तेनावगाहिता दृष्टाः प्रणता बहुसेविताः । स्नानमर्द्धोदिते सूर्ये वैशाखे नियतश्चरेत्
Having entered, seen, bowed to, and served them in many ways, one should bathe at sunrise in Vaiśākha with discipline.
तस्य पुण्यं महीदेव कश्चिद्वक्तुं न शक्यते । यदि वक्त्रसहस्राणां सहस्राणि भवंति हि
O lord of the earth, no one is able to describe the merit of that, even if there are thousands upon thousands of mouths.
आयुश्च ब्रह्मणा स्वल्पं यदि स्याद्द्विजसत्तम । तदा माधवमासस्य फलं कथयितुं भवेत्
O best of twice-born, if a person's lifespan, as ordained by Brahma, is short, then it would be possible to describe the fruits of the month of Mādhava.
महानिरयकर्षाग्नि माधवो माधवो यथा । ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापमगम्यागमनादिकम्
Just as the fire of the great hell drags one in, so too does the month of Mādhava; it destroys sins such as the killing of a Brahmin and those arising from forbidden acts and places.
कामाकामकृतं पापमेति पातकमेव च । उपपापरहस्यं च संकरीकरणं परम्
Sins committed intentionally or unintentionally, as well as grave transgressions, and the secret faults of minor sins, and the highest forms of impurity from mixing of castes—
जातिभ्रंशकरं घोरमपात्रीकरणं तथा । मलावहं प्रकीर्णं च वाङ्मनः काय संभवम्
Those terrible acts that cause loss of caste, that render one unfit for offerings, that bring defilement, that are scattered, and that arise from speech, mind, or body—
माधवो निर्दहेन्मासो विधिना समुपासितः । कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटि शतानि च
The month of Mādhava, when properly observed, burns all these away; one who worships accordingly dwells for thousands of millions of aeons, and hundreds of millions of aeons.
वसेद्विष्णुपुरे श्रीमान्माधवे योऽर्चयेद्धरिम्
He who worships Hari during Mādhava, the blessed one, dwells in the city of Viṣṇu.
ऋषय ऊचुः - भूयो वद महाभाग रामचारित्रमद्भुतम् । राममाहात्म्यसर्वस्वं भक्तानां प्रीतिदायकम्
The sages said: Tell us again, O greatly fortunate one, the wondrous story of Rāma, the essence of Rāma's greatness, which brings joy to devotees.
सूत उवाच- अश्वमेधं क्रतुवरं कृत्वा दाशरथिर्यथा
Sūta said: After performing the horse sacrifice, the best of sacrifices, the son of Daśaratha—
प्रवृत्तो लोककृत्येषु शास्त्रकृत्येषु कोविदः । अयोध्यां गंतुकामेन शंकरेण महात्मना
Expert in worldly and scriptural duties, desiring to go to Ayodhyā, the great-souled Śaṅkara—
पार्वत्या सह देवेन उषितः सरयूतटे । मुनयस्तं समभ्येत्य शंकरं विश्वरूपिणम्
Having stayed on the banks of the Sarayū with Pārvatī, the god, the sages approached Śaṅkara, the one of universal form.
कश्यपाद्या महात्मानः पप्रच्छुरमितौजसम् । स्वागतं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ सभार्यः कुत आगतः
The great sages, beginning with Kaśyapa, questioned him, whose energy is immeasurable: 'Welcome to you, best of sages, with your wife. From where have you come?'
किमागमनकृत्यं ते कं देशं गंतुमुद्यतः । शंकर उवाच- अहं शंभुरिति ख्यातो विप्रो हिमगिरिस्थितः
'What is the purpose of your coming? To which land are you intending to go?' Śaṅkara said: 'I am Śaṃbhu, so known, a Brāhmaṇa dwelling on the snowy mountain.'
द्रष्टुं च राघवं गच्छे मम कार्यं महत्ततः । मामाह्वयति राजासौ पुराणश्रवणे रतः
'I am going to see Rāghava; I have a great purpose. That king, devoted to hearing ancient tales, summons me.'
आगच्छंतु भवंतोऽपि राघवः परितुष्यति । ततस्ते मुनयः शंभुर्ययू रामदिदृक्षया
'May you all come as well; Rāghava will be pleased.' Then those sages, along with Śaṃbhu, went, wishing to see Rāma.
तानागतान्वसिष्ठस्तु ज्ञात्वा रामाय चोक्तवान् । ततः सत्वरमुत्थाय निर्ययौ स पुरोहितः
Vasiṣṭha, knowing they had arrived, spoke to Rāma; then, rising quickly, the priest went out.
अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकैस्सर्वान्पूजयामास तानृषीन् । गृहराजं ततः सर्वान्प्रावेशयदरिंदमः
He honored all those sages with offerings of water for washing the feet and hands, and so forth; then the subduer of enemies led them all into the royal house.
प्रत्येकमासनं दत्वा स्वागतोक्त्यासनस्थितान् । क्रमेण रघुशार्दूलः पूजयामास तानृषीन्
Giving each a seat, and welcoming them as they sat, the tiger among the Raghus honored those sages in order.
वाचा मधुरया प्रीणन्निदमाहासनस्थितान् । श्रीराम उवाच- अद्य मे सफलं जन्म प्राप्तमद्य तपः फलम्
Pleasing them with sweet words as they sat, Śrī Rāma said: 'Today my birth is fulfilled; today the fruit of my austerity is attained.'
अद्याभ्यासस्य विद्यानां फलकालोऽयमागतः । अद्य मे पितरस्तुष्टा राज्यं च सफलं मम
Today the time has come for the fruits of my study and knowledge; today my ancestors are pleased, and my reign is fulfilled.
अद्य मे सफलं वृत्तमद्य मे सफलं श्रुतम् । एवं वदंतं राजानं ब्राह्मणाः कश्यपादयः
Today my conduct bears fruit, today my learning is fruitful; as the king spoke thus, the Brahmins led by Kashyapa addressed him.
ऊचुः प्रियतरं वाक्यं रामं राजीवलोचनम् । ऋषय ऊचुः अयं शंभुर्द्विजः प्राप्तः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः
They spoke words most dear to Rama, whose eyes resemble lotuses: The sages said, 'Here is Shambhu, a Brahmin, arrived, expert in all scriptures.'
वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञः सर्वभूतहिते रतः । कैलासवासी सततं तपसे कृतनिश्चयः
He knows the essence of the Vedas and their branches, is devoted to the welfare of all beings, dwells always in Kailasa, and is firmly resolved in asceticism.
ब्रह्मणा ब्रह्मवर्चस्के तुल्यो ब्रह्मविदां वरः । हरिणा ब्रह्मवात्सल्ये प्रसादे शंकरोपमः
In spiritual brilliance he equals Brahma, and among knowers of Brahman he is foremost; in affection for Brahmins and in grace, he is like Shankara.
एवंविधो महातेजाः शंभुर्ब्राह्मणपुंगवः । अष्टादशपुराणज्ञो मीमांसा न्यायकोविदः
Such is Shambhu, a Brahmin of great splendor; he knows all eighteen Puranas, and is skilled in Mimamsa and logic.
त्वद्भाग्यगौरवादेव प्राप्तोऽयं मुनिसत्तमः । त्वयाहूतो मुनिवरः कैलासादागतः प्रभो
By the weight of your fortune alone, this foremost sage has arrived; summoned by you, the eminent sage has come from Kailasa, O Lord.
अतः पृच्छ महाभाग पुराणाख्यानमुत्तमम् । श्रोतुकामा वयं प्राप्तास्त्वामद्य रघुनंदन
Therefore, O most fortunate one, ask for the supreme narration of the Purana; we have come today, O descendant of Raghu, eager to hear from you.
अंतं गतस्य वेदानां सर्वशास्त्रार्थवेदिनः । पुंसोऽश्रुतपुराणस्य न सम्यग्याति दर्शनम्
For one who has mastered the Vedas and knows the meaning of all scriptures, if he has not heard the Purana, his understanding is not complete.
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्तो रघुश्रेष्ठो मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे पुराणश्रवणोत्सुकः
Suta said: Thus addressed by the sages who see the truth, the best of the Raghu line felt incomparable joy, eager to hear the Purana.