Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— इति ते सर्वमाख्यातं भुशुण्ड क्रमतो मया। आदिरामायणं नाम श्रीरामचरितं शुभम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Thus, Bhuśuṇḍa, I have related to you in due order the auspicious deeds of Śrī Rāma known as the Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.
Passage 2
एतत्कल्पभवं चापि कल्पान्तरभवं तथा। समाधावुपलब्धं यत्सारं सारं विमृश्य च॥२॥
It contains what arose in this cosmic age and in other ages as well—whatever was perceived in samādhi and discerned by repeatedly examining its essence.
Passage 3
इदं ते गुप्तवद्धार्यं न प्रकाश्यं कथंचन। प्रभोरेवाज्ञया प्रोक्तं रामस्य करुणाम्बुधेः॥३॥
You must guard this as a secret and never disclose it indiscriminately. I have spoken it only by the command of Lord Rāma, the ocean of compassion.
Passage 4
रामेण कथितं पूर्वं स्वप्रियायै प्रमुद्वने। तया सौमित्रये प्रोक्तं तेन प्रोक्तं निजानुजे॥४॥
Rāma first told it to his beloved in Pramoda Forest. She told it to Saumitri, and he told it to his younger brother.
Passage 5
क्वचिद्धनूमता लब्धं श्रीरामस्य मुखाम्बुजात्। तत एव मया लब्धं हयग्रीवाच्च योगिना॥५॥
At another time Hanumān received it from Śrī Rāma's lotus mouth. From him I received it, and also from the yogin Hayagrīva.
Passage 6
लब्धं कुम्भोद्भवेनापि मुनिभ्यस्तेन कीर्तितम्। तदेव ते मयाख्यातं रहस्यं चरितं प्रभोः॥६॥
The pot-born sage Agastya also received it and proclaimed it to the sages. That very confidential account of the Lord's deeds I have now related to you.
Passage 7
पठनीयं सदैवैतत् पवित्रं चित्तशोधनम्। मङ्गलं विघ्नकोटिघ्नं सुखदं भक्तिवर्धनम्॥७॥
This holy work, which purifies the mind, should always be recited. It is auspicious, destroys countless obstacles, bestows happiness, and increases devotion.
Passage 8
आयुष्यमारोग्यकरं धनसम्पद्विवर्धनम्। संकटेषु च कृच्छेषु सर्वापद्विनिवारणम्॥८॥
It promotes long life and health, increases wealth and prosperity, and averts every danger in times of distress and hardship.
Passage 9
श्रावणीयं च भक्तेभ्य एकान्तिभ्यो विशेषतः। रसज्ञेभ्यः प्रेमवद्भ्यो रासलीलाविशेषितम्॥९॥
It should be recited to devotees—especially to single-minded lovers who understand rasa—for it is distinguished by the rāsa līlā.
Passage 10
यानि यानि चरित्राणि पवित्राणि सीतापतेः। रासलीलागोपलीलाभेदवन्तानि भूरिशः॥१०॥
It contains in abundance the many holy deeds of Sītā's Lord, with their distinct rāsa līlās and cowherd līlās.
Passage 11
तेषां श्रवणमात्रेण दृढा भक्तिः प्रजायते। यावन्न विश्वामित्रेण नीतौ स्वाध्वरगुप्तये॥११॥
Merely hearing them gives rise to firm devotion. Until Viśvāmitra took Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa away to protect his sacrifice—
Passage 12
सुखितस्य गृहे तावदूषतु रामलक्ष्मणौ। चक्राते कुतुकोपेतौ गोपलीलां रसोत्तराम्॥१२॥
—Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa dwelt in Sukhita's home and, filled with playful delight, enacted the supremely relishable cowherd līlā.
Passage 13
चक्रे रासविलासाद्याः सर्वा लीलाः शुभान्विताः। धात्रीपतिरपि प्रायः पुत्रवच्चान्ववर्तत॥१३॥
They performed every auspicious līlā, beginning with the delights of the rāsa dance, and the husband of Dhātrī generally attended them as though they were his own sons.
