Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 4
Sourceवात्स्यायन उवाच। भुजगाधीश्वरेशान धराभारधरक्षम । शृण्वेकं संशयं मह्यं कृपया कथयस्व तम् १। रघुनाथस्य गमनं वनं प्रति यदा ह्यभूत् । तदा प्रभृति देहेन स्थिता शून्येन चेतसा २। तद्विप्रयोगविधुरा कृशदेहातिदुःखिता । सुमुखान्मंत्रिणः श्रुत्वा रघुनाथं समागतम् ३। कथं जहर्ष किमभूत्कीदृशं तत्र चिह्नितम् । रामचंद्रस्य संदेशहर्तारं किमुवाच सा ४। एतन्मे संशयं छिंधि रघुनाथगुणोदयम् । यथावच्छृण्वते मह्यं कथयस्व प्रसादतः ५। शेष उवाच । साधुपृष्टं महाभाग द्विजवर्यपुरस्कृत । तन्मे निगदतः साक्षाच्छृणुष्वैकमनाः किल ६। सा वै तद्वदनांभोज च्युतं रामागमामृतम् । पीत्वा पीत्वा बभूवाहो स्थगितांगेन विह्वला ७। किं मे स्वप्नो विमूढायाः किं वा भ्रमकरं वचः । ममवै मंदभाग्यायाः कथं रामेक्षणं पुनः ८। बहुना तपसा कृत्वा प्राप्तोऽयं वै सुतः शिशुः । केनचिन्मम पापेन विप्रयोगं गतः पुनः ९। सुमंत्रिन्कुशली रामः सीतालक्ष्मणसंयुतः । कथं मां स्मरते वीरो वनचारी सुदुःखिताम् १०। इति सा विललापोच्चै रघुनाथस्मृतिं गता । न निवेद निजं किंचित्परकीयं विमोहिता । सुमुखोऽपि तथा दृष्ट्वा दुःखितां मातरं भृशम् ११। वीजयामास वासोग्रैः संज्ञामाप च सा पुनः । उवाच जननीं सौम्यं वचोहर्षकरं मुहुः १२। रघुनाथागमस्मार हृष्टां तां व्यदधात्पुनः । मातर्विद्धि गृहं प्राप्तं रघुनाथं सलक्ष्मणम् १३। सीतया सहितं पश्य चाशीर्भिरभियुंक्ष्व च । इति तथ्यं वचः श्रुत्वा सुमुखेन प्रभाषितम् १४। यादृशं हर्षमापेदे तादृशं वेद्म्यहं नहि । उत्थाय चाजिरे प्राप्ता रोमांचिततनूरुहा १५। हर्षविह्वलितांग्यश्रु मुंचंती राममैक्षत । तावत्स रामो राजेंद्रो नरयानमधिश्रितः १६। प्राप्तः स्वमातुर्भवनं कैकेय्याः सुनयः पुरः । कैकेय्यपि त्रपाभारनम्रा रामं पुरःस्थितम् १७। नोवाच किंचिन्महतीं चिंतां प्राप्तवती मुहुः । सूर्यवंशध्वजो रामो मातरं वीक्ष्य लज्जिताम् १८। उवाच सांत्वयंस्तां च वाक्यैर्विनयमिश्रितैः । श्रीराम उवाच। मातर्मया वनं गत्वा सर्वमाचरितं तथा १९। अधुना करवै किं वा त्वदाज्ञातो जनन्यहो । मया न्यूनं कृतं नास्ति कथं मां नेक्ष्यसे पुनः २०। आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैनं भरतं मां च वीक्षय । इति श्रुत्वापि तद्वाक्यं सा नम्रवदनानघ २१। शनैः शनैः प्रत्युवाच राम गच्छ स्वमालयम् । रामोऽपि श्रुत्वा वचनं जनन्याः पुरुषोत्तमः २२। नमस्कृत्य ययौ गेहं सुमित्रायाः कृपानिधिः । सुमित्रा पुत्रसहितं रामं दृष्ट्वा महामनाः २३। चिरंजीव चिरंजीव ह्याशीर्भिरिति चाभ्यधात् । मातुश्च रामभद्रोऽपि चरणौ प्रणिपत्य च २४। परिष्वज्य मुदायुक्तो जगाद वचनं पुनः । रत्नगर्भे मम भ्रात्रा केनापि न कृतं तथा २५। यथायमकरोद्धीमान्ममदुःखापनोदनम् २६। रावणेन हृता सीता मया यत्प्राप्यते पुनः । मातस्तत्सर्वमाविद्धि लक्ष्मणस्य विचेष्टितम् २७। दत्तामाशिषमागृह्य शिरसायं सुमित्रया । निजमातुश्च भवनं प्रययौ विबुधैर्वृतः २८। मातरं वीक्ष्य हृषितां निजदर्शनलालसाम् । स्वयानादवरुह्याशु चरणावग्रहीद्धरिः २९। माता तद्दर्शनोत्कंठा विह्वलीकृतमानसा । परिष्वज्य परिष्वज्य रामं मुदमवाप सा ३०। शरीरे रोमहर्षोऽभूद्गद्गदा