Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— आयातं कालमाज्ञाय रामस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः। स्वजनं विसर्जयामास प्रातीहार्यं च लक्ष्मणम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Learning that Time had arrived, Rāma, Lord of the three worlds, dismissed his people and appointed Lakṣmaṇa as doorkeeper.
Passage 2
सहजानन्दिनीं देवीं जानकीं स्वस्वरूपिणीम्। सिंहासने समास्थाप्य स्वयमन्तर्दधे विभुः॥२॥
The almighty Lord seated divine Jānakī—Sahajānandinī, his own essential form—upon the throne and then disappeared.
Passage 3
कालस्त्रैलोक्यमहिषीं प्रमोदवननायिकाम्। नत्वा दूरात्सविनयं यावलोकयते राघवम्॥३॥
Time bowed humbly from afar to the empress of the three worlds, sovereign of Pramodavana, and looked for Rāghava.
Passage 4
तावत्सापि परालक्ष्मीः स्वयमन्तर्दधे शनैः। तौ दिव्यकेलिरसिकौ प्रमोदवनमीयतुः॥४॥
At that very moment the supreme Lakṣmī also slowly disappeared. The divine pair, connoisseurs of sacred play, went to Pramodavana.
Passage 5
सहजारामचन्द्रौ च रासलीलां वितेनतुः। कुञ्जमन्दिरमध्यस्थौ सखीकोटिनिषेवितौ॥५॥
Sahajā and Rāmacandra extended the play of the rāsa, dwelling within a bower-temple and served by tens of millions of companions.
Passage 6
तुल्यतारुण्यकौ शारौ रतियुद्धविशारदौ। सरयूमन्दपवनपरिश्रान्तातिवीजितौ॥६॥
Equal in youth and consummate in the contests of love, the two were exquisitely fanned by the gentle breeze of the Sarayū. Source note: The scan separates the compressed opening as तुल्यतारुण्यकौ शारौ. Its description of the equally youthful pair is clear; the unusual second member is retained without silent emendation.
Passage 7
दाम्पत्यप्रेमरसिकौ चन्द्रिकायास्तमन्मथौ। वेतसीवनविश्रान्तौ वर्षन्तावद्रिसेविनौ॥७॥
They savored the love of bride and bridegroom, with passion awakened beneath moonlight; they rested in the cane-grove and delighted in the rain-drenched mountain.
Passage 8
रत्नाद्रिशिखरोत्तुङ्गमञ्जुकुञ्जविहारिणौ। चित्राद्रिस्फटिकशिलागङ्गास्रोतोविलासिनौ॥८॥
They wandered through lovely bowers high upon the summit of Jewel Mountain and sported beside the Ganges-like stream over Citrādri's crystal rock.
Passage 9
न यत्र कालगमनं न मायागमनं तथा। यत्रानन्दमयी भूमिर्यत्रानन्दमयी सरित्॥९॥
There Time does not enter, nor does māyā. There the earth consists of bliss, and the river consists of bliss.
Passage 10
यत्रानन्दमयः शैलो यत्रानन्दमयं सरः। सर्वं परब्रह्ममयं यत्र श्रीरामपत्तनम्॥१०॥
There the mountain is made of bliss and the lake is made of bliss; there Śrī Rāma's city is wholly pervaded by the supreme Brahman.
Passage 11
एवं सिंहासनं शून्यं दृष्ट्वा कालः समन्ततः। त्रैलोक्ये मृगयामास सीतारामात्मकं युगम्॥११॥
Seeing the throne empty, Time searched everywhere throughout the three worlds for the pair who are Sītā and Rāma.
Passage 12
नैव लेभे ततो गन्तुं प्रमोदवनमागतः। यावत्प्रविशते तत्र तावत्तद्द्वार्यदृश्यत॥१२॥
Unable to find them, he came to Pramodavana. Just as he was about to enter, someone appeared at its gate.
Passage 13
सहस्रवदनो घोरः पुरुषोऽतिभयानकः। तमनादृत्य सोऽन्तःस्थो भवितुं प्रारभद् बलात्॥१३॥
It was an exceedingly terrifying man, dreadful and thousand-faced. Disregarding him, Time tried to force his way inside.
Passage 14
स तेन वारितस्तत्र कालस्तं चाप्यपृच्छत। ममान्तर्गमनं देहि वनेऽस्मिन् घोरपूरुष॥१४॥
The man stopped him there, and Time asked him: “Terrible person, grant me entry into this grove.”
