Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 37
Sourceशेष उवाच। ते पृष्टा मुनिवर्येण रामचारित्रमद्भुतम् । धन्यं सभाग्यं मन्वानाः प्रोचुरात्मानमादरात् १। जना ऊचुः। पवित्रिता वयं सर्वे दर्शनेन तवाधुना । यद्रामकथयास्मान्वै पावयस्यधुना जनान् २। शृणुष्व वचनं तथ्यं भवान्ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमः । त्वया पृष्टं यदस्मभ्यं सर्वं तत्कथयाम वै ३। अगस्त्यवाक्याच्छ्रीरामो विप्रहत्यापनुत्तये । यागं करोति सुमहान्सर्वसंभारसंभृतम् ४। तं पालयानाः सर्वे वै त्वदाश्रममुपागताः । अश्वेन सहिता विप्र तज्जानीहि महामते ५। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य मनोहारि रसायनम् । अत्यंतं हर्षमापेदे ब्राह्मणो रामभक्तिमान् ६। अद्य मे फलितो वृक्षो मनोरथश्रियान्वितः । अद्य मे जननी धन्या जातं मां सुषुवे तु या ७। अद्य राज्यं मया प्राप्तं कंटकेन विवर्जितम् । अद्य कोशाः सुसंपन्ना अद्य देवाः सुतोषिताः ८। अग्निहोत्रफलं त्वद्य प्राप्तं मे हविषा हुतम् । यद्द्रक्ष्ये रामचंद्रस्य चरणांभोरुहोर्युगम् ९। यो नित्यं ध्यायते स्वांते अयोध्यायाः पतिः प्रभुः । स मे दृग्गोचरो नूनं भविष्यति मनोहरः १०। हनूमान्मां समालिंग्य प्रक्ष्यते कुशलं मम । भक्तिं मे महतीं दृष्ट्वा तोषं प्राप्स्यति सत्तमः ११। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य हनूमान्कपिसत्तमः । जग्राह पादयुगलं मुनेरारण्यकस्य हि १२। स्वामिन्हनूमान्विप्रर्षे सेवकोऽहं पुरःस्थितः । जानीहि रामदासस्य रेणुकल्पं मुनीश्वर १३। इत्युक्तवति तस्मिन्वै मुनिः परमहर्षितः । आलिलिंग हनूमंतं रामभक्त्या सुशोभितम् १४। उभौ प्रेमविनिर्भिन्नावुभावपि सुधाप्लुतौ । स्थगितौ चित्रलिखिताविव तत्र बभूवतुः १५। उपविष्टौ कथास्तत्र चक्रतुः सुमनोहराः । रघुनाथपदांभोजप्रीतिनिर्भरमानसौ १६। हनूमांस्तमुवाचेदं वचो विविधशोभनम् । आरण्यकं मुनिवरं रामांघ्रिध्याननिर्भृतम् १७। स्वामिन्नयं दशरथकुलहीरांकुरो महान् । रामभ्राता महाशूरः शत्रुघ्नः प्रणमत्यसौ १८। लवणो येन निहतः सर्वलोकभयंकरः । कृताश्च सुखिनः सर्वे मुनयः सुतपोधनाः १९। एष पुष्कलनामा त्वां नमत्युद्भटसेवितः । येनाधुना महावीरा जिताः समरमंडले २०। जानीह्येनं बहुगुणं रामामात्यं महाबलम् । प्राणप्रियं रघुपतेः सर्वज्ञं धर्मकोविदम् २१। सुबाहुरयमत्युग्रो वैरिवंशदवानलः । रामपादाब्जरोलंबो नमति त्वां महायशाः २२। सुमदोऽप्येष पार्वत्या दत्तरामांघ्रिसेवया । प्राप्तोऽधुनासौ संसारवार्धिनिस्तरणं महत् २३। सत्यवानयमश्वं यः प्राप्तमाश्रुत्य सेवकात् । राज्यं निवेदयामास स त्वां प्रणमति क्षितौ २४। