तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। अवाक्शिरास्तथाभूतो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥
Hearing the words of Räma of unwearied actions, the ascetic, with his face downwards, said.
शूद्रयोन्यां प्रजातोऽस्मि तप उग्रं समास्थितः। देवत्वं प्रार्थये राम सशरीरो महायशः॥
O highly illustrious Rāma, I am born in the race of sūdras; and with a view to reach the region of the celestials with my body I am going through these austere penances.
न मिथ्याहं वदे राम देवलोकजिगीषया। शूद्रं मां विद्धिकाकुत्स्थ शम्बूको नाम नामतः।।३
O Kākutstha, I shall never utter a falsehood since I am willing to conquer the region of gods. I am a Sūdra and my name is Sambūka.
भाषतस्तस्य शूद्रस्य खङ्गं सुरुचिरप्रभम्। निष्कृष्य कोशाद्विमलं शिरश्चिच्छेद राघवः॥
The Sūdra ascetic having said this, Rama took out of scabbard a beautiful sharp sword and chopped off his head therewith.
तस्मिशूद्रे हते देवाः सेन्द्राः साग्निपुरोगमाः। साधुसाध्विति काकुत्स्थं ते शशंसुर्मुहुर्मुहुः॥ पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीदिव्यानां सुसुगन्धिनाम्। पुष्पाणां वायुमुक्तानां सर्वतः प्रपपात ह॥
And that Śūdra being slain, Indra, Agni and other celestials praised him again and again and showered flowers.
सुप्रीताश्चाब्रुवरामं देवाः सत्यपराक्रमम्। सुरकार्यमिदं देव सुकृतं ते महामते।७।।
And being greatly delighted, the celestials said to Rama, having truth for his prowess:-0 you of a great mind, you have nicely performed this god-like work.
गृहाण च वरं सौम्य यं त्वमिच्छस्यारिंदम। स्वर्गभाङ् नहि शूद्रोऽयं त्वत्कृते रघुनन्दन॥
O slayer of foes, do you now crave a boon. O descendant of Raghu, being slain by you this Sūdra has been able to attain to the abode of the celestials.
देवानां भाषितं श्रुत्वा रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं सहस्राक्षं पुरंदरम्॥
Hearing the words of the deities, Rāma, having truth for his prowess, said with folded hands to Purandara, of a thousand eyes:
यदि देवाः प्रसन्ना मे द्विजपुत्रः स जीवतु। दिशन्तु वरमेतं मे ईप्सितं परमं मम॥
If the celestials are pleased, I beg for this boon that the son of the twice-born one may be restored to life. Do you confer upon me this boon; this is my wished for object.
ममापचाराद्वालोऽसौ ब्राह्मणस्यैकपुत्रकः। अप्राप्तकालः कालेन नीतो वैवस्वतक्षयम्॥
It is for my iniquitous conduct that this only son of the Brāhmaṇa has met with untimely death.
तं जीवयथ भद्रं वो नानृतं कर्तुमर्हथ। द्विजस्य संश्रुतोऽर्थो मे जीवयिष्यामि ते सुतम्॥
Do you restore him to life. I have promised before that leading twice-born one that I would restore his son to life, do you therefore, make not me a liar.
राघवस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा विबुधसत्तमाः। प्रत्युचू राघवं प्रीता देवाः प्रीतिसमन्वितम्॥ निर्वृतो भव काकुत्स्थ सोऽस्मिन्नहनि बालकः। जीवितं प्राप्तवान्भूयः समेतश्चापि बन्धुभिः॥ यस्मिन्मुहूर्ते काकुत्स्थ शूद्रोऽयं पातितः। तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते बालोऽसौ जीवेन समयुज्यत॥
Hearing the words of Rāma the leading celestials delightedly said, Do you return, O Käkutstha, The Brāhmaṇa boy shall immediately gain back his life and be united with his father, mother and friends. Rāghava, with the death of the Sudra the boy has regained his life.
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते साधु याम नरर्षभ। अगस्त्यस्याश्रमपदं द्रष्टुमिच्छाम राघव॥ तस्य दीक्षा समाप्ता हि ब्रह्मर्षेः सुमहाद्युते। द्वादशं हि गतं वर्षं जलशय्यां समासतः॥
Be you at ease; may good betide you. O foremost of men, we too, return with delighted hearts. O Rāghava, we desire to behold the hermitage of the great saint Agastya. Having been initiated, that highly effulgent Brāhmaṇa saint has lived within waters for twelve years; his vow has now terminated.
