समुद्यद्यौवनारम्भम् उद्योगशमशोभितम् । अनुद्विग्नम् अनायासं पूर्णप्रायमनोरथम्
At the dawn of youth, adorned by the harmony of effort and calm, untroubled, effortless, with desires nearly fulfilled.
विचारितजगद्यात्रं पवित्रगुणगोचरम् । महासत्त्वैकलोभेन गुणैर् इव समाश्रितम्
Having considered the course of the world, moving in the realm of pure qualities, sustained by singular greatness, as if embraced by virtues.
उदारसारम् आपूर्णम् अन्तःकरणकोटरम् । अविक्षुभितया वृत्त्या दर्शयन्तम् अनुत्तमम्
With a noble essence, the inner chamber of the mind was filled, displaying the highest through an undisturbed state.
एवं गुणगणाकीर्णो दूराद् एव रघूद्वहः । परिमेयसिताच्छाच्छस्वहाराम्बरपल्लवः
Thus, adorned with a multitude of virtues, from afar the descendant of Raghu appeared, his garments and ornaments shining pure and white.
प्रणनाम चलच्चारुचूडामणिमरीचिना । शिरसा वसुधाकम्पलोलमानाचलश्रिया
He bowed, his beautiful crest-jewel shimmering with moving rays, his head graced with the majesty of a mountain that causes the earth to tremble.
प्रथमं पितरं पश्चान् मुनीन् मान्यैकम् आनतः । ततो विप्रांस् ततो बन्धूंस् ततो ऽधिकगुणान् गुरून्
First he bowed to his father, then to the revered sages, then to the Brahmins, then to his relatives, and finally to the teachers distinguished by greater virtues.
जग्राह चात्मना दृष्ट्वा मनाक् स्वादुगिरा तथा । राजलोकेन विहितां स प्रणामपरम्पराम्
He accepted, with his own presence and sweet words, the succession of salutations performed by the people of the kingdom.
विहिताशीर् मुनिभ्यां तु रामस् स शममानसः । आससाद पितुः पुण्यं समीपं सुरसुन्दरः
Receiving blessings from the sages, Rama, his mind at peace, approached his father's sacred presence, radiant as a celestial beauty.
पादाभिवन्दनरतं तम् अथासौ महीपतिः । शिरस्य् अभ्यालिलिङ्गाशु चुचुम्ब च पुनः पुनः
The king, seeing him devoted to reverence at his feet, quickly embraced his head and kissed him again and again.
शत्रुघ्नं लक्ष्मणं चैव तथैव परवीरहा । आलिलिङ्ग घनस्नेहं राजहंसो ऽम्बुजं यथा
In the same way, he embraced Shatrughna and Lakshmana, the destroyers of enemies, with deep affection, like a royal swan embracing lotuses.
उत्सङ्गे वत्स तिष्ठेति वदत्य् अथ महीपतौ । भूमौ परिजनास्तीर्णे सो ऽंशुके ऽथ न्यविक्षत
Then, as the king said, 'Sit on my lap, child,' he instead spread out a cloth on the ground, covered by attendants, and seated him there.
पुत्र प्राप्तविवेकस् त्वं कल्याणानां च भाजनम् । जनवज् जीर्णया बुद्ध्या खेदायात्मा न दीयते
Son, you have attained discernment and are a vessel of virtues; with a mind matured like that of the wise, you do not let yourself be afflicted by sorrow.
वृद्धविप्रगुरुप्रोक्तं त्वादृशेनानुतिष्ठता । पदम् आसाद्यते पुण्यं न मोहम् अनुधावता
By following the teachings spoken by elders, sages, and teachers, one attains a blessed state, not by pursuing delusion.
तावद् एवापदो दूरे तिष्ठन्ति परिपेलवाः । यावद् एव न मोहस्य प्रसरः पुत्र दीयते
Calamities, though formidable, remain distant, my son, as long as the mind does not yield to the spread of delusion.
राजपुत्र महाबाहो शूरस् त्वं विजितास् त्वया । दुरुच्छेदा दुरारम्भा अप्य् अमी विषयारयः
Prince, mighty-armed one, you are a hero; by you these enemies—sense-objects—difficult to cut off and hard to overcome, have been conquered.