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य समालिंग्य समादरात् । चकारारण्यक ऋषिः स्वागतं फलकादिना २५। ते हृष्टास्तत्र वसतिं चक्रुर्मुनिवराश्रमे । प्रातर्नित्यक्रियां कृत्वा रेवायां ते महोद्यमाः २६। नरयानमथारोप्य सेवकैः सहितं मुनिम् । शत्रुघ्नः प्रापयामासायोध्यां रामकृतालयाम् २७। स दूरान्नगरीं दृष्ट्वा सूर्यवंशनृपोषिताम् । पदातिरभवद्वेगाद्रघुनाथदिदृक्षया २८। संप्राप्य नगरीं रम्यामयोध्यां जनशोभिताम् । मनोरथसहस्रेण संरूढो रामदर्शने २९। ददर्श तत्र सरयूतीरे मंडपशोभिते । रामं दूर्वादलश्यामं कंजकांतिविलोचनम् ३०। मृगशृंगं कटौ रम्यं धारयंतं श्रियान्वितम् । ऋषिवृंदैर्व्यासमुख्यैर्वृतं शूरैः सुसेवितम् ३१। भरतेन सुमित्रायास्तनूजेन परीवृतम् । ददतं दीनसंधेभ्यो दानानि प्रार्थितानि तम् ३२। विलोक्यारण्यकाख्योऽसौ कृतार्थ इत्यमन्यत । मल्लोचने पद्मदलसमाने रामलोकके ३३। अद्य मे सर्वशास्त्रस्य ज्ञातृत्वं बहुसार्थकम् । येन श्रीराममाज्ञाय प्राप्तोऽयोध्यापुरीमिमाम् ३४। इत्येवमादिवचनानि बहूनि हृष्टो । रामांघ्रिदर्शनसुहर्षित गात्रशोभी । प्रायाद्रमेश्वरसमीपमगम्यमन्यै-। र्योगेश्वरैरपि विचारपरैः सुदूरम् ३५। धन्योऽहमद्य रामस्य चरणावक्षिगोचरौ । करिष्यामि वचो रम्यं वदन्राममवेक्षयन् ३६। रामोऽपि वाडवश्रेष्ठं ज्वलंतं स्वेन तेजसा । तपोमूर्तिधरं वीक्ष्य प्रत्युत्थानमथाकरोत् ३७। रामचंद्रस्तस्य पादौ सुचिरं नतवान्महान् । ब्रह्मण्यदेवपावित्र्यं कृतमद्यतनोर्मम ३८। इति वाक्यं वदंस्तस्य पादयोः पतितः प्रभुः । सुरासुरनमन्मौलिमणिनीराजितांघ्रिकः ३९। प्रणतं तं नृपश्रेष्ठं वाडवेंद्रो महातपाः । गृहीत्वा भुजयोर्मध्यमालिलिंग प्रियं प्रभुम् ४०। कौसल्यातनयस्तं वा उच्चैर्मणिमयासने । संस्थाप्य च पदोर्युग्मं जलेनाक्षालयत्प्रभुः ४१। पादावनेजनोदं तु मस्तकेऽधाद्धरिः स्वयम् । पवित्रितोऽद्य सगणः सकुटुंब इति ब्रुवन् ४२। चंदनेन विलिप्याथ गां च प्रादात्पयस्विनीम् । उवाच च वचो रम्यं देवदेवेंद्र सेवितः ४३। स्वामिन्मखो मया वाजिमेधसंज्ञः क्रियेत ह । सोयं त्वच्चरणा यातादद्यपूर्णो भविष्यति ४४। अद्य मे ब्रह्महत्योत्थ पापहानिं करिष्यति । अश्वमेधः क्रतुर्युष्मच्चरणेन पवित्रितः ४५। इति वाक्यं ब्रुवाणं तं राजराजेंद्रसेवितम् । आरण्यक उवाचेदं हसन्माध्व्या गिरा मुनिः ४६। स्वामिंस्तव तु युक्तं हि वचो ब्रह्मण्यभूमिप । त्वन्मूर्तयो महाराज ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः ४७। त्वं यदा ब्रह्मपूजादि शुभं कर्म करिष्यसि । ततोऽखिला नृपा विप्रं पूजयिष्यंति भूमिप ४८। त्वयोक्तं यन्महाराज विप्रहत्यापनुत्तये । यागं करोमि विमलं तत्तु हास्यकरं वचः ४९। त्वन्नामस्मरणान्मूढः सर्वशास्त्रविवर्जितः । सर्वपापाब्धिमुत्तीर्य स गच्छेत्परमं