Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— ततः प्रभाते विमले क्वणत्सु वनपक्षिषु। विनीतनिद्रः श्रीरामः प्राबोधयत लक्ष्मणम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: At the clear dawn, as the forest birds called, Śrī Rāma shook off sleep and awakened Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 2
भ्रातर्जागृहि सौमित्रे उत्थायाभ्युचितं कुरु। गता निशासावुदितो रक्तांशुर्भानुमण्डलः॥२॥
“Brother, awake, O son of Sumitrā. Rise and perform the proper morning duties. The night has passed, and the sun's red-rayed disk has risen.
Passage 3
इत एकतमां रात्रिं मध्ये विश्रम्य कानने।<br+परतोऽह्नि गमिष्यामः कुम्भयोनेः शुभाश्रमम्॥३॥
“Having rested for a single night here in the midst of the forest, today we shall go onward to the auspicious hermitage of the pot-born sage Agastya.
Passage 4
अद्येदमद्भुततमं मुनीनां वनमुत्तमम्। क्षेममध्यासिताः स्मो वै सुखयन्तो वनेचरान्॥४॥
“Today we shall dwell safely in this most wondrous and excellent forest of the sages, bringing happiness to its inhabitants.
Passage 5
वनेऽस्मिन् मम भक्तास्ते विद्यन्ते दीप्तवर्चसः। येषां प्रेम्णा वशीभूतो भविष्यामि न संशयः॥५॥
“My radiant devotees live in this forest. Their love will bring me under their sway—of this there is no doubt.
Passage 6
केनापि किल भावेन तपस्यन्ति तपोधनाः। स तेषां मनसो भावः प्रकटोऽद्य भविष्यति॥६॥
“Those treasures of austerity practice penance with a certain inner feeling. Today that feeling within their minds will be revealed.”
Passage 7
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं भूयः सुन्दरो रामचन्द्रमाः। ययावग्निकुमाराणां मुनीनां तत्तपोवनम्॥७॥
After speaking thus to Lakṣmaṇa, beautiful moonlike Rāmacandra proceeded to the penance forest of the fire-born sages. The Beauty of the Sages' Forest
Passage 8
प्रशान्तश्वापदाकीर्णं वेदपाठप्रघोषितम्। शान्तस्वरैर्विहङ्गानां कर्णयोः प्रमुदावहम्॥८॥
It was filled with peaceful wild animals and resounded with Vedic recitation. The tranquil voices of its birds brought delight to the ears.
Passage 9
सामगानस्वरोपेतं होमधूमोरुसौरभम्। श्रौषड्वौषड्वषट्शब्दनिरस्तासुरसंचरम्॥९॥
The forest rang with the tones of Sāma chanting and was deeply fragrant with sacrificial smoke. The ritual exclamations śrauṣaṭ, vauṣaṭ, and vaṣaṭ drove away the movement of demons.
Passage 10
संफुल्लानोकुहलतासुमनोगुच्छसौरभम्। गुल्मपुष्पातिसौरभ्यवशीभूतमधुव्रतम्॥१०॥
It was fragrant with clusters of blossoms upon flowering trees and vines, while bees were captivated by the intense perfume of the bushes' flowers.
Passage 11
मनोज्ञकोकिलालापकाकलीपञ्चमस्वरम्। परमानन्दसम्मग्नविकूजच्छुकसारिकम्॥११॥
Enchanting cuckoo calls sounded in the fifth note, and parrots and mynah birds warbled as though immersed in supreme bliss.
Passage 12
पञ्चवर्णप्रसूनाढ्यतरुचित्रविचित्रितम्। उत्फुल्लपद्मखण्डाढ्यसरोवरमनोहरम्॥१२॥
The forest was variegated with trees laden with five-colored blossoms, and lovely lakes abounded in masses of open lotuses.
Passage 13
तरुगुल्मलतासङ्गित्रिविधानिलसेवितम्। वनदेवीमुखोद्गीतकलनादसुखावहम्॥१३॥
Three kinds of breeze served its trees, shrubs, and vines, and sweet music rising from the forest goddess's mouth brought happiness.
