नारदोप्यनुमेने
Nārada also agreed.
उवाच श्वः पराह्णे च क्षत्त्रविवाहश्च भवेदतः स्वयं वरार्थं नृपा आगच्छंतु तन्नृपदूतान्प्रेषय
He said, 'Tomorrow or the day after, let the kṣatriya marriage take place; therefore, let the kings themselves come for the sake of the bridegroom. Send messengers to those kings.'
अथ राजा दशरथानुमतेन सर्वानेव नृपानागमय्याचिंतयत् कथं सर्वानेव तिरस्कृत्य वैदेही रामाय देयेति
Then the king, with Daśaratha's approval, summoned all the kings and considered how, setting aside all others, to give Sītā to Rāma.
अथ रात्रौ मुहुर्मुहुर्निःश्वस्य निद्रालुरपि न निद्रामाप
Then, throughout the night, sighing again and again, though overcome by sleep, he did not obtain rest.
अथ मध्ये निशं राजा शुचिर्भूत्वा त्र्यंबकं सांबिकं मंगलदुकूलधारिणं कमलभवपुरुषोत्तमशक्र-प्रमुखनिखिलदेवैर्भृगुप्रमुखमुनिवरैर्हाहाप्रमुखगंधर्वैस्तुंबुरुप्रमुखैश्च श्रुतिस्मृतीतिहासपुराणैर्मूर्तिमद्भिश्च सिद्धविद्याधरादिमातृकागणैश्च नंदीप्रमुखगणैश्च सेव्यमान पादकमलं सर्वामंगलपरिमोचकमतिपुण्यसलिलया गंगया निष्कलं केन चंद्रमसा सेव्यमान शिरोभागं वामांकारूढया गिरिजया प्रदीयमानवीटिं सहासं सकामं सहावेक्षणमाददानं गोक्षीरसदृशं प्रतिकूलकस्तूरिकासदृशकंठं मृदुसूक्ष्मस्निग्धजटाभिर्विरचितकपर्दं विशुद्धकार्तस्वरकुंडलोपशोभितगंडभागं द्विरष्टवर्षवयसं गोक्षीरसदृश स्थूलमुक्ताफलकौसुंभवर्णांचलेनावेष्टितशिरोभागं विविधरत्नविरचितकार्तस्वरभूषितवक्षःस्थलमतिधवलोपवीतेनोपशोभितशरीरमंबिकानुलग्नकुंकुमारुणसुगंधिशरीरमीक्षमाणं तर्जमानकाममार्गणं कोटिकंदर्पसदृशं मनसाचिंतयत्
Then, in the middle of the night, the king, having purified himself, meditated upon Tryambaka, the Lord with Ambika, adorned in auspicious garments, worshipped by all the gods led by Brahma, Vishnu, and Indra, by the foremost sages headed by Bhrigu, by the Gandharvas led by Haha and Tumburu, by the personified Vedas, Smritis, Itihasas, and Puranas, by Siddhas, Vidyadharas, the groups of Mothers, by the Ganas led by Nandi, whose lotus feet are served, who is the remover of all misfortune, whose head is worshipped by the pure Ganga with her supremely meritorious waters and by the moon, who is attended by Girija seated on his left thigh, who is offered betel leaf, who smiles, who looks with desire and laughter, whose complexion is like cow's milk, whose throat is dark as musk, whose matted locks are soft, fine, and oily, forming a crest, whose cheeks are adorned with pure golden earrings, who appears as a youth of sixteen, whose head is wrapped with a cloth the color of thick pearls and saffron, whose chest is decorated with various jewel-encrusted golden ornaments, whose body shines with a pure white sacred thread, whose body is fragrant with the red saffron powder from Ambika, who glances at the threatening arrows of Kama, whose mind is as proud as a crore of Cupids—the king contemplated him thus.
जजाप शतरुद्रियं जुहाव च तेनैव कामाहुतीः प्रास्तुवच्च पुरुषसूक्तेन
He recited the Śatarudriya hymn, offered oblations to desire with it, and praised with the Puruṣa Sūkta.
