०३४

गीर्वाणैरर्थ्यमानो दशमुखनिधनं कोसलेऽष्वृश्यषृङ्गे
पुत्रीयामिष्टिमिष्ट्वा ददुषि दशरथक्ष्माभृते पायसाग्र्यम् ।
तद्भुक्त्या तत्पुरन्ध्रीष्वपि तिसृषु समं जातगर्भासु जातो
रामस्त्वं लक्ष्मणेन स्वयमथ भरतेनापि शत्रुघ्ननाम्ना ॥ ३४१ ॥

गीर्वाणैरर्थ्यमानो दशमुखनिधनं कोसलेऽष्वृश्यषृङ्गे
पुत्रीयामिष्टिमिष्ट्वा ददुषि दशरथक्ष्माभृते पायसाग्र्यम् ।
तद्भुक्त्या तत्पुरन्ध्रीष्वपि तिसृषु समं जातगर्भासु जातो
रामस्त्वं लक्ष्मणेन स्वयमथ भरतेनापि शत्रुघ्ननाम्ना ॥ ३४१ ॥

The sage Rishyasringa, performed the Putrakameshti sacrifice in Kosala, on behalf of king Dasaratha, who desired to have children, and offered the king that potent payasa, or milk preparation arising from the sacrificial fire. The king’s three wives shared and ate it all between themselves and all three became pregnant at the same time. Thou, who had been entreated by the gods to destroy Ravana, Thyself incarnated as Rama, and along with Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrugna, took birth there.

कोदण्डी कौशिकस्य क्रतुवरमवितुं लक्ष्मणेनानुयातो
यातोऽभूस्तातवाचा मुनिकथितमनुद्वन्द्वशान्ताध्वखेदः ।
नॄणां त्राणाय बाणैर्मुनिवचनबलात्ताटकां पाटयित्वा
लब्ध्वास्मादस्त्रजालं मुनिवनमगमो देव सिद्धाश्रमाख्यम् ॥ ३४२ ॥

कोदण्डी कौशिकस्य क्रतुवरमवितुं लक्ष्मणेनानुयातो
यातोऽभूस्तातवाचा मुनिकथितमनुद्वन्द्वशान्ताध्वखेदः ।
नॄणां त्राणाय बाणैर्मुनिवचनबलात्ताटकां पाटयित्वा
लब्ध्वास्मादस्त्रजालं मुनिवनमगमो देव सिद्धाश्रमाख्यम् ॥ ३४२ ॥

Oh Lord ! Upholding Thy father’s word, Thou, carrying the bow Kodanda, went along with Lakshmana, to guard the noble sacrifice of sage Viswamitra. The sage taught Thee two mantras to remove Thy fatigue. At the sage’s behest, Thou tore apart the demoness Tataka with arrows for the protection of the people. Having acquired from the sage, the host of divine missiles, Thou reached Siddhasrama, the hermitage of the sage.

मारीचं द्रावयित्वा मखशिरसि शरैरन्यरक्षांसि निघ्नन्
कल्यां कुर्वन्नहल्यां पथि पदरजसा प्राप्य वैदेहगेहम् ।
भिन्दानश्चान्द्रचूडं धनुरवनिसुतामिन्दिरामेव लब्ध्वा
राज्यं प्रातिष्ठथास्त्वं त्रिभिरपि च समं भ्रातृवीरैः सदारैः ॥ ३४३ ॥

मारीचं द्रावयित्वा मखशिरसि शरैरन्यरक्षांसि निघ्नन्
कल्यां कुर्वन्नहल्यां पथि पदरजसा प्राप्य वैदेहगेहम् ।
भिन्दानश्चान्द्रचूडं धनुरवनिसुतामिन्दिरामेव लब्ध्वा
राज्यं प्रातिष्ठथास्त्वं त्रिभिरपि च समं भ्रातृवीरैः सदारैः ॥ ३४३ ॥

When the sacrifice began, Thou drove away Mareecha with Thy arrows and killed other Rakshasas. On the way to Videha, from there, Thou liberated Ahalya, (who had been cursed to become a stone by her husband, sage Gautama), with the dust of Thy feet and blessed her. Reaching the palace of Videha, and breaking the bow of Lord Siva there, Thou won the hand of Sita, daughter of the earth, (and in reality the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi), and married her. Then along with Thy three brothers, who were married to the three sisters of Sita, Thou set out to Thy kingdom, accompanied by the four new brides.

