इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखण्डे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे लवेन हयबंधनंनाम चतुःपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the Padma Purana, in the Patalakhanda, in the dialogue between Shesha and Vatsyayana, during Rama's Ashvamedha, this is the fifty-fourth chapter named 'The Binding of the Horse by Lava.'
व्यास उवाच। एतां श्रुत्वा कथां रम्यां लवस्य बलिनो मुनिः । संशयानः पर्यपृच्छन्नागं दशशताननम्
Vyasa said: Upon hearing this delightful story of the powerful Lava, the sage, full of doubts, questioned the serpent with a thousand heads.
श्रीवात्स्यायन उवाच। त्वयोक्तं तु पुरा रामः सीतामेकाकिनीं वने । रजकस्य दुरुक्त्यासौ तत्याज महि लोलुपः
Shri Vatsyayana said: You previously told how Rama abandoned Sita, alone in the forest, because of the washerman's harsh words, being swayed by them.
जानक्यां क्व सुतौ जातौ क्व धनुर्धरतां गतौ । कथं च शिक्षिता विद्या यो रामहयमाहरत्
Where were Janaki's sons born, and how did they become skilled in archery? How were they taught the arts, and who brought back Rama's horse?
व्यास उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं शेषो नागो महामतिः । प्रशस्य विप्रं जगदे रामचारित्रमद्भुतम्
Vyasa said: Hearing the sage's words, Shesha, the wise serpent, praised the Brahmin and spoke of the wondrous deeds of Rama.
शेष उवाच। रामो राज्यमयोध्यायां भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽकरोत् । धर्मेण पालयन्सर्वं क्षितिखंडं स्वया स्त्रिया
Shesha said: Rama ruled Ayodhya together with his brothers, governing the entire earth with righteousness, alongside his own wife.
सीता दधार तद्वीर्यं मासाः पंचाभवंस्तदा । अत्यंतं शुशुभे देवी त्रयीव पुरुषं धरा
Sita bore his valor for five months at that time; the goddess shone greatly, like the three Vedas sustaining the earth.
कदाचित्समये रामः पप्रच्छ च विदेहजाम् । कीदृशो दोहदः साध्वि मया ते साध्यते हि सः
Once, at an opportune moment, Rama asked the daughter of Videha, 'O virtuous one, what kind of longing do you have that I may fulfill?'
रहस्येव तु सा पृष्टा त्रपमाणा पतिं सती । लज्जा गद्गद वाग्रामं निजगाद वचोऽमृतम्
In private, when questioned by her husband, the chaste Sita, bashful, spoke to Rama with faltering words, uttering nectar-like speech.
सीतोवाच। त्वत्कृपातो मया सर्वं भुक्तं भोक्ष्यामि शोभनम् । न कश्चिन्मानसे कांत विषयो ह्यतिरिच्यते
Sita said: Through your kindness, I have enjoyed everything and will continue to enjoy what is auspicious. Dearest, no worldly pleasure surpasses what is in my mind.
यस्याभवादृशः स्वामी देवसंस्तुतसत्पदः । तस्याः सर्वं वरीवर्ति न किंचिदवशिष्यते
For one whose lord is like you, praised by the gods and established in virtue, everything is fulfilled; nothing remains lacking.
त्वमाग्रहात्पृच्छसि मां दोहदं मनसि स्थितम् । ब्रवीमि पुरतः सत्यं तव स्वामिन्मनोहर
You insistently ask me about the longing held in my heart; I will speak the truth before you, O charming lord.
चिरं जातं मया सत्यो लोपामुद्रादिकाः स्त्रियः । दृष्ट्वा स्वामिन्मनो द्रष्टुं ता उत्सुकति सुंदरीः
For a long time, I have desired to see the noble women like Lopamudra; my mind longs to behold those beautiful ones, O lord.
राज्यं प्राप्ता त्वया सार्द्धमनेकसुखमास्थिता । कृतघ्नाहं कदापीह ता नमस्कर्तुमानसा
Having attained the kingdom with you and enjoyed many pleasures, I am not ungrateful; I wish to pay respects to them in my heart.
तत्र गत्वा तपःकोशान्वस्त्राद्यैः परिपूजये । रत्नानि चैव भास्वंति भूषा अपि समर्पये
There, I wish to honor the ascetics with garments and other offerings, and to present shining jewels and ornaments as well.
