Passage 1
कोशलायां निवसति रामभद्रे सतां गतौ। लक्ष्मीधरे देवदेवेशे प्रभौ त्रैलोक्यवल्लभे॥१॥
While blessed Rāma—the refuge of the good, bearer of fortune, God of gods, Lord, and beloved of the three worlds—dwelt in Kosala,
Passage 2
लक्ष्मीभराः प्रादुरासुस्तथा संपद्धरा अपि। फलिनो भूरुहा आसन् रत्नसूश्च वसुन्धरा॥२॥
abundant prosperity appeared everywhere. Trees bore fruit and the earth gave birth to jewels.
Passage 3
काले ववर्ष पर्जन्यः फलन्ति स्म लताद्रुमाः। भूधरा धातुदातारः सुवर्णरजतादिकान्॥३॥
Rain fell at the proper time; vines and trees bore fruit; and mountains yielded minerals such as gold and silver.
Passage 4
देवाः प्रसादसुमुखाः सुखाराध्या हविर्भुजः। यज्ञाः सद्यो विधिफलाः क्रियाः शीघ्रफलप्रदाः॥४॥
The gods who receive oblations were gracious and easily worshiped. Sacrifices at once produced their prescribed fruit, and rites gave swift results.
Passage 5
ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां चैव शूद्राणां च गृहे गृहे। सुवर्णमणिनिष्काढ्या विलसन्त्यङ्गनागणाः॥५॥
In every home of brahmins, warriors, merchants, and laborers, groups of women shone adorned with gold, jewels, and necklaces.
Passage 6
सर्वे जनाः कृतानन्दाः कृतोत्साहाः सुमङ्गलाः। प्रसन्नमनसश्चासन् रामकौतुकदर्शनात्॥६॥
All the people were joyful, enthusiastic, and blessed; their minds were serene from beholding Rāma’s festivities.
Passage 7
रामेन्दौ यौवराज्ये स्थितवति भुवने नैव दुःखं न मर्षो नोद्वेगो नाभिचारो न परबलभयं नेतिभीतिर्न भीतिः। नानीतिर्नेतिवृष्टिर्यमकृतविपदां तापगीतिः प्रजानां नायासो न प्रवासो न धनविधुरता नानपत्यो न रुग्णः॥७॥
When moon-like Rāma became heir-apparent, the world knew no sorrow, anger, agitation, sorcery, fear of foreign armies, calamity, misrule, untimely rain, punishment-born distress, exhaustion, exile, poverty, childlessness, or disease.
Passage 8
कदाचिन्नृपतेः साक्षात् कोशलाधिपतेः प्रभोः। अश्वमेधमखोत्साहो बभूव बहुमङ्गलम्॥८॥
Once the sovereign Lord of Kosala conceived the greatly auspicious resolve to perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice.
Passage 9
पुण्याहं वाचयित्वा स शुभकर्माणि द्विजन्मनः। अकरोद्दीक्षणीयेष्टिं प्रायणीयेष्टिमेव च॥९॥
After brahmins proclaimed the auspicious day and rites, he performed the consecratory offering and the opening offering.
Passage 10
अर्वाणमश्वमेधीयमभिमन्त्र्य सुसंस्कृतम्। मुमोचात्मन इच्छाभिश्चरन्तमकुतोभयम्॥१०॥
He consecrated the carefully prepared sacrificial horse and released it to wander fearlessly according to its own will.
Passage 11
तस्य रक्षार्थमयुजन् सन्नद्धौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। महावीरौ कवचिनौ शस्त्रिणौ च निषङ्गिणौ॥११॥
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were appointed to guard it, two great heroes armored, armed, and bearing quivers.
Passage 12
तिस्रो दिशश्चचाराश्वः पूर्वदक्षिणपश्चिमाः। इन्द्रेण प्रथमं रुद्धस्ततः कृत्वा महारणम्॥१२॥
The horse wandered through the eastern, southern, and western regions. Indra first obstructed it, and a great battle followed.
Passage 13
विनिर्जित्य समानीतो देवकन्यागणैः सह। विभज्य भ्रातृभिः साकमूढवान् भक्तवत्सलः॥१३॥
After conquering, the lover of devotees returned with groups of divine maidens and, sharing them with his brothers, accepted them in marriage.
Passage 14
ततो रुरोध भगवान् कालो दण्डधरः स्वयम्। तं निर्जित्य समानिन्ये कालकन्यागणानिह॥१४॥
Then Lord Kāla, bearer of the rod, personally barred the way. Rāma conquered him and brought Kāla’s daughters here.
