Chapter 118

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

सा तु एवम् उक्ता वैदेही अनसूयान् असूयया
प्रतिपूज्य वचो मन्दम् प्रवक्तुम् उपचक्रमे

sā tu evam uktā vaidehī anasūyān asūyayā
pratipūjya vaco mandam pravaktum upacakrame

SYNONYMS

sā vaidehī: that Seetha | anasūyā: without any jealousy | evam: thus | uktā: spoken | anasūyayā: by Anasuya | pratipūjya: with full reverence to | vacaḥ: her word | upacakrame: and began | pravaktum: to speak | mandam: gently (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Anasuya having spoken thus, Seetha without any jealousy, full of reverence for her, addressed her gently as follows:

VERSE 2

न एतद् आश्चर्यम् आर्याया यन् माम् त्वम् अनुभाषसे
विदितम् तु मम अप्य् एतद् यथा नार्याः पतिर् गुरुः

na etad āścaryam āryāyā yan mām tvam anubhāṣase
viditam tu mama apy etad yathā nāryāḥ patir guruḥ

SYNONYMS

na: It is not | āścaryan: a surprise | yat tvam: that you | āryāyāḥ: a venerable woman like you | abhibhāṣate: talk | mām: to me | etat: this acclamation | viditam tu: It is known | mamāpi: to me too | yathā: how | patiḥ: a husband | guruḥ: is a respectable person | nāryāḥ: for a woman. |

TRANSLATION

"It is not a surprise that a venerable woman like a you, talk to me like this, for, I know well that a husband is a respectable person for a woman."

VERSE 3

यद्य् अप्य् एष भवेद् भर्ता मम आर्ये वृत्त वर्जितः
अद्वैधम् उपवर्तव्यः तथा अप्य् एष मया भवेत्

yady apy eṣa bhaved bhartā mama ārye vṛtta varjitaḥ
advaidham upavartavyaḥ tathā apy eṣa mayā bhavet

SYNONYMS

ārye: O | yadyapi: even if | eṣaḥ: he | mama bhartā: my husband | bhavet: be | vṛtta arjitaḥ: without fortune | tathāpi: even the | advaidham: should unhesitatingly | upacartavyaḥ: be obeyed | mayā: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"O, venerable woman! Even if my husband be without fortune, he should unhesitatingly be obeyed by me."

VERSE 4

किम् पुनर् यो गुण श्लाघ्यः सानुक्रोशो जित इन्द्रियः
स्थिर अनुरागो धर्म आत्मा मातृ वर्ती पितृ प्रियः

kim punar yo guṇa ślāghyaḥ sānukrośo jita indriyaḥ
sthira anurāgo dharma ātmā mātṛ vartī pitṛ priyaḥ

SYNONYMS

kim punaḥ: how much more | yaḥ: if he be | gunaḥ ślāghyaḥ: renowned for his virtues | sāmkrośaḥ: compassionate | jitendriyaḥ: master of my heart | sthirānurāgaḥ: who is ever affectionate | dharmātmā: a religious person | priyaḥ: and manifests the tenderness | mātṛvat: of a mother | pitṛvat: and a father (to me). |

TRANSLATION

"How much more, if he be renowned for his virtues, compassionate, master of my heart, who is ever affectionate, a religious person, manifests the tenderness of a mother and a father to me."

VERSE 5

याम् वृत्तिम् वर्तते रामः कौसल्यायाम् महा बलः
ताम् एव नृप नारीणाम् अन्यासाम् अपि वर्तते

yām vṛttim vartate rāmaḥ kausalyāyām mahā balaḥ
tām eva nṛpa nārīṇām anyāsām api vartate

SYNONYMS

mahābalaḥ: the exceedingly strong | rāmaḥ: Rama | vartate: bears | tāmeva: himself | a nyāsām: to all other | nṛpanārīṇāmapi: Queens | yām vartate: as he exercises | vṛttim: his behaviour | kausalyāyām: towards Kausalya. |

TRANSLATION

The exceedingly strong Rama bears himself to all other Queens, as he exercises his behaviour towards his mother, Kausalya."

VERSE 6

सकृद् दृष्टासु अपि स्त्रीषु नृपेण नृप वत्सलः
मातृवद् वर्तते वीरो मानम् उत्सृज्य धर्मवित्

sakṛd dṛṣṭāsu api strīṣu nṛpeṇa nṛpa vatsalaḥ
mātṛvad vartate vīro mānam utsṛjya dharmavit

SYNONYMS

vīraḥ: the valiant Rama | nṛpavatsalaḥ: who has affection towards Dasaratha | dharmavit: and who knows righteousness | vartate: behaves | mātṛvat: like with a mother | strīṣvapi: towards even the women | dṛṣṭāsu: who were seen | nṛpaṇa: by Dasaratha | sakṛt: even once | utsṛjya: free from | mānam: all sense of importance. |

TRANSLATION

"The valiant and pious Rama who is devoted to Dasartha and free from all sense of importance treats all those women as his mothers on whom Dasaratha has even once bestowed a single glance."

