विजये च नरः स्नात्वा आनंदेश्वरपूजनात् 5.1.31.
And having bathed at Vijaya, by worship of Ānandeśvara—
अथान्यं संप्रवक्ष्यामि कुशस्थल्यां विनिर्मितम्
Now I shall describe another, established at Kuśasthalī.
चित्रकूटात्पुरा रामो मैथिल्या लक्ष्मणेन च
Once, from Citrakūṭa, Rāma departed together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.
यत्र गत्वा न चाप्नोति वियोगं सह बांधवैः
Wherever he went, he did not experience separation from his relatives.
अनेन वनवासेन मरणेन पितुः प्रभो
Through this forest exile and the death of his father, the lord,
तद्वाक्यं राघवेणोक्तं श्रुत्वा विप्रर्षभस्तदा
Hearing those words spoken by Rāghava, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas then
साधु पृष्टं त्वया वीर रघूणां वंशवर्धन
"Well asked by you, O hero, enhancer of the Raghus' line."
अवंतीविषये राम पुरी तस्मिन्कुशस्थली
In the land of Avanti, O Rāma, there is a city called Kuśasthalī.
देवः स वै सदा राजन्वांछितार्थफलप्रदः
That god, O king, always bestows the fruits of desired aims.
तत्र गच्छंति ये विप्रा राजा चैव महावलः 5.1.31.
There, the Brāhmaṇas who go, and the mighty king as well,
तीर्थानामपि तत्तीर्थं प्रविष्टोऽवंतिमंडले
That is the foremost of holy places, entered within the region of Avanti.
तस्यां स्नात्वा ततो रामस्तर्पयामास पूर्वजान्
There, after bathing, Rāma offered oblations to his ancestors.
वाण्या ततोऽशरीरिण्या देवदेवेन भाषितम्
Then, a bodiless voice was spoken by the god of gods.
अत्र स्थानं मया दत्त मा विचारय राघव
"This place has been given by me; do not doubt, O Rāghava."
अनुगृहीताः सौमित्रे देवदेवेन शंभुना
You have been favored, O son of Sumitrā, by the god Śambhu.
वाक्यं तल्लक्ष्मणः श्रुत्वा स्थापयामास शंकरम्
Hearing those words, Lakṣmaṇa established Śaṃkara there.
एहि लक्ष्मण शीघ्रं त्वं शिप्राया जलमानय
"Come, Lakṣmaṇa, quickly bring water from the Śiprā."
लक्ष्मणस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं सीतया किं करिष्यसि
But Lakṣmaṇa said, "What will you do with Sītā?"
इयं च पुष्टा सुदृढा पीवरा च ममाग्रतः
"She stands before me, nourished, strong, and full-bodied."
श्रुत्वा रामो हि तद्वाक्यं लक्ष्मणेन प्रभाषितम् 5.1.31.
Hearing those words spoken by Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma indeed...
यदुक्तं लक्ष्मणेनाथ तच्च सीता चकार ह
What Lakshmana had spoken, Sita then carried out.
नीत्वा विभावरीं तत्र गमनाय मनो दधे
Having spent the night there, she set her mind on departing.
सौमित्रिरब्रवीद्वाक्यं नाहं गन्ता कथंचन
Saumitri spoke these words: 'I will not go, by any means.'
नाहमग्रे वनं यामि न वायोध्यां कथं चन
I will not go ahead into the forest, nor to Ayodhya, by any means.
कथं पूर्वमूयोध्याया निर्गतोऽसि मया सह
How did you previously leave Ayodhya together with me?
प्रमादः क्रियतां मह्यं नय मामपि राघव
Let an error be made for my sake; lead me also, O Raghava.
लक्ष्मणस्त्वब्रवीद्राम नाहं गन्ता वनं पुनः
Lakshmana then said to Rama: 'I will not go again to the forest.'
मा माऽनुव्रज सौमित्रे ह्येको यास्यामि काननम्
Do not follow me, Saumitri; I will go alone into the woods.
धनुः संगृह्य विमना उत्तस्थौ लक्ष्मणस्तदा 5.1.31.
Lakshmana, troubled in mind, took up his bow and rose at that time.
निवर्तयस्व सौमित्रे समर्पय च मे धनुः
Turn back, Saumitri, and hand over the bow to me.