37 shlokas
स विसृज्य ततो रामः पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम् । प्रविवेश महाबाहुरशोकवनिकां तदा ।। 7.42.1 ।।
sa visṛjya tato rāmaḥ puṣpakaṃ hemabhūṣitam | praviveśa mahābāhuraśokavanikāṃ tadā || 7.42.1 ||
Translation
Then Rama, the mighty-armed one, having dismissed the gold-adorned Pushpaka chariot, entered the Ashoka grove at that time.
चन्दनागुरुचूतैश्च तुङ्गकालेयकैरपि । देवदारुवनैश्चापि समन्तादुपशोभिताम् ।। 7.42.2 ।।
candanāgurucūtaiśca tuṅgakāleyakairapi | devadāruvanaiścāpi samantādupaśobhitām || 7.42.2 ||
Translation
It was beautified all around with sandal, aguru, and mango trees, with tall kaleyaka trees, and also with groves of deodar.
चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागमधूकपनसासनैः । शोभितां पारिजातैश्च विधूमज्वलनप्रभैः ।। 7.42.3 ।।
campakāśokapunnāgamadhūkapanasāsanaiḥ | śobhitāṃ pārijātaiśca vidhūmajvalanaprabhaiḥ || 7.42.3 ||
Translation
It was adorned with champaka, ashoka, punnaga, madhuka, jackfruit, and asana trees, and with parijata trees that shone like smokeless fire.
लोध्रनीपार्जुनैर्नागैः सप्तपर्णातिमुक्तकैः । मन्दारकदलीगुल्मलताजालसमावृताम् ।। 7.42.4 ।।
lodhranīpārjunairnāgaiḥ saptaparṇātimuktakaiḥ | mandārakadalīgulmalatājālasamāvṛtām || 7.42.4 ||
Translation
It was covered all over with lodhra, nipa, arjuna, naga, saptaparna, and atimuktaka trees, and with mandara trees, plantains, thickets, and a network of creepers.
प्रियङ्गुभिः कदम्बैश्च तथा च वकुलैरपि । जम्बूभिर्दाडिमैश्चैव कोविदारैश्च शोभिताम् ।। 7.42.5 ।।
priyaṅgubhiḥ kadambaiśca tathā ca vakulairapi | jambūbhirdāḍimaiścaiva kovidāraiśca śobhitām || 7.42.5 ||
Translation
It was made beautiful by priyangu, kadamba, and likewise vakula trees, by jambu and pomegranate trees, and by kovidara trees.
सर्वदा कुसुमै रम्यैः फलवद्भिर्मनोरमैः । दिव्यगन्धरसोपेतैस्तरुणाङ्कुरपल्लवैः ।। 7.42.6 ।।
sarvadā kusumai ramyaiḥ phalavadbhirmanoramaiḥ | divyagandharasopetaistaruṇāṅkurapallavaiḥ || 7.42.6 ||
Translation
It was ever graced with lovely blossoms and delightful fruit-bearing trees, endowed with divine fragrance and flavor, and with tender shoots and sprouts.
तथैव तरुभिर्दिव्यैः शिल्पिभिः परिकल्पितैः । चारुपल्लवपुष्पाढ्यैर्मत्तभ्रमरसङ्कुलैः ।। 7.42.7 ।।
tathaiva tarubhirdivyaiḥ śilpibhiḥ parikalpitaiḥ | cārupallavapuṣpāḍhyairmattabhramarasaṅkulaiḥ || 7.42.7 ||
Translation
Likewise it was filled with divine trees fashioned by skilled craftsmen, rich with beautiful sprouts and flowers, and thronged with intoxicated bees.
कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च नानावर्णैश्च पक्षिभिः । शोभितां शतशश्चित्रां चूतवृक्षावतंसकैः ।। 7.42.8 ।।
kokilairbhṛṅgarājaiśca nānāvarṇaiśca pakṣibhiḥ | śobhitāṃ śataśaścitrāṃ cūtavṛkṣāvataṃsakaiḥ || 7.42.8 ||
Translation
It was beautified by cuckoos, by bhringaraja birds, and by birds of various hues, and rendered wondrous in hundreds of ways, with mango trees as its ornaments.
शातकुम्भनिभाः केचित्केचिदग्निशिखोपमाः । नीलाञ्जननिभाश्चान्ये भान्ति तत्रत्यपादपाः ।। 7.42.9 ।।
śātakumbhanibhāḥ kecitkecidagniśikhopamāḥ | nīlāñjananibhāścānye bhānti tatratyapādapāḥ || 7.42.9 ||
Translation
Some of the trees there gleamed like gold, some resembled flames of fire, and others shone like dark collyrium.
