Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 35
Sourceशेष उवाच। प्राप्य तं वाजिनं राजा शत्रुघ्नो राक्षसैर्हृतम् । अत्यंतं हर्षमापेदे पुष्कलेन समन्वितः १। रुधिरैः सिक्तगात्रास्ते योधा लक्ष्मीनिधिस्तथा । रणोत्साहेन संयुक्तं प्रशशंसुर्महानृपम् २। हते तस्मिन्महादैत्ये विद्युन्मालिनि दुर्जये । सुराः सर्वे भयं त्यक्त्वा सुखमापुर्मुनेमहत् ३। नद्यस्तु विमला जाता रविस्तु विमलोऽभवत् । वाता ववुः सुगंधोद सिक्ता विमलशुष्मिणः ४। सन्नद्धास्ते महावीरा रथस्था विमलांगकाः । राजानमूचुस्ते सर्वे जयलक्ष्म्या समन्विताः ५। वीरा ऊचुः। दिष्ट्या हतस्त्वया दैत्यो विद्युन्माली महामते । यद्भयात्त्रासमापन्नाः सुराः स्वर्गान्निराकृताः ६। दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो महावाजी रघुनाथस्य शोभनः । दिष्ट्या गंतासि सर्वत्र जयं तु क्षितिमंडले ७। स्वामिन्मुंचत्विमं वाहं मनोवेगं मनोरमम् । समयस्य विलंबो मा भवत्वत्र महामते ८। शेष उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं वीराणां समयोचितम् । साधु साधु प्रशस्यैतान्मुमोच हयसत्तमम् ९। स मुक्तश्चोत्तरामाशां बभ्रामाथ सुरक्षितः । रथपत्तिहयश्रेष्ठैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदैः १०। तत्र यद्वृत्तमेतस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य मनोहरम् । वात्स्यायन शृणुष्वैतत्पापराशिप्रदाहकम् ११। रेवातीरमथ प्राप्तो मुनिवृंदनिषेवितम् । नीलरत्नसमूहस्य रसः किं तु पयो मिषात् १२। तांस्तान्मुनिवरान्सर्वान्प्रणमञ्छूरसेवितः । जगाम हयरत्नस्य पृष्ठतः कामगामिनः १३। गच्छंस्तत्राश्रमं जीर्णं पलाशपर्णनिर्मितम् । रेवायाजलकल्लोलैः सिक्तं पापहराश्रयम् १४। तं दृष्ट्वा सुमतिं प्राह सर्वज्ञं नयकोविदम् । शत्रुघ्नः सर्वधर्मार्थकर्मकर्तव्यकोविदः १५। राजोवाच। मंत्रिन्कथय कस्यायमाश्रमः पुण्यदर्शनः । विचारचतुरश्रेष्ठ वदैतन्मम पृच्छतः १६। शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुमतिः प्राह तं नृपम् । विशद स्मेरया वाचा दर्शयन्नात्मसौहृदम् १७। सुमतिरुवाच। एनं दृष्ट्वा महाराज धूतपापा वयं खलु । भविष्यामो मुनिश्रेष्ठं सर्वशास्त्रपरायणम् १८। तस्मान्नत्वा तमापृच्छ सर्वं ते कथयिष्यति । रघुनाथपदांभोजमकरंदाति लोलुपः १९। नाम्ना त्वारण्यकं ख्यातं रघुनाथांघ्रिसेवकम् । अत्युग्रतपसा पूर्णं सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदम् २०। इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं धर्मार्थपरिबृंहितम् । जगाम तमथो द्रष्टुं स्वल्पसेवकसंयुतः २१। हनूमान्पुष्कलो वीरः सुमतिर्मंत्रिसत्तमः । लक्ष्मीनिधिः प्रतापाग्र्यः सुबाहुः सुमदस्तथा २२। एतैः परिवृतो राजा शत्रुघ्नः प्रापदाश्रमम् । नमस्कर्तुं द्विजवरमारण्यकमुदारधीः २३। गत्वा तं तापसश्रेष्ठं नमस्कारमथाकरोत् । सर्वैस्तैः सहितो वीरैर्विनयानतकंधरैः २४। तान्दृष्ट्वा सन्नतान्सर्वाञ्छत्रुघ्नप्रमुखान्नृपान् । अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं चक्रे फलमूलादिभिस्तदा २५। उवाच तान्नृपान्सर्वान्भवंतः कुत्र संगताः । कथमत्र समायातास्तत्सर्वं वदतानघाः २६। तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यमेतस्य मुनिवर्यस्य वाडव । सुमतिः कथयामास वाक्यं वादविचक्षणः २७। सुमतिरुवाच। रघुवंशनृपस्यायमश्वो वै पाल्यतेऽखिलैः । यागं करिष्यते वीरः सर्वसंभारसंभृतम् २८। