तमहं प्रणिपत्याथ पर्यपृच्छं महामुनिम् । महायुषं महायोगिसंसेवितपदद्वयम्
I approached him, bowed, and questioned that great sage, whose feet were served by long-lived, great yogis.
स्वामिन्मयाद्य मानुष्यं प्राप्तमद्भुतदुर्ल्लभम् । संसारघोरजलधिं किं कर्तव्यं तितीर्षुणा
Master, today I have attained this rare and wondrous human birth; what should one do who wishes to cross the dreadful ocean of worldly existence?
विचार्य कथय त्वं तद्व्रतं दानं जपो मखः । देवो वा विद्यते यो वै संसृत्यंभोधितारकः
Consider and tell me: what vow, charity, recitation, or sacrifice, or which god exists who can carry one across the ocean of transmigration?
यज्ज्ञात्वा संसृतिं घोरां तरामि त्वत्कृपाब्धितः । तन्मे कथय योगेश सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारग
By knowing which, through your ocean of compassion, I may cross the terrible cycle of birth—tell me that, O lord of yoga, knower of all the meanings of scripture.
इति मद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य जगाद मुनिसत्तमः । शृणुष्वैकमना विप्र श्रद्धया परया युतः
Hearing my words, the best of sages spoke: 'Listen with one-pointed mind, O Brahmin, endowed with supreme faith.'
संति दानानि तीर्थानि व्रतानि नियमा यमाः । योगा यज्ञास्तथानेके वर्तंते स्वर्गदायकाः
There are charities, holy places, vows, disciplines, restraints, yogas, and many sacrifices—these exist, bestowing heaven.
परं गुह्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । तच्छृणुष्व महाभाग संसारांभोधितारकम्
But I shall declare the supreme secret, destroyer of all sins; listen to it, O highly fortunate one, which carries across the ocean of worldly existence.
नास्तिकाय न वक्तव्यं न चाऽश्रद्धालवे पुनः । निंदकाय शठायापि न देयं भक्तिवैरिणे
It must not be spoken to an atheist, nor again to one without faith; nor given to a blasphemer, a deceiver, or an enemy of devotion.
रामभक्ताय शांताय कामक्रोधवियोगिने । वक्तव्यं सर्वदुःखस्य नाशकारकमुत्तमम्
It should be spoken to a devotee of Rama, peaceful, free from desire and anger; it is the supreme destroyer of all suffering.
रामान्नास्ति परो देवो रामान्नास्ति परं व्रतम् । न हि रामात्परो योगो न हि रामात्परो मखः
There is no god higher than Rama, no vow greater than Rama; indeed, there is no yoga superior to Rama, nor any sacrifice greater than Rama.
तं स्मृत्वा चैव जप्त्वा च पूजयित्वा नरः परम् । प्राप्नोति परमामृद्धिमैहिकामुष्मिकीं तथा
By remembering, reciting, and worshipping him, a person attains the highest prosperity, both in this world and the next.
संस्मृतो मनसा ध्यातः सर्वकामफलप्रदः । ददाति परमां भक्तिं संसारांभोधितारिणीम्
Remembered in the mind and meditated upon, he grants all desired fruits; he bestows supreme devotion, which carries one across the ocean of worldly existence.
श्वपाकोपि हि संस्मृत्य रामं याति परां गतिम् । ये वेदशास्त्रनिरतास्त्वादृशास्तत्र किं पुनः
Even a dog-eater, by remembering Rama, attains the highest state; what then of those like you, devoted to the Vedas and scriptures?
सर्वेषां वेदशास्त्राणां रहस्यं ते प्रकाशितम् । समाचर तथा त्वं वै यथा स्यात्ते मनीषितम्
To you has been revealed the secret of all the Vedas and scriptures; act accordingly, as you deem best.
एको देवो रामचंद्रो व्रतमेकं तदर्चनम् । मंत्रोऽप्येकश्च तन्नाम शास्त्रं तद्ध्येव तत्स्तुतिः
There is one god, Rāmacandra; one vow, his worship; one mantra, his name; his scripture is that alone, and his praise is that itself.
