Passage 1
भरत उवाच— कदा साराधिता देवी जानकी भवता प्रभो। यस्याः पदाम्बुजरजःप्रसादेन त्वया मुहुः॥१॥
Bharata said: “‘Lord, when did you perfectly worship Goddess Jānakī, by whose lotus-foot dust and grace you repeatedly—
Passage 2
अनन्यभक्ती रामस्य प्राप्ता यानन्यगामिनी। अनन्यकरुणा चैव प्राप्ता यानन्यगामिनी॥२॥
“‘—received exclusive devotion to Rāma that turns nowhere else, and likewise received her exclusive compassion that goes to no other?’ Lakṣmaṇa Guards the Worlds during Rāma's Rāsa
Passage 3
लक्ष्मण उवाच— प्रमोदविपिने रामश्चिक्रीडे रासलीलया। ब्रह्मकल्पसहस्राणि स्वच्छन्दो निरवग्रहः॥३॥
Lakṣmaṇa said: “‘Rāma, perfectly free and unrestrained, enjoyed the rāsa līlā in the Pramodā Forest for thousands of Brahmā's aeons.
Passage 4
तावत्त्रैलोक्यभारं च मयि दध्रे स्वसम्मिते। तामसानसुरान् सर्वान् दैत्यान्श्चैवापि दानवान्॥४॥
“‘During that time he placed the burden of the three worlds upon me, whom he regarded as his own self. All the dark-natured enemies of the gods, the daityas and dānavas—
Passage 5
श्रीरामकेलिप्रत्यूहानहं जघ्ने तदाज्ञया। रामेण पाल्यमानांश्च वेदान् रक्षितवानहम्॥५॥
“‘—who obstructed Śrī Rāma's play I slew at his command. I also protected the Vedas sustained by Rāma.
Passage 6
ता वै चतुर्वेदऋचो ज्ञानकर्मादिसाधिकाः। भक्तिरूपं वनं सद्यो विविशू रामपालिताः॥६॥
“‘Those hymns of the four Vedas, which accomplish knowledge, ritual, and the other paths, were protected by Rāma and immediately entered the forest in forms of devotion.
Passage 7
तदाहं तस्य देवस्य लीलैकरसवर्तिनः। परिचर्यामकार्षं वै शयनासनभोजने॥७॥
“‘I served that divine Lord, who abides wholly in the single rasa of līlā, attending him as he rested, sat, and dined.
Passage 8
यथा यथा प्रभुस्तुष्येत्तथा कार्यं मया शनैः। प्रमोदवनलीलेशी सहजेयं तदाभवत्॥८॥
“‘I quietly performed each service exactly as it pleased the Lord. The sovereign power of Pramodā Forest's līlā then arose spontaneously. Sītā's Loving Estrangement
Passage 9
या देवी जानकीत्यत्र कीर्तिता शुभनामिनी। कदाचिद्रासवलये क्रीडन्तं व्रजशक्तिभिः॥९॥
“‘She is the auspiciously named goddess celebrated here as Jānakī. Once she saw her beloved playing within the rāsa circle with the powers of Vraja—
Passage 10
दृष्ट्वा प्रियतमं देवी मानिता बभूव ह। इतश्च श्रीरामचन्द्रो विरहव्याधिपीडितः॥१०॥
“‘—and the goddess entered the mood of loving estrangement. Śrī Rāmacandra, for his part, was afflicted by the malady of separation.
Passage 11
तदाहमृतुराजस्य रूपं दधे मनोहरम्। रसालमञ्जरीयुक्तमत्तभ्रमरनादितम्॥११॥
“‘I then assumed the enchanting form of spring, resounding with intoxicated bees amid clusters of mango blossoms.
Passage 12
मनोज्ञकोकिलालापकूजत्पुंस्कोकिलाकुलम्। मलयानिलसौरभ्यसम्पर्कद्रुमराजितम्॥१२॥
“‘It teemed with male cuckoos calling in captivating voices, and its trees shone as fragrant breezes from Mount Malaya touched them.
Passage 13
अनेकद्रुमसंदोहमञ्जरीरजसाकुलम्।<br+कुञ्जमण्डपसानन्दनिकूजच्छुकसारिकम्॥१३॥
“‘It was filled with pollen from the blossoms of countless clusters of trees, while parrots and mynas called joyfully in bower-pavilions.
