प्राक्तना अखिला भावा जातिकर्मवशानुगाः । पौरुषेणावजीयन्ते धीरैर् धीरा इवारयः
All previous tendencies, following from birth and actions, are overcome by the resolute through their own effort, just as the steadfast conquer enemies.
प्राक्तनाशुभजातिस्थकर्मदोषाकुलाम् अपि । धैर्येणाभ्युद्धरेद् बुद्धिं पङ्कान् मुग्धमृगीम् इव
Even if the mind is troubled by faults arising from past evil birth and actions, with courage one should lift it up, as one would rescue a deer stuck in mud.
तामसीं राजसीं चैव जातिम् अन्याम् अपि श्रिताः । स्वविवेकवशाद् यान्ति सन्तस् सात्त्विकजातिताम्
Those who have taken on tamasic, rajasic, or any other birth, through the power of their own discernment, the virtuous attain a sattvic birth.
अन्तश् चित्तमणौ स्वच्छे यद् राघव नियोज्यते । तन्मयो हि भवत्य् एष तस्माज् जयति पौरुषम्
O Raghava, whatever is established within the pure jewel of the mind, one becomes that; therefore, effort prevails.
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन महार्हगुणशालिना । मुमुक्षवो भवन्तीह पाश्चात्यशुभजातयः
Through noble qualities, effort, and perseverance, even those of inferior birth here become seekers of liberation.
न तद् अस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा क्वचित् । पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन यन् नाप्नोति गुणान्वितः
There is nothing on earth or among the gods in heaven that a person endowed with qualities and striving with effort cannot attain.
त्वम् अजर्येण धैर्येण वरवैराग्यरंहसा । युक्तः प्रज्ञाप्ररूढेन किं नाप्नोषि तदीहितम्
Endowed with unwavering courage, supreme dispassion, and mature wisdom, what goal could you not achieve by your own endeavor?
हितं महासत्त्वतयात्मनस् त्वं विधाय बुद्ध्या भव वीतशोकः । भवत्क्रमेणैव ततो जनो ऽयम् उर्व्यां भविष्यत्य् अतिवीतशोकः
You, possessing great courage, act for the benefit of your own self with discernment and become free from sorrow; then, in due course, the people of this earth will also become thoroughly free from sorrow.
पाश्चात्यजन्मनि विवेकमहामहिम्ना युक्ते त्वयि प्रसृतसत्त्वगुणाभिरामे । सत्त्वस्थकर्मणि पदं ननु राम रामे मैषा करोतु भवबन्धविमोहचिन्ता
O Rama, in a future birth, when you are endowed with the supreme glory of discrimination and delighting in the abundant quality of goodness, let your mind, established in virtuous action, not be troubled by thoughts of bondage and delusion.
अथ स्थितिप्रकरणाद् अनन्तरम् इदं शृणु । उपशान्तिप्रकरणं ज्ञातं निर्वाणकारि यत्
Now, after the section on sustenance, listen to this: the section on quiescence, which is known to bring about liberation.
शरत्तारकिताकाशस्तिमितायां सुसंसदि । कथयत्य् एवम् आह्लादि वसिष्ठे पावनं वचः
In the assembly, tranquil as the autumn sky adorned with stars, Vasistha speaks these pure and delightful words.
श्रवणार्थं च मौनस्थपार्थिवे संसदन्तरे । निवात इव निस्स्पन्दकमले कमलाकरे
For the sake of hearing, those in the silent assembly, grounded like the earth, sat motionless, like lotuses still in windless air.
विलासिनीषु संशान्तमदमोहबलासु च । शमम् अन्तः प्रयान्तीषु चिरप्रव्राजितास्व् इव
Among the women, whose pride, delusion, and strength had subsided, there was inner calm, as if among those long devoted to renunciation.
कराम्भोरुहहंसेषु लीनेषु श्रवणाद् इव । मूकघुर्घुरघण्टेषु चामरेषु लिपाव् इव
The hands, like lotuses, rested quietly as if listening; the fans, like mute bells, were still, as if absorbed in silence.
नासाग्रपरिविश्रान्ततर्जन्यङ्गुलिकोटिषु । विचारयत्सु विज्ञानकलां तज्ज्ञेषु राजसु
The tips of index fingers, placed near the nostrils, were motionless in contemplation, as the wise kings reflected on the subtle knowledge.
