Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ रम्यलतावृक्षवेष्टितोत्तीरभूमिकाम्। मन्दाकिनीं पुण्यजलां वीक्ष्य शैलाद्विनिर्गताम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Then Rāma saw the Mandākinī, whose holy water issued from the mountain and whose high banks were encircled by lovely vines and trees.
Passage 2
आभाषत प्रियां रामो राजीवनयनः स्वयम्। पश्य प्रिये नदीमेतां सखीमिव तवाद्भुताम्॥२॥
Lotus-eyed Rāma himself addressed his beloved: “Dear one, behold this wondrous river, like a companion to you.
Passage 3
तीरभूरुहपुष्पौघविचित्रपुलिनद्वयाम्। हंससारसचक्राह्वकादम्बशतसंकुलाम्॥३॥
“Both its banks are variegated by masses of flowers from the riverside trees, and it is thronged with hundreds of swans, cranes, cakravākas, and kādamba waterfowl.
Passage 4
वातान्दोलिततीरस्थलताकुसुममण्डिताम्। विचित्रफलपुष्पाढ्यां पूजितां तीरभूरुहैः॥४॥
“It is adorned with the blossoms of bank-side vines swaying in the wind, rich in varied fruit and flowers, and worshiped by the trees along its shores.
Passage 5
क्वचित्कमलकह्लारकैरवादिभिरावृताम्। क्वचित्पीतप्रसन्नेषाकुलाध्यासितशाद्वलाम्॥५॥
“In places it is covered with lotuses, water-lilies, kairava flowers, and other blooms; elsewhere its green lawns are inhabited by cheerful yellow birds.
Passage 6
क्वचित्पीतजटाभारैर्वल्कलाजिनधारिभिः। कालेऽत्र गाढसलिलामृषिवर्यैस्तपोरतैः॥६॥
“At some places eminent sages devoted to austerity, with masses of tawny matted hair and wearing bark and skins, stand at the appointed time in its deep water.
Passage 7
आदित्यमुपतिष्ठद्भिर्नियतैरूर्ध्वबाहुभिः। क्वचित्संकीर्णपुलिनां मुनिभिः शंसितव्रतैः॥७॥
“Self-controlled, their arms raised, they worship the Sun. Elsewhere its banks are crowded with sages of celebrated vows.
Passage 8
क्वचिन्मरुत्समान्दोललुलत्पल्लवशालिभिः। पादपैः सेवितोत्तीरप्रदेशां पुष्पसंकुलैः॥८॥
“In places its upper banks are attended by flower-laden trees whose graceful young leaves swing evenly in the wind.
Passage 9
क्वचित्करेणुसंलग्नमत्तद्विरदमण्डिताम्। महामेघघटाभारं बिभ्रतीमिव सन्ततम्॥९॥
“Elsewhere it is adorned by intoxicated elephants accompanied by their mates, as though it continually bore the massive weight of banks of great clouds.
Passage 10
पश्यैते विहगाः कूजन्त्यनुमन्दाकिनीवनम्। पठन्त इव कामस्य दीपनं मन्त्रमुद्धरम्॥१०॥
“See how these birds call throughout the Mandākinī forest, as if reciting aloud a spell that kindles love.
Passage 11
पश्यैते वानरगणाः क्रीडन्ति मुदिता इव। पाकरम्यफलास्वादपुष्टाङ्गाः काननेष्विह॥११॥
“See these troops of monkeys playing joyfully in the forest, their bodies nourished by the taste of fruits delightful in ripeness.
Passage 12
पश्यात्र विपिने तन्वि दृष्ट्वा त्वन्मुखमण्डलम्। हृष्यन्ति चापि नृत्यन्ति चकोराश्चन्द्रविभ्रमात्॥१२॥
“Slender one, see how the cakora birds rejoice and dance in this woodland upon seeing your face, mistaking it for the moon.
Passage 13
एतेभ्यो लग्नदृष्टिभ्यो मम चित्तमसूयति। द्विजा इति विचार्याथ मोक्तुमिच्छामि नो शरम्॥१३॥
“My heart is jealous of these birds whose gaze is fixed upon you. Only because I reflect that they are twice-born do I not wish to release an arrow at them.
Passage 14
अथवात्रावयोरेते चिरात्संवत्सतो गिरौ। वृद्धसौख्याः सख्यमेव कामयन्तो विहङ्गमाः॥१४॥
“Or perhaps, after living long with us upon this mountain and growing in joy, these birds desire only our friendship.
Passage 15
अवगाहस्व दयिते पुण्यां मन्दाकिनीमिमाम्। सरयूनिर्विशेषेण रुचिं धत्स्वेह भामिनि॥१५॥
“Beloved, enter this holy Mandākinī. Beautiful one, take pleasure in it just as you do in the Sarayū.