Passage 14
प्रसन्नसलिलोत्फुल्लपङ्कजालिसुगन्धिकम्। हंससारसचक्राह्वकादम्बप्रमदाकरम्॥१४॥
“‘Clear waters bore rows of fully opened, fragrant lotuses and delighted swans, cranes, cakravākas, and kādamba waterfowl.
Passage 15
कुलाङ्गनामनोमानभञ्जनोद्धुरशक्तिकम्। अनेकपुष्पसंदोहरजोभिश्च निशायितम्॥१५॥
“‘It possessed the overwhelming power to break the proud reserve in noble women's hearts and was darkened by pollen from masses of flowers.
Passage 16
स्मरलीलावहं हेमकेतकीधूलिधूसरम्। तत्काललसितोद्यानरामणीयकरोचितम्॥१६॥
“‘It carried the play of Love, was dusted pale with golden ketakī pollen, and brought forth the beauty proper to gardens radiant in that season.
Passage 17
नवपल्लवलौहित्यसूर्यातपतिभासितम्। फुल्लत्किंशुकवृक्षौघलोहितीकृतदिक्तटम्॥१७॥
“‘Sunlight shone through the redness of new leaves, and hosts of blossoming kiṃśuka trees dyed every horizon crimson.
Passage 18
अथोदियाय पूर्णेन्दुः प्राचीदिङ्मुखमण्डनः। फुल्लत्कुवलयारण्यकरसंचारकोविदः॥१८॥
“‘Then the full moon rose, adorning the face of the eastern quarter and skillfully sending its rays through forests of blooming night lotuses.
Passage 19
चकोरकामिनीचारुचञ्चुपुटविकासकः। तदा सा सहजानन्दा कलहान्तरिताभवत्॥१९॥
“‘It opened the lovely beaks of the female cakora birds. At that time Sahajānandā remained separated through a lovers' quarrel.
Passage 20
ईशश्च सुतरां तावद्विरहाकुलमानसः। प्राप्तः प्रियासखीर्वीक्ष्य केलीमण्डपमागमत्॥२०॥
“‘The Lord's heart meanwhile grew intensely distressed by separation. Seeing that his beloved's companions had arrived, he came to the pavilion of play.
Passage 21
तत्रैतयोः सुभगयोः प्रपञ्चोत्तरकामिनोः। समागमः समभवत्परमानन्दकारकः॥२१॥
“‘There the two beautiful lovers, transcending the created world, were reunited in a meeting that produced supreme bliss. Rāma and Sītā Bless Lakṣmaṇa
Passage 22
आकालिकं वसन्तं च दृष्ट्वासौ भक्तवत्सलः। मयि पूर्णां कृपां चक्रे ज्ञातसारोऽखिलेश्वरः। सन्तुष्ट इदमाहासौ मम भाग्यैकवर्धनः॥२२॥
“‘Seeing spring appear outside its season, the devotee-loving Lord of all, who knows the essence of everything, bestowed complete grace upon me. Pleased, he spoke these words, which alone increased my good fortune.
Passage 23
श्रीराम उवाच— भ्रातर्धन्योऽसि धन्योऽसि मम दुःखनिवारकः। त्वं हि मे लीलया नित्यं सन्तुष्टो भक्तिभावितः॥२३॥
Śrī Rāma said: “‘Brother, blessed are you, blessed are you, for you have dispelled my sorrow. Filled with devotion, you are forever satisfied by my līlā.
Passage 24
एवमेव सदा तिष्ठ मम लीलैकवीक्षकः। गुप्ताश्च प्रकटाश्चैव यावत्यो मम केलयः॥२४॥
“‘Remain forever in this way as the unique witness to my līlā—to all my pastimes, both hidden and manifest.
Passage 25
तावतीनां त्वमेवैकः साक्षी भव महामते। दृष्ट्वा प्रभोः कृपापात्रं जानकी प्राह मां ततः॥२५॥
“‘Great-minded one, become the sole witness of all of them.’ Seeing me receive the Lord's grace, Jānakī then spoke to me.
Passage 26
इयं हि परिचर्या ते मम संतोषवर्धिनी। अनया परितुष्टाहं ददामि कामितं वरम्॥२६॥
“‘This service of yours increases my satisfaction. Fully pleased by it, I grant you the boon you desire.
