Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— कदाचित्कस्यचित्पुर्यां कृतवास्तोर्द्विजन्मनः। गावश्चौरैर्नीयमाना नामोचयत कश्चन॥१॥
Brahmā said: Once, in a certain city, thieves led away the cows of a resident brāhmaṇa, and no one rescued them.
Passage 2
ततः स विप्रो भवनान्निष्क्रान्तो दुःखकर्षितः। राजद्वारमुपागत्य विललाप कृतारवः॥२॥
Tormented by grief, the brāhmaṇa left his house, came to the royal gate, and lamented with a loud cry.
Passage 3
हाहा दशरथो राजा क्व गतो धर्मपालनः। यस्य राज्ये प्रजाः सर्वा दुर्भिक्षं नैव जज्ञिरे॥३॥
“Alas! Where has King Daśaratha, guardian of dharma, gone? Under his rule the people never knew famine.
Passage 4
न चौरभीतिर्नो वापि परचक्रभवां रुजम्। नान्योन्यकलहक्लेशं नोत्पातान् देवनिर्मितान्॥४॥
“They knew neither fear of thieves nor suffering caused by a foreign army, neither the misery of mutual quarrels nor calamities brought by fate.
Passage 5
स राजा पालयामास प्रजाः पुत्रानिवात्मनः। तस्मिन् दिवं गतवति दुःखिताः स्म न संशयः॥५॥
“That king protected his subjects like his own children. Now that he has gone to heaven, we are undoubtedly afflicted.
Passage 6
चतुर्ष्वपि सुतेष्वस्य हतं राज्यमराजकम्। किं पुनः सम्प्रजातैस्तैः ये न पान्ति निजाः प्रजाः॥६॥
“Although he has four sons, the kingdom is ruined and kingless. What use is their birth if they do not protect their own subjects?
Passage 7
पितृपैतामहमिदं यैस्त्यक्तं राज्यमात्मनः। का दुराशा पुनस्तेषामन्यो राज्येऽभिषिच्यताम्॥७॥
“They have abandoned the ancestral kingdom that was their own. What vain hope can they still possess? Let someone else be consecrated to rule.
Passage 8
एको वनं गतः साध्वीं भार्यामादाय दैवतः। तमेवानुगतश्चान्यो दुःशकं लोकपालनम्॥८॥
“One has gone to the forest by destiny, taking his virtuous wife, and another has followed him. Governing the people has become impossible.
Passage 9
इतरो तद्वियोगेन ब्रह्मचर्यमुपाश्रितः। पुरीमपि परित्यज्य नन्दिग्रामेऽधितिष्ठति॥९॥
“Another, because of separation from him, has taken up celibate austerity, abandoned even the city, and dwells at Nandigrāma.
Passage 10
व्रजावासैर्जनैर्ग्राम्यैः कुरुते ग्राम्यसङ्कथाम्। प्रजापालनमुत्सृज्य सामर्थ्यरहितो यथा॥१०॥
“Living with the rustic people of Vraja, he engages in village talk, having given up care of the subjects as though he lacked the power.
Passage 11
तदन्योऽपि समुत्सृज्य प्रजानां पालने धुरम्। निःशक्तिरिव सञ्जातो हन्त लोकस्य दुर्भगम्॥११॥
“The remaining brother too has cast off the burden of protecting the people and become as if powerless. Alas for the world's misfortune!
Passage 12
कः पालयिष्यति भवं कश्चौराद् दण्डयिष्यति। रिपूणां सुमहद्राज्यं हन्त दैवेन किं कृतम्॥१२॥
“Who will protect the realm, and who will punish a thief? The enemies possess a very great kingdom—alas, what has fate done?
Passage 13
सोऽहं चौरैर्हृतधनो विलपामि सुदुःखितः। न मे दुःखप्रतीकर्ता कश्चिदत्रोपलक्ष्यते॥१३॥
“My wealth has been taken by thieves, and I lament in great pain. I see no one here who will remedy my suffering.” The Cows Are Rescued
Passage 14
श्रुत्वा दुर्वचनं तस्य विप्रस्य रुदतो भृशम्। शत्रुघ्नो धनुरादाय निष्क्रान्तस्तस्कराध्वनि॥१४॥
Hearing the harsh words of the brāhmaṇa, who was weeping bitterly, Shatrughna took up his bow and set out upon the thieves' trail.
