शरत्तारकिताकाशस्तिमितायां सुसंसदि । कथयत्य् एवम् आह्लादि वसिष्ठे पावनं वचः
In the assembly, tranquil as the autumn sky adorned with stars, Vasistha speaks these pure and delightful words.
श्रवणार्थं च मौनस्थपार्थिवे संसदन्तरे । निवात इव निस्स्पन्दकमले कमलाकरे
For the sake of hearing, those in the silent assembly, grounded like the earth, sat motionless, like lotuses still in windless air.
विलासिनीषु संशान्तमदमोहबलासु च । शमम् अन्तः प्रयान्तीषु चिरप्रव्राजितास्व् इव
Among the women, whose pride, delusion, and strength had subsided, there was inner calm, as if among those long devoted to renunciation.
कराम्भोरुहहंसेषु लीनेषु श्रवणाद् इव । मूकघुर्घुरघण्टेषु चामरेषु लिपाव् इव
The hands, like lotuses, rested quietly as if listening; the fans, like mute bells, were still, as if absorbed in silence.
नासाग्रपरिविश्रान्ततर्जन्यङ्गुलिकोटिषु । विचारयत्सु विज्ञानकलां तज्ज्ञेषु राजसु
The tips of index fingers, placed near the nostrils, were motionless in contemplation, as the wise kings reflected on the subtle knowledge.
रामे विकासम् आयाते प्रभात इव पङ्कजे । परित्यक्ततमःपीठे सूर्योदय इवाम्बरे
As Rama blossomed, like a lotus at dawn, the darkness having been abandoned, just as the sky at sunrise.
आकर्णयति वासिष्ठीर् गिरो दशरथे रसात् । कलापिनीव जीमूतनिर्ह्रादम् उरुवर्षणम्
The son of Dasaratha listened to Vasistha’s words, as a peacock listens intently to the deep, thundering sound of clouds about to pour rain.
आहृत्य सर्वभोगेभ्यो मनो मर्कटचञ्चलम् । श्रवणं प्रति यत्नेन भरते मन्त्रिणि स्थिते
Having withdrawn his restless mind, like a monkey, from all enjoyments, Bharata, with the ministers present, applied himself with effort to listening.
वसिष्ठोक्त्या परिज्ञाते स्वात्मनीन्दुकलामले । लक्ष्मणे विलसल्लक्ष्ये शिक्षाबलविलक्षणे
Lakshmana, in whom the pure moon-like Self had been realized through Vasistha’s teaching, shone as the very embodiment of discernment, beyond the power of instruction.
शत्रुघ्ने शत्रुदलने चेतसा पूर्णतां गते । अलम् आनन्दम् आयाते राकाचन्द्रोपमे स्थिते
Shatrughna, destroyer of foes, whose mind had attained fullness, stood there, filled with joy, like the full moon on the night of the full moon.
सुमन्त्रे मित्रतां याते मनसीन्द्वंशुशीतले । विकासिहृदये जाते तत्काल इव पङ्कजे
Sumitra’s son, whose mind had become cool as moonbeams and whose heart had blossomed, stood there as a lotus does at that very moment.
तत्रस्थेषु तथान्येषु तदा मुनिषु राजसु । आधौतचित्तरत्नेषु प्रोच्छ्वसत्स्व् इव चेतसा
There, as the sages and kings stood, their minds purified like flawless jewels, it was as if their hearts were exhaling in relief.
उदभूत् पूरयन्न् आशाः कल्पाभ्ररवमांसलः । अथ मध्याह्नशङ्खानाम् अब्धिघोषसमस् स्वनः
Then arose a sound, filling all directions, deep as the rumble of thunderclouds at the world’s end, like the mighty roar of conches at midday, equal to the ocean’s tumult.
महता तेन शब्देन तिरोधानं मुनेर् गिरः । ययुर् जलदनादेन कोकिलध्वनयो यथा
By that great sound, the sage’s words were drowned out, just as the calls of cuckoos are overpowered by the rumble of thunderclouds.
मुनिर् अन्तरयां चक्रे स्वां वाचम् अथ संसदि । जितसारो गुणः केन महता समुदीर्यते
The sage then withheld his speech in the assembly; for who can make manifest a profound truth when its essence is lost amid great noise?
