अथ रावणः पुरान्निर्गत्य रामेण लक्ष्मणवानरै राक्षसा अपि युयुधिरे
Then Ravana, coming out of the city, fought with Rama, Lakshmana, the monkeys, and also the rakshasas.
अथ रावणं महाबलं हन्तुमशक्तोरामो विभीषणमुखमवलोक्य तदुक्तचिह्नपदं बाणेन निर्भिद्यामारयत्
Then Rama, unable to slay the mighty Ravana, looked toward Vibhishana's face, recognized the mark as spoken, and pierced him with an arrow, killing him.
अथ कुम्भकर्णो महागदामादाय सर्वं निष्पाद्य वानराननेकशो भक्षयित्वा रामोत्तमाङ्गं गदयाऽहन्
Then Kumbhakarna, taking a great mace, accomplished everything, devoured many monkeys, and struck Rama's head with the mace.
अथ रामो निशितबाणशतेन तमहन्ममार कुम्भकर्णः
Then Rama slew him, killing Kumbhakarna with a hundred sharp arrows.
अथ विभीषणेन रावणादेः श्राद्धादिकं कारयित्वा शिवालयं तन्नाम्ना कारयित्वा तमेव लङ्काराज्ये विभीषणमभिषिच्य सीतामग्निप्रवेशशुद्धामुमामहेश्वराभ्यां नमयित्वा पुरहरेण दत्ताखिलामृतबलायुष्यः सुपुष्पकमारुह्य जलधिमुत्तीर्य पारावारतटे सेनां समवस्थाप्य शिवप्रतिष्ठां तत्र कृत्वा मुनिभिर्देवैरभ्यर्चितोऽयोध्यामगमत्
Then, by Vibhishana, rites for Ravana and others such as shraddha were performed; a Shiva temple was built in his name; Vibhishana was consecrated as king of Lanka; Sita, purified by entering fire, was honored by Uma and Maheshvara; all nectar-strength and longevity were granted by Purahara; mounting the splendid Pushpaka, crossing the ocean, the army was stationed on the shore; a Shiva installation was made there; worshipped by sages and gods, Rama went to Ayodhya.
अथ भरतादिसमुपेतो नागरैर्वसिष्ठेन मुनिभिश्चाभ्यर्चितःस्वगृहमगमत्
Then, accompanied by Bharata and others, honored by the citizens and by Vasishtha and the sages, he entered his own house.
आत्मनाऽगतानिन्द्रा दिदेवानासनादिनाऽभ्यर्च्य वानरान्संपूज्य मुक्तजटोऽभिषिक्तो राज्ये रावणवधहर्षिता देवा राममूचुः
Indra and the gods, having come in person, honored him with seats and so forth; the monkeys were also honored; with his matted locks freed, Rama was consecrated in the kingdom; rejoicing at Ravana's death, the gods spoke to Rama.
त्वयाऽत्मराज्ये स्थापिता वयं नः सर्वदा परिपालय त्वमादिनारायणो देवो निखिलदुष्टनिग्रहार्थमवतीर्णो रावणं सबान्धवं हत्वा लोकत्रयरक्षकोऽसि श्रिया सह सुखी भवेत्युदीर्य स्वर्गं गताः
You have established us in your own kingdom; always protect us. You, the primordial Narayana, have descended to subdue all wicked ones; having slain Ravana and his kin, you are the protector of the three worlds. Be happy with fortune, thus speaking, they went to heaven.
अथायोध्यावासिनो रामं प्रहर्षिता ऊचुः
Then the inhabitants of Ayodhya, delighted, spoke to Rama.
हत्वा शत्रून्समायातो दृष्ट्वा प्राप्तोऽसि वै शिवम् । दिष्ट्या त्वं राजसे राम दिष्ट्या पालयसे प्रजाः
Having slain the enemies, you have returned; seeing you, we have attained auspiciousness. By fortune, you rule, Rama; by fortune, you protect the people.
त्वया यज्ञाः करिष्यंते त्वया धर्मो विवर्धते । इतिपौरवचःश्रुत्वारामो राजीवलोचनः
Sacrifices will be performed by you; dharma increases through you. Hearing these words of the citizens, Rama, lotus-eyed, ...
वस्त्रादिभिरथोसर्वान्नागरान्समपूजयत् । मुनीनुवाचधर्म्मात्मापूजयित्वाखिलैर्जनैः
Then, with garments and other gifts, he honored all the citizens; having honored the sages, the righteous-souled one addressed all the people.
कच्चित्तपःसमृद्धंवःकच्चिद्यज्ञःस्वनुष्ठितः । कच्चित्स्वदारनिरताःकच्चिदीशोभिपूज्यते
Is your austerity flourishing? Is the sacrifice properly performed? Are you devoted to your own wives? Is the lord being duly honored?