Passage 15
यमदत्तानुदवहत् सौमित्रेण च वै सह। वारुण्यां वरुणो देवः स्वागतं रघुपुङ्गवम्॥१५॥
Together with Sumitrā’s son he married the maidens given by Yama. In Varuṇa’s region, the god Varuṇa welcomed the chief of the Raghus.
Passage 16
आनर्च रत्नहारौघैर्ज्ञात्वा त्रिभुवनेश्वरम्। उत्तरस्यां ययौ चाश्वो गान्धर्व्यां सुमहादिशि॥१६॥
Recognizing the Lord of the three worlds, Varuṇa worshiped him with masses of jeweled necklaces. The horse then went north into the great Gandharva region.
Passage 17
तत्र गन्धर्वलोकास्तमहरन् यज्ञघोटकम्। रत्नवर्मा चित्ररथः स्वर्णकायः सुलोचनः॥१७॥
There the Gandharvas seized the sacrificial horse. Among them were Ratnavarman, Citraratha, Svarṇakāya, and Sulocana,
Passage 18
पद्ममालो हेमकेतुर्वृषपर्वः सुकेतनः। अन्ये च बहवो मुख्या गन्धर्वाः समवेत्य तम्॥१८॥
Padmamāla, Hemaketu, Vṛṣaparvan, Suketana, and many other leading Gandharvas, who gathered around it.
Passage 19
ततस्तौ सुमहावीरौ सज्यं कृत्वा धनुर्धरौ। अग्रहीष्टां शरव्रातैर्वर्षैरिव महीधरान्॥१९॥
The two mighty bowmen strung their bows and assailed them with volleys of arrows like rainstorms striking mountains.
Passage 20
अभूद् गन्धर्वनिवहैस्तत्र युद्धं महोत्कटम्। पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां रोमहर्षणकारकम्॥२०॥
A fierce battle with the Gandharva hosts arose there, making the hair of all the watching gods stand on end.
Passage 21
राममुक्तैः शरव्रातैर्गन्धर्वाः सुभटोत्कटाः। सद्यः प्रतिहताः सर्वे बभूवुस्तुङ्गविक्रमाः॥२१॥
The formidable, high-spirited Gandharva warriors were all immediately repelled by the volleys Rāma released.
Passage 22
ततो गन्धर्वकन्याभिः सुमुखीभिः सहस्रशः। साकं हयवरं प्रादुर्गन्धर्वाः प्रीतमानसाः॥२२॥
Pleased in heart, the Gandharvas returned the excellent horse together with thousands of beautiful-faced Gandharva maidens. Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 23
अस्ति मे कापि महिषी प्राणेशी मम जीवनम्। तस्यां सत्यां कथमहमेता ऊढुमुत्सहे॥२३॥
“I have one queen who rules my life and is my very existence. While she is present, how could I presume to marry these women?” The Gandharvas said:
Passage 24
भवान् स पुरुषः पूर्णो राम एव न संशयः। बह्वीनां रञ्जनकरः कान्तानां भूरिशक्तिमान्॥२४॥
“You are that complete Person, Rāma himself—there is no doubt. Possessing boundless power, you delight a multitude of beloved women.
Passage 25
गोपाङ्गनास्तव विभो ललनाः समग्रा दिक्पालकाश्च भवते समदुः स्वकन्याः। अन्याश्च नागनरकिन्नरदेववध्व- स्त्वय्येव नेत्रसुखदे हि रता बभूवुः॥२५॥
“Lord, all the cowherd women are yours; the guardians of the directions gave you their daughters; and women of the Nāgas, humans, Kinnaras, and gods have all fallen in love with you, the giver of delight to their eyes.
Passage 26
तस्मादेताः किंकरीस्त्वन्महिष्यो गान्धर्वेण प्रीतियुक्तो गृहाण। यस्मादेकस्त्वं समस्तत्रिलोक्याः स्वेच्छामात्रात् पूर्णचित्ताभिलाषः॥२६॥
“Therefore gladly accept these Gandharva maidens as your servants and queens. You alone can fulfill by mere will the heart’s desire of the entire threefold world.”
Passage 27
इति तैर्गदितो रामो बहुमानपुरःसरम्। प्रत्यग्रहीच्च सानन्दं सर्वा गन्धर्वकन्यकाः॥२७॥
Thus addressed with great honor, Rāma joyfully accepted all the Gandharva maidens.
Passage 28
चतुर्दिक्षु कृतोद्वाहः कुबेरेण च पूजितः। अश्वमेधं महायज्ञमकरोद्दीक्षितो नृपः॥२८॥
Having contracted marriages in the four directions and been worshiped by Kubera, the consecrated prince performed the great Aśvamedha sacrifice.
