तेन दुःखेन रामोऽपि मोहमभ्यागतस्तदा । भ्रमन्जटायुषमथो ददर्श विगतायुषम्
Stricken by that sorrow, even Rāma fell into delusion; wandering, he then saw Jaṭāyu, whose life had departed.
कबंधो निहतः पश्चाद्भ्रमतारण्यमध्यतः । सुग्रीवेण समं तस्य सखित्वं समपद्यत
Afterwards, Kabandha was slain as he wandered through the middle of the forest; then, together with Sugrīva, he formed a friendship.
वानराणामनीकानि रामार्थंसंगतानि च । ततो हनुमता दृष्टा लंकोद्याने तु जानकी
The armies of monkeys, gathered for Rama's sake, and then Hanuman saw Sita in the garden of Lanka.
रामसंज्ञापनं तस्यै दत्तं कर्म महत्कृतम् । पुनः समेत्य रामेण सर्वं तत्र निवेदितम्
A sign from Rama was given to her, and a great deed was accomplished; then, returning to Rama, everything there was reported.
अथ श्रुत्वा रामचंद्रो वाक्यं चैव हनूमतः । सुग्रीवानुमतेनैव प्रस्थानं समरोचयत्
Then, having heard Hanuman's words, Rama, with Sugriva's approval, resolved to set out.
सौमित्रेकेन पुण्येन तीर्यते वरुणालयः । अगाधो नितरामेष यादोभिश्च समाकुलः । उपायं नैव पश्यामि येनासौ सुतरो भवेत्
With the virtuous son of Sumitra, the abode of Varuna is to be crossed; this is exceedingly deep and filled with aquatic creatures. I do not see any means by which it might be crossed.
लक्ष्मण उवाच- आदिदेवस्त्वमेवासि पुराणपुरुषोत्तमः । बकदाल्भ्यो मुनिश्चात्र वर्तते द्वीपमध्यतः
Lakshmana said: You are indeed the primeval god, the supreme ancient person; and here, in the midst of the island, dwells the sage Bakadalbhya.
अस्मात्स्थानाद्योजनार्द्धमाश्रमस्तस्य राघव । अन्ये च ब्राह्मणास्तत्र बहवो रघुनंदन
From this place, at half a yojana, is his hermitage, O descendant of Raghu; and many other Brahmins are there as well, O delight of the Raghus.
तं पृच्छ गत्वा राजेंद्र पुराणमृषिपुंगवम् । इति वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्यातिशोभनम्
Go to him, O king, and ask that foremost of ancient sages; thus, having heard Lakshmana's excellent words—
जगाम राघवो द्रष्टुं बकदाल्भ्यं महामुनिम् । प्रणनाम मुनिं मूर्ध्ना रामो विष्णुमिवामरः
Rama went to see the great sage Bakadalbhya; Rama bowed his head to the sage, as a god would to Vishnu.
ज्ञात्वा मुनिस्ततो रामं पुराणं पुरुषोत्तमम् । केनापि कारणेनैव प्रविष्टो मानुषीं तनुम्
Then the sage, knowing Rama to be the ancient, supreme person, who for some reason had entered a human form—
उवाच स ऋषिस्तुष्टः कुतो राम तवागमः
That satisfied sage spoke: 'Rama, what is the reason for your coming?'
राम उवाच- त्वत्प्रसादादहं विप्र तीरं नदनदीपतेः । आगतोऽस्मि ससैन्योऽत्र लंकां जेतुं सराक्षसाम्
Rama said: By your grace, O Brahmin, I have come to the shore of the lord of rivers and waters, with my army, to conquer Lanka and all the Rakshasas.
भवतश्चानुकूलत्वात्तीर्यतेऽब्धिर्यथा मया । तमुपायं वद मुने प्रसादं कुरु सांप्रतम्
And by your favor, the ocean will be crossed by me; tell me that means, O sage, and grant your blessing now.
