ननन्द स्वजनै राजा गृहे कामैः सुपूजितः। कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च कैकेयी च सुमध्यमा
The king rejoiced with his own people in the house, honored with every desire fulfilled; Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and the fair-waisted Kaikeyī also rejoiced.
वधूप्रतिग्रहे युक्ता याश्चान्या राजयोषितः। ततः सीतां महाभागामूर्मिलां च यशस्विनीम्
Engaged in welcoming the brides, as were the other royal women, they then received Sītā, greatly fortunate, and the illustrious Urmilā.
कुशध्वजसुते चोभे जगृहुर्नृपयोषितः। मंगलालापनैर्होमैः शोभिताः क्षौमवाससः
The royal women took both daughters of Kuśadhvaja, adorned with auspicious words and offerings, clad in fine garments.
देवतायतनान्याशु सर्वास्ताः प्रत्यपूजयन्। अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांश्च सर्वा राजसुतास्तदा
All of them quickly worshipped the shrines of the gods, and at that time, all the royal sons paid respects to those worthy of respect.
रेमिरे मुदिताः सर्वा भर्तृभिर्मुदिता रहः। कृतदाराः कृतास्त्राश्च सधनाः ससुहृज्जनाः
All the women, joyful, delighted in private with their husbands, having accomplished marriage, skilled in arms, possessing wealth and friends.
शुश्रूषमाणाः पितरं वर्तयन्ति नरर्षभाः। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य राजा दशरथः सुतम्
The best of men, attentive to their father, served him; then, after some time, King Daśaratha said to his son—
भरतं कैकयीपुत्रमब्रवीद् रघुनन्दनः। अयं केकयराजस्य पुत्रो वसति पुत्रक
To Bharata, son of Kaikeyī, the delight of the Raghu line spoke: 'This is the son of the king of Kekaya, residing here, dear son.'
त्वां नेतुमागतो वीरो युधाजिन्मातुलस्तव। श्रुत्वा दशरथस्यैतद् भरतः कैकयीसुतः
'Your heroic maternal uncle Yudhājit has come to take you.' Hearing this from Daśaratha, Bharata, son of Kaikeyī—
गमनायाभिचक्राम शत्रुघ्नसहितस्तदा। आपृच्छ्य पितरं शूरो रामं चाक्लिष्टकारिणम्
Then, accompanied by Shatrughna, the hero set out to depart, having taken leave of his father and Rama, the doer of untroubled deeds.
मातॄश्चापि नरश्रेष्ठः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ। युधाजित् प्राप्य भरतं सशत्रुघ्नं प्रहर्षितः
Along with Shatrughna, the best among men went to his mothers; Yudhajit, upon finding Bharata and Shatrughna, was greatly delighted.
स्वपुरं प्राविशद् वीरः पिता तस्य तुतोष ह। गते च भरते रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः
The hero entered his own city, and his father was pleased; with Bharata departed, Rama and the mighty Lakshmana remained.
पितरं देवसंकाशं पूजयामासतुस्तदा। पितुराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य पौरकार्याणि सर्वशः
At that time, they honored their father, who was like a god; placing their father's command foremost, they carried out all the duties of the citizens.
चकार रामः सर्वाणि प्रियाणि च हितानि च। मातृभ्यो मातृकार्याणि कृत्वा परमयन्त्रितः
Rama performed all that was pleasing and beneficial; having fulfilled the duties toward his mothers, he acted with utmost restraint.
गुरूणां गुरुकार्याणि काले कालेऽन्ववैक्षत। एवं दशरथः प्रीतो ब्राह्मणा नैगमास्तथा
He attended to the duties owed to his teachers at the proper times; thus, Dasharatha was pleased, as were the Brahmins and townsfolk.
रामस्य शीलवृत्तेन सर्वे विषयवासिनः। तेषामतियशा लोके रामः सत्यपराक्रमः
Because of Rama's character and conduct, all the inhabitants of the realm were delighted; Rama, steadfast in truth and valor, became renowned among them.