अथ तादृश एव महेश्वरस्तत्र प्रादुरभूत्
Then, just so, Maheshvara manifested there.
अथ राजा नमस्कृत्यास्तुवीत
Then the king, having bowed, began to praise him.
राजोवाच- क्षितिसलिलगगनपवनदहनरविशशियजमानमूर्तिभिरष्टमूर्ते विश्वमूर्ते लोकमूर्त्ते त्रिभुवनमूर्ते वेदपुराणमूर्त्ते यज्ञमूर्ते स्तोत्रमूर्त्ते शास्त्रमूर्त्तेस्वधामूर्त्ते नारायणमूर्त्ते सर्वदेवतामूर्त्ते त्रयीमयत्रयीप्रमाणत्रयीनेत्रसा-मप्रियवसुधाराप्रियभक्तिप्रियभक्तसुलभाभक्तविदूरस्तुतिप्रिय धूपप्रिय दीपप्रिय घृतक्षीरप्रिय द्रो णकरवीरप्रिय श्रीपत्रप्रिय कमलकह्लारप्रिय नंद्यावर्तप्रिय बकुलप्रिय यूथिकाप्रिय कोकनदप्रिय ग्रीष्मजलावासप्रिय यमनियमप्रिय नियतेंद्रियप्रिय जपप्रिय श्राद्धप्रिय गायनप्रिय गायत्रीप्रिय पंचब्रह्मप्रिय सदाचारप्रिय गोत्रोत्सादिकमलभवहरिहरनयनसमर्चित पादकमलजयप्रद हरिप्रार्थितजलोत्पादितचक्रप्रदर्शकृत्स्मृतियुक्तिप्रद स्मृतमंगलप्रद मृत्युञ्जय नमस्ते नमस्ते
The king said: O Lord of eight forms—earth, water, sky, wind, fire, sun, moon, and sacrificer! O form of the universe, form of the worlds, form of the three worlds, form of the Vedas and Puranas, form of sacrifice, form of praise, form of scripture, form of offering, form of Narayana, form of all the gods! Embodiment of the three Vedas, measure of the three Vedas, three-eyed one, beloved of the earth, dear to devotion, easily attained by devotees, distant from the non-devoted, fond of praise, incense, lamps, clarified butter, milk, droṇa measure, Śrī-patra, lotus, water-lily, Nandyāvarta flower, bakula, jasmine, red lotus, fond of summer water, fond of yama and niyama, fond of controlled senses, fond of recitation, fond of śrāddha, fond of singing, fond of Gāyatrī, fond of the five Brahmas, fond of good conduct, whose lotus feet are worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, bestower of victory, who showed the discus produced from water at Hari's request, giver of memory and wisdom, bestower of auspicious remembrance, conqueror of death—I bow to you, I bow to you!
इति स्तोत्रमाकर्ण्य भगवान्भवो राजानमुवाच वरदोऽहं वरं वृणु
Hearing this hymn, the blessed Bhava said to the king: 'I am the granter of boons—choose your boon.'
राजोवाच श्रीमन्मम कन्या वैदेही रामाय दित्सिता स्वयंवरे कुलरूपबलोत्साह संपन्नानेकभूपराक्षसविप्रादिसर्वप्राणिसमागमे रामाधिकबलो यदि तामग्रहीष्यत् तदा वचनमनृतं मम पापं च भविष्यति
The king said: O revered one, my daughter Vaidehī is to be given to Rāma in the svayaṃvara. She is endowed with noble lineage, beauty, strength, and enthusiasm. In the assembly of many kings, demons, brahmins, and all beings, if someone stronger than Rāma seizes her, then my word will be false and I will incur sin.