आरुन्धाने रुषान्धे भृगुकुलतिलके संक्रमय्य स्वतेजो
याते यातोऽस्ययोध्यां सुखमिह निवसन्कान्तया कान्तमूर्ते ।
शत्रुघ्नेनैकदाथो गतवति भरते मातुलस्याधिवासं
तातारब्धोऽभिषेकस्तव किल विहतः केकयाधीशपुत्र्या ॥ ३४४॥

आरुन्धाने रुषान्धे भृगुकुलतिलके संक्रमय्य स्वतेजो
याते यातोऽस्ययोध्यां सुखमिह निवसन्कान्तया कान्तमूर्ते ।
शत्रुघ्नेनैकदाथो गतवति भरते मातुलस्याधिवासं
तातारब्धोऽभिषेकस्तव किल विहतः केकयाधीशपुत्र्या ॥ ३४४॥

Oh Lord of Lustrous Form ! On the way home, Thou encountered Parasurama, the jewel of the Bhrigu clan, who blinded by anger, waged a battle with Thee; losing the battle he surrendered his lustre to Thee. Thou reached Ayodhya and lived happily with Thy dear wife. Then once, when Bharata had gone to his uncle’s house, along with Satrugna, Thy father made arrangements for Thy coronation but was stopped by Thy step-mother, Kaikeyi (daughter of the king of Kekayas).

तातोक्त्या यातुकामो वनमनुजवधूसंयुतश्चापधारः
पौरानारूध्य मार्गे गुहनिलयगतस्त्वं जटाचीरधारी ।
नावा सन्तीर्य गङ्गामधिपदवि पुनस्तं भरद्वाजमारा
न्नत्वा तद्वाक्यहेतोरतिसुखमवसश्चित्रकूटे गिरीन्द्रे ॥ ३४५॥

तातोक्त्या यातुकामो वनमनुजवधूसंयुतश्चापधारः
पौरानारूध्य मार्गे गुहनिलयगतस्त्वं जटाचीरधारी ।
नावा सन्तीर्य गङ्गामधिपदवि पुनस्तं भरद्वाजमारा
न्नत्वा तद्वाक्यहेतोरतिसुखमवसश्चित्रकूटे गिरीन्द्रे ॥ ३४५॥

In accordance with Thy father’s orders, Thou, taking bow and arrow in hand, and in the company of Thy brother and Thy wife, set out to the forest. Restraining the citizens of Ayodhya from following Thee to the forest, and sending them back home, Thou came to the house of Guha. (the boatman). Here donning matted hair and garments made of bark, Thou wert ferried across the river Ganges by Guha, and meeting Sage Bharadwaja nearby, paid Thy respects to him. Following his advice, Thou lived very happily on the lofty Chitrakuta. Mountains.

श्रुत्वा पुत्रार्तिखिन्नं खलु भरतमुखात् स्वर्गयातं स्वतातं
तप्तो दत्त्वाम्बु तस्मै निदधिथ भरते पादुकां मेदिनीं च ।
अत्रिं नत्वाथ गत्वा वनमतिविपुलां दण्डकां चण्डकायं
हत्वा दैत्यं विराधं सुगतिमकलयश्चारु भोः शारभङ्गीम् ॥ ३४६ ॥

श्रुत्वा पुत्रार्तिखिन्नं खलु भरतमुखात् स्वर्गयातं स्वतातं
तप्तो दत्त्वाम्बु तस्मै निदधिथ भरते पादुकां मेदिनीं च ।
अत्रिं नत्वाथ गत्वा वनमतिविपुलां दण्डकां चण्डकायं
हत्वा दैत्यं विराधं सुगतिमकलयश्चारु भोः शारभङ्गीम् ॥ ३४६ ॥

Oh Lord ! From Bharata, (who came there to beg Thee to return home), Thou came to know that Thy father had passed away, heartbroken by Thy separation. Full of sorrow Thou offered libations of water to his departed soul and pacifying Bharata, entrusted Thy sandals and Thy kingdom to him to rule over till Thy return. Then after paying obeisance to Sage Atri, Thou entered the wide, dense forest of Dandaka, killed the ferocious demon Viradha there, and granted salvation to Sage Sarabhanga, witnessing his peaceful and happy end.

नत्वाऽगस्त्यं समस्ताशरनिकरसपत्राकृतिं तापसेभ्यः
प्रत्यश्रौषीः प्रियैषी तदनु च मुनिना वैष्णवे दिव्यचापे ।
ब्रह्मास्त्रे चापि दत्ते पथि पितृसुहृदं दीक्ष्य जटायुं
मोदाद्गोदातटान्ते परिरमसि पुरा पञ्चवट्यां वधूट्या ॥ ३४७॥

नत्वाऽगस्त्यं समस्ताशरनिकरसपत्राकृतिं तापसेभ्यः
प्रत्यश्रौषीः प्रियैषी तदनु च मुनिना वैष्णवे दिव्यचापे ।
ब्रह्मास्त्रे चापि दत्ते पथि पितृसुहृदं दीक्ष्य जटायुं
मोदाद्गोदातटान्ते परिरमसि पुरा पञ्चवट्यां वधूट्या ॥ ३४७॥

Thou, who wished to protect the sages, took a pledge to annihilate the entire host of rakshasas, and then bowing down to sage Agastya, Thou received from him the divine bow of Vishnu, the missile of Brahma and other weapons. On setting out from there, Thou wert happy to meet on the way, Thy father’s friend, Jatayu, the eagle. From then on, Thou lived happily with Thy wife at Panchavati, on the banks of the river, Godavari.