Passage 14
तौ चापि लीलारसिकौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। माङ्गल्यां सुखितं चैव मेनाते जनकौ निजौ॥१४॥
The two brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, connoisseurs of līlā, likewise regarded Māṅgalyā and Sukhita as their own parents.
Passage 15
तयोश्चरितमत्रैव गोपलीलानुकारिणोः। प्रतिश्लोकं चोपबद्धं श्रोतव्यं भक्तिभावतः॥१५॥
The deeds of those two who assumed the cowherd līlā are woven here verse by verse and should be heard with devotional feeling.
Passage 16
मोचनं भवबन्धेभ्यो रोचनं मनसः परम्। गोचरं सद्विशेषाणां सामान्यानामगोचरम्॥१६॥
This account releases one from the bonds of becoming and gives the mind supreme delight. It lies within the reach of the truly exceptional but beyond the reach of the ordinary.
Passage 17
चैत्रस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु प्रतिपद्दिवसादितः। यावज्जन्मदिनं श्राव्यं रामस्य रसिकेशितुः॥१७॥
It should be recited from the first day of the bright half of Caitra through the birthday of Rāma, Lord of the rasikas.
Passage 18
दिने दिने महत्पुण्यमश्वमेधशतोद्भवम्। तुष्यत्याशु रमाकान्तो रामो राजीवलोचनः॥१८॥
Each day yields the great merit arising from a hundred horse sacrifices, and lotus-eyed Rāma, beloved of Ramā, is quickly pleased.
Passage 19
भूमौ स्वस्तिकमालिख्य सर्वतोभद्रमेव वा। मण्डलं विपुलं तत्र स्थापयेज्जानकीपतिम्॥१९॥
One should draw a svastika or a sarvatobhadra diagram upon the ground, make a spacious sacred enclosure there, and install Jānakī's Lord within it.
Passage 20
दीपराजं च संस्थाप्य विधिवत्तस्य संनिधौ। मण्डपं कारयेत्तत्र चतुर्द्वारं मनोहरम्॥२०॥
One should duly establish an array of lamps in his presence and construct there a beautiful pavilion with four entrances.
Passage 21
वाचयेत्तत्र विधिवद्ग्रन्थमेनं समाहितः। अनन्यभक्त्या श्रोतव्यं सर्वदा रामसेवकैः॥२१॥
With collected mind one should have this book properly recited there. Rāma's servants should always hear it with undivided devotion.
Passage 22
गोभूहिरण्यवस्त्राद्यैस्तथाश्वरथकुञ्जरैः। यथाशक्त्या च वसुभिस्तोषयेद्वाचकं द्विजम्॥२२॥
According to one's means, one should satisfy the brahmin reciter with cows, land, gold, garments, horses, chariots, elephants, and other wealth.
Passage 23
लिखित्वा पुस्तकं चैतद्दक्षिणाहेमसंयुतम्। रामभक्ताय यो दद्याद् ब्राह्मणाय सुयज्वने॥२३॥
Whoever has this book copied and gives it, together with a gift of gold, to a Rāma-devoted brahmin who performs sacrifice—
Passage 24
तस्य पुण्यफलं चापि वक्तुं नो शक्यते मया। अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च॥२४॥
—the fruit of that person's merit cannot be described by me. It equals thousands of horse sacrifices and hundreds of rājasūya sacrifices.
Passage 25
लभते भक्तिमान् मर्त्यः कथाश्रवणमात्रतः। असंख्यं लभते पुण्यं कीर्तनाच्च दिने दिने॥२५॥
A devoted mortal obtains that fruit merely by hearing the account and gains immeasurable merit by reciting it day after day.
Passage 26
ब्रह्मोवाच— इति मत्तः समाश्रुत्य भुशुण्डो रामसेवकः। प्रोद्बुद्धपूर्वसंस्कार इदमूचे स मां सुराः॥२६॥
Brahmā said: Gods, after hearing all this from me, Bhuśuṇḍa—the servant of Rāma, whose former impressions had awakened—spoke these words to me.
