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.
तेन पूरयता वेगान्मध्ये भग्नं द्विधा धनु: । तस्य शब्दो ऽभवद्भीम: पतितस्याशनेरिव ।। २.११८.
As he drew it with force, the bow broke in the middle into two; its sound was terrifying, like thunder falling from the sky.
ततो ऽहं तत्र रामाय पित्रा सत्याभिसन्धिना । निश्चिता दातुमुद्यम्य जलभाजनमुत्तमम् ।। २.११८.
Then, my father, true to his word, resolved to give me to Rāma, and raised the excellent vessel of water.
दीयमानां न तु तदा प्रतिजग्राह राघव: । अविज्ञाय पितुश्छन्दमयोध्याधिपते: प्रभो: ।। २.११८.
But at that time, Rāghava did not accept what was being given, not knowing the wishes of his father, the lord of Ayodhyā.
तत: श्वशुरमामन्त्र्य वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम् । मम पित्रा त्वहं दत्ता रामाय विदितात्मने ।। २.११८.
Then, after addressing my aged father-in-law, King Daśaratha, my own father gave me to Rāma, who knows his own self.
मम चैवानुजा साध्वी ऊर्मिला प्रियदर्शना । भार्य्यार्थे लक्ष्मणस्यापि दत्ता पित्रा मम स्वयम् ।। २.११८.
And my virtuous younger sister, the lovely Urmilā, was also given by my father himself as wife for Lakṣmaṇa.
एवं दत्तास्मि रामाय तदा तस्मिन् स्वयम्वरे । अनुरक्तास्मि धर्मेण पतिं वीर्यवतां वरम् ।। २.११८.
Thus I was given to Rāma at that self-choice ceremony, and I am devoted in righteousness to my husband, the best among the strong.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टादशोत्तरशततम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the one hundred eighteenth sarga of the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the ancient and noble Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
thumb|एकोनविंशत्यधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center thumb|मङ्गलशासनम्|center अनसूया तु धर्मज्ञा श्रुत्वा तां महतीं कथाम् । पर्य्यष्वजत बाहुभ्यां शिरस्याघ्राय मैथिलीम् ।। २.११९.
But Anasūyā, who knows righteousness, after hearing that great story, embraced Maithilī with her arms and kissed her on the head.
व्यक्ताक्षरपदं चित्रं भाषितं मधुरं त्वया । यथा स्वयम्वरं वृत्तं तत्सर्वं हि श्रुतं मया । रमे ऽहं कथया ते तु दृढं मधुरभाषिणि ।। २.११९.
The words you spoke were clear, well-formed, and sweet; I have heard all about how the self-choice ceremony took place from you, O sweet speaker, and I am truly delighted by your story.
रविरस्तं गत: श्रीमानुपोह्य रजनीं शिवाम् । दिवसं प्रतिकीर्णानामाहारार्थं पतत्ऺित्रणाम् । सन्ध्याकाले निलीनानां निद्रार्थं श्रूयते ध्वनि: ।। २.११९.
The glorious sun has set, and the auspicious night has come; at dusk, the sounds of birds, who spent the day searching for food, now settling to sleep, are heard.