Passage 15
ततस्तमाह पुरुषो मां युद्धेन पराभव। ततस्त्वमस्मिन् विपिने प्रवेशं लप्स्यसे बलात्॥१५॥
The man replied: “Defeat me in battle. Only then will you win forcible entry into this forest.”
Passage 16
ब्रह्मोवाच— ततस्तयोर्युद्धमभून्महाघोरतरं परम्। परस्परप्रहरणौ विदारितपरस्परौ॥१६॥
Brahmā said: Then an immensely terrible battle arose between them. Each struck and tore the other.
Passage 17
परस्परातिदुर्धर्षौ परस्परप्रकोपनौ। परस्परोच्चण्डवेगौ परस्परनिपातिनौ॥१७॥
Each was nearly impossible for the other to assail; each enraged the other. Both attacked with overwhelming force and cast themselves against one another.
Passage 18
एवं वर्षसहस्राणि तयोर्युद्धं परस्परम्। अभूदथात्र कियान् लोकस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिमागमत्॥१८॥
Their mutual combat continued in this way for a thousand years, while a great part of the world passed into another condition.
Passage 19
ततः पराजितः कालः पुरुषेणामितौजसा। मूर्छितो न्यपतद्भूम्यां वाताहत इव द्रुमः॥१९॥
At last Time was defeated by the man of measureless splendor. Unconscious, he fell to the ground like a tree struck by wind.
Passage 20
पतितो धरणीं तं च सोऽपृच्छच्छनकैर्गिरा॥२०॥
Fallen upon the earth, Time slowly asked him in a faint voice.
Passage 21
काल उवाच— कस्त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल कच्चिद्भक्तोऽसि मत्प्रभोः। न चेदेवं विक्रमस्ते कथमेवंविधो भवेत्॥२१॥
Time said: Who are you, tiger among men? Surely you are a devotee of my Lord; otherwise how could your prowess be of such a kind?
Passage 22
पुरुष उवाच— अहं रामस्य भक्तोऽस्मि प्रमोदवनरक्षकः। कोऽन्तः प्रवेष्टुमर्होऽस्ति ब्रजभक्तजनं विना॥२२॥
The man said: I am Rāma's devotee and the guardian of Pramodavana. Who is worthy to enter it except the devotees of Vraja?
Passage 23
ततः कालः पराभूतो न्यवर्तत दिवं प्रति। मध्येपथं तु सविधे वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे शुचौ॥२३॥
Defeated, Time turned back toward heaven. Midway along the path, he came near Vasiṣṭha's pure hermitage.
Passage 24
निर्वाणे गण्डकीगङ्गासङ्गमे ह्यतिपावने। तत्र दिव्यवने रामं ददर्श स किरातिनम्॥२४॥
At Nirvāṇa, at the exceedingly sacred confluence of the Gaṇḍakī and Gaṅgā, he saw Rāma in a divine forest, appearing as a hunter.
Passage 25
मृगयाभिरतं वीरं सीतासंशोभिविग्रहम्। खेलन्तं मृगयूथेन मृगराजमिवोद्धुरम्। उपरिष्टाच्छ्वेतहये पर्यारूढं घनोपमम्॥२५॥
The hero delighted in the hunt, his form radiant beside Sītā. He sported amid a herd of deer like a proud lion and rode high upon a white horse, dark as a rain cloud.
Passage 26
तं दृष्ट्वा प्रणनामैष प्रभुं त्रैलोक्यनायकम्। पपात पादयोः पश्चात्परिपूर्णदयानिधेः॥२६॥
Seeing him, Time bowed to the Lord of the three worlds and then fell at the feet of that perfect treasury of compassion.
Passage 27
पूर्वापराधशमनाय विधेर्नियोगात् तुष्टाव राघववरं करुणासमुद्रम्। उन्निद्रपुष्करदलायतलोचनान्तं दृष्ट्वामितामृतकृपारसभूरिधारम्॥२७॥
At Brahmā's direction, to atone for his former offense, Time praised the noble Rāghava, ocean of compassion. He gazed upon the Lord's wide eyes, like fully opened lotus petals, streaming immeasurable nectarous currents of gracious rasa.
Passage 28
नमस्ते करुणासिन्धो नमस्ते भक्तवत्सल। नमस्ते दीनलोकाप्त क्षमस्व मम दुर्नयम्॥२८॥
Homage to you, ocean of compassion; homage to you, lover of devotees. Homage to you, kinsman of the afflicted world—please forgive my misconduct.
Passage 29
नमस्ते राम राजीवनेत्र लालितविग्रह। भक्तौघनयनानन्द क्षमस्व मम दुर्नयम्॥२९॥
Homage to you, Rāma, lotus-eyed Lord of graceful form, delight of the eyes of the multitude of devotees. Please forgive my misconduct.
