Passage 1
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु देवर्षिर्नारदो मुनिः। रावणालयमभ्येत्य शशंसामरगोपितम्॥१॥
At that very time the divine sage Nārada came to Rāvaṇa’s dwelling and disclosed what the immortals had concealed.
Passage 2
देवगुप्तं परं तत्त्वं रहस्यं नारदो मुनिः। शशंसाभ्येत्य दैत्याय दशवक्त्राय साध्वसम्॥२॥
The sage Nārada approached the ten-faced daitya and revealed the secret supreme truth guarded by the gods—a cause of terror to him. Nārada said
Passage 3
लङ्केश विदितं तेऽस्ति जातस्तव निषूदनः। देवानां प्रार्थनैनेव जायमानो युगे पुरा॥३॥
Lord of Laṅkā, know that your destroyer has been born—the one who in former ages took birth at the gods’ own prayer.
Passage 4
पुरा हिरण्यकशिपुस्त्वं येन विनिपातितः। हिरण्याक्षस्तव भ्राता स जातः कुम्भकर्णकः॥४॥
Formerly you were Hiraṇyakaśipu, whom he struck down. Your brother was Hiraṇyākṣa; he has now been born as Kumbhakarṇa.
Passage 5
स इदानीमपि तथा रामस्तव शिरोहरः। क्वचिज्जातोऽस्ति धरणौ त्रिदशैः प्रार्थितो भृशम्॥५॥
Now too he is Rāma, destined to take your heads. Earnestly entreated by the gods, he has been born somewhere upon the earth.
Passage 6
तत्प्रतीकारमतुलमधुनैव विचिन्तय। नोचेद्रिपौ गते वृद्धिं पश्चात्समनुतप्स्यसि॥६॥
Devise an unequalled countermeasure against him this very moment. Otherwise, once your enemy has grown, you will regret it afterward.
Passage 7
एवमुक्त्वा तु देवर्षौ नारदे निर्गते गृहात्। चकम्पे वीरवर्योऽपि राक्षसेन्द्रो महाबलः॥७॥
Having spoken thus, the divine sage Nārada left the house. Although foremost among heroes and immensely strong, the lord of the rākṣasas trembled.
Passage 8
अहो मम बलं देवैर्मर्षितुं नैव शक्यते। स्वयं बलविहीनास्ते बलवन्तं गवेषिणः॥८॥
“Ah, the gods cannot endure my strength. Powerless themselves, they are searching for someone powerful.
Passage 9
सोऽहं शिवस्य चरणे स्वशिरांसि धृत्वा तत्प्रीतिलब्धबलवीर्यमहाविभूतिः। देवान् नयामि सहसा त्रिदिवादधोऽद्य विस्रंसयन् स्वपदतो वितथप्रभावान्॥९॥
“I placed my own heads at Śiva’s feet and, through his pleasure, obtained strength, heroism, and mighty power. Today I shall suddenly drag the gods down from heaven, dislodging those whose vaunted power is empty from their stations.
Passage 10
धर्मं च हन्मि शिवपूजनतोऽतिरिक्तं सोऽपि स्वमात्रकृत एव सुखाय मेऽस्तु। नोचेच्छिवो यदरिषु प्रणयं विदध्यात् तेन क्वचिन्मम भवेद्विभवस्य पातः॥१०॥
“I shall destroy every dharma apart from the worship of Śiva, and let even that be performed by me alone for my own pleasure. Only if Śiva were to show affection toward my enemies could my dominion possibly fall through him.
Passage 11
विष्णुस्तु धर्मसदनो मम किं करिष्य- त्यज्ञात एव निगमागमधर्मभेत्तुः। ये वैष्णवास्त्रिजगति द्विष एव ते मे तेषामहं शिवनिषेवणतोऽस्मि जेता॥११॥
“What can Viṣṇu, the abode of dharma, do to me—a breaker of the dharma of Veda and Āgama whom he does not even know? The Vaiṣṇavas throughout the three worlds are my enemies, and through service to Śiva I shall conquer them.
Passage 12
दाम्भिका मोघकर्माणो वृथालापनपण्डिताः। वैष्णवास्तु मया क्षेप्यास्त्रयीधर्मबहिर्मुखाः॥१२॥
“The Vaiṣṇavas are hypocrites, their rites fruitless, expert only in idle talk, and turned away from the threefold Vedic dharma. I shall cast them out.
