गत्वारण्यं फलान्यंबुसमित्कुशमृदो ऽन्वहम्
Going to the forest, we daily gathered fruits, water, firewood, sacred grass, and clay.
एकदा तु वयं सर्वे संप्राप्ता पर्वते वने
One day, all of us arrived in the forest on a mountain.
सर्वे स्नात्वा महानद्यामुषसि प्रीतमानसाः
All, having bathed in the great river at dawn, were joyful in mind.
शालस्तमालैः प्रियकैः पनसैः कोविदारकैः
With sal, tamala, priya, jackfruit, and kovidara trees,
जंबूभिः सहकारैश्च कट्फलैर्बृहतीद्रुमैः
With jambu, sahakara, katphala, and mighty trees,
स्निग्धच्छायैः समाहृष्टनानापक्षिनिनादितैः
With dense shade, delighted, and filled with the cries of various birds,
गचैन्द्रैः शारभाद्यैश्च सेवितं कन्दरागतैः
Frequented by elephants, sharabhas, and others dwelling in caves,
सुगन्धिभिर्वृतं चान्यैर्वातोद्धूतपरगिभिः
Covered with fragrant flowers and others, their pollen scattered by the wind,
शृङ्गैः समुल्लिखन्तं च व्योम कौतुकसं युतम्
With peaks scraping the sky, full of wonder,
गर्ज्जतमिव संसक्तं व्यालाद्यैर्मृगपक्षिभिः
Resounding as if with thunder, mingled with wild beasts and birds,
नास्मार्ष्म चात्मनात्मानं वियुक्ताश्च परस्परम्
We did not remember ourselves, and were separated from one another.
निर्झरापात शिरसि पातुकामा जलं प्रिये
Desiring water to fall on the head from the cascade, O beloved,
तत्र प्राप्तो यदृच्छातो जगृहे तां भयर्दिताम्
There, arriving by chance, he took her, who was distressed by fear.
अत्युच्चवत्त्वात्पतितो मृतश्चैणीमनुस्मरन्
Falling from a great height, he died, remembering her.
जातो भद्रे न जाने वै क्व गाता भ्रातरो ऽग्रजाः
Born, O good one, I do not know where the elder brothers have gone.
भूतं भविष्यं च तथा शृणु भद्रे वदाम्यहम्
Hear, O good one, I will tell you of the past and the future.
रामस्यास्य भयात्सो ऽपि भक्षितो हरिणा धुना
Out of fear of this Rama, he too was devoured by a deer long ago.
अवाभ्यां तु जलं पीतं मध्यमे पुष्करे त्विह
By us two, water was drunk here in the middle lotus pond.
तेनानेकभवोत्पन्नं पातकं नाशमागतम्
From that, many births arose; the sin has come to destruction.
गमिष्यावः शुभांल्लोकान्येषु गत्वा न शोचति
We shall go to auspicious worlds; having gone there, one does not grieve.
विरराम प्रसन्नात्मा पश्यन्राममना तुरः
With a tranquil mind, he ceased, gazing intently at Rama.
विस्मितो ऽभूच्च राजेन्द्र गन्तुं कृतमतिस्तथा
He became astonished, O king of kings, and resolved to depart.
स्नात्वा नित्यक्रियां कृत्वा प्रतस्थे हर्षितो भृशम्
After bathing and performing his daily rites, he set out, exceedingly joyful.
सिंहस्य संप्रहारेम विस्मितेन महात्मना
He engaged in a contest with a lion, that great-souled one, in amazement.
स्नात्वा माध्याह्निकीं सन्ध्यां चका रातिमुदान्वितः
Having bathed, he performed the midday Sandhya with a mind full of delight.
तावत्तत्पृष्ठसंलग्नं मृगयुग्ममुपागतम्
Just then, a pair of deer approached, closely following behind him.
पश्यतो भार्गवस्यागादगस्त्याश्रमसंमुखम्
As Bhargava watched, they went toward the front of Agastya's hermitage.
विपद्गतं पुष्करं तु पश्यमानो महामनाः
That great-minded one, seeing the pond in distress, gazed upon it.
गत्वोपस्पृश्य शुच्यंभो जगामागस्त्यसंश्रयम्
Going there, he touched the pure water and proceeded to Agastya's refuge.
त्रीन्संपूरयितुं कुण्डानग्निहोत्रस्य वै विधेः
He went to fill three vessels for the prescribed agnihotra ritual.