Passage 1
लक्ष्मण उवाच— एवमेव मया पृष्टः श्रीरामो रसवर्धनः। यदाह तत्ते वक्ष्यामि रहस्यं रसवर्धनम्॥१॥
Lakṣmaṇa said: “I once questioned Śrī Rāma, the increaser of rasa, in this same way. I shall tell you the rasa-deepening secret that he revealed.
Passage 2
राम उवाच— नित्यं स्थितोऽप्यहं तात प्रमोदविपिनान्तरे। अधुनाविर्भविष्यामि भक्तानां कार्यसिद्धये॥२॥
Rāma said: “‘Dear one, although I dwell eternally within Pramodā Forest, I shall now manifest to fulfill the purposes of my devotees.
Passage 3
अवतारार्थसिद्धये च साकेतपुरकेलये। इत्युक्त्वा रघुवंशेऽस्मिन् प्रादुर्भूतोऽद्य सम्प्रति। अस्माभिः सहितो भाति प्रमोदवनचन्द्रमाः॥३॥
“‘I shall descend to accomplish the purpose of the avatāra and to sport in Sāketa.’ Having said this, the moon of Pramodā Forest has now appeared in the dynasty of Raghu and shines together with us.
Passage 4
पूर्वं जातो दशरथगृहे रावणस्याथ भीत्या श्रीमाङ्गल्या सुखितसदने रक्षितोऽस्याविशेषम्। स्नेहार्द्रीभ्यां वसतिमधुरो भूरिभावेन ताभ्याम् आभीरीभिः प्रणयखचितो भूरिभावोषयुक्तः॥४॥
“He had already been born in Daśaratha's house for the removal of the fear caused by Rāvaṇa. In that auspicious and joyous home he was lovingly protected, sweetly dwelling with hearts softened by affection, while the cowherd women adorned him with abundant love and feeling.
Passage 5
आनन्दाब्धिर्नटवरवपुर्नन्दनापत्यरत्नं दृष्ट्वा जीवनप्रकृतिसहजां श्रीमतीं मोदिनीं ताम्। अन्यां लीलां स्वजनसुखदां कर्तुमिच्छुः स्वशक्त्या भात्येदानीं दशरथगृहे शोभते प्राप्त एषः॥५॥
“He is an ocean of bliss with the form of the supreme dancer, the jewel among Nandana's children. Having beheld glorious Modinī, the innate nature of his very life, he desired through his own power to enact another līlā that would delight his people; therefore he now shines in Daśaratha's house.
Passage 6
अस्यानुरोधात्सहजापि देवी प्राप्ता निजांशेन निमेश्च वंशे। राजाधिराज्ञो जनकस्य गेहे सुलोचनागर्भमनोज्ञरत्नम्॥६॥
“At his request the goddess Sahajā also came through her own portion into Nimi's dynasty, as the enchanting jewel from Sulochanā's womb in the house of Janaka, king of kings. Sītā Appears amid Nine Sacred Streams
Passage 7
रम्यातिरम्ये मिथिलाख्यदेशे सुवर्णभूमौ खलु यज्ञवेद्याम्। माणिक्यदिव्यत्कलशान्तरालतः समुद्गता कोटितडिच्छदेव॥७॥
“In the exceedingly lovely land called Mithilā, upon the golden ground of a sacrificial altar, she arose from amid radiant jeweled pitchers like the brilliance of ten million flashes of lightning.
Passage 8
अथाविरासन् सरितो नव शीतसुधोदकाः। त्रियुगा कमलेशी च गण्डक्यघवारिणी॥८॥
“Then nine rivers appeared, their waters cool as nectar: Triyugā, Kamaleśī, Gaṇḍakī, and Aghavāriṇī;
Passage 9
द्युम्ना घोषवती चैव वनघोषा च सप्तमी। अष्टमी च स्वयं लक्ष्मीः कौशिकी नवमी स्मृता॥९॥
“Dyumnā, Ghoṣavatī, and the seventh, Vanaghoṣā; Lakṣmī herself was the eighth, and Kauśikī is remembered as the ninth.
Passage 10
सुवर्णहलकृष्टायां भूमौ वेद्यां मखस्य च। सुवर्णकलशीमध्याज्जलधारा विनिर्ययुः॥१०॥
“On the sacrificial altar's ground, furrowed by a golden plough, streams of water flowed out from the golden pitchers.
Passage 11
तासां मध्ये विस्फुरन्ती कोटिचन्द्रार्कदीधितिः। सद्यः प्रादुरभूद्देवी सहजा जनकालये॥११॥
“In their midst the goddess Sahajā suddenly appeared in Janaka's domain, flashing with the brilliance of ten million moons and suns.
Passage 12
रामप्रिया या प्रथमं प्रमोदवनकुञ्जगा। नवभिर्दिव्यधाराभिरभिषिक्ता समन्ततः॥१२॥
“She who is eternally Rāma's beloved and dwells in the bowers of Pramodā Forest was bathed on every side by the nine divine streams.
Passage 13
रत्नपीठस्थिता लोकमहासाम्राज्यभाजनम्। तस्यामभ्युदितायां तु मुमुदे जनको नृपः॥१३॥
“Seated upon a jeweled throne, she was the vessel of supreme sovereignty over the worlds. King Janaka rejoiced when she arose.
