यस्मिन्दिने समायातो रामस्तत्र प्रहर्षितः
On the day when Rama arrived there, he was filled with joy.
अत्रागस्त्यो मुनिश्रेष्ठस्तिष्ठते रघुनंदन
Here, the eminent sage Agastya stands with the descendant of Raghu.
अथ तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा रामो राजीवलोचनः 6.103.२० अष्टांगप्रणिपातेन तं प्रणम्य रघूत्तमः
Then, having heard their words, Rama, lotus-eyed, the best of the Raghu lineage, bowed to him with eightfold prostration.
नातिदूरे ततस्तस्य विनयेन समन्वितः
Not far from there, he stood, endowed with humility.
ततः पृष्टस्तु मुनिना कथयामास विस्तरात्
Then, questioned by the sage, he narrated in detail.
यथा सीता परित्यक्ता यथा सौमित्रिणा कृतः
How Sita was abandoned, and what was done by Saumitri.
तथा सुग्रीवमासाद्य तथैव च विभीषणम्
Likewise, how he approached Sugriva, and similarly Vibhishana.
ततोऽगस्त्यः कथाश्चित्राश्चक्रे तस्य पुरस्तदा
Then Agastya recounted wondrous tales before him.
ततः कथावसाने च चलचित्तं रघूत्तमम्
After the conclusion of the stories, the mind of the best of Raghu's line became unsettled.
यन्न देवेषु यक्षेषु सिद्धविद्याधरेषु च
That which is not found among the gods, the yakshas, or the siddhas and vidyadharas.
यस्येन्द्रायुधसंघाश्च निष्क्रामंति सहस्रशः
From whom hosts of Indra's weapons emerge by the thousands.
तद्रामस्तु गृहीत्वाऽथ विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः ॥ 6.103.
Rama took that, his eyes wide with astonishment.
अत्यद्भुतकरं रत्नैर्निर्मितं तिमिरापहम्
A marvel, crafted from jewels, dispelling darkness.
ममाश्रमसमीपस्थं तद्देवदेवनिर्मितम्
That, created by the god of gods, stands near my hermitage.
तस्य तीरे मया दृष्टं यदाश्चर्यमनुत्तमम्
On its shore, I saw an unsurpassed wonder.
कदाचिद्राघवश्रेष्ठ निशीथेऽहं समुत्थितः
Once, O foremost of the Raghus, I rose at midnight.
यावत्तावद्विमानं तदप्सरोगणराजितम् अन्धस्तत्र समारूढः स्तूयते किन्नरैर्नृपः
As long as that celestial chariot, adorned with hosts of apsaras, remains, the king seated there is praised by the kinnaras.
रत्नाभरणमेतच्च बिभ्रत्कण्ठे सुनिर्मलम्
He wears this radiant, flawless jewel ornament around his neck.
अथोत्तीर्य विमानाग्र्यात्स्कंधलग्नो रघूद्वह
Then, having descended from the splendid chariot, he clung to Skanda, O scion of Raghu.
ततश्च सलिलात्तस्मादाकृष्य च कलेवरम्
After that, he drew his body out from the water.
यथायथा महामांसं स भक्षयति राघव
As he eats the great flesh, O Raghava, bit by bit,
ततस्तृप्तिं चिरात्प्राप्य शुचिर्भूत्वा प्रहर्षितः 6.103.
Then, after a long time, having attained satisfaction, purified and delighted, he became joyful.
तावन्मया द्रुतं गत्वा स पृष्टः कौतुकान्नृपः
Meanwhile, I quickly went and questioned the king out of curiosity.
भोभो वैमानिकश्रेष्ठ मुहूर्तं प्रतिपालय
O best among those who ride celestial chariots, please wait for a moment.
तच्छ्रुत्वा सम्मुखो भूत्वा प्रणाममकरोत्ततः
Hearing this, he stood facing me and offered his respectful salutation.
सोऽयं राजा मया पृष्टः कृतानतिः पुरः स्थितः सेव्यमानोऽप्सरोभिश्च गन्धर्वैः किन्नरैस्तथा
This king, whom I questioned, stood before me, having made his obeisance, served by apsaras, gandharvas, and kinnaras.
अत्राऽऽगत्य तडागांते महामांसप्रभक्षणम्
Here, having arrived at the edge of the lake, he consumed the great flesh.
अवश्यं सानुकूलो मे विधिर्यत्त्वं समागतः
Surely, favorable destiny has brought you here to me.
साधूनां दर्शनं पुण्यं तीर्थभूता हि साधवः
The sight of the virtuous is holy; for the virtuous are like sacred places.
तस्मात्सर्वं तवाख्यानं कथयामि महामुने । येन मे गर्हितं भोज्यं विभवश्च तथेदृशः
Therefore, O great sage, I will tell you everything—how I came to have this condemned food and such wealth.