पदम् ५०। सर्ववेदेतिहासानां सारार्थोऽयमिति स्फुटम् । यद्रामनामस्मरणं क्रियते पापतारकम् ५१। तावद्गर्जंति पापानि ब्रह्महत्यासमानि च । न यावत्प्रोच्यते नाम रामचंद्र तव स्फुटम् ५२। त्वन्नामगर्जनं श्रुत्वा महापातककुंजराः । पलायंते महाराज कुत्रचित्स्थानलिप्सया ५३। तस्मात्तव कथं हत्या महापुण्यददर्शन । राम त्वत्सुकथां श्रुत्वा पूतः सद्यो भविष्यति ५४। मया पूर्वं कृतयुगे गंगायास्तीरवासिनाम् । ऋषीणां मुखतो वाक्यं श्रुतमेतत्पुराविदाम् ५५। तावत्पापभियः पुंसां कातराणां सुपापिनाम् । यावन्न वदते वाचा रामनाममनोहरम् ५६। तस्माद्धन्योऽहमधुना मम संसृतिनाशनम् । सांप्रतं सुलभं रामचंद्र त्वद्दर्शनादभूत् ५७। इत्युक्तवंतं स मुनिं पूजयामास तत्र वै । सर्वे मुनिजनाः साधु साधु वाक्यमिति ब्रुवन् ५८। शेष उवाच। अत्याश्चर्यमभूत्तत्र तन्मे निगदतः शृणु । वात्स्यायनमुनिश्रेष्ठ रामभक्तिपरायण ५९। रामं दृष्ट्वा महाराजं यादृशं ध्यानगोचरम् । अत्यंतं हर्षमापन्नो जगाद स मुनीश्वरान् ६०। मुनीश्वराः संशृणुत मद्वाक्यं सुमनोहरम् । मादृशः को न भूलोके भविष्यति सुभाग्यवान् ६१। नास्ति मत्सदृशः कोपि न जातो न भविष्यति । यद्रामभद्रो मां नत्वा स्वागतं परिपृष्टवान् ६२। यत्पादपंकजरजः श्रुतिमृग्यं सदैव हि । सोऽद्य मत्पादयोः पाथः पीत्वा पूतममन्यत ६३। एवं प्रवदतस्तस्य ब्रह्मस्फोटोऽभवत्तदा । निर्गतं तद्भवं तेजो विवेश रघुनायके ६४। पश्यतां सर्वलोकानां सरयूतीरमंडपे । सायुज्यमुक्तिं संप्राप दुर्ल्लभां योगिभिर्जनैः ६५। दिवि तूर्यनिनादोऽभूद्वीणानादोऽभवत्तदा । पुष्पवृष्टिः पपाताग्रे पश्यतां चित्रमद्भुतम् ६६। मुनयोऽप्येतदीक्षित्वा प्रशंसंतो मुनीश्वरम् । कृतार्थोयं मुनिश्रेष्ठो यद्रामवपुषीक्षितः ६७। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे आरण्यकमुनेर्विष्णुलोकगमनंनाम सप्तत्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः ३७ ।
śeṣa uvāca| te pṛṣṭā munivaryeṇa rāmacāritramadbhutam | dhanyaṃ sabhāgyaṃ manvānāḥ procurātmānamādarāt 1| janā ūcuḥ| pavitritā vayaṃ sarve darśanena tavādhunā | yadrāmakathayāsmānvai pāvayasyadhunā janān 2| śṛṇuṣva vacanaṃ tathyaṃ bhavānbrahmarṣisattamaḥ | tvayā pṛṣṭaṃ yadasmabhyaṃ sarvaṃ tatkathayāma vai 3| agastyavākyācchrīrāmo viprahatyāpanuttaye | yāgaṃ karoti sumahānsarvasaṃbhārasaṃbhṛtam 4| taṃ pālayānāḥ sarve vai tvadāśramamupāgatāḥ | aśvena sahitā vipra tajjānīhi mahāmate 5| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya manohāri rasāyanam | atyaṃtaṃ harṣamāpede brāhmaṇo rāmabhaktimān 6| adya me phalito vṛkṣo manorathaśriyānvitaḥ | adya