Passage 29
प्रत्यक्षाः देवताः सर्वा विधिवत् पर्यपूजयत्। अध्वर्यूनृत्विजो होतॄनुद्गातॄंश्च विशेषतः॥२९॥
He duly worshiped all the visibly present gods and especially the adhvaryus, officiating priests, hotṛs, and udgātṛs.
Passage 30
ब्रह्माणं स्वगणोपेतं सर्वांश्च गणसंयुतान्। गजवाजिमहीस्वर्णसर्वस्वं समदान्नृपः॥३०॥
The prince honored Brahmā with his retinue and all the other gods with theirs, then gave away elephants, horses, land, gold, and all his wealth.
Passage 31
एवं कृतमहायज्ञः सर्वस्वव्ययनिष्ठया। अग्नित्रयमुपासीनस्त्रिकालं विधिवन्नृपः॥३१॥
Having completed the great sacrifice through the dedication of all his possessions, the king thereafter tended the three sacred fires at the three appointed times.
Passage 32
पुष्णन् रामे परं स्नेहमभाद् दशरथो मखी। कदाचिद् यज्ञशालायां पश्यतो नृपतेः क्षणात्॥३२॥
The sacrificer Daśaratha nourished supreme affection for Rāma. One day, while the king watched in the sacrificial hall,
Passage 33
अग्नयोऽदृश्यतां जग्मुः पश्यतां च द्विजन्मनाम्। अदृश्यतां प्रयातेषु सेव्यमानेषु चाग्निषु॥३३॥
the sacred fires vanished before the eyes of the twice-born priests. Though being carefully tended, the fires passed out of sight.
Passage 34
हाहाकारो महानासीत् सर्वत्र द्विजवेश्मसु। ततः संचुक्रुधे रामः केन खल्वग्नयो हृताः॥३४॥
A great cry of distress arose throughout the brahmins’ dwellings. Rāma became angry: “Who has stolen the fires?”
Passage 35
आत्तचापो रथे स्थित्वा अव्याहतमनोगतिः। लक्ष्मणेन सह श्रीशः प्रतस्थे त्रिजगत्सु सः॥३५॥
Taking up his bow and mounting the chariot, the Lord of Śrī, whose intention cannot be checked, set out with Lakṣmaṇa through the three worlds.
Passage 36
इन्द्रलोकेऽग्निलोके च यमलोके तथैव च। लोके च निरृतेश्चैव तथा वरुणवेश्मनि॥३६॥
He searched Indra’s realm, Agni’s realm, Yama’s realm, Nirṛti’s realm, and the palace of Varuṇa.
Passage 37
वायुर्लोके कुबेरस्य लोके लोके शिवस्य च। स्वर्गे मर्त्ये च पाताले जगाम रघुनायकः॥३७॥
The Lord of the Raghus went to Vāyu’s world, Kubera’s and Śiva’s worlds, to heaven, the mortal realm, and the underworld.
Passage 38
तत्र तत्र न चैवाग्निमपश्यद् विस्मितान्तरः। ततोऽतिविस्मितो भूत्वा लक्ष्मणं प्राह राघवः॥३८॥
Nowhere did he see the fire, and wonder filled his heart. Greatly astonished, Rāghava said to Lakṣmaṇa:
Passage 39
नाग्नयः सन्ति सौमित्रे त्रिषु लोकेषु कर्हिचित्। नास्मद्रथगतेः कश्चिदगोचरतमोऽभवत्॥३९॥
“Son of Sumitrā, the fires are nowhere in the three worlds. No place within the reach of our chariot has remained unseen.
Passage 40
तस्माद् गता अग्नयोऽमी लोकालोकगिरेः परम्। सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषो यत्रास्ति निजतेजसा॥४०॥
“Therefore these fires must have gone beyond Mount Lokāloka, where the thousand-headed Person abides in his own radiance.
Passage 41
अग्नीन्निजपितुः सेव्यानानेष्यामस्ततो वयम्। पश्यास्मद्रथवेगं त्वं लक्ष्मणामितविक्रमम्॥४१॥
“We shall bring back from there the fires tended by our father. Lakṣmaṇa of immeasurable valor, behold the speed of our chariot.”
Passage 42
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् सुतं लक्ष्मणं च रथान्तरे। स्थापयित्वा स्वयंवाहांस्तोत्रपाणिरवाहयत्॥४२॥
After saying this, the Lord placed young Lakṣmaṇa inside the chariot, took the reins in his own hands, and drove the horses himself.
