Chapter Three — Rama Manifests the Youthful Companions

Sarva-gandha-yutāś cānyā mada-vihvala-locanāḥ,
Sītābhā asitābhāś ca kāścit kṣata-javāḥ śubhāḥ. (40)

Still others combined every fragrance and cast glances made restless by love. Some were fair, some dark, and some auspiciously radiant with the crimson hue of the red lotus.

Nirdagdha-kanakābhāṅgā nānā-varṇāś ca koṭiśaḥ,
Mukhyās tenādhikā ramyā dāsyas tāsāṃ sahasraśaḥ. (41)

Millions appeared in many colours, some with limbs like highly refined gold. Their principal leaders were more enchanting still, and each was served in turn by thousands of attendants.

Ekaikaśaḥ prayatnena sevante ’niśam uttamāḥ,
Dṛṣṭvā tā Bhagavān Rāmo ramaṇecchur abhūd vibhuḥ. (42)

These excellent companions served one by one, diligently and without cease. Seeing them, the all-powerful Lord Rama desired to begin the divine play.

Ātma-svarūpān anugāṃś ca vyasṛjat puruṣān varān,
Śyāmalān sasmitamukhān sarvābharaṇa-bhūṣitān. (43)

Rama then manifested excellent youthful men from his own essential form, each perfectly suited to his companion: dark-complexioned, smiling, and adorned with every ornament.

Kiśorān kāmanīyāṃś ca kāma-vidyā-viśāradān,
Rasāsvādānuguṇāṃś ca kirīṭa-kuṇḍalānvitān. (44, continues)

They were eternally youthful and captivating, accomplished in the art of divine love, perfectly suited to the relishing of rasa, and adorned with crowns and earrings.