Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ लक्ष्मण आगच्छत्फलान्याहृत्य काननात्। तान्यग्रे स्थापयामास सीताराघवयोरयम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Lakṣmaṇa returned carrying fruits from the forest and placed them before Sītā and Rāghava.
Passage 2
देवताः पितरश्चैव तर्पितास्तेन तैः फलैः। अभ्युक्षितैर्द्रोणपात्रे मन्त्रपूतेन वारिणा॥२॥
With those fruits sprinkled in a leaf vessel by mantra-purified water, Rāma satisfied the gods and ancestors.
Passage 3
तान्येव बुभुजे देवो जायया सहितः प्रभुः। स्वादं स्वादं पवित्राणि पाकरुच्यानि रोचयन्॥३॥
The divine Lord then ate those pure and flavorful fruits with his wife, savoring each one.
Passage 4
अथ विभ्राजुपजातायां दिव्यौषधिसुदीपिते। निकुञ्जमण्डपे तस्मिन् सुष्वाप प्रियया सह॥४॥
When night arose, illuminated by shining medicinal plants, he slept with his beloved in that bower pavilion.
Passage 5
सौमित्रिरधिरूढज्यकोदण्डनिहिताशुगः। जाग्रदेव निशां निन्ये स्वपत्यार्ये सदारके॥५॥
The son of Sumitrā passed the night awake, arrow ready upon the strung Kodaṇḍa bow, while his elder brother slept with his wife.
Passage 6
सव्यापसव्यपार्श्वाभ्यां परिवर्तनवर्तनेः। विनीतनिद्रो रघुपः प्रातः प्राबुध्यत स्वयम्॥६॥
After turning from left side to right, the lord of Raghu's line shed sleep and awoke by himself at dawn.
Passage 7
कराङ्गुलिभिरुन्मृज्य नेत्रे अलसपक्ष्मणी। उत्तस्थौ रघुशार्दूलः प्रियालोचनसौख्यदः॥७॥
Rubbing his sleep-heavy eyes with his fingertips, the tiger of Raghu's line arose, bringing joy to his beloved's gaze.
Passage 8
शृण्वन् विहगनिक्वाणं प्रातःसमधिकं शुभम्। प्रबोधमङ्गलोपेतो मुहूर्तं तस्थिवान् स्थिरः॥८॥
Listening to the especially auspicious morning calls of the birds, he stood still for a moment, graced by the blessing of awakening.
Passage 9
नासाग्रन्यस्तनयनः संवृतास्यः सुनिश्चलः। विष्टभ्योरः क्षणं दध्यौ स्वात्मज्योतिरखण्डितम्॥९॥
With eyes fixed upon the tip of his nose, mouth closed, and body perfectly still, he steadied his chest and meditated for a moment upon the indivisible light of his own Self. The Morning Departure
Passage 10
सूर्यवंशावतंसस्य रामस्य वदनाम्बुजम्। लक्ष्मणो वीक्षमाणः सन् मुमुदेऽतितरां हृदि॥१०॥
Gazing upon the lotus face of Rāma, ornament of the solar dynasty, Lakṣmaṇa rejoiced exceedingly within his heart.
Passage 11
कुण्ठोत्कण्ठः पितर्यासीद् लक्ष्मणो रामसौहृदात्। जानकीप्रेमसन्तुष्टो जनन्यां शिथिलादरः॥११॥
Through friendship with Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa's longing for his father had grown faint; satisfied by Jānakī's affection, even his attachment to his mother had relaxed.
Passage 12
सीताराघवयोस्तस्य प्रीतिरासीद्दिने दिने। मातरं पितरं चापि यथा विस्मृतवान् हृदा॥१२॥
His love for Sītā and Rāghava increased day by day until his heart seemed to have forgotten even mother and father.
Passage 13
वनेऽपि वसतस्तस्य सीतारामस्वभावतः। बन्धुपूर्ण इवागारे हृदि हर्षो व्यवर्धत॥१३॥
Though dwelling in the forest, the presence of Sītā and Rāma made his joy grow as if he lived in a home filled with relatives.
Passage 14
तस्य सङ्गाच्च तौ हृष्टौ वनवासं न जज्ञतुः। पर्णराज्यश्रियौ येते सद्मनी वोषितुः सुखम्॥१४॥
Delighted by his company, the couple scarcely felt the hardship of forest exile; endowed with the splendor of their leafy realm, they lived happily in their dwelling.
