Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— युक्तः कुमारैश्चतुरैश्चतुर्भिर्वसन्नयोध्यानगरे महीन्द्रः। महीतले धर्मतः पालयानो विशेषतोऽसौ मुमुदे तदानीम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: “The great king, accompanied by all four of his four sons, lived in the city of Ayodhyā. Ruling the earth according to dharma, he rejoiced there with exceptional happiness.
Passage 2
प्रत्यहं पूजनान्यासुर्मुनीनामात्मयोगिनाम्। बभूवुर्ज्ञानगोष्ठ्यश्च तैः समं तस्य भूपतेः॥२॥
“Every day that king honored the sages established in the Self, and he held conversations with them concerning spiritual knowledge.
Passage 3
रामस्य पुरतो राज्ञा पूज्यमाना मुनीश्वराः। सलज्जा इव ते जाताः सर्वदेवगरीयसः॥३॥
“When the king honored the lordly sages in Rāma's presence, those who were more venerable than all the gods became almost bashful.
Passage 4
रामोऽपि भगवान् नित्यं ब्रह्मण्यानां शिरोमणिः। पृथक् पृथक् मुनीन्द्रांस्तानारराध सपर्यया॥४॥
“The venerable Rāma, crown jewel of those devoted to the brāhmaṇas, also worshiped each of those eminent sages separately with reverent service.
Passage 5
ते पूज्यमाना रामेण पादप्रक्षालनादिभिः। विदन्तोऽस्य परं तत्त्वं तूष्णीमासुर्मुनीश्वराः॥५॥
“Those lordly sages knew Rāma's supreme reality. As he honored them by washing their feet and rendering other services, they therefore remained silent.
Passage 6
एकदा भूपवर्यस्य पुरतो मुनिपुङ्गवाः। मुदिता इदमूचुस्ते पूजान्ते जातसंभ्रमाः॥६॥
“One day, after the foremost king had finished worshiping them, the eminent sages stood before him, filled with delight and reverent wonder, and spoke as follows. The Sages Praise Daśaratha's Good Fortune
Passage 7
मुनय ऊचुः— अहो ते राजशार्दूल भक्त्या परमयानया। सन्तुष्टाः किं वयं लोके ददामोऽभीष्टमद्भुतम्॥७॥
The sages said: “O tiger among kings, we are pleased by this supreme devotion of yours. What marvelous object of desire could we possibly give you in this world?
Passage 8
सम्पदस्ते परतरा अवाङ्मनसगोचराः। कुबेरमतिवर्तन्ते राजराजं निधीश्वरम्॥८॥
“Your exalted riches are beyond the reach of speech and mind. They surpass even Kubera, king of kings and lord of treasures.
Passage 9
पुत्रस्तवाखिलगुणाकर एष साक्षाद्रामः सुरासुरमहर्षिसमूहभाव्यः। अंशामात्रविभवाश्रयमस्य लब्धास्तेजस्विनो जगति चन्द्रविभाकराद्याः॥९॥
“This son of yours is Rāma himself, the mine of every excellence, contemplated by hosts of gods, antigods, and great seers. The moon, the sun, and all other luminous beings in the world possess only a minute portion of his splendor.
Passage 10
तमेवानुगताः शीलवीर्योदार्यादिभिर्गुणैः। सर्वे एते तव सुताः लक्ष्मणाद्याः सुवर्चसः॥१०॥
“All your other radiant sons, beginning with Lakṣmaṇa, follow him in virtues such as character, courage, and generosity.
Passage 11
योऽसौ तव सुतो ज्येष्ठो रामाख्यो महसां निधिः। तस्याज्ञायां स्थितः कालः कालयत्यखिलं जगत्॥११॥
“Time itself stands under the command of your eldest son, Rāma, treasury of all splendor, and moves the entire universe toward its appointed end.
Passage 12
मुक्तिस्तव पुरे राजन् पण्यस्त्रीव न गण्यते। रामप्रेमरसाविष्टहृदयैरधमैरपि॥१२॥
“O king, in your city even the lowliest people, whose hearts are absorbed in the rasa of love for Rāma, value liberation no more than a woman offered for sale.
