दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो महावाजी रघुनाथस्य शोभनः । दिष्ट्या गंतासि सर्वत्र जयं तु क्षितिमंडले
By fortune, you have recovered the splendid horse of Raghunatha; by fortune, you will go everywhere, victorious across the earth.
स्वामिन्मुंचत्विमं वाहं मनोवेगं मनोरमम् । समयस्य विलंबो मा भवत्वत्र महामते
Master, release this swift and delightful steed; let there be no delay in the ritual, O wise one.
शेष उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं वीराणां समयोचितम् । साधु साधु प्रशस्यैतान्मुमोच हयसत्तमम्
Shesha said: Hearing those words of the heroes, appropriate to the occasion, he praised them, saying 'Well done, well done,' and released the excellent horse.
स मुक्तश्चोत्तरामाशां बभ्रामाथ सुरक्षितः । रथपत्तिहयश्रेष्ठैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदैः
Released, he then wandered northward, protected by the best of chariots, infantry, and horses, all skilled in weapons and missiles.
तत्र यद्वृत्तमेतस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य मनोहरम् । वात्स्यायन शृणुष्वैतत्पापराशिप्रदाहकम्
There, what transpired concerning Shatrughna, enchanting to hear, listen to this, O Vatsyayana, which burns away heaps of sin.
रेवातीरमथ प्राप्तो मुनिवृंदनिषेवितम् । नीलरत्नसमूहस्य रसः किं तु पयो मिषात्
He reached the bank of the Reva, frequented by groups of sages; the essence of the cluster of blue gems was like milk mixed with nectar.
तांस्तान्मुनिवरान्सर्वान्प्रणमञ्छूरसेवितः । जगाम हयरत्नस्य पृष्ठतः कामगामिनः
Honoring all those eminent sages, revered by heroes, he followed behind the jewel-like horse, which moved at will.
गच्छंस्तत्राश्रमं जीर्णं पलाशपर्णनिर्मितम् । रेवायाजलकल्लोलैः सिक्तं पापहराश्रयम्
As he went, he saw an old hermitage made of palasha leaves, soaked by the waves of the Reva's waters, a refuge that removes sin.
तं दृष्ट्वा सुमतिं प्राह सर्वज्ञं नयकोविदम् । शत्रुघ्नः सर्वधर्मार्थकर्मकर्तव्यकोविदः
Seeing him, Sumati addressed the all-knowing, expert in policy, Shatrughna, who was skilled in all duties of righteousness, wealth, and action.
राजोवाच। मंत्रिन्कथय कस्यायमाश्रमः पुण्यदर्शनः । विचारचतुरश्रेष्ठ वदैतन्मम पृच्छतः
The king spoke: Minister, tell me whose hermitage this is, so auspicious in appearance. O most discerning among investigators, speak this to me as I ask.
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुमतिः प्राह तं नृपम् । विशद स्मेरया वाचा दर्शयन्नात्मसौहृदम्
Śeṣa said: Hearing these words, Sumati spoke to the king, with clear and smiling speech, showing his own friendliness.
सुमतिरुवाच। एनं दृष्ट्वा महाराज धूतपापा वयं खलु । भविष्यामो मुनिश्रेष्ठं सर्वशास्त्रपरायणम्
Sumati said: Having seen him, O great king, we are surely cleansed of sin; we shall become devoted to the foremost sage, who is dedicated to all scriptures.
तस्मान्नत्वा तमापृच्छ सर्वं ते कथयिष्यति । रघुनाथपदांभोजमकरंदाति लोलुपः
Therefore, bow to him and ask; he will tell you everything. He is deeply attached to the nectar of the lotus feet of Raghunātha.
नाम्ना त्वारण्यकं ख्यातं रघुनाथांघ्रिसेवकम् । अत्युग्रतपसा पूर्णं सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदम्
By name, he is known as Āraṇyaka, a servant at the feet of Raghunātha, filled with intense austerity, and expert in the meaning of all scriptures.
इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं धर्मार्थपरिबृंहितम् । जगाम तमथो द्रष्टुं स्वल्पसेवकसंयुतः
Hearing those words, imbued with righteousness and purpose, he went to see him, accompanied by a few attendants.
