Passage 1
एतत्तु नोचितं मम राघवाणां कुलेऽमले। नास्मत्कुले व्यभिचारो न कदर्यो न मद्यपः॥१॥
“This is not fitting for me in the spotless lineage of the Rāghavas. In our family there is no adulterer, no miser, and no drunkard.
Passage 2
न ब्रह्महा नातिभाषी परिभिन्नश्च कश्चित्। परिवेत्ता न चाप्यस्ति नाजितेन्द्रियवर्गकः॥२॥
“There is no killer of a brahmin, no intemperate speaker, and no transgressor; nor is there one who violates the proper order of marriage, or whose company of senses remains unconquered.
Passage 3
नाशूरो नाभिशापी च नानुदारोऽपि कश्चन। अहमीदृग्विधं कृत्वा प्रथमं कुलपांसनः॥३॥
“There is neither a coward, a habitual curser, nor anyone ungenerous. If I were the first to do such a thing, I would become the stain of my family.
Passage 4
न भवेयं यतो यूयं परकीयाः सुलोचनाः। अखिलागमेन सदृशो विधिर्नैनं वधिष्यति॥४॥
“I must not become such a man, for you are women belonging to another, beautiful-eyed ones. The rule consonant with the whole sacred canon will not condemn this judgment.”
Passage 5
इत्युक्त्वा विरते रामे दीर्घश्वासोद्धृताधराः। विवर्णवदनाः सर्वा विमनस्कास्तदाभवन्॥५॥
When Rāma had said this and fallen silent, they all drew long breaths that lifted their lips; their faces lost their color and their minds sank in despondency.
Passage 6
ऊचुश्चैनं चिरेणैताः श्यामलं पद्मलोचनाः। रामं लोकाभिरामं तमधिक्षिप्य विधेः सुताः॥६॥
After some time the lotus-eyed daughters of the Creator addressed dark-hued Rāma, the delight of the worlds, reproaching him:
Passage 7
अये अये राजकुमार राघव प्रपन्नलोकाभयदानदीक्षित। उदारता वो रघुवंशजन्मिनां न लोपिता वा रघुनाथ कर्हिचित्॥७॥
“Ah, Prince Rāghava! You are vowed to grant fearlessness to those who seek refuge. Lord of the Raghus, has the generosity of those born in your lineage ever been lost?
Passage 8
सा लुप्यतेऽस्मानपहाय संस्थिते भवत्यनल्पा ननु सद्गुणाश्रये। न केवलं सैव विलुप्यते पुनः प्रपन्नलोकस्य शरण्यतापि च॥८॥
“That abundant generosity, lodged in you as the abode of noble qualities, will disappear if you stand here after abandoning us. And not only that: your very character as the refuge of the surrendered will disappear as well.
Passage 9
तस्मादस्मांश्चिराद्धित्वा स्थिताः स्थावरजङ्गमम्। प्रपन्नाः स्वपदाम्भोजे भज राम रमापते॥९॥
“Therefore, Rāma, Lord of Ramā, do not leave us after we have waited so long through existence among the moving and unmoving. Accept us, surrendered at your own lotus feet.
Passage 10
दुरवग्रहणेनालं देवधुर्य धुरन्धर। न ते पद्मदलाक्षस्य लिप्येते सुकृतदुष्कृते॥१०॥
“Enough of this stern resistance, foremost and mighty bearer among the gods! Neither merit nor demerit clings to you, whose eyes are lotus petals.
Passage 11
अयं हि जगतो धर्मो यद् गतिः पुण्यपापयोः। नेश्वराणां हि तत्स्पर्शः स्वतन्त्रेच्छावतां प्रभो॥११॥
“The course of merit and sin is indeed the law of the world. It does not touch sovereign lords whose will is independent, O Master.
Passage 12
येषामिदं जगत्सर्वं वशे स्थावरजङ्गमम्। कस्तेषामुपरोधः स्यात् पुण्यपापादिकर्मभिः॥१२॥
“For those under whose control lies this whole world of moving and unmoving beings, what obstruction could arise from actions involving merit, sin, and the rest?
Passage 13
तस्मात् सखे रमय नोऽत्र रसालवन्यां नित्यप्रभूतकुसुमाकरपल्लवायाम्। यद्यद् विधीषासि च नो विफलावतारा व्यर्थाः प्रभूततनुरूपवयोविलासाः॥१३॥
“Therefore, friend, delight us here in this mango woodland, forever rich in flowers and fresh shoots. Whatever else you may ordain for us, our descents will have been fruitless and the abundant play of our bodies, beauty, and youth will have been wasted.
