षोडशास्य सहस्राणि योजनानाम् अधः क्षितेः । स्थिताः पादाः प्रपूज्यन्ते नानासुरमहोरगैः
Sixteen thousand mouths are situated below the earth, where his feet are worshipped by various mighty demons and serpents.
अशीतिस् तु सहस्राणि देहो ऽस्यार्केन्दुलोचनः । पूज्यते नाकसदनैस् सुरगन्धर्वकिन्नरैः
His body, with eighty thousand eyes like the sun and moon, is honored by the dwellers of heaven—gods, gandharvas, and kinnaras.
चतुर्दशविधान्य् एनं गृहस्थम् इव बन्धवः । उपजीवन्ति भूतानि मिथोऽदृष्टपुरास्पदम्
Fourteen kinds of beings, like relatives supporting a householder, mutually sustain themselves through him, though his abode is unseen and ancient.
अस्य त्व् ईशानदिग्भागे पद्मरागमयं बृहत् । विद्यते शृङ्गम् अपरो दिवाकर इवोदितः
In the northeastern direction, he possesses a great peak made of ruby, another rising like the sun.
तस्यास्ति पृष्ठे भूतौघवृतः कल्पतरुर् महान् । जगतश् शिखरादर्शे प्रतिबिम्बम् इव स्थितः
Upon its summit, surrounded by multitudes of beings, stands a great wish-fulfilling tree, as if a reflection of the world is set upon its peak.
तस्यास्ति दक्षिणस्कन्धे शाखा कनकपल्लवा । रत्नस्तबकनीरन्ध्रा चन्द्रबिम्बाभसत्फला
On its southern branch is a bough with golden shoots, filled with clusters of gems and bearing fruits resembling the orb of the moon.
तत्र नीडं मया पूर्वं कृतम् आसीत् स्फुरन्मणि । देव्यां ध्याननिषण्णायां यस्मिन् किल रमे सुताः
There, I had previously made a nest, radiant with jewels, where, as the goddess sat absorbed in meditation, my children delighted.
रत्नपुष्पदलच्छन्नं रसायनफलान्वितम् । चिन्तामणिशलाकाभिर् विहितालिन्दसंस्थिति
Covered with gem-like flowers and petals, endowed with fruits of elixirs, it had verandas fashioned with wish-fulfilling gem pillars.
बुद्धिपूर्वसमाचारैस् सम्पूर्णं काकपुत्रकैः । शीतलाभ्यन्तरं हृद्यं पूरितं कुसुमोत्करैः
By the careful actions of the young crows, it was made complete—cool within, pleasing to the heart, and filled with heaps of blossoms.
तद् गच्छत सुता नीडं दुर्गं नाकसदाम् अपि । भोगं मोक्षं च तत्रस्था निर्विघ्नं समवाप्स्यथ
Go there, children, to the nest—fortified even against the dwellers of heaven; abiding there, you will attain enjoyment and liberation without hindrance.
इत्य् उक्त्वास्मान् पिता तत्र चुचुम्बाभ्यालिलिङ्ग च । ददौ देव्यै यद् आनीतम् अस्मभ्यं च तद् आमिषम्
Having said this, our father there kissed and embraced us, and gave to the goddess what he had brought, and to us, that food.
तद् भुक्त्वा चरणौ देव्याः पितुश् चैवाभिवन्द्य च । विन्ध्यकच्छाद् वयं तस्मात् स्थानाद् आलम्बुसात् प्लुताः
After eating that, and bowing at the feet of the goddess and our father, we departed from that place, Vindhya's slope, leaping from Alambusa.
क्रमेणाकाशम् उल्लङ्घ्य निर्गत्याम्बुदकोटरैः । पवनस्कन्धम् आरुह्य वन्दितव्योमचारिणः
Gradually crossing the sky, emerging through the mountain caves, we mounted the wind's shoulder and saluted the sky-travelers.
परिहृत्य दिनाधीशं लोकान्तरपुराद् गताः । स्वर्गम् उल्लङ्घ्य यातास् स्मो ब्रह्मलोकं मुनीश्वर
Avoiding the lord of day, we went to the city of another world; surpassing heaven, we reached Brahma's world, O best of sages.
प्रणामपूर्वं तत्रैतद् यथावस्तु पितुर् वचः । मात्रे च भगवत्यै च ब्राह्म्यै चाशु निवेद्य ह
First, with reverence, I conveyed my father's words just as they were to my mother, the venerable goddess, and to Brahmi as well.
