Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— कुटुम्बिन्यः किरातानां दृष्ट्वा रामं वनेचरम्। तापसं शुभवेशाढ्यं सदारं सानुजं तथा॥१॥
Brahmā said: The wives of the Kirātas saw Rāma traveling through the forest, dressed beautifully as an ascetic and accompanied by his wife and younger brother.
Passage 2
पूर्णप्रेमभरोत्कण्ठाश्चपलेक्षणपङ्कजाः। इदमूचुः प्रमुदिताः पुलकाञ्चितविग्रहाः॥२॥
Their lotus eyes moved with eagerness, and they were filled to overflowing with love. Delighted, their bodies thrilled with horripilation, they spoke.
Passage 3
अहो इमावग्निसमानवर्चसौ सत्तापसौ पिङ्गजटालकुन्तलौ। कौ काननेऽस्मिन् पुरुषोत्तमावुभौ मन्दस्मितानन्दिमुखौ रसोज्ज्वलौ॥३॥
“Ah, who are these two noble ascetics, radiant like fire, with tawny matted locks? Who are these foremost men in the forest, their faces delighted by gentle smiles and shining with rasa?
Passage 4
का चेयमङ्ग स्तडितो विधुन्वती राकानिशाकामुकवक्त्रमण्डला। क्षामोदरी हेमघटोन्नतस्तनी प्रद्योतयन्ती रुचिभिर्वनस्थलीः॥४॥
“And who is this slender-waisted woman, eclipsing lightning, with a face like the full moon, her breasts raised like golden vessels, illuminating the forest grounds with her splendor?
Passage 5
प्रायेण रामोऽयमनङ्गसुन्दरः सुलक्षणोऽयं च तथैव लक्ष्मणः। एषा च विद्मो जनकावनीभुजः कन्यैव ताम्यत्तपनीयविग्रहा॥५॥
“Surely this one, beautiful as the god of love, is Rāma, and this auspicious man is Lakṣmaṇa. We recognize her as the daughter of King Janaka, her form glowing like refined gold.
Passage 6
अहो अमी भूवलयैकभूषणाः सुपेशलाः सौरभशालिविग्रहाः। कृतार्थयन्तीह वने वनौकसो मन्दस्मितालोकमुखेन्दुरश्मिभिः॥६॥
“Ah, these three are the unique ornaments of the circle of the earth, exceedingly graceful, their forms filled with fragrance. They fulfill the forest dwellers by the moonbeams of their faces, glances, and gentle smiles.
Passage 7
ये केऽपि लोके पुरुषोत्तमानिमान् पश्यन्ति दृग्भिः सुधयात्तपारणाः। ते एव धन्या इह शर्मधारिणो धुरन्धरा भाग्यभृतां सुजन्मनाम्॥७॥
“Whoever in this world sees these foremost persons with eyes drinking nectar is truly blessed, a bearer of happiness and foremost among those whose noble birth carries good fortune. The Forest Creatures Share the Vision
Passage 8
अये किराताङ्गभुवो वनौकसो भाग्यैव एतेऽत्र समागतास्त्रयः। इहैव तिष्ठन्तु निरन्तरं वने सुधाप्रवाहं च दृशः पिबन्तु नः॥८॥
“O children of the Kirātas and forest dwellers, only through good fortune have these three come here. May they remain continuously in this forest, and may our eyes drink their stream of nectar.
Passage 9
अये चकोरास्तरुनीडवासिनः किमप्यलभ्यं सुलभं बभूव वः। इहादसीयं सुखकारिदर्शनं या मध्यगा सावमुयोः पुमग्रयोः॥९॥
“O cakora birds dwelling in tree nests, something otherwise unattainable has become easy for you: the joy-giving sight of this woman who walks between those two foremost men.
Passage 10
अये मयूरा अमुमभ्रसुन्दरं सुधारसासारमनोज्ञदर्शनम्। विलोकयन्तः किमपि प्रहृष्यथ प्रायेण लब्धं किल वोऽसृजीवनम्॥१०॥
“O peacocks, as you behold this cloud-dark beauty, whose enchanting sight pours down nectar, you rejoice beyond measure; surely you have found the very life of your life-blood.
