Rama's Charter to the Brahmins

Verse 1 (skanda.3.86.1)

व्यास उवाच । एवं रामेण धर्मज्ञ जीर्णोद्धारः पुरा कृतः द्विजानां च हितार्थाय श्रीमातुर्वचनेन च

vyāsa uvāca evaṁ rāmeṇa dharmajña jīrṇoddhāraḥ purā kṛtaḥ dvijānāṁ ca hitārthāya śrīmātur vacanena ca

Vyasa said: O knower of dharma, thus did Rama, long ago, undertake the restoration — both at Shrimata's word and for the good of the brahmins.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.86.2)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । कीदृशं शासनं ब्रह्मन्रामेण लिखितं पुरा कथयस्व प्रसादेन त्रेतायां सत्यमंदिरे

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca kīdṛśaṁ śāsanaṁ brahman rāmeṇa likhitaṁ purā kathayasva prasādena tretāyāṁ satyamandire

Yudhishthira said: O brahmin, what was that charter which Rama wrote long ago, in the Treta Yuga, at Satyamandira? Tell me, by your grace.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.86.3)

व्यास उवाच । धर्मारण्ये वरे दिव्ये बकुलार्के स्वधिष्ठिते शून्यस्वामिनि विप्रेंद्र स्थिते नारायणे प्रभौ

vyāsa uvāca dharmāraṇye vare divye bakulārke svādhiṣṭhite śūnyasvāmini viprendra sthite nārāyaṇe prabhau

Vyasa said: O lord of brahmins, in that excellent, divine Dharmaranya, where Bakulārka himself resides, where Lord Nārāyaṇa dwells as Śūnyasvāmi —

Verse 4 (skanda.3.86.4)

रक्षणाधिपतौ देवे सर्वज्ञे गुणनायके भवसागर मग्नानां तारिणी यत्र योगिनी

rakṣaṇādhipatau deve sarvajñe guṇanāyake bhavasāgaramagnānāṁ tāriṇī yatra yoginī

— where dwells the lord of protection, the all-knowing, the leader of all virtues, and where the yoginī ferries across those drowning in the ocean of worldly existence —

Verse 5 (skanda.3.86.5)

शासनं तत्र रामस्य राघवस्य च नामतः शृणु ताम्राश्रयं तत्र लिखितं धर्मशास्त्रतः

śāsanaṁ tatra rāmasya rāghavasya ca nāmataḥ śṛṇu tāmrāśrayaṁ tatra likhitaṁ dharmaśāstrataḥ

— there stands a charter in the name of Rāghava Rama; hear now what was written upon that copper plate, according to the dharma-shastra.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.86.6)

महाश्चर्यकरं तच्च ह्यनेकयुगसंस्थितम्। सर्वो धातुः क्षयं याति सुवर्णं क्षयमेति च

mahāścaryakaraṁ tac ca hy anekayugasaṁsthitam sarvo dhātuḥ kṣayaṁ yāti suvarṇaṁ kṣayam eti ca

It is a most wondrous thing, standing unchanged through many ages. Every metal decays; even gold in time meets its end —

Verse 7 (skanda.3.86.7)

प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते पुत्र द्विजशासनमक्षयम् अविनाशो हि ताम्रस्य कारणं तत्र विद्यते

pratyakṣaṁ dṛśyate putra dvijaśāsanam akṣayam avināśo hi tāmrasya kāraṇaṁ tatra vidyate

— yet, my son, the brahmins' charter is seen even now, imperishable, directly before the eyes; the reason for this lies in the very indestructibility of copper.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.86.8)

वेदोक्तं सकलं यस्माद्विष्णुरेव हि कथ्यते पुराणेषु च वेदेषु धर्मशास्त्रेषु भारत

vedoktaṁ sakalaṁ yasmād viṣṇur eva hi kathyate purāṇeṣu ca vedeṣu dharmaśāstreṣu bhārata

O descendant of Bharata, because whatever the Vedas declare is spoken of as Vishnu alone — in the Puranas, in the Vedas, and in the dharma-shastras too.

