Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ तत्रान्तरदधाद्भगवान् रघुपुङ्गवः। पश्यतामनुरक्तानां बन्धूनां व्रजवासिनाम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Then the venerable scion of Raghu vanished there while his loving companions from Vraja were watching.
Passage 2
सीतया लक्ष्मणेनापि सहितं रघुपुङ्गवम्। अपश्यन्तो वियोगार्ता अभवन् व्रजवासिनः॥२॥
When the people of Vraja could no longer see the scion of Raghu together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, they were tormented by separation.
Passage 3
इह गिरिशिखरे दधद्विहारं प्रतिमृगालक्ष्यमिषूंश्च संदधत्सः। क्व गत इत उतोदित्वरः प्रियो नो ध्रुवमतिगुप्तमसाविहैव वास्ते॥३॥
“He was sporting here upon the mountain peak, fitting arrows to every deer he marked as a target. Where has our beloved suddenly gone from here? Surely he remains somewhere nearby, deeply concealed.
Passage 4
क्षणमपि न वयं भवाम तेन प्रियसुहृदा परमोपकारिणा ते। बहुविधविपदः स नो व्यनेषी निजभुजविक्रमभृदने जुगोप॥४॥
“We cannot remain for even a moment without that beloved friend and supreme benefactor. He led us out of many dangers and protected us through the heroic power of his own arms.
Passage 5
क्व नो गवां पालनकृत्स रामः क्व लक्ष्मणोऽस्माकमनन्यबन्धुः। क्व च स्मितास्या जनकाधिराजसुता सदातीवहिता व्रजस्य॥५॥
“Where is Rāma, who tended our cattle? Where is Lakṣmaṇa, our incomparable friend? And where is the smiling daughter of King Janaka, who always cared so deeply for Vraja?
Passage 6
कान्वेषयामः करवाम किं वा गतः क्व रामः सुहृदो विहाय। यत्रैवमुक्ता वयमत्र याताः प्रमुद्वनं साधुगृहान् विहाय॥६॥
“Whom shall we ask, and what shall we do? Where has Rāma gone after leaving his friends? At his call we abandoned our comfortable homes in Pramoda forest and came here.
Passage 7
एह्येहि रामानुजदारयुक्तः किं नः श्रितान् वञ्चयसीत्थमद्धा। जानीमहे त्वां वयमेकबन्धुमनन्यचित्ता व्रजवासिलोकाः॥७॥
“Come, come, Rāma, with your younger brother and wife! Why do you so plainly forsake us who have taken refuge in you? We people of Vraja, whose minds have no other object, know you as our one true friend.
Passage 8
क्रोडक एव क्वाधुना त्वं गतेऽभूः क्व तेऽनुजः सौम्यतनुः प्रिया च। किं वक्ष्यते नः सुखितो व्रजेशः किं चक्षुषी भ्रामयसीव बन्धो॥८॥
“Playful friend, where have you now gone? Where are your gentle younger brother and beloved? What will our kindly lord of Vraja say to us? Friend, why do you make our eyes wander in search?
Passage 9
किं रोदसी पूरयसीव कामं ध्वान्तैस्तवादर्शनसम्प्रभूतैः। क्षमस्व नः केनचिद्वा प्रयुक्तमरुन्तुदं दुर्वचनं जनेन॥९॥
“Why do you fill heaven and earth entirely with the darkness born from your absence? Forgive any heart-piercing, harsh word that one among us may have spoken.
Passage 10
क्व यामः किं कुर्मस्तव विरहजन्मा हुतवहः करोतीव ग्रासं प्रियतम मनो नः प्रतिपदम्। स्मितज्योत्स्नाशुभ्रं निजमुखमतो दर्शय सखे श्रितानां नस्तेऽङ्घ्रिं विपदघहरं मङ्गलकरम्॥१०॥
“Where shall we go, and what shall we do? Dearest one, at every step the fire born from separation from you seems to devour our minds. Friend, show us your face, bright with the moonlight of your smile, and show us who have sought refuge your auspicious feet, which remove calamity and sin. The Search Across Citrakūṭa
Passage 11
इत्थं विलप्य व्रजवासिबाला धनूंषि तत्रैव विहाय मुग्धाः। अन्वेषयन्ति स्म रघुप्रवीरं श्रीचित्रकूटस्य गुहागृहाणि॥११॥
Lamenting in this way, the innocent young men of Vraja left their bows there and searched Citrakūṭa's cavern dwellings for the hero of Raghu's line.
Passage 12
गह्वराणि गुहाः कुञ्जान्यटवीः सरितां तटान्। उच्चावचानि स्थानानि बभ्रमुर्व्रजवासिनः॥१२॥
The people of Vraja roamed through ravines, caves, bowers, forests, riverbanks, and places both high and low.
