सदा वनफलाहारसंतृप्ताय विशेषतः
Especially to the one who is always satisfied with the food of forest fruits.
इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र मारुतेः कवचं शिवम्
Thus, O sage, this auspicious armor of Māruti has been described.
अष्टगन्धैर्विलिख्याथ कवचं धारयेत्तु यः
Whoever inscribes this armor with eight kinds of fragrant substances and wears it—
किं पुनर्बहुनोक्तेन साधितं लक्षमादरात्
Why speak at length? With devotion, a hundred thousand are accomplished.
प्रजप्तमेतत्कवचमसाध्यं चापि साधयेत्
By reciting this armor, even the unattainable can be attained.
यदुक्तं स्वासु रामेण आनन्दवनवासिना
What was spoken by Rāma himself, the dweller in the blissful forest—
मम श्रीरामचन्द्रस्य भक्तिरस्तु सदैव हि
May I always have devotion to my Śrī Rāmacandra.
चरितं सर्वपापघ्नं शृण्वतां पठतां सदा
The story, which destroys all sins, for those who always listen and recite—
रहस्यं रहसि स्वस्य ममानन्दवनोत्तमे
The secret, in secret, in my own supreme blissful forest—
क्रीडन्ति सर्वदा चात्र प्राकट्ये ऽपि रहस्यपि
Here, they always play, both openly and secretly.
तदत्र प्रकटं तुभ्यं करोमि प्रीतमानसः
Therefore, with a joyful heart, I shall make this clear to you.
चतुर्यूहात्मकस्तकत्र तस्य भार्यात्रये मुने
There, O sage, he was of the nature of the fourfold manifestation, and had three wives.
विश्वामित्रोर्ऽथयामास पितरं मम भूपतिम्
Viśvāmitra requested my father, the king.
प्रेषयामास धर्मात्मा सिद्धाश्रममरम्यकम्
The righteous one sent me to the delightful Siddhāśrama.
ध्वस्तौ सुबाहुमारीचौ प्रसन्नो ऽभूत्तदा मुनिः
Subāhu and Mārīca were destroyed, and the sage was pleased at that time.
ततो गाधिसुतोधीमान् ज्ञात्वा भाव्यर्थमादरात्
Then, Gādhi's wise son, knowing what was to come, acted with respect.
तस्य कन्यां पणीभूतां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम्
His daughter Sītā, equal to a divine maiden, was given as a prize.
ततो मार्गे भृगुपतेर्दर्प्पमूढं चिरं स्मयन्
Then, along the way, I smiled for a long time at the arrogance of Bhṛgu's lord.
ततो राज्ञाहमाज्ञाय प्रजाशीलनमानसः
Then, by the king's command, I, whose mind was devoted to the welfare of the people, acted.
तच्छुत्वा सुप्रिया भार्या कैकैयी भूपतिं मुने
Hearing this, the beloved wife Kaikeyī spoke to the king, O sage.
पुत्रो मे भरतो नाम यौवराज्ये ऽभिषिच्यताम्
Let my son, named Bharata, be anointed as crown prince.
तदाकर्ण्या हमुद्युक्तो ऽरण्यं भार्यानुजान्वितः
Hearing that, I set out for the forest, accompanied by my wife and brother.
तत्र नित्यं वन्यफलैर्मांसैश्चावर्तितक्रियः
There, I continually performed my duties, subsisting on wild fruits and meat.
ततो भरतशत्रुघ्नौ भ्रातरौ मम मानदौ
Then Bharata and Śatrughna, my brothers who honored me, came.
व्यजिज्ञपतमागत्यपञ्चवट्यां निजाश्रमम्
They announced themselves, arriving at my own hermitage in Pañcavaṭī.
ततस्त्रयोदशे वर्षे रावणो नाम राक्षसः
Then, in the thirteenth year, a rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa appeared.
ततो ऽहं दीनवदन ऋष्यमूकं हि पर्वतम्
After that, with a sorrowful face, I went to the mountain Ṛṣyamūka.
अथ वालिनमाहत्य सुग्रीव स्तत्पदे कृतः
Then, having defeated Vāli, I established Sugrīva in his place.
विरुध्य रावणेनालं मम भक्तो विभीषणः
Vibhishana, my devotee, stood firmly against Ravana.
हत्वा तु रावणं संख्ये सपुत्रामात्यबान्धवम्
Then, having slain Ravana in battle, along with his sons, ministers, and kinsmen—