हरिश्मश्रुर्धनुर्धारी भीमो धर्मपराक्रमः। एवं स्तुतस्तु रामेण ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदांवरः
He has tawny beard, wields a bow, is formidable, and mighty in righteousness; thus praised by Rama, Brahma, the foremost knower of Brahman—
उवाच प्रणतं रामं करे गृह्य पितामहः। विष्णुस्त्वं मानुषे देहेऽवतीर्णो वसुधातले
Addressed Rama, who had bowed, taking him by the hand: 'You are Vishnu, descended in human form upon the earth.'
कृतं तद्भवता सर्वं देवकार्यं महाविभो। संस्थाप्य वामनं देवं जाह्नव्या दक्षिणे तटे
'All the work of the gods has been accomplished by you, O great and mighty one. Having established the god Vamana on the southern bank of the Jahnavi—'
अयोध्यां स्वपुरीं गत्वा सुरलोकं व्रजस्व च। विसृष्टो ब्रह्मणा रामः प्रणिपत्य पितामहं
'Go to Ayodhya, your own city, and then proceed to the world of the gods.' Thus released by Brahma, Rama bowed to the grandsire.
आरूढः पुष्पकं यानं संप्राप्तो मधुरां पुरीम्। समीक्ष्य पुत्रसहितं शत्रुघ्नं शत्रुघातिनं
Ascending the Pushpaka chariot, he reached the city of Madhura, and beheld Shatrughna, destroyer of enemies, together with his son.
तुतोष राघवः श्रीमान्भरतः स हरीश्वरः। शत्रुघ्नो भ्रातरौ प्राप्तौ शक्रोपेन्द्राविवागतौ
The illustrious Raghava was pleased, as was Bharata, lord of the monkeys; Shatrughna and his brother arrived like Indra and Upendra.
प्रणिपत्य ततो मूर्ध्ना पंचांगालिंगितावनिः। उत्थाप्य चांकमारोप्य रामो भ्रातरमंजसा
Then, bowing with his head, the earth-embracing one was clasped with five limbs; Rama quickly raised his brother and seated him on his lap.
भरतश्च ततः पश्चात्सुग्रीवस्तदनंतरं। उपविष्टोऽथ रामाय सोऽर्घमादाय सत्वरं
After Bharata, then Sugriva followed; having sat down, he promptly took the offering for Rama.
राज्यं निवेदयामास चाष्टांगं राघवे तदा। श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं ततो रामं सर्वो वै माथुरो जनः
At that time, the eightfold kingdom was offered to Raghava; hearing that Rama had arrived, all the people of Mathura gathered.
वर्णा ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठा द्रष्टुमेनं समागताः। संभाष्य प्रकृतीः सर्वा नैगमान्ब्राह्मणैः सह
The castes, with Brahmins predominant, assembled to see him; having spoken with all the citizens and the merchants together with the Brahmins—
दिनानि पंचोषित्वाऽत्र रामो गंतुं मनो दधे। शत्रुघ्नश्च ततो रामे वाजिनोथ गजांस्तथा
After staying there for five days, Rama resolved to depart; then Shatrughna brought horses and elephants for Rama.
कृताकृतं च कनकं तत्रोपायनमाहरत्। रामस्त्वाह ततः प्रीतः सर्वमेतन्मया तव
He brought as gifts both wrought and unwrought gold; then Rama, pleased, said: 'All this is given by me to you.'
दत्तं पुत्रौ तेऽभिषिञ्च राजानौ माथुरे जने। एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामः प्राप्तो मध्यंदिने रवौ
'Your two sons have been anointed as kings over the people of Mathura by me.' Having spoken thus, Rama departed when the sun was at midday.
महोदयं समासाद्य गंगातीरे स वामनं। प्रतिष्ठाप्य द्विजानाह भाविनः पार्थिवांस्तथा
Reaching Mahodaya on the bank of the Ganga, he installed the dwarf (Vamana), and addressed the Brahmins and the future kings there.
मया कृतोऽयं धर्मस्य सेतुर्भूतिविवर्धनः। प्राप्ते काले पालनीयो न च लोप्यः कथंचन
'This bridge of righteousness, which increases prosperity, has been made by me; when the time comes, it must be preserved and never destroyed in any way.'
