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."
सीतया सहितं पश्य चाशीर्भिरभियुंक्ष्व च । इति तथ्यं वचः श्रुत्वा सुमुखेन प्रभाषितम्
"See him with Sita, and bestow your blessings." Hearing these true words spoken by Sumukha—
यादृशं हर्षमापेदे तादृशं वेद्म्यहं नहि । उत्थाय चाजिरे प्राप्ता रोमांचिततनूरुहा
"Such joy as she felt, I do not know myself." Rising, she came to the courtyard, her hair standing on end.
हर्षविह्वलितांग्यश्रु मुंचंती राममैक्षत । तावत्स रामो राजेंद्रो नरयानमधिश्रितः
Her body trembling with joy, shedding tears, she beheld Rama; at that moment, Rama, lord of kings, had mounted the royal chariot.
प्राप्तः स्वमातुर्भवनं कैकेय्याः सुनयः पुरः । कैकेय्यपि त्रपाभारनम्रा रामं पुरःस्थितम्
He entered his mother's house, with Kaikeyi's wise counsel leading the way; and Kaikeyi herself, burdened with shame, stood before Rama.
नोवाच किंचिन्महतीं चिंतां प्राप्तवती मुहुः । सूर्यवंशध्वजो रामो मातरं वीक्ष्य लज्जिताम्
She said nothing, repeatedly overcome by deep anxiety; Rama, the banner of the Solar dynasty, seeing his mother abashed—
उवाच सांत्वयंस्तां च वाक्यैर्विनयमिश्रितैः । श्रीराम उवाच। मातर्मया वनं गत्वा सर्वमाचरितं तथा
Spoke to her, consoling her with gentle and respectful words. Shri Rama said: "Mother, I have gone to the forest and done everything accordingly."
अधुना करवै किं वा त्वदाज्ञातो जनन्यहो । मया न्यूनं कृतं नास्ति कथं मां नेक्ष्यसे पुनः
What should I do now, O mother, without your command? Alas! I have not committed any fault; why will you not look upon me again?
आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैनं भरतं मां च वीक्षय । इति श्रुत्वापि तद्वाक्यं सा नम्रवदनानघ
Bless Bharata with your benedictions, and look upon me as well. Hearing these words, she, with her face bowed, faultless one,
शनैः शनैः प्रत्युवाच राम गच्छ स्वमालयम् । रामोऽपि श्रुत्वा वचनं जनन्याः पुरुषोत्तमः
Slowly and gently replied, 'Rama, go to your own home.' Rama, the best among men, hearing his mother's words,
नमस्कृत्य ययौ गेहं सुमित्रायाः कृपानिधिः । सुमित्रा पुत्रसहितं रामं दृष्ट्वा महामनाः
Bowed and departed to the house of Sumitra, the ocean of compassion. Sumitra, of great mind, seeing Rama with her son,
चिरंजीव चिरंजीव ह्याशीर्भिरिति चाभ्यधात् । मातुश्च रामभद्रोऽपि चरणौ प्रणिपत्य च
Uttered, 'Live long, live long!' with blessings. Rama, the noble, also bowed at his mother's feet,
परिष्वज्य मुदायुक्तो जगाद वचनं पुनः । रत्नगर्भे मम भ्रात्रा केनापि न कृतं तथा
Embracing her with joy, he again spoke these words: 'By my brother born of the jewel womb, nothing has been done,
यथायमकरोद्धीमान्ममदुःखापनोदनम्
As this wise one has done, dispelling my sorrow.'
रावणेन हृता सीता मया यत्प्राप्यते पुनः । मातस्तत्सर्वमाविद्धि लक्ष्मणस्य विचेष्टितम्
Sita was abducted by Ravana, and I have regained her. Mother, know all the actions of Lakshmana in this matter.
दत्तामाशिषमागृह्य शिरसायं सुमित्रया । निजमातुश्च भवनं प्रययौ विबुधैर्वृतः
Having received the blessing from Sumitra with his head, he departed to his own mother's house, surrounded by the gods.
मातरं वीक्ष्य हृषितां निजदर्शनलालसाम् । स्वयानादवरुह्याशु चरणावग्रहीद्धरिः
Seeing his mother delighted and eager for his sight, Hari quickly descended from his own vehicle and grasped her feet.
माता तद्दर्शनोत्कंठा विह्वलीकृतमानसा । परिष्वज्य परिष्वज्य रामं मुदमवाप सा
His mother, her mind overwhelmed with longing for his sight, embraced Rama again and again, and attained joy.
शरीरे रोमहर्षोऽभूद्गद्गदा वागभूत्तदा । हर्षाश्रूणि तु सोष्णानि प्रवाहं प्रापुरापदात्
Her body experienced goosebumps, and her speech became faltering. From her eyes, warm tears of joy flowed in a stream.
जननीं वीक्ष्य विनयी ताटंकद्वयवर्जिताम् । कराकल्प पदाकल्परहितां बिभ्रतीं तनुम्
Seeing his mother, humble, lacking both earrings, and her hands and feet unadorned, bearing such a form,
किंचित्स्वदर्शनाद्धृष्टां कृशांगीं तां स शोकभाक् । दुःखस्य समयो नायमिति मत्वा जगाद ताम्
He saw her, somewhat emboldened by his sight, but thin-bodied and bearing sorrow. Thinking this is not the time for grief, he spoke to her.