Passage 1
ततः प्रवर्तते घोरं तमो भावपिधायकम्। रवेरस्तमभूत्तेजः शशुभे ज्योतिषां गणः॥१॥
Then a terrible darkness arose, concealing every appearance. The sun’s light set, and the host of stars began to shine.
Passage 2
तारकौघाः प्रादुरासन्नुलूकाः सम्प्रपेदिरे। पद्मकोशान्तरे बद्धाः जुगुञ्जर्न मधुव्रताः॥२॥
Multitudes of stars appeared and owls came forth. Confined within the cups of lotuses, the bees no longer hummed.
Passage 3
मधुरोल्लाससंशोभि बभौ कैरविणीवनम्। विटपेषु च निद्राणाः पतङ्गा न च भाषिरे। संवीक्ष्य तामसीं वेलां रामः प्रोवाच जानकीम्॥३॥
The grove of night lotuses shone with sweet delight. Birds slept among the branches and made no sound. Seeing the hour of darkness, Rāma addressed Jānakī.
Passage 4
जनकनन्दिनि सम्प्रति वर्तते रजनिरुत्सुककोकगणार्तिदा। स्फुरदुलूककदम्बकमोदकृत्- तिमिरघोरपटावृतकानना॥४॥
“Daughter of Janaka, night is now present, bringing anguish to the eager hosts of cakravāka birds. It delights the gathering of active owls, and the forest is covered by a terrible cloth of darkness.
Passage 5
कटु रटन्ति च सम्प्रति फेरवाः सुकलहंसरवश्च तिरोहितः। श्रवणयोः कुरुते कटुतामसौ किमपि चक्रवधूनिवहारवः॥५॥
“Jackals now howl harshly, and the graceful call of the swans has vanished. The strange crying of the flocks of cakravāka females brings harshness to the ears.
Passage 6
न खलु सम्प्रति वञ्जुलकाननं विकसितं वितनोति दृगुत्सवम्। कुमुदिनी प्रविभर्त्ति विकासितां वितथसौरभसम्पदुपेक्षिता॥६॥
“The flowering vañjula grove no longer provides a festival for the eyes. The bed of night lotuses has opened, yet its wealth of fragrance is futile and neglected.
Passage 7
किमपि गायति च भ्रमरावली विकटकुञ्जलतावनवेश्मसु। दधति रत्नगिरेस्तटभूमय- स्तिमिरसङ्घकृतं स्वपराभवम्॥७॥
“A line of bees sings something within the forest chambers of great bower creepers. The slopes of Jewel Mountain bear their own defeat at the hands of massed darkness.”
Passage 8
इति निशम्य निशागमवर्णनं जनकजा समभाषत वल्लभम्। इयमहो रजनी न निवर्तते प्रलय एष विधेरपि नाशकः॥८॥
Hearing this description of nightfall, Janaka’s daughter replied to her beloved: “Ah, this night does not come to an end. This is the dissolution that destroys even Brahmā.
Passage 9
भजति भूतगणः प्रकृतिं परां प्रकृतिरेति परे पुरुषे लयम्। पुरुष एति भवन्तममुं परं निजविलासरतं पुरुषोत्तमम्॥९॥
“The host of beings returns to supreme Prakṛti; Prakṛti dissolves into the supreme Puruṣa; and that Puruṣa returns to you, the transcendent Supreme Person who delights in his own play.
Passage 10
त्वमधुनापि रतेर्न निवर्तसे सहजचित्सुखकेलिकलानिधिः। यदपि नाथ गता लयमीदृशाः शतश एव विरञ्चिहरीश्वराः॥१०॥
“Even now you do not cease from love-play, for you are the treasury of the art of play in innate conscious bliss, although hundreds of Brahmās, Viṣṇus, and Śivas have dissolved, Lord.
