Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— लक्ष्मणेन कृतं कर्म दृष्ट्वा रामो मुदावहम्। आनन्दद्धृदयेऽत्यर्थं प्रेमज्ञो रघुवल्लभः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Seeing the pleasing work Lakṣmaṇa had done, Rāma—the beloved of the Raghus and knower of love—rejoiced exceedingly in his heart.
Passage 2
मेध्यानि मृगमांसानि जानकी भर्तृसंज्ञया। पक्त्वा स्वादूनि विविधान्युपनिन्ये पुरस्तयोः॥२॥
At her husband’s indication, Jānakī cooked various savory portions of clean venison fit for offering and set them before the two brothers.
Passage 3
देवान् पितॄंश्च सम्पूज्य रामः परमधर्मवित्। सह सौमित्रिसीताभ्यां बुभुजेऽखिलयज्ञभुक्॥३॥
Rāma, supreme knower of dharma and recipient of every sacrifice, fully honored the gods and ancestors and ate together with Sītā and Sumitrā’s son.
Passage 4
कदाचिच्चित्रकूटाद्रौ छायामाश्रित्य भूरुहः। प्रियस्या अङ्कमास्थाय सुष्वाप सुरतश्रमात्॥४॥
Once on Mount Citrakūṭa, resting in a tree’s shade, Rāma placed his head in his beloved’s lap and slept after the exertion of love.
Passage 5
देवदत्तवरः काकः पर्यटन् मेदिनीमिमाम्। स्वभावाद्दुष्टहृदयो मैथिलीं पर्यखेदयत्॥५॥
A crow, empowered by a divine boon and roaming the earth, malicious by nature, began to torment Maithilī.
Passage 6
भर्तृनिद्राच्युतिभयाद्वारयन्ती शनैः खगम्। अत्याकुलीकृता तेन दुष्टेनाधमपक्षिणा॥६॥
Afraid of disturbing her husband’s sleep, she quietly tried to drive the bird away, but that wicked and vile creature greatly distressed her.
Passage 7
पक्षतुण्डनखाग्रैस्तां काकः पर्यतुदद् वने। ततः सा रोषताम्राक्षी किञ्चिच्चलितविग्रहा॥७॥
In the forest the crow repeatedly pierced her with the tips of its beak and claws. Her eyes reddened with anger, and her body moved slightly.
Passage 8
दृष्टा भर्त्रा समुत्थाय खेदिता तेन पक्षिणा। रामेण वार्यमाणोऽपि न जगाम स वायसः॥८॥
Her husband awoke and saw her tormented by the bird. Even when Rāma warned it away, that crow did not leave.
Passage 9
ततो रोषं चकारोच्चै राघवः परपक्षभित्। काकमुद्दिश्य तत्याज मन्त्रेणैकामिषीकिकाम्॥९॥
Then Rāghava, destroyer of hostile armies, became greatly angered. Aiming at the crow, he empowered and released a single blade of grass with mantra. The Unfailing Missile
Passage 10
इषीकास्त्रेण दुद्राव काकस्त्रिभुवनेऽखिले। अथानवाप्तशरणो राममेव गतिं ययौ॥१०॥
Pursued by the grass-blade missile, the crow fled throughout all three worlds. Finding no refuge, it at last sought Rāma alone as its shelter.
Passage 11
अधः कृत्वा शिरः पादौ स्प्रष्टुकामः स वायसः। विचार्यास्पृश्यमात्मानं नास्पृशद्दीनमानसः॥११॥
The crow lowered its head and wished to touch Rāma’s feet, but reflecting that its sinful body was unfit to touch them, it refrained in its wretchedness.
Passage 12
आक्रोशमानो विहग इषीकास्त्रेण तापितः। अनन्यशरणं रामं जगाम मतिमान् खगः॥१२॥
Crying out in pain from the grass-blade missile, the now-wise bird approached Rāma, the sole refuge of those who have no other shelter.
Passage 13
तमुवाच हसन् देवो रघूणां प्रवरः स्वयम्। अलं भयेन ते मन्द प्राप्तं दुष्कृतजं फलम्॥१३॥
The divine best of the Raghus smiled and addressed it himself: “Enough of your fear, foolish bird. You have received the fruit born of your wrongdoing.
Passage 14
प्रियापराधी मे तस्मात्त्वं ताडित इषीकया। अथ मे शरणं प्राप्तो रक्ष्योऽसि मतिमन् ध्रुवम्॥१४॥
“Because you offended my beloved, the blade of grass struck you. But now that you have sought my refuge, intelligent one, you must certainly be protected.
Passage 15
अमोघं तु विजानीहि ममास्त्रं वायसोत्तम। भङ्क्त्वैकमङ्गं भवतो निवर्त्स्यति न संशयः॥१५॥
“Yet know, best of crows, that my weapon cannot fail. It will turn back only after destroying one limb of yours; there is no doubt.”
Passage 16
तेनोक्तः स ततः स्वामिन् भगवन् रघुसत्तम। निग्रहं वानुग्रहं वा यथेच्छं कुरु धार्मिक॥१६॥
Thus addressed, the crow replied: “Lord, divine best of the Raghus, righteous one, punish me or favor me according to your will.
