Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— प्रबुद्धः प्रातरेवासौ प्रियाशोभितपार्श्वकः। कृतप्रणामो भक्तेन भ्रात्रा सौमित्रिणा ततः॥१॥
Brahmā said: He awoke at dawn with his beloved beautifying his side, and devoted Lakṣmaṇa then bowed before him.
Passage 2
तस्थौ मुहूर्तं सुमनाः सुप्रसन्नो महामतिः। पश्यन् विपिनसौन्दर्यं मुमुदे रक्तमानसः॥२॥
The great-minded Lord stood for a moment, serene and joyful; beholding the forest's beauty, his delighted heart rejoiced.
Passage 3
उवाच जानकीं भूयः संवादैकमहोत्सवः। पश्यसीदं प्रियतमे वनं पञ्चवटीमनु॥३॥
Finding his great delight in conversation, he again addressed Jānakī: “Dearest, look upon this forest around Pañcavaṭī.
Passage 4
अत्र मे मनसः प्रीतिर्वर्धतेऽतितरां मुहुः। आकर्णय कलां वाचं कोकिलानां कलावति॥४॥
“Here the joy of my heart increases greatly at every moment. Gifted lady, listen to the cuckoos' sweet voices.
Passage 5
प्रातःप्रबोधमाङ्गल्यं कुर्वन्त्येतेऽद्य पक्षिणः। नानाजातियुताः सन्तो नानावर्णमनोहराः॥५॥
“These birds of many species and captivating colors make our awakening auspicious this morning.
Passage 6
सप्तस्वरसमुच्चारकुशलाः कलकूजिताः। महीरुहहरिच्छाखासुखासीनाः समन्ततः॥६॥
“Skilled in sounding the seven notes, they sing gently while seated comfortably upon green branches all around.
Passage 7
पश्य प्रिये नृत्यन्त्येते मयूरास्ततचन्द्रिकाः। उन्नम्रमेघसंकाशं पश्यन्तो निविडं वनम्॥७॥
“Look, beloved: these moon-marked peacocks dance as they behold the dense forest resembling towering rainclouds.
Passage 8
कुसुमैः सप्तपर्णानां नवदानाम्बुगन्धिभिः। दधतीह परावृत्तिं प्रतिभाशङ्किनो गजाः॥८॥
“Elephants turn back here, mistaking the scent of saptaparṇa blossoms for the fragrance of fresh rut-fluid from rival elephants. The Sacred Godāvarī
Passage 9
पश्यस्येतां पुरस्तात्ते गङ्गां गौतमनिर्मिताम्। सिद्धगन्धर्वगीर्वाणैरवगाढामलोदकाम्॥९॥
“Before you behold this Gaṅgā brought forth by Gautama, whose pure water is entered by siddhas, gandharvas, and gods.
Passage 10
हंससारसचक्राह्वकादम्बकुलनादिनीम्। मदौष्मशमनीं नित्यमिभानामवगाहताम्॥१०॥
“She resounds with families of swans, cranes, cakravākas, and waterfowl and continually cools the fever of elephants who plunge into her.
Passage 11
मन्दनिह्लादगम्भीरप्रवाहभरवेगिनीम्। तीरावनीसमासीनतपस्यन्मुनिपुङ्गवाम्॥११॥
“Her deep and abundant current moves with a gentle, cooling sound, while eminent sages sit in austerity upon the land along her banks.
Passage 12
अम्बकाचलमध्यस्थबिल्ववृक्षविनिर्गताम्। पुनानां जगतीं कृत्स्नां लहरीसंगिमारुतैः॥१२॥
“Issuing from the bilva tree upon Tryambaka Mountain, she purifies the entire world with breezes that accompany her waves.
Passage 13
तटोद्देशसमुत्फुल्ललतावृक्षप्रवर्षितैः। छन्नां प्रसूनस्तवकैर्नीरसौरभशालिनीम्॥१३॥
“Flower clusters rain from blossoming vines and trees along her banks, covering her fragrant waters.
Passage 14
कोटितीर्थाम्बुपावित्र्यकारिणीं साधुदर्शनात्। लुलल्लहरिसंदोहविलासभरशालिनीम्॥१४॥
“By the sight of holy people she grants the purity of the waters of ten million sacred places, and she abounds in the play of rolling masses of waves.