यथा मे तोषिताः सत्यो ददत्याशीर्मनोहराः । एष मे दोहदः कांत परिपूरय मानसः
As they are pleased with me, may they grant delightful blessings; this is my longing, beloved, please fulfill it in your mind.
इत्थमाकर्ण्य वचनं सीतायाः सुमनोहरम् । जगाद परमप्रीतो रामचंद्रः प्रियां प्रति
Hearing Sita's most charming words, Rama, exceedingly pleased, spoke to his beloved.
धन्यासि जानकी प्रातर्गमिष्यसि तपोधनाः । प्रेक्ष्यतास्तु कृतार्था त्वमागमिष्यसि मेंऽतिकम्
You are blessed, Janaki. In the morning, you shall go to the ascetics; may you see them and, having fulfilled your purpose, return to me.
इति रामवचः श्रुत्वा परमां प्रीतिमाप सा । प्रातर्मम भवत्यद्धा तापसीनां समीक्षणम्
Hearing these words of Rāma, she felt supreme delight and said, 'In the morning, you shall surely see the ascetics.'
अथ तन्निशि रामेण चाराः कीर्तिं निजां श्रुताम् । प्रेक्षितुं प्रेषितास्ते तु निशीथे ह्यगमनञ्छनैः
Then, that night, Rāma sent his spies, who had heard of his fame, to observe; and they went quietly at midnight.
ते प्रत्यहं रामकथाः शृण्वंतः सुमनोहराः । तद्दिने गतवंतस्तु धनाढ्यस्य गृहं महत्
Each day, as they listened to the most delightful stories of Rāma, on that day they went to the great house of a wealthy man.
दीपं वीक्ष्य प्रज्वलंतं वचनं वीक्ष्य मानुषम् । स्थितास्तत्र क्षणं चाराः समशृण्वन्यशो भृशम्
Seeing a lamp burning and hearing human speech, the spies stood there for a moment and listened intently to the conversation.
तत्र काचन वामाक्षी बालकं प्रति हर्षिता । स्तनं धयंतं निजगौ वाक्यं तु सुमनोहरम्
There, a woman with lovely eyes, delighted with her child, spoke these charming words as he suckled at her breast.
पिब पुत्र यथेष्टं त्वं स्तन्यं मम मनोहरम् । पश्चात्तव सुदुष्प्रापं भविष्यति ममात्मज
Drink as much as you wish, my son, this delightful milk of mine; for later, my child, it will be very hard for you to obtain.
एतत्पुर्याः पती रामो नीलोत्पलदलप्रभः । तत्पुरीस्थजनानां तु न भविष्यति वै जनुः
Rāma, lord of this city, radiant as a blue lotus petal, will not allow the people of this city to be born again.
जन्माभावात्कथं पानं स्तन्यस्य भुवि जायते । तस्मात्पिब मुहुः स्तन्यं दुर्ल्लभं हृदि मन्य च
When there is no rebirth, how can there be drinking of milk on earth? Therefore, drink this rare milk again and again, and keep it in your heart.
ये श्रीरामं स्मरिष्यंति ध्यायंति च वदंति ये । तेषामपि पयःपानं न भविष्यति जातुचित्
Those who remember, meditate upon, and speak of Śrī Rāma—even for them, there will never again be the drinking of milk.
इत्यादिवाक्यं संश्रुत्य श्रीरामयशसोऽमृतम् । हर्षिताः प्रययुर्गेहमन्यद्भाग्यवतो महत्
Hearing such words, nectar-like with the glory of Śrī Rāma, the delighted spies went to another fortunate and great house.
तावदन्यश्चरस्तत्र मनोरममिदं गृहम् । मत्वा तिष्ठन्हि रामस्य क्षणं शुश्रूषया यशः
Meanwhile, another spy stood there, considering this charming house, and for a moment listened for Rāma’s fame.
तत्र काचिन्निजं कांतं पर्यंकोपरि सुस्थितम् । तांबूलं चर्वती दत्तं भर्त्तास्नेहेन सुंदरी
There, a beautiful woman, seated well on her bed with her beloved, chewed betel that her husband had lovingly given her.