तस्य संकर्षतो भूमिं सीतया दीर्घमुख्यया । सीरध्वजस्य निरगात्कुमारी ह्यतिसुंदरी
As he was ploughing the earth with Sītā, the chief among long-faced women, there emerged from the furrow a maiden of surpassing beauty, the daughter of Sīradhvaja.
तदात्यंतं मुदं प्राप्तः सीरकेतुर्महीपतिः । सीता नामाकरोत्तस्या मोहिन्या जगतः श्रियः
The king Sīraketu then experienced the utmost joy; he named her Sītā, the very embodiment of the world's enchanting fortune.
सैकदोद्यानविपिने खेलंती सुमनोहरा । अपश्यत्स्वमनःकांतं शुकशुक्योर्युगं वदत्
Once, while she was playing in a delightful garden grove, she saw a pair of parrots, a male and female, speaking sweetly to each other, charming to her heart.
अत्यंतं हर्षमापन्नमत्यंतं कामलोलुपम् । परस्परं भाषमाणं स्नेहेन शुभया गिरा
They were filled with great joy and intense longing, conversing with each other in loving and auspicious words.
रममाणं तदा युग्मं नभसि क्षिप्रवेगतः । समुत्पतन्नगोपस्थे स्थितं शब्दं चकार तत्
At that moment, the pair, delighting together, swiftly rose into the sky and, perched on the branch of a tree, made a sound.
रामो महीपतिर्भूमौ भविष्यति मनोहरः । तस्य सीतेति नाम्ना तु भविष्यति महेलिका
A king named Rāma will be born on earth, wondrous to behold; and his queen will be known by the name Sītā.
स तया सह वर्षाणां सहस्राण्येकयुग्दश । राज्यं करिष्यते धीमान्कर्षन्भूमिपतीन्बली
With her, that wise and mighty king will rule for eleven thousand years, subduing other rulers of the earth.
धन्या सा जानकी देवी धन्योऽसौ रामसंज्ञितः । यौ परस्परमापन्नौ पृथिव्यां रंस्यतो मुदा
Blessed is that goddess Jānakī, and blessed is he called Rāma; the two, united with each other, will rejoice together on earth.
इति संभाष्यमाणं तु शुकयुग्मं तु मैथिली । ज्ञात्वेदं देवतायुग्मं वाणीं तस्य विलोक्य च
Hearing the pair of parrots speaking thus, Maithilī realized they were a divine couple, observing their speech and manner.
मदीयास्तु कथा रम्याः कुरुते शुकयोर्युगम् । एतद्गृहीत्वा पृच्छामि सर्वं वाक्यं गतार्थकम्
She thought, 'Their stories are delightful; I will question this pair of parrots, taking in all their meaningful words.'
एवं विचार्य सा स्वीयाः सखीः प्रतिजगाद ह । गृह्णंतु शनकैरेतत्पक्षियुग्मं मनोहरम्
Having considered thus, she spoke to her companions: 'Let this charming pair of birds be gently caught.'
सख्यस्तास्तद्गिरिं गत्वा गृह्णन्पक्षियुगं वरम् । निवेदयामासुरिदं स्वसख्याः प्रियकाम्यया
Her friends, going to that tree, captured the excellent pair of birds and, out of affection, brought them to their dear companion.
बहुधा विविधाञ्छब्दान्कुर्वद्वीक्ष्य मनोहरम् । आश्वासयामास तदा पप्रच्छ तदिदं वचः
Seeing the pair making many varied and delightful sounds, she comforted them and then asked these words:
सीतोवाच। मा भैषातां युवां रम्यौ कौ वां कुत्र समागतौ । को रामः का च सा सीता तज्ज्ञानं तु कुतः स्मृतम्
Sītā said: 'Do not be afraid, you lovely pair. Who are you, and where have you come together? Who is Rāma, and who is this Sītā? From where did you gain this knowledge?'
तत्सर्वं शंसतं क्षिप्रं मत्तो वां व्येतु यद्भयम् । इति पृष्टं तया पक्षियुगं सर्वमशंसत
'Tell me all this quickly, so that your fear of me may be dispelled.' Thus questioned by her, the pair of birds told everything.