Passage 14
राम त्वामाश्रितानां किं दैन्यं भवति किञ्चन। इति ते प्रसृतं नाम जागर्ति भुवनत्रये॥१४॥
“‘What distress can ever befall those who have taken refuge in Rāma?’ Your renown expressed in these words remains awake throughout the three worlds.
Passage 15
न त्वां विना भविष्यामो लौकिक्या तृष्णया युताः। त्वद्वियोगात् तनुं त्यक्त्वा लप्स्यामस्त्वत्पदद्वयम्॥१५॥
“We will not live without you, nor are we moved by a worldly thirst. If separation from you makes us abandon our bodies, we shall attain your two feet.
Passage 16
वियोगानलभारेण भस्मीभूता वयं यदा। उदीर्य राम यास्यामस्त्वदागमपथे तदा॥१६॥
“When the crushing fire of separation has reduced us to ash, then, rising up, Rāma, we shall go upon the path by which you come.
Passage 17
एवमेव भविष्यामस्त्वया चेदवहेलिताः। वियोगं न सहिष्यामो ब्रह्मकल्पान्निषेवितम्॥१७॥
“This alone will happen if you disdain us. We shall not endure separation after serving and waiting through a kalpa of Brahmā.”
Passage 18
इत्युक्त्वा विरते तस्मिन् युवतीनां कदम्बके। रामः प्रोवाच विहसन् गिरा मधुरया पुनः॥१८॥
When that assembly of young women had spoken and fallen silent, Rāma smiled and replied again in a sweet voice. Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 19
अहो अनन्यभावेन भवतीनां वशीकृतः। अहं यथा व्रजे तिष्ठन् प्रेम्णा गोपमृगीदृशाम्॥१९॥
“Ah, your single-hearted love has brought me under your control, just as when I dwelt in Vraja and was mastered by the love of the doe-eyed cowherd women.” The maidens said:
Passage 20
अहो रघुकुलोत्तंस त्वं क्रीडन् व्रजवत्ससु। आभीरदारैः संयुक्तः कदाचिदिह संगतः॥२०॥
“Ah, crest-jewel of the Raghu family! Once, while sporting among the calves of Vraja and accompanied by the cowherd women, you came together with us here.
Passage 21
तथा त्वयि व्रजस्त्रीणां प्रेमभावमलौकिकम्। दृष्ट्वा विचित्रिताः सर्वा लताभावेऽपि चेतनाः॥२१॥
“Although then embodied as vines, we remained conscious. Seeing the otherworldly love of the women of Vraja for you, we were all filled with wonder.
Passage 22
मनसा कृतसंकल्पास्तदा सर्वा अपि स्त्रियः। करवाम व्रजस्त्रीवदिमं कान्तं लभाम चेत्॥२२॥
“All of us women then resolved in our minds: ‘If we obtain this beloved, let us act just like the women of Vraja.’
Passage 23
अहो अत्यद्भुतो ह्येष कान्तो नवनवद्युतिः। धन्या इमा व्रजे रामा यासां प्राणधनं ह्यसौ॥२३॥
“Ah, this lover is exceedingly wondrous, his radiance forever fresh! Blessed are these lovely women in Vraja for whom he is the treasure of their lives.” Śrī Rāma said:
Passage 24
अहं प्रेम्णा परिक्रीतो व्रजभक्तैर्वशीकृतः। साक्षीभूता भवन्त्योऽपि प्रमोदवनपार्श्वगाः॥२४॥
“I was purchased by love and brought under the control of the devotees of Vraja. You too became witnesses while standing beside Pramoda-vana.
Passage 25
अधुना भवतीनामप्यहं कृत्वा करग्रहम्। क्रीडिष्याम्यद्य विपिने प्रेमैकसुलभो यतः॥२५॥
“Now I shall take your hands as well and sport in the forest today, for I am attained through love alone.
Passage 26
ज्ञानवैराग्ययोगाद्यैर्न प्रापुर्मुनयः प्रियम्। तं मां भवत्यः प्राप्स्यन्ति स्थावरा लतिका अपि॥२६॥
“The sages did not attain beloved me through knowledge, dispassion, yoga, and the rest; yet you shall attain me even though you were immobile vines.
Passage 27
युष्माकं गुरवो गोप्यो याभ्यो मत्प्रेमशिक्षिताः। अतः परं भवाम्भोधेः पारं यास्यथ सुव्रताः॥२७॥
“The cowherd women are your teachers, from whom you learned love for me. Henceforth, women of noble vows, you shall cross beyond the ocean of becoming.”
