Passage 1
अथ तत्र शुभे स्थाने श्रीरामवसतिप्रिये। आजग्मुर्वाडवाः शुद्धा नानादिग्देशवासिनः॥१॥
Then pure brāhmaṇas from many regions and directions came to that auspicious place, the beloved dwelling of Śrī Rāma.
Passage 2
तापसाः पुण्यकर्माणः श्रीरामप्रियदर्शनाः। यायजूका ब्रह्मनिष्ठा वैदिका विदुषां वराः॥२॥
They were ascetics of meritorious conduct, eager for the dear sight of Śrī Rāma—sacrificers established in Brahman, Vedic scholars, and the finest of learned men.
Passage 3
वेदान्तशास्त्रनिष्णाताः ब्रह्मवादपरायणाः। षडङ्गशास्त्रव्याख्यातारः कल्पसूत्रविदुत्तमाः॥३॥
They were thoroughly versed in Vedānta, devoted to the teaching of Brahman, expositors of the six limbs of the Veda, and eminent knowers of the Kalpa-sūtras. Source note: the edition marks the second half of this passage as containing metrical excess and treats the reading as traditional.
Passage 4
सिद्धान्तज्ञा रहस्यज्ञा निषेधविधिवेदिनः। मन्त्रशास्त्रक्रियाकाण्डवेत्तारो द्विजसत्तमाः॥४॥
Those excellent twice-born sages knew established doctrine and its secrets, understood prohibitions and injunctions, and mastered mantra-science and ritual practice.
Passage 5
पञ्चवट्यां वसन्तं तं ज्ञात्वा रामं रघूद्वहम्। उद्वेजिता राक्षसौघैराययुः सर्व एव ते॥५॥
Harassed by hordes of rākṣasas, they all came after learning that Rāma, the glory of Raghu's line, was dwelling at Pañcavaṭī.
Passage 6
तान् रामः स्थापयामास बहुमानपुरःसरम्। आनर्च बहुपाद्यार्थार्घ्याचमनादिसपर्यया॥६॥
Rāma respectfully gave them places and honored them abundantly with water for their feet, an offering of welcome, water for sipping, and the other rites of hospitality. Sītā's Inexhaustible Vessel
Passage 7
अत्रेर्मुनिवरेण्यस्य धर्मपत्न्या कृपाढ्यया। वितीर्णामक्षयां स्थालीं सीतारसवतीगताम्॥७॥
The inexhaustible vessel bestowed by the compassionate wife of the eminent sage Atri had now come into Sītā's kitchen.
Passage 8
इष्टान्नानि सुमृष्टानि सुस्वादूनि विशेषतः। सुशाकव्यञ्जनादीनि नित्यं प्रसुवतीं पराम्॥८॥
That marvelous vessel continually produced desired foods—excellent and especially delicious—together with fine vegetables, relishes, and much more.
Passage 9
सम्प्राप्य सुकृती रामो भोजयामास कोटिशः। ब्राह्मणान् विधिसम्पन्नानतिथीन् दिने दिने॥९॥
Having obtained it, the meritorious Rāma fed countless properly observant brāhmaṇa guests day after day.
Passage 10
ते भोजिताः सुपक्वान्नैः सूपोदनघृतादिभिः। स्वादुभिर्व्यञ्जनैः शाकैः कथिकातेमनान्वितैः॥१०॥
They were fed well-cooked dishes, soups, rice, ghee, tasty relishes and vegetables, accompanied by kathikā and temana preparations.
Passage 11
मण्डकापूपसंयुक्तैः पूरिकाशष्कुलीमुखैः। नानाविधैस्तथाहारैर्वटिकावटकादिभिः॥११॥
There were maṇḍaka cakes and apūpas, purīs and śaṣkulīs, and many other foods, including varieties of vaṭikā and vaṭaka fritters.
Passage 12
तर्पिता ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा नानापङ्क्त्युपवेशिताः। सौमित्रिणा च रामेण सीतया शुभशीलया॥१२॥
Seated in many rows, the eminent brāhmaṇas were fully satisfied by Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma, and virtuous Sītā.
Passage 13
परिविष्टैः शुभैरन्नैर्लेह्यचोष्यपुरःसरैः। संतोषिताश्चिरं तत्र बहुधा च समादृताः॥१३॥
They were served auspicious foods, including things to lick and sip, and remained there contented and honored in many ways.
