बृहत्कुसुमदोलाभ्यः प्रसृताभ्यस् समन्ततः । वाति मांसलम् आमोदम् आदाय मधुरानिले
From the great flower-swinging branches spread all around, the sweet breeze carried a rich fragrance.
वातायनेषु मृदुषु कुसुमाकीर्णभूमिषु । पर्यङ्केषूपविष्टासु पश्यन्तीषु पुरन्ध्रिषु
Seated on couches by gentle windows, upon floors strewn with flowers, the noble women gaze about.
जालागतार्ककरलोलविलोचनासु रत्नप्रभाप्रकरपिङ्गलचामरासु । सन्त्यक्तचापललवं चपलाबलासु मौनस्थितासु सितचामरधारिणीषु
Their eyes wander to the sunlight playing through the lattice, to the tawny fans shining with gems; restless only in trace, these lively young women sit in silence, holding white chāmaras.
मुक्ताफलप्रतिफलत्प्रतिमार्करश्मिशारोदरास्व् अजिरभूमिषु चण्पकौघम् । नास्वादयत्य् अभिनवातपबिन्दुबुद्ध्या भ्रान्त्या भ्रमिण्य् अलिबले नभसीव मेघे
On the courtyard floors, where pearls reflect the rays of the sun like a second moon, the swarm of bees does not taste the fresh drops of sunlight, mistaking them for something else, just as a bee, deluded, circles a cloud in the sky.
पुण्यो वसिष्ठवचनप्रसरश् श्रुतो यस् तं शंसति प्रसृतविस्मयम् आर्यलोके । संसद्गते मृदुपदाक्षरमुग्धवाक्यम् अन्योऽन्यम् उत्स्मितम् अनल्पगुणाभिरामम्
He who has heard the sacred flow of Vasiṣṭha’s words praises it with wonder among the noble, speaking in gentle, clear, and charming phrases, each smiling at the other, delighting in its many virtues.
दिग्भ्यः पुराच् च गगनाच् च नृपर्षिसिद्धविद्याधरार्यमुनिविप्रगणे विशिष्टे । मौनप्रणामम् अभितः प्रविशत्य् अशब्दं सोपांशु गौरववता सह जातवाक्ये
From every direction—city, sky, and beyond—the assembly of kings, sages, siddhas, vidyādharas, noble monks, and brahmins, distinguished among all, enters silently, with gestures of reverent silence, together with those whose words are born of gravity.
उन्निद्रकोकनदकोमलकोशकृष्टमत्तालिजालमकरन्दसुवर्णरागैः । आपिङ्गले मरुति वाति विलोलघण्टाटाङ्कारगीतवति पीतनिशाम्बुशीते
The air stirs the golden-dusted swarms of intoxicated bees drawn to the half-open, lotus-soft buds, while the tinkling of swinging bells resounds, and the cool night dew has been drunk.
अगुरुतगरधूमे चन्दनामोदमिश्रे सरसकुसुमदामोद्दामगन्धाङ्किताभ्रे । सरति सितवितानाम्भोरुहावर्तलेशैश् चलकुसुमरजोऽङ्कैश् शब्दविज्ञातभृङ्गम्
Fragrant clouds, marked by the mingled scent of sandalwood and incense, drift above, perfumed by the heady aroma of fresh flowers; in their folds, the dust of scattered blossoms clings, and the hum of bees is heard.
मेघगम्भीरया वाचा विस्रब्धपदसुन्दरम् । इदं दशरथो वाक्यम् उवाच मुनिनायकम्
With a voice deep as thunderclouds, clear and confident in every word, Daśaratha spoke these words to the chief of sages.
भगवन् ह्यस्तनेन त्वं वाक्यसन्दर्भजन्मना । कच्चिन् मुक्तो ऽसि खेदेन तपःकार्श्यातिशायिना
O venerable one, by your discourse yesterday, which was born of the context of wise words, have you been freed from the weariness that surpasses even the emaciation caused by austerities?
ह्यस् त्वयोक्तो य आनन्दी विविक्तो वचसां गणः । अमृतावर्षणेनेव तेनेहाश्वासिता वयम्
Indeed, the words you spoke—joyful and distinct from the multitude of ordinary speech—have refreshed us here, as if by a shower of nectar.
चन्द्रांशव इवोत्सार्य तमांस्य् अमृतनिर्मिताः । अन्तश् शीतलयन्त्य् एता महताम् अमला गिरः
Just as moonbeams, made of nectar, dispel darkness, so too do these pure words of the great cool the heart from within.
अपूर्वाह्लाददायिन्य उच्चैस्तरपदाश्रयाः । अतिमोहापहारिण्यस् सूक्तयो ऽमृतवृष्टयः
Bestowing unprecedented delight, resting in the highest meaning, these wise sayings are showers of nectar that remove even the deepest delusion.
