अनन्विता गिरःस्तात वक्तुं त्वं नार्हसि प्रभो। अथासौ भगवान्प्राह प्रचुरं चास्ति मे वसु
'Father, such words are not fitting for you to speak.' But the venerable one replied, 'I possess abundant wealth.'
तव दास्यामि कल्याणि प्रस्फोटय कपाटिकाम्। विप्रमाह पुनः सा च त्वं वै मे धर्मतः पिता
'I will give it to you, O auspicious one; open the door.' But she said again to the sage, 'You are my father by law.'
मा गच्छ पुत्रिकां मां च परयोषां च धार्मिक। मनसा स समालोच्य सुषिरेण पथा गृहान्
'Do not approach me, your daughter, nor another's wife, O righteous one.' Considering this in his mind, he sought to enter the house by a narrow passage.
बाहुनोद्धाट्यते नैव गंतुं चैव समुद्यतः। गच्छतश्चार्द्धमरर उत्तमांगं सुसंकटे
But even by lifting his arms, he could not open it, though he tried to go. As he went, his head became stuck in the narrow opening.
प्रविष्टं न पुनश्चैति पंचत्वमगमत्तदा। उषःकाले समायाता रक्षिणो ये च किंकराः
Having entered, he could not come out again, and then he died. At dawn, the guards and attendants arrived.
अद्भुतं तं शवं दृष्ट्वा तामुचुस्ते च विस्मिताः। कथं च निधनं त्वस्य संभूतं ब्रूहि सुंदरि
Seeing that wondrous corpse, they were astonished and said to her, 'O beautiful one, tell us how his death occurred.'
कथयित्वा तु तद्वृत्तमभीष्टं देशमागता। एवं कामस्य महिमा दुर्निवारो जनेषु च
After recounting that event, she arrived at the desired place. Such is the greatness of desire; it is difficult to restrain among people.
सर्वेषामपि जंतूनां सुरासुरनृणां भवेत्। दृष्ट्वाऽमोघां वरारोहां सर्वलोकपितामहः
It arises in all creatures, whether gods, demons, or humans. Having seen the flawless, beautiful woman, the grandfather of all worlds—
च्युतबीजोभवत्तत्र लौहित्यसंभवस्मृतः। पुनाति सकलान्लोकान्सर्वतीर्थमयो हि सः
His seed fell there, remembered as originating with redness. He purifies all worlds, for he is composed of all sacred waters.
यमाश्रित्य नरो याति ब्रह्मलोकमनामयम्। द्विज उवाच- कथं च ब्रह्मणो मोहो ह्यमोघा का वरांगना
By resorting to him, a man attains the peaceful realm of Brahma. The twice-born said: How did Brahma become deluded, and who is this flawless, excellent woman?
उद्भवं तीर्थराजस्य श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। श्रीभगवानुवाच- मुनिर्देवैः समाराध्यः पद्मयोनिसमप्रभः
I wish to hear, in truth, the origin of the king of sacred places. The Blessed Lord said: The sage, radiant like the lotus-born, was worshipped by the gods.
शंतनुश्चेति विख्यातः पत्नी तस्य पतिव्रता। अमोघेति समाख्याता रूपयौवनशालिनी
He is renowned as Shantanu; his wife was devoted to her husband. She was called Amogha, possessed of beauty and youth.
अस्याश्च पतिमन्वेष्टुं यातो ब्रह्मा च तद्गृहम्। तस्मिन्काले मुनिश्रेष्ठः पुष्पाद्यर्थं वनं गतः
To seek her husband, Brahma went to their house. At that time, the foremost sage had gone to the forest for flowers and other purposes.
सा तं दृष्ट्वा सुरश्रेष्ठमर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं ददौ। दूरेभिवादनं कृत्वा सा गृहं प्रविवेश ह
Seeing the best of the gods, she offered him water for washing the feet and other rites. Having saluted him from a distance, she entered the house.
तां च दृष्ट्वा नवद्यांगीं धाता कामवशं गतः। स्रष्टात्मानं समाधायाचिंतयत्तां पुरोगताम्
Seeing her, young and beautiful, the Creator was overcome by desire. Fixing his mind, he contemplated her as she passed before him.
