प्रसन्नो भगवान्मुनिरीप्सितं पुत्रं यच्छति तदमुमाराधयस्वेति दशरथमुक्तवान्
When the Lord is pleased, he grants the desired son to the sage; thus, worship him—so Sādhyā spoke to Daśaratha.
स चापि साध्यं तत्र स्थाप्य गत्वायोध्यां तथा सर्वं कृतवान्
And he, having established Sādhyā there, went to Ayodhyā and did all accordingly.
अथ पुत्रकामेष्टौ समाप्तायामाहवनीयाद्यज्ञमूर्तिः शंखचक्रगदापाणिरुदतिष्ठत् । राजानं च वरं वृणीष्वेत्युक्तवान्
Then, when the Putrakāmeṣṭi sacrifice was completed, the sacrificial form, bearing conch, discus, and mace in hand, appeared from the fire and said to the king, 'Choose a boon.'
स च राजा वव्रे पुत्रानतिधार्म्मिकान्दीर्घायुषश्चतुरोलोकोपकारकान्देहीति
And the king asked for sons—most righteous, long-lived, wise, and benefactors of the world—to be born to him.
अथ राजमहिष्यश्चतस्रः कौशल्या सुमित्रा सुरूपा सुवेषा चेति
Then the four royal queens—Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, Surūpā, and Suveṣā—
राजानमब्रुवन्देव प्रतियोषमेकेन पुत्रेण भवितव्यम्
Spoke to the king: 'Let each of us have one son.'
अथ कौशल्योवाच एष यदि प्रसन्नो देवस्तदायमुत्पद्यतां मम
Then Kauśalyā said, 'If the Lord is pleased, let this one be born to me.'
राजोवाच- मम यदिष्टं तदयं प्रार्थ्यते हरिः । विष्णोप्रसीददेवेश कमलापते शंखचक्रगदाधरविभीषणसृष्टिसमस्तलोकपालादिपूजित पादयुगलशाश्वतहरे नमस्ते नमस्ते एवं स्तुतो भगवानथ राजानमाह
The king said: 'If this is my wish, then this is what I desire—O Hari, Lord of gods, Lotus-eyed, bearer of conch, discus, and mace, whose feet are worshipped by all the guardians of the worlds created by Vibhīṣaṇa—eternal Hari, I bow to you, I bow to you.' Thus praised, the Lord then spoke to the king.
माधव उवाच- तव पुत्रो भविष्यामि कौशल्यायाम् । अथ चरुं प्राविशद्धरिः । तं चरुं हि चतुर्धा विभज्य भार्य्याभ्यो दत्तवान्
Mādhava said: 'I shall be your son, born to Kauśalyā.' Then Hari entered the sacrificial offering; dividing that offering into four parts, he gave them to his wives.
अथ कौशल्यायां रामो लक्ष्मणः सुमित्रायां सुरूपायां भरतः सुवेषायां शत्रुघ्नो जज्ञे खात्पुष्पवृष्टिश्च पपात
Then, in Kauśalyā was born Rāma, in Lakṣmaṇa to Sumitrā, in Surūpā was born Bharata, and in Suveṣā was born Śatrughna; and a shower of flowers fell from the sky.
अथ चतुराननः स्वयमुपेत्य जातकर्मादिकाः क्रियाश्चक्रे
Then the four-faced one himself came and performed the birth-rites and other ceremonies.
त्रिभुवनाभिरामतया राम इति नाम चक्रे रूपशौर्य्यादिलक्ष्मीयोग्यतया लक्ष्मण इत्यपरस्य भुवं भारात्तारयतीति भरतः शत्रून्हंतीति शत्रुघ्न इति नामानि कृत्वा ब्रह्मा स्वभवनं जगाम शिशवश्च वृद्धिमीयुः
Because he delighted the three worlds, he gave him the name Rāma; because of his form, valor, and other auspicious qualities, he named the second Lakṣmaṇa; because he would relieve the earth of its burden, he named him Bharata; because he would slay enemies, he named him Śatrughna. Having given these names, Brahmā returned to his own abode, and the children grew.
