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.
अथ पुत्रकामेष्टौ समाप्तायामाहवनीयाद्यज्ञमूर्तिः शंखचक्रगदापाणिरुदतिष्ठत् । राजानं च वरं वृणीष्वेत्युक्तवान्
Then, when the Putrakāmeṣṭi sacrifice was completed, the sacrificial deity, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, appeared and said to the king: 'Choose your boon.'
स च राजा वव्रे पुत्रानतिधार्म्मिकान्दीर्घायुषश्चतुरोलोकोपकारकान्देहीति
The king requested sons who would be supremely righteous, long-lived, and beneficent to the four worlds.
अथ राजमहिष्यश्चतस्रः कौशल्या सुमित्रा सुरूपा सुवेषा चेति
Then, the four royal wives were Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, Surūpā, and Suveṣā.
राजानमब्रुवन्देव प्रतियोषमेकेन पुत्रेण भवितव्यम्
They said to the king: 'Each of us should have one son.'
अथ कौशल्योवाच एष यदि प्रसन्नो देवस्तदायमुत्पद्यतां मम
Then Kauśalyā spoke: 'If the deity is pleased, let this son be born to me.'
राजोवाच- मम यदिष्टं तदयं प्रार्थ्यते हरिः । विष्णोप्रसीददेवेश कमलापते शंखचक्रगदाधरविभीषणसृष्टिसमस्तलोकपालादिपूजित पादयुगलशाश्वतहरे नमस्ते नमस्ते एवं स्तुतो भगवानथ राजानमाह
The king said: 'If my wish is granted, then this is what I ask, O Hari. O Lord of gods, O lotus-eyed, O bearer of conch, discus, and mace, O terrifying creator, O worshipped by all the guardians of the worlds, O eternal Hari, I bow to your pair of feet, I bow, I bow.' Thus praised, the Lord spoke to the king.
माधव उवाच- तव पुत्रो भविष्यामि कौशल्यायाम् । अथ चरुं प्राविशद्धरिः । तं चरुं हि चतुर्धा विभज्य भार्य्याभ्यो दत्तवान्
Mādhava said: 'I shall be your son, born to Kauśalyā.' Then Hari entered the sacrificial offering. He divided that offering into four parts and gave them to his wives.
अथ कौशल्यायां रामो लक्ष्मणः सुमित्रायां सुरूपायां भरतः सुवेषायां शत्रुघ्नो जज्ञे खात्पुष्पवृष्टिश्च पपात
Then, Rāma was born to Kauśalyā, Lakṣmaṇa to Sumitrā, Bharata to Surūpā, and Śatrughna to Suveṣā. A shower of flowers fell from the sky.
अथ चतुराननः स्वयमुपेत्य जातकर्मादिकाः क्रियाश्चक्रे
Then, the four-faced one himself came and performed the birth rites and other ceremonies.
त्रिभुवनाभिरामतया राम इति नाम चक्रे रूपशौर्य्यादिलक्ष्मीयोग्यतया लक्ष्मण इत्यपरस्य भुवं भारात्तारयतीति भरतः शत्रून्हंतीति शत्रुघ्न इति नामानि कृत्वा ब्रह्मा स्वभवनं जगाम शिशवश्च वृद्धिमीयुः
Because he delighted the three worlds, he was named Rāma; because he was fit for the qualities of form, valor, and fortune, the other was named Lakṣmaṇa; because he would relieve the earth's burden, he was named Bharata; because he would slay enemies, he was named Śatrughna. Having given these names, Brahmā returned to his own abode, and the children grew.