सीतया सहितं रामं प्रसक्तं यज्ञकर्मणि । निरीक्ष्य जहृषुस्तत्र कौतुकेन समन्विताः
Seeing Rama, together with Sita, deeply engaged in the sacrificial rites, all those present there rejoiced, filled with curiosity.
वसिष्ठं प्राह सुमतिं रामस्तत्र क्रतौ वरे । किं कर्तव्यं मया स्वामिन्नतः परमवश्यकम्
There, at that excellent sacrifice, Rama addressed Vasiṣṭha, the wise one: 'O master, what must I do now that is most necessary?'
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा गुरुः प्राह महामतिः । ब्राह्मणानां प्रकर्तव्या पूजा संतोषकारिका
Hearing Rama's words, the wise guru replied: 'The Brahmins must be honored in a way that brings them satisfaction.'
मरुत्तेन क्रतुः सृष्टः पूर्वं संभारसंभृतः । ब्राह्मणास्तत्र वित्ताद्यैस्तोषिता अभवंस्तदा
In former times, Marutta performed a sacrifice, gathering all the necessary materials; then, the Brahmins there were gratified with abundant wealth.
अत्यंतं वित्तसंभारं नेतुं विप्राशकन्नहि । प्राक्षिपन्हिमवद्देशे वित्तभारासहा द्विजाः
The Brahmins could not carry the excessive heaps of wealth; unable to bear the burden, they cast it into the region of the Himalayas.
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजाग्र्य लक्ष्मीवान्नृपसत्तम । देहि दानादि विप्रेभ्यो यथा स्यात्प्रीतिरुत्तमा
Therefore, you too, O foremost king endowed with prosperity, should give gifts and the like to the Brahmins, so that the highest satisfaction may arise.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स राजाग्र्यः पूज्यं मत्वा घटोद्भवम् । प्रथमं पूजयामास ब्रह्मपुत्रं तपोधनम्
Hearing this, the foremost king, considering the sage born from the pot as worthy of honor, first worshipped the son of Brahma, rich in austerity.
अनेकरत्नसंभारैः स्वर्णभारैरनेकधा । देशैर्जनैः परिवृतैरत्यंतप्रीतिदायकैः
He honored him with many collections of jewels and heaps of gold in various forms, surrounded by people from different lands, bringing utmost delight.
अगस्त्यं पूजयामास सपत्नीकं मनोरमम् । तथैव रत्नैः स्वर्णैश्च देशैश्च विविधैरपि
He worshipped Agastya, together with his wife, in a pleasing manner, likewise with jewels, gold, and various lands.
व्यासं सत्यवतीपुत्रं तथैव समपूजयत् । च्यवनं भार्यया साकं सुरत्नैः समपूजयत्
He likewise honored Vyasa, son of Satyavati, and also worshipped Cyavana, together with his wife, with beautiful jewels.
अन्यानपि मुनीन्सर्वानृत्विजस्तपसां निधीन् । पूजयामास रत्नौघैः स्वर्णभारैरनेकधा
He honored all the other sages, the officiating priests, and the repositories of austerity, with floods of jewels and heaps of gold in many forms.
अदात्तदा क्रतौ रामो विप्रेभ्यो भूरिदक्षिणाम् । लक्षंलक्षं सुवर्णस्य प्रत्येकं त्वग्रजन्मने
Then Rama gave abundant gifts to the Brahmins at the sacrifice: a hundred thousand pieces of gold to each, according to their rank.
दीनांधकृपणेभ्यश्च ददौ दानमनेकधा । यथासंतोषविहितैर्वित्तै रत्नैर्मनोहरैः
He also gave many gifts to the poor, the blind, and the destitute, with wealth and enchanting jewels, as was fitting for their satisfaction.
वासांसि च विचित्राणि भोजनानि मृदूनि च । तत्र प्रादाद्यथाशास्त्रं सर्वेषां प्रीतिदायकम्
He distributed splendid garments and soft foods there, as prescribed by the scriptures, bringing delight to all.
हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णं सर्वसत्त्वोपबृंहितम् । अत्यंतमभवद्धृष्टं पुरं पुंस्त्रीसमावृतम्
The city, filled with joyful and prosperous people, and enhanced by all beings, became exceedingly splendid, crowded with men and women.