स्वयंभूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः। रामश्च सीतया सार्धं विजहार बहूनृतून्
Rama became the most virtuous among beings, like the self-born creator; together with Sita, he enjoyed many seasons.
मनस्वी तद्गतमनास्तस्या हृदि समर्पितः। प्रिया तु सीता रामस्य दाराः पितृकृता इति
He was thoughtful, his mind fixed upon her, and she was placed in his heart; Sita, dear to Rama, was his wife, chosen by his father.
गुणाद्रूपगुणाच्चापि प्रीतिर्भूयोऽभिवर्धते। तस्याश्च भर्ता द्विगुणं हृदये परिवर्तते
Because of her virtues and beauty, affection grew ever stronger; and her husband occupied twice the place in her heart.
अन्तर्गतमपि व्यक्तमाख्याति हृदयं हृदा। तस्य भूयो विशेषेण मैथिली जनकात्मजा। देवताभिः समा रूपे सीता श्रीरिव रूपिणी
Even what is hidden is revealed, as heart speaks to heart; especially for him, the Maithili, daughter of Janaka, equal to the gods in form, Sita, radiant like fortune herself.
तया स राजर्षिसुतोऽभिकामया। समेयिवानुत्तमराजकन्यया। अतीव रामः शुशुभे मुदान्वितो विभुः श्रिया विष्णुरिवामरेश्वरः
With her, the royal sage's son, full of desire, united with the noble princess; Rama shone greatly, filled with joy, like Vishnu, lord of immortals, radiant with fortune.
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Listen to the first chapter.
स तत्र न्यवसद् भ्रात्रा सह सत्कारसत्कृतः। मातुलेनाश्वपतिना पुत्रस्नेहेन लालितः
He stayed there with his brother, honored and respected, cherished by his maternal uncle, the lord of horses, with the affection of a son.
तत्रापि निवसन्तौ तौ तर्प्यमाणौ च कामतः। भ्रातरौ स्मरतां वीरौ वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम्
While residing there, the two brothers were freely gratified; yet, the heroic brothers remembered the aged king Dasharatha.
राजापि तौ महातेजाः सस्मार प्रोषितौ सुतौ। उभौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ महेन्द्रवरुणोपमौ
The king, mighty in splendor, also remembered his two sons, Bharata and Shatrughna, who were away, equal to Indra and Varuna.
सर्व एव तु तस्येष्टाश्चत्वारः पुरुषर्षभाः। स्वशरीराद् विनिर्वृत्ताश्चत्वार इव बाहवः
All four of his sons, the best among men, were dear to him; as if they were four arms sprung from his own body.
तेषामपि महातेजा रामो रतिकरः पितुः। स्वयम्भूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः
Among them, Rama, radiant in splendor, was his father's delight; like the self-born creator among beings, he became the most virtuous.
स हि देवैरुदीर्णस्य रावणस्य वधार्थिभिः। अर्थितो मानुषे लोके जज्ञे विष्णुः सनातनः
For, at the request of the gods who desired the destruction of Rāvaṇa, the eternal Viṣṇu was born in the world of men.
कौसल्या शुशुभे तेन पुत्रेणामिततेजसा। यथा वरेण देवानामदितिर्वज्रपाणिना
Kausalyā shone with that son of immeasurable brilliance, just as Aditi, the best among the gods, shone with the wielder of the thunderbolt.
स हि रूपोपपन्नश्च वीर्यवाननसूयकः। भूमावनुपमः सूनुर्गुणैर्दशरथोपमः
He was endowed with beauty, strength, and modesty; unrivaled on earth, a son whose virtues matched those of Daśaratha.
स च नित्यं प्रशान्तात्मा मृदुपूर्वं च भाषते। उच्यमानोऽपि परुषं नोत्तरं प्रतिपद्यते
He was always calm in mind, spoke gently first, and even when harsh words were spoken to him, he did not respond in kind.