वागभूत्तदा । हर्षाश्रूणि तु सोष्णानि प्रवाहं प्रापुरापदात् ३१। जननीं वीक्ष्य विनयी ताटंकद्वयवर्जिताम् । कराकल्प पदाकल्परहितां बिभ्रतीं तनुम् ३२। किंचित्स्वदर्शनाद्धृष्टां कृशांगीं तां स शोकभाक् । दुःखस्य समयो नायमिति मत्वा जगाद ताम् ३३। श्रीराम उवाच। मातर्मया त्वच्चरणौ चिरकालं न सेवितौ । ततः क्षमस्वापराधं भाग्यहीनस्य वै मम ३४। ये पुत्रा मातापित्रोर्न शुश्रूषायां समुत्सुकाः । ते मंतव्याः परा मातः कीटका रेतसो भवाः ३५। किं कुर्वे जनकाज्ञातो गतो वै दंडकं वनम् । तत्रापि त्वत्कृपापांगात्तीर्णोऽस्मि दुःखसागरम् ३६। रावणेन हृता सीता लंकायां गमिता पुनः । त्वत्कृपातो मया लब्धा तं हत्वा राक्षसेश्वरम् ३७। सीतेयं त्वच्चरणयोः पतिता वै पतिव्रता । संभावयाशु चकितां त्वत्पादार्पितमानसाम् ३८। इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं पादयोः पतितां स्नुषाम् । आशीर्भिरभियुज्यैनां बभाषे तां पतिव्रताम् ३९। सीते स्वपतिना सार्द्धं चिरं विलस भामिनि । पुत्रौ प्रसूय च कुलं स्वकं पावय पावने ४०। त्वत्सदृश्यः पतिपराः पतिदुःखसुखानुगाः । भवंति दुःखभागिन्यो न हि सत्यं जगत्त्रये ४१। विदेहपुत्रि स्वकुलं त्वया पावितमात्मना । रामपादाब्जयुगलमनुयांत्या महावनम् ४२। किं चित्रं यत्पुमांसस्तु वैरिकोटिप्रभंजनाः । येषां गेहे सती भार्या स्वपतिप्रियवाञ्छिका ४३। इत्युक्त्वा रघुनाथस्य भार्यामंचितलोचनाम् । तूष्णीं बभूव हृषिता प्रहृष्टस्वतनूरुहा ४४। अथ भ्रातास्य भरतः पित्रा दत्तं निजं महत् । राज्यं निवेदयामास रामचंद्राय धीमते ४५। मंत्रिणस्ते प्रहृष्टांगा दैवज्ञान्मंत्रकोविदान् । आहूय सुमुहूर्तंते पप्रच्छुः परमादरात् ४६। शुभे मुहूर्ते सुदिने शुभनक्षत्रसंयुते । अभिषेकं महाराज्ये कारयामासुरुद्यताः ४७। सप्तद्वीपवतीं पृथ्वीं व्याघ्रचर्मणि सुंदरे । लिखित्वोपरि राजेंद्रो महाराजोधितस्थिवान् ४८। तद्दिनादेव साधूनां मनांसि प्रमुदं ययुः । दुष्टानां चेतसो ग्लानिरभवत्परतापिनाम् ४९। स्त्रियस्तु पतिभक्त्या च पतिव्रतपरायणाः । मनसापि कदा पापं नाचरंति जना मुने ५०। दैत्यादेवास्तथा नागा यक्षासुरमहोरगाः । सर्वे न्यायपथे स्थित्वा रामाज्ञां शिरसा दधुः ५१। परोपकरणेयुक्ताः स्वधर्मसुखनिर्वृताः । विद्याविनोदगमिता दिनरात्रिक्षणाः शुभाः ५२। वातोऽपि मार्गसंस्थानां बलान्नाहरते महान् । वासांस्यपि तु सूक्ष्माणि तत्र चौरकथा नहि ५३। धनदो ह्यर्थिनां रामः कारुण्यश्च कृपानिधिः । भ्रातृभिः सहितो नित्यं गुरुदेवस्तुतिं व्यधात् ५४। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे रघुवरस्य राज्याभिषेकोनाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ४।
vātsyāyana uvāca| bhujagādhīśvareśāna dharābhāradharakṣama | śṛṇvekaṃ saṃśayaṃ mahyaṃ kṛpayā kathayasva tam 1| raghunāthasya gamanaṃ vanaṃ prati yadā hyabhūt | tadā prabhṛti dehena sthitā śūnyena cetasā 2| tadviprayogavidhurā kṛśadehātiduḥkhitā | sumukhānmaṃtriṇaḥ śrutvā raghunāthaṃ samāgatam 3| kathaṃ jaharṣa kimabhūtkīdṛśaṃ tatra cihnitam | rāmacaṃdrasya saṃdeśahartāraṃ kimuvāca sā 4| etanme saṃśayaṃ chiṃdhi raghunāthaguṇodayam | yathāvacchṛṇvate