Passage 15
तावत्ते तस्करारण्ये कालयन्तो द्विजस्य गाः। पाशैर्निबध्य पुरुषैः कैश्चिद् दिव्यवपुर्धरैः॥१५॥
Meanwhile, as the thieves drove the brāhmaṇa's cows through the forest, certain men of divine appearance bound them with ropes.
Passage 16
कारागारमनीयन्त गावो विप्रस्य मोचिताः। वत्सस्नेहस्नुतापीनाः स्वं स्वं स्थानमुपाययुः॥१६॥
The thieves were taken to prison, while the brāhmaṇa's cows were freed. Their full udders flowing from affection for their calves, they returned to their respective places.
Passage 17
तदुपश्रुत्य शत्रुघ्नो न्यवर्तत पुरीं प्रति। विसिस्मियेतरां चित्ते श्रुत्वा गावः प्रमोचिताः॥१७॥
Hearing what had happened, Shatrughna turned back toward the city. When he heard that the cows had been freed, he was exceedingly amazed at heart.
Passage 18
तस्मै शुभाशिषो दातुं ब्राह्मणः समुपागमत्। केन ते मोचिता गाव इति पृष्टः ससम्भ्रमम्॥१८॥
The brāhmaṇa came to bestow blessings upon him. Shatrughna anxiously asked him, “By whom were your cows released?”
Passage 19
स उवाच भवान् वीर गवां मोचयिता मम। पुत्रो दशरथस्यासि चिरं जीव शतं समाः॥१९॥
He replied, “Hero, you are the rescuer of my cows. You are Daśaratha's son; may you live long, for a hundred years.”
Passage 20
विस्मितो द्विजवर्यं तु स प्रणम्य व्यसर्जयत्। विनिबद्धांस्ततश्चोरानानयामास शत्रुहा॥२०॥
Astonished, Shatrughna bowed to the excellent brāhmaṇa and dismissed him. The destroyer of enemies then had the bound thieves brought before him.
Passage 21
ते पाशबद्धाः पुरतः शत्रुघ्नस्योपस्थिताः। तानपृच्छत शत्रुघ्नः केन बद्धाः स्थ तस्कराः॥२१॥
Bound with ropes, they stood before Shatrughna. He asked them, “Thieves, by whom were you bound?”
Passage 22
त ऊचिरे वचस्तस्य पुरस्ताच्छृण्वतां नृणाम्। पीताम्बरधराः केचित्पुरुषाः श्याममूर्तयः॥२२॥
In the hearing of the people assembled before him, they answered, “There were certain dark-formed men wearing yellow garments.
Passage 23
चतुर्भुजाः स्फुरत्कर्णमकराकारकुण्डलाः। लसत्किरीटशिरसो वनमालाविभूषिताः॥२३॥
“They had four arms, radiant fish-shaped earrings upon their ears, shining crowns upon their heads, and garlands of forest flowers.
Passage 24
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मधारिणः शान्तविग्रहाः। उत्फुल्लपद्मनयनास्तैर्गावः सम्प्रमोचिताः॥२४॥
“Peaceful in form, they held conches, discs, maces, and lotuses, and their eyes were like fully opened lotuses. They completely freed the cows.
Passage 25
निबध्य च दृढैः पाशैर्वयं कारागृहे कृताः। पुनर्नैवं विधास्यामः कोसलायां सतां नृणाम्॥२५॥
“After binding us with strong ropes, they placed us in prison. Never again will we do such a thing to the good people of Kosala.
Passage 26
येषां संरक्षकः साक्षात्स्वयं देवो जनार्दनः। इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां मोचयामास तांस्ततः॥२६॥
“Their protector is directly Lord Janārdana himself.” Hearing these words, Shatrughna then released the thieves. Shatrughna Praises Rāma's Protected Realm
Passage 27
अहो एषां महद्भाग्यं यैर्दृष्टा रामपार्षदाः। नूनमेषा पुरी साक्षाद्वैकुण्ठस्यापि कारणम्॥२७॥
“Oh, how fortunate are these men, for they have seen Rāma's attendants! Surely this city is the very source of Vaikuṇṭha itself.
