प्रशांतायामुपायैस्तु मिश्रायां विड्वरो भवेत् । पुरादिवर्णनं यत्तु मध्यमं यदि चोत्तमम्
When calm prevails, by means, or when mixed, the verb liṭ is best; if the description is of the beginning, middle, or highest.
कलिसंभावनायास्तु शृंगारस्योपवर्णने । राज्यनिर्वाहचिंतायां राज्यलिंगंशुभावहम्
For the consideration of the Kali age, or in the description of love, in the concern for the maintenance of a kingdom, the sign of sovereignty brings auspiciousness.
यस्यापि यादृशं योग्यं विचार्य तादृशं बुधैः । स्तुतिवैराग्ययोः कार्यं विलयः परिकीर्तितः
Whatever is suitable for each, having been considered as such by the wise; in the case of praise or detachment, dissolution is declared.
कार्याल्पसिद्धिः स्खलितेन च निर्वाहमृच्छति । तस्यान्यार्थस्यान्यभावो राम शांतिविचारणे
Limited success in action comes from error, and accomplishment is lost; for another meaning, there is no other result, O Rāma, in the consideration of calm.
विसर्गांतश्च पूर्वार्द्ध विपर्यासो भविष्यतः । संकल्पितान्यथाभावो ह्यध्यायस्य समापने
If the first half ends with visarga, there will be reversal; the imagined absence of another at the completion of a chapter.
कांडादेस्तु समाप्तौ तु स्यात्तत्कार्यविनाशनम् । तस्मादेतादृशे दोषे शकुनस्य विपर्ययः
At the end of a section, the destruction of that action occurs; therefore, in such a fault, there is reversal of the omen.
क्षुते पुस्तकपाते च त्वाहते मस्तकादिषु । वक्ता वैमाननं याति ततः शकुननाशनम्
When there is sneezing, the falling of a book, or a blow to the head and similar places, the speaker's omen becomes inauspicious; thus, the omen is destroyed.
तस्मादेतादृशे दोषे शकुनं परिवर्जयेत् । उपमायां भवेद्राम कार्याभासो न वस्तुतः
Therefore, O Rama, one should avoid omens under such faults; in analogy, there may appear to be action, but in reality, there is none.
संतानं भोन्यत्र चोक्ता सृष्टिर्मध्यफलप्रदा । स्तुतिः प्रशस्ता कुत्रापि गुणवत्कार्यनिर्णये
Here, the continuation has been stated, and creation gives intermediate results; praise is commendable anywhere in the determination of virtuous deeds.
विवाहे चौषधे दाने व्यवहारे कृषौ तथा । यथार्था च स्तुती राम निर्वाहेऽपि न दूषणम्
In marriage, medicine, charity, legal matters, and agriculture, O Rama, praise that is appropriate to the situation is not a fault, even in accomplishment.
मुनय ऊचुः - अतःपरं महाभागः किं चकार स राघवः । मुनयश्च महात्मानः किमकुर्वंस्ततः परम्
The sages said: After this, O greatly fortunate one, what did that Raghava do? And what did the great-souled sages do thereafter?
सूत उवाच- रामचंद्रे सुखासीने विभीषणे कपीश्वरे । शंभुमूचुर्मुनिवराः कथां पुण्यां वदस्व नः
The Sūta said: While Rāmacandra was seated comfortably, with Vibhīṣaṇa and the lord of the monkeys, the eminent sages addressed Śambhu, saying, 'Tell us a holy story.'
तेषामाकर्ण्य वचनं पार्वतीमाह शंकरः । इदं कस्यापि विप्रस्य गृहं परमशोभनम्
Hearing their words, Śaṅkara spoke to Pārvatī: 'This is the house of a certain brāhmaṇa, exceedingly beautiful.'
रम्योपवनवापीभिर्वीरुद्भिरुपशोभितम् । कूजन्मधुकरश्रेण्या आहूतकुसुमायुधम्
Adorned with delightful gardens and ponds, beautified by creepers, and filled with the humming of swarms of bees, it summoned the god of love.