Passage 13
ब्रह्मलोकाद् बहिः कार्यो ब्रह्मा चेन्द्रः स्वलोकतः। एवमन्येऽपि सूर्याद्या निराकार्या मयाधुना॥१३॥
“Brahmā must be expelled from Brahmaloka and Indra from his own realm. Now I shall similarly remove Sūrya and all the other gods.
Passage 14
तेषां स्थानानि दासेभ्यो दास्यामि स्वाधिकारतः। ते तत्र विचरिष्यन्ति राक्षसा मे महाबलाः॥१४॥
“By my own authority I shall give their stations to my servants. My immensely powerful rākṣasas will range there.
Passage 15
यत्रामी संस्थिता यद्वन्मन्दिरे ग्रामसूकराः। मदाज्ञापालनपरान् करिष्यामि भृशं सुरान्॥१५॥
“As village pigs remain inside a house, so these gods occupy their stations. I shall make the gods wholly intent upon obeying my commands.
Passage 16
न मे भुजबलं सोढुं विष्णुः सम्प्रभविष्यति। इतिकृत्वा मतिं क्रूरां पौलस्त्यः कालचोदितः॥१६॥
“Viṣṇu will never be able to withstand the strength of my arms.” Thus the descendant of Pulastya, driven by Time, formed his cruel resolve.
Passage 17
चकार भगवद्द्वेषं तदुपाश्रयपीडनः। देवाश्च विद्रुतास्तेन प्राप्ता दशरथं नृपम्॥१७॥
He fostered hatred of the Lord and tormented those who took shelter in him. The gods, scattered by Rāvaṇa, came to King Daśaratha.
Passage 18
गुप्तभावेन तिष्ठन्ति प्रमोदवनमध्यगाः। केचित्तमेव शरणं राक्षसेन्द्रमुपाययुः॥१८॥
Some remained secretly within Pramodavana; others went for refuge to the lord of the rākṣasas himself.
Passage 19
परे गिरिदरीष्वेव निलीय क्वचिदाश्रिताः। एवं श्रुत्वा महाकष्टं रावणाल्लोकरावणात्॥१९॥
Still others hid in mountain caves and took shelter wherever they could. Hearing of this great affliction caused by Rāvaṇa, who made the worlds cry,
Passage 20
राजा दशरथोऽप्यासीत् पुत्ररक्षापरायणः। रावणेन विसृष्टाश्च राक्षसा ब्रह्मराक्षसाः॥२०॥
King Daśaratha became wholly devoted to protecting his sons. Rāvaṇa sent out rākṣasas and brahma-rākṣasas,
Passage 21
डाकिन्यः पूतनाद्याश्च कूष्माण्डकुणपास्तथा। इतस्ततो घातयन्तो विचेरुर्धरणीतले॥२१॥
Ḍākinīs, Pūtanā and others, kūṣmāṇḍas and kuṇapas. Killing here and there, they roamed over the face of the earth.
Passage 22
राजापि भयसंत्रस्तः पुत्रप्रणयकातरः। धात्रीगृहे कुमाराणां सन्निवेशं चकार सः॥२२॥
The king, shaken by fear and anxious from love for his sons, arranged for the princes to stay in a nurse’s home.
Passage 23
कौशल्यां च सुमित्रां च कैकेयीं च स्ववेश्मतः। सरय्वा अपरे पारे गोपराजस्य वेश्मनि। सन्निवेश्य द्विजातिभ्यो बालस्वस्त्ययनं व्यधात्॥२३॥
He moved Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī from his own palace to the cowherd king’s house on the far bank of the Sarayū, and had the twice-born perform a rite for the children’s well-being.
Passage 24
ते बालकास्तत्र गवेन्द्रधाम- न्यलङ्कृता हेममयैर्विभूषणैः। विचेरुरानन्दितबन्धुलोचनाः स्वरूपसौन्दर्यलसत्प्रतीकाः॥२४॥
There in the chief cowherd’s home the children, adorned with golden ornaments, moved about delighting their relatives’ eyes, their figures radiant with their own natural beauty.
Passage 25
कदाचिदेका खलु राक्षसी छलाद् विधाय रूपं किल लोकवञ्चकम्। साक्षादिव श्रीरगमन्निहन्तुं यत्रास्ति रामः खलु तत्र वेश्मनि॥२५॥
One day a rākṣasī deceitfully assumed a form that beguiled the world. Looking like Śrī herself, she entered the house where Rāma was in order to kill him.