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां जगाद मुनिसत्तमः । दंतकांत्याखिलं घोरं तमोनिर्वारयन्निव २९। आरण्यक उवाच। किं यागैर्विविधैरन्यैः सर्वसंभारसंभृतैः । स्वल्पपुण्यप्रदैर्नूनं क्षयिष्णुपददातृभिः ३०। मूढो लोको हरिं त्यक्त्वा करोत्यन्यसमर्चनम् । रघुवीरं रमानाथं स्थिरैश्वर्यपदप्रदम् ३१। यो नरैः स्मृतमात्रोपि हरते पापपर्वतम् । तं मुक्त्वा क्लिश्यते मूढो यागयोगव्रतादिभिः ३२। अहो पश्यत मूढत्वं लोकानामतिवंचितम् । सुलभं रामभजनं मुक्त्वा दुर्ल्लभमाचरेत् ३३। सकामैर्योगिभिर्वापि चिंत्यते कामवर्जितैः । अपवर्गप्रदं नॄणां स्मृतमात्राखिलाघहम् ३४। पुराहं तत्त्ववित्सायां ज्ञानिनं सुविचारयन् । अगमं बहुतीर्थानि तत्त्वं कोपि न मेऽदिशत् ३५। तदैकं हि महद्भाग्यात्प्राप्तं वै लोमशं मुनिम् । स्वर्गलोकात्समायातं तीर्थयात्राचिकीर्षया ३६। तमहं प्रणिपत्याथ पर्यपृच्छं महामुनिम् । महायुषं महायोगिसंसेवितपदद्वयम् ३७। स्वामिन्मयाद्य मानुष्यं प्राप्तमद्भुतदुर्ल्लभम् । संसारघोरजलधिं किं कर्तव्यं तितीर्षुणा ३८। विचार्य कथय त्वं तद्व्रतं दानं जपो मखः । देवो वा विद्यते यो वै संसृत्यंभोधितारकः ३९। यज्ज्ञात्वा संसृतिं घोरां तरामि त्वत्कृपाब्धितः । तन्मे कथय योगेश सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारग ४०। इति मद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य जगाद मुनिसत्तमः । शृणुष्वैकमना विप्र श्रद्धया परया युतः ४१। संति दानानि तीर्थानि व्रतानि नियमा यमाः । योगा यज्ञास्तथानेके वर्तंते स्वर्गदायकाः ४२। परं गुह्यं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । तच्छृणुष्व महाभाग संसारांभोधितारकम् ४३। नास्तिकाय न वक्तव्यं न चाऽश्रद्धालवे पुनः । निंदकाय शठायापि न देयं भक्तिवैरिणे ४४। रामभक्ताय शांताय कामक्रोधवियोगिने । वक्तव्यं सर्वदुःखस्य नाशकारकमुत्तमम् ४५। रामान्नास्ति परो देवो रामान्नास्ति परं व्रतम् । न हि रामात्परो योगो न हि रामात्परो मखः ४६। तं स्मृत्वा चैव जप्त्वा च पूजयित्वा नरः परम् । प्राप्नोति परमामृद्धिमैहिकामुष्मिकीं तथा ४७। संस्मृतो मनसा ध्यातः सर्वकामफलप्रदः । ददाति परमां भक्तिं संसारांभोधितारिणीम् ४८। श्वपाकोपि हि संस्मृत्य रामं याति परां गतिम् । ये वेदशास्त्रनिरतास्त्वादृशास्तत्र किं पुनः ४९। सर्वेषां वेदशास्त्राणां रहस्यं ते प्रकाशितम् । समाचर तथा त्वं वै यथा स्यात्ते मनीषितम् ५०। एको देवो रामचंद्रो व्रतमेकं तदर्चनम् । मंत्रोऽप्येकश्च तन्नाम शास्त्रं तद्ध्येव तत्स्तुतिः ५१। तस्मात्सर्वात्मना रामचंद्रं भजमनोहरम् । यथा गोष्पदवत्तुच्छो भवेत्संसारसागरः ५२। श्रुत्वा मया तु तद्वाक्यं पुनः प्रश्नमकारिषम् । कथं वा ध्यायते देवः कथं वा पूज्यते नरैः ५३। कथयस्व महाबुद्धे सर्वज्ञ मम विस्तरात् । यज्ज्ञात्वाहं कृतार्थः स्यां त्रिलोक्यां मुनिसत्तम ५४। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु मद्वाक्यं विचार्य स तु लोमशः । कथयामास मे सर्वं रामध्यानपुरःसरम् ५५। शृणु विप्रेंद्र वक्ष्यामि यत्पृष्टं तु त्वयानघ । यथा तुष्येद्रमानाथः संसारज्वरदाहकः ५६। अयोध्यानगरे रम्ये चित्रमंडपशोभिते । ध्यायेत्कल्पतरोर्मूले सर्वकामसमृद्धिदे ५७। महामरकतस्वर्णनीलरत्नादिशोभितम् । सिंहासनं चित्तहरं कांत्या तामिस्रनाशनम् ५८। तस्योपरि समासीनं रघुराजं मनोरमम् । दूर्वादलश्यामतनुं देवदेवेंद्रपूजितम् ५९। राकायां पूर्णशीतांशुकांतिधिक्कारिवक्त्रिणम् । अष्टमीचंद्रशकलसमभालाधिधारिणम् ६०। नीलकुंतलशोभाढ्यं किरीटमणिरंजितम् । मकराकारसौंदर्यकुंडलाभ्यां विराजितम् ६१। विद्रुमच्छवि सत्कांतिरदच्छदविराजितम् । तारापतिकराकार द्विजराजि सुशोभितम् ६२। जपापुष्पाभया माध्व्या जिह्वया शोभिताननम् । यस्यां वसंति निगमा ऋगाद्याः शास्त्रसंयुताः ६३। कंबुकांतिधरग्रीवा शोभया समलंकृतम् । सिंहवदुच्चकौ स्कन्धौ मांसलौ बिभ्रतं वरम् ६४। बाहू दधानं दीर्घांगौ केयूरकटकांकितौ । मुद्रिकाहीरशोभाभिर्भूषितौ जानुलंबिनौ ६५। वक्षो दधानं विपुलं लक्ष्मीवासेन शोभितम् । श्रीवत्सादिविचित्रांकैरंकितं सुमनोहरम् ६६। महोदरं महानाभिं शुभकट्याविराजितम् । कांच्या वै मणिमत्या च विशेषेण श्रियान्वितम् ६७। ऊरुभ्यां विमलाभ्यां वै जानुभ्यां शोभितं श्रिया । चरणाभ्यां वज्ररेखा यवांकुशसुरेखया ६८। युताभ्यां योगिध्येयाभ्यां कोमलाभ्यां विराजितम् । ध्यात्वा स्मृत्वा च संसारसागरं त्वं तरिष्यसि ६९। तमेव पूजयन्नित्यं चंदनादिभिरिच्छया । प्राप्नोति परमामृद्धिमैहिकामुष्मिकीं पराम् ७०। त्वया पृष्टं महाराज रामस्य ध्यानमुत्तमम् । तत्ते कथितमेतद्वै संसारजलधिं तर ७१। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे आरण्यकोपाख्याने लोमशारण्यकसंवादोनाम पंचत्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः ३५ ।
śeṣa uvāca| prāpya taṃ vājinaṃ rājā śatrughno rākṣasairhṛtam | atyaṃtaṃ harṣamāpede puṣkalena samanvitaḥ 1| rudhiraiḥ siktagātrāste yodhā lakṣmīnidhistathā | raṇotsāhena saṃyuktaṃ praśaśaṃsurmahānṛpam 2| hate tasminmahādaitye vidyunmālini durjaye | surāḥ sarve bhayaṃ tyaktvā sukhamāpurmunemahat 3| nadyastu vimalā jātā ravistu vimalo'bhavat | vātā vavuḥ sugaṃdhoda siktā vimalaśuṣmiṇaḥ 4| sannaddhāste mahāvīrā rathasthā vimalāṃgakāḥ | rājānamūcuste sarve jayalakṣmyā samanvitāḥ 5| vīrā ūcuḥ| diṣṭyā hatastvayā daityo vidyunmālī mahāmate | yadbhayāttrāsamāpannāḥ surāḥ svargānnirākṛtāḥ 6| diṣṭyā prāpto mahāvājī raghunāthasya śobhanaḥ | diṣṭyā gaṃtāsi sarvatra