अभिवादयितुं चक्रे सोऽगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्। अभिवाद्य मुनिश्रेष्ठंस्तांश्च सर्वांस्तपोधिकान्
—prepared to offer obeisance to Agastya, the foremost of seers; having saluted the best of sages and all the ascetics—
अथारोहत्तदाव्यग्रः पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम्। तं प्रयांतं मुनिगणा आशीर्वादैस्समंततः
—then, without delay, he ascended the Pushpaka, adorned with gold; as he departed, the hosts of sages blessed him on all sides.
अपूपुजन्नरेंद्रं तं सहस्राक्षमिवामराः। ततोऽर्धदिवसे प्राप्ते रामः सर्वार्थकोविदः
They honored that king as the immortals honor Indra with a thousand eyes; then, when half the day had passed, Rama, wise in all matters—
अयोध्यां प्राप्य काकुत्स्थः पद्भ्यां कक्षामवातरत्। ततो विसृज्य रुचिरं पुष्पकं कामवाहितं
—reached Ayodhya, O Kakutstha, and descended on foot into the park; then, dismissing the splendid Pushpaka, which moved at will—
कक्षांतराद्विनिष्क्रम्य द्वास्थान्राजाऽब्रवीदिदं। लक्ष्मणं भरतं चैव गच्छध्वं लघुविक्रमाः
—he left the park and spoke these words to the doorkeepers: 'Let Lakshmana and Bharata, swift of stride, come here.'
ममागमनमाख्याय समानयत मा चिरम्। श्रुत्वाथ भाषितं द्वास्था रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः1.37.
'Announce my arrival and bring them to me without delay.' Hearing the words of Rama, whose deeds are flawless—
गत्वा कुमारावाहूय राघवाय न्यवदेयन्। द्वास्थैः कुमारावानीतौ राघवस्य निदेशतः
—the doorkeepers went, summoned the princes, and reported to Raghava; by the command of Raghava, the princes were brought by the doorkeepers.
दृष्ट्वा तु राघवः प्राप्तौ प्रियौ भरतलक्ष्मणौ। समालिंग्य तु रामस्तौ वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह
When Raghava saw his beloved Bharata and Lakshmana had arrived, Rama embraced them and spoke these words:
कृतं मया यथातथ्यं द्विजकार्यमनुत्तमं। धर्महेतुमतो भूयः कर्तुमिच्छामि राघवौ
'I have accomplished the supreme duty to the twice-born as it should be; for the sake of righteousness, O Raghavas, I wish to do more.'
भवद्भ्यामात्मभूताभ्यां राजसूयं क्रतूत्तमं। सहितो यष्टुमिच्छामि यत्र धर्मश्च शाश्वतः
'With you both, who are as my own selves, I desire to perform the Rajasuya, the foremost of sacrifices, wherein eternal righteousness abides.'
पुष्करस्थेन वै पूर्वं ब्रह्मणा लोककारिणा। शतत्रयेण यज्ञानामिष्टं षष्ट्याधिकेन च
Formerly, at Puṣkara, Brahmā, the creator of the worlds, performed three hundred and sixty sacrifices.
इष्ट्वा हि राजसूयेन सोमो धर्मेण धर्मवित्। प्राप्तः सर्वेषु लोकेषु कीर्तिस्थानमनुत्तमम्
Having performed the Rājasūya sacrifice with righteousness, Soma, who knows dharma, attained unsurpassed fame in all the worlds.
इष्ट्वा हि राजसूयेन मित्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। मुहूर्तेन सुशुद्धेन वरुणत्वमुपागतः
Indeed, having performed the Rājasūya sacrifice, Mitra, the subduer of enemies, in a single pure moment, attained the status of Varuṇa.
तस्माद्भवंतौ संचिंत्य कार्येस्मिन्वदतं हि तत्। भरत उवाच। त्वं धर्मः परमः साधो त्वयि सर्वा वसुंधरा
Therefore, considering this matter, speak accordingly; Bharata said: You are the supreme embodiment of dharma, O noble one; upon you rests the entire earth.
प्रतिष्ठिता महाबाहो यशश्चामितविक्रम। महीपालाश्च सर्वे त्वां प्रजापतिमिवामराः
O mighty-armed one of unfailing valor, upon you is established fame; all the kings look upon you as the immortals look upon Prajāpati.
