Chapter Two — The Youthful Forest

Rama and Sita entered the exceedingly beautiful forest of flowering malshri and other trees that bestowed supreme delight.

Yatra vṛkṣā latāḍhyāś ca pārijātā haripriyāḥ,
Sarve kiśorāḥ keśāḍhyā vara-pallava-lambitāḥ. (8)

There the trees were entwined with vines and lovely as celestial pārijātas. All appeared eternally youthful, richly crowned with foliage and hung with finest new leaves, eclipsing even wish-fulfilling trees by their beauty.

Prasūna-vara-bhāreṇa namra-śākhā mahī-gatāḥ,
Tad-gandha-vāyunā śaśvat pūritā daśa-dig-bhuvaḥ. (9)

Their branches bowed toward the earth beneath the weight of excellent blossoms, whose perfume ceaselessly filled the earth in all ten directions.

Bhramanti bhramarāḥ sarve madhu-pānābhilāṣayā,
Dhāvantaś ca pibantaś ca patantaś ca muhur muhuḥ. (10)

Desiring the nectar of flowers, swarms of bees hurried everywhere, drinking their honey and, intoxicated by it, tumbling down again and again.

Tatrādbhuta-phalāny ādyan khagāḥ saṃtuṣṭa-mānasāḥ,
Nṛtyavantaḥ sukhocittā mudā ramyāḥ sucintitāḥ. (11)

There delighted birds ate marvellous, nectar-like fruits and danced with contented minds, rejoicing in harmony with the beautiful Couple.