करद्वये धृतकुशः स राघवः प्रागमद्वरुणदिशामथोत्तमाम् । दत्वा ततोऽर्घत्रितयं यथाविधि प्रहृष्टरोमाथ जजाप सोंऽतरे
Holding kuśa grass in both hands, Rāghava went eastward to the best direction, that of Varuṇa; then, after offering three libations of water according to the rite, his hair bristling with joy, he recited mantras inwardly.
संप्रार्थयित्वा वरुणं यथाक्रमं शंभुं वसिष्ठं प्रणनाम राघवः । ताभ्यां कृताशीरगमन्मनःपदं हनूमता क्षालित पादपंकजः । जुहाव वह्नीनथ बंदिमागधैः संस्तूयमानोऽथ विनिर्ययौ बहिः
Having duly invoked Varuṇa, Rāghava bowed to Śambhu and Vasiṣṭha; with his mind set on the path made auspicious by their blessings, and his feet cleansed by Hanumān, he offered oblations into the fire, and, praised by the bards and minstrels, he then went outside.
प्रहसच्चंद्र किरणैः सुधालिप्तमिवांबरम् । प्रसन्नताराकुसुमं वितानमिव सर्वतः
The sky shone, as if smeared with nectar by the rays of the moon, and everywhere it appeared like a canopy adorned with the blossoms of bright stars.
अथागच्छत्सौधतलं वृद्धामात्येन कल्पितम् । नानासनसमोपेतं सभास्थानं ययौ नृपः
Then he went to the upper hall, prepared by the aged minister; the king entered the assembly hall, furnished with various seats.
अथ मुनिं ह्युपवेश्य स राघवः स्वयमपि प्रथमासनमाभजत् । कपिगणाः परितः पृथुविग्रहा रचनयास्थितिमाप्रतिपेदिरे
Then Rāghava seated the sage, and himself took the foremost seat; the hosts of monkeys, broad-bodied, arranged themselves in order all around.
सुखस्थितं नृपमभिवीक्ष्य स द्विजो वचस्तदा समुचितमाह शंभुः । इहस्थितो भवति समस्तपूजितः कथं कथा नृपवर वर्तते गुहायाम्
Seeing the king comfortably seated, that twice-born Śambhu appropriately spoke these words: 'Here you are, honored by all—how does the tale unfold, O best of kings, within the cave?'
आकर्ण्याथ रघूद्वहो द्विजवचः शुश्रूषुरासीत्कथां । तत्रस्थो निपुणं निवार्यवचनं सर्वैः श्रुतं तत्क्षणात् । शुश्रूषामि कथं महाद्भुततया स्वात्माश्रयामन्यथा । रक्षोबाधनवादिनीमथनृपः किंत्वेतदित्याह च
Hearing the words of the brāhmaṇa, Rāghava became eager to listen to the tale; present there, he skillfully restrained others from speaking, and all listened at that very moment. 'I wish to hear this, for it is most wondrous and concerns my own self—yet, what is this talk of demon-slaying, O king?' he asked.
कुंभश्रोत्रवधः पुरा समजनि प्राप्तो दशास्यो वधं । पश्चादित्ययमन्यथा विरचितं रामायणं भाषते । कोऽयं विप्रवरः समस्तजनता नास्तिक्य संपादको । राज्ञांस्थानमुपेत्य वक्ति समया दंड्योऽथ पूज्योऽथवा
Long ago, the slaying of Kumbhakarṇa occurred, and the ten-headed one met his end; afterwards, this Rāmāyaṇa has been composed differently. Who is this eminent brāhmaṇa, who promotes disbelief among all people? Having come to the assembly of kings, does he deserve punishment or honor according to the law?
अथाह जांबवानमुं रघूत्तमं कथां प्रति । रामायणं न तावकं त्विदं हि कल्पितं मतम् । समस्तमत्र विस्तराद्वदामि देव तच्छृणु । पंकेरुहस्यसूनुतो मया श्रुतं पुराह्यभूत्
Then Jāmbavān spoke to the best of Raghus regarding the tale: 'This Rāmāyaṇa is not yours, but rather a fabricated account, so it is believed. I shall tell everything here in detail, O Lord—listen to what I once heard from the son of the Lotus-born.'
जांबवंतं विज्ञाप्य रामचंद्रो वचनमाह
Having informed Jāmbavān, Rāmacandra spoke these words:
श्रीराम उवाच- कीर्तय पुराणं मे शुश्रूषुः कुतूहलादहं प्रणीतं तत्केन च विज्ञातम्
Śrī Rāma said: 'Recite the ancient tale for me—I am eager to hear, out of curiosity, who composed it and how it became known.'
जांबवानथ बभाषे हि विधात्रे नमो नमस्तथैव विधुभूषणकेशवाभ्याम्
Then Jāmbavān spoke, offering repeated salutations to the Creator, and likewise to Keśava adorned with the crescent moon.
अथ पुरातनं रामायणं कथयामि
Now I shall narrate the ancient Rāmāyaṇa.
यस्य श्रवणेनाखिलजन्मसंपादित पापक्षयो जायते
By hearing which, the destruction of all sins accumulated over countless births arises.