mahyaṃ kathayasva prasādataḥ 5| śeṣa uvāca | sādhupṛṣṭaṃ mahābhāga dvijavaryapuraskṛta | tanme nigadataḥ sākṣācchṛṇuṣvaikamanāḥ kila 6| sā vai tadvadanāṃbhoja cyutaṃ rāmāgamāmṛtam | pītvā pītvā babhūvāho sthagitāṃgena vihvalā 7| kiṃ me svapno vimūḍhāyāḥ kiṃ vā bhramakaraṃ vacaḥ | mamavai maṃdabhāgyāyāḥ kathaṃ rāmekṣaṇaṃ punaḥ 8| bahunā tapasā kṛtvā prāpto'yaṃ vai sutaḥ śiśuḥ | kenacinmama pāpena viprayogaṃ gataḥ punaḥ 9| sumaṃtrinkuśalī rāmaḥ sītālakṣmaṇasaṃyutaḥ | kathaṃ māṃ smarate vīro vanacārī suduḥkhitām 10| iti sā vilalāpoccai raghunāthasmṛtiṃ gatā | na niveda nijaṃ kiṃcitparakīyaṃ vimohitā | sumukho'pi tathā dṛṣṭvā duḥkhitāṃ mātaraṃ bhṛśam 11| vījayāmāsa vāsograiḥ saṃjñāmāpa ca sā punaḥ | uvāca jananīṃ saumyaṃ vacoharṣakaraṃ muhuḥ 12| raghunāthāgamasmāra hṛṣṭāṃ tāṃ vyadadhātpunaḥ | mātarviddhi gṛhaṃ prāptaṃ raghunāthaṃ salakṣmaṇam 13| sītayā sahitaṃ paśya cāśīrbhirabhiyuṃkṣva ca | iti tathyaṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sumukhena prabhāṣitam 14| yādṛśaṃ harṣamāpede tādṛśaṃ vedmyahaṃ nahi | utthāya cājire prāptā romāṃcitatanūruhā 15| harṣavihvalitāṃgyaśru muṃcaṃtī rāmamaikṣata | tāvatsa rāmo rājeṃdro narayānamadhiśritaḥ 16| prāptaḥ svamāturbhavanaṃ kaikeyyāḥ sunayaḥ puraḥ | kaikeyyapi trapābhāranamrā rāmaṃ puraḥsthitam 17| novāca kiṃcinmahatīṃ ciṃtāṃ prāptavatī muhuḥ | sūryavaṃśadhvajo rāmo mātaraṃ vīkṣya lajjitām 18| uvāca sāṃtvayaṃstāṃ ca vākyairvinayamiśritaiḥ | śrīrāma uvāca| mātarmayā vanaṃ gatvā sarvamācaritaṃ tathā 19| adhunā karavai kiṃ vā tvadājñāto jananyaho | mayā nyūnaṃ kṛtaṃ nāsti kathaṃ māṃ nekṣyase punaḥ 20| āśīrbhirabhinaṃdyainaṃ bharataṃ māṃ ca vīkṣaya | iti śrutvāpi tadvākyaṃ sā namravadanānagha 21| śanaiḥ śanaiḥ pratyuvāca rāma gaccha svamālayam | rāmo'pi śrutvā vacanaṃ jananyāḥ puruṣottamaḥ 22| namaskṛtya yayau gehaṃ sumitrāyāḥ kṛpānidhiḥ | sumitrā putrasahitaṃ rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāmanāḥ 23| ciraṃjīva ciraṃjīva hyāśīrbhiriti cābhyadhāt | mātuśca rāmabhadro'pi caraṇau praṇipatya ca 24| pariṣvajya mudāyukto jagāda vacanaṃ punaḥ | ratnagarbhe mama bhrātrā kenāpi na kṛtaṃ tathā 25| yathāyamakaroddhīmānmamaduḥkhāpanodanam 26| rāvaṇena hṛtā sītā mayā yatprāpyate punaḥ | mātastatsarvamāviddhi lakṣmaṇasya viceṣṭitam 27| dattāmāśiṣamāgṛhya śirasāyaṃ sumitrayā | nijamātuśca bhavanaṃ prayayau vibudhairvṛtaḥ 28| mātaraṃ vīkṣya hṛṣitāṃ nijadarśanalālasām | svayānādavaruhyāśu caraṇāvagrahīddhariḥ 29| mātā taddarśanotkaṃṭhā vihvalīkṛtamānasā | pariṣvajya pariṣvajya rāmaṃ mudamavāpa sā 30| śarīre romaharṣo'bhūdgadgadā vāgabhūttadā | harṣāśrūṇi tu soṣṇāni pravāhaṃ prāpurāpadāt 31| jananīṃ vīkṣya vinayī tāṭaṃkadvayavarjitām | karākalpa padākalparahitāṃ bibhratīṃ tanum 32| kiṃcitsvadarśanāddhṛṣṭāṃ kṛśāṃgīṃ tāṃ sa śokabhāk | duḥkhasya samayo nāyamiti matvā jagāda tām 33| śrīrāma uvāca| mātarmayā tvaccaraṇau cirakālaṃ na sevitau | tataḥ kṣamasvāparādhaṃ bhāgyahīnasya vai mama 34| ye putrā mātāpitrorna śuśrūṣāyāṃ samutsukāḥ | te maṃtavyāḥ parā mātaḥ kīṭakā retaso bhavāḥ 35| kiṃ kurve janakājñāto gato vai daṃḍakaṃ vanam | tatrāpi tvatkṛpāpāṃgāttīrṇo'smi duḥkhasāgaram 36| rāvaṇena hṛtā sītā laṃkāyāṃ gamitā punaḥ | tvatkṛpāto mayā labdhā taṃ hatvā rākṣaseśvaram 37| sīteyaṃ tvaccaraṇayoḥ patitā vai pativratā | saṃbhāvayāśu cakitāṃ tvatpādārpitamānasām 38| iti śrutvā tu tadvākyaṃ pādayoḥ patitāṃ snuṣām | āśīrbhirabhiyujyaināṃ babhāṣe tāṃ pativratām 39| sīte svapatinā sārddhaṃ ciraṃ vilasa bhāmini | putrau prasūya ca kulaṃ svakaṃ pāvaya pāvane 40| tvatsadṛśyaḥ patiparāḥ patiduḥkhasukhānugāḥ | bhavaṃti duḥkhabhāginyo na hi satyaṃ jagattraye 41| videhaputri svakulaṃ tvayā pāvitamātmanā | rāmapādābjayugalamanuyāṃtyā mahāvanam 42| kiṃ citraṃ yatpumāṃsastu vairikoṭiprabhaṃjanāḥ | yeṣāṃ gehe satī bhāryā svapatipriyavāñchikā 43| ityuktvā raghunāthasya bhāryāmaṃcitalocanām | tūṣṇīṃ babhūva hṛṣitā prahṛṣṭasvatanūruhā 44| atha bhrātāsya bharataḥ pitrā dattaṃ nijaṃ mahat | rājyaṃ nivedayāmāsa rāmacaṃdrāya dhīmate 45| maṃtriṇaste prahṛṣṭāṃgā daivajñānmaṃtrakovidān | āhūya sumuhūrtaṃte papracchuḥ paramādarāt 46| śubhe muhūrte sudine śubhanakṣatrasaṃyute | abhiṣekaṃ mahārājye kārayāmāsurudyatāḥ 47| saptadvīpavatīṃ pṛthvīṃ vyāghracarmaṇi suṃdare | likhitvopari rājeṃdro mahārājodhitasthivān 48| taddinādeva sādhūnāṃ manāṃsi pramudaṃ yayuḥ | duṣṭānāṃ cetaso glānirabhavatparatāpinām 49| striyastu patibhaktyā ca pativrataparāyaṇāḥ | manasāpi kadā pāpaṃ nācaraṃti janā mune 50| daityādevāstathā nāgā yakṣāsuramahoragāḥ | sarve nyāyapathe sthitvā rāmājñāṃ śirasā dadhuḥ 51| paropakaraṇeyuktāḥ svadharmasukhanirvṛtāḥ | vidyāvinodagamitā dinarātrikṣaṇāḥ śubhāḥ 52| vāto'pi mārgasaṃsthānāṃ balānnāharate mahān | vāsāṃsyapi tu sūkṣmāṇi tatra caurakathā nahi 53| dhanado hyarthināṃ rāmaḥ kāruṇyaśca kṛpānidhiḥ | bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito nityaṃ gurudevastutiṃ vyadhāt 54| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe raghuvarasya rājyābhiṣekonāma caturtho'dhyāyaḥ 4|
English translation
Vātsyāyana said :
1-5. O great lord of the serpents, O lord capable of sustaining the burden of the earth, listen to one doubt of mine; and please explain (i.e. remove) it. Since the departure of Rāma to the forest she ( Kauśalyā ) lives with body but with a vacant mind. She is afflicted by separation from him; her body is emaciated; she is extremely unhappy. How indeed was she happy when she heard from Sumukha , the minister, that Rāma had come (back)? What happened (to her)? What were the marks (of her feelings)? What did she say to him who had brought the message of Rāmacandra ? Remove this doubt of mine. Do me a favour and tell me who am listening, about the rich virtues of Raghunātha .