Passage 11
इमां पिच्छावयवां सुमध्यमां वने चरन्तीं कलहंसशावकाः। किमन्तरानन्दभृतोऽनुगच्छथ प्रायेण मञ्जीरकलक्वणादृताः॥११॥
“O young swans, do you follow this slender-waisted woman, her limbs delicate as feathers as she walks in the forest, filled with inner delight and drawn by the sweet ringing of her anklets?
Passage 12
अहो युवां लोकमनोहराकृती स्वभावशुद्धौ कलमञ्जुभाषिणौ। किमप्यपूर्वं खलु रामणीयकं वनेऽत्र सम्यक्कुरुतस्तनुत्विषा॥१२॥
“Ah, you two possess forms that captivate the world. Pure by nature and sweet in speech, you fill this forest with unprecedented beauty through the radiance of your bodies. They Ask Sītā to Rest
Passage 13
अये मनोज्ञे वरवर्णिनि क्षणं त्वमत्र कान्तारपथे सुसङ्गता। करोषि वैदेहि किरातयोषितां धन्ये दृशौ भाग्यसमूहसम्भृते॥१३॥
“O enchanting and beautifully complexioned Vaidehī, your brief company upon this wilderness path has made the eyes of the Kirāta women blessed and filled them with a treasury of good fortune.
Passage 14
अये कियद्यावदितो गमिष्यसि प्राप्तासि पन्थानमतीत्य पुष्कलम्। इहैव तिष्ठाद्य विदेहभूपजे कुरुष्व धन्ये सफलाश्च नो दृशः॥१४॥
“How much farther will you go from here? You have already traveled a long road. Stay here today, O blessed daughter of Videha's king, and make our eyes fruitful.
Passage 15
तवेदमङ्गं कमलादपि कोमलं समस्तभूमीसुखभोगयोग्यम्। गभस्तयोऽर्कस्य कठोरतापदाः श्रमाम्भसा यद्ग्लपयन्त्यनुक्षणम्॥१५॥
“Your body is softer than a lotus and worthy of enjoying every happiness on earth, yet the sun's harsh, burning rays and the moisture of fatigue make it languish at every moment.
Passage 16
तदेव नो दयत उञ्चकैर्मनो विश्रम्यतां सम्प्रति राजकन्यके। इमौ च तौ काममनोज्ञवर्चसाविहैव संस्थापय भर्तृदेवरौ॥१६॥
“This deeply pains our hearts. Rest now, princess, and have your husband and brother-in-law, whose splendor enchants the god of love, remain here too.
Passage 17
कियत्सरोजाशयकोमलाभ्यां पद्भ्यामटव्यामवगाहयिष्यसि। भुवं कुशाग्रातिकठोरगर्भां प्रायेण चित्तं तव साधु निष्कृपम्॥१७॥
“How far will you penetrate the forest upon feet as soft as the heart of a lotus, over ground filled with points sharper than kuśa grass? Gentle lady, your heart seems merciless toward yourself.
Passage 18
इदं वनं नः खलु सत्त्ववर्जितं सुपल्लवश्रेणिमनोज्ञभूरुहम्। विकस्वरं भूरिफलं सुशीतलं सुच्छायकुञ्जद्रुमवलिमण्डपम्॥१८॥
“Our forest is free from dangerous beasts. Its trees are lovely with rows of tender leaves; it is flowering, abundant in fruit, very cool, and roofed by bowers and lines of densely shading trees.
Passage 19
इहास्यतां नो दयया रघूत्तमौ किमुत्तमां खेदयथः प्रियामिमाम्। विधीयतां पर्णमयं शुभं गृहं मेध्यान्मृगान् हंस्यथ आत्मतृप्तये॥१९॥
“O two descendants of Raghu, sit here out of compassion for us. Why exhaust this finest beloved woman? Let an auspicious leaf cottage be made, and you may hunt ritually pure deer to sustain yourselves.
Passage 20
युवां प्रकृत्यैव मनोहरावुभौ सुधन्यया वल्लभयामुयान्वितौ। इहैव रम्ये विपिने निशामिमां भाग्येन नः खल्वतिवाहयिष्यथः॥२०॥
“You two are naturally captivating and accompanied by this most blessed beloved. Through our good fortune, surely you will pass this night here in the lovely forest.
Passage 21
युष्मान् हि लोकोत्तररूपसम्पदा जगद्वशीकुर्वत आत्मशीलतः। निरीक्षमाणे अपि नो दृशाविमे अतृप्तकल्पे ननु रूपपारणात्॥२१॥
“Your transcendent beauty and natural character bring the world under your sway. Even as our two eyes gaze upon you and feast upon your forms, they remain unsatisfied.”
Passage 22
इति तासां वदन्तीनां सम्प्रेम्णा भिल्लयोषिताम्। समाकर्ण्य शुभा वाचो मुमुदुस्ते त्रयो हृदि॥२२॥
Hearing the auspicious words spoken with such love by the Bhilla women, the three travelers rejoiced in their hearts. Lakṣmaṇa Prepares Their Night's Dwelling
Passage 23
ततो लक्ष्मण आनीय मृगान् मेध्यान् निजैः शरैः। विनिर्ममे पर्णशाले उभे आर्याय चात्मने॥२३॥
Then Lakṣmaṇa brought ritually pure deer killed with his own arrows and constructed two leaf cottages, one for his elder brother and one for himself.
Passage 24
आर्यस्य च सदारस्य पर्णशालां मनोरमाम्। विनिर्ममे विशालां स आत्मने च तनीयसीम्॥२४॥
He made a spacious and delightful leaf cottage for his elder brother and wife, and a smaller one for himself.
Passage 25
आर्यस्य लक्ष्मीवति पर्णशाले शय्यां शुभां भूरुहपद्मपल्लवैः। विनिर्ममे चावसथ्याग्निधानीं वेदी च विज्ञः शुभलक्षणान्विताम्॥२५॥
Within his elder brother's splendid leaf cottage, the skilled Lakṣmaṇa fashioned an auspicious bed from the tender leaves of trees. He also prepared a place for the domestic fire and an altar marked by favorable signs.
Passage 26
आधाय मांसानि मृगस्य मेध्यान् पत्यादृतस्तत्र तयोः पदाब्जम्। प्रणम्य भक्त्या पुलकाञ्चिताङ्गः संवाहयामास विनीतखेदः॥२६॥
He placed the ritually pure venison before them. Honored by the couple, he bowed devotedly to their lotus feet and, his body thrilled, humbly massaged away their fatigue.
Passage 27
अथ रघुपतिरग्निहोत्रहोमाज्जनकसुतापरिपक्वमेध्यमांसैः। विपिनतरुभवैः फलैश्च रस्यैरनुजबधूयुत आच्छदात्मतृप्तिम्॥२७॥
After the fire offering, the lord of Raghu's line satisfied himself together with Jānakī and his younger brother, eating the ritually pure meat cooked by Janaka's daughter and flavorful fruits produced by forest trees.
Passage 28
सुप्तः स पर्णसदने विविधाः प्रवृत्तीः संवर्तयन् भृशमसौ प्रियया समेतः। निन्ये निशां कटुरणद्वनघूकघोषघोरान्धकारिताशिवारुतभीमरूपाम्॥२८॥
Lying in the leaf dwelling with his beloved and speaking with her at length about many matters, Rāma passed the night, made fearsome by harsh forest sounds, the cries of owls, dense darkness, and the howls of jackals.
Passage 29
तत्र लक्ष्मण उदाहितचापः पूर्णतूर्ण इषुभिर्निशिताग्रैः। जाग्रदेव रजनीं समनैषीदार्यपादकमलाहितचित्तः॥२९॥
There Lakṣmaṇa remained awake through the night, bow raised and quiver full of sharp-tipped arrows, his mind fixed upon his elder brother's lotus feet. Thus ends Chapter 131, “Sleeping During the Forest Exile,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.