न देवीषु न नागीषु नासुरीष्वप्सरःसु च । दृष्टपूर्वा मया काचिद्रूपेणानेन शोभिता ।। ७.८८.
Among goddesses, nāgīs, asurīs, or apsarases, I have never before seen anyone adorned with such beauty.
सदृशीयं मम भवेद्यदि नान्यपरिग्रहः । इति बुद्धिं समास्थाय जलात्कूलमुपागमत् ।। ७.८८.
'She would be a fitting match for me, if she is not already claimed by another,' resolving thus, he went from the water to the shore.
आश्रमं समुपागम्य ततस्ताः प्रमदोत्तमाः । शब्दापयत धर्मात्मा ताश्चैनं च ववन्दिरे ।। ७.८८.
Coming to the hermitage, those excellent women made themselves known with sound, and the righteous Budha was honored by them.
स ताः पप्रच्छ धर्मात्मा कस्यैषा लोकसुन्दरी । किमर्थमागता चैव सर्वमाख्यात मा चिरम् ।। ७.८८.
That righteous one asked them: 'To whom does this beauty of the world belong? For what purpose have you come? Tell me everything without delay.'
शुभं तु तस्य तद्वाक्यं मधुरं मधुराक्षरम् । श्रुत्वा स्त्रियश्च ताः सर्वा ऊचुर्मधुरया गिरा ।। ७.८८.
Hearing his auspicious words, sweet and pleasing in every syllable, all those women replied to him in gentle speech.
अस्माकमेषा सुश्रोणी प्रभुत्वे वर्तते सदा । अपतिः काननान्तेषु सहास्माभिश्चरत्यसौ ।। ७.८८.
'She of lovely hips is always under our authority; she wanders with us at the edge of the forest, without a husband.'
तद्वाक्यमव्यक्तपदं तासां स्त्रीणां निशम्य च । विद्यामावर्तनीं पुण्यामावर्तयत स द्विजः ।। ७.८८.
Hearing the indistinct words of those women, the twice-born Budha recited a sacred incantation for understanding.
सो ऽर्थं विदित्वा सकलं तस्य राज्ञो यथागतम् । सर्वा एव स्त्रियस्ताश्च बभाषे मुनिपुङ्गवः ।। ७.८८.
Having understood everything as it had happened to that king, the eminent sage addressed all those women.
अत्र किम्पुरुषीर्भूत्वा शैलरोधसि वत्स्यथ । आवासस्तु गिरावस्मिञ्छीघ्रमेव विधीयताम् ।। ७.८८.
'Here, having become Kimpuruṣīs, you shall dwell on the slopes of the mountain; let a dwelling be quickly established on this hill.'
मूलपत्रफलैः सर्वा वर्तयिष्यथ नित्यदा । स्त्रियः किम्पुरुषान्नाम भर्तऽन्समुपलप्स्यथ ।। ७.८८.
'You shall always subsist on roots, leaves, and fruits; as women called Kimpuruṣīs, you will obtain a husband.'
ताः श्रुत्वा सोमपुत्रस्य वाचं किम्पुरुषीकृताः । उपासाञ्चक्रिरे शैलं वध्वस्ता बहुलास्तदा ।। ७.८८.
Hearing the words of the son of Soma, those who had become Kimpuruṣīs took up residence on the mountain, scattered in great numbers.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टाशीतितमः सर्गः
Thus ends the eighty-eighth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
श्रुत्वा किम्पुरुषोत्पत्तिं लक्ष्मणो भरतस्तदा । आश्चर्यमिति चाब्रूतामुभौ रामं जनेश्वरम् ।। ७.८९.
Hearing the origin of the Kimpuruṣas, Lakṣmaṇa and Bharata then said to Rāma, lord of people, 'This is truly wondrous.'
अथ रामः कथामेतां भूय एव महायशाः । कथयामास धर्मात्मा प्रजापतिसुतस्य वै ।। ७.८९.
Then Rama, the illustrious one devoted to righteousness, again began to recount this story of the son of the Lord of Creatures.
सर्वास्ता विद्रुता दृष्ट्वा किन्नरीर्ऋषिसत्तमः । उवाच रूपसम्पन्नां तां स्त्रियं प्रहसन्निव ।। ७.८९.
When all the Kinnari women had scattered, the best of sages spoke, with a smile, to that beautiful woman.