jayaṃ tu kṣitimaṃḍale 7| svāminmuṃcatvimaṃ vāhaṃ manovegaṃ manoramam | samayasya vilaṃbo mā bhavatvatra mahāmate 8| śeṣa uvāca| iti śrutvā tu tadvākyaṃ vīrāṇāṃ samayocitam | sādhu sādhu praśasyaitānmumoca hayasattamam 9| sa muktaścottarāmāśāṃ babhrāmātha surakṣitaḥ | rathapattihayaśreṣṭhaiḥ sarvaśastrāstrakovidaiḥ 10| tatra yadvṛttametasya śatrughnasya manoharam | vātsyāyana śṛṇuṣvaitatpāparāśipradāhakam 11| revātīramatha prāpto munivṛṃdaniṣevitam | nīlaratnasamūhasya rasaḥ kiṃ tu payo miṣāt 12| tāṃstānmunivarānsarvānpraṇamañchūrasevitaḥ | jagāma hayaratnasya pṛṣṭhataḥ kāmagāminaḥ 13| gacchaṃstatrāśramaṃ jīrṇaṃ palāśaparṇanirmitam | revāyājalakallolaiḥ siktaṃ pāpaharāśrayam 14| taṃ dṛṣṭvā sumatiṃ prāha sarvajñaṃ nayakovidam | śatrughnaḥ sarvadharmārthakarmakartavyakovidaḥ 15| rājovāca| maṃtrinkathaya kasyāyamāśramaḥ puṇyadarśanaḥ | vicāracaturaśreṣṭha vadaitanmama pṛcchataḥ 16| śeṣa uvāca| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya sumatiḥ prāha taṃ nṛpam | viśada smerayā vācā darśayannātmasauhṛdam 17| sumatiruvāca| enaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahārāja dhūtapāpā vayaṃ khalu | bhaviṣyāmo muniśreṣṭhaṃ sarvaśāstraparāyaṇam 18| tasmānnatvā tamāpṛccha sarvaṃ te kathayiṣyati | raghunāthapadāṃbhojamakaraṃdāti lolupaḥ 19| nāmnā tvāraṇyakaṃ khyātaṃ raghunāthāṃghrisevakam | atyugratapasā pūrṇaṃ sarvaśāstrārthakovidam 20| iti śrutvā tu tadvākyaṃ dharmārthaparibṛṃhitam | jagāma tamatho draṣṭuṃ svalpasevakasaṃyutaḥ 21| hanūmānpuṣkalo vīraḥ sumatirmaṃtrisattamaḥ | lakṣmīnidhiḥ pratāpāgryaḥ subāhuḥ sumadastathā 22| etaiḥ parivṛto rājā śatrughnaḥ prāpadāśramam | namaskartuṃ dvijavaramāraṇyakamudāradhīḥ 23| gatvā taṃ tāpasaśreṣṭhaṃ namaskāramathākarot | sarvaistaiḥ sahito vīrairvinayānatakaṃdharaiḥ 24| tāndṛṣṭvā sannatānsarvāñchatrughnapramukhānnṛpān | arghyapādyādikaṃ cakre phalamūlādibhistadā 25| uvāca tānnṛpānsarvānbhavaṃtaḥ kutra saṃgatāḥ | kathamatra samāyātāstatsarvaṃ vadatānaghāḥ 26| tacchrutvā vākyametasya munivaryasya vāḍava | sumatiḥ kathayāmāsa vākyaṃ vādavicakṣaṇaḥ 27| sumatiruvāca| raghuvaṃśanṛpasyāyamaśvo vai pālyate'khilaiḥ | yāgaṃ kariṣyate vīraḥ sarvasaṃbhārasaṃbhṛtam 28| tacchrutvā vacanaṃ teṣāṃ jagāda munisattamaḥ | daṃtakāṃtyākhilaṃ ghoraṃ tamonirvārayanniva 29| āraṇyaka uvāca| kiṃ yāgairvividhairanyaiḥ sarvasaṃbhārasaṃbhṛtaiḥ | svalpapuṇyapradairnūnaṃ kṣayiṣṇupadadātṛbhiḥ 30| mūḍho loko hariṃ tyaktvā karotyanyasamarcanam | raghuvīraṃ ramānāthaṃ sthiraiśvaryapadapradam 31| yo naraiḥ smṛtamātropi harate pāpaparvatam | taṃ muktvā kliśyate mūḍho yāgayogavratādibhiḥ 32| aho paśyata mūḍhatvaṃ lokānāmativaṃcitam | sulabhaṃ rāmabhajanaṃ muktvā durllabhamācaret 33| sakāmairyogibhirvāpi ciṃtyate kāmavarjitaiḥ | apavargapradaṃ nṝṇāṃ smṛtamātrākhilāghaham 34| purāhaṃ tattvavitsāyāṃ jñāninaṃ suvicārayan | agamaṃ bahutīrthāni tattvaṃ kopi na me'diśat 35| tadaikaṃ hi mahadbhāgyātprāptaṃ vai lomaśaṃ munim | svargalokātsamāyātaṃ tīrthayātrācikīrṣayā 36| tamahaṃ praṇipatyātha paryapṛcchaṃ mahāmunim | mahāyuṣaṃ mahāyogisaṃsevitapadadvayam 37| svāminmayādya mānuṣyaṃ prāptamadbhutadurllabham | saṃsāraghorajaladhiṃ kiṃ kartavyaṃ titīrṣuṇā 38| vicārya kathaya tvaṃ tadvrataṃ dānaṃ japo makhaḥ | devo vā vidyate yo vai saṃsṛtyaṃbhodhitārakaḥ 39| yajjñātvā saṃsṛtiṃ ghorāṃ tarāmi tvatkṛpābdhitaḥ | tanme kathaya yogeśa sarvaśāstrārthapāraga 40| iti madvākyamākarṇya jagāda munisattamaḥ | śṛṇuṣvaikamanā vipra śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ 41| saṃti dānāni tīrthāni vratāni niyamā yamāḥ | yogā yajñāstathāneke vartaṃte svargadāyakāḥ 42| paraṃ guhyaṃ pravakṣyāmi sarvapāpapraṇāśanam | tacchṛṇuṣva mahābhāga saṃsārāṃbhodhitārakam 43| nāstikāya na vaktavyaṃ na cā'śraddhālave punaḥ | niṃdakāya śaṭhāyāpi na deyaṃ bhaktivairiṇe 44| rāmabhaktāya śāṃtāya kāmakrodhaviyogine | vaktavyaṃ sarvaduḥkhasya nāśakārakamuttamam 45| rāmānnāsti paro devo rāmānnāsti paraṃ vratam | na hi rāmātparo yogo na hi rāmātparo makhaḥ 46| taṃ smṛtvā caiva japtvā ca pūjayitvā naraḥ param | prāpnoti paramāmṛddhimaihikāmuṣmikīṃ tathā 47| saṃsmṛto manasā dhyātaḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ | dadāti paramāṃ bhaktiṃ saṃsārāṃbhodhitāriṇīm 48| śvapākopi hi saṃsmṛtya rāmaṃ yāti parāṃ gatim | ye vedaśāstraniratāstvādṛśāstatra kiṃ punaḥ 49| sarveṣāṃ vedaśāstrāṇāṃ rahasyaṃ te prakāśitam | samācara tathā tvaṃ vai yathā syātte manīṣitam 50| eko devo rāmacaṃdro vratamekaṃ tadarcanam | maṃtro'pyekaśca tannāma śāstraṃ taddhyeva tatstutiḥ 51| tasmātsarvātmanā rāmacaṃdraṃ bhajamanoharam | yathā goṣpadavattuccho bhavetsaṃsārasāgaraḥ 52| śrutvā mayā tu tadvākyaṃ punaḥ praśnamakāriṣam | kathaṃ vā dhyāyate devaḥ kathaṃ vā pūjyate naraiḥ 53| kathayasva mahābuddhe sarvajña mama vistarāt | yajjñātvāhaṃ kṛtārthaḥ syāṃ trilokyāṃ munisattama 54| etacchrutvā tu madvākyaṃ vicārya sa tu lomaśaḥ | kathayāmāsa me sarvaṃ rāmadhyānapuraḥsaram 55| śṛṇu vipreṃdra vakṣyāmi yatpṛṣṭaṃ tu tvayānagha | yathā tuṣyedramānāthaḥ saṃsārajvaradāhakaḥ 56| ayodhyānagare ramye citramaṃḍapaśobhite | dhyāyetkalpatarormūle