पक्षियुग्ममुवाच। वाल्मीकिरास्ते सुमहानृषिर्धर्मविदुत्तमः । आवां तदाश्रमस्थाने सर्वदा सुमनोहरे
The pair of birds said: 'There dwells Vālmīki, a great sage, foremost knower of dharma; we always lived in his delightful hermitage.'
सशिष्यान्गापयामास भावि रामायणं मुनिः । प्रत्यहं तत्पदस्मारी सर्वभूतहिते रतः
The sage, together with his disciples, began to recite the future Rāmāyaṇa, intent each day on remembering its words, devoted to the welfare of all beings.
तदावाभ्यां श्रुतं सर्वं भावि रामायणं महत् । मुहुर्मुहुर्गीयमानमायातं परिपाठतः
At that time, we both heard in full the great future Rāmāyaṇa, repeatedly sung and recited in proper order.
शृण्वावां तेऽभिधास्यावो यो रामो या च जानकी । यद्यद्भविष्यते तस्या रामेण क्रीडितात्मना
Let us listen and speak of who Rāma is, and who Jānakī is, and whatever will happen to her through the playful deeds of Rāma.
ऋष्यशृंगकृतेष्ट्यां च चतुर्धा त्वंगतो हरिः । प्रादुर्भविष्यति श्रीमान्सुरस्त्रीगीतसत्कथः
Through the sacrifice performed by Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Hari will manifest in fourfold form, glorious and praised in noble stories sung by the divine women.
स कौशिकेन मिथिलां प्राप्स्यते भ्रातृसंयुतः । धनुष्पाणिस्तदा दृष्ट्वा दुर्ग्राह्यमन्यभूभुजाम्
He, accompanied by his brothers, will reach Mithilā with Viśvāmitra; seeing the bow in his hand, which is unattainable for other kings.
धनुर्भंक्त्वा जनकजां प्राप्स्यते सुमनोहराम् । तया सह महद्राज्यं करिष्यति श्रुतं वरे
Breaking the bow, he will win Janaka’s daughter, supremely enchanting; with her, he will rule a great kingdom, as has been heard, O noble one.
एतदन्यच्च तत्रस्थैः श्रुतमस्माभिरुद्गतैः । कथितं तव चार्वंगि मुंचावां गंतुकामुकौ
This and other things, sung there, we have heard; all has been told to you, O beautiful one—let us go, for we wish to depart.
इति वाक्यं तयोर्धृत्वा श्रोत्रयोः सुमनोहरम् । पुनरेवजगादेदं वाक्यं पक्षियुगं प्रति
Having held these charming words in their ears, once again she spoke these words to the pair of birds.
स रामः कुत्र वर्तेत कस्य पुत्रः कथं तु ताम् । परिग्रहीष्यति वरः कीदृग्रूपधरो नरः
Where does that Rāma dwell, whose son is he, and how will he take her as his bride? What form will that excellent man assume?
मया पृष्टमिदं सर्वं कथयंतु यथातथम् । पश्चात्सर्वं करिष्यामि प्रियं युष्मन्मनोहरम्
All this I have asked—tell me everything as it truly is; afterwards, I will do all that is pleasing to you both.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तां तु कामेन पीडितां वीक्ष्य सा शुकी । जानकीं हृदये ज्ञात्वा पपाठ पुरतस्ततः
Hearing this, and seeing her tormented by desire, that female parrot, knowing Jānakī in her heart, recited before her.
सूर्यवंशध्वजो धीमान्राजा पंक्तिरथो बली । यं देवाः श्रित्य सर्वारीन्विजेष्यंति च सर्वशः
There will be a wise and mighty king, banner of the Solar dynasty, named Paṅktiratha, whom the gods will rely upon to conquer all their enemies completely.
तस्य भार्यात्रयं भावि शक्रमोहनरूपधृक् । तस्मिन्नपत्य चातुष्कं भविष्यति बलोन्नतम्
He will have three wives, possessing beauty that bewilders even Indra; in him, four sons of great strength will be born.
सर्वेषामग्रजो रामो भरतस्तदनुस्मृतः । लक्ष्मणस्तदनु श्रीमाञ्छत्रुघ्नः सर्वतो बली
Of them, Rāma will be the eldest, followed by Bharata; then Lakṣmaṇa, glorious, and Śatrughna, mighty in every way.