सोऽत्र श्रीमान्नीलशैले वसते पुरुषोत्तमः । आरुह्य तं नमस्कृत्य संपूज्य सुकृतादिना
That illustrious Supreme Person dwells here on the blue mountain; ascending it, bowing down, and worshipping with good deeds—
नैवेद्यं भक्षयित्वा वै भूप भूयाच्चतुर्भुजः । अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
After partaking of the offering, O king, one may become four-armed; here too is recounted an ancient legend—
तं शृणुष्व महाराज सर्वाश्चर्यसमन्वितम् । रत्नग्रीवस्य नृपतेर्यद्वृत्तं सकुटुंबिनः
Listen to that, O great king, filled with every wonder: what happened to King Ratnagrīva and his family—
चतुर्भुजादिकं प्राप्तं देवदानवदुर्लभम् । आसीत्कांची महाराज पुरी लोकेषु विश्रुता
He attained the four-armed form, rare even for gods and demons; there was a city called Kāñcī, renowned among the worlds—
महाजनपरीवारसमृद्धबलवाहना । यस्यां वसंति विप्राग्र्याः षट्कर्मनिरता भृशम्
Abounding in great people, with strong armies and vehicles; where excellent brāhmaṇas dwelt, devoted to the six duties—
सर्वभूतहिते युक्ता रामभक्तिषु लालसाः । क्षत्रिया रणकर्तारः संग्रामेऽप्यपलायिनः
Engaged in the welfare of all beings, eager in devotion to Rāma; kṣatriyas who were warriors, never fleeing in battle—
परदार परद्रव्य परद्रोहपराङ्मुखाः । वैश्याः कुसीदकृष्यादिवाणिज्यशुभवृत्तयः
Turning away from others' wives, wealth, and harm; vaiśyas with good conduct, engaged in lending, farming, and trade—
कुर्वन्ति रघुनाथस्य पदाम्भोजे रतिं सदा । शूद्रा ब्राह्मणसेवाभिर्गतरात्रिदिनान्तराः
They always delight in the lotus feet of Raghunātha; the śūdras, serving the brāhmaṇas, without distinction of day or night—
कुर्वंति कथनं रामरामेति रसनाग्रतः । प्राकृताः केऽपि नो पापं कुर्वंति मनसात्र वै
Ordinary people, simply by uttering the name 'Rama Rama' at the tip of their tongue, do not commit sin in their minds here.
दानं दया दमः सत्यं तत्र तिष्ठंति नित्यशः । वदते न पराबाधं वाक्यं कोऽपि नरोऽनघः
Charity, compassion, self-control, and truth always remain there; no one speaks words that harm others, O sinless one.
न पारक्ये धने लोभं कुर्वंति न हि पातकम् । एवं प्रजा महाराज रत्नग्रीवेण पाल्यते
They do not covet the wealth of others, nor do they commit any wrongdoing; in this way, O great king, the people are protected by Ratnagriva.
षष्ठांशं तत्र गृह्णाति नान्यं लोभविवर्जितः । एवं पालयमानस्य प्रजाधर्मेण भूपतेः
There he takes only a sixth part, and nothing more, free from greed; thus, while ruling the people according to righteousness, the king—
गतानि बहुवर्षाणि सर्वभोगविलासिनः । विशालाक्षीं महाराज एकदा ह्यूचिवानिदम्
Many years passed in enjoyment of all pleasures; then, O great king, he once spoke these words to Vishalakshi:
पतिव्रतां धर्मपत्नीं पतिव्रतपरायणाम् । पुत्रा जाता विशालाक्षि प्रजारक्षा धुरंधराः
O wide-eyed one, sons have been born to you, a devoted and righteous wife, steadfast in fidelity, and they bear the burden of protecting the people.
परीवारो महान्मह्यं वर्तते विगतज्वरः । हस्तिनो मम शैलाभा वाजिनः पवनोपमाः
A great retinue attends me, free from affliction; my elephants are like mountains, my horses swift as the wind.
