शत्रुघ्नोऽमात्यवर्येण सुमत्याख्येन संयुतः । पृष्ठतोऽनुजगामाशु रथेन हयशोभिना
Śatrughna, accompanied by the distinguished minister named Sumati, quickly followed behind in a chariot adorned with horses.
गच्छन्वाजीपुरं प्राप्तो विमलाख्यस्य भूपतेः । रत्नातटाख्यं च जनैर्हृष्टपुष्टैः समाकुलम्
Proceeding, he reached the city of Vaji, ruled by the king named Vimala, and the place called Ratnatata, crowded with joyful and prosperous people.
स सेवकादुपश्रुत्य रघुनाथ हयोत्तमम् । पुरोंतिके हि संप्राप्तं सर्वयोधसमन्वितम्
From the attendants he heard that Raghunātha's excellent horse, accompanied by all the warriors, had arrived at the city gates.
तदा गजानां सप्तत्या चंद्रवर्णसमानया । अश्वानामयुतैः सार्धं रथानां कांचनत्विषाम्
Then, with seventy elephants resembling the color of the moon, and together with ten thousand horses and chariots shining with gold—
सहस्रेण च संयुक्तः शत्रुघ्नं प्रति जग्मिवान् । शत्रुघ्नं स नमस्कृत्य सर्वान्प्राप्तान्महारथान्
Accompanied by a thousand, he approached Shatrughna; having bowed to Shatrughna, he greeted all the assembled great chariot-warriors.
वसुकोशं धनं सर्वं राज्यं तस्मै निवेद्य च । किं करोमीति राजा तं जगाद पुरतः स्थितः
Presenting Vasukosha, all the wealth, and the kingdom to him, the king, standing before him, asked, 'What shall I do?'
राजापि तं स्वीयपदे प्रणम्रं । दोर्भ्यां दृढं संपरिषस्वजे महान् । जगाम साकं तनये स्वराज्यं । निक्षिप्य सर्वं बहुधन्विभिर्वृतः
The king, bowing to him at his own place, embraced him firmly with both arms; then, surrounded by many wealthy men, he went together with his son to his own kingdom, having entrusted everything.
रामचंद्राभिधां श्रुत्वा सर्वश्रुतिमनोहराम् । सर्वे प्रणम्य तं वाहं ददुर्वसुमहाधनम्
Hearing the name 'Ramachandra,' delightful to all who hear, they all bowed and offered that wealth and great treasure to him.
राजानं पूजयित्वा तु शत्रुघ्नः परया मुदा । सेनया सहितोऽगच्छद्वाजिनः पृष्ठतस्तदा
Having honored the king, Shatrughna, with great joy, departed together with his army, while the horse followed behind at that time.
एवं स गच्छंस्तन्मार्गे पर्वताग्र्यं ददर्श ह । स्फाटिकैः कानकै रौप्यै राजितं प्रस्थराजिभिः
Thus proceeding along that path, he beheld a lofty mountain, adorned with crystal, gold, and silver, and paved with shining stone slabs.
जलनिर्झरसंह्रादं नानाधातुकभूतलम् । गैरिकादिकसद्धातु लाक्षारंगविराजितम्
Its ground was resounding with the roar of waterfalls, composed of various minerals, and shining with ochre and other bright substances, as well as with lac-red hues.
यत्र सिद्धांगनाः सिद्धैः संक्रीडंत्यकुतोभयाः । गंधर्वाप्सरसो नागा यत्र क्रीडंति लीलया
There, perfected women play without fear together with the perfected beings; there, Gandharvas, Apsarases, and Nagas sport at their leisure.
गंगातरंगसंस्पर्श शीतवायुनिषेवितम् । वीणारणद्धंसशुकक्वणसुंदरशोभितम्
Bathed by the touch of Ganga's waves and cooled by gentle breezes, it was beautified by the melodious sounds of veenas, swans, and parrots.
पर्वतं वीक्ष्य शत्रुघ्न उवाच सुमतिं त्विदम् । तद्दर्शनसमुद्भूत विस्मयाविष्टमानसः
Seeing the mountain, Shatrughna, his mind filled with wonder at the sight, spoke these words to Sumati.
कोऽयं महागिरिवरो विस्मापयति मे मनः । महारजतसत्प्रस्थो मार्गे राजति मेऽद्भुतः
What is this great and excellent mountain that amazes my mind, shining on my path with vast silver plateaus, wondrous to behold?
