तयोरकरवं नाम कुशो लव इति स्फुटम् । ववृधातेऽनिशं तत्र शुक्लपक्षे यथा शशी
I gave them the names Kuśa and Lava, clearly; they grew there constantly, like the moon waxing in the bright fortnight.
कालेनोपनयाद्यानि सर्वाणि कृतवानहम् । वेदान्सांगानहं सर्वान्ग्राहयामास भूपते
In time, I performed all the initiatory rites for them; I taught them all the Vedas with their branches, O king.
सर्वाणि सरहस्यानि शृणुष्व मुखतो मम । आयुर्वेदं धनुर्विद्यां शस्त्रविद्यां तथैव च
Listen from my own mouth to all the secret sciences: Ayurveda, the science of archery, the knowledge of weapons, and so forth.
विद्यां जालंधरीं चाथ संगीतकुशलौ कृतौ । गंगाकूले गायमानौ लताकुंजवनेषु च
I also taught them the magical science of Jālandhara, and made them skilled in music, singing on the banks of the Ganges and in groves of vines.
चंचलौ चलचित्तौ तौ सर्वविद्याविशारदौ । तदाहमतिसंतोषं प्राप्तश्चाहं रघूत्तम
Those two, lively and restless in mind, were accomplished in all branches of knowledge; at that time, O best of Raghus, I felt great satisfaction.
दत्त्वा सर्वाणि चास्त्राणि मस्तके निहितः करः । अतीवगानकुशलौ दृष्ट्वा लोका विसिष्मिरे । षड्जमध्यमगांधारस्वरभेदविशारदौ
Having given them all the weapons, placing my hand on their heads, I saw that they were extremely skilled in melody; the worlds marveled at them, experts in the notes Ṣaḍja, Madhyama, and Gāndhāra.
तथाविधौ विलोक्याहं गापयामि मनोहरम् । भविष्यज्ञानयोगाच्च कृतं रामायणं शुभम्
Seeing them thus, I had them sing enchanting songs; and through the power of foreknowledge, I composed the auspicious Rāmāyaṇa.
मृदंगपणवाद्यादि यंत्रवीणाविशारदौ । वनेवने च गायंतौ मृगपक्षिविमोहकौ
Skilled in playing the mṛdaṅga, paṇava, and other instruments, as well as the lute, they sang in forest after forest, enchanting beasts and birds.
अद्भुतं गीतमाधुर्यं तव रामकुमारयोः । श्रोतुं तौ वरुणो बाला वा निनाय विभावरीम्
The wondrous sweetness of song in your sons, O Rāma, was such that even Varuṇa spent the night listening to those boys.
मनोहरवयोरूपौ गानविद्याब्धिपारगौ । कुमारौ जगदुस्तत्र लोकेशादेशतः कलम्
Those boys, with charming youth and form, having crossed the ocean of musical knowledge, sang there at the command of the lords of the world.
परमं मधुरं रम्यं पवित्रं चरितं तव । शुश्राव वरुणः सार्द्धं कुटुंबेन च गायकैः
Varuṇa, together with his family and singers, listened to your supremely sweet, delightful, and pure deeds.
शृण्वन्नैव गतस्तृप्तिं मित्रेण वरुणः सह । सुधातोऽपि परं स्वादुचरितं रघुनंदन
Even as he listened with his friend, Varuṇa did not become satisfied, O descendant of Raghu, for your deeds are sweeter than nectar.
गानानंदमहालोभ हृतप्राणेंद्रियक्रियः । प्रत्यागंतुं दिदेशासौ कुमारौ न हि तावकौ
Overwhelmed by immense joy in the music, losing all bodily and sensory functions, he did not order your two sons to return.
रमणीय महाभोगैर्लोभितावपि बालकौ । चलितौ न गुरोश्चात्ममातुः पादांबुजस्मृतेः
Even though the boys were enticed by great and delightful enjoyments, they did not leave, remembering the lotus feet of their teacher and their own mother.
अहं चापि गतः पश्चाद्वरुणालयमुत्तमम् । वरुणः प्रेमसहितः पूजां चक्रे मम प्रभो
I too then went afterwards to the excellent abode of Varuṇa, and Varuṇa, filled with affection, performed worship for me, O Lord.
