अग्निष्वात्ताः पितृगणास्तथा बर्हिषदश्च ये
The groups of ancestors known as Agniṣvāttas and also those called Barhiṣads—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्राद्धं तत्र समाचरेत्
Therefore, with all effort, one should perform the śrāddha there.
भ्रममाणो धरापृष्ठे सीतालक्ष्मणसंयुतः
Wandering upon the earth, accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa,
समाऽऽयातो द्विजश्रेष्ठा यत्र सा पितृकूपिका
He, O best of twice-born, arrived at the place where that ancestral pit was.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो भगवान्दिननायकः
At that moment, the blessed Lord, the leader of the day, appeared.
ततः प्लक्षनगाधस्तात्पर्णान्यास्तीर्य भूतले
Then, beneath a fig tree, he spread leaves upon the ground.
अथाऽवलोकयामास स्वप्ने दशरथं नृपम्
Then, in a dream, he beheld King Daśaratha.
ततः प्रभाते विमले प्रोद्गते रविमण्डले
Thereafter, at dawn, when the sun's orb had risen clear,
अद्य स्वप्ने मया विप्राः प्रियालापपरः पिता
"Today, O Brāhmaṇas, in a dream my father, engaged in affectionate conversation—"
तत्कीदृक्परिणामोऽस्य स्वप्नस्य द्विजसत्तमाः
"What, O best of Brāhmaṇas, is the outcome of this dream?"
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः पितरः श्राद्धकामा ये वृद्धिं पश्यंति वा नृप
The Brāhmaṇas said: "O King, those ancestors who desire śrāddha or who witness increase—"
तदस्यां कूपिकायां च स्वयमेव गया स्थिता ६.२०.
"In this very pit, Gaya itself is present."
तस्मात्कुरु रघुश्रेष्ठ श्राद्धमत्र यथोदितम्
Therefore, O best of the Raghus, perform śrāddha here as prescribed.
अथैवामन्त्रयामास तान्विप्रान्रघुसत्तमः
Then, O best of the Raghus, he invited those Brāhmaṇas.
बाढमित्येव ते चोक्त्वा स्नानार्थं द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ गताः सर्वे सुसंहृष्टा स्वकीयानाश्रमान्प्रति व
They replied, "So be it," and, for the sake of bathing, all the delighted Brāhmaṇas departed for their own hermitages.
अथ तेषु प्रयातेषु ब्राह्मणेषु रघूत्तमः
Then, when the Brāhmaṇas had departed, the foremost of the Raghus—
शाकमूलफलान्याशु श्राद्धार्थं समुपानय
Quickly bring roots, vegetables, and fruits for the śrāddha.
तच्छ्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्तूर्णं जगामाऽरण्यमेव हि
Hearing this, Lakṣmaṇa swiftly went into the forest.
धात्रीफलानि चाऽऽम्राणि चिर्भटानीं गुदानि च
Fruits of the myrobalan, mangoes, cirbhaṭa gourds, and lumps of jaggery,
ततश्च पाचयामास तदर्थे जनकोद्भवा
Then, for that purpose, the daughter of Janaka began to cook them.
ततश्च कुतपे प्राप्ते काले ते द्विजसत्तमाः
When the proper time for the kutapa ritual arrived, O best of twice-born,
एतस्मिन्नंतरे सीता प्लक्षवृक्षांतरे स्थिता ६.२०.२० स तां सीतेति सीतेति व्याहृत्याथ मुहुर्मुहुः
Meanwhile, Sita stood between the branches of a fig tree; and he called out to her again and again, saying, 'Sita! Sita!'
वत्स लक्ष्मण शुश्रूषां विप्राणां श्राद्धसंभवाम्
Dear Lakshmana, serve the brahmins in the rites of the śrāddha.
बाढमित्येव संप्रोक्तो लक्ष्मणः शुभलक्षणः
Lakshmana, marked by auspicious signs, replied, 'Certainly.'
ततो निर्वर्तिते श्राद्धे ब्राह्मणेषु गतेष्वथ
Then, when the śrāddha was completed and the brahmins had departed,
तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः सीतां कोपसंरक्तलोचनः
Seeing Sita, Raghava's eyes became red with anger.
आयातेषु द्विजातेषु श्राद्धकाल उपस्थिते
When the twice-born had arrived and the time for the śrāddha had come,
नैतद्युक्तं कुलस्त्रीणां विशेषादत्र कानने
This is not proper for women of noble families, especially here in the forest.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भीता सा जनकोद्भवा
Hearing those words of his, the daughter of Janaka became afraid.
न मामर्हसि कार्येऽस्मिन्गर्हितुं रघुसत्तम
O best of Raghu's line, you should not reproach me in this matter.