Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— कदाचिद्योगपीठस्य पादुकादर्शनोत्सुकः। सनत्कुमारो भगवान् तत्रैव समुपागमत्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Once the blessed Sanatkumāra, eager to behold the sandals at their sacred throne, came there.
Passage 2
यत्रास्ते भरतो वीरः पूजाध्यानपरायणः। सुविश्वस्तमना नित्यमाराध्नन् पादुकाद्वयम्॥२॥
There heroic Bharata dwelt, devoted to worship and meditation, his mind fully trusting as he constantly adored the pair of sandals.
Passage 3
स तमागतमालक्ष्य दूरादेव रघूद्वहः। आदरेणाति जग्राह प्रश्रयस्निग्धमानसः॥३॥
Seeing him approach from afar, the scion of Raghu welcomed him with great reverence, his heart tender with humility.
Passage 4
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयादि प्रतिपाद्य महात्मने। उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठः पुत्रो दशरथस्य सः॥४॥
After presenting the great sage water for his feet, an offering, water for sipping, and the other courtesies, Daśaratha's eloquent son spoke.
Passage 5
सम्यगागतमाराध्यैः कृपया मादृशे जने। प्राप्ते सफलतामद्य चक्षुषी तव दर्शनात्॥५॥
“Venerable one, by your grace you have truly come to a person such as me. Today my eyes have attained their fulfillment by seeing you.
Passage 6
मादृशां दीनचित्तानां सदनुग्रहणं विभो। स वः स्वाभाविको धर्मः करुणार्णवचेतसाम्॥६॥
“Lord, continually favoring dejected hearts such as mine is the very nature of those whose minds are oceans of compassion.”
Passage 7
इत्युक्तवति वीरेऽस्मिन् रघुवंशविभूषणे। सनत्कुमारो भगवानुवाच कृपयाञ्चितः॥७॥
When the hero who adorned Raghu's lineage had spoken thus, blessed Sanatkumāra, filled with compassion, replied.
Passage 8
धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि तव वीर परा मतिः। भाग्यं च तव निःसीमं काकुत्स्थ भुवनत्रये॥८॥
“Hero, you are blessed and fulfilled, and your understanding is supreme. Scion of Kakutstha, your fortune is limitless throughout the three worlds,
Passage 9
यदाराधयसे नित्यं भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः। एतद्रामपदाम्भोजपादुकायुग्ममुत्तमम्॥९॥
“because, endowed with devotion and faith, you constantly worship this supreme pair of sandals from Rāma's lotus feet.
Passage 10
अपि जानासि कच्चित्त्वमेतयोर्महिमोत्करम्। सर्वोच्चैः परमे धाम्नि ययोः स्थानं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥१०॥
“Do you perhaps know the abundance of their glory? Their station is established above all in the supreme abode.
Passage 11
इमे भाग्यवशाल्लब्धे त्वया वीर मनोरमे। ब्रह्मादीनामपि ययोर्दुर्लभं किल दर्शनम्॥११॥
“By fortune you have obtained these beautiful sandals, hero; even Brahmā and the other gods find the sight of them difficult to attain.
Passage 12
समस्तमन्त्रसाम्राज्यस्थानभूते सनातने। अमन्दानन्दसन्दोहसम्पत्तिपरमास्पदे॥१२॥
“They are eternal, the seat of sovereignty over all mantras and the supreme abode of the treasure of abundant, undiminished bliss.
Passage 13
उपास्व सावधानेन मनसेमे निरन्तरम्। लप्स्यसे सर्वसिद्धीनामाश्रयत्वं सुदुर्लभम्॥१३॥
“Worship them constantly with an attentive mind, and you will attain the exceedingly rare state of being a refuge of every perfection.
Passage 14
ज्ञानभक्तिमयी त्वेका प्रेमभक्तिमयी परा। पादुका रामचन्द्रस्य सिद्धिदा सेवतां नृणाम्॥१४॥
“One of Rāmacandra's sandals embodies devotion through knowledge and the other devotion through divine love; they grant perfection to those who serve them.
Passage 15
इमे समस्तयोगीन्द्रैर्द्वादशान्ते स्वमूर्धनि। सहस्रपत्रे कमले स्मर्येते सुसमाहितैः॥१५॥
“All the great yogins, deeply concentrated, contemplate them above the head at the dvādaśānta, within the thousand-petaled lotus.
Passage 16
आनन्दमात्रममलं सदसत्परं यत् पूर्णं समन्तत उदित्वरमव्ययं च। सच्चिद्धनं त्रिभुवनावधिभूतमेकं श्रीपादुकावतरणं परमं पदं तत्॥१६॥
“That supreme station manifest as the blessed sandals is pure bliss alone, beyond being and nonbeing, complete, universally radiant, imperishable, a mass of being and consciousness, and the single foundation of the three worlds.