Passage 13
अथो वयं भूपतिसार्वभौम ददाम किं ते वरमत्यभीष्टम्। आराध्यमाना अनिशं महत्या सपर्ययात्यूर्जितभक्तिमत्या॥१३॥
“Sovereign among kings, what deeply desired boon could we give you, though you continually worship us with this magnificent service, charged with powerful devotion?
Passage 14
ब्रह्मण्यदेवप्रवरो मनस्वी धर्मिष्ठवर्यः श्रुतिशास्त्रवेत्ता। स्वात्मैकनिष्ठो विदिताखिलार्थः स्वामी ह्यसावस्यां भुवि धन्य एव॥१४॥
“This noble lord is foremost among protectors of sacred learning, high-minded, supreme among the righteous, and versed in revelation and sacred teaching. Steadfast in his own Self and acquainted with every truth, he alone is blessed upon this earth.
Passage 15
नित्यानन्दमयी राजन् नगरी तव सर्वदा। सर्वसौभाग्यसम्पन्ना सकलाभीष्टदायिनी॥१५॥
“O king, your city is always filled with eternal bliss. Endowed with every kind of good fortune, it grants all that one could desire.
Passage 16
अस्यां वसन्तो नियतं वयं भूपशिरोमणे। कृतार्थयामः सततं निजं जन्म महोदयम्॥१६॥
“O crown jewel of kings, by dwelling here continually we forever make this exalted human birth of ours successful.
Passage 17
किं यमेनियमैर्वापि किं वा योगेन नः प्रभो। इदानीं तव पुत्रस्य प्रेमानन्दवशीकृताः॥१७॥
“Master, what need have we now of restraints and observances, or even of yoga? We have been brought under the sway of the bliss of love for your son.
Passage 18
रमामः सततं लीलारसानन्दमहोदधौ। ब्रह्मानन्दं समभ्येत्य तिष्ठामः सुमहोदयाः॥१८॥
“We continually delight in the great ocean of bliss that is the rasa of his līlā. Having attained the bliss of Brahman, we abide in supreme felicity.
Passage 19
यत्कर्मभिर्लभ्यते स्थानमुच्चैः सुराङ्गनासङ्गमभूरिभोगम्। विमानवर्यैः परिभूष्यमाणं तत्कालशक्तिग्रसनीयमेव॥१९॥
“The exalted realm gained through ritual action, rich in pleasures with heavenly women and adorned with splendid aerial cars, must in time be consumed by the power of Time.
Passage 20
यज्ज्ञानिभिर्लभ्यत आत्मयोगात्स्थानं परं ब्रह्ममयं महौजम्। वेद्यानुभूत्या स्वदनेन हीनं तत्कं प्रतीयात् पुरुषार्थभावम्॥२०॥
“The radiant supreme station, composed of Brahman, which knowers attain by yoga of the Self—if it is devoid of the savor tasted in loving realization, who could regard it as the fulfillment of a human aim?
Passage 21
तत्तदेवोपासनावासनाभिस्तत्तल्लोकाख्यं पदं लभ्यते यत्। तदन्योन्याधिकसौख्यानुमर्शात्स्पर्धाव्याकुलं नैव सतां मनोज्ञम्॥२१॥
“The various stations called heavenly worlds are obtained through the corresponding cultivated dispositions of worship. Because comparison of their greater and lesser pleasures breeds competitive agitation, they do not delight the saints.
Passage 22
क्षीयमाणानन्दरूपं स्वर्गादि लघुतास्पदम्। बृहच्च गणितानन्दं ततोऽस्मिन्न रतिः सताम्॥२२॥
“Heaven and its like contain happiness that dwindles and are therefore insignificant; even their vast joy remains measured. The saints consequently take no delight in them.
Passage 23
अतो रामे रमणानन्दसिन्धौ परब्रह्मण्यपि ते वाङ्मनोभिः। अगोचरे सर्वकामानुभोग्ये लब्धवन्तः कतिचित्तोऽत्र सन्तः॥२२॥
“Therefore some saints here have found their fulfillment in Rāma, the ocean of the bliss of loving play—the supreme Brahman beyond speech and mind, yet accessible to the full experience of every sacred longing.
Passage 24
भक्तिभावपुलकौघमण्डितैर्विग्रहैर्विदितमोदसम्भवाः। रामपादकमलानुरक्तयः केऽपि सन्त इह रामं बिभ्रति॥२४॥
“Some saints here bear Rāma within themselves. Their bodies are adorned by waves of horripilation born of devotion, their arising joy is manifest, and their love clings to Rāma's lotus feet.
