Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 55
Sourceव्यास उवाच। एतां श्रुत्वा कथां रम्यां लवस्य बलिनो मुनिः । संशयानः पर्यपृच्छन्नागं दशशताननम् १। श्रीवात्स्यायन उवाच। त्वयोक्तं तु पुरा रामः सीतामेकाकिनीं वने । रजकस्य दुरुक्त्यासौ तत्याज महि लोलुपः २। जानक्यां क्व सुतौ जातौ क्व धनुर्धरतां गतौ । कथं च शिक्षिता विद्या यो रामहयमाहरत् ३। व्यास उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं शेषो नागो महामतिः । प्रशस्य विप्रं जगदे रामचारित्रमद्भुतम् ४। शेष उवाच। रामो राज्यमयोध्यायां भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽकरोत् । धर्मेण पालयन्सर्वं क्षितिखंडं स्वया स्त्रिया ५। सीता दधार तद्वीर्यं मासाः पंचाभवंस्तदा । अत्यंतं शुशुभे देवी त्रयीव पुरुषं धरा ६। कदाचित्समये रामः पप्रच्छ च विदेहजाम् । कीदृशो दोहदः साध्वि मया ते साध्यते हि सः ७। रहस्येव तु सा पृष्टा त्रपमाणा पतिं सती । लज्जा गद्गद वाग्रामं निजगाद वचोऽमृतम् ८। सीतोवाच। त्वत्कृपातो मया सर्वं भुक्तं भोक्ष्यामि शोभनम् । न कश्चिन्मानसे कांत विषयो ह्यतिरिच्यते ९। यस्याभवादृशः स्वामी देवसंस्तुतसत्पदः । तस्याः सर्वं वरीवर्ति न किंचिदवशिष्यते १०। त्वमाग्रहात्पृच्छसि मां दोहदं मनसि स्थितम् । ब्रवीमि पुरतः सत्यं तव स्वामिन्मनोहर ११। चिरं जातं मया सत्यो लोपामुद्रादिकाः स्त्रियः । दृष्ट्वा स्वामिन्मनो द्रष्टुं ता उत्सुकति सुंदरीः १२। राज्यं प्राप्ता त्वया सार्द्धमनेकसुखमास्थिता । कृतघ्नाहं कदापीह ता नमस्कर्तुमानसा १३। तत्र गत्वा तपःकोशान्वस्त्राद्यैः परिपूजये । रत्नानि चैव भास्वंति भूषा अपि समर्पये १४। यथा मे तोषिताः सत्यो ददत्याशीर्मनोहराः । एष मे दोहदः कांत परिपूरय मानसः १५। इत्थमाकर्ण्य वचनं सीतायाः सुमनोहरम् । जगाद परमप्रीतो रामचंद्रः प्रियां प्रति १६। धन्यासि जानकी प्रातर्गमिष्यसि तपोधनाः । प्रेक्ष्यतास्तु कृतार्था त्वमागमिष्यसि मेंऽतिकम् १७। इति रामवचः श्रुत्वा परमां प्रीतिमाप सा । प्रातर्मम भवत्यद्धा तापसीनां समीक्षणम् १८। अथ तन्निशि रामेण चाराः कीर्तिं निजां श्रुताम् । प्रेक्षितुं प्रेषितास्ते तु निशीथे ह्यगमनञ्छनैः १९। ते प्रत्यहं रामकथाः शृण्वंतः सुमनोहराः । तद्दिने गतवंतस्तु धनाढ्यस्य गृहं महत् २०। दीपं वीक्ष्य प्रज्वलंतं वचनं वीक्ष्य मानुषम् । स्थितास्तत्र क्षणं चाराः समशृण्वन्यशो भृशम् २१। तत्र काचन वामाक्षी बालकं प्रति हर्षिता । स्तनं धयंतं निजगौ वाक्यं तु सुमनोहरम् २२। पिब पुत्र यथेष्टं त्वं स्तन्यं मम मनोहरम् । पश्चात्तव सुदुष्प्रापं भविष्यति ममात्मज २३। एतत्पुर्याः पती रामो नीलोत्पलदलप्रभः । तत्पुरीस्थजनानां तु न भविष्यति वै जनुः २४। जन्माभावात्कथं पानं स्तन्यस्य भुवि जायते । तस्मात्पिब मुहुः स्तन्यं दुर्ल्लभं हृदि मन्य च २५। ये श्रीरामं स्मरिष्यंति ध्यायंति च वदंति ये । तेषामपि पयःपानं न भविष्यति जातुचित् २६। इत्यादिवाक्यं संश्रुत्य श्रीरामयशसोऽमृतम् । हर्षिताः प्रययुर्गेहमन्यद्भाग्यवतो महत् २७। तावदन्यश्चरस्तत्र मनोरममिदं गृहम् । मत्वा तिष्ठन्हि रामस्य क्षणं शुश्रूषया यशः २८। तत्र काचिन्निजं कांतं पर्यंकोपरि सुस्थितम् । तांबूलं चर्वती दत्तं भर्त्तास्नेहेन सुंदरी २९। कंकणस्वरशोभाढ्या कर्पूरागरुधूपिता । कांतं वीक्ष्य चलन्नेत्रा कामरूपमवोचत ३०। नाथ त्वं तादृशो मह्यं भासि यादृग्रघोः पतिः । अत्यंतं सुंदरतरं वपुर्बिभ्रत्सुकोमलम् ३१। पद्मप्रांतं नेत्रयुग्मं वक्षो मोहनविस्तृतम् । भुजौ च सांगदौ बिभ्रत्साक्षाद्राम इवासि मे ३२। