क्षणं ध्यात्वा ययौ ब्रह्मा कैलासं त्रिदशैः सह । तस्य शैलस्य पार्श्वे तु वैचित्र्येण समाकुलाः
After meditating for a moment, Brahma went to Kailasa with the gods; at the side of that mountain, they were struck with wonder at its marvels.
स्थिताः संतुष्टुवुर्देवाः शंभुं शक्रपुरोगमाः । नमो भवाय शर्वाय नीलग्रीवाय ते नमः
Standing there, the gods, led by Indra, praised Shambhu: 'Homage to Bhava, to Sharva, to you with the blue throat.'
नमः स्थूलाय सूक्ष्माय बहुरूपाय ते नमः । इति सर्वमुखेनोक्तां वाणीमाकर्ण्य शंकरः
'Homage to you who are gross and subtle, who have many forms.' Hearing these words spoken by all, Shankara—
प्रोवाच नंदिनं देवा नानयेति ममांतिकम् । एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवा आहूता नंदिना च ते
—said to Nandi, 'Let the gods come before me, without exception.' Meanwhile, the gods were summoned by Nandi.
प्रविश्यांतःपुरे देवा ददृशुर्विस्मितेक्षणाः । ब्रह्मागत्य ददर्शाथ शंकरं लोकशंकरम्
Entering the inner palace, the gods beheld with astonished eyes; Brahma, having arrived, saw Shankara, the benefactor of the worlds.
गणकोटिसहस्रैस्तु सेवितं मोदशालिभिः । नग्नैर्विरूपैः कुटिलैर्धूसरैर्विकटैस्तथा
He was attended by countless hosts of ganas, rejoicing; some were naked, deformed, crooked, ashen, and grotesque.
प्रणिपत्याग्रतः स्थित्वा सह देवैः पितामहः । उवाच देवदेवेशं पश्यावस्थां दिवौकसाम्
Having bowed and stood before him with the gods, the Grandfather spoke to the Lord of gods: 'Behold the condition of the dwellers in heaven.'
कृपां कुरु महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । दुष्टदैत्यवधार्थं त्वं समुद्योगं विधेहि भोः
'Show compassion, O Great God, you who cherish those who seek refuge; undertake action for the destruction of the wicked demon, O Lord.'
सोऽपि तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दैन्यशोकसमन्वितम् । त्रिदशैः सहितैः सर्वैराजगाम हरेः पदम्
He too, hearing those words filled with humility and sorrow, went with all the gods to the abode of Hari.
तुष्टुवुर्मुनयः सर्वे ससुरोरगकिन्नराः । जय माधव देवेश जय भक्तजनार्तिहन्
All the sages, along with gods, serpents, and kinnaras, praised him: 'Victory to you, Madhava, Lord of gods, destroyer of the suffering of devotees!'
विलोकय महादेव लोकयस्व स्वसेवकान् । इत्युच्चैर्जगदुः सर्वे देवाः शर्वपुरोगमाः
'Look upon us, O Great God, behold your own servants!' Thus all the gods, led by Sharva, loudly cried.
इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्य सुराधिनाथो दृष्ट्वा सुरार्तिं परिचिंत्य विष्णुः । जगाद देवाञ्जलदोच्चया गिरा दुःखं तु तेषां प्रशमं नयन्निव
Hearing these words, the Lord of the gods, seeing their distress and reflecting upon it, Vishnu spoke to the gods in a voice deep as a raincloud, as if bringing an end to their sorrow.
भो ब्रह्मशर्वेंद्र पुरोगमामराः शृण्वंतु वाचं भवतां हितेरताम् । जाने दशग्रीवकृतं भयं वस्तन्नाशयाम्यद्य कृतावतारः
'O Brahma, Sharva, Indra, and all you foremost immortals, listen to my words, intent on your welfare. I know the fear caused by the ten-headed one; having descended, I shall destroy it today.'
पुरी त्वयोध्या रविवंशजातैर्नृपैर्महादानमखादिसत्क्रियैः । प्रपालिता भूतलमंडनीया विराजते राजतभूमिभागैः
The city of Ayodhya, ruled by kings born of the solar dynasty, adorned the earth with great gifts, sacrifices, and noble rites; it shines with its silver-paved quarters, fit to grace the world.
तस्यां दशरथो राजा निरपत्यः श्रियान्वितः । पालयत्यधुना राज्यं दिक्चक्रजयवान्विभुः
There, King Daśaratha, though without a son, endowed with prosperity, now rules the kingdom, a sovereign victorious in all directions.