रामे विकासम् आयाते प्रभात इव पङ्कजे । परित्यक्ततमःपीठे सूर्योदय इवाम्बरे
As Rama blossomed, like a lotus at dawn, the darkness having been abandoned, just as the sky at sunrise.
आकर्णयति वासिष्ठीर् गिरो दशरथे रसात् । कलापिनीव जीमूतनिर्ह्रादम् उरुवर्षणम्
The son of Dasaratha listened to Vasistha’s words, as a peacock listens intently to the deep, thundering sound of clouds about to pour rain.
आहृत्य सर्वभोगेभ्यो मनो मर्कटचञ्चलम् । श्रवणं प्रति यत्नेन भरते मन्त्रिणि स्थिते
Having withdrawn his restless mind, like a monkey, from all enjoyments, Bharata, with the ministers present, applied himself with effort to listening.
वसिष्ठोक्त्या परिज्ञाते स्वात्मनीन्दुकलामले । लक्ष्मणे विलसल्लक्ष्ये शिक्षाबलविलक्षणे
Lakshmana, in whom the pure moon-like Self had been realized through Vasistha’s teaching, shone as the very embodiment of discernment, beyond the power of instruction.
शत्रुघ्ने शत्रुदलने चेतसा पूर्णतां गते । अलम् आनन्दम् आयाते राकाचन्द्रोपमे स्थिते
Shatrughna, destroyer of foes, whose mind had attained fullness, stood there, filled with joy, like the full moon on the night of the full moon.
सुमन्त्रे मित्रतां याते मनसीन्द्वंशुशीतले । विकासिहृदये जाते तत्काल इव पङ्कजे
Sumitra’s son, whose mind had become cool as moonbeams and whose heart had blossomed, stood there as a lotus does at that very moment.
तत्रस्थेषु तथान्येषु तदा मुनिषु राजसु । आधौतचित्तरत्नेषु प्रोच्छ्वसत्स्व् इव चेतसा
There, as the sages and kings stood, their minds purified like flawless jewels, it was as if their hearts were exhaling in relief.
उदभूत् पूरयन्न् आशाः कल्पाभ्ररवमांसलः । अथ मध्याह्नशङ्खानाम् अब्धिघोषसमस् स्वनः
Then arose a sound, filling all directions, deep as the rumble of thunderclouds at the world’s end, like the mighty roar of conches at midday, equal to the ocean’s tumult.
महता तेन शब्देन तिरोधानं मुनेर् गिरः । ययुर् जलदनादेन कोकिलध्वनयो यथा
By that great sound, the sage’s words were drowned out, just as the calls of cuckoos are overpowered by the rumble of thunderclouds.
मुनिर् अन्तरयां चक्रे स्वां वाचम् अथ संसदि । जितसारो गुणः केन महता समुदीर्यते
The sage then withheld his speech in the assembly; for who can make manifest a profound truth when its essence is lost amid great noise?
मुहूर्तमात्रम् अथ तं श्रुत्वा मध्याह्ननिस्स्वनम् । घने कोलाहले शान्ते रामं मुनिर् उवाच ह
After listening for a moment to that midday clamor, when the tumult had subsided, the sage addressed Rama.
रामाद्यतनम् एतावद् आह्निकं कथितं मया । प्रातर् अन्यत् प्रवक्ष्यामि वक्तव्यम् अरिमर्दन
Rama, I have recounted to you the events of this day; tomorrow morning, O destroyer of foes, I will speak further of what remains to be told.
इदं नियतितः प्राप्तं कर्तव्यं यद् द्विजन्मनाम् । मध्याह्नसवनं तन् नः कार्यम् आर्यावसीदति
Now it is time for the midday ritual, which is the prescribed duty of the twice-born; let us perform it, for the noble ones are waiting.
त्वम् अप्य् उत्तिष्ठ सुभग समस्तां सवनक्रियाम् । आचराचारचतुर स्नानदानार्चनादिकाम्
You too, fortunate one, arise and skillfully perform all the ritual acts—bathing, giving, worship, and the rest—properly and completely.
इत्य् उक्त्वा मुनिर् उत्तस्थौ समं दशरथेन सः । संसदस् सेन्दुर् आदित्य उदयाद्रितटाद् इव
Having spoken thus, the sage rose together with Dasharatha, and the assembly rose as the moon and sun rise from behind the eastern mountain.