Passage 25
यस्येह सा परा भक्तिः पुरुषार्थस्वरूपिणी। स ते तनुजतां प्राप्तः को नु धन्यस्त्वया समः॥२५॥
“He in whom that supreme devotion—the very form of life's highest purpose— abides has become your son. Who could equal you in blessedness?
Passage 26
त्वं यत्पूजयसे राजन् मुनीन् भक्त्या समाहितः। स ते स्वभाव एवायं फलकामविवर्जितः॥२६॥
“O king, your attentive, devotional worship of the sages is simply your own nature, wholly free from desire for reward.
Passage 27
ब्रह्मण्यदेवो यस्यात्मा साक्षाद्रामः स्वयं हरिः। तस्य ते धर्मनिष्ठैव बुद्धिरत्र किमद्भुतम्॥२७॥
“Rāma himself, Hari in person and divine protector of sacred learning, is your very Self. What wonder is there that your understanding rests firmly in dharma?
Passage 28
पर्याप्तकामता नित्यं नाश्चर्याय तव प्रभो। आत्मकामः स भगवान् यस्यालङ्कुरुते गृहम्॥२८॥
“Master, it is no wonder that all your desires are eternally fulfilled, for the self-satisfied Lord adorns your home.
Passage 29
वरं दातुं न शक्ताःस्म सन्तुष्टा अपि ते वयम्। यस्य प्रियहितः पुत्रः श्रीरामो वरदेश्वराट्॥२९॥
“Though pleased with you, we are unable to offer you any boon, for your loving and beneficent son is Śrī Rāma, sovereign among all givers of boons.” Daśaratha Reveals the Greatness of Vraja's Love
Passage 30
राजोवाच— तवानुग्रहपात्रत्वं प्रयातुं कामयामहे। यत्फलं त्वत्पुरीवासो रामे च परमा रतिः॥३०॥
The king said: “We desire only to become recipients of your grace, whose fruit is residence in your sacred city and supreme love for Rāma.
Passage 31
सततं रतिसम्पन्ना नित्यं येऽस्य प्रिया जनाः। तेषामेव प्रसादेन सुलभा तत्पदे रतिः॥३१॥
“Those who eternally possess this love are always dear to him. Only by their grace does love for his feet become easy to attain.
Passage 32
एतद्दुर्लभमस्माकं नानादेशनिवासिनाम्। सरयूजलपानं यद्वासश्च सरयूतटे॥३२॥
“For us who dwell in many different lands, drinking the Sarayū's water and residing upon her bank are exceedingly difficult to obtain.
Passage 33
सरयूवातपूतानां नृणां नित्या च सङ्गतिः। रामनामसमुच्चारो रामरूपावलोकनम्॥३३॥
“So too are constant fellowship with people purified by the breeze of the Sarayū, the utterance of Rāma's name, and the sight of Rāma's form.
Passage 34
त्वद्दर्शनोद्भवं राजंस्त्वदनुग्रहणं तथा। अनिर्वाच्यमिदं लोके फलमुज्जृम्भतेतराम्॥३४॥
“O king, the grace born of seeing you unfolds in this world as an exceedingly great and indescribable fruit.
Passage 35
यन्नः पूजयते रामो नित्यं भक्त्या सुसंयतः। एतद्ब्रह्मण्यदेवत्वं ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः॥३५॥
“That Rāma, perfectly self-controlled, continually worships us with devotion reveals the supreme Self's divine guardianship of sacred learning.
Passage 36
न पूजयति चेद्रामो ब्राह्मणान् वेदपारगान्। कोऽन्यः पूजयिता लोके तदा स्यान्मोहसंवृतः॥३६॥
“If Rāma did not honor brāhmaṇas who have crossed to the far shore of the Vedas, who else in this delusion-covered world would honor them?
Passage 37
लोकानुग्रहणार्थाय लोकप्रवर्तनाय च। रामस्य कर्मणां वृत्तिरिति निश्चिनुमो वयम्॥३७॥
“We conclude that Rāma performs his deeds in order to bless the world and set the world upon its proper course.”