Passage 28
ततस्ताः रमयाञ्चक्रे रामः कमललोचनाः। षट्त्रिंशत्कोटियुवतीः सेवमानो रघूत्तमः॥२८॥
Then Rāma delighted those lotus-eyed women. The best of the Raghus attended upon the thirty-six crore maidens.
Passage 29
वैषम्यं नाभजत् तासु पूर्णः पुरुषपुङ्गवः। तदा प्रादुरभूद् रात्रिर्नित्यकेलीनिकेतनः॥२९॥
The complete and foremost Person showed no partiality among them. Then night appeared, an abode for eternal play.
Passage 30
सद्यः पूर्णशरच्चन्द्र उद्ययौ व्योममध्यतः। नानाविधानि पुष्पाणि रसालविपिनान्तरे॥ ज्योत्स्नाज्योतिविकासीनि सद्यो व्याकोशतां दधुः॥३०॥
At once the full autumn moon rose into the middle of the sky. Within the mango woodland, flowers of many kinds, unfolding in the moonlight’s radiance, immediately opened their cups.
Passage 31
पूर्वं वनं रञ्जितमिन्दुभासा पुनश्च सद्यः स्नापितं कुङ्कुमेन। क्षणादभूच्छारदचन्द्रकान्तिश्रीखण्डपूरद्रवलिप्तकल्पम्॥३१॥
First the forest was colored by moonlight and then at once bathed in saffron. In a moment, under the autumn moon’s splendor, it seemed anointed with a flood of liquid sandalwood.
Passage 32
शीतलः सुरभिर्मन्दः प्रावाद् धीरः समीरणः। सरयूनीरकल्लोलसमुच्छालनकौतुकी॥३२॥
A cool, fragrant, gentle, steady wind blew, playfully eager to toss up the waves of the Sarayū’s water.
Passage 33
शृङ्गाररसचेष्टाभिस्तासां रामोऽपि रञ्जितः। झणज्झणितमञ्जीरनूपुराणां समन्ततः॥३३॥
Rāma too was delighted by their gestures of amorous rasa, while jeweled anklets and foot-bells rang “jhaṇa-jhaṇa” all around.
Passage 34
ता एकदा रामकिशोरकस्य वरस्रजो निदधुः कण्ठदेशे। समुल्लसत्कामविकारभाजः प्रकर्षमाणाः पुलकेनावकीर्णाः॥३४॥
Together they placed excellent garlands around young Rāma’s neck. Manifesting the transformations of love, they drew close, their bodies covered with thrilling horripilation.
Passage 35
वृतासु तासु रामेण स्वामिना व्यक्तमूर्तिना। प्रभुणा रामचन्द्रेणेत्यवादीद् भुवनत्रयम्॥३५॥
When manifest Rāmacandra, their Lord and Master, had chosen them, the three worlds made this proclamation:
Passage 36
ब्रह्मकल्पं समारभ्य अद्यावधिपरार्थिनीः। एता रामः स्वयं वव्रे महाकारुणिकः प्रभुः॥३६॥
“From the beginning of Brahmā’s kalpa until today these women sought the Supreme. Rāma, the greatly compassionate Lord, has now chosen them himself.”
Passage 37
इति ब्रह्मा प्रसन्नोऽभूत् कन्यापरिणये कृते। प्रभुणा राघवेन्द्रेण स्वतन्त्रेच्छेन धीमता॥३७॥
Brahmā was pleased when the wise and independently willing Rāghavendra completed the maidens’ marriage.
Passage 38
तासामाभीरदाराणां तुष्टिं रामः स्वयं ददौ। रसालविपिनेऽद्यापि क्रीडति प्राणजीवनः॥३८॥
Rāma himself gave fulfillment to those women who followed the cowherd wives’ way. He who is the very life of their lives sports in the mango woodland even now. Thus ends Chapter Eighty-four, called “The creepers’ choosing,” in the account of the creepers’ liberation within the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Source note This chapter is transcribed directly from printed pages 353–356 of the 1975 Pūrva-khaṇḍa witness (source leaves 484–487). The archival page images are authoritative; OCR was used only to locate the chapter. The compact and syntactically difficult readings in verses 4, 9, 13, and 34 have been retained rather than silently rewritten. Verse 30 is one numbered unit of three printed lines. Verse 31 reads śrīkhaṇḍapūradravaliptakalpam in the scan, and verse 32 reads prāvād dhīraḥ; both control OCR corruptions. The edition records variants for verses 4, 16, 37, and for the colophon’s title, but the main text governs this transcription.