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.
तदहं देवतादेशात्तत्कार्यार्थे महामुनिं। पश्यामि तं मुनिं गत्वा देवदानवपूजितम्
Therefore, by the command of the gods, I go to see that great sage, honored by gods and demons alike, for the sake of that task.
उपदेशं च मे तुष्टः स्वयं दास्यति सत्तमः। दुःखी येन पुनर्मर्त्ये न भवामि कदाचन
Satisfied, that excellent one will personally give me instruction, by which I shall never again be sorrowful among mortals.
पिता दशरथो मह्यं कौसल्या जननी तथा। सूर्यवंशे समुत्पन्नस्तथाप्येवं सुदुःखितः
My father was Daśaratha, my mother was Kausalyā; though born in the Solar dynasty, even so, I have suffered greatly.
राज्यकाले वने वासो भार्यया चानुजेन च। हरणं चापि भार्याया रावणेन कृतं मम
During my reign, I dwelt in the forest with my wife and brother; my wife was also abducted by Rāvaṇa.
असहायेन तु मया तीर्त्वा सागरमुत्तमम्। रुद्ध्वा तु तां पुरीं सर्वां कृत्वा तस्य कुलक्षयम्
Alone, I crossed the great ocean, besieged that entire city, and destroyed his whole lineage.
दृष्टा सीता मया त्यक्ता देवानां तु पुरस्तदा। शुद्धां तां मां तथोचुस्ते मया सीता तथा गृहम्
I found Sītā and, in the presence of the gods, abandoned her; though they declared her pure, I brought Sītā home.
समानीता प्रीतिमता लोकवाक्याद्विसर्जिता। वने वसति सा देवी पुरे चाहं वसामि वै
Though I brought her back with affection, I sent her away because of public opinion; the goddess dwells in the forest, while I remain in the city.
जातोहमुत्तमे वंशे उत्तमोहं धनुष्मताम्। उत्तमं दुःखमापन्नो हृदयं नैव भिद्यते
I was born in a noble lineage, the best among archers, yet I have endured the greatest sorrow, and my heart does not break.
वज्रसारस्य सारेण धात्राहं निर्मितो ध्रुवम्। इदानीं ब्राह्मणादेशाद्भ्रमामि धरणीतले
Surely I was fashioned by the Creator from the essence of diamond, for now, by the command of a brāhmin, I wander upon the earth.
तपः स्थितस्तु शूद्रोसौ मया पापो निपातितः। देववाक्यात्तु मे भूयः प्राणो मे हृदि संस्थितः
While I was engaged in austerity, I struck down that sinful śūdra; but by the words of the gods, my life has once again been restored to my heart.