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कांतायाः सुमनोहरम् । उवाच नेत्रयोः प्रांतं नर्तयन्कामसुंदरः ३३। शृणु कांते त्वया प्रोक्तं साध्व्या तु सुमनोहरम् । पतिव्रतानां तद्योग्यं स्वकांतो राम एव हि ३४। परं क्वाहं मंदभाग्यः क्व रामो भाग्यवान्महान् । क्व चाहं कीटवत्तुच्छः क्व ब्रह्मादिसुरार्चितः ३५। खद्योतः क्व नभोरत्नं शलभः क्व नु पामरः । गजारिः क्व मृगेंद्रोऽसौ शशकः क्व नु मंदधीः ३६। क्व च सा जाह्नवी देवी क्व रथ्या जलमुत्पथम् । क्व मेरुः सुरसंवासः क्व गुंजापुंजकोल्पकः ३७। तथाहं क्व क्व रामोऽसौ यत्पादरजसांगना । शिलीभूता क्षणाज्जाता ब्रह्ममोहनरूपधृक् ३८। इति वाक्यं प्रब्रुवाणं परिरेभे निजं पतिम् । जातकामा हृतप्रेम्णा नर्तित भ्रू धनुर्धरा ३९। इत्यादि वाक्यं संश्रुत्य गतश्चान्यनिवेशनम् । तावदन्यश्चरो वाक्यं शुश्राव यशसान्वितम् ४०। काचित्पुष्पमयीं शय्यां चंदनं सह चंद्रकम् । सर्वं विधाय कामार्हं जगाद वचनं पतिम् ४१। पते कुरुष्व भोगार्हे शयनं पुष्पमंचके । चंदनादिकलेपं च तथा भोगमनेकधा ४२। त्वादृशा एव भोगार्हा न च रामपराङ्मुखाः । सर्वं रामकृपाप्राप्तमुपभुंक्ष्व यथातथम् ४३। मत्सदृशी कामिनी ते चंदनं तापहारकम् । पर्यंकः पुष्परचितः सर्वं रामकृपाभवम् ४४। ये रामं न भजिष्यंति ते नरा जठरं स्वयम् । न भर्तुं शक्नुवंत्येव वस्त्रभोगादि वर्जिताः ४५। इति ब्रुवंतीं महिलां हर्षितः पतिरब्रवीत् । सर्वं तथ्यं ब्रवीषि त्वं मम रामकृपाभवम् ४६। इत्येवं रामभद्रस्य यशः श्रुत्वा गतश्चरः । तावदन्यस्य वेश्मस्थश्चरोऽन्य शुश्रुवे वचः ४७। काचित्कांतेन पर्यंके वीणावादनतत्परा । कांतेन रामसत्कीर्तिं गायमाना पतिं जगौ ४८। स्वामिन्वयं धन्यतमा येषां पुर्याः पतिः प्रभुः । श्रीरामः स्वप्रजाः पुत्रानिव पाति च रक्षकः ४९। यो महत्कर्मदुःसाध्यं कृतवान्सुलभं न तत् । समुद्रं यो निजग्राह सेतुं तत्र बबंध च ५०। रावणं यो रिपुं हत्वा लंकां संभज्य वानरैः । जानकीमाजहारात्र महदाचारमाचरत् ५१। इति प्रोक्तं समाकर्ण्य वचः सुमधुराक्षरम् । पतिः स्मितं चकारेमां वाक्यं पुनरथाब्रवीत् ५२। मुग्धेनेदं महत्कर्म रामचंद्रस्य भामिनी । दशाननवधादीनि समुद्र दमनानि च ५३। लीलयायोऽवनिं प्राप्तो ब्रह्मादिप्रार्थितो महान् । करोति सच्चरित्राणि महापापहराणि च ५४। मा जानीहि नरं रामं कौसल्यानंददायकम् । सृजत्यवति हंत्येतद्विश्वं लीलात्तमानुषः ५५। धन्या वयं ये रामस्य पश्यामो मुखपंकजम् । ब्रह्मादिसुरदुर्दर्शं महत्पुण्यकृतो वयम् ५६। अशृणोद्रामचंद्रस्य चरित्रं श्रुतिसौख्यदम् । इत्यादिवाक्यं शुश्राव चारो द्वारिस्थितो मुहुः ५७। अन्यो ह्यन्यं गृहं गत्वा तस्थौ श्रोतुं हरेर्यशः । तत्रापि रामभद्रस्य यशः शुश्राव शोभनम् ५८। खेलंती