Passage 15
क्वचित्स्नानसमायातसुरस्त्रीकबरच्युतैः। मन्दारपुष्पस्तवकैश्छन्ननीरां समन्ततः॥१५॥
“In places her water is covered by clusters of mandāra flowers fallen from the hair of celestial women who have come to bathe.
Passage 16
क्वचिद्गन्धर्वनारीणां कुचकुम्भपरिस्रुतैः। काश्मीरचन्दनरसैः समन्तात्सुरभीकृताम्॥१६॥
“Elsewhere she is perfumed on every side by saffron and sandal paste washed from the breasts of gandharva women.
Passage 17
क्वचिन्नृपतिनारीणां स्नान्तीनां कुचमण्डलात्। च्युते रेणुमदैः सम्यक्सुगन्धितपयोभराम्॥१७॥
“In places the abundant water is thoroughly scented by fragrant powders falling from the breasts of royal women as they bathe.
Passage 18
लीलावगाहमुदितस्वर्गस्त्रीतनुसंगतैः। नानावर्णैरङ्गरागैः पिञ्जरीकृतशम्बराम्॥१८॥
“Cosmetics of many colors released from the bodies of celestial women joyfully sporting in her waters tint the river's expanse.
Passage 19
अवगाहतां मुनीन्द्राणामघमर्षविचक्षणाम्। नानादेशनृणां पापपुञ्जान्न्यक्कुर्वतीं क्षणात्॥१९॥
“She knows how to wash away the sins of eminent sages who immerse themselves and in a moment subdues the accumulated wrongs of people from many lands.
Passage 20
भूरिवारिघटारब्धताण्डवां वीचिबाहुभिः। स्फुरन्तीं पुलिनक्षोणिनिषण्णमुनिमण्डलाम्॥२०॥
“With wave-arms she begins a vigorous dance through her abundant masses of water, while circles of sages sit upon the sandy banks. The Riverbanks and Forest Bowers
Passage 21
जातीमण्डपसंजुष्टे मल्लीमण्डपमञ्जुले। मालतीमण्डपारामरामणीयकसंयुते॥२१॥
“Her banks possess jasmine pavilions, lovely bowers of mallikā, and delightful gardens formed by mālatī vines.
Passage 22
श्रीफलाटविभूयिष्ठे कदम्बवनभूषिते। तमालकाननच्छायासुविश्रान्तमुनिव्रजे॥२२॥
“They abound in groves of śrīphala, are adorned by kadamba forests, and give communities of sages welcome rest in the shade of tamāla woods.
Passage 23
विकसन्नववानीरवल्लरीवलिते शुभे। उभे अपि घनच्छाये पुलिने बिभ्रतीं सदा॥२३॥
“Freshly blossoming reed-vines wind about both auspicious banks, which always bear dense shade.
Passage 24
माद्यत्पुलिन्दतरुणीसेवितोत्तीरकाननाम्। अनेकाश्चर्यसम्पन्नां जलक्रीडोचितां तव॥२४॥
“Young forest women joyfully frequent the woods of the farther bank. The river is filled with wonders and is fit for your water play. Sītā's Hospitality to the Sages
Passage 25
अस्यां प्रियेऽवगाह्याद्य बाह्याभ्यन्तरशुद्धिभृत्। मुनीन् सम्मानयतमां ये पुरा चित्रकूटके॥२५॥
“Beloved, bathe in her today and gain purity within and without. Then honor especially those sages who were formerly at Citrakūṭa.
Passage 26
मिलिताः सान्त्विताश्चैव मया सुबहुलादरम्। आगमिष्यन्ति ते भूयोऽप्यस्मान् विज्ञाय संगतान्॥२६॥
“I met and consoled them there with abundant respect. Learning that we have come here, they will visit us again.
Passage 27
एषात्रिधर्मपत्न्या ते दत्ता स्थाली मनोरमा। अक्षय्यान्नव्यञ्जनादिप्रसवित्री ह्यलौकिकी॥२७॥
“Here is the marvelous vessel given to you by Atri's virtuous wife. It is supernatural and produces an inexhaustible supply of food, relishes, and more.
