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.
श्रुतं रामायणोद्गानं पुत्राभ्यां ते सुरासुरैः । गंधर्वैरपि सर्वैश्च कौतुकाविष्टमानसैः
The song of the Rāmāyaṇa was heard from your two sons by the gods, demons, and all the Gandharvas, whose minds were seized by wonder.
प्रसन्ना एव सर्वेऽपि प्रशशंसुः सुतौ च ते । त्रैलोक्यं मोहितं ताभ्यां रूपगानवयोगुणैः
All of them, being pleased, praised your two sons; the three worlds were enchanted by their beauty, song, youth, and virtues.
दत्तं यल्लोकपालैस्तु सुताभ्यां स्वीकृतं हि तत् । ऋषिभिश्च वरा आभ्यामन्येभ्यः कीर्तिरेव च
What was given by the guardians of the worlds was indeed accepted by your sons; and by the sages, boons were granted to them, and from others, only fame.
एकरामं जगत्सर्वं पूर्वं मुनिविलोकितम् । त्रिराममधुना जांतं सुताभ्यां तेखिलेक्षितम्
Formerly, the whole world was seen as one Rāma by the sages; now, through your two sons, it is known as threefold Rāma, beheld by all.
एककामपरामूर्तिर्लोके पूर्वमवेक्षिता । कामैश्चतुर्भिरद्यायं जायते च यतस्ततः
Previously, the world was seen as having a single form of desire; but now, because of the four desires, it arises in this way.
सर्वत्रान्यत्र राजेंद्र रामपुत्रौ कुशीलवौ । गीयते अत्र संकोचः किं कृतो विदुषि त्वयि
Everywhere else, O king, the sons of Rāma, Kuśa and Lava, are sung; so why has there been any reservation in you, the wise?
कृतेषु तव सर्वेषु श्रूयते महती स्तुतिः । त्यागादन्यत्र सीतायाः पुण्यश्लोकशिरोमणे
For all your deeds, great praise is heard, O jewel among the famed; except for the renunciation of Sītā.
त्वया त्रैलोक्यनाथेन गार्हस्थ्यमनुकुर्वता । अंगीकार्यौ सुतौ रामविद्याशीलगुणान्वितौ
By you, lord of the three worlds, following the path of a householder, your two sons, endowed with the knowledge, character, and virtues of Rāma, should be accepted.
न तौ स्वां मातरं हित्वा स्थास्यतोऽभवदंतिके । जनन्या सहितौ तस्मादाकार्यौ भवता सुतौ
They will not remain near you, abandoning their own mother; therefore, you must bring your sons together with their mother.
दत्त एव तयेदानीं सेनासंजीवनात्पुनः । प्रत्ययः सर्वलोकानां पावनः पततामपि
Now, by you, the assurance has been given again, reviving the army; this is the faith of all the worlds, purifying even the fallen.
नाज्ञातं तेन चास्माकं नामराणां च मानद । शुद्धौ तस्यास्तु लोकानां यन्नष्टं तदिह ध्रुवम्
Nothing is unknown to him or to us, O bestower of honor on the gods; let there be purity for the worlds through her, for what was lost is surely restored here.
शेष उवाच। इति वाल्मीकिना रामः सर्वज्ञोऽप्यवबोधितः । स्तुत्वा नत्वा च वाल्मीकिं प्रत्युवाच स लक्ष्मणम्
Śeṣa said: Thus, Rāma, though all-knowing, was instructed by Vālmīki; having praised and bowed to Vālmīki, he then spoke to Lakṣmaṇa.
गच्छ ताताधुना सीतामानेतुं धर्मचारिणीम् । सपुत्रां रथमास्थाय सुमंत्रसहितः सखे
Go now, dear one, to bring Sītā, who walks in righteousness, along with her sons; mount the chariot with Sumantra, O friend.
श्रावयित्वा ममेमानि मुनेश्च वचनान्यपि । संबोध्य च पुरीमेतां सीतां प्रत्यानयाशु ताम्
After proclaiming these words of mine and those of the sage, and informing this city, quickly bring Sītā back.
लक्ष्मण उवाच। यास्यामि तव संदेशात्सर्वेषां नः प्रभोर्विभो । देव्या यास्यति चेद्देव यात्रा मे सफला ततः
Lakṣmaṇa said: I shall go at your command, O Lord of us all; if the goddess herself comes, then my journey will be fulfilled.
मयि सामाभ्यसूयैव पूर्वदोषवशात्सती । अनागतायां तस्यां तु क्षमस्वागंतुकं मम
If, because of former faults, the virtuous lady bears any resentment toward me, forgive me, who am coming to her, before she arrives.
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणो रामं रथे स्थित्वा नृपाज्ञया । सुमित्रमुनिशिष्याभ्यां युतोऽगाद्भूमिजाश्रमम्
Having said this, Lakṣmaṇa, by the king's command, mounted the chariot and, accompanied by Sumitrā and the sage's disciples, went to the hermitage of the daughter of the earth.
कथं प्रसादनीया स्यात्सीता भगवती मया । पूर्वदोषं विजानंती रामाधीनस्य मे सदा
How might I appease the venerable Sītā, who knows my former fault and whose will is ever dependent on Rāma?
एवं संचिंतयन्नंतर्हर्षसंकोच मध्यगः । लक्ष्मणः प्राप सीताया आश्रमं श्रमनाशनम्
Thus reflecting inwardly, caught between joy and restraint, Lakṣmaṇa reached Sītā's hermitage, which dispels all fatigue.
रथात्सोथावरुह्यारादश्रुरुद्धविलोचनः । आर्ये पूज्ये भगवति शुभे इति वदन्मुहुः
Then, descending from the chariot, his eyes brimming with tears, he repeatedly addressed her, saying, 'O noble, revered, blessed Lady!'