Passage 15
ततः प्रतस्थौ भगवान् लक्ष्मणेनानुमोदितः। प्रियया पृष्ठगामिन्या रोहिण्येवान्वितो विधुः॥१५॥
Then the Lord set out with Lakṣmaṇa's assent, followed by his beloved as the moon is followed by Rohiṇī. The Forest Serves the Travelers
Passage 16
तस्मिन् पादपसन्दोहो व्यकिरत्कुसुमव्रजम्। ज्ञात्वेव प्रतिवर्षन्तुं घनं जीवनदायिनम्॥१६॥
Masses of trees scattered flowers upon him as though recognizing and answering a life-giving raincloud.
Passage 17
पथि व्रजन् बभौ रामो नीलसुन्दरविग्रहः। तडित्वानिव संयुक्तः सौदामिन्येव कान्तया॥१७॥
Rāma's beautiful dark form shone along the road like a raincloud joined by lightning in the person of his beloved.
Passage 18
चुकूजुः कोकिलाः सम्यग्बिभ्रतः पञ्चमस्वरम्। ननृतुश्च प्रतानिन्यो महता शिक्षिता इव॥१८॥
The cuckoos sang perfectly in the fifth note, and the vines danced as though trained by a great master.
Passage 19
दध्वनुः कीचकाः सम्यग्रन्ध्रपूरितमारुताः। वनं तत्प्रथयामास सङ्गीतमिव राघवे॥१९॥
Wind filled the hollows of the bamboo and made them sound; the forest seemed to spread music before Rāghava.
Passage 20
त्रैलोक्यवल्लभे तस्मिन् सदारे सानुजे तथा। सम्प्रयाति प्रतिपथं सुखयामास तद्वनम्॥२०॥
As the beloved of the three worlds traveled onward with his wife and brother, he gladdened the forest at every step.
Passage 21
भर्तारमनुगच्छन्त्याः सीतायाश्चरणौ मृदू। नाखिद्येतां किरत्युच्चैः पल्लवान् पादपव्रजे॥२१॥
So that the tender feet of Sītā, following her husband, would not tire, the trees cast down soft leaves in abundance.
Passage 22
क्वचित्तरुतले कांश्चित्क्षणान् विश्रमतोस्तयोः। पादसंवाहनं चक्रे लक्ष्मणो भक्तिविह्वलः॥२२॥
Whenever the couple rested briefly beneath a tree, devotion-overwhelmed Lakṣmaṇa massaged their feet.
Passage 23
क्वचिद्द्रुमलतास्तोमैः कृत्वा छत्रं मनोहरम्। सीताराघवयोश्छायां सुमित्रातनयोऽतनोत्॥२३॥
At times the son of Sumitrā made a lovely canopy from masses of tree branches and vines and spread shade over Sītā and Rāghava. Deeper into Daṇḍakāraṇya
Passage 24
तेऽविशन् विपिनं भीमं क्रीडच्छार्दूलशावकम्। उद्रिक्तघोरमहिषं शैलोच्चावचं पथि॥२४॥
They entered a fearsome forest where tiger cubs played, savage buffaloes roamed, and the path rose and fell among hills.
Passage 25
नानावर्णविहङ्गाढ्यं नानावर्णमृगान्वितम्। नानाजातिलतावृक्षं सुच्छायसुखदान्तरम्॥२५॥
It abounded in birds and deer of many colors and vines and trees of many species, its deep shade giving happiness.
Passage 26
पश्यन्तो दण्डकारण्यभूमिं निर्जनभीषणाम्। ययुः सुमहासत्त्वास्त्रयस्ते वह्निदीप्यः॥२६॥
The three immensely courageous travelers, radiant like fire, moved onward while observing the lonely and formidable land of Daṇḍakāraṇya.
Passage 27
कोदण्डोदण्डभुजयोः खड्गिनोर्दृढवर्मणोः। कापि शोभा तयोरासीद्या वीरोत्साहयोर्मिथः॥२७॥
The two armored heroes, swords at their sides and Kodaṇḍa bows upon their powerful arms, displayed an indescribable splendor of mutual heroic ardor.
Passage 28
तयोर्मध्ये जनकजा कूजन्नूपुरमेखला। प्रयान्ती रतिरभ्राजद्वसन्तस्मरयोरिव॥२८॥
Between them walked Janaka's daughter, anklets and girdle ringing, shining like Rati between spring and the god of love.