Śeṣa said :
6-7. Well asked, O you glorious one, O you who are in the forefront of best brāhmaṇas . Listen (now) attentively to it when I am actually telling it. She, having repeatedly drunk the nectar fallen from the lotus-like mouth of him (i.e. Sumukha), of (i.e. telling about) the arrival of Rāma, she became afflicted with her body becoming steady.
8-13a. She said: “Is it a dream of (i.e. seen by) me, a fool? Or do the words cause confusion? How can I, luckless that I am, see Rāma again? Due to having practised much penance I had obtained this my child-my son; but due to some sin of (i.e. committed by) me, he became separated from me. O good minister, is Rāma accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa all right? Does he, moving in the forest, remember me, who am extremely pained?” Thus, she, who remembered Rāma, loudly wept. She fainted, and was not conscious of what belonged to her and what to others. Sumukha too, seeing (Rāma’s) mother extremely unhappy fanned her with the ends of garments, and then she regained consciousness. Then he repeatedly spoke gentle and delightful words to the mother (of Rāma). He again made her happy by reminding her of the arrival of Raghunātha:
13b-19a. “O mother, know that Raghunāth a with Lakṣmaṇa has come home. See Rāma with Sitā , and sprinkle them over with (i.e. give them) blessings.” I do not know (i.e. I have not seen) such joy which she experienced on hearing the true words uttered by Sumukha. With her hair standing on end, she got up and reached (i.e. went to) the courtyard. With her body perturbed by joy, and shedding tears, she looked for Rāma. Just then Rāma, the lord of kings, and of a good conduct, and sea ted in a vehicle drawn by men, reached first the house of his mother Kaikeyī . Kaikeyī too, bent due to the burden of the sense of shame, did not say anything to Rāma standing in front of her. She was very much worried. Rāma, the banner of the solar dynasty, seeing his mother who was ashamed, said, consoling (i.e. to console) her, (these words) mixed with (i.e. full of) politeness:
Śrī Rāma said :
19b-2la. O mother, having gone to the forest, I did everything (as I was ordered to do). O mother, what should I do now by your order? I have done nothing despicable. Then, how (is it that) you are not looking at me? Greeting this Bharata and me with blessings, look at me.