Passage 26
स गोपवध्वा पयसा प्रपायितः शंशायितो मृदुशयनेऽतिबालकः। तूर्णं तयागत्य जनैरदृष्टया गृहीत एव स्तनदानवाञ्छया॥२६॥
The very young child had been fed milk by a cowherd woman and laid upon a soft bed. The rākṣasī quickly arrived unseen by the people and took him up, desiring to give him her breast.
Passage 27
तस्याः स्तनोत्थं विषहं विषं हरि- र्गृह्णन् प्राणैः साकमह्नाय देवः। प्राणान् पपौ येन तदा तथा व्यसुः प्रकाशयामास निजं कलेवरम्॥२७॥
The divine Hari drank the unbearable poison issuing from her breast together with her life. When he had swallowed her vital breath, she died and revealed her own true body.
Passage 28
गव्यूतिपञ्चकपदं युगयोजनान्त- र्विक्षिप्तमध्यमिनयोजनवज्रहस्तम्। सञ्चूर्णयन् गिरिनगालयगोव्रजौघान् दीर्घारवेण निपपात सुघोररूपम्॥२८॥
Her feet spanned five gavyūtis, her middle was flung across a pair of yojanas, and her thunderbolt-like hands extended a yojana. Crushing masses of mountain trees, dwellings, and cattle enclosures, her utterly terrible form fell with a long roar.
Passage 29
तस्याः पतन्त्याः श्वसितानलो मुखा- न्निर्यन् सुघोरेण रवेण निर्ययौ। वपुश्च सञ्चूर्णितगोव्रजाङ्गणं पपात लोकैस्तददृष्टपूर्वम्॥२९॥
As she fell, the fire of her breath streamed from her mouth with a dreadful roar. Her body crashed into and shattered the cowherd settlement’s courtyard, a sight the people had never witnessed before.
Passage 30
रवं तमाकर्ण्य जना दधाविरे खेलन्तमस्या उरसि व्यपश्यन्। रामं नवेन्दीवरदामकोमलं बालं भयावेगविवर्जितं तदा॥३०॥
Hearing that roar, the people ran there and saw young Rāma playing upon her chest, delicate as a garland of fresh blue lotuses and entirely untouched by the shock of fear.
Passage 31
सहसादाय कौशल्या माङ्गल्या गोपसुन्दरी। सविकम्पा परिष्वज्य प्राप्तप्राणमिवाग्रहीत्॥३१॥
Kauśalyā—together with Māṅgalyā, the beautiful cowherd woman—immediately picked him up. Trembling, she embraced him as though she had regained her very life.
Passage 32
अथाभ्यधावद्दशरथभूपतिर्जवाद् स्वमन्दिराद्भयमाकर्ण्यावरोधे। रामं समादाय करेण वक्षसि जघ्नौ शिरः किमिदमिति व्यशोचयत्॥३२॥
Hearing the alarm in the women’s quarters, King Daśaratha ran swiftly from his palace. Taking Rāma in his arms and pressing him to his chest, he struck his own head and cried in grief, “What is this?”
Passage 33
या राक्षसी शैलदरीविलोचना शुष्कान्धुनाभिर्द्रुमचरणाङ्गुलीगणा। विदीर्णवक्त्रातिभयं चकार कथं शिशुर्वक्षसि नानया धृतः॥३३॥
“This rākṣasī’s eyes are mountain caves, her navel a dry well, and her toes and fingers like trees. Her split-open mouth causes extreme terror. How was the infant not crushed when she held him upon her chest?” The king said
Passage 34
अहो इयं बहुभयदायिविग्रहा क्व वा अयं क्व च खलु मामकः शिशुः। दिष्ट्या विमुक्तो विधिनैव मोचितः प्राणो यथा दीनदीनस्य दीनः॥३४॥
“Ah, hers is a body that gives immense fear! What is she, and what is this little child of mine beside her? By good fortune he is free, released by Providence—this fragile life of one utterly helpless.
Passage 35
ततः स ब्राह्मणैः साकमकरोत् स्वस्तिवाचनम्। देवान् सम्पूज्य विधिवद्युत्वाग्नौ स्वाशिषोऽवदन्॥३५॥
Then, together with the brāhmaṇas, he performed the recitation for well-being. After duly worshipping the gods and offering into the fire, he spoke his own blessings.
