विविधैर्वृक्षषण्डैश्च चारुचित्रलतायुतम्। नानाविहगसंघुष्टं मयूरवरनादितम्
With clusters of diverse trees, entwined with lovely and colorful creepers, filled with flocks of various birds, and resounding with the calls of splendid peacocks.
मालतीकुन्दगुल्मैश्च सिन्दुवारैः शिरीषकैः। कदम्बार्जुनसर्जैश्च पुष्पितैरुपशोभितम्
Adorned with blooming jasmine, kund, sinduvara, shirisha, kadamba, arjuna, and sarja trees.
इयं च नलिनी रम्या फुल्लपङ्कजमण्डिता। नातिदूरे गुहाया नौ भविष्यति नृपात्मज
And this charming lotus pond, decorated with blooming lotuses, will be not far from our cave, O prince.
प्रागुदक्प्रवणे देशे गुहा साधु भविष्यति। पश्चाच्चैवोन्नता सौम्य निवातेयं भविष्यति
In the eastern region, sloping toward water, the cave will be suitable; and in the west, O gentle one, it will be elevated and sheltered.
गुहाद्वारे च सौमित्रे शिला समतला शिवा। कृष्णा चैवायता चैव भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमा
At the entrance of the cave, O Saumitri, there is a flat, auspicious rock, black and elongated, resembling a heap of split collyrium.
गिरिशृङ्गमिदं तात पश्य चोत्तरतः शुभम्। भिन्नाञ्जनचयाकारमम्भोधरमिवोदितम्
Father, look at this mountain peak to the north, beautiful, resembling a mass of shattered black collyrium, rising like a rain cloud.
दक्षिणस्यामपि दिशि स्थितं श्वेतमिवाम्बरम्। कैलासशिखरप्रख्यं नानाधातुविराजितम्
And in the southern direction stands one white as the sky, like the summit of Kailāsa, shining with various minerals.
प्राचीनवाहिनीं चैव नदीं भृशमकर्दमाम्। गुहायाः परतः पश्य त्रिकूटे जाह्नवीमिव
See also, beyond the cave on Trikūṭa, the ancient-flowing river, thick with mud, like the Jahnavi.
चन्दनैस्तिलकैः सालैस्तमालैरतिमुक्तकैः। पद्मकैः सरलैश्चैव अशोकैश्चैव शोभिताम्
Adorned with sandalwood, tilaka, sāla, tamāla, atimuktaka, lotus, sarala, and aśoka trees.
वानीरैस्तिमिदैश्चैव बकुलैः केतकैरपि। हिन्तालैस्तिनिशैर्नीपैर्वेतसैः कृतमालकैः
With vānīra, timida, bakula, ketaka, hintāla, tiniśa, nīpa, and vetasa trees forming garlands.
तीरजैः शोभिता भाति नानारूपैस्ततस्ततः। वसनाभरणोपेता प्रमदेवाभ्यलंकृता
Brightly decorated with various forms of riverside trees, clothed and adorned like a woman with ornaments.
शतशः पक्षिसङ्घैश्च नानानादविनादिता। एकैकमनुरक्तैश्च चक्रवाकैरलंकृता
Resounding with hundreds of flocks of birds, each group devoted, and adorned with chakravāka birds.
पुलिनैरतिरम्यैश्च हंससारससेविता। प्रहसन्त्येव भात्येषा नानारत्नसमन्विता
With delightful sandbanks frequented by swans and cranes, it shines, laughing, endowed with many gems.
क्वचिन्नीलोत्पलैश्छन्ना भातिरक्तोत्पलैः क्वचित्। क्वचिदाभाति शुक्लैश्च दिव्यैः कुमुदकुड्मलैः
In some places covered with blue lotuses, in others shining with red lotuses, and elsewhere with white divine kumuda buds.
पारिप्लवशतैर्जुष्टा बर्हिक्रौञ्चविनादिता। रमणीया नदी सौम्य मुनिसङ्घनिषेविता
Filled with hundreds of floating birds, resounding with peacocks and cranes, this charming river, O gentle one, is frequented by groups of sages.
