रामायणमिदं कृत्स्नं शृण्वतः पठतः सदा। प्रीयते सततं रामः स हि विष्णुः सनातनः
Rāma is always pleased with the one who always listens to or recites this entire Rāmāyaṇa, for he is the eternal Viṣṇu.
आदिदेवो महाबाहुर्हरिर्नारायणः प्रभुः। साक्षाद् रामो रघुश्रेष्ठः शेषो लक्ष्मण उच्यते
The primeval god, mighty-armed Hari, Nārāyaṇa the Lord, is truly Rāma, the best of the Raghu line; Śeṣa is said to be Lakṣmaṇa.
एवमेतत् पुरावृत्तमाख्यानं भद्रमस्तु वः। प्रव्याहरत विस्रब्धं बलं विष्णोः प्रवर्धताम्
Thus this ancient narrative has been told; may it bring you well-being. Proclaim it confidently—may the power of Viṣṇu increase.
देवाश्च सर्वे तुष्यन्ति ग्रहणाच्छ्रवणात् तथा। रामायणस्य श्रवणे तृप्यन्ति पितरः सदा
All the gods are pleased by its acceptance and hearing; by listening to the Rāmāyaṇa, the ancestors are always satisfied.
भक्त्या रामस्य ये चेमां संहितामृषिणा कृताम्। ये लिखन्तीह च नरास्तेषां वासस्त्रिविष्टपे
Those who, with devotion to Rāma, write or copy this compilation made by the sage, their dwelling is in heaven.
कुटुम्बवृद्धिं धनधान्यवृद्धिं स्त्रियश्च मुख्याः सुखमुत्तमं च। श्रुत्वा शुभं काव्यमिदं महार्थं प्राप्नोति सर्वां भुवि चार्थसिद्धिम्
Hearing this auspicious and greatly meaningful poem, one attains increase of family, abundance of wealth and grain, noble wives, supreme happiness, and the fulfillment of all aims on earth.
आयुष्यमारोग्यकरं यशस्यं सौभ्रातृकं बुद्धिकरं शुभं च। श्रोतव्यमेतन्नियमेन सद्भि- राख्यानमोजस्करमृद्धिकामैः
This narrative, which bestows long life, health, fame, brotherhood, wisdom, and auspiciousness, should be listened to with discipline by the virtuous who desire strength and prosperity.
प्राप्तराज्यस्य रामस्य राक्षसानां वधे कृते । आजग्मुर्ऋषयः सर्वे राघवं प्रतिनन्दितुम् ।। ७.१.
After Rāma had attained the kingdom and the destruction of the Rākṣasas was accomplished, all the sages came to greet Rāghava.
कौशिको ऽथ यवक्रीतो गार्ग्यो गालव एव च । कण्वो मेधातिथेः पुत्रः पूर्वस्यां दिशि ये श्रिताः ।। ७.१.
Then Kauśika, Yavakrīta, Gārgya, Gālava, Kaṇva the son of Medhātithi, and those who dwelt in the eastern quarter arrived.
स्वस्त्यात्रेयो ऽथ भगवान्नमुचिः प्रमुचिस्तथा । आजग्मुस्ते सहागस्त्या ये श्रिता दक्षिणां दिशम् ।। ७.१.
Next, the venerable Svaṣṭātreya, Namuci, and Pramuci came, along with those who resided in the southern quarter, together with Agastya.
नृषद्गुः कवषो धौम्यो रौद्रेयश्च महानृषिः । ते ऽप्याजग्मुः सशिष्या वै ये श्रिताः पश्चिमां दिशम् ।। ७.१.
Nṛṣadgu, Kavaṣa, Dhaumya, and the great sage Raudreya, along with their disciples, who dwelt in the western quarter, also came.
वसिष्ठः कश्यपो ऽथात्रिर्विश्वामित्रः सगौतमः । जमदग्निर्भरद्वाजस्ते ऽपि सप्तर्षयस्तथा ।। ७.१.
Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Atri, Viśvāmitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Bharadvāja—these, too, the seven sages, arrived.
उदीच्यां दिशि सप्तैते नित्यमेव निवासिनः ।। ७.१.
These seven always dwell in the northern quarter.
सम्प्राप्य ते महात्मानो राघवस्य निवेशनम् । विष्टिताः प्रतिहारार्थं हुताशनसमप्रभाः । वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषो नानाशास्त्रविशारदाः ।। ७.१.
Having arrived, those great souls, radiant like fire, masters of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, and skilled in various sciences, stood at Rāghava’s residence, waiting to be announced.
द्वाःस्थं प्रोवाच धर्मात्मा अगस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः । निवेद्यतां दाशरथेर्ऋषीनस्मान्समागतान् ।। ७.१.
