Passage 1
वनघोषोवाच— शाण्डिल्यस्य महर्षेस्तु सुताहं गुणवत्तमा। श्रियं समाराधयतः संजाता श्रीकलाभिधा॥१॥
Vanaghoṣā said: “I was the virtuous daughter of the great sage Śāṇḍilya. I was born with the name Śrīkalā while he was worshiping Śrī.
Passage 2
अनुत्तमानवद्याङ्गी कामयाना (रमा) सीतापतिम्। तमेकाग्रेण मनसा श्रीरामं पर्यतोषयम्॥२॥
“Faultlessly formed and unsurpassed in beauty, I desired Sītā's lord. With a single-pointed mind I sought to please that Śrī Rāma.
Passage 3
कर्मणा ज्ञानयोगेन ध्यानेन यजनेन च। तपसा भक्तियोगाभ्यां दृढमभ्यासमाचरम्॥३॥
“Through sacred action, the yoga of knowledge, meditation, worship, austerity, and the yoga of devotion, I maintained a resolute discipline.
Passage 4
एवं दिवानिशं देवः प्रपन्नैः परिशीलितः। स्त्रीस्वभावादविज्ञातमाहात्म्यं पतिभावतः॥४॥
“Thus, day and night, I contemplated the Lord whom surrendered souls approach. Unaware of his full majesty because of my womanly disposition, I regarded him as my husband.
Passage 5
नित्यमाराधयामास नाविर्भूतो रमापतिः। ततो मां मुनिशार्दूलः शाण्डिल्यः स पिता मम॥५॥
“I worshiped continually, yet Ramā's lord did not manifest. Then my father Śāṇḍilya, a tiger among sages, came to me.
Passage 6
आगत्य तपसा क्लिष्टामिदमाह दयाप्लुतः। दुश्चरं चरसि त्वं वै तपो वत्सेऽतिदारुणम्॥६॥
“Seeing me afflicted by austerity, he was filled with compassion and said, ‘Child, you are practicing an exceedingly severe austerity that is difficult to perform.
Passage 7
किमर्थमतिकष्टेन देहं नेक्षितवत्यसि। कस्ते हृदिस्थः कामश्च न तं जानामि पुत्रिके॥७॥
“‘Why have you failed to care for your body amid such extreme hardship? Daughter, I do not know what desire lies in your heart.
Passage 8
मत्प्रभावाच्च सकलः कामस्ते भवितानघे। सूर्याद्वापि यमाद्वापि शक्राद्वा वरुणादपि॥८॥
“‘Sinless one, through my spiritual power every wish of yours can be fulfilled—whether you seek something from Sūrya, Yama, Indra, or Varuṇa,
Passage 9
पावकाद्वा कुबेराद्वा वरं कामयसे किमु। किं वा सुरगणेशानाद्विष्णोः कामयसे वरम्॥९॥
“‘or desire a boon from Fire or Kubera. Or do you seek a boon from Viṣṇu, lord of the hosts of gods?
Passage 10
सोऽपि मत्तपसो वीर्याज्जानीहि करसंस्थितः। निवर्तस्वातितपसां बलेरेभ्यः शर्मवत्यसि॥१०॥
“‘Know that even he is within reach of the potency of my austerity. Turn back from these excessive disciplines; through these powers you can possess happiness.’
Passage 11
इत्युक्ता च ततः पित्रा प्रोवाचाहं च तं प्रति। नाहं देवगणात्तात देवाद्वा पुरुषोत्तमात्॥११॥
“Addressed in this way by my father, I replied to him: ‘Father, I seek nothing from the hosts of gods, nor from the deity called the Supreme Person.
Passage 12
कामये कञ्चन वरं विषयान् वापि लौकिकान्। राममेव रमानाथं कामयेऽहं निजं वरम्। कन्यकारूपमास्थाय तेनाहं व्यचरं तपः॥१२॥
“‘I desire no boon and no worldly object of enjoyment. I desire only Rāma, Ramā's lord, as my own bridegroom. Remaining in the form of a maiden, I have therefore practiced this austerity.’ Śāṇḍilya's Counsel and Rāma's Appearance
Passage 13
शाण्डिल्य उवाच— ऋषेः कुशसमित्पाणेः कन्यका त्वं तपस्विनी। कामयस्व ऋषेः कञ्चित्कुमारं सुतपस्विनम्॥१३॥
Śāṇḍilya said: “You are the ascetic daughter of a sage who carries sacrificial grass and fuel. Desire some greatly austere young son of a sage.
Passage 14
सहजापदमिच्छन्ती लज्जसे किं न पुत्रिके। तस्याः प्रसादात्सम्प्राप्ता कथं तामतिवर्तसे॥१४॥
“Daughter, do you feel no shame in aspiring to Sahajā's station? Having attained your blessings through her grace, how can you transgress against her?
Passage 15
ततस्त्वं रामपत्नीत्वभावं मा कुरु भाविनि। सहजा हि स्वयं सीता रामपत्नी मनोरमा॥१५॥
“Therefore, noble girl, do not cultivate the aspiration to be Rāma's wife. Sahajā herself is delightful Sītā, the wife of Rāma.
