जम्बूप्रियालपनसा न्यग्रोधप्लक्षतिन्दुकाः। अश्वत्थाः कर्णिकाराश्च चूताश्चान्ये च पादपाः
Jambū, Priyāla, Jackfruit, Banyan, Fig, Tinduka, Peepal, Karnikāra, Mango, and other trees grow here.
धन्वना नागवृक्षाश्च तिलका नक्तमालकाः। नीलाशोकाः कदम्बाश्च करवीराश्च पुष्पिताः
There are also Nāga trees, Tilaka, Night-blooming Jasmine, Blue Ashoka, Kadamba, and flowering Oleander.
अग्निमुख्या अशोकाश्च सुरक्ताः पारिभद्रकाः। तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वा च तान् बलात्
There are flaming Ashoka trees, deeply red Paribhadraka trees; by climbing them or forcefully shaking them to the ground—
फलान्यमृतकल्पानि भक्षयित्वा गमिष्यथः। तदतिक्रम्य काकुत्स्थ वनं पुष्पितपादपम्
—you may eat the fruits, nectar-like in taste, and then proceed onward.
नन्दनप्रतिमं चान्यत् कुरवस्तूत्तरा इव। सर्वकालफला यत्र पादपा मधुरस्रवाः
Beyond that, O descendant of Kakutstha, is another forest with blossoming trees, like the northern Kurava groves, resembling Nandana itself.
सर्वे च ऋतवस्तत्र वने चैत्ररथे यथा। फलभारनतास्तत्र महाविटपधारिणः
There, as in the Caitraratha grove, all the seasons are present; the trees, heavy with fruit and bearing great canopies, shine everywhere.
शोभन्ते सर्वतस्तत्र मेघपर्वतसंनिभाः। तानारुह्याथवा भूमौ पातयित्वाथवा सुखम्
There, trees resembling rain clouds and mountains stand everywhere; by climbing them, or by easily shaking them to the ground—
फलान्यमृतकल्पानि लक्ष्मणस्ते प्रदास्यति। चङ्क्रमन्तौ वरान् शैलान् शैलाच्छैलं वनाद् वनम्
Lakṣmaṇa will offer you fruits that are like nectar; as you both wander from mountain to mountain and forest to forest.
ततः पुष्करिणीं वीरौ पम्पां नाम गमिष्यथः। अशर्करामविभ्रंशां समतीर्थामशैवलाम्
Then, O heroes, you will reach the lotus pond called Pampā, which is free from gravel, undisturbed, level, and without reeds.
राम संजातवालूकां कमलोत्पलशोभिताम्। तत्र हंसाः प्लवाः क्रौञ्चाः कुरराश्चैव राघव
Rāma, its sand is newly formed and it is adorned with lotuses and water lilies; there, swans, diving birds, cranes, and curlews are found, O Rāghava.
वल्गुस्वरा निकूजन्ति पम्पासलिलगोचराः। नोद्विजन्ते नरान् दृष्ट्वा वधस्याकोविदाः शुभाः
With melodious voices, they sing in the waters of Pampā; they do not fear humans when seen, being innocent of harm and auspicious.
घृतपिण्डोपमान् स्थूलांस्तान् द्विजान् भक्षयिष्यथः। रोहितान् वक्रतुण्डांश्च नलमीनांश्च राघव
You will eat those birds, large and resembling balls of clarified butter; red ones, those with curved beaks, and also reed-dwelling fish, O Rāghava.
पम्पायामिषुभिर्मत्स्यांस्तत्र राम वरान् हतान्। निस्त्वक्पक्षानयस्तप्तानकृशानैककण्टकान्
There, Rāma, you will eat the excellent fish of Pampā, freshly caught, without skin or fins, roasted, lean, and with a single spine.
तव भक्त्या समायुक्तो लक्ष्मणः सम्प्रदास्यति। भृशं तान् खादतो मत्स्यान् पम्पायाः पुष्पसंचये
Lakṣmaṇa, filled with devotion to you, will serve those fish; as you eat them, amidst the flowers gathered from Pampā.
पद्मगन्धि शिवं वारि सुखशीतमनामयम्। उद्धृत्य स तदाक्लिष्टं रूप्यस्फटिकसंनिभम्
He will draw for you water from Pampā, fragrant with lotuses, auspicious, pleasantly cool, pure, and clear like silver or crystal.