सुरभीणि च पुष्पाणि माल्यानि विविधानि च । दीर्घिका विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा ।। 7.42.10 ।।
surabhīṇi ca puṣpāṇi mālyāni vividhāni ca | dīrghikā vividhākārāḥ pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā || 7.42.10 ||
Translation
There were fragrant flowers and garlands of many kinds, and oblong ponds of various shapes filled with the finest water.
माणिक्यकृतसोपानाः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः । फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः ।। 7.42.11 ।।
māṇikyakṛtasopānāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ | phullapadmotpalavanāścakravākopaśobhitāḥ || 7.42.11 ||
Translation
They had steps made of rubies and pavements inlaid with crystal, with groves of full-blown lotuses and water-lilies, and were graced by chakravaka birds.
दात्यूहशुकसङ्घुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः । तरुभिः पुष्पवद्भिश्च तीरजैरुपशोभिताः ।। 7.42.12 ।।
dātyūhaśukasaṅghuṣṭā haṃsasārasanāditāḥ | tarubhiḥ puṣpavadbhiśca tīrajairupaśobhitāḥ || 7.42.12 ||
Translation
They resounded with the cries of datyuha birds and parrots, were made vocal by swans and saras cranes, and were adorned by flowering trees growing upon their banks.
प्राकारैर्विविधाकारैः शोभिताश्च शिलातलैः । तत्रैव च वनोद्देशे वैडूर्यमणिसन्निभैः ।। 7.42.13 ।।
prākārairvividhākāraiḥ śobhitāśca śilātalaiḥ | tatraiva ca vanoddeśe vaiḍūryamaṇisannibhaiḥ || 7.42.13 ||
Translation
They were beautified by enclosing walls of various forms and by slabs of stone; and there too, in that part of the grove, by stones resembling cat's-eye gems.
शाद्वलैः परमोपेतां पुष्पितद्रुमकाननाम् । तत्र सङ्घर्षजातानां वृक्षाणां पुष्पशालिनाम् ।। 7.42.14 ।।
śādvalaiḥ paramopetāṃ puṣpitadrumakānanām | tatra saṅgharṣajātānāṃ vṛkṣāṇāṃ puṣpaśālinām || 7.42.14 ||
Translation
It was a forest abundantly covered with green lawns and groves of flowering trees; there, among the blossom-laden trees that had grown up close together as if in mutual rivalry,
प्रस्तराः पुष्पशबला नभस्तारागणैरिव । नन्दनं हि यथेन्द्रस्य ब्राह्मं चैत्ररथं यथा ।। 7.42.15 ।।
prastarāḥ puṣpaśabalā nabhastārāgaṇairiva | nandanaṃ hi yathendrasya brāhmaṃ caitrarathaṃ yathā | tathābhūtaṃ hi rāmasya kānanaṃ sanniveśanam || 7.42.15 ||
Translation
the flat rocks were dappled with flowers, like the host of stars in the sky. Even as Indra's Nandana grove and Brahma's Chaitraratha garden, even such was that grove, the dwelling-place of Rama.
तथाभूतं हि रामस्य काननं सन्निवेशनम् । बह्वासनगृहोपेतां लतागृहसमावृताम् ।। 7.42.16 ।।
bahvāsanagṛhopetāṃ latāgṛhasamāvṛtām | aśokavanikāṃ sphītāṃ praviśya raghunandanaḥ || 7.42.16 ||
Translation
Entering that flourishing Ashoka grove, furnished with many seat-pavilions and enclosed all about with bowers of creepers, Raghunandana went within.
अशोकवनिकां स्फीतां प्रविश्य रघुनन्दनः । आसने च शुभाकारे पुष्पप्रकरभूषिते ।। 7.42.17 ।।
āsane ca śubhākāre puṣpaprakarabhūṣite | kuśāstaraṇasaṃstīrṇe rāmaḥ sanniṣasāda ha || 7.42.17 ||
Translation
Upon a seat of lovely form, adorned with heaps of flowers and spread over with a covering of kusha grass, Rama sat down.
कुशास्तरणसंस्तीर्णे रामः सन्निषसाद ह । सीतामादायं हस्तेन मधुमैरेयकं शुचि ।। 7.42.18 ।।
sītāmādāyaṃ hastena madhumaireyakaṃ śuci | pāyayāmāsa kākutsthaḥ śacīmiva purandaraḥ || 7.42.18 ||
Translation
Taking Sita by the hand, Kakutstha made her drink pure, sweet maireyaka wine, as Purandara gives drink to Shachi.