बीजं पपात खट्वायां ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः। ततो ब्रह्मा गतस्त्रस्तस्त्वरया परिपीडितः
Brahma's seed, the supreme soul, fell upon the cot. Then Brahma, frightened, departed quickly, pressed by urgency.
अथायातो मुनिर्गेहं शुक्रं पीठे ददर्श ह। तमपृच्छद्वरारोहां कश्चाप्यत्रागतः पुमान्
Then the sage returned home and saw the semen on the seat. He asked the beautiful woman, 'Has any man come here?'
तमुवाच ततोऽमोघा ब्रह्मा ह्यत्रागतः पते। त्वामेवान्वेषितुं नाथ मया दत्तोत्र पीठकः
Then Amogha replied, 'Brahma has come here, husband. He came seeking you, and I offered him this seat.'
शुक्रस्य कारणं चात्र तपसा ज्ञातुमर्हसि। ततो ध्यानात्परिज्ञातं तेनैव च द्विजन्मना
'You should ascertain the cause of the semen here through austerity.' Then, through meditation, the twice-born understood.
ब्रह्मरेतः परं साध्वी पालयस्व ममाज्ञया। उत्पद्यते सुतस्ते तु सर्वलोकैकपावनः
'O virtuous woman, by my command, preserve Brahma's semen. A son will be born to you, the sole purifier of all worlds.'
आवयोः सर्वकल्याणं फलिष्यति मनोगतम्। ततः पतिव्रता तस्य आज्ञामागृह्य संभवात्
'All auspiciousness of our minds will bear fruit.' Then his devoted wife accepted his command and, from that union—
पपौ रेतो महाभागा ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः। आवर्त इव संजज्ञे रौद्रगर्भ इति स्फुरन्
The blessed woman drank the semen of Brahma, the supreme soul. Like a whirlpool, it manifested, shining as 'Raudra-garbha.'
प्रसोढुं नैव शक्ता सा शंतनुं चाब्रवीत्ततः। गर्भं धारयितुं नाथ न शक्नोम्यधुना प्रभो
She was unable to endure it and spoke to Shantanu: 'Lord, I cannot bear the embryo now.'
किं करिष्यामि धर्मज्ञ प्राणो मे संचलत्यपि। आज्ञापय महाभाग गर्भं त्यक्ष्यामि यत्र च
'What shall I do, O knower of dharma? My life is even departing. Command me, O blessed one, where I should abandon the embryo.'
पत्युराज्ञां समादाय मुक्तो गर्भो युगंधरे। पयस्तेजोमयं शुद्धं सर्वधर्मप्रतिष्ठितम्
Having received the command of her husband, the embryo was released on Yugandhara; it was pure, composed of milk and light, established in all virtues.
तन्मध्ये पुरुषः शुद्धः किरीटी नीलवाससा। रत्नदाम्ना च विद्धांगो दुःप्रेक्ष्यो ज्योतिषां गणः
In the midst of that, a pure man appeared, crowned, clad in blue garments, his limbs adorned with a jeweled garland, difficult to behold, a host of radiance.
ततो देवगणाः स्वर्गात्पुष्पवर्षमवाकिरन्। प्रसूतः सर्वतीर्थेषु तीर्थराज इति स्मृतः
Then the hosts of gods showered flowers from heaven; he was born at all the sacred fords and is remembered as the King of Fords.
ततो राम इति ख्यातः प्रजातोहं भृगोः कुले। क्षत्रियान्पितृहंतॄंस्तु ससैन्यबलवाहनान्
Then I became known as Rāma, born in the lineage of Bhṛgu; I slew the Kṣatriyas, destroyers of their fathers, along with their armies and forces.
हत्वा युद्धगतान्भीतान्पंकैः सर्वैर्युतो ह्यहम्। ब्रह्महत्यासमं घोरं मद्गेहे समुपस्थितम्
Having slain in battle those fearful Kṣatriyas, covered in mud and all together, a terrible sin equal to Brahmin-slaying came upon my house.
पंकयुक्तं कुठारं मे क्षालितं नैव शुद्ध्यति। ततः खे चाभवद्वाणी राम मद्वचनं कुरु
Though I washed my axe, covered in mud, it was not purified; then a voice arose in the sky: 'Rāma, do as I say.'