Passage 28
यत्रत्यानां नृणां देवः स्वयमेवाभिरक्षकः। अहो भाग्यमिहस्थानामाचाण्डालमपि स्फुटम्॥२८॥
“Here the Lord himself protects the inhabitants. How evident is the good fortune of everyone who dwells here, even down to the caṇḍāla!
Passage 29
वरमिह पशवोऽपि पक्षिणश्च स्फुटतरभाग्यदम्भकेन युक्ताः। अपि खलु महितोऽपि नेतरत्र क्षितिपतिरानतराजपूजिताङ्घ्रिः॥२९॥
“Better are even the animals and birds here, endowed with an evident abundance of fortune, than an honored king elsewhere whose feet are worshiped by other bowing rulers.
Passage 30
चतुर्भुजा एव वसन्ति चात्र मृगाः खगा अप्यधमा मनुष्याः। अजस्ररिङ्गत्सरयूसमीरसम्पृक्तगात्राः सुखसिन्धुमग्नाः॥३०॥
“Here even beasts, birds, and the humblest people dwell as four-armed beings. Their bodies continually touched by the moving breeze of the Sarayū, they are immersed in an ocean of happiness.
Passage 31
त्रातात्र रामचन्द्र देव एव स्वयं रमासेवितपादपद्मः। ध्रुवं स्वलोके वसतां जनानामसाधनानामपि मुक्तिभाजाम्॥३१॥
“Here Lord Rāmacandra himself, whose lotus feet are served by Ramā, is the protector. Those who dwell in his realm certainly attain liberation even without other disciplines.
Passage 32
यान्यत्र साधनशतैर्विहितैर्विशुद्धे चित्ते निरस्तमलमोहमहाकषाये। अध्यात्मबोधपरिशीलनतो दुरापा सा मुक्तिरत्र वसतां पशुपक्षिणां स्यात्॥३२॥
“Liberation is difficult to attain elsewhere even through hundreds of prescribed practices, a purified mind purged of the great taints of impurity and delusion, and sustained contemplation of spiritual knowledge. Yet it belongs here even to the resident animals and birds.
Passage 33
स एव रामचन्द्रो देव एष त्रातास्ति नः कञ्जदलायताक्षः। रमापरा श्रीजनकात्मजैषा यस्याः कला लक्ष्मी एवमन्ये॥३३॥
“That very Lord Rāmacandra, long-eyed like lotus petals, is our protector. The glorious daughter of Janaka is the supreme Ramā, of whom Lakṣmī and the other goddesses are only portions.
Passage 34
जज्ञौ न कैकेयसुता न तं प्रभुं स्वार्थे प्रमुग्धा विधिदुर्विपाकतः। यत्सेवनीयं सनकादिभिः सदा योगीश्वरैर्यापि तवत्यरण्यम्॥३४॥
“Deluded by self-interest through the evil ripening of fate, the daughter of Kekaya did not recognize that Lord, whose service is always sought by Sanaka and the other masters of yoga; therefore he has gone to the forest.
Passage 35
तत्पादुके एव समस्तमङ्गलश्रीधामनी ब्रह्मशिवादिपूजिते। शुभं विधत्तः सकलस्य सन्ततं दयालुताभावनिकेतनेऽधुना॥३५॥
“His two sandals, abodes of every auspicious splendor and worshiped by Brahmā, Śiva, and the other gods, now continually bestow good upon everyone, for they are the dwelling place of compassionate feeling.
Passage 36
कस्त्रायते तदन्य एतदखिलं दुर्दैवदीनं जग- न्मानोपप्लवमीतिभीतिनिवहग्रस्तं निरस्तं भगैः। तस्मात्त्वां परदैवतं परसुखैः पूर्णं परं पुरुषं प्राप्तोऽस्मि द्रुतमात्मनैव शरणं श्रीजानकीवल्लभम्॥३६॥
“Who other than you protects this entire world, wretched through misfortune, overwhelmed by calamity and hosts of fears, and stripped of prosperity? Therefore I hasten with my whole being to take refuge in you, beloved of holy Jānakī—the supreme deity and Supreme Person, full of transcendent bliss.