Passage 38
इत्युदीरितमाकर्ण्य मुनीनां कोशलाधिपः। उवाच स्मितसंलक्ष्यः परमानन्दमण्डितः॥३८॥
Hearing these words of the sages, the lord of Kośala, radiant with a smile and adorned by supreme bliss, replied.
Passage 39
राजोवाच— नास्य बालतमस्यैव महिमाऽज्ञायि योगिनः। कोऽप्येष पुरुषश्रेष्ठो भूम्युद्धारार्थमागतः॥३९॥
The king said: “Even I did not know the greatness of this child of mine, O yogins. He is some supreme Person who has descended to lift up the earth.
Passage 40
इत्यहं हि मुहुरात्मधियामुमुं संविदन्नपि विमुग्धहृदस्मि। माययास्य जटितो न किलैनं तत्त्वतः कलयितुं प्रभवानि॥४०॥
“Although I repeatedly recognize him within through the insight of the Self, my heart remains utterly enchanted. Entangled in his māyā, I am indeed unable to comprehend him as he truly is.
Passage 41
अनुग्रहोऽस्य परमो यमसावृद्धिधीर्षति। तस्मै ददाति स्वां भक्तिं लीलानन्दरसाप्तये॥४१॥
“When he wishes to raise someone up, his highest grace is to give that person devotion to himself, through which the rasa of the bliss of his līlā is attained.
Passage 42
सुखितो नाम गोपालस्तत्पत्नी च महाशया। अन्ये च गोपिगोपाद्याः पशवः पक्षिणस्तथा॥४२॥
“There is a cowherd named Sukhita, his noble wife, and other cowherd women and men, together with animals and birds.
Passage 43
व्रजे वसन्तः सततं मोदन्ते प्रेमसम्पदा। तेषां पदरजःप्राप्तिं कामयन्ते शिवादयः॥४३॥
“Dwelling in Vraja, they forever rejoice in the wealth of love. Śiva and the other gods long to obtain the dust of their feet.
Passage 44
कदाचिदत्र देवर्षिर्नारदः प्रेमगर्वितः। इयाय वीणां क्वणयन् भक्त्युत्पुलकविग्रहः॥४४॥
“Once the divine seer Nārada came there, proud of his own love, sounding his vīṇā, his body thrilled with devotion.
Passage 45
स वीक्ष्य व्रजवास्तूनां ग्राम्याणां प्रेमसम्पदम्। तृणीकृतात्मा मुमुहे ससम्भ्रममना मुनिः॥४५॥
“When that sage beheld the wealth of love possessed by the rustic residents of Vraja, he counted himself as no more than grass and stood bewildered, his mind filled with reverent awe.
Passage 46
व्यलुठच्चिरमेतेषां पादपङ्कजरेणुषु। पुनः पुनः स्तुवन् गोपान् गोपींश्चानन्यमानसः॥४६॥
“For a long time he rolled in the dust of their lotus feet, his mind fixed on them alone, repeatedly praising the cowherd men and women.
Passage 47
सोऽद्यापि वर्तते तत्र सङ्गतो व्रजवासिभिः। शीलयन् प्रकृतिं तेषां परप्रेमैकरूपिणीम्॥४७॥
“Even today he remains there in the company of Vraja's residents, contemplating their nature, whose one and only form is supreme love.
Passage 48
कामं सन्तु सहस्रशो विधिशिवश्रीतार्क्ष्यशेषादयो भक्ता रामपदाम्बुजप्रणयिनि स्वान्ते रतिं बिभ्रतः। या तेषां व्रजवासिनां विजयते प्रेम्णो दशात्युत्कटा सात्यन्तं खलु दुर्लभैव भुवने न क्वापि संलक्ष्यते॥४८॥
“Let Brahmā, Śiva, Lakṣmī, Garuḍa, Śeṣa, and thousands of others be great devotees, bearing in their hearts love for Rāma's lotus feet. Yet the overwhelming pitch of love triumphant among the residents of Vraja is utterly rare and is seen nowhere else in the world.
Passage 49
येषां कर्णौ दृशौ जिह्वा करौ पादौ मनोऽसवः। सर्वं निर्मन्थनीभूतं श्रीरामचरणाम्बुजे॥४९॥
“Their ears, eyes, tongue, hands, feet, mind, and vital breaths have all become churning rods at the lotus feet of Śrī Rāma, drawing forth love's essence.
