Passage 1
यम उवाच— नागान्तक खगाधीश कथं क्रुद्धोऽसि मत्कृते। महाकालानलज्वालाभिर्व्याप्तो हि समन्ततः॥१॥
Yama said: Destroyer of serpents, lord of birds, why have you become angry on my account? Everything here is enveloped on every side by flames like the fire of the great dissolution.
Passage 2
संवेष्टिता संयमिनी ह्यकस्मात्केन हेतुना। तव पक्षानिलोद्धूता उड्डीयन्ते गृहाः मम॥२॥
Why has Saṃyamanī suddenly been encircled like this? Uprooted by the wind of your wings, my buildings are flying away.
Passage 3
पृथिव्यां शेरते दूतास्तव तुण्डनखक्षताः। पीडिताङ्गा वमन्तस्ते शोणितानि भुवि स्थिताः॥३॥
My messengers lie upon the earth, wounded by your beak and claws. Their limbs are crushed, and as they lie on the ground they vomit blood.
Passage 4
निःश्वसन्तो ह्यतीवार्ताः कदर्थीकृतविग्रहाः। केचित्पलायिता दिक्षु वेपमाना भयातुराः॥४॥
Some gasp in extreme pain, their bodies grievously abused; others, trembling and overwhelmed by fear, have fled into the quarters.
Passage 5
कृतं संयमनीपुर्याः कदनं केन हेतुना। भवान् हि सर्वदेवानामतीव प्रियकारकः॥५॥
For what reason have you brought ruin upon the city of Saṃyamanī? You are one who acts most dearly for all the gods.
Passage 6
अहं च स्थापितो दण्डाधिकारित्वेन विष्णुना। त्वं च तद्वाहनो नित्यं किमित्येवं चकार ह॥६॥
Viṣṇu appointed me to the authority of punishment, while you are forever his vehicle. Why, then, have you acted in this way?
Passage 7
एतत्तेऽनुचितं तार्क्ष्य यद्विष्णोरधिकारिणाम्। उज्जासनं बलवता त्वया यत् कृतमेव तत्। एतस्य कारणं ब्रूहि प्रच्छामि त्वां खगाधिप॥७॥
Tārkṣya, it is improper that you, in your strength, should dislodge those who hold authority under Viṣṇu. Tell me the reason for this; I ask you, lord of birds.
Passage 8
तार्क्ष्य उवाच— शृणु वैवस्वत यतो हेतोस्ते कदनं मया। कृतं च तव दूतानामत्यर्थं परिपीडनम्॥८॥
Tārkṣya said: Hear, Vaivasvata, the reason I brought destruction upon you and inflicted such severe punishment upon your messengers.
Passage 9
पृथिव्यां भारते खण्डे भारते नाम विश्रुतम्। आर्यावर्तं पुण्यभूमौ नानातीर्थगुणाश्रये॥९॥
On earth, in the Bhārata division, in the celebrated land of Bhārata, lies Āryāvarta—the holy ground and abode of the virtues of many sacred places.
Passage 10
अस्त्ययोध्यानाम पुरी विस्तीर्णा रवियोजनैः। सर्वर्तुगुणशोभाढ्या नानाकल्पद्रुमाकुला॥१०॥
There is a city named Ayodhyā, extending twelve yojanas, splendid with the virtues of every season and crowded with many wish-granting trees.
Passage 11
स्वर्णचिन्तामणिमयी यत्र भूमिर्विराजते। सुवर्णरत्नसोपानमण्डिता यत्र वापिकाः॥११॥
There the earth shines, made of gold and wish-fulfilling gems, and the stepped wells are adorned with stairways of gold and jewels.
Passage 12
शोभिताः परितः फुल्लसुवर्णसरसीरुहैः। मकरन्दरसस्रावाः स्वच्छशीतामृतोदकाः॥१२॥
They are beautified all around by blossoming golden lotuses that stream sweet nectar, while their clear, cool water is like ambrosia.
