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.
पिता तव मया दृष्टः साक्षाद्दशरथः स्वयम् ६.२०.
Your father, Dasharatha himself, I have seen directly.
पितुः पितामहोऽन्यस्य तृतीयस्य रघूत्तम
And the grandfather of your father, and another, a third, O best of the Raghus.
ब्राह्मणानां मया दृष्टाः शरीरस्थाः सुहर्षिताः
I have seen the brahmins, dwelling in their bodies, filled with joy.
ततो ऽहं लज्जया नष्टा दृष्ट्वा श्वशुरसंगमान्
Therefore, I was overcome with shame, having seen the gathering of my fathers-in-law.
तथा खाद्यानि लेह्यानि चोष्याणि च विशेषतः भक्षयिष्यति दत्तानि स्वहस्तेन मया विभो
Thus, the foods to be eaten, licked, and sucked, especially, were given by me with my own hand, O lord, and will be consumed.
एतस्मात्कारणान्नष्टा त्वत्समीपादहं विभो
For this reason, O lord, I have vanished from your presence.
तच्छ्रुत्वा संप्रहृष्टात्मा रामो राजीवलोचनः
Hearing that, Rama, whose eyes resembled lotuses, became filled with joy.
ततो भुक्त्वा स्वयं रामो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः
Then Rama, together with Lakshmana, ate food himself.
प्रोवाच लक्ष्मणं वत्स पर्णान्यास्तीर्य भूतले
He spoke to Lakshmana, 'Child, spread leaves upon the ground.'
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा सौमित्रिः प्राह राघवम्
Then Saumitri, his heart seized by anger, addressed Raghava.