स तु वंद्यादृष्यशृंगात्प्रार्थितात्पुत्रकाम्यया । पुत्रेष्ट्यां विधिना यज्वा महाबलसमन्वितः
He, desiring a son, was advised by the sage Vasiṣṭha and, following the prescribed rite, performed the Putreṣṭi sacrifice, endowed with great power.
ततोऽहं प्रार्थितः पूर्वं तपसा तेन भोः सुराः । पत्नीषु तिसृषु प्रीत्या चतुर्धापि भवत्कृते
Then I, previously requested by him through austerities, O gods, out of affection for his three wives, divided myself into four for your sake.
राम लक्ष्मण शत्रुघ्न भरताख्या समन्वितः । कर्तास्मि रावणोद्धारं समूल बलवाहनम्
Accompanied by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata, I will destroy Rāvaṇa together with his entire force, uprooting him completely.
भवंतोऽपि स्वकैरंशैरवतीर्य चरंत्विह । ऋक्षवानररूपेण सर्वत्र पृथिवीतले
You too, descending with your own portions, should move about here in the forms of bears and monkeys everywhere upon the earth.
इत्युक्त्वा विररामाशु नभसीरितवाङ्मुने । देवाः श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं सर्वे संहृष्टमानसाः
Having spoken thus, the sage whose words move through the sky quickly became silent; all the gods, hearing this great declaration, were filled with joy.
ते चक्रुर्गदितं यादृग्देवदेवेन धीमता । स्वैःस्वैरंशैर्मही पूर्णा ऋक्षवानररूपिभिः
They did just as the wise Lord of gods had said; the earth was filled with beings in the forms of bears and monkeys, each from their own portion.
योऽसौ विष्णुर्महादेवो देवानां दुःखनाशकः । सत्वमेव महाराज भगवान्कृतविग्रहः
That Viṣṇu, the great god, destroyer of the gods' suffering, is truly the Lord himself, O great king, who has assumed a mortal form.
भरतोऽयं लक्ष्मणश्च शत्रुघ्नश्च महामते । तावकांशाद्दशग्रीवो जनितश्च सुरार्द्दनः
This Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa, and Śatrughna, O wise one, are your own portions; and the ten-headed Rāvaṇa, the oppressor of the gods, was also born from your portion.
पूर्ववैरानुबंधेन जानकीं हृतवान्पुनः । स त्वया निहतो दैत्यो ब्रह्मराक्षसजातिमान्
Due to ancient enmity, he again abducted Jānakī; that demon of the Brahmarākṣasa race was slain by you.
पुलस्त्यपुत्रो दैत्येंद्र सर्वलोकैककंटकः । पातितः पृथिवी सर्वा सुखमापमहेश्वर
Pulastya's son, the lord of demons, the sole thorn of all the worlds, was struck down; and the whole earth, O great Lord, attained happiness.
ब्राह्मणानां सुखं त्वद्य मुनीनां तापसं बलम् । शिवानि सर्वतीर्थानि सर्वे यज्ञाः सुसंहिताः
Now the Brāhmaṇas are happy, the ascetics have strength, all the holy places are auspicious, and all the sacrifices are well performed.
त्वयि राज्ञि जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् । सुखं प्रपेदे विश्वात्मञ्जगद्योने नरोत्तम
With you as king, O best of men, the whole world with gods, asuras, and humans has attained happiness, O soul of the universe, source of all creation.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वयानघ । उत्पत्तिश्च विपत्तिश्च मया मत्यनुसारतः
All this has been told to you, O sinless one, as you asked: both the origin and the destruction, according to my understanding.
इत्थं निशम्य दितिजेंद्र कुलानुकारिवार्तां महापुरुष ईश्वरईशिता च । संरुद्धबाष्पगलदश्रुमुखारविंदो भूमौ पपात सदसि प्रथितप्रभावः
Hearing thus the account of the demon king's lineage and deeds, the great person, lord of lords, his face overflowing with tears, fell to the ground in the assembly, his glory renowned.
शेष उवाच। अथ स्वागतसंतुष्टं शत्रुघ्नं प्राह भूमिपः । रघुनाथकथां श्रेष्ठां शुश्रूषुः पुरुषर्षभः
Śeṣa said: Then the king, pleased with the welcome, addressed Śatrughna, the best of men, eager to hear the supreme story of Raghunātha.