पाययामास काकुत्स्थः शचीमिव पुरन्दरः । मांसानि च समृष्टानि फलानि विविधानि च ।। 7.42.19 ।।
māṃsāni ca samṛṣṭāni phalāni vividhāni ca | rāmasyābhyavahārārthaṃ kiṅkarāstūrṇamāharan || 7.42.19 ||
Translation
And well-dressed meats and various fruits the attendants quickly brought for Rama's refreshment.
रामस्याभ्यवहारार्थं किङ्करास्तूर्णमाहरन्उ । उपानृत्यंश्च राजानं नृत्यगीतविशारदाः ।। 7.42.20 ।।
upānṛtyaṃśca rājānaṃ nṛtyagītaviśāradāḥ | bālāśca rūpavatyaśca striyaḥ pānavaśānugāḥ || 7.42.20 ||
Translation
And dancers and singers skilled in their arts danced before the king; and young and beautiful women, given over to drink,
बालाश्च रूपवत्यश्च स्त्रियः पानवशानुगाः । मनोभिरामा रामास्ता रामो रमयतां वरः ।। 7.42.21 ।।
manobhirāmā rāmāstā rāmo ramayatāṃ varaḥ | ramayāmāsa dharmātmā nityaṃ paramabhūṣitaḥ || 7.42.21 ||
Translation
those lovely women who delight the heart — with them Rama, the best of those who give delight, the righteous one, ever splendidly adorned, made merry.
उपानृत्यन्त काकुत्स्थं नृत्यगीतविशारदाः । मनोभिरामा रामास्ता रामो रमयतां वरः ।। 7.42.22 ।।
sa tayā sītayā sārdhamāsīno virarāja ha | arundhatyā sahāsīno vasiṣṭha iva tejasā || 7.42.22 ||
Translation
Seated together with that Sita, he shone resplendent, like Vasishtha seated beside Arundhati in his radiance.
रमयामास धर्मात्मा नित्यं परमभूषितः । स तया सीतया सार्धमासीनो विरराज ह ।। 7.42.23 ।।
evaṃ rāmo mudā yuktaḥ sītāṃ surasutopamām | ramayāmāsa vaidehīmahanyahani devavat || 7.42.23 ||
Translation
Thus Rama, filled with joy, delighted day after day, like a god, in Vaidehi, who resembled a daughter of the gods.
अरुन्धत्या सहासीनो वसिष्ठ इव तेजसा । एवं रामो मुदा युक्तः सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् ।। 7.42.24 ।।
tathā tayorviharatoḥ sītārāghavayościram | atyakrāmacchubhaḥ kālaḥ śaiśiro bhogadaḥ sadā || 7.42.24 ||
Translation
As the two of them, Sita and Raghava, sported together for a long time, the auspicious and ever-pleasure-giving cool season slipped by.
रमयामास वैदेहीमहन्यहनि देववत्त । था तयोर्विहरतोः सीताराघवयोश्चिरम् ।। 7.42.25 ।।
daśavarṣasahasrāṇi gatāni sumahātmanoḥ | prāptayorvividhānbhogānatītaḥ śiśirāgamaḥ || 7.42.25 ||
Translation
For those two great-souled ones, who enjoyed manifold pleasures, ten thousand years passed away, and the coming of the cool season went by.
अत्यक्रामच्छुभः कालः शैशिरो भोगदः सदा । प्राप्तयोर्विविधान्भोगानतीतः शिशिरागमः ।। 7.42.26 ।।
pūrvāhṇe dharmakāryāṇi kṛtvā dharmeṇa dharmavit | śeṣaṃ divasabhāgārdhamantaḥpuragato 'bhavat || 7.42.26 ||
Translation
In the forenoon, knowing the law and acting by the law, he performed his religious duties; the remaining half of the day's portion he spent in the inner apartments.
पूर्वाह्णे धर्मकार्याणि कृत्वा धर्मेण धर्मवित् । शेषं दिवसभागार्धमन्तःपुरगतो ऽभवत् ।। 7.42.27 ।।
sītāpi devakāryāṇi kṛtvā paurvāhṇikāni vai | śvaśrūṇāmakarotpūjāṃ sarvāsāmaviśeṣataḥ || 7.42.27 ||
Translation
Sita too, having performed her forenoon devotions to the gods, paid homage to all her mothers-in-law without distinction.
