अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम्। कष्टं वनमिदं दुर्गं न च स्मो वनगोचराः
Rama, of blazing splendor, spoke to his brother Lakshmana: 'This forest is harsh and difficult, and we are not accustomed to such wild places.'
अभिगच्छामहे शीघ्रं शरभङ्गं तपोधनम्। आश्रमं शरभङ्गस्य राघवोऽभिजगाम ह
'Let us quickly approach the sage Sharabhanga, the possessor of ascetic wealth.' Thus Raghava went to the hermitage of Sharabhanga.
तस्य देवप्रभावस्य तपसा भावितात्मनः। समीपे शरभङ्गस्य ददर्श महदद्भुतम्
Near Sharabhanga, whose soul was purified by asceticism and who possessed divine power, he saw a great and wondrous sight.
असंस्पृशन्तं वसुधां ददर्श विबुधेश्वरम्। सम्प्रभाभरणं देवं विरजोऽम्बरधारिणम्
He saw the lord of the gods, radiant and adorned, wearing spotless garments, not touching the earth.
तद्विधैरेव बहुभिः पूज्यमानं महात्मभिः। हरितैर्वाजिभिर्युक्तमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम्
He saw that god, worshipped by many great souls, riding in a chariot drawn by green horses, moving through the sky.
ददर्शादूरतस्तस्य तरुणादित्यसंनिभम्। पाण्डुराभ्रघनप्रख्यं चन्द्रमण्डलसंनिभम्
From a distance, he saw him, shining like the rising sun, resembling a mass of white clouds, and like the orb of the moon.
अपश्यद् विमलं छत्रं चित्रमाल्योपशोभितम्। चामरव्यजने चाग्र्ये रुक्मदण्डे महाधने
He saw a spotless parasol adorned with marvelous garlands, and two excellent fly-whisks with golden handles, of great value.
गृहीते वरनारीभ्यां धूयमाने च मूर्धनि। गन्धर्वामरसिद्धाश्च बहवः परमर्षयः
Held by noble women and waved above the head, many Gandharvas, gods, Siddhas, and eminent sages were present.
अन्तरिक्षगतं देवं गीर्भिरग्र्या भिरैडयन्। सह सम्भाषमाणे तु शरभङ्गेन वासवे
The god, situated in the sky, was praised with excellent words, and was conversing with Śarabhaṅga, along with Vāsava.
दृष्ट्वा शतक्रतुं तत्र रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्। रामोऽथ रथमुद्दिश्य भ्रातुर्दर्शयताद्भुतम्
Seeing Śatakratu there, Rāma spoke to Lakṣmaṇa, then, pointing out the wondrous chariot to his brother.
अर्चिष्मन्तं श्रिया जुष्टमद्भुतं पश्य लक्ष्मण। प्रतपन्तमिवादित्यमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम्
Behold, Lakṣmaṇa, that radiant, splendid, and marvelous chariot, shining like the sun, moving in the sky.
ये हयाः पुरुहूतस्य पुरा शक्रस्य नः श्रुताः। अन्तरिक्षगता दिव्यास्त इमे हरयो ध्रुवम्
Those horses of Puruhūta, formerly heard to belong to Śakra, these are surely the divine horses moving in the sky.
इमे च पुरुषव्याघ्र ये तिष्ठन्त्यभितो दिशम्। शतं शतं कुण्डलिनो युवानः खड्गपाणयः
And those tiger-like men who stand all around, hundreds upon hundreds, youthful, wearing earrings, and holding swords.
विस्तीर्णविपुलोरस्काः परिघायतबाहवः। शोणांशुवसनाः सर्वे व्याघ्रा इव दुरासदाः
All have broad, expansive chests, arms like iron bars, clothed in garments with red rays, fierce as tigers and hard to approach.
उरोदेशेषु सर्वेषां हारा ज्वलनसंनिभाः। रूपं बिभ्रति सौमित्रे पञ्चविंशतिवार्षिकम्
On their chests are necklaces blazing like fire; they all appear, O Saumitri, as if twenty-five years old.
