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.
यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं योनौ कस्यां तु ते तपः। शूद्रयोनिप्रसूतोहं तप उग्रं समास्थितः
As you have asked, in what birth have I undertaken austerity? I am born of a Śūdra womb, and I have undertaken severe austerity.
देवत्वं प्रार्थये राम स्वशरीरेण सुव्रत। न मिथ्याहं वदे भूप देवलोकजिगीषया
I seek divinity, O Rāma, with this very body, O steadfast one. I do not speak falsely, O king; I desire to conquer the world of the gods.
शूद्रं मां विद्धि काकुत्स्थ शंबूकं नाम नामतः। भाषतस्तस्य काकुत्स्थः खड्गं तु रुचिरप्रभं
Know me as a Śūdra, O descendant of Kakutstha, by name Śambūka. As he spoke, Kakutstha drew his splendid, shining sword.
निष्कृष्य कोशाद्विमलं शिरश्चिच्छेद राघवः। तस्मिन्शूद्रे हते देवाः सेन्द्राश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः
Drawing from its sheath the spotless sword, Rāghava cut off his head. When that Śūdra was slain, the gods with Indra and Agni at their head—
साधुसाध्विति काकुत्स्थं प्रशशंसुर्मुहुर्मुहुः। पुष्पवृष्टिश्च महती देवानां सुसुगंधिनी
Again and again praised Kakutstha, saying, 'Well done, well done!' And a great, fragrant shower of flowers from the gods
आकाशाद्विप्रमुक्ता तु राघवं सर्वतोकिरत्। सुप्रीताश्चाब्रुवन्देवा रामं वाक्यविदांवरम्
Was released from the sky and scattered everywhere upon Rāghava. The delighted gods spoke to Rāma, foremost among those skilled in speech:
सुरकार्यमिदं सौम्य कृतं ते रघुनंदन। गृहाण च वरं राम यमिच्छसि महाव्रत
'This divine task, gentle one, has been accomplished by you, O descendant of Raghu. Accept a boon, O Rāma, great in vows, whatever you desire.'
त्वत्कृतेन हि शूद्रोऽयं सशरीरोऽभ्यगाद्दिवं। देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा राघवः सुसमाहितः
Because of your action, this Śūdra has ascended to heaven with his body. Hearing the words of the gods, Rāghava, with mind composed,
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं सहस्राक्षं पुरंदरम्। यदि देवाः प्रसन्ना मे वरार्हो यदि वाप्यहम्
With joined palms spoke to the thousand-eyed Purandara: 'If the gods are pleased with me, and if I am worthy of a boon—
कर्मणा यदि मे प्रीता द्विजपुत्रः स जीवतु। वरमेतद्धि भवतां कांक्षितं परमं हि मे
If you are pleased with my deed, let the brāhmin's son live. This is the supreme boon I desire from you all.'