Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ मध्याह्नवेलायां मध्ये दिनगते रवौ। छायायां वनवृक्षाणां स्थितायां मूलसंश्रये॥१॥
Brahmā said: Then, at the hour of midday, when the sun had reached the middle of its course and the forest trees' shade had drawn beneath their roots—
Passage 2
घूर्णमाने मृगकुले सीतादत्तान्नभोजने। तृप्ते क्षणविनिर्मुक्तरोमन्थे तरुमूलगे॥२॥
the herd of deer that had eaten food given by Sītā wandered about satisfied, briefly ceasing to chew the cud beneath the trees.
Passage 3
ध्वनत्सु खगवृन्देषु वृक्षशाखानिषादिषु। गतासु भिल्लपत्नीषु भोज्यशेषान्नदानतः॥३॥
Flocks of birds called from their perches upon the branches, while the Bhilla women departed after receiving the remaining food.
Passage 4
गतेषु भिक्षुवर्गेषु स्वं स्वं विश्रान्तिशाखिनम्। मुनिष्वाश्रमसद्मानि प्राप्तवत्सु सरित्तटे॥४॥
The groups of mendicants had gone to their respective trees of rest, and the sages had returned to their hermitage dwellings by the riverbank.
Passage 5
सर्वेषु भुक्ततृप्तेषु जनेषूच्चावचेष्वलम्। आ श्वानकाकचाण्डालमाकीटपशुपक्षिकम्॥५॥
Every being, high and low, had eaten to complete satisfaction—from dogs, crows, and outcastes down to insects, animals, and birds.
Passage 6
सौमित्रिसीतारामेषु विधाय बलिमुत्तमम्। माध्याह्निकेन हविषा चावसथ्यानले हुते॥६॥
Lakṣmaṇa, Sītā, and Rāma had made the excellent offering, pouring the midday oblation into the household fire.
Passage 7
स्वयं च भुक्तवत्स्वेषु शुभाचारेषु सन्ततम्। मृजत्यां च जानक्यां स्थालीमात्रप्रयापिताम्॥७॥
These three, ever devoted to auspicious conduct, had themselves eaten, and Jānakī was cleaning the vessel that alone remained to be put away.
Passage 8
वनश्रीदर्शनासक्ते सौमित्रौ सविधस्थिते। रहो निकुञ्जमाश्रित्य तस्थतुस्तौ च दम्पती॥८॥
As Lakṣmaṇa stood nearby absorbed in viewing the forest's beauty, the divine couple took shelter together in a secluded bower.
Passage 9
तदानीमेव पुरतस्तयोः सम्प्रेक्षमाणयोः। आजगाम निशाचारी मायास्वर्णमृगः खलः॥९॥
At that very moment, while the two looked before them, the wicked night-roamer approached in the deceptive form of a golden deer.
Passage 10
तं दृष्ट्वा जानकीदेवी मायास्वर्णमृगं खलम्। पत्यौ शृण्वति सोत्कण्ठमुवाचेदं विमोहिता॥१०॥
Seeing that wicked being disguised as a golden deer, the goddess Jānakī became enchanted and eagerly spoke while her husband listened. Sītā Praises Its Wondrous Form
Passage 11
अहो स्वर्णमृगस्यास्य रूपमत्यन्तमतुलम्। अदृष्टपूर्वं कुत्रापि मनो मोहयतीव मे॥११॥
“Oh, the form of this golden deer is utterly incomparable! Never seen anywhere before, it seems to enchant my mind.
Passage 12
अहो तनुरुहा अस्य विचित्राकृतिशालिनः। नान्यस्मिन् हरिणे दृष्टाः सुकुमारा मनोहराः॥१२॥
“Oh, the delicate, captivating hairs upon this creature of wondrous form have never been seen on any other deer.
Passage 13
दृश्यतां सुसमं शृङ्गद्वयमस्य मनोरमम्। जातरूपमयं चित्तचमत्कारि विराजते॥१३॥
“Look at its beautifully balanced and delightful pair of horns! Made of gold, they shine and fill the mind with wonder.
Passage 14
अहो तरलता चास्य चक्षुषोर्भृशदीर्घयोः। हरते स्वर्गकान्तातामपि लोचनसौष्ठवम्॥१४॥
“Oh, how restless are its exceedingly long eyes! Their elegance steals even the loveliness attributed to heaven.
Passage 15
अद्भुते श्रवसी अस्य मनोज्ञे शृङ्गयोरधः। नादश्रवणसोत्कण्ठे हृदयं हरतो मम॥१५॥
“Its two wondrous, charming ears beneath the horns, eager to catch every sound, steal away my heart.
Passage 16
सारङ्ग इव खल्वेष तृणान्यत्ति सुचञ्चलः। शनैः क्रामन् वनभुवमद्भुतस्फूर्तिलाघवः॥१६॥
“This most restless creature eats grass like an ordinary deer, yet as it moves slowly over the forest floor its vitality and lightness are astonishing.
