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?'
वैश्यस्तृतीयवर्णो वा शूद्रो वा सत्यमुच्यताम्। तपः सत्यात्मकं नित्यं स्वर्गलोकपरिग्रहे
'Or a Vaishya, of the third caste, or a Shudra? Speak truthfully. Austerity is always of the nature of truth, for attaining the heavenly worlds.'
सात्विकं राजसं चैव तच्च सत्यात्मकं तपः। जगदुपकारहेतुर्हि सृष्टं तद्वै विरिंचिना
'Austerity is sattvic and rajasic, and that austerity is of the nature of truth; it was created by Brahma for the welfare of the world.'
रौद्रं क्षत्रियतेजोजं तत्तु राजसमुच्यते। परस्योत्सादनार्थाय तच्चासुरमुदाहृतम्
'The fierce energy of Kshatriyas is called rajasic; it is declared as asuric, for the purpose of destroying others.'
अंगानि निह्नुते यो वा असृग्दिग्धानि भागशः। पंचाग्निंसाधयेद्वापि सिद्धिं वा मृत्युमेव वा
'He who conceals his limbs, smeared with blood in parts, or who accomplishes the five fires, or attains either success or death—'
आसुरो ह्येष ते भावो न च मे त्वं द्विजो मतः। सत्यं ते वदतः सिद्धिरनृते नास्ति जीवितम्
This disposition of yours is indeed demonic, and I do not regard you as a twice-born. Speaking truth brings you success; with falsehood, there is no life.
तस्य तद्भाषितं श्रुत्वा रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। अवाक्शिरास्तथा भूतो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Hearing these words of Rāma, whose actions are unblemished, he who stood with his head bowed thus spoke this speech:
स्वागतं ते नृपश्रेष्ठ चिराद्दृष्टोसि राघव। पुत्रभूतोस्मि ते चाहं पितृभूतोसि मेनघ
Welcome to you, best of kings; after a long time you are seen, O Rāghava. I am as a son to you, and you, sinless one, are as a father to me.
अथवा नैतदेवं हि सर्वेषां नृपतिः पिता। सत्वमर्च्योऽसि भो राजन्वयं ते विषये तपः
Or rather, it is not so; for the king is the father of all. You are worthy of honor, O king; we perform austerities in your realm.
चरामस्तत्रभागोस्ति पूर्वं सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा। न धन्याः स्मो वयं राम धन्यस्त्वमसि पार्थिव
We dwell here; this portion was formerly created by the Self-born. We are not the blessed ones, O Rāma; you are the blessed one, O king.
यस्य ते विषये ह्येवं सिद्धिमिच्छंति तापसाः। तपसा त्वं मदीयेन सिद्धिमाप्नुहि राघव
For in your realm, ascetics desire success in this way. By my austerity, may you attain success, O Rāghava.