Passage 17
यद्विज्ञाय प्रयत्नेन मुच्यते मोहपाशतः। प्राप्नुवन्ति परं स्थानं स्वात्मभूतं सनातनम्॥१७॥
“By diligently knowing it, one is freed from delusion's noose and attains the eternal supreme station that is one's own Self.
Passage 18
तद्विद्धि वेदवाक्यार्थं मन्मुखाच्च विशेषतः। भज भक्तिप्रपन्नात्मा परमेण समाधिना॥१८॥
“Know this especially from my mouth as the meaning of the Vedic declarations. With your being surrendered in devotion, worship in supreme absorption.” Bharata Requests the Teaching
Passage 19
भरत उवाच— ब्रूहि मे श्रीपादुकयोर्महिमानमतः परम्। यं विज्ञाय विशेषेण भक्तिः स्यान्मम निश्चला॥१९॥
Bharata said: “Tell me further of the blessed sandals' greatness, by knowing which my devotion may become especially unwavering.
Passage 20
यथा भवान् विजानाति यत्र यावच्च सम्मतम्। तदुदीरय मे ब्रह्मन् पादुकाख्यं परं पदम्॥२०॥
“Brahman, please explain to me the supreme station called the sandals, in every respect and to the full extent that you know it.” The Mantra and Its Application
Passage 21
सनत्कुमार उवाच— नित्यं समाराधयतस्तव शुद्धमभून्मनः। त्वमतोऽधिकृतोऽस्यद्धा मन्त्रतत्त्वप्रकाशने॥२१॥
Sanatkumāra said: “Through constant worship your mind has become pure; therefore you are truly qualified for this revelation of the mantra's essence.
Passage 22
प्रणवो वाग्भवं माया कमला व्योम चन्द्रमाः। चण्डीशश्च शिखीशश्च वह्निर्झिटीशबिन्दुभाक्॥२२॥
“Praṇava, Vāgbhava, Māyā, Kamalā, space, the moon, Caṇḍīśa, Śikhīśa, and fire joined with Jhiṭīśa and bindu form the coded sequence.
Passage 23
अयमेकः सुमन्त्रज्ञैः कूटमन्त्र उदाहृतः। व्योमशीतांशुवर्ग्त्य महाकालीशभूसुधा॥२३॥
“This is declared by excellent mantra-knowers to be the first kūṭa-mantra. Its next coded members are space, the moon's ray, the transmitted class, Mahākālīśa, earth, and nectar.
Passage 24
वह्निः समीरणोर्धीशबिन्दुयुक्तो द्वितीयकः। कूटमन्त्रः समाख्यातः सकलागमवेदिभिः॥२४॥
“Fire, wind, and Ūrdhīśa joined with bindu constitute the second kūṭa-mantra, as taught by those who know all the Āgamas.
Passage 25
प्रथमः पुनराकाशश्चन्द्रव्यत्यासतो भवेत्। द्वितीयः पुनरूकारस्थान ईकारयुग्भवेत्॥२५॥
“The first is formed again by transposing space and the moon; the second is formed with ī in the place of ū.
Passage 26
रां रामचन्द्रसहजानन्दिनीयुग्मपूर्वकम्। श्रीपादुकां पूजयामि नम इत्यन्ततो वदेत्॥२६॥
“Precede it with ‘rāṃ’ and the pair Rāmacandra–Sahajānandinī, then conclude by saying, ‘I worship the blessed sandals; namaḥ.’
Passage 27
एकत्रिंशद्वर्ण एष पादुकामन्त्र ईरितः। नारायणऋषिश्चास्य छन्दोऽनुष्टुबिति स्मृतः॥२७॥
“This mantra of the sandals is said to contain thirty-one syllables. Its seer is Nārāyaṇa, and its meter is remembered as Anuṣṭubh.
Passage 28
श्रीपादुकाख्या नियतं परमात्मास्य देवता। हंसो बीजं तथा सोऽहं शक्तिरित्युच्यते बुधैः॥२८॥
“The deity is the Supreme Self called the blessed sandals; the seed is haṃsa, and the wise call so'ham its power.
Passage 29
वाग्भवं कीलकं प्रोक्तं मन्त्रागमविशारदैः। चतुर्वर्गे च मन्त्रस्य विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः॥२९॥
“Experts in mantra scripture declare Vāgbhava its pin, and its application is proclaimed to be the four aims of human life.