Passage 13
गुञ्जद्भ्रमरपुञ्जाढ्याः कलहंसकलस्वनाः। सरस्यो यत्र राजन्ते रत्नसोपानशोभिताः॥१३॥
There the lakes shine with jeweled stairways, crowded with humming swarms of bees and filled with the melodious voices of graceful swans.
Passage 14
कोककारण्डवध्वानमिश्रसारसनादिताः। राजहंसकलक्वाणमुखरीकृतदिङ्मुखाः॥१४॥
They resound with the mingled calls of kokas, kāraṇḍavas, and sarasa cranes, while the sweet cries of royal swans make every quarter vocal.
Passage 15
फुल्लत्कमलकह्लारहल्लका मोदमेदुराः। उपकूलमहीरूढकुञ्जद्रुममनोहराः॥१५॥
Rich with fragrance from blossoming lotuses, white water-lilies, and red hallakas, they are enchanting with bower-trees rising from the earth along their banks. Printed note (15): 'हल्लकं रक्तसन्ध्यकम्' ठि०–बड़ौ०। — The commentary and Baroda witness gloss hallaka as a red, twilight-colored water-lily.
Passage 16
मुक्ताशुक्तिपुटोद्भूतिनानारत्नगणेद्भवाः। यत्र रत्नाचलो नाम सीतारामविहारभूः॥१६॥
Many jewels arise from within the cavities of pearl oysters; there stands the mountain called Ratnācala, a ground for the pastimes of Sītā and Rāma.
Passage 17
महारत्नमयानेकशिखरद्युतिदीपितः। नाशिताशेषदिक्कूटतमःपटलरात्रिकः॥१७॥
It is illumined by the radiance of many peaks made of great jewels, destroying the nightlike sheet of darkness upon every summit of the quarters.
Passage 18
यत्र सा सरयूर्नाम सरित्पानीयनिर्मला। मणिबद्धोभयतटी दधती हेमवालुकाः॥१८॥
There flows the river named Sarayū, its water stainless, its two banks bound with jewels, and its sands golden.
Passage 19
परमानन्ददा नित्यं निजकूलजुषां नृणाम्। तपस्विनां मुनीन्द्राणां विरक्तानां भवेत् पुनः॥१९॥
It eternally grants supreme bliss to people dwelling on its banks, and likewise to ascetics, lords among sages, and the dispassionate.
Passage 20
रिङ्गत्तरङ्गरुचिरा क्षालयन्ती तटावनीम्। पूज्यमाना सुरव्रातैः पारिजातभवैः सुमैः॥२०॥
Lovely with gliding waves, it washes the land along its banks and is worshiped by hosts of gods with flowers born from the pārijāta tree.
Passage 21
पुराणपुरुषप्रेमसमुद्भूताश्रुसम्भवा। क्वचिच्छनैः क्वचिद्वेगाद्गच्छन्ती मधुरस्वना॥२१॥
It arose from tears born of love for the primordial Person. Flowing slowly in one place and swiftly in another, it makes a sweet sound.
Passage 22
जनाश्चतुर्भुजा यत्र रामप्रेमावघूर्णिताः। जनकेन्द्रसुताकीर्तिगाननिर्धूतकल्मषाः॥२२॥
There the people are four-armed and reel in love for Rāma, their impurities swept away by singing the glory of the daughter of King Janaka.
Passage 23
चतुराश्रमसंशुद्धाश्चतुर्वर्णक्रियाजुषः। प्रेमानन्दपरीपाकसुस्थिरीकृतमानसाः॥२३॥
Purified within the four stages of life and devoted to the duties of the four social orders, their minds have been made utterly steady by the ripening bliss of love.
Passage 24
अनादृतज्ञानकर्मोपासनासाधनान्तराः। श्रीरामचरणाम्भोजे सुविश्वस्ताः समन्ततः॥२४॥
Disregarding other disciplines of knowledge, action, and worship, they place complete trust in every way in Śrī Rāma's lotus feet.