प्रत्युत दशरथोऽपि सर्वानेवागतान्विजेतुमलं क्षत्रकदनश्च रामो यद्यायास्यति तर्हि मम सुतां किं करिष्यति वा किंकिं वा प्रेषयिष्यति कीदृशं कारयिष्यति मम किंवा करिष्यति सर्वथा हि प्रभूतबलवाहनो नरपतिरशेषमपि त्रिभुवनं हन्यात् किमुत मामल्पसत्वं किमुत बहुना भवानेव शरणं ममोपायं वद यथा विवाहे श्रेयो भविष्यति रामश्च जामाता भविष्यति
Moreover, if Daśaratha comes with all his forces and Rāma, being a kṣatriya, slays them all, what will become of my daughter? What will he send, what will he do, what will he cause to be done? Indeed, a king with great power and armies could destroy even the three worlds, let alone us who are weak. In any case, you alone are my refuge—tell me the means by which the marriage will be auspicious and Rāma will become my son-in-law.
शंभुरपि तथा करोमीत्युवाच
Śambhu replied: 'So I shall do.'
राम एव नाथः सीताया भविष्यति रामं च कृत्वा स्वस्त्यद्यैव करिष्यामि गृहाणाजगवं धनुरिदम्
Rāma alone will be Sītā's lord. Today itself, having blessed Rāma, I will give you this bow of mine.
राजोवाच- किमेतेनाजगवेन धनुषा स्वयंवरे सीतां रामं प्रापय
The king said: With this bow of yours, unite Sītā with Rāma in the svayaṃvara.
शंकर उवाच- इदं धनुरसज्यं मे यस्तु सज्यं करिष्यति तस्मै देया मया सीता प्रतिज्ञामेवमाचर
Śaṅkara said: This bow of mine is unstrung; to whomever can string it, to him Sītā shall be given by me. Thus keep this vow.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा भगवान्गणैरंतर्दधे हरः । अथादातुं धनू राजा न शशाकातियत्नतः
Having spoken thus, the blessed Hara vanished with his attendants. Then, though the king tried with great effort, he could not lift the bow.
अथोज्ज्वलं शतसहस्रगजबलं समाहूय गृहाणेत्युवाच
Then, summoning a force equal to a hundred thousand elephants, he said, 'Lift it!'
स चापि मातुलं नत्वाट्टहासं कृत्वोत्प्लुत्य धनुर्द्वाभ्यां कराभ्यामुद्दधार जानुपर्यंतं मातुलो मारीचः श्रुत्वा एकाकी विप्रवेषं कृत्वा विदेहमयाचत वैश्वदेवांते प्राप्तमतिथिं मामवैहि
He, bowing to his maternal uncle, laughed loudly, leapt up, and with both hands raised the bow up to his knee. His uncle Marīca, hearing this, disguised himself as a brahmin, and in Videha, at the end of the Vaiśvadeva rite, requested, 'Regard me as a guest who has just arrived.'
राजोवाच- स्वागतं भो इदं ब्रह्मन्नासनं तत्र निषीदेति
The king said: Welcome, O brāhmaṇa! Here is a seat—please sit there.
स चातिथिस्तथेत्युक्त्वा निषसाद
That guest, saying 'So be it,' sat down.
अथ राजा जलमादाय पादौ प्रक्षाल्य गंधपुष्पाक्षतैरभ्यर्च्य महाजं तस्मै निवेद्य भोजनाय प्रार्थयामास
Then the king, taking water, washed his feet, worshipped him with fragrance, flowers, and rice grains, offered him great hospitality, and invited him to dine.
स चापि तदन्नं षड्रसोपेतं सौवर्णभाजनगतमीक्षमाणइवेतस्ततो विलोकयामास
And he, seeing that food endowed with six tastes, placed in a golden vessel, gazed intently at it.
