शिष्यान्प्रति जगादाथ पश्यंतु वनमध्यतः । को रोदिति महाघोरे विपिने दुःखितस्वरः
He spoke to his disciples: 'Look within the forest; who is crying in this dreadful wilderness with a voice of sorrow?'
ते प्रयुक्ताश्च मुनिना संजग्मुर्यत्र जानकी । रामरामेति भाषंती बाष्पपूरपरिप्लुता
Sent by the sage, they went to where Janaki was, uttering 'Rama, Rama,' her voice choked with tears.
तां दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियमौत्सुक्याद्वाल्मीकिं प्रत्यगुर्मुनिम् । श्रुत्वा तदीरितं वाक्यं जगामासौ ततो मुनिः
Seeing that woman, out of curiosity, the sage approached Vālmīki and, having heard what he said, the sage then departed.
दृष्ट्वा तं तपसां राशिं जानकी पतिदेवता । नमोस्तु मुनये वेदमूर्तये व्रतवार्धये
Beholding that heap of austerity, Sītā, devoted to her husband, offered reverence: 'Salutations to the sage, embodiment of the Veda, who has perfected his vows.'
इत्युक्तवंतीं तां सीतामाशीर्भिरभ्यनंदयत् । भर्त्रा सह चिरंजीव पुत्रौ प्राप्नुहि शोभनौ
Having spoken thus, he blessed Sītā with benedictions: 'May you live long with your husband and obtain two illustrious sons.'
कासि त्वं किं वने घोरे संगतासि किमीदृशी । सर्वं मे शंस जानीयां तव दुःखस्य कारणम्
'Who are you? Why have you come to this dreadful forest? What has happened to you? Tell me everything so I may know the cause of your sorrow.'
सा तदा प्रत्युवाचेमं रामस्य महिला मुनिम् । निःश्वसंती करुणया गिरासंजातवेपथुः
Then that woman, Sītā, wife of Rāma, replied to the sage, sighing with a voice full of sorrow, her body trembling.
शृणु मे वाक्यमर्थोक्तं सर्वदुःखस्य कारणम् । जानीहि मां भूमिपते रघुनाथस्य सेवकीम्
'Hear my words, which speak the truth and the cause of all my suffering. Know me, O lord of the earth, as the servant of Rāghunātha.'
अपराधं विना त्यक्ता न जाने तत्र कारणम् । लक्ष्मणो मां विमुच्यात्र गतवान्राघवाज्ञया
'I was abandoned without fault; I do not know the reason for it. Lakṣmaṇa released me here and departed, following Rāghava’s command.'
इत्युक्त्वाश्रुकलापूर्णं बिभ्रतीं मुखपंकजम् । वाल्मीकिः सांत्वयन्प्राह जानकीं कमलेक्षणाम्
Having spoken thus, her lotus-face filled with tears, Vālmīki, consoling her, addressed Jānakī, whose eyes were like lotuses.
वाल्मीकिं मां विजानीहि पितुस्तव गुरुं मुनिम् । दुःखं मा कुरु वैदेहि ह्यागच्छ मम चाश्रमम्
'Know me, O Jānakī, as Vālmīki, the sage and preceptor of your father. Do not grieve, O Vaidehī; come now to my hermitage.'
भिन्नस्थाने पितुर्गेहं जानीहि पतिदेवते । ईदृशे कर्मणि मम रोषोस्त्वेव महीपतेः
'Know, O devoted wife, that your father’s house is in a different place. In this matter, the king alone is angry with me.'
एवं वचः समाकर्ण्य जानकी पतिदेवता । दुःखपूर्णाश्रुवदना किंचित्सुखमवाप सा
Hearing these words, Jānakī, devoted to her husband, her face full of tears and sorrow, found a little comfort.
शेष उवाच। वाल्मीकिः सांत्वयित्वैनां दुःखपूराकुलेक्षणाम् । निनाय स्वाश्रमं पुण्यं तापसीवृन्दपूरितम्
Śeṣa said: Vālmīki, having consoled her, whose eyes were filled with sorrow, led her to his own sacred hermitage, filled with ascetics.
सा गच्छंती पृष्ठतोऽस्य वाल्मीकेस्तपसां निधेः । रराजेंदोः पृष्ठतो वै तारकेव मनोहरा
As she walked behind him, Vālmīki, the treasure of austerity, she shone beautifully like a star following the moon.
