विलोक्यारण्यकाख्योऽसौ कृतार्थ इत्यमन्यत । मल्लोचने पद्मदलसमाने रामलोकके
Seeing him, known as Aranyaka, with eyes like lotus petals, the people of Rama's city thought, 'He has fulfilled his purpose.'
अद्य मे सर्वशास्त्रस्य ज्ञातृत्वं बहुसार्थकम् । येन श्रीराममाज्ञाय प्राप्तोऽयोध्यापुरीमिमाम्
Today, my knowledge of all the scriptures has become truly meaningful, for by Rama's command I have reached this city of Ayodhya.
इत्येवमादिवचनानि बहूनि हृष्टो । रामांघ्रिदर्शनसुहर्षित गात्रशोभी । प्रायाद्रमेश्वरसमीपमगम्यमन्यै-। र्योगेश्वरैरपि विचारपरैः सुदूरम्
Thus, delighted, he uttered many such words, his body radiant with joy at beholding Rama's feet, and he approached the Lord of Rama—a place unreachable even for yogis devoted to contemplation.
धन्योऽहमद्य रामस्य चरणावक्षिगोचरौ । करिष्यामि वचो रम्यं वदन्राममवेक्षयन्
Today I am blessed to be within the sight of Rama's feet and eyes; gazing upon Rama, I will speak pleasing words.
रामोऽपि वाडवश्रेष्ठं ज्वलंतं स्वेन तेजसा । तपोमूर्तिधरं वीक्ष्य प्रत्युत्थानमथाकरोत्
Rama, too, seeing the best of the Vadavas, blazing with his own brilliance and embodying ascetic power, rose to greet him.
रामचंद्रस्तस्य पादौ सुचिरं नतवान्महान् । ब्रह्मण्यदेवपावित्र्यं कृतमद्यतनोर्मम
The great Ramachandra bowed deeply at his feet for a long time, saying, 'Today, my lord, your holiness has sanctified me.'
इति वाक्यं वदंस्तस्य पादयोः पतितः प्रभुः । सुरासुरनमन्मौलिमणिनीराजितांघ्रिकः
Speaking thus, the Lord fell at his feet, his feet adorned by the jeweled crowns of gods and demons who bow to him.
प्रणतं तं नृपश्रेष्ठं वाडवेंद्रो महातपाः । गृहीत्वा भुजयोर्मध्यमालिलिंग प्रियं प्रभुम्
The chief of the Vadavas, great in austerity, took that best of kings, who had bowed before him, into his embrace with both arms, holding his beloved Lord.
कौसल्यातनयस्तं वा उच्चैर्मणिमयासने । संस्थाप्य च पदोर्युग्मं जलेनाक्षालयत्प्रभुः
The son of Kausalya then seated him upon a lofty, jeweled throne, and the Lord washed his pair of feet with water.
पादावनेजनोदं तु मस्तकेऽधाद्धरिः स्वयम् । पवित्रितोऽद्य सगणः सकुटुंब इति ब्रुवन्
Hari himself placed the water used for washing his feet upon his own head, saying, 'Today, together with my followers and family, I am purified.'
चंदनेन विलिप्याथ गां च प्रादात्पयस्विनीम् । उवाच च वचो रम्यं देवदेवेंद्र सेवितः
Then, anointing him with sandal paste and giving him a cow rich in milk, the Lord, worshipped by the king of the gods, spoke gentle words.
स्वामिन्मखो मया वाजिमेधसंज्ञः क्रियेत ह । सोयं त्वच्चरणा यातादद्यपूर्णो भविष्यति
'Master, the sacrifice called Ashvamedha has been performed by me; now, by your arrival at my feet, it will be fulfilled today.'
अद्य मे ब्रह्महत्योत्थ पापहानिं करिष्यति । अश्वमेधः क्रतुर्युष्मच्चरणेन पवित्रितः
'Today, the Ashvamedha sacrifice, purified by your feet, will remove the sin of brahmin-killing that has arisen in me.'
इति वाक्यं ब्रुवाणं तं राजराजेंद्रसेवितम् । आरण्यक उवाचेदं हसन्माध्व्या गिरा मुनिः
As he, served by the best of kings, spoke these words, Aranyaka the sage, smiling sweetly, replied:
स्वामिंस्तव तु युक्तं हि वचो ब्रह्मण्यभूमिप । त्वन्मूर्तयो महाराज ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
'Lord, your words are fitting, O king devoted to Brahman, for the brahmins learned in the Vedas are your very forms, O great king.'