Passage 13
पश्यन्त्य एव प्रमदाः प्रजौकसां रामं वनेऽन्तर्हिमभ्रमेचकम्। आः किंस्विदेतद्भवतीति सम्भ्रमाद्विनिःश्वसन्त्यो मुमुहुस्तदा क्षणे॥१३॥
The women of Vraja seemed to glimpse Rāma within the forest, dark as a wintry cloud. Exclaiming, “Ah! Could that be he?” they sighed in agitation and repeatedly lost awareness at that moment.
Passage 14
अथो चिरान्वेषणखिन्नविग्रहाः स पर्णशालां गत इत्यद्ध आशाः। सर्वे निवृत्ता व्रजवासिनस्ततो विहारकान्तारत आतुरान्तराः॥१४॥
At last, their bodies exhausted by the long search, the people of Vraja hoped that he had returned to the leaf hut. Hearts still afflicted, they all turned back from the forest of sport.
Passage 15
ते पर्णशालां रघुवीरवर्जितां शान्तावसथ्याग्निचयां प्रशून्यवत्। निरीक्ष्य तप्ता विरहाग्निना भृशं विचिन्तयामासुरिदं व्रजौकसः॥१५॥
They saw the leaf hut bereft of Raghu's hero, its household fires quiet and the place utterly empty. Scorched by the fire of separation, the people of Vraja thought as follows.
Passage 16
ध्रुवं गतो आश्रममेव नः प्रभुः पुनर्मुनेस्तस्य हितं चिकीर्षुः। हा वञ्चनं नो विहितं किमीदृशं पुरेव पृष्ट्वा स नो न किं गतः॥१६॥
“Surely our Lord has returned to the sage's hermitage, wishing again to do him good. Alas, why has he deceived us like this? Why did he not consult us before leaving, as he did formerly?
Passage 17
हा हन्त तस्य प्रणयः सुदुर्वहो विश्लेषकीलाजननोऽङ्गतापनः। क्षणे वियुक्ता अपि यन्म्रियामहे धन्यः स साकेतपुरीजनः पुनः॥१७॥
“Alas, his love is exceedingly hard to bear: it drives in the spike of separation and burns our limbs. We are dying after being parted for only a moment—how blessed, then, are the people of Sāketa who endured it!” The People Appeal to Atri
Passage 18
ब्रह्मोवाच— रामस्यादर्शनं ते च सुखिताय निवेद्य च। अत्रेर्मुनिवरेन्द्रस्य सर्वेऽपि ययुराश्रमम्॥१८॥
Brahmā said: After reporting Rāma's disappearance to Sukhita, they all went to the hermitage of Atri, foremost among eminent sages.
Passage 19
ददृशुस्तत्र योगीन्द्रं निषण्णं दीप्ततेजसम्। स्त्रियो बालास्तथा वृद्धाः प्रणेमुर्व्रजवासिनः॥१९॥
There they saw the radiant lord of yogins seated. The women, children, and elders of Vraja bowed to him.
Passage 20
ऊचुर्व्रजौकसः सर्वे ते मुनिं दीर्घवर्चसम्। वियुक्ता रामचन्द्रेण दीर्घोच्छ्वासमुचो जनाः॥२०॥
Separated from Rāmacandra and heaving long sighs, all the people of Vraja addressed the sage of enduring splendor.
Passage 21
हा हन्त यमिनां श्रेष्ठ किमेतन्नः सुदुर्भगैः। अप्रियं जनितं सद्यो यद्रामोऽत्र न दृश्यते॥२१॥
“Alas, foremost of the self-controlled, what misfortune have we wretched people brought about, that Rāma has suddenly become invisible here?
Passage 22
क्रीडन्नेव क्रीडतां नः स मध्यादाच्छिद्य चक्षूंषि जवेन यातः। क्व सम्प्रयातो न च विद्म एतत्स्थास्यामहे किं च विना प्रियेण॥२२॥
“Even as he played, he tore himself from the sight of us who played with him and swiftly departed. We do not know where he has gone. How can we remain without our beloved?
Passage 23
दृशोऽन्धतमसं यान्ति दिशश्चान्धतमिस्रताम्। यस्य प्रीत्या वयं प्राप्ताः स प्रियो नात्र दृश्यते॥२३॥
“Our eyes enter blinding darkness and the directions become pitch-black. The beloved through whose affection we came here is nowhere to be seen.
Passage 24
स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च रामप्रेमवशा वयम्। म्रियामहे विना तेन प्रेयसात्र दवीयसा॥२४॥
“Women, children, and elders alike, we are all ruled by love for Rāma. We are dying without that beloved who is now far from us.