काकुत्स्थ तद्गमिष्यामो मुनिं समभिनन्दितुम्। त्वं चापि गच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुं तमृषिसत्तमम्॥
O Kākutstha, we shall now go to welcome that Muni. Do you also follow us to see that saint.
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय देवानां रघुनन्दनः। आरुरोह विमानं तं पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम्॥
Saying 'so be it' to the words of the celestials that descendant of Raghu ascended his golden car Puspaka.
ततो देवाः प्रयातास्ते विमानैर्बहुविस्तरैः। रामोऽप्यनुजगामाशु कुम्भयोनेस्तपोवनम्॥
And having ascended spacious cars the celestials proceeded to the hermitage of Agastya born of a Kumbha. Rāma too also followed i them.
दृष्ट्वा तु देवान्संप्राप्तानगस्त्यस्तपसां निधिः। अर्चयामास धर्मात्मा सर्वांस्तानविशेषतः॥
There upon beholding the celestials present the virtuous-souled Agastya, the jewel of asceticism, welcomed them particularly.
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां संपूज्य च महामुनिम्। जग्मुस्ते त्रिदशा हृष्टा नाकपृष्ठं सहानुगाः॥
Having accepted his worship and adored in return that great Muni, the immortals, delighted, proceeded to their abodes with their followers.
गतेषु तेषु काकुत्स्थः पुष्पकादवरुह्य च। ततोऽभिवादयामास अगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्॥
The celestials having departed Rāma descended from Puspaka and saluted that foremost of Rşis Agastya.
सोऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा। आतिथ्यं परमं प्राप्य निषसाद नराधिपः॥
Rāma saluted that high-souled and highly effulgent Rșis Agastya. And having received due hospitality he sat there.
तमुवाच महातेजाः कुम्भयोनिर्महातपाः। स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव।।२५
Thereupon the highly effulgent and leading ascetic Kumbhayoni said: O Rāghava, I have been greatly delighted with your coming, By my good fortune I have seen the today.
त्वं मे बहुमतो राम गुणैर्बहुभिरुत्तमैः। अतिथिः पूजनीयश्च मम राजन्हृदि स्थितः॥
O Rāma, I love you because you are gifted with many qualities. O king, you are my worshipful guest. I was thinking of you.
सुरा हि कथयन्ति त्वामागतं शूद्रघातिनम्। ब्राह्मणस्य तु धर्मेण त्वया जीवापितः सुतः॥
The celestials informed me that you went coming having slain the Sūdra ascetic. You have observed piety and have given back life to dead child of the Brahmana.
उष्यतां चेह रजनीं सकाशे मम राघव। त्वं हि नारायणः श्रीमांस्त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।।२८ त्वं प्रभुः सर्वदेवानां पुरुषस्त्वं सनातनः। प्रभाते पुष्पकेण त्वं गन्ता स्वपुरमेव हि॥
Do you spend this night with me, O Rāghava. You are the graceful Nārāyaṇa. In you the whole universe is established. You are the lord of all creatures and the eternal Purusha. You shall go to your city next morning in your Pușpaka car.
इदं चाभरणं सौम्य निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा। दिव्यं दिव्येन वपुषा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा॥
This ornament, O gentle one, has been made by the architect of the celestials; its make is very beautiful and it is dazzling by its own lustre.
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व काकुत्स्थ मत्प्रियं कुरु राघव। दत्तस्य हि पुनर्दाने सुमहत्फलमुच्यते॥
By accepting this, O Kākutstha, do you satisfy my desire. It is said, that one attains to best fruits if he makes present to his deity, of best articles he gets from another.
भरणे हि भवाशक्तः फलानां महतामपि। त्वं हि शक्तस्तारयितुं सेन्द्रानपि दिवौकसः॥ तस्मात्प्रदास्ये विधिवत्तत्प्रतीच्छ नराधिप।
You are the only worthy person to use this ornament. You are alone capable of conferring best fruits. You do protect Indra and other celestials. Therefore I do duly present you with this ornament. O king, do you accept it.