सोमस्याहं सुदयितः सुतः सुरुचिरानने । भजस्व मां वरारोहे भक्त्या स्निग्धेन चक्षुषा ।। ७.८९.
O lovely-faced one, I am the dearly beloved son of Soma; O graceful lady, accept me with devotion and affectionate eyes.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शून्ये स्वजनवर्जिते । इला सुरुचिरप्रख्यं प्रत्युवाच महाग्रहम् ।। ७.८९.
Hearing those words from him, in that deserted place devoid of her own people, Ila, radiant as the moon, replied to that great sage.
अहं कामचरी सौम्य तवास्मि वशवर्तिनी । प्रशाधि मां सोमसुत यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ।। ७.८९.
Gentle one, I am free to act as I wish, and I am under your authority; command me, son of Soma, and I will do as you desire.
तस्यास्तदद्भुतप्रख्यं श्रुत्वा हर्षमुपागतः । स वै कामी सह तया रेमे चन्द्रमसः सुतः ।। ७.८९.
Hearing her wondrous words, he was filled with joy; thus, the son of the Moon delighted in union with her.
बुधस्य माधवो मासस्तामिलां रुचिराननाम् । गतो रमयतो ऽत्यर्थं क्षणवत्तस्य कामिनः ।। ७.८९.
For Budha, the month of Madhu passed with Ila of the lovely face, as he enjoyed her company so much that the time seemed but a moment.
अथ मासे तु सम्पूर्णे पूर्णेन्दुसदृशाननः । प्रजापतिसुतः श्रीमाञ्छयने प्रत्यबुध्यत ।। ७.८९.
When the month was complete, the illustrious son of the Lord of Creatures, whose face was like the full moon, awoke upon his bed.
सो ऽपश्यत्सोमजं तत्र तपन्तं सलिलाशये । ऊर्ध्वबाहुं निरालम्बं तं राजा प्रत्यभाषत ।। ७.८९.
There he saw the son of Soma, arms raised, standing unsupported in the water, shining brightly; and the king spoke to him.
भगवन्पर्वतं दुर्गं प्रविष्टो ऽस्मि सहानुगः । न च पश्यामि तत्सैन्यं क्व नु ते मामका गताः ।। ७.८९.
O venerable one, I entered this difficult mountain with my followers, but I do not see my army; where have my people gone?
तच्छ्रुत्वा तस्य राजर्षेर्नष्टसञ्ज्ञस्य भाषितम् । प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यं सान्त्वयन्परया गिरा ।। ७.८९.
Hearing the words of that royal sage, who had lost consciousness, he replied with gentle words, consoling him with utmost kindness.
अश्मवर्षेण महता भृत्यास्ते विनिपातिताः । त्वं चाश्रमपदे सुप्तो वातवर्षभयार्दितः ।। ७.८९.
Your attendants were struck down by a great hailstorm, and you, tormented by wind and rain, slept in the hermitage.
समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते निर्भयो विगतज्वरः । फलमूलाशनो वीर निवसेह यथासुखम् ।। ७.८९.
Be comforted, may you be safe, free from fear and distress; O hero, live here as you wish, sustaining yourself on fruits and roots.
स राजा तेन वाक्येन प्रत्याश्वस्तो महामतिः । प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यं दीनो भृत्यक्षयाद् भृशम् ।। ७.८९.
Reassured by those words, the wise king, deeply distressed by the loss of his attendants, then replied in a sorrowful voice.
त्यक्ष्याम्यहं स्वकं राज्यं नाहं भृत्यैर्विनाकृतः । वर्तयेयं क्षणं ब्रह्मन्समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ।। ७.८९.
I will renounce my kingdom; I cannot live without my attendants. O Brahman, permit me to do so, for I cannot endure even a moment.
सुतो धर्मपरो ब्रह्मञ्ज्येष्ठो मम महायशाः । शशबिन्दुरिति ख्यातः स मे राज्यं प्रपत्स्यते ।। ७.८९.
O Brahman, my eldest son, renowned as Shashabindu, is devoted to righteousness; he will inherit my kingdom.
न हि शक्ष्याम्यहं हित्वा भृत्यदारान्सुखान्वितान् । प्रतिवक्तुं महातेजः किञ्चिदप्यशुभं वचः ।। ७.८९.
For I cannot, having abandoned my loyal attendants and wives, utter even a single harsh word, O mighty one.