Verse 9 (skanda.3.86.9)

सर्वत्र गीयते विष्णुर्नाना भावसमाश्रयः नानादेशेषु धर्मेषु नानाधर्मनिषेविभिः

sarvatra gīyate viṣṇur nānābhāvasamāśrayaḥ nānādeśeṣu dharmeṣu nānādharmaniṣevibhiḥ

Everywhere Vishnu alone is sung, the refuge of manifold sentiments; in many lands, in many dharmas, by those devoted to many different observances —

Verse 10 (skanda.3.86.10)

नानाभेदैस्तु सर्वत्र विष्णुरेवेति चिंत्यते अवतीर्णः स वै साक्षात्पुराणपुरुषो त्तमः देववैरिविनाशाय धर्मसंरक्षणाय च

nānābhedais tu sarvatra viṣṇur eveti cintyate avatīrṇaḥ sa vai sākṣāt purāṇapuruṣottamaḥ devavairivināśāya dharmasaṁrakṣaṇāya ca

— across manifold distinctions, everywhere it is Vishnu alone who is contemplated. He, that ancient Supreme Person, descended in visible form for the destruction of the gods' enemies and for the protection of dharma.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.86.11)

तेनेदं शासनं दत्तमविनाशात्मकं सुत

tenedaṁ śāsanaṁ dattam avināśātmakaṁ suta

By him, my son, was this indestructible charter given.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.86.12)

यस्य प्रतापादृषद(य)स्तारिता जलमध्यतः वानरैर्वेष्टिता लंका हेलया राक्षसा हताः

yasya pratāpād ṛṣayas tāritā jalamadhyataḥ vānarair veṣṭitā laṅkā helayā rākṣasā hatāḥ

By whose might even stones were made to float upon the water, Lanka was surrounded by monkeys, and the rākṣasas were slain with ease —

Verse 13 (skanda.3.86.13)

मुनिपुत्रं मृतं रामो यमलोकादुपानयत् दुंदुभिर्निहतो येन कबंधोऽभिहतस्तथा

muniputraṁ mṛtaṁ rāmo yamalokād upānayat dundubhir nihato yena kabandho 'bhihatas tathā

who brought back a sage's dead son from Yama's world, by whom Dundubhi was struck down and Kabandha too was slain —

Verse 14 (skanda.3.86.14)

निहता ताडका चैव सप्तताला विभेदिताः खरश्च दूषणश्चैव त्रिशिराश्च महासुरः

nihatā tāḍakā caiva saptatālā vibheditāḥ kharaś ca dūṣaṇaś caiva triśirāś ca mahāsuraḥ

who slew Tāḍakā, pierced through seven palm trees at once, and slew Khara, Dūṣaṇa, and the great demon Triśira —

Verse 15 (skanda.3.86.15)

चतुर्दशसहस्राणि जवेन निहता रणे तेनेदं शासनं दत्तमक्षयं न कथं भवेत्

caturdaśasahasrāṇi javena nihatā raṇe tenedaṁ śāsanaṁ dattam akṣayaṁ na kathaṁ bhavet

who, in an instant, slew fourteen thousand demons in battle — how, then, could this charter, given by him, fail to be imperishable?