अथ तथापि दशरथो दशरथसमानरथी महीयसा बलेन सुमानसनामनगरजिगीषया पंकेरुहसुतसुतं वसिष्ठमाहूय नमस्कृत्वा मुनिदत्तानुज्ञः शताक्षौहिणीसेनया सहारुह्य तुरंगमं चंद्र समानशरीरमतिरोषसमाविष्टो विष्टरश्रवसमाराध्य दंडयात्रां चकार
Then, even so, Daśaratha—equal to Daśaratha in chariot-fighting, possessing great strength, with a noble mind and the desire to conquer cities—summoned Vasiṣṭha, son of the Lotus-born, offered obeisance, and with the sage’s permission, mounted his horse with a hundred akṣauhiṇī army, his body like the moon, filled with intense wrath, worshipped Viṣṭaraśravas, and set out on a punitive expedition.
साध्यो नाम स्वीयया सेनयावृतो दशरथाभिमुखमाययौ योद्धुं युद्धं चान्योन्यमभूत्
A being named Sādhya, surrounded by his own army, came to face Daśaratha for battle, and there was mutual combat.
मासमेकं युद्धं कृत्वा दशरथस्तं साध्यं जग्राह
After fighting for one month, Daśaratha captured Sādhya.
अथ साध्यसूनुर्भूषणोनामाल्पपरिवारो युयुधे दशरथेन
Then Sādhya’s son, named Bhūṣaṇa, with a small retinue, fought with Daśaratha.
दशरथोऽपि साध्यसूनुं भुवोभूषणमवलोक्य योद्धुमेव नैच्छत्
But Daśaratha, seeing Sādhya’s son Bhūṣaṇa—an ornament of the earth—did not wish to fight him.
कथमेतादृशं हन्मि चास्मिन्हतेऽस्य कथं पिता भविष्यति कथं तन्माता कथमप्रौढयौवनाप्रियार्या
How can I kill one such as this? If he is slain, what will become of his father? What of his mother, and his beloved, youthful wife?
अमुष्य हि देहे समालिंगनचुंबनपरिवर्तन नवीनतरदलारविंदपदानि कुसुमानीव दृश्यंते
For on his body are seen marks, fresh as tender lotus petals, from embraces, kisses, and playful turns.
एतत्समानवर्णवया एतादृशः सुभगः परमप्रीतिवर्द्धनोनाम पुत्रो भल्लूकभक्षितोमृतःस्मृतिपथं प्राप्यापि मां रक्षयितुमिच्छतीव मम हृदयमन्यथा करोति इति मनसा वितर्क्यातिबालकं ग्रहीतुमारभत्
Of the same complexion and age, such a charming son, named Paramaprītivardhana, was eaten by a bear and died; even recalling him, he seems to wish to protect me—my heart is moved otherwise.' Thus thinking in his mind, he began to seize the very young boy.
स च साध्योपि पराधीनो बभूव
And even that Sādhyā became subject to another's will.
स च कुमारेण सह पराजय खेदमपि मत्वा सुखमध्युवास च
He, together with the prince, considering also the distress of defeat, lived there happily.
दशरथोऽपि तत्र मासं स्थित्वा तत्पुत्रसंदर्शनसुखमवलोक्याचिंतयत्
And Daśaratha, having stayed there for a month, seeing the joy of beholding his son, reflected.
अहो सर्वदुःखापनोदनक्षममेतन्मुखावलोकनं पुत्रसंवर्द्धनंनाम सर्वराष्ट्रिको मम जयः पुत्रवियोगमनुस्मरतो दुःखाय केवलं भवति
Ah! The sight of a son's face, called the nurturing of a son, is capable of dispelling all sorrow; all my victories over kingdoms are only a source of grief when I recall separation from my son.
तदस्य पृच्छां करोमि कथमीदृशो जायते पुत्र इति वितर्क्य तमपृच्छत्
Therefore, I will ask him, 'How does such a son come to be?'—thinking thus, he questioned him.
साध्योऽपि सकलमोक्षमार्गं क्षितीशायादिशत्
Even Sādhyā instructed the king in the entire path of liberation.
हरीशानौ सहाराध्य सर्वैकादशीरुपोष्य द्वादशीषु ब्राह्मणानाराध्य तत्तत्कालभवं फलपूर्वमन्नाद्यं व्यंजनं पुष्पं च न्यायेन संपाद्य कपिलाघृतेन केशवं स्नापयित्वा मुद्गचूर्णेन संलिप्य स्वादूदकेन स्नापयित्वा सुरभिपाटीरं स्वयमुद्घृष्टं मृगनाभ्यागुरुसारेण वासमेतं देवांगं सर्वमुपलिप्य तुलसीदलैर्यूथिकाकरवीरनीलोत्पलकमल कोकनदद्रो णकुसुम मरुवदमनक गिरिकर्णिकाकेतकीदलपूर्वैर्यथासंभवमभ्यर्च्य द्वादशाक्षरेण पुरुषसूक्तेन वा नाम्ना षोडशोपचारेण वाराध्य प्रणम्य नृत्यं कृत्वा देवं क्षमापयेत्
Having worshipped Hari and Īśāna together, observing all the Ekādaśī fasts, and on Dvādaśī days properly honoring brāhmaṇas with food, delicacies, and flowers as appropriate for the time, bathing Keśava with cow ghee, anointing with mung flour, bathing again with sweet water, and adorning the divine form with garments perfumed by musk, aguru, and deer-musk, and with leaves of tulasī, yūthikā, karavīra, blue lotus, red lotus, kokanada, droṇa flowers, maruvā, madanaka, mountain karṇikā, ketakī leaves as available, worshipping with the twelve-syllable mantra or the Puruṣa Sūkta, or by name, with sixteen forms of service, bowing, dancing, and then seeking forgiveness from the Lord—
तथा व्रतानि विचित्राणि नारायणप्रीणनाय कुर्य्यात्
In this way, one should perform various vows to please Nārāyaṇa.