मध्याह्नसंध्यामारोढुमिव सूर्यः प्रवर्त्तते । छायावापीजलस्नातौ परिधाय सुवाससी
The sun seems to rise to ascend the midday juncture; after bathing in the cool pond and donning fine garments,
मृगनाभिसमुद्घृष्टघनसारसुचंदनम् । आलिप्य सल्लकीदामदृढधम्मिल्लसंयुतौ
Having anointed themselves with thick sandal paste mixed with musk, adorned with garlands of sallakī and firmly bound hair,
अनल्पघनसारं तु तांबूलं प्रतिखादितम् । आस्वाद्य माद्यन्मुदितौ यत्र धारागृहे शुभे
Having savored betel leaf rich with thick essence, intoxicated and delighted, they are in the splendid water pavilion.
मयूरनादबहुले बहिर्मधुरगीतकैः । शय्यायामास्तृतायां च परस्परसुखस्थितौ
With the abundant cries of peacocks outside and sweet singers, on a bed spread out, they rest together in mutual happiness.
विशालस्मितरक्तोष्ठमाननं चुंबितं यदि । संसारफलमाघ्रातमावयोस्तु भविष्यति
If a face with broad smiles and red lips is kissed, and the fruit of worldly existence is enjoyed, then it will be ours.
इतीरितमथ श्रुत्वा कुपिता मुनयस्तु ते । उक्तं वा सुशुभं वाक्यमस्मासु किमिदं त्वया
Hearing these words, the sages became angry and said, 'What is this you have spoken to us, whether it is a jest or an auspicious speech?'
विप्रलापः प्रियासक्तेः कृतो नोस्मद्वचः कृतम् । अथ कोपपराच्छंभोराननात्परमाद्भुता
'This is the rambling of one attached to his beloved, not in accordance with our words.' Then, from the face of the enraged Śambhu, something most astonishing appeared.
ज्वाला विनिर्गता सापि करालवदनाभवत् । कस्यचित्तु मुनेर्भार्यामाससादाथ सत्वरम्
A flame emerged, and it became a fierce-faced being; it swiftly approached the wife of a certain sage.
पलायनपरा चासीद्रामं दृष्ट्वा च बिभ्यती । रामोऽपि ब्राह्मणीं शुद्धां मोचयामीत्यभाषत
She, intent on fleeing, became afraid upon seeing Rāma; and Rāma said, 'I will free the pure brāhmaṇa woman.'
जगाम पुष्पकेणैव ब्रुवन्मुक्तिं पुनः पुनः । बाणं च धनुषा योक्तुं न च सस्मार राघवः
He went in the Puṣpaka chariot, repeatedly declaring liberation; but though he wished to fit an arrow to his bow, Rāghava did not remember.
शंभुरप्यतिपुण्यानि वनान्यायतनानि च । पुराणि च विचित्राणि दृष्ट्वा रामं न चास्मरत्
Even Śaṃbhu, after seeing exceedingly holy forests, shrines, and ancient, wondrous places, did not remember Rāma.
क्षणेन च तदा प्राप्तो लोकालोकं महागिरिम् । दृष्ट्वाथ राघवः शैलं गृहमार्गसमाकुलम्
Then, in a moment, he reached the great mountain called Lokāloka; and Rāghava, seeing the mountain crowded with paths and dwellings, gazed upon it.
विप्रयोषिन्महाभागा क्व गता वदत द्विजाः । इतो गतेति ते प्रोचुस्तमोभागं गिरेरिति
O most fortunate Brāhmaṇa ladies, where have you gone? Tell me, O twice-born ones. They replied, 'They have gone this way, to the dark region of the mountain.'
रामो विवर्णवदनः कष्टमित्यभिचिंतयन् । अथ शंभुर्महातेजाः प्रकाशमतुलं ददौ
Rāma, his face pale, thinking 'How unfortunate,' then Śaṃbhu, of great brilliance, bestowed incomparable light.
तत्प्रकाशप्रभावेण रामः कृत्यां ययावनु । तमोमयी महाभूमिः सर्वजंतुविवर्जिता
By the power of that radiance, Rāma proceeded to his task; the vast land, made of darkness, was devoid of all living beings.
आब्रह्मांडकटाहांता शतयोजनकोटितः । महारजतभूमिश्च तमोमध्ये व्यवस्थिता
From the edge of the cosmic egg, for hundreds of millions of yojanas, there was a great silver land, situated in the midst of darkness.