एतद्धि किल देवानां वयो भवति नित्यदा। यथेमे पुरुषव्याघ्रा दृश्यन्ते प्रियदर्शनाः
This, indeed, is always the age of the gods, as these tiger-like men are seen, pleasing to behold.
इहैव सह वैदेह्या मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ लक्ष्मण। यावज्जानाम्यहं व्यक्तं क एष द्युतिमान् रथे
Remain here for a moment, Lakṣmaṇa, together with Vaidehī, until I clearly learn who this radiant one in the chariot is.
तमेवमुक्त्वा सौमित्रिमिहैव स्थीयतामिति। अभिचक्राम काकुत्स्थः शरभङ्गाश्रमं प्रति
Having thus spoken to Saumitri, saying, 'Stay here,' the descendant of Kakutstha proceeded toward Śarabhaṅga's hermitage.
ततः समभिगच्छन्तं प्रेक्ष्य रामं शचीपतिः। शरभङ्गमनुज्ञाप्य विबुधानिदमब्रवीत्
Then, seeing Rāma approaching, the lord of Śacī, having taken leave of Śarabhaṅga, spoke these words to the gods.
इहोपयात्यसौ रामो यावन्मां नाभिभाषते। निष्ठां नयत तावत् तु ततो माद्रष्टुमर्हति
Rāma is coming here, but until he speaks with me, lead me away to completion; then he is worthy to see me.
जितवन्तं कृतार्थं हि तदाहमचिरादिमम्। कर्म ह्यनेन कर्तव्यं महदन्यैः सुदुष्करम्
For I have conquered and fulfilled my purpose; soon I will depart. He must perform a great deed, difficult for others.
अथ वज्री तमामन्त्र्य मानयित्वा च तापसम्। रथेन हययुक्तेन ययौ दिवमरिंदमः
Then, having addressed and honored the ascetic, the wielder of the thunderbolt, Indra, departed to heaven in his chariot yoked with horses.
प्रयाते तु सहस्राक्षे राघवः सपरिच्छदः। अग्निहोत्रमुपासीनं शरभङ्गमुपागमत्
After the thousand-eyed one had departed, Rāghava, with his retinue, approached Śarabhaṅga, who was seated at the sacrificial fire.
तस्य पादौ च संगृह्य रामः सीता च लक्ष्मणः। निषेदुस्तदनुज्ञाता लब्धवासा निमन्त्रिताः
Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa, having clasped his feet, sat down with his permission, having received lodging and invitation.
ततः शक्रोपयानं तु पर्यपृच्छत राघवः। शरभङ्गश्च तत् सर्वं राघवाय न्यवेदयत्
Then Rāghava inquired about Indra's arrival, and Śarabhaṅga related everything to Rāghava.
मामेष वरदो राम ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषति। जितमुग्रेण तपसा दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः
This Indra, O Rāma, is granting me a boon and wishes to take me to Brahma's world, which is won by fierce austerity and is difficult to attain for those who lack self-control.
अहं ज्ञात्वा नरव्याघ्र वर्तमानमदूरतः। ब्रह्मलोकं न गच्छामि त्वामदृष्ट्वा प्रियातिथिम्
Knowing you were nearby, O tiger among men, I did not go to Brahma's world without seeing you, my beloved guest.
त्वयाहं पुरुषव्याघ्र धार्मिकेण महात्मना। समागम्य गमिष्यामि त्रिदिवं चावरं परम्
Having met you, O great-souled and righteous one, I shall depart for the highest heaven.
अक्षया नरशार्दूल जिता लोका मया शुभाः। ब्राह्म्याश्च नाकपृष्ठ्याश्च प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मामकान्
O best among men, I have conquered auspicious worlds that are inexhaustible; accept from me the Brahmanical and celestial realms.
एवमुक्तो नरव्याघ्रः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः। ऋषिणा शरभङ्गेन राघवो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the sage Śarabhaṅga, the tiger among men, skilled in all scriptures, Rāghava spoke these words.