पश्य चन्दनवृक्षाणां पङ्क्तिः सुरुचिरा इव। ककुभानां च दृश्यन्ते मनसैवोदिताः समम्
See the row of sandalwood trees, splendid as if arranged, and the peaks appear together, as if risen by the mind.
अहो सुरमणीयोऽयं देशः शत्रुनिषूदन। दृढं रंस्याव सौमित्रे साध्वत्र निवसावहे
Ah, how delightful is this place, O destroyer of enemies! Surely, Saumitri, we shall enjoy and dwell here well.
इतश्च नातिदूरे सा किष्किन्धा चित्रकानना। सुग्रीवस्य पुरी रम्या भविष्यति नृपात्मज
Not far from here is Kiṣkindhā, the wondrous forest; the charming city of Sugrīva will soon be yours, prince.
लब्ध्वा भार्यां कपिवरः प्राप्य राज्यं सुहृद्वृतः। ध्रुवं नन्दति सुग्रीवः सम्प्राप्य महतीं श्रियम्
Having regained his wife, the foremost of monkeys, attaining the kingdom and surrounded by friends, Sugrīva surely rejoices, having obtained great fortune.
इत्युक्त्वा न्यवसत् तत्र राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। बहुदृश्यदरीकुञ्जे तस्मिन् प्रस्रवणे गिरौ
Having spoken thus, Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, stayed there, in that mountain with many caves and springs.
सुसुखे हि बहुद्रव्ये तस्मिन् हि धरणीधरे। वसतस्तस्य रामस्य रतिरल्पापि नाभवत्
Though the mountain was pleasant and rich in resources, even while living there, Rāma found little joy.
हृतां हि भार्यां स्मरतः प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्। उदयाभ्युदितं दृष्ट्वा शशाङ्कं च विशेषतः
For, remembering his wife, who was dearer than life, especially when he saw the rising moon.
आविवेश न तं निद्रा निशासु शयनं गतम्। तत्समुत्थेन शोकेन बाष्पोपहतचेतनम्
Sleep did not come to him at night when he lay down, his mind overwhelmed by grief and tears.
तं शोचमानं काकुत्स्थं नित्यं शोकपरायणम्। तुल्यदुःखोऽब्रवीद्भ्राता लक्ष्मणोऽनुनयं वचः
Lakṣmaṇa, sharing the same sorrow, spoke conciliatory words to the grieving Kākutstha, who was always immersed in distress.
अलं वीर व्यथां गत्वा न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि। शोचतो ह्यवसीदन्ति सर्वार्था विदितं हि ते
Enough, hero, with your anguish; you should not grieve. For all endeavors fail when one grieves, as you well know.
भवान् क्रियापरो लोके भवान् देवपरायणः। आस्तिको धर्मशीलश्च व्यवसायी च राघव
You are devoted to action in this world, you are dedicated to the gods, you are faithful, righteous, and resolute, O Rāghava.
न ह्यव्यवसितः शत्रुं राक्षसं तं विशेषतः। समर्थस्त्वं रणे हन्तुं विक्रमे जिह्मकारिणम्
Indeed, without resolve, one cannot defeat an enemy, especially that Rākṣasa. You are capable of slaying the deceitful one in battle with your valor.
समुन्मूलय शोकं त्वं व्यवसायं स्थिरीकुरु। ततः सपरिवारं तं राक्षसं हन्तुमर्हसि
Uproot your sorrow and strengthen your resolve; then you will be able to destroy that Rākṣasa along with his kin.
पृथिवीमपि काकुत्स्थ ससागरवनाचलाम्। परिवर्तयितुं शक्तः किं पुनस्तं हि रावणम्
O Kākutstha, you are able to overturn even the earth with its oceans, forests, and mountains—what then of that Rāvaṇa?
शरत्कालं प्रतीक्षस्व प्रावृट्कालोऽयमागतः। ततः सराष्ट्रं सगणं रावणं तं वधिष्यसि
Wait for the autumn season; the rainy season has now arrived. Then you will slay Rāvaṇa, along with his realm and followers.