सीतोवाच। मा भैषातां युवां रम्यौ कौ वां कुत्र समागतौ । को रामः का च सा सीता तज्ज्ञानं तु कुतः स्मृतम्
Sita said: 'Do not be afraid, you lovely pair. Who are you, and where have you come together? Who is Rama, and who is Sita? How do you know of this? From where is this knowledge recalled?'
तत्सर्वं शंसतं क्षिप्रं मत्तो वां व्येतु यद्भयम् । इति पृष्टं तया पक्षियुगं सर्वमशंसत
Tell me all of this quickly, so that your fear of me may be dispelled.' Thus questioned by her, the pair of birds related everything.
पक्षियुग्ममुवाच। वाल्मीकिरास्ते सुमहानृषिर्धर्मविदुत्तमः । आवां तदाश्रमस्थाने सर्वदा सुमनोहरे
The great sage Vālmīki, foremost knower of righteousness, resided with us always in that most delightful hermitage.
सशिष्यान्गापयामास भावि रामायणं मुनिः । प्रत्यहं तत्पदस्मारी सर्वभूतहिते रतः
With his disciples, the sage caused the future Rāmāyaṇa to be sung; every day he recalled its verses, devoted to the welfare of all beings.
तदावाभ्यां श्रुतं सर्वं भावि रामायणं महत् । मुहुर्मुहुर्गीयमानमायातं परिपाठतः
At that time, we both heard the entire great future Rāmāyaṇa, repeatedly sung and recited in proper order.
शृण्वावां तेऽभिधास्यावो यो रामो या च जानकी । यद्यद्भविष्यते तस्या रामेण क्रीडितात्मना
Let us tell you now whatever we heard there—who Rāma is, who Jānakī is, and whatever will happen between them as Rāma delights in play.
ऋष्यशृंगकृतेष्ट्यां च चतुर्धा त्वंगतो हरिः । प्रादुर्भविष्यति श्रीमान्सुरस्त्रीगीतसत्कथः
At the sacrifice performed by Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Hari will manifest in fourfold form, glorious and praised in noble tales sung by celestial women.
स कौशिकेन मिथिलां प्राप्स्यते भ्रातृसंयुतः । धनुष्पाणिस्तदा दृष्ट्वा दुर्ग्राह्यमन्यभूभुजाम्
With Viśvāmitra, he will reach Mithilā, accompanied by his brothers; there, seeing the bow, which is unattainable for other kings,
धनुर्भंक्त्वा जनकजां प्राप्स्यते सुमनोहराम् । तया सह महद्राज्यं करिष्यति श्रुतं वरे
He will break the bow and win Janaka’s daughter, supremely beautiful; with her, he will rule a great kingdom, as has been heard, O noble one.
एतदन्यच्च तत्रस्थैः श्रुतमस्माभिरुद्गतैः । कथितं तव चार्वंगि मुंचावां गंतुकामुकौ
All this and more, sung there by those present, we have heard; O lovely one, we have told you—now let us go, for we wish to depart.
इति वाक्यं तयोर्धृत्वा श्रोत्रयोः सुमनोहरम् । पुनरेवजगादेदं वाक्यं पक्षियुगं प्रति
Having heard their delightful words, she held them in her ears; then again she spoke these words to the pair of birds.
स रामः कुत्र वर्तेत कस्य पुत्रः कथं तु ताम् । परिग्रहीष्यति वरः कीदृग्रूपधरो नरः
Where does this Rāma dwell? Whose son is he? And how will he take her as his bride? What is the form of this excellent man?
मया पृष्टमिदं सर्वं कथयंतु यथातथम् । पश्चात्सर्वं करिष्यामि प्रियं युष्मन्मनोहरम्
All this I have asked—tell me everything as it truly is; afterwards, I will do whatever pleases you both.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तां तु कामेन पीडितां वीक्ष्य सा शुकी । जानकीं हृदये ज्ञात्वा पपाठ पुरतस्ततः
Hearing her, tormented by longing, and recognizing Jānakī in her heart, the female parrot began to recite before her.
सूर्यवंशध्वजो धीमान्राजा पंक्तिरथो बली । यं देवाः श्रित्य सर्वारीन्विजेष्यंति च सर्वशः
There is a wise and mighty king, banner of the Solar dynasty, named Paṅktiratha, whom the gods rely on to conquer all their enemies completely.