Passage 17
अहो अस्य मनोज्ञस्य चरणानां चतुष्टयम्। महीतलङ्घनेऽप्यस्य स्यात्मायः स्फूर्तिलाघवम्॥१७॥
“Oh, the four feet of this charming deer! Even when it bounds across the earth, its motion possesses extraordinary buoyancy and lightness.
Passage 18
अन्यदेवास्य सौन्दर्यमन्यदेवास्य लाघवम्। अन्यदेव च चाञ्चल्यमन्यदेवाङ्गसौष्ठवम्॥१८॥
“Its beauty is something altogether different; so are its lightness, its playfulness, and the perfection of its limbs.
Passage 19
प्रायो नैवंविधो लोके मृगो भवितुमर्हति। मायेयं कापि मन्येऽहं पुरस्तान्मम भासते॥१९॥
“A deer such as this could hardly exist in the world. I think some marvelous enchantment is shining before me.
Passage 20
विशतीव मम स्वान्तं क्षिप्रं छलयतीव माम्। अस्य रूपेण दिव्येन क्रीतेवास्मि न संशयः॥२०॥
“It seems to enter my heart and instantly beguile me. Its divine beauty has purchased me completely—there is no doubt.
Passage 21
नैवंविधः क्वचिद्दृष्टो मृगजातिर्मया भवे। भवेद्यदि वशीभूतो मम पूर्णा मनोरथाः॥२१॥
“Never in my life have I seen a deer of this kind. If it could be brought under my control, all my desires would be fulfilled.
Passage 22
अनेन छलितप्राणा लप्स्येऽहं ननु कां गतिम्। वशीकरोति हि जनं काप्यपूर्वार्थदर्शनम्॥२२॥
“My very life has been beguiled by it—what refuge can I now obtain? The sight of an unprecedented wonder truly brings a person under its power. Sītā Asks Rāma to Capture It
Passage 23
एतस्याङ्गरुहैश्चित्रां वोढुकामास्मि कञ्चुकीम्। अजिनं वास्य कुचयोरच्छादनं भवतान्मम॥२३॥
“I desire to wear a beautiful bodice fashioned from its hair, or let its hide become a covering for my breasts.
Passage 24
निबध्य चामुं सूत्रेण लोकोत्तरगुणं मृगम्। ध्रुवं क्रीडितुकामास्मि वनेऽस्मिन् रसरञ्जिता॥२४॥
“Or tie this deer of unearthly qualities with a cord, for I certainly wish to play with it delightedly in this forest.
Passage 25
कुतो नु खलु सम्प्राप्तः सारङ्गोऽयं गुणाकरः। नायं लोकोऽस्य वसतिः प्रायोऽयं स्वर्गसंस्थितः॥२५॥
“From where has this treasury of virtues in the form of a deer arrived? This world cannot be its home; surely it dwells in heaven.
Passage 26
देवक्रीडनको वायं प्राप्तो मे सुखहेतवे। ध्रुवमेतस्य लाभेन पूर्णः स्यान्मे मनोरथः॥२६॥
“Perhaps this plaything of the gods has come to bring me happiness. Obtaining it would surely fulfill my desire.
Passage 27
शून्ये वने वसन्त्या मे प्रायोऽयं चित्तरक्तये। वितीर्णो विधिना साक्षात् क्रीडाकौतुककृन्मृगः॥२७॥
“As I live in this empty forest, fate itself seems to have bestowed this playful, wonder-working deer to delight my heart.
Passage 28
न प्रयात्वन्यतश्चैष मामकं केलिसाधनम्। ध्रियतां क्षिप्रमासाद्य त्वया मत्कामपूर्तये॥२८॥
“Do not let this instrument of my play escape elsewhere. Quickly approach and capture it to fulfill my wish.
Passage 29
अथ लोलस्वभावत्वाद्धर्तुमेष न शक्यते। ध्रुवं विद्ध्वापि तर्ह्येनं शरैरानय कामदम्॥२९॥
“If its restless nature makes it impossible to capture alive, then shoot it with arrows and bring it back, for even then it will grant my desire.
Passage 30
स्याच्छृङ्गारोपकरणं चर्मास्य गुणवत्तरम्। शृङ्गद्वयं तथैतस्य शोभिष्यति भवत्करे॥३०॥
“Its excellent hide will become an ornament of love, and its pair of horns will look splendid in your hand.
Passage 31
मांसान्यस्य भवन्ति भूरिसुरसान्युच्चैः सुगन्धीनि च श्वस्तृप्त्यै भवितार एवं विधिना नायासदत्तानि नः। चर्माण्यस्य विचित्रकाञ्चनमयान्यङ्गेषु मे काञ्चन- स्वर्णाच्छादनमाधुरीं प्रतिपदं धास्यन्ति तेऽनन्तमुदे॥३१॥
“Its abundant flesh will be exceedingly tasty and fragrant, providing us effortless satisfaction tomorrow. Its wondrous golden hide upon my limbs will lend at every step the sweetness of a covering of refined gold and bring you endless delight.” Thus ends Chapter 148, “Sītā's Enchantment,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.