वसिष्ठ उवाच- इदानीमितः परमेकवर्षशतोपभोग्यं राक्षसत्वं नरकं भागीरथीस्नानमेकं शिवाय बिल्वपत्रशतं समर्प्य ततः स्नात्वा पापाद्विमुक्तो भवसीति
Vasiṣṭha said: 'Now, from here, you must experience the state of a rākṣasa for one hundred years. Then, by bathing in the Gaṅgā, offering a hundred bilva leaves to Śiva, and bathing again, you will be freed from sin.'
कदाचित्तादृशं कृतपुण्यं तव पदं प्रयच्छामि तदुपरिशिष्टां गतिं भजेति वसिष्ठवाक्यमाकर्ण्य ब्रह्मराक्षसो वसिष्ठोपदिष्टपुण्यवशाद्दिव्यशरीरो भूत्वा नमस्कृत्वा स्वर्गं जगाम
Sometimes, to one who has performed such merit, I grant a place above, and after attaining that, you will reach a higher state. Hearing Vasiṣṭha’s words, the brahmarākṣasa, by the power of the merit taught by Vasiṣṭha, assumed a divine body, bowed, and went to heaven.
अथ रामं प्राप्तेकाले उपनीय वसिष्ठो वेदानध्यापयामास षडंगानि मीमांसाद्वयं नीतिशास्त्रं चाध्यापयामास
Then, when the time was right, Vasiṣṭha initiated Rāma and taught him the Vedas, the six auxiliary sciences, both Mīmāṃsās, and the science of ethics.
अथ धनुर्वेदमायुर्वेदं भरत गांधर्व वास्तु शाकुन विविधयुद्धशास्त्राणि च
Then he taught him the science of archery, medicine, the arts of Bharata, music, architecture, augury, and various treatises on warfare.
अथ विवाहं कर्तुकामेन राज्ञा दशरथे नानानादेशजनपतीन्प्रति दूताः प्रेरिताः
Then, desiring to arrange a marriage, King Daśaratha sent messengers to the various countries and regions.
अथ कश्चिच्छीघ्रमागत्य राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
Then someone arrived quickly and said this to the king:
राजन्विदर्भदेशाधिपतिर्विदेहोनाम राजा तस्य पुत्री वैदेही होमलब्धारूपेण लक्ष्मीसमा सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना रामयोग्या विद्यते स च तां दातुं राजा रामायोद्यतः तद्गम्यतां शीघ्रमिति
'O King, the ruler of Vidarbha is King Videha. His daughter, Vaidehī, equal to Lakṣmī in beauty, endowed with all auspicious marks, and suitable for Rāma, was obtained through a sacred rite. The king is ready to give her to Rāma. Go there quickly.'
अथ वसिष्ठादीन्प्रेषयामास ते च तत्र गत्वा तां च निरीक्ष्य लग्नं निश्चित्यायोध्यामेत्य राजानमुक्त्वा रामसहिताः पृथिवीपतिसमेताः शीघ्रं विविध करि तुरग शकट शिबिकांदोलिकाभिरतिसुभगरूपभोगविलासक्रियानिपुणा विदितविविधचेष्टागंधर्वाः कामशास्त्रसुकुशलाः मृदुकठिनपृथुपयोधरासन्न कंठाः स्थूलसूक्ष्मललाटबिंबदशनच्छदमुखपंकजाः कुटिलकुंतलदीर्घकेशधम्मिल्लाः कनकपत्रकर्णाः स्नानचेष्टयोत्थितरोमशोभित जपाकुसुमरक्तदशना विशदविस्फुरच्छफरीलोचनाः शुक्तिकासदृशश्रवणाः नक्षत्रसदृशस्थूलमुक्ताफलोपशोभितनासापुटा मुकुरसदृशकपोलास्तिलप्रसूननासिका