Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— इति श्रीमान् समाधाय भ्रातरं प्राणसम्मितम्। रेमे जनकजासङ्गशोभिपार्श्वो महामनाः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Having thus reassured the brother as dear as his own life, the great-hearted Lord delighted with his side beautified by Janaka's daughter.
Passage 2
अथास्य वननिष्क्रान्तिमाश्रुत्य सुखितादयः। गोपा गोप्यश्च सकलाः प्रमोदवनगोचराः॥२॥
Then Sukhita and all the cowherd men and women who dwelt in Pramoda-vana heard that Rāma had departed for the forest.
Passage 3
समतप्यन्त मनसि प्रोद्दीप्तविरहव्यथाः। निनिन्दुः कैकयीं सर्वे तदायत्तं च भूमिपम्॥३॥
Their hearts burned with the fiercely kindled pain of separation. They all condemned Kaikeyī and the king who had yielded to her.
Passage 4
अनन्तरं प्रमीतं च रामविक्लेषदुःखतः। श्रुत्वा दशरथं सर्वे मौनमासन् सुविस्मिताः॥४॥
Then they heard that Daśaratha had died from the grief of separation from Rāma, and in stunned astonishment they all fell silent.
Passage 5
ततः सुखितगोपश्चित्रकूटनिवासिनम्। श्रुत्वा प्रियतमं राममागन्तुमुपचक्रमे॥५॥
When the cowherd Sukhita learned that beloved Rāma was living at Citrakūṭa, he prepared to go to him.
Passage 6
तस्य सार्धमखिला गोप्यो गोपाश्च विरहातुराः। गन्तुं कृतधियः सर्वे जाता उत्कलिकाकुलाः॥६॥
All the cowherd women and men, anguished by separation, resolved to accompany him and became overwhelmed with longing.
Passage 7
इतस्ततः सञ्चरतां व्रजस्थानां स्पृहावताम्। प्रस्थानं सज्जमानानां सम्मदः सुमहानभूत्॥७॥
As the eager people of Vraja hurried here and there preparing to depart, an immense joy arose among them.
Passage 8
अनडुद्भिः समायोज्य शकटानि समन्ततः। बहूपकल्पितपाथेयाः प्रतस्थुर्व्रजवासिनः॥८॥
The Vraja residents yoked oxen to carts on every side, prepared abundant provisions for the road, and set out.
Passage 9
श्रीराममुखचन्द्रस्य महीयस्य दिदृक्षया। आकुलाः सर्वतो गोप्यः प्रचेलुर्भूरिभूषिताः॥९॥
Longing to see the glorious moon of Śrī Rāma's face, the cowherd women came forth from every side richly adorned. The Ornamented Procession
Passage 10
ताश्चारुभालविलसत्तिलकाभिरामाः पाण्योः सुवर्णवलयोत्थमणिप्रकाशाः। चञ्चत्सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलगण्डशोभाः कूजन्मनोज्ञमणिमेखलयाः स्फुरन्त्यः॥१०॥
They shone with lovely tilakas upon their beautiful brows, gems flashing from golden bracelets upon their hands, polished jeweled earrings dancing beside their cheeks, and enchanting jeweled girdles softly ringing.
Passage 11
मञ्जीरमञ्जुरणितैर्व्रजकुञ्जवीथीः कुर्वन्त्य उत्सुकमदोद्धुरराजहंसाः। प्रौढासितारुणदुकूलसुलक्ष्यगात्रविद्युद्रुचो व्रजकुरङ्गदृशः प्रचेलुः॥११॥
Their anklets filled Vraja's bower-paths with sweet sound as they moved like eager, proud royal swans. Clad in fine dark and crimson silks, the doe-eyed women of Vraja flashed like lightning.
Passage 12
आरूढाः प्रसभमनांसि योजितानि प्रोत्तालैः सदृशतमैर्गवां धुरीणैः। गायन्त्यो व्रजरमणस्य चेष्टितानि प्रस्थानावसरमशोभयन्मृगाक्ष्यः॥१२॥
The doe-eyed women mounted the conveyances yoked to lofty, well-matched leading oxen. Singing of the beloved of Vraja's deeds, they beautified the hour of departure.