प्राप्तायाः शूर्पणख्या मदनचलधृतेरर्थनैर्निस्सहात्मा
तां सौमित्रौ विसृज्य प्रबलतमरुषा तेन निर्लुननासाम् ।
दृष्ट्वैनां रुष्टचित्तं खरमभिपतितं दुषणं च त्रिमूर्धं
व्याहिंसीराशरानप्ययुतसमधिकांस्तत्क्षणादक्षतोष्मा ॥ ३४८॥

प्राप्तायाः शूर्पणख्या मदनचलधृतेरर्थनैर्निस्सहात्मा
तां सौमित्रौ विसृज्य प्रबलतमरुषा तेन निर्लुननासाम् ।
दृष्ट्वैनां रुष्टचित्तं खरमभिपतितं दुषणं च त्रिमूर्धं
व्याहिंसीराशरानप्ययुतसमधिकांस्तत्क्षणादक्षतोष्मा ॥ ३४८॥

Oh Lord of Indestructible Might ! Unable to tolerate the harassment of the love-sick demoness Surpanaka, who besought Thee, frequently, Thou instructed Lakshmana to deal with her suitably, and he, overcome by anger, cut off her nose. Seeing her disfigured face, the demons, Khara, Dooshana and Trisiras, filled with rage, came to attack Thee, but Thou destroyed them along with more than a ten thousand demons, instantly.

सोदर्याप्रोक्तवार्ताविवशदशमुखादिष्टमारीचमाया
सारङ्गं सारसाक्ष्या स्पृहितमनुगतः प्रावधीर्बाणघातम् ।
तन्मायाक्रन्दनिर्यापितभवदनुजां रावणस्तामहार्षीत्
तेनार्तोऽपि त्वमन्तः किमपि मुदमधास्तद्वधोपायायलाभात् ॥ ३४९ ॥

सोदर्याप्रोक्तवार्ताविवशदशमुखादिष्टमारीचमाया
सारङ्गं सारसाक्ष्या स्पृहितमनुगतः प्रावधीर्बाणघातम् ।
तन्मायाक्रन्दनिर्यापितभवदनुजां रावणस्तामहार्षीत्
तेनार्तोऽपि त्वमन्तः किमपि मुदमधास्तद्वधोपायायलाभात् ॥ ३४९ ॥

Coming to know from his sister, Surpanaka, all that had transpired, Ravana, full of rage for his sister’s condition and filled with lust for Sita, on hearing of her beauty from his sister, wished to abduct her. So he ordered Mareecha, to assume the form of a golden deer, and wander near the hermitage of Rama. The lotus-eyed Sita, wished to have that deer and Thou went in pursuit and killed it with Thy arrows. At that time, Mareecha, let out a painful cry, imitating Thy voice, and calling out to Lakshmana and Sita, as if Thou wert in danger. Hearing Thy pitiful cry and not realising that this was a deception, Sita, forced Lakshmana, to go to Thy help, leaving her alone in the hermitage. Ravana, using this opportunity, abducted Sita and took her away. Though unhappy, Thou wert secretly glad to have got a motive for Ravana’s destruction.

भूयस्तन्वीं विचिन्वन्नहृत दशमुखस्त्वद्वधूं मद्वधेने
त्युक्त्वा याते जटायौ दिवमथ सुहृदः प्रातनोः प्रेतकार्यम् ।
गृह्णानं तं कबन्धं जघनिथ शबरीं प्रेक्ष्य पम्पातटे त्वं
सम्प्राप्तो वातसूनुं भृशमुदितमनाः पाहि वातालयेश ॥ ३४१०॥

भूयस्तन्वीं विचिन्वन्नहृत दशमुखस्त्वद्वधूं मद्वधेने
त्युक्त्वा याते जटायौ दिवमथ सुहृदः प्रातनोः प्रेतकार्यम् ।
गृह्णानं तं कबन्धं जघनिथ शबरीं प्रेक्ष्य पम्पातटे त्वं
सम्प्राप्तो वातसूनुं भृशमुदितमनाः पाहि वातालयेश ॥ ३४१०॥

Then, going in search of the slim and delicate Sita, Thou met the dying Jatayu, whose wings had been cut off by Ravana, when he tried to save her, from the latter’s clutches. After informing Thee, of this, he died and Thou cremated him and performed his funeral rites as he had been Thy father’s friend. Then Thou killed demon Kabandha, who attacked Thee on the way. Later meeting Thy devotee, Sabari, on the banks of the river Pampa, Thou granted her salvation. Then coming across, Thy greatest devotee, Hanuman, the son of Vayu, Thou wert overjoyed. Oh Guruvayurappa ! May thou of such great exploits, protect me.