दानं ददंतं सर्वेषां वीक्ष्य कुंभोद्भवो मुनिः । अत्यंतपरमप्रीतिं ययौ क्रतुवरे द्विजः
Seeing the giving of gifts to all, the sage born from the pot was filled with supreme joy at that excellent sacrifice.
तदाभिषेकस्नानार्थं पानीयममृतोपमम् । आनेतुं च चतुःषष्टि नृपान्सस्त्रीन्समाह्वयत्
Then, for the purpose of the consecration bath, he summoned sixty-four kings along with their wives to bring water as pure as nectar.
रामस्तु सीतया सार्द्धमानेतुमुदकं ययौ । घटेन स्वर्णवर्णेन सर्वालंकारशोभया
Rama, together with Sita, went to fetch water, carrying a golden-colored pot adorned with every ornament.
सौमित्रिरप्यूर्मिलया मांडव्या भरतो नृपः । शत्रुघ्नः श्रुतकीर्त्या च कांतिमत्या च पुष्कलः
Saumitri was joined by Urmilā, Māṇḍavyā, and King Bharata; Śatrughna was accompanied by Śrutakīrti and Kāntimatī, as well as Puṣkala.
सुबाहुः सत्यवत्या च सत्यवान्वीरभूषया । सुमदस्तत्र सत्कीर्त्या राज्ञ्या च विमलो नृपः
Subāhu was with Satyavatī, Satyavān with Vīrabhūṣā; there Sumada was with Satkīrti, and King Vimala with the queen.
राजावीरमणिस्तत्र श्रुतवत्या मनोज्ञया । लक्ष्मीनिधिः कोमलया रिपुतापोंगसेनया
There was King Vīramaṇi with the charming Śrutavatī; Lakṣmīnidhi with Komalā, and Riputāpā with Oṃgasenā.
विभीषणो महामूर्त्या प्रतापाग्र्यः प्रतीतया । उग्राश्वः कामगमया नीलरत्नोधिरम्यया
Vibhīṣaṇa, of great form, was with Pratītā, foremost in prowess; Ugrāśva with Kāmagamayā, and Nīlaratna with Udhiramyā.
सुरथः सुमनोहार्या तथा मोहनया कपिः । इत्यादीन्नृपतीन्विप्रो वसिष्ठः प्राहिणोन्मुनिः
Suratha was with Sumanohāryā, and likewise the monkey with Mohanayā; thus, the sage Vasiṣṭha sent forth these and other kings.
वसिष्ठः सरयूं गत्वा शिवपुण्यजलाप्लुताम् । उदकं मंत्रयामास वेदमंत्रेण मंत्रवित्
Vasiṣṭha, the knower of mantras, went to the Sarayū, bathed in its sacred, auspicious waters, and began to recite mantras over the water.
पयः पुनीह्यमुं वाहमुदकेन मनोहृता । यज्ञार्थं रामचंद्रस्य सर्वलोकैकरक्षितुः
Purify this milk, O carrier, with delightful water for the sake of the sacrifice of Rāmacandra, the sole protector of all the worlds.
उदकं तन्मुनिस्पृष्टं सर्वे रामादयो नृपाः । आजह्रुर्मंडपतले विप्रवर्यैरुपस्तुते
That water, touched by the sage, was brought by all the kings, beginning with Rāma, to the sacrificial pavilion, praised by the foremost Brāhmaṇas.
पयोभिर्निर्मलैः स्नाप्य वाजिनं क्षीरसन्निभम् । मंत्रेण मंत्रयामास राम हस्तेन कुंभजः
Bathing the horse, white as milk, with pure waters, the son of Kumbha, by mantra, recited the invocation with Rāma's hand.
पुनीहि मां महावाह अस्मिन्ब्रह्मसमाकुले । त्वन्मेधेनाखिला देवाः प्रीणंतु परितोषिताः
Purify me, O great steed, in this assembly filled with Brāhmaṇs; may all the gods be pleased everywhere by your sacrifice.
इत्युक्त्वा स नृपो रामः सीतया सममस्पृशत् । तदा सर्वे द्विजाश्चित्रममन्यंत कुतूहलात्
Having spoken thus, King Rāma, together with Sītā, touched the horse; then all the Brāhmaṇs, out of curiosity, found it marvelous.
परस्परमवोचंस्ते यन्नामस्मरणान्नराः । महापापात्प्रमुच्यंते स रामः किं वदत्यहो
They said to each other: 'By remembering his name, men are freed from great sin; what, then, does this Rāma say—how wonderful!'