वैश्या धनसमृद्धाश्च मुद्राशोभितपाणयः । शुभ्रवस्त्रपरीधाना अभिजग्मुर्नरेश्वरम्
The prosperous merchants, their hands adorned with coins, dressed in bright garments, approached the king.
शूद्रा द्विजेषु ये भक्ताः स्वीयाचारसुनिष्ठिताः । वेदाचाररता ये वै तेऽपिजग्मुः पुरीपतिम्
The Shudras who were devoted to the twice-born and firmly established in their own conduct, those who delighted in Vedic practices, also went to the lord of the city.
ये ये वृत्तिकरा लोकाः स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यधिष्ठिताः । स्वकं वस्तु समादाय ययुः श्रीरामभूपतिम्
All those people engaged in their respective occupations, each established in their own work, took their belongings and went to the illustrious king Rama.
इत्थं भूपतिसंदेशात्प्रमोदाप्लवसंयुताः । नाना कौतुकसंयुक्ता आजग्मुर्मनुजेश्वरम्
Thus, by the king’s command, filled with joy and accompanied by various amusements, they came to the lord of men.
शेष उवाच। रघुनाथोऽपि सकलैर्दैवतैः स्वस्वयानगैः । परीतः प्रविवेशोच्चैः पुरीं रचितमोहनाम्
Śeṣa said: Surrounded by all the gods with their own vehicles, Raghunātha entered the splendid city built to enchant.
प्लवंगाः प्लवनैर्युक्ता आकाशपथचारिणः । स्वस्वशोभापरीतांगाश्चानुजग्मुः पुरोत्तमम्
The monkeys, endowed with the ability to leap and traversing the sky, their bodies adorned with their own splendor, followed the foremost city.
पुष्पकादवरुह्याशु नरयानमथारुहत् । सीतया सहितो रामः परिवारसमावृतः
Quickly descending from the Pushpaka, Rama, accompanied by Sita and surrounded by his retinue, mounted the human chariot.
अयोध्यां प्रविवेशाथ कृतकौतुकतोरणाम् । हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णामुत्सवैः परीभूषिताम्
Then he entered Ayodhya, adorned with festive arches, crowded with joyful and prosperous people, and decorated with celebrations.
वीणापणवभेर्यादिवादित्रैराहतैर्भृशम् । शोभमानः स्तूयमानः सूतमागधबंदिभिः
Resplendent and praised by bards, minstrels, and heralds, he was welcomed with the sounds of vīṇā, drums, and other instruments.
जय राघवरामेति जय सूर्यकुलांगद । जय दाशरथे देव जयताल्लोकनायकः
Victory to Rāghava Rama! Victory to the jewel of the solar dynasty! Victory to the divine son of Dasharatha! Victory to the lord of all worlds!
इति शृण्वञ्छुभां वाचं पौराणां हर्षितांगिनाम् । रामदर्शनसंजात पुलकोद्भेद शोभिनाम्
Hearing these auspicious words from the delighted citizens, whose bodies shone with the thrill of seeing Rama,
प्रविवेश वरं मार्गं रथ्याचत्वरभूषितम् । चंदनोदकसंसिक्तं पुष्पपल्लवसंयुतम्
He entered the splendid road, adorned with decorated streets and squares, sprinkled with sandalwood water and strewn with flowers and leaves.
तदा पौरांगनाः काश्चिद्गवाक्षबिलमाश्रिताः । रघुनाथस्वरूपेक्षा जातकामा अथाब्रुवन्
At that time, some city women, taking refuge at the window openings, desiring to see Raghunātha’s form, spoke thus.
पौरांगना ऊचुः। धन्या अभूवन्बत भिल्लकन्या वनेषु या राममुखारविंदम् । स्वलोचनेंदीवरकैरथापिबन्स्वभाग्यसंजातमहोदया इमाः
The city women said: Blessed indeed were the forest-dwelling Bhilla maidens, who drank in the lotus-face of Rama with their own lotus-like eyes, their fortune bringing forth such joy.
धन्यं मुखं पश्यत वीरधाम्नः श्रीरामदेवस्य सरोजनेत्रम् । यद्दर्शनं धातृमुखाः सुरा अपि प्रापुर्महद्भाग्ययुता वयंत्वहो
Behold the blessed face of the heroic Rama, with lotus eyes; by seeing it, even the gods, creators of the world, attained great fortune—how fortunate are we!
