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
बालिकाश्च विद्युल्लतांशुशोधितगात्रयष्टय उद्भिन्नकुचकमलकुड्मलविविधहारोपशोभिवक्षसो यत्किंचिद्भाषिण्योऽतिचपलमृदुगतयो वृद्धवनिताश्चागच्छन्
Young girls, their bodies slender as lightning vines, with budding lotus-like breasts adorned with various necklaces, speaking little, moving gently and swiftly, and elderly women also arrived.
अथ विदेहे पुरतः क्रोशमात्रे चूतवनिकायां विविधविटपविस्तरप्रदेशविविधविहंगकूजिता-कर्णनदत्तकर्णवनहरिणशाववत्यां महारजतनिर्मितोच्चनीचप्रासादोपशोभितप्रदेशविविधविहंगायां हेमवल्कलसंवीतभसितो-द्धूलितशरीरजटिलमुनिगणध्यानोपासनोपशोभितवृक्षमालायां विविधविद्यधरवधूपयोधरभाराभिभूतविचरिततरंगसरसीयुतायां सरस्तीरमिलितसैरंध्रीयुवतिभिराहूयमान तरुणजनायां नानावर्णकुसुमसौरभवासिताशेषप्रदेशायामितस्ततो रिरंसया प्रदर्शितस्फारशफरीविलोचनतरलचक्षुषा प्रभाविलसितशरीरवेश्याजनायां विविधाश्चर्ययुतायां दशरथः सामात्यपुरोहिताभिरामरामादिपुत्रसहितः सुखमुवास
Then, in front of Videha, at a distance of a krośa, in a mango grove with various trees, resounding with the calls of many birds, pleasing to the ear, with deer and fawns, adorned with tall and low palaces made of silver, filled with birds, with golden bark-clad, ash-smeared ascetics meditating beneath trees, with groups of Vidyādhara women burdened by their breasts wandering by the lake, with lakeside maidens calling out to the young, fragrant with flowers of many colors, displaying their shining eyes with longing, bodies radiant, full of wonders, Daśaratha, accompanied by ministers, priests, Rāma, and other sons, dwelled there happily.
अथ वैदेहोऽपि मिथिलां नानापताकोपशोभितां विविधप्रासादगोपुरोद्यानदेवतायतनोपशोभितामन्योन्यकेलिचतुरयुवतिजनानुकीर्णामुशीरविरचितमहाप्रपां सुकेलीजनोपशोभितविशिखां । विविधपण्योपशोभितरथ्यां तत्रतत्र ब्रह्मघोषशोभितमठां प्रतिमंदिरं मीमांसादिव्याख्यानसंपादि सामाध्ययनां सुपुण्यहविर्गंधसामादिस्वरपदक्रमश्रुतिब्राह्मणवाटिकामनेकपरिवृढमंदिरप्रवेशनिष्क्रीतागुरुकुंकुमाध्वर्य्युवेषां मृदुलवसन तांबूल रक्तदंतच्छदकामिनीमृदुवचनकठिनवचनकरसंज्ञानिर्द्धारित प्रतिवचनविविधोपायना हरणकरजनोपशोभितां मृदुधवलजघनपरिवीतवस्त्रोपरिभागेन स्निग्धवर्तुलपरस्परसंघर्षपयोधरमध्यप्रदेशोपशोभित वामांसकंदोपशोभितवनितां विविधमुक्ताहारजपासंकाशदशनच्छद मंदहासमालाकारसहस्रोपशोभितां पुण्यासवसाधनमंदिरां तत्रतत्र विचित्रतोरणां विशुद्धवीथिकां तत्रतत्र स्थापितकल्पपादपां रंभाविभूषितद्वारां पुरीं शोभितां शोभयामास
Then Videha entered Mithilā, adorned with many flags, various palaces, towers, gardens, shrines, crowded with clever women engaged in mutual play, with a great water pavilion made of uśīra grass, lively with playful people, decorated gateways, streets lined with shops, monasteries resounding with Vedic chants, temples with commentaries on Mīmāṃsā and other texts, places of Sāma recitation, Brahmin gardens filled with the fragrance of sacred offerings, entrances and exits crowded with teachers, saffron-robed priests, women with soft garments, betel-loving, red-toothed, gentle and harsh speech, skilled in gestures, bearing gifts, adorned with soft white garments around their hips, breasts rubbing together, left shoulders adorned, women with various pearl necklaces, hibiscus-like teeth, gentle smiles, wine-houses, decorated arches, pure lanes, wish-fulfilling trees, doors adorned by Rambhā, the city shone with splendor.
अथाभिकलनार्थं विलासिन्यो निशादूर्वाक्षतामंत्रमंगलकज्जलितकैशिकधमिल्ललताग्रंथि-त जटोपशोभित सीमंतशीर्षशोभितनासामुखविचित्राभरणार्हणहेमपात्रावस्थिताज्यगुग्गलु फलादिसौभाग्यद्रव्यमुद्वहंतीभिः स्त्रीभिरन्यैरपिशोभितजनैः स राजा निर्जगाम
Then, for the wedding preparations, beautiful women, with hair adorned with auspicious turmeric, tied in knots, decorated with garlands, their foreheads shining, noses and mouths adorned with various ornaments, carrying golden vessels filled with ghee, incense, fruits, and other auspicious items, together with other people, the king proceeded forth.
तदानीं मंगलतुर्यघोषादेव दुंदुभिभेरीनिःसाणमर्दलशंखादिनादाः प्रादुर्बभूवुः
At that time, the sounds of auspicious instruments arose: drums, kettledrums, cymbals, conch shells, and others resounded.
गायकाश्च मंगलानि जगुः
Singers sang auspicious songs.
मंगलवेदवाक्यानुपाठेन वैदिकाः ब्राह्मणाः । कुलपाठका भेरीघोषेण कृत्स्नमाकाशमापूरयन्
Vedic Brahmins recited auspicious Vedic passages; family priests filled the entire sky with the sound of kettledrums.
अथान्योन्याक्षतपूर्वमंगीकुर्वंतः सूतबंदिजनादिभिः स्तूयमानाः पुरं प्रविविशुः
Then, after mutually performing the auspicious rites, praised by charioteers and bards, they entered the city.
विदेहनगरात्पश्चिमभागे निर्मितं मंदिरं दशरथः प्रविवेश
Daśaratha entered the palace built on the western side of the city of Videha.
अवशिष्टाश्च यथायोग्यं भवनं विविशुः
The others entered their respective residences as appropriate.
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.