रथाश्च सुहयैर्युक्ता वर्तंते मम नित्यशः । महाविष्णुप्रसादेन किंचिन्न्यूनं ममास्ति न
Chariots yoked with fine horses are always at my disposal; by the grace of great Vishnu, I lack nothing at all.
एवं मनोरथस्त्वेकस्तिष्ठते मानसे मम । परं तीर्थं मया नाद्य कृतं परमशोभने
Yet one desire remains in my mind: O supremely beautiful one, I have not yet performed the supreme pilgrimage.
गर्भवासविरामाय क्षमं गोविंदशोभितम् । वृद्धो जातोऽस्म्यहं तावद्वलीपलितदेहवान्
Worthy for ending the cycle of birth, adorned by Govinda; I have grown old, my body marked by wrinkles and gray hair.
करिष्यामि मनोहारि तीर्थसेवनमादृतः । यो नरो जन्मपर्यंतं स्वोदरस्य प्रपूरकः
I will devotedly undertake the delightful service of holy places; for the man who, throughout his life, only fills his own belly—
न करोति हरेः पूजां स नरो गोवृषः स्मृतः । तस्माद्गच्छामि भो भद्रे तीर्थयात्रां प्रति प्रिये
—and does not worship Hari, that man is considered a cow or an ox; therefore, O good lady, I go now on pilgrimage, dear one.
सकुटुंबः सुते न्यस्य धुरं राज्यस्य निर्भृताम् । इति व्यवस्य संध्यायां हरिं ध्यायन्निशांतरे
Entrusting the full burden of the kingdom to my son, with my family, thus resolved, at twilight, meditating on Hari through the night—
अद्राक्षीत्स्वप्नमप्येकं ब्राह्मणं तापसं वरम् । प्रातरुत्थाय राजासौ कृत्वा संध्यादिकाः क्रियाः
He saw in a dream a single brahmin, a great ascetic; rising at dawn, the king performed his morning rites.
सभां मंत्रिजनैः सार्द्धं सुखमासेदिवान्महान् । तावद्विप्रं ददर्शाथ तापसं कृशदेहिनम्
He happily sat in assembly with his ministers; then he saw the brahmin ascetic, emaciated in body.
जटावल्कलकौपीनधारिणं दंडपाणिनम् । अनेकतीर्थसेवाभिः कृतपुण्यकलेवरम्
Wearing matted hair, bark garments, and a loincloth, staff in hand, his body sanctified by service at many holy places.
राजा तं वीक्ष्य शिरसा प्रणनाम महाभुजः । अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं चक्रे प्रहृष्टात्मा महीपतिः
The king, seeing him, bowed his head, that mighty-armed one; the delighted ruler offered him water for washing feet and other honors.
सुखोपविष्टं विश्रांतं पप्रच्छ विदितं द्विजम् । स्वामिंस्त्वद्दर्शनान्मेऽद्य गतं देहस्य पातकम्
When the brahmin was seated comfortably and rested, the king questioned him, knowing him to be wise: 'Master, by seeing you today, the sin of my body is gone.'
महांतः कृपणान्पातुं यांति तद्गेहमादरात् । तस्मात्कथय भो विप्र वृद्धस्य मम संप्रति
Great souls go with respect to the homes of the wretched to protect them; therefore, O Brahmin, tell me now about my aged father.
को देवो गर्भनाशाय किं तीर्थं च क्षमं भवेत् । यूयं सर्वगताः श्रेष्ठाः समाधिध्यानतत्पराः
Which deity is to be worshipped for the removal of miscarriage, and which sacred place is suitable? You all are the best, ever engaged in meditation and absorption.
सर्वतीर्थावगाहेन कृतपुण्यात्मनोऽमलाः । यथावच्छृण्वते मह्यं श्रद्दधानाय विस्तरात्
Pure in soul through bathing in all the sacred waters, you listen properly and in detail to me, who is full of faith.
कथयस्व प्रसादेन सर्वतीर्थविचक्षण । ब्राह्मण उवाच। शृणु राजेंद्र वक्ष्यामि यत्पृष्टं तीर्थसेवनम्
Please tell me, by your grace, O knower of all holy places. The Brahmin said: Hear, O king, I will tell you about the observance of holy places as you have asked.