Passage 50
येषां किल क्षणमपि प्रियविप्रयोगे पारे परार्धशतसङ्ख्यदिनायमानम्। लोकानवेक्ष उत चात्मसुहृद्गृहाप्तप्राणानपेक्ष उदमी प्रणयश्च येषाम्॥५०॥
“For them, even one moment's separation from the beloved seems longer than a day measured by hundreds of parārdhas. Their surging love pays no regard to the world, the self, friends, home, relatives, or even life.
Passage 51
तेषामशेषव्यवहारवर्गोऽप्यशेषलोकोत्तरयास्य रत्या। वहत्यनैकान्त्यमिति व्रजस्था न स्वार्थकामाय कदापि मग्नाः॥५१॥
“Because their love for him surpasses every world, the entire range of their outward dealings carries meanings beyond what appears. The people of Vraja are therefore never absorbed in desire for their own advantage.
Passage 52
ये कर्मतन्त्रक्रियया कुलाशया ये चाप्युपासाविधिकल्पलग्नाः। अव्यक्तसद्वस्त्वनुभूतये च ये क्लिष्टाशया भूरियोगादिभाजः॥५२॥
“Those bound to ritual mechanisms by concern for family lineage, those attached to elaborate prescriptions of worship, and those whose minds suffer through extensive yoga and other disciplines in order to experience the unmanifest Reality—
Passage 53
ते सर्वेऽध्यासते नैव निष्कामानुगतां भुवम्। निर्गुणं चापि मुनयो व्रजवासिजनेतरे॥५३॥
“All such people, O sages, remain outside the residents of Vraja. They do not truly inhabit the plane of desireless devotion, nor even that of the attributeless Absolute.
Passage 54
त एव निष्कामपथेन यायिनस्त एव वा निर्गुणात्मैकनिष्ठाः। ये प्रेमयुक्ता व्रजवासिलोकवद्धृदासुभिर्वर्ष्मभिश्चैकभावाः॥५४॥
“Those alone travel the desireless path, and those alone are exclusively steadfast in the attributeless Self, who are joined to love and, like the people of Vraja, have become one in heart, vital breath, and body with Rāma.
Passage 55
रामोऽपि तेभ्यो सुलभं स्वरूपं प्रकाशयत्यात्मना भक्तितुष्टः। नास्य प्रियः कोऽपि तदन्य ईक्ष्यते येऽनन्यभावेन भजन्ति सन्ततम्॥५५॥
“Pleased by their devotion, Rāma reveals to them through himself a form easily attained. None are seen to be dearer to him than those who worship him continually with undivided love.
Passage 56
एतद्वः कथितं विप्रास्त्रिवेदीपारगामिनः। न मया ज्ञानमानेन स्वयं वेत्ति हि तत्त्वतः॥५६॥
“Brāhmaṇas who have crossed to the far shore of the three Vedas, I have told you this without any pride in my own knowledge. Rāma alone knows his reality fully in and of himself.” Brahmā's Conclusion
Passage 57
ब्रह्मोवाच— इत्येवं ज्ञानगोष्ठीभिर्मुनीनां चैव भूपतेः। जगाम ससुखं कालो वसतां प्रेमपत्तने॥५७॥
Brahmā said: “In this way, while the king and the sages dwelt in the city of divine love, their time passed happily in conversations on spiritual knowledge.” Colophon इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे दक्षिणखण्डे महर्षिजनज्ञानगोष्ठ्यां तृतीयोऽध्यायः ॥ ३ ॥ Thus ends Chapter 3, “The Sages' Conversation on Spiritual Knowledge,” in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue between Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa. Witness control note Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa Chapter 3 begins at the top of source leaf 31 and ends above the Chapter 4 heading on source leaf 34 (physical PDF pages 32–35). The witness prints passages 1–22, repeats marker 22 for the next independent passage, and then continues with 24–57. The second printed 22 is preserved in the Sanskrit and registered editorially as passage 23, yielding 57 independent passages. All four scan pages were reviewed directly; the English is a fresh translation from the scan-controlled Sanskrit. The base readings are retained while the printed Rewa variants are treated as apparatus rather than silently substituted into the text.