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.
महोदरं महानाभिं शुभकट्याविराजितम् । कांच्या वै मणिमत्या च विशेषेण श्रियान्वितम्
His great belly and deep navel are splendid with a beautiful waist, especially graced by a jeweled girdle, radiant with glory.
ऊरुभ्यां विमलाभ्यां वै जानुभ्यां शोभितं श्रिया । चरणाभ्यां वज्ररेखा यवांकुशसुरेखया
His thighs are pure, his knees shining with splendor, and his feet are marked with thunderbolt lines, barley, goad, and auspicious signs.
युताभ्यां योगिध्येयाभ्यां कोमलाभ्यां विराजितम् । ध्यात्वा स्मृत्वा च संसारसागरं त्वं तरिष्यसि
Adorned with two soft hands, worthy of meditation by yogis, if you meditate and remember upon them, you will cross the ocean of worldly existence.
तमेव पूजयन्नित्यं चंदनादिभिरिच्छया । प्राप्नोति परमामृद्धिमैहिकामुष्मिकीं पराम्
By worshipping him always with sandal and other offerings as desired, one attains supreme prosperity, both in this world and the next.
त्वया पृष्टं महाराज रामस्य ध्यानमुत्तमम् । तत्ते कथितमेतद्वै संसारजलधिं तर
You asked, O great king, about the supreme meditation on Rama; this has now been told to you—cross the ocean of worldly existence.
शेषउवाच। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु विप्रेन्द्रो लोमशात्परमं महत्
Śeṣa said: Having heard this, the foremost of Brahmins received from Lomaśa something supremely great.
आरण्यक उवाच। मुनिश्रेष्ठ वदैतन्मे पृच्छामि त्वां महामते
The forest-dweller said: O best of sages, tell me this—I ask you, O greatly wise one.
कोऽसौ रामो महाभाग यो नित्यं ध्यायते त्वया
Who is that Rama, O highly fortunate one, whom you always meditate upon?
किमर्थमवतीर्णोऽसौ कस्मान्मानुषतां गतः
For what purpose did he descend, and why did he take on human form?
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य मुनेः परमशोभनम्
Śeṣa said: Hearing this most excellent question from the sage—