Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— ततः सुखितगोपेन्द्रो दृष्ट्वा सुचिरमातुरः। रामशून्यं चित्रकूटं व्रजं गन्तुमसज्जत॥१॥
Brahmā said: Then Sukhita, lord of the cowherds, long afflicted after seeing Citrakūṭa empty of Rāma, prepared to return to Vraja.
Passage 2
आहूय वृद्धान् गोपबालान् सर्वगोव्रजभूपतिः। उवाच रामविरहादिदं स विरहाकुलः॥२॥
The ruler of all the cowherds and cattle called together the elders and young cowherds. Overcome by separation from Rāma, he spoke these words.
Passage 3
हे गोपवृद्धाः शृणुत साम्प्रतं गिरिरेषकः। नित्यं वनाश्रयोऽपि न मे रमयते मनः॥३॥
“Elders of the cowherds, listen. Although I have always loved forest dwelling, this mountain no longer delights my mind.
Passage 4
यावद्राम इहावात्सीद्रममाणो निजैर्जनैः। तावन्मे मनसोऽत्यन्तं प्रीत्यै जातो महीधरः॥४॥
“As long as Rāma lived here, sporting with his own people, this mountain brought the greatest joy to my heart.
Passage 5
इदानीं रामविश्लेषशून्योऽन्धतमोवृतः। चित्रकूटगिरेराशा न जाने न लभे च शम्॥५॥
“Now, emptied by separation from Rāma and covered in blinding darkness, the reaches of Citrakūṭa mountain give me neither understanding nor peace.
Passage 6
अन्धकारितदेशोऽसौ सर्वशः पृथिवीधरः। गुहामय इवाशेषो जातः सम्प्रति वर्तते॥६॥
“Every region of this mountain has grown dark. It now appears to be nothing but one vast cave.
Passage 7
अत एनं संविहाय नवीनविरहप्रदम्। पुरा विरहसम्पूर्णां व्रजभूमिं पियासुकः॥७॥
“Therefore I wish to abandon this place, which only gives fresh separation, and return to the land of Vraja, already filled with the separation we knew before.
Passage 8
आदाय गोधनानीतः सर्वशो विततान्यहम्। प्रमोदवने प्रयास्यामि फलपुष्पलताद्रुमम्॥८॥
“Taking all the herds of cattle spread throughout this region, I shall journey to Pramoda forest, rich in fruits, flowers, vines, and trees—
Passage 9
सुनिवृत्तपशुव्रातं पक्षिस्तोमसुखप्रदम्। त्रिविधानिलसंसेव्यं सर्वर्तुगणसेवितम्॥९॥
“Where the herds graze contentedly, flocks of birds give delight, the three kinds of breeze render service, and the virtues of every season are present. The Community Prepares
Passage 10
आकारयत गोपालान् पुरतः परतो गिरेः। मन्दाकिन्यास्तटे चैव पृथक् पृथगवस्थितान्॥१०॥
“Summon the cowherds stationed separately before and behind the mountain and along the banks of the Mandākinī.
Passage 11
निर्घोष्य दुन्दुभिं घोषेष्वेकीकुरुत गोपतीन्। पुरो निधाय गोसार्थं सावधाना व्रजन्तु च॥११॥
“Sound the kettledrum through the settlements and gather the cowherd leaders into one company. Let them place the cattle caravan in front and proceed attentively.
Passage 12
यथा पुरा प्रमुद्वने सर्वर्तुसुन्दरश्रिणि। रघूद्वहं प्रगायत प्रमोदतो दिवानिशम्॥१२॥
“As before in Pramoda forest, beautiful in every season, joyfully sing of the scion of Raghu day and night.
Passage 13
स्मरत भजत नित्यमेनमेव प्रणयवशं रघुपुङ्गवं विशेषात्। इति निखिलविलपत्कदम्बकेभ्यो भयरहिताः सततं प्रयात साम्यम्॥१३॥
“Always remember and worship this scion of Raghu, who is especially ruled by love. Let every grieving group thereby become free from fear and continually regain composure.”
Passage 14
श्रुत्वा व्रजपतेर्वाक्यं वर्षीयांसो व्रजौकसः। अभ्यनन्दन् सर्व एव स्वे स्वे हृदि निराकुलाः॥१४॥
Hearing the words of Vraja's lord, all the elders of the community welcomed them, each becoming untroubled in heart.