अथ पादसंचारिणं बालचंद्र संकाशदर्शनं बिंबाधरमुन्नततिलप्रसूननासं पुरश्चूलिकालंबमान-रत्नपत्रकं श्रवणलोललंबमानकुंडलं वक्षःस्थलविचलित स्थूलमुक्ताहारं विलसत्कार्तस्वरो ब-ह्वलयं सिंजन्मणिकंकणरत्नांगुलीयकं हेममणिरचितश्रोणिसूत्रं सिंजन्ननूपुरोपशोभितपादमंगुलीयोपशोभितपादमध्यांगुलीयकं वज्रांकुशसरोजलांछनशोभितोरुपादतलं तूणीरसदृश जंघं करिकरसदृशोरुं विस्तृतजघनं सूक्ष्ममध्यंवर्तुलावर्तकं गंभीरनाभिमिंद्रनीलशिलाविशा-ल वक्षःस्थलं कंबुग्रीवंचंद्रबिंबसदृशवदनमर्द्धचंद्र सदृशललाटं नीलकुटिलकुंतलं क्रोडासक्तंधूलिभिरापांडुरं फुल्लपद्मदलारक्तविलोललोचनं महेश्वरमिवोद्धूलितभूतिं महेश्वरमिव दिगंबरं रामं कुमारं राजा दशरथो दृष्ट्वा हर्षपरिपूर्णहृदयः पुत्रमालिंग्य चुंबित्वा वक्षस्यालिलिंग दृढम्
Then, seeing the boy whose feet had begun to walk, whose face was like the young moon, whose lips were red as bimba fruit, whose nose was high and like a sesame flower, whose forehead was adorned with a jewel band, whose ears were adorned with dangling earrings, whose chest was decorated with a thick pearl necklace and shining gold, whose arms were adorned with bracelets, tinkling jeweled bangles, rings, and a golden jeweled waist-band, whose feet were beautified by tinkling anklets and toe-rings, whose soles bore the marks of the thunderbolt, goad, and lotus, whose thighs were like plantain trunks, whose hips were broad, whose waist was slender, whose navel was deep, whose chest was broad as a sapphire slab, whose neck was like a conch, whose face was like the moon, whose forehead was like a half-moon, whose hair was dark and curling, whose body was dusted pale by the lap, whose eyes were red and moving like blossoming lotus petals, who resembled Maheśvara covered in ashes, who was like Maheśvara clad in the directions alone—King Daśaratha, seeing Rāma as a boy, his heart filled with joy, embraced and kissed his son, holding him tightly to his chest.
अथ कुमारोपि पार्श्वेनास्यांकमारोप्य कलकलितलोचनो यत्किंचिदुवाच
Then the boy, too, with playful eyes, climbed onto his father's lap at his side and spoke a few words.
याचमानमितस्ततो वीक्षमाणः तात गच्छेशये तात क्रीडामि तातेत्यादिपुत्रसुखमनुभूयानुभूय निर्वृतिं ययौ
Looking here and there, asking for things, he said, 'Father, shall I go? Father, shall I sleep? Father, shall I play?'—thus enjoying the happiness of his son, the king attained contentment.
अथ कदाचिद्भोक्तुमागते राजनि रामचंद्रो बालक्रीडासक्तहृदयो बहुक्रीडनकरकमल उत्प्लुत्य धावमानो नरपतिपुरःस्थितमणिखचितसुवर्णभाजनस्थमन्नं वामकरेण गृहीत्वा राजनि चिक्षेप इदमपि राजा सुखाय मेने । एतादृशान्यन्यानि चकार रामचंद्रः
Once, when the king had come to eat, Rāmacandra, his heart absorbed in childish play, with his many playful hands, leapt up and, running, took the food placed in a jewel-encrusted golden dish before the king with his left hand and threw it at the king. The king also considered this a delight. Rāmacandra performed many such acts.
अथ कदाचित्क्रीडमाने रामे वात्या राममपातयद्रामश्च रुदन्नपतत्
Once, while Rāma was playing, a gust of wind knocked him down, and Rāma fell, weeping.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे ब्रह्मराक्षसो राममगृह्णाद्रामश्च मूर्च्छामाप
At that moment, a brahmarākṣasa seized Rāma, and Rāma fainted.
