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.
तत्र नारायणपुरं सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम् । स राम मुनिवर्यास्तु तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं ययुः
There was the city of Nārāyaṇa, shining like millions of suns; Rāma and the eminent sages, seeing it, were struck with wonder.
किमेतदिति चाचिंत्य नः प्रवेशः कथं भवेत् । किमेष प्रलयाग्निः स्यान्मायया परमात्मनः
Thinking, 'What is this? How can we enter? Is this the fire of dissolution, created by the Supreme Self's illusion?'
किंवा नो मरणं त्वद्य उत श्रेयो भविष्यति । इति चिंताकुलेष्वेव स रामेषु मुनिष्वथ
'Will death come to us now, or will something better happen?' Thus, while Rāma and the sages were troubled by these thoughts,
शंभुराह शृणुष्वाद्य राघवैतद्वदामि ते । प्रकल्पिता मया माया त्वत्कृते नैतदद्भुतम्
Śaṃbhu said, 'Listen, Rāghava, I will tell you this today. This illusion was created by me for your sake; it is not astonishing.'
नारायणीयमेतत्तु परमं धाम भास्वरम् । उष्णशीताद्यविच्छेद्यं ज्ञानगम्यं न चाक्षुषम्
This is the Nārāyaṇa realm, the supreme, radiant abode; it cannot be pierced by heat or cold, is accessible through knowledge, and not by sight.
तत्तु पूजयतश्चोर्ध्वं पश्य ब्रह्मपुरोगमान् । दिक्षु सर्वासु च मुनीन्पश्य पूजयतोऽमलान्
But as you worship, look above and see the foremost among the Brāhmaṇas; in all directions, see the pure sages as you worship.
चतुरो निगमान्पश्य स्तुवतः परमं पदम् । योगिनः सनकाद्यास्तु योगमास्थाय यत्नतः
See the four Vedas as you praise the supreme abode; the yogis, beginning with Sanaka, having earnestly taken up yoga,
ध्यायंति परमं तेजस्तदिदं पश्य राघव । अमुं च रोमशं पश्य प्रदक्षिणनमस्क्रियाः
Meditate upon the supreme radiance; see this, O Rāghava. And see Romaśa, performing circumambulation and salutations.
कुर्वाणं कोटिकोटीश्च वालखिल्यान्मुनीश्वरान् । लक्ष्म्यादिसर्ववनिता पूज्यमानं परं पदम्
See him, along with countless Vālakhilya sages, and the supreme abode being worshipped by Lakṣmī and all other women.
साकारं च निराकारं ब्रह्म यत्परिकीर्तितम् । अज्ञानिनो न पश्यंति पश्यंति ज्ञानचक्षुषः
The Brahman, described as both with form and without form, is not seen by the ignorant, but is seen by those with the eye of knowledge.