वसिष्ठस्याग्रतः स्थित्वा राज्ञो दीनस्य नारदः। प्रत्युवाच श्रुतं वाक्यमृषीणां सन्निधौ तदा
Standing before Vasiṣṭha, Nārada replied to the distressed king, having heard the words in the presence of the sages.
शृणु राम यथाकालं प्राप्तो वै बालसंक्षयः। पुरा कृतयुगे राम सर्वत्र ब्राह्मणोत्तरम्
'Hear, Rāma, how the destruction of children has come in due course; formerly, in the Kṛta Yuga, everywhere the Brahmin was supreme.'
अब्राह्मणो न वै कश्चित्तपस्तपति राघव। अमृत्यवस्तदा सर्वे जायंते चिरजीविनः
'No one other than a Brahmin performed austerities, O Rāghava; at that time, all were deathless and lived long lives.'
त्रेतायुगे पुनः प्राप्ते ब्रह्मक्षत्रमनुत्तमम्। अधर्मो द्वापरे तेषां वैश्यान्शूद्रांस्तथाविशत्
'When the Tretā Yuga arrived, the excellent classes of Brahmins and Kṣatriyas prevailed; in the Dvāpara, unrighteousness entered them, as well as the Vaiśyas and Śūdras.'
एवं निरंतरं जुष्टमुद्भूतमनृतं पुनः। अधर्मस्य त्रयः पादा एको धर्मस्य चागतः
'Thus, falsehood arose continuously; three parts of unrighteousness appeared, and only one part of righteousness remained.'
ततः पूर्वे भृशं त्रस्ता वर्णा ब्राह्मणपूर्वकाः। भूयः पादस्तु धर्मस्य द्वितीयः समपद्यत
'Then, the classes led by the Brahmins were greatly terrified; again, a second part of righteousness was established.'
तस्मिन्द्वापरसंज्ञे तु तपो वैश्यं समाविशत्। युगत्रयस्य वैधर्म्यं धर्मस्य प्रतितिष्ठति
'In that age called Dvāpara, austerity entered the Vaiśya class; the difference in righteousness among the three ages was maintained.'
कलिसंज्ञे ततः प्राप्ते वर्तमाने युगेंतिमे। अधर्मश्चानृतं चैव ववृधाते नरर्षभ1.35.
'Then, when the present and final age called Kali arrived, unrighteousness and falsehood increased, O best of men.'
भविता शूद्रयोन्यां तु तपश्चर्या कलौ युगे। स ते विषयपर्यंते राजन्नुग्रतरं तपः
'In the Kali Yuga, austerity will arise among those born as Śūdras; in your realm, O king, there will be severe austerity.'
शूद्रस्तपति दुर्बुद्धिस्तेन बालवधः कृतः। यस्याधर्ममकार्यं वा विषये पार्थिवस्य हि
'A Śūdra of evil mind performed austerity, and thus the killing of the child was done; wherever unrighteousness or improper acts occur in the king’s domain—'
पुरे वा राजशार्दूल कुरुते दुर्मतिर्नरः। क्षिप्रं स नरकं याति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्
'If an evil-minded man commits such acts in the city, O tiger among kings, he quickly goes to hell until the end of the cosmic dissolution.'
चतुर्थं तस्य पापस्य भागमश्नाति पार्थिवः। सत्त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल गच्छस्व विषयं स्वकम्
'Of that sin, O king, you partake a fourth share; O best of men, return to your own domain.'
दुष्कृतं यत्र पश्येथास्तत्र यत्नं समाचर। एवं ते धर्मवृद्धिश्च बलस्य वर्धनं तथा
'Wherever you see wrongdoing, there diligently apply yourself; thus, your righteousness will increase, and likewise your strength.'
भविष्यति नरश्रेष्ठ बालस्यास्य च जीवनम्। नारदेनैवमुक्तस्तु साश्चर्यो रघुनंदनः
'So it will be, O best of men, and this child will live.' Thus addressed by Nārada, Rāghava was filled with wonder.
प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे लक्ष्मणं चेदमब्रवीत्। गच्छ सौम्य द्विजश्रेष्ठं समाश्वासय लक्ष्मण
He experienced incomparable joy and spoke to Lakṣmaṇa: 'Go, gentle one, comfort the best of Brahmins, O Lakṣmaṇa.'