The righteous sage Agastya, foremost among ascetics, spoke to the doorkeeper: 'Announce to Daśaratha’s son that the sages have assembled.'
प्रतीहारस्ततस्तूर्णमगस्त्यवचनाद्द्रुतम् । समीपं राघवस्याशु प्रविवेश महात्मनः ।। ७.१.
Then, at Agastya’s command, the doorkeeper quickly entered the presence of the great-souled Rāghava.
नयेङ्गितज्ञः सद्वृत्तो दक्षो धैर्यसमन्वितः । स रामं दृश्य सहसा पूर्णचन्द्रसमप्रभम् ।। ७.१.
Skilled in conduct, discerning, virtuous, capable, and steadfast, he suddenly saw Rāma, radiant as the full moon.
अगस्त्यं कथयामास सम्प्राप्तमृषिभिः सह ।। ७.१.
He informed Rāma that Agastya had arrived together with the sages.
श्रुत्वा प्राप्तान्मुनींस्तांस्तु बालसूर्यसमप्रभान् । प्रत्युवाच ततो द्वास्स्थं प्रवेशय यथासुखम् ।। ७.१.
Hearing that the sages, radiant as the rising sun, had arrived, Rāma then said to the doorkeeper, 'Let them enter at their pleasure.'
तान् सम्प्राप्तान् मुनीन् दृष्ट्वा प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः । पाद्यार्घ्यादिभिरानर्च गां निवेद्य च सादरम् ।। ७.१.
Seeing the sages who had arrived, Rāma rose, joined his palms in reverence, honored them with water for the feet and offerings, and respectfully offered them cows.
रामो ऽभिवाद्य प्रयत आसनान्यादिदेश ह । तेषु काञ्चनचित्रेषु महत्सु च वरेषु च ।। ७.१.
Rāma, having bowed with devotion, assigned them seats—both large and excellent, adorned with gold.
कुशान्तर्धानदत्तेषु मृगचर्मयुतेषु च । यथार्हमुपविष्टास्ते आसनेष्वृषिपुङ्गवाः ।। ७.१.
The foremost sages sat as was fitting on seats covered with sacred grass and deer skin.
रामेण कुशलं पृष्टाः सशिष्याः सपुरोगमाः । महर्षयो वेदविदो रामं वचनमब्रुवन् ।। ७.१.
Rāma inquired after the welfare of the great sages, their disciples, and leaders, and those knowers of the Veda addressed Rāma with these words.
कुशलं नो महाबाहो सर्वत्र रघुनन्दन । त्वां तु दिष्ट्या कुशलिनं पश्यामो हतशात्रवम् ।। ७.१.
Are you well everywhere, O mighty-armed, delight of the Raghus? By fortune, we see you safe, your enemies destroyed.
दिष्ट्या त्वया हतो राजन्रावणो लोकरावणः । न हि भारः स ते राम रावणः पुत्रपौत्रवान् ।। ७.१.
By fortune, O king, you have slain Rāvaṇa, the terror of the worlds. Truly, Rāvaṇa, with sons and grandsons, was no burden to you, O Rāma.
सधनुस्त्वं हि लोकांस्त्रीन्विजयेथा न संशयः । दिष्ट्या त्वया हतो राम रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ।। ७.१.
With your bow, you could conquer all the worlds—there is no doubt. By fortune, you have slain Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, O Rāma.
दिष्ट्या विजयिनं त्वाद्य पश्यामः सह सीतया । लक्ष्मणेन च धर्मात्मन्भ्रात्रा त्वद्धितकारिणा ।। ७.१.
By fortune, today we see you victorious, together with Sītā and with Lakṣmaṇa, your righteous brother, ever devoted to your welfare.
मातृभिर्भ्रातृसहितं पश्यामो ऽद्य वयं नृप । दिष्ट्या प्रहस्तो विकटो विरूपाक्षो महोदरः । अकम्पनश्च दुर्धर्षो निहतास्ते निशाचराः ।। ७.१.
Today, O king, we see you with your mothers and brothers. By fortune, Prahasta, Vikaṭa, Virūpākṣa, Mahodara, and Akampana the formidable—those night-stalkers—have been slain.
यस्य प्रमाणाद्विपुलं प्रमाणं नेह विद्यते । दिष्ट्या ते समरे राम कुम्भकर्णो निपातितः ।। ७.१.
By whose size no greater measure exists here—by fortune, that Kumbhakarṇa has been struck down by you in battle, O Rāma.
त्रिशिराश्चातिकायश्च देवान्तकनरान्तकौ । दिष्ट्या ते निहता राम महावीर्या निशाचराः ।। ७.१.
Triśiras, Atikāya, Devāntaka, Narāntaka—by fortune, these mighty night-stalkers have been slain by you, O Rāma.