Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— ते गत्वा नगरीं पौराः अपश्यन्तो रघूद्वहम्। रुदन्तो बाष्पनयनाः पतिताः शोकसागरे॥१॥
Brahmā said: The citizens returned to the city without the exalted heir of Raghu. Weeping, their eyes filled with tears, they fell into an ocean of grief.
Passage 2
मृतेषु पतिपुत्रेषु हृतेषु धनराशिषु। न तथास्ति नृणां शोको यथा रामे प्रवासिनि॥२॥
People do not grieve so deeply when husbands or sons have died or when stores of wealth have been stolen as they did now that Rāma had gone into exile.
Passage 3
रुग्णा इवातिरोगेण ग्रस्ता इव महापदा। निकृत्ता इव चाङ्गेषु दुःखमूहुः पुरीजनाः॥३॥
The people of the city bore anguish as though afflicted by a terrible disease, seized by a great calamity, or cut through their very limbs.
Passage 4
आसने शयने प्रापुः भोजने भाषणे तथा। रामेति मग्नमनसो न क्षणं स्वस्थतां ययुः॥४॥
Whether sitting, lying down, eating, or speaking, their minds remained submerged in the thought “Rāma.” Not for a moment did they regain composure.
Passage 5
पुत्रे जाते विवाहे वा रोगहानौ द्विरागमे। नोत्सवं चक्रिरे पौराः क्लिष्टा रामप्रवासतः॥५॥
Tormented by Rāma’s exile, the citizens held no celebration for the birth of a son, a wedding, recovery from illness, or the return of one long absent.
Passage 6
रामं विहाय सम्प्राप्तान् जगर्हुर्वनिताः पतीन्। यावकाञ्जनसिन्दूरभूषणादिविवर्जिताः॥६॥
The women reproached the husbands who had returned without Rāma. They gave up red foot-dye, collyrium, vermilion, ornaments, and every such adornment.
Passage 7
मलिनाङ्ग्योऽतिदुःखार्ता भृशं मलिनमानसाः। अपश्यन्त्यो जनकजां ददृशुस्तामसं जगत्॥७॥
Their bodies unadorned, stricken with extreme sorrow, and their minds deeply darkened, the women could not see Janaka’s daughter and therefore saw the whole world as darkness.
Passage 8
तमसालिप्तनयनाः सर्वं च तमसावृतम्। मेनिरे विपदं प्राप्ता अयोध्यापुरयोषितः॥८॥
Calamity had overtaken the women of Ayodhyā. With their eyes covered by darkness, they imagined everything enveloped in darkness.
Passage 9
पतिपुत्रकुटुम्बादीनाप्तस्वजनबान्धवान्। गृहान् देहान् धनं प्राणानसह्यं हृदि मेनिरे॥९॥
In their hearts they found husbands, sons, households, trusted relations and kinsmen, homes, bodies, wealth, and even life itself unbearable.
Passage 10
यासां प्राणाधिकः प्रेयान् प्रोषितो रघुनन्दनः। तासां किं भुवने प्रीत्यै विरहग्रस्तचेतसाम्॥१०॥
Raghu’s beloved descendant, dearer to them than life, had gone away. What in the world could delight women whose hearts were consumed by separation?
Passage 11
ऊचुः परस्परं गेहेष्वशेषा भ्रमवर्जिताः। स एव सुकृती लोके लक्ष्मणो दुःखवर्जितः। यो वै सर्वात्मभावेन सीतारामौ निषेवते॥११॥
All the women, now free from uncertainty, said to one another in their homes: “Lakṣmaṇa alone is blessed in this world and free from sorrow, for he serves Sītā and Rāma with his whole being.”
Passage 12
धन्यास्ताः सरितो यासां तोयं पिबति राघवः। अध्वश्रमपरिश्रान्तो यासु मज्जति स स्वयम्॥१२॥
“Blessed are the rivers whose water Rāghava drinks and in which he personally bathes when wearied and exhausted by the road.
Passage 13
येषां फलानि सोऽश्नाति धन्यास्ते पादपा वने। धन्यास्ते पर्वता येषु पद्भ्यां चरति राघवः॥१३॥
“Blessed are the forest trees whose fruits he eats, and blessed are the mountains upon which Rāghava walks with his own feet.
