सुरापो ब्रह्महत्याकृत्स्वर्णस्तेयी महाघकृत् । सर्वे त्वन्नामवादेन पूताः शीघ्रं भवंति हि
Even a drinker of liquor, a slayer of a brahmin, a thief of gold, or one who commits great sins—all are quickly purified by uttering your name.
इयं देवी जनकजा महाविद्या महामते । यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण मुक्ता यास्यंति सद्गतिम्
This goddess, daughter of Janaka, is the great wisdom, O wise one. By merely remembering her, people are liberated and attain the highest path.
रावणोऽपि न वै दैत्यो वैकुंठे तव सेवकः । ऋषीणां शापतोऽवाप्तो दैत्यत्वं दनुजांतक
Even Rāvaṇa was not truly a demon, but your servant in Vaikuṇṭha. Due to the curse of the sages, he took birth as a demon, O destroyer of the Danujas.
तस्यानुग्रहकर्ता त्वं न तु हंता द्विजन्मनः । एवं संचिंत्य मा भूयो निजं शोचितुमर्हसि
You were his benefactor, not the slayer of a twice-born. Therefore, reflecting thus, you should not grieve over your own actions any longer.
इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं रामः परपुरंजयः । उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं गद्गदस्वरभाषितम्
Hearing these words, Rāma, conqueror of enemy cities, spoke sweet words, his voice choked with emotion.
श्रीराम उवाच। पातकं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं ज्ञाताज्ञातविभेदतः । ज्ञातं यद्बुद्धिपूर्वं हि अज्ञातं तद्विवर्जितम्
Śrī Rāma said: Sin is said to be of two kinds, distinguished as known and unknown. That which is done knowingly is known; what is otherwise is unknown.
बुद्धिपूर्वं कृतं कर्म भोगेनैव विनश्यति । नश्येदनुशयादन्यदिदं शास्त्रविनिश्चितम्
An act done knowingly is destroyed only through experiencing its result; the other is destroyed by remorse—this is the settled conclusion of the scriptures.
कुर्वतो बुद्धिपूर्वं मे ब्रह्महत्यां सुनिंदिताम् । न मे दुःखापनोदाय साधुवादः सुसंमतः
Since I knowingly committed the grave sin of brahmin-killing, mere words of praise are not, in my view, sufficient to remove my sorrow.
प्रब्रूहि तादृशं मह्यं यादृशं पापदाहकम् । व्रतं दानं मखं किंचित्तीर्थमाराधनं महत्
Tell me, therefore, of such a vow, gift, sacrifice, pilgrimage, or great worship that can burn away such sin.
येन मे विमला कीर्तिर्लोकान्वै पावयिष्यति । पापाचाराप्तकालुष्यान्ब्रह्महत्याहतप्रभान्
By which my fame may become pure and sanctify the worlds, and those tainted by sinful conduct and dimmed by the sin of brahmin-killing may be cleansed.
शेष उवाच। इत्युक्तवंतं तं रामं जगाद स तपोनिधिः । सुरासुरनमन्मौलि मणिनीराजितांघ्रिकम्
Śeṣa said: Thus addressed, that Rāma was spoken to by the sage, whose feet were adorned by the jewels of gods and demons bowing in reverence.
शृणु राम महावीर लोकानुग्रहकारक । विप्रहत्यापनोदाय तव यद्वचनं ब्रुवे
Hear, O Rāma, great hero, benefactor of the worlds, the instruction I give for the removal of your brahmin-killing sin.
सर्वं स पापं तरति योऽश्वमेधं यजेत वै । तस्मात्त्वं यज विश्वात्मन्वाजिमेधेन शोभिना
Whoever performs the Aśvamedha sacrifice crosses over all sin; therefore, O soul of the universe, you should perform the glorious horse sacrifice.
सप्ततंतुर्महीभर्त्रा त्वया साध्यो मनीषिणा । महासमृद्धियुक्तेन महाबलसुशालिना
The sacrifice with seventy threads must be performed by you, ruler of the earth, endowed with great prosperity and supreme strength, as determined by the wise.
स वाजिमेधो विप्राणां हत्यायाः पापनोदनः । कृतवान्यं महाराजो दिलीपस्तव पूर्वजः
That Aśvamedha sacrifice, O Brahmins, destroys the sin of killing a Brahmin; your ancestor, the great king Dilīpa, performed it.