Passage 37
त्वं गूढः स्वात्ममायापरिपिहितनिजानन्दमात्रस्वरूपः कुर्वन्कर्माण्यनेकान्यतिशयसुखदान्यद्भुतान्यत्र लोके। सत्त्वोद्रेकादमन्दाभ्युदितपरमसंशुद्धबोधैश्च कैश्चिद्- भक्तिश्रद्धासमेतैर्भवविरतिकृते नाथ विज्ञायसे त्वम्॥३७॥
“Hidden by your own māyā, your true nature is nothing but your innate bliss, yet in this world you perform many wondrous deeds that bestow extraordinary happiness. Lord, you are known by certain people whose perfectly pure awareness has arisen powerfully through abundant goodness, devotion, faith, and detachment from worldly existence.
Passage 38
चिकीर्षितं ते नरदेवसूनो को मानवो वेत्तुमिहार्हतीश। स्वमाययादेव निगूढलिङ्गस्त्वं लोकपुण्या विदधासि लीलाः॥३८॥
“O Lord, son of the king, what human being here can know what you intend to do? Your identity concealed by your own māyā, you perform līlās that sanctify the world.
Passage 39
धन्यः स एव भरतो रघुनाथ नित्यं यः सेवते तव पदद्वयपादुके ते। याभ्यामशेषजगतः सततं शुभानि नन्वक्रियन्त मृदिता विपदश्च सर्वाः॥३९॥
“Raghunātha, blessed indeed is Bharata, who constantly serves the sandals of your two feet. Through them good is continually done for the entire world, and all calamities are crushed.
Passage 40
धन्यं कुलं खलु रघोः पुरुषप्रकाण्ड यत्राविरासीद्रामो ह्यखिलात्मभूतः। सर्वावतारजलधिः पुरुषोत्तमो यः पूर्णोऽक्षरादपि परः श्रुतिभिर्विमृग्यः॥४०॥
“Foremost of persons, blessed indeed is Raghu's lineage, in which Rāma, the Self of all, appeared. He is the ocean of every avatāra, the Supreme Person, complete and beyond even the imperishable, whom the Vedas seek.
Passage 41
दृष्ट्वा स्वरूपमिह स्वैर्विलक्षणं ते लोका भवन्ति चकिता इव विस्मयेन। न त्वां विदन्ति रघुवल्लभ तत्त्वतस्ते ब्रह्मादिदेवतगणैरपि गीतकीर्तिम्॥४१॥
“Seeing your distinctive humanlike form here, people become bewildered with wonder. Beloved of Raghu's line, they do not know you in truth, though hosts of deities beginning with Brahmā sing your glory.
Passage 42
केचिद्वदन्ति तव काल इति स्वरूपं कर्मेति केऽपि विबुधा इतरे स्वभावम्। दैवं परे पुरुष इत्यपरे स्वमत्या को वेत्तुमर्हति परं पुरुषोत्तमं त्वाम्॥४२॥
“Some say your essential form is time; some wise men call it action, others nature, still others destiny or the cosmic person, each according to his own view. Who is capable of knowing you, the transcendent Supreme Person?” Shatrughna Returns to Devotional Service
Passage 43
ब्रह्मोवाच— इत्यभिष्टूय शत्रुघ्नः परं पुरुषमादृतः। शिश्रिये पादुके तस्य भक्त्या भुवनमङ्गले॥४३॥
Brahmā said: Having thus reverently praised the Supreme Person, Shatrughna took refuge with devotion in his two sandals, which bring auspiciousness to the worlds.
Passage 44
आराधयानः प्रभुपादपादुके निवेद्य ताभ्यां फलपुष्पादिसर्वम्। अश्नन् स्वयं तत्परमप्रसादजश्रीचन्दनालिप्तललाटपट्टः॥४४॥
He worshiped the sandals of the Lord's feet, offering them every fruit, flower, and other gift. He ate only their supreme prasāda and adorned his brow with the auspicious sandal paste received from them.
Passage 45
कुर्वन् महाभागवतोत्तमोत्तमैः प्रसङ्गतः प्रेमगोष्ठीरनेकाः। शिक्षन्मुनेः प्रेमचर्यां व्रजस्थैर्निनाय कालं व्रजभर्तृवियोगी॥४५॥
In the company of the highest among exalted devotees, he held many loving discussions. Separated from the Lord of Vraja, he passed his time learning the sage's discipline of divine love with the residents of Vraja. *Thus ends Chapter Fifty-three in the Reign of the Sandals within the Southern Book of the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the venerable primal Rāmāyaṇa.*