स्वामिना सार्धं द्यूतेन सुमनोहरा । उवाच वाक्यं मधुरं नर्तयंतीव कंकणे ५९। जितं मया कांत जवेन सर्वं । करिष्यसि त्वं किमु हारिमानसः । इत्यादि वाक्यं परिहासपूर्वकं । कृत्वा स्वकांतं परिषस्वजे मुदा ६०। उवाच कांतश्चार्वंगि जितमेव सुशोभने । रामं मे स्मरतो नित्यं न कुत्रापि पराजयः ६१। इदानीं त्वां तु जेष्यामि रामं स्मृत्वा मनोहरम् । देवा यथा पुरा स्मृत्वा दितिजानजयन्क्षणात् ६२। एवमुक्त्वा पाशकानां परिवर्तनमाकरोत् । तावज्जयं प्रपेदेऽसौ हर्षितो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ६३। मम प्रोक्तमृतं जातं जिता त्वं नवयौवना । रामस्मारी कदाप्येव न भवेद्रिपुतो भयी ६४। इत्येवं तौ वदंतौ च परस्परमथोत्सुकौ । परिरभ्य दृढं प्रेम्णा ततश्चारो गतो गृहम् ६५। एवं पंचमहाचारा राज्ञः संश्रुत्य वै यशः । परस्परं प्रशंसंतो गेहं स्वं स्वं ययुर्मुदा ६६। एकः षष्ठश्चरः कारुगेहानालोक्य तत्र ह । जगाम श्रोतुकामोऽसौ यशो राज्ञो महीपतेः ६७। रजकः क्रोधसंस्पृष्टो भार्यामन्यगृहोषिताम् । पदा संताडयामास धिक्कुर्वञ्छोणनेत्रवान् ६८। गच्छ त्वं मद्गृहात्तस्य गेहं यत्रोषिता दिनम् । नाहं गृह्णामि भवतीं दुष्टां वचनलंघिनीम् ६९। तदास्य माता प्रोवाच मा त्यजैनां गृहागताम् । अपराधेन रहितां दुष्टकर्मविवर्जिताम् ७०। मातरं प्रत्युवाचाथ रजकः क्रोधसंयुतः । नाहं रामइव प्रेष्ठां गृह्णाम्यन्यगृहोषिताम् ७१। स राजा यत्करोत्येव तत्सर्वं नीतिमद्भवेत् । अहं गृह्णामि नो भार्यां परवेश्मनि संस्थिताम् ७२। पुनःपुनरुवाचेदं नाहं रामो महीश्वरः । यः परस्य गृहे संस्थां जानकीं वै ररक्ष सः ७३। इति वाक्यं समाश्रुत्य चारः क्रोधपरिप्लुतः । खड्गं गृहीत्वा स्वकरे तं हंतुं विदधे मनः ७४। स रामोक्तं च सस्मार न वध्यः कोपि मे जनः । इति ज्ञात्वा सरोषं तु संजहार महामनाः ७५। तदा श्रुत्वा सुदुःखार्तः पंचचारा यतः स्थिताः । ततो गतः प्रकुपितो निःश्वसन्मुहुरुच्छ्वसन् ७६। ते वै परस्परं तत्र मिलितास्तु समब्रुवन् । स्वश्रुतं रामचरितं सर्वलोकैकपूजितम् ७७। ते तद्भाषितमाकर्ण्य परस्परममंत्रयन् । न वाच्यं रघुनाथाया वाच्यं दुष्टजनोदितम् ७८। इति संमंत्र्य ते गेहं गत्वा सुषुपुरुत्सुकाः । प्राता राज्ञे प्रशंसाम इति बुद्ध्या व्यवस्थिताः ७९। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखण्डे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे चारनिरीक्षणंनाम पंचपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः ५५।
vyāsa uvāca| etāṃ śrutvā kathāṃ ramyāṃ lavasya balino muniḥ | saṃśayānaḥ paryapṛcchannāgaṃ daśaśatānanam 1| śrīvātsyāyana uvāca| tvayoktaṃ tu purā rāmaḥ sītāmekākinīṃ vane | rajakasya duruktyāsau tatyāja mahi lolupaḥ 2| jānakyāṃ kva sutau jātau kva dhanurdharatāṃ gatau | kathaṃ ca śikṣitā vidyā yo rāmahayamāharat 3| vyāsa uvāca| iti śrutvā munervākyaṃ śeṣo nāgo mahāmatiḥ | praśasya vipraṃ jagade rāmacāritramadbhutam 4| śeṣa uvāca| rāmo rājyamayodhyāyāṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito'karot | dharmeṇa pālayansarvaṃ kṣitikhaṃḍaṃ svayā striyā 5| sītā dadhāra tadvīryaṃ māsāḥ paṃcābhavaṃstadā | atyaṃtaṃ śuśubhe devī trayīva puruṣaṃ dharā 6| kadācitsamaye rāmaḥ papraccha ca videhajām | kīdṛśo dohadaḥ sādhvi mayā te sādhyate hi saḥ 7| rahasyeva tu sā pṛṣṭā trapamāṇā patiṃ satī | lajjā gadgada vāgrāmaṃ nijagāda vaco'mṛtam 8| sītovāca| tvatkṛpāto mayā sarvaṃ bhuktaṃ bhokṣyāmi śobhanam | na kaścinmānase kāṃta viṣayo hyatiricyate 9| yasyābhavādṛśaḥ svāmī devasaṃstutasatpadaḥ | tasyāḥ sarvaṃ varīvarti na kiṃcidavaśiṣyate 10| tvamāgrahātpṛcchasi māṃ dohadaṃ manasi sthitam | bravīmi purataḥ satyaṃ tava svāminmanohara 11| ciraṃ jātaṃ mayā satyo lopāmudrādikāḥ striyaḥ | dṛṣṭvā svāminmano draṣṭuṃ tā utsukati suṃdarīḥ 12| rājyaṃ prāptā tvayā sārddhamanekasukhamāsthitā | kṛtaghnāhaṃ kadāpīha tā namaskartumānasā 13| tatra gatvā tapaḥkośānvastrādyaiḥ paripūjaye | ratnāni caiva bhāsvaṃti bhūṣā api samarpaye 14| yathā me toṣitāḥ satyo dadatyāśīrmanoharāḥ | eṣa me dohadaḥ kāṃta paripūraya mānasaḥ 15| itthamākarṇya vacanaṃ sītāyāḥ sumanoharam | jagāda paramaprīto rāmacaṃdraḥ priyāṃ prati 16| dhanyāsi jānakī prātargamiṣyasi tapodhanāḥ | prekṣyatāstu kṛtārthā tvamāgamiṣyasi meṃ'tikam 17| iti rāmavacaḥ śrutvā paramāṃ prītimāpa sā | prātarmama bhavatyaddhā tāpasīnāṃ samīkṣaṇam 18| atha tanniśi rāmeṇa cārāḥ kīrtiṃ nijāṃ śrutām | prekṣituṃ preṣitāste tu niśīthe hyagamanañchanaiḥ 19| te pratyahaṃ rāmakathāḥ śṛṇvaṃtaḥ sumanoharāḥ | taddine gatavaṃtastu dhanāḍhyasya gṛhaṃ mahat 20| dīpaṃ vīkṣya prajvalaṃtaṃ vacanaṃ vīkṣya mānuṣam | sthitāstatra kṣaṇaṃ cārāḥ samaśṛṇvanyaśo bhṛśam 21| tatra kācana vāmākṣī bālakaṃ prati harṣitā | stanaṃ dhayaṃtaṃ nijagau vākyaṃ tu sumanoharam 22| piba putra yatheṣṭaṃ tvaṃ stanyaṃ mama manoharam | paścāttava suduṣprāpaṃ bhaviṣyati mamātmaja 23| etatpuryāḥ patī rāmo nīlotpaladalaprabhaḥ | tatpurīsthajanānāṃ tu na bhaviṣyati vai januḥ 24| janmābhāvātkathaṃ pānaṃ stanyasya bhuvi jāyate | tasmātpiba muhuḥ stanyaṃ durllabhaṃ hṛdi manya ca 25| ye śrīrāmaṃ smariṣyaṃti dhyāyaṃti ca vadaṃti ye | teṣāmapi payaḥpānaṃ na bhaviṣyati jātucit 26| ityādivākyaṃ saṃśrutya śrīrāmayaśaso'mṛtam | harṣitāḥ prayayurgehamanyadbhāgyavato mahat 27| tāvadanyaścarastatra manoramamidaṃ gṛham | matvā tiṣṭhanhi rāmasya kṣaṇaṃ śuśrūṣayā yaśaḥ 28| tatra kācinnijaṃ kāṃtaṃ paryaṃkopari susthitam | tāṃbūlaṃ carvatī dattaṃ bharttāsnehena suṃdarī 29| kaṃkaṇasvaraśobhāḍhyā karpūrāgarudhūpitā | kāṃtaṃ vīkṣya calannetrā kāmarūpamavocata 30| nātha tvaṃ tādṛśo mahyaṃ bhāsi yādṛgraghoḥ patiḥ | atyaṃtaṃ suṃdarataraṃ vapurbibhratsukomalam 31| padmaprāṃtaṃ netrayugmaṃ vakṣo mohanavistṛtam | bhujau ca sāṃgadau bibhratsākṣādrāma ivāsi