अथ सहचरो बाल इतस्ततो रोरूयमाणो रामं तथाविधं राज्ञे व्यज्ञापयत्
Then his companion, the boy, crying here and there, informed the king about Rāma in that condition.
अथ राजा राममादाय वसिष्ठमाह किमिदं रामस्येति पप्रच्छ
Then the king, taking Rāma, asked Vasiṣṭha, 'What is this that has happened to Rāma?'
अथ वसिष्ठो भस्मादायाभिमंत्र्य ब्रह्मराक्षसं मोचयामास
Then Vasiṣṭha, taking some ashes and reciting mantras, freed him from the brahmarākṣasa.
पप्रच्छ को भवानिति स चाहाहं वेदगर्वितो ब्राह्मणो बहुशः परधनमपहृत्य ब्रह्मराक्षसो जातो मे निष्कृतिं विचारय
He asked, 'Who are you?' He replied, 'I am a brāhmaṇa, proud of my Vedic knowledge. Having stolen much wealth from others, I became a brahmarākṣasa. Consider my expiation.'
वसिष्ठ उवाच- इदानीमितः परमेकवर्षशतोपभोग्यं राक्षसत्वं नरकं भागीरथीस्नानमेकं शिवाय बिल्वपत्रशतं समर्प्य ततः स्नात्वा पापाद्विमुक्तो भवसीति
Vasiṣṭha said: 'Now, from here, after enjoying the state of a rākṣasa for one hundred years, bathing in the Gaṅgā, offering a hundred bilva leaves to Śiva, and then bathing, you will be freed from sin.'
कदाचित्तादृशं कृतपुण्यं तव पदं प्रयच्छामि तदुपरिशिष्टां गतिं भजेति वसिष्ठवाक्यमाकर्ण्य ब्रह्मराक्षसो वसिष्ठोपदिष्टपुण्यवशाद्दिव्यशरीरो भूत्वा नमस्कृत्वा स्वर्गं जगाम
At some time, having performed such merit, I will grant you my abode; after that, you will attain the highest state. Hearing Vasiṣṭha's words, the brahmarākṣasa, by the power of the merit taught by Vasiṣṭha, became possessed of a divine body, bowed, and went to heaven.
अथ रामं प्राप्तेकाले उपनीय वसिष्ठो वेदानध्यापयामास षडंगानि मीमांसाद्वयं नीतिशास्त्रं चाध्यापयामास
Then, when the time came, Vasiṣṭha invested Rāma with the sacred thread and taught him the Vedas, the six auxiliaries, the two Mīmāṃsās, and the science of polity.
अथ धनुर्वेदमायुर्वेदं भरत गांधर्व वास्तु शाकुन विविधयुद्धशास्त्राणि च
Then he taught the science of archery, Āyurveda, music, architecture, omens, and various treatises on warfare.
अथ विवाहं कर्तुकामेन राज्ञा दशरथे नानानादेशजनपतीन्प्रति दूताः प्रेरिताः
Then, desiring to arrange a marriage, King Daśaratha sent messengers to the various countries and regions.
अथ कश्चिच्छीघ्रमागत्य राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
Then someone came quickly and said this to the king.
राजन्विदर्भदेशाधिपतिर्विदेहोनाम राजा तस्य पुत्री वैदेही होमलब्धारूपेण लक्ष्मीसमा सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना रामयोग्या विद्यते स च तां दातुं राजा रामायोद्यतः तद्गम्यतां शीघ्रमिति
O King, the ruler of the land of Vidarbha was named Videha. His daughter, Vaidehī, radiant as Lakṣmī and endowed with all auspicious qualities, was obtained through a sacred rite and is suitable for Rāma. That king is now prepared to give her to Rāma; therefore, proceed there quickly.
