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.
सीतया सहितं रामं प्रसक्तं यज्ञकर्मणि । निरीक्ष्य जहृषुस्तत्र कौतुकेन समन्विताः
Seeing Rama, together with Sita, deeply engaged in the sacrificial rites, all those present there rejoiced, filled with curiosity.
वसिष्ठं प्राह सुमतिं रामस्तत्र क्रतौ वरे । किं कर्तव्यं मया स्वामिन्नतः परमवश्यकम्
There, at that excellent sacrifice, Rama addressed Vasiṣṭha, the wise one: 'O master, what must I do now that is most necessary?'
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा गुरुः प्राह महामतिः । ब्राह्मणानां प्रकर्तव्या पूजा संतोषकारिका
Hearing Rama's words, the wise guru replied: 'The Brahmins must be honored in a way that brings them satisfaction.'
मरुत्तेन क्रतुः सृष्टः पूर्वं संभारसंभृतः । ब्राह्मणास्तत्र वित्ताद्यैस्तोषिता अभवंस्तदा
In former times, Marutta performed a sacrifice, gathering all the necessary materials; then, the Brahmins there were gratified with abundant wealth.
अत्यंतं वित्तसंभारं नेतुं विप्राशकन्नहि । प्राक्षिपन्हिमवद्देशे वित्तभारासहा द्विजाः
The Brahmins could not carry the excessive heaps of wealth; unable to bear the burden, they cast it into the region of the Himalayas.
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजाग्र्य लक्ष्मीवान्नृपसत्तम । देहि दानादि विप्रेभ्यो यथा स्यात्प्रीतिरुत्तमा
Therefore, you too, O foremost king endowed with prosperity, should give gifts and the like to the Brahmins, so that the highest satisfaction may arise.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स राजाग्र्यः पूज्यं मत्वा घटोद्भवम् । प्रथमं पूजयामास ब्रह्मपुत्रं तपोधनम्
Hearing this, the foremost king, considering the sage born from the pot as worthy of honor, first worshipped the son of Brahma, rich in austerity.
अनेकरत्नसंभारैः स्वर्णभारैरनेकधा । देशैर्जनैः परिवृतैरत्यंतप्रीतिदायकैः
He honored him with many collections of jewels and heaps of gold in various forms, surrounded by people from different lands, bringing utmost delight.
अगस्त्यं पूजयामास सपत्नीकं मनोरमम् । तथैव रत्नैः स्वर्णैश्च देशैश्च विविधैरपि
He worshipped Agastya, together with his wife, in a pleasing manner, likewise with jewels, gold, and various lands.
व्यासं सत्यवतीपुत्रं तथैव समपूजयत् । च्यवनं भार्यया साकं सुरत्नैः समपूजयत्
He likewise honored Vyasa, son of Satyavati, and also worshipped Cyavana, together with his wife, with beautiful jewels.