Passage 16
कथमन्या हि तत्साम्यं प्राप्तुं प्रकुरुते मनः। इति श्रुत्वा पितुर्वाक्यं लज्जमाना मुहुर्मुहुः॥१६॥
“How could another set her mind on attaining equality with her?” Hearing these words from my father, I grew ashamed again and again.
Passage 17
न किञ्चिदूचे पितरं ज्ञातसारा प्रयोजने। निर्बन्धं च विदित्वा मे शाण्डिल्यो मुनिपुङ्गवः॥१७॥
“Knowing the essence of my purpose, I said nothing to my father. Śāṇḍilya, foremost of sages, understood my unyielding resolve.
Passage 18
प्रयातः शनकैस्तस्मात् स्थानात्स्वाश्रममुत्तमम्। प्रयाते मुनिशार्दूले प्रादुरासीत्ततो रामः॥१८॥
“He slowly left that place for his excellent hermitage. When the tiger among sages had departed, Rāma appeared.
Passage 19
धनुर्बाणधरो रामो द्विभुजो मधुराकृतिः। श्रीवत्समण्डितोरस्को वनमाली सकौस्तुभः॥१९॥
“Two-armed Rāma stood there in a sweetly beautiful form, holding bow and arrow, his chest adorned with Śrīvatsa, a forest garland, and the Kaustubha jewel.
Passage 20
पीताम्बरपरीधानो रक्तपङ्कजलोचनः। नीलमेघनिभाकारो वैजयन्तीविभूषितः॥२०॥
“He wore a yellow garment, his eyes were red lotuses, his form resembled a dark rain cloud, and the Vaijayantī garland adorned him.
Passage 21
चूडामणिसमुद्भासिबृहच्चूडाविराजितः। मनोमोहनमाधुर्यो मन्मथस्यापि मोहनः॥२१॥
“He shone with a great crest radiant with a crest jewel. The sweetness that enchanted every mind made him an enchanter even of Kāma.
Passage 22
विलोक्य स्वपतिं चाहं किञ्चिदुक्तवती वचः। विस्मृता कुत्र कमला कामुकी कमलापते। या ते वक्षःस्थले लग्ना त्रैलोक्यस्यापि मोहिनी॥२२॥
“Seeing my lord, I spoke a few words: ‘Lotus Lord, where has amorous Kamalā gone? Have you forgotten her—the enchantress of all three worlds who clings to your chest?’
Passage 23
श्रीराम उवाच— कमला तव रूपेण निर्जिता श्रीकले ततः। लज्जिता सम्मुखे नैति भग्नमानेव भामिनी॥२३॥
Śrī Rāma said: “Śrīkalā, Kamalā has been defeated by your beauty. Ashamed, and like a proud beloved whose dignity has been broken, she will not come before you.”
Passage 24
अहं चौक्तवती मानान्मा मृषा वद हे प्रभो। अर्द्धाङ्गसङ्गिनी सा ते साम्राज्यश्रीनिकेतन॥२४॥
“With affectionate pride I replied, ‘Lord, do not speak falsely. She shares half your body and is the abode of sovereign splendor.’ Rāma's Promise and Vanaghoṣā's Manifestation
Passage 25
श्रीराम उवाच— भक्त्यानया ते दृढया चिरं प्रीतोऽस्मि भामिनि। आत्मानं दुर्लभं चापि तुभ्यं दास्ये मनोरथम्॥२५॥
Śrī Rāma said: “Beautiful one, I have long been pleased by this steadfast devotion of yours. I shall fulfill your desire and give you even my own self, which is difficult to attain.
Passage 26
भाविन्यनन्तरे काले प्रमोदविपिनेश्वरी। भविता वै स्वयं सीता जनकस्यालये सती॥२६॥
“In a future age Sītā herself, the virtuous mistress of Pramoda forest, will appear in Janaka's home.
Passage 27
अहं सुखिनयोपस्यो रामो नित्यं महामनाः। भविष्यामि प्रियस्तस्याः सर्वसौन्दर्यभूषितः॥२७॥
“I, Rāma, eternally worshiped by the blessed and great-hearted, will become her beloved, adorned with every beauty.
Passage 28
त्वं च तत्र सखी भूत्वा सहजायाः प्रिया मम। अवतीर्य मया सार्धं समेष्यसि प्रमोदने॥२८॥
“You will become Sahajā's beloved companion there, dear to me. Descending together with me, you will come to Pramoda forest.
Passage 29
रूपं चाप्रतिमं तत्र प्राप्स्यसि त्वं मदाज्ञया। इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हिते नाथे तदालोकनमात्रतः॥२९॥
“By my command you will obtain an incomparable form there.” Having spoken in this way, the Lord vanished immediately after granting that vision.
Passage 30
स्त्रीस्वभावाहतेवाहमुत्तराद्रेः सुताभवम्। अधुनाहं प्रविज्ञाय सावतीर्णा भवद्गृहे॥३०॥
“Overcome by my womanly nature, I became the daughter of the northern mountain. Now, in fulfillment of that promise, I have descended into your household.
Passage 31
सहजासीताप्रियार्थमवतीर्णास्मि ते गृहे। यथेयं तावकी कन्या तथाहमपि भूपते। एतस्या अविशेषेण पालनीयास्मि ते सदा॥३१॥
“I have descended into your home for the sake of beloved Sahajā-Sītā. Just as she is your daughter, so am I, O king. You must always protect me without making any distinction between us.”