ऋषय ऊचुः - भूयो वद महाभाग रामचारित्रमद्भुतम् । राममाहात्म्यसर्वस्वं भक्तानां प्रीतिदायकम्
The sages said: Tell us again, O greatly fortunate one, the wondrous deeds of Rama—the essence of Rama's greatness, which brings joy to devotees.
सूत उवाच- अश्वमेधं क्रतुवरं कृत्वा दाशरथिर्यथा
Sūta said: After performing the horse sacrifice, the best of sacrifices, the son of Dasharatha—
प्रवृत्तो लोककृत्येषु शास्त्रकृत्येषु कोविदः । अयोध्यां गंतुकामेन शंकरेण महात्मना
Skilled in worldly and scriptural duties, desiring to go to Ayodhya, with the great-souled Shankara—
पार्वत्या सह देवेन उषितः सरयूतटे । मुनयस्तं समभ्येत्य शंकरं विश्वरूपिणम्
Having stayed on the banks of the Sarayu with Parvati, the god, the sages approached Shankara, the lord of all forms.
कश्यपाद्या महात्मानः पप्रच्छुरमितौजसम् । स्वागतं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ सभार्यः कुत आगतः
The great sages, beginning with Kashyapa, asked him, whose energy is immeasurable: 'Welcome, O best of sages, with your wife—where have you come from?'
किमागमनकृत्यं ते कं देशं गंतुमुद्यतः । शंकर उवाच- अहं शंभुरिति ख्यातो विप्रो हिमगिरिस्थितः
'What is the purpose of your coming? To which land are you intending to go?' Shankara said: 'I am known as Shambhu, O Brahmin, dwelling on the snowy mountain.'
द्रष्टुं च राघवं गच्छे मम कार्यं महत्ततः । मामाह्वयति राजासौ पुराणश्रवणे रतः
I must go to see Rāghava; my purpose is very important. That king, who delights in hearing ancient tales, summons me.
आगच्छंतु भवंतोऽपि राघवः परितुष्यति । ततस्ते मुनयः शंभुर्ययू रामदिदृक्षया
Let you all come as well; Rāghava will be pleased. Then those sages, along with Śaṃbhu, went out of desire to see Rāma.
तानागतान्वसिष्ठस्तु ज्ञात्वा रामाय चोक्तवान् । ततः सत्वरमुत्थाय निर्ययौ स पुरोहितः
Having learned of their arrival, Vasiṣṭha spoke to Rāma. Then, rising quickly, the chief priest went out.
अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकैस्सर्वान्पूजयामास तानृषीन् । गृहराजं ततः सर्वान्प्रावेशयदरिंदमः
He honored all those sages with offerings of water for the feet and other rituals. Then the destroyer of enemies led them all into the palace.
प्रत्येकमासनं दत्वा स्वागतोक्त्यासनस्थितान् । क्रमेण रघुशार्दूलः पूजयामास तानृषीन्
He gave each one a seat, welcomed them, and seated them. Then, in order, the tiger of the Raghu line honored those sages.
वाचा मधुरया प्रीणन्निदमाहासनस्थितान् । श्रीराम उवाच- अद्य मे सफलं जन्म प्राप्तमद्य तपः फलम्
Pleasing them with sweet words, he spoke to those seated: Śrī Rāma said— Today my birth is fruitful, today my austerity has borne fruit.
अद्याभ्यासस्य विद्यानां फलकालोऽयमागतः । अद्य मे पितरस्तुष्टा राज्यं च सफलं मम
Today the time for the fruits of my study of knowledge has arrived. Today my fathers are pleased, and my kingship is fulfilled.
अद्य मे सफलं वृत्तमद्य मे सफलं श्रुतम् । एवं वदंतं राजानं ब्राह्मणाः कश्यपादयः
Today my conduct is fruitful, today my learning is fruitful. As the king spoke thus, the brāhmaṇas led by Kaśyapa—
ऊचुः प्रियतरं वाक्यं रामं राजीवलोचनम् । ऋषय ऊचुः अयं शंभुर्द्विजः प्राप्तः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः
Spoke most pleasing words to Rāma, lotus-eyed. The sages said: This is Śaṃbhu, a brāhmaṇa, arrived here, expert in all scriptures.
वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञः सर्वभूतहिते रतः । कैलासवासी सततं तपसे कृतनिश्चयः
He knows the essence of the Vedas and their limbs, devoted to the welfare of all beings. He dwells always in Kailāsa, firmly resolved in austerity.
ब्रह्मणा ब्रह्मवर्चस्के तुल्यो ब्रह्मविदां वरः । हरिणा ब्रह्मवात्सल्ये प्रसादे शंकरोपमः
In spiritual radiance, he is equal to Brahmā, foremost among knowers of Brahman. In compassion for brāhmaṇas, in grace, he is like Śaṃkara.
एवंविधो महातेजाः शंभुर्ब्राह्मणपुंगवः । अष्टादशपुराणज्ञो मीमांसा न्यायकोविदः
Such is the great and radiant Śaṃbhu, foremost among brāhmaṇas. He knows the eighteen Purāṇas, skilled in Mīmāṃsā and logic.
त्वद्भाग्यगौरवादेव प्राप्तोऽयं मुनिसत्तमः । त्वयाहूतो मुनिवरः कैलासादागतः प्रभो
Because of your fortune and honor, this best of sages has arrived. The eminent sage, summoned by you, has come from Kailāsa, O Lord.
अतः पृच्छ महाभाग पुराणाख्यानमुत्तमम् । श्रोतुकामा वयं प्राप्तास्त्वामद्य रघुनंदन
Therefore, O highly fortunate one, ask for the supreme Purāṇa narrative. We have come today, O descendant of Raghu, desiring to hear from you.
अंतं गतस्य वेदानां सर्वशास्त्रार्थवेदिनः । पुंसोऽश्रुतपुराणस्य न सम्यग्याति दर्शनम्
Even one who knows the end of the Vedas and the meaning of all scriptures, if he has not heard the Purāṇas, does not gain true understanding.
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्तो रघुश्रेष्ठो मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे पुराणश्रवणोत्सुकः
Sūta said— Thus addressed by the sages, seers of truth, the best of the Raghu line felt incomparable joy, eager to hear the Purāṇas.
श्रीराम उवाच- लिगार्चनप्रकारं च लिंगमाहात्म्यमेव च । महेशनाममाहात्म्यं पूजामाहात्म्यमेव च
Śrī Rāma said— The procedure of worshipping the liṅga, the greatness of the liṅga, the glory of the names of Maheśa, and the greatness of worship—
नमस्कारस्य माहात्म्यं दृष्टिमाहात्म्यमेव च । जलदानस्य माहात्म्यं धूपदानस्य सत्तम
The greatness of salutation, the greatness of vision, the greatness of offering water, and the greatness of offering incense, O noble one—
दीपगंधादिदानस्य पुष्पमाहात्म्यमेव च । नानाख्यानेतिहासानां कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्
The giving of lamps, fragrances, and the like, the greatness of flowers, and the stories of various legends and histories that destroy sin—
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश्च तदुपायांश्च सुव्रत । तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो मुनिवरोत्तम
O virtuous one, I wish to hear from you about all these: dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa, and the means to attain them, O best of sages.
शंभुरुवाच- रामराम महाबाहो पुण्यवानसि राघव । राज्यासक्तस्य ते जाता पुराणश्रवणे रतिः
Śaṃbhu said: O Rāma, mighty-armed, you are virtuous, O descendant of Raghu; even though you are attached to kingship, you have developed a fondness for hearing the Purāṇas.
स्यान्महत्सेवया राम पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् । सा जिह्वा या शिवं गायेत्तच्चित्तं यत्तदर्प्पितम्
Such fondness, O Rāma, arises from great service and from visiting holy places; that tongue is blessed which sings of Śiva, and that mind which is devoted to him.
तावेव केवलौ श्लाघ्यौ यौ तत्पूजाकरौ करौ । सुजन्मदेहमत्यर्थं तदेवाशेषजन्मसु
Only those two hands are truly praiseworthy which perform his worship; that human body is most excellent, and so in all births.
यदेवोत्पुलकोभासि हर नामानुकीर्तनात् । कृतार्थोऽसि महाराज तत्प्रश्नानुगता मतिः
Whenever you shine with horripilation from reciting the names of Hara, O great king, you are fulfilled; your mind follows such questions.