Passage 11
त्वमवधिः परमं पुरुषोत्तमः सततकालकलाकलनात्मकः। प्रिय भवन्तमुपेत्य गतोऽ- प्यसावगत एव विवात्यत इत्यहो॥११॥
“You are the ultimate limit, the Supreme Person whose nature measures every phase of endless time. Beloved, time reaches you and passes away, yet, wondrously, it appears as though it has not passed.
Passage 12
अहमपि प्रभुणा भवता सह प्रमुदकाननकुञ्जविलासिनी। न कलये प्रणयेन च सम्भवं न विरतिं सुखकेलिमहोत्सवे॥१२॥
“I too sport with you, my Lord, in the bowers of the forest of delight. Through love I perceive neither a beginning nor an end to this great festival of joyful play.
Passage 13
अथ यदि स्वपनस्पृहया प्रभो किमपि ते नयनेऽलसपक्ष्मणी। तदहमप्यधुना स्वपिमि क्षणं भवदुदारभुजान्तरवर्त्तिनी॥१३॥
“But if your eyelids have grown somewhat heavy through a desire for sleep, Lord, then I too shall sleep for a moment, resting between your generous arms.
Passage 14
भवदुरोनयनानननासिका- हृदयपाणिपदावयवाश्रिता। विरचयामि सुषुप्तिरिवोच्छ्वस- न्निगमशब्दमयीं विरतिं न किम्॥१४॥
“Resting upon the parts of your body—your chest, eyes, face, nose, heart, hands, and feet—why should I not fashion a pause like deep sleep, breathing out a sound formed of the Vedas?
Passage 15
निधुवनान्तमिता श्लथविग्रहा स्वपिमि नाथ कदा भवता समम्। स्वदयितस्य सुषुप्तिदशाजुष- स्तव मुखेन्दुनिरीक्षणं मक्षमा॥१५॥
“Exhausted and loosened in body at the end of love-play, when shall I sleep together with you, Lord? I cannot bear to look upon the moon of my beloved’s face while you enter the state of deep sleep.
Passage 16
नहि निमीलितलोचनपङ्कजो- ऽप्यथ भवानपि मां परिमुञ्चसि। सुखसुयन्त्रितदोःपरिरम्भण- प्रणयकेलिकलाकुलविग्रहः॥१६॥
“Even when your lotus eyes are closed, you do not release me. Your form is absorbed in the art of loving play, your arms holding me firmly in a pleasant embrace.
Passage 17
अलसलोचन एष सखीजनो- ऽप्यलमिह स्वपितीति विभाव्यते। इह न सोऽपि जनोऽस्ति य एत्य नो दिशति नागलतादलवीटिकाम्॥१७॥
“These companions too have heavy eyes and appear to be sleeping soundly. There is no one here who will come and offer us a prepared betel leaf from the nāga creeper.”
Passage 18
कथयतो रतिवल्लभयोर्मिथः सपदि कापि सखी सुसमाययौ। न युवयोरधुनापि दिनात्यये भवति सुप्तिरतीवविलासिनोः॥१८॥
As the two lovers spoke with one another, a certain companion immediately approached them. “Even at the end of the day, sleep still does not come to you two, so greatly devoted to play.
Passage 19
नवनिकुञ्जलतावनमण्डपे कुसुमक्लृप्ततले कुरुथो न किम्। निधुवनक्रियया सहजं सुखं स्मरविलासकलाकुशलौ युवाम्॥१९॥
“Why do you not enjoy your innate happiness through the rite of love upon a floor prepared with flowers in the new pavilion of bower creepers? You are both skilled in the arts of Love’s play.
Passage 20
निधुवनश्रमसङ्गतनिद्रयो- श्चरणवाहनमेत्य करोति या। किमु न साप्यहमद्भुतदासिका रहसि दम्पतिसुप्तिरहस्यगा॥२०॥
“Am I not that extraordinary maid who comes to massage the feet of the two who have fallen asleep from the exhaustion of love-play, and who privately knows the secret of the sleeping couple?”