आनम्रमध्यप्रदेशचूचुका इंद्रगोपप्रतीकाशाधरपुटदशनक्षताः समदीर्घकांगप्रदर्शनास्थितसर्वप्रदेशवर्तुला नातिमांसलाः पिंडकाग्रंथिनीव्योवलितबाहुमूला अनतिचिरकालोत्थितरोमतया हरिद्रा वर्णतया च कर्णिकारदलसदृशबाहुमूला मृदुस्निग्धवर्तुलसूक्ष्ममध्यप्रदेशाः कठिनस्थूलवर्तुलामग्नचूचुकपरस्परस्थानाक्रमणस्पर्द्धि पयोधरमध्यलब्धपदकपयोधरोपरिचंचलविविधमणिमय हारोपशोभित वक्षःस्थलाः पयोधरपरितो लब्धपदतया तरुणदृष्टिपरम्परतया असमानयानाभिकूपोपरितन रोमराज्योपशोभितोदरप्रदेशा भज्यमान मध्यस्थलीकरणएव वलीत्रयोपशोभित मुष्टिग्राह्यमध्याः करिकरोपमजघनप्रदेशा अरोमसदृशमृदुस्निग्धामला समजान्व्यः कदलीस्तंभसंनिभोरुयुगला आमग्नजानुकृशकुशवर्तुलपिंडिकारहितजंघा आमग्नगुल्फा आसूक्ष्मस्निग्धा दीर्घदीर्घांगुली पादानूपुररवाह्वयमानमदना हंसमतंगजगमना दक्षिणांगुष्ठस्पर्शिकच्छाग्रा उपरिकच्छं नीवीं कृत्वा करद्वययुता वस्त्रप्रदेशकंठमप्रावृत्या परवसनपरिभागा वृतस्तनवसना परभागे वामांस एव दक्षिणपार्श्वगतेन दशाभागेन नाभिप्रांतेन प्रवेशितोपशोभितगात्रयष्टयो योषितो विवाहमंगलकर्मकरणायानेकश आगच्छन्
बालिकाश्च विद्युल्लतांशुशोधितगात्रयष्टय उद्भिन्नकुचकमलकुड्मलविविधहारोपशोभिवक्षसो यत्किंचिद्भाषिण्योऽतिचपलमृदुगतयो वृद्धवनिताश्चागच्छन्
Young girls, their slender forms shining like lightning, breasts just budding, adorned with various necklaces, speaking little, moving with great softness and agility, and elderly women also came.
अथ विदेहे पुरतः क्रोशमात्रे चूतवनिकायां विविधविटपविस्तरप्रदेशविविधविहंगकूजिता-कर्णनदत्तकर्णवनहरिणशाववत्यां महारजतनिर्मितोच्चनीचप्रासादोपशोभितप्रदेशविविधविहंगायां हेमवल्कलसंवीतभसितो-द्धूलितशरीरजटिलमुनिगणध्यानोपासनोपशोभितवृक्षमालायां विविधविद्यधरवधूपयोधरभाराभिभूतविचरिततरंगसरसीयुतायां सरस्तीरमिलितसैरंध्रीयुवतिभिराहूयमान तरुणजनायां नानावर्णकुसुमसौरभवासिताशेषप्रदेशायामितस्ततो रिरंसया प्रदर्शितस्फारशफरीविलोचनतरलचक्षुषा प्रभाविलसितशरीरवेश्याजनायां विविधाश्चर्ययुतायां दशरथः सामात्यपुरोहिताभिरामरामादिपुत्रसहितः सुखमुवास
Then, near Videha, at a distance of a krośa, in a mango grove filled with many spreading trees, resounding with the calls of various birds, with deer fawns listening attentively, with high and low palaces made of silver, with trees attended by ascetics covered in ashes and bark garments, absorbed in meditation, with ponds where the waves were disturbed by the heavy breasts of Vidyādhara women, with banks where maids and young women gathered, perfumed everywhere with the fragrance of many-colored flowers, with courtesans displaying their shining bodies and glancing with playful, sidelong looks, filled with many wonders—there Daśaratha, with his ministers, priests, and sons including Rāma, dwelt happily.