me jananī dhanyā jātaṃ māṃ suṣuve tu yā 7| adya rājyaṃ mayā prāptaṃ kaṃṭakena vivarjitam | adya kośāḥ susaṃpannā adya devāḥ sutoṣitāḥ 8| agnihotraphalaṃ tvadya prāptaṃ me haviṣā hutam | yaddrakṣye rāmacaṃdrasya caraṇāṃbhoruhoryugam 9| yo nityaṃ dhyāyate svāṃte ayodhyāyāḥ patiḥ prabhuḥ | sa me dṛggocaro nūnaṃ bhaviṣyati manoharaḥ 10| hanūmānmāṃ samāliṃgya prakṣyate kuśalaṃ mama | bhaktiṃ me mahatīṃ dṛṣṭvā toṣaṃ prāpsyati sattamaḥ 11| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya hanūmānkapisattamaḥ | jagrāha pādayugalaṃ munerāraṇyakasya hi 12| svāminhanūmānviprarṣe sevako'haṃ puraḥsthitaḥ | jānīhi rāmadāsasya reṇukalpaṃ munīśvara 13| ityuktavati tasminvai muniḥ paramaharṣitaḥ | āliliṃga hanūmaṃtaṃ rāmabhaktyā suśobhitam 14| ubhau premavinirbhinnāvubhāvapi sudhāplutau | sthagitau citralikhitāviva tatra babhūvatuḥ 15| upaviṣṭau kathāstatra cakratuḥ sumanoharāḥ | raghunāthapadāṃbhojaprītinirbharamānasau 16| hanūmāṃstamuvācedaṃ vaco vividhaśobhanam | āraṇyakaṃ munivaraṃ rāmāṃghridhyānanirbhṛtam 17| svāminnayaṃ daśarathakulahīrāṃkuro mahān | rāmabhrātā mahāśūraḥ śatrughnaḥ praṇamatyasau 18| lavaṇo yena nihataḥ sarvalokabhayaṃkaraḥ | kṛtāśca sukhinaḥ sarve munayaḥ sutapodhanāḥ 19| eṣa puṣkalanāmā tvāṃ namatyudbhaṭasevitaḥ | yenādhunā mahāvīrā jitāḥ samaramaṃḍale 20| jānīhyenaṃ bahuguṇaṃ rāmāmātyaṃ mahābalam | prāṇapriyaṃ raghupateḥ sarvajñaṃ dharmakovidam 21| subāhurayamatyugro vairivaṃśadavānalaḥ | rāmapādābjarolaṃbo namati tvāṃ mahāyaśāḥ 22| sumado'pyeṣa pārvatyā dattarāmāṃghrisevayā | prāpto'dhunāsau saṃsāravārdhinistaraṇaṃ mahat 23| satyavānayamaśvaṃ yaḥ prāptamāśrutya sevakāt | rājyaṃ nivedayāmāsa sa tvāṃ praṇamati kṣitau 24| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya samāliṃgya samādarāt | cakārāraṇyaka ṛṣiḥ svāgataṃ phalakādinā 25| te hṛṣṭāstatra vasatiṃ cakrurmunivarāśrame | prātarnityakriyāṃ kṛtvā revāyāṃ te mahodyamāḥ 26| narayānamathāropya sevakaiḥ sahitaṃ munim | śatrughnaḥ prāpayāmāsāyodhyāṃ rāmakṛtālayām 27| sa dūrānnagarīṃ dṛṣṭvā sūryavaṃśanṛpoṣitām | padātirabhavadvegādraghunāthadidṛkṣayā 28| saṃprāpya nagarīṃ ramyāmayodhyāṃ janaśobhitām | manorathasahasreṇa saṃrūḍho rāmadarśane 29| dadarśa tatra sarayūtīre maṃḍapaśobhite | rāmaṃ dūrvādalaśyāmaṃ kaṃjakāṃtivilocanam 30| mṛgaśṛṃgaṃ kaṭau