चतुर्दशानां वर्षाणां भविता राघव ध्रुवम्। कुरु श्राद्धं तथा वीर राज्ञो दशरथस्य च
Certainly, O Rāghava, fourteen years will be completed; therefore, O hero, perform the śrāddha for King Daśaratha.
अमी च ऋषयः सर्वे तव भक्ताः कृतक्षणाः। अहं च जमदग्निश्च भारद्वाजश्च लोमशः
All these sages, your devoted followers, are ready: I, Jamadagni, Bhāradvāja, and Lomaśa—
देवरातः शमीकश्च षडेते वै द्विजोत्तमाः। श्राद्धे च ते महाबाहो संभारांस्त्वमुपाहर
Devarāta and Śamīka—these six are the foremost twice-born; O mighty-armed, bring the necessary items for your śrāddha.
मुख्यं चेंगुदिपिण्याकं बदरामलकैः सह। श्रीफलानि च पक्वानि मूलं चोच्चावचं बहु
The chief offering is cakes of ingudi flour, along with jujube and āmalaka fruits; also ripe coconuts, and many kinds of roots, both high and low.
मार्गेण चाथ मांसेन धान्येन विविधेन च। तृप्तिं प्रयच्छ विप्राणां श्राद्धदानेन सुव्रत
And with meat obtained on the way, and various kinds of grain, satisfy the brāhmaṇas by giving the śrāddha, O virtuous one.
पुष्करारण्यमासाद्य नियतो नियताशनः। पितॄंस्तर्पयते यस्तु सोश्वमेधमवाप्नुयात्
Whoever, with self-restraint and regulated diet, performs offerings to the ancestors upon reaching the Puṣkara forest, attains the fruit of an aśvamedha sacrifice.
स्नानार्थं तु वयं राम गच्छामो ज्येष्ठपुष्करम्। इत्युक्त्वा ते गताः सर्वे मुनयो राघवं नृप
'For the sake of bathing, we shall go to the great Puṣkara.' Having said this, all the sages departed, O Rāghava.
लक्ष्मणं चाब्रवीद्रामो मेध्यमाहर मे मृगम्। शुद्धेक्षणं च शशकं कृष्णशाकं तथा मधु
Rāma then said to Lakṣmaṇa, 'Bring me a pure-eyed deer fit for sacrifice, a hare, black greens, and honey.'
जंबीराणि च मुख्यानि मूलानि विविधानि च। पक्वानि च कपित्थानि फलान्यन्यानि यानि च
'Also bring the best lemons, various roots, and ripe kapittha fruits, as well as any other fruits.'
तान्याहरस्व वै श्राद्धे क्षिप्रमेवास्तु लक्ष्मण। तथा तत्कृतवान्सर्वं रामादेशाच्च राघवः
'Quickly bring all these for the śrāddha, O Lakṣmaṇa.' Thus, at Rāma's command, Rāghava did everything accordingly.
बदरेङ्गुदिशाकानि मूलानि विविधानि च। तत्राहृत्य च रामेण कूटाकारः कृतो महान्
Rama gathered branches of jujube and ingudi trees, and various roots; with these, he constructed a large shelter in the shape of a hut.
परिपक्वं च जानक्या सिद्धं रामे निवेदितम्। स्नात्वा रामो योगवाप्यां मुनींस्ताननुपालयन्
Janaki, having cooked the food until fully done, offered it to Rama; after bathing in the yogic pond, Rama attended to the sages.
मध्याह्नाच्चलिते सूर्ये काले कुतपके तथा। आयाता ऋषयः सर्वे ये रामेणानुमंत्रिताः
When the sun had passed midday and the time for the ritual cooking arrived, all the sages whom Rama had invited came.
तानागतान्मुनीन्दृष्ट्वा वैदेही जनकात्मजा। रामांतिकं परित्यज्य व्रीडिताऽन्यत्र संस्थिता
Seeing those arrived sages, Vaidehi, daughter of Janaka, left Rama's side and, feeling shy, stood apart elsewhere.
विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना चिंतयाना च वेपती। ब्राह्मणा नेह जानंति श्राद्धकाले ह्युपस्थिताः
Her eyes widened in astonishment, trembling as she pondered; the Brahmins, present for the śrāddha ceremony, did not recognize her.
