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.
कंकणस्वरशोभाढ्या कर्पूरागरुधूपिता । कांतं वीक्ष्य चलन्नेत्रा कामरूपमवोचत
Adorned with the sound of bangles, perfumed with camphor and agarwood, her eyes moving with desire, she spoke to her beloved, handsome in form.
नाथ त्वं तादृशो मह्यं भासि यादृग्रघोः पतिः । अत्यंतं सुंदरतरं वपुर्बिभ्रत्सुकोमलम्
My lord, you appear to me just as the lord of Raghu’s line does—bearing a form exceedingly beautiful and most tender.
पद्मप्रांतं नेत्रयुग्मं वक्षो मोहनविस्तृतम् । भुजौ च सांगदौ बिभ्रत्साक्षाद्राम इवासि मे
With lotus-like eyes, a chest broad and enchanting, and strong arms, you seem to me just like Rāma himself.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कांतायाः सुमनोहरम् । उवाच नेत्रयोः प्रांतं नर्तयन्कामसुंदरः
Hearing these most delightful words of his beloved, the handsome one, his eyes dancing at the corners, replied:
शृणु कांते त्वया प्रोक्तं साध्व्या तु सुमनोहरम् । पतिव्रतानां तद्योग्यं स्वकांतो राम एव हि
Listen, dear one, what you have said is truly charming and fitting for a virtuous woman; for to devoted wives, their own husband is indeed Rāma.
परं क्वाहं मंदभाग्यः क्व रामो भाग्यवान्महान् । क्व चाहं कीटवत्तुच्छः क्व ब्रह्मादिसुरार्चितः
But where am I, unfortunate and insignificant, and where is Rāma, the supremely fortunate and great? Where am I, as worthless as an insect, and where is he, worshipped by Brahmā and the other gods?
खद्योतः क्व नभोरत्नं शलभः क्व नु पामरः । गजारिः क्व मृगेंद्रोऽसौ शशकः क्व नु मंदधीः
Where is the firefly, and where the jewel of the sky? Where is the moth, and where the mighty enemy of elephants, the lion among beasts? Where is the slow-witted hare?
क्व च सा जाह्नवी देवी क्व रथ्या जलमुत्पथम् । क्व मेरुः सुरसंवासः क्व गुंजापुंजकोल्पकः
Where is that divine goddess, the Ganges, and where is the water from a roadside gutter? Where is Meru, the dwelling of the gods, and where is a heap of gunja seeds?
तथाहं क्व क्व रामोऽसौ यत्पादरजसांगना । शिलीभूता क्षणाज्जाता ब्रह्ममोहनरूपधृक्
In the same way, where am I, and where is that Rama, whose foot-dust, when it touched my body, instantly made me solidified, taking on the form that bewilders even Brahma?
इति वाक्यं प्रब्रुवाणं परिरेभे निजं पतिम् । जातकामा हृतप्रेम्णा नर्तित भ्रू धनुर्धरा
Speaking these words, she embraced her own husband, her desire awakened, her love stolen away, her arched brows dancing like a bow.