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.
सुमद उवाच। कच्चिदास्ते सुखं रामः सर्वलोकशिरोमणिः । भक्तरक्षावतारोऽयं ममानुग्रहकारकः
Sumada said: Is Rāma, the crest-jewel of all the worlds, well? He is the incarnation who protects devotees and the bestower of my grace.
धन्या लोका इमे पुर्यां रघुनाथमुखांबुजम् । ये पिबंत्यनिशं चाक्षिपुटकैः परिमोदिताः
Blessed are those people in the city who, delighted, constantly drink in the lotus face of Raghunātha with their eyes.
अर्थजातं मदीयं च नितरां पुरुषर्षभ । कृतार्थं कुलभूम्यादि वस्तुजातं महामते
O best of men, all my wealth, and indeed the land and property of my lineage, O wise one, have been fulfilled in purpose.
कामाक्षया प्रसादो मे कृतः पूर्वं दयार्द्रया । रघुनाथमुखांभोजं द्रक्ष्येद्य सकुटुंबकः
Out of desirelessness and deep compassion, I have previously shown favor, so that today, with his family, he may behold the lotus-face of Raghunātha.
इत्युक्तवति वीरे तु सुमदे पार्थिवोत्तमे । सर्वं तत्कथयामास रघुनाथगुणोदयम्
When the heroic and foremost king Sumada had spoken thus, he recounted all the glories of Raghunātha.
त्रिरात्रं तत्र संस्थित्य रघुनाथानुजः परम् । गंतुं चकार धिषणां राज्ञा सह महामतिः
After staying there for three nights, the wise younger brother of Raghunātha resolved to depart together with the king.
तज्ज्ञात्वा सुमदः शीघ्रं पुत्रं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत् । शत्रुघ्नेन महाराज्ञा पुष्कलेनानुमोदितः
Knowing this, Sumada quickly anointed his son as king, with the approval of the great king Shatrughna and Pushkala.
वासांसि बहुरत्नानि धनानि विविधानि च । शत्रुघ्नसेवकेभ्योऽसौ प्रादात्तत्र महामतिः
He gave many garments, precious jewels, and various kinds of wealth to the attendants of Shatrughna, that wise one.
ततो गमनमारेभे मंत्रिभिर्बहुवित्तमैः । पत्तिभिर्वाजिभिर्नागैः सदश्वैरथ कोटिभिः
Then, accompanied by ministers rich in wealth, with infantry, horses, elephants, and countless excellent chariots, he set out on the journey.
शत्रुघ्नः सहितस्तेन सुमदेन धनुर्भृता । जगाम मार्गे विहसन्रघुनाथप्रतापभृत्
Shatrughna, together with that bow-bearing Sumada, proceeded along the road, smiling, upholding the glory of Raghunātha.