शतक्रतुः शतं कृत्वा क्रतूनां पुरुषर्षभः । पदमापामरावत्यां देवदैत्यसुसेवितम्
Indra, the best among men, having performed a hundred sacrifices, attained the abode in Amarāvatī, well served by gods and demons.
मनुश्च सगरो राजा मरुत्तो नहुषात्मजः । एते ते पूर्वजाः सर्वे यज्ञं कृत्वा पदं गताः
Manu, King Sagara, Marutta the son of Nahuṣa—all these your ancestors, having performed sacrifice, attained that state.
तस्मात्त्वं कुरु राजेंद्र समर्थोऽसि समंततः । भ्रातरो लोकपालाभा वर्तंते तव भावुकाः
Therefore, O king, you should do likewise; you are fully capable. Your brothers, noble in spirit, stand by you like guardians of the world.
इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्य मुनेः स भाग्यवान् रघूत्तमो ब्राह्मणघातभीतः । पप्रच्छ यागे सुमतिं चिकीर्षन्विधिं पुरावित्परिगीयमानः
Hearing this from the sage, the fortunate best of the Raghus, fearful of the sin of killing a Brahmin, asked about the proper procedure for the sacrifice, wishing to act as praised in ancient times.
श्रीराम उवाच। कीदृशोऽश्वस्तत्र भाव्यः को विधिस्तत्र पूजने । कथं वा शक्यते कर्तुं के जेयास्तत्र वैरिणः
Śrī Rāma said: What kind of horse should be there? What is the procedure for its worship? How can it be accomplished, and who are the enemies to be conquered there?
अगस्त्य उवाच। गंगाजलसमानेन वर्णेन वपुषा शुभः । कर्णे श्यामो मुखे रक्तः पीतः पुच्छे सुलक्षितः
Agastya said: The horse should be beautiful, with a color like Ganges water; dark at the ears, red at the mouth, yellow at the tail, and clearly marked.
मनोवेगः सर्वगतिरुच्चैःश्रवस्समप्रभः । वाजिमेधे हयः प्रोक्तः शुभलक्षणलक्षितः
Swift as the mind, able to go everywhere, resplendent like Uccaiḥśravas—the horse for the Aśvamedha is described as possessing auspicious marks.
वैशाखपूर्णमास्यां तु पूजयित्वा यथाविधि । पत्रं लिखित्वा भाले तु स्वनामबलचिह्नितम्
On the full moon of Vaiśākha, after worshipping it according to rule, a document bearing your name and insignia should be written and placed on its forehead.
मोचनीयः प्रयत्नेन रक्षकैः परिरक्षितः । यत्र गच्छति यज्ञाश्वस्तत्र गच्छेत्सुरक्षकः
The horse should be released with care, guarded by protectors; wherever the sacrificial horse goes, its guardians must follow.
यस्तंबलान्निबध्नाति स्ववीर्यबलदर्पितः । तस्मात्प्रसभमानेयः परिरक्षाकरैर्हयः
Whoever seizes it by force, proud of his own strength and power, must be subdued; the horse should be defended by its protectors.
कर्त्रा तावत्सुविधिना स्थातव्यं नियमादिह । मृगशृंगधरो भूत्वा ब्रह्मचर्यसमन्वितः
The performer must observe proper discipline here, remaining steadfast, bearing a deer’s horn, and practicing celibacy.
व्रतं पालयमानस्य यावद्वर्षमतिक्रमेत् । तावद्दीनांधकृपणाः परितोष्या धनादिभिः
While maintaining the vow for a year, the poor, the blind, and the distressed should be satisfied with wealth and other gifts.
अन्नं तु बहुशो देयं धनं वा भूरि मारिष । यद्यत्प्रार्थयते धीमांस्तत्तदेव ददाति हि
Food should be given in abundance, and wealth generously, O noble one; whatever the wise request, that indeed should be given.
एवं प्रकुर्वतः कर्म यज्ञः संपूर्णतां गतः । करोति सर्वपापानां नाशनं रिपुनाशन
By performing the rite in this way, the sacrifice is completed; it destroys all sins and vanquishes enemies.
तस्माद्भवान्समर्थोऽस्ति करणे पालनेऽर्चने । कृत्वा कीर्तिं सुविमलां पावयान्याञ्जनान्नृप
Therefore, you are capable of performing, protecting, and worshipping; having established pure fame, purify other people, O king.