Passage 1
लक्ष्मण उवाच— जानासि किं नु जगदीशमिमं सुमन्त्र रामं त्रिलोकरमणीयगुणाभिरामम्। एष स्वयं स भगवानखिलात्मभूतो यं नेति नेति विभृतं निगदन्ति वेदाः॥१॥
Lakṣmaṇa said: “Sumantra, do you know this Rāma, Lord of the universe, delightful with virtues that enchant the three worlds? He is the Supreme Lord himself, the Self of all, whom the Vedas declare expansively through ‘not this, not this.’
Passage 2
भूभारकारिविविधासुरवाहिनीनामेष क्षयं कलयितुं कृपयावतीर्णः। श्रीमत्प्रमोदवननित्यनिकुञ्जकेलि- बद्धादरः सहजया स्वभुजोपगूढः॥२॥
“He has descended in compassion to destroy the many demonic armies that burden the earth. Yet his eternal delight is the secluded play of glorious Pramoda forest, where he embraces Sahajā with his own arms.
Passage 3
तन्मण्डलं विजयतेऽस्य महाविलास- नित्यास्पदं कनकरत्नमयं मनोज्ञम्। लक्ष्मीसहस्रशतकेलिकलासमेतं संगीतनृत्यबहुगानविधानयुक्तम्॥३॥
“Victorious is that enchanting golden and jeweled realm, eternal seat of his great play, filled with the arts of dalliance of hundreds of thousands of goddesses of fortune and rich with music, dance, and every form of song.
Passage 4
तत्र स्वयं सहजयाश्रितवामपार्श्वः संफुल्लहेमलतयेव तमालवृक्षः। शृङ्गारसारसुविहारभरप्रकार- संशोभितारमणिहारधरो विभाति॥४॥
“There he shines with Sahajā at his left side, like a tamāla tree embraced by a flowering golden vine, adorned with love’s garland and the abundant modes of play that embody the essence of divine romance.
Passage 5
यावद्व्रजप्रणयिनीगणसाभिलाष- चक्षुश्चकोरपरिपोषणपूर्णचन्द्रः। आनन्दवृन्दमकरन्दकरामिताङ्घ्रि- मन्दारजस्तबकमोहितभक्तभृङ्गः॥५॥
“He is the full moon that nourishes the cakora-like eyes of all the loving women of Vraja, while devotee-bees are enchanted by the mandāra clusters of his feet, laden with the nectar of massed bliss.
Passage 6
नित्योत्सवप्रमुदिताखिलपार्षदौघ- संसेव्यमानकमनीयतमस्वरूपः। बर्हावतंसपरिपृक्तमहामणीन्द्र- मार्तण्डस्फोटिकिरणप्रकरावकीर्णः॥६॥
“His supremely lovely form is served by hosts of companions delighted in an eternal festival. Rays burst like suns from the great jewels woven into his peacock-feather ornament and spread on every side.
Passage 7
प्रत्यक्षलक्ष्यविरहातुरदिव्यकान्ता- सन्दोहसङ्गत उदारगुणाम्बुराशिः। वृन्दावनावनिपुरन्दरसंस्थात्म- सत्ताविजृम्भितमहामहनीयभावः॥७॥
“That ocean of noble virtues is surrounded by divine beloveds pained whenever he passes beyond their direct sight. His being expands in the greatly exalted mood of the sovereign of Vṛndāvana’s land.
Passage 8
वैकुण्ठनाथवसतौ परमेऽन्तरिक्षे गोलोकधाम्नि महसामयने परस्मिन्। क्षीरार्णवस्य पुलिने रविमण्डलान्त- र्वृन्दारकप्रवरसद्मसु तेषु तेषु॥८॥
“In the abode of Vaikuṇṭha’s Lord, in the supreme spiritual sky, in Goloka, the transcendent seat of splendor, upon the milk ocean’s shore, within the solar orb, and in the gods’ highest dwellings—
Passage 9
स्वाराज्यसम्पदि सदामृतभोगवत्यां साम्राज्यसम्पदि महीतलभोगदायाम्। अस्यांशवैभवकलामभिगम्य नित्य- मानन्दधोरणिहृदेति विशेषपूर्णा॥९॥
“—every sovereign or imperial glory, whether bestowing immortal enjoyment or earthly dominion, receives only a fraction of his majestic expansion. He alone is uniquely full, the heart-stream of eternal bliss.
