ततः प्रहरमात्रेण निद्राम् आमुद्रिताननाः । तत्स्वप्नसुन्दरीम् ईयुः पद्मा इव दिनार्थिनः
After a single watch of the night, their faces closed in sleep, they entered the beautiful realm of dreams, like lotuses seeking the sun.
रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नाः प्रहरत्रयम् एव तत् । वासिष्ठम् उपदेशं ते चिन्तयाम् आसुर् अक्षतम्
Rama, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna, for three watches of the night, continued to contemplate Vasistha’s teaching without interruption.
प्रहरस्यार्धमात्रं तु तत आमुद्रितेक्षणाः । तत्स्वप्नाम् आययुर् निद्रां क्षणाद् विद्रावितश्रमाम्
Then, for half a watch, with their eyes closed, they entered into sleep, and in a moment, their weariness was dispelled.
इति शुभमनसां विवेकभाजाम् अधिगतसारतयोदिताशयानाम् । अभजत विरतिं तदा त्रियामा मलिननिशाकरवक्त्रतां जगाम
Thus, for those of pure mind, endowed with discernment and established in true understanding, detachment arose; and the threefold night took on the sullied face of the moon.
ततः खिन्नेन्दुवदना पर्याकुलतमःपटा । क्षीयमाणा बभौ श्यामा विवेकान्तेव वासना
Then the night, with a face waning like the moon and draped in dense darkness, appeared to fade away, dusky as a latent impression at the end of discernment.
पूर्वे ध्वस्ततयालोकाद् दृश्यमानो ऽपरे ऽचले । शेफालिकावतंसाभां तारकानिकरो दधौ
As the earlier darkness was dispelled, in the unmoving sky, the cluster of stars shone forth, resembling a garland of jasmine flowers.
अवश्यायकणाकर्षी परामृष्टेन्दुमण्डलः । ज्योत्स्नाकवलनालोलो ववौ प्राभातिको ऽनिलः
The early morning wind blew, drawing in particles of dew, brushing against the moon's orb, and playfully swallowing the moonlight.
रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्ना उत्थायानुचरैस् सह । ययुर् वन्दितसन्ध्यास् ते पुण्यं वासिष्ठम् आश्रमम्
Rama, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna, rising with their attendants, after offering salutations to the dawn, went to the sacred hermitage of Vasistha.
तत्र वन्दितसन्ध्यस्य निर्गतस्याग्निसद्मनः । मुनेर् ववन्दिरे पादाव् आदौ दत्त्वार्घ्यसन्ततिम्
There, after saluting the dawn and coming out from the fire sanctuary, they first offered a series of libations and then bowed at the sage’s feet.
क्षणात् तत् सदनं मौनं मुनिब्राह्मणराजभिः । हस्त्यश्वरथयानैश् च क्षणान् नीरन्ध्रतां ययौ
In a moment, that dwelling became filled with silence by sages, brahmins, and kings, as well as with elephants, horses, and chariots, so that it was soon completely crowded.
अथासौ मुनिशार्दूलस् तयैव सह सेनया । गृहं दाशरथं कल्ये रामाद्यनुगतो ययौ
Then that foremost sage, together with that very army, went in the morning to the house of Dasaratha, accompanied by Rama and the others.
तत्रैनं पूर्वसम्बुद्धः कृतसन्ध्यो महीपतिः । दूरम् अग्रे विनिर्गत्य पूजयाम् आस सादरम्
There, the king, who had already performed his morning rites and was prepared, went out a long way to meet him and respectfully honored him.
पुष्पमुक्तामणिव्रातैर् भूयो ऽप्य् अधिकभूषिताम् । सभां प्रविश्य ते सर्वे विविशुर् विष्टरादिषु
Entering the assembly hall, which was further adorned with garlands of flowers and strings of pearls and gems, they all took their seats on the arranged seats.
अथैतस्मिन्न् अवसरे ह्यस्तनास् सर्व एव ते । श्रोतारस् समुपाजग्मुर् नभश्चरमहीचराः
At that very moment, all the listeners from yesterday—those who move in the sky and on earth—also arrived together.
विवेश सा सभा सोम्यं कृतान्योऽन्याभिवादना । बभौ समसमाभोगा शान्तवातेव पद्मिनी
That assembly, having exchanged greetings with one another, became tranquil and harmonious, shining like a lotus pond at peace.