अथ पुष्करपर्णेन लक्ष्मणः पाययिष्यति। स्थूलान् गिरिगुहाशय्यान् वानरान् वनचारिणः
Then Lakṣmaṇa will give you water with a lotus leaf; and also offer large, mountain-cave dwelling monkeys, wanderers of the forest.
सायाह्ने विचरन् राम दर्शयिष्यति लक्ष्मणः। अपां लोभादुपावृत्तान् वृषभानिव नर्दतः
In the evening, as you wander, Lakṣmaṇa will show you, O Rāma, those who have turned away from the water out of greed, bellowing like bulls.
स्थूलान् पीतांश्च पम्पायां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं नरोत्तम। सायाह्ने विचरन् राम विटपी माल्यधारिणः
You will see, O best of men, large yellow ones in Pampā; in the evening, as you wander, O Rāma, trees adorned with garlands.
शिवोदकं च पम्पायां दृष्ट्वा शोकं विहास्यसि। सुमनोभिश्चितास्तत्र तिलका नक्तमालकाः
Seeing the auspicious water in Pampā, you will let go of your sorrow; there, the trees are adorned with flowers—tilaka and night jasmine.
उत्पलानि च फुल्लानि पङ्कजानि च राघव। न तानि कश्चिन्माल्यानि तत्रारोपयिता नरः
And also blooming lotuses and water lilies, O Rāghava; no man has placed those garlands there.
न च वै म्लानतां यान्ति न च शीर्यन्ति राघव। मतङ्गशिष्यास्तत्रासन्नृषयः सुसमाहिताः
Nor do they wither or fall, O Rāghava; the disciples of Mataṅga, the sages, are present there, deeply absorbed.
तेषां भाराभितप्तानां वन्यमाहरतां गुरोः। ये प्रपेतुर्महीं तूर्णं शरीरात् स्वेदबिन्दवः
For those who, burdened by carrying forest produce for their teacher, quickly dropped beads of sweat from their bodies onto the earth.
तानि माल्यानि जातानि मुनीनां तपसा तदा। स्वेदबिन्दुसमुत्थानि न विनश्यन्ति राघव
Those garlands arose then from the ascetics’ austerity, born from drops of sweat, and do not perish, O Rāghava.
तेषां गतानामद्यापि दृश्यते परिचारिणी। श्रमणी शबरी नाम काकुत्स्थ चिरजीविनी
Even today, their attendant is seen, named Śabarī, a long-lived ascetic, O descendant of Kakutstha.
त्वां तु धर्मे स्थिता नित्यं सर्वभूतनमस्कृतम्। दृष्ट्वा देवोपमं राम स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति
She, always steadfast in righteousness and revered by all beings, upon seeing you, O Rāma, divine in form, will attain the heavenly world.
ततस्तद्राम पम्पायास्तीरमाश्रित्य पश्चिमम्। आश्रमस्थानमतुलं गुह्यं काकुत्स्थ पश्यसि
Then, O descendant of Kakutstha, you will see that incomparable and secret hermitage, situated on the western shore of Lake Pampa.
न तत्राक्रमितुं नागाः शक्नुवन्ति तदाश्रमे। ऋषेस्तस्य मतङ्गस्य विधानात् तच्च काननम्
There, by the ordinance of the sage Matanga, even elephants are unable to enter that hermitage or the surrounding forest.
मतङ्गवनमित्येव विश्रुतं रघुनन्दन। तस्मिन् नन्दनसंकाशे देवारण्योपमे वने
O delight of the Raghus, that forest, renowned as Matanga's Grove, resembles Nandana and is like the gods' own woodland.
नानाविहगसंकीर्णे रंस्यसे राम निर्वृतः। ऋष्यमूकस्तु पम्पायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पितद्रुमः
In that forest, resounding with many kinds of birds, you will delight, O Rama, in perfect happiness; and before Pampa stands Rishyamuka, blossoming with trees.
सुदुःखारोहणश्चैव शिशुनागाभिरक्षितः। उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्वकालेऽभिनिर्मितः
It is exceedingly difficult to climb, guarded by young elephants, and was nobly fashioned by Brahma himself in ancient times.