मुहूर्तमात्रम् अथ तं श्रुत्वा मध्याह्ननिस्स्वनम् । घने कोलाहले शान्ते रामं मुनिर् उवाच ह
After listening for a moment to that midday clamor, when the tumult had subsided, the sage addressed Rama.
रामाद्यतनम् एतावद् आह्निकं कथितं मया । प्रातर् अन्यत् प्रवक्ष्यामि वक्तव्यम् अरिमर्दन
Rama, I have recounted to you the events of this day; tomorrow morning, O destroyer of foes, I will speak further of what remains to be told.
इदं नियतितः प्राप्तं कर्तव्यं यद् द्विजन्मनाम् । मध्याह्नसवनं तन् नः कार्यम् आर्यावसीदति
Now it is time for the midday ritual, which is the prescribed duty of the twice-born; let us perform it, for the noble ones are waiting.
त्वम् अप्य् उत्तिष्ठ सुभग समस्तां सवनक्रियाम् । आचराचारचतुर स्नानदानार्चनादिकाम्
You too, fortunate one, arise and skillfully perform all the ritual acts—bathing, giving, worship, and the rest—properly and completely.
इत्य् उक्त्वा मुनिर् उत्तस्थौ समं दशरथेन सः । संसदस् सेन्दुर् आदित्य उदयाद्रितटाद् इव
Having spoken thus, the sage rose together with Dasharatha, and the assembly rose as the moon and sun rise from behind the eastern mountain.
तयोर् उत्थितयोस् सर्वा सभोत्थातुम् अकम्पत । मन्दवातपरामृष्टा नलिनीवालिलोचना
As the two rose, the entire assembly stirred to stand, their eyes, like lotus stalks, gently touched by a soft breeze.
उत्तस्थौ सावतंसोत्थभृङ्गमण्डलमण्डिता । करिसेनेव विन्ध्याद्राव् आलोलकरपुष्करा
She rose, adorned with a cluster of bees upon her ear-ornament, her lotus-like hand swaying, like an elephant troop on Mount Vindhya.
परस्परांससङ्घट्टचूर्णिताङ्गदमण्डला । रत्नचूर्णारुणाम्भोदसन्ध्यासमयसूचिनी
Her armlets were powdered and reddened from mutual contact, resembling the twilight sky tinged by clouds of crushed jewels.
पतदुत्तंसविभ्रान्तभृङ्गोपाहितघुङ्घुमा । मुकुटोद्दामविद्योतशक्रचापीकृताम्बरा
As her upper garment slipped, bees hovered and buzzed, while her towering crown shone, making the sky appear like Indra’s rainbow.
कान्तालताहस्तदलचलच्चामरमञ्जरी । वनलेखेव विक्षुब्धवरवारणमण्डला
Her beloved’s vine-like hand waved the chowrie fan, like a forest path stirred by the movement of a herd of noble elephants.
कचत्कटकरत्नाश्रिकृष्टान्योऽन्यातताम्बरा । वातव्याधूतपुष्पेव मन्दारवनमालिका
Her bracelets and jeweled bangles clashed and drew her garment aside, like a garland of mandara flowers tossed by the wind in a grove.
कस्तूरीकणनीहाररचितामलवारिदा । शरद्दिक्तटमालेव प्रसृताशेषभूमिपा
She was like a pure raincloud formed from musk mist, spreading over all the earth like the autumn sky’s expanse.
लोलमौलिमणिव्रातपाटलाम्बरकोटरा । सन्ध्येवाकुललोलाब्जकार्यसंहारकारिणी
Her hair was adorned with clusters of red-tinted jewels, her garment’s folds like the restless lotus at dusk, bringing about the close of day’s activities.
रत्नांशुसलिलापूरा मुखपद्मनिरन्तरा । पद्मिनीवालिवलिता नूपुरारावसारसा
Streams of jewel-light poured from her lotus face, as she moved with the grace of a lotus pond’s ripples, her anklets ringing in melodious waves.
सन्तता सा सभोत्तस्थौ भूभृच्छतसमाकुला । भूतसन्ततिसम्पूर्णा सृष्टिर् नवम् इवोदिता
That creation, ever-continuous, arose, crowded with hundreds of mountains, filled with multitudes of beings, as if newly manifested.