Passage 17
मन्येऽनुग्रह एव स्यान्निग्रहोऽपि च ते मयि। एकं मे लोचनं नाथ भिनत्त्वस्त्रं तव प्रभो॥१७॥
“I regard even your punishment of me as grace. Lord and master, let your weapon destroy one of my eyes.”
Passage 18
एवं सम्प्रार्थिते देवे काकेनामितबुद्धिना। एकं चक्षुः पपातोर्व्यामस्त्रं निववृते ततः॥१८॥
When the immeasurably intelligent crow petitioned the Lord in this way, one eye fell to the earth and the weapon then withdrew.
Passage 19
ततः काकः प्रणम्यैनं तुष्टाव जनमोक्षणम्। सद्यः संजातधिषणो दर्शनेन महौजसः॥१९॥
Immediately gaining true understanding through the sight of the mighty Lord, the crow bowed and praised him, the liberator of living beings. The Crow’s Hymn
Passage 20
वायस उवाच— नमस्ते रघुशार्दूल नमो भक्तजनप्रिय। नमो राजीवनयन नमस्त्रिभुवनेश्वर॥२०॥
The crow said: “Homage to you, tiger among the Raghus. Homage to the lover of your devotees. Homage to you, lotus-eyed Lord of the three worlds.
Passage 21
अङ्कितोऽहं तवास्त्रेण न्यस्त्रैलोक्यसुन्दर। विचरिष्यामि सर्वत्र सर्वथा निर्भयोऽधुना॥२१॥
“O beauty of the three worlds, I am now marked by your weapon. Henceforth I shall wander everywhere entirely free from fear.
Passage 22
यस्ते पुरुषवर्यस्य शरणं भाग्यतो गतः। न तस्याखिलसंत्राता कालोऽपि भयकृद्भवेत्॥२२॥
“One who by good fortune has reached the refuge of you, the supreme Person, cannot be made afraid even by Time, the devourer of all.
Passage 23
जानामि भगवान् साक्षाद्भवान् प्रकृतिपुरुषौ। आज्ञापयसि लोकस्य सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तहेतवे॥२३॥
“I know that you are directly the Lord, both Prakṛti and Puruṣa. You issue the command by which the worlds are created, sustained, and dissolved.
Passage 24
उदासीनवदेव त्वं संस्थितो निखिलेश्वर। प्रयोजकोऽसि सर्वेषां कर्तॄणां तव शक्तितः॥२४॥
“Lord of all, you remain as though indifferent, yet by your power you impel all agents to their actions.
Passage 25
नूनं तवाङ्घ्रिकमलोपगति विनेश क्षेत्रं न कुत्रचन लोकजना लभन्ते। इत्थं समस्तकमनीय हृदावधायं त्वादृशं पुमांसमुपयामि परं शरण्यम्॥२५॥
“Surely the people of the worlds find no true safety anywhere apart from approaching your lotus feet. Holding you—the wholly beautiful Lord—within my heart, I approach you as the supreme refuge.
Passage 26
धन्यं महीतलमिदं नरदेवसूनो त्वत्पादपद्मयुगमण्डितमाविभाति। धन्यं जनुः किमपि नाथ नृणामिदानीं ये त्वां ध्यायन्ति निखिलद्यविलोचनाभ्याम्॥२६॥
“Son of the king, blessed is this earth, which shines adorned by the pair of your lotus feet. Lord, blessed beyond telling is the human birth of those who now behold and contemplate you with both eyes.
Passage 27
अपि मामपि राम सुन्दर त्वदिषीकास्त्रकृताङ्कमीदृशम्। तव भक्तजनेषु केऽपि वै गणयिष्यन्ति कृतातिदुष्कृतम्॥२७॥
“Beautiful Rāma, although I committed a terrible wrong, some among your devotees will count even me among them because I bear this mark made by your grass-blade weapon.
Passage 28
कुरु शर्म मदीयमीश्वर त्रिजगन्नाथ लब्धरक्षकम्। शरणं समुपेतमात्मनो गणयानन्यनिजाश्रितेषु माम्॥२८॥
“Lord and master of the three worlds, grant me well-being now that I have received your protection. I have sought your refuge; count me among those who belong solely to you.”
Passage 29
इति संस्तूय काकोऽसौ परमात्मानमीश्वरम्। नत्वा निपत्य पदयोर्निर्जगाम यथेप्सितम्॥२९॥
After praising the Supreme Self and Lord in this way, the crow prostrated at his feet and departed wherever it wished.
Passage 30
स चित्रकूटे निवसन् महागिरौ त्रिलोककल्याणददिव्यदर्शनः। प्रियासमेतो विहरन् दिने दिने निनाय कालं कमनीयविग्रहः॥३०॥
Rāma, whose beautiful form and divine sight bestow welfare upon the three worlds, dwelt on great Mount Citrakūṭa. Sporting daily with his beloved, he passed his time there.
Passage 31
अधिप्रमोदाटवियद्वदीश्वरः व्रजेश्वरीप्राणपतिः प्रमोदः। अनेकभावैर्विजहार राघवः स तद्वदेवात्र गिरौ महाद्भुते॥३१॥
Rāghava is the sovereign of the supreme Pramoda forest, the joyful Lord of the life of Vrajeśvarī. Just as there, he sported here upon this wondrous mountain in many states of divine love.