Passage 14
राज्ञी सुनयना वापि हर्षोत्फुल्लाननाभवत्। याज्ञवल्क्यश्च भगवान् दारास्तस्य महौजसः॥१४॥
“Queen Sunayanā's face blossomed with joy, as did the blessed Yājñavalkya and the wives of that greatly radiant sage.
Passage 15
अरुन्धती वसिष्ठश्चाप्यहल्या गौतमस्तथा। शतानन्दश्च योगीशो नव योगीश्वरास्तथा॥१५॥
“Arundhatī and Vasiṣṭha, Ahalyā and Gautama, the lord of yogīs Śatānanda, and the nine great masters of yoga were also present.
Passage 16
निवसन्तो नित्यमेव जनकस्यालये चिरात्। ददृशुस्ते शुभं तस्या जन्म कर्म गुणान्वितम्॥१६॥
“Dwelling continually in Janaka's palace, they witnessed her auspicious birth and the divine event endowed with every virtue.
Passage 17
धवले माधवे मासि नवम्यां मङ्गले दिने। शुभे भद्राख्यनक्षत्रे शुभयोगे च जानकी॥१७॥
“Jānakī appeared on the ninth lunar day of the bright month of Mādhava, on an auspicious day, under the favorable constellation named Bhadrā and in a blessed conjunction.
Passage 18
ऊर्मिलापि ततो रत्नकलशाच्चक्र उद्भवम्। माण्डवीश्रुतकीर्तिश्च वामदक्षिणपार्श्वयोः॥१८॥
“Urmilā then arose from a jeweled pitcher, while Māṇḍavī and Śrutakīrti appeared at the left and right sides.
Passage 19
अथो जनकराजस्य सदने दुन्दुभिरवाः। पटहध्वनयश्चापि वितेनुर्महतीं मुदम्॥१९॥
“The sounds of kettledrums and war drums then spread immense joy throughout King Janaka's palace.
Passage 20
देवदुन्दुभयश्चापि नेदुरव्याहतक्रमाः। सर्वं जगत्सुखमासीदानन्दामृतवर्षणात्॥२०॥
“Celestial drums resounded without interruption, and the entire world became joyful as the nectar of bliss poured down.
Passage 21
कल्पद्रुमाः पल्लविताः समन्ततो वसन्तलक्ष्मीः समवातरद्भुवि। समञ्जरीकैस्तरुभी रसालैश्चम्पेयाद्यैर्विभरे पुष्पराशिः॥२१॥
“Wish-fulfilling trees put forth leaves everywhere, and the splendor of spring descended upon the earth. Mango, campaka, and other trees bore clusters of blossoms and masses of flowers. Earth Presents Sītā to Janaka
Passage 22
धरणी सहसागम्य पृथ्वीलोका स्मितानना। सुवेशं रूपमास्थाय जनकस्य पुरःस्थिता॥२२॥
“Earth suddenly arrived from her terrestrial realm. Assuming a beautiful form and smiling face, she stood before Janaka.
Passage 23
रत्नपर्यङ्किकामध्यनिविषण्णां स्वसुतां पराम्। कमलामर्पयन्त्यस्मै प्रोवाच मुनिमण्डले॥२३॥
“Before the assembly of sages, she presented to him her supreme daughter Kamalā, seated upon a jeweled couch, and spoke.
Passage 24
धरण्युवाच— भूरहं भगवत्पादकमलस्पर्शजाङ्कुरा। ममेयं हृदयात्सारभूता प्रेममयाकृतिः॥२४॥
Earth said: “‘I am the earth, whose shoots arise through the touch of the Lord's lotus feet. This girl is the very essence of my heart, a form composed of love.
Passage 25
समुद्गता नाम सीता मया तुभ्यं प्रदीयते। इयं श्रीः श्रीरामप्रेमभाजनं रक्ष्यतां त्वया॥२५॥
“‘She has arisen under the name Sītā, and I give her to you. She is Śrī, the vessel of Śrī Rāma's love; protect her.
Passage 26
अनया ज्ञानगम्यस्य प्रेम्णा पारं गतो भवान्। प्राप्स्यसे तत् परं ब्रह्म सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहम्॥२६॥
“‘Through her love you will cross beyond what can be reached by knowledge, and you will attain that supreme Brahman whose form is being, consciousness, and bliss—
Passage 27
श्रीरामचन्द्रं रसिकं सर्वावतारसागरम्। स समायास्यति वै हि भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः॥२७॥
“‘Śrī Rāmacandra, the connoisseur of rasa and ocean of all avatāras. That blessed Supreme Person will surely come here.
Passage 28
चतुर्भिरंशैः संजाता तेनेयं परमेश्वरी। रक्ष्यतां जनकाधीश कलधौततनुः सुता॥२८॥
“‘For that purpose this supreme goddess has appeared in four portions. Lord Janaka, protect this daughter whose body shines like refined gold.’
Passage 29
इत्यर्पयित्वा जनकाय मेदिनी तिरोबभूव द्रुतमेव देवी। नैमिः पुनर्भूमिपतिः प्रियायै समर्पयामास सुलोचनायै॥२९॥
“Having thus entrusted her to Janaka, the goddess Earth quickly disappeared. King Janaka, born in Nimi's line, then placed the child in the care of his beloved Sulochanā.”