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.
पश्यामि तं मुनिं वंद्यं जगतोस्य हिते रतम्। दृष्टेन मे तथा दुःखं नाशमेष्यति सत्वरम्
I see that venerable sage, devoted to the welfare of this world; by seeing him, my suffering will swiftly come to an end.
उदयेन सहस्रांशोर्हिमं यद्वद्विलीयते। तद्वन्मे दुःखसंप्राप्तिः सर्वथा नाशमेष्यति
Just as ice melts with the rising of the thousand-rayed sun, so too will my suffering be completely destroyed.
दृष्ट्वा च देवान्संप्राप्तानगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। अर्घ्यमादाय सुप्रीतः सर्वांस्तानभ्यपूजयत्
Seeing the gods arrive, the revered sage Agastya, delighted, took the offering and honored all of them.
ते तु गृह्य ततः पूजां संभाष्य च महामुनिं। जग्मुस्तेन तदा हृष्टा नाकपृष्ठं सहानुगाः
They, having received the worship and spoken with the great sage, departed joyfully with their attendants to the heavenly realm.
गतेषु तेषु काकुत्स्थः पुष्पकादवरुह्य च। अभिवादयितुं प्राप्तः सोगस्त्यमृषिमुत्तमम्
When they had gone, Kakutstha descended from the Pushpaka and approached to pay respects to the eminent sage Agastya.
राजोवाच। सुतो दशरथस्याहं भवंतमभिवादितुम्। आगतो वै मुनिश्रेष्ठ सौम्येनेक्षस्व चक्षुषा
The king said: I am the son of Dasharatha, come to honor you, O foremost sage; kindly look upon me with gentle eyes.
निर्धूतपापस्त्वां दृष्ट्वा भवामीह न संशयः। एतावदुक्त्वा स मुनिमभिवाद्य पुनः पुनः
Having seen you, I am cleansed of sin, without doubt; saying this, he repeatedly bowed to the sage.
कुशलं भृत्यवर्गस्य मृगाणां तनयस्य च। भगवद्दर्शनाकांक्षी शूद्रं हत्वा त्विहागतः
Is all well with your servants and the offspring of the deer? Desiring to see you, I have come here after slaying the Shudra.
अगस्त्य उवाच। स्वागतं ते रघुश्रेष्ठ जगद्वंद्य सनातन। दर्शनात्तव काकुत्स्थ पूतोहं मुनिभिः सह
Agastya said: Welcome to you, best of Raghu's line, honored by the world and eternal; by your sight, O Kakutstha, I am purified along with the sages.
त्वत्कृते रघुशार्दूल गृहाणार्घं महाद्युते। स्वागतं नरशार्दूल दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोसि शत्रुहन्
For your sake, tiger among the Raghus, accept this offering, O radiant one; welcome, best among men, by fortune you have arrived, slayer of enemies.