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.'
ममापराधाद्बालोऽसौ ब्राह्मणस्यैकपुत्रकः। अप्राप्तकालः कालेन नीतो वैवस्वत क्षयम्
'Because of my fault, that boy, the only son of a brāhmin, was taken by Time to the realm of Yama before his time.'
तं जीवयत भद्रं वो नानृती स्यामहं गुरोः। द्विजस्य संश्रुतो ह्यर्थो जीवयिष्यामि ते सुतम्
'Restore him to life, blessings upon you; let me not be false to my teacher. The brāhmin's request is indeed heard; I will restore your son to life.'
मदीयेनायुषा बालं पादेनार्द्धेन वा सुराः। जीवेदयं वरो मह्यं वरकोट्यधिको वृतः
With my own lifespan, O gods, or even with half of it, I grant life to the boy; this is the boon I choose, a boon greater than countless others.
राघवस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा विबुधसत्तमाः। प्रत्यूचुस्ते महात्मानं प्रीताः प्रीतिसमन्विताः
Hearing those words of Rāghava, the foremost among the gods, filled with joy and affection, replied to the great-souled one.
निर्वृतो भव काकुत्स्थ ब्राह्मणस्यैकपुत्रकः। जीवितं प्राप्तवान्भूयः समेतश्चापि बंधुभिः
Be at ease, O descendant of Kakutstha; the brāhmin's only son has regained his life and is reunited with his family.
यस्मिन्मुहूर्ते काकुत्स्थ शूद्रोयं विनिपातितः। तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते सहसा जीवेन समयुज्यत
At the very moment, O Kakutstha, when this śūdra was struck down, at that same instant he was suddenly joined with life again.
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते साधयामः परंतपः। अगस्त्यस्याश्रमपदे द्रष्टारः स्म महामुनिम्
May you attain well-being, may good fortune be yours, O subduer of foes; we shall now proceed to the hermitage of Agastya to see the great sage.
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय देवानां रघुनंदनः। आरुरोह विमानं तं पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम्
Having thus promised, Raghunandana ascended that aerial chariot, the Puṣpaka, adorned with gold.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। ततो देवाः प्रयातास्ते विमानैर्बहुभिस्तदा। रामोप्यनुजगामाशु कुंभयोनेस्तपोवनम्
Pulastya said: Then, at that time, the gods departed in many aerial chariots, and Rāma swiftly followed to the hermitage of the lotus-born sage.
उक्तं भगवता तेन भूयोप्यागमनं क्रियाः। पूर्वमेव सभायां च यो मां द्रष्टुं समागतः
He had been told by the Blessed One that he should come again and perform the rites, for previously, in the assembly, he had come to see me.