तस्मात्सर्वात्मना रामचंद्रं भजमनोहरम् । यथा गोष्पदवत्तुच्छो भवेत्संसारसागरः
Therefore, with all your heart, worship Rāmacandra, the delight of the mind, so that the ocean of worldly existence may become as insignificant as a cow’s hoofprint.
श्रुत्वा मया तु तद्वाक्यं पुनः प्रश्नमकारिषम् । कथं वा ध्यायते देवः कथं वा पूज्यते नरैः
Hearing those words from him, I asked again: How is the god to be meditated upon? How is he to be worshipped by people?
कथयस्व महाबुद्धे सर्वज्ञ मम विस्तरात् । यज्ज्ञात्वाहं कृतार्थः स्यां त्रिलोक्यां मुनिसत्तम
Tell me in detail, O greatly wise and all-knowing one, so that, having learned, I may be fulfilled in all the three worlds, O best of sages.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु मद्वाक्यं विचार्य स तु लोमशः । कथयामास मे सर्वं रामध्यानपुरःसरम्
Hearing my words and reflecting, Lomaśa then explained everything to me, beginning with the meditation on Rāma.
शृणु विप्रेंद्र वक्ष्यामि यत्पृष्टं तु त्वयानघ । यथा तुष्येद्रमानाथः संसारज्वरदाहकः
Listen, O foremost of Brāhmins, I will tell you what you have asked, O sinless one—how Rāma, the lord who burns the fever of worldly existence, may be pleased.
अयोध्यानगरे रम्ये चित्रमंडपशोभिते । ध्यायेत्कल्पतरोर्मूले सर्वकामसमृद्धिदे
In the beautiful city of Ayodhyā, adorned with splendid halls, one should meditate at the root of the wish-fulfilling tree, which grants all desires.
महामरकतस्वर्णनीलरत्नादिशोभितम् । सिंहासनं चित्तहरं कांत्या तामिस्रनाशनम्
There is a throne, enchanting to the mind, adorned with great emeralds, gold, sapphires, and other gems, whose radiance dispels darkness.
तस्योपरि समासीनं रघुराजं मनोरमम् । दूर्वादलश्यामतनुं देवदेवेंद्रपूजितम्
Upon it sits the delightful king of the Raghu dynasty, with a complexion dark as durva grass, worshipped by the lord of gods and divine beings.
राकायां पूर्णशीतांशुकांतिधिक्कारिवक्त्रिणम् । अष्टमीचंद्रशकलसमभालाधिधारिणम्
His face outshines the full moon on the night of the full moon, and he bears on his forehead a crescent like the eighth-day moon.
नीलकुंतलशोभाढ्यं किरीटमणिरंजितम् । मकराकारसौंदर्यकुंडलाभ्यां विराजितम्
His dark, lustrous hair is adorned with a jeweled crown, and he shines with earrings of exquisite makara design.
विद्रुमच्छवि सत्कांतिरदच्छदविराजितम् । तारापतिकराकार द्विजराजि सुशोभितम्
His complexion is coral-like, his noble radiance pure and bright, and his chest is splendid with a necklace like the rays of the moon and a line of sacred threads.
जपापुष्पाभया माध्व्या जिह्वया शोभिताननम् । यस्यां वसंति निगमा ऋगाद्याः शास्त्रसंयुताः
His face is beautiful, graced by a tongue red as the hibiscus flower and sweet as honey, in which dwell the Vedas beginning with Ṛg, along with the scriptures.
कंबुकांतिधरग्रीवा शोभया समलंकृतम् । सिंहवदुच्चकौ स्कन्धौ मांसलौ बिभ्रतं वरम्
His neck, shining with the radiance of a conch, is splendidly adorned; his shoulders are high like a lion’s, well-formed and strong.
बाहू दधानं दीर्घांगौ केयूरकटकांकितौ । मुद्रिकाहीरशोभाभिर्भूषितौ जानुलंबिनौ
He bears long arms, marked with armlets and bracelets, adorned with rings and pearl ornaments, reaching down to his knees.
वक्षो दधानं विपुलं लक्ष्मीवासेन शोभितम् । श्रीवत्सादिविचित्रांकैरंकितं सुमनोहरम्
His broad chest, the abode of Lakṣmī, is beautifully marked with Śrīvatsa and other auspicious signs, enchanting to behold.