कच्चित्सुप्रजसोभार्याःकच्चित्सर्वंसुखोत्तरम्
Are your wives blessed with good children? Is everything ultimately bringing happiness?
मुनय ऊचुः - त्वयि राजनि काकुत्स्थ सर्वं स्वस्थं तपस्विनाम् । गच्छामहे पदमितः किं वा त्वं मन्यसे नृप
The sages said: O Kakutstha, king, all is well with the ascetics under your rule. We are ready to depart from here—what do you think, O king?
राम उवाच- यस्य विप्राः प्रसीदंति तस्य शंभुः प्रसीदति । यस्य प्रसीदतीशानस्तस्य भद्रं भविष्यति
Rama said: He with whom the brahmins are pleased, with him Shambhu is pleased; and he with whom the Lord is pleased, for him all will be well.
तत्कृत्वा भोजनमिह गंतुमर्हा अनंतरम् । अथेत्युक्त्वा मुनिगणाः कृत्वा भोजनमुत्तमम्
Therefore, after taking food here, you ought to depart. Having said this, the groups of sages, after partaking of excellent food—
अभिवर्ध्यतमाशीर्भिर्हृष्टाः स्वं स्वं पदं ययुः । रामोऽपि परमप्रीतः सभार्यश्च सहानुजः
—departed to their own abodes, delighted, after bestowing blessings. Rama too, supremely pleased, remained with his wife and brother.
अकंटकं स कृतवान्राज्यं सर्वजनप्रियः । शृणोत्येतदुपाख्यानं यः कश्चिदपि पातकी
He ruled the kingdom without thorns, beloved by all people. Whoever, even if sinful, hears this story—
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति । न दुर्गतिर्भवेत्तस्य यश्चेदं स्मरते नरः
—becomes freed from all sins and attains the supreme Brahman. Misfortune does not befall the man who remembers this.
यश्चापि कीर्तयेत्तस्य एवमेतदुदीरितम्
And whoever recites this as it has been spoken—
श्रीगणेशाय नमः। श्रीकुलदेवतायै नमः। श्रीगुरुचरणारविंदाभ्यां नमः । नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवींसरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
Salutations to Shri Ganesha! Salutations to the family deity! Salutations to the lotus feet of the revered teacher! Having bowed to Narayana, and also to the best of men, to the goddess, to Sarasvati, and to Vyasa, then let victory be proclaimed.
ऋषय ऊचुः। श्रुतं सर्वं महाभाग स्वर्गखंडं मनोहरम् । त्वत्तोऽधुना वदायुष्मञ्छ्रीरामचरितं हि नः
The sages said: All has been heard, O highly fortunate one, the delightful Svarga-khanda, from you. Now, O long-lived one, tell us the story of Shri Rama.
सूत उवाच। अथैकदा धराधारं पृष्टवान्भुजगेश्वरम् । वात्स्यायनो मुनिवरः कथामेतां सुनिर्मलाम्
Suta said: Once, Vatsyayana, the best of sages, asked the lord of serpents about this most pure story.
श्रीवात्स्यायन उवाच। शेषाशेष कथास्त्वत्तो जगत्सर्गलयादिकाः । भूगोलश्च खगोलश्च ज्योतिश्चक्रविनिर्णयः
Shri Vatsyayana said: From you, all stories have been heard—about the creation and dissolution of the world, about the earth and the sky, and the determination of the circle of the stars.
महत्तत्त्वादिसृष्टीनां पृथक्तत्त्वविनिर्णयः । नानाराजचरित्राणि कथितानि त्वयानघ
You have explained separately the principles of the creation of the great elements and others, and have narrated the stories of various kings, O sinless one.
सूर्यवंशभवानां च राज्ञां चारित्रमद्भुतम् । तत्रानेकमहापापहरा रामकृता कथा
You have told the wondrous deeds of the kings born in the Solar dynasty; among them, the stories of Rama remove many great sins.
तस्य वीरस्य रामस्य हयमेधकथा श्रुता । संक्षेपतो मया त्वत्तस्तामिच्छामि सविस्तराम्
I have heard from you the story of the horse sacrifice of that heroic Rama in brief; I wish to hear it from you in detail.
या श्रुता संस्मृता चोक्ता महापातकहारिणी । चिंतितार्थप्रदात्री च भक्तचित्तप्रतोषदा
That which is heard, remembered, or spoken destroys great sins, grants the desired object, and brings satisfaction to the hearts of devotees.
शेष उवाच। धन्योसि द्विजवर्य त्वं यस्य ते मतिरीदृशी । रघुवीरपदद्वंद्व मकरंद स्पृहावती
Shesha said: Blessed are you, O best of twice-born, whose mind is thus inclined, longing for the nectar of the twin feet of the hero of the Raghu line.