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.
शत्रौ मित्रे च ते दृष्टिः समंताद्याति राघव। धर्मेण शासनं नित्यं व्यवहारविधिक्रमैः
O Rāghava, your gaze remains impartial toward both enemy and friend; you always govern by righteousness, following the proper procedures of conduct.
यस्य रुष्यसि वै राम मृत्युस्तस्याभिधीयते। गीयसे तेन वै राजन्यम इत्यभिविश्रुतः
O Rāma, whoever incurs your wrath is said to meet death; thus, you are renowned as the king who restrains by punishment.
यश्चासौ मानुषो भावो भवतो नृपसत्तम। आनृशंस्यपरो राजा सर्वेषु कृपयान्वितः
And that human nature of yours, O best of kings, is ever inclined to compassion; as a king, you are filled with kindness toward all.
दुर्बलस्य त्वनाथस्य राजा भवति वै बलम्। अचक्षुषो भवेच्चक्षुरमतेषु मतिर्भवेत्
The king becomes the strength of the weak and the protector of the helpless; he is the eyes for the blind and the mind for those without discernment.
अस्माकमपि नाथस्त्वं श्रूयतां मम धार्मिक। भवता तत्र मंतव्यं यथैते किल पक्षिणः
You are also our protector, O righteous one; listen to me. You should consider us just as you consider these birds.
योस्मन्नाथः स पक्षींद्रो भवतो विनियोज्यकः। अस्वाम्यं देव नास्माकं सन्निधौ भवतः प्रभो
He who is our lord is the king of birds, appointed by you; O lord, in your presence, we have no independence.
भवतैव कृतं पूर्वं भूतग्रामं चतुर्विधम्। ममालयप्रविष्टस्तु गृध्रो मां बाधते नृप
By you alone, previously, the fourfold community of beings was established; but now, O king, a vulture who has entered my abode is troubling me.
भवान्देवमनुष्येषु शास्ता वै नरपुंगव। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वै रामः सचिवानाह्वयत्स्वयम्
Among gods and men, you are the ruler, O foremost of men; hearing this, Rāma himself summoned his ministers.
विष्टिर्जयंतो विजयः सिद्धार्थो राष्ट्रवर्धनः। अशोको धर्मपालश्च सुमंत्रश्च महाबलः
Viṣṭi, Jayaṃta, Vijaya, Siddhārtha, Rāṣṭravardhana, Aśoka, Dharmapāla, and Sumaṃtra the mighty—
एते रामस्य सचिवा राज्ञो दशरथस्य च। नीतियुक्ता महात्मानः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः
These are the ministers of Rāma and King Daśaratha, great souls endowed with policy, and experts in all the scriptures.