Passage 21
इत्थं सखीगिरं श्रुत्वा स्मृत्वा सीतारघूद्वहौ। शय्यामन्दिरमत्युच्चैराजग्मतुरनुत्तमम्॥२१॥
Hearing and reflecting upon the companion’s words, Sītā and the foremost Raghu went to the exceedingly lofty and unsurpassed bedchamber.
Passage 22
चन्दनागुरुधूपाढ्यं कर्पूरोज्ज्वलदीपकम्। शय्यान्तावनिविन्यस्तदिव्यास्तरणगैन्दुकम्॥२२॥
It was filled with sandalwood and agarwood incense and lit by lamps bright with camphor. Divine moonlike bedding had been spread upon the floor at the bed’s end.
Passage 23
नानारङ्गसृतानेकदिव्यचित्रविचित्रितम्। कुञ्जवल्लीवनान्तःस्थमन्दारद्रुममूलगम्॥२३॥
It was variegated with numerous divine pictures flowing in many colors, and stood at the foot of a mandāra tree within a forest of bower creepers.
Passage 24
रक्तपीतप्रभाशोभिरत्नवेद्युपरि स्थितम्। सुवर्णसम्पुटन्यस्तताम्बूलदलवीटिकम्॥२४॥
It stood upon a jeweled platform shining with red and yellow light. Prepared betel leaves rested in a golden casket.
Passage 25
कल्पद्रुमप्रसूनस्त्रग्वासोलङ्कारभूषितम्। सम्भोगमल्लयुद्धान्तसुखदव्यजनाञ्चितम्॥२५॥
It was adorned with garlands of wish-tree flowers, garments, and ornaments, and furnished with fans that brought comfort after the wrestling of sexual union.
Passage 26
सुगन्धिमिष्टमधुरपक्वान्नादिसमायुतम्। प्रोद्भासिरत्नचषकोपेतमैरेयभाजनम्॥२६॥
It contained fragrant, pleasant, sweet cooked foods and other delicacies, as well as a vessel of maireya wine accompanied by radiant jeweled cups.
Passage 27
द्यूतकेलिक्रियोपायचतुष्पद्यादिसंयुतम्। हेमरत्नचतुष्कस्थपानीयकलशीयुतम्॥२७॥
It held equipment for dice-play, catuṣpadī, and other amusements, together with jars of drinking water placed upon a fourfold stand of gold and jewels.
Passage 28
रत्नज्योतिसमुद्भासिपृथुदर्पणमण्डलम्। वेश्माभ्यन्तरवेश्मान्तज्वलत्सुस्थिरदीपकम्। सखीजनकृतान्वीक्षागवाक्षशतसङ्कुलम्॥२८॥
Large circles of mirrors shone with jeweled light, and steady lamps burned throughout the inner chamber. It was crowded with hundreds of lattice windows through which the companions kept watch.
Passage 29
तत्र गत्वा निजालीभिः कृताकल्पां निजां श्रियम्। रमयामास रामेन्दुर्नवस्मररतोत्सवे॥२९॥
Going there, the moonlike Rāma delighted his own Śrī, whom her companions had adorned, in a new festival of love.
Passage 30
सख्यो जाम्बूनदीं मालां दत्त्वा सीताकराम्बुजे। रामस्य रोपयामासुः कण्ठे पुलकसुन्दरे॥३०॥
The companions placed a golden garland in Sītā’s lotus hand and had her set it around Rāma’s beautiful, horripilating neck.
Passage 31
तस्याः काञ्चीगुणग्रन्थिस्पर्शोत्कम्पिकरे प्रिये। सख्यस्तूर्णं विनिर्याताः शय्यामन्दिरतो बहिः॥३१॥
When her lover’s hand trembled at the touch of the knot in her girdle-string, the companions quickly withdrew from the bedchamber.
Passage 32
तत्रैतयोः काकुवचःशताकुलं प्रभूतकन्दर्पशरोद्धुरं रतम्। बभूव भूयो न न नेति कान्तया निवार्यमाणोद्धुरकान्तखेलितम्॥३२॥
Their intercourse there was filled with hundreds of pleading utterances and driven by the many arrows of Love. The beloved repeatedly said, “No, no,” and tried to restrain her lover’s forceful play.
