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.
एकपत्नीव्रतं ज्ञात्वा रामं ते समुपागमन् । अथवेपितसर्वांगं स्खलत्पदगतिं नृपम्
Recognizing Rāma's vow of monogamy, they approached him, the king, whose whole body was trembling and whose steps faltered.
शिवनारायणौ दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गतौ । अहोऽस्य द्रढिमाचित्ते मायिनोऽप्य वशात्मनः
Seeing Śiva and Nārāyaṇa, they were filled with utmost wonder: 'Ah, such firmness in his mind, even though he is a master of illusion, he remains self-controlled.'
धैर्यं पश्येह नियतं तेन रामः सुकीर्तिमान् । सर्वतः शिवमेवास्य नाशिवं विद्यते क्वचित्
Here, observe his unwavering courage; therefore, Rāma is renowned. For him, there is only auspiciousness everywhere—never anything inauspicious.
अथ रामो वचः प्राह गच्छेहं भगवन्प्रभो । अनुज्ञातोऽथ हरिणा पुष्पकेण स राघवः
Then Rāma spoke: 'O Lord, I shall go.' Permitted by Hari, that descendant of Raghu departed in the Puṣpaka chariot.
स मुनिः सहशंभुश्च सहनारायणो ययौ । लोकालोकं गतः शीघ्रं ततः स्वादूदधिं गतः
That sage, together with Śaṃbhu and Nārāyaṇa, quickly went to Lokāloka, and from there reached the sweet ocean.
ततो द्वीपसमुद्रांश्च जंबूद्वीपं पुनर्गतः । भरद्वाजाश्रमपदे तस्थिवान्गौतमीतटे
Then, crossing the islands and oceans, he returned to Jambūdvīpa and stood at the hermitage of Bharadvāja, on the bank of the Gautamī.
अथ स्नात्वा महानद्यां भरद्वाजो मुनीश्वरः । शिष्यैः श्रीमान्परिवृतः पुष्पकं दृष्टवान्मुनिः
Then, after bathing in the great river, the illustrious sage Bharadvāja, surrounded by his disciples, saw the Puṣpaka chariot.
तत्र रामं महाबाहुं शिवनारायणावृषीन् । यथावत्पूजयित्वा तु तानुवाच महामुनिः
There, having duly honored Rāma of mighty arms, along with Śiva and Nārāyaṇa, the great sage addressed them.
ममाश्रमपदे यूयं भोक्तुमर्हथ सत्तमाः । रामस्तु मन्वाक्येन तथेत्याह कथंचन
'You, the most excellent, are worthy to partake of food at my hermitage.' Rāma, in agreement with his mind, replied, 'So be it,' in some manner.
अथ स्नात्वा महानद्यां कृत्वा देवादितर्पणम् । भोक्तुकामं तदा रामं वसिष्ठो वाक्यमुक्तवान्
Then, after bathing in the great river and offering libations to the gods and ancestors, as Rāma was about to eat, Vasiṣṭha spoke these words.