Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— चित्रकूटं परिक्रम्य प्रपाते भरते पुरीम्। सीतानुजाभ्यां सहितः पर्णशालामधिष्ठितः॥१॥
Brahmā said: After Bharata circled Citrakūṭa and departed for the city, Rāma remained in the leaf-hut with Sītā and his younger brother.
Passage 2
शुशुभे भगवान् रामो लीलाललितविग्रहः। युक्तो रतिवसन्ताभ्यां कन्दर्प इव मूर्तिमान्॥२॥
Blessed Rāma, whose lovely form embodied līlā, shone like Love incarnate accompanied by Rati and Spring.
Passage 3
अधित्यकोपत्यकासु दरीषु शिखरेषु च। सकूजत्कोकिलाढ्येषु कुञ्जेषु गहनेषु च॥३॥
Upon the highlands and valleys, in caves and on peaks, and in dense bowers rich with the calls of cuckoos—
Passage 4
विविक्तेषु च देशेषु पतन्निर्झरवारिषु। सुशीतमन्थरामोदिमरुल्लुलितवल्लिषु॥४॥
—in secluded places beside falling waterfalls, where very cool, gently fragrant breezes stirred the vines—
Passage 5
देशकालानुरूपैस्तैर्विहारैर्विविधैरपि। रमयन् जानकीं नित्यं रेमे रमणकोविदः॥५॥
the master of loving delight constantly pleased Jānakī and rejoiced in many pastimes suited to each place and time. Lakṣmaṇa Asks About the Divine Mission
Passage 6
तमेकान्ते समासीनमेकदा प्रिययान्वितम्। उपेत्य वीरः सौमित्रिरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥६॥
One day heroic Lakṣmaṇa approached him as he sat alone with his beloved and spoke these words.
Passage 7
कथं खलु महाराज देवकार्यं करिष्यसि। यदर्थं कोसलां त्यक्त्वा त्वमरण्यमुपाश्रितः॥७॥
“Great king, how will you carry out the gods' work for which you left Kosala and took refuge in the forest?
Passage 8
कथं घोराणि रक्षांसि हनिष्यसि महाभुज। यदर्थमवतीर्णोऽसि महापुरुषसत्तम॥८॥
“Mighty-armed, foremost Supreme Person, how will you destroy the terrible rākṣasas for whose sake you descended?
Passage 9
कथं रक्षिष्यसि भुवं राक्षसैरुपमर्दिताम्। कथं च प्रियया युक्तो धरणीं पर्यटिष्यसि॥९॥
“How will you protect the earth oppressed by rākṣasas, and how will you travel the land while accompanied by your beloved?”
Passage 10
तमुवाच हसन् रामो भ्रातरं प्राणसम्मितम्। करिष्ये देवकार्याणि पालयिष्यामि सत्पथम्॥१०॥
Smiling, Rāma answered the brother as dear as his own life: “I shall accomplish the gods' work and preserve the path of the good.
Passage 11
यदर्थं कोसलां त्यक्त्वा स्थितोऽस्मि वनगोचरः। हनिष्याम्यसुरानीकं हरिष्यामि भुवो भरम्॥११॥
“For that purpose I left Kosala and now dwell in the forest. I shall destroy the demon hosts and remove the earth's burden.
Passage 12
भक्तांश्च पालयिष्यामि करिष्ये धर्मरक्षणम्। किं च मे दुर्घटं यस्य भ्राता वीर भवादृशः॥१२॥
“I shall protect devotees and defend dharma. What can be difficult for me when I have a heroic brother such as you?
Passage 13
किं तैः सुबहुभिर्मित्रैर्ये स्युर्धैर्यापहारकाः। एकोऽपि धैर्यधरणो वरं भ्राता भवादृशः॥१३॥
“What use are many friends who take away one's courage? Better one brother like you who sustains it.
Passage 14
सोऽहं भवत्सहायेन बन्धुसन्दोहसंवृतः। अभ्युत्सहेऽखिलं कर्तुं यदर्थं मम चिकीर्षितम्॥१४॥
“With your aid I am as though surrounded by a multitude of kinsmen, and I am ready to accomplish everything I intend.” Lakṣmaṇa's Service
Passage 15
तमुवाचाथ सौमित्रिरनुकूलमतिः सदा। नित्यमार्यस्य दासोऽस्मि नित्यं चैव निदेशकृत्॥१५॥
Ever of one mind with him, Lakṣmaṇa replied: “I am always my noble brother's servant and always the executor of his command.
Passage 16
न मे विप्रतिपत्तव्यं प्रभो तव चिकीर्षितम्। एतावदेव श्रेयो मे तवाज्ञामनुतिष्ठतः॥१६॥
“Lord, I must never oppose what you wish to do. My sole good is to carry out your command.
Passage 17
पर्णशाला मया कार्या दम्पत्योः सुखवर्धिनी। फलान्याहरणीयानि स्वादूनि विविधानि च॥१७॥
“I shall build leaf-huts that increase the divine couple's comfort and gather many kinds of delicious fruit.
Passage 18
हत्वा मृगान् वराहांश्च मांसानि विविधान्यहम्। आनेतास्मि वनादार्य पक्ष्यामि च सुसंस्कृतम्॥१८॥
“Noble brother, after taking game and wild boar I shall bring various meats from the forest and cook them properly.
Passage 19
प्रियया सह सुप्तस्य रात्रौ स्थास्यामि तत्परः। आबद्धकवचो नित्यं शरपाणिर्धनुर्धरः॥१९॥
“At night, while you sleep beside your beloved, I shall stand intent on guard, always armored, holding bow and arrow.
Passage 20
पृष्ठतोऽनुगमिष्यामि आतपत्रं करे दधत्। पल्लवांश्च महीपृष्ठे धास्यामि पुरतः क्वचित्॥२०॥
“I shall follow behind holding the parasol and, wherever needed, spread leaves upon the ground before you.
