Passage 1
श्रीशुक उवाच— ततश्चिरात्सुसंगम्य रामो जनकनन्दिनीम्। अतोषयन्महाकेलिसमुत्थैर्विविधै रसैः॥१॥
Śrī Śuka said: After long separation, Rāma united with Janaka's daughter and delighted her with the varied rasas arising from great divine play.
Passage 2
एवं ते सरयूत्पत्तिरुक्ता पातकनाशिनी। य एनां शृणुयाद्भक्त्या नरः सोऽपि विमुच्यते॥२॥
Thus I have related Sarayū's sin-destroying origin. A person who hears it with devotion is also liberated.
Passage 3
प्रमोदवनरूपं च समाहात्म्यमुदाहृतम्। इदं तस्याः परं धाम सहजायाश्चिदात्मकम्॥३॥
The nature and greatness of Pramoda forest have also been declared. It is the supreme conscious abode of Sahajā.
Passage 4
प्रमोदवनकेलीनामधिष्ठात्री परात्परा। रामेणापि सहैवेषा संजातार्धाङ्गसङ्गिनी॥४॥
She is the supreme presiding power of Pramoda forest's play and exists eternally with Rāma as the companion of his very half.
Passage 5
दृष्टा दशरथेनैव सपत्नीकेन धीमता। ततोऽन्तर्धानमगात्तूर्णं तद्रूपं युगलात्मकम्। रुरोद सूतिकास्थाने रामः प्राकृतबालवत्॥५॥
Wise Daśaratha and his wife beheld that paired divine form. It immediately vanished, and in the birthing chamber Rāma cried like an ordinary infant.
Passage 6
जनक उवाच— काकुत्स्थवंशसम्बन्धः कथं देव्या भवेन्मुने। एतद्ध्यनुचितं तस्या जायाया रघुपतेः स्वयम्॥६॥
Janaka said: “Sage, how could the Goddess become connected with Kakutstha's lineage? Such a relationship seems unfitting for her, who is eternally Raghupati's consort.” Kaśyapa and Aditi Perform Austerity
Passage 7
श्रीशुक उवाच— असौ राजा पुरा कल्पे कश्यपाख्यः प्रजापतिः। अदितिस्तद्वधूर्देवी कौसल्या याभवत्पुनः॥७॥
Śrī Śuka said: In a former kalpa that king was the Prajāpati named Kaśyapa, and his wife was the goddess Aditi, who later became Kausalyā.
Passage 8
तौ दम्पती पुरा धात्रा नियुक्तौ सृष्टिकर्मणि। वैराग्याविष्टचित्तत्वान्न चक्राते प्रजासृजिम्॥८॥
Brahmā formerly appointed the couple to the work of creation, but because their minds were filled with dispassion they did not produce offspring.
Passage 9
ततो ब्रह्मा स्वयमेत्याब्रवीत्तौ कथं वां नो कुरुथो विश्वसर्गम्। उत्पादितावेतदर्थं परेण तदिच्छातः प्रतिकूलं किलैतत्॥९॥
Brahmā himself came and said: “Why do you two not create the universe? The Supreme produced you for this very purpose; your refusal opposes his will.”
Passage 10
इत्युक्तावपि तौ तेन विरक्तौ कश्यपादिती। ऊचतुर्वचनं तस्मै सत्यमर्थवदीश्वरौ॥१०॥
Though addressed thus, the dispassionate Kaśyapa and Aditi spoke to him these truthful and meaningful words.
Passage 11
तावूचतुः— यदि नौ स स्वयं साक्षाद्भूत्वा देवः परः पुमान्। वक्ष्यते विश्वसर्गाय करिष्यावस्तदा प्रजाम्॥११॥
They said: “If the Supreme Person himself appears directly and commands us to create the universe, then we shall produce beings.”
Passage 12
इत्युक्त्वा विधये साक्षाच्चतुराननमूर्तये। चक्राते संततं तीव्रं मुनिभिर्दुश्चरं तपः॥१२॥
Having spoken thus to four-faced Brahmā, they continually performed intense austerity difficult even for sages.
Passage 13
अजुष्टविषयौ वीतरागावनभिकाङ्क्षिणौ। त्यक्तसर्वजनासङ्गौ वनवाससमाश्रयौ॥१३॥
They did not partake of sense objects, were free of passion and desire, abandoned all human attachment, and took refuge in forest life.
Passage 14
समाहितौ ध्यानसक्तौ तुच्छीकृतजगद्रसौ। आत्मानन्दैकनिरतौ चित्तवृत्तिविजित्वरौ॥१४॥
Concentrated and absorbed in meditation, they regarded worldly pleasures as insignificant, delighted solely in the Self, and mastered the mind's movements.
Passage 15
दिव्यवर्षायुतं तौ तु तपोनिष्ठौ बभूवतुः। ततः साक्षात्स भगवानादिदेवो रमापतिः। प्रददौ दर्शनं ताभ्यां रमाजुष्टार्धविग्रहः॥१५॥
They remained fixed in austerity for ten thousand divine years. Then the primordial Lord, Ramā's consort, appeared directly, half his form embraced by Ramā.