Passage 27
भुशुण्ड उवाच— धन्योऽहं कृतकृत्यश्च त्वत्प्रसादाद् विधो मम। सद्यो विगलितो मोहः संजाता पूर्वजन्मधीः॥२७॥
Bhuśuṇḍa said: O Creator, through your grace I am blessed and fulfilled. My delusion has vanished at once, and awareness of my former births has arisen.
Passage 28
अहं हि रामभक्तोऽस्मि धातर्जन्मनि जन्मनि। इदानीं ते प्रसादेन भक्तिर्मेऽभूद्दृढीयसी॥२८॥
O Ordainer, I have indeed been a devotee of Rāma in birth after birth. Now, by your grace, my devotion has become exceedingly firm.
Passage 29
द्वीपेऽस्मिन् पर्वते चात्र निवत्स्यामि शुभान्वितः। रामभक्तिसुधां पीत्वा सदा मत्तः प्रसन्नधीः॥२९॥
I shall remain here upon this island and mountain, blessed and joyful in mind, always intoxicated by drinking the nectar of devotion to Rāma.
Passage 30
इदं श्रुतं ते वदनारविन्दाद्यशोऽमलं श्रीरघुपुङ्गवस्य। सदैव पद्मोद्भव कीर्तनीयं मया पुरो भक्तिमतां सुराणाम्॥३०॥
From your lotus mouth I have heard this stainless glory of Śrī Rāma, foremost of the Raghus. O lotus-born Brahmā, I shall always proclaim it before the devoted gods.
Passage 31
रहः स्मरिष्यामि च सद्रहस्यं निधेयमन्तर्निधिसारभूतम्। स्वस्त्यस्तु ते गच्छ विधे स्वलोकं लोकेश लोकाधिकृतिं प्रशाधि॥३१॥
In solitude I shall remember this eternal mystery, to be laid within the heart as the essence of every treasure. May it be well with you, O Creator. Go to your own world, Lord of worlds, and govern the charge entrusted to you.
Passage 32
ब्रह्मोवाच— इत्युक्त्वा मां स वै देवाः पूजयित्वा यथाविधि। विससर्ज स्वलोकाय भक्तिनम्रः कृताञ्जलिः॥३२॥
Brahmā said: Gods, having spoken thus, he duly worshiped me and, bowed by devotion with joined palms, dismissed me to my own world.
Passage 33
एतत्सुरगणाः कृत्स्नं गुणग्रथनमीशितुः। आकर्ण्य कृतकृत्याः स्थ न श्रोतव्यान्तरं च वः॥३३॥
Gods, having heard this complete garland of the Lord's virtues, you are fulfilled. Nothing further remains for you to hear.
Passage 34
श्रुतं यशश्चेद्रघुपुङ्गवस्य किमन्यकीर्त्या श्रुतया जनस्य। गीता गुणाश्चेद्रघुनन्दनस्य पीतापि सा तर्हि सुधा मुधा स्यात्॥३४॥
If the glory of Rāma, foremost of the Raghus, has been heard, what need is there to hear the fame of anyone else? If the virtues of Raghu's son have been sung, then even nectar already drunk would be in vain beside them.
Passage 35
स जयति राजवेषरमणीय उदारगुणः प्रमुदवनावनीन्दुरखिलप्रमुद्वासिसहितः। स्मितसहजेश्वरीवदनचन्द्रचकोरयुगं नयनयुगं निजेषु निदधद् राघवेन्द्रसूनुः॥३५॥
Triumphant is Rāma, lovely in royal dress and noble in virtue, the moon over the land of Pramoda Forest, surrounded by all who dwell there—Rāghavendra's son, whose pair of eyes rests among his own people like a pair of cakora birds upon the moon-face of the smiling Sahajeśvarī.