Passage 14
शुभाशिषः प्रयच्छन्तो वीरेन्द्राय महात्मने। सौमित्रये च सीतायै मन्त्राक्षतपुरःसरम्॥१४॥
With mantras and unbroken grains of rice, they bestowed auspicious blessings upon the great hero Rāma, upon Lakṣmaṇa, and upon Sītā.
Passage 15
प्रणता बहुभक्त्या च पादसंवाहनादिभिः। सेविताः ससुखं तस्थुर्जनस्थाने निरामये॥१५॥
The three bowed to them with deep devotion and served them by massaging their feet and in other ways; the sages then dwelt happily in Janasthāna, now free from affliction.
Passage 16
एवं दिने दिने तत्र ब्रह्मपूजा व्यवर्तत। सीतया रामचन्द्रेण विहिता लक्ष्मणेन च॥१६॥
Thus, day after day, worship of the brāhmaṇas was performed there by Sītā, Rāmacandra, and Lakṣmaṇa. The Secluded Forest
Passage 17
वनं च तद्रहोभूतं गते ब्राह्मणमण्डले। आसीन्मङ्गलसम्पन्नं दम्पत्योः क्रीडनोचितम्॥१७॥
When the assembly of brāhmaṇas departed, the forest became secluded, filled with auspiciousness, and fit for the couple's play.
Passage 18
विजहार वने तस्मिन् ब्रह्मभोजादनन्तरम्। रहोभूते शुभे स्थाने गुञ्जन्मधुपभूरुहे॥१८॥
After feeding the brāhmaṇas, Rāma sported in that forest—a beautiful private place whose trees resounded with humming bees.
Passage 19
प्रमत्तकोकिलारावजुष्टफुल्लाम्रकानने। विकचाशोकमन्दारचाम्पेयकुटजव्रजे॥१९॥
The mango grove echoed with the calls of intoxicated cuckoos and abounded in blossoming aśoka, mandāra, campaka, and kuṭaja trees.
Passage 20
नित्यमावातत्रिविधवातौघपरिशीलिते। गौतमीतीरवानीरकुञ्जमण्डपशालिनि॥२०॥
Always caressed by currents of three kinds of breeze, the forest possessed reed-bower pavilions along the bank of the Gautamī.
Passage 21
त्र्यम्बकेशमहादेवनित्यपूजासमागतैः। देवगन्धर्वनिबहैः संततं काहलीकृते॥२१॥
Companies of gods and gandharvas came each day to worship the great Lord Tryambakeśa, continually filling the forest with the sound of trumpets.
Passage 22
सुरस्त्रीनूपुरारावझङ्कारमुखरीकृते। क्वणत्कादम्बसंदोहै राजहंसकदम्बकैः॥२२॥
It rang with the jingling anklets of celestial women, the calls of flocks of waterfowl, and companies of royal swans.
Passage 23
सेवितैः सरसां तोयैः सर्वदा शिशिरीकृते। अशोकभूरुहभुजपरिरब्धैः सुपल्लवैः॥२३॥
The waters of its frequented lakes kept it forever cool, while tender shoots embraced the arms of the aśoka trees.
Passage 24
लतिकानां शतैर्नित्यं सुच्छायविहतातपे। असूर्यपश्यविहगश्रेणीविश्राममन्दिरे॥२४॥
Hundreds of vines continually cast fine shade and checked the sun, making the forest a resting sanctuary for ranks of birds hidden from its rays.
Passage 25
जानकीनूपुरारावसोत्कण्ठकलहंसके। मेघश्यामरघुश्रेष्ठदर्शनोत्सुककेकिनि॥२५॥
Its graceful swans longed for the sound of Jānakī's anklets, while its peacocks yearned to behold the cloud-dark scion of Raghu.
Passage 26
सहकारतरुश्रेणीमञ्जरीभरशालिनि। एकतः केतकारण्यपरागपटलावृते॥२६॥
Rows of mango trees were laden with masses of blossoms, and on one side the forest was veiled by clouds of pollen from a ketaka grove.
Passage 27
परतः पङ्कजारण्यपरागपिशङ्गीकृते। अन्यतः केसरवनोद्धूतधूलीभरावृते॥२७॥
Beyond, pollen from a lotus thicket made it tawny; elsewhere it was covered by dust stirred up from a grove of kesara trees.
