Passage 1
भरत उवाच— श्रुत्वेदं श्रीप्रजावत्याः सहजायाश्चिदाकृतेः। श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रेयस्याः परं जन्ममङ्गलम्॥१॥
Bharata said: “Having heard this supreme and auspicious account of the birth of Sahajā—beloved of Śrī Rāmacandra, embodiment of consciousness, and sovereign of all creatures—
Passage 2
प्रेमप्रमादसंयुक्तः संजातो मे महोत्सवः। एको मे संशयो जातस्त्वं च तं छेत्तुमर्हसि॥२॥
a great festival has arisen within me, joined with the rapture of prema. Yet one doubt has also arisen, and you should dispel it.
Passage 3
भ्रातर्लक्ष्मण भोगीन्द्र श्रीरामप्रियकारक। यतीन्द्र जगदाराम पराक्षर चिदाकृते॥३॥
Brother Lakṣmaṇa, lord of the serpent kings, servant of Śrī Rāma's pleasure, chief of ascetics, delight of the world, imperishable one beyond all, embodiment of consciousness—
Passage 4
सर्वं जानासि तत्त्वं त्वं सीतारामचन्द्रयोः। यथा तथा स्वरूपं यदेकधानेकधा स्फुरत्॥४॥
you know the entire truth of Sītā and Rāmacandra: how their essential nature, though one, shines forth in many ways.
Passage 5
भूमेः सुताभवत्सीता हेमलाङ्गलसीतया। कथं तस्यां निमिश्चक्रे पुत्रीप्रेमविवर्द्धनम्॥५॥
Sītā became the daughter of the earth through the furrow of a golden plough. How, then, did Nimi's descendant Janaka develop ever-increasing paternal love for her?
Passage 6
राज्ञी सुनयना चापि कन्यारत्ने परोद्भवे। अनन्यतनयप्रेम प्रेयसी निमिभूपतेः॥६॥
And how did Queen Sunayanā, beloved of the Nimi king, feel exclusive maternal love for this jewel among daughters, who had arisen from another source?
Passage 7
एतद्बीजं ममाचक्ष्व भ्रातरग्रजनेऽक्षर। कौतुकाविष्टचित्तस्य त्वद्भाषितसुधामनु॥७॥
Brother, imperishable one, tell me the root of this mystery. My heart is filled with wonder and longs to follow the nectar of your words.”
Passage 8
लक्ष्मण उवाच— शृणु भ्रातः प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रणयिन् भरत प्रभो। सावधानमना भूत्वा यथावदवधारय॥८॥
Lakṣmaṇa said: “Listen, affectionate brother Bharata. I shall explain it; attend carefully and understand it exactly.
Passage 9
सीतायाः समभूज्जन्म जनकस्य गृहे यथा। पूर्वं तु जनकस्यैव गेहेऽभूत्सा लक्ष्मीभिधा॥९॥
Before Sītā's birth took place in Janaka's household, she had already appeared in that very house under the name Lakṣmī.
Passage 10
प्रेयसी रामचन्द्रस्य स्फुरन्ती तडिदाकृतिः। देवी सुनयनागर्भरत्नं मूर्तिमती रमा॥१०॥
Rāmacandra's beloved, shining like lightning, was the goddess Ramā embodied—the jewel within Sunayanā's womb.
Passage 11
या पूर्वं क्षीरपाथोधेस्तनया विष्णुसङ्गता। भृगोः ख्यात्यां च या जाता ततोऽन्येष्वपि जन्मसु॥११॥
She had formerly arisen as the daughter of the milk ocean and joined Viṣṇu; she was also born to Bhṛgu through Khyāti, and appeared in still other births thereafter.
Passage 12
द्वारकायां रुक्मिणी या वैकुण्ठे च तथा रमा। अभिन्नभावसम्बन्धात्तेन सर्वत्र योगिनी॥१२॥
In Dvārakā she is Rukmiṇī, and in Vaikuṇṭha she is Ramā. Because her relationship with him is one of undivided being, she is united with him everywhere.
