Passage 1
नमामि ते नाथ पदाम्बुजद्वयं सुवर्णरत्नामलपादुकाश्रितम्। विरञ्चिशक्रादिशिवान्तकादिभिर्मणिप्ररोहैः कृतनीराजनं यत्॥१॥
Lord, I bow to your two lotus feet, resting in immaculate sandals of gold and jewels. Brahmā, Indra, Śiva, Yama, and the other gods wave the jeweled rays of their crowns before them like lamps of worship.
Passage 2
नमामि ते नाथ तनुत्रिभङ्गिनीं सीताङ्गानन्दसमूहसागरम्। प्रावृट्पयोवाहसुनीलदीधितिं भिन्नाञ्जनस्तोमतमालमेचकम्॥२॥
Lord, I bow to your body curved gracefully in three places, an ocean of delight for Sītā’s limbs, dark as a rain-cloud, split collyrium, and a tamāla tree.
Passage 3
नमामि च त्वां सहजानन्दरूपं परात्परं ब्रह्मणोऽपि प्रतिष्ठाम्। सदामृतस्याश्रयमेकसत्यं प्रतिष्ठितः शाश्वतो यत्र धर्मः॥३॥
I bow to you as embodied Sahajānanda, higher than the highest and the very foundation of Brahman—the sole reality and abode of eternal nectar, in whom everlasting dharma stands established.
Passage 4
येयं त्रयी नाथ वितत्य संस्थिता शब्दब्रह्मात्मिका सा तवैव। समासतो व्यासतो वा गुणौघान् गायत्युच्चैर्मागधानां सभेव॥४॥
Lord, the threefold Veda extended as verbal Brahman belongs to you alone. In brief and in detail it loudly sings your hosts of qualities like a court of royal bards.
Passage 5
कर्मापि ते नाथ तथैव शक्तिः क्रियात्मिका शाश्वती सुप्रतिष्ठा। इष्टापूर्ताद्यात्मिका सत्फलाढ्या जगत्प्रतिष्ठाजनने समर्था॥५॥
Action too is your eternal and firmly established power of activity. Rich in good fruits through sacrifice, public works, and the rest, it is capable of bringing forth and sustaining the world.
Passage 6
कालोऽपि ते नाथ दृशोर्निमेषो दिवानिशं वर्षफलोपचायी। कल्पावधिर्ब्रह्मशक्राधिशक्तः सृष्टिस्थितिप्रलयान्तक्रियो यः॥६॥
Time itself is a blink of your eyes, Lord. It accumulates days, nights, years, and their fruits, extends to the end of a kalpa, rules Brahmā and Indra, and conducts creation, preservation, and dissolution.
Passage 7
त्वं पक्षिरूपेण पुरेषु भूयो विराजसे द्वित्रिचतुष्पदेषु। प्रविष्टवद् भास्यप्रविष्टोऽपि भूमन् साक्षी नित्यश्चिद्धनस्तत्त्वतत्त्वम्॥७॥
Infinite Lord, you shine within bodies of two, three, and four feet and again in winged forms. Though appearing to enter them, you remain unentered—the eternal witness, compact consciousness, and truth of every principle.
Passage 8
त्वया पुरा कापि परैव सा गिरा प्रबोधमानानिलवह्नियोगतः। असूत शब्दं त्रिवृदात्मकं यदा तदाभवत् स्थावरजङ्गमं जगत्॥८॥
At the beginning, through your transcendent speech and the conjunction of awakening wind and fire, threefold sound was born; from it arose the world of moving and unmoving beings.
Passage 9
संजातमात्रस्य विधेर्जडस्य विवेकहीनस्य विधेयवस्तुनि। त्वमादिदेवो हृदयेऽवातरस्ततो विनिर्ममेऽसौ विविधव्यक्तिराशीन्॥९॥
When the newly born Creator was inert and lacked discernment concerning what he had to fashion, you, the primal God, entered his heart. Only then did he produce the many classes of manifest beings.
Passage 10
एकोऽपि स त्वं बहुरूपेण दृश्यः सन्नेव राम त्रिजगद्विग्रहोऽसि। अतोऽन्यविज्ञानविनिर्मलात्मभिर्ब्रह्मैव सर्वं भाति भूतं च भव्यम्॥१०॥
Though one, you appear in many forms, Rāma, and are the body of the three worlds. Therefore, to minds purified of divided knowledge, everything past and future shines as Brahman alone.
Passage 11
एकोऽहमेवं बहुधा भवेयमितीक्षणं ते नाथ सदैव यस्मिन्। सर्गस्यादौ निर्गताः स्वांशरूपा जीवाकाराद् चिद्गुणाः सस्वभावाः॥११॥
Lord, within you abides the eternal vision, “I am one; may I become many.” At creation’s beginning, conscious powers with their own natures issued from you as your portions in the forms of living beings.
Passage 12
केचित्तेषां नित्यमुक्ता बभूवुः केचिद् भूयः साधने मुक्तिभाजः। केचित्संसाराब्धिमध्ये दुरन्ते भूयो भूयो जन्मदुःखादिभाजः॥१२॥
Some of them are eternally liberated; some attain liberation through discipline; and some, amid the unfathomable ocean of saṃsāra, repeatedly suffer the sorrows of birth and the rest.