Passage 13
गोपा महार्हवसनाभरणाभिरामा आबद्धचारुशिखिपिच्छकृतावतंसाः। गुञ्जासु गुम्फितमणिस्रज उद्धहन्तो वन्यप्रसूनगिरिधातुविचित्रगात्राः॥१३॥
The cowherds looked splendid in costly garments and ornaments, wearing lovely peacock feathers as ear decorations. They bore gem necklaces woven with guñjā berries, and forest flowers and mountain pigments adorned their bodies.
Passage 14
श्रीरामचन्द्रमुखचन्द्रदिदृक्षयोच्चैरोमाञ्चिताः किमपि कौतुककेलिभाजः। स्वस्वप्रियाभिरुपदामिस्पेतहस्ता गोपेन्द्रसूचितसुभव्यपथाः प्रतस्थुः॥१४॥
Thrilling intensely with desire to see the moon-face of Śrī Rāmacandra, they were filled with wondrous festive play. With their beloved companions beside them, they set out upon the auspicious road indicated by the lord of the cowherds.
Passage 15
द्विजैः प्रशस्तवचनैः कृतपुण्याहवाचनः। माङ्गल्यया व्रजेशान्या प्रतस्थे सुखितेश्वरः॥१५॥
After brāhmaṇas pronounced auspicious blessings and the queen of Vraja, Māṅgalyakā, gave her benediction, lord Sukhita departed.
Passage 16
आसीद् घनघटाशब्दः स्यन्दनानां प्रसर्पताम्। बलीवर्दवराढ्यानां किङ्किणीजालमालिनाम्॥१६॥
The moving carts, drawn by excellent bullocks and garlanded with networks of little bells, produced a sound like masses of thunderclouds.
Passage 17
ज्ञातयः सुहृदश्चैव बान्धवाः समवृद्धयः। अन्वयुः सुखितं गोपं महोत्कण्ठाः समाकुलाः॥१५॥
Kinsmen, friends, relatives, and companions in prosperity followed the cowherd Sukhita, all agitated by intense longing. The edition repeats printed marker 15 for this independent seventeenth passage.
Passage 18
द्रक्ष्यामो रघुपुङ्गवं व्रजहितं रामं रमावल्लभं सम्प्रक्ष्यामः पुलकाञ्चितेन वपुषा स्वात्मप्रियं तं चिरात्। आनेष्याम इहैव तं परमया प्रीत्या वशीकृत्य चे- त्युत्कण्ठाञ्चितरंहसो व्रजजनाः सर्वे समं प्रस्थिताः॥१॥
“We shall see the foremost Raghu, Rāma, benefactor of Vraja and beloved of Ramā. After so long we shall gaze upon the one dearer than our own selves, our bodies bristling with joy. We shall master him through supreme love and bring him back here!” Impelled by such longing, all the people of Vraja departed together. The edition prints marker 1 for this independent eighteenth passage.
Passage 19
आलोलालकवल्लरीवृतमुखाम्भोजप्रसादश्रियः सद्यः स्वस्वमनोरथोपितया प्रीत्याभिजुष्टाशयाः। उद्दीप्ताश्चिरविप्रयुक्तदयितप्रेक्षासमुत्कण्ठया गायन्त्यो गुणगह्वराणि चरितान्याभीरवामभ्रुवः॥१९॥
The graceful cowherd women, their lotus faces framed by swaying vine-like locks, felt their hearts suddenly filled with love as their wishes seemed near fulfillment. Their longing to behold their beloved after prolonged separation blazed forth as they sang the profound virtues of his deeds.
Passage 20
गाढं भुजाभ्यामालिङ्ग्य प्रियं धास्यामहे हृदि। यास्यामो विपुलं मोदं पास्यामो मुखसारघम्॥२०॥
“We shall tightly embrace our beloved with both arms and hold him to our hearts. We shall attain immense joy and drink the honey of his face.”
Passage 21
इति चित्तसमुत्कण्ठा द्विगुणीभूतरंहसः। रामैकतानमनसो नोक्तं किमपि शुश्रुवुः॥२१॥
With their hearts longing in this way and their speed redoubled, their minds fixed wholly upon Rāma, they heard nothing anyone said.