रामेण भोजिता विप्राः स्मृत्युक्तेन यथाविधि। वैदिक्यश्च कृतास्सर्वाः सत्क्रिया यास्समीरिताः
The Brahmins were fed by Rama according to the prescribed remembrance and proper rites; all the Vedic ceremonies were performed as instructed.
पुराणोक्तो विधिश्चैव वैश्वदेविकपूर्वकः। भुक्तवत्सु च विप्रेषु दत्वा पिंडान्यथाक्रमम्
The ritual prescribed in the Purāṇas, preceded by the Vaiśvadeva offering, was observed; after the Brahmins had eaten, he gave them the ancestral balls in proper order.
प्रेषितेषु यथाशक्ति दत्वा तेषु च दक्षिणाम्। गतेषु विप्रमुख्येषु प्रियां रामोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Having given gifts to the best of the Brahmins according to his ability, and after they departed, Rama spoke these words to his beloved.
किमर्थं सुभ्रु नष्टासि मुनीन्दृष्ट्वा त्विहागतान्। तत्सर्वं त्वमिदं तत्वं कारणं वद माचिरम्
O lovely-browed one, why did you disappear upon seeing the sages who had arrived here? Tell me the truth and the reason for all this without delay.
भवितव्यं कारणेन तच्च गोप्यं न मे कुरु। शापितासि मम प्राणैर्लक्ष्मणस्य शुचिस्मिते
Whatever the reason may be, let it not be hidden from me; you are bound to me by my life and by Lakshmana's, O pure-smiling one.
एवमुक्ता तदा भर्त्रा त्रपयाऽवाङ्मुखी स्थिता। विमुंचंती साऽश्रुपातं राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by her husband, she stood with her face lowered in modesty; shedding tears, she spoke to Raghava.
शृणु त्वं नाथ यद्दृष्टमाश्चर्यमिह यादृशम्। राम त्वयाऽचिंत्यमानो राजेंद्रस्त्विह चागतः
Listen, O lord, to what I saw here, and the wonder it was; Rama, the king whom you revere, has arrived here.
सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तौ द्वौ चान्यौ च तथाविधौ। द्विजानां देहसंयुक्तास्त्रयस्ते रघुनंदन
Two others, adorned with all ornaments, were likewise present; three, O descendant of Raghu, embodied in the forms of Brahmins.
पितरस्तु मया दृष्टा ब्राह्मणांगेषु राघव। दृष्ट्वा त्रपान्विता चाहमपक्रांता तवांतिकात्
Father, I saw among the Brahmins, O Raghava; seeing him, I was overcome with shame and withdrew from your side.
त्वया वै भोजिता विप्राः कृतं श्राद्धं यथाविधि। वल्कलाजिनसंवीता कथं राज्ञः पुरःसरा1.33.
You fed the Brahmins and performed the śrāddha according to the proper rites; how can those clad in bark and deer skin be the leaders of kings?
भवामि रिपुवीरघ्न सत्यमेतदुदाहृतम्। कौशेयानि च वस्त्राणि कैकेय्यापहृतानि च
I am the destroyer of enemies, this is truly spoken; the silk garments and those taken by Kaikeyi are gone.
ततः प्रभृति चैवाहं चीरिणी तु वनाश्रयम्। ज्ञात्वाहं न वदे किंचिन्मा ते दुःखं भवत्विति
From that time onward, I have dwelt in the forest wearing bark; knowing this, I say nothing, so that you may not suffer.
नाहं स्मरामि वै मातुर्न पितुश्च परंतप। कदा भविष्यतीहांतो वनवासस्य राघव
I do not remember my mother or father, O scorcher of foes; when will the end of this forest exile come, O Raghava?
एतदेवानिशं राम चिंतयंत्याः पुनः पुनः। व्रजंति दिवसा नाथ तव पद्भ्यां शपाम्यहम्
O Rāma, thinking only of this again and again, the days pass by, my lord, I swear by your feet.
स्वहस्तेन कथं राज्ञो दास्ये वै भोजनं त्विदम्। दासानामपि यो दासो नोपभुंजीतयत्क्वचित्
How shall I, with my own hand, serve this food to the king—food that even the servant of servants would never partake of at any time?