Chapter Five — The Water Festival in the Sarayu

Agastya said:

Tavānanād vākya-prabhava-prabhākarāt praphullitaṃ mad-dhṛdayaṃ saroruham,
Sītā-sakhībhiḥ saha yat sāmprataṃ milindavan nandati Rāmabhadraḥ. (1)

The sun of speech rising from your mouth has made the lotus of my heart blossom. Tell me now of that place where Ramabhadra rejoices like a honeybee among Sita and her companions.

Hanuman said:

Śrāntaṃ kāntānanaṃ kāntaṃ svedena paripūritaṃ dṛṣṭvā Rāmaḥ,
Prahṛṣṭātmā majjanāya mano dadhe. (2)

Seeing the lovely face of his weary beloved covered with perspiration, Rama’s heart filled with joy and he resolved that they should bathe.

Tāḥ sarvāḥ pramuditās tatra bhagavantaṃ Raghūttamam,
Nānābharaṇa-sampannā veṣṭitāḥ snāna-cetasaḥ. (3)

All the companions, adorned with varied ornaments and delighted at the thought of bathing, gathered around the blessed and supreme Raghava.

Nṛtya-vādyaiḥ sumadhurair ākīrṇau chatra-cāmaraiḥ,
Gacchantau bhāsamānau haṃsa-kuñjara-gāminau. (4, continues)

Sita and Rama proceeded amid sweet music and dancing, shaded by parasols and attended by fly-whisks. Their stately gait combined the grace of swans with the majesty of royal elephants.