आत्मरत्नावलोकैकदीपिका पारमार्थिकी । यस्माद् उक्तिलतोदेति स वन्द्यस् सज्जनद्रुमः
He is to be revered as a tree of virtue, from whom arises a vine of speech that is the sole lamp illuminating the jewel of the Self and the ultimate truth.
दुरीहितं दुर्विहितं सर्वं सज्जनसूक्तयः । प्रमार्जयन्ति शीतांशोस् तमस्काण्डम् इवांशवः
All the misdeeds and ill-fated actions are wiped away by the wise sayings of the virtuous, just as the rays of the cool moon dispel masses of darkness.
तृष्णालोभादयो ऽस्माकं संसारनिगडा मुने । तवोक्त्या तनुतां याताश् शरदीवासिताम्बुदाः
Desires, greed, and the like—the chains of worldly existence for us—have become thin by your words, O sage, just as autumn disperses the clouds.
सम्प्रवृत्ता वयं द्रष्टुम् आत्मानम् अपकल्मषम् । रसाञ्जनानीतदृशो जात्यन्धा इव काञ्चनम्
We have now begun to behold the stainless Self, our vision clarified by your teachings, like those born blind who, with eyes anointed, see gold for the first time.
संसारवासनानाम्नी मिहिका हृदयाम्बरे । प्रवृत्ता तनुतां गन्तुं त्वदुक्तिशरदेह नः
The mist called the tendencies of worldly existence, in the sky of the heart, has begun to thin because of the autumn of your words.
मुने मन्दारमञ्जर्यस् तरङ्गा वामृताम्भसः । न तथाह्लादयन्त्य् अन्तर् यथोदारधियां गिरः
O sage, the waves of nectar from the coral blossoms of the heavenly tree do not bring as much delight within as the words of those with noble understanding.
यद् यद् राघव संयाति महाजनसपर्यया । दिनं तद् इह सालोकं शेषास् त्व् अन्धा दिनालयः
O Raghava, each day that passes in the company of great souls here is truly illuminated; the rest are but blind days dwelling in darkness.
राम राजीवपत्त्राक्ष प्रकृतार्थदिदृक्षया । मुनिम् आबोधय पुनः प्रसादे समवस्थितम्
Rama, lotus-eyed one, eager to see the true nature of things, once again awaken the sage who abides in tranquility.
इत्य् उक्ते भूभृता तत्र रामाभिमुखम् आस्थितः । उवाचेदम् उदारात्मा वसिष्ठो भगवान् मुनिः
When the king had spoken thus, the noble-hearted sage Vasistha, facing Rama, addressed him with these words.
राघव स्वकुलैकेन्दो तं मयोक्तं महामते । कच्चित् स्मरसि वाक्यार्थं पूर्वापरविचारितम्
Raghava, sole moon of your lineage, wise one, do you remember the meaning of what I have previously explained, having considered it from all sides?
उत्पत्तीनां विचित्राणां सत्त्वादिगुणभेदतः । कच्चित् स्मरसि सर्वासां विभागम् अरिमर्दन
Do you recall, O destroyer of foes, the distinctions among all the various creations according to the differences in the qualities of sattva and the others?
कच्चित् सर्वम् असर्वं च सद् असच् च सदोदितम् । रूपं स्मरसि देवस्य विमलं परमात्मनः
Do you remember the ever-taught form of the divine, O Rama—the all, the not-all, the existent and the non-existent, the pure form of the supreme Self?
यथेदम् उदितं विश्वं विश्वेशाद् ईश्वरेश्वरात् । कच्चित् स्मरसि तत् साधो साधुवादैकभाजन
Just as this universe has arisen from the Lord of the universe, the ruler of rulers—do you recall that, O noble one, who is the sole recipient of noble teachings?
रूपं कच्चिद् अविद्यायाः फल्गुभङ्गुरम् आततम् । अनन्तम् अन्तवच् चैव सम्यक् स्मरसि सन्मते
Do you truly remember, O wise one, that the form of ignorance is spread out, slight and fragile, infinite yet appearing finite?
चित्तम् एव नरो नान्यद् इति यत् प्रतिपादितम् । लवणादिविचारेण कच्चित् स्मरसि साधु तत्
Do you recall well, O virtuous one, what was established—that the mind alone is the person, and nothing else—through the inquiry into salt and so forth?
वाक्यार्थश् चाखिलः कच्चित् त्वया राम विचारितः । ह्यस्तनस्य विचारस्य रात्रौ हृदि निवेशितः
O Rama, have you thoroughly examined the meaning of all the statements, and has last night's inquiry been placed in your heart?
भूयो भूयः परामृष्टं हृदये सुनियोजितम् । प्रयोजनं फलत्य् उच्चैर् न हेलाहतसंस्थिति
What is repeatedly reflected upon and firmly established in the heart bears fruit abundantly; not so when it is neglected or treated carelessly.