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.
वयं वै पक्षिणः साध्वि वनस्था वृक्षगोचराः । परिभ्रमाम सर्वत्र नो सुखं नो भवेद्गृहे
We are birds, O virtuous one, dwelling in the forest, roaming among trees everywhere; we find no happiness at home.
अंतर्वत्नी स्वके स्थाने गत्वा संसूय पुत्रकान् । त्वत्स्थानमागमिष्यामि सत्यं मे ह्युदितं वचः
My mate, staying in her place, will nurture the young; then I will come to your abode—my words are truly spoken.
एवं प्रोक्ता तया सा तु न मुमोच शुकीं स्वयम् । तदापतिस्तां प्रोवाच विनीतवदनुत्सुकः
Though thus addressed, she did not release the female parrot herself; then her mate, eager and humble, spoke to her.
सीते मुंच कथं भार्यां रक्षसे मे मनोहरीम् । आवां गच्छाव विपिने विचरावः सुखं वने
Sita, release my beloved wife, whom you are protecting; let us go and wander happily together in the forest.
अंतर्वत्नी तु वर्तेत भार्या मम मनोरमा । तस्याः प्रसूतिं कृत्वा त्वामागमिष्यामि शोभने
My mate, my charming wife, will remain; after she gives birth, O beautiful one, I will come to you.
इत्युक्ता निजगादेमं सुखं गच्छ महामते । एतां रक्षामि सुखिनीं मत्पार्श्वे प्रियकारिणीम्
Thus addressed, she replied: 'Go happily, O wise one; I will protect this happy one, who acts lovingly, at my side.'
इत्युक्तो दुःखितः पक्षी तामूचे करुणान्वितः । योगिभिः प्रोच्यते यद्वै तद्वचस्तथ्यमेव हि
Thus spoken, the sorrowful bird, filled with compassion, said: 'What the yogis declare is indeed true.'
न वक्तव्यं न वक्तव्यं मौनमाश्रित्य तिष्ठताम् । नोचेत्स वाक्यदोषेण प्राप्नोत्यालानमुन्मदः
It should not be spoken, it should not be spoken—let silence be maintained; otherwise, through the fault of speech, one may incur madness.
वयं चेदत्र वाक्यं नाकरिष्याम नगोपरि । बंधनं कथमावां स्यात्तस्मान्मौनं समाचरेत्
If we do not speak here upon this city, how could we be bound? Therefore, let us observe silence.
इत्युक्त्वा तां प्रत्युवाच नाहं जीवामि सुंदरि । एतया भार्यया सीते तस्मान्मुंच मनोहरे
Having said this, he replied to her, 'O beautiful one, I cannot live, O Sita, with this wife; therefore, release me, O charming one.'