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राम

उत्तरखण्ड · अध्याय 39

Ayodhyā's Citizens Take Refuge in Rāma

Global chapter 500 of 51422 passagesSource PDF pages 385387
Chapter context and opening material

Source: Volume 3, physical PDF pages 385–387 (printed pages 364–366). Structure: Twenty-two sequential Sanskrit passages. Summary: Having recognized Rāma's true nature, the people of Ayodhyā approach him as seekers of liberation and offer a sustained hymn of refuge. They praise him as the Self present through every experience, the one who becomes many and gathers creation back into himself, the teacher in every age, and the reality beyond even Brahman and the imperishable. The hymn holds together his cosmic action, justice, compassion for devotees, power over Time, saving Name, beauty, Ayodhyā's sanctity, and supremacy over other avatāras. Every passage after Brahmā's opening closes with the same confession: “We take refuge in you, giver of refuge.” Editorial note: The edition's unusually compact compounds in passages 8, 11, 14, 17, and 21 are retained rather than silently recast; the English follows their immediate sense conservatively. Passage 21 is scan-read as aṃśāvatārais tulyaṃ na hi gaṇanīyam, explicitly distinguishing Rāma's form from partial avatāras.

Passage 1

ब्रह्मोवाच— इति सर्वे मतिं कृत्वा साकेतपुरवासिनः। ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव समंततः। ज्ञातस्वरूपाः सकला उपसेदुर्मुमुक्षवः॥१॥

Brahmā said: Having reached this resolve, all the inhabitants of Sāketa—brahmins, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras from every side—recognized his true nature and approached him as seekers of liberation.

Passage 2

जना ऊचुः— ज्ञातोऽसि राम परमार्थत आत्मनां त्वमात्मासि सर्वविषयाव्यभिचारिसत्त्वः। आकाशवद्भवसि नित्यममेयरूपस्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥२॥

The people said: Rāma, you are now known in ultimate truth. You are the Self of all selves, the reality that never departs from any experience. Eternal like space and immeasurable in form, you are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 3

एकोऽसि पूर्वमथ तद्बहुधासि जातः कल्पावसानसमये पुनरेक एव। स्वे नित्य एव महिमन्यसि संस्थितस्त्वं तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥३॥

At first you are one; then you become many. At the end of the cosmic age you are one again, eternally established in your own majesty. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 4

भक्तोद्धृतिक्षममनेकमनन्तपारमाविर्भवत्स्वमतनोः सततं भवेऽस्मिन्। मायागुणव्यतिकृतप्रचुरस्वरूपं तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥४॥

In this world, innumerable and boundless forms capable of lifting up devotees continually appear from your own being, abundant through transformations of Māyā's qualities. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 5

आचार्यतां प्रतियुगं वितनोषि वेदं वाक्यार्थसारविनिरूपणलब्धदीक्षः। वेद्योऽसि भूरि भवरोगनिवारणाय तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥५॥

In every age you assume the office of teacher, consecrated to discerning the essence of the Veda's statements. You are the one to be known so that the grievous disease of worldly existence may be removed. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 6

ब्रह्मादयोऽपि तव रूपमपारमेतत्त्वन्मायया विततयाप्रतिरुद्धबोधाः। जानन्ति नैव भुवनेश्वर मानिनस्ते तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥६॥

Even Brahmā and the other proud rulers of worlds do not know this boundless form of yours, for their understanding is obstructed by your far-spreading Māyā. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 7

चेष्टात्मकस्तव विभो न तु काल एष ब्रह्माण्डकोटिघटनापटुरप्रमेयः। यस्मिन् गताः प्रलयमञ्जभुवोऽतिसंख्यास्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥७॥

O all-pervading Lord, this immeasurable Time—adept at fashioning millions of universes—is only an expression of your activity. Within it, countless Brahmās have passed into dissolution. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 8

ब्रह्माक्षरं तव विभो प्रवदन्ति लिङ्गं पूर्तिं गता यदवधि श्रुतिवाक्समूहाः। त्वां न स्पृशन्ति पुरुषोत्तमञ्जनीलं तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥८॥

O Lord, they call the imperishable Brahman a sign of you, for the collected words of revelation reach fulfillment only as far as it; they do not touch you, Puruṣottama, dark as collyrium. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 9

हंहो विचित्ररचनाप्रविधानदक्षं कर्मेति यत्तव वपुः फलदायि नृणाम्। यज्ञैस्तदिज्यमिति प्रविदन्ति केचित्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥९॥

Ah! Some know as karma your body that is skilled in arranging wondrous creation and grants human beings their fruits; others know it as that which is worshiped through sacrifices. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 10

भक्तेषु राम वितनोषि परानुकम्पामन्येषु कर्मसदृशं फलमादधानः। अप्यासुरान् हरसि ते च खलुस्वभावस्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१०॥