me 32| iti vākyaṃ samākarṇya kāṃtāyāḥ sumanoharam | uvāca netrayoḥ prāṃtaṃ nartayankāmasuṃdaraḥ 33| śṛṇu kāṃte tvayā proktaṃ sādhvyā tu sumanoharam | pativratānāṃ tadyogyaṃ svakāṃto rāma eva hi 34| paraṃ kvāhaṃ maṃdabhāgyaḥ kva rāmo bhāgyavānmahān | kva cāhaṃ kīṭavattucchaḥ kva brahmādisurārcitaḥ 35| khadyotaḥ kva nabhoratnaṃ śalabhaḥ kva nu pāmaraḥ | gajāriḥ kva mṛgeṃdro'sau śaśakaḥ kva nu maṃdadhīḥ 36| kva ca sā jāhnavī devī kva rathyā jalamutpatham | kva meruḥ surasaṃvāsaḥ kva guṃjāpuṃjakolpakaḥ 37| tathāhaṃ kva kva rāmo'sau yatpādarajasāṃganā | śilībhūtā kṣaṇājjātā brahmamohanarūpadhṛk 38| iti vākyaṃ prabruvāṇaṃ parirebhe nijaṃ patim | jātakāmā hṛtapremṇā nartita bhrū dhanurdharā 39| ityādi vākyaṃ saṃśrutya gataścānyaniveśanam | tāvadanyaścaro vākyaṃ śuśrāva yaśasānvitam 40| kācitpuṣpamayīṃ śayyāṃ caṃdanaṃ saha caṃdrakam | sarvaṃ vidhāya kāmārhaṃ jagāda vacanaṃ patim 41| pate kuruṣva bhogārhe śayanaṃ puṣpamaṃcake | caṃdanādikalepaṃ ca tathā bhogamanekadhā 42| tvādṛśā eva bhogārhā na ca rāmaparāṅmukhāḥ | sarvaṃ rāmakṛpāprāptamupabhuṃkṣva yathātatham 43| matsadṛśī kāminī te caṃdanaṃ tāpahārakam | paryaṃkaḥ puṣparacitaḥ sarvaṃ rāmakṛpābhavam 44| ye rāmaṃ na bhajiṣyaṃti te narā jaṭharaṃ svayam | na bhartuṃ śaknuvaṃtyeva vastrabhogādi varjitāḥ 45| iti bruvaṃtīṃ mahilāṃ harṣitaḥ patirabravīt | sarvaṃ tathyaṃ bravīṣi tvaṃ mama rāmakṛpābhavam 46| ityevaṃ rāmabhadrasya yaśaḥ śrutvā gataścaraḥ | tāvadanyasya veśmasthaścaro'nya śuśruve vacaḥ 47| kācitkāṃtena paryaṃke vīṇāvādanatatparā | kāṃtena rāmasatkīrtiṃ gāyamānā patiṃ jagau 48| svāminvayaṃ dhanyatamā yeṣāṃ puryāḥ patiḥ prabhuḥ | śrīrāmaḥ svaprajāḥ putrāniva pāti ca rakṣakaḥ 49| yo mahatkarmaduḥsādhyaṃ kṛtavānsulabhaṃ na tat | samudraṃ yo nijagrāha setuṃ tatra babaṃdha ca 50| rāvaṇaṃ yo ripuṃ hatvā laṃkāṃ saṃbhajya vānaraiḥ | jānakīmājahārātra mahadācāramācarat 51| iti proktaṃ samākarṇya vacaḥ sumadhurākṣaram | patiḥ smitaṃ cakāremāṃ vākyaṃ punarathābravīt 52| mugdhenedaṃ mahatkarma rāmacaṃdrasya bhāminī | daśānanavadhādīni samudra damanāni ca 53| līlayāyo'vaniṃ prāpto brahmādiprārthito mahān | karoti saccaritrāṇi mahāpāpaharāṇi ca 54| mā jānīhi naraṃ rāmaṃ kausalyānaṃdadāyakam | sṛjatyavati haṃtyetadviśvaṃ līlāttamānuṣaḥ 55| dhanyā vayaṃ ye rāmasya paśyāmo mukhapaṃkajam | brahmādisuradurdarśaṃ mahatpuṇyakṛto vayam 56| aśṛṇodrāmacaṃdrasya caritraṃ śrutisaukhyadam | ityādivākyaṃ śuśrāva cāro dvāristhito muhuḥ 57| anyo hyanyaṃ gṛhaṃ gatvā tasthau śrotuṃ hareryaśaḥ | tatrāpi rāmabhadrasya yaśaḥ śuśrāva śobhanam 58| khelaṃtī svāminā sārdhaṃ dyūtena sumanoharā | uvāca vākyaṃ madhuraṃ nartayaṃtīva kaṃkaṇe 59| jitaṃ mayā kāṃta javena