Passage 33
प्रियः परीरभ्य मनोरमां प्रियां स्तनद्वयामर्दनजातसम्भ्रमाम्। चुचुम्ब बिम्बीफलकोमलेऽधरे रदव्रणारोपणजातवेदनाम्॥३३॥
Her lover embraced the beautiful woman, who was distressed by the crushing of her breasts, and kissed her soft, bimba-fruit lip, causing pain by leaving a wound from his teeth.
Passage 34
बलेन सा तस्य सुबाहुयन्त्रणां निवार्य नीवीं प्रददौ करं हि सा। द्वितीयकेन प्रसभं च पाणिना सुदूरयामास युवानमद्भुतम्॥३४॥
With force she resisted the restraint of his strong arms and placed one hand upon her waist-string. With the other hand she forcibly pushed the wondrous young man far away.
Passage 35
बली स तस्याश्चरणद्वयं जवा- न्निजांसमारोप्य मुखेन्दुमण्डलम्। चुचुम्ब सुस्निग्धकपोलभास्वरं वृतालकालीअमरीशताकुलम्॥३५॥
The powerful man quickly raised her two feet upon his shoulders and kissed the moonlike circle of her face, radiant with very smooth cheeks and crowded by hundreds of bee-like curls.
Passage 36
हठात्समाकृष्य पदद्वयेन सा विव्याध वक्षःस्थलमस्य कामिनः। ततोऽभवन्नूपुरकिङ्किणीरवः प्रसुप्तहंसौघवितीर्णसम्भ्रमः॥३६॥
Drawing back violently, she struck her lover’s chest with both feet. The sound of her anklet bells then startled the flocks of sleeping swans.
Passage 37
रामश्च तन्नूपुरयुग्मशिञ्जितै- र्मनः प्रभूतद्विगुणस्मरार्दितः। रदैर्विनिष्पिष्य रदच्छदं पुनः संरम्भतस्तत्परिरम्भमाचरत्॥३७॥
The jingling of her paired anklets doubled the force of Love afflicting Rāma’s mind. He again crushed her lip with his teeth and embraced her in passion.
Passage 38
सा रामचन्द्रस्य भुजद्वयान्तर- स्थितार्दिता वक्षसि तेन वक्षसा। चचाल नालिङ्गनसङ्गमोद्भव- प्रमोदसम्बन्धनिमीलितेक्षणा॥३८॥
Afflicted between Rāmacandra’s two arms and pressed chest to chest, she did not move. Her eyes closed under the pleasure arising from the joined embrace.
Passage 39
चुचुम्ब तस्याः स्फुटकोरकाकृती दृशोः (शौ?) सकाशी वदनं निभालयन्। तस्थौ पुनर्नीविगुणं पिधाय सा करद्वयेनोत्पुलकावलीतनुः॥३९॥
Looking upon her face, he kissed near her two eyes, which had the clear shape of buds. Her body covered in rows of horripilation, she stood covering her waist-string with both hands.
Passage 40
स तत्करौ पङ्कजकोरकाकृती हठात्समुत्क्षिप्य बभञ्ज नीविकाम्। तावत्तु सा चोरुयुगं सुवेष्टितं कृत्वा कराभ्यां च वराङ्गमप्यधात्॥४०॥
He violently lifted her bud-shaped hands and broke her waist-string. She at once locked her thighs together and covered her genitals with both hands.
Passage 41
स तन्नितम्बद्वितयं मनोरमं लिलेख सूक्ष्मैः करजैः स्मरोद्धतः। समालभच्च स्तनकुड्मलद्वयं स्ववक्षसा दीर्यदुदारकञ्चुकम्॥४१॥
Driven by Love, he scratched her beautiful buttocks with his fine nails. He pressed the two buds of her breasts with his chest, tearing her ample bodice.