Passage 28
इह त्वं भोजयतरां यथेष्टं संगतान् द्विजान्। कोटिब्राह्मणभोज्येऽपि विद्धि स्थालीयमक्षया॥२८॥
“Feed the assembled brāhmaṇas here to their full desire. Know that this vessel remains inexhaustible even when feeding ten million brāhmaṇas.
Passage 29
एवं दिने दिने शश्वत्सुकृतार्जनतत्परा। इह तिष्ठ प्रिये नित्यं पुण्ये पञ्चवटीवने॥२९॥
“Thus, intent upon continually earning merit day after day, dwell here always, beloved, in the sacred forest of Pañcavaṭī.
Passage 30
जनस्थाने स्थिता ये च दण्डकारण्यवासिनः। नानादेशनिवासा ये ते सर्वेऽपि द्विजोत्तमाः॥३०॥
“The eminent brāhmaṇas of Janasthāna and Daṇḍakāraṇya, including those from many different lands, will all come.
Passage 31
नैष्ठिका दीर्घतपसो यायजूका त्रयीमुखाः। मुनयो वाडवश्रेष्ठा योगयोगाङ्गविद्वराः॥३१॥
“They are steadfast observers of vows, long-practicing ascetics, sacrificers devoted to the threefold Veda, eminent sages and brāhmaṇas, and masters of yoga and its limbs.
Passage 32
ज्ञानिनः कर्मनिपुणा ब्रह्मोपास्तिपरायणाः। ब्रह्मज्ञा मुनयः शुद्धास्त्रिकालज्ञाः सुमेधसः॥३२॥
“They are wise, skilled in sacred action, devoted to worship of Brahman, knowers of Brahman, pure sages, aware of the three times, and highly intelligent.
Passage 33
ते सर्वेऽपि प्रविज्ञाय वसन्तं मामिह प्रिये। समेष्यन्ति शुभाचारा ब्राह्मणा ज्ञानचक्षुषः॥३३॥
“Learning that I dwell here, beloved, all those well-conducted brāhmaṇas whose eye is knowledge will assemble.
Passage 34
उद्वेजितास्ते रक्षोभिः कूटमायापरायणैः। मामेव भक्तिसुप्रह्वमेष्यन्तीह न संशयः॥३४॥
“Harassed by rākṣasas devoted to deceitful magic, they will certainly come here and bow deeply before me in devotion.
Passage 35
तानहं मानयिष्यामि त्वया साकमनिन्दिते। येषां प्राणप्रियोऽस्म्येष ते मे प्राणप्रिया द्विजाः॥३५॥
“Blameless lady, together with you I shall honor them. I am dearer than life to those brāhmaṇas, and they are dearer than life to me.
Passage 36
एवमत्र द्विजातीनां मुनीनां च तपस्विनाम्। सुब्रह्मवर्चसैर्द्धानां समवायो भविष्यति॥३६॥
“In this way a gathering will form here of twice-born sages and ascetics endowed with splendid spiritual radiance.
Passage 37
तस्मिन् महति विप्राणां समवाये यशस्विनि। अर्जयन्तीह सुकृतं चिरं वस विदेहजे॥३७॥
“Daughter of Videha, live here for a long time, earning merit within that great and illustrious assembly of brāhmaṇas.
Passage 38
ब्राह्मणा एव मे प्राणा ब्राह्मणा एव मे धनम्। ब्राह्मणा एव मेऽभीष्टा न तेभ्योऽन्यत्प्रियं मम॥३८॥
“Brāhmaṇas are my very life; brāhmaṇas are my wealth; brāhmaṇas are my cherished treasure. Nothing is dearer to me than they.
Passage 39
इति गुणवति विप्रान्नित्यमाराधयन्तौ यदि शुभमशुभं वा जायतां देवयोगात्। न खलु विदितवेद्यन्याय्यमार्गादपेतं पदमपि चलितुं वै प्रायशः शक्नुवन्ति॥३९॥
“Therefore, virtuous lady, let us always honor the brāhmaṇas. Whatever good or ill may arise through fate, those who know what must be known can scarcely move even one step away from the path of justice.” Thus ends Chapter 140, “Dwelling at Pañcavaṭī,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.