Passage 25
प्रपत्तिमार्गशरणाः सर्वे विमलबुद्धयः। देवतायतने यत्र सस्वर्णघटमस्तकैः॥२५॥
All are pure in understanding and have taken refuge in the path of surrender. There the temples of the deities are crowned with golden vessels,
Passage 26
पताकाध्वजवस्त्राढ्यैस्तोरणाद्यैरलङ्कृतैः। स्थूलैः स्थूणैः कृता शोभा गगनस्पर्शिमूर्धभिः॥२६॥
rich with pennants, banners, and cloths, adorned with gateways and other ornaments; their massive pillars, whose tops touch the sky, create great splendor.
Passage 27
प्रासादैर्भूभुजां यत्र शोभा चमत्कृतीकृता। विततश्चापणे यत्र विकीर्णमणिधोरणिः॥२७॥
There the palaces of kings make beauty itself wondrous, and through the broad marketplace stretches a roadway scattered with jewels.
Passage 28
नवभिर्निधिभिर्युक्ता मोदन्ते यत्र नैगमाः। उत्सवांश्च प्रतिगृहं प्रत्यहं यत्र बिभ्रति॥२८॥
There the merchants rejoice, endowed with the nine treasures, and every home holds festivals day after day.
Passage 29
तूर्यत्रिकसमाघोषो यत्रास्ते प्रतिमन्दिरम्। ईदृग्विधगुणैर्युक्ता ह्ययोध्यानगरी भुवि॥२९॥
At every temple there resounds a concert of the three classes of instruments. Such are the virtues with which the city of Ayodhyā is endowed upon the earth.
Passage 30
यस्यां दशरथो राजा नित्यमेव विराजते। महाराजकुमारश्च यत्र श्रीरामसंज्ञकः॥३०॥
There King Daśaratha shines eternally, and there too is the great royal prince known as Śrī Rāma.
Passage 31
चतुर्धामूर्तिसंयुक्तो नित्यं खलु विराजते। परब्रह्म परं धाम परमात्मा परात्परः॥३१॥
Joined with his fourfold manifestation, he shines there eternally: the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode, the Supreme Self beyond the highest.
Passage 32
नित्यलीलारसानन्दी प्रमोदवनचन्द्रमाः। सहजानन्दिनीनामनित्यशक्तिविभूषितः॥३२॥
He delights in the rasa of eternal līlā and is the moon of Pramoda Forest, adorned with the eternal power named Sahajānandinī.
Passage 33
वनैर्यत्र द्वादशभिः प्रमोदवनमेधते। श्रिया परमया युक्तं परब्रह्मसुखालयम्॥३३॥
There Pramoda Forest flourishes through twelve forests, joined with supreme Śrī and serving as the abode of the bliss of the Supreme Brahman.
Passage 34
गवेन्द्रसुखिताख्यस्य यत्र गोष्ठं विभाति तत्। ऊधोभारविनम्राभिर्धेनुभिः समुपासितम्॥३४॥
There shines the cattle-enclosure known as Gopendra-sukhita, attended by cows bent low beneath the weight of their udders.
Passage 35
कूर्दमानकुरङ्गाभवत्सवत्सतरीयुतम्। रामप्रेमवशीभूतगोपगोपीजनावृतम्॥३५॥
It is filled with frolicking, deerlike calves and young cattle and surrounded by cowherd men and women brought wholly under the sway of love for Rāma.
Passage 36
प्रत्यूषे दधिनिर्मन्थघोषमङ्गलपूरितम्। श्रीमद्रामगुणोद्गानपूर्वकं निर्वृतात्मना॥३६॥
At dawn it is filled with the auspicious sound of churning curd, preceded by a contented soul's singing of blessed Rāma's virtues.
Passage 37
मथ्नन्त्या दधिपाथोधि श्रीमन्माङ्गल्यया युतम्। इति भव्यगुणोदीर्णमयोध्यामण्डलं महत्। साक्षात्परमधामैव श्रीरामस्थानमद्भुतम्॥३७॥
It is joined with the blessed, auspicious lady as she churns the ocean of curd. Thus the great circuit of Ayodhyā overflows with sublime virtues: it is directly the supreme abode itself, the wondrous dwelling place of Śrī Rāma.