Passage 36
यन्मे व्रतं च दत्तं च यन्मे देवाः कृतार्चनाः। यन्मे प्रसादिता विप्रास्तेनायं जीवताच्छिशुः॥३६॥
“By whatever vows I have observed and gifts I have given, by whatever gods I have worshipped and brāhmaṇas I have pleased, may this child live.
Passage 37
यन्मे भाग्यं तथायुश्च यन्मे पुण्यं सनातनम्। यन्मे तमः परं किञ्चित्तेनायं जीवि[व?]ताच्छिशुः॥३७॥
“By whatever fortune and lifespan are mine, by whatever eternal merit is mine, and by whatever further supreme tamas is mine, may this child live.
Passage 38
यन्मे शुभाशिषः प्रादात् प्राजापत्यो महामुनिः। याज्ञवल्क्यश्च भगवान् तेनासौ जीवि[व?]ताच्छिशुः॥३८॥
“Through the auspicious blessings the great Prajāpatya sage and the venerable Yājñavalkya gave me, may this child live.
Passage 39
चिरं जीवतु मे बालो बन्धुभिर्भ्रातृभिः सह। देवतानां प्रसादेन मुनीनां च विशेषतः॥३९॥
“May my child live long together with his relatives and brothers, by the grace of the gods and especially of the sages.”
Passage 40
माङ्गल्याद्या महागोप्यः कौशल्याद्याश्च मातरः। पितुर्हस्तात् समादाय प्रायुञ्जन् सत्यमाशिषः॥४०॥
Māṅgalyā and the other eminent cowherd women, together with the mothers led by Kauśalyā, took the child from his father’s hands and pronounced unfailing blessings.
Passage 41
गोविन्दः पातु ते शीर्षं दृशौ पातु चतुर्भुजः। कर्णौ दामोदरः पातु नासिके पुरुषोत्तमः॥४१॥
“May Govinda protect your head and the four-armed Lord your eyes. May Dāmodara protect your ears and Puruṣottama your two nostrils.
Passage 42
ओष्ठौ च पातु गोविन्दश्चिबुके देवकीसुतः। करौ च पातु वैकुण्ठो वक्षः पातु गदाग्रजः॥४२॥
“May Govinda protect your lips and Devakī’s son your chin. May Vaikuṇṭha protect your hands and Gada’s elder brother your chest.
Passage 43
कुक्षिं पातु सदा विष्णुर्नाभिं पातु सदा हरिः। पादौ सहस्रपात् पातु पातु पादाङ्गुलीर्विभुः॥४३॥
“May Viṣṇu always protect your belly and Hari always protect your navel. May the thousand-footed Lord protect your feet, and may the all-pervading Lord protect your toes.
Passage 44
श्रीशः पादतलं पातु सर्वतः पातु कंसहा। इति रामकुमारस्य प्रयुञ्जानाः शुभाशिषः॥ मुहुः सम्भावयामासुर्गोपाश्च गोप्यश्च मातरः॥४४॥
“May the Lord of Śrī protect the soles of your feet, and may the slayer of Kaṃsa protect you on every side.” Applying these blessings again and again to young Rāma, the cowherd men, cowherd women, and mothers lovingly honored him.
Passage 45
अहो इयं क्रूरमतिनिजैनसा मृता विधात्रैव परापकारिणी। अस्मद्भगैरेव चिरं रघुप्रियो रामः सदा मोदमानः स्वलोके॥४५॥
“Ah, this cruel-minded creature who harmed others has died through her own sin, struck down by Providence itself. By our good fortune, may Rāma, beloved of the Raghus, live long and always rejoice in his own realm.” --- Thus ends the seventeenth chapter, “The Slaying of Pūtanā,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes The auxiliary ITRANS aid mislabels the photographed verse 17 as 15; the scan clearly prints 17, and the root sequence is continuous. Verse 28 transmits the obscure compound मिनयोजनवज्रहस्तम्; its plainly dimensional force is translated without silently replacing the photographed reading. Verse 37 prints the contextually difficult तमः, literally “darkness,” where an austerity or store of merit may be intended. The edition itself brackets the uncertain letters in जीवि[व?]ताच्छिशुः at verses 37–38; both blessings clearly intend “may this child live.” Verse 44 is printed as a three-line stanza and is retained in that form.