वाल्मीकिः प्राप्य च स्वीयमाश्रमं मुनिपूरितम् । तापसीः प्रतिसंचख्यौ जानकीं स्वाश्रमं गताम्
Vālmīki, having reached his own hermitage, filled with sages, informed the ascetic women that Jānakī had come to his hermitage.
वैदेही तापसीः सर्वा नमश्चक्रे महामनाः । परस्परं प्रहृषिताः परिरंभं समाचरन्
Vaidehī, with great respect, bowed to all the ascetic women; delighted, they embraced each other.
वाल्मीकिर्निजशिष्यान्स प्रत्युवाच तपोनिधिः । रच्यतां बत जानक्याः पर्णशाला मनोरमा
Vālmīki, the treasure of austerity, then addressed his own disciples: 'Let a lovely leaf-hut be built for Jānakī.'
इत्युक्तं वाक्यमाकर्ण्य वाल्मीकेः सुमनोरमम् । व्यरचन्पत्रकैः शालां दारुभिः सुमनोहराम्
Hearing these pleasing words of Vālmīki, they constructed a charming hut with leaves and wood.
तत्रावसद्धि वैदेही पतिव्रतपरायणा । वाल्मीकेः परिचर्यां च कुर्वंती फलभक्षिका
There Vaidehī, devoted to her husband, dwelt, serving Vālmīki and subsisting on fruits.
जपंती रामरामेति मनसा वचसा स्वयम् । निनाय दिवसांस्तत्र जानकी पतिदेवता
Jānakī, devoted to her husband, spent her days there, reciting 'Rāma Rāma' in her mind and aloud.
काले सासूत पूत्रौ द्वौ मनोहरवपुर्धरौ । रामचंद्र प्रतिनिधी ह्यश्विनाविव जानकी
In due time, Jānakī gave birth to two sons, possessing charming forms, who were representatives of Rāma, like the Ashvins.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तु मुनिर्हृष्टो जानक्याः पुत्रसंभवम् । चकार जातकर्मादि संस्कारान्मंत्रवित्तमः
Hearing of Jānakī's sons, the sage, expert in mantras, rejoiced and performed the birth rites and other ceremonies.
कुशैर्लवैश्च वाल्मीकिर्मुनिः कर्माणि चाचरत् । तन्नाम्ना पुत्रयोराख्या कुशो लव इति स्फुटा
The sage Vālmīki carried out the rituals for the boys, Kuśa and Lava, and their names were clearly given as Kuśa and Lava.
वाल्मीकिर्यत्र विरजा मंगलं तद्यथाचरत् । अत्यंतं हृष्टचित्ता सा बभूव कमलेक्षणा
Wherever Vālmīki performed auspicious rites, there the lotus-eyed lady became exceedingly joyful.
तद्दिने लवणं हत्वा शत्रुघ्नः स्वल्पसैनिकः । आगमच्चाश्रमे चास्य वाल्मीकेर्निशि शोभने
On that day, having slain Lavaṇa with a small force, Śatrughna arrived at Vālmīki's beautiful hermitage at night.
तदा वाल्मीकिना शिष्टः शत्रुघ्नो रघुनायकम् । मा शंस जानकीपुत्रौ कथयिष्याम्यहं पुरः
Then, instructed by Vālmīki, Śatrughna, the leader of the Raghus, was told: 'Do not reveal the sons of Jānakī; I will tell the story myself.'
जानकीपुत्रकौ तत्र ववृधाते मनोरमौ । कंदमूलफलैः पुष्टौ व्यदधादुन्मदौ वरौ
There, the delightful sons of Jānakī grew, nourished by roots, fruits, and tubers, becoming strong and excellent, even somewhat wild.
शुक्लप्रतिपदायाश्च शशीव सुमनोहरौ । कालेन संस्कृतौ जातावुपनीतौ मनोहरौ
On the bright first day of the lunar month, the two charming boys were, in time, consecrated and initiated, radiant like the moon.
उपनीयमुनिर्वेदं सांगमध्यापयत्सुतौ । सरहस्यं धनुर्वेदं रामायणमपाठयत्
The sage initiated the boys, taught them the Veda with its branches, and also instructed them in the secret science of archery and the Rāmāyaṇa.