बालस्य च शरीरं त्वं तैलद्रोण्यां निधापय। गंधैश्च परमोदारैस्तैलैश्चैव सुगंधिभिः
'And place the child’s body in an oil-filled vessel, with the finest fragrances and most fragrant oils.'
यथा न शीर्यते बालस्तथा सौम्य विधीयताम्। यथा शरीरं गुप्तं स्याद्बालस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः
Just as the child does not wither, O gentle one, so let it be arranged; so that the body of the child, whose actions are untroubled, may be protected.
विपत्तिः परिभेदो वा न भवेत्तत्तथा कुरु। तथा संदिश्य सौमित्रं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्
Let there be no calamity or breach; do so accordingly. Thus instructing Saumitri, Lakshmana of auspicious marks.
मनसा पुष्पकं दध्यावागच्छेति महायशाः। इंगितं तत्तु विज्ञाय कामगं हेमभूषितम्
The illustrious one, by mind, thought of the Pushpaka to come; perceiving that gesture, the wish-fulfilling, gold-adorned vehicle arrived.
आजगाम मुहूर्तात्तु समीपं राघवस्य हि। सोब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमहमस्मि नराधिप
Within a moment, it came near to Raghava; with joined palms, it spoke: 'I am here, O king of men.'
अग्रे तव महाबाहो किंकरः समुपस्थितः। भाषितं सुचिरं श्रुत्वा पुष्पकस्य नराधिप
Before you, O mighty-armed one, your servant stands ready. Hearing the long speech of Pushpaka, the king of men—
अभिवाद्य महर्षींस्तान्विमानं सोध्यरोहत। धनुर्गृहीत्वा तूणौ च खड्गं चापि महाप्रभम्
Having saluted those great sages, he ascended the aerial vehicle; taking up his bow, quiver, and the splendid sword.
निक्षिप्य नगरे वीरौ सौमित्रि भरतावुभौ। प्रायात्प्रतीचीं त्वरितो विचिन्वन्सुसमाहितः
Leaving the two heroes, Saumitri and Bharata, in the city, he departed swiftly westward, searching with great concentration.
उत्तरामगमत्पश्चाद्दिशं हिमवदाश्रिताम्। पूर्वामपि दिशां गत्वा तथाऽपश्यन्नराधिपः
He went north, then to the western region, resting upon the Himalaya; having gone also to the eastern direction, the king saw likewise.
सर्वां शुद्धसमाचारामादर्शमिव निर्मलाम्। ततो दिशं समाक्रामद्दक्षिणां रघुनंदनः
He saw all regions, pure in conduct, spotless as a mirror; then Raghunandana advanced toward the southern direction.
शैलस्य उत्तरे पार्श्वे ददर्श सुमहत्सरः। तस्मिन्सरसि तप्यंतं तापसं सुमहत्तपः
On the northern side of the mountain, he saw a great lake; in that lake, a sage was performing intense austerity.
ददर्श राघवो भीमं लंबमानमधोमुखं। तमुपागम्य काकुत्स्थस्तप्यमानं तु तापसम्
Raghava saw a formidable ascetic, hanging downwards, face lowered; approaching him, Kakutstha saw the sage undergoing austerity.
उवाच राघवो वाक्यं धन्यस्त्वममरप्रभ। कस्यां योनौ तपोवृद्धिर्वर्तते दृढनिश्चय
Raghava spoke: 'Blessed are you, shining like the immortals. In which womb does the increase of austerity occur, with firm resolve?'
अहं दाशरथी रामः पृच्छामि त्वां कुतूहलात्। कोर्थो व्यवसितस्तुभ्यं स्वर्गलोकोथ वेतरः
'I am Rama, son of Dasharatha; I ask you out of curiosity: What is your aim—heavenly world or something else?'
किमर्थं तप्यसे वा त्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तापस। ब्राह्मणो वासि भद्रं ते क्षत्रियो वाथ दुर्जयः
'For what purpose do you perform austerity? I wish to hear, O ascetic. Are you a Brahmin—may you be blessed—or a Kshatriya, difficult to conquer?'