अत्र किं देवतावासो देवानां क्रीडनस्थलम् । यदेतन्मनसः क्षोभं करोति श्रीसमुच्चयैः
Is this the abode of deities, or a playground of the gods, since it stirs my mind with its abundance of splendor?
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य जगाद सुमतिस्तदा । वक्ष्यमाणगुणागार रामचंद्र पदाब्जधीः
Hearing these words, Sumati then spoke, his mind fixed on the lotus feet of Ramachandra, the abode of virtues he was about to describe.
नीलोऽयं पर्वतो राजन्पुरतो भाति भूमिप । मनोहरैर्महाशृङ्गैः स्फाटिकाग्रैः समंततः
O King, this is the Nila mountain shining before you, adorned all around with enchanting great peaks tipped with crystal.
एनं पश्यंति नो पापाः परदाररता नराः । विष्णोर्गुणगणान्ये वै न मन्यंते नराधमाः
Those sinful men who delight in other men's wives, or the lowest of men who do not honor the virtues of Vishnu, do not see this mountain.
श्रुतिस्मृतिसमुत्थं ये धर्मं सद्भिः सुसाधितम् । न मन्यंते स्वबुद्धिस्थ हेतुवादविचारणाः
Those who, relying on their own reasoning and arguments, do not accept the dharma established by the good and arising from the scriptures and tradition, are the same.
नीलीविक्रयकर्तारो लाक्षाविक्रयकारकाः । यो ब्राह्मणो घृतादीनि विक्रीणाति सुरापकः
Those who trade in indigo or lac, or the Brahmin who sells ghee and the like, or who brews liquor, are also such men.
कन्यां रूपेण संपन्नां न दद्यात्कुलशीलिने । विक्रीणाति द्रव्यलोभात्पिता पापेन मोहितः
A father, deluded by sin and greedy for wealth, should not give his beautiful daughter to a worthy family if he sells her for a price.
पत्नीं दूषयते यस्तु कुलशीलवतीं नरः । स्वयमेवात्ति मधुरं बंधुभ्यो न ददाति यः
A man who defiles a virtuous wife from a good family, or who eats sweet food himself and does not give it to his relatives—
भोजने ब्राह्मणार्थे च पाकभेदं करोति यः । कृसरं पायसं वापि नार्थिनं दापयेत्कुधीः
Or who makes a distinction in cooking for the sake of a Brahmin, or who, though having rice cooked with milk or porridge, does not give it to one who asks—such a person is of evil mind.
अतिथीनवमन्यंते सूर्यतापादितापितान् । अंतरिक्षभुजो ये च ये च विश्वासघातकाः
Those who disrespect guests scorched by the sun, those whose arms are raised in the sky, and those who betray trust—
न पश्यंति महाराज रघुनाथ पराङ्मुखाः । असौ पुण्यो गिरिवरः पुरुषोत्तम शोभितः
O great king Raghunātha, those who turn away do not see this sacred and splendid mountain, adorned by the best of men.
पवित्रयति सर्वान्नो दर्शनेन मनोहरः । अत्र तिष्ठति देवानां मुकुटैरर्चितांघ्रिकः
Charming to behold, it purifies all by its sight; here stands the one whose feet are worshipped by the crowns of the gods.
पुण्यवद्भिर्दर्शनार्हः पुण्यदः पुरुषोत्तमः । श्रुतयो नेतिनेतीति ब्रुवाणा न विदंति यम्
Worthy of being seen by the virtuous, the bestower of merit, the Supreme Person—whom the Vedas declare as 'not this, not this,' yet do not know.
यत्पादरज इंद्रादिदेवैर्मृग्यं सुदुर्ल्लभम् । वेदांतादिभिरन्यूनैर्वाक्यैर्विदंति यं बुधाः
The dust of whose feet is sought by Indra and other gods, yet is extremely rare; whom the wise know through the statements of the Upanishads and other flawless texts.
सोऽत्र श्रीमान्नीलशैले वसते पुरुषोत्तमः । आरुह्य तं नमस्कृत्य संपूज्य सुकृतादिना
Here, on this splendid Blue Mountain, dwells the Supreme Person; ascending it, offering obeisance and worship with good deeds—