Passage 10
सोऽयं प्रमोदवनकेलिकलाविलासी सर्वात्मकः सकलभूरपि सर्वशक्तिः। रामो रमाकरनिषेवितपादपद्मः श्रीमान् स्वयं स्वपिति भूमितले वनान्तः॥१०॥
“This very Rāma, enjoyer of the arts of play in Pramoda forest, the Self of all, source of every being and every power, whose lotus feet are served by the abode of fortune, now personally sleeps upon the ground at the forest’s edge.
Passage 11
जानाति को भगवतोऽस्य चिकीर्षितानि तत्त्वं च वेदशिरसा कलितं कथञ्चित्। रामस्य शासनवशान्निमिषामधीशो ब्रह्माण्डकोटिकलनाकुशलोऽयमेति॥११॥
“Who can know what this Lord intends or the truth that the Upaniṣads only partly discern? By Rāma’s command the ruler of time measures moments and skillfully reckons tens of millions of universes.
Passage 12
काले जगन्ति निखिलानि चराचराणि निःशेषमेककवलेन सभूतसूक्ष्मम्। संहृत्य रन्तुमयमात्मनि नीयतेऽन्तः स्वानन्दभोगरसिकोऽखिलयोगशक्तिः॥१२॥
“At the appointed time he swallows all worlds, moving and unmoving, together with their subtle elements, and withdraws them completely into himself. Master of every yogic power, he delights in the savor of his own bliss.
Passage 13
यावन्न सावधिपदार्थविरक्तचेता ज्ञात्वास्य निर्गुणतनोर्महिमानमित्थम्। भक्त्योपसन्नधिषणः शरणं प्रयाति तावन्न कालभयतः परिमुच्यतेऽसौ॥१३॥
“Until a person becomes detached from limited objects, understands the glory of his transcendent form, approaches with a mind softened by devotion, and takes refuge in him, that person is not freed from the fear of time.
Passage 14
नो कर्मणा न तपसा न समाधिना च न ज्ञानतोऽस्य महिमानमवैति किञ्चित्। यावन्न कम्पपुलकाश्रुमुखात्युदीर्ण- भावार्चितस्य हृदये समुदेति भक्तिः॥१४॥
“Neither ritual action, austerity, meditative absorption, nor knowledge reveals even a little of his greatness until devotion rises in the heart and worships him through trembling, horripilation, tears, and overflowing emotion.
Passage 15
वन्दे स्वसाधुजनमानसराजहंसं चञ्चन्महर्षिजनचित्तमिलिन्दपद्मम्। आनन्दवृन्दमकरन्दभरं दधानं कल्पद्रुमस्तबकसौरभमङ्घ्रिमस्य॥१५॥
“I bow to his feet, the royal swan of his saints’ minds and the lotus for the bee-like hearts of restless great sages, bearing masses of blissful nectar and the fragrance of clusters from wish-fulfilling trees.” The Hidden Festival beside the Tamasā
Passage 16
ब्रह्मोवाच— एवमालपतस्तस्य गुणान् भक्तजनप्रियान्। सुमन्त्रं प्रति सौमित्रेर्जगाम सकला निशा॥१६॥
Brahmā said: As Sumitrā’s son spoke to Sumantra in this way about Rāma’s qualities, beloved by devotees, the whole night passed.
Passage 17
तां रात्रिं भगवान् रामो महायोगेश्वरेश्वरः। रतवान् तमसातीरगोकुलस्थावराङ्गनाः॥१७॥
That night Lord Rāma, master even of the greatest lords of yoga, delighted the beautiful women dwelling among the cowherds on the Tamasā’s bank.
Passage 18
तत्राभीरकुले जातास्त्रिदशाः स्त्रीस्वरूपिणः। चिराय रामचन्द्रस्य गुणश्रवणमोहिताः॥१८॥
They were heavenly beings born in cowherd families in women’s forms, long enchanted by hearing of Rāmacandra’s virtues.
Passage 19
ता यूथशो मृगदृशः सदनेषु सुप्तान् बन्धून् सुहृत्पतिकुटुम्बजनान् विहाय। देहांश्च तान् गुणमयान् सहसा विसृज्य शुद्धात्मना रघुकुलोद्वहमेनमीयुः॥१९॥
In groups, those doe-eyed women left their sleeping relatives, friends, husbands, and household members. Suddenly setting aside bodies made of the material qualities, they approached the exalted heir of Raghu in purified spiritual forms.