Passage 16
कञ्जकिञ्जल्कपुञ्जेन रञ्जितां मञ्जुलामिमाम्। भजस्व मृगशावाक्षि पुण्यां मन्दाकिनीं नदीम्॥१६॥
“Fawn-eyed one, enjoy this lovely, holy river Mandākinī, colored by masses of lotus pollen.
Passage 17
इहावगाह्य सुचिरं शीततोये गतक्लमा। पद्मकिञ्जल्कपत्राद्यैर्भूषयस्व तनुं प्रिये॥१७॥
“Bathe here for a long while in the cool water and be freed from weariness; then, beloved, adorn your body with lotus pollen, petals, and the like.
Passage 18
अयोध्यासदृशं पश्य चित्रकूटमिमं प्रिये। विना राज्यभरं तन्वि पुण्येन सुखिनो वयम्॥१८॥
“Beloved, behold this Citrakūṭa, equal to Ayodhyā. Slender one, by our merit we are happy here without the burden of kingship.
Passage 19
लक्ष्मणः सन्निधौ भ्रातानुकूलो मे वशंवदः। त्वं च काञ्चनतुल्याङ्गी काम्यं मे किमतः परम्॥१९॥
“My obedient and devoted brother Lakṣmaṇa is nearby, and you, whose limbs are like gold, are with me. What more could I desire?
Passage 20
इत्थं संदर्शयन् रामो भार्यायै काननं गिरिम्। नदीं तत्पुलिनं चापि ततो निववृते चिरात्॥२०॥
Thus Rāma showed his wife the forest, the mountain, the river, and its banks. After a long while he turned away from there. The Jewel-lit Cave
Passage 21
गिरेरुत्तरतः पादे चित्रकूटस्य सञ्चरन्। ददर्श कन्दरामेकां रमणीयतमां द्रुमैः॥२१॥
Wandering at the northern foot of Citrakūṭa, he saw a cave made supremely beautiful by trees.
Passage 22
तां दिव्यरत्नौषधिसुप्रकाशितां विशालमाणिक्यशिलातलासनाम्। प्रभूतपुष्पास्तरणैरलंकृतां मरुत्पतत्पल्लवतल्पशोभिताम्॥२२॥
It was brightly illumined by divine gems and herbs and had a vast ruby slab for a seat. Abundant flowers formed its carpeting, and a couch of young leaves fallen in the breeze beautified it.
Passage 23
मनःशिलाद्यगिरिधातुभिः सदा प्रभूतबालातपमञ्जुलारुणाम्। सुखप्रचेयद्रुमवल्लरीदलानवारितार्कांशुमहःसमागमाम्॥२३॥
Mountain minerals such as realgar made it perpetually red with the lovely glow of the young sun. Sunlight entered wherever the leaves of its easily gathered trees and vines did not screen it.
Passage 24
तां दर्शयित्वा जनकात्मजायै दरीं सुवर्णोपलरत्नरम्याम्। सुनिर्जने तत्र वने मनोज्ञे सरन्तुकामोऽवतरन् बभाषे॥२४॥
He showed Janaka’s daughter that cave, lovely with golden stones and jewels. Desiring to sport in that charming, utterly secluded forest, he descended and spoke.
Passage 25
पश्यसि प्रिये कन्दरामिमां शैलधातुभिः पूरितान्तराम्। विस्फुरल्लतापुष्पमञ्जरीपल्लवादिभिस्तल्पशालिनीम्॥२५॥
“Beloved, see this cave whose interior is filled with mountain minerals and whose couches are made of shining vines, flower clusters, young leaves, and other woodland gifts.
Passage 26
अत्र शान्तमे निजने वने स्थीयतां प्रिये साधु रम्यताम्। विस्तृता इमाः स्फाटिकीः शिला वीक्ष्य कामये त्वां विषज्जितुम्॥२६॥
“Let us remain here, beloved, and delight in this peaceful, secluded forest. Seeing these broad crystal slabs, I desire intimate union with you.
Passage 27
भूरिमन्मनःकामतापहृत्सम्भ्रमादिह त्वं भविष्यति। त्वादृशीं प्रिये प्राप्य कामिनीं कस्य नो रहः क्षुभ्यते मनः॥२७॥
“Here you will remove the intense agitation born of love’s heat within my heart. Beloved, who would not be stirred in seclusion after attaining a lover such as you?
Passage 28
अत्र कानने कोकिलारवैः काम उज्जागरो वर्ततेऽनिशम्। इत्यहं मुहुस्त्वामनिन्दितां वीक्ष्य दर्शयाम्यात्मनो रुचिम्॥२८॥
“In this forest the cuckoos’ calls keep Love awake without cease. Therefore, gazing again and again upon you, faultless one, I reveal my heart’s desire.”
