अथ सा तद्विमानाऽग्र्यं द्वाःस्थाभ्यामवरोपिता
Then she was brought down from that excellent celestial chariot by the two gatekeepers.
तद्विमानं तदाऽपश्यद्धर्मदत्तः सविस्मयः 2.4.25.
At that time, Dharmadatta beheld that celestial chariot with great wonder.
पुण्यशीलसुशीलौ च तमुत्थाप्याऽऽनतं द्विजम्
Those two, endowed with virtue and good conduct, raised up the reverent Brahmin.
दीनाऽनुकम्पी सर्वज्ञो विष्णुव्रतपरायणः
Compassionate to the distressed, all-knowing, devoted to the vow of Vishnu—
आ बालत्वाच्छुभं त्वेतद्यत्त्वया कार्तिकव्रतम्
From childhood you have observed this auspicious Kartika vow.
जन्मांतरशतोद्भूतं पापं तद्विलयं गतम्
The sin accumulated over hundreds of previous births has been destroyed.
हरिजागरणाद्यैश्च विमानमिदमास्थिता
By the merit of keeping vigil for Hari and similar acts, you have attained this celestial chariot.
दीपदानभवैः पुण्यैस्तेजःसारूप्यमास्थिता विष्णुसान्निध्यगा जाता त्वया दत्तैः कृपानिधे
By the merit of giving lamps and other virtuous deeds, you have attained a form radiant like light; by your gifts, O ocean of compassion, you have reached the presence of Vishnu.
त्वमप्यस्य भवस्यांते भार्याभ्यां सह यास्यसि
At the end of this life, you too will go together with your wives.
ते धन्याः कृतकृत्यास्ते तेषां च सफलो भवः
They are blessed, their purpose fulfilled; and for them, life has borne fruit.
सम्यगाराधितो विष्णुः किं न यच्छति देहिनाम्
What does Vishnu, when properly worshipped, not grant to embodied beings?
यन्नामस्मरणादेव देहिनो यांति सद्गतिम् ।। 2.4.25.
By the mere remembrance of whose name, embodied beings attain the highest state.
ग्राहग्रस्तो हि नागेंद्रो यन्नामस्मरणात्पुरा
For even the king of serpents, seized by the crocodile, was freed in former times by the remembrance of whose name.
यतस्त्वयाऽर्चितो विष्णुस्तत्सान्निध्यं प्रयास्यसि
Because you have worshipped Vishnu, you will attain his presence.
ततः पुण्यक्षयेजाते यदा यास्यसि भूतलम्
Then, when your store of merit is exhausted, you will go to the earthly realm.
नाम्ना दशरथस्तत्र भार्याद्वययुतः पुनः
There, you will be known as Dasharatha, again united with your wives.
तत्राऽपि तव सान्निध्यं विष्णुर्यास्यति भूतले
Even there on earth, Vishnu will come into your presence.
तव जन्मव्रतादस्माद्विष्णुसंतुष्टिकारकात्
Because of this vow from your birth, which brings satisfaction to Vishnu,
धन्योऽसि विप्राग्र्य यतस्त्वयैतद्व्रतं कृतं तुष्टिकरं जगद्गुरोः
Blessed are you, foremost among Brahmins, for you have performed this vow that brings satisfaction to the Teacher of the world.
प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमौ वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Having bowed down with his body stretched on the ground, he spoke these words.
धर्मदत्त उवाच आराधयंति सर्वेऽपि विष्णुं भक्ताऽर्तिनाशनम्
Dharmadatta said: All devotees worship Viṣṇu, the remover of suffering.
विष्णुप्रीतिकरं तेषां किंचित्सान्निध्यकारकम्
That which brings pleasure to Viṣṇu and causes His presence among them—
सेतिहासकथां पुण्यां कथ्यमानां पुराभवाम्
—is the narration of sacred ancient stories, which I shall now recount.
कांचिपुर्यां पुरा चोलश्चक्रवर्ती नृपोऽभवत्
Once, in Kāñcīpura, there was a king of the Chola dynasty, a universal sovereign.
यस्मिञ्छासति भूचक्रं दरिद्रो वाऽपि दुःखितः
During his reign, no one on earth was poor or afflicted.
यस्याप्युन्नतयज्ञस्य ताम्रपर्ण्यास्तटावुभौ
On the banks of the Tāmraparṇī, both the great sacrifices he performed—
तत्र श्रीरमणं देवं संपूज्य विधिवन्नृपः
There, the king duly worshipped the blessed Lord Ramaṇa.
प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमावुपविष्टः स तत्र वै 2.4.26.
Having bowed down with his body stretched on the ground, he sat there.
देवार्चनार्थं पाणौ तु तुलस्युदकधारिणम्
For the purpose of worshipping the deity, he held water with tulasī leaves in his hand.
स तत्राभ्येत्य विप्रर्षिर्देवदेवमपूजयत्
There, a Brahmin sage approached and worshipped the God of gods.