Verse 16 (skanda.3.86.16)

स्ववंशवर्णनं तत्र लिखित्वा स्वयमेव तु देशकालादिकं सर्वं लिलेख विधिपूर्वकम्

svavaṁśavarṇanaṁ tatra likhitvā svayam eva tu deśakālādikaṁ sarvaṁ lilekha vidhipūrvakam

There, he himself wrote a description of his own lineage, and, according to due form, recorded the place, time, and all other particulars.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.86.17)

स्वमुद्राचिह्नितं तत्र त्रैविद्येभ्यस्तथा ददौ। चतुश्चत्वारिंशवर्षो रामो दशरथात्मजः

svamudrācihnitaṁ tatra trai vidyebhyas tathā dadau catuścatvāriṁśavarṣo rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ

Marking it with his own royal seal, Rama, the son of Dasharatha, in his forty-fourth year, gave it there to the brahmins learned in the threefold Vedic lore.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.86.18)

तस्मिन्काले महाश्चर्यं संदत्तं किल भारत। तत्र स्वर्णोपमं चापि रौप्योपमम थापि च

tasmin kāle mahāścaryaṁ saṁdattaṁ kila bhārata tatra svarṇopamaṁ cāpi raupyopamam athāpi ca

At that time, O descendant of Bharata, a great wonder also took place: there, something resembling gold, and something resembling silver —

Verse 19 (skanda.3.86.19)

उवाह सलिलं तीर्थे देवर्षिपितृतृप्तिदम् स्ववंशनायकस्याग्रे सूर्येण कृतमेव तत्

uvāha salilaṁ tīrthe devarṣipitṛtṛptidam svavaṁśanāyakasyāgre sūryeṇa kṛtam eva tat

— flowed as water at that tirtha, satisfying gods, sages, and ancestors alike; this was done by the Sun himself, before the leader of his own dynasty.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.86.20)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं रामो विष्णुं प्रपूज्य च रामलेखविचित्रैस्तु लिखितं धर्मशासनम्

tad dṛṣṭvā mahad āścaryaṁ rāmo viṣṇuṁ prapūjya ca rāmalekhavicitrais tu likhitaṁ dharmaśāsanam

Having witnessed that great wonder, Rama worshipped Vishnu, and this decree of dharma was inscribed in the wondrous characters of Rama's own hand.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.86.21)

यद्दृष्ट्वाथ द्विजाः सर्वे संसारभयबंधनम् कुर्वते नैव यस्मान्च तस्मान्निखिलरक्षकम्

yad dṛṣṭvātha dvijāḥ sarve saṁsārabhayabandhanam kurvate naiva yasmān na tasmān nikhilarakṣakam

Upon beholding which, all brahmins never fall into the bondage of worldly fear — for this reason, it is called the protector of all.

Verse 22 (skanda.3.86.22)

ये पापिष्ठा दुराचारा मित्रद्रोहरताश्च ये तेषां प्रबोधनार्थाय प्रसिद्धिमकरोत्पुरा

ye pāpiṣṭhā durācārā mitradroharatāś ca ye teṣāṁ prabodhanārthāya prasiddhim akarot purā

For the awakening of those who are most sinful, of evil conduct, and given to betraying friends, this was made widely known in ancient times.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.86.23)

रामलेखविचित्रैस्तु विचित्रे ताम्रपट्टके वाक्यानीमानि श्रूयंते शासने किल नारद

rāmalekhavicitrais tu vicitre tāmrapaṭṭake vākyānīmāni śrūyante śāsane kila nārada

O Narada, upon that wondrous copper plate, in the wondrous letters of Rama's hand, these very words are found spoken in the charter —

Verse 24 (skanda.3.86.24)

आस्फोटयंति पितरः कथयंति पितामहाः भूमिदोऽस्मत्कुले जातः सोऽस्मान्संतारयिष्यति

āsphoṭayanti pitaraḥ kathayanti pitāmahāḥ bhūmido 'smatkule jātaḥ so 'smān saṁtārayiṣyati

"— the ancestors clap their hands in joy, the forefathers proclaim: 'The one born of our lineage who gives land shall be the one to deliver us across.'"

Verse 25 (skanda.3.86.25)

बहुभिर्बहुधा भुक्ता राजभिः पृथिवी त्वियम् यस्ययस्य यदा भूमिस्तस्यतस्य तदा फलम्

bahubhir bahudhā bhuktā rājabhiḥ pṛthivī tv iyam yasya yasya yadā bhūmis tasya tasya tadā phalam

"— this earth has been enjoyed, many times over, by many kings; whoever holds this land at any given time, receives its fruit only for that time."

Verse 26 (skanda.3.86.26)

षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गे वसति भूमिदः आच्छेत्ता चानुमंता च तान्येव नरकं व्रजेत्

ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi svarge vasati bhūmidaḥ ācchettā cānumantā ca tāny eva narakaṁ vrajet

"The giver of land dwells in heaven for sixty thousand years; but he who seizes such land, or even consents to its seizure, goes to hell for that same span."

Verse 27 (skanda.3.86.27)

संदंशैस्तुद्यमानस्तु मुद्गरैर्विनिहत्य च पाशैः सुबध्यमानस्तु रोरवीति महास्वरम्

saṁdaṁśais tudyamānas tu mudgarair vinihatya ca pāśaiḥ subadhyamānas tu roravīti mahāsvaram

"Pierced with tongs, beaten with clubs, tightly bound with nooses — he wails aloud in agony."

Verse 28 (skanda.3.86.28)

ताड्यमानः शिरे दंडैः समालिंग्य विभावसुम् क्षुरिकया छिद्यमानो रोरवीति महास्वनम्

tāḍyamānaḥ śire daṇḍais samāliṅgya vibhāvasum kṣurikayā chidyamāno roravīti mahāsvanam

"His head beaten with clubs, made to embrace fire, cut with knives — he screams in a great and terrible voice."

Verse 29 (skanda.3.86.29)

यमदूतैर्महाघोरैर्ब्रह्मवृत्तिविलोपकः एवंविधैर्महादुष्टैः पीड्यंते ते महागणैः

yamadūtair mahāghorair brahmavṛttivilopakaḥ evaṁvidhair mahāduṣṭaiḥ pīḍyante te mahāgaṇaiḥ

The one who destroys a brahmin's livelihood is tormented, in just this way, by the ferocious and terrible hordes of Yama's messengers.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.86.30)

ततस्तिर्यक्त्वमाप्नोति योनिं वा राक्षसीं शुनीम् व्यालीं शृगालीं पैशाचीं महाभूतभयंकरीम् भूमेरंगुलहर्ता हि स कथं पापमाचरेत्

tatas tiryaktvam āpnoti yoniṁ vā rākṣasīṁ śunīm vyālīṁ śṛgālīṁ paiśācīṁ mahābhūtabhayaṁkarīm bhūmer aṅgulahartā hi sa kathaṁ pāpam ācaret

Then he attains an animal birth — sometimes a she-demon, sometimes a bitch, sometimes a female serpent, a jackal, or a ghoul, one that terrifies even great beings. How can the one who steals even a finger's width of land ever commit such a sin!

Verse 31 (skanda.3.86.31)

भूमेरंगुलदाता च स कथं पुण्यमाचरेत्

bhūmer aṅguladātā ca sa kathaṁ puṇyam ācaret

And how great is the merit gained by the one who gives even a single finger's width of land!

Verse 32 (skanda.3.86.32)

अश्वमेधसहस्राणां राजसूयशतस्य च कन्याशतप्रदानस्य फलं प्राप्नोति भूमिदः

aśvamedhasahasrāṇāṁ rājasūyaśatasya ca kanyāśataprapradānasya phalaṁ prāpnoti bhūmidaḥ

The giver of land obtains the merit of a thousand horse-sacrifices, a hundred rajasuya sacrifices, and the gift of a hundred maidens.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.86.33)

आयुर्यशः सुखं प्रज्ञा धर्मो धान्यं धनं जयः संतानं वर्द्धते नित्यं भूमिदः सुखमश्मुते

āyur yaśaḥ sukhaṁ prajñā dharmo dhānyaṁ dhanaṁ jayaḥ saṁtānaṁ vardhate nityaṁ bhūmidaḥ sukham aśnute