Passage 29
इत्युक्त्वा रसिकेन्द्रोऽसौ प्रियामादाय पाणिना। रहो विहर्तुं रामेन्दुः शिलां तामुपजग्मिवान्॥२९॥
Having spoken, that supreme connoisseur took his beloved by the hand. The moon Rāma approached the stone slab to sport with her in seclusion.
Passage 30
सहजानन्दिनी साक्षात्सीता शीतांशुदीधितिः। उवाच मन्दहासेन द्योतयन्ती वनं वचः॥३०॥
Sītā—Sahajānandinī herself, radiant as moonlight—spoke with a gentle smile that illumined the forest.
Passage 31
दृष्ट्वेमां संविधां नाथ वनेऽपि स्वेष्टकारिणीम्। मनो मे प्रीयतेऽत्यर्थं तव सन्निधिनिर्वृतम्॥३१॥
“Lord, seeing this woodland arrangement that fulfills our own desire, my heart, made happy by your presence, rejoices beyond measure.
Passage 32
यदाज्ञापयसि प्रेष्ठ तत्तथैव मतं मम। कन्दरामन्दिरं ह्येतद्रन्तुमेवोचितं प्रिय॥३२॥
“Dearest, whatever you command is precisely my own wish. Beloved, this cave- sanctuary is indeed perfectly suited for our delight.”
Passage 33
इति ब्रुवाणां वैदेहीं लोकोत्तरगुणान्विताम्। स्मितमाञ्जुल्यशोभाभी रञ्जयन्तीं दिशो दश॥३३॥
As Vaidehī, endowed with qualities beyond the world, spoke in this way, the beauty and sweetness of her smile colored all ten directions.
Passage 34
अब्रवीदधिकं चेतो लोभयन् केलिपण्डितः। विभूतिरेषा पञ्चेषोः काननेऽस्मिन् प्रसृतवती॥३४॥
The master of loving play, further captivating her heart, said: “The power of five-arrowed Love has spread throughout this forest.
Passage 35
शीतलः सुरभिर्मन्द आयात्येष समीरणः। अग्रेसर इवामन्दशासनः स्मरभूपतेः॥३५॥
“This cool, fragrant, gentle breeze arrives like the advance messenger bearing the irresistible command of King Love.
Passage 36
लतालिङ्गितदोःशाखा अमी हि वनभूरुहः। निर्दिशन्ति जयं नित्यमनङ्गस्य प्रसर्पतः॥३६॥
“These forest trees, whose arm-like branches are embraced by vines, continually proclaim the victory of bodiless Love as he advances.
Passage 37
इमाः कुसुमिताः शश्वत्फलभारनता लताः। तरुण्य इव कम्पन्ते वातेनैव मनोभुवा॥३७॥
“These ever-flowering vines, bowed beneath their fruit, tremble like young women stirred by the wind that is Love himself.” The Cave Interlude
Passage 38
इति ब्रुवत एवास्य शिलातलनिषादिनः। आरुरोहाङ्कमागत्य सीता शिक्षितनूपुरा॥३८॥
As he spoke while seated on the stone slab, Sītā approached and climbed upon his lap, her anklets sounding with practiced grace.
Passage 39
रमयामास तां रामो रसिकेन्द्रो रसाकुलाम्। चञ्चलामिव चार्वङ्गीं क्रीडन्तीमद्भुतक्षमाम्॥३९॥
Rāma, the supreme connoisseur, delighted the beautiful-limbed Sītā, who was filled with rasa, playful and wondrously accomplished in love.
Passage 40
चिरं विपरिवर्तन्ती तडित्कोटिसमाकृतिः। मोदयामास रमणं नवोढेव मन्मथम्॥४०॥
Moving with him for a long while, her form like ten million flashes of lightning, she delighted her lover like a newly wedded bride delighting Love.
Passage 41
चिरं विहृत्य वैदेह्या भगवान् रतिवर्धनः। अशोभत शिलापृष्ठे पौलोम्येव पुरन्दरः॥४१॥
After sporting long with Vaidehī, the Lord who increases love shone upon the stone surface as Indra does with Paulomī.
Passage 42
अथ शृङ्गारयामास प्रियां विस्रस्तभूषणाम्। चम्पकैर्गुम्फयामास वेणीमलकशालिनीम्॥४२॥
Then he adorned his beloved, whose ornaments had come loose, and wove campaka flowers into her braid rich with curling locks.
Passage 43
अलकेषु बबन्धास्याः केसरस्य सुमान्यलम्। चक्रे कमलपत्रैश्च कञ्चुकीं कुचकुम्भयोः॥४३॥
He fastened lovely kesara blossoms among her curls and fashioned a bodice of lotus petals for her rounded breasts.
Passage 44
सनालैः पङ्कजैश्चक्रे बाह्वोः केयूरयुग्मकम्। विचित्रपुष्पस्तबकैर्भूषाः कल्पितवान् पृथक्॥४४॥
With stemmed lotuses he made a pair of armlets for her arms, and separately fashioned ornaments from varied clusters of flowers.
Passage 45
पञ्चवर्णप्रसूनाढ्यां स्रजं कमलशालिनीम्। वक्षसि न्यस्तवान् रामो रमण्याः स वशंवदः॥४५॥
Attentive to his beloved’s pleasure, Rāma placed upon her breast a lotus-rich garland filled with flowers of five colors.
Passage 46
हरितालरसैर्मिश्रां सिन्दूराक्तां मनःशिलाम्। संघृष्य रमणोऽङ्गुल्या भाले तिलकमातनोत्॥४६॥
Her lover rubbed realgar colored with vermilion and mixed with orpiment, then used his finger to draw a tilaka upon her forehead.
Passage 47
विभूष्य स्वामिनीमेष स्वयं चाभूषितस्तया। रेजाते तावुभौ तत्र शोभमानौ परस्परम्॥४७॥
Having adorned his sovereign lady, he in turn was adorned by her. The two shone there, each beautifying the other.
Passage 48
इत्थं चिरं कन्दरायां चित्रकूटमहीभृतः। क्रीडित्वा प्रेयसीयुक्तो निर्जगाम ततः शनैः॥४८॥
After playing for a long while in the cave of Mount Citrakūṭa, Rāma slowly departed together with his beloved. Return to the Hermitage
Passage 49
मध्ये मार्गमियं प्राप्ता प्रेयसी प्रेयमान्विता। राजहंसगतिः श्यामा रेजे रक्षितमानसा॥४९॥
As they entered the forest path, the dark-hued beloved walked like a royal swan. Accompanied by her lover, she shone with a heart made secure.
Passage 50
पश्यन्ती मृगशावाक्षी मार्गे वानरयूथकान्। वराहान् महिषांश्चैव मातङ्गान् वनचारिणः॥५०॥
The fawn-eyed Sītā saw along the path troops of monkeys, wild boars, buffaloes, and forest-roaming elephants.
Passage 51
बिभ्यती तत्र तत्रासौ चकितेणविलोचना। परिरेभे प्रियं धन्या वीरमात्तधनुःशरम्॥५१॥
Startled and afraid at various places, that blessed wide-eyed lady embraced her beloved hero, who held bow and arrows.
Passage 52
रामः प्रियां परीरम्भसुखमीलितलोचनाम्। स्वयं च परिरेभे तां द्विगुणोद्भूतमन्मथः॥५२॥
Her eyes closed in the pleasure of embracing him; Rāma also embraced his beloved, love arising twofold within him.
Passage 53
भर्त्सयन् वारयन् हिंस्रान् दुर्जीवान् वनचारिणः। निनाय प्रेयसीं रामः संफुल्लाशोकवाटिकाम्॥५३॥
Rebuking and driving away dangerous forest creatures, Rāma led his beloved to a grove of fully blossoming aśoka trees.
Passage 54
तत्राशोकतरुप्रसूनविसरैरन्योन्यमाभूषिता- वन्योन्यं गिरिधातुपल्लवकृताकल्पौ प्रभूतश्रियौ। आबद्धातुलबर्हचन्द्रककृतापीडावतंसोज्ज्वलौ शोभन्त्या वनमालयातिरुचिरौ लोकोत्तरं रेजतुः॥५४॥
There they adorned one another with masses of aśoka blossoms. Each fashioned the other’s ornaments from mountain pigments and young leaves, and their splendor became abundant. Brilliant with unequalled peacock-eye feathers bound as crowns and ear ornaments, and exquisitely lovely in shining forest garlands, they displayed a beauty beyond the world.
Passage 55
दर्शयित्वा तु विविधान् देशानद्रौ विहृत्य च। उपावर्तत जानक्या सहितो निजमाश्रमम्॥५५॥
After showing Jānakī the mountain’s many regions and sporting there, Rāma returned with her to their own hermitage.
Passage 56
यत्र श्रीमान् सुमित्रातनय उचितकृच्छुद्धबाणेन हत्वा मेध्यान् वै पृष्ठसारान् दशभृशमपचद्भूरिभेदान् प्रवीणः। शुष्यमाणान् शुचिमृदूपलतान् पर्यरक्षच्चिरेण प्राप्तं प्रत्युज्जगाम प्रणिहितधिषणः प्रेयसीयुक्तमार्यम्॥५६॥
There the capable and glorious son of Sumitrā had killed clean game fit for offering with well-aimed arrows, prepared its many portions carefully over numerous spits, and long watched over the pure, tender pieces as they dried. Ever attentive, he rose to welcome his noble elder brother arriving with his beloved.