यथाप्रदेशम् एवाशु निविष्टेषु यथासुखम् । तेषु तद्देशयोग्येषु विप्रर्षिमुनिराजसु
As the brahmins, sages, and kings took their appropriate and comfortable seats according to their place, each settled quickly in the spot suited to them.
मृदुनि स्वागतरवे शनैश् शमम् उपागते । सभाकोणोपविष्टेषु शान्तशब्देषु वन्दिषु
On the soft welcoming mats, as calmness descended, with the bards seated in the corners of the hall and silence prevailing among them,
त्वरयेवोदितेष्व् आशु श्रोतुम् अभ्यागतेष्व् इव । गवाक्षाद् इव जातेषु प्रविष्टेष्व् अर्करश्मिषु
As if in haste, as if eager to listen, they quickly assembled—just as sunbeams enter through a window.
सत्वरं प्रविशच्छ्रोतृहस्तस्पर्शवशोद्भवे । मुक्ताजालझणत्कार ओङ्कार इव शाम्यति
Quickly entering, arising from the touch of the listener's hand, the sound of the string of pearls falls silent, like the resonance of Om.
कुमारश् शङ्करस्येव कचो देवगुरोर् इव । प्रह्लाद इव शुक्रस्य सुपर्ण इव शार्ङ्गिणः
Like Kumara to Shankara, like Kacha to the preceptor of the gods, like Prahlada to Shukra, like Suparna to the wielder of the Sharnga bow.
वसिष्ठस्यानने रामश् शनैर् दृष्टिम् अपातयत् । भ्रमन्तीम् अम्बरे वातः फुल्लपद्म इवालिनीम्
Rama cast his gaze slowly upon Vasistha’s face, as the wind sets a blooming lotus with bees adrift in the sky.
मुनिस् त्व् अनुज्झितेनाथ तेनैव रघुनन्दनम् । क्रमेणोवाच वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यं वाक्यार्थकोविदम्
Then the sage, without breaking his composure, addressed Raghunandana in due order, being skilled in speech, to one who knows the meaning of words.
कच्चित् स्मरसि यत् प्रोक्तं ह्यो मया रघुनन्दन । वाक्यम् अत्यन्तगुर्वर्थं परमार्थावबोधकम्
Do you remember, O Raghunandana, what I spoke to you yesterday—a statement of utmost gravity, revealing the highest truth?
इदानीम् अवबोधार्थम् अन्यच् च रिपुमर्दन । उच्यमानं मयेदं त्वं शृणु शाश्वतसिद्धये
Now, for the sake of your understanding, O destroyer of foes, listen to this further teaching I am about to give, for the attainment of eternal perfection.
वैराग्याभ्यासवशतस् तथा तत्त्वावलोकनात् । संसारात् तीर्यते तेन तेष्व् एवाभ्यासम् आहर
Through the force of practice in dispassion, and likewise by the contemplation of reality, one crosses over the world; therefore, apply yourself to these practices.
सम्यक् तत्त्वावबोधेन दुर्बोधे क्षयम् आगते । गलिते वासनावेशे विशोकं प्राप्यते पदम्
When, through true understanding of reality—though difficult to attain—desires have faded away, one reaches the state beyond sorrow.
दिक्कालाद्यनवच्छिन्नम् अदृष्टोभयकोटिकम् । एकं ब्रह्मैव हि जगत् स्थितं द्वित्वम् इवागतम्
The one Brahman alone, unlimited by direction, time, or anything else, unseen by both extremes, appears as this world, though it seems to have become dual.
सर्वभावानवच्छिन्नं यत्र ब्रह्मैव विद्यते । शान्तं समसमाभासं तत्रान्यत् तत् कथं भवेत्
Where only Brahman exists, unbounded by all forms and states, peaceful and appearing the same everywhere—how could anything else exist there?
इति मत्वाहम् इत्य् अन्तर् मुक्त्वा मुक्तवपुर् महान् । एकरूपः प्रशान्तात्मा मौनी स्वात्ममयो भव
Thinking thus, having let go of the sense of 'I' within, and having abandoned the body of bondage, become one in form, with a tranquil mind, silent, and composed of your own Self.
नास्ति चित्तं न चाविद्या न मनो न च जीवकः । एताश् च कलना राम कृता ब्रह्मण एव ताः
There is no mind, no ignorance, no thought, and no individual soul; all these, O Rama, are mere fabrications of Brahman alone.