Longevity, fame, happiness, wisdom, righteousness, grain, wealth, victory, and offspring — all these ever increase; the giver of land attains happiness.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.86.34)

भूमेरंगुलमेकं तु ये हरंति खला नराः वंध्याटवीष्वतोयासु शुष्ककोटरवासिनः कृष्णसर्पाः प्रजायंते दत्तदायापहारकाः

bhūmer aṅgulam ekaṁ tu ye haranti khalā narāḥ vandhyāṭavīṣv atoyāsu śuṣkakoṭaravāsinaḥ kṛṣṇasarpāḥ prajāyante dattadāyāpahārakāḥ

Those wicked men who steal even a finger's width of land, or who seize back a gift once given, are reborn as black serpents dwelling in dry, hollow tree-trunks in barren, waterless forests.

Verse 35 (skanda.3.86.35)

तडागानां सहस्रेण अश्वमेधशतेन वा गवां कोटिप्रदानेन भूमिहर्त्ता विशुध्यति

taḍāgānāṁ sahasreṇa aśvamedhaśatena vā gavāṁ koṭipradānena bhūmihartā viśudhyati

One who has seized land is purified only by building a thousand tanks, or by a hundred horse-sacrifices, or by the gift of a crore of cows.

Verse 36 (skanda.3.86.36)

यानीह दत्तानि पुनर्धनानि दानानि धर्मार्थयशस्कराणि औदार्यतो विप्रनिवेदितानि को नाम साधुः पुनराददीत

yānīha dattāni punar dhanāni dānāni dharmārthayaśaskarāṇi audāryato vipraniveditāni ko nāma sādhuḥ punar ādadīta

Those gifts of wealth given here, which bestow dharma, prosperity, and fame, and which have been generously offered to the brahmins — what truly virtuous man would ever take them back again?

Verse 37 (skanda.3.86.37)

चलदलदललीलाचंचले जीवलोके तृणलवलघुसारे सर्वसंसारसौख्ये अपहरति दुराशः शासनं ब्राह्मणानां नरकगहनगर्त्तावर्तपातोत्सुको यः

caladaladalalīlācaṁcale jīvaloke tṛṇalavalaghusāre sarvasaṁsārasaukhye apaharati durāśaḥ śāsanaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ narakagahanagarttāvartapātotsuko yaḥ

In this world of the living — as fickle as a trembling leaf's play, of no more substance than a blade of grass, its every worldly pleasure just as fleeting — that greedy man who seizes a brahmin's charter is eager only to plunge into the deep, whirling pit of hell.

Verse 38 (skanda.3.86.38)

ये पास्यंति महीभुजः क्षितिमिमां यास्यंति भुक्त्वाखिलां नो याता न तु याति यास्यति न वा केनापि सार्द्धं धरा। यत्किंचिद्भुवि तद्विनाशि सकलं कीर्तिः परं स्थायिनी त्वेवं वै वसुधापि यैरुपकृता लोप्या न सत्कीर्तयः

ye pāsyanti mahībhujaḥ kṣitim imāṁ yāsyanti bhuktvākhilāṁ no yātā na tu yāti yāsyati na vā kenāpi sārdhaṁ dharā yat kiṁcid bhuvi tad vināśi sakalaṁ kīrtiḥ paraṁ sthāyinī tv evaṁ vai vasudhāpi yair upakṛtā lopyā na satkīrtayaḥ

Those kings who shall govern this earth shall all, in turn, enjoy it and depart — no one has ever gone with it, none goes with it now, and none ever shall; whatever exists on this earth is perishable, and fame alone truly endures. Therefore, the good name of those who have benefited this earth must never be effaced.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.86.39)

एकैव भगिनी लोके सर्वेषामेव भूभुजाम् न भोज्या न करग्राह्या विप्रदत्ता वसुंधरा

ekaiva bhaginī loke sarveṣām eva bhūbhujām na bhojyā na karagrāhyā vipradattā vasuṁdharā