sarvaṃ | kariṣyasi tvaṃ kimu hārimānasaḥ | ityādi vākyaṃ parihāsapūrvakaṃ | kṛtvā svakāṃtaṃ pariṣasvaje mudā 60| uvāca kāṃtaścārvaṃgi jitameva suśobhane | rāmaṃ me smarato nityaṃ na kutrāpi parājayaḥ 61| idānīṃ tvāṃ tu jeṣyāmi rāmaṃ smṛtvā manoharam | devā yathā purā smṛtvā ditijānajayankṣaṇāt 62| evamuktvā pāśakānāṃ parivartanamākarot | tāvajjayaṃ prapede'sau harṣito vākyamabravīt 63| mama proktamṛtaṃ jātaṃ jitā tvaṃ navayauvanā | rāmasmārī kadāpyeva na bhavedriputo bhayī 64| ityevaṃ tau vadaṃtau ca parasparamathotsukau | parirabhya dṛḍhaṃ premṇā tataścāro gato gṛham 65| evaṃ paṃcamahācārā rājñaḥ saṃśrutya vai yaśaḥ | parasparaṃ praśaṃsaṃto gehaṃ svaṃ svaṃ yayurmudā 66| ekaḥ ṣaṣṭhaścaraḥ kārugehānālokya tatra ha | jagāma śrotukāmo'sau yaśo rājño mahīpateḥ 67| rajakaḥ krodhasaṃspṛṣṭo bhāryāmanyagṛhoṣitām | padā saṃtāḍayāmāsa dhikkurvañchoṇanetravān 68| gaccha tvaṃ madgṛhāttasya gehaṃ yatroṣitā dinam | nāhaṃ gṛhṇāmi bhavatīṃ duṣṭāṃ vacanalaṃghinīm 69| tadāsya mātā provāca mā tyajaināṃ gṛhāgatām | aparādhena rahitāṃ duṣṭakarmavivarjitām 70| mātaraṃ pratyuvācātha rajakaḥ krodhasaṃyutaḥ | nāhaṃ rāmaiva preṣṭhāṃ gṛhṇāmyanyagṛhoṣitām 71| sa rājā yatkarotyeva tatsarvaṃ nītimadbhavet | ahaṃ gṛhṇāmi no bhāryāṃ paraveśmani saṃsthitām 72| punaḥpunaruvācedaṃ nāhaṃ rāmo mahīśvaraḥ | yaḥ parasya gṛhe saṃsthāṃ jānakīṃ vai rarakṣa saḥ 73| iti vākyaṃ samāśrutya cāraḥ krodhapariplutaḥ | khaḍgaṃ gṛhītvā svakare taṃ haṃtuṃ vidadhe manaḥ 74| sa rāmoktaṃ ca sasmāra na vadhyaḥ kopi me janaḥ | iti jñātvā saroṣaṃ tu saṃjahāra mahāmanāḥ 75| tadā śrutvā suduḥkhārtaḥ paṃcacārā yataḥ sthitāḥ | tato gataḥ prakupito niḥśvasanmuhurucchvasan 76| te vai parasparaṃ tatra militāstu samabruvan | svaśrutaṃ rāmacaritaṃ sarvalokaikapūjitam 77| te tadbhāṣitamākarṇya parasparamamaṃtrayan | na vācyaṃ raghunāthāyā vācyaṃ duṣṭajanoditam 78| iti saṃmaṃtrya te gehaṃ gatvā suṣupurutsukāḥ | prātā rājñe praśaṃsāma iti buddhyā vyavasthitāḥ 79| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṇḍe śeṣavātsyāyanasaṃvāde rāmāśvamedhe cāranirīkṣaṇaṃnāma paṃcapaṃcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ 55|
English translation
Vyāsa said :
1. Having heard this charming account of the powerful Lava the sage entertaining a doubt again asked the serpent (i.e. Śeṣa ) having a thousand faces.
Śrī Vātsyāyana said :
2-3. Formerly you had said that Rāma due to the censure by a washerman and ardently longing for fame abandoned Sītā all alone in the forest. Where were the two sons born to Jānakī (i,e. Sītā)? Where did they learn archery? How did they learn the science which enabled them to take away the horse of Rāma?
