उपविष्टाः कथाश्चक्रुर्नानातीर्थाश्रितास्तदा
They sat down and engaged in discussions, each having taken refuge in various sacred places,
कथांतेषु ततस्तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
At the end of their discussions, among those sages of purified souls,
व्यासशिष्यः पुराणज्ञो समः हर्षणसंज्ञकः उपविष्टो यथान्यायं मुनीनां वचनेन सः
There sat, as was proper and at the sages’ request, Harṣaṇa—Vyāsa’s disciple, knower of the Purāṇas,
व्यासशिष्यं मुनिवरं सूतं वै रोमहर्षणम्
That best of sages, the disciple of Vyāsa, Sūta by name, Romaharṣaṇa,
सरहस्यानि सर्वाणि पुराणानि महामते
O wise one, all the Purāṇas, with all their secrets,
सांप्रतं श्रोतुमिच्छामः सरहस्यं सनातनम्
We now wish to hear the eternal secret in its entirety,
कीदृशी सा सदा मेध्याऽयोध्या विष्णुप्रियापुरी
What is Ayodhyā, the ever-pure city dear to Viṣṇu, truly like?
संस्थानं कीदृशं तस्यास्तस्यां के च महीभुजः
What is its form, and who are the rulers in that city?
अयोध्यासेवनान्नृणां फलं स्यात्सूत कीदृशम्
O Sūta, what kind of fruit do people obtain from serving Ayodhyā?
तत्र स्नानेन किं पुण्यं दानेन च महामते 2.8.1.
What merit arises there from bathing and from giving gifts, O wise one?
एतत्सर्वं क्रमेणैव तथ्यं त्वं वेत्थ सांप्रतम्
You truly know all this in detail and with accuracy at this very moment.
सेतिहासानि सर्वाणि सरहस्यानि तत्त्वतः
All the histories, and all the secrets in their true essence—
तं प्रणम्य प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं भवदग्रतः
Having bowed to him, I shall declare the greatness before you.
विद्यावन्तं विपुलमतिदं वेदवेदांगवेद्यं श्रेष्ठं शान्तं शमितविषयं शुद्धतेजोविशालम्
To that learned one, vast in intellect, foremost knower of Veda and Vedāṅga, tranquil, restrained in the senses, of pure and expansive brilliance—
ॐ नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे
Om, I bow to that blessed Vyāsa, of boundless splendor.
शृण्वन्तु मुनयः सर्वे सावधानाः सशिष्यकाः
Let all the sages, attentive and with their disciples, listen.
उदीरितमगस्त्याय स्कन्देनाश्रावि नारदात्
What was spoken to Agastya, was heard from Skanda by Nārada.
कृष्णद्वैपायनाच्चैतन्मया प्राप्तं तपोधनाः
This I have received from Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, O ascetics.
नमामि परमात्मानं रामं राजीवलोचनम्
I bow to the Supreme Self, to Rāma, lotus-eyed.
अयोध्या सा परा मेध्या पुरी दुष्कृतिदुर्ल्लभा 2.8.1.
That Ayodhyā is supreme, pure, a city difficult for wrongdoers to attain.
सरयूतीरमासाद्य दिव्या परमशोभना
Situated on the banks of the Sarayū, it is divine and supremely beautiful.
हस्त्यश्वरथपत्त्याढ्या संपदुच्चा च संस्थिता
Abounding in elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, it stands in great prosperity.
सानूपवेषैः सर्वत्र सुविभक्तचतुष्टया
With well-arranged quarters everywhere, divided into fourfold sections.
पद्मोत्फुल्लशुभोदाभिर्वापीभिरुपशोभिता
Adorned with ponds shining with the beauty of blooming lotuses.
वीणावेणुमृदंगादिशब्दैरुत्कृष्टतां गता। शालैस्तालैर्नालिकेरैः पनसामलकैस्तथा
Resounding with the sounds of vīṇā, flute, mṛdaṅga, and the like, it has reached excellence; with śāla, tāla, coconut, jackfruit, and āmalaka trees as well.
तथैवाम्रकपित्थाद्यैरशोकैरुपशोभिता
Likewise, it is adorned with mango, wood-apple, aśoka, and other trees.
मालतीजातिबकुलपाटलीनागचंपकैः
With mālatī, jāti, bakula, pāṭalī, nāga, and campaka trees,
निम्बजंवीरकदलीमातुलिंगमहाफलैः
With nimba, jamvīra, kadalī, mātuliṅga, and great fruits,
देवतुल्यप्रभायुक्तैर्नृपपुत्रैश्च संयुता
Joined by princes endowed with radiance equal to the gods,
श्रेष्ठैः सत्कविभिर्युक्ता बृहस्पतिसमैर्द्विजैः 2.8.1.
Accompanied by excellent, honored poets and brahmins equal to Bṛhaspati,