ramyaṃ dhārayaṃtaṃ śriyānvitam | ṛṣivṛṃdairvyāsamukhyairvṛtaṃ śūraiḥ susevitam 31| bharatena sumitrāyāstanūjena parīvṛtam | dadataṃ dīnasaṃdhebhyo dānāni prārthitāni tam 32| vilokyāraṇyakākhyo'sau kṛtārtha ityamanyata | mallocane padmadalasamāne rāmalokake 33| adya me sarvaśāstrasya jñātṛtvaṃ bahusārthakam | yena śrīrāmamājñāya prāpto'yodhyāpurīmimām 34| ityevamādivacanāni bahūni hṛṣṭo | rāmāṃghridarśanasuharṣita gātraśobhī | prāyādrameśvarasamīpamagamyamanyai-| ryogeśvarairapi vicāraparaiḥ sudūram 35| dhanyo'hamadya rāmasya caraṇāvakṣigocarau | kariṣyāmi vaco ramyaṃ vadanrāmamavekṣayan 36| rāmo'pi vāḍavaśreṣṭhaṃ jvalaṃtaṃ svena tejasā | tapomūrtidharaṃ vīkṣya pratyutthānamathākarot 37| rāmacaṃdrastasya pādau suciraṃ natavānmahān | brahmaṇyadevapāvitryaṃ kṛtamadyatanormama 38| iti vākyaṃ vadaṃstasya pādayoḥ patitaḥ prabhuḥ | surāsuranamanmaulimaṇinīrājitāṃghrikaḥ 39| praṇataṃ taṃ nṛpaśreṣṭhaṃ vāḍaveṃdro mahātapāḥ | gṛhītvā bhujayormadhyamāliliṃga priyaṃ prabhum 40| kausalyātanayastaṃ vā uccairmaṇimayāsane | saṃsthāpya ca padoryugmaṃ jalenākṣālayatprabhuḥ 41| pādāvanejanodaṃ tu mastake'dhāddhariḥ svayam | pavitrito'dya sagaṇaḥ sakuṭuṃba iti bruvan 42| caṃdanena vilipyātha gāṃ ca prādātpayasvinīm | uvāca ca vaco ramyaṃ devadeveṃdra sevitaḥ 43| svāminmakho mayā vājimedhasaṃjñaḥ kriyeta ha | soyaṃ tvaccaraṇā yātādadyapūrṇo bhaviṣyati 44| adya me brahmahatyottha pāpahāniṃ kariṣyati | aśvamedhaḥ kraturyuṣmaccaraṇena pavitritaḥ 45| iti vākyaṃ bruvāṇaṃ taṃ rājarājeṃdrasevitam | āraṇyaka uvācedaṃ hasanmādhvyā girā muniḥ 46| svāmiṃstava tu yuktaṃ hi vaco brahmaṇyabhūmipa | tvanmūrtayo mahārāja brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ 47| tvaṃ yadā brahmapūjādi śubhaṃ karma kariṣyasi | tato'khilā nṛpā vipraṃ pūjayiṣyaṃti bhūmipa 48| tvayoktaṃ yanmahārāja viprahatyāpanuttaye | yāgaṃ karomi vimalaṃ tattu hāsyakaraṃ vacaḥ 49| tvannāmasmaraṇānmūḍhaḥ sarvaśāstravivarjitaḥ | sarvapāpābdhimuttīrya sa gacchetparamaṃ padam 50| sarvavedetihāsānāṃ sārārtho'yamiti sphuṭam | yadrāmanāmasmaraṇaṃ kriyate pāpatārakam 51| tāvadgarjaṃti pāpāni brahmahatyāsamāni ca | na yāvatprocyate nāma rāmacaṃdra tava sphuṭam 52| tvannāmagarjanaṃ śrutvā mahāpātakakuṃjarāḥ | palāyaṃte mahārāja kutracitsthānalipsayā 53| tasmāttava kathaṃ hatyā