Passage 42
विदीर्यमाणा कुचकञ्चुकी च सा चकार तत्र द्विगुणं श्रियं रतेः। स्तनौ सुवेशेन यथा विरासतुः प्रमत्तचक्राविव पद्मिनीदलात्॥४२॥
As her breast-bodice tore apart, she doubled the beauty of the sexual act. Her well-formed breasts shone like two intoxicated cakravāka birds emerging from the leaves of a lotus bed.
Passage 43
उदीर्णभासोः स तयोरुरोजयो- र्नखावलीं सन्निचखान नायकः। स्फुटेन्द्रगोपापयवैः समाचितौ यथा लतायाः स्तवकौ विरेजतुः॥४३॥
The lover drove rows of nail-marks into her two brightly radiant breasts. Covered with clear red marks like indragopa insects, they shone like two clusters upon a creeper.
Passage 44
साप्यस्य वक्षस्थलमुद्धृतैर्नखैः पस्पर्श किञ्चित्स्मयदुर्मदेक्षणा। आवर्जयामास च दुर्लभत्वतः स्मरातुरस्यास्य हठेन वेगिताम्॥४४॥
She too scratched his chest with her raised nails, her eyes proud and faintly smiling. By making herself difficult to obtain, she tried forcibly to turn aside the urgency of the man afflicted by Love.
Passage 45
स उत्पतन्मन्मथवाणवेपितो मदोद्धतो बाहुबलेन यन्त्रयन्। चकार बालां मधुरांशुकच्युतां विस्पष्टदीव्यज्जघनद्वयप्रभाम्॥४५॥
Shaken by the rising arrows of Love and driven by intoxication, he restrained the young woman with the strength of his arms, causing her fine garment to fall and the radiance of her hips to become fully visible.
Passage 46
विलोड्यमाना सुरते प्रियेण सा बभूव सुस्वेदकणान्तविग्रहा। तथाप्यमुञ्चत्त्रपया न कर्हिचि- न्नितान्तसंशोभिमुखावकुण्ठनम्॥४६॥
Churned by her lover during intercourse, her body became covered in fine drops of sweat. Even then, out of modesty she never released the exceedingly beautiful veil over her face.
Passage 47
पिधाय योनिं करपद्मसम्पुटे परस्परासक्तिसुसङ्गतोरुकाः। अधःस्थिताप्युच्छलतिस्म तस्य सा समानलज्जामदनद्वयाकुला॥४७॥
Covering her vulva within the joined cup of her lotus hands and holding her thighs tightly together, she rose beneath him, overwhelmed equally by modesty and desire.
Passage 48
तां केनचिद्बन्धबलेन कामुको निबद्ध्य निर्मुच्य तदोरुबन्धनम्। आरोपयामास निजोरुयुग्मके वराङ्गसौलभ्यसुनिर्वृतेन्द्रियः॥४८॥
The lustful man bound her by force, broke the lock of her thighs, and placed her upon his own thighs, his senses gratified by gaining access to her genitals.
Passage 49
निजोरुसंस्थामबलां सुयन्त्रितां ततो निबन्धाच्चलितुं च नो क्षमाम्। ददर्श वक्त्रे परिचुम्बिताधरे पराङ्मुखी तावदभूज्जवेन सा॥४९॥
He looked at the powerless woman held tightly upon his thighs and unable to move because of the restraint. As he kissed her lips, she quickly turned her face away.
Passage 50
तस्याः सुदीर्घामलकावलीं करे निगृह्य तां सम्मुखमन्वकूलयन्। ततोऽपि सा सम्मुखवर्त्तिनी प्रिया निमीलिताक्षी न बभाण किञ्चन॥५०॥
Grasping her long row of curls in his hand, he forced her face toward his. Even when facing him, the beloved closed her eyes and said nothing.
Passage 51
सामर्षसक्रोधसहर्षसत्रप- सहाससोन्मादनसाश्रुलोचना। बभूव तूष्णीमवशा सुयन्त्रिता कृताधरस्पन्दलवानुमेयगीः॥५१॥
Her eyes held indignation, anger, joy, shame, laughter, intoxication, and tears. Powerless and firmly restrained, she remained silent; only a slight movement of her lips suggested speech.