Passage 30
षड्दीर्घस्वरसंयुक्तैर्हुंसवर्णैः षडङ्गकम्। एवं विधाय कर्तव्यं पादुकाध्यानमुत्तमम्॥३०॥
“Establish the six limbs with the huṃsa syllables joined to the six long vowels; after doing so, perform the supreme visualization of the sandals. Visualization and Practice
Passage 31
मुक्ताविद्रुमहेमहीरघटितश्रीपीठराजोत्तमे दीव्यन्त्यौ विलसन्निसर्गपरमानन्दप्रकाशावृते। विस्फूर्जत्तरणार्ककोटिकिरणव्याकीर्णशुद्धाम्बरे सच्चिद्रूपघने घनाद्यतिमिरस्तोमैकनाशोद्यते॥३१॥
“Visualize the two shining upon the supreme royal throne fashioned of pearl, coral, gold, and diamond, enveloped in the radiance of innate supreme bliss, within a pure sky filled by the flashing rays of millions of suns, a dense form of being and consciousness rising to destroy every mass of primordial darkness.
Passage 32
भक्तानां शिरसि प्रकाशपटलीफुल्लत्सहस्रच्छदे पद्मेऽखण्डलचन्द्रमण्डलगतश्रीहंसपीठोत्तमे। तिष्ठन्त्यौ निजपूर्णधामनि सदा कल्याणदिव्यास्पदे मायामोहमदान्धकारशमने सेव्ये विभोः पादुके॥३२॥
“The Lord's two worshipful sandals stand in their own complete splendor, the divine abode of auspiciousness, upon the exalted haṃsa throne within the unbroken moon-disc in the thousand-petaled lotus blossoming as light above the devotee's head; they dispel the darkness of māyā, delusion, and pride.
Passage 33
एवं ध्यात्वा जपेन्नित्यमष्टोत्तरसहस्रकम्। गन्धपुष्पादिभिर्नित्यं पूजयेद्भावकल्पितैः॥३३॥
“Having visualized thus, recite the mantra 1,008 times daily and always worship with mentally offered fragrance, flowers, and other gifts.
Passage 34
तत्रैव स्वस्य शिरसि सहस्रच्छदमन्दिरे। भावयेत्सन्ततं दिव्यं भक्तिभावपरायणः॥३४॥
“Absorbed in devotional feeling, constantly contemplate the divine presence there in the thousand-petaled temple above your own head.
Passage 35
पुरश्चर्यां तथा कुर्यान्मन्त्रराजस्य साधकः। पुण्यतीर्थे सुविमले मेध्याशी मितभाषणः॥३५॥
“The practitioner should perform the mantra king's preparatory discipline at a pure sacred ford, eating ritually pure food and speaking little.
Passage 36
दशलक्षं जपित्वा तु दशांशं हवनं चरेत्। नीलोत्पलैस्त्रिमधुरोन्मिश्रैर्मन्त्रस्य सिद्धये॥३६॥
“After one million recitations, perform a fire offering equal to one tenth of that number, using blue lotuses blended with the three sweet substances, to perfect the mantra.
Passage 37
तर्पणं मार्जनं चैव ब्रह्मभोजनमेव च। यत्किञ्चिद्विधिवत्कुर्यात्तत्तत्तत्र निवेदयेत्॥३७॥
“Perform libation, ritual sprinkling, and feeding of brāhmaṇas; whatever is done according to rule should in each case be offered there.
Passage 38
श्रीरामस्य पादुकायुग्मे रामार्पणधिया बुधः। निवेदितं श्रीरामाय सर्वकर्मामितं भवेत्॥३८॥
“The wise practitioner should offer every act to Śrī Rāma through the pair of his sandals, with the understanding that it is dedicated to Rāma.
Passage 39
यथा यथा स्याद् हृदयस्य शुद्धिर्नित्यं समाराधयतो जनस्य। तथा तथा पश्यति सूक्ष्मवस्तुस्वरूपमज्ञानचये विशीर्णे॥३९॥
“As the heart of the constant worshiper becomes increasingly pure and the mass of ignorance breaks apart, he increasingly beholds the nature of the subtle reality.
Passage 40
अनन्तबोधोन्मिषितामलाक्षो भक्त्या परिक्षीणसमस्तविघ्नः। आविर्भवत्प्रेमरसद्रुतः स्याद् रामस्वरूपामृतलाभयोग्यः॥४०॥
“His stainless eye opened by boundless knowledge and all obstacles exhausted through devotion, he melts in the manifest nectar of divine love and becomes fit to obtain the immortal essence of Rāma's true form.
Passage 41
इति ते सर्वमाख्यातमज्ञानेन्धनदीपनम्। श्रीरामपादुकायुग्ममन्त्रतत्त्वमनुत्तमम्॥४१॥
“Thus I have revealed to you the unsurpassed truth of the mantra of Śrī Rāma's pair of sandals, the flame that consumes the fuel of ignorance.” *Thus ends Chapter Fifty-five, “Revelation of the Mantra's Essence,” in the Reign of the Sandals within the Southern Book of the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the venerable primal Rāmāyaṇa.*