Passage 30
नमस्ते कालमायादिगुणवश्यैकवारक। स्ववश्य कमलाकान्त क्षमस्व मम दुर्नयम्॥३०॥
Homage to you who alone prevent your people from falling under Time, māyā, and the guṇas; self-governed beloved of Kamalā, please forgive my misconduct.
Passage 31
नमस्ते त्रिजगन्नाथ ब्रह्मरुद्रादिदैवत। मायाधीश हि सर्वेश क्षमस्व मम दुर्नयम्॥३१॥
Homage to you, Lord of the three worlds and deity of Brahmā, Rudra, and the other gods. Master of māyā, Lord of all, please forgive my misconduct.
Passage 32
भीषणानां भीषणस्त्वं सुन्दराणां च सुन्दरः। सौम्यानां च तथा सौम्यः कठोराणां कठोरकः॥३२॥
You are more terrifying than the terrifying and more beautiful than the beautiful; gentler than the gentle and harder than the hard.
Passage 33
मृदूनां मृदुलश्चासि पृथूनां त्वं पृथुः प्रभो। नियन्तॄणां नियन्ता च लोकेशो लोकरक्षिणाम्॥३३॥
You are tenderer than the tender and greater than the great, Lord. You are the ruler of rulers and the sovereign over the world's protectors.
Passage 34
प्रचण्डानां प्रचण्डस्त्वमुद्धतानां तथोद्धतः। यद्वस्तु यद्यादृशं च तस्य रूपं त्वमेव हि॥३४॥
You are fiercer than the fierce and more exalted than the exalted. Whatever a thing may be and whatever its character, you alone are its form.
Passage 35
आधिदैविकमध्यात्ममधिभूतमथापि च। तस्य ते नाथ मत्तोऽपि भीषणस्य मदीशितुः॥३५॥
The divine, the inner, and the elemental domains all belong to you, Lord; you are master even over me, the terrifying one.
Passage 36
विभीषिकार्थं यदहं निजरूपमदर्शयम्। स एव मेऽपराधोऽभूत्प्रभो दुर्विनयात्मकः॥३६॥
When I displayed my own form in order to frighten you, that itself became my offense, Lord—an act of grievous disrespect.
Passage 37
तस्यापराधस्य शमाय राम तवाङ्घ्रिमूलं शरणं प्रपद्ये। स्वानामभीतिप्रदमात्मदीयं निवृत्तमायागुणमीशवन्द्यम्॥३७॥
To atone for that offense, Rāma, I take refuge at the base of your feet—your own sacred refuge, which grants fearlessness to your people, lies beyond māyā and the guṇas, and is adored by the gods.
Passage 38
तस्यापराधस्य शमाय राम भजामि ते नामपदार्णयुग्मम्। एकं तु मायेन्धनदाहनेन्धं परं पदं नाथ परं पदं ददत्॥३८॥
To atone for that offense, Rāma, I worship the pair of syllables forming your name. The first is fire that burns māyā's fuel; the second, Lord, bestows the supreme station.
Passage 39
तस्यापराधस्य शमाय राम पश्यामि रूपं तव योगिमृग्यम्। यदीहते द्रष्टुमनन्तनामा शेषः स्वयं श्रीश्च परापरेशा॥३९॥
To atone for that offense, Rāma, I behold your form, sought by yogins—the form that Śeṣa called Ananta, Śrī herself, and the rulers of higher and lower worlds long to see.
Passage 40
तस्यापराधस्य शमाय राम करोमि ते भक्तिमपारवीर्याम्। यदाश्रयातः प्रियतामुपागताः श्रीमच्छुकव्यासपराशराद्याः॥४०॥
To atone for that offense, Rāma, I practice devotion to you, whose power is boundless. By taking shelter in it, glorious Śuka, Vyāsa, Parāśara, and the others attained your love.
Passage 41
एवं स्तुत्वा स्थिते तस्मिन् प्रणते दीनदीनवत्। उवाच प्रहसन् रामः करुणारसवारिधिः॥४१॥
When Time had praised him in this way and remained bowed down in deepest humility, Rāma, ocean of compassionate rasa, spoke with a smile.
Passage 42
श्रीराम उवाच— कुत्र कुत्र गतः काल मदन्वेषणकारकः। तत्र तत्र च किं वृत्तं ज्ञातं मे किन्तु वैभवम्॥४२॥
Śrī Rāma said: Where did you go, Time, while searching for me? I know what occurred in each place, but tell me the marvel of it.