Passage 16
पीताम्बरो मञ्जुलवन्यमालाविभूषितो बाणधनुर्धरो वै। श्रवःस्फुरत्कुण्डलमण्डितास्यो गुडालकालीकमनीयमूर्तिः॥१६॥
He wore yellow garments and a lovely forest garland, bore bow and arrows, had a face adorned by earrings flashing at his ears, and a captivating form framed by curling locks.
Passage 17
स्मितोज्ज्वलद्योतितदीपिताष्टदिशास्तुवत्पार्षदवर्गजुष्टः। सकौस्तुभः कन्दलितानुकम्पामनोज्ञदर्शो घननीलकान्तिः॥१७॥
His brilliant smile illumined the eight directions; praising attendants surrounded him. Wearing the Kaustubha, dark as a raincloud, his lovely glance blossomed with compassion.
Passage 18
तं वीक्ष्य सीतारमणं धनुर्धरं तौ दम्पती प्रोल्लसितोत्सवाढ्यौ। दृग्भिः पिबन्तौ मधुरामृताब्धिं प्रसन्नचित्तौ जगतुः स्तुतिं वै॥१८॥
Seeing Sītā's bow-bearing beloved, the couple overflowed with celebration, drank that sweet nectar-ocean with their eyes, and joyfully offered praise. Their Prayer for Loving Devotion
Passage 19
तावूचतुः— यदर्थं तप आचीर्णं तन्नो जातमदः फलम्। यद्युवां दर्शनं यातौ सीतारामौ परौ दृशाम्॥१९॥
They said: “The purpose for which we practiced austerity has borne its fruit: you, Sītā and Rāma, supreme objects of vision, have appeared before us.
Passage 20
आनन्दमयमूर्त्योर्वां कतयोऽहः कृपामृते। ईदृशं दर्शनं लब्धुं परार्थरतिकामयोः॥२०॥
Ah, how could we describe the nectar of compassion belonging to your bliss-filled forms, by which we, desiring love for the Supreme, have obtained such a vision?
Passage 21
नमो वां करुणार्द्राभ्यां दम्पतिभ्यां सीतापते। एको ब्रह्म परं पूर्णं ब्रह्मानन्दमयी परा॥२१॥
Homage to you compassionate pair, Sītā and her Lord: one is the full supreme Brahman, the other supreme and filled with Brahman's bliss.
Passage 22
अहो वां करुणा काचिदनिर्वाच्यैव विस्तरात्। अद्य भक्त्यङ्कुरे जाते प्रादुर्भूतस्तपोऽवधिः। अलमतः परं नाथ नस्तपःखेदवेदनैः॥२२॥
Your boundless compassion is indescribable. Today the sprout of devotion has arisen and our austerity has reached its limit. Lord, enough now of the pain and weariness of penance.
Passage 23
संगते फले स्फुटमदः पदाम्भोजलब्धये परमभक्तिमभ्यर्थयामहे। न सुलभा तव प्रेमरूपिणी भक्तिरच्युता श्रीपते हरे॥२३॥
Now that the fruit is manifest, we ask for supreme devotion by which your lotus feet are attained. Śrīpati Hari, your unfailing love-formed bhakti is not easily gained.
Passage 24
तपस्विपूरितैर्वर्षपूगकैः प्रकटिता भवेन्नाथ वा क्वचित्। इयमहो सुधास्वादुमाधुरीविजयिनी प्रभो भक्तिरस्तु नौ॥२४॥
Even after ascetics complete many years, it may appear only rarely. Lord, may we possess this devotion, whose sweetness surpasses the taste of nectar.
Passage 25
या शिवादिभिः प्रार्थ्यतेऽनिशं परसमाधिभिः साधिते हृदि। विरहजार्तयो नैव सेहिरे श्रीपते तवावेशभाविताः॥२५॥
Śiva and others ceaselessly seek it through supreme samādhi cultivated in the heart; absorbed in you, Śrīpati, they cannot bear the anguish born of separation.
Passage 26
कथमिमाः सहिष्यावहे विभो तव जनाविभौ प्रेमपोषितौ। इत्युदीर्यादितियुतः कश्यपः सुसमाधिभिः। शुद्धान्तःकरणो नीचैरपतत्तत्पदयोः प्रभोः॥२६॥
How then could we two servants, nourished by love for you, endure it, Lord?” Speaking thus, Kaśyapa with Aditi, pure within through deep samādhi, fell humbly at the Lord's feet.
Passage 27
पादाब्जपतितौ तौ तु समुत्थाप्य रमापतिः। उवाच वचनं स्मित्वा भक्तिभावप्रतोषितः॥२७॥
Ramā's Lord raised the two who had fallen at his lotus feet and, pleased by their devotional feeling, spoke with a smile. The Promise of a Future Birth
Passage 28
श्रीभगवानुवाच— अस्मिन्नेव स्वरूपे मे युवामासक्तमानसौ। भवान्तरेऽप्यदः साक्षाल्लप्स्येथे सुमनोरथौ॥२८॥
The blessed Lord said: “Your minds are attached to this very form of mine. In another birth, your beautiful wish will be directly fulfilled.