mahāpuṇyadadarśana | rāma tvatsukathāṃ śrutvā pūtaḥ sadyo bhaviṣyati 54| mayā pūrvaṃ kṛtayuge gaṃgāyāstīravāsinām | ṛṣīṇāṃ mukhato vākyaṃ śrutametatpurāvidām 55| tāvatpāpabhiyaḥ puṃsāṃ kātarāṇāṃ supāpinām | yāvanna vadate vācā rāmanāmamanoharam 56| tasmāddhanyo'hamadhunā mama saṃsṛtināśanam | sāṃprataṃ sulabhaṃ rāmacaṃdra tvaddarśanādabhūt 57| ityuktavaṃtaṃ sa muniṃ pūjayāmāsa tatra vai | sarve munijanāḥ sādhu sādhu vākyamiti bruvan 58| śeṣa uvāca| atyāścaryamabhūttatra tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu | vātsyāyanamuniśreṣṭha rāmabhaktiparāyaṇa 59| rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahārājaṃ yādṛśaṃ dhyānagocaram | atyaṃtaṃ harṣamāpanno jagāda sa munīśvarān 60| munīśvarāḥ saṃśṛṇuta madvākyaṃ sumanoharam | mādṛśaḥ ko na bhūloke bhaviṣyati subhāgyavān 61| nāsti matsadṛśaḥ kopi na jāto na bhaviṣyati | yadrāmabhadro māṃ natvā svāgataṃ paripṛṣṭavān 62| yatpādapaṃkajarajaḥ śrutimṛgyaṃ sadaiva hi | so'dya matpādayoḥ pāthaḥ pītvā pūtamamanyata 63| evaṃ pravadatastasya brahmasphoṭo'bhavattadā | nirgataṃ tadbhavaṃ tejo viveśa raghunāyake 64| paśyatāṃ sarvalokānāṃ sarayūtīramaṃḍape | sāyujyamuktiṃ saṃprāpa durllabhāṃ yogibhirjanaiḥ 65| divi tūryaninādo'bhūdvīṇānādo'bhavattadā | puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papātāgre paśyatāṃ citramadbhutam 66| munayo'pyetadīkṣitvā praśaṃsaṃto munīśvaram | kṛtārthoyaṃ muniśreṣṭho yadrāmavapuṣīkṣitaḥ 67| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe āraṇyakamunerviṣṇulokagamanaṃnāma saptatriṃśattamo'dhyāyaḥ 37 |
English translation
Śeṣa said :
1. By the best sage they were asked (about) the wonderful deeds of Rāma . Regarding themselves as blessed and fortunate they spoke with respect.
The people said :
2-5. On seeing you we are now purified, since by (telling us) the account of Rāma you are purifying people (like) us. Listen to the true statement. You are the best among the brāhmaṇic sages. We shall tell all that you have asked us. By the words (i.e. at the suggestion) of Agastya Rāma is performing a very great sacrifice furnished with all ingredients for removing (the sin due to) the killing of a brāhmaṇa . We who all look after him have come along with the horse to your hermitage. O very intelligent one, know it.
