Chapter One — Sita and Rama Amid Countless Companions

Ananta-koṭyo bahavaś ca veṣṭitā Jānakātmajām,
Vilakṣaṇa-lakṣaṇāḍhyāḥ svādu-campaka-gandhikāḥ. (22)

Countless crores of companions surrounded Janaki. They were extraordinary, endowed with every auspicious mark, and fragrant like sweet champaka blossoms.

Paramānanda-śālinyo nānengita-supaṇḍitāḥ,
Tāsāṃ madhye virājantau parama-prīti-vardhanau. (23)

They embodied an ocean of supreme bliss and were expert in every gesture. In their midst Sita and Rama shone, ever increasing the highest love.

Sukumārau komalāṅgau Māra-mādhurya-mohanau,
Kuṅkumāṅkita-sarvāṅgau candanena sucitritau. (24)

Youthful and delicate, with tender limbs, they enchanted even Kama by their sweetness. Their bodies were marked with saffron and beautifully painted with sandal paste.

Nānā-kusuma-mālābhiḥ surabhī-kṛta-diṅmukhau,
Paraspara-rasābhijñau mano-vācām agocarau. (25)

Garlanded with many fragrant flowers, they perfumed every direction. Each knew the other’s rasa; they were beyond mind and speech.

Kaṭākṣa-kṣepa-saṃpannau līlayādbhuta-darśanau,
Premāmṛta-rasāveśau kara-grahaṇa-vihvalau. (26)

With the casting of their sidelong glances they revealed a wondrous play. Immersed in the nectarean rasa of love, they became overwhelmed as each held the other’s hand.

Evaṃ nānā-vidhānena gacchantau vana-cāriṇau,
Pādāmbuja-sugandhena bhramanti bhramarāvalīḥ. (27)

Thus, sporting in many ways, the forest-wandering Couple proceeded. Drawn by the fragrance of their lotus feet, swarms of bees followed and circled them.