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.
अथ पादसंचारिणं बालचंद्र संकाशदर्शनं बिंबाधरमुन्नततिलप्रसूननासं पुरश्चूलिकालंबमान-रत्नपत्रकं श्रवणलोललंबमानकुंडलं वक्षःस्थलविचलित स्थूलमुक्ताहारं विलसत्कार्तस्वरो ब-ह्वलयं सिंजन्मणिकंकणरत्नांगुलीयकं हेममणिरचितश्रोणिसूत्रं सिंजन्ननूपुरोपशोभितपादमंगुलीयोपशोभितपादमध्यांगुलीयकं वज्रांकुशसरोजलांछनशोभितोरुपादतलं तूणीरसदृश जंघं करिकरसदृशोरुं विस्तृतजघनं सूक्ष्ममध्यंवर्तुलावर्तकं गंभीरनाभिमिंद्रनीलशिलाविशा-ल वक्षःस्थलं कंबुग्रीवंचंद्रबिंबसदृशवदनमर्द्धचंद्र सदृशललाटं नीलकुटिलकुंतलं क्रोडासक्तंधूलिभिरापांडुरं फुल्लपद्मदलारक्तविलोललोचनं महेश्वरमिवोद्धूलितभूतिं महेश्वरमिव दिगंबरं रामं कुमारं राजा दशरथो दृष्ट्वा हर्षपरिपूर्णहृदयः पुत्रमालिंग्य चुंबित्वा वक्षस्यालिलिंग दृढम्
Then, seeing the boy Rāma, whose gait was graceful, whose appearance resembled the young moon, whose lips were like red fruit, whose nose was high and shaped like a sesame flower, whose forehead was adorned with a gem plate, whose earrings hung playfully from his ears, whose chest bore a thick pearl necklace, whose arms were adorned with golden bracelets, whose hands shone with jeweled rings, whose waist was bound with a golden gem-studded belt, whose feet were beautified by tinkling anklets and toe rings, whose soles were marked with the symbols of vajra, hook, and lotus, whose thighs were like quivers, whose legs were like elephant trunks, whose hips were broad, whose waist was slender, whose navel was deep, whose chest was like a sapphire slab, whose neck was like a conch, whose face was like the moon and a lotus, whose forehead was like a half-moon, whose hair was dark and curly, dusted pale by playing, whose eyes were red and restless like blooming lotus petals, resembling Maheśvara smeared with ashes, resembling Maheśvara clad in the directions, King Daśaratha, his heart overflowing with joy, embraced and kissed his son, holding him tightly to his chest.
अथ कुमारोपि पार्श्वेनास्यांकमारोप्य कलकलितलोचनो यत्किंचिदुवाच
Then the boy, climbing onto his father's lap, with playful eyes, spoke a few words.
याचमानमितस्ततो वीक्षमाणः तात गच्छेशये तात क्रीडामि तातेत्यादिपुत्रसुखमनुभूयानुभूय निर्वृतिं ययौ
Looking here and there, asking, 'Father, may I go to sleep? Father, may I play?' and experiencing the happiness of a son, he attained contentment.
अथ कदाचिद्भोक्तुमागते राजनि रामचंद्रो बालक्रीडासक्तहृदयो बहुक्रीडनकरकमल उत्प्लुत्य धावमानो नरपतिपुरःस्थितमणिखचितसुवर्णभाजनस्थमन्नं वामकरेण गृहीत्वा राजनि चिक्षेप इदमपि राजा सुखाय मेने । एतादृशान्यन्यानि चकार रामचंद्रः
Once, when the king came to eat, Rāma, his heart absorbed in childish play, with many toys in his hands, leapt up, ran, and with his left hand took the food from the jewel-encrusted golden dish placed before the king and threw it at him. The king considered even this to be a source of happiness. Rāma performed many such acts.
अथ कदाचित्क्रीडमाने रामे वात्या राममपातयद्रामश्च रुदन्नपतत्
Once, while Rāma was playing, a violent wind knocked him down, and Rāma fell, weeping.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे ब्रह्मराक्षसो राममगृह्णाद्रामश्च मूर्च्छामाप
At that moment, a brahmarākṣasa seized Rāma, and Rāma lost consciousness.
अथ सहचरो बाल इतस्ततो रोरूयमाणो रामं तथाविधं राज्ञे व्यज्ञापयत्
Then, Rāma’s companion, a boy, crying out in distress, informed the king about Rāma’s condition.
अथ राजा राममादाय वसिष्ठमाह किमिदं रामस्येति पप्रच्छ
The king then took Rāma and asked Vasiṣṭha, 'What has happened to Rāma?'
अथ वसिष्ठो भस्मादायाभिमंत्र्य ब्रह्मराक्षसं मोचयामास
Then Vasiṣṭha, taking some ashes, recited mantras over them and released Rāma from the brahmarākṣasa.
पप्रच्छ को भवानिति स चाहाहं वेदगर्वितो ब्राह्मणो बहुशः परधनमपहृत्य ब्रह्मराक्षसो जातो मे निष्कृतिं विचारय
He asked, 'Who are you?' The being replied, 'I am a brāhmaṇa, proud of my Vedic learning. Having stolen much wealth from others, I became a brahmarākṣasa. Consider what atonement there is for me.'