किं वर्णयामि रामस्य सेवकं सुरथं वरम् । यस्याशेषगुणा भूमौ विस्तृताः पावयंत्यघम्
How can I describe Suratha, the foremost servant of Rāma, whose countless virtues spread over the earth, purifying sin?
सेवकास्तस्य भूपस्य पर्यटंतः कदाचन । अपश्यन्हयमेधस्य हयं चंदनचर्चितम्
Once, the servants of that king, while wandering, saw the horse of the aśvamedha, adorned with sandal paste.
ते दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं प्राप्ता हयपत्रमलोकयन् । स्पष्टाक्षरसमायुक्तं चंदनादिकचर्चितम्
Seeing it, they were amazed, observing the horse’s banner inscribed with clear letters and decorated with sandal and other substances.
ज्ञात्वा रामेण संमुक्तं हयं नेत्रमनोहरम् । हृष्टा राज्ञे सभास्थाय कथयामासुरुत्सुकाः
Recognizing it as the horse released by Rāma, beautiful to behold, they joyfully went to the king’s assembly and eagerly reported it.
स्वामिन्नयोध्यानगरीपतिस्तस्यास्तु राघवः । हयमेधक्रतोर्योग्यो हयो मुक्तः परिभ्रमन्
‘Lord, the ruler of Ayodhyā, Rāghava, is the master of this horse, which is roaming free for the aśvamedha sacrifice.’
स ते पुरस्य निकटे प्राप्तः सेवकसंयुतः । गृहाण त्वं महाराज हयं तं सुमनोहरम्
That horse, accompanied by attendants, has now arrived near the city; O great king, seize that most splendid horse.
शेष उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा निजप्रोक्तं वाक्यं हर्षपरिप्लुतः । उवाच वीरान्बलिनो मेघगंभीरया गिरा
Śeṣa said: Hearing thus his own words, filled with great joy, he addressed the mighty heroes with a voice deep as thunderclouds.
सुरथ उवाच। धन्या वयं राममुखं पश्यामः सह सेवकाः । ग्रहीष्यामि हयं तस्य भटकोटिपरीवृतम्
Suratha said: Fortunate are we, together with our attendants, to behold Rāma’s face; I shall seize his horse, surrounded by a multitude of warriors.
तदा मोक्ष्यामि वाहं तं यदा रामः समाव्रजेत् । कृतार्थं मम भक्तस्य चिरं ध्यानरतस्य वै
Then I will release that steed when Rāma himself arrives, for my devoted servant, who has long been absorbed in meditation, will have his purpose fulfilled.
शेष उवाच। इत्थमुक्त्वा महीपालः सेवकान्स्वयमादिशत् । गृह्णंतु वाहं प्रसभं मोच्यो नाश्वोऽक्षिगोचरः
Śeṣa said: Having spoken thus, the king himself commanded his attendants: 'Seize the steed by force; the horse must not escape from sight.'
अनेन सुमहाँल्लाभो भविष्यति तु मे मतम् । यद्रामचरणौ प्रेक्षे ब्रह्मशक्रादिदुर्ल्लभौ
By this, I believe, there will be a great gain for me: that I may behold the feet of Rāma, which are difficult to see even for Brahmā and Indra.
स एव धन्यः स्वजनः पुत्रो वा बांधवोऽथवा । पशुर्वा वाहनं वापि रामाप्तिर्येन संभवेत्
He alone is blessed—whether kinsman, son, relative, beast, or mount—by whom Rāma’s favor is attained.
तस्माद्गृहीत्वा क्रत्वश्वं स्वर्णपत्रेण शोभितम् । बध्नंतु वाजिशालायां कामवेगं मनोरमम्
Therefore, seize the sacrificial horse, adorned with a golden plate, and bind the swift and splendid steed in the horse-stable.
इत्युक्तास्ते ततो गत्वा वाहं रामस्य शोभितम् । गृहीत्वा तरसा राज्ञे ददुः सर्वं शुभांगिनम्
Thus instructed, they went and swiftly seized Rāma’s splendid horse, and brought it, with all auspicious marks, to the king.
