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.
ततो ब्रह्मा सुरश्रेष्ठो लोकपालान्सवासवान्। समाहूयाब्रवीत्सर्वांस्तेजोभागोऽत्र युज्यताम्
Then Brahmā, best of gods, summoned all the guardians of the worlds along with Indra, and said to them all: 'Let a share of your splendor be joined here.'
ततो ददुर्लोकपालाश्चतुर्भागं स्वतेजसा। अक्षयश्च ततो ब्रह्मा यतो जातोऽक्षयो नृपः
Then the guardians of the worlds gave a fourth part of their own splendor; and from that, Brahmā created the inexhaustible king, for he was born from the inexhaustible.
तं ब्रह्मा लोकपालानामंशं पुंसामयोजयत्। ततो नृपस्तदा तासां प्रजानां क्षेमपंडितः
Brahmā then united that portion of the guardians of the worlds into a man; thus, the king became the protector and guide of those beings.
तत्रैंद्रेण तु भागेन सर्वानाज्ञापयेन्नृपः। वारुणेन च भागेन सर्वान्पुष्णाति देहिनः
By the portion of Indra, the king commands all; by the portion of Varuṇa, he nourishes all living beings.
कौबेरेण तथांशेन त्वर्थान्दिशति पार्थिवः। यश्च याम्यो नृपे भागस्तेन शास्ति च वै प्रजाः
By the portion of Kubera, the king dispenses wealth; and by the portion of Yama, he rules over the people.
तत्र चैंद्रेण भागेन नरेन्द्रोसि रघूत्तम। प्रतिगृह्णीष्वाभरणं तारणार्थे मम प्रभो
There, by the portion of Indra, you are king, O best of the Raghus; accept the ornament for the sake of my deliverance, O lord.
ततो रामः प्रजग्राह मुनेर्हस्तान्महात्मनः। दिव्यमाभरणं चित्रं प्रदीप्तमिव भास्करं
Then Rama received from the hands of the great sage a divine ornament, splendid and radiant like the sun.
प्रतिगृह्य ततोगस्त्याद्राघवः परवीरहा। निरीक्ष्य सुचिरं कालं विचार्य च पुनः पुनः1.36.
Having accepted it from Agastya, Raghava, the slayer of mighty foes, gazed upon it for a long time, reflecting again and again.
मौक्तिकानि विचित्राणि धात्रीफलसमानि च। जांबूनदनिबद्धानि वज्रविद्रुमनीलकैः
It was adorned with pearls of various kinds, resembling amla fruits, bound with gold and set with diamonds, coral, and sapphires.
पद्मरागैः सगोमेधैर्वैडूर्यैः पुष्परागकैः। सुनिबद्धं सुविभक्तं सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा
With rubies, garnets, cat's-eye gems, and flower-like stones, skillfully arranged and beautifully crafted by Vishvakarma.
दृष्ट्वा प्रीतिसमायुक्तो भूयश्चेदं व्यचिंतयत्। नेदृशानि च रत्नानि मया दृष्टानि कानिचित्
Seeing it, filled with delight, he thought again: 'I have never seen such gems anywhere.'
उपशोभानि बद्धानि पृथ्वीमूल्यसमानि च। विभीषणस्य लंकायां न दृष्टानि मया पुरा
So splendidly set, equal in value to the earth itself, such jewels I never saw before, even in Vibhishana's Lanka.
इति संचित्य मनसा राघवस्तमृषिं पुनः। आगमं तस्य दिव्यस्य प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे
Thus pondering in his mind, Raghava again approached the sage to inquire about the origin of this divine ornament.
अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मन्न प्राप्यं च महीक्षिताम्। कथं भगवता प्राप्तं कुतो वा केन निर्मितम्
'O Brahman, this is exceedingly wondrous and unattainable for kings; how did you obtain it, from where, and by whom was it made?'
कुतूहलवशाच्चैव पृच्छामि त्वां महामते। करतलेस्थिते रत्ने करमध्यं प्रकाशते
'Driven by curiosity, O wise one, I ask you: the jewel resting in the palm shines at the center of the hand.'
अधमं तद्विजानीयात्सर्वशास्त्रेषु गर्हितम्। दिशः प्रकाशयेद्यत्तन्मध्यमं मुनिसत्तम
'Know that the lowest is condemned in all scriptures, O best of sages; that which shines toward the directions is considered middling.'
ऊर्ध्वगं त्रिशिखं यत्स्यादुत्तमं तदुदाहृतम्। एतान्युत्तमजातीनि ऋषिभिः कीर्तितानि तु
'That which rises upward in three rays is called the highest; these superior types are praised by the sages.'
आश्चर्याणां बहूनां हि दिव्यानां भगवान्निधिः। एवं वदति काकुत्स्थे मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
Of many wondrous and divine treasures, the Lord is the repository; thus, as Kakutstha spoke, the sage replied.
अगस्त्य उवाच। शृणु राम पुरावृत्तं पुरा त्रेतायुगे महत्। द्वापरे समनुप्राप्ते वने यद्दृष्टवानहम्
Agastya said: 'Hear, Rama, of an ancient event, long ago in the great Treta age, and what I saw in the forest as Dvapara approached.'
आश्चर्यं सुमहाबाहो निबोध रघुनंदन। पुरा त्रेतायुगे ह्यासीदरण्यं बहुविस्तरम्
'Listen, O mighty-armed descendant of Raghu, to a marvel: in the Treta age there was a vast forest.'