Passage 13
अचित्प्रपञ्चोऽपि तवैव रूपं वैकुण्ठकुड्याङ्गणकुट्टिमादि। सदैव दृग्गोचरतां व्रजत्यपि स्वयं चिदानन्दमयं दिगन्तरम्॥१३॥
Even the insentient expanse—the walls, courtyards, pavements, and other parts of Vaikuṇṭha—is your form. Though visible to the eye, in itself every quarter is made of consciousness and bliss.
Passage 14
नित्यैव ते नाथ विनोदलीला शृङ्गारवीरामृतसिन्धुपूरा। यस्यां निमज्जन्ति सदावदातास्ते राजहंसाः शुकनारदाद्याः॥१४॥
Your playful līlā is eternal, Lord, filled by oceans of the nectars of love and heroism. Pure royal swans such as Śuka and Nārada forever immerse themselves in it.
Passage 15
जानामि ते नाथ परस्य सर्वेऽप्यंशा अमी स्थूलसूक्ष्मादिरूपाः। स्थूलाः स्फुटं ये विविधावताराः सूक्ष्माः परं संसृतजीवसंज्ञाः॥१५॥
Lord, I know that all these gross and subtle forms are portions of you, the Supreme: the gross are your clearly manifest descents, while the subtle are called the living beings in saṃsāra.
Passage 16
अहो अगाधा भवतोऽस्य माया विमुक्तमायस्य चिदेकसंश्रया। यथैकरूपोऽपि भवान्नवैव दृश्योऽसि सदात्मधियां न वै सताम्॥१६॥
Ah, the māyā of you who are free from māyā and rest in consciousness alone is unfathomable. Although one in form, you appear ever new; yet to the wise whose understanding rests in the Self, you never cease to be one.
Passage 17
देशेषु कोशलपदं च परं त्वदीयं धामास्ति सच्चित्सुखमद्वितीयम्। विराजते यत्र सुकोमलाख्या पुरी समुद्यत्सरयूतरङ्गा॥१७॥
Among all lands, the supreme realm of Kosala is your nondual abode of being, consciousness, and bliss. There shines the city named Sukomalā beside the rising waves of the Sarayū.
Passage 18
यत्रास्ति रत्नौघसुवर्णनिर्मितः प्राकारवर्यो धृततुङ्गयन्त्रः। अनेकदुर्धर्षणगोपुरान्तःकपाटसंघट्टितवज्रकीलकः॥१८॥
Its excellent rampart is made from masses of jewels and gold and bears lofty engines. Within its many impregnable gateways, the doors are secured with diamond bolts.
Passage 19
नित्यं प्रमोदवनमद्भुतकेलिकुञ्जं मध्वादिसर्वऋतुसौख्यसमूहजुष्टम्। तत्राप्यशोकलतिकावनमस्ति यत्र सीता विजयते तव जानकी सा॥१९॥
There is eternal Pramoda-vana, a grove of wondrous play filled with the delights of spring and every season. Within it is the aśoka-creeper grove where your Jānakī Sītā reigns victorious.
Passage 20
सोऽयं तवैव महिमा निगमप्रसिद्धो यत्सार्वभौमपदवीप्रमुदां पुराणाम्। यत्रोत्तरोत्तरमभाणि शताधिकत्वं तस्यापि राम नितरामवधिस्त्वमेव॥२०॥
This is your Veda-renowned greatness: the ancient texts rejoice in describing successively higher sovereign states, each a hundredfold beyond the last; yet, Rāma, you alone are the ultimate limit even of them.
Passage 21
येऽन्ये तवावतरणा इह मत्स्यकूर्मवाराहसिंहवरवामनभार्गवाद्याः। तेषामपि त्वमुदयो निलयश्च राम सीतापते सहजचित्सुखकेलिसिन्धुः॥२१॥
Your other descents—Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Narasiṃha, excellent Vāmana, Bhārgava, and the rest—arise from and return to you, Rāma, Lord of Sītā and ocean of spontaneous conscious bliss and play.
Passage 22
विद्यास्वरूपमवलम्ब्य सतां जनानां हृत्पुण्डरीकविषयेषु भवांश्चकास्ति। नोचेत्सुदुस्तरतरत्वदपारमायाबन्धात्मकाद् भवरयात् कथमुद्धृतिः स्यात्॥२२॥
Assuming the form of knowledge, you shine within the lotus hearts of the good. Otherwise, how could anyone be lifted from the current of becoming, whose bondage is your boundless and exceedingly difficult māyā?
Passage 23
रामेति नाम भवतस्त्रवतोऽपि वक्त्रं पापात्मनोऽपि सकृदुच्चरितं पुनीते। ज्ञात्वेत्यमेव मुनिभिः सततं प्रशान्तैश्चित्ते सदा परमहंसतमैर्निखातम्॥२३॥
The name “Rāma,” uttered once even by a sinner, purifies the mouth from which it flows. Knowing this, the supremely peaceful, swan-like sages have planted it forever in their hearts.
Passage 24
त्वत्सङ्गिनीं नाथ नमामि तां परां शक्तिं सुपूर्णां सहजामद्वितीयाम्। या नित्यवृन्दावनकेलिकारिणी प्रमोदवल्लीवनदेवता च॥२४॥
Lord, I bow to your companion, the transcendent, all-complete, spontaneous, nondual Power who performs eternal play in Vṛndāvana and is the goddess of the creeper groves of Pramoda-vana.
Passage 25
लीलाविशिष्ट भवतोऽपि च राम नाम रूपं च ते तादृशमेव चकास्तु। माणिक्यरत्नस्फुरितावतंसकं सुदीप्तगुञ्जामणिहारशोभितम्॥२५॥
Rāma, as your līlā is distinctive, may your name and form forever shine before me in that very manner, with ruby earrings flashing and a brilliant necklace of guñjā gems.
Passage 26
माङ्गल्यकोत्सङ्गविशेषलालितं गोपाङ्गनादृष्टिकटाक्षदीक्षितम्। रामाभिधानं परमं महस्तत् सदैव नेत्रातिथितां प्रयातु मे॥२६॥
May that supreme radiance called Rāma—fondled in Māṅgalyā’s lap and consecrated by the sidelong glances of the cowherd women—always become a guest before my eyes.
Passage 27
रघुकुलकमनीयं कामुकं गोपिकानां व्रजपुररमणीयं नीलवैदूर्यरम्यम्। जनकनृपतनूजाप्रीतिसंदोहपात्रं सुचिरमहमुपासे राघवं रामचन्द्रम्॥२७॥
For all time I worship Rāghava Rāmacandra, delight of Raghu’s line and lover of the cowherd women, the blue-beryl beauty of Vraja, vessel of the gathered love of King Janaka’s daughter.
Passage 28
अशोकवनकुञ्जभूसहजनित्यकेलिप्रियं व्रजस्थहरिणीदृशां मदनरागसंवर्धनम्। ककुत्स्थकुलभूषणं निगमकोटिवक्तृस्तुतं भजे दशरथात्मजं परं रामचन्द्रं मुदा॥२८॥
Joyfully I worship supreme Rāmacandra, son of Daśaratha: lover of spontaneous eternal play in the aśoka grove, increaser of the doe-eyed Vraja women’s passionate love, ornament of Kakutstha’s line, and praised by countless Vedic voices.
Passage 29
इति स्तुतिपरे शेषे प्रसन्नो राघवेश्वरः। प्रोवाच स्मयमानेन मुखेन मधुराकृतिः॥२९॥
As Śeṣa remained absorbed in praise, the Lord of the Rāghavas was pleased. The sweetly formed Lord spoke with a smiling face.
Passage 30
अहो नागेन्द्र शेष त्वं सम्यग् व्यवसितोऽसि भोः। यन्मदीया परा भक्तिः स्फुरिता हृदये तव॥३०॥
“Ah, Śeṣa, king of serpents, your resolve is excellent, for supreme devotion to me has arisen within your heart.
Passage 31
न तां प्राप्नोति वै धाता न शिवो नापि वासवः। नित्यलीलारतिः सा ते वार्धिष्णुर्दृश्यते हृदि॥३१॥
“Neither the Creator, Śiva, nor Indra attains it. Yet attachment to my eternal līlā is seen increasing in your heart.
Passage 32
अथापि यदि यत्काम्यं तन्मत्तो व्रियतां मुहुः। संप्रितस्तेऽनया भक्त्या ददाम्यहमतिप्रियम्॥३२॥
“Now choose from me whatever you desire. Delighted by this devotion of yours, I shall give you what is exceedingly dear.
Passage 33
भक्तोऽसि वैष्णवाग्र्योऽसि प्राज्ञोऽसि भुजगेश्वर। यत्ते हृदि प्रियं वस्तु मत्तस्तत् प्रार्थ्यतां मुहुः॥३३॥
“You are my devotee, foremost among Vaiṣṇavas, and wise, lord of serpents. Ask from me for whatever object is dear to your heart.
Passage 34
न ह्यलभ्यं मदीयानां भक्तानां मयि दातरि। ऐहिकामुष्मिकं वापि यत्स्वरूपं च दुर्लभम्॥३४॥
“When I am the giver, nothing is unattainable for my devotees—whether something of this world, the next, or even the rare attainment of my own nature.” Thus ends Chapter Eighty-eight, called “Śeṣa’s praise,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Source note This chapter is transcribed directly from printed pages 365–368 of the 1975 Pūrva-khaṇḍa witness (source leaves 496–499). The scan is authoritative. The edition numbers both the cosmogonic passage beginning tvayā purā and the following Brahmā passage as 8, then resumes with 9–33. Both are complete and independent units, so the second printed 8 is registered as passage 9 and all following passages as 10–34. The difficult compounds in verses 1–9 and 17–26 are translated conservatively. The text’s identification of several divine realms and avatāras with Rāma’s own manifestations is retained without harmonizing it to a different theology.