Passage 27
यथा त्वं मम भक्तोऽसि तथेशस्यापि वै भव। अनन्यगामिनीयं मे कृपा भवति वर्धताम्॥२७॥
“‘As you are my devotee, so too be the Lord's devotee. May this grace of mine, which turns to no other, increase within you.’
Passage 28
इति दत्तवरं मां सा वनरक्षानियोजितम्। विसृज्य सहजानन्दा रेमे स्वप्रेयसा सह॥२८॥
“‘Having given me this boon and appointed me guardian of the forest, Sahajānandā dismissed me and delighted with her beloved.
Passage 29
तदावधि तयोर्भूरिकृपयानन्दितोऽस्म्यहम्। एतत्ते कारणं प्रोक्तं रामानुग्रहवस्तुनि॥२९॥
“‘From that time onward, their abundant grace has filled me with bliss. I have now told you the cause of my receiving Rāma's favor. Divine Grace and the Paths of Knowledge and Devotion
Passage 30
अचिन्त्यैव कृपा तस्य युग्मलीलाविनोदितः। न कर्मभिर्न तपसा न ज्ञानेन न चेज्यया॥३०॥
“‘The grace of him who delights in the divine couple's līlā is inconceivable. It is not obtained by rites, austerity, knowledge, or sacrifice.
Passage 31
सुलभा तत्कृपा कापि फलरूपादि सा यतः। तस्यां च परिलब्धायां न लाभ्यान्तरमिष्यते॥३१॥
“‘Yet that grace is somehow easily attained, for it is itself the fruit. Once it has been received, no other gain is desired.
Passage 32
तथापि कर्मभिर्दिव्यैः पूतात्मानं परायणम्। ज्ञानसंशुद्धचित्तं च भक्तिद्रुतसुधान्वितम्॥३२॥
“‘Even so, the Lord favors one whose self is purified by sacred works, who is wholly devoted, whose mind is purified by knowledge, and who is filled with the nectar melted by devotion—
Passage 33
श्रीपादपद्मरजसा स्वाभिषिक्तशुभोदयम्। सोऽनुगृह्णाति वै भक्तं नित्यलीलान्तवैभवम्॥३३॥
“‘—a devotee whose auspicious awakening is consecrated by the dust of his blessed lotus feet and whose glory lies within the eternal līlā.
Passage 34
ब्रह्मादयोऽपि यस्यान्तं न ययुर्दुर्लभात्मनः। अनायासेन सुलभः स लीलारसभावनात्॥३४॥
“‘Even Brahmā and the others cannot reach the limit of that inaccessible Lord, yet through contemplation of līlā-rasa he is obtained without difficulty.
Passage 35
एवं शुकादयः सर्वे प्रेमभक्तिविभाविताः। प्रवेशिताः स्वात्मरसे तेनैव प्रभुणा सखे॥३५॥
“‘Friend, in this way Śuka and the other sages, illumined by loving devotion, were admitted by that very Lord into the rasa of his own self.
Passage 36
सर्वसाधारणोऽप्येष स्वभक्तानां विशिष्यते। नैतावतास्य वैषम्यं लीलैकरसनिर्वृतेः॥३६॥
“‘Though he belongs equally to all, he is especially present for his devotees. This is not partiality, for he finds fulfillment in the single rasa of līlā.
Passage 37
स यदा ब्रह्मभावेन वर्तते ज्ञानवेदितः। तदा सर्वापि मर्यादा विद्यते तस्य नान्यदा॥३७॥
“‘When he is approached in the mode of Brahman and known through knowledge, all the corresponding disciplines apply; they do not define him in his other mode.
Passage 38
एक एव द्विधा जातो भगवान् भावभावितः। ब्रह्म ब्रह्मेति ज्ञानेन ईश ईशेति भक्तितः॥३८॥
“‘The one Lord appears in two ways according to the devotee's disposition: through knowledge he is understood as “Brahman, Brahman,” and through devotion as “Lord, Lord.”’” --- Source Note - Source witness: Bhuśuṇḍi Rāmāyaṇa, Volume 3, Paścima-khaṇḍa. - This chapter was collated directly from physical PDF pages 18–20; all 38 passages are present continuously between the Chapter 1 colophon and the Chapter 3 heading. - The English is a fresh, direct translation prepared for this edition.