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.
प्रत्येकमक्षरं ब्रह्महत्यावंशदवानलः । तं यः श्रावयते धीमांस्तं गुरुं संप्रपूजयेत्
Each syllable acts as a fire consuming the lineage of Brāhmaṇa-slaying; whoever recites it should be honored as a guru.
श्रुत्वा कथां वाचकाय गवां द्वंद्वं प्रदापयेत् । सपत्नीकाय संपूज्य वस्त्रालंकारभोजनैः
After hearing the story, one should give a pair of cows to the reciter, honoring him and his wife with garments, ornaments, and food.
कुंडलाभ्यां विराजंत्यौ मुद्रिकाभिरलंकृते । रामसीते स्वर्णमय्यौ प्रतिमे शोभने वरे
The golden images of Rāma and Sītā, adorned with earrings and rings, shine beautifully and splendidly.
कृत्वा तु वाचकायैव दीयते भो द्विजोत्तम । तस्य देवाश्च पितरो वैकुंठं प्राप्नुयुस्तदा
Having made them, one should give them to the reciter, O best of Brāhmaṇas; then his ancestors and the gods attain Vaikuṇṭha.
त्वया पृष्टा रामकथा मया ते कथिता पुरा । किमन्यत्कथ्यतां ब्रह्मन्पुरतस्तव धीमतः
You asked about the story of Rāma, and I have narrated it to you before; what else should be told, O wise Brāhmaṇa, in your presence?
शृण्वंति ये कथामेतां ब्रह्महत्यौघनाशिनीम् । ते यांति परमं स्थानं यच्च देवैः सुदुर्लभम्
Those who listen to this story, which destroys the multitude of Brāhmaṇa-slaying sins, attain the supreme state, which is difficult for the gods to reach.
गोघ्नश्चापि सुतघ्नश्च सुरापो गुरुतल्पगः । क्षणात्पूतो भवत्येव नात्र संशयितुं क्षमम्
Even a killer of cows, a killer of children, a drinker of liquor, or one who violates the teacher's bed becomes purified instantly; there is no room for doubt.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखण्डे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे श्रवणपठनपुण्यवर्णनं नामाष्टषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the sixty-eighth chapter, named 'The Description of the Merit of Hearing and Reciting the Rāma Horse Sacrifice,' in the dialogue between Śeṣa and Vātsyāyana in the Pātāla section of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
ऋषय ऊचुः - सम्यक्छ्रुतो महाभाग त्वत्तो रामाश्वमेधकः । इदानीं वद माहात्म्यं श्रीकृष्णस्य महात्मनः
The sages said: We have properly heard from you, O greatly fortunate one, about Rama's Ashvamedha. Now, please speak of the greatness of Shri Krishna, the exalted soul.
सूत उवाच-। शृण्वंतु मुनिशार्दूलाः श्रीकृष्णचरितामृतम् । शिवा पप्रच्छ भूतेशं यत्तद्वः कीर्तयाम्यहम्
Suta said: Listen, O foremost among sages, to the nectar of Shri Krishna's deeds. That which Shiva was asked by Parvati, I shall recount to you.