तत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवास्तत्र ब्रह्मांडकोटयः । कृतप्राञ्जलयस्तं वै स्तुवंति स्तुतिभिर्मुहुः
There were Brahma and other gods, and countless universes; with joined palms, they praised him again and again with hymns.
रामं श्यामं सुनयनं मृगशृंगपरिग्रहम् । गायंति नारदाद्याश्च वीणोल्लसितपाणयः
Rama, dark-hued, with beautiful eyes and holding a deer-horn, was being sung by Narada and others, their hands shining with lutes.
नृत्यंत्यप्सरसस्तत्र घृताची मेनकादयः । वेदा मूर्तिधरा भूत्वा उपतिष्ठंति राघवम्
There, the Apsarases such as Ghritachi and Menaka were dancing, and the Vedas, taking embodied form, attended upon Raghava.
यच्च किंचिद्वस्तुजातं सर्वशोभासमन्वितम् । तस्य दातारमखिलं भक्तानां भोगदायकम्
And whatever kinds of objects existed there, all endowed with every beauty, their giver was entirely he who grants enjoyment to devotees.
इत्येवमादिसंपश्यञ्जाग्रत्संज्ञामवाप सः । ब्रह्मशापहतज्ञानः किं दृष्टमिति वै वदन्
Seeing thus, he, whose knowledge had been destroyed by Brahma's curse, while awake, attained awareness, saying, 'What have I seen?'
उत्थाय प्रययौ पद्भ्यां शत्रुघ्नचरणं प्रति । भृत्यकोटिपरीवारो रथकोटिपरीवृतः
Rising up, he went on foot towards Shatrughna's feet, surrounded by a multitude of servants and encircled by a host of chariots.
सुकेतुं तु समाहूय विचित्रं दमनं तथा । युद्धं कर्तुं समुद्युक्तान्वारयामास धर्मवित्
He summoned Suketu and the wondrous Daman, and, as they were eager to fight, the knower of dharma restrained them.
उवाच तान्महाराजो धर्मात्मा धर्मसंयुतः । भ्रातःपुत्रौ शृणुत मे वाक्यं धर्मसमन्वितम्
The great king, righteous and endowed with dharma, spoke to them: 'O sons of my brother, listen to my words imbued with dharma.'
मा युद्धं कुरुत क्षिप्रमनयस्तु महानभूत् । यद्रामचंद्रवाहं त्वमगृह्णाद्दमनोर्ज्जितम्
'Do not quickly engage in battle; let this great calamity not occur. For you seized the vehicle of Rama, powerful in subduing enemies.'
एष रामः परंब्रह्म कार्यकारणतः परम् । चराचरजगत्स्वामी न मानुषवपुर्धरः
'This Rama is the Supreme Brahman, the highest in cause and effect, the lord of the moving and unmoving world, not one who bears a human form.'
एतद्धि ब्रह्मविज्ञानमधुना ज्ञातवानहम् । पुरासितांगशापेन हृतज्ञानधनोऽनघाः
'Now I have come to know this knowledge of Brahman; formerly, deprived of wisdom by Asitanga's curse, I was bereft of knowledge, O sinless ones.'
अहं पुरा तीर्थयात्रां गतस्तत्त्वविवित्सया । तत्रानेके मया दृष्टा मुनयो धर्मवित्तमाः
'Once, desiring to know the truth, I went on a pilgrimage; there I saw many sages, most learned in dharma.'
असितांगं मुनिमहं गतवाञ्ज्ञातुमिच्छया । तदा प्रोवाच मां विप्रः कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि
'I went to the sage Asitanga, wishing to know; then that brahmin, taking pity on me, spoke to me.'
योऽसावयोध्याधिपतिः स परब्रह्मशब्दितः । तस्य या जानकी देवी साक्षात्सा चिन्मयी स्मृता
'He who is the lord of Ayodhya is called the Supreme Brahman; his consort, the goddess Janaki, is regarded as pure consciousness herself.'
एनं तु योगिनः साक्षादुपासते यमादिभिः । दुस्तरा पारसंसारवारिधिं संतितीर्षवः
'Him, indeed, the yogis worship directly through self-restraint and other means, desiring to cross the difficult ocean of worldly existence.'
