विष्णोः सहायानृक्षीषु वानरीषु च सर्वशः। जनयध्वं सुतान्वीरान्कामरूपबलान्वितान्
As helpers of Viṣṇu, among the bears and monkeys, you must beget sons, O heroes, endowed with strength and the power to assume any form.
ते यथोक्ता भगवता तत्प्रतिश्रुत्य शासनम्। ससृजुर्देवगन्धर्वाः पुत्रान्वानररूपिणः
Having promised to obey the command of the Blessed One, the gods and Gandharvas produced sons in the form of monkeys.
ततो भागानुभागेन देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। अवतर्तुं महीं सर्वे मन्त्रयामासुरञ्जसा
Then, by their respective shares, the gods, Gandharvas, and Dānavas all deliberated together to descend to earth.
अवतेरुर्महीं स्वर्गादंशैश्च सहिताः सुराः। ऋषयश्च महात्मानः सिद्धाश्च सह किन्नरैः। चारणाश्चासृजन्घोरान्वानरान्वनचारिणः
They descended from heaven to earth, accompanied by their portions; the great-souled sages, Siddhas, Kinnaras, and Cāraṇas also produced fierce monkeys dwelling in the forest.
यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं वेषस्तेजश्च यद्विधम्। अजायन्त समास्तेन तस्य तस्य सुतास्तदा
According to the form, attire, and brilliance of each god, sons were born resembling them in every way.
तेषां समक्षं गन्धर्वी दुन्दुभीं नाम नामतः। शशास वरदो देवो गच्छ कार्यार्थसिद्धये
In their presence, the Gandharvī named Dundubhī was instructed by the boon-giving god: 'Go, for the accomplishment of the task.'
पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा गन्धर्वी दुन्दुभी ततः। मन्थरा मानुषे लोके कुब्जा समभवत्तदा
Hearing the words of the Grandfather, Gandharvī Dundubhī then became Mantharā, hunchbacked, in the world of men.
शक्रप्रभृतयश्चैव सर्वे ते सुरसत्तमाः। वानरर्क्षवरस्त्रीषु जनयामासुरात्मजान्
And all the foremost gods, beginning with Indra, begot sons among the women of bears and monkeys.
तेऽन्ववर्तन्पितॄन्सर्वे यशसा च बलेन च। भेत्तारो गिरिशृङ्गाणां सालतालशिलायुधाः
All of them followed their fathers in fame and strength; breakers of mountain peaks, wielders of sāla, tāla, and stone as weapons.
वज्चसंहननाः सर्वेसर्वेऽमोघवलास्तथा। कामवीर्यबलाश्चैवसर्वे बुद्धिविशारदाः
All were endowed with bodies like thunderbolts, all possessed unfailing strength, endowed with the power of desire, heroism, and intelligence.
नागायुतसमप्राणा वायुवेगसमा जवे। यथेच्छविनिपाताश्च केचिदत्र वनौकसः
Some of the forest-dwellers here have life-force equal to tens of thousands of serpents, are as swift as the wind, and can descend wherever they wish.
एवं विधाय तत्सर्वं भगवाँल्लोकभावनः। मन्थरां बोधयामास यद्यत्कार्यं त्वया तथा
Having arranged all this, the blessed Lord, the protector of the worlds, awakened Manthara and instructed her in whatever task she was to do.
सा तद्वच समाज्ञाय तथा चक्रे मनोजवा। इतश्चेतश्च गच्छन्ती वैरसंधुक्षणे रता
She, swift as thought, having understood those words, acted accordingly, moving here and there, delighting in stirring up conflict.
उक्तं भगवता जन्म रामादीनां पृथक्पृथक्। प्रस्थानकारणं ब्रह्मञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्
The blessed one has spoken of the separate births of Rama and the others; O Brahman, I wish to hear the reason for their departure—please tell it.
कथं दाशरथी वीरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। प्रस्तापितौ वने ब्रह्मन्मैथिली च यशस्विनी
How were the two heroic sons of Dasaratha, Rama and Lakshmana, sent into the forest, O Brahman, along with the illustrious Maithili?
