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?
एतादृशी कथं त्वस्मै संप्रदातुं समुत्सहे। याहं राज्ञा पुरा दृष्टा सर्वालङ्कारभूषिता
How can I bring myself to offer such a thing to him, when I was once seen by the king adorned with every ornament?
बालव्यजनहस्ता च वीजयंती नराधिपम्। सा स्वेदमलदिग्धांगी कथं पश्यामि भूमिपम्
Once I stood fanning the king with a yak-tail fan in my hand; how can I now, my body smeared with sweat and dirt, bear to see the lord of the earth?
व्यक्तं त्रिविष्टपं प्राप्तस्त्वया पुत्रेण तारितः। दृष्ट्वा मां दुःखितां बालां वने क्लिष्टामनागसम्
Surely, you have attained heaven, rescued by your son, after seeing me, a sorrowful, innocent girl, tormented in the forest.
शोकः स्यात्पार्थिवस्यास्य तेन नष्टास्मि राघव। भवान्प्राणसमो राम न ते गोप्यं ममत्विह
This king would be grieved, O Rāghava, and thus I am lost; you are as dear to me as life itself, Rāma—there is nothing I would hide from you here.
सत्येन तेन चैवाथ स्पृशामि चरणौ तव। तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवः प्रीतः प्रियां तां प्रियवादिनीम्
By truth and by this, I touch your feet; hearing this, Rāghava was pleased with his beloved, who spoke dear words.
अंकमानीय सुदृढं परिष्वज्य च सादरम्। भुक्तौ भोज्यं तदा वीरौ पश्चाद्भुक्ता च जानकी
Drawing her firmly onto his lap and embracing her with respect, the heroes then ate the meal, and afterwards Jānakī also ate.
एवं स्थितौ तदा सा च तां रात्रिं तत्र राघवौ। उदिते च सहस्रांशौ गमनाय मनो दधुः
Thus they remained there that night, and when the thousand-rayed sun arose, the Rāghavas set their minds on departing.
प्रत्यङ्मुखं गतः क्रोशं ज्येष्ठं यावच्च पुष्करम्। पूर्वभागे पुष्करस्य यावत्तिष्ठति राघवः
Going a krośa westward, as far as the elder Puṣkara, Rāghava stayed on the eastern side of Puṣkara.
शुश्राव च ततो वाचं देवदूतेन भाषितम्। भो भो राघव भद्रं ते तीर्थमेतत्सुदुर्लभम्
There he heard a voice spoken by a divine messenger: 'O Rāghava, blessings to you! This is a most rare holy place.'
अस्मिन्स्थाने स्थितो वीर आत्मनः पुण्यतां कुरु। देवकार्यं त्वया कार्यं हंतव्या देवशत्रवः
'Standing in this place, O hero, make yourself pure; you have a divine task to perform—divine enemies must be slain by you.'