sarvakāmasamṛddhide 57| mahāmarakatasvarṇanīlaratnādiśobhitam | siṃhāsanaṃ cittaharaṃ kāṃtyā tāmisranāśanam 58| tasyopari samāsīnaṃ raghurājaṃ manoramam | dūrvādalaśyāmatanuṃ devadeveṃdrapūjitam 59| rākāyāṃ pūrṇaśītāṃśukāṃtidhikkārivaktriṇam | aṣṭamīcaṃdraśakalasamabhālādhidhāriṇam 60| nīlakuṃtalaśobhāḍhyaṃ kirīṭamaṇiraṃjitam | makarākārasauṃdaryakuṃḍalābhyāṃ virājitam 61| vidrumacchavi satkāṃtiradacchadavirājitam | tārāpatikarākāra dvijarāji suśobhitam 62| japāpuṣpābhayā mādhvyā jihvayā śobhitānanam | yasyāṃ vasaṃti nigamā ṛgādyāḥ śāstrasaṃyutāḥ 63| kaṃbukāṃtidharagrīvā śobhayā samalaṃkṛtam | siṃhavaduccakau skandhau māṃsalau bibhrataṃ varam 64| bāhū dadhānaṃ dīrghāṃgau keyūrakaṭakāṃkitau | mudrikāhīraśobhābhirbhūṣitau jānulaṃbinau 65| vakṣo dadhānaṃ vipulaṃ lakṣmīvāsena śobhitam | śrīvatsādivicitrāṃkairaṃkitaṃ sumanoharam 66| mahodaraṃ mahānābhiṃ śubhakaṭyāvirājitam | kāṃcyā vai maṇimatyā ca viśeṣeṇa śriyānvitam 67| ūrubhyāṃ vimalābhyāṃ vai jānubhyāṃ śobhitaṃ śriyā | caraṇābhyāṃ vajrarekhā yavāṃkuśasurekhayā 68| yutābhyāṃ yogidhyeyābhyāṃ komalābhyāṃ virājitam | dhyātvā smṛtvā ca saṃsārasāgaraṃ tvaṃ tariṣyasi 69| tameva pūjayannityaṃ caṃdanādibhiricchayā | prāpnoti paramāmṛddhimaihikāmuṣmikīṃ parām 70| tvayā pṛṣṭaṃ mahārāja rāmasya dhyānamuttamam | tatte kathitametadvai saṃsārajaladhiṃ tara 71| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe āraṇyakopākhyāne lomaśāraṇyakasaṃvādonāma paṃcatriṃśattamo'dhyāyaḥ 35 |
English translation
Śeṣa said :
1-5. King Śatrughna , along with Puṣkala , obtained great joy on obtaining the horse taken away by the demons. Those warriors, with their bodies sprinkled with blood, so also Lakṣmīnidhi praised the great king full of energy to fight. When that great demon Vidyunmālin, difficult to conquer, was killed, all gods, O sage, gave up their fear and obtained happiness. The rivers became clean; and the sun became clear. Breezes sprinkled with scented water blew. The great heroes, with spotless lustre and of clean bodies seated in the chariots, became ready. All of them endowed with the good luck of victory said to the king:
The heroes said :
6-8. O you very intelligent one, luckily you have killed the
demon Vidyunmālin, due to whose fear gods were frightened and were driven out of the heaven. Luckily the great horse of Raghunātha has been got (back); luckily you have obtained victory everywhere on the globe. O lord, release this charming horse having the speed of mind. Let there be no delay now, O you very intelligent one.