Passage 14
अनङ्गोद्दीपनमपि तपोविजितमन्मथम्। संफुल्लकिंशुकारण्यलोहितीभूतदिक्तटम्॥१४॥
Although it could kindle the god of love, its asceticism had conquered him; its horizons were reddened by forests of blossoming kiṃśuka trees.
Passage 15
विहङ्गमकलध्वानसंक्षिप्तभ्रमरध्वनि। भ्रमरध्वनिसङ्गीतवल्लकीनादमञ्जुलम्॥१५॥
The birds' sweet sounds mingled with the bees' humming, and that humming became music lovely as the sound of a lute.
Passage 16
अशोकवनिकापुष्पजातदिक्सुन्दरीपटम्। केतकीकाननोद्भूतपरागपटलीवृतम्॥१६॥
Flowers of the aśoka groves formed garments for the maidens of the directions, while clouds of pollen rising from ketakī forests enveloped the scene. Rāma Chooses to Rest There
Passage 17
दृष्ट्वा तद्विपिनं रामः समन्ताद्रामणीयकम्। प्राविशज्जानकीयुक्तः शृङ्गारसुरभूरुहः॥१७॥
Seeing that forest beautiful on every side, Rāma entered it with Jānakī, like a divine tree bearing the rasa of love.
Passage 18
उवाच लक्ष्मणं भूयः पथ्येदं विपिनं सखे। पीयूषपाकमधुरफलसन्दोहतृप्तिकृत्॥१८॥
He again said to Lakṣmaṇa: “Friend, this forest is wholesome and satisfies one with an abundance of fruits sweet as ripened nectar.
Passage 19
अस्मिन् विहर्तुमिच्छामि दण्डकावनमूर्धनि। वनोत्तमे मुनिवने जनयन् जन्मिनां मुदम्॥१९॥
“I wish to sport here in this finest sages' forest, the crown of Daṇḍakāraṇya, bringing joy to living beings.
Passage 20
ये केचित्कानने ह्यस्मिन् मुनयः शुद्धबुद्धयः। तानस्म्यनुग्रहीष्यामि यथावाञ्छितसाधकः॥२०॥
“Whatever pure-minded sages live in this forest, I shall bless them, fulfilling each one's desired purpose.
Passage 21
करोतु जानकीदेवी शृङ्गारमिह कानने। सुमनोभिः पञ्चवर्णैः फलैश्च तरुपल्लवैः॥२१॥
“Let the goddess Jānakī adorn herself here with five-colored flowers, fruits, and tender leaves from the trees.
Passage 22
भवान् वनेऽत्र सौमित्रे मा वधीन्मेध्यकान् मृगान्। एते हि मुनिकन्याभिः पोषिताः सोदरा इव॥२२॥
“O son of Sumitrā, do not kill the pure deer in this forest. The sages' daughters have raised them like their own brothers.
Passage 23
खेलन्तीह सुविश्वस्ताः कृष्णसारा अमी वने। कर्षन्ति मुनिहस्तेभ्यः कर्मदर्भोदकाक्षतान्॥२३॥
“These blackbuck play here without fear and pull ritual grass, water vessels, and grains from the sages' hands.
Passage 24
वन्यैरेव फलैर्मूलैः पत्रैः पुष्पैरिहोचिता। वृत्तिर्नः साधुशीलानां मुनीनामाश्रमालिषु॥२४॥
“Here among the hermitages of virtuous sages, it is proper for us to live only upon forest fruits, roots, leaves, and flowers.”
Passage 25
इत्युक्त्वा भ्रातरं वीरः फलाद्यर्थं व्यसर्जयत्। स्वयं च व्यश्रमत्सान्द्रलतामण्डपमाश्रितः॥२५॥
Having spoken thus, the hero sent his brother to gather fruits and other provisions, while he rested beneath a pavilion of dense vines. Rāma Adorns Sītā
Passage 26
विजह्रे जानकी तत्र भर्त्रा सह मुदान्विता। कुसुमान्यवचिन्वन्ती भूषणार्थं लतावने॥२६॥
Jānakī joyfully sported there with her husband, gathering flowers among the vines for ornaments.
