तं तथोक्त्वा मुनिजनमरजामिदमब्रवीत्। आश्रमे त्वं सुदुर्मेधे वस चेह समाहिता
Having thus addressed the ascetics, he said to Arajā: 'O most wicked-minded one, remain here in the hermitage, composed.'
इदं योजनपर्यंतमाश्रमं रुचिरप्रभम्। अरजे विरजास्तिष्ठ कालमत्र समाश्शतम्
Remain here, O sinless Arajā, within this hermitage, shining beautifully for a hundred years, as far as a yojana extends.
श्रुत्वा नियोगं विप्रर्षेररजा भार्गवी तदा। तथेति पितरं प्राह भार्गवं भृशदुःखिता
Hearing the command of the sage, Arajā, daughter of Bhṛgu, greatly distressed, replied to her father, 'So be it.'
इत्युक्त्वा भार्गवो वासं तस्मादन्यमुपाक्रमत्। सप्ताहे भस्मसाद्भूतं यथोक्तं ब्रह्मवादिना
Having spoken thus, Bhārgava departed to another dwelling; in seven days, as declared by the knower of Brahman, it was reduced to ashes.
तस्माद्दंडस्य विषयो विंध्यशैलस्य मानुष। शप्तो ह्युशनसा राम तदाभूद्धर्षणे कृते
Therefore, O man, the territory of Daṇḍa, up to Mount Vindhya, was cursed by Ushanas, O Rāma, because of the outrage committed.
ततःप्रभृति काकुत्स्थ दंडकारण्यमुच्यते। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां पृच्छसि राघव
From that time onward, O descendant of Kakutstha, it is called the Daṇḍaka forest; all this I have related to you, O Rāghava, as you asked.
संध्यामुपासितुं वीर समयो ह्यतिवर्तते। एते महर्षयो राम पूर्णकुंभाः समंततः
O hero, the time for worshipping the twilight has come; these great sages, O Rāma, stand all around with full water pots.
कृतोदका नरव्याघ्र पूजयंति दिवाकरम्। सर्वैरॄषिभिरभ्यस्तैः स्तोत्रैर्ब्रह्मादिभिः कृतैः
O tiger among men, having performed the water-rites, they worship the sun with hymns practiced by all the sages, composed by Brahmā and others.
रविरस्तंगतो राम गत्वोदकमुपस्पृश। ॠषेर्वचनमादाय रामः संध्यामुपासितुम्
When the sun had set, O Rāma, having performed the water-rites, Rāma, taking the sage’s words to heart, began to worship the twilight.
उपचक्राम तत्पुण्यं ससरोरघुनंदनः। अथ तस्मिन्वनोद्देशे रम्ये पादपशोभिते
Then Rāghu’s descendant began that sacred twilight worship; in that delightful forest region, adorned with beautiful trees—
नदपुण्ये गिरिवरे कोकिलाशतमंडिते। नानापक्षिरवोद्याने नानामृगसमाकुले
In the sacred river, upon the great mountain adorned with flocks of cuckoos, in a garden resounding with various birds and teeming with many kinds of animals,
सिंहव्याघ्रसमाकीर्णे नानाद्विजसमावृते। गृध्रोलूकौ प्रवसितौ बहून्वर्षगणानपि
Filled with lions and tigers, surrounded by diverse birds, the vulture and the owl dwelled there for many years.
अथोलूकस्य भवनं गृध्रः पापविनिश्चयः। ममेदमिति कृत्वाऽसौ कलहं तेन चाकरोत्
Then, the vulture, resolved in wickedness, claimed the owl’s dwelling as his own, and thus began a quarrel with him.
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य रामो राजीवलोचनः। तं प्रपद्यावहै शीघ्रं कस्यैतद्भवनं भवेत्
Rāma, lotus-eyed king of all the world, let us quickly approach him to determine whose dwelling this shall be.
गृध्रोलूकौ प्रपद्येतां जातकोपावमर्षिणौ। रामं प्रपद्यतौ शीघ्रं कलिव्याकुलचेतसौ
The vulture and the owl, both born of anger and unable to endure, swiftly approached Rāma, their minds agitated by discord.