त्वं यदा ब्रह्मपूजादि शुभं कर्म करिष्यसि । ततोऽखिला नृपा विप्रं पूजयिष्यंति भूमिप
'Whenever you perform auspicious acts such as worship of Brahman, then all kings, O ruler of the earth, will honor the brahmin.'
त्वयोक्तं यन्महाराज विप्रहत्यापनुत्तये । यागं करोमि विमलं तत्तु हास्यकरं वचः
O great king, what you have said about performing a pure sacrifice to remove the sin of killing a Brahmin—those words are laughable.
त्वन्नामस्मरणान्मूढः सर्वशास्त्रविवर्जितः । सर्वपापाब्धिमुत्तीर्य स गच्छेत्परमं पदम्
A fool, devoid of all scriptures, by remembering your name, crosses the ocean of all sins and attains the supreme state.
सर्ववेदेतिहासानां सारार्थोऽयमिति स्फुटम् । यद्रामनामस्मरणं क्रियते पापतारकम्
This is clearly the essence and meaning of all the Vedas and histories: the remembrance of Rama's name destroys sin.
तावद्गर्जंति पापानि ब्रह्महत्यासमानि च । न यावत्प्रोच्यते नाम रामचंद्र तव स्फुटम्
Sins, even those equal to Brahmin-killing, roar until your name, O Ramachandra, is distinctly spoken.
त्वन्नामगर्जनं श्रुत्वा महापातककुंजराः । पलायंते महाराज कुत्रचित्स्थानलिप्सया
Hearing the thunder of your name, O great king, the elephants of great sins flee, seeking some place to hide.
तस्मात्तव कथं हत्या महापुण्यददर्शन । राम त्वत्सुकथां श्रुत्वा पूतः सद्यो भविष्यति
Therefore, how can there be sin for one who beholds great merit? O Rama, upon hearing your delightful story, one is immediately purified.
मया पूर्वं कृतयुगे गंगायास्तीरवासिनाम् । ऋषीणां मुखतो वाक्यं श्रुतमेतत्पुराविदाम्
Long ago, in the Krita age, I heard these words from the mouths of sages dwelling on the banks of the Ganga.
तावत्पापभियः पुंसां कातराणां सुपापिनाम् । यावन्न वदते वाचा रामनाममनोहरम्
So long as a person, fearful of sin and greatly sinful, does not utter the enchanting name of Rama, sins remain.
तस्माद्धन्योऽहमधुना मम संसृतिनाशनम् । सांप्रतं सुलभं रामचंद्र त्वद्दर्शनादभूत्
Therefore, I am blessed now, for the destruction of my worldly existence has become easy, O Ramachandra, through your vision.
इत्युक्तवंतं स मुनिं पूजयामास तत्र वै । सर्वे मुनिजनाः साधु साधु वाक्यमिति ब्रुवन्
Having spoken thus, all the sages there honored the sage, saying, 'Excellent, excellent words.'
शेष उवाच। अत्याश्चर्यमभूत्तत्र तन्मे निगदतः शृणु । वात्स्यायनमुनिश्रेष्ठ रामभक्तिपरायण
Śeṣa said: A most wondrous event occurred there; listen as I recount it, O Vātsyāyana, foremost among sages, devoted to Rama.
रामं दृष्ट्वा महाराजं यादृशं ध्यानगोचरम् । अत्यंतं हर्षमापन्नो जगाद स मुनीश्वरान्
Seeing Rama, the king, as he appeared in meditation, that sage was filled with intense joy and spoke to the lordly sages.
मुनीश्वराः संशृणुत मद्वाक्यं सुमनोहरम् । मादृशः को न भूलोके भविष्यति सुभाग्यवान्
O lordly sages, listen to my most delightful words: who in this world will ever be as fortunate as I?
नास्ति मत्सदृशः कोपि न जातो न भविष्यति । यद्रामभद्रो मां नत्वा स्वागतं परिपृष्टवान्
There is no one like me, nor has there been nor will there be, for Rama himself bowed to me and asked after my well-being.