एतस्मात्कारणादेव द्रष्टुं त्वाहमिहागतः । रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा बकदाल्भ्यो महामुनिः
For this very reason I have come here to see you; having heard Rama's words, Bakadalbhya, the great sage—
उवाच सुप्रसन्नात्मा रामं राजीवलोचनम् । कर्तव्यमद्य ते राम व्रतानां व्रतमुत्तमम्
With a mind full of grace, he spoke to lotus-eyed Rama: 'Today, Rama, you must perform the supreme of vows.'
कृतेन येन सहसा विजयस्ते भविष्यति । लंकां जित्वा राक्षसांश्च स्वच्छां कीर्तिमवाप्स्यसि
By performing it, you will swiftly obtain victory; having conquered Lanka and the Rakshasas, you will attain pure fame.
एकाग्रमानसो भूत्वा व्रतमेतत्समाचर । फाल्गुनस्यासिते पक्षे विजयैकादशी भवेत्
With a mind fixed in concentration, perform this vow; in the dark fortnight of Phalguna, the Ekadashi of victory occurs.
तस्या व्रतेन हे राम विजयस्ते भविष्यति । निःसंशयं समुद्रं त्वं तरिष्यसि सवानरः
By this vow, O Rama, your victory will be certain; without doubt, you will cross the ocean with the monkeys.
विधिस्तु श्रूयतां राजन्व्रतस्यास्य फलप्रदः । दशम्यां दिवसे प्राप्ते कुंभमेकं तु कारयेत्
Now hear, O king, the rule that grants the fruit of this vow: when the day of the tenth lunar phase arrives, one should prepare a single pot.
हैमं वा राजतं वापि ताम्रं वाप्यथ मृन्मयम् । स्थापयेच्छोभितं चैव जलपूर्णं सपल्लवम्
One should place a pot made of gold, or silver, or copper, or even of clay, adorned and filled with water, along with fresh leaves.
सप्तधान्यान्यधस्तस्य यवानुपरि विन्यसेत् । तस्योपरि न्यसेद्देवं हैमं नारायणं प्रभुम्
Seven kinds of grains should be placed beneath it, with barley on top; above that, one should set a golden image of Lord Nārāyaṇa.
एकादशीदिने प्राप्ते प्रातः स्नानं समाचरेत् । निश्चलं स्थापयेत्कुंभं कंठमाल्यानुलेपनैः
When the eleventh day arrives, one should bathe in the morning, and place the pot steadily, decorating it with garlands for the neck and fragrant ointments.
पूगीफलैर्नालिकेरैः पूजयेच्च विशेषतः । गंधैर्धूपैश्चदीपैश्च नैवेद्यैर्विविधैरपि
One should especially worship with betel nuts, coconuts, perfumes, incense, lamps, and various offerings of food.
कुंभाग्रे तद्दिनं राम नीयते सत्कथादिभिः । रात्रौ जागरणं चैव तस्याग्रे कारयेद्बुधः
O Rāma, that day should be spent at the forefront of the pot with recitation of sacred stories and the like; at night, one should keep vigil before it.
प्रकाशयेद्घृतदीपमखंडव्रतहेतवे । द्वादशीदिवसे प्राप्ते मार्तंडस्योदये सति
A ghee lamp should be kept burning continuously as part of the vow; when the twelfth day arrives and the sun rises—
नीत्वा कुंभं जलोद्देशे नद्याः प्रस्रवणे तथा । तडागे स्थापयित्वा तं पूजयित्वा यथाविधि
One should carry the pot to a body of water, to the source of a river or a pond, and, after placing and worshipping it there according to the proper method—
दद्यात्सदेवं तं कुंभं ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे । कुंभेन सह राजेंद्र महादानानि दापयेत्
One should give that pot, along with the deity, to a learned Brāhmaṇa; together with the pot, O king, one should also give great gifts.
अनेनविधिना राम यूथपैः सह संगतः । कुरु व्रतं प्रयत्नेन विजयस्ते भविष्यति
O Rāma, following this procedure together with your companions, undertake the vow with effort; you will surely attain victory.
इति श्रुत्वा ततो रामो यथोक्तमकरोत्तदा । कृते व्रते स विजयी बभूव रघुनंदनः
Having heard this, Rāma then did exactly as instructed; having performed the vow, the descendant of Raghu became victorious.