मया दत्तमिदं सीते तव गात्राणि शोभयेत् । अनुरूपमसंक्लिष्टं नित्यमेव भविष्यति ।। २.११८.
O Sita, these gifts I bestow upon you will adorn your limbs; they are fitting, unblemished, and will remain so always.
अङ्गरागेण दिव्येन लिप्ताङ्गी जनकात्मजे । शोभयिष्यसि भर्त्तारं यथा श्रीविष्णुमव्ययम् ।। २.११८.
Anointed with this divine ointment, O daughter of Janaka, you will shine upon your husband as Lakshmi does upon the imperishable Vishnu.
सा वस्त्रमङ्गरागं च भूषणानि स्रजस्तथा । मैथिली प्रतिजग्राह प्रीतिदानमनुत्तमम् ।। २.११८.
Maithili accepted the garments, ointment, ornaments, and garlands—an unsurpassed gift of affection.
प्रतिगृह्य च तत् सीता प्रीतिदानं यशस्विनी । श्लिष्टाञ्जलिपुटा तत्र समुपास्त तपोधनाम् ।। २.११८.
Having received that gift of affection, illustrious Sita stood there with joined palms, reverently attending upon the ascetic lady.
तथा सीतासुपासीनामनसूया दृढव्रता । वचनं प्रष्टुमारेभे काञ्चित् प्रियकथामनु ।। २.११८.
As Sita sat thus in attendance, Anasuya, firm in her vows, began to ask her, following a pleasing topic.
स्वयंवरे किल प्राप्ता त्वमनेन यशस्विना । राघवेणेति मे सीते कथा श्रुतिमुपागता ।। २.११८.
O Sita, I have heard the story that you were won by this illustrious Raghava in a svayamvara.
तां कथां श्रोतुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण च मैथिलि । यथानुभूतं कार्त्स्न्येन तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ।। २.११८.
Maithili, I wish to hear that story in detail; please recount it to me fully, just as you experienced it.
एवमुक्ता तु सा सीता तां ततो धर्मचारिणीम् । श्रूयतामिति चोक्त्वा वै कथयामास तां कथाम् ।। २.११८.
Thus addressed, Sita then said to the righteous lady, 'Listen,' and began to tell that story.
मिथिलाधिपतिर्वीरो जनको नाम धर्मवित् । क्षत्रधर्मे ह्यभिरतो न्यायत: शास्ति मेदिनीम् ।। २.११८.
The valiant ruler of Mithila, named Janaka, was devoted to righteousness and governed the land according to the warrior's code and justice.
तस्य लाङ्गलहस्तस्य कर्षत: क्षेत्रमण्डलम् । अहं किलोत्थिता भित्त्वा जगतीं नृपते: सुता ।। २.११८.
As he was ploughing a field with his own hands, it is said that I, the king's daughter, arose breaking through the earth.
स मां दृष्ट्वा नरपतिर्मुष्टिविक्षेपतत्पर: । पांसुकुण्ठितसर्वाङ्गीं जनको विस्मितो ऽभवत् ।। २.११८.
Seeing me, covered in dust and intent on scattering clods, King Janaka was astonished.
अनपत्येन च स्नेहादङ्कमारोप्य च स्वयम् । ममेयं तनयेत्युक्त्वा स्नेहो मयि निपातित: ।। २.११८.
Though childless, out of affection he lifted me onto his lap, saying, 'This is my daughter,' and poured his love upon me.
अन्तरिक्षे च वागुक्ता प्रति मा ऽमानुषी किल । एवमेतन्नरपते धर्मेण तनया तव ।। २.११८.
And a voice was heard in the sky, not human, saying, 'So it is, O king; by righteousness, she is your daughter.'
तत: प्रहृष्टो धर्मात्मा पिता मे मिथिलाधिप: । अवाप्तो विपुलामृद्धिं मामवाप्य नराधिप: ।। २.११८.
Then my father, the righteous ruler of Mithila, was overjoyed and, having gained me, attained great prosperity.
दत्ता चास्मीष्टवद्देव्यै ज्येष्ठायै पुण्यकर्मणा । तया सम्भाविता चास्मि स्निग्धया मातृसौहृदात् ।। २.११८.
I was given to that noble elder goddess, who performs virtuous deeds; by her affection and maternal friendship, I was honored and cherished.