तस्मिन्नेवावसरे सीता पद्मकिंजल्कप्रभेषदरुणवसनं बिभ्रती नीलकुटिलकुंतलैश्चलद्भिर्यूनां मनांस्याकर्षयद्भिः प्रेक्षमाणदृष्टिभग्नकलैरिव स्त्रीणां चित्तमीदृशमिति दर्शयद्भिरिवोपशोभित-ललाटानंगचापसुभ्रूपद्मपत्रारुणविलोचना तिलप्रसूननासामृदुस्निग्धरो मशकपोलानंतरा रक्तोष्ठराक्तासनमाणिक्यनिभदाडिमीदशना जपाकुसुमारुणाधरातिशोभितचिबुकाशुक्ति-कर्णासमदीर्घकंठातिमांसलवक्षाः पीनोद्भिन्नकुचकुड्मलानेकहारोपशोभिता सुभगाका-। रानतिमांसलबाहुलता मुग्धायतसमानांगुलिशिखापद्मारुणपल्लवाविविधबहुरत्नांगुलिभूषणामुष्टिग्राह्यमध्यासु रोमराजिगंभीरनाभिः पृथुजघनाकरिकरोरुस्तूणीरजंघासुपादकमला-नूपुरादि पादविभूषणा पादांगुलीभूषिता विकसितसौगंधिकं विदधती भुंजानमारीचस्य पुरतश्चागता
At that very moment, Sita appeared, wearing garments as red as the radiance of lotus filaments, her dark, curling locks moving and captivating the minds of the young, her glances breaking the composure of women as if to show, 'Such is the heart of women.' Her forehead shone, her eyebrows curved like Cupid's bow, her eyes red as lotus petals, her nose delicate as a sesame flower, her cheeks soft and smooth, the space between them glowing, her lips red as bimba fruit, her teeth like pomegranate seeds, her chin adorned and beautiful as a conch, her neck graceful, her chest full and well-formed, her breasts prominent and adorned with many necklaces, her arms plump, her fingers slender and rosy as lotus buds, adorned with various jeweled rings, her waist slender, her navel deep, her hips broad, her thighs like elephant trunks, her legs shapely, her feet adorned with anklets and ornaments, her toes decorated, exuding the fragrance of a blossoming blue lotus, and she approached, eating black pepper, before him.
वीक्ष्यासावचिंतयदेनां कथमपहरामि कथमालिंगामि कथमन्यत्किंचित्करोमीत्येवमवसरमलभमानस्तूष्णीमेव विनिर्गतः
Seeing her, he thought: 'How can I steal her? How can I embrace her? How can I do anything else?' But, finding no opportunity, he silently departed.
अथ देवा धनुःसज्जीकरणाय यतमाना अहंपूर्विकया विद्यमाना अन्योन्यतिरस्कारेण महेंद्रः प्राप धनुरुत्तमं प्रांतद्वयात्परं नावनमयितुं शशाक
Then the gods, striving to string the bow, each tried to surpass the others, but Mahendra, though first, obtained the excellent bow yet could not bend it even at the ends.
अथ सूर्यो धनुरादाय नमयन्नेव निपपात
Then Surya, taking up the bow and attempting to bend it, fell down.
वायुर्बलवतां श्रेष्ठो जग्राहाजगवमथ स्वेनैव करेणोत्कर्षयन्नधः पपात धनुश्च वायोरुपरि पपात अहसंस्तदा सर्वे
Vayu, best among the strong, seized the bow and tried to draw it with his own hand, but fell downward, and the bow fell upon Vayu; at that, all laughed.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे तुरगवरमारुह्य बाणासुरः सहस्रबाहुरनेकानेकशिरोभिर्दैत्यैः परिवृतः प्रह्लादसमेतो विदेहपुरीमाजगाम
Meanwhile, mounting the best horse, Bana the asura, thousand-armed, surrounded by many demons with countless heads, together with Prahlada, arrived at the city of Videha.
अथ स्वविभूषणोद्भासितां दिशं कुर्वन्स्वतेजसापयशसो देवताः कुर्वन्नानाविधगीतं शृण्वन्द्व्यंगुलमात्रेण शक्तो विरराम
Then, making the directions shine with his own ornaments and glory, hearing various songs of the gods, he stopped, able to do so with just two fingers' effort.