यथाकथंचिद्रामस्य कर्तव्यं स्मरणं परम् । येन प्राप्नोति परमं पदं देवादिदुर्लभम्
In whatever way one remembers Rama, that supreme remembrance must be performed, by which one attains the highest state, difficult even for the gods to obtain.
तच्चित्रं वीक्ष्य मुनयः कृतार्थं मेनिरे निजम् । यद्रामचरणप्रेक्षा करस्पर्शपवित्रितम्
Seeing this marvelous event, the sages considered themselves fulfilled, for they had beheld Rama's feet and been purified by the touch of his hand.
गते तस्मिन्सुरे स्वर्गं हयरूपधरे पुरा । उवाच रामस्तपसां निधीन्वेदविदुत्तमान्
When that god, who had taken the form of a horse, went to heaven, Rama spoke to the foremost of ascetics, the best among those learned in the Vedas.
किं कर्तव्यं मयाब्रह्मन्हयो नष्टो गतः सुखम् । होमः कथं पुरोभावी सर्वदैवततर्पकः
"What should I do, O Brahmin? The horse is lost and has gone to bliss. How can the sacrifice, which satisfies all the gods, be completed now?"
यथा स्यात्सुरसंतृप्तिर्यथा मे मख उत्तमः । तथा कुर्वंतु मुनयो यथा मे स्याद्विधिश्रुतम्
"Let the sages act so that the gods are fully satisfied and my sacrifice is made excellent, in accordance with the prescribed rules and what is heard in the scriptures."
इति वाक्यं समाश्रुत्य जगाद मुनिसत्तमः । वसिष्ठः सर्वदेवानां चित्ताभिज्ञानकोविदः
Hearing these words, the best of sages, Vasistha—who knows the minds of all the gods—spoke.
कर्पूरमाहर क्षिप्रं येन देवाः स्वयं पुरा । प्राप्य हव्यं ग्रहीष्यंति मद्वाक्यप्रेरिताधुना
"Quickly bring camphor, by which the gods themselves once received the oblation; now, at my command, they will accept it."
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य रामः क्षिप्रमुपाहरत् । कर्पूरं बहुदेवानां प्रीत्यर्थं बहुशोभनम्
Hearing these words, Rama quickly brought much beautiful camphor, for the delight of the many gods.
तदा मुनिः प्रहृष्टात्मा देवानाह्वयदद्भुतान् । ते सर्वे तत्क्षणात्प्राप्ताः स्वपरीवारसंवृताः
Then the sage, his heart delighted, summoned the wondrous gods; all of them arrived at that very moment, surrounded by their own retinues.
शेष उवाच- परिस्वादन्क्रतौ तृप्तिं न प्राप सुरसंयुतः
Shesha said: Even when tasting the oblation in the sacrifice, the gods did not attain satisfaction.
नारायणो महादेवो ब्रह्मा तत्र चतुर्मुखः । वरुणश्च कुबेरश्च तथान्ये लोकपालकाः
Narayana, Mahadeva, Brahma with four faces, Varuna, Kubera, and the other guardians of the worlds were there.
तत्रास्वाद्य हविः स्निग्धं वसिष्ठेन परिष्कृतम् । तत्र पुनर्हि विप्रेंद्राः क्षुधार्ताइव भोजनात्
There, having tasted the rich oblation prepared by Vasistha, the foremost of Brahmins, they were still as hungry as before, as if unsatisfied by the meal.
सर्वान्देवांश्च संतर्प्य हविषा करुणानिधिः । वसिष्ठप्रेरितः सर्वमिति कर्तव्यमाचरत्
That ocean of compassion, having satisfied all the gods with offerings, acted in every way as instructed by Vasiṣṭha.
ब्राह्मणादानसंतुष्टा हविस्तुष्टाः सुरावराः । तृप्ताः सर्वे स्वकं भागं गृहीत्वा स्वालयं ययुः
The best of the gods were pleased by the gifts to the Brahmins and the offerings; all, satisfied, took their own share and returned to their abodes.
ऋषिभ्यो होतृमुख्येभ्यः प्रादाद्राज्यं चतुर्दिशम् । संतुष्टास्ते द्विजाराममाशीर्भिरददुः शुभम्
He gave the four directions of the kingdom to the chief officiating priests and sages; satisfied, they blessed the king with auspicious words.