6-11. Hearing these pleasant words, an elixir of life, the brāhmaṇa, devoted to Rāma was highly delighted. “Today the tree of my desire for glory has become fruitful. Today my mother who gave me birth, is blessed. Today I have obtained kingdom free from troublesome fellows. The treasures are very rich today. Today the gods are very much pleased. I have today obtained the fruit of maintaining the sacred fire to which oblations were offered, that I shall see the pair of the lotus-like feet of Rāmacandra . That extremely charming lord of Ayodhyā , who is everyday meditated upon in my heart, will indeed be seen by me. Hanūmat, embracing me, will ask me about my well-being. The best one, on seeing my great devotion, will be pleased.”
12-13. Hearing these words, Hanūmat, the best of the monkeys, clasped the pair of the feet of the sage Āraṇyaka . “O lord, O brāhmaṇa-sage, I am (Rāma’s) servant standing before you. O lord of sages, know me, Rāma’s servant, resembling a dust-particle.”
14-17. When he was speaking like this, the sage, who was highly delighted, embraced Hanūmat adorned with his devotion to Rāma. Both were full of love, both were bathing with nectar (as it were). Covered (by each other) they appeared as it were drawn in a picture. They sat there and told very pleasant stories. Their minds were full of love for the lotus-like feet of Raghunātha . Hanūmat said various charming words to that excellent sage Āraṇyaka who was full of the thought about the feet of Rāma:
18-24. “O lord, this is the great diamond-like offspring of Daśaratha ’s family. He is Rāma’s brother; is very brave. This Śatrughna salutes you. He killed Lavaṇa who was fearful to the entire world; and he made all sages, of excellent penance, happy. This is ( Bharata ’s son) named Puṣkala , who is served by very great heroes and who now conquered many great heroes on the battlefield. Know this one of many merits and of great power to be Rāma’s minister, dear to Raghupati (i.e. Rāma) like his own life, knowing everything and proficient in dharma . This is Subāhu , who is very fierce, who is a conflagration to the families of the enemies, and is a bee (howering) round the lotus-like feet of Rāma. This one of great fame salutes you. This Sumada too, who, due to service of Rāma’s feet given (i.e. assigned) to him by Pārvatī , has now achieved the great crossing over the ocean of the mundane existence. This Satyavān who having heard from his servant that the horse (of Rāma) had come, offered his kingdom (to Rāma). He is saluting you (by prostrating himself) on the ground.”
25-29. Having heard these words, sage Āraṇyaka, having embraced (them) with respect, welcomed them by offering fruits etc. They, very diligent ones, being delighted, having performed their daily morning rites in Revā , stayed in the hermitage of the excellent sage. Having put the sage with his servants in a man-drawn vehicle, Śatrughna reached Ayodhyā where Rāma had taken his abode. He (i.e. the sage) seeing from a distance the city in which the king of the solar dynasty lived, quickly (got down from the vehicle and) went on foot with a desire to see the lord of Raghus . He reached the beautiful city of Ayodhyā adorned with people. A thousand of desires got (into his mind) for seeing Rāma.
30-32. There on the bank of Sarayū adorned with a pavilion, he saw Rāma who was dark like dūrvā -blades, whose eyes had the beauty of lotuses, who was holding on his waist a charming deer-horn endowed with beauty, was surrounded by hosts of sages led by Vyāsa , was well-served by the brave (soldiers), was surrounded by Bharata and Sumitrā ’s son ( Lakṣmaṇa ), was giving to the groups of the poor whatever they asked for.
33-36. Having seen him, (the sage) called Āraṇyaka regarded himself as blessed. “My eyes, resembling lotus-petals, are seeing Rāma. Today my knowledge of all sacred texts has become very significant, since, knowing Śrī Rāma , I have reached this city of Ayodhyā.” He, delighted, saying these and many other words, and shining with his body very much delighted on seeing the feet of Rāma, went near Ramā ’s lord who was extremely inaccessible even to other lords of deep meditation, devoted to reflection. “Today I am lucky (that) Rāma’s feet will come within the range of my sight (i.e. will be seen by me).” Saying these charming words (he stood) seeing Rāma.