हनूमान्पुष्कलो वीरः सुमतिर्मंत्रिसत्तमः । लक्ष्मीनिधिः प्रतापाग्र्यः सुबाहुः सुमदस्तथा
Hanuman, Puṣkala the hero, Sumati the foremost minister, Lakṣmīnidhi, the eminent in glory, Subāhu, and Sumada likewise,
एतैः परिवृतो राजा शत्रुघ्नः प्रापदाश्रमम् । नमस्कर्तुं द्विजवरमारण्यकमुदारधीः
Surrounded by these, King Shatrughna reached the hermitage, to pay respects to the noble-minded Āraṇyaka, the best among twice-born.
गत्वा तं तापसश्रेष्ठं नमस्कारमथाकरोत् । सर्वैस्तैः सहितो वीरैर्विनयानतकंधरैः
Having gone to that foremost ascetic, he then offered salutations, together with all those heroes, their necks humbly bowed.
तान्दृष्ट्वा सन्नतान्सर्वाञ्छत्रुघ्नप्रमुखान्नृपान् । अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं चक्रे फलमूलादिभिस्तदा
Seeing all those kings, headed by Shatrughna, humbly bowed, he then performed the welcoming rites with water for washing feet and hands, and with fruits and roots.
उवाच तान्नृपान्सर्वान्भवंतः कुत्र संगताः । कथमत्र समायातास्तत्सर्वं वदतानघाः
He spoke to all those kings: Where have you gathered from? How have you arrived here? Tell me everything, O sinless ones.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यमेतस्य मुनिवर्यस्य वाडव । सुमतिः कथयामास वाक्यं वादविचक्षणः
Hearing these words of the eminent sage, Sumati, skilled in discourse, began to speak.
सुमतिरुवाच। रघुवंशनृपस्यायमश्वो वै पाल्यतेऽखिलैः । यागं करिष्यते वीरः सर्वसंभारसंभृतम्
Sumati said: This horse of the king of the Raghu dynasty is being guarded by all; the hero will perform a sacrifice, fully supplied with all requisites.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां जगाद मुनिसत्तमः । दंतकांत्याखिलं घोरं तमोनिर्वारयन्निव
Hearing their words, the foremost sage spoke, his radiance dispelling all darkness as if with the brilliance of his teeth.
आरण्यक उवाच। किं यागैर्विविधैरन्यैः सर्वसंभारसंभृतैः । स्वल्पपुण्यप्रदैर्नूनं क्षयिष्णुपददातृभिः
Āraṇyaka said: What is the use of various sacrifices, furnished with all requisites, which surely grant little merit and are given by those whose rewards are perishable?
मूढो लोको हरिं त्यक्त्वा करोत्यन्यसमर्चनम् । रघुवीरं रमानाथं स्थिरैश्वर्यपदप्रदम्
The foolish world, abandoning Hari, performs other worship; Raghu's hero, Lord of Lakṣmī, grants the stable abode of prosperity.
यो नरैः स्मृतमात्रोपि हरते पापपर्वतम् । तं मुक्त्वा क्लिश्यते मूढो यागयोगव्रतादिभिः
He who, even by mere remembrance by men, removes the mountain of sin—abandoning him, the fool suffers with sacrifices, yoga, vows, and the like.
अहो पश्यत मूढत्वं लोकानामतिवंचितम् । सुलभं रामभजनं मुक्त्वा दुर्ल्लभमाचरेत्
Behold, how astonishing is the folly of people, thoroughly deceived—forsaking the easy worship of Rama, they pursue what is difficult to attain.
सकामैर्योगिभिर्वापि चिंत्यते कामवर्जितैः । अपवर्गप्रदं नॄणां स्मृतमात्राखिलाघहम्
Even by yogis with desires, or by those free from desire, it is contemplated; it grants liberation to humans and destroys all sins by mere remembrance.
पुराहं तत्त्ववित्सायां ज्ञानिनं सुविचारयन् । अगमं बहुतीर्थानि तत्त्वं कोपि न मेऽदिशत्
Formerly, seeking truth, I carefully questioned the wise; I visited many holy places, yet no one revealed the essence to me.
तदैकं हि महद्भाग्यात्प्राप्तं वै लोमशं मुनिम् । स्वर्गलोकात्समायातं तीर्थयात्राचिकीर्षया
Then, by great fortune, I met the sage Lomasha, who had come from heaven, desiring to undertake a pilgrimage.