तस्य भार्यात्रयं भावि शक्रमोहनरूपधृक् । तस्मिन्नपत्य चातुष्कं भविष्यति बलोन्नतम्
He will have three wives, each possessing beauty that bewilders even Indra; from them, four sons will be born, all exalted in strength.
सर्वेषामग्रजो रामो भरतस्तदनुस्मृतः । लक्ष्मणस्तदनु श्रीमाञ्छत्रुघ्नः सर्वतो बली
Of them, Rāma will be the eldest, followed by Bharata; then comes the glorious Lakṣmaṇa, and Śatrughna, mighty in every way.
रघुनाथ इति ख्यातिं गमिष्यति महामनाः । तेषामनंतनामानि रामस्य बलिनः सखि
The high-minded one will become renowned as Raghunātha; these are the countless names of Rāma, the powerful one, O friend.
पद्मकोश इव शोभनं मुखं । पंकजाभनयने सुदीर्घके । उन्नता पृथुमनोहरा नसा । वल्गुसंगत मनोहरे भ्रुवौ
His face is beautiful like a lotus bud; his eyes are long, resembling lotus petals; his nose is high, broad, and charming; his eyebrows are graceful, well-joined, and lovely.
जानुलंबित मनोहरौ भुजौ । कंबुशोभिगलकोऽतिह्रस्वकः । सत्कपाटतलविस्तृतश्रिकं । वक्ष एतदमलं सलक्ष्मकम्
His arms are long and attractive, reaching to his knees; his neck shines like a conch, and is not at all short; his chest is broad, splendid, and marked with auspicious signs, with well-formed shoulders and a spotless appearance.
शोभनोरुकटिशोभया युतं । जानुयुग्मममलं स्वसेवितम् । पादपद्ममखिलैर्निजैः सदा । सेवितं रघुपतिं सुशोभनम्
Adorned with beautiful garments and a radiant waist, his spotless knees are lovingly served; his lotus feet are always attended by his own, and Raghupati shines resplendent.
एतद्रूपधरो रामो मया किं तु स वर्ण्यते । शताननोपि नो याति पक्षिणः किमु मादृशाः
Rama assumes this form, yet how can I describe him? Even the hundred-faced cannot reach him—how then could birds like me?
यद्रूपं वीक्ष्य ललिता मनोहरवपुर्धरा । लक्ष्मीर्मुमोह भुविका वर्तते या न मोहति
Upon seeing his form, so graceful and captivating, Lakshmi herself was bewildered on earth, though she is never deluded.
महाबलो महावीर्यो महामोहनरूपधृक् । किं वर्णयामि श्रीरामं सर्वैश्वर्यगुणान्वितम्
He is mighty, powerful, and bears a form of supreme enchantment; how can I portray Shri Rama, endowed with all qualities of sovereignty?
धन्या सा जानकीदेवी महामोहनरूपधृक् । रंस्यते येन सहिता वर्षाणामयुतं मुदा
Blessed is the goddess Janaki, who possesses a form of supreme enchantment; with him she delights joyfully for ten thousand years.
त्वं कासि किं तु नामासि बत सुंदरि यत्तु माम् । परिपृच्छसि वैदग्ध्याद्रामकीर्तनमादरात्
Who are you, what is your name, O beautiful one? Yet you question me skillfully, eager to hear the praise of Rama.
एतद्वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य जानकी पक्षिणोर्युगम् । उवाच जन्मललितं शंसंती स्वस्य मोहनम्
Hearing these words, Janaki spoke to the pair of birds, declaring her charming birth and her own enchanting nature.
या त्वया जानकी प्रोक्ता साहं जनकपुत्रिका । स रामो मां यदाभ्येत्य प्राप्स्यते सुमनोहरः
The Janaki you spoke of—I am she, the daughter of Janaka; when Rama, so delightful, comes to me, he will obtain me.
तदा वां मोचयाम्यद्धानान्यथा वाक्यलोभिता । लालयामि सुखेनास्तां मद्गेहे मधुराक्षरौ
Then I will release you both, or, enticed by your words, I will cherish you happily in my home, O sweet-voiced ones.
इत्युक्तं तत्समाकर्ण्य वेपतुर्भयतां गतौ । परस्परं प्रक्षुभितौ जानकीमित्यवोचताम्
When she said this and they heard it, trembling with fear, the birds, agitated, addressed Janaki together.