Passage 21
पादन्यासाय दम्पत्योर्यत्र कूर्पाकुला मही। यद्यद्भृत्योचितं कर्म करिष्यामि सुखेन तत्॥२१॥
“Where the earth is covered with sharp stones, I shall prepare it for the couple's footsteps. Gladly I shall do every task fitting a servant.
Passage 22
भवान् करोतु कार्याणि देवानां सुखहेतवे। भुवो भारं हर विभो भक्तांश्च परिपालय॥२२॥
“May you perform the deeds that bring happiness to the gods, Lord; remove the earth's burden and fully protect your devotees. Lakṣmaṇa's Love for the Mountain
Passage 23
किं त्वापृच्छामि ते वीर चित्रकूटं मनोहरम्। कथं त्यक्ष्यसि सौख्यानामालयं सुचिरोषितम्॥२३॥
“Yet I ask you, hero: how will you leave lovely Citrakūṭa, the abode of happiness in which we have dwelt so long?
Passage 24
यत्रैषा जानकी देवी दृश्यते बद्धमानसा। अस्येमाः कन्दराश्चास्याः क्रीडासद्मानि सन्ततम्॥२४॥
“Here goddess Jānakī is seen deeply attached; these caves are continually her play-houses.
Passage 25
त इमे गह्वरोद्देशा नानाकुञ्जलतावृताः। पतन्निर्झरसंशीतवातवेपितभूरुहाः॥२५॥
“These cavern regions are covered with varied bower-vines, their trees stirred by winds cooled by falling waterfalls.
Passage 26
सुगन्धयो गिरेरस्य कुञ्जवृक्षैरुपत्यकाः। गुञ्जद्भ्रमरपुञ्जाढ्याश्चन्दनद्रुमशोभिताः॥२६॥
“The mountain's valleys are fragrant with bower trees, rich with swarms of humming bees, and beautiful with sandalwood trees.
Passage 27
नदीप्रवहणोपेताश्चक्रसारसनादिताः। सरांसि फुल्लपद्मानि स्वच्छानि सुखदानि च॥२७॥
“Its clear, happiness-giving lakes contain blooming lotuses, receive flowing streams, and resound with cakravāka and sārasa birds.
Passage 28
अधित्यका गिरेरस्य मनोहरशिलातलाः। उद्वेल्लद्वल्लरीवृन्दवेष्टितानेकभूरुहाः॥२८॥
“The mountain's uplands have lovely stone terraces and many trees entwined by clusters of luxuriant creepers.
Passage 29
सुकूजत्केकिनिवहाः कोकिलाकाकलीकुलाः। पशवः पक्षिणश्चेह मित्राणीव चिरेण नः॥२९॥
“Flocks of peacocks call sweetly and cuckoos fill the air with song; after so long, the animals and birds here have become like our friends.
Passage 30
ये सायं प्रातरार्यस्य कर्मदर्भोपजीविनः। जानकीदत्तसलिलयवसास्त इमे मृगाः॥३०॥
“These deer live upon the ritual grass left by my noble brother morning and evening and upon water and fodder given by Jānakī.
Passage 31
आर्येण वा पितान् भूमौ विशुद्धान् बलितण्डुलान्। उपजीवन्ति ये नित्यं त इमे पक्षिणो गिरेः॥३१॥
“These mountain birds constantly live upon the pure grains of the offering that my noble brother scatters upon the ground.
Passage 32
अमी चकोराः सततं देव्या वदनचन्द्रिकाम्। आचमन्तः सुपुष्टाङ्गाः कुर्वन्ति चिरमाशिषः॥३२॥
“These cakora birds continually drink the moonlight of the goddess's face; their bodies well nourished, they long pronounce blessings.
Passage 33
चिराय बद्धप्रेमाणो वयमत्र महागिरौ। कथमन्यत्र यास्यामो देवकार्यविधित्सया॥३३॥
“We have long been bound by love to this great mountain. How shall we go elsewhere even for the purpose of accomplishing the gods' work?
Passage 34
नन्वयं पर्वतवरो नभःस्पृग्भिर्महोन्नतैः। आलिङ्गतीव शिखरैरार्यं प्रत्यागतं वनात्॥३४॥
“Does not this foremost mountain seem to embrace my noble brother returning from the forest with its lofty, sky-touching peaks?
Passage 35
नेमं विहातुं वाञ्छामश्चित्रकूटं महोन्नतम्। कन्दमूलफलैर्नित्यमातिथ्यं विदधाति यः॥३५॥
“We do not wish to abandon lofty Citrakūṭa, which always offers us hospitality with bulbs, roots, and fruits.
Passage 36
अयं गिरिः कोऽप्यतिथिप्रियो वा दासोत्तमो वा तव राजमौले। यः सेवते कन्दरकन्दमूलफलप्रसूनप्रसवैः सदा नः॥३६॥
“Crown of kings, is this mountain some lover of guests or your foremost servant? It always serves us with caves and abundant bulbs, roots, fruits, and flowers.
Passage 37
देवी च नाम निमिचन्द्रसुता सदास्मै नित्योत्सुका स्पृहयते गिरिपुङ्गवाय। भाग्यं तथास्य वचनातिगमद्वितीयं नो शक्यते कथयितुं तव पादभाजः॥३७॥
“The goddess, daughter of Nimi's lunar line, is ever eager for and devoted to this foremost mountain. Its incomparable fortune exceeds speech: it shares in the service of your feet and cannot be adequately described.” *Thus ends Chapter Fifty-nine, “The Description of Citrakūṭa Mountain,” in the Southern Book of the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the venerable primal Rāmāyaṇa.*