For all kings alike, land that has been given to brahmins is like a sister of their own — it is not to be enjoyed, nor to be seized, nor to be taxed.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.86.40)

दत्त्वा भूमिं भाविनः पार्थिवेशान्भूयोभूयो याचते रामचन्द्रः सामान्योऽयं धर्मसेतुर्नृपाणां स्वे स्वे काले पालनीयो भवद्भिः

dattvā bhūmiṁ bhāvinaḥ pārthiveśān bhūyo bhūyo yācate rāmacandraḥ sāmānyo 'yaṁ dharmasetur nṛpāṇāṁ sve sve kāle pālanīyo bhavadbhiḥ

Having given this land, Ramachandra pleads again and again with kings yet to come — this bridge of dharma is common to all kings; each of you, in your own time, must uphold it.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.86.41)

अस्मिन्वंशे क्षितौ कोपि राजा यदि भविष्यति तस्याहं करलग्नोस्मि मद्दत्तं यदि पाल्यते।

asmin vaṁśe kṣitau ko 'pi rājā yadi bhaviṣyati tasyāhaṁ karalagno 'smi mad dattaṁ yadi pālyate

"Whatever king shall arise in this lineage upon this earth — if he upholds my gift, I shall stand ever bound at his hand in support."

Verse 42 (skanda.3.86.42)

लिखित्वा शासनं रामश्चातुर्वेद्यद्विजोत्तमान्। संपूज्य प्रददौ धीमान्वसिष्ठस्य च सन्निधौ।

likhitvā śāsanaṁ rāmaś cāturvedyadvijottamān saṁpūjya pradadau dhīmān vasiṣṭhasya ca sannidhau

Having thus written the charter, the wise Rama, in Vasishtha's presence, honored the brahmins learned in all four Vedas, and gave it to them.

Verse 43 (skanda.3.86.43)

ते वाडवा गृहीत्वा तं पट्टं रामाज्ञया शुभम्। ताम्रं हैमाक्षरयुतं धर्म्यं धर्मविभूषणम्।

te vāḍavā gṛhītvā taṁ paṭṭaṁ rāmājñayā śubham tāmraṁ haimākṣarayutaṁ dharmyaṁ dharmavibhūṣaṇam

Those brahmins, by Rama's command, accepted that auspicious copper plate, inscribed with golden letters, righteous in itself, and a very ornament of dharma.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.86.44)

पूजार्थं भक्तिकामार्थास्तद्रक्षणमकुर्वत। चंदनेन च दिव्येन पुष्पेण च सुगन्धिना।

pūjārthaṁ bhaktikāmārthās tadrakṣaṇam akurvata candanena ca divyena puṣpeṇa ca sugandhinā

Out of devotion and for the fulfillment of their desires, they preserved it carefully, worshipping it with divine sandalwood and fragrant flowers.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.86.45)

तथा सुवर्णपुष्पेण रूप्यपुष्पेण वा पुनः। अहन्यहनि पूजां ते कुर्वते वाडवाः शुभाम्।

tathā suvarṇapuṣpeṇa rūpyapuṣpeṇa vā punaḥ ahany ahani pūjāṁ te kurvate vāḍavāḥ śubhām

And with golden flowers and silver flowers too, those brahmins performed that auspicious worship, day after day.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.86.46)

तदग्रे दीपकं चैव घृतेन विमलेन हि। सप्तवर्तियुतं राजन्नर्घ्यं प्रकुर्वते द्विजाः।

tadagre dīpakaṁ caiva ghṛtena vimalena hi saptavartiyutaṁ rājann arghyaṁ prakurvate dvijāḥ

O king, before it, those twice-born would light a lamp of seven wicks, fed with pure ghee, and offer arghya.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.86.47)

नैवेद्यं कुर्वते नित्यं भक्तिपूर्वं द्विजोत्तमाः। रामरामेति रामेति मन्त्रमप्युच्चरंति हि।

naivedyaṁ kurvate nityaṁ bhaktipūrvaṁ dvijottamāḥ rāmarāmeti rāmeti mantram apy uccaranti hi

Those excellent brahmins offered food-offerings daily with devotion, and also chanted the mantra "Rama, Rama, Rama."