21b-24a. Hearing these words of (i.e. uttered by) him, O sinless one, she, with her face hung down, slowly said: “Rāma, go to your (own) house.” And Rāma, the best among men, having heard (these) words of his mother, saluted her, and the treasure of compassion went to the house of Sumitrā . The large-hearted Sumitrā, seeing Rāma with her son (Lakṣmaṇa), said, with (i.e. giving him) blessings: “Live long, live long.”
24b-28. Rāmabhadra too having saluted the feet of his mother, and having, full of joy, embraced her, again said (these) words to her: “O you conceiving a gem (like Lakṣmaṇa), no (other) brother of me has removed my grief as this intelligent one (i.e. Lakṣmaṇa) has done. Sītā who was kid napped by Rāvaṇa , was got back by me—O mother, know all t hat to be the working ofLakṣmaṇa.” Accepting with his head (i.e. by bowing down his head), the blessing given by Sumitrā, the wise one surrounded by the wise went to the house of his mother (i.e. Kauśalyā).
29-33. Hari (i.e. Rāma) seeing his mother delighted and longing to see him, quickly got down from the vehicle and seized her feet. His mother, eager to see him and with her mind confused, repeatedly embraced Rāma and was delighted. Horripilation due to joy appeared on her body and she faltered while speaking. Hot tears ofjoy trickled down up to her feet. Polite Rāma, seeing his mother bereft of the two large ear-rings and having her body without ornaments (worn) on the hands and feet and delighted to a certain degree on seeing him, having an emaciated frame, and experiencing grief, thought that it was not the time for grief and said to her:
Śrī Rāma said :
34-39. O mother, I have not waited upon your feet for a long time. So forgive me who am unlucky for my fault. Those sons who are not eager to serve their mother and father should be looked upon as great insects born from semen, O mother. What should I do? I went to the Daṇḍaka fores t by the order of my father. There too, due to your favourable glance, I crossed the ocean of grief. Rāvaṇa kidnapped Sītā, and took her to Lanka . By your favour I got her (back) after killing that lord of demons. This is Sītā my devoted wife who has fallen at your feet. Show regard for her who is timid, and who has set her heart on your feet.
Hearing these words of (i.e. uttered by) him, she greeted her daughter-in-law who had fallen at her feet, with blessings and said to that devoted wife (of Rāma). (Kauśalyā said):
40-44. “O beautiful lady, O Sītā, enjoy for a long time with your husband. Give birth to two sons. O you purifying one, purify your own family. Women like you, who are devoted to their husbands, and who experience pleasure and pain with their husbands, become unhappy. There is no truth in the three worlds. O daughter of Videha (i.e. Janaka ), you who followed the couple of the lotus-like feet of Rāma to the great forest, have purified your family. What wonder is there that those men in whose house there are chaste wives desiring what is dear to their husband;, are like a hurricane to crores of enemies?” Saying so to Rāma’s wife of curved eyes she remained quiet, with her hair standing on end due to great joy.
45-48. Then Rāmacandra’s brother Bharata gave (back) to the intelligent Rāma, the great kingdom given to him by their father. The delighted ministers, invited astrologers, knowing sacred hymns, and, with great respect, asked them about an auspicious time; and being eager they consecrated Rāma on the great kingdom on an auspicious time on a good day united with an auspicious constellation. The great king, the lord of kings, stood on a beautiful (piece of) tiger-hide, after drawing on it (the picture of) the earth with its seven islands.
49-54. From that day only the hearts of the good men became joyful; the hearts of the wicked, tormenting others, became weary. Women due to their devotion to their husbands, were greatly attached to them. O sage, men did not even mentally commit any sin. Demons, gods, so also serpents, yakṣas , asuras , and great snakes remained on the right path. All they held Rāma’s order with their heads (i.e. respectfully obeyed Rāma’s order). People engaged in obliging others. They were happy as they followed their own course of conduct laid down for their caste. Auspicious moments of days and nights were passed in (getting) knowledge and diversions. Even great wind did not carry away even the small garments of those who remained on the roads. There was (absolutely) no talk about thieves. The kind Rāma, treasure of compassion, gave wealth to suppliants. With his brothers he always praised the preceptors and deities.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43580, revision 335829 (2022-04-15T11:30:13Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365315.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.