तौ परस्परविद्वेषौ स्पृशतश्चरणौ तथा। अथ दृष्ट्वा राघवेंद्रं गृध्रो वचनमब्रवीत्
Hostile to one another, they touched his feet; then, seeing the lord of the Raghu lineage, the vulture spoke these words.
सुराणामसुराणां च त्वं प्रधानो मतो मम। बृहस्पतेश्च शुक्राच्च त्वं विशिष्टो महामतिः
Among gods and demons, you are regarded by me as foremost; you surpass both Bṛhaspati and Śukra in wisdom, O great-minded one.
परावरज्ञो भूतानां मर्त्ये शक्र इवापरः। दुर्निरीक्षो यथा सूर्यो हिमवानिव गौरवे
Knowing the highest and lowest among beings, you are like another Indra among mortals; difficult to gaze upon like the sun, weighty as the Himalaya.
सागरश्चासि गांभीर्ये लोकपालो यमो ह्यसि। क्षांत्या धरण्या तुल्योसि शीघ्रत्वे ह्यनिलोपमः
You are as deep as the ocean, as a guardian of the world you are Yama; in patience you are equal to the earth, and in swiftness you resemble the wind.
गुरुस्त्वं सर्वसंपन्नो विष्णुरूपोसि राघव। अमर्षी दुर्जयो जेता सर्वास्त्रविधिपारगः
You are the teacher, possessing all virtues, O Rāghava, you are of Viṣṇu’s form; intolerant of injustice, unconquerable, victorious, master of all weapons and their use.
शृणु त्वं मम देवेश विज्ञाप्यं नरपुंगव। ममालयं पूर्वकृतं बाहुवीर्येण वै प्रभो
Hear, O lord of gods, what I wish to convey, O best of men; this dwelling was formerly mine, gained by the strength of my arms, O master.
उलूको हरते राजंस्त्वत्समीपे विशेषतः। ईदृशोयं दुराचारस्त्वदाज्ञा लंघको नृप
The owl has seized it, especially near you, O king; such is his wicked conduct, he transgresses your command.
प्राणांतिकेन दंडेन राम शासितुमर्हसि। एवमुक्ते तु गृध्रेण उलूको वाक्यमब्रवीत्
With the punishment that ends life, O Rāma, you should discipline him; when the vulture had spoken thus, the owl replied.
शृणु देव मम ज्ञाप्यमेकचित्तो नराधिप। सोमाच्छक्राच्च सूर्याच्च धनदाच्च यमात्तथा
Hear, O lord, what I wish to declare with single-mindedness, O king; from Soma, Indra, Sūrya, Kubera, and Yama,
जायते वै नृपो राम किंचिद्भवति मानुषः। त्वं तु सर्वमयो देवो नारायणपरायणः
A king is born, O Rāma, and becomes somewhat human; but you are the all-pervading god, devoted to Nārāyaṇa.
प्रोच्यते सोमता राजन्सम्यक्कार्ये विचारिते। सम्यग्रक्षसि तापेभ्यस्तमोघ्नो हि यतो भवान्
You are called Soma, O king, when proper action is considered; you rightly protect from afflictions, for you are the destroyer of darkness.
दोषे दंडात्प्रजानां त्वं यतः पापभयापहः। दाता प्रहर्ता गोप्ता च तेनेंद्र इव नो भवान्
In punishment for faults among the people, you remove the fear of sin; you are giver, striker, and protector, thus you are like Indra for us.
अधृष्यः सर्वभूतेषु तेजसा चानलो मतः। अभीक्ष्णं तपसे पापांस्तेन त्वं राम भास्करः
Unassailable among all beings, you are regarded as fire by your brilliance; by constant austerity you destroy sins, thus, O Rāma, you are like the sun.
साक्षाद्वित्तेशतुल्यस्त्वमथवा धनदाधिकः। चित्तायत्ता तु पत्नीश्रीर्नित्यं ते राजसत्तम
O best of kings, you are directly equal to Kubera, or even superior to the Lord of Wealth; yet the prosperity of a wife always depends upon the disposition of the mind.
धनदस्य तु कोशेन धनदस्तेन वैभवान्। समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु स्थावरेषु चरेषु च
By his treasury, Kubera is wealthy and thus, in splendor, he is equal among all beings, both stationary and moving.