Verse 48 (skanda.3.86.48)

अशने शयने पाने गमने चोपवेशने । सुखे वाप्यथवा दुःखे राममन्त्रं समुच्चरेत् ।

aśane śayane pāne gamane copaveśane sukhe vāpy athavā duḥkhe rāmamantraṁ samuccaret

While eating, sleeping, drinking, walking, or sitting, whether in joy or in sorrow — one should always utter the mantra of Rama's name.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.86.49)

न तस्य दुःखदौर्भाग्यं नाधिव्याधिभयं भवेत् । आयुः श्रियं बलं तस्य वर्द्धयंति दिने दिने ।

na tasya duḥkhadaurbhāgyaṁ nādhivyādhibhayaṁ bhavet āyuḥ śriyaṁ balaṁ tasya vardhayanti dine dine

For him there is no sorrow, no misfortune, no fear of mental or physical illness; his life, prosperity, and strength increase day by day.

Verse 50 (skanda.3.86.50)

रामेति नाम्ना मुच्येत पापाद्वै दारुणादपि । नरकं नहि गच्छेत गतिं प्राप्नोति शाश्वतीम् ।

rāmeti nāmnā mucyeta pāpād vai dāruṇād api narakaṁ nahi gaccheta gatiṁ prāpnoti śāśvatīm

By the name "Rama" alone, a man is freed even from the most dreadful sin; he never goes to hell, but attains the eternal destiny.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.86.51)

इति कृत्वा ततो रामः कृतकृत्यममन्यत । प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य तदा प्रणम्य च द्विजान्बहून् ।

iti kṛtvā tato rāmaḥ kṛtakṛtyam amanyata pradakṣiṇīkṛtya tadā praṇamya ca dvijān bahūn

Having accomplished all this, Rama felt his purpose fulfilled; then he circumambulated and bowed to the many brahmins.

Verse 52 (skanda.3.86.52)

दत्त्वा दानं भूरितरं गवाश्वमहिषीरथम् । ततः सर्वान्निजांस्तांश्च वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।

dattvā dānaṁ bhūritaraṁ gavāśvamahiṣīratham tataḥ sarvān nijāṁs tāṁś ca vākyam etad uvāca ha

Having given abundant gifts — cows, horses, buffaloes, and chariots — he then spoke these words to all his own people —

Verse 53 (skanda.3.86.53)

अत्रैव स्थीयतां सर्वैर्यावच्चंद्रदिवाकरौ । यावन्मेरुर्महीपृष्ठे सागराः सप्त एव च ।

atraiva sthīyatāṁ sarvair yāvac candradivākarau yāvan merur mahīpṛṣṭhe sāgarāḥ sapta eva ca

"Let all of you remain here as long as the moon and the sun endure, as long as Mount Meru stands upon the earth, and as long as the seven seas remain."

Verse 54 (skanda.3.86.54)

तावदत्रैव स्थातव्यं भवद्भिर्हि न संशयः । यदा हि शासनं विप्रा न मन्यंते नृपा भुवि ।

tāvad atraiva sthātavyaṁ bhavadbhir hi na saṁśayaḥ yadā hi śāsanaṁ viprā na manyante nṛpā bhuvi

"Until then, you must remain here, without any doubt. But when the kings of this earth no longer honor the brahmins' charter —"

Verse 55 (skanda.3.86.55)