सीतापि देवकार्याणि कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकानि वै । श्वश्रूणामकरोत्पूजां सर्वासामविशेषतः ।। 7.42.28 ।।
abhyagacchattato rāmaṃ vicitrābharaṇāmbarā | triviṣṭape sahasrākṣamupaviṣṭaṃ yathā śacī || 7.42.28 ||
Translation
Then, clad in wondrous ornaments and garments, she went to Rama, as Shachi goes to the thousand-eyed Indra seated in heaven.
अभ्यगच्छत्ततो रामं विचित्राभरणाम्बरा । त्रिविष्टपे सहस्राक्षमुपविष्टं यथा शची ।। 7.42.29 ।।
dṛṣṭvā tu rāghavaḥ patnīṃ kalyāṇena samanvitām | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe sādhu sādhviti cābravīt || 7.42.29 ||
Translation
And Raghava, beholding his wife endowed with such loveliness, felt matchless delight and said, 'Well done, well done!'
दृष्ट्वा तु राघवः पत्नीं कल्याणेन समन्विताम् । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे साधु साध्विति चाब्रवीत् ।। 7.42.30 ।।
abravīcca varārohāṃ sītāṃ surasutopamām | apatyalābho vaidehi tvayi me samupasthitaḥ || 7.42.30 ||
Translation
And he spoke to Sita of the fair hips, who resembled a daughter of the gods: 'O Vaidehi, the gaining of offspring through you has come near to me.'
अब्रवीच्च वरारोहां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् । अपत्यलाभो वैदेहि त्वयि मे समुपस्थितः ।। 7.42.31 ।।
kimicchasi varārohe kāmaḥ kiṃ kriyatāṃ tava || 7.42.31 ||
Translation
'What do you desire, O fair-hipped one? What wish of yours shall be fulfilled?'
किमिच्छसि वरारोहे कामः किं क्रियतां तव । स्मितं कृत्वा तु वैदेही रामं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। 7.42.32 ।।
smitaṃ kṛtvā tu vaidehī rāmaṃ vākyamathābravīt | tapovanāni puṇyāni draṣṭumicchāmi rāghava || 7.42.32 ||
Translation
Then Vaidehi, smiling, spoke these words to Rama: 'I wish, O Raghava, to behold the holy penance-groves,
तपोवनानि पुण्यानि द्रष्टुमिच्छामि राघव । गङ्गातीरोपविष्टानामृषीणामुग्रतेजसाम् ।। 7.42.33 ।।
gaṅgātīropaviṣṭānāmṛṣīṇāmugratejasām | phalamūlāśināṃ deva pādamūleṣu vartitum || 7.42.33 ||
Translation
and to dwell at the feet of the sages of fierce austerity who are seated upon the bank of the Ganga, living on fruits and roots, O lord.'
फलमूलाशिनां देव पादमूलेषु वर्तितुम् । एष मे परमः कामो यन्मूलफलभोजिनाम् ।। 7.42.34 ।।
eṣa me paramaḥ kāmo yanmūlaphalabhojinām | apyekarātraṃ kākutstha nivaseyaṃ tapovane || 7.42.34 ||
Translation
"O lord, to dwell at your feet among those who live on roots and fruits — this is my highest desire, that I, like those who eat roots and fruits,
अप्येकरात्रं काकुत्स्थ निवसेयं तपोवने । तथेति च प्रतिज्ञातं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । विस्रब्धा भव वैदेहि श्वो गमिष्यस्यसंशयम् ।। 7.42.35 ।।
tatheti ca pratijñātaṃ rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā | visrabdhā bhava vaidehi śvo gamiṣyasyasaṃśayam || 7.42.35 ||
Translation
might dwell even for a single night, O Kakutstha, in the penance-grove." And Rama, of unwearied deeds, gave his promise, saying, "So be it. Be at ease, O Vaidehi; tomorrow you shall go, without doubt."
एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थो मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् । मध्यकक्षान्तरं रामो निर्जगाम सुहृद्वृतः ।। 7.42.36 ।।
evamuktvā tu kākutstho maithilīṃ janakātmajām | madhyakakṣāntaraṃ rāmo nirjagāma suhṛdvṛtaḥ || 7.42.36 ||
Translation
Having spoken thus to Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, Rama, the descendant of Kakutstha, surrounded by his friends, went out into the middle court of the inner apartments.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।। 42 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe dvicatvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ || 42 ||
Translation
Thus ends the forty-second sarga in the venerable Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana, the first poem, composed by the seer Valmiki.