पतिसंयोगसुलभं वयो दृष्ट्वा तु मे पिता । चिन्तामभ्यगमद्दीनो वित्तनाशादिवाधन: ।। २.११८.
Seeing my age, which was ripe for easy union with a husband, my father, troubled by loss of wealth and other hardships, fell into anxiety.
सदृशाच्चापकृष्टाच्च लोके कन्यापिता जनात् । प्रधर्षणमवाप्नोति शक्रेणापि समो भुवि ।। २.११८.
In this world, the father of a maiden, whether she is equal or inferior, suffers dishonor—even if he is as mighty as Indra—if she is not properly married.
तां धर्षणामदूरस्थां दृष्ट्वा चात्मनि पार्थिव: । चिन्तार्णवगत: पारं नाससादाप्लवो यथा ।। २.११८.
Seeing that dishonor approaching, the king, overwhelmed by anxiety, could not find a way out, like a swimmer unable to reach the shore.
अयोनिजां हि मां ज्ञात्वा नाध्यगच्छद्विचिन्तयन् । सदृशं चानुरूपं च महीपाल: पतिं मम ।। २.११८.
Knowing that I was not born from a woman, the king, after much consideration, did not find a suitable and fitting husband for me among the rulers.
तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता चिन्तयानस्य सन्ततम् । स्वयं वरं तनूजाया: करिष्यामीति धीमत: ।। २.११८.
Constantly pondering, the wise king formed this resolve: 'I will arrange a self-choice ceremony for my daughter.'
महायज्ञे तदा तस्य वरुणेन महात्मना । दत्तं धनुर्वरं प्रीत्या तूणी चाक्षयसायकौ ।। २.११८.
At his great sacrifice, Varuṇa, the mighty one, gladly gave him a splendid bow and inexhaustible quivers.
असञ्चाल्यं मनुष्यैश्च यत्नेनापि च गौरवात् । तन्न शक्ता नमयितुं स्वप्नेष्वपि नराधिपा: ।। २.११८.
That bow, due to its weight, could not be moved by men even with effort; the kings were unable to bend it, not even in their dreams.
तद्धनु: प्राप्य मे पित्रा व्याहृतं सत्यवादिना । समवाये नरेन्द्राणां पूर्वमामन्त्र्य पार्थिवान् ।। २.११८.
Having received that bow, my father, who always spoke the truth, declared before the assembled kings:
इदं च धनुरुद्यम्य सज्यं य: कुरुते नर: । तस्य मे दुहिता भार्या भविष्यति न संशय: ।। २.११८.
'Whoever, raising this bow, strings it, shall have my daughter as his wife—there is no doubt.'
तच्च दृष्ट्वा धनु: श्रेष्ठं गौरवाद्गिरिसन्निभम् । अभिवाद्य नृपा जग्मुरशक्तास्तस्य तोलने ।। २.११८.
Seeing that excellent bow, massive as a mountain, the kings, after paying their respects, departed, unable to lift it.
सुदीर्घस्य तु कालस्य राघवो ऽयं महाद्युति: । विश्वामित्रेण सहितो यज्ञं द्रष्टुं समागत: । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा राम: सत्यपराक्रम: ।। २.११८.
After a very long time, this radiant Rāghava, accompanied by Viśvāmitra, came to witness the sacrifice, together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, steadfast in truth and valor.
विश्वामित्रस्तु धर्मात्मा मम पित्रा सुपूजित: । प्रोवाच पितरं तत्र भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।। २.११८.
There, Viśvāmitra, righteous and honored by my father, spoke to him about the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
सुतौ दशरथस्येमौ धनुर्दर्शनकांक्षिणौ । धनुर्दर्शय रामाय राजपुत्राय दैविकम् ।। २.११८.
'These two sons of Daśaratha desire to see the bow; show the divine bow to Rāma, the prince.'
इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण तद्धनु: समुपानयत् । निमेषान्तरमात्रेण तदानम्य स वीर्य्यवान् ।। २.११८.
Thus addressed by that sage, my father brought forth the bow; in the blink of an eye, the valiant one bent it.
ज्यां समारोप्य झटिति पूरयामास वीर्यवत् ।। २.११८.
Quickly, with strength, he strung the bow.