Passage 22
विषयान्तरसञ्चारविलोपनकरी तदा। सर्वेषां हृदये गाढं दिदृक्षा समवर्तत॥२२॥
An intense desire to see him filled every heart, erasing every movement of the mind toward any other object.
Passage 23
आयाति चेद्रघुवरो निजभक्ताभियाचितः। तन्न प्रपूरयेत् काममिति चिन्ताप्यवर्तत॥२३॥
They also wondered: “If the best of the Raghus comes when entreated by his own devotees, could he possibly fail to fulfill their desire?” Gifts for Rāma
Passage 24
सुखितो व्रजधेनूनां नवनीतं तथा दधि। कृत्वा विपुलभाण्डेषु निनाय शकटोत्तमैः॥२४॥
Sukhita placed butter and yogurt from the cows of Vraja in great vessels and carried them upon excellent carts.
Passage 25
उपदाश्च तथैवान्या वसनाभरणादिकाः। प्रमोदवनसुस्वादुफलपुष्पादिसङ्गताः॥२५॥
He also brought other gifts—garments, ornaments, and the delicious fruits, flowers, and other treasures of Pramoda-vana.
Passage 26
बर्हांश्च चन्द्रकैराढ्यान् प्रमोदवनबर्हिभिः। निर्मुक्तान् रमणीयाभान् श्रीरामस्य मनःप्रियान्॥२६॥
He brought beautiful peacock feathers rich with eye-spots, shed by the peacocks of Pramoda-vana and dear to Śrī Rāma's heart.
Passage 27
गिरिधातुविचित्रांश्च महार्हमणिसम्मितान्। निनाय सुखितः प्रेम्णा कदम्बस्रज उत्तमाः॥२७॥
With love Sukhita carried excellent kadamba garlands, variegated with mountain pigments and comparable to precious gems.
Passage 28
माङ्गल्यका मृदुमुखेन्दुदिदृक्षयाढ्या सद्यः स्रुतस्तनयुगोद्भवभारखिन्ना। प्रेमाकुला चिरवियोगविरामजातकौतूहला पुलकिताढ्यतनुः प्रतस्थौ॥२८॥
Māṅgalyakā also departed, longing to see the gentle moon of Rāma's face. Her breasts suddenly flowed with milk and grew heavy; overwhelmed with love and eager for the end of the long separation, her body was covered with horripilation. The Procession Enters the Forest
Passage 29
अग्रेसराः सकुतुकं व्रजवासिनोऽस्य सम्प्रस्थितस्य सुखितस्य शुभाय शश्वत्। वंशीविषाणपणवानकगोमुखादीनाहत्य काहलरवं विदधुः समन्तात्॥२९॥
Vraja residents joyfully went before Sukhita's procession, continually sounding flutes, horns, drums, gomukhas, and other instruments for his welfare, filling every side with festive music.
Passage 30
सञ्जल्पतां स्वस्वमनोरथानुरूपं समस्तव्रजवासिनां सः। कोलाहलो मङ्गलतूर्यमिश्रो दिशो नभः क्ष्मां च समाववार॥३०॥
The clamor of all the Vraja residents speaking according to their individual hopes, mingled with auspicious instruments, covered the directions, the sky, and the earth.
Passage 31
ते चूर्णयन्तो विपिनानि सद्यश्चक्रैर्मुहुः सञ्चरतां रथानाम्। महाबलीवर्दखुरैरुदग्रपातैः प्रतस्थुर्व्रजवासिवर्याः॥३१॥
The foremost Vraja residents advanced, their turning cartwheels and the high, powerful fall of the great bullocks' hooves seeming to pulverize the forests.
Passage 32
सैन्यं महद्रामचन्द्रप्रियाणां महोक्षसाहस्रसमावृतं तत्। जगाम भूयो रथघोषयुक्तमुद्वेलसिन्धुप्रतिमं बभासे॥३२॥
That great host of Rāmacandra's beloved people, surrounded by thousands of mighty bulls and filled with the rumble of carts, moved onward like a swelling ocean.