Passage 20
विलासवटमूले स सीतया स्वात्मरूपया। आनन्दशक्त्या संयुक्तो रेमे गोकुलदारकैः॥२०॥
Beneath the Vilāsa banyan, Rāma, united with Sītā—his own essential form and bliss potency—delighted with the cowherd maidens.
Passage 21
तां रात्रिं तत्र रामेन्दुपूर्णचन्द्रप्रभासिताम्। उत्फुल्लकुमुदामोदमाद्यन्मधुकरस्वराम्॥२१॥
That night shone with the full-moon radiance of moonlike Rāma. Bees sang intoxicated by the fragrance of fully opened night-lotuses.
Passage 22
त्रिविधानिलसन्दोलमन्दारतरुकोरकैः। आत्मशक्त्या समुत्फुल्लैः प्रसरत्सौरभाञ्चिताम्॥२२॥
Three kinds of breeze swayed mandāra buds that blossomed through his own power and filled the air with spreading fragrance.
Passage 23
समुल्लसन्नीपतरुपुष्पसौरभशालिनीम्। गुञ्जद्भ्रमरसञ्जुष्टां कोकिलाकलकूजिताम्॥२३॥
The night was rich with the perfume of flowering nīpa trees, attended by humming bees and the sweet calls of cuckoos.
Passage 24
तमसानीरकल्लोलकौतूहलसमन्विताम्। तत्तीरवालुकाभूमिविस्तीर्णकनकासनाम्॥२४॥
The playful surging of the Tamasā’s water increased the wonder, while the sandy bank spread beneath them like a vast golden seat.
Passage 25
ताभिर्वेणुकलध्वानमोहिताभिः सुकान्तिभिः। शुद्धभक्तात्मरूपाभिः कामिनीभिः सहस्रशः॥२५॥
Thousands of radiant beloveds, embodiments of pure devotion, were enchanted by the sweet music of his flute.
Passage 26
रेमे श्रीमान् सीताकान्तः सुखैर्निधुवनोद्भवैः। समुद्धार ताः सर्वाः कालमायावशाद् भवात्॥२६॥
Glorious Rāma, Sītā’s beloved, rejoiced with them in the happiness born of divine intimacy and delivered them all from becoming under time and māyā.
Passage 27
दृढामात्मरतिं दत्त्वा मुनीनामपि दुर्लभाम्। स्वरूपमात्रासक्ताश्च कृत्वा सर्वात्मना प्रभुः॥२७॥
The all-pervading Lord gave them firm delight in his own Self, rare even for sages, and made them attached solely to his essential form.
Passage 28
चिररात्रे तथैवात्र सुप्तः समुपलक्षितः। ततः स्वयं जजागार वैदेह्या सहितः प्रभुः॥२८॥
Throughout the long night he still appeared to sleep there. Then, together with Vaidehī, the Lord himself awoke. Rāma Spares the Sleeping Citizens
Passage 29
चिरं विमृश्य मनसा सुप्तान् पौरजनान् वने। आत्मना सह सङ्क्लिष्टान् विषण्णान् वनवासतः॥२९॥
For a long time he considered the citizens sleeping in the forest, distressed alongside him and despondent because of his exile.
Passage 30
उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो भ्रातरं प्राणसम्मितम्। पश्य भ्रातरिमे पौरा मदर्थे क्लिष्टमानसाः॥३०॥
Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa, his brother dear as life, “Brother, see how these citizens’ hearts suffer for my sake.
Passage 31
त्यक्तसौख्यास्त्यक्तवासा वनवासाय चोद्यताः। अतो यावदिमे सुप्ता नोत्तिष्ठेयुः समन्ततः॥३१॥
“They have abandoned comfort and home and are resolved upon forest life. Therefore, while they remain asleep and before they rise on every side—
Passage 32
निवर्तयेयुर्न च नो वचोभिर्दीनमानसाः। तावदास्थाय सहसा स्यन्दनं तुरगैर्वृतम्॥३२॥
“—and before their downcast hearts can restrain us with further pleas, let us quickly enter the horse-drawn chariot.
