Chapter Three — The Manifestation of Sita’s Companions

Vahni-śuddhāḥ su-kāñcanābhāḥ sarvābharaṇa-bhūṣitāḥ,
Kiśoryaḥ paramāhlāda-jananyaḥ paramādbhutāḥ. (36)

Pure as fire and radiant like fine gold, adorned with every ornament, the companions appeared eternally youthful and supremely wondrous, awakening the highest delight.

Rūpa-yauvana-śālinyo mālinyaḥ padma-locanāḥ,
Nānā-guṇāḍhyāś ca vidyāḥ kāma-śāstra-viśāradāḥ. (37)

Endowed with beauty and youth, garlanded and lotus-eyed, they possessed innumerable virtues and arts and were deeply learned in the science of divine love.

Nānāṅgīta-samāyuktā Rāma-prema-prapūritāḥ,
Tatra kāścit padma-gandhāḥ kāścic ca mālatī-saurabhāḥ. (38)

Skilled in many kinds of song and filled completely with love for Rama, some gave forth the fragrance of lotus and others the perfume of malati blossoms.

Mallikā-gandhavatyaś ca ketakī-saurabhānvitāḥ,
Paṭalāmodavatyaś ca kāścit kāśmīra-saurabhāḥ. (39)

Some bore the fragrance of jasmine, others the scent of ketaki; some were perfumed like patala flowers, while others gave forth the fragrance of saffron.