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.
शंभुवाक्यादतः सर्वे पूजयामासुरच्युतम् । गिरिकर्णीं च तुलसीं मल्लिकां मारुतं तथा
Then, at Śaṃbhu's words, all worshipped Acyuta, as well as the mountain ear, tulasī, jasmine, and the wind.
नीलोत्पलैरंबुजैश्च कृष्णास्फुटजलैरपि । पूजयंतो महात्मानो महात्मानं जनार्दनम्
With blue lotuses, water lilies, and even pure dark waters, the great souls worshipped Janārdana, the great soul.
नारदं खेऽथ ददृशुर्जटिलं सविपंचिकम् । नारायणपदाघोषं लंबकूर्चोपवीतिनम्
There in the sky they saw Nārada, matted-haired, holding his vīṇā, uttering the sound of Nārāyaṇa’s feet, with a hanging tuft and sacred thread.
स चापि मनसा दध्यौ क एष इति नारदः । स पपात प्रभोः पादे शंभोरानंदनिर्भरः
And Nārada wondered in his mind, 'Who is this?' Then, filled with joy, he fell at the feet of the Lord Śambhu.
शैवीं पंचाक्षरीं विद्यां जजाप मनसा मुनिः । धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि जन्माद्यसफलं मम
The sage silently recited the five-syllabled Śaiva mantra, thinking, 'Blessed am I, favored am I; my birth and all before it are fulfilled.'
ब्रह्मादिवंद्यं चागम्यं ज्ञातवानस्मि ते पदम् । नारदं तमथ प्राह शंभुर्मैवं वदेति हि
I have come to know your state, which is revered by Brahmā and the gods, and unattainable; then Śambhu said to Nārada, 'Do not speak so.'
यथा च मां न जानंति तथा मे कुरु वर्तनम् । गच्छ शीघ्रं हरिं ब्रूहि ममागमनमल्पतः
'Just as they do not recognize me, so should you act towards me. Go quickly and tell Hari that my arrival will not be long.'
अथ स त्वरया गत्वा सर्वं व्यज्ञापयद्धरिम् । अथ सत्वरया विष्णोरादायार्घोदकं शुभम्
Then, going swiftly, he informed Hari of everything; and at once, Viṣṇu took pure water for offering.
कमलासहितो योगी कोटिकोटिसमावृतः । निर्ययौ नारदं हस्ते गृहीत्वा गरुडध्वजः
Accompanied by Lakṣmī, surrounded by countless yogis, the Garuḍa-bannered Lord came out, taking Nārada by the hand.
नमोनमो नमोस्त्वस्मै शंकरायेत्युदीरयन् । अर्घपाद्यादिना सर्वान्पूजयामास केशवः
Proclaiming, 'Salutations, salutations, salutations to Śaṅkara,' Keśava worshipped them all with offerings of water for the feet and other rites.
प्रावेशयदमेयात्मा नारायणपुरं शुभम् । गृहराजे ततः स्थित्वा नारायण उवाच ह
The immeasurable Lord led them into the auspicious city of Nārāyaṇa; then, seated in the royal house, Nārāyaṇa spoke.
कथमेते समायाताः कोऽयं राजा महायशाः । अमानुषप्रवेशोऽयं ब्रह्माद्यैरप्यगोचरः
'How have these come here? Who is this king of great fame? This is an entry beyond mortals, unseen even by Brahmā and the others.'
शंभुरुवाच- मुनिवेषा यथा प्राप्ता वयमेते नृपस्तथा । तवांशो नृपतिश्चायं रामचंद्रः प्रतापवान्
Śambhu said: 'Just as we have come in the guise of sages, so too has this king. This mighty king Rāmacandra is your own portion.'
एनां संवीक्षितुं पत्नीं तव केशव कांक्षति । नारायणस्तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रविशेत्याह राघवम्
'He wishes, Keśava, to see your wife.' Nārāyaṇa replied, 'So be it,' and said to Rāghava, 'Enter.'
अथ प्रविश्य भवनं लक्ष्मीं वीक्ष्य नमस्य च । विनयावनतो भूत्वा वाचमाह सुचारिणीम्
Then, entering the palace, seeing and bowing to Lakṣmī, he stood humbly and spoke these well-chosen words.
कृतार्थोऽस्मि न संदेहो वद त्वं किं तु मन्यसे । श्रीदेव्युवाच- त्वं युवा कामकृष्टश्च रूपवानसि राघव
'I am fulfilled, there is no doubt; but tell me, what do you think?' Śrī Devī said: 'You are young, drawn by desire, and handsome, O Rāghava.'
सीता सा चारुसर्वांगी तव पत्नी तया भवान् । वियुक्तोऽस्ति पुरा चासीदतीव विरहाकुलः
'Sītā, beautiful in every limb, is your wife; you were once separated from her and greatly distressed by that separation.'
ममापि वद सर्वं तदथवा न च लप्स्यसि । सहासान्यथ वाक्यानि यूनां चित्तहराणि च
'Tell me everything about that, or you will not obtain it; with a smile, she spoke words that captivate the minds of the young.'
श्रुत्वा तु तानि सर्वाणि रामभद्रो यतात्मवान् । निर्गंतुं कांक्षते तत्र आनम्य तन्मुखांबुजम्
Hearing all those words, Rāma, self-controlled, wished to depart, bowing to her lotus-like face.
स्मरबाणेन पद्मेन संपीड्य रघुशेखरम् । अन्वेव निर्ययौ देवी पद्मा पद्मवनप्रिया
Pierced by the lotus-arrow of love, the chief of the Raghu line, the goddess Padmā, beloved of the lotus grove, departed after him.