किम् अतज्ज्ञ इवाज्ञानां योग्ये वा मोहसागरे । विनिमज्जसि कल्लोलगहने जाड्यशालिनि
Why, as if ignorant, do you sink into the ocean of delusion, full of dense waves and sluggishness, though you are fit for knowledge?
चलन्नीलोत्पलव्यूहसमलोचन लोलताम् । ब्रूहि चेतःकृतां त्यक्त्वा हेतुना केन मुह्यसि
With eyes like moving clusters of blue lotuses, tell me, having abandoned the cause created by the mind, by what reason are you bewildered?
किंनिष्ठाः कियता केन कियन्तः कारणेन ते । आधयो नु विलुम्पन्ति मनो गेहम् इवाखवः
On what are your sorrows based, how many are they, by whom, and for what reason do they assail your mind like thieves plundering a house?
मन्ये नानुचितानां त्वम् आधीनां पदम् उत्तमः । आपत्सु चाप्तो यो धीरो निर्जितास् तेन चाधयः
I consider you to be the highest refuge for those troubled by afflictions; for when a steadfast person is attained in adversity, those afflictions are conquered.
यथाभिमतम् आशु त्वं ब्रूहि प्राप्स्यसि चानघम् । सर्वम् एव पुनर् येन तव भेत्स्यन्ति नाधयः
Speak swiftly whatever you desire, O sinless one, and you shall obtain it; by that, all your afflictions will again be shattered.
इत्य् उत्तमस्य स मुने रघुवंशकेतुर् आकर्ण्य वाक्यम् उचितार्थविलासगर्भम् । तत्याज खेदम् अभिगर्जति वारिवाहे बर्ही यथाभ्यनुमिताभिमतार्थसिद्धिः
Hearing these words of the sage—full of appropriate meaning and noble intent—the scion of Raghu’s line cast off his distress, like a peacock roars joyfully at the approach of rain, assured of the fulfillment of his cherished aim.
इति पृष्टो मुनीन्द्रेण समाश्वास्य च राघवः । उवाच वचनं चारु धीरपूर्णार्थमन्थरम्
Thus questioned by the chief of sages and reassured, Rāghava spoke gentle words, measured and filled with steadfast meaning.
भगवन् भवता पृष्टो यथावद् अधुना किल । कथयाम्य् अहम् अज्ञो ऽपि को लङ्घयति सद्वचः
Revered one, since you have now asked, I shall speak as best I can, though ignorant; for who would disregard the words of the virtuous?
अहं तावद् अयं जातो निजे ऽस्मिन् पितृसद्मनि । क्रमेण वृद्धिं सम्प्राप्तः प्राप्तविद्यश् च संस्थितः
I was born here in my father’s house, gradually attained growth, and, having acquired knowledge, am now established.
ततस् सदाचारपरो भूत्वाहं मुनिनायक । विहृतस् तीर्थयात्रार्थम् उर्वीम् अम्बुधिमेखलाम्
Then, devoted to good conduct, O leader of sages, I traveled over the earth girdled by the ocean, undertaking pilgrimages.
एतावताथ कालेन संसारास्थाम् इमां मम । स्वविवेको जहारान्तर् ओघस् तटलताम् इव
After this period, my own discernment swept away my attachment to worldly existence, just as a flood erodes the riverbank.
विवेकेन परीतात्मा तेनाहं तदनु स्वयम् । भोगनीरसया बुद्ध्या प्रविचारितवान् इदम्
My mind, filled with discernment, then reflected on this with an intellect that had lost all taste for enjoyment.
किं नामेदं वत सुखं यो ऽयं संसारसंसृतिः । जायते मृतये लोको म्रियते जननाय च
What is this so-called happiness, truly, in this cycle of worldly existence? People are born only to die, and die only to be born again.
स्वस्थितास् सर्व एवेमे सचराचरचेष्टिताः । आपदां पतयः पापा भावा विभवभूमयः
All these moving and unmoving activities remain in their own state; the lords of calamities, sinful thoughts, and the sources of prosperity all abide in their respective domains.
अयश्शलाकासदृशाः परस्परम् असङ्गिनः । श्लिष्यन्ते केवलं भावा मनःकल्पनया स्वया
Like sticks of dishonor, mutually unconnected, thoughts come together only through the mind’s own imagination.