performed by Viśvāmitra, without doubt; also by Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, and likewise by Kaśyapa.