Passage 43
लोकालोकं समुत्तीर्य प्राप घोरतरं तमः। तत्र स्थित्वा निजं चक्रं मध्ये मार्गमदीपयत्॥४३॥
Crossing Mount Lokāloka, he reached a terrible darkness. There he stationed his own discus in the center to illuminate the path.
Passage 44
चक्रस्यामितया भासा प्रकाशे पथि ते हयाः। अवहन् स्यन्दनवरं सद्धर्मं निगमा इव॥४४॥
On the road lit by the discus’s immeasurable brilliance, the horses bore the excellent chariot as the Vedas bear true dharma.
Passage 45
समतीत्य विधेर्लोकं तीर्त्वा मायाभिधं तमः। विरजां च समुत्तीर्य दुस्तरां सागरोत्तमाम्॥४५॥
Passing beyond Brahmā’s realm, crossing the darkness called Māyā, and traversing the difficult and excellent ocean Virajā,
Passage 46
प्राप तं विषयं यत्र त्रिपाद् ब्रह्म सनातनम्। स्वयंज्योतिः स्वयं प्राज्ञं द्योतमानं निजत्विषा॥४६॥
he reached the region where eternal three-footed Brahman shines by its own light, self-luminous and self-aware.
Passage 47
सहस्रवदनं देवं सहस्राननलोचनम्। सहस्रपाणिचरणं सहस्रश्रुतिनासिकम्॥४७॥
There was the thousand-faced Lord with a thousand mouths and eyes, a thousand hands and feet, and a thousand ears and noses.
Passage 48
यस्यांशांशावतरणा देवतिर्यङ्नरादयः। अनेकविधयो यत्र तथा रुद्रगणा अपि॥४८॥
Gods, animals, humans, beings of many kinds, and the hosts of Rudras are descents of portions of his portions.
Passage 49
वासवा वसवश्चैव वरुणा वायवोऽग्नयः। यमाश्च निरृतिश्चैव सर्वाश्च गणदेवताः॥४९॥
From him come the Indras, Vasus, Varuṇas, Vāyus, Agnis, Yamas, Nirṛtis, and all the classes of gods.
Passage 50
यस्मादेव प्रजायन्ते व्यक्तयः स्थूलसूक्ष्मिकाः। कोटिसूर्यतडित्तुल्यं महसामुत्तमं महः॥५०॥
From him alone all gross and subtle manifestations arise. He is the supreme radiance among radiances, equal to ten million suns and lightning flashes.
Passage 51
तत्र यातो रघुश्रेष्ठः सानुजः सह सारथिः। ततोऽवतीर्य रथतो भ्रातरौ मणिमन्दिरे॥५१॥
The best of the Raghus arrived there with his younger brother and charioteer. The brothers descended from the chariot at the jeweled palace.
Passage 52
जग्मतुर्यद्गृहद्वारे जयश्च विजयस्तथा। साधिष्ठितौ द्वारप्रवरौ यच्च दिव्यं परं पदम्॥५२॥
They went to the palace door, where Jaya and Vijaya guarded the excellent gateway of that divine supreme abode.
Passage 53
आयान्तं राममाज्ञाय राघवं तेजसां निधिम्। द्वारि प्रत्युद्गतो देव आदिनारायणो विभुः॥५३॥
Learning that Rāghava Rāma, treasury of splendor, was approaching, the all-pervading Lord Ādinārāyaṇa came out to meet him at the door.
Passage 54
ननाम शिरसां वृन्दै रामं त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरम्। नत्वा प्रवेशयामास राममन्तःपुरे निजे॥५४॥
He bowed his many heads to Rāma, beauty of the three worlds, and respectfully led him into his private palace.
Passage 55
भूयः सम्महनां कृत्वा पादार्घ्याचमनादिभिः। सुधामयीभिः संविदाभिस्तुष्टाव निजमीश्वरम्॥५५॥
After honoring him further with water for his feet, arghya, water for sipping, and other offerings, Ādinārāyaṇa praised his own Lord in nectar-filled words. Thus ends Chapter Ninety, within “Rāma’s installation as heir-apparent,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Source note This chapter is transcribed directly from printed pages 370–374 of the 1975 Pūrva-khaṇḍa witness (source leaves 501–505). The scan is authoritative. Verse 7 is one long numbered unit of four printed lines. The chapter joins two episodes: the sacrificial horse’s circuit and the disappearance of Daśaratha’s fires. The text’s Gandharva marriage narrative and its cosmological hierarchy are translated as printed rather than harmonized with other Rāmāyaṇa traditions. OCR confusions in the lists of priests, worlds, and divine classes were controlled against the visible page images.