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.
प्रशास्ति पृथिवीं सर्वां धर्मेण सुसमाहितः। तस्मिन्शासति वै राज्यं सर्वकामफलाद्रुमाः
He governs the entire earth, well established in dharma; while he rules, the kingdom is like a wish-fulfilling tree granting every desire.
रसवंतः प्रभूताश्च वासांसि विविधानि च। अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी निःसपत्ना महात्मनः
There are abundant and flavorful garments of many kinds; the earth of that great soul yields crops without ploughing and is free of rivals.
देवकार्यं कृतं तेन रावणो लोककंटकः। सपुत्रोमात्यसहितो लीलयैव निपातितः
He accomplished the task of the gods: Ravana, the tormentor of the worlds, along with his sons and ministers, was effortlessly destroyed by him.
तस्यबुद्धिस्समुत्पन्ना पूर्णे धर्मे द्विजोत्तम। तस्याहं चरितं सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि वै मुने
O best of twice-born, in him arose a mind fully established in dharma; O sage, I wish to hear all of his deeds.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य रामो धर्मपथे स्थितः। यच्चकार महाबाहो शृणुष्वैकमना नृप
Pulastya said: At a certain time, Rama, steadfast on the path of dharma, performed deeds—listen attentively, O king, to what the mighty-armed one did.
सस्मार राक्षसेंद्रं तं कथं राजा विभीषणः। लंकायां संस्थितो राज्यं करिष्यति च राक्षसः
He remembered that king of the Rakshasas, and wondered how Vibhishana, the Rakshasa, would rule the kingdom established in Lanka.
गीर्वाणेषु प्रातिकूल्यं विनाशस्य तु लक्षणम्। मया तस्य तु तद्दत्तं राज्यं चंद्रार्ककालिकम्
Among the gods, opposition is a sign of destruction; but by me, that kingdom was given to him, enduring as long as the moon and sun.
तस्याविनाशतः कीर्तिः स्थिरा मे शाश्वती भवेत्। रावणेन तपस्तप्तं विनाशायात्मनस्त्विह
Because of his indestructibility, his fame will remain firm and eternal by my will; Ravana performed austerities here only for his own destruction.
विध्वस्तः स च पापिष्ठो देवकार्ये मयाधुना। तदिदानीं मयान्वेष्यः स्वयं गत्वा विभीषणः
That most sinful one has now been destroyed by me in the gods’ cause; therefore, now I must personally go and see Vibhishana.
संदेष्टव्यं हितं तस्य येन तिष्ठेत्स शाश्वतम्। एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य रामस्यामिततेजसः
He must be instructed in what is beneficial, so that he may remain forever; as Rama of immeasurable energy was thinking thus—