Śeṣa said :
9-14. Hearing these words of the heroes which were proper for the occasion, he, having praised them (with the words) ‘Well, well’, released the best horse. He that was well-protected by chariots, foot-soldiers, best horses and those who were proficient in the use of all weapons and missiles, went, when released, to the northern direction. O Vātsyāyana , listen to the account of what took place (in the case) of Śatrughna, which burns heaps of sins. He reached Revā ’s bank resorted to by hosts of sages. Her water was the fluid of the heap of sapphires under the pretext of water. He (i.e. Śatrughna) waited upon by the brave, saluted the respective (i.e. everyone of the) sages and followed the gem of the horse going at will. He went to that old hermitage made of the leaves of palāśa , sprinkled with the waves of Revā and the refuge of those who remove sins.
15. Śatrughna who did all deeds bringing merit and worldly prosperity, on seeing it, said to Sumati who knew everything and was proficient in political wisdom.
The king said :
16. O Minister, O you who are best among those who think, tell me who am asking you, to whom this hermitage, which appears auspicious belongs.
Śeṣa said :
17. Hearing these words, Sumati, showing his affection, said to the king, with words accompanied by a bright smile.
Sumati said :
18-24. O great king, having seen this best sage, absorbed in all scriptures, we shall indeed have our sins removed. Therefore, bow down before him, and ask him. He who is extremely greedy of the honey from the lotuses in the form of Rāma ’s feet, will tell you everything. (Bow down before him) known by the name Āraṇyaka , the servant of the feet of Rāma, full of very severe penance and proficient in the significance of all sacred texts.
Hearing these words augmented by religious significance, he went along with a few servants to see him. (They were) Hanūmat, the brave Puṣkala, the best minister Sumati, Lakṣmīnidhi, Pratāpāgrya, Subāhu , and Sumada also. Noble-minded king Śatrughna, surrounded by these reached the hermitage to salute that best brāhmaṇa Āraṇyaka. Having gone there he with all the heroes who had bent down their necks in modesty, saluted the best ascetic.
25-27. Having seen all those kings led by Śatrughna, he then offered them respectful offering and water for washing their feet etc. along with fruits and roots. He said to all the kings: “Where had you gone together? O sinless ones, how have you gathered here? Tell (me) all that.” O brāhmaṇa, having heard those words of the best sage, Sumati, skilled in speaking (proper) words, said (to him):
Sumati laid :
28-29. By all (these) the horse of the king belonging to Raghu ’s family is being protected. The hero (Rāma) will perform a sacrifice furnished with all ingredients.
Hearing those words of (i.e. uttered by) them the best sage, as it were dispelling the entire darkness with the lustre of his teeth, said:
Āraṇyaka said :
30-34. What is the use of other sacrifices furnished with all ingredients, giving (but) little merit and giving perishable positions? Foolish people worship other (god), leaving Hari , the Raghu hero (i.e. Ramā ), the lord of Ramā, giving a stable glorious position. A foolish man torments (himself) by sacrifices, abstract meditations and vows by leaving him who, even when merely remembered, removes the mountain of sins. Oh! see the folly and illusion of people (that) a man leaving the easy worship of Rāma, would practise (i.e. he practises) difficult (things). It gives liberation to men and removes all sins merely by being remembered. It is reflected upon by the meditating saints having desires.
35-40. Formerly with a desire to know the reality and thinking much about (how to find) a wise man, I went to many holy places. But nobody taught me the truth. Then, due to my great luck I came across the sage Lomaśa who had come (down to the earth) with a desire to visit the holy places. Having saluted that great sage who had a great (i.e. long) life and whose couple of feet was served by great meditating saints, I asked him (about the truth): “O lord, today (i.e. now) I have obtained the human existence, which is wonderful and difficult to obtain. What should one who desires to cross the fearful ocean of the worldly existence, do? Having thought, tell me if there is a vow, a gift, a prayer to be muttered, a sacrifice, or a deity, that would emancipate me from the ocean of the mundane existence. O lord of reflective thinking (i.e. greatest mediating saint), O You who are the master of the significance of all the scriptures, tell me that knowing which I shall by means of the ocean of your grace cross the fierce mundane existence.”