जातपुत्रो दशरथः प्रीतिमानभवन्नृप। क्रियारतिर्धर्मरतः सततं वृद्धसेविता
When a son was born, King Dasaratha became joyful, devoted to rites and righteousness, always attended by elders.
क्रमेण चास्य ते पुत्रा व्यवर्धन्त महौजसः। वेदेषु सरहस्येषु धनुर्वेदेषु पारगाः
In due course, his sons, mighty in energy, grew up, accomplished in the Vedas, in all secrets, and in the science of archery.
चरितब्रह्मचर्यास्ते कृतदाराश्च पार्तिव। दृष्ट्वा रामं दशरथः प्रीतिमानभवत्सुखी
Having completed their student vows and taken wives, those princes delighted King Dasaratha when he saw Rama.
ज्येष्ठो रामोऽभवत्तेषां रमयामास हि प्रजाः। मनोहरतया धीमान्पितुर्हृदयनन्दनः
Among them, Rama was the eldest, delighting the people with his charm and intelligence, a joy to his father's heart.
ततः स राजा मतिमान्मत्वाऽऽत्मानं वयोधिकम्। मन्त्रयामास सचिवैर्मन्त्रज्ञैश्च पुरोहितैः
Then that wise king, realizing his own advanced age, consulted with his ministers and priests skilled in counsel.
अभिषेकाय रामस्य यावैराज्येन भारत। प्राप्तकालं च ते सर्वे मेनिरे मन्त्रिसत्तमाः
For Rama's consecration as heir, and for the kingdom, O Bharata, the best of counselors all agreed that the time had come.
लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं मत्तमातङ्गगामिनम्। कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजम्
They saw Rama, red-eyed, mighty-armed, walking like an intoxicated elephant, with a conch-shaped neck, broad chest, and dark, curling hair.
दीप्यमानं श्रिया वीरं शक्रादनवरं बले। पारगं सर्वधर्माणां बृहस्पतिसमं मतौ
Radiant with splendor, a hero equal to Indra in strength, accomplished in all duties, and in wisdom like Brihaspati.
सर्वानुरक्तप्रकृतिं सर्वविद्याविशारदम्। जितेन्द्रियममित्राणामपि दृष्टिमनोहरम्
Beloved by all his subjects, expert in every branch of knowledge, self-controlled, and captivating even to his enemies.
नियन्तारमसाधूनां गोप्तारं धर्मचारिणाम्। धृतिमन्तमनाधृष्यं जेतारमपराजितम्
A restrainer of the wicked, protector of the righteous, steadfast, unassailable, a conqueror never defeated.
पुत्रं राजा दशरथः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनम्। संदृश्यपरमां प्रीतिमगच्छत्कुलनन्दनम्
Seeing his son, the joy of Kausalya, King Dasaratha felt supreme delight in his family's glory.
चिन्तयंश्च महातेजा गुणान्रामस्य वीर्यवान्। अभ्यभाषत भद्रं ते प्रीयमाणः पुरोहितम्
Reflecting on Rama's virtues and great energy, the mighty king, pleased, spoke auspiciously to his priest.
अद् पुष्यो निशि ब्रह्मन्पुण्यं योगमुपैष्यति। संभाराः संभ्रियन्तां मे रामश्चोपनिमन्त्र्यताम्
On the night of the Pushya star, O Brahman, Rama will attain the sacred conjunction; let the preparations be made for me, and summon Rama.
श्व एवपुष्यो भविता यत्ररामः सुतो मया। यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्तव्यः पौरेषु सहमन्त्रिभिः
Tomorrow, the auspicious Pushya star will rise, when Rama, my son, is to be consecrated as heir apparent, together with the citizens and ministers.
इति तद्राजवचनं प्रतिश्रुत्याथ मन्थरा। कैकेयीमभिगम्येदं काले वचनमब्रवीत्
Having heard this royal proclamation, Manthara then approached Kaikeyi and spoke these words at the proper time.