प्रहसच्चंद्र किरणैः सुधालिप्तमिवांबरम् । प्रसन्नताराकुसुमं वितानमिव सर्वतः
The sky, bright with moonbeams, seemed as if smeared with nectar; everywhere, the canopy of stars appeared like a garland of flowers.
अथागच्छत्सौधतलं वृद्धामात्येन कल्पितम् । नानासनसमोपेतं सभास्थानं ययौ नृपः
Then he went to the upper story of the palace, arranged by an aged minister; the king entered the assembly hall, furnished with various seats.
अथ मुनिं ह्युपवेश्य स राघवः स्वयमपि प्रथमासनमाभजत् । कपिगणाः परितः पृथुविग्रहा रचनयास्थितिमाप्रतिपेदिरे
Then, seating the sage, Rāghava himself occupied the foremost seat; the hosts of monkeys, broad-bodied, took their places all around in orderly fashion.
सुखस्थितं नृपमभिवीक्ष्य स द्विजो वचस्तदा समुचितमाह शंभुः । इहस्थितो भवति समस्तपूजितः कथं कथा नृपवर वर्तते गुहायाम्
Seeing the king seated comfortably, that brāhmaṇa, Śambhu, spoke fitting words: 'Here you remain, honored by all—how does the tale unfold, O best of kings, within the cave?'
आकर्ण्याथ रघूद्वहो द्विजवचः शुश्रूषुरासीत्कथां । तत्रस्थो निपुणं निवार्यवचनं सर्वैः श्रुतं तत्क्षणात् । शुश्रूषामि कथं महाद्भुततया स्वात्माश्रयामन्यथा । रक्षोबाधनवादिनीमथनृपः किंत्वेतदित्याह च
Hearing the brāhmaṇa's words, the descendant of Raghu became eager to listen to the story; sitting there, he attentively restrained all speech, and everyone heard it at that very moment; 'I wish to hear this, for it is most wondrous and concerns my own self—otherwise, what is this tale of demon destruction?' Thus the king spoke.
कुंभश्रोत्रवधः पुरा समजनि प्राप्तो दशास्यो वधं । पश्चादित्ययमन्यथा विरचितं रामायणं भाषते । कोऽयं विप्रवरः समस्तजनता नास्तिक्य संपादको । राज्ञांस्थानमुपेत्य वक्ति समया दंड्योऽथ पूज्योऽथवा
Formerly, the slaying of Kumbhaśrotra took place, and then the ten-headed one's death; afterwards, this Rāmāyaṇa is recited in a different manner—who is this excellent brāhmaṇa, who, among all people, promotes disbelief? Having come to the king's court, does he speak by right, or is he to be punished or honored?
अथाह जांबवानमुं रघूत्तमं कथां प्रति । रामायणं न तावकं त्विदं हि कल्पितं मतम् । समस्तमत्र विस्तराद्वदामि देव तच्छृणु । पंकेरुहस्यसूनुतो मया श्रुतं पुराह्यभूत्
Then Jāmbavān said to that best of Raghus regarding the story: 'This Rāmāyaṇa is not yours, but is a fabricated account, in my opinion; I shall tell you everything here in detail, O lord, listen to that which I heard long ago from the son of the lotus.'
जांबवंतं विज्ञाप्य रामचंद्रो वचनमाह
Informing Jāmbavān, Rāmacandra spoke these words.
श्रीराम उवाच- कीर्तय पुराणं मे शुश्रूषुः कुतूहलादहं प्रणीतं तत्केन च विज्ञातम्
Śrī Rāma said: Recite the Purāṇa for me; I am eager to listen out of curiosity. By whom was it composed, and how was it known?
जांबवानथ बभाषे हि विधात्रे नमो नमस्तथैव विधुभूषणकेशवाभ्याम्
Jāmbavān then spoke, offering salutations to the Creator, and likewise to Keśava, the ornament of the moon.
अथ पुरातनं रामायणं कथयामि
Now I shall narrate the ancient Rāmāyaṇa.
यस्य श्रवणेनाखिलजन्मसंपादित पापक्षयो जायते
By hearing it, the destruction of all sins accumulated over countless births occurs.
अथ तथापि दशरथो दशरथसमानरथी महीयसा बलेन सुमानसनामनगरजिगीषया पंकेरुहसुतसुतं वसिष्ठमाहूय नमस्कृत्वा मुनिदत्तानुज्ञः शताक्षौहिणीसेनया सहारुह्य तुरंगमं चंद्र समानशरीरमतिरोषसमाविष्टो विष्टरश्रवसमाराध्य दंडयात्रां चकार
Then, even so, Daśaratha, equal to Daśaratha in chariot warfare, with great strength and the desire to conquer the city named Sumānasa, summoned Vasiṣṭha, the lotus-born son, offered obeisance, received the sage's permission, mounted his horse with a force of a hundred akṣauhiṇīs, his body radiant like the moon, filled with intense wrath, worshipped Viṣṭaraśrava, and undertook a military expedition.
साध्यो नाम स्वीयया सेनयावृतो दशरथाभिमुखमाययौ योद्धुं युद्धं चान्योन्यमभूत्
Sādhya, surrounded by his own army, advanced toward Daśaratha to fight, and battle arose between them.
मासमेकं युद्धं कृत्वा दशरथस्तं साध्यं जग्राह
After fighting for one month, Daśaratha captured Sādhya.