Passage 14
रामस्य गमनान्नूनं वन एवाद्य मङ्गलम्। धन्यास्त आश्रमावासा येषु वत्स्यति राघवः॥१४॥
“Surely because Rāma has gone there, the forest alone is auspicious today. Blessed are the hermitages in which Rāghava will dwell.
Passage 15
धन्या महर्षयो येषां श्रीराममुखदर्शनम्। अहो किमत्र नो भव्यं यास्यामो रघुनन्दनम्॥१५॥
“Blessed are the great seers who will behold Śrī Rāma’s face. Ah, what good remains for us here? Let us go to Raghu’s beloved descendant.
Passage 16
अनन्यान् शरणं प्राप्तान् रामो वः पालयिष्यति। अस्मांश्च परमोदारा रक्षिष्यति विदेहजा॥१६॥
“Rāma will protect those who seek him as their sole refuge, and the supremely generous daughter of Videha will care for us as well.
Passage 17
सर्वात्मना नो निर्वाहं वन एव करिष्यतः। त्रैलोक्यमङ्गलोदारौ सीतारामौ महाशयौ॥१७॥
“The noble Sītā and Rāma, magnanimous benefactors of all three worlds, will provide for us completely in the forest itself.
Passage 18
नूनं रामस्य विश्लेषाद्राजा प्राणान् विमोक्ष्यति। कैकेय्या वशगं राष्ट्रमधर्मोऽभिभविष्यति॥१८॥
“The king will surely give up his life in separation from Rāma, and unrighteousness will overrun the kingdom subjected to Kaikeyī’s will.
Passage 19
पुत्रं प्रव्राजयामास या रामं लोकसुन्दरम्। तां निर्दयां न कैकेयीं भजिष्यामो वयं ध्रुवम्॥१९॥
“We shall certainly not serve that merciless Kaikeyī, who sent her own son Rāma, the beauty of the world, into exile.”
Passage 20
इत्थं विलप्य बहुधा रुरुदुर्बाष्पलोचनाः। अयोध्यानगरीसंस्था नरा नार्यश्च दुःखिताः॥२०॥
Lamenting in many such ways, the sorrowing men and women of Ayodhyā wept with tear-filled eyes. The Road to the Gaṅgā
Passage 21
रामश्चाभ्युदिते सूर्यं प्रातःसन्ध्यामुपास्य वै। ययौ दिव्यरथारूढो वेगात्सन्तीर्य गोमतीम्॥२१॥
When the sun rose, Rāma performed his morning twilight worship. Mounting the splendid chariot, he traveled swiftly onward after crossing the Gomatī.
Passage 22
पश्यञ्छुभान्यरण्यानि पुष्पितानि विशेषतः। शृण्वन् ग्रामेषु लोकानां कैकेय्या दुर्यशोभरम्॥२२॥
He saw auspicious woodlands especially rich in blossom and, in the villages, heard the people heap infamy upon Kaikeyī.
Passage 23
वेदस्मृतिं नदीं तीर्त्वा दक्षिणाभिमुखो जवात्। अनुस्मरन् पितुः सत्यं वनवासैकमानसः॥२३॥
He crossed the river Vedasmṛti and hastened southward, remembering his father’s pledge and keeping his mind fixed solely upon the forest exile.
Passage 24
कथयन् मधुरा वार्ताः सूतं सौमित्रिमेव च। सायंकाले परिप्राप्ते तपने लोहितायति॥२४॥
He spoke sweetly with the charioteer and with Sumitrā’s son until evening arrived and the sun grew red.
Passage 25
शृङ्गवेरपुरस्योच्चैः सन्निधिं प्राप राघवः। सस्नौ पुण्यजलां तत्र सरयूं चिरसेविनीम्॥२५॥
Rāghava reached the immediate vicinity of Śṛṅgaverapura and bathed there in the holy waters of the long-serving Sarayū.
Passage 26
तत्रास्य देशवास्तव्या जना ज्ञातप्रवृत्तयः। पृष्ठलग्ना दीर्घतरं रुदन्तः करुणस्वरम्॥२६॥
The local people learned what had happened and followed closely behind him for a long distance, weeping in piteous voices.