पूर्णाहुतिं ततः कृत्वा वसिष्ठः प्राह सुस्त्रियः । वर्धापयंतु भूमीशं यागपूर्तिकरं परम्
Then, after making the final oblation, Vasiṣṭha spoke to the noble women: 'Let the queens honor the lord of the earth, the supreme performer of sacrifice and charity.'
तद्वाक्यं ताः स्त्रियः श्रुत्वा लाजैरवाकिरन्मुदा । लावण्यजितकंदर्पं महामणिविभूषितम्
Hearing those words, the women joyfully showered parched grain upon him, who surpassed even Kāmadeva in beauty and was adorned with great jewels.
ततोऽवभृथस्नानार्थं प्रेरयामास भूमिपम् । ययौ रामः सहस्वीयैः सरयूतीरमुत्तमम्
Then, for the ceremonial bath at the close of the sacrifice, the king was sent forth; Rāma went with his queens to the excellent bank of the Sarayū.
अनेकराजकोटीभिः परीतः पादचारिभिः । जगाम स सरिच्छ्रेष्ठां पक्षिवृंदसमाकुलाम्
Surrounded by countless kings on foot, he proceeded to the foremost river, teeming with flocks of birds.
तारापतिरिव स्वाभिर्भार्याभिर्वृत उत्प्रभः । विरोचते तथा तद्वद्रामो राजगणैर्वृतः
Just as the lord of the stars shines, surrounded by his own wives, so too did Rāma shine, surrounded by assemblies of kings.
तदुत्सवं समाज्ञाय ययुर्लोकास्त्वरायुताः । सीतापतिमुखालोकनिश्चलीभूतलोचनाः
Learning of that festival, multitudes of people hastened there, their eyes fixed and unmoving upon Sītā's lord.
राजेंद्रं सीतया साकं गच्छंतं सरितं प्रति । विलोक्य मुदिता लोकाश्चिरं दर्शनलालसाः
Seeing the king, accompanied by Sītā, proceeding toward the river, the people, long eager for his sight, rejoiced.
अनेक नटगंधर्वा गायंतो यश उज्ज्वलम् । अनुजग्मुर्महीशानं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्
Many actors and celestial musicians, singing his radiant fame, followed the lord of the earth, honored by all the worlds.
नर्तक्यस्तत्र नृत्यंत्यः क्षोभयंत्यः पतेर्मनः । जलयंत्रैश्च सिंचंत्यो ययुः श्रीरामसेवनम्
There, dancers danced, delighting the king's mind, and with water devices they sprinkled him as they went to serve Śrī Rāma.
महाराजं विलिपंत्यो हरिद्रा कुंकुमादिभिः । परस्परं प्रलिपंत्यो मुदं प्रापुर्महत्तराम्
They anointed the great king with turmeric, saffron, and other substances; as they smeared each other, their joy grew ever greater.
कुचयुग्मोपरिन्यस्तमुक्ताहारसुशोभिताः । श्रवणद्वंद्वसंमृष्टस्वर्णकुंडललक्षिताः
Adorned with pearl necklaces resting upon their twin breasts, and marked by golden earrings gracing both ears, they shone.
अनेकनरनारीभिः संकीर्णं मार्गमाचरन् । यथावत्सरितं प्राप शिवपुण्यजलाप्लुताम्
Proceeding along the path crowded with countless men and women, he duly reached the river, sanctified by Śiva's holy waters.
तत्र गत्वा स वैदेह्या रामः कमललोचनः । प्रविवेश जलं पुण्यं वसिष्ठादिभिरन्वितः
There, having arrived with Vaidehī, lotus-eyed Rāma entered the sacred waters, accompanied by Vasiṣṭha and the others.
अनुप्रविविशुः सर्वे राजानो जनतास्तथा । तत्पादरजसा पूतजलं लोकैकवंदितम्
All the kings and the people likewise entered, into the water purified by the dust of his feet, revered by the whole world.
परस्परं प्रसिंचंतो जलयंत्रैर्मनोरमैः । सुशोणनयनाः सर्वे हर्षं प्रापुर्मनोधिकम्
Sprinkling each other with delightful water devices, all, their eyes bright red with joy, experienced happiness surpassing the mind.