अथ वसिष्ठादीन्प्रेषयामास ते च तत्र गत्वा तां च निरीक्ष्य लग्नं निश्चित्यायोध्यामेत्य राजानमुक्त्वा रामसहिताः पृथिवीपतिसमेताः शीघ्रं विविध करि तुरग शकट शिबिकांदोलिकाभिरतिसुभगरूपभोगविलासक्रियानिपुणा विदितविविधचेष्टागंधर्वाः कामशास्त्रसुकुशलाः मृदुकठिनपृथुपयोधरासन्न कंठाः स्थूलसूक्ष्मललाटबिंबदशनच्छदमुखपंकजाः कुटिलकुंतलदीर्घकेशधम्मिल्लाः कनकपत्रकर्णाः स्नानचेष्टयोत्थितरोमशोभित जपाकुसुमरक्तदशना विशदविस्फुरच्छफरीलोचनाः शुक्तिकासदृशश्रवणाः नक्षत्रसदृशस्थूलमुक्ताफलोपशोभितनासापुटा मुकुरसदृशकपोलास्तिलप्रसूननासिका आनम्रमध्यप्रदेशचूचुका इंद्रगोपप्रतीकाशाधरपुटदशनक्षताः समदीर्घकांगप्रदर्शनास्थितसर्वप्रदेशवर्तुला नातिमांसलाः पिंडकाग्रंथिनीव्योवलितबाहुमूला अनतिचिरकालोत्थितरोमतया हरिद्रा वर्णतया च कर्णिकारदलसदृशबाहुमूला मृदुस्निग्धवर्तुलसूक्ष्ममध्यप्रदेशाः कठिनस्थूलवर्तुलामग्नचूचुकपरस्परस्थानाक्रमणस्पर्द्धि पयोधरमध्यलब्धपदकपयोधरोपरिचंचलविविधमणिमय हारोपशोभित वक्षःस्थलाः पयोधरपरितो लब्धपदतया तरुणदृष्टिपरम्परतया असमानयानाभिकूपोपरितन रोमराज्योपशोभितोदरप्रदेशा भज्यमान मध्यस्थलीकरणएव वलीत्रयोपशोभित मुष्टिग्राह्यमध्याः करिकरोपमजघनप्रदेशा अरोमसदृशमृदुस्निग्धामला समजान्व्यः कदलीस्तंभसंनिभोरुयुगला आमग्नजानुकृशकुशवर्तुलपिंडिकारहितजंघा आमग्नगुल्फा आसूक्ष्मस्निग्धा दीर्घदीर्घांगुली पादानूपुररवाह्वयमानमदना हंसमतंगजगमना दक्षिणांगुष्ठस्पर्शिकच्छाग्रा उपरिकच्छं नीवीं कृत्वा करद्वययुता वस्त्रप्रदेशकंठमप्रावृत्या परवसनपरिभागा वृतस्तनवसना परभागे वामांस एव दक्षिणपार्श्वगतेन दशाभागेन नाभिप्रांतेन प्रवेशितोपशोभितगात्रयष्टयो योषितो विवाहमंगलकर्मकरणायानेकश आगच्छन्
Then he sent Vasiṣṭha and others; they went there, observed her, determined the auspicious moment, returned to Ayodhyā, informed the king, and together with Rāma and the other rulers, swiftly set out. They traveled in various elephants, horses, chariots, palanquins, and litters, skilled in delightful forms of enjoyment and pleasure, expert in diverse arts, Gandharvas adept in the science of love, with soft and firm, broad-breasted women, close-throated, with large and delicate foreheads, lotus-like faces, curly and long hair tied in buns, golden earrings, bodies adorned with the radiance of bathing, teeth red as hibiscus, clear and sparkling fish-like eyes, ears resembling shells, noses adorned with large pearls like stars, cheeks like mirrors, noses like sesame flowers, breasts bent at the center, lips like fireflies, teeth marked by bites, displaying equally long limbs, round in all parts, not overly fleshy, with knotted and folded arms, arms resembling lotus petals, soft, smooth, round, and slender waists, firm and broad, round, sunken breasts, competing for space, adorned with various jeweled necklaces, breasts encircled by garments, gazing with youthful eyes, waists beautified by lines, hips graspable by the fist, thighs like elephant trunks, smooth and spotless, knees like banana stems, calves without roundness, ankles sunken, toes long and smooth, feet arched, walking like swans and elephants, touching the upper garment with the right thumb, holding the garment with both hands, covering the neck with the edge of the cloth, with the upper garment wrapped around the breasts, the left side covered, the right side exposed, the body adorned at the navel, women arriving for the wedding ritual in many ways.