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.'
यत्र तीर्थे कुठारं ते निर्मलं च भवेदिह। तत्र ते सर्वपापानां जातानां च क्षयो भवेत्
'Wherever your axe becomes spotless at a ford, there shall be the destruction of all your accumulated sins.'
जनानां तत्र सर्वेषां हितार्थं तिष्ठ मानद। चपलं गच्छ तीर्थानि सर्वाणि सुमहांति च
'For the welfare of all people, O bestower of honor, remain there; go to all the great and renowned fords.'
तेषां मध्ये महातीर्थे पर्शुः शुद्धो भवेद्यदि। तं च जानीहि तीर्थेषु मुक्तिदं परिकीर्तितम्
'Among those, at the great ford, if your axe becomes pure, know that place among the fords as famed for granting liberation.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा जामदग्न्यस्तु तीर्थानि प्रययौ तदा। गंगां सरस्वतीं शुभ्रां कावेरीं सरयूं तथा
Hearing this, Jāmadagnya then went to the fords: Gaṅgā, the pure Sarasvatī, Kāverī, and also Sarayū.
गोदावरीं च यमुनां कद्रूं च वसुदां तथा। अन्यां च पुण्यदां रम्यां गौरीं पूर्वां स्थितां शुभाम्
And Godāvarī, Yamunā, Kadrū, Vasudā, and another beautiful, meritorious, delightful Gaurī, situated in the east.
गच्छतस्तस्य धीरस्य सदागतिसमस्य च। क्षालितः सर्वतीर्थेषु न पुनर्निर्मलोऽभवत्
As that steadfast one, equal to the ever-liberated, went to all the fords, though he washed at each, his axe did not become pure again.
ततो गिरिगुहां दुर्गां महारण्यं च पर्वतम्। गिरिकूटं च दुर्लभ्यं ययौ तीर्थमसौ हरिः
Then he went to a mountain cave, a difficult wilderness, a mountain peak hard to reach; that Hari went to the ford.
न च निर्मलतामेति कुठारस्तस्य तेन च। विषादमगमत्तत्र रामः परपुरंजयः
But even there, his axe did not become pure; there, Rāma, conqueror of enemy cities, fell into despair.
हाहेति विविधं कृत्वा चोपविश्य धरातले। प्रचिंतामगमद्वीरस्तमुवाच पुनस्तथा
Crying out in many ways, he sat down on the ground; the hero fell into deep thought, and again that voice spoke to him.
पूर्वस्यां दिशि देवेश तीर्थं चास्ति गुहोदरे। तच्छ्रुत्वा नरशार्दूलो गत्वा कुंडं ददर्श सः
'In the eastern direction, O lord of gods, there is a ford within a cave; hearing this, the tiger among men went and saw the pool.'
प्रदक्षिणं जलावर्तं शुभ्रं पापहरं शुभम्। तज्जलस्पर्शमात्रेण कुठारः शुद्धतां गतः
He saw a clear, sin-removing, auspicious pool with a swirling current; by merely touching its water, the axe became pure.
ततो रामोभिषेकं तु कृतवान्प्रमुदान्वितः। शुद्धात्मनस्त्वपापस्य बुद्धिर्जाता प्रपाविनी५० 1.55.
Then Rāma, filled with joy, performed his ablution; pure in soul and free from sin, his mind became inclined toward attainment.
स रामः सुचिरं स्थित्वा तीर्थराजं प्रसाद्य तम्। ततस्ततोऽचलात्प्राप्य पुरं वेगसमन्वितः
Rāma, having remained there for a long time and propitiated the king of sacred fords, then departed swiftly from that place and reached the city.
ख्यातं कृत्वा ततश्चोर्व्यां गतोसौ लवणार्णवम्। अयं तीर्थवरः साक्षात्पितामहकृतो भुवि
Having made it renowned on earth, he went to the salt ocean; this supreme sacred ford was indeed established on earth by the Grandfather (Brahmā).
सुखदः सर्वतः शुद्धो मुक्तिमार्गप्रदः किल। एवं कामप्रभावं च विद्धि दुर्वारदुःसहम्
It bestows happiness everywhere, is completely pure, and truly grants the path to liberation; thus, know the power of desire to be difficult to resist and unbearable.
कामाज्जातं वृषं पापं पुण्यं पुण्यप्रयोगतः। स जातश्चैव लौहित्यो विरंचेश्चैव चौरसः
Sin arises from desire, and merit from the practice of virtue; thus was born the river Lauhitya, the legitimate son of Virin̄ci (Brahmā).
शंतनो क्षेत्र संजातस्त्वमोघागर्भसंभवः। विरिञ्चिना जितः कामः शांतनोरप्यमत्सरात्
You were born in the field of Śaṃtanu, conceived from the unfailing womb; desire was conquered by Viriñci (Brahmā), and also by Śāṃtanu out of absence of envy.
तस्याः पतिव्रतात्वाच्च तीर्थात्तीर्थवरो हि सः। एवं यस्तु पठेन्नित्यं पुण्याख्यानमिदं शिवम्
Because of her fidelity to her husband, that sacred ford became the foremost among fords; in this way, whoever recites daily this auspicious narrative of merit,
शृणुयाद्वा मुदा पृथ्व्यां मुक्तिमार्गं स गच्छति
or hears it with joy on earth, attains the path to liberation.
सप्तपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः। । श्रीभगवानुवाच- पुरा शर्वः स्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा युवती रूपशालिनीः। गंधर्वकिन्नराणां च मनुष्याणां च सर्वतः
Chapter Fifty-Five. The Blessed Lord said: Long ago, Śarva (Śiva), seeing women—young and beautiful—among Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and all humans,