निरीक्षंते महात्मानो लोकनाथ तथा वयं। प्रजाश्च पितृवद्राजन्पश्यंति त्वां महामते
O lord of the world, the great-souled ones, as well as we, look to you; and the people, O wise king, regard you as a father.
पृथिव्यां गतिभूतोसि प्राणिनामिह राघव। सत्वमेवंविधं यज्ञं नाहर्त्तासि परंतप
You are the very course of life on earth for all beings, O Rāghava; yet you do not perform such a sacrifice, O subduer of foes.
पृथिव्यां सर्वभूतानां विनाशो दृश्यते यतः। श्रूयते राजशार्दूल सोमस्य मनुजेश्वर
Because the destruction of all beings on earth is seen, O tiger among kings, it is heard, O lord of men, that this is due to Soma.
ज्योतिषां सुमहद्युद्धं संग्रामे तारकामये। तारा बृहस्पतेर्भार्या हृता सोमेनकामतः
A great battle of the luminaries took place in the Tārakāmaya war; Tārā, the wife of Bṛhaspati, was taken by Soma out of desire.
तत्र युद्धं महद्वृत्तं देवदानवनाशनम्। वरुणस्य क्रतौ घोरे संग्रामे मत्स्यकच्छपाः
There, a great battle occurred, destroying gods and demons; in Varuṇa's terrible sacrifice, the fish and tortoises fought.
निवृत्ते राजशार्दूल सर्वे नष्टा जलेचराः। हरिश्चंद्रस्य यज्ञांते राजसूयस्य राघव
When it ended, O tiger among kings, all aquatic creatures perished; at the conclusion of Hariścandra's Rājasūya sacrifice, O Rāghava,
आडीबकंमहद्युद्धं सर्वलोकविनाशनम्। पृथिव्यां यानि सत्वानि तिर्यग्योनिगतानि वै
A great battle of the Āḍībakas occurred, destroying all worlds; all beings on earth, those born in animal wombs,
दिव्यानां पार्थिवानां च राजसूये क्षयः श्रुतः। स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल बुद्ध्या संचिंत्य पार्थिव
It is heard that in the Rājasūya, both celestial and earthly beings perished; therefore, O best of men, consider this with your intellect, O king.
प्राणिनां च हितं सौम्यं पूर्णधर्मं समाचर। भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राघवः प्राह सादरम्
Act for the gentle welfare of living beings, in full accord with dharma; hearing Bharata's words, Rāghava spoke respectfully.
प्रीतोस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ वाक्येनानेन शत्रुहन्। निवर्तिता राजसूयान्मतिर्मे धर्मवत्सल
I am pleased by your words, O knower of dharma, O subduer of enemies; my mind, O lover of dharma, has turned away from the Rājasūya sacrifices.
पूर्णं धर्मं करिष्यामि कान्यकुब्जे च वामनम्। स्थापयिष्याम्यहं वीर सा मे ख्यातिर्दिवं गता
I shall perform complete dharma, and in Kānyakubja I shall establish Vāmana; thus, my fame will reach the heavens, O hero.
भविष्यति न संदेहो यथा गंगा भगीरथात्
There will be no doubt about this, just as the Gaṅgā came from Bhagīratha.
भीष्म उवाच। कथं रामेण विप्रर्षे कान्यकुब्जे तु वामनः। स्थापितः क्व च लब्धोसौ विस्तरान्मम कीर्तय
Bhīṣma said: How did Rāma, O sage among Brāhmaṇas, establish Vāmana at Kānyakubja, and where was he obtained? Tell me this in detail.
तथा हि मधुरा चैषा या वाणी रामकीर्तने। कीर्तिता भगवन्मह्यं हृता कर्णसुखावह
Indeed, such is the sweetness of that speech which praises Rama; O Lord, when it is recited to me, it brings delight to my ears.
अनुरागेण तं लोकाः स्नेहात्पश्यंति राघवम्। धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च बुद्ध्या च परिनिष्ठितः
With affection, people gaze upon Raghava with love; he is wise in righteousness, grateful, and firmly established in understanding.