Passage 13
सा तु संजातमात्रैव जनकस्यालये पुरा। दिशः प्रकाशयामास दीधितिर्भास्वतो यथा॥१३॥
The moment she was born in Janaka's palace, she illuminated the directions like a ray of the sun.
Passage 14
चन्द्रानना चकोराक्षी गण्डमण्डलभास्वरा। विशालभालसंशोभिभूरिभाग्यार्णवोपमा॥१४॥
Her face was the moon, her eyes like cakora birds, and her rounded cheeks radiant. Her broad and lovely brow made her resemble an ocean of immeasurable fortune.
Passage 15
शरदिन्दोश्चन्द्रिकेव सुधासारनिपीतविग्रहा। चाम्पेयनिर्जिततनुः कल्पवल्लीव चेतना॥१५॥
She was like the autumn moon's radiance, her form steeped in the essence of nectar. Her body surpassed the golden campaka, and she was a conscious wish-fulfilling vine.
Passage 16
सद्यः प्रसूतमात्रापि प्रभामण्डलमण्डिता। कुमुद्वतीनाथकोटिसुप्रकाशस्मितानना॥१६॥
Though only just born, she was encircled by an aureole, and her smiling face shone more brightly than millions of moons, lords of the night-blooming lilies.
Passage 17
सर्वाश्चर्यकरी साक्षात्कल्याणगुणभूषिता। तस्या मुखेन्दुं नेत्राभ्यां पिबन् जनकभूपतिः॥१७॥
She directly produced every wonder and was adorned with auspicious qualities. King Janaka drank the moon of her face with his eyes.
Passage 18
योगानन्दाधिकं योगी परानन्दमवाप सः। तस्मिन्नेव क्षणे तत्र सुवर्णहलकर्षिते॥१८॥
That yogi attained a supreme bliss surpassing yogic joy. At that very moment, there at the place ploughed by the golden plough—
Passage 19
यज्ञवेदीस्थले सद्यः प्रादुर्भूता वराङ्गना। त्रैलोक्यातीतलावण्या रूपमाहात्म्यमञ्जुला॥१९॥
upon the ground of the sacrificial altar, a most beautiful woman suddenly manifested, her loveliness surpassing the three worlds and her majestic form enchanting.
Passage 20
यथोक्तसुसमुद्भासिरत्नसिंहासनस्थिता। सरिद्रूपसखीवृन्दस्तूयमानगुणोत्करा॥२०॥
She sat upon the splendid jeweled throne already described, while a circle of companions in the forms of sacred rivers praised her supreme qualities.
Passage 21
चामराभ्यां वीज्यमाना महासिंहासनोपरि। चन्द्रमण्डलसंदोहसुवर्णच्छत्रशोभिता॥२१॥
Seated upon the great lion-throne and fanned with two yak-tail whisks, she shone beneath a golden parasol bright as a host of moons.
Passage 22
स्वाकारसदृशाकाररूपलावण्यमूर्तिभिः। तिसृभिर्वयसोऽभाभिः सौभाग्यासनमण्डिता॥२२॥
Three radiant attendants, embodiments of form and beauty resembling her own appearance and age, adorned her throne of good fortune.
Passage 23
मूर्तिमद्भिश्च निगमैः सशब्दं समुपासिता। तन्त्रैश्चतुःषष्टिसंख्यैः स्तूयमाना समन्ततः॥२३॥
The Vedas in embodied form worshiped her aloud, and the sixty-four Tantras praised her from every side.
Passage 24
अनन्तकोटिमन्त्रैश्च तात्पर्येण सुसंस्तुता। ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाद्यैश्च देवतैः समुपासिता॥२४॥
Countless millions of mantras praised her as their true purport, and Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and the other deities worshiped her.