Passage 15
अवदन् व्रजभूमीशं साधुसम्मतमीदृशम्। यथा पुरा व्रजभुवं वासयामः समन्विताः॥१५॥
They said to the lord of Vraja's land: “This plan is approved by the virtuous. Together we shall inhabit Vraja's country as before.
Passage 16
सर्वात्मना तमेवेशं ध्यायन्तः सर्वदा वयम्। जीविष्यामः परं प्रेम पुष्णन्तो विरहोद्भवम्॥१६॥
“Meditating always and wholeheartedly upon that Lord alone, we shall live by nourishing the supreme love born from separation.
Passage 17
प्रमोदवनवीथीषु वसन्तो मधुमत्तमैः। वासन्तीनां सुमैर्घ्राणतृप्तिं कुर्वन्त एव च॥१७॥
“Dwelling along the paths of Pramoda forest, intoxicated by spring, we shall satisfy our sense of smell with its vernal flowers.
Passage 18
सम्प्राप्तेऽतिथिविशेषे जनैः परमहंसकैः। शृण्वन्तश्चरितान्यस्य हृत्कर्णमधुराण्यलम्॥१८॥
“Whenever distinguished guests and realized holy people arrive, we shall hear from them his deeds, abundantly sweet to heart and ear.
Passage 19
यावत्तस्यैव संदर्शः प्रेयसः सुखवर्धनः। तत्रातिवाहयिष्यामस्तावत्कालं प्रमुद्वने॥१९॥
“Until we again behold that beloved whose sight increases all happiness, we shall pass our time there in Pramoda forest.” The Journey from Citrakūṭa
Passage 20
एवं निश्चित्य मनसा सर्वे ते व्रजवासिनः। शृङ्गाण्यापूरयामासुः प्रतिष्ठन्तः प्रमोदवनम्॥२०॥
Having resolved upon this, all the people of Vraja filled their horns with sound as they set out for Pramoda forest.
Passage 21
गवां वृन्दानि पुरतो विधाय विहितोत्सवाः। अनःस्वारोप्य दारान् स्वांश्चित्रकूटाद्विनिर्ययुः॥२१॥
They placed the herds of cattle in front and made the departure a festival. Seating their wives and families upon carts, they left Citrakūṭa.
Passage 22
गोपाङ्गना गुणगणान् रघुपुङ्गवस्य गायन्त्य उद्गतवियोगमदेन मत्ताः। प्रेम्णा सुविह्वलतमास्त्वरितं प्रयान्त्यो युक्तैरनोभिररुचंस्तडितो यथाभ्रे॥२२॥
The cowherd women sang the many virtues of the scion of Raghu, intoxicated by the passion of separation that had arisen. Deeply overwhelmed with love and traveling swiftly in their harnessed carts, they shone like flashes of lightning among clouds.
Passage 23
रामस्यावासदेशेषु वसन्तो रजनीषु ते। यमुनां जाह्नवीं चैव तीर्त्वा याताः प्रमोदनम्॥२३॥
Spending their nights at places where Rāma had dwelt, they crossed the Yamunā and the Gaṅgā and continued toward Pramoda forest. The Meeting with Bharata
Passage 24
ते चार्धवर्त्मनि गता भरतं जटालमायान्तमार्यसविधे ददृशुस्तदानीम्। पश्चादमीभिरुदिताखिलसम्प्रवृत्तिः सङ्गामृतप्रमुदितं सह तैर्निवृत्तः॥२४॥
When they had traveled halfway, they saw the matted-haired Bharata coming toward his elder brother. After they told him everything that had occurred, he rejoiced in the nectar of their company and turned back with them.
Passage 25
गोपेन्द्रो भरतेन रामचरणप्रेमप्रमोदस्पृशा सङ्गं प्राप्य चिराय तुल्यविरहक्लेशेन वार्तादिभिः। चित्तं स्वस्थनितान्ततान्तविषमं शून्यां दिशो भावयन् प्रेम्णात्याद्रमतिव्यथोदयदितः कृच्छ्रात्प्रमोदाटवीम्॥२५॥
The cowherd lord gained Bharata's company—Bharata who was touched by the joy of love for Rāma's feet and suffered the same pain of separation—and for a long time they exchanged news. His mind partly steadied yet remained profoundly weary and distressed; seeing every direction as empty, and overcome by the rising anguish of tender love, Sukhita reached Pramoda forest only with difficulty. Thus ends Chapter 128, “The Return to Pramoda Forest,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.