Chapter Four — The Forest Awakens to the Rasa

Agastya said:

Śuṣkaṃ karṇa-bilaṃ megha tava vācā su-vāriṇā,
Pūraya tvaṃ mahābhāga sadānugraha-bhāgyataḥ. (1)

O greatly blessed Hanuman, compassionate cloud of grace, fill the dry hollows of my ears with the beautiful water of your speech.

Hanuman said:

Kuhu-kuhu-nāda-raṭan muhur muhur naṭan naṭaś cūta-navāṅkureṣu,
Unmatta uta kāka-bhṛtaḥ pramattaḥ priyaḥ priyāyāḥ kalanaṃ karoti. (2)

The intoxicated cuckoo, beloved of his mate, danced again and again among the tender mango shoots. Calling “kuhu, kuhu,” he poured forth a lovely, playful song.

Nṛtyanti mattāḥ śikhinaḥ samantād gāyanti gītaṃ śuka-sārikādayaḥ,
Anye dvijāś cāru-mukhair udāraṃ mukhaiś ca vādyān abhivādayanti. (3)

All around, enraptured peacocks danced with their lovely mates. Parrots, mynas, and other birds sang, while still others seemed to play varied instruments through their melodious voices.

Adṛṣṭa-pūrvāś ca mṛgāś ca gāvo grāsaṃ jajakṣur abhitas tadā kila,
Dṛṣṭvā Raghūṇāṃ pravara-prabhāvam ardhaṃ samaśnanti tyajanti cārdham. (4, continues)

Deer and cows, beholding the unprecedented glory of the foremost of Raghu’s line, forgot their grazing. They ate only half of each mouthful and let the other half fall.