अथवा वणिजः शूरा मदमायाविमोहिताः । मदाज्ञां न प्रकुर्वंति मन्यंते वा न ते जनाः ।

athavā vaṇijaḥ śūrā madamāyāvimohitāḥ madājñāṁ na prakurvanti manyante vā na te janāḥ

"— or when the bold merchants, deluded by pride and illusion, no longer obey my command, or when these people no longer honor me —"

Verse 56 (skanda.3.86.56)

तदा वै वायुपुत्रस्य स्मरणं क्रियतां द्विजाः । स्मृतमात्रो हनूमान्वै समागत्य करिष्यति । सहसा भस्म तान्सत्यं वचनान्मे न संशयः ।

tadā vai vāyuputrasya smaraṇaṁ kriyatāṁ dvijāḥ smṛtamātro hanūmān vai samāgatya kariṣyati sahasā bhasma tān satyaṁ vacanān me na saṁśayaḥ

"— then, O brahmins, call to mind the son of the Wind. The very moment he is remembered, Hanuman will come and instantly reduce them to ash — this is true, by my own word, without any doubt."

Verse 57 (skanda.3.86.57)

य इदं शासनं रम्यं पालयिष्यति भूपतिः । वायुपुत्रः सदा तस्य सौख्यमृद्धिं प्रदास्यति ।

ya idaṁ śāsanaṁ ramyaṁ pālayiṣyati bhūpatiḥ vāyuputraḥ sadā tasya saukhyam ṛddhiṁ pradāsyati

Whatever king shall uphold this delightful charter, the son of the Wind shall ever grant him happiness and prosperity.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.86.58)

ददाति पुत्रान्पौत्रांश्च साध्वीं पत्नीं यशो जयम् ।

dadāti putrān pautrāṁś ca sādhvīṁ patnīṁ yaśo jayam

He shall grant him sons and grandsons, a virtuous wife, fame, and victory.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.86.59)

इत्येवं कथयित्वा च हनुमंतं प्रबोध्य च । निवर्तितो रामदेवः ससैन्यः सपरिच्छदः । वादित्राणां स्वनैर्विष्वक्सूच्यमानशुभागमः ।

ity evaṁ kathayitvā ca hanumantaṁ prabodhya ca nivartito rāmadevaḥ sasainyaḥ saparicchadaḥ vāditrāṇāṁ svanair viṣvak sūcyamānaśubhāgamaḥ

Having said this, and having instructed Hanuman, Lord Rama then set out to return, together with his army and retinue — the sound of instruments announcing his blessed arrival in every direction.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.86.60)

श्वेतातपत्रयुक्तोऽसौ चामरैर्वी जितो नरैः । अयोध्यां नगरीं प्राप्य चिरं राज्यं चकार ह । इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां तृतीये ब्रह्मखण्डे पूर्वभागे धर्मारण्यमाहात्म्ये ब्रह्मनारदसंवादे श्रीरामेण ब्राह्मणेभ्यः शासनपट्टप्रदानवर्णनं नाम चतुस्त्रिंशोऽध्यायः

śvetātapatrayukto 'sau cāmarair vījito naraiḥ ayodhyāṁ nagarīṁ prāpya ciraṁ rājyaṁ cakāra ha iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṁ saṁhitāyāṁ tṛtīye brahmakhaṇḍe pūrvabhāge dharmāraṇyamāhātmye brahmanāradasaṁvāde śrīrāmeṇa brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śāsanapaṭṭapradānavarṇanaṁ nāma catustriṁśo 'dhyāyaḥ

With a white parasol held over him, fanned with chowries by his attendants, he reached the city of Ayodhya and ruled the kingdom for a long time thereafter. Thus ends the thirty-fourth chapter, called "Rama's Charter to the Brahmins," told within the dialogue of Brahma and Narada, in the Glory of Dharmaranya, in the earlier portion of the third Brahma Khanda, in the Skanda Mahapurana's Samhita of eighty-one thousand verses.