राजा प्राप्य मुदा चाश्वं रामस्य दनुजार्दनः । सेवकान्प्राह बलिनो धर्मकृत्यविचक्षणः
The king, having joyfully obtained Rāma’s horse—the destroyer of demons—spoke to his mighty attendants, discerning in matters of righteousness.
वात्स्यायन महाबुद्धे शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः । न तस्य विषये कश्चित्परदाररतो नरः
O Vātsyāyana, great in wisdom, listen with focused mind: In his realm, there is no man who delights in another’s wife.
न परद्रव्यनिरतो न च कामेषु लंपटः । न जिह्वाभिरतोन्मार्गे कीर्त्तयेद्रामकीर्तनात्
No one is intent on another’s wealth, nor addicted to sensual pleasures; none, deviating from the path, speaks ill, for the fame of Rāma is proclaimed.
यः सेवकान्नृपो वक्ति यूयं सेवार्थमागताः । कथयंतु भवच्चेष्टां धर्मकर्मविशारदाः
The king says to his attendants: 'You have come for service; let those skilled in righteous acts declare your conduct.'
एकपत्नीव्रतधरा न परद्रव्यलोलुपाः । परापवादानिरता न च वेदोत्पथं गताः
They are devoted to one wife, not greedy for others’ wealth, not engaged in slandering others, nor have they strayed from the path of the Veda.
श्रीरामस्मरणादीनि कुर्वंति प्रत्यहं भटाः । तानहं रामसेवार्थं रक्षाम्यंतक कोपवान्
The warriors daily perform remembrance of Śrī Rāma and related acts; these I protect for the service of Rāma, even if Yama himself is enraged.
एतद्विरुद्धधर्माणो ये नराः पापसंयुताः । तानहं विषये मह्यं वासयामि न दुर्मतीन्
Those men, joined with sin, whose conduct is opposed to this dharma, I do not allow to dwell in my realm—those of evil mind.
तस्य देशे न पापिष्ठाः पापं कुर्वंति मानसे । हरिध्यानहताशेष पातकामोदसंयुताः
In his land, the most sinful do not commit evil even in thought; all their sins are destroyed by meditation on Hari, and they are filled with joy.
यदैवमभवद्देशो राजा धर्मेण संयुतः । तदा तत्स्था नराः सर्वे मृता गच्छंति निर्वृतिम्
When the land was thus, and the king was endowed with righteousness, then all the people dwelling there, upon death, attained liberation.
यमानुचरनिर्वेशो नाभवत्सौरथे पुरे । तदा यमो मुनेरूपं धृत्वा प्रागान्महीश्वरम्
In Suratha’s city, there was no investigation by Yama’s attendants; then Yama, taking the form of a sage, went to the lord of the earth.
वल्कलांबरधारी च जटाशोभितशीर्षकः । सुरथं तु सभामध्ये ददर्श हरिसेवकम्
Wearing garments of bark and adorned with matted hair, he saw Suratha, the servant of Hari, in the midst of the assembly.
तुलसीमस्तके यस्य वाचि नाम हरेः परम् । धर्मकर्मरतां वार्त्तां श्रावयंतं निजाञ्जनान्
On whose head was tulasi, on whose lips the supreme name of Hari, who spoke to his own people about engaging in righteous deeds.
तदा मुनिं नृपो दृष्ट्वा तपोमूर्तिमिव स्थितम् । ववंदे चरणौ तस्य पाद्यादिकमथाकरोत्
Then, seeing the sage standing there like an embodiment of austerity, the king bowed at his feet and performed the customary offerings of water and the like.
सुखोपविष्टं विश्रांतं मुनिं प्राह नृपाग्रणीः । धन्यमद्य जनुर्मह्यं धन्यमद्य गृहं मम
When the sage was comfortably seated and rested, the foremost of kings spoke: 'Today my life is blessed, today my house is blessed.'
कथाः कथयतान्मह्यं रामस्य विविधा वराः । याः शृण्वतां पापहानिर्भविष्यति पदे पदे
'Please tell me the various excellent stories of Rama, by hearing which, at every step, the destruction of sin will occur.'
इत्थमुक्तं समाकर्ण्य जहास स मुनिर्भृशम् । दंतान्प्रदर्शयन्सर्वांस्तालास्फालितपाणिकः
Hearing this request, the sage laughed heartily, showing all his teeth and clapping his hands together.