41-49. Hearing these words of (i.e. uttered by) me, the best sage said: “O brāhmaṇa, listen attentively and with great faith. There are gifts, holy places, vows, voluntary religious observances and restraints. So also there are many abstract meditations, sacrifices giving (i.e. taking one to) heaven. O magnanimous one, I shall tell you a great secret which removes all sins and helps (one) to cross the ocean of the worldly existence. Listen to it. It is not to be told to an atheist, or to a nonbeliever, so also to a censurer, or to a wicked man; it should not be given to the enemy (i.e. hater) of devotion. It (i.e. the secret) which is excellent and removes all misery, should be told to Rāma’s devotee who is calm and free from lust and anger. There is no greater god than Rāma; there is no greater vow than (that in honour of) Rāma. There is no greater reflection than (on) Rāma; there is no greater sacrifice than (in honour of) Rāma. Having remembered him, having muttered prayers to him, and having worshipped him, a man gets the highest (position) and obtains great glory in this and the next world. When he is remembered, when he is mentally meditated upon, he who is the giver of all desired objects, gives (i.e. generates in the mind of the man) great devotion which helps him to cross the ocean of the mundane existence. Even a cāṇḍāla by remembering Rāma goes to (i.e. obtains) the highest position. Then what about those like you who are greatly devoted to the Vedas and (other) scriptures?
50-52. I have disclosed to you the secret of all the Vedas and (other) scriptures. Act as you would desire. Rāmacandra is the only god. His worship is the only vow. (Uttering) his name is the only hymn; and praising him is the only scripture. Therefore, worship the charming Rāmacandra by all means; so that the ocean of the mundane existence would be as trifling as a small puddle."’
53-70. Having heard those words, I again put a question: “How is the god meditated upon by men? Or how is he worshipped by them? O you highly intelligent one, O you who know everything, tell me (all that) in detail, knowing which I shall be blessed in the three worlds, O best sage.” Having heard these words of (i.e. uttered by) me, that Lomaśa, having reflected, told me everything preceded by the meditation on Rāma: “O best brāhmaṇa, O you sinless one, I shall tell you what you have asked me, as to how the lord of Rāma (i.e. Viṣṇu ) burns (i.e. removes) the distress of the mundane existence. In the city of Ayodhyā , which is charming and adorned with a variegated pavilion, at the root of the desire-yielding tree giving all prosperity, one should meditate upon the charming Raghurāja (i.e. Rāma) seated upon an attractive throne, adorned with great emeralds, gold and jewels like the sapphire removing darkness by means of its lustre. (One should meditate upon Rāma) whose body is dark like dūrvā -blades, who is worshipped by god of gods, whose face condemns the beauty of the full moon on the full-moon night, whose forehead resembles the portion of the moon on the eighth day (of the month), who is rich with the beauty of dark hair, who is tinged with the jewels of his crown, who is adorned with beautiful ear-rings having the shape of crocodiles, who is beautified with lips shining with coral-like lustre, who is adorned with the row of teeth having the shape of the rays of the lord of the stars (i.e. the moon—i.e. having pointed teeth), whose mouth is beautified with a tongue sweet like the China rose, on which reside Vedas like the Ṛgveda along with sacred books, who is adorned with a neck possessing the charm of a conch, who, the excellent one, possesses lofty and fleshy shoulders like those of a lion, who has long arms marked with armlets and bracelets hanging up to the knees and adorned with rings and diamonds, who has a very large chest beautified by the perfume of Lakṣmī and marked with beautiful marks like that of Śrīvatsa , who has a large belly with a large navel and adorned with a beautiful waist endowed with a jewelled girdle and special charm, who is adorned with spotless thighs and knees and with majesty, who is adorn ed with delicate feet marked with lines like a diamond-pin and a barley-shoot and fit to be reflected upon by the meditating saints. Having reflected upon and remembered him you will cross the ocean of the mundane existence. One worshipping him according to his own desire by means of sandal etc. obtains great prosperity in this world and the other world.
71. O great king, you asked me about the excellent meditation upon Rāma. I have told it to you. (With its help) cross the ocean of the worldly existence.”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43929, revision 335932 (2022-04-17T02:14:25Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365346.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.