पृच्छते जन्मकर्मादि सर्वज्ञायापि बालयोः । वरुणायाब्रुवं सर्वं जन्मविद्याद्युपागमम्
When Varuṇa asked about the birth, deeds, and other matters of the boys, even though he was all-knowing, I told him everything about their birth, knowledge, and practices.
श्रुत्वा सीतासुतौ देवः स चक्रेंबरभूषणैः । देवदत्तमिति ग्राह्यमिति मद्वाक्यगौरवात्
Hearing this, the god adorned the sons of Sītā with heavenly garments and ornaments, declaring them worthy to receive gifts from the gods, out of respect for my words.
आहृतं राजपुत्राभ्यां यद्दत्तं वरुणेन तत् । प्रसन्नेन तयोर्वाद्यगानविद्यावयोगुणैः । ततो मामब्रवीत्सीतामुद्दिश्य वरुणः कृती
Whatever was brought by the royal sons and given by Varuṇa, pleased by their skill in music, song, knowledge, and qualities—then Varuṇa, accomplished, spoke to me regarding Sītā.
सीतापति व्रताधुर्या रूपशीलवयोन्विता । वीरपुत्रा महाभागा त्यागं नार्हति कर्हिचित्
Sītā, the wife of the lord, steadfast in vows, endowed with beauty, character, and lineage, and blessed with heroic sons, should never be abandoned.
महती हानिरेतस्यास्त्यागे हि रघुनंदन । सिद्धीनां परमासिद्धिरेषा ते ह्यनपायिनी
Great loss would arise from abandoning her, O descendant of Raghu; she is the supreme, unfailing accomplishment among all attainments for you.
पामरैर्महिमानास्या ज्ञायते यदि दूषितैः । का हानिस्तावता राम पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन
If her greatness is misunderstood by the wicked or the corrupt, what harm is there in that, O Rāma, when her fame and merit are heard and sung?
अस्मत्साक्षिकमेतस्याः पावनं चरितं सदा । सद्यस्ते सिद्धिमायांति ये सीतापदचिंतकाः
Her pure deeds are always witnessed by us; those who contemplate Sītā's feet immediately attain success.
यस्याः संकल्पमात्रेण जन्मस्थितिलयादिकाः । भवंति जगतां नित्यं व्यापारा ऐश्वरा अमी
By her mere intention, the creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the worlds constantly occur—these are the divine activities.
सीता मृत्युःसुधा चेयं तपत्येषा च वर्षति । स्वर्गो मोक्षस्तपो योगो दानं च तव जानकी
This Sītā is both death and nectar; she burns and she rains; your Jānakī is heaven, liberation, austerity, yoga, and charity.
ब्रह्माणं शिवमन्यांश्च लोकपालान्मदादिकान् । करोत्येषा करोत्येव नान्या सीता तव प्रिया
She alone, your beloved Sītā, creates Brahmā, Śiva, and the other guardians of the worlds, including those filled with pride; none other does so.
त्वं पिता सर्वलोकानां सीता च जननीत्यतः । कुदृष्टिरत्र तु क्षेमयोग्या न तव कर्हिचित्
You are the father of all worlds, and Sītā is the mother; therefore, no ill view is ever appropriate toward her from you.
वेत्ति सीतां सदा शुद्धां सर्वज्ञो भगवान्स्वयम् । भवानपि सुतां भूमेः प्राणादपि गरीयसीम्
The all-knowing Lord himself always knows Sītā to be pure, and you too, know your daughter of the earth to be dearer than your own life.
आदर्तव्या त्वया तस्मात्प्रिया शुद्धेति जानकी । न च शापपराभूतिः सीतायां त्वयि वा विभो
Therefore, you must always regard your beloved Jānakī as pure; neither curse nor defeat can touch Sītā or you, O Lord.
इमानि मम वाक्यानि वाच्यानि जगतां पतिम् । रामं प्रति त्वया साक्षाद्वाल्मीके मुनिसत्तम
O best of sages, Vālmīki, you must speak these words of mine directly to Rāma, the lord of the worlds.
इत्युक्तो वरुणेनाहं सीतासंग्रहकारणात् । एवमेव हि सर्वैश्च लोकपालैरपि प्रभो
Thus addressed by Varuṇa for the purpose of Sītā’s retrieval, I was likewise urged by all the guardians of the worlds, O Lord.