Passage 29
भवान् दशरथो नाम राजा लोके भविष्यति। सूर्यवंशे रघोर्वंशे परमोदारमानसः॥२९॥
You will become a supremely noble king in the solar and Raghu line, known in the world as Daśaratha.
Passage 30
इयं देवी तु कौसल्या तस्य भार्या भविष्यति। सीतारामौ परात्परौ तत्रावां दम्पती खलु॥३०॥
This goddess will become his wife Kausalyā. There the two of us, Sītā and Rāma, the supreme divine couple—
Passage 31
दर्शयिष्यावहे श्रीमद्विग्रहं द्विभुजात्मकम्। अन्यत्सर्वसमं तत्र विद्युन्मेघसमाकृती॥३१॥
will reveal our glorious two-armed forms, resembling lightning and a raincloud, while all else remains as now.
Passage 32
कद्रूश्च विनता चैव तत्र त्वामुपयास्यतः। एका तु कैकयी भूत्वा सुमित्राख्या परा वधूः॥३२॥
Kadrū and Vinatā will also come to you there: one becoming Kaikeyī and the other wife being named Sumitrā.”
Passage 33
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवो रमया सह राघवः। जन्मान्तरे भावि सर्वं संसूच्य करुणानिधिः॥३३॥
Having indicated all that would happen in another birth, Rāghava, the ocean of compassion, vanished together with Ramā.
Passage 34
एतत्ते कारणं प्रोक्तं यथा दशरथस्य तौ। दर्शनं ददतुः प्रीत्या सीतारामौ परौ निजम्॥३४॥
I have thus told you why the supreme Sītā and Rāma lovingly revealed their own form to Daśaratha.
Passage 35
यस्य भक्तस्य यः कामस्तस्य तं चेन्न पूरयेत्। न्यूनतैव भवेत्पूर्णे साक्षाच्छ्रीपुरुषोत्तमे॥३५॥
If the full and manifest Supreme Person did not fulfill each devotee's desire, that fullness itself would appear deficient.
Passage 36
एतद्धि तद्दर्शनमत्र दुर्लभं सीतायुतस्य श्रीराघवस्य यत्। तादृग्विधां भक्तिमृते भवान्तरे प्रेमात्मिकां वैधविधानमिश्रिताम्॥३६॥
That vision of Śrī Rāghava united with Sītā is rare here and arises only from devotion formed of love, joined in another birth with prescribed discipline.
Passage 37
तावन्मात्रां दृशिं दत्त्वा यावद्वाञ्छास्य संस्थिता। ततोऽन्तर्धिमगात्तूर्णं रमया सह राघवः॥३७॥
Rāghava granted only the vision that fulfilled their former desire, then immediately disappeared with Ramā.
Passage 38
अथ जातशिशुर्भूत्वा प्रादुरासीत्तदग्रतः। देवदेवो नटवरो रामचन्द्र उदारधीः॥३८॥
Then the noble Rāmacandra, God of gods and supreme actor, appeared before them as a newborn infant.
Passage 39
वात्सल्यविश्रमाविष्टो राजा दशरथस्ततः। सद्यो विस्मृतवानैश्वर्यं तस्य देवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः॥३९॥
King Daśaratha was overcome by the intimacy of parental affection and at once forgot the majesty of that divine bearer of Śārṅga.
Passage 40
महान्तमुत्सवं चक्रे जाते पुत्रे तु तादृशे। नीलरत्नवरश्यामे पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणे॥४०॥
At the birth of such a son—dark as the finest blue jewel and lotus-eyed—he held a magnificent festival.
Passage 41
उत्सवो वां समानोऽभूद्यथा पुत्र्यास्तव प्रभो। तथा पुत्रस्य जनने काकुत्स्थस्य महोत्सवः॥४१॥
Lord, the celebration was equal to the one at your daughter's birth: so great was the festival when Kakutstha's son was born.
Passage 42
अवाद्यन्त देववाद्यानि यथा पुत्र्यास्तव प्रभो। तथा पुत्रस्य जनने काकुत्स्थस्यापि भूरिशः॥४२॥
Just as celestial instruments sounded abundantly when your daughter was born, so they sounded at the birth of Kakutstha's son.
Passage 43
स तस्य तनयो राजन् साक्षाद्देवो रमापतिः। इयं ते तनया चापि साक्षाच्छ्रीसहजाभिधा॥४३॥
King, that son of his is directly the divine Lord of Ramā, and this daughter of yours is directly Śrī Sahajā.
Passage 44
अनयोः संततं योगः क्रीडासुन्दररूपयोः। भविता त्वद्गृहे राजन् महता सम्भ्रमेण सः॥४४॥
The eternal union of these two, whose beautiful forms delight in play, will unfold in your house, O king, amid great celebration.