Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— सुखितोदीरितं वाक्यमाकर्ण्य रघुराड् विभुः। उवाच स्मितसानन्दस्फुरद्वदनचन्द्रमाः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Hearing the words spoken by Sukhita, the almighty king of the Raghus replied, the moon of his face radiant with a joyful smile.
Passage 2
स्थानेऽसि सङ्गतो तात सबन्धुरिह सम्प्रति। वात्सल्योदर्कमधुरं सदैव भवतो मनः॥२॥
“Dear father, it is fitting that you have now come here with your relatives. Your heart is always sweet with the fullness of parental affection.
Passage 3
मात्रा पित्रा सुहृद्भ्रातृबन्धुभिः सज्जनैरपि। समुज्झितस्य मे तात त्वमेवैकोऽस्यवेक्षकः॥३॥
“Dear father, when mother, father, friends, brothers, relatives, and even good people had abandoned me, you alone remained my guardian.
Passage 4
अकृत्रिमो मनोभावस्तव तात निरन्तरम्। पुष्णाति मां भवे शश्वदुपप्लवविदूषितम्॥४॥
“Your unfeigned and constant disposition toward me, dear father, continually sustains me in this world when I am afflicted by calamity.
Passage 5
अद्य मे मानसस्तोदः प्रशान्तिमगमत् किल। दृष्ट्वा भवन्मुखाम्भोजममन्दकरुणोदयम्॥५॥
“Today the piercing pain in my heart has truly subsided upon seeing the lotus of your face, from which abundant compassion rises. Rāma Asks After the Cowherd Settlements
Passage 6
अप्यस्ति सर्वतो वार्ता प्रमोदविपिनान्तरे। अस्माकं तस्य घोषस्य तथा श्रीनन्दनस्य च॥६॥
“Is every report favorable from within Pramoda forest—from our cowherd settlement and from glorious Nandana's as well?
Passage 7
वर्षीयांसो गोपवरा येऽस्मद्घोषनिवासिनः। तेषां पुत्रकलत्रादिविषये सर्वतः शुभम्॥७॥
“Are the venerable cowherd elders who live in our settlement well in every respect, together with their children, wives, and families?
Passage 8
श्रीनन्दनस्य घोषे च य उदारा गवांदुहः। तेषां वर्तति कुशलं सर्वतः सर्ववस्तुषु॥८॥
“And in glorious Nandana's settlement, are the noble milkers of the cows prospering in every way and in all their affairs?
Passage 9
श्रीनन्दनस्य घोषेशी महोदारा महामनाः। वृद्धा श्रीराजिनी गोपी सर्वतः सुखमेधते॥९॥
“Does the aged cowherd woman Śrī Rājinī—the high-minded, supremely generous mistress of glorious Nandana's settlement—enjoy happiness in every respect?
Passage 10
अन्ये च सुखमेधन्ते नरनारीजनाः सदा। येषां मदेकविषयं मनः प्रेमकरम्बितम्॥१०॥
“And do all the other men and women, whose love-filled minds take me alone as their object, continue to prosper? Rāma Remembers the Gifts of Vraja
Passage 11
यदवधि भवतां मे विप्रयोगः प्रवृत्तः सकलविषयसार्थौदास्यकारी सुतीव्रः। तदवधि दधिदुग्धस्वादुमिष्टान्नभुक्ति- प्रचुरहृदभिलाषः पूर्यते क्वापि नैव॥११॥
“Ever since this exceedingly painful separation from you began and made me indifferent to the whole multitude of sense objects, the great longing in my heart to enjoy your curds, milk, and delicious sweets has never been fulfilled.
Passage 12
किमपि रघुवरस्यादोषराज्योपपन्नाः श्रिय उपचितभोगा वासवस्येव पूर्णाः। मम तु मनसि युष्मत्कामधेनुप्रभूतैः सुमधुरदधिदुग्धैरेव तृप्तिर्विशिष्टा॥१२॥
“The faultless kingdom of Raghu's heir possessed wondrous riches and abundant enjoyments, complete like those of Indra. Yet in my heart there is no satisfaction so special as that given by the delicious curds and milk from your many wish-fulfilling cows.
Passage 13
ध्यायं ध्यायमजस्रमुत्सुकमनास्त्वद्घोषवास्तूद्भवान् भोगांस्तान् दधिदुग्धमुग्धनवनीतान्नादिसत्सम्पदाम्। सोद्वेगानतिवाहयामि दिवसानेतानहं काश्चन प्रेमापूरितमानसान् प्रतिपदं ध्यायन् सुहृद्बान्धवान्॥१३॥
“With an eager heart I ceaselessly remember the pleasures produced in your settlement—the excellent abundance of curds, milk, charming fresh butter, and other foods. I pass these days in distress, constantly remembering at every step my friends and relatives whose hearts overflow with love.” Sukhita Delivers Their Message
Passage 14
अथोवाच स गोपालो रामं सरसिजेक्षणम्। संस्मारितपुरावृत्त उत्कण्ठाकुलमानसः॥१४॥
Reminded of former events, the cowherd's heart filled with longing, and he addressed lotus-eyed Rāma.