Passage 29
तान् गच्छतः पथि लता वनिता इवोच्चैरन्तद्विरेफविकसत्कुसुमोत्सुकाक्ष्यः। ऐक्षन्त मन्दमरुता विटपैस्तरूणां किञ्चिद्विभक्ततनवस्त्रपयेव तेभ्यः॥२९॥
As they passed, flowering vines watched them like women with eager eyes formed by bees within their blossoms. Stirred by a gentle breeze, the trees bent their branches and seemed modestly to veil their bodies.
Passage 30
अत्रिनार्या वितीर्णैस्तैरङ्गरागैः सुगन्धिभिः। जानकी सुरभीचक्रे दण्डकारण्यपादपान्॥३०॥
With the fragrant cosmetics given by Atri's wife, Jānakī perfumed the trees of Daṇḍakāraṇya. Agastya's Hermitage
Passage 31
तेऽतीत्य दूरमध्वानं सरजःपक्ष्मकुन्तलाः। कुम्भोद्धवमुनेः स्थानं प्राप्तवन्तः सुखावहम्॥३१॥
After traveling a long road, dust upon their eyelashes and hair, they reached the joy-giving dwelling of the pot-born sage Agastya.
Passage 32
स्वच्छपानीयकासारं संफुल्लनलिनीवनम्। ओंकारनादसङ्कूजदनेकशुकसारिकम्॥३२॥
Its ponds held clear water and forests of blossoming lotuses; many parrots and mynah birds called with sounds like Oṃ.
Passage 33
कुसुमस्तबकाकीर्णलताभूरुहभूषितम्। मुनिपुत्रमुखोद्गीर्णत्र्यृग्यजुःसामघोषितम्॥३३॥
It was adorned with vines and trees covered in flower clusters and resounded with Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma verses issuing from the mouths of the sages' sons.
Passage 34
सायमाहुतिदानार्थमभ्युद्धृतहुताशनम्। होमधूममिलिन्दालिमिलद्गगनमण्डलम्॥३४॥
Sacred fires had been kindled for the evening offerings, and the sky filled with sacrificial smoke mingled with rows of bees.
Passage 35
वनान्तरादुपादाय समित्कुशकदम्बकम्। उपावृत्तैर्मुनिजनैराकीर्णं सर्वतो दिशम्॥३५॥
Every direction was filled with sages returning from the forest carrying bundles of firewood and kuśa grass.
Passage 36
मुहुर्जपतां तूष्णीं गायत्रीं वेदमातरम्। मुनीनां भवनेष्वन्तर्निःशब्दायतवाडवम्॥३६॥
Within their dwellings the sages repeatedly recited the Veda-mother Gāyatrī in silence, while the young brāhmaṇas remained hushed.
Passage 37
सर्वतः शान्तिसम्पन्नं दुष्टसत्त्वविवर्जितम्। निविरोधकृतावासैराकीर्णं पशुपक्षिभिः॥३७॥
Peace prevailed everywhere; no vicious creature was present, and animals and birds dwelt together without hostility.
Passage 38
हुताग्निहोत्राज्यगन्धपूयमानदिगष्टकम्। सायंसन्ध्यामुपासीने मुनिवृन्दे समन्ततः॥३८॥
The eight directions were purified by the fragrance of clarified butter offered into the sacred fire as groups of sages observed the evening twilight rite.
Passage 39
निःशब्दविहगस्तोमं मृगैः सञ्चारवर्जितैः। अध्यासितोटजप्रान्तैः कुर्वद्रोमन्थवर्तनम्॥३९॥
Flocks of birds had fallen silent, and deer ceased wandering, resting beside the cottages and quietly chewing their cud.
Passage 40
इयाय राघवस्तत्र भानावस्तमितायति। सीतानुजाभ्यां सहितस्तीर्थपावनपावतः॥४०॥
As the sun approached setting, Rāghava arrived there with Sītā and his younger brother, purifying even that which purifies sacred places.
Passage 41
ददर्शासौ शान्तमिष्टाग्निहोत्रैर्लोपामुद्रासंयुतं कुम्भयोनिम्। त्रयोऽपि ते योगिनं तं मुनीन्द्रं ववन्दिरे स्वाभिधाख्यानपूर्वम्॥४१॥
He saw the pot-born sage Agastya, peaceful through his cherished fire offerings and accompanied by Lopāmudrā. The three announced their names and bowed to that foremost yogin and sage. Thus ends Chapter 135, “The Arrival at Agastya's Hermitage,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.