प्रसारितकरेणैवं प्रार्थनैषा मया कृता। नृपाः कृते मयार्थित्वे यत्क्षेमं क्रियतामिह
With outstretched hand, I have made this request: 'O kings, since I have acted as your agent, let whatever is for the welfare here be done.'
नित्यं दैनंदिनीपूजा कार्या सर्वैरतंद्रितैः। ग्रामान्दत्वा धनं तच्च लंकाया आहृतं च यत्
'Daily worship must always be performed by all, without negligence; the villages and the wealth that was brought from Lanka should be given.'
प्रेषयित्वा च किष्किंधां सुग्रीवं वानरेश्वरं। अयोध्यामागतो रामः पुष्पकं तमथाब्रवीत्
Having sent Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, to Kishkindha, Rama went to Ayodhya and then spoke to the Pushpaka chariot.
नागंतव्यं त्वया भूयस्तिष्ठ यत्र धनेश्वरः। कृतकृत्यस्ततो रामः कर्तव्यं नाप्यमन्यत
'You must not go further; remain where the lord of wealth (Kubera) is.' Thus Rama, his task accomplished, did not consider anything else to be done.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। एवन्ते भीष्म रामस्य कथायोगेन पार्थिव। उत्पत्तिर्वामनस्योक्ता किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Pulastya said: 'Thus, Bhishma, through the narration of Rama's story, the origin of Vamana has been told. What more do you wish to hear?'
कथयामि तु तत्सर्वं यत्र कौतूहलं नृप। सर्वं ते कीर्त्तयिष्यामि येनार्थी नृपनंदन
'I will tell you everything about which you are curious, O king; I will recount all to you, O delight of kings, as you desire.'
भीष्म उवाच। कथितं वामनस्यैव माहात्म्यं विस्तरेण वै। पुनस्तस्यैव माहात्म्यमन्यद्विष्णोरतो वद
Bhishma said: 'The greatness of Vamana has been described in detail; now tell me again another greatness of that very Vishnu.'
पद्मं कथमभूद्देव नाभौ येनाभवज्जगत्। कथं च वैष्णवी सृष्टिः पद्ममध्येऽभवत्पुरा
'How did the lotus arise in the navel of the god, from which the world came into being? And how did the Vaishnava creation once arise within the lotus?'
कथं पाद्मे महाकल्पेऽभवत्पद्ममयं जगत्। जलार्णवगतस्येह नाभौ जातं जलानुगं
'How, in the great kalpa of the lotus, did the world made of lotus come to be? In the navel of him who was in the ocean of waters, how was the lotus, born of water, produced?'
प्रभावं पद्मनाभस्य स्वपतः सागरांभसि। पुष्करे तु कथं जाता देवा ॠषिगणाः पुरा
'What is the power of Padmanabha as he sleeps in the ocean? And how, in the lotus, were the gods and the groups of sages born in ancient times?'
एतदाख्याहि निखिलं योगं योगविदां पते। कथं निर्मितवांस्तत्र चैतं लोकं सनातनम्
'Tell me all this completely, O lord of those who know yoga; how did he create this eternal world there?'
कथमेकार्णवे शून्ये नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे। भूगोलके प्रदग्धे तु प्रणष्टोरगराक्षसे
How, when the single ocean is empty, when all that is fixed or moving is lost, when the globe of the earth is burned, and when serpents and demons are destroyed—
नष्टानलानिलाकाशे नष्टधर्मे महीतले। केवले गह्वरीभूते महाभूतविपर्यये
When fire, wind, and space are gone, when righteousness has vanished from the earth, when only darkness remains, and the great elements are overturned—
किं नु विश्वपतिः साक्षान्महातेजा महाद्युतिः। आस्ते यथाध्याननिष्ठो विधिमास्थाय योगवित्
—then, does the Lord of the universe, of great splendor and radiance, remain absorbed in meditation, established in discipline, knowing yoga?
शृण्वतः परया भक्त्या ब्रह्मन्नेतदशेषतः। वक्तुमर्हसि धर्मज्ञ यशो नारायणात्मकम्
O Brahman, as I listen with supreme devotion, you should tell me all this completely, you who know righteousness, the glory that is the essence of Nārāyaṇa.