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—
अद्राक्षीत्स्वप्नमप्येकं ब्राह्मणं तापसं वरम् । प्रातरुत्थाय राजासौ कृत्वा संध्यादिकाः क्रियाः
He saw in a dream a single brāhmaṇa, a noble ascetic; rising at dawn, the king performed his morning rites.
सभां मंत्रिजनैः सार्द्धं सुखमासेदिवान्महान् । तावद्विप्रं ददर्शाथ तापसं कृशदेहिनम्
He sat happily in assembly with his ministers; then he saw the brāhmaṇa, an ascetic with a lean body.
जटावल्कलकौपीनधारिणं दंडपाणिनम् । अनेकतीर्थसेवाभिः कृतपुण्यकलेवरम्
Wearing matted locks, bark garments, and a loincloth, staff in hand, his body sanctified by the merit of serving many holy places.
राजा तं वीक्ष्य शिरसा प्रणनाम महाभुजः । अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं चक्रे प्रहृष्टात्मा महीपतिः
The king, seeing him, bowed his head, that mighty-armed one; the delighted ruler offered him water for washing feet and other honors.
सुखोपविष्टं विश्रांतं पप्रच्छ विदितं द्विजम् । स्वामिंस्त्वद्दर्शनान्मेऽद्य गतं देहस्य पातकम्
When he was comfortably seated and rested, the king questioned the learned brāhmaṇa: 'Master, by seeing you today, the sin of my body is gone.'
महांतः कृपणान्पातुं यांति तद्गेहमादरात् । तस्मात्कथय भो विप्र वृद्धस्य मम संप्रति
Great souls, out of compassion, go to the homes of the afflicted with honor; therefore, O brāhmaṇa, tell me now, in my old age—
को देवो गर्भनाशाय किं तीर्थं च क्षमं भवेत् । यूयं सर्वगताः श्रेष्ठाः समाधिध्यानतत्पराः
Which deity is for the destruction of rebirth, and which holy place is suitable? You are all-pervading, foremost, intent on meditation and concentration.
सर्वतीर्थावगाहेन कृतपुण्यात्मनोऽमलाः । यथावच्छृण्वते मह्यं श्रद्दधानाय विस्तरात्
Pure by the merit of bathing in all holy places, you are spotless in soul; therefore, listen to me in detail, as I faithfully ask.
कथयस्व प्रसादेन सर्वतीर्थविचक्षण । ब्राह्मण उवाच। शृणु राजेंद्र वक्ष्यामि यत्पृष्टं तीर्थसेवनम्
Out of grace, O expert in all sacred waters, tell me—said the king. The Brahmin spoke: Listen, O king, I will tell you about the observance of sacred places as you have asked.
कस्य देवस्य कृपया गर्भनिर्वारणं भवेत् । सेव्यः श्रीरामचंद्रोऽसौ संसारज्वरनाशकः
By the compassion of which deity is release from the womb attained? It is that blessed Rāma, destroyer of the fever of worldly existence, who is to be served.