अथ वैदेहोऽपि मिथिलां नानापताकोपशोभितां विविधप्रासादगोपुरोद्यानदेवतायतनोपशोभितामन्योन्यकेलिचतुरयुवतिजनानुकीर्णामुशीरविरचितमहाप्रपां सुकेलीजनोपशोभितविशिखां । विविधपण्योपशोभितरथ्यां तत्रतत्र ब्रह्मघोषशोभितमठां प्रतिमंदिरं मीमांसादिव्याख्यानसंपादि सामाध्ययनां सुपुण्यहविर्गंधसामादिस्वरपदक्रमश्रुतिब्राह्मणवाटिकामनेकपरिवृढमंदिरप्रवेशनिष्क्रीतागुरुकुंकुमाध्वर्य्युवेषां मृदुलवसन तांबूल रक्तदंतच्छदकामिनीमृदुवचनकठिनवचनकरसंज्ञानिर्द्धारित प्रतिवचनविविधोपायना हरणकरजनोपशोभितां मृदुधवलजघनपरिवीतवस्त्रोपरिभागेन स्निग्धवर्तुलपरस्परसंघर्षपयोधरमध्यप्रदेशोपशोभित वामांसकंदोपशोभितवनितां विविधमुक्ताहारजपासंकाशदशनच्छद मंदहासमालाकारसहस्रोपशोभितां पुण्यासवसाधनमंदिरां तत्रतत्र विचित्रतोरणां विशुद्धवीथिकां तत्रतत्र स्थापितकल्पपादपां रंभाविभूषितद्वारां पुरीं शोभितां शोभयामास
Then King Videha adorned Mithilā, decorated with many flags, with various palaces, towers, gardens, and temples, crowded with clever young women, with great wells made of uśīra grass, with beautiful women, with streets adorned with various goods, with monasteries resounding with Vedic chants, with temples, with schools of Mīmāṃsā and other philosophies, with Brahmins reciting the Sāma Veda, with houses filled with the fragrance of clarified butter, with women with soft garments, betel-reddened lips, sweet and harsh words, skilled in witty replies, with ornaments, with women whose soft white garments covered their hips, whose breasts shone with smooth, rounded forms, with beautiful arms, adorned with pearl necklaces and hibiscus-red lips, with gentle smiles, with houses for sacred wine, with splendid gateways, pure streets, wish-fulfilling trees, and doors adorned with plantain trees—he made the city shine.
अथाभिकलनार्थं विलासिन्यो निशादूर्वाक्षतामंत्रमंगलकज्जलितकैशिकधमिल्ललताग्रंथि-त जटोपशोभित सीमंतशीर्षशोभितनासामुखविचित्राभरणार्हणहेमपात्रावस्थिताज्यगुग्गलु फलादिसौभाग्यद्रव्यमुद्वहंतीभिः स्त्रीभिरन्यैरपिशोभितजनैः स राजा निर्जगाम
Then, for the purpose of the wedding preparations, courtesans, with hair adorned with auspicious turmeric, rice, and durvā grass, with braids decorated with flowers, with foreheads and noses shining with various ornaments, carrying golden vessels filled with ghee, incense, fruits, and other auspicious items, and accompanied by other women and attendants, led the king out.
तदानीं मंगलतुर्यघोषादेव दुंदुभिभेरीनिःसाणमर्दलशंखादिनादाः प्रादुर्बभूवुः
At that moment, auspicious sounds from trumpets, drums, kettle-drums, cymbals, conch-shells, and other instruments arose.
गायकाश्च मंगलानि जगुः
Singers performed auspicious songs.
मंगलवेदवाक्यानुपाठेन वैदिकाः ब्राह्मणाः । कुलपाठका भेरीघोषेण कृत्स्नमाकाशमापूरयन्
Vedic Brahmins recited auspicious Vedic passages, and family priests, accompanied by the sound of kettle-drums, filled the entire sky.
अथान्योन्याक्षतपूर्वमंगीकुर्वंतः सूतबंदिजनादिभिः स्तूयमानाः पुरं प्रविविशुः
Then, mutually honoring each other without injury, praised by charioteers and attendants, they entered the city.