ताभ्यां सस्नेहम् आलिङ्ग्य गच्छथेत्य् आज्ञयैधिताः । वयं कृतनमस्कारा ब्रह्मलोकाद् विनिर्गताः
Embraced affectionately by both, and instructed to depart, we, having offered our salutations, left the world of Brahma.
उल्लङ्घ्य लोकपालानां पुरीस् तपनभासुराः । आकाशगामिनो लोलाः पवनस्कन्धचारिणः
Surpassing the realms of the guardians of the worlds, we, radiant as the sun, moved freely through the sky, wandering at will, borne on the shoulders of the wind.
इमं कल्पतरुं प्राप्य निजं नीडं प्रविश्य च । निरस्तबाधं तिष्ठामो मुने मौनम् अवस्थिताः
Arriving at this wish-fulfilling tree and entering our own abode, we remain undisturbed, O sage, established in silence.
जाता यथा वयम् इमे स्थितिम् आगताश् च सम्प्राप्तबोधम् उपशान्तधियो यथा च । एतत् तद् उक्तम् अविखण्डम् अलं मया ते शेषेण मां समनुशाधि महानुभाव
Just as we were born, so have these attained their state; and just as we have reached understanding and tranquility of mind. This, I have told you fully and without omission; now instruct me further, O great one.
आसीत् किञ्चित्पुराकल्पे जगद् यच् चिरविस्मृतम् । सन्निवेशेनामुनैव तद् यद् अद्यातिदूरगम्
There was, in a former cycle, a world that has long been forgotten; its arrangement was just like this, though now it is far removed.
तद् एतद् वृत्तम् अभ्यासाद् वर्तमानेन वर्णितम् । मया मुनीन्द्र बोधाय प्राग्जगत्साम्यदर्शिना
This account, through repeated recollection, I have described in the present, O chief of sages, for your understanding, as one who has seen the sameness of previous worlds.
अद्य मे फलितं पुण्यैश् चिरकालोपबृंहितैः । निर्विघ्नम् एवं पश्यामि यद् भवन्तं मुने ततः
Today, through merits accumulated over a long time, my wish has borne fruit; thus, without obstacle, I behold you, O sage.
इदं नीडम् इमाश् शाखा अयं चाहम् अयं द्रुमः । अद्य पावनतां प्राप्तान्य् एतानि तव दर्शनात्
This is the nest, these are the branches, this is myself, and this is the tree; today, all these have attained purity through your sight.
इदम् अर्घ्यम् इदं पाद्यं गृहीत्वा विभवार्पितम् । नूनं पावनतां नीत्वा शेषेणादिश मां मुने
Here is the offering of water, here is water for your feet, both presented with devotion; surely, having been purified, instruct me further, O sage.
इत्य् उक्त्वार्घ्यं च पाद्यं च भूयो दत्तवति स्वयम् । भुसुण्डविहगे तस्मिन्न् इदं रामाहम् उक्तवान्
Having thus spoken and again personally offered the water and foot-wash, I, Rama, said this to the bird Bhusunda.
भ्रातरस् ते विहङ्गेश तादृक्सत्त्वा महाधियः । इह कस्मान् न दृश्यन्ते त्वम् एवैको हि दृश्यसे
O lord of birds, your brothers were of such nature, great in wisdom and intellect; why are they not seen here, and only you are visible?
तिष्ठताम् इह नः कालो महान् अतिगतो मुने । युगानां पङ्क्तयः क्षीणा दिवसानाम् इवानघ
A vast expanse of time has passed here for us, O sage; the cycles of ages have been exhausted, like the days of the blameless.
एतावता च कालेन सर्व एव ममानुजाः । तनूस् तृणम् इव त्यक्त्वा शिवे परिणताः परे
In all this time, all my younger brothers, having cast off their bodies like blades of grass, have attained the supreme auspicious state.
दीर्घायुषो महान्तो ऽपि सन्तो ऽपि बलिनो ऽपि च । सर्व एव निगीर्यन्ते कालेनाकलितात्मना
Even those who are long-lived, great, virtuous, and strong are all devoured by time, which does not recognize the self.
स्कन्धरूढार्कशशिषु वहत्स्व् अविरतं जवात् । वातस्कन्धातिवातेषु कच्चित् तात न खिद्यसे
When the sun and moon, mounted on the shoulders of the sky, are swiftly carried by the ceaseless winds, dear one, are you not wearied?