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.
इत्यादि वाक्यं संश्रुत्य गतश्चान्यनिवेशनम् । तावदन्यश्चरो वाक्यं शुश्राव यशसान्वितम्
Hearing such words, he went to another chamber; meanwhile, another lover heard those words, full of fame.
काचित्पुष्पमयीं शय्यां चंदनं सह चंद्रकम् । सर्वं विधाय कामार्हं जगाद वचनं पतिम्
A certain woman, having prepared a bed of flowers, sandalwood, and moonlight, all arranged for pleasure, spoke these words to her husband.
पते कुरुष्व भोगार्हे शयनं पुष्पमंचके । चंदनादिकलेपं च तथा भोगमनेकधा
Husband, enjoy a bed fit for pleasure on this flower couch, with sandalwood and other ointments, and pleasures of every kind.
त्वादृशा एव भोगार्हा न च रामपराङ्मुखाः । सर्वं रामकृपाप्राप्तमुपभुंक्ष्व यथातथम्
Only those like you are worthy of enjoyment, not those who turn away from Rama; all this is obtained by Rama's grace—enjoy it as it is.
मत्सदृशी कामिनी ते चंदनं तापहारकम् । पर्यंकः पुष्परचितः सर्वं रामकृपाभवम्
A woman like me, sandalwood that removes heat, a couch adorned with flowers—all this has arisen from Rama's grace.
ये रामं न भजिष्यंति ते नरा जठरं स्वयम् । न भर्तुं शक्नुवंत्येव वस्त्रभोगादि वर्जिताः
Those men who do not worship Rama must feed themselves by their own efforts, unable to enjoy clothing or pleasures, deprived of such things.
इति ब्रुवंतीं महिलां हर्षितः पतिरब्रवीत् । सर्वं तथ्यं ब्रवीषि त्वं मम रामकृपाभवम्
Hearing her speak thus, the delighted husband said: 'Everything you say is true; all this has come to me by Rama's grace.'
इत्येवं रामभद्रस्य यशः श्रुत्वा गतश्चरः । तावदन्यस्य वेश्मस्थश्चरोऽन्य शुश्रुवे वचः
Thus, hearing the fame of Ramabhadra, the lover departed; meanwhile, another lover, staying in another house, heard these words.
काचित्कांतेन पर्यंके वीणावादनतत्परा । कांतेन रामसत्कीर्तिं गायमाना पतिं जगौ
A certain woman, intent on playing the vina while reclining with her beloved on a couch, sang to her husband the noble fame of Rama.
स्वामिन्वयं धन्यतमा येषां पुर्याः पतिः प्रभुः । श्रीरामः स्वप्रजाः पुत्रानिव पाति च रक्षकः
'Master, we are most fortunate, for Rama, the lord, is the ruler of our city; he protects his people like sons, as their guardian.'