विदेहनगरात्पश्चिमभागे निर्मितं मंदिरं दशरथः प्रविवेश
Daśaratha entered the palace built on the western side of the city of Videha.
अवशिष्टाश्च यथायोग्यं भवनं विविशुः
The others entered their respective residences as appropriate.
अथ नारदो मिथिलां तदानीमेवागच्छत्
Then Nārada arrived at Mithilā at that very moment.
विदेहोऽपि देवर्षिमभिपूज्य स्वागतं दृष्ट्वा भोजनं कारयित्वा। सुखासीनाय मुनये सघनसारं तांबूलं दत्वा व्यज्ञापयत्
Videha, having duly honored the divine sage and welcomed him, arranged a meal; after seating the sage comfortably, he offered him rich betel and made a request.
श्वो विवाहे भवान्स्थातुमर्हति कारयितुं विवाहम्
Tomorrow, you should be present at the wedding to conduct the ceremony.
श्वो हि नक्षत्रं सूर्यनक्षत्रदर्शनं तत्र विवाहो न कर्तव्य इति
For tomorrow, the star is the solar star; the wedding should not be performed then.
अथ मौहूर्तिकं वृद्धगार्ग्यमाहूय राजा पप्रच्छ क्व विवाहमुहूर्तः
Then the king summoned the aged Gārgya, the expert in auspicious times, and asked, 'When is the wedding hour?'
श्व इति गार्ग्य उवाच
Gārgya replied, 'Tomorrow.'
राजा च नारदं गार्ग्यं चोदीक्ष्य भो इदमित्थमिति पप्रच्छ
The king, after instructing Nārada and Gārgya, asked, 'O, is it thus?'
अथ नारदो गार्ग्यमुवाच
Then Nārada spoke to Gārgya.
कथमुक्तं लग्नं दास्यसि
How will you give the auspicious time as stated?
अथ गार्ग्यो विषघटिकाश्च विहाय लग्नं दास्यामि इत्युवाच
Then Gārgya said, 'I will give the auspicious time, leaving aside the poison hours.'
नारदोपि ब्रह्मवचनानि किं न जानासीत्युक्तवान्गार्ग्यम्
Nārada said to Gārgya, 'Do you not know the words of Brahmā?'
गार्ग्यस्तुष्टस्तान्दोषानपठत्
Gārgya, pleased, recited those faults.
Then Vasiṣṭha and others were sent. They went there, examined her, determined the auspicious time, and, after informing the king in Ayodhyā, returned with Rāma and the other princes. Along with the king, they set out swiftly, accompanied by elephants, horses, chariots, palanquins, and litters, with attendants skilled in all kinds of pleasures and enjoyments, knowing various arts and the ways of the Gandharvas, well-versed in the science of love, with soft, firm, and full breasts, slender necks, broad and delicate foreheads, lotus-like faces with rows of teeth, curly and long hair adorned in braids, golden earrings, bodies shining from ritual baths, lips red as hibiscus, clear and sparkling fish-shaped eyes, ears like shells, noses adorned with large pearls like stars, cheeks like mirrors, noses like sesame flowers, slightly bent waists, lips like indragopa insects, showing their long and beautiful limbs, with rounded forms, not too fleshy, arms like elephant trunks, with hair just grown, yellow in color like the petals of the marigold, arms soft, smooth, and slender, breasts firm, full, and close together, adorned with various jeweled necklaces, breasts marked by the touch of young glances, waists adorned with lines of fine hair, slender waists fit to be grasped by the hand, hips like those of a young elephant, thighs smooth, soft, and spotless, knees even, shanks like plantain stems, calves slender and round, ankles close together, toes long and delicate, feet soft and inviting, walking like swans and elephants, touching the ground with the right big toe, upper garments tied at the waist, with both hands holding the edge of their garments, their upper bodies uncovered, lower garments covering their breasts, and their bodies adorned with ornaments, women came in great numbers for the auspicious wedding ceremony.