Passage 27
आश्वास्य मधुरैर्वाक्यैस्तै रामेण विसर्जिताः। नत्वा नत्वातिशोकार्ताः श्वसन्तो बाष्पलोचनाः॥२७॥
Rāma consoled them with gentle words and sent them back. Overwhelmed by grief, they bowed again and again, sighing with tear-filled eyes.
Passage 28
कथञ्चिदपि कष्टेन त्यक्तवन्तो रथं प्रभोः। अथो ददर्श भगवान् गङ्गां सागरगामिनीम्॥२८॥
Only with great difficulty did they finally leave the Lord’s chariot. The Lord then beheld the Gaṅgā flowing toward the ocean.
Passage 29
कल्लोललोलसलिलां जगतः कलिलापहाम्। आत्मपादोदकीं पुण्यां महोर्मिगणसंकुलाम्॥२९॥
Her waters danced in surging waves and removed the world’s impurity. Sacred because she arose from his own feet, she teemed with hosts of mighty billows.
Passage 30
स्वर्गमार्गैकनिःश्रेणीं पीयूषाच्छप्रवाहिनीम्। राजहंसगणाकीर्णां चक्रसारससेविताम्॥३०॥
She was the sole stairway on the road to heaven, flowing clear as nectar, thronged with royal swans, and frequented by cakra birds and cranes.
Passage 31
भुवः शाटीमिव सितां शरज्ज्योत्स्नाविजित्वरीम्। शीतलां चन्दनक्षोदसदृशीं तापहारिणीम्॥३१॥
White as Earth’s flowing garment, she surpassed autumn moonlight. Cool as powdered sandalwood, she took away every fever.
Passage 32
कर्पूरपूररुचिरां त्रिजगत्पाविनीं पराम्। अशेषतीर्थसाम्राज्यपदभाजं महोन्नताम्॥३२॥
Lovely as a flood of camphor, transcendent purifier of the three worlds, she was supremely exalted and occupied the imperial throne over all sacred fords.
Passage 33
तां दृष्ट्वा सुमहावर्तगम्भीरजलवेगिनीम्। सुमन्त्रं चैव सौमित्रिमामन्त्र्य यशसां निधिः॥३३॥
The treasury of glory gazed upon her deep, swift waters and immense whirlpools, then addressed Sumantra and Sumitrā’s son.
Passage 34
तीरावनिवने रम्ये शीतलानिलसेविते। इङ्गुदीतरुमालक्ष्य तन्मूले वासकामुकः॥३४॥
In the lovely riverside forest, refreshed by cool breezes, he noticed an Iṅgudī tree and desired to stay beneath it.
Passage 35
रथादवततारैष सीतासौमित्रिसंगतः। सुमन्त्रोऽश्वान् समुन्मोच्य प्राञ्जलिः समुपस्थितः॥३५॥
He descended from the chariot with Sītā and Sumitrā’s son. Sumantra unharnessed the horses and then stood nearby with palms joined. Guha Offers His Kingdom and Service
Passage 36
निषादराजस्तत्रामुं स्वदेशे प्राप्तमीश्वरम्। आजगाम गुहो नाम भाग्यवान् पुण्यवान् बुधः॥३६॥
The fortunate, virtuous, and wise king of the Niṣādas, named Guha, came to meet the Lord who had reached his country.
Passage 37
सजातीयैर्जनैर्युक्तो वृद्धैश्च बहुदर्शिभिः। तं सामात्यं परिष्वज्य रामः सौमित्रिसंगतः॥३७॥
Guha was accompanied by his own people and by experienced elders. Rāma, with Sumitrā’s son beside him, embraced the king together with his ministers.
Passage 38
जग्राह बहुमानेन मानदोऽनन्यचेतसाम्। इत्थं सम्मानितः सम्यगुवाच गुह ईश्वरम्॥३८॥
The giver of honor to those whose hearts seek no other received him with great esteem. Welcomed so completely, Guha addressed the Lord.