Passage 33
ते पश्यन्तः शुभान् वासान् जानकीरामयोर्वने। ययुः परमशोभाढ्यान् लक्ष्मणेनोपकल्पितान्॥३३॥
They proceeded through the forest, seeing the beautiful and auspicious dwellings Lakṣmaṇa had prepared for Jānakī and Rāma.
Passage 34
तथा तथा विक्लवकातरान्तरा बभूवुराभीरवराः सदारकाः। यथा यथा ते ददृशुर्महावने रामस्य पर्णौघविनिर्मितान् गृहान्॥३४॥
The more the foremost cowherds and their families saw Rāma's dwellings made from masses of leaves in the great forest, the more distressed and heartsick they became. The Cowherds Lament the Forest Exile
Passage 35
क्व स प्रभुर्बाहुबलोर्जितो युवा समस्तभूभोगकदम्बकोचितः। गृहाः क्व चेमे खलु वन्यवृत्तिभिर्निवेष्टुमर्हाः फलमात्रभोजनैः॥३५॥
“Where is that youthful Lord, mighty in the strength of his arms and fit for every royal enjoyment, and where are these huts fit only for forest-dwellers who live upon fruit?
Passage 36
हा देव राजेन्द्रशिरोविभूषणस्फुरन्महानीलमणे बलोर्जित। अरण्यवृत्तिस्तव नोचिता प्रभो पदानतक्ष्मापतिकोटिपूजित॥३६॥
“Alas, Lord! Mighty great sapphire flashing as the ornament upon the head of the king of kings, worshiped by millions of rulers bowed at your feet—forest life does not befit you.
Passage 37
जिताखिलक्ष्मापतिमौलिमालिकामणिप्रभोद्भासितपादपङ्कज। वसन्नरण्ये प्रियया समन्वितः फलानि भुङ्क्षे किमु वन्यशाखिनाम्॥३७॥
“Your lotus feet shine with the jewels in the crowns of all the conquered kings. Why do you dwell in the forest with your beloved and eat the fruits of wild trees?
Passage 38
हा देवि राजेन्द्रसुते रमाधिके प्रसूनशय्याविनिवेशनोचिते। शिरीषपुष्पाधिकदेहमार्दवे निद्रातुमर्हासि वने शिलातले॥३८॥
“Alas, goddess, daughter of the king and greater than Ramā! You deserve to rest upon a flower bed, for your body is softer than a śirīṣa blossom. How can you sleep upon stone in the forest?
Passage 39
हा वीर लक्ष्मण महासुखभोगयोग्य नीलोत्पलाधिकमनोज्ञतनो तवाद्य। भ्रातुर्वने दयितया सह निद्रितस्य संरक्षणे नयनयोः क्षणदाः प्रयान्ति॥३९॥
“Alas, heroic Lakṣmaṇa, whose lovely body surpasses the blue lotus and deserves the greatest comforts! Your nights now pass with your eyes guarding your brother as he sleeps in the forest beside his beloved.
Passage 40
कटीनिबद्धतूणस्य चापहस्तस्य जाग्रतः। तव प्राहरिकस्याद्य सहायोऽपीह नापरः॥४०॥
“You stand awake as sentry, quiver tied at your waist and bow in hand, yet today you have no one here to assist you.
Passage 41
प्रचण्डतममार्तण्डकिरणैस्तापिता वने। तरुच्छायामधिश्रित्य यूयं विश्रमथ क्षणम्॥४१॥
“Scorched in the forest by the sun's most fierce rays, you rest for a moment beneath the shade of a tree.
Passage 42
धिक् तां कैकेयतनयां लोभोपहतमानसाम्। यया सुखोचिता यूयं वन्यवृत्तौ नियोजिताः॥४२॥
“Shame upon Kaikeyī's daughter, her mind destroyed by greed! Though you deserve happiness, she condemned you to the life of the forest.”
Passage 43
एवं रटन्तो व्रजवासिवर्याः प्रियस्य दुःखोपहतेर्मनोभिः। ययुः समन्ताद्विनिभालयन्तस्तास्ता वने पर्णमयीः सुशालाः॥४३॥
Lamenting in this way, their hearts overcome by their beloved's hardship, the foremost residents of Vraja continued onward, looking on every side at the well-made leaf-huts in the forest.