Passage 28
तदन्यतः किंशुकद्रुकुसुमैर्लोहितायति। क्रीडत्कुरङ्गमिथुनतरुकुञ्जसुमञ्जुले॥२८॥
In another direction it glowed red with kiṃśuka blossoms and was lovely with tree bowers where pairs of deer played.
Passage 29
कूजच्छुकगणाक्रान्तनवपल्लवभूरुहे। प्रपठत्सारिकावृन्दविश्रान्तिसुखदद्रुमे॥२९॥
Flocks of calling parrots crowded trees covered in new leaves, and other trees offered pleasant resting places to companies of reciting mynah birds.
Passage 30
अनेकपशुपक्ष्याढ्ये अनेकतरुमण्डपे। अतिसान्द्रतरुस्तोमसर्वतःसंकुलान्तरे॥३०॥
The forest was rich in many animals and birds and possessed many tree-pavilions; within, it was crowded on every side by exceedingly dense masses of trees.
Passage 31
सर्वर्तुसुखदे क्रीडत्किन्नरीगणशोभिते। गायद्गन्धर्वसंदोहमूर्छितस्वरपूरिते॥३१॥
Delightful in every season, it was adorned by companies of playful kinnarīs and filled with swelling melodies from hosts of singing gandharvas.
Passage 32
वातपूर्णकलध्वानकीचकप्रचयावृते। पुण्ये गोदापरिसरे विस्तीर्णे गहने वने॥३२॥
Bamboo clusters made sweet music as the wind passed through them in that vast, deep, sacred forest along the Godāvarī. The Divine Couple at Play
Passage 33
विदेहतनयायुक्तो लक्ष्मणैकसहायकः। आस्फालितसुचापज्यारवोत्सारितकोणपः॥३३॥
Accompanied by Videha's daughter and aided only by Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma drove the rākṣasas away with the resounding twang of his excellent bowstring.
Passage 34
चिक्रीडे केलिरसिकः श्रीमान् रघुकुलोद्वहः। विलासैर्बहुभिर्युक्तो जलस्थलसुखोचितैः॥३४॥
The glorious scion of Raghu, a connoisseur of play, sported there in many delightful ways suited to water and land.
Passage 35
देवी च सा जनकजा दृष्ट्वा सर्वसुखप्रदम्। स्थानं रहःसुखकरं रेमे पत्या सुसंगता॥३५॥
The divine daughter of Janaka saw that secluded place, which bestowed every joy, and delighted there in perfect union with her husband.
Passage 36
पुष्पस्तबकभूषाढ्या गिरिधातुविभूषिता। ऋतुयोग्यकृताकल्पा सुसुष्मवसनावृता॥३६॥
Richly adorned with clusters of flowers and pigments from the mountain, she dressed herself for the season and wore garments of exquisite beauty.
Passage 37
अनपायाद्भुतरागाढ्या शिञ्जच्चरणनूपुरा। मोदयन्ती मनः पत्युर्विरराज दिने दिने॥३७॥
Filled with wondrous and unfailing love, her anklets ringing at her feet, she shone day after day while delighting her husband's heart.
Passage 38
कमलेशीमुखाः सख्यस्तत्र तस्यास्तनोर्बहिः। आविर्भूय स्फुटं रामं सावकाशाः सिषेविरे॥३८॥
There Kamaleśī and the other companions manifested visibly outside Sītā's own person and served Rāma at leisure.
Passage 39
यथा प्रमुदवने पूर्वं सुखं विहृतवान् प्रियः। तथैव विजहारेह पुण्ये पञ्चवटीवने॥३९॥
Just as the beloved Lord had formerly sported in happiness in Pramoda-vana, so he sported here in the sacred forest of Pañcavaṭī.
Passage 40
गोदावर्यास्तटेषु द्रुमगहनलतामण्डपैरावृतेषु स्वच्छेषु त्र्यम्बकाद्रेस्तटशिखरगुहोपत्यकाधित्यकासु। सान्द्रक्षोणीरुहासु स्मर इव रतिमान् पञ्चवट्याः स्थलीषु श्रीमान् सीतासमेतः प्रतिदिनमकरोद् रामचन्द्रो विलासान्॥४०॥
Each day the glorious Rāmacandra sported with Sītā along the Godāvarī's banks, in pure tree-thickets and vine pavilions, upon the slopes, peaks, caves, foothills, and heights of Tryambaka Mountain, and throughout densely wooded Pañcavaṭī—like Kāma united with Rati. Thus ends Chapter 141, “Play in the Forest of Pañcavaṭī,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.