Passage 27
अथ शृङ्गारयामास गात्रयष्टिं शुचिस्मिता। पत्युर्मनो रञ्जनकृद्विन्यासविधिदक्षिणा॥२७॥
Then the pure-smiling woman, skilled in the art of arrangement, adorned her graceful body to delight her husband's heart.
Passage 28
सानुकूलानुकूलेन पत्या साध्वी सुसङ्गता। रेजे रतिरिवोद्रिक्ता सज्जमाना मनोभुवा॥२८॥
The virtuous woman, lovingly united with her affectionate husband, shone like Rati herself, adorned by the god of love.
Passage 29
सुसम्मार्ज्य कचांस्तस्या मल्लीमाल्यैर्जुगुम्फ सः। ते द्विपाटीकृता रेजुर्नभस्ताराङ्कितं यथा॥२९॥
Rāma carefully smoothed her hair and wove jasmine garlands into it. Divided into two tresses, it shone like a sky marked with stars.
Passage 30
पञ्चवर्णसुमैर्वेणीं जुगुम्फ वरयोषितः। रेजेतरां लतैवोच्चैः साम्प्रतं गुच्छशालिनी॥३०॥
He braided the noble woman's hair with five-colored flowers. It shone like a vine newly laden with lofty clusters of blossoms.
Passage 31
सिन्दूरैः पूरयामास सीमन्तं रामनायकः। नभःपृष्ठ इवाराजन्नवसांध्यकरारुणः॥३१॥
Lord Rāma filled the parting of her hair with sindūra; its fresh twilight-red color shone like sunset upon the surface of the sky.
Passage 32
अलकैर्मेलयित्वास्या बबन्ध शिखिपिच्छिकान्। अन्योन्यगुणसम्पर्कात्ते रेजुः सुसखा इव॥३२॥
Blending peacock feathers with her curls, he tied them in place. Joined by each other's qualities, the curls and feathers shone like close friends.
Passage 33
गुञ्जाफलकृतोत्तंसमालापरिधिशालिना। मुखेन व्यरुचद्देवी शशिना वारुणस्रजा॥३३॥
The goddess wore earrings made of guñjā berries and a surrounding garland; her face shone like the moon encircled by a crimson wreath.
Passage 34
तरुपल्लवसम्पन्नकर्णभूषणशालिनी। वनश्रीरिव सा रेजे वसन्तागमसम्भृता॥३४॥
Adorned with earrings fashioned from tender tree leaves, she shone like the forest's own splendor enriched by spring's arrival.
Passage 35
पञ्चवर्णप्रसूनस्रक्कृताकल्पा नृपात्मजा। वसन्तलक्ष्मीरिव सा रेजे मदनमोदिनी॥३५॥
The princess, ornamented with garlands of five-colored flowers, shone like the Fortune of spring, bringing joy to the god of love.
Passage 36
तत्तदङ्गप्रन्यस्तपुष्पभूषणशालिनी। साक्षात्कल्पलतेवाभाद्रामकल्पद्रुमाश्रिता॥३६॥
With flower ornaments placed upon each limb, she appeared to be a wish-fulfilling vine itself resting upon Rāma, the wish-fulfilling tree.
Passage 37
एवं विहृत्य विपिने विदधौ प्रियायाः प्रत्यङ्गभूषणभरं सुमनोभिरच्छैः। दध्रे मनःशिलमयो हरितालमिश्रं तस्या ललाटफलके तिलकं रसीन्द्रः॥३७॥
Sporting thus in the forest, the lord of rasa covered every limb of his beloved with pure flower ornaments. Upon the broad surface of her forehead he placed a tilaka of red realgar blended with yellow orpiment. Thus ends Chapter 132, “The Bestowal of Ornaments in the Forest of the Fire-born Sages,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.