Passage 1
श्रीशुक उवाच— अयोध्यां परितो राजन् सरय्वाः कूलयोर्द्वयोः। प्रमोदवनसंज्ञं तत्परं धाम निशामय॥१॥
Śrī Śuka said: O king, behold the supreme abode called Pramodavana, surrounding Ayodhyā upon both banks of the Sarayū.
Passage 2
तदष्टकोणमाख्यातं महामण्डलमुत्तमम्। उत्फुल्लपङ्कजाकारं कर्णिकायां पुरी स्वयम्॥२॥
It is described as a supreme great realm with eight points, shaped like a fully blossomed lotus, with the city itself upon its pericarp.
Passage 3
तन्मध्ये विमलं भाति श्रीमद्दाशरथं गृहम्। अनेकरत्नप्रत्युप्तसुवर्णमयमुज्ज्वलम्॥३॥
At its center shines the stainless, splendid house of Daśaratha, fashioned of gold, set with many jewels, and radiant.
Passage 4
कक्षासप्तकसम्पन्नं बृहद्गोपुरसंयुतम्। विशालतरसौवर्णवप्रभित्तिप्रभासुरम्॥४॥
It possesses seven courts and a great gateway and gleams with immense golden ramparts and walls.
Passage 5
तेजःपुञ्जमयं साक्षात्कोटिसूर्येन्दुजित्वरम्। सुवर्णरत्नसंक्लृप्तैरट्टालैर्गगनस्पृशम्॥५॥
It is a mass of splendor surpassing millions of suns and moons, and its towers, fashioned of gold and jewels, touch the sky.
Passage 6
उत्तुङ्गवलभीदीव्यद्वातायनशतान्वितम्। सर्वर्तुसुखदैर्भूरिवेश्मभिः परिशोभितम्॥६॥
It has hundreds of shining windows in lofty upper chambers and is adorned with abundant mansions that give delight in every season.
Passage 7
मणिकुट्टिमसंक्रान्तखेलच्चन्द्रमरीचिगणम्। जलयन्त्रसुसम्पन्नवेश्माभ्यन्तरवेदिकम्॥७॥
Hosts of dancing moonbeams pass across its jeweled pavements, and the terraces within its mansions are richly supplied with waterworks.
Passage 8
अनेकस्थानिकायुक्तं लोकोत्तरकलामयम्। तत्र सन्त्राणमहाराजो राजा दशरथाभिधः॥८॥
It contains many distinct places and is formed of transcendent artistry. There the protecting great king bears the name Daśaratha.
Passage 9
दीक्षितः सर्वमेधानां देवतातिथिपूजकः। राज्यं कुर्वन् सदा भाति रामवात्सल्यवारिनिधिः॥९॥
Consecrated for every sacrifice and a worshiper of gods and guests, he shines eternally as he rules, an ocean of parental love for Rāma. Rāma, Sītā, and the Eternal Household
Passage 10
तस्य पत्नी सदादीक्षा तदाहितमनोगतिः। कौसल्या श्रीमती ज्येष्ठा कैकेयी तदनन्तरम्॥१०॥
His glorious eldest wife is Kausalyā, ever consecrated and directing her mind toward him; Kaikeyī comes after her.
Passage 11
सुमित्रा च ततः पश्चात्तिस्रोऽप्यस्यातिसौख्यदाः। तस्य पुत्रः स्वयं रामः श्रीमांश्चन्द्राननस्तु यः॥११॥
Sumitrā follows thereafter, and all three give him surpassing joy. His son is Rāma himself, the glorious moon-faced Lord.
Passage 12
एष एव स्वलीलाभिर्मर्यादापुरुषोत्तमः। अनुकूलः सदा सीतास्वाधीनपतिकारतः॥१२॥
Through his own līlās he is this very Maryādā-puruṣottama, always devoted to Sītā and acting as a husband under her sway.
Passage 13
अनन्यप्रेयसीकान्तः श्रुतिधर्मपथेश्वरः। प्रमोदवनवासी तु परमः पुरुषोत्तमः॥१३॥
He is the beloved of his one incomparable beloved and Lord of the path of revealed dharma; yet as resident of Pramodavana he is the supreme Puruṣottama.
Passage 14
विशुद्धप्रेमभक्त्यैकप्राप्यरूपो महाप्रभुः। सर्वोत्तमः सदा सेव्यो हृदि भावैकवेदिभिः॥१४॥
The great Lord's form is attained through pure love-devotion alone. Highest of all, he is eternally served by those who know him through bhāva alone within the heart.
Passage 15
यस्य लीला रसमयी सर्वात्मभावभूषिता। ब्रह्मधर्मस्य मर्यादा सर्वा यत्र विवर्जिताः॥१५॥
His līlā is filled with rasa and adorned by the offering of the whole self; within it every boundary of Brahma-dharma is relinquished.
Passage 16
निःसाधनपथस्थानां पराविर्भावकारणम्। प्रमोदवनमात्रैकविश्रान्तसुखवारिधिः॥१६॥
For those established on the path beyond formal means, he is the cause of supreme manifestation, an ocean of bliss resting solely in Pramodavana.
Passage 17
प्रमोदवनसामग्री प्रेमभक्तिमयी सदा। सहजानन्दिनी तत्र मोदिनी चापि विश्रुता॥१७॥
The entire substance of Pramodavana is forever made of love-devotion. There Sahajānandinī is also renowned as Modinī, she who gives delight.
Passage 18
आह्लादिनी परा शक्तिः सर्वलीलाधिदेवता। अनेककोटिलक्ष्मीनामंशिनी परदेवता॥१८॥
She is the supreme delighting Power, presiding deity of every līlā and the supreme Goddess from whom countless millions of Lakṣmīs arise as portions.
Passage 19
परलक्ष्मीः परब्रह्मरूपिणी परमेश्वरी। स एतया सुसम्पन्नः प्रमोदवनचन्द्रमाः॥१९॥
She is supreme Lakṣmī, the sovereign Goddess whose form is supreme Brahman. Abundantly united with her, he is the moon of Pramodavana.
Passage 20
क्रीडति क्रीडनैर्दिव्यैः परमानन्दसिन्धुभिः। वासन्तैः शारदैश्चैव तथान्यैरृतुरञ्जितैः॥२०॥
He plays through divine sports that are oceans of supreme bliss—vernal, autumnal, and others colored by their seasons.
Passage 21
सुखितस्य गृहे साक्षात्कल्याणगुणमण्डितः। माङ्गल्यायाः सुतः श्रीमान् ज्ञानिनामप्यगोचरः। कुतस्तरां कर्मजुषां भक्त्यैकसुलभः प्रभुः॥२१॥
In Sukhita's house the glorious Lord, adorned with auspicious qualities, is directly the son of Māṅgalyā. He is beyond even the reach of knowers—how much more of those devoted to action—yet is easily attained through devotion alone.