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.
अनंतरं समाजग्मुर्जांघिकाः सत्वरश्रमाः । तत्करात्पत्रिकां गृह्य पपाठ रघुसत्तमः
Immediately, the swift-footed ascetics arrived; taking the letter from his hand, the best of the Raghus read it.
मनसाऽचिंतयद्रामः कथमेतदभूदिति । रामं शंभुस्तदा प्राह देव्या ब्राह्मणवेषवान्
Rāma thought in his mind, 'How did this come to be?' Then Śaṃbhu, in the guise of a brāhmaṇa, spoke to Rāma and the goddess.
किं चिंतयसि काकुत्स्थ मुनिष्वग्रे वसत्स्वपि । तद्वाक्यं राघवः श्रुत्वा पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवान्
Why do you worry, O descendant of Kakutstha, even while the sages are present before you? Hearing those words, Rāghava questioned the foremost sages.
श्रीरामउवाच- विभीषणः कथमसौ बद्धः शृंखलया नृभिः । मत्स्थापितं शिवं लिगं दृष्ट्वा रामेश्वरं त्वहो
Śrī Rāma said: How has Vibhīṣaṇa been bound with chains by men, after seeing the liṅga of Śiva, Rāmeśvara, which I established?
द्राविडैः कुटिलैर्दुष्टैरात्मना तद्विचार्यताम् । विचार्य मुनिवर्यास्ते नेशास्तज्ज्ञातुमल्पतः
Let this be considered by the Drāviḍas, who are crooked and wicked; let the foremost sages consider it, for they are not able to know it easily.
न जानीम इति प्राहू रामं रामस्तदाब्रवीत् । पुराणं वीक्ष्य विधिना तत्सर्वं ब्रूत सत्तमाः
They said to Rāma, 'We do not know.' Then Rāma said, 'Look into the Purāṇa according to the proper method and tell me everything, O excellent ones.'
भवदज्ञानहेतुश्च विचार्यस्तदनंतरम् । किं किं पुराणं प्रेक्ष्यं स्याद्वर्जनीयं तथैव किम्
Afterwards, let the cause of your ignorance be considered; what Purāṇa should be consulted, and what should be avoided as well?
प्रशस्तः कीदृशः श्लोकस्तदन्यः कीदृशो भवेत् । कीदृशेषु च कार्येषु कीदृशः पूजकस्तथा
What kind of verse is praiseworthy, and what is of another kind? In what actions, and what kind of worshipper is suitable?
पूजा च कीदृशैर्भक्तैः कार्या निर्णयदर्शने । इति रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ते द्विजसत्तमाः
By what kind of devotees should worship be performed, according to the proper discernment? Hearing these words of Rāma, those excellent twice-borns—
प्रत्यूचुस्तं रघुश्रेष्ठं चिंताव्याकुलमानसम् । न वक्तारो वरं राम वीक्षतां तु पुराणवित्
Replied to that best of the Raghus, whose mind was troubled with concern: 'We are not fit to speak, O Rāma; let the knower of the Purāṇas be consulted.'