Vyāsa said :
4. Hearing these words of the sage, the very intelligent serpent Śeṣa praised the brāhmaṇa and narrated to him the wonderful deeds of Rāma.
Śeṣa said :
5-8. Protecting according to dharma a part of the earth, along with his wife Rāma ruled in Ayodhyā with his brothers. Sītā retained his semen (i.e. Sītā conceived), and five months had passed (i.e. her pregnancy was five months old). The queen shone very much like the triad (of Vedas ) holding the Supreme Being. Some time Rāma asked (Sītā) the daughter of Videha (king Janaka ): “What is your cherished wish? I shall fulfil it.” The chaste lady, getting abashed, was asked in private only. With her words faltering through abashment she said these nectar(-like) words to Rāma:
Sītā said :
9-17. By your grace I have enjoyed everything and shall enjoy good (things). O dear one, no cherished wish remains in my mind. She whose lord is like you whose good feet are praised by gods, has all excellent (things). Nothing remains (to be secured). You are asking with persistence about the cherished wish present in my mind. (So) O you charming lord, I tell the truth to you. O lord, a long time has passed since I saw the chaste ladies like Lopāmudrā . O lord, my mind becomes eager to see those beautiful ladies. With you I obtained the kingdom and lived happily. I am ungrateful (as I have not seen them). Desirous of saluting them some time, I, having gone (to them) shall honour them, the treasures of penance, with garments etc. I shall also offer them bright gems and ornaments, so that the chaste ladies gratified by me will give me pleasant blessings. This, O dear one, is the longing in my mind. (Please) fulfil it.
Hearing these very charming words of Sītā, Rāmacandra who was very much pleased, said to his beloved (i.e. Sītā): “O Jānakī, you are lucky. In the morning you will go, and having seen those ladies with penance as their wealth, (and thus) having made yourself blessed, you will come back near (i.e. to) me.”
18-26. Hearing these words of Rāma she was extremely pleased. (She thought): ‘In the morning I shall certainly see the female-ascetics.’ The spies who were sent to ascertain his fame that was reported (by others) slowly went to him at night. Everyday listening to very charming stories about Rāma, they had that day gone to the large house of a rich man. Seeing a lamp burning and noticing (i.e. hearing) human voices, the spies remained there for a moment, and heard the great glory (of Rāma). There a certain beautiful lady pleased with her child sucking her breasts, said these pleasing words to it: “O son, drink (i.e. suck) as much plea sing milk of me as you like. O my son, later it will be difficult for you to have it. Rāma, shining like the petals of a blue lotus, is the lord of this city. Therefore, the people living in the city will not be reborn. How can there be the drinking (i.e. sucking) of milk in the absence of birth? Therefore, thinking in your mind that the milk is (later) difficult to obtain, drink (suck) it repeatedly. For them also who will remember Śrī Rāma , meditate upon and talk about him, there will certainly be no drinking (i.e. sucking) of (the mother’s) milk (i.e. they will not be reborn).”
27-38. Hearing these words—the nectar of Rāma’s glory, they being delighted went to another house—a great house of a fortunate person. Just then, another spy, thinking that it was a pleasant house, remained there for a moment with a desire to listen to Rāma’s glory. There a beautiful lady, chewing tāmbūla , affectionately offered it to her husband, seated on a couch. She, abounding in beauty, fumigated with camphor and agaru (sandal), seeing her husband, and with her eyes moving said with her bangles making a jingling sound to him having the form of Cupid: “O lord, you appear to me like the lord of Raghu (family) having an extremely handsome and very delicate body, a pair of eyes with their corners resembling lotuses, an attractive and expansive chest, and arms with armlets—you are to me actually Rāma.” He, handsome like Cupid, having heard these very pleasant words of his wife, dancing (i.e. moving) the corners of his eyes, said: “Listen, O darling, you, a chaste lady, have spoken very pleasant (words). It is proper for the loyal wives that their husbands are just like Rāma to them; but (see), where am ī, the luckless one, and where is that great, fortunate Rama ? (i.e. there is a great disparity between Rāma and me). Where am I, small like an insect, and where (is Rāma) worshipped by gods like Brahmā ? Where is the fire-fly, the gem of the sky, and where is the low moth? Where is the lord of beasts (i.e. the lion), the enemy of the elephants, and where is the dull-witted hare? Where is that respectable Gaṅgā , and where is the water on the street flowing the wrong way? Where is Meru , the abode of the gods, and where is a small heap of the guñjā fruits? Similarly, where am I, and where is Rāma, by (the touch of) the dust of whose feet the lady who was reduced to a stone, became in a moment one having the form that enticed (even) Brahmā?”