अथ साध्यसूनुर्भूषणोनामाल्पपरिवारो युयुधे दशरथेन
Then Sādhya's son, named Bhūṣaṇa, with a small retinue, fought with Daśaratha.
दशरथोऽपि साध्यसूनुं भुवोभूषणमवलोक्य योद्धुमेव नैच्छत्
But Daśaratha, seeing Sādhya's son Bhūṣaṇa, did not wish to fight him.
कथमेतादृशं हन्मि चास्मिन्हतेऽस्य कथं पिता भविष्यति कथं तन्माता कथमप्रौढयौवनाप्रियार्या
How can I kill such a one? If he is slain, how will his father be? How will his mother, and how will his beloved, who is in the prime of youth?
अमुष्य हि देहे समालिंगनचुंबनपरिवर्तन नवीनतरदलारविंदपदानि कुसुमानीव दृश्यंते
On his body, marks of embracing, kissing, and turning are visible, like fresh lotus petals and flowers.
एतत्समानवर्णवया एतादृशः सुभगः परमप्रीतिवर्द्धनोनाम पुत्रो भल्लूकभक्षितोमृतःस्मृतिपथं प्राप्यापि मां रक्षयितुमिच्छतीव मम हृदयमन्यथा करोति इति मनसा वितर्क्यातिबालकं ग्रहीतुमारभत्
He is of the same complexion and age, so handsome, named Paramaprītivardhana; his son was eaten by a bear and, even after reaching the path of memory, seems to wish to protect me, making my heart feel differently—thus, thinking in his mind, he began to seize the very young boy.
स च साध्योपि पराधीनो बभूव
And Sādhya too became subject to another's power.
स च कुमारेण सह पराजय खेदमपि मत्वा सुखमध्युवास च
He, together with the prince, considering the defeat and distress, dwelt happily.
दशरथोऽपि तत्र मासं स्थित्वा तत्पुत्रसंदर्शनसुखमवलोक्याचिंतयत्
Daśaratha also, staying there for a month, seeing the joy of meeting his son, reflected.
अहो सर्वदुःखापनोदनक्षममेतन्मुखावलोकनं पुत्रसंवर्द्धनंनाम सर्वराष्ट्रिको मम जयः पुत्रवियोगमनुस्मरतो दुःखाय केवलं भवति
Ah! The sight of this face, the nurturing of a son, is capable of removing all sorrow. For me, the conquest of all kingdoms is only painful when remembering the separation from my son.
तदस्य पृच्छां करोमि कथमीदृशो जायते पुत्र इति वितर्क्य तमपृच्छत्
Therefore, I shall ask him: How does such a son arise? Thinking thus, he questioned him.
साध्योऽपि सकलमोक्षमार्गं क्षितीशायादिशत्
Sādhya then instructed the king in the entire path of liberation.
हरीशानौ सहाराध्य सर्वैकादशीरुपोष्य द्वादशीषु ब्राह्मणानाराध्य तत्तत्कालभवं फलपूर्वमन्नाद्यं व्यंजनं पुष्पं च न्यायेन संपाद्य कपिलाघृतेन केशवं स्नापयित्वा मुद्गचूर्णेन संलिप्य स्वादूदकेन स्नापयित्वा सुरभिपाटीरं स्वयमुद्घृष्टं मृगनाभ्यागुरुसारेण वासमेतं देवांगं सर्वमुपलिप्य तुलसीदलैर्यूथिकाकरवीरनीलोत्पलकमल कोकनदद्रो णकुसुम मरुवदमनक गिरिकर्णिकाकेतकीदलपूर्वैर्यथासंभवमभ्यर्च्य द्वादशाक्षरेण पुरुषसूक्तेन वा नाम्ना षोडशोपचारेण वाराध्य प्रणम्य नृत्यं कृत्वा देवं क्षमापयेत्
Having worshipped Hari and Īśāna together, having observed all the Ekādaśī fasts, and having honored the brāhmaṇas on the dvādaśī days, one should procure, according to proper means, food, condiments, and flowers appropriate to the time and offer them. Bathing Keśava with the ghee of a Kapilā cow, anointing him with mung flour, bathing him again with sweet water, and then applying to his divine form a fragrance prepared by oneself from musk and agarwood, one should decorate him entirely. Worship him with leaves of tulasī, yūthikā, karavīra, blue lotus, lotus, kokanada, droṇa flowers, maruvada, manaka, mountain karṇikā, ketakī leaves, and other flowers as available. Then, worship him with the twelve-syllable mantra or the Purusha Sūkta, or by name, with sixteen offerings, bowing, dancing, and finally ask forgiveness from the deity.
तथा व्रतानि विचित्राणि नारायणप्रीणनाय कुर्य्यात्
One should also perform various vows for the pleasure of Nārāyaṇa.
प्रसन्नो भगवान्मुनिरीप्सितं पुत्रं यच्छति तदमुमाराधयस्वेति दशरथमुक्तवान्
The blessed Lord, pleased, grants the desired son to the sage, saying: 'Worship him thus,' as spoken to Daśaratha.
स चापि साध्यं तत्र स्थाप्य गत्वायोध्यां तथा सर्वं कृतवान्
He established the prescribed rite there, then went to Ayodhyā and performed everything accordingly.