Passage 39
भवानेकः शरण्योऽत्र शरणं त्वामुपेयुषाम्। अयमात्मा कुटुम्बश्च नगरं चेदमीश्वरम्॥३९॥
“You alone are the refuge here of all who have come to you for shelter. My own self, my family, and this city are yours, O Lord.
Passage 40
भूरियं सकला राम तवाङ्घ्र्योरर्पिता मया। देहि मां (मे?) शरणायातं कोमले ते पदाम्बुजे॥४०॥
“I have offered this entire land at your feet, O Rāma. Grant me, who have come for refuge, a place at your tender lotus feet.” The printed witness reads māṃ and notes me? as a possible alternative.
Passage 41
चिरेण रघुशार्दूल चेतसानन्यगामिना। चिन्तितोऽसि जगन्नाथ स मे कामोऽद्य पूरितः॥४१॥
“O tiger among the Raghus, Lord of the universe, for so long I have contemplated you with a heart that went nowhere else. That desire of mine is fulfilled today.
Passage 42
चिरेण प्रार्थिते राम तवैव चरणाम्बुजे। मयाद्य समनुप्राप्ते न मोक्ष्याम्यधुना त्विमे॥४२॥
“O Rāma, today I have attained the very lotus feet for which I prayed so long. Now I shall never let them go.
Passage 43
ततो विधाय पाद्यार्घौ सुप्रसन्नमना गुहः। उवाच सीतासौमित्रिसहितं रघुपुङ्गवम्॥४३॥
Guha then offered water for washing the feet and a respectful offering. With a deeply gladdened heart, he addressed the finest of the Raghus, who was accompanied by Sītā and Sumitrā’s son.
Passage 44
अन्नं चतुर्विधं नाथ स्वादु सद्यो विनिर्मितम्। गन्धपुष्पाङ्गरागादिशयनान्यासनानि च॥४४॥
“Lord, four kinds of delicious food have just been prepared, along with fragrances, flowers, unguents, beds, seats, and other provisions.
Passage 45
निवेदयामि तत्तुभ्यं स्वागताय महात्मने। महीं चैवाखिलामेतां यथेच्छं वस मद्गृहे॥४५॥
“I offer all this to welcome you, great soul, and I offer this entire land as well. Please live in my home just as you wish.
Passage 46
अहं ते प्रेष्य एवास्मि भव मे शरणं विभो। आज्ञापय यथेष्टं मे करिष्यामि रघूद्वह॥४६॥
“I am nothing but your servant. Be my refuge, O mighty Lord. Command me as you please, exalted heir of Raghu, and I shall do it.
Passage 47
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म सफलं चाद्य मे कुलम्। अद्य मे सफलो देहः सफले मम चक्षुषी॥४७॥
“Today my birth has borne fruit, and today my lineage has borne fruit. Today my body is fruitful, and fruitful are these eyes of mine.
Passage 48
नापेक्षितं मे लोकेश पुरं राज्यं तथा धनम्। एकमेवापेक्षितं मे तव पादनिषेवणम्॥४८॥
“Lord of the world, I have no desire for city, kingdom, or wealth. My only desire is service at your feet.” Rāma Accepts Guha’s Devotion
Passage 49
इत्युदीरितमाकर्ण्य गुहस्य जगदीश्वरः। प्रत्यूचे भगवान् रामः स्मितमञ्जुतमाननः॥४९॥
Hearing Guha’s words, Lord Rāma, ruler of the universe, replied with a lovely smile upon his face.
Passage 50
सर्वं कृतं त्वया सम्यग् यद्यदिष्टतमं मम। भाग्येन त्वां प्रपश्यामि सर्वसम्पत्समन्वितम्॥५०॥
“You have perfectly done everything most pleasing to me. By good fortune I see you endowed with every prosperity.
Passage 51
अपि त्वं कुशली नित्यं देहगेहसुहृद्युतः। कुशलं ते चिरं देशे पुत्रबन्धुधनादिभिः॥५१॥
“May you always fare well together with body, home, and friends. May lasting well-being attend you in your country, with sons, relations, wealth, and all else.
