भ्रातरौ चक्रतुः प्रेम्णा व्रतं नारदसम्मतम् । अष्टम्यां मध्यरात्रे तु देवी भगवती हि सा
The two brothers, with devotion, undertook the vow approved by Narada; and on the eighth night, at midnight, the blessed Goddess herself—
सिंहारूढा ददौ तत्र दर्शनं प्रतिपूजिता । गिरिशृङ्गे स्थितोवाच राघवं सानुजं गिरा
Mounted on a lion, she appeared there, having been duly worshipped, and standing on the mountain peak, she spoke to Raghava and his brother.
मेघगम्भीरया चेदं भक्तिभावेन तोषिता । देव्युवाच राम राम महाबाहो तुष्टाऽस्म्यद्म व्रतेन ते
Pleased by their devotion, she spoke with a voice deep as a cloud:
प्रार्थयस्व वरं कामं यत्ते मनसि वर्तते । नारायणांशसम्भूतस्त्वं वंशे मानवेऽनघे
"Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one, I am satisfied with your vow; ask for any boon you desire, whatever is in your heart. You, born from a portion of Narayana, are sinless in the Manu lineage.
रावणस्य वधायैव प्रार्थितस्त्वमरैरसि । पुरा मत्स्यतनुं कृत्वा हत्वा घोरञ्च राक्षसम्
You have been sought by the gods for the destruction of Ravana; formerly, taking the form of a fish, you slew a terrible demon.
त्वया वै रक्षिता वेदाः सुराणां हितमिच्छता । भूत्वा कच्छपरूपस्तु धृतवान्मन्दरं गिरिम्
You protected the Vedas, wishing for the welfare of the gods; becoming a tortoise, you bore the Mandara mountain.
अकूपारं प्रमन्थानं कृत्वा देवानपोषयः । कोलरूपं परं कृत्वा दशनाग्रेण मेदिनीम्
Making your back the churning rod, you nourished the gods; then, taking the form of a boar, you lifted the earth on your tusk.
धृतवानसि यद्राम हिरण्याक्षं जघान च । नारसिंहीं तनुं कृत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुं पुरा
You, Rama, bore that form and slew Hiranyaksha; formerly, taking the form of Narasimha, you—
प्रह्लादं राम रक्षित्वा हतवानसि राघव । वामनं वपुरास्थाय पुरा छलितवान्बलिम्
protected Prahlada, Rama, and slew Hiranyakashipu; then, assuming the form of Vamana, you deceived Bali.
भूत्वेन्द्रस्यानुजः कामं देवकार्यप्रसाधकः । जमदग्निसुतस्त्वं मे विष्णोरंशेन सङ्गतः
Becoming the younger brother of Indra, you accomplished the gods' purpose; as the son of Jamadagni, you were united with a portion of Vishnu.
कृत्वान्तं क्षत्रियाणां तु दानं भूमेरदाद्द्विजे । तथेदानीं तु काकुत्स्थ जातो दशरथात्मज
Having destroyed the Kshatriyas, you gave the earth in charity to the Brahmins; and now, O descendant of Kakutstha, you are born as the son of Dasharatha.
प्रार्थितस्तु सुरैः सर्वै रावणेनातिपीडितैः । कपयस्ते सहाया वै देवांशा बलवत्तराः
You have been sought by all the gods, greatly afflicted by Ravana; your allies, the monkeys, are portions of the gods and exceedingly strong.
भविष्यन्ति नरव्याघ्र मच्छक्तिसंयुता ह्यमी । शेषांशोऽप्यनुजस्तेऽयं रावणात्मजनाशकः
These, united with my power, will become tigers among men; your younger brother, a portion of Shesha, will destroy Ravana's sons.
भविष्यति न सन्देहः कर्तव्योऽत्र त्वयाऽनघ । वसन्ते सेवनं कार्यं त्वया तत्रातिश्रद्धया
There is no doubt this will come to pass, O sinless one; you must perform worship with great faith in the spring.
हत्वाऽथ रावणं पापं कुरु राज्यं यथासुखम् । एकादश सहस्राणि वर्षाणि पृथिवीतले
Then, having slain the sinful Ravana, rule the kingdom as you wish; for eleven thousand years on earth.
कृत्वा राज्यं रघुश्रेष्ठ गन्ताऽसि त्रिदिवं पुनः । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवी रामस्तु प्रीतमानसः
Having ruled the kingdom, O best of the Raghu line, you will ascend again to heaven." Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the Goddess disappeared, and Rama's heart was filled with joy.
समाप्य तद्व्रतं चक्रे प्रयाणं दशमीदिने । विजयापूजनं कृत्वा दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकशः
Having completed that vow, on the tenth day she set out, having performed the worship of victory and given many gifts.
कपिपतिबलयुक्तः सानुजः श्रीपतिश्च प्रकटपरमशक्त्या प्रेरितः पूर्णकामः । उदधितटगतोऽसौ सेतुबन्धं विधाया- प्यहनदमरशत्रुं रावणं गीतकीर्तिः
Endowed with the strength of the monkey army, accompanied by his brother, the glorious Lord, impelled by the manifest supreme power and with all desires fulfilled, went to the ocean shore, constructed the bridge, and, famed in song, slew Ravana, the enemy of the gods.
यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । स भुक्त्वा विपुलान्भोगान्प्राप्नोति परमं पदम्
Whoever hears with devotion this supreme story of the Goddess, that person, after enjoying abundant pleasures, attains the highest state.
सन्त्यन्यानि पुराणानि विस्तराणि बहूनि च । श्रीमद्भागवतस्यास्य न तुल्यानीति मे मतिः
There are indeed many other ancient Purāṇas, vast in extent, but in my opinion, none are equal to this Śrīmad Bhāgavata.
जनमेजयप्रश्नाः जनमेजय उवाच वासवेय मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वज्ञाननिधेऽनघ । प्रष्टुमिच्छाम्यहं स्वामिन्नस्माकं कुलवर्धन
janamejaya's questions Janamejaya said: O best of sages, descendant of Vāsava, faultless one, treasure of all knowledge, I wish to ask you, O master, O increaser of our lineage,
शूरसेनसुतः श्रीमान्वसुदेवः प्रतापवान् । श्रुतं मया हरिर्यस्य पुत्रभावमवाप्तवान्
The illustrious and mighty Vasudeva, son of Shurasena—of him I have heard that Hari became his son.
देवानामपि पूज्योऽभून्नाम्ना चानकदुन्दुभिः । कारागारे कथं बद्धः कंसस्य धर्मतत्परः
He became worthy of worship even by the gods and was called Anakadundubhi by name; how was he, devoted to righteousness, imprisoned by Kamsa?
देवक्या भार्यया सार्धं किमागः कृतवानसौ । देवक्या बालषट्कस्य विनाशश्च कृतः पुनः
What offense did he commit together with his wife Devaki? And why was the destruction of Devaki's six children carried out again?
तेन कंसेन कस्माद्वै ययातिकुलजेन च । कारागारे कथं जन्म वासुदेवस्य वै हरेः
For what reason by that Kamsa and also by one born in the line of Yayati was he imprisoned? And how did Vasudeva, the Lord Hari, take birth in prison?
गोकुले च कथं नीतो भगवान्सात्वतां पतिः । गतो जन्मान्तरं कस्मात्पितरौ निगडे स्थितौ
How was the Lord of the Sātvatas taken to Gokula? And for what reason did he change his birth? Why did his parents remain in chains?
देवकीवसुदेवौ च कृष्णस्यामिततेजसः । कथं न मोचितौ वृद्धौ पितरौ हरिणामुना
Why were Devaki and Vasudeva, the aged parents of Krishna of immeasurable splendor, not freed by that Hari?
जगत्कर्तुं समर्थेन स्थितेन जनकोदरे । प्राक्तनं किं तयोः कर्म दुर्विज्ञेयं महात्मभिः
Though capable of creating the world and abiding in the womb of his father, what previous karma did those two have, difficult for even the great to comprehend?
जन्म वै वासुदेवस्य यत्रासीत्परमात्मनः । के ते पुत्राश्च का बाला या कंसेन विपोथिता
Where did the birth of Vasudeva, the Supreme Self, take place? Who were his sons, who was the girl, and who was struck down by Kamsa?
शिलायां निर्गता व्योम्नि जाता त्वष्टभुजा पुनः । गार्हस्थ्यञ्च हरेर्ब्रूहि बहुभार्यस्य चानघ
Who was born from the stone, who appeared in the sky with eight arms? Tell also of Hari's household life and his many wives, O faultless one.