Passage 1
सरस्वति महाप्राज्ञे कथमेवं ब्रवीषि नः। तुच्छं हि जगदेवेदमाब्रह्मस्तम्बतोऽखिलम्॥१॥
“Most wise Sarasvatī, how can you speak to us in this way? This whole universe, from Brahmā down to a blade of grass, is truly insignificant.
Passage 2
सारमेकं रामनाम विश्वे यस्य महात्मनः। रामस्य देववन्द्यस्य त्रयीतत्त्वार्थरूपिणः॥२॥
“The one essence in the universe is the name of that great Rāma, whom the gods adore and whose form embodies the essential meaning of the three Vedas.
Passage 3
कायेन मनसा वाचा तमेवाखिलरूपिणम्। प्रतिपद्यामहे नान्यं देवं गन्धर्वमेव च॥३॥
“With body, mind, and speech we choose him alone, whose form is everything—not any other god, nor any Gandharva.
Passage 4
अनित्यैव विधेर्लक्ष्मीर्वसूनां वासवस्य च। गन्धर्वाणां दानवानां दैत्यानां चैव रक्षसाम्॥४॥
“The splendor of Brahmā, the Vasus, and Indra is impermanent, as is that of the Gandharvas, Dānavas, Daityas, and Rākṣasas.” Brahmā said:
Passage 5
इति विज्ञाय गणितं तृणवत् सकलं जगत्। ततश्चुकोप सहसा तास्वहं प्रतिकूलतः॥५॥
“Realizing that they valued the entire universe no more than grass, I suddenly became angry with them for their opposition.
Passage 6
उवाच परुषं वाक्यं रुषा रञ्जितलोचनः। भवतीनामलभ्योऽसौ स्त्रीणां रामः सुदुर्लभः॥६॥
“With eyes reddened by anger I spoke harshly: ‘You cannot obtain him. Rāma is exceedingly difficult for women to attain.
Passage 7
भर्तृद्वारा गतिस्तासां युष्माकं विधिर्दर्शिता। तच्चेन्न मन्यथ तदा स्थावरा भवत स्त्रियः॥७॥
“‘The prescribed course shown to women is through a husband. If you do not accept it, then become immobile beings, women!
Passage 8
मां शक्रं च तथा देवं गणं सकलमद्भुतम्। गन्धर्वांश्च तथा दिव्यानन्यांश्च मम सृष्टिजान्॥८॥
“‘You have disregarded me, Indra, the whole wondrous host of gods, the celestial Gandharvas, and the others born from my creation.
Passage 9
यतोऽवगणयाञ्चक्रुर्यूयं पद्मनिलोचनाः। तेन दोषेण गन्धव्यः स्थावरीं वृत्तिमाप्स्यथ॥९॥
“‘Lotus-eyed women, because you held them in contempt, through that fault you who ought to become Gandharva brides shall obtain the condition of plants.’
Passage 10
इत्युक्त्वा परुषं शापं विरते मयि तत्क्षणात्। प्रोचुस्ताः सकलाः शप्ताः संतप्ता निजमानसे॥१०॥
“As soon as I finished pronouncing that harsh curse, all the accursed women, tormented within their hearts, spoke.” The maidens said:
Passage 11
कदा विभो विमोक्ष्यामः शापादस्माद्भयङ्करात्। असंदायन्नः संतप्ता एतद् वद पितामह॥११॥
“Lord, when shall we be freed from this dreadful curse? We are tormented and without relief; tell us this, Grandfather.
Passage 12
यथा कुर्यात् पिता नृणां सदसद्वा तथा भवेत्। पितैव चेदशुभकृत् तर्हि शर्म करोतु कः॥१२॥
“Whatever a father does to his children, good or bad, so it comes to be. Yet if the father himself causes misfortune, who will then grant well-being?” Brahmā said:
Passage 13
तदाहमूचे निजमानसोद्भवाः कन्याः स्थिताः पुरतः शापतप्ताः। निर्माय भूयः करुणावशंवदः तासां रूपं सार्थकं संविधत्सुः॥१३॥
“Then, moved again by compassion and wishing to make meaningful the form of the maidens born from my own mind, who stood before me scorched by the curse, I spoke.
Passage 14
प्राप्ते सारस्वते कल्पे द्वाविंशतितमे युगे। त्रेतायां सरयूतीरे त्रिंशद्योजनमण्डले॥१४॥
“‘When the Sarasvata kalpa arrives, in the twenty-second age, during Tretā-yuga, within the thirty-yojana region on the bank of the Sarayū—
Passage 15
अयोध्यायां ब्रह्मपुर्यां स्वयं रामो भविष्यति। भुवो भारावताराय पूर्णब्रह्म सनातनः॥१५॥
“‘—in Ayodhyā, the city of Brahman, eternal and complete Brahman himself will become Rāma in order to relieve the earth of her burden.