Passage 25
स्मयमानमुखाम्भोजमहासौरभ्यसङ्गतैः। मत्तभ्रमरसंदोहैर्दूरतः पर्युपासिता॥२५॥
Hosts of intoxicated bees, drawn by the immense fragrance of her smiling lotus face, worshiped her from a distance.
Passage 26
मूर्तिमद्भिश्च निधिभिर्महापद्मादिभिश्चिरम्। अन्वीयमाना सुमुखी सुदती च सुलोचना॥२६॥
The treasures in embodied form, Mahāpadma and the others, attended for a long time upon that fair-faced, lovely-toothed, beautiful-eyed goddess.
Passage 27
कर्पूरसौरभोदारिताम्बूलदलचर्विणी। श्यामा षोडशवर्षीया पूर्णतारुण्यभूषिता॥२७॥
She chewed betel leaves fragrant with camphor. Dark-complexioned and appearing sixteen years old, she was adorned with the fullness of youth.
Passage 28
नारीभिः पन्नगीभिश्च देवीभिश्च समन्ततः। सिद्धगन्धर्वपत्नीभिर्नागराजसुतादिभिः॥२८॥
Women, serpent maidens, goddesses, the wives of Siddhas and Gandharvas, daughters of serpent kings, and others surrounded her on every side.
Passage 29
अनन्तकोटिसंख्याभिः शक्तिभिः समुपासिता। महासाम्राज्यसम्पद्भिरविकम्पमुपासिता॥२९॥
Countless millions of divine powers worshiped her, and the riches of supreme sovereignty attended upon her unwaveringly.
Passage 30
अनेककोटिब्रह्माण्डप्रसन्नश्रीभराश्रिता। एका नित्यापि बहुधा जायमानेव लक्षिता॥३०॥
The gracious splendor of many millions of universes rested upon her. Though one and eternal, she appeared as though taking birth in many forms.
Passage 31
तां पूर्वोक्तप्रकारेण राजा समुपलभ्य तु। अनिनाय गृहे स्वस्य महिष्यै तां समर्पितुम्॥३१॥
Having found her in the manner just described, the king brought her into his home to entrust her to his queen.
Passage 32
ततः सम्पश्यतां तेषां देवगन्धर्वरक्षसाम्। मनुष्याणां मुनीनां च बभूवातीव कौतुकम्॥३२॥
Then, as the gods, Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, humans, and sages looked on, an astonishing marvel occurred.
Passage 33
पूर्वं जाता तु सा तस्यां सद्य एव व्यलीयत। सा चासीदद्य संजाता शिशुरूपा मनोहरा॥३३॥
The goddess who had first been born immediately dissolved into her. The one who had now appeared became a captivating infant.
Passage 34
एतच्चरित्रमतुलं निरीक्ष्य जनको नृपः। अतीव विस्मयाविष्टो बभूव सुमहामतिः॥३४॥
Beholding this incomparable event, the profoundly wise King Janaka became utterly filled with wonder.
Passage 35
जनक उवाच— किमिदं खलु संजातं दैवतं चरितं महत्। उभे अपि परे दृष्टे रूपसारविभूषिते॥३५॥
Janaka said: “What great divine mystery has occurred here? Both appeared transcendent, adorned with the very essence of beauty.
Passage 36
अन्यूनानतिरिक्तश्रीसम्भावितवपुर्लते। एका विवेश चेतस्यां साप्येषा समभूच्छिशुः॥३६॥
Neither lacked nor exceeded the other's splendor; both possessed equally glorious, vine-like forms. One entered the other, and she became this infant.
Passage 37
अहो अत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा मनो मे विस्मयाकुलम्। चिरं समाधिनाप्येनामहं ज्ञातुं न पारये॥३७॥
Ah! Having witnessed this supreme wonder, my mind is overwhelmed with amazement. Even through prolonged samādhi, I am unable to comprehend her.”