तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। द्वास्थः कुमारावाहूय राघवाय न्यवेदयत्॥
According to the command of Räma of unwearied actions, the warders went to the princes and communicated to them (the arrival).
दृष्ट्वा तु राघवः प्राप्तावुभौ भरतलक्ष्मणौ। परिष्वज्य ततो रामो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥
Beholding Bharata and Lakşmaņa present, Rāma embraced them and said.
कृतं मया यथा तथ्यं द्विजकार्यमनुत्तमम्। धर्मसेतुमथो भूयः कर्तुमिच्छामि राघवौ॥ अक्षयश्चाव्ययश्चैव धर्मसेतुर्मतो मम। धर्मप्रवचनं चैव सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्॥
I have, as promised, performed the work of the excellent twice-born one. I wish now to perform a Rājasūya sacrifice, the source of religious glory, the destroyer of all sins, inexhaustible and un-ending.
युवाभ्यामात्मभूताभ्यां राजसूयमनुत्तमम्। सहितो यष्टुमिच्छामि तत्र धर्मस्तु शाश्वतः॥
Therefore, with you like my own self, I wish to engage in the most excellent and eternal Rājasūya sacrifice.
इष्ट्वा तु राजसूयेन मित्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। सुहुतेन सुयज्ञेन वरुणत्वमुपागमत्॥
O slayer of foes, by celebrating Rājasūya, Mitra attained to the dignity of Varuņa.
सोमश्च राजसूयेन इष्ट्वा धर्मेण धर्मवित्। प्राप्तश्च सर्वलोकेषु कीर्ति स्थानं च शाश्वतम्॥
And having celebrated the Soma sacrifice, conversant with piety, established eternal fame in the three worlds.
अस्मिन्नहनि यच्छ्रेयश्चिन्त्यतां तन्मया सह । हितं चायतियुक्तं च प्रयतौ वक्तुमर्हथः॥
Do you therefore consult with me even today as to what is proper. Do you consider carefully and tell me what is auspicious and productive of well-being in the long run.
श्रुत्वा तु राघवस्यैतद्वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। भरतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।।।। त्वयि धर्मः परः साधो त्वयि सर्वा वसुंधरा। प्रतिष्ठिता महाबाहो यशश्चामितविक्रम॥
Hearing the words of Raghava, Bharata, wellskilled in the are of speech, with folded hands, said O pious Sir, in you are established piety, earth and fame.
महीपालाश्च सर्वे त्वां प्रजापतिमिवामराः। निरीक्षन्ते महात्मानं लोकनाथं यथा वयम्॥ पुत्राश्च पितृवद्राजन्पश्यन्ति त्वां महाबल। पृथिव्या गतिभूतोऽसि प्राणिनामपि राघव॥ स त्वमेवंविधं यज्ञमाहर्तासि कथं नृप। पृथिव्या राजवंशानां विनाशो यत्र दृश्यते॥
O you of unmitigated prowess, as the deities honour the patriarch so other kings hold you in reverence. O king, all creatures mobile and immobile consider you as their father. O you of great strength, you are the refuge of all animals and of the universe. Therefore of what use is such a sacrifice to you? In such a sacrifice all the royal families meet with ruin.
पृथिव्यां ये च पुरुषा राजन्पौरुषमागताः। सर्वेषां भविता तत्र संक्षयः सर्वकोपजः॥
O king! all those men, who are proud of manliness, being incensed with great ire on the occasion of this sacrifice, shall bring ruin upon all.
सर्वं पुरुषशार्दूल गुणैरतुलविक्रम। पृथिवी नार्हसे हन्तुं वशे हि तव वर्तते॥
O foremost of men, the whole earth has been brought under your subjection so it is not proper to devastate it.
भरतस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वामृतमयं यथा। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे रामः सत्यपराक्रमः॥ उवाच च शुभं वाक्यं कैकेय्यानन्दवर्धनम्। प्रीतोऽस्मि परितुष्टोऽस्मि तवाद्य वचनेऽनघ।।१७
Hearing those sweet accents of Bharata, Rāma, having truth for his prowess, attained to incomparable delight, and addressed the enhancer of Kaikeyi's delight with kind words, saying: O you freed from sins, I have been greatly delighted with you.
इदं वचनमक्लीबं त्वया धर्मसमागतम्। व्याहृतं पुरुषव्याघ्र पृथिव्याः परिपालनम्॥
O foremost of men, for the preservation of earth, you have given vent to words, without any hesitation, pregnant with manliness and piety.
एष्यदस्मदभिप्रायाद्राजसूयात्क्रतूत्तमात्। निवर्तयामि धर्मज्ञ तव सुव्याहृतेन च॥
O you conversant with piety, according to your wise counsels, I refrain from celebrating this Rājasūya sacrifice.
लोकपीडाकरं कर्म न कर्तव्यं विचक्षणैः। बालानां तु शुभं वाक्यं ग्राह्यं लक्ष्मणपूर्वज। तस्माच्छृणोमि ते वाक्यं साधु युक्तं महाबल।।२०
The wise should never undertake all those works which give affliction to people. O elder brother of Lakşmaņa, it is proper to take wise counsels even from a boy. O you of great strength, I therefore, hear your speech