Passage 15
त्वदेकतानमनसां सर्वेषामपि गोदुहाम्। निवृत्तान्याभिलाषाणां वार्तमस्ति प्रमुद्वने॥१५॥
“All the milkers of the cows in Pramoda-vana are outwardly well. Their minds are wholly absorbed in you, and they have turned from every other desire.
Passage 16
नराणां चैव नारीणां त्वयैवापहृतात्मनाम्। श्रीनन्दनस्य चास्माकं घोषयोरुभयोः शुभम्॥१६॥
“The men and women whose hearts you alone have stolen are well in both our settlement and glorious Nandana's.
Passage 17
पालीग्रामाधिपतिना श्रीनन्दनमनीषिणा। पृष्टोऽसि कुशलं श्रीमन् बहुशो विहिताशिषा॥१७॥
“Glorious Lord, wise Śrī Nandana, ruler of Pālīgrāma, repeatedly asks after your welfare and sends you many blessings.
Passage 18
तवैव कुशलं राम सर्वेषामभिकाङ्क्षितम्। तत्रत्यं कुशलं भूयस्त्वदागमनमात्रजम्॥१८॥
“Rāma, your welfare alone is what everyone desires. The greater welfare of those who remain there can arise only from your return.
Passage 19
सर्वैरपीदमुक्तोऽसि विदूनैर्विरहात्तव। कदागत्य प्रभो स्वानां वदनं दर्शयिष्यसि॥१९॥
“Everyone, afflicted by separation from you, has sent this question: ‘Lord, when will you come and show your face to your own people?’
Passage 20
येऽत्यावेगपराधीना विरहव्याधिविद्रुताः। त इमेऽहाय सद्मानि विहायेह समागताः॥२०॥
“Those utterly overcome by the force of emotion and shattered by the sickness of separation have abandoned their homes and come here.
Passage 21
असमर्थाः समागन्तुं येऽवशिष्टत्र निवासिनः। तेषामपि तनुस्तत्र मनस्तु त्वयि सन्ततम्॥२१॥
“Those remaining there were unable to come. Their bodies may still be there, but their minds dwell constantly in you. Pramoda-vana Needs Its Protector
Passage 22
एवं प्रमोदविपिनं निखिलं त्वदीय- विश्लेषजातसुमहापदि भूरिमग्नम्। अप्युद्धिधीर्षसि न वा नरराजसूनो संरक्षितं हि भवतैव पुरा विपद्भ्यः॥२२॥
“Thus all Pramoda forest is deeply submerged in the great calamity born of separation from you. Prince, do you not wish to lift it out, when you yourself formerly protected it from every danger?
Passage 23
कालाहिगरलाकीर्णं सारवं सलिलं पुरा। त्वयैव शोधितं राम निजजीवातुहेतवे॥२३॥
“Rāma, once the Sarayū's water was filled with the poison of the serpent Kāla, and you alone purified it to preserve the lives of your own people.
Passage 24
समन्तात्कानने लग्नां वह्निज्वालां महाभयाम्। विनिवार्य भवानेकः पर्यरक्षन्निजाञ्जनान्॥२४॥
“When a terrifying blaze seized the forest on every side, you alone drove it back and completely protected your people.
Passage 25
प्रचण्डपांसुवर्षेण समन्तादन्धकारितम्। राघव स्वानुभावेन पर्यरक्षद् व्रजे भवान्॥२५॥
“When a violent rain of dust darkened Vraja on every side, Rāghava, you protected it through your own power.
Passage 26
कुपितेन्द्रकृतं वर्षमेकच्छत्रगतं क्षणात्। न्यवारयद् भवानेव जीवातुर्निजपज्जुषाम्॥२६॥
“You alone checked in an instant the rain sent by angry Indra, gathering your people beneath a single shelter and preserving the lives of those devoted to your feet.
Passage 27
राक्षसानीकमत्युग्रं स्वानामतिभयप्रदम्। संजहार भवान् राम निजवीर्यसुसंवृतः॥२७॥
“Rāma, armed with your own valor, you destroyed a savage demon army that had filled your people with terrible fear.
Passage 28
इत्यनेकविधापद्भ्यस्त्वया स्वीयाभिरक्षणम्। बहुधा विहितं राम विस्मर्तव्यं कदापि न॥२८॥
“In these and many other kinds of danger, Rāma, you protected your own people again and again. That can never be forgotten.
Passage 29
साम्प्रतं स्वयमागत्य सदा सम्पुल्लभूरुहे। प्रमुद्वने चिरान्नाथ पालनीयास्त्वया निजाः॥२९॥
“Now, Lord, after so long, come yourself to Pramoda-vana, where the trees are always in full bloom, and protect your own people.
Passage 30
येषां भवानेव गतिरेहिकी पारलौकिकी। तेष्वौदासीन्यमालम्ब्य वर्तितव्यं कथं भवेत्॥३०॥
“You alone are their refuge both in this world and the world beyond. How could you possibly remain indifferent toward them?”