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—
नैवेद्यं भक्षयित्वा वै भूप भूयाच्चतुर्भुजः । अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
After eating the sacred offering, O king, one attains four arms; here too they recite an ancient legend.
तं शृणुष्व महाराज सर्वाश्चर्यसमन्वितम् । रत्नग्रीवस्य नृपतेर्यद्वृत्तं सकुटुंबिनः
Hear, O great king, the wondrous story of King Ratnagrīva and his family, filled with all marvels.
चतुर्भुजादिकं प्राप्तं देवदानवदुर्लभम् । आसीत्कांची महाराज पुरी लोकेषु विश्रुता
He attained the four-armed form, difficult for gods and demons to obtain; there was a city called Kāñcī, renowned among the worlds.
महाजनपरीवारसमृद्धबलवाहना । यस्यां वसंति विप्राग्र्याः षट्कर्मनिरता भृशम्
Abundant in great people, with powerful armies and vehicles; in which excellent Brahmins dwelt, devoted to the six duties.
सर्वभूतहिते युक्ता रामभक्तिषु लालसाः । क्षत्रिया रणकर्तारः संग्रामेऽप्यपलायिनः
Engaged in the welfare of all beings, eager in devotion to Rāma; Kṣatriyas were warriors who did not flee even in battle.
परदार परद्रव्य परद्रोहपराङ्मुखाः । वैश्याः कुसीदकृष्यादिवाणिज्यशुभवृत्तयः
They turned away from others' wives, others' wealth, and harming others; the Vaiśyas engaged in lending, farming, and honest trade.
कुर्वन्ति रघुनाथस्य पदाम्भोजे रतिं सदा । शूद्रा ब्राह्मणसेवाभिर्गतरात्रिदिनान्तराः
They always cultivated love for the lotus feet of Raghunātha; the Śūdras, serving the Brahmins, passed their days and nights without interruption.
कुर्वंति कथनं रामरामेति रसनाग्रतः । प्राकृताः केऽपि नो पापं कुर्वंति मनसात्र वै
They constantly uttered 'Rāma, Rāma' with the tips of their tongues; even the common people here did not commit sin in thought.
दानं दया दमः सत्यं तत्र तिष्ठंति नित्यशः । वदते न पराबाधं वाक्यं कोऽपि नरोऽनघः
Charity, compassion, self-control, and truth always prevailed there; no one ever spoke words that harmed another, O sinless one.
न पारक्ये धने लोभं कुर्वंति न हि पातकम् । एवं प्रजा महाराज रत्नग्रीवेण पाल्यते
They did not covet others' wealth, nor did they commit evil; thus were the people protected by King Ratnagrīva, O great king.
षष्ठांशं तत्र गृह्णाति नान्यं लोभविवर्जितः । एवं पालयमानस्य प्रजाधर्मेण भूपतेः
There, he takes a sixth part, and nothing else, being free from greed; thus, while protecting his subjects according to righteousness, the king—
गतानि बहुवर्षाणि सर्वभोगविलासिनः । विशालाक्षीं महाराज एकदा ह्यूचिवानिदम्
Many years passed, filled with every enjoyment and pleasure; then, O wide-eyed one, the great king once spoke these words:
पतिव्रतां धर्मपत्नीं पतिव्रतपरायणाम् । पुत्रा जाता विशालाक्षि प्रजारक्षा धुरंधराः
O wide-eyed lady, sons have been born to you, steadfast in fidelity, a virtuous wife devoted to her husband, bearing the burden of protecting the people.
परीवारो महान्मह्यं वर्तते विगतज्वरः । हस्तिनो मम शैलाभा वाजिनः पवनोपमाः
A great retinue attends me, free from affliction; my elephants are like mountains, my horses swift as the wind.
रथाश्च सुहयैर्युक्ता वर्तंते मम नित्यशः । महाविष्णुप्रसादेन किंचिन्न्यूनं ममास्ति न
Chariots yoked with fine steeds are always at my disposal; by the grace of the great Viṣṇu, I lack nothing at all.
एवं मनोरथस्त्वेकस्तिष्ठते मानसे मम । परं तीर्थं मया नाद्य कृतं परमशोभने
Yet, one desire remains in my mind: O supremely radiant one, I have not yet performed the supreme pilgrimage.
गर्भवासविरामाय क्षमं गोविंदशोभितम् । वृद्धो जातोऽस्म्यहं तावद्वलीपलितदेहवान्
For release from the womb, the Govinda-adorned holy place is suitable; I have grown old, my body marked by wrinkles and gray hair.
करिष्यामि मनोहारि तीर्थसेवनमादृतः । यो नरो जन्मपर्यंतं स्वोदरस्य प्रपूरकः
I will, with devotion, undertake the delightful service of holy places; for the man who, throughout his life, only fills his own belly—
न करोति हरेः पूजां स नरो गोवृषः स्मृतः । तस्माद्गच्छामि भो भद्रे तीर्थयात्रां प्रति प्रिये
If he does not worship Hari, such a man is considered a mere ox; therefore, O good lady, I am going, beloved, on a pilgrimage.
सकुटुंबः सुते न्यस्य धुरं राज्यस्य निर्भृताम् । इति व्यवस्य संध्यायां हरिं ध्यायन्निशांतरे
Entrusting the burden of the kingdom to my son, along with my family, thus resolved, at twilight, meditating on Hari through the night—