Passage 25
दृष्टो गिरिर्गह्वरवान् गुहावानसौ निकुञ्जानि च शोधितानि। शृङ्गाणि चित्राणि गिरेरमुष्यान्विष्टानि रामस्य विलोकनार्थम्॥२५॥
“We have searched this mountain with its ravines and caves; we have examined its bowers and its many-colored peaks in the hope of seeing Rāma.
Passage 26
भविष्यति क्व प्रणयी स नः सुहृद्धनुर्धरः सानुजदार आतुरः। अस्मान् विना यः क्षणमेकं न तिष्ठेत् क्वचिन्न भुञ्जीत पिवत्यपश्च॥२६॥
“Where can that loving, bow-bearing friend now be, accompanied by his younger brother and wife and concerned for us? Without us he would not remain anywhere for even a moment, nor would he eat or drink water.
Passage 27
भवान् सुविज्ञाननिधिस्तपोनिधे विशुद्धया स्वात्मदृशा प्रपश्यतु। क्व नः प्रियो राम इतः प्रयात इतोऽपि यातः स ततोऽपि यातः॥२७॥
“Treasure of austerity, you are a treasury of perfect knowledge. Please look with your purified inner sight and see where our beloved Rāma has gone from here—whether he went this way or that.
Passage 28
क्वान्वेषणीयः सुहृदात्मा च बन्धुरस्माकमापत्तिसमूहहर्ता। न तं विना क्षणमप्यास्महे वयं सोऽस्मान् विना न क्षणमेकमास्ते॥२८॥
“Where should we seek our heart's friend and kinsman, the remover of all our calamities? We cannot remain without him for even a moment, and he does not remain without us for a single instant.”
Passage 29
मुनिर्विलपतां तेषां निशम्य व्रजवासिनाम्। वचांसि विरहार्तानां विनिश्चित्येदमब्रवीत्॥२९॥
The sage listened to the laments of the people of Vraja, who were tormented by separation. Having reflected carefully, he spoke these words. Atri Praises Their Single-Hearted Love
Passage 30
अत्रिरुवाच— धन्याः स्थ यूयं भुवनेषु मुख्या व्रजे वसन्तः कृतपुण्यपुञ्जाः। येषां मनो वै नरदेवसूनौ श्रीराम एकालमनन्यवृत्ति॥३०॥
Atri said: “You who dwell in Vraja are blessed, foremost in all the worlds, and filled with accumulated merit, for your minds rest exclusively and sufficiently in Śrī Rāma alone, the prince among men.
Passage 31
श्रीराममेकं प्रियमत्र लोके जानीथ भाग्यार्णवतां प्रयाताः। यूयं निरस्ताखिलजीवदोषा भृशं तदेकात्मतया प्रहृष्टाः॥३१॥
“You know Śrī Rāma alone as your beloved in this world and have entered an ocean of good fortune. Freed from every fault that binds embodied beings, you rejoice deeply in complete identification with him.
Passage 32
एतावता वः प्रणयेन सन्तो रामोऽनिशं वश्यवृत्तिर्बभूव। यो नः कथंचिन्मनसां न गोचरः स वः सदा क्रीडनकः परात्मा॥३२॥
“Through the greatness of your love, holy ones, Rāma has always submitted himself to you. The Supreme Self whom our minds can scarcely reach has become your constant playmate.
Passage 33
क्व वो वियोगः परमेण पुंसा श्रीरामसंज्ञेन विविक्तभावाः। ये वश्यतामेष चिराय निन्ये प्रेम्णा प्रकृष्टेन न चान्यगामिना॥३३॥
“Pure-hearted ones, how can you be separated from the Supreme Person named Śrī Rāma, whom your intense and unswerving love has long held under its sway? Rāma Within and Without
Passage 34
सम्यक् समीच्यान्तर एव सन्तं रामं विविच्योपलभध्वमञ्जसा। अन्तर्बहिश्चापि स एव देहिनामास्ते परः पुरुष एक रामः॥३४॥
“Look carefully and discern Rāma dwelling within; realize him there directly. The one Rāma, the Supreme Person, abides both within and without all embodied beings.
Passage 35
एवं विविच्यान्विषतां जनानां स नेतरेषामपि दूरवर्ती। तदेकचित्ताः किमुत प्रियाणां युष्माकमद्धार्पितसर्वसम्पदाम्॥३५॥
“He is not distant even from ordinary people who seek him through such discernment. How much less can he be distant from you, his beloveds, whose minds rest in him alone and who have truly offered him everything?
Passage 36
क्षितौ जले तेजसि चापि वायौ वियत्यथो दिक्षु मनःसु काले। प्रत्याशयं जन्मिनां देहभाजां स एव देवो वरीवर्ति नित्यम्॥३६॥
“In earth, water, fire, air, space, the directions, minds, and time, that same Lord eternally surges within the heart of every embodied creature.