Rāma, you extend supreme compassion toward devotees while granting others fruit corresponding to their deeds; you also destroy the demons—such indeed is your nature. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 11

अव्येधतां जगति कामलवापवेषामापाततः किमशुभं त्वदुपाश्रितानाम्। त्वदिह्वरूप करुणामृतसेचितानां तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥११॥

What sudden misfortune could there be in this world for those who rely upon you, unpierced by even the slightest guises of desire and watered by the nectar of compassion in your lordly form? You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 12

कालस्य सर्वकवलीकरणोग्रमूर्ते मूर्ध्नि पदं च प्रविधाय निवृत्तशोकाः। क्रीडन्ति तावकदृगामृतसिक्तगात्रास्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१२॥

Placing their feet upon the head of Time, whose terrible form devours everything, those whose bodies are bathed in the nectar of your gaze play free from sorrow. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 13

नैष्टेषु धर्मनिवहेषु कलौ जनानां संतारणाय तव नाम परं समर्थम्। उच्चारणेन मखकोटिफलप्रदं यत्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१३॥

In the age of Kali, when people cannot remain steadfast in the multitude of sacred duties, your Name is supremely able to carry them across; its utterance bestows the fruit of millions of sacrifices. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 14

नाम्नैव यो हतसमस्तजनाधिहन्ता वाच्यः स्वरूपमहिमा किमु तावकीनः। तद्विघ्नसाधनशताधिककीर्तनं च तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१४॥

When your Name alone destroys all the afflictions of every person, what need is there to speak of the majesty of your own form? Its singing surpasses a hundred means of overcoming obstacles. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 15

संतारिताः कति न राघव सार्वभौमपापाजनाः खसकिरातपुलिन्दहूणाः। माहात्म्यबोधविमुखा अपि काननस्थास्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१५॥

Rāghava, how many thoroughly sinful forest peoples—Khasas, Kirātas, Pulindas, and Hūṇas—even though turned away from understanding your greatness, have you not carried across? You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 16

आनन्दसारमनवद्यमहोमहिम्ना लोकान्धकारविनिवर्तनसाधुशक्तिम्। स्वच्छन्दलीलममृतार्णवमिष्टदं तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१६॥

You are the essence of bliss, faultless, and of wondrous greatness; your beneficent power dispels the world's darkness. Freely delighting in play, an ocean of nectar who grants what is cherished, you are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 17

उज्जृम्भिरद्युतिमुदारमनोज्ञहासाभासा पराजितशरद्विधुरश्मिवृन्दम्। कर्णस्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलदीपितास्यं तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१७॥

The radiance of your teeth, revealed in a noble and lovely smile, defeats the autumn moon's host of rays, and makara-shaped earrings flashing at your ears illuminate your face. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 18

त्वत्पादपङ्कजपरागपवित्रतायाः साकेतपत्तनभुवो महिमाप्यवाच्यः। यज्जन्मिनां तु सुगमश्चतुरर्थलाभस्तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१८॥

Even the greatness of Sāketa's earth, sanctified by the pollen of your lotus feet, is beyond speech, for there the attainment of life's four aims comes easily to embodied beings. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 19

दामोदराच्युतमुकुन्दमुरारिराम श्रीराघवप्रभुजनार्दनबाणपाणे। श्रीरामराजकुलचन्द्ररघूत्तमेति तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥१९॥

“Dāmodara, Acyuta, Mukunda, Murāri, Rāma, blessed Rāghava, Lord, Janārdana, wielder of the bow; Śrī Rāma, moon of the royal dynasty, best of the Raghus”—you whom we address with these names are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 20

प्रारब्धहारि भजनं तव राघवेन्द्र ज्ञानं च कर्म च भवेत् किमु तेन तुल्यम्। मायागुणव्यतिकृतैकविशुद्धभक्त्या तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥२०॥

Rāghavendra, your worship destroys even commenced karma; what knowledge or action could equal it? With singularly pure devotion, free from the transformations of Māyā's qualities, we take refuge in you, giver of refuge.

Passage 21

सत्त्वेन ते व्यवहितं तव रामरूपमेतच्चिदेकमयमद्भुतमद्वितीयम्। अंशावतारैस्तुल्यं न हि गणनीयं तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥२१॥

This wondrous, nondual Rāma-form of yours, made solely of consciousness, is concealed by pure sattva; it cannot be reckoned as equal to partial avatāras. You are the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.

Passage 22

दृष्टिप्रमोदमनुभूय जगत्यनन्यं त्वां तर्कयन्ति मनुजाः पुरुषप्रकाण्डम्। भक्त्योपयान्ति न मुमुक्षुतया प्रकामं तं त्वाममी शरणदं शरणं प्रपन्नाः॥२२॥

Experiencing in this world the matchless joy of seeing you, human beings may reason that you are merely the foremost of men; yet through devotion, not through an intense desire for liberation, they approach you, the giver of refuge in whom we take refuge.