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.
श्रीराम उवाच- लिगार्चनप्रकारं च लिंगमाहात्म्यमेव च । महेशनाममाहात्म्यं पूजामाहात्म्यमेव च
Sri Rama said: The procedure for worshipping the linga, the greatness of the linga, the glory of Mahesha's name, and the greatness of worship—
नमस्कारस्य माहात्म्यं दृष्टिमाहात्म्यमेव च । जलदानस्य माहात्म्यं धूपदानस्य सत्तम
The greatness of salutation, the greatness of vision, the merit of offering water, and the merit of offering incense, O noble one—
दीपगंधादिदानस्य पुष्पमाहात्म्यमेव च । नानाख्यानेतिहासानां कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्
The merit of offering lamps, fragrances, and such, the greatness of flowers, and the stories of various legends and histories that destroy sin—
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश्च तदुपायांश्च सुव्रत । तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो मुनिवरोत्तम
The means to dharma, wealth, pleasure, and liberation, O virtuous one; I wish to hear all this from you, O best of sages.
शंभुरुवाच- रामराम महाबाहो पुण्यवानसि राघव । राज्यासक्तस्य ते जाता पुराणश्रवणे रतिः
Shambhu said: O Rama, mighty-armed, you are virtuous, O descendant of Raghu; though engaged in kingship, you have developed a love for hearing the Purana.
स्यान्महत्सेवया राम पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् । सा जिह्वा या शिवं गायेत्तच्चित्तं यत्तदर्प्पितम्
Such love arises from great service, O Rama, and from visiting holy places; that tongue which sings of Shiva, that mind which is offered to him—
तावेव केवलौ श्लाघ्यौ यौ तत्पूजाकरौ करौ । सुजन्मदेहमत्यर्थं तदेवाशेषजन्मसु
Only those two are truly praiseworthy: the hands that perform his worship; the body gained by good birth is especially so, and so in all births.
यदेवोत्पुलकोभासि हर नामानुकीर्तनात् । कृतार्थोऽसि महाराज तत्प्रश्नानुगता मतिः
When your body thrills with joy at the recitation of Hara's name, O great king, you are fulfilled; your mind follows the questions.
अनंतरं समाजग्मुर्जांघिकाः सत्वरश्रमाः । तत्करात्पत्रिकां गृह्य पपाठ रघुसत्तमः
Immediately, the messengers arrived, swift and weary; taking the letter from their hand, the best of the Raghus read it.
मनसाऽचिंतयद्रामः कथमेतदभूदिति । रामं शंभुस्तदा प्राह देव्या ब्राह्मणवेषवान्
Rama wondered in his mind, 'How has this come to be?' Then Shiva, disguised as a Brahmin and accompanied by the goddess, spoke to Rama.