Passage 16
राम एव स्वयं स्वामी शापं वो मोचयिष्यति। भविष्यति च भर्ता वः स एव जगदीश्वरः॥१६॥
“‘Rāma himself, the Lord, will release you from the curse, and that very Lord of the universe will become your husband.
Passage 17
तत्पादपद्मरजसा धूतशापा भविष्यथ। तावत्तत्र लतारूपमास्थाय सरयूतटे॥१७॥
“‘The dust of his lotus feet will wash away your curse. Until then, assume the forms of creepers there on the bank of the Sarayū.
Passage 18
तिष्ठन्तु सकला यूयं रसालविपिने शुभे। इत्युक्त्वा मयि निर्याते लतास्ता अभवन् भुवि॥१८॥
“‘All of you shall remain in the lovely mango grove.’ When I departed after saying this, they became creepers upon the earth.
Passage 19
यथानिरूपिते स्थाने पुष्पवत्यः फलानताः। रसालद्रुमस्कन्धेषु परिरब्धसुविग्रहाः॥१९॥
“In the appointed place they flowered and bent beneath their fruit, their beautiful bodies embracing the trunks of the mango trees.
Passage 20
षट्त्रिंशत्कोटिगुणिताः सौरभाञ्चितविग्रहाः। वर्षावातातपहिमं सहन्त्यो व्रतकल्पिताः॥२०॥
“Multiplied into thirty-six crores, their forms adorned with fragrance, they endured rain, wind, heat, and frost as though observing a sacred vow.
Passage 21
तलच्छायानिषादीनि शिवलिङ्गानि कोटिशः। पूजयन्त्यः सुपुष्पौघैः काले-काले दिवानिशम्॥२१॥
“Day and night, at every appointed time, they worshiped with floods of lovely flowers the countless Śiva liṅgas established beneath their shade. Nārada said:
Passage 22
एवं सारस्वतं कल्पं कष्टेन समुपाश्रिताः। तासां समुद्धृतिं राम इदानीं कर्तुमर्हसि॥२२॥
“Thus they have passed the Sarasvata kalpa in hardship. Rāma, you should now bring about their deliverance.
Passage 23
अवतीर्णः सदा च त्वं परमात्मा सनातनः। समुद्धर विलम्बेन नोपेक्षस्व स्वसेवकान्॥२३॥
“You are the eternal Supreme Self, forever descending into the world. Deliver them without delay; do not neglect your servants.
Passage 24
अतः परं विलम्बस्तु तासां सौख्येऽन्तरायकः। एतद्विरिञ्चिराह त्वां राम राघवपुङ्गव॥२४॥
“Any further delay will obstruct their happiness. Rāma, chief of the Rāghavas, the Creator has told you this.
Passage 25
अतः परं प्रभो तावद्यथार्हं कर्तुमर्हसि। मया लब्धं दर्शनं ते राम पूर्णो मनोरथः॥२५॥
“Therefore, Lord, now do what is fitting. I have obtained the sight of you, Rāma, and my desire is fulfilled.
Passage 26
विहितो धातुरादेशो भक्तोद्धारकृतेऽधुना। अतः परं स्वर्गन्तुं मामनुजानासि राघव॥२६॥
“The Creator’s command concerning the devotees’ deliverance has now been conveyed. Rāghava, permit me now to return to heaven.
Passage 27
त्वद्यशो गाययिष्यामि गन्धर्वान् ललितैः स्वरैः। वीणां क्वणन् सुमधुरं सख्या तुम्बुरुणा युतः॥२७॥
“Accompanied by my friend Tumburu, I shall make the Gandharvas sing your glory in graceful tones while I sound my vīṇā most sweetly.”
Passage 28
इत्युक्त्वा निर्ययौ तस्माद्देवर्षिर्नारदाभिधः। रामेण वन्दितो भूयः सीतया चैव भक्तितः॥२८॥
Having spoken thus, the divine sage named Nārada departed from there after Rāma and Sītā had again bowed to him with devotion. Thus ends Chapter Eighty-one, called “The Creator’s petition,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Source note This chapter is transcribed directly from printed pages 345–347 of the 1975 Pūrva-khaṇḍa witness (source leaves 476–478). The archival page is authoritative; OCR was used only as a locating aid. The edition’s compressed or irregular readings gandhavyaḥ in verse 9, asandāyan naḥ in verse 11, the long construction in verse 13, talacchāyāniṣādīni in verse 21, and positive vilambena in verse 23 are preserved rather than silently emended. Verse 23 is translated by the imperative sense demanded by its following prohibition and by verse 24.