स्मृतमात्रो महापापहारी स गरुडध्वजः । य एनं सेवते विद्वान्स संसारं तरिष्यति
'He, Garuda-bannered, removes great sins by mere remembrance; the wise one who serves him will cross over worldly existence.'
तदाहमहसं विप्रं कोऽयं रामस्तु मानुषः । केयं सा जानकी देवी हर्षशोकसमाकुला
'Then I asked that brahmin: Who is this Rama, a mere man? Who is this goddess Janaki, overwhelmed by joy and sorrow?'
अजन्मनः कथं जन्म अकर्तुः कृत्यमत्र किम् । जन्मदुःखजरातीतं कथयस्व मुने मम
'How can the unborn be born? What deed is there for the non-doer? Tell me, sage, about one who is beyond the suffering of birth and old age.'
इत्युक्तवंतं मां क्रुद्धः शशाप स मुनीश्वरः । अज्ञात्वा तत्स्वरूपं त्वं प्रतिब्रूषे ममाधम
'As I spoke thus, the great sage, angered, cursed me: Not knowing his true nature, you answer me, O base one.'
एनं निंदसि रामं त्वं मानुषोऽयमिदं हसन् । तस्मात्त्वं तत्त्वसंमूढो भविष्यस्युदरंभरिः
'You revile Rama, saying "he is a man," and mock this; therefore, you will become deluded about the truth and be a devourer of food.'
तदाहं तस्य चरणावगृह्णं सदया युतः । दृष्ट्वा मे विनयं मां तु प्रावोचत्करुणानिधिः
Then, filled with compassion, I grasped his feet; seeing my humility, the ocean of mercy spoke to me.
त्वं रामस्य मखे विघ्नं करिष्यसि यदा नृप । तदा हनूमानंघ्रिं त्वां ताडयिष्यति वेगतः
O king, when you cause an obstacle in Rama's sacrifice, then Hanuman, with great speed, will strike you on the foot.
तदा त्वं ज्ञास्यसे राजन्नान्यथा स्वमनीषया । पुराहमुक्तस्तेनैवं तद्दृष्टमधुना मया
At that time, O king, you will understand—not otherwise, by your own reasoning; previously I was told this, and now I have witnessed it.
यदा मां हनुमान्क्रुद्धस्ताडयामास वक्षसि । तदाऽदर्शं रमानाथं पूर्णब्रह्मस्वरूपिणम्
When Hanuman, enraged, struck me on the chest, then I beheld Rama, the Lord, in his form as the complete Brahman.
तस्मादश्वं तु शोभाढ्यमानयंतु महाबलाः । धनानि चैव वासांसि राज्यं चेदं समर्पये
Therefore, let the mighty ones bring the splendid horse; I offer wealth, garments, and this kingdom.
रामं दृष्ट्वा कृतार्थः स्यामहं यज्ञेति पुण्यदे । आनयंतु हयं मह्यं रोचते तु तदर्पणम्
Having seen Rama, I will be fulfilled by the sacrifice, O giver of merit; let them bring the horse to me, for its offering pleases me.
शेष उवाच। ते तु तातवचः श्रुत्वा हर्षिताः संप्रहारिणः । तथेत्यूचुर्महाराजं रामदर्शनलालसम्
Śeṣa said: Hearing their father's words, the delighted warriors replied, 'So be it,' to the king, who longed to see Rama.
पुत्रा ऊचुः। राजन्भवत्पदांभोजान्नान्यं जानीमहे वयम् । यत्तव स्वांततो जातं तद्भवत्वद्य वेगतः
The sons said: O king, we know no other than your lotus feet; whatever arises from your heart, that we will swiftly carry out.
अश्वोऽयं नीयतां तत्र सितचामरभूषितः । रत्नमालातिशोभाढ्यश्चंदनादिकचर्चितः
Let this horse be brought there, adorned with white fly-whisks, splendid with garlands of jewels, and smeared with sandalwood and other fragrances.
राज्यमाज्ञाफलं स्वामिन्कोशा बहुसमृद्धयः । वासांसि सुमहार्हाणि सूक्ष्माणि सुगुणानि च
The kingdom, the fruits of command, the treasury overflowing, garments of great value, fine and excellent in quality—