Passage 33
शीघ्रगं शब्दरहितं गच्छामः पुरतो वनम्। एवमेते जना अस्मांस्त्यक्ष्यन्ति पुरवासिनः॥३३॥
“Let us travel silently and swiftly deeper into the forest. Only in this way will these city people cease following us.
Passage 34
स्वपन्ति वृक्षमूलेषु मत्प्रीतिकलिताशयाः। क्लिष्टेष्वेतेषु महती जायते मम वेदना॥३४॥
“Their hearts shaped by love for me, they sleep beneath the trees. Seeing them so afflicted causes me immense pain.
Passage 35
न तथा वनवासेन मनो मे परिदूयते। अस्मत्कृते कथं पौराः प्राप्नुयुर्दुःखसंहतिम्॥३५॥
“Forest exile does not distress my mind as much as the thought that the citizens should endure such accumulated suffering because of us.
Passage 36
एते ह्यनुगता भ्रातः सर्वे सर्वात्मनैव माम्। गच्छन्तु स्वस्वभवनं प्राप्नुवन्तु परां मुदम्॥३६॥
“Brother, all of them have followed me with their entire being. Let them return to their own homes and regain the highest happiness.”
Passage 37
इत्युक्तो रामचन्द्रेण लक्ष्मणो बुद्धिसत्तमः। प्रत्यूचे वचनं सम्यगार्याय सुमहात्मने॥३७॥
Addressed thus by Rāmacandra, wise Lakṣmaṇa replied fittingly to his great-hearted elder brother.
Passage 38
यद् विचारयसि प्राज्ञ तत्तथैव मतं मम। शीघ्रमारुह्यतामार्य स्यन्दने वेगगामिनि॥३८॥
“Wise brother, my judgment is exactly the same as yours. Please mount the swift-moving chariot at once.”
Passage 39
ततः सुमन्त्रः संयोज्य रथं जात्यैस्तुरङ्गमैः। प्राञ्जलिः श्रीमते तस्मै न्यवेदयदुपस्थितः॥३९॥
Sumantra harnessed fine-bred horses to the chariot, approached glorious Rāma with folded hands, and presented it.
Passage 40
सुप्ताः पौरजना एते न जानीयुर्यथा प्रभो। तथा भवान् गन्तुकामः सज्जोऽयं सुमहान् रथः॥४०॥
“Lord, this magnificent chariot is ready for you to depart without these sleeping citizens knowing.”
Passage 41
ततो व्यामोह्य भगवान् परान् सुप्तांश्च जाग्रतः। आस्थाय स्यन्दनवरं ततार तमसां नदीम्॥४१॥
The Lord then bewildered everyone, both sleeping and awake, mounted the finest chariot, and crossed the Tamasā River.
Passage 42
मनोज्ञं काननं प्राप तस्या अपरपारगम्। महर्षिजनसंवीतं विशुद्धाश्रममण्डलम्॥४२॥
On its farther bank he entered an enchanting forest surrounded by great sages and filled with pure hermitage settlements.
Passage 43
निष्कण्टकतरुस्तोमसंवृतं सर्वतस्ततम्। पुष्पिताच्छलताजालवेष्टितोन्नतभूरुहम्॥४३॥
Everywhere it spread beneath groves of thornless trees, its tall trunks wrapped in networks of clear flowering vines.
Passage 44
दुर्जीवरहितं नित्यमभयं फलपुष्पवत्। तमसातीरनीरोर्मिमारुतैः सुशीतलम्॥४४॥
It was forever free from savage creatures, fearless, and rich with fruit and flowers, cooled by breezes from the waves along the Tamasā’s bank.
Passage 45
पौराः सहसा प्रतिबुध्य निरीक्ष्य व्यामोहार्थं कल्पितमभिपुरि रथयानम्। श्रीमानेष पुरीमनुगत इति हृदि हृष्टाः सर्वे युगपत् साकेतपुरीमनुजग्मुः॥४५॥
The citizens suddenly awoke and saw the chariot tracks Rāma had fashioned for their bewilderment leading back toward the city. Thinking joyfully, “The glorious prince has returned to Ayodhyā,” they all went back to Sāketa at once. ॥ इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे दक्षिणखण्डे पौरजनव्यामोहनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः ॥ Thus ends Chapter Eleven of the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa, entitled “The Enchantment of the Citizens.”