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.
स रामः सीतया सार्धं चिरं पुण्यजलप्लवे । क्रीडित्वा जलकल्लोलैर्निरगाद्धर्मसंयुतः
Rāma, together with Sītā, played for a long time in the sacred waters, delighting in the waves, and then departed, upholding righteousness.
दुकूलवासाः सकिरीटकुंडलः केयूरशोभावरकंकणान्वितः । कंदर्पकोटिश्रियमुद्वहन्नृपो राजाग्र्यवर्यैरुपसंस्तुतो बभौ
Clad in fine cloth, adorned with crown and earrings, shining with armlets and bracelets, bearing a splendor surpassing millions of Kāma gods, the king, praised by the foremost of rulers, appeared radiant.
सयागयूपं वरवर्णशोभितं कृत्वा सरित्तीरवरे महामनाः । त्रैलोक्यलोकश्रियमाप ह्यद्भुतामन्यैर्दुरापां नृपतिर्भुजैर्निजैः
Having erected a sacrificial post, resplendent with excellent color, on the riverbank, the noble-minded king attained the wondrous glory of the worlds, which is difficult for others to reach, by his own arms.
एवं जनकपुत्र्यासौ हयमेधत्रयं चरन् । त्रैलोक्ये कीर्तिमतुलां प्राप देवैः सुदुर्लभाम्
Thus, performing three horse sacrifices with Janaka's daughter, he gained incomparable fame in the three worlds, which even the gods find hard to obtain.
एवं ते वर्णितं तात यत्पृष्टो रामसत्कथाम् । विस्तृतः कथितो मेधो भूयः किं पृच्छसे द्विज
Thus, O dear one, I have described to you the noble story of Rāma as you asked; the account has been fully narrated by Medha—what more do you wish to ask, O twice-born?
यः शृणोति हरेर्भक्त्या रामचंद्रस्य सन्मखम् । ब्रह्महत्यां क्षणात्तीर्त्वा ब्रह्मशाश्वतमाप्नुयात्
Whoever listens with devotion to the sacred sacrifice of Rāma, the incarnation of Hari, instantly crosses the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa and attains the eternal Brahman.
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्निर्धनो धनमाप्नुयात् । रोगार्तो मुच्यते रोगाद्बद्धो मुच्येत बंधनात्
A childless person gains children, a poor one acquires wealth, one afflicted by disease is freed from illness, and one bound is released from captivity.
यत्कथाश्रवणाद्दुष्टः श्वपचोऽपि परं पदम् । प्राप्नोति किमु विप्राग्र्यो रामभक्तिपरायणः
Even a wicked outcaste attains the supreme state by hearing this story—how much more so the foremost Brāhmaṇa devoted to Rāma!
रामं स्मृत्वा महाभागं पापिनः परमं पदम् । प्राप्नुयुः परमं स्वर्गं शक्रदेवादिदुर्लभम्
Remembering Rāma, the greatly fortunate, even sinners attain the highest state, the supreme heaven, which is difficult for Indra and other gods to reach.
ते धन्या मानवा लोके ये स्मरंति रघूत्तमम् । ते क्षणात्संसृतिं तीर्त्वा गच्छंति सुखमव्ययम्
Blessed are those people in the world who remember the best of the Raghu dynasty; they instantly cross the cycle of rebirth and attain unending happiness.