39-45. With passion produced in her, taken away by love for him, and making her eye-brows like bows dance (i.e. knitting her eye-brows), she embraced her husband who was speaking these words. Hearing words like these, the spy went to another house. Just then another spy heard words full of glory. Some lady making ready all (things) like a bed with flowers (strewn over it), sandal with camphor, fit for love-making, said (these) words to her husband: “O my lord, lie on the bed with flowers (strewn over it) and fit for enjoyment, also have smearing with sandal etc., so also enjoyment in various ways. People like you alone deserve enjoyment, and not those who are averse to Rāma. Enjoy properly everything that is obtained through Rāma's grace. A loving (wife) like me, sandal removing torment, a bed with flowers arranged over it—all (this) is due to Rāma’s grace. Those men who will not worship Rāma are deprived of garments, enjoyments etc. and are not able to fill their belly (i.e. to maintain themselves).”
46-51. To the lady who was speaking like this, the husband who was delighted, said: “You are telling the truth; I have everything due to the grace of Rāma.” The spy, hearing about Rāma’s glory, went (away). Just then a spy, remaining in someone else’s house, heard (these) words. A certain lady engaged in playing upon the lute with her husband on the bed, to whom her husband was singing the glory of Rāma, said to her husband: “O lord, we in whose city lord Śrī Rāma himself is the king and protects his subjects like his own sons, are most fortunate. The great feat, difficult to perform, which he performed, is not easy to do: He controlled the ocean and built a bridge over it; he having killed his enemy Rāvaṇa , after having shattered it with (the help of) the monkeys, brought (back) Sītā. Thus he performed a great act.”
52-56. Hearing this speech containing very sweet words, the husband smiled, and again said these words to her: “O innocent, beautiful lady, this is not a great feat of Rāmacandra, viz. the killing of Rāvaṇa etc. or controlling the ocean etc. He, the great one, requested by Brahmā etc. easily came (down) to the earth and performed good deeds which remove great sins. Do not look upon Rāma who gives joy to Kauśalyā , as a human being. He who sportively obtained humanhood (i.e. was born as a human being), creates, protects and destroys the world. We are lucky that we see Rāma’s lotus-like face which is difficult to be seen by gods like Brahma .”
57-67. He heard the deeds of Rāmacandra, giving delight to the ears. The spy that stood at the door repeatedly heard such words. Another spy having gone to another house stood there to listen to Hari ’s (i.e. Rāma’s) glory. There also he heard the splendid glory of Śrī Rāmabhadra . A very beautiful lady, playing with dice with her husband, as it were causing her bangles to dance, spoke (these) sweet words: “O dear one, I have speedily won everything; what will you, having a mind to win, do (now)?” Saying these words in jest she joyfully embraced her husband. The husband said: “O you of a beautiful body, O you very charming one, I alone have won. I, who always remember Rāma, do not have a defeat anywhere. Remembering Rāma, the charming one, I shall just now vanquish you, as formerly the gods after remembering him, vanquished Diti ’s sons (i.e. the demons) in a moment.” Saying so he turned over the dice. Just then he won; being delighted he said these words: “What I said has come true; I have defeated you, O young lady. One who remembers Rāma has never any fear from one’s enemy.” Speaking like this they who longed for each other, tightly embraced each other. Then the spy went home. Thus the five great spies, having heard the glory of the king and praising one another gladly went home. One, the sixth spy, having seen the houses of artisans, went there desiring to hear (about) the glory of the king, the lord of the earth.
68-73. A washerman, with his eyes red due to anger and full of anger kicked his wife who had stayed at another’s house, and despised her: “From my house, go to the house of him where you stayed for a day. I shall not accept you who violate my commands.” Then his mother said to him: “Do not abandon her who has come (back) to (our) house, who has not committed any fault, and who is free from bad acts.” The angry washerman said to his mother: “I am not as great as Rāma as to accept (my wife) who stayed in another’s house. Whatever that king does, might by lawful; (but) I will not accept my wife who has stayed in another’s house.” He again and again said these words: “I am not king Rāma who protected Sītā that had stayed in another’s house.”
74-79. Having heard these words, the spy was full of anger. He. took a sword in his hand and decided tokill him (i.e. the washerman). He (then) recollected Rāma’s words: “None of my subjects should be killed.” Realising this, he, of a noble mind, wrathfully withdrew (his sword). On hearing (the washerman’s words), he was very much afflicted with grief, and being angry and breathing out and in repeatedly (i.e. repeatedly sighing) he went where the five spies stood. They met one another there, and told (one another) the deeds of Rāma honoured by all people without an exception, and heard by them. Having heard his words they told one another: “This censure uttered by a wicked man should not be reported to Raghunātha (i.e. Rāma).” Having thus spoken to one another, the eager ones went (home) and slept, after having mentally decided: ‘In the morning, we shall tell the king’.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43948, revision 335996 (2022-04-17T11:42:40Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365366.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.