अथोवाच महात्मानमिक्ष्वाकूणां महारथः॥ रामो मतिमतां श्रेष्ठः क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्। प्रतिग्रहोऽयं भगवन्ब्राह्मणस्याविगर्हितः।। क्षत्रियेण कथं विप्र प्रतिग्राह्यं भवेत्ततः। प्रतिग्रहो हि विप्रेन्द्र क्षत्रियाणां सुगर्हितः।। ब्राह्मणेन विशेषेण दत्तं तद्वक्तुमर्हसि।
There upon meditating upon the duties of the Kşatriyas, the heroic Rāma, the foremost of the intelligent, said:-O illustrious Sir, the Brāhmaṇas only can accept presents— how can the Ksatriyas do? To take gifts is the function of the Brāhmaṇas—for Kşatriyas it is a source of censure. Besides, to receive presents from a Brahmana, is highly culpable. Do you therefore tell me, how I may accept this ornament.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण प्रत्युवाच महानृषिः।। आसन्कृतयुगे राम ब्राह्मभूते पुरायुगे। अपार्थिवाः प्रजाः सर्वाःसुराणां तु शतक्रतुः।। ताः प्रजा देवदेवेशं राजार्थं समुपाद्रवन्। सुराणां स्थापितो राजा त्वया देव शतक्रतुः।। प्रयच्छास्मासु लोकेश पार्थिवं नरपुंगवम्। यस्मै पूजां प्रयुञ्जाना धूतपापाश्चरेमहि।।
Hearing the words of Rāma, the great saint Agastya replied saying:-0 Rāma, O son of Dasaratha, at the beginning of the golden age, people had no king; but Väsava was the ruler of the celestials. Therefore to obtain a king, men approached Brahmā, the god of gods and said, O deity you have placed Indra as ruler over the celestials; therefore, O lord of creatures, do you also confer upon us a king who shall be foremost among men; by worshipping him we shall be freed from all sins.
न वसामो विना राज्ञा एष नो निश्चयः परः। ततो ब्रह्मा सुरश्रेष्ठो लोकपालान्सवासवान्।। समाहूयाब्रवीत्सवास्तेजोभागान्प्रयच्छत। ततो ददुर्लोकपालाः सर्वे भागान्स्वतेजसः।। अक्षुपच्च ततो ब्रह्मा यतो जातः क्षुपो नृपः। तं ब्रह्मा लोकपालानां समांशैः समयोजयत्।। ततो ददौ नृपं तासां प्रजानामीश्वरं क्षुपम्। तत्रैन्द्रेण च भागेन महीमाज्ञापयन्नृपः।। वारुणेन तु भागेन वपुः पुष्यति पार्थिवः। कौबेरेण तु भागेन वित्तपाभां ददौ तदा।। यस्तु याम्योऽभवद्भागस्तेनशास्ति स्म स प्रजाः।
We shall not live without the king-even this is our firm resolution. Thereupon the Patriarch Brahmā sent for Indra and other deities and said:Do you all give a portion of your respective energies. Thereupon the deities gave each a portion of their own energies. Thereupon Brahma made a Kșupa or sneezed and there from originated a king under the name of Kșupa. And in his person Brahmă placed in equal proportions the energies of the deities. There after he made Kșupa the foremost king of men. By virtue of the portion of Indra's energy the king Kșupa brought the earth under his control; by that of Varuna's energy he fostered his own body; by Kubera's portion he conferred riches upon his subjects; and by that of Yama he governed them.
तत्रैन्द्रेण नरश्रेष्ठ भागेन रघुनन्दन।। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते तारणार्थ मम प्रभो। तद्रामः प्रतिजग्राह मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः।। दिव्यमाभरणं चित्रं प्रदीप्तमिव भास्करम्। प्रतिगृह्य ततो रामस्तदाभरणमुत्तमम्।। आगमं तस्य दीप्तस्य प्रष्टुमेवोपचक्रमे।
Therefore, O Rama, by virtue of Indra's portion, do you accept this omament and confer upon me the salvation. Hearing the words of the Muni, Rāma took from him that brilliant celestial ornament burning like the rays of the Sun. And having taken that excellent ornament, Dāsarathi asked the great saint Kumbhayoni, saying.
अत्यद्भुतमिदं दिव्यं वपुषा युक्तमद्भुतम्॥ कथं वा भवता प्राप्तं कुतो वा केन वा हृतम्। कौतूहलतया ब्रह्मन्पृच्छामि त्वां महायशः ।३५ ।। आश्चर्याणां बहूनां हि निधिः परमको भवान्।
When have you obtained this celestial ornamens of a wondrous make? Who have given you this? O Brāhmaṇa, I do accost you thus out of curiosity. You are the mine of many wonders.
एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे मुनिर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्। शृणु राम यथावृत्तं पुरा त्रेतायुगे युगे।॥
Whereto Agastya replied, saying Hearken, O Rāma, how I did obtain this ornament in the Tretă age.