Passage 52
यत्त्वया मम संतुष्ट्यै प्रीत्या मह्यं निवेदितम्। तत्सर्वमेव विधिवन्मनसा रक्षितं मया॥५२॥
“Everything you lovingly offered me for my satisfaction has been duly accepted and safeguarded by me within my heart.
Passage 53
प्रतिग्रहीतुमेतत्ते न त्वयं समयः सखे। अशनं फलमूलादि वासो मे हरिणाजिनम्॥५३॥
“Yet this is not the time for me to receive these things from you, my friend. My food is fruit, roots, and the like, and my clothing is a deerskin.
Passage 54
आसनं वल्कलैश्चापि शयनं मे महीतलम्। वृत्तिस्तापसवृत्त्यैव वासो मे गह्वरे वने॥५४॥
“Bark serves me as a seat, and the earth is my bed. My way of life is precisely that of an ascetic, and my dwelling is in the forest wilderness.
Passage 55
घासो मे दीयतां सम्यगश्वेभ्यस्तन्ममार्चनम्। अमी दशरथस्याश्वा राज्ञः प्रियतमा भृशम्॥५५॥
“Let grass be properly given to my horses; that will be worship offered to me. These horses were exceedingly dear to King Daśaratha.
Passage 56
एतेषु दत्तभोज्येषु पूजितोऽहं विशेषतः। एवमुक्तः स रामेण निषादाधिपतिर्गुहः॥५६॥
“When food is given to them, I am especially honored.” Thus Rāma spoke to Guha, lord of the Niṣādas.
Passage 57
अनुरुध्य प्रभोराज्ञां रामस्य परमात्मनः। अश्वानां यवसं दत्त्वा बद्धाञ्जलिरुपस्थितः॥५७॥
Guha complied with the command of Lord Rāma, the Supreme Self. He gave fodder to the horses and then stood nearby with joined palms. The Night beneath the Iṅgudī Tree
Passage 58
रामो जह्नुसुतातीरे धरण्यां कल्पितासनः। जलं प्राश्य स्थितो धीमान् धर्मात्मा मर्यादासागरः॥५८॥
On the bank of Jahnu’s daughter, wise Rāma—the righteous ocean of sacred restraint—made his seat upon the earth and remained there after drinking water.
Passage 59
पादौ [स]मुपवाह्यास्य लक्ष्मणो भक्तितत्परः। ततो नत्वा सभार्यं तं स्थितो वृक्षतले निशि॥५९॥
Lakṣmaṇa, wholly intent upon devotion, massaged Rāma’s feet. He then bowed to Rāma together with his wife and took his station beneath the tree for the night. The witness omits the bracketed initial sa in samupavāhya; the minimal restoration supplies the grammatical absolutive required by the sentence.
Passage 60
सौमित्रिश्च सुमन्त्रश्च गुहश्च पुरुषर्षभः। त्रयो जाग्रत एवामी बद्धतूणा धनुर्धराः॥६०॥
Sumitrā’s son, Sumantra, and Guha, best of men—these three bowmen, their quivers fastened on, remained awake.
Passage 61
यशांसि रामचन्द्रस्य गायन्तश्चरितानि च। अन्योन्यं दर्शयन्तश्च रामभक्तिमनुत्तमाम्॥६१॥
They sang Rāmacandra’s glories and deeds and revealed to one another their unsurpassed devotion to Rāma.
Passage 62
तस्थुस्तरुतले वीराः कथयन्तः शुभाः कथाः। कैकेयीदुश्चरित्रेण पश्चात्तापभृतो हृदि॥६२॥
The heroes stayed beneath the tree telling sacred stories, their hearts heavy with anguish over Kaikeyī’s wrongful conduct.
Passage 63
रामस्य भूमौ जनकेन्द्रकन्यया साकं शयानस्य सुखोचितात्मनः। कुत्राप्यदृष्टे हृद्दुःखसंहते रात्रिर्व्यतीयाय सुखेन सा ततः॥६३॥
They had never anywhere witnessed such a mass of heart-rending sorrow: Rāma, whose person was accustomed to comfort, lay upon the ground beside King Janaka’s daughter. Even so, absorbed in him through the night, they passed it in blessedness. Thus ends Chapter Twelve, “The Sojourn beneath the Iṅgudī Tree,” in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa.