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.
त्वं हि नित्यं बहुमतो गुणैर्बहुभिरुत्तमैः। अतस्त्वं पूजनीयो वै मम नित्यं हृदिस्थितः
You are always highly esteemed for your many excellent virtues; therefore, you are worthy of honor and ever reside in my heart.
सुरा हि कथयंति त्वां शूद्रघातिनमागतं। ब्राह्मणस्य च धर्मेण त्वया वै जीवितः सुतः
The gods speak of you as the one who has come after slaying the Shudra; and by your righteous conduct, the Brahmin's son has been restored to life.
उष्यतां चेह भगवः सकाशे मम राघव। प्रभाते पुष्पकेणासि गंतायोध्यां महामते
Remain here, O blessed one, with me, O Raghava; in the morning, you will go to Ayodhya by the Pushpaka, O wise one.
इदं चाभरणं सौम्य सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा। दिव्यं दिव्येनवपुषा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा
And this ornament, gentle one, was skillfully made by Vishvakarma; divine, with a celestial form, shining with its own brilliance.
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व राजेन्द्र मत्प्रियं कुरु राघव। लब्धस्य हि पुनर्द्दाने सुमहत्फलमुच्यते
Accept it, O king, and do what pleases me, O Raghava; for giving back what has been received is said to yield great reward.
त्वं हि शक्तः परित्रातुं सेंद्रानपि सुरोत्तमान्। तस्मात्प्रदास्ये विधिवत्प्रतीच्छस्व नरर्षभ
You are capable of protecting even the best of gods along with Indra; therefore, I will give it to you properly, accept it, O foremost of men.
अथोवाच महाबाहुरिक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः। कृतांजलिर्मुनिश्रेष्ठं स्वं च धर्ममनुस्मरन्
Then the mighty-armed, great chariot-warrior of the Ikshvakus spoke, with hands joined, to the foremost sage, recalling his own duty.
प्रतिग्रहो वै भगवंस्तव मेऽत्र विगर्हितः। क्षत्रियेण कथं विप्र प्रतिग्राह्यं विजानता
O revered one, accepting gifts from you is improper for me here; how can a Kshatriya, knowing this, accept gifts from a Brahmin?
ब्राह्मणेन तु यद्दत्तं तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि। सपुत्रो गृहवानस्मि समर्थोस्मि महामुने
But what has been given by a brāhmaṇa, you ought to tell me; I have a son, a household, and I am capable, O great sage.
आपदा चन चाक्रांतः कथं ग्राह्यः प्रतिग्रहः। भार्या मे सुचिरं नष्टा न चान्या मम विद्यते
Even when beset by calamity, how could I accept a gift? My wife has long been lost, and I have no other.
केवलं दोषभागी च भवामीह न संशयः। कष्टां चैव दशां प्राप्य क्षत्रियोपि प्रतिग्रही
Here, I alone would bear the fault, there is no doubt; even a kṣatriya, having reached a dire situation, becomes a recipient.
कुर्वन्न दोषमाप्नोति मनुरेवात्र कारणम्। वृद्धौ च मातापितरौ साध्वी भार्या शिशुः सुतः
By doing so, he incurs no fault—Manu is the authority here; for the sake of aged parents, a virtuous wife, and a young son.
अप्यकार्यशतं कृत्वा भर्तव्या मनुरब्रवीत्। नाहं प्रतीच्छे विप्रर्षे त्वया दत्तं प्रतिग्रहं
Even after committing a hundred improper acts, they must be supported—so Manu has said; but I will not accept the gift you have offered, O sage among brāhmaṇas.
न च मे भवता कोपः कार्यो वै सुरपूजित
Nor should you be angry with me, revered by the gods.
अगस्त्य उवाच। न च प्रतिग्रहे दोषो गृहीते पार्थिवैर्नृप। भवान्वै तारणे शक्तस्त्रैलोक्यस्यापि राघव
Agastya said: There is no fault in accepting a gift when it is received by kings, O ruler; indeed, you are capable of rescuing even the three worlds, O Rāghava.
तारय ब्राह्मणं राम विशेषेण तपस्विनं। तस्मात्प्रदास्ये विधिवत्प्रतीच्छस्व नराघिप
Rescue the brāhmaṇa, O Rāma, especially the ascetic; therefore, I will duly give—accept, O lord of men.
राम उवाच। क्षत्रियेण कथं विप्र प्रतिग्राह्यं विजानता। ब्राह्मणेन तु यद्दत्तं तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Rāma said: How can a kṣatriya, knowing this, accept a gift, O brāhmaṇa? But what has been given by a brāhmaṇa, you ought to tell me.
अगस्त्य उवाच। आसीत्कृतयुगे राम ब्रह्मपूते पुरातने। अपार्थिवाः प्रजाः सर्वाः सुराणां च शतक्रतुः
Agastya said: In the Kṛta Yuga, O Rāma, in the ancient, pure age of Brahmā, all beings were not ruled by kings, and Indra was the lord of the gods.
ताः प्रजा देवदेवेशं राजार्थं समुपागमन्। सुराणां विद्यते राजा देवदेवः शतक्रतुः
Those beings approached the lord of gods for the sake of a king; among the gods, the king is the lord of gods, Indra.
श्रेयसेस्मासु लोकेश पार्थिवं कुरु सांप्रतं। यस्मिन्पूजां प्रयुंजानाः पुरुषा भुंजते महीम्
For our greater good, O lord of the world, now appoint a king, whom, when honored, people may enjoy the earth.