Passage 37
तमीश्वरं ध्यायत नित्यमेव सर्वात्मना सर्वगं चापि सन्तम्। इति प्रबुद्धा मयका शुद्धबुद्धिप्रकाशवन्तः सुखिनः संततं स्थ॥३७॥
“Meditate forever upon that Lord with your whole being, for he is present everywhere. Awakened by this teaching of mine and illumined by pure understanding, remain constantly joyful. Atri Explains Rāma's Mission
Passage 38
अथापि युष्मभ्यमहं वदामि गतिं सुरार्थाय रघूद्वहस्य। विज्ञापितोऽसौ मुनिभिः समस्तै रक्षोभिरुद्वेजितसाधुचित्तैः॥३८॥
“I shall nevertheless tell you where the scion of Raghu has gone for the sake of the gods. All the sages, their virtuous hearts afflicted by the Rākṣasas, petitioned him.
Passage 39
असौ हि देवो हितकृज्जगत्या असूत यं कोसलराजपुत्री। सम्प्रार्थितो विधिनेहावतीर्णः स्ववीर्यतो रक्षिता सज्जनानाम्॥३९॥
“He is the divine benefactor of the world whom the princess of Kosala bore. Entreated by Brahmā, he descended here and through his own might became the protector of the virtuous.
Passage 40
स दण्डकारण्यमितः प्रतस्थौ नूनं चिकीर्षुः सुरसंघकार्यम्। हत्वा विराधादसुरान् बलिष्ठो गन्ता पुनः पञ्चवटीं क्रमेण॥४०॥
“He has surely set out from here for Daṇḍaka forest, wishing to accomplish the purpose of the hosts of gods. The mighty Lord will slay Virādha and other demons and then proceed in due course to Pañcavaṭī.
Passage 41
तत्रापि रक्षांसि बलेन हन्ता धनुर्धरोऽसावनुजद्वितीयः। समन्वितो मैथिलराजपुत्र्या सूर्यस्तमांसि प्रभयेव युक्तः॥४१॥
“There too that bow bearer, accompanied by his younger brother and joined by the daughter of Mithilā's king, will destroy the Rākṣasas by his strength, just as the sun joined with its radiance destroys darkness.
Passage 42
एवं स यावद्दशकन्धरस्य वधं विधायामरलोकपानाम्। करिष्यते शं रघुवंशकेतुस्तावन्न युष्मासु भविष्यति स्फुटः॥४२॥
“Until the banner of Raghu's line has slain the ten-headed Rāvaṇa and brought well-being to the guardians of the immortal realm, he will not appear openly among you.
Passage 43
अत्रापि चास्ते खलु तत्र चास्ते प्रभुर्विभुः सोऽयमशेषसाक्षी। परावरेशो भगवाननादिर्जानीत श्रीराघव एष एव॥४३॥
“Yet he is here and he is there: that all-pervading Lord is witness to everything. Know that this same Śrī Rāghava is the beginningless Lord of the highest and the lowest.
Passage 44
कर्माणि तस्यामरसिन्धुपूतान्यनेकशः सांख्यपथातिगानि। गायन्ति विप्रा निगमैरशेषजगत्त्रयालंकृतिदीक्षितानि॥४४॥
“His deeds, purified by the celestial river and far beyond all enumeration, are sung again and again by Brahmins together with the Vedas—deeds consecrated to adorning all the three worlds.
Passage 45
देवाचार्यस्त्रिपुरहरणः शेषनागो हयास्यः कुम्भोद्भूतः कमलभवनः सर्व एवामरेशाः। गायन्त्यस्य प्रणयखचितैर्मानसैः संविदाना नानावीर्याण्यमरसरितोऽप्युज्ज्वलान्यद्भुतानि॥४५॥
“The preceptor of the gods, the destroyer of Tripura, Śeṣa Nāga, Hayagrīva, the pot-born Agastya, lotus-born Brahmā, and all the lords of the immortals knowingly sing with love-filled minds of his many powers, wondrous and brilliant even beyond the celestial river.
Passage 46
श्रीमान् मारुतनन्दनोऽस्य परमो भक्तो भविष्यत्यलं रक्षोनीकनिपातनेषु बलवान् साहाय्यमाधास्यति। इत्थं सर्वसुपर्वगर्वहरणीं लङ्काधिराजश्रियम् दोर्भ्यामेष हरिष्यतीश्वरवरैः पूज्याङ्घ्रिपद्मद्वयः॥४६॥
“The glorious son of the Wind will become his supreme devotee and, being immensely strong, will render powerful aid in casting down the Rākṣasa armies. Thus Rāma—whose two lotus feet are worshiped by the foremost gods—will with his own arms take away the sovereignty of Laṅkā that has humbled the pride of all the celestials.” Thus ends Chapter 126, “The Consolation of the People of Vraja,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.