तदात्यंतं मुदं प्राप्तो रामायणमथासृजत् । मनोरमपदैर्युक्तं वृत्तैर्बहुविधैरपि
Then, filled with supreme joy, he composed the Rāmāyaṇa, adorned with delightful words and many kinds of meters.
षट्कांडानि सुरम्याणि यत्र रामायणेऽनघ । बालमारण्यकं चान्यत्किष्किंधा सुंदरं तथा
In the Rāmāyaṇa, O sinless one, there are six most beautiful books: Bāla, Āraṇyaka, Kiṣkindhā, Sundara—
युद्धमुत्तरमन्यच्च षडेतानि महामते । शृणुयाद्यो नरः पुण्यात्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Yuddha, Uttara, and another—these six, O wise one; whoever hears them, being virtuous, is freed from all sins.
तत्र बाले तु संतुष्टः पुत्रेष्ट्या चतुरस्सुतान् । प्राप पंक्तिरथः साक्षाद्धरिं ब्रह्मसनातनम्
There, in the Bāla book, satisfied by the Putreṣṭi sacrifice and his four sons, the king, with his retinue, directly obtained Hari, the eternal Brahman.
स कौशिकमखं गत्वा सीतामुद्वाह्य भार्गवम् । आगत्य पुरमुत्कृष्टो यौवराज्यप्रकल्पनम्
He went to the Kauśika sacrifice, married Sītā, and returned, distinguished in the city, with preparations for the royal succession.
मातृवाक्याद्वनं प्रागाद्गंगामुत्तीर्य पर्वतम् । चित्रकूटं महिलया लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः
At his mother's command, he departed for the forest, crossing the Gaṅgā and the mountain, arriving at Citrakūṭa with his wife and accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa.
भरतस्तं वने श्रुत्वा जगाम भ्रातरं नयी । तमप्राप्य स्वयं नंदिग्रामे वासमचीकरत्
Bharata, hearing of him in the forest, went to his brother with noble intent; not finding him, he himself stayed in Nandigrāma.
बालमेतच्छृणुष्वान्यदारण्यकसमुद्भवम् । मुनीनामाश्रमे वासस्तत्र तत्रोपवर्णनम्
Listen, child, to another account arising from the forest: residence in the hermitage of sages, and the description thereof.
नासाच्छेदः शूर्पणख्याः खरदूषणनाशनम् । मायामारीचहननं दैत्याद्रामापहारणम्
There was the mutilation of Śūrpaṇakhā, the destruction of Khara and Dūṣaṇa, the slaying of the illusory Mārīca, and the abduction of Sītā by the demon.
वने विरहिणा भ्रांतं मनुष्यचरितं भृतम् । कबंधप्रेक्षणं तत्र पम्पायां गमनं तथा
In the forest, wandering in separation, bearing the conduct of a man, there was the encounter with Kabandha, and then the journey to Pampā.
हनूमता संगमनमित्येतद्वनसंज्ञितम् । अपरं च शृणु मुने संक्षिप्य कथयाम्यहम्
There was the meeting with Hanumān; this is called the forest episode. Now listen, sage, I shall briefly recount another.
सप्ततालप्रभेदश्च वालेर्मारणमद्भुतम् । सुग्रीवे राज्यदानं च नगवर्णनमित्युत
There was the breaking of the seven tāla trees, the wondrous killing of Vāli, the granting of the kingdom to Sugrīva, and the description of the city.
लक्ष्मणात्कर्मसंदेशः सुग्रीवस्य विवासनम् । तथा सैन्यसमुद्देशः सीतान्वेषणमप्युत
From Lakṣmaṇa came the message of action, the exile of Sugrīva, the arrangement of the army, and also the search for Sītā.
संपातिप्रेक्षणं तत्र वारिधेर्लंघनं तथा । परतीरे कपिप्राप्तिः कैष्किंधं कांडमद्भुतम्
There was the sighting of Sampāti, the crossing of the ocean, the arrival of the monkeys on the far shore, and the wondrous Kāiṣkīndha episode.
सुंदरं शृणु कांडं वै यत्र रामकथाद्भुता । प्रतिगेहे प्रति भ्रांतिः कपेश्चित्रस्य दर्शनम्
Hear the beautiful episode, where the marvelous story of Rāma unfolds: wandering from house to house, the sight of the remarkable monkey.
सीतासंदर्शनं तत्र जानक्याभाषणं तथा । वनभंगः प्रकुपितैर्बंधनं वानरस्य च
There was the sighting of Sītā, the speech of Jānaki, the destruction of the grove by the enraged, and the binding of the monkey.
ततो लंकाप्रज्वलनं वानरैः संगतिस्ततः । रामाभिज्ञानदानं च सैन्यप्रस्थानमेव च
Then the burning of Laṅkā by the monkeys, their reunion, the giving of Rāma's token, and the departure of the army.
समुद्रे सेतुकरणं शुकसारणसंगतिः । इति सुंदरमाख्यातं युद्धे सीतासमागमः
There was the construction of the bridge over the ocean, the meeting with Śuka and Sāraṇa; thus the beautiful episode is told, and in battle, the reunion with Sītā.
उत्तरे ऋषिसंवादो यज्ञप्रारंभ एव च । तत्रानेका रामकथाः शृण्वतां पापनाशकाः
In the Uttara episode, there is the dialogue with the sages and the commencement of the sacrifice; there, many stories of Rāma are heard, which destroy sin.
इति षट्कांडमाख्यातं ब्रह्महत्यापनोदनम् । संक्षेपतो मया तुभ्यमाख्यातं सुमनोहरम्
Thus the six episodes are narrated, dispelling the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa; I have briefly recounted them to you, delightful in every way.
चतुर्विंशतिसाहस्रं षट्कांडपरिचिह्नितम् । तद्वै रामायणं प्रोक्तं महापातकनाशनम्
Marked by six episodes, numbering twenty-four thousand verses, that is the Rāmāyaṇa, proclaimed as the destroyer of great sins.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवः प्रीतः पुत्रावाधाय चासने । दृढं तौ परिरभ्याथ सीतां सस्मार वल्लभाम्
Hearing this, Rāghava was pleased, seating his sons, firmly embracing them, and remembered his beloved Sītā.
सप्तषष्टितमोऽध्यायः 5.67 शेष उवाच। अथ सौमित्रिरागत्य जानकीं नतवान्मुहुः । प्रेमगद्गदया शंसन्वाचं रामप्रणोदिताम्
Then Śeṣa said: At that moment, Saumitri approached and bowed repeatedly to Jānakī, delivering words prompted by Rāma, his voice choked with affection.
सीता समागतं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं विनयान्वितम् । तन्मुखाद्रामसंदेशं श्रुत्वोवाच विलज्जिता
Seeing Lakṣmaṇa arrive, humble and respectful, Sītā listened to Rāma’s message from his lips and, feeling embarrassed, spoke.
सौमित्रे कथमागच्छे रामत्यक्ता महावने । तिष्ठामि रामं स्मरन्ती वाल्मीकेराश्रमे त्वहम्
O Saumitri, how can I return, abandoned by Rāma in the great forest? I will remain here in Vālmīki’s hermitage, remembering Rāma.
तस्या मुखोदितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा सौमित्रिरब्रवीत् । मातः पतिव्रते रामस्त्वामाकारयते मुहुः
Hearing these words from her lips, Saumitri replied: 'Mother, Rāma, who is devoted to you, repeatedly calls for you.'
पतिव्रता पतिकृतं दोषं नानयते हृदि । तस्मादागच्छ हि मया स्थित्वा स्यंदन उत्तमे
A devoted wife does not keep in her heart any fault committed by her husband; therefore, come with me and take your place in the excellent chariot.
इत्यादि वचनं श्रुत्वा जानकी पतिदेवता । मनोरोषं परित्यज्य तस्थौ सौमित्रिणा रथे
Hearing these words, Jānakī, devoted to her husband, let go of her anger and stood upon the chariot with Saumitri.
तापसीः सकला नत्वा मुनींश्च निगमोज्ज्वलान् । रामं स्मरंती मनसा रथे स्थित्वागमत्पुरीम्
Bowing to all the ascetic women and the illustrious sages, she stood in the chariot, remembering Rāma in her heart, and set out for the city.
क्रमेण नगरीं प्राप्ता महार्हाभरणान्विता । सरयूं सरितं प्राप यत्र रामः स्वयं स्थितः
Gradually reaching the city, adorned with splendid ornaments, she arrived at the river Sarayū, where Rāma himself was present.