37-40. Rāma too, seeing the best brāhmaṇa glowing with his own lustre, having the form of penance, got up. The great Rāmacandra saluted his feet for a long time. “O brāhmaṇa god, you have today purified my body.” Saying these words, the lord, before whose feet (the lights of) the gems on the crowns of gods and demons bending before him were waved, fell at his feet. The best brāhmaṇa, of a great penance, held the best king between his arms, and embraced the dear lord.
41-46. The son of Kauśalyā (i.e. Rāma), the lord, having put him on a high jewelled seat, washed his pair of feet with water. And Hari (i.e. Rāma) himself took (i.e. put) that water, used for washing the sage’s feet, on his (own) head, saying: “Today with my attendants and (members of) my family I am purified. Having smeared him with sandal (-paste), he gave him a milch cow; and he, served by the lord of gods, said (these) charming words: “O lord, I would perform the sacrifice called Vāji - medha (i.e. horse-sacrifice). That will be today fully completed due to the arrival of your feet. Today, sacrifice (called) Aśvamedha (i.e. horse-sacrifice), purified by your feet, will destroy my sin due to the killing of a brāhmaṇa.” To him, served by the lord of kings the sage Āraṇyaka smilingly spoke thus in sweet words:
47-58. “O lord, O king friendly to brāhmaṇas , your words are proper. O great king, the brāhmaṇas who have mastered the Vedas , are (but) your forms. O king, when you will perform the auspicious act like worshipping brāhmaṇas, all the (other) kings will worship a brāhmaṇa. O great king, the words which you uttered, viz. “I shall perform a pure sacrifice to remove (the sin of) a brāhmaṇa’s murder” are but laughable. (Even) a fool void (i.e. ignorant) of all sacred texts, would go to the highest position after having crossed the ocean of all sins (merely) by remembering your name. It is clear that the essential meaning of all the Vedas and old narratives is that Rāma’s name is remembered to overcome sins. O Rāmacandra, as long as your name is not distinctly uttered, sins like those of brāhmaṇa murders, roar. O great king, having heard your name, the elephants in the form of great sins run away with a desire to find a place somewhere (to hide themselves). Therefore, O Rāma, O you whose sight is meritorious, how can there be a killing by you? A men, having heard your good (i.e. auspicious) account, instantly becomes pure. Formerly in the Kṛta age I heard the words from the mouth of (i.e. uttered by) sages knowing ancient accounts and residing on the bank of Gaṅgā : ‘As long as men do not utter the charming name of Rāma, there are fears for those very sinful cowardly men’. There-fore, now I am blessed; O Rāmacandra, the destruction of my mundane existence has now become easy due to my having seen you.” He worshipped the sage who was speaking like this. All the sages uttered the words, ‘Well, Well’.
Śeṣa said :
59-67. O Vātsyāyana , best among the sages, and greatly devoted to Rāma, a great wonder took place there. Listen to it when I am telling (it to you). When he saw the great king Rāma (just) as he had seen him in his meditation, he, who was extremely delighted, said to the best sages: “O best sages, listen to my very pleasant words. Who will be (i.e. who is) so very lucky like me on the earth? There is none like me; there was none born like me; there will be none like me, since Rāmabhadra having saluted me inquired about my (i.e. offered me a) welcome. He the dust of whose feet is always sought for by the scriptures has today after drinking the water (flowing) from my feet regarded himself pure.” When he was speaking like this, Brāhmaṇic (lustre) burst out (from his body) entered (the body of) the lord of the Raghus. (The sage) when all people were watching in the pavilion on the bank of Sarayū, obtained absorption (into the deity, viz. Rāma), which (absorption) is difficult to be secured by the meditating saints. In the sky there was at that time the sound of musical instruments. There was (also) the sound of lutes. Shower of flowers fell in front of them who were watching the interesting wonder. The sages also, having seen it, praised the best sage (saying): “The best sage is fortunate, since he has secured residence in the body of Rama .”
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43931, revision 335934 (2022-04-17T02:16:41Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365348.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.