Passage 52
ततोऽस्य वक्त्रं शनकैः प्रपश्यती बभाण बाला मृदुवल्गुभाषिता। अलं जवेन प्रिय मुञ्च मुञ्च मां न नेति सम्मर्दविलोलविग्रहा॥५२॥
Then, slowly looking upon his face, the young woman spoke softly and gracefully: “Enough of this force, beloved. Release me, release me. No, no.” Her body shook under the pressure.
Passage 53
स भाष्यमाणोऽपि जवेन योनिं बभञ्ज तस्याः खलु दीनयाचितम्। हाहेति वक्त्रे करकुड्मलद्वयं प्रकुर्वती काकुशताकुला च सा॥५३॥
Although she spoke in this way and pleaded piteously, he forcefully violated her vulva. Crying “Ah! Ah!” she covered her face with both bud-like hands, overwhelmed by hundreds of pleading cries.
Passage 54
हठेन तेन व्यथितेव कामिना ररज्ज्ञ शय्यापि यथार्द्रयावकैः। कृतोद्धतां निर्दयसौरतक्रियां तत्याज मूर्च्छायितविग्रहां तु ताम्॥५४॥
Injured by that lover’s force, she seemed to redden even the bed as though with wet lac. Having performed the violent and merciless sexual act, he left her body unconscious.
Passage 55
सखीजनस्तां प्रथमे रतोत्सवे बालां कथञ्चित्प्रतिलब्धचेतनाम्। संस्नापयामास सुमङ्गलोदकैः विधानविद्भिर्निगमैः प्रबोधिताम्॥५५॥
At that first sexual festival, her companions somehow brought the young woman back to consciousness. They bathed her with auspicious waters and awakened her through Vedic texts recited by those who knew the rite.
Passage 56
इत्थं निशायामतिलङ्घ्य चेतनां चकार रामः प्रियया रतोत्सवान्। यावत्स शेते पुरुषो महोदधौ भुजङ्गराजे शयने सुषुप्तिभाक्॥५६॥
Thus throughout the night, passing beyond ordinary consciousness, Rāma held sexual festivals with his beloved for as long as the cosmic Puruṣa sleeps in deep sleep upon the serpent king in the great ocean.
Passage 57
गावश्च तस्य प्रसरन्ति सर्वतो निश्वासरूपा भुजगेन्द्रपालिताः। तौ कामिनौ निर्भरकामकेलिभिः संश्रान्तचित्तौ दधतुः स्वलीलाम्॥५७॥
His cows, protected by the serpent king and taking the form of his breaths, ranged everywhere. The two lovers, their minds exhausted by intense sexual play, continued their own līlā.
Passage 58
तदोल्वणा नाम जवेन राक्षसा उत्पेतुरुग्रा बलवत्सहिस्राः॥५८॥
Then fierce Rākṣasas named Ulvaṇa sprang up swiftly, powerful and murderous. --- Thus ends the twenty-eighth chapter, “Rāma’s Rāsa,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes The chapter occupies source leaves 246–250 and ends with verse 58 and its complete colophon on leaf 250. Verses 3 and 28 are printed in three lines, while verse 58 is printed as a single long line. The scan—not the auxiliary transcription—supplies महाकुञ्जे in the preceding chapter and controls this chapter’s restored readings रत्नवेद्युपरि in verse 24 and रोपयामासुः in verse 30. The edition’s unusual readings विवात्यत (11), स्फुटेन्द्रगोपापयवैः (43), मन्मथवाणवेपितो (45), and सहिस्राः (58) are retained rather than silently emended; the English gives their apparent intended sense. Verse 39 contains the edition’s parenthetical uncertainty (शौ?), which is retained. Verses 32–55 repeatedly portray ignored refusal and force; the translation identifies that violence directly rather than recasting it as consensual romance.