एतन्मुखं पश्यत चारुहासं किरीटसंशोभिनिजोत्तमांगम् । बंधूकधिक्कारलसच्छविप्रदं दंतच्छदं बिभ्रतमुच्चनासम्
Behold this face, with a charming smile, crowned and adorned, its radiant hue surpassing the bandhūka flower, bearing shining teeth and a prominent nose.
इति गदितवतीस्ताः स्नेहभारेण रामा नलिनदलसदृक्षैर्नेत्रपातैर्निरीक्ष्य । निखिलगुरुरनूनप्रेमभारं नृलोकं जननिगृहमियेष प्रोषितांगेन हृष्टः
Thus, having spoken, those women, gazing at Rama with eyes resembling lotus petals, full of affection, perceived the entire world and the homes of men as filled with unmeasured love, and, with bodies thrilled, rejoiced.
वात्स्यायन उवाच। भुजगाधीश्वरेशान धराभारधरक्षम । शृण्वेकं संशयं मह्यं कृपया कथयस्व तम्
Vātsyāyana said: O lord of serpents, master of the earth’s burden, please listen to my question and kindly explain it to me.
रघुनाथस्य गमनं वनं प्रति यदा ह्यभूत् । तदा प्रभृति देहेन स्थिता शून्येन चेतसा
From the time Raghunatha departed for the forest, she remained with an empty heart, present only in body.
तद्विप्रयोगविधुरा कृशदेहातिदुःखिता । सुमुखान्मंत्रिणः श्रुत्वा रघुनाथं समागतम्
Distressed by separation, her body emaciated and overcome with sorrow, she heard from Sumukha, the minister, that Raghunatha had returned.
कथं जहर्ष किमभूत्कीदृशं तत्र चिह्नितम् । रामचंद्रस्य संदेशहर्तारं किमुवाच सा
How did she rejoice? What happened? What signs were there? What did she say to the messenger who brought news from Ramachandra?
एतन्मे संशयं छिंधि रघुनाथगुणोदयम् । यथावच्छृण्वते मह्यं कथयस्व प्रसादतः
Resolve this doubt of mine and, by your grace, recount to me in detail the glorious qualities of Raghunatha as I listen.
शेष उवाच । साधुपृष्टं महाभाग द्विजवर्यपुरस्कृत । तन्मे निगदतः साक्षाच्छृणुष्वैकमनाः किल
Shesha said: O highly fortunate one, you have asked well, in the presence of these eminent brahmins. Now, listen attentively as I recount it directly.
सा वै तद्वदनांभोज च्युतं रामागमामृतम् । पीत्वा पीत्वा बभूवाहो स्थगितांगेन विह्वला
She, having drunk again and again the nectar of Rama's arrival that fell from his lotus-faced messenger's lips, became overwhelmed, her body motionless.
किं मे स्वप्नो विमूढायाः किं वा भ्रमकरं वचः । ममवै मंदभाग्यायाः कथं रामेक्षणं पुनः
"Is this a dream for my bewildered mind, or are these words meant to deceive? How could I, so unfortunate, see Rama again?"
बहुना तपसा कृत्वा प्राप्तोऽयं वै सुतः शिशुः । केनचिन्मम पापेन विप्रयोगं गतः पुनः
"After performing great austerities, I obtained this son as a child, but through some sin of mine, he was separated from me again."
सुमंत्रिन्कुशली रामः सीतालक्ष्मणसंयुतः । कथं मां स्मरते वीरो वनचारी सुदुःखिताम्
"Is Sumanta well? Is Rama, together with Sita and Lakshmana, safe? How does that hero, dwelling in the forest, remember me, so afflicted?"
इति सा विललापोच्चै रघुनाथस्मृतिं गता । न निवेद निजं किंचित्परकीयं विमोहिता । सुमुखोऽपि तथा दृष्ट्वा दुःखितां मातरं भृशम्
Thus, absorbed in remembrance of Raghunatha, she wailed loudly, unable to express her own or others' feelings, bewildered; and Sumukha, seeing his mother so deeply distressed—
वीजयामास वासोग्रैः संज्ञामाप च सा पुनः । उवाच जननीं सौम्यं वचोहर्षकरं मुहुः
Fanned her with fine cloths until she regained consciousness; then, again and again, he spoke gentle, gladdening words to his mother.
रघुनाथागमस्मार हृष्टां तां व्यदधात्पुनः । मातर्विद्धि गृहं प्राप्तं रघुनाथं सलक्ष्मणम्
Recalling Raghunatha's return, he made her rejoice once more: "Mother, know that Raghunatha, together with Lakshmana, has come home."