Passage 43
काल उवाच— गतः साकेतनगरे तत्र त्वां समलोकयम्। अदर्शनं प्रभो स्मृत्वा रमादेवीमलोकयम्॥४३॥
Time said: I went to the city of Sāketa and looked for you there. Not seeing you, Lord, I turned my attention to goddess Ramā.
Passage 44
ततो राम रमादेवी तिरोधानमुपागमत्। ततस्तद्युगलान्वेषी बभ्रामाहं त्रिलोकगः॥४४॥
Then, Rāma, goddess Ramā also disappeared. Searching for that divine pair, I wandered through the three worlds.
Passage 45
ततः प्रमोदविपिनं गन्तुमारब्धवानहम्। तद्द्वारस्थेनातिघोरेण पुरुषेण महौजसा॥४५॥
Then I set out for the forest of Pramodavana, but at its gate stood an exceedingly terrible man of immense splendor.
Passage 46
सहस्रवदनेनाहं युद्धं कृत्वा पराजितः। ततो विवर्णवदनो यातुं ब्रह्मगृहं प्रति॥४६॥
I fought that thousand-faced being and was defeated. My face drained of color, I then started toward Brahmā's abode.
Passage 47
इयेषाहं मध्यपथे भाग्याच्च तव दर्शनम्। प्राप्तवान् रघुशार्दूल गतश्चाहं कृतार्थताम्॥४७॥
While I was on the road, good fortune granted me the sight of you, tiger of Raghu's line, and I attained fulfillment.
Passage 48
श्रीराम उवाच— अत्राप्यस्मि च तत्रास्मि साकेतनगरोत्तमे। प्रमोदविपिने वास्मि सर्वत्रास्मि निजे वशः॥४८॥
Śrī Rāma said: I am here, and I am there in the supreme city of Sāketa. I am in the forest of Pramodavana, and, existing through my own freedom, I am everywhere.
Passage 49
अधुना गच्छ तत्रैव यत्र सिंहासनं मम। साकेतनगरस्थाने शुभे प्रासादवेश्मनि॥४९॥
Go now to the very place where my throne stands, within the auspicious palace residence in Sāketa city.
Passage 50
ततो नत्वागमत्कालः साकेतनगरीं प्रति। यत्र सिंहासनं रम्यं नित्यं रामस्य राजते॥५०॥
Time bowed and went to Sāketa city, where Rāma's beautiful throne shines eternally.
Passage 51
प्रासादतलवेश्मस्थं सौवर्णरत्ननिर्मितम्। अधःस्थदिव्यसौवर्णमणिमत्पादुकायुगम्॥५१॥
It stood within the palace hall, fashioned from gold and jewels, with a pair of divine golden, jewel-set sandals below.
Passage 52
दिव्यातपमच्छायाढ्यं स्थितचामरराजितम्। महास्फटिकपीठेन राजितं रत्नशोभितम्॥५२॥
It was graced by a divine parasol rich in shade and by standing fly-whisks, and it shone upon a great crystal pedestal adorned with jewels.
Passage 53
अनेकमणिसौवर्णकिङ्किणीजालमण्डितम्। त्रैलोक्यव्याप्तपरमप्रभासन्दोहभूषितम्॥५३॥
It was ornamented with networks of golden bells and many gems, and adorned by a mass of supreme radiance that pervaded the three worlds.
Passage 54
सुवर्णरत्ननिःश्रेणीछत्रदिव्यदुकूलकम्। दिव्यवस्त्रपरीधानं स्वाराज्यपदभाजनम्॥५४॥
It bore golden and jeweled steps, a canopy, and divine fine cloth; wrapped in celestial fabric, it was the seat of sovereign dominion.
Passage 55
ब्रह्मशक्रादिमुकुटमणिघृष्टान्तभागकम्। स्वयंलक्ष्मीनिजस्थानं साम्राज्यस्थानमुत्तमम्॥५५॥
Its edge was polished by the crown jewels of Brahmā, Indra, and the other gods. It was Lakṣmī's own dwelling and the supreme seat of universal sovereignty.
Passage 56
अनन्यसाधारणपरं श्रीमच्चरणाङ्कितम्। सहजानन्दिनीपादपद्माङ्कितमनोहरम्॥५६॥ It was unique, incomparable, and supremely marked by the blessed Lord's feet; made enchanting by the imprint of Sahajānandinī's lotus feet. **इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे उत्तरखण्डे कालदमनोपाख्याने पञ्चमोऽध्यायः॥५॥
** Thus ends Chapter Five in the episode of the subduing of Time, in the Uttara-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa.