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.
रथादुत्तीर्य ललिता लक्ष्मणेन समन्विता । रामस्य पादयोर्लग्ना पतिव्रतपरायणा
Graceful, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, she descended from the chariot and, devoted to her husband, clung to Rāma’s feet.
रामस्तामागतां दृष्ट्वा जानकीं प्रेमविह्वलाम् । साध्वि त्वया सहेदानीं कुर्वे यज्ञसमापनम्
Seeing Jānakī arrive, overwhelmed with love, Rāma said: 'O virtuous one, now that you are here, I will complete the sacrifice.'
वाल्मीकिं सा नमस्कृत्य तथान्यान्विप्रसत्तमान् । जगाम मातृपदयोः सन्नतिं कर्तुमुत्सुका
She bowed to Vālmīki and to the other eminent sages, then eagerly went to pay her respects at her mothers’ feet.
कौशल्या तामथायांतीं वीरसूं जानकीं प्रियाम् । आशीर्भिरभिसंयुज्य ययौ हर्षमनेकधा
Kauśalyā, seeing Jānakī, her beloved and heroic daughter-in-law, embraced her with blessings and departed, filled with great joy.
कैकेयीपदयोर्नम्रां वीक्ष्य वैदेहपुत्रिकाम् । भर्त्रा सह चिरं जीव सपुत्रेत्याशिषं व्यधात्
Kaikeyī, seeing the daughter of Videha bowing at her feet, bestowed the blessing: 'May you live long with your husband and son.'
सुमित्रा स्वपदेनम्रां वीक्ष्य वैदेहपुत्रिकाम् । आशिषं व्यदधात्तस्याः पुत्रपौत्रप्रदायिनीम्
Sumitrā, seeing the daughter of Videha bowing at her own feet, gave her the blessing of sons and grandsons.
सीता ताः सर्वतो नत्वा रामचंद्र प्रिया सती । परमं हर्षमापन्ना बभूव किल वाडव
Sītā, beloved of Rāmacandra, bowed to all of them and, filled with supreme joy, shone like the blazing fire.
समागतां वीक्ष्य पत्नीं रामचंद्रस्य कुंभजः । सुवर्णपत्नीं धिक्कृत्य तामधाद्धर्मचारिणीम्
Seeing Rāmacandra’s wife reunited with him, Agastya scorned his own golden wife and honored Sītā, the righteous one.
रामस्तदा यज्ञमध्ये शुशुभे सीतया सह । तारयानुगतो यद्वच्छशीव शरदुत्प्रभः
At that time, Rāma shone in the midst of the sacrifice together with Sītā, just as the autumn moon shines accompanied by the stars.
प्रयोगमकरोत्तत्र काले प्राप्ते मनोरमे । वैदेह्या धर्मचारिण्या सर्वपापापनोदनम्
When the proper time arrived, he performed the ritual there, which, with the righteous Vaidehī, removed all sins.