वाल्मीकिर्लक्ष्मणस्तौ तु कुमारौ मिलिता अमी । सभायां संस्थितं रामं ज्ञात्वा ते जग्मुरुत्सुकाः
Valmiki and Lakshmana, those two princes, having come together, recognized Rama standing in the assembly and, eager, they approached him.
लक्ष्मणः प्रणिपत्याथ सीतावाक्यादिसर्वशः । कथयामास रामाय हर्षशोकयुतः सुधीः
Then Lakshmana, after bowing, conveyed to Rama all of Sita’s words, entirely, his wise mind filled with both joy and sorrow.
सीतासंदेशवाक्येभ्यो रामो मूर्च्छां समन्वभूत् । संज्ञामवाप्य चोवाच लक्ष्मणं नयकोविदम्
From Sita’s message, Rama fell into a faint; regaining consciousness, he spoke to Lakshmana, who was skilled in counsel.
गच्छ मित्र पुनस्तत्र यत्नेन महता च ताम् । शीघ्रमानय भद्रं ते मद्वाक्यानि निवेद्य च
Go, friend, once more there with great effort; quickly bring her, may you fare well, and convey my words to her.
अरण्ये किं तपस्यंत्या गतिरन्या विचिंतिता । श्रुता दृष्टाथ वा मत्तो यन्नागच्छसि जानकि
Why, Janaki, do you not come to me—have you conceived of another path while practicing austerities in the forest? Have you heard or seen something from me?
त्वदिच्छया त्वमेवेतो गतारण्यं मुनिप्रियम् । पूजिता मुनिपत्न्यस्ता दृष्टा मुनिगणास्त्वया
It was by your own wish alone that you went to the forest, dear to the sages; you have been honored by the wives of the sages, and you have seen the groups of ascetics.
पूर्णो मनोरथस्तेऽद्य किं नागच्छसि भामिनि । न दोषं मयि पश्येस्त्वं स्वात्मेच्छाया विलोकनात्
Today your heart’s desire is fulfilled—why do you not come, O beautiful one? Do not see fault in me for looking to your own will.
गत्वा गत्वाथ वामोरु पतिरेव गतिः स्त्रियाः । निर्गुणोपि गुणांभोधिः किंपुनर्मनसेप्सितः
Going again and again, O slender-waisted one, the husband alone is the refuge of a woman; even if he is without qualities, he is an ocean of virtues—how much more so if he is desired by the mind.
याया क्रियाकुलस्त्रीणां सासा पत्युः प्रतुष्टये । पूर्वमेवप्रतुष्टोऽहमिदानीं सुतरां त्वयि
She who is busy with duties seeks her husband’s satisfaction; I was already satisfied before, and now I am all the more so with you.
यागो जपस्तपोदानं व्रतं तीर्थं दयादिकम् । देवाश्च मयि संतुष्टे तुष्टमेतदसंशयम्
Sacrifice, recitation, austerity, charity, vows, pilgrimage, compassion, and the like—all the gods are pleased when I am pleased; of this there is no doubt.
शेष उवाच-। इति संदेशमादाय सीतां प्रति जगत्पतेः । आह लक्ष्मण आत्मेशमानतः प्रणयाद्धरौ
Shesha said: Having received this message from the Lord of the world for Sita, Lakshmana, bowing with affection, spoke to the Lord of his soul.
सीतानयनमुद्दिश्य प्रसन्नस्त्वं यदूचिवान् । कथयिष्यामि तद्वाक्यं विनयेन समन्वितम्
With a clear mind, you spoke about bringing Sita; I will relate those words, imbued with humility.
इत्युक्त्वा पादयोर्नत्वा रघुनाथस्य लक्ष्मणः । जगाम त्वरितः सीतां रथे तिष्ठन्महाजवे
Having said this and bowed at the feet of Raghunatha, Lakshmana quickly departed for Sita, standing on a swift chariot.
वाल्मीकिः श्रीयुतौ वीक्ष्य रामपुत्रौ महौजसौ । उवाच स्मितमाधाय मुखं कृत्वा मनोहरम्
Valmiki, seeing the two sons of Rama, radiant with splendor, spoke with a charming smile upon his delightful face.
युवां प्रगायतां पुत्रौ रामचारित्रमद्भुतम् । वीणां प्रवादयंतौ च कलगानेन शोभितम्
You two, O sons, sing the wondrous deeds of Rama, playing the vina and adorned by sweet, melodious song.
इत्यक्तौ तौ सुतौ रामचारित्रं बहुपुण्यदम् । अगायतां महाभागौ सुवाक्यपदचित्रितम्
Thus, those two illustrious sons sang the story of Rama, bestowing great merit, adorned with beautiful and well-chosen words.
यस्मिन्धर्मविधिः साक्षात्पातिव्रत्यं तु यत्स्थितम् । भ्रातृस्नेहो महान्यत्र गुरुभक्तिस्तथैव च
In which the law of righteousness is manifest, in which chastity is established, in which brotherly love is great, and devotion to elders likewise.
स्वामिसेवकयोर्यत्र नीतिर्मूर्तिमती किल । अधर्मकरशास्तिं वै यत्र साक्षाद्रघूद्वहात्
Where, between master and servant, right conduct is embodied, and where the punishment of the wicked is directly from the illustrious descendant of Raghu.
तद्गानेन जगद्व्याप्तं दिवि देवा अपि स्थिताः । किन्नरा अपि यद्गानं श्रुत्वा मूर्च्छामिताः क्षणात्
With that song, the world was filled; even the gods in heaven stood still, and the Kinnaras, upon hearing that music, were instantly overcome with swooning.
वीणायारणितं श्रुत्वा तालमानेन शोभितम् । निखिला परिषत्तत्र शालभं जीवचित्रिता
Hearing the melodious sound of the lute, adorned with measured rhythm, the entire assembly there was captivated, as if painted alive.
हर्षादश्रूणिमुंचंतो रामाद्या भूमिपास्तथा । तद्गानपंचमालापमोहिताश्चित्रितोपमाः
Rama and the other kings, shedding tears of joy, were enchanted by that song and its fivefold melodies, their minds filled with wondrous comparisons.
तत्र रामः सुतौ दृष्ट्वा महागानविमोहकौ । अदात्ताभ्यां सुवर्णस्य लक्षं लक्षं पृथक्पृथक्
There, Rama, seeing his two sons so deeply enchanted by the great song, gave each of them a hundred thousand gold coins separately.
तदा दानपरं दृष्ट्वा वाल्मीकिं मुनिसत्तमम् । अब्रूतां प्रहसंतौ तौ किंचिद्वक्रभ्रुवौ ततः
Then, seeing the two intent on giving gifts, the eminent sage Valmiki, smiling and with slightly arched brows, spoke to them.
मुने महानयोनेन क्रियते भूमिपेन वै । यदावाभ्यां सुवर्णानि दातुमिच्छति लोभयन्
O sage, what great benefit is accomplished by the king, if he seeks to entice us by wishing to give us gold?
प्रतिग्रहो ब्राह्मणानां शस्यते नेतरेषु वै । प्रतिग्रहपरो राजा नरकायैव कल्पते
Receiving gifts is praised for Brahmins, but not for others; a king devoted to accepting gifts is surely destined for hell.
आवयोः कृपया मुक्तं राज्यं भुंक्ते महीपतिः । कथं दातुं सुवर्णानि वांछति श्रेयसांचितः
By our compassion, the king enjoys his kingdom; how then, being filled with merit, does he desire to give us gold?
इत्युक्तवंतौ तौ दृष्ट्वा वाल्मीकिः कृपयायुतः । अशंसद्युष्मत्पितरं जानीथां नीतिवित्तमौ
Seeing the two speak thus, Valmiki, full of compassion, praised their father, saying, 'You should know your father is wise in righteousness.'
इति श्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं बालकौ नृपपादयोः । लग्नौ विनयसंयुक्तौ मातृभक्त्यातिनिर्मलौ
Hearing the sage's words, the two boys, pure in their devotion to their mother, humbly bowed at the king's feet.
रामो बालौ दृढं स्वांगे परिरभ्य मुदान्वितः । मेने स्त्रियास्तदा धर्मौ मूर्तिमंतावुपस्थितौ
Rama, filled with joy, embraced the two boys firmly, considering them, at that moment, to be the very embodiment of Dharma in female form.
सभापि रामसुतयोर्वीक्ष्य वक्त्रे मनोरमे । जानकीपतिभक्तित्वं सत्यं मेने मुनीश्वर
Even the assembly, seeing the charming faces of Rama's sons, recognized the truth of their devotion to Janaki's lord, as did the great sage.