VERSE 7

आगग्च्छन्त्याः च विजनम् वनम् एवम् भय आवहम्
समाहितम् हि मे श्वश्र्वा हृदये यत् स्थितम् महत्

āgagcchantyāḥ ca vijanam vanam evam bhaya āvaham
samāhitam hi me śvaśrvā hṛdaye yat sthitam mahat

SYNONYMS

āgacchantyāḥ: while departing | evam: thus | bhayāvaham: for a fearful | vijanam: and lonely | vanam: forest | dhṛtam: I am hR^idaye = in my heart | tat: that | mahat: great message | samāhitam: imparted | me: to me | śvaśrā: by my mother-in-law. |

TRANSLATION

"While departing for the lonely and fearful forest, my mother-in-law imparted a great message to me, which I have inscribed in my heart."

VERSE 8

प्राणि प्रदान काले च यत् पुरा तु अग्नि सम्निधौ
अनुशिष्टा जनन्या अस्मि वाक्यम् तद् अपि मे धृतम्

prāṇi pradāna kāle ca yat purā tu agni samnidhau
anuśiṣṭā jananyā asmi vākyam tad api me dhṛtam

SYNONYMS

purā: earlier | pāṇiprādāna kāle: at the time of my marriage | agnisannidhau: in the vicinity of a fire | yat: which | vākyam: words | asmi: I was | anuśiṣṭā: taught | jananyā: by my mother | tadapi: those words dhR^itam = are detained | me: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"What my mother taught me when witnessed by the fire, earlier at the time of my marriage with Rama, I shall always remember them."

VERSE 9

नवी कृतम् तु तत् सर्वम् वाक्यैः ते धर्म चारिणि
पति शुश्रूषणान् नार्याः तपो न अन्यद् विधीयते

navī kṛtam tu tat sarvam vākyaiḥ te dharma cāriṇi
pati śuśrūṣaṇān nāryāḥ tapo na anyad vidhīyate

SYNONYMS

dharma cāriṇi: O | te vākyaiḥ: by your words | tat sarvam: all that | navīkṛtam: is being renewed | anyat: other than | patiśuśrūṣaṇāt: obedience to one's husband | na tapaḥ: no austerity | vidhīyate: is decreed | māryāḥ: for a woman. |

TRANSLATION

"O, virtuous woman! By your words, all that is being renewed. No austerity, other than obedience to one's husband is decreed for a woman."

VERSE 10

सावित्री पति शुश्रूषाम् कृत्वा स्वर्गे महीयते

sāvitrī pati śuśrūṣām kṛtvā svarge mahīyate

SYNONYMS

sāvitrī: Savitri* | mahīyate: is highly honoured | svarge: in heaven | kṛtvā: for having done | patiśuśrūṣām: service to her lord | tvam ca: you too | tathā vṛthiḥ: having such a conduct | yātā: will proceed | divam: to heaven | pati śuśrūṣayā: by obedience to your husband. |

TRANSLATION

Savitri* is now highly honoured in heaven, for having served her lord faithfully heaven, You too, having followed this, will proceed to heaven, in showing obedience to your husband."

PURPORT

SAvitri was the celebrated wife of Prince Satyavan.
VERSE 11

वरिष्ठा सर्व नारीणाम् एषा च दिवि देवता
रोहिणी च विना चन्द्रम् मुहूर्तम् अपि दृश्यते

variṣṭhā sarva nārīṇām eṣā ca divi devatā
rohiṇī ca vinā candram muhūrtam api dṛśyate

SYNONYMS

eṣā rohiṇī: This goddess Rohini | variṣṭhā: the excellent | sarva narīṇām: among all the women | na dṛśyate: is not seen | candram vinā: without the moon | muhūrtamapi: even for a moment | divi: in the sky. |

TRANSLATION

"This goddess Rohini, the excellent among all women, is not seen without the moon even for a single moment in the sky."

VERSE 12

एवम् विधाः च प्रवराः स्त्रियो भर्तृ दृढ व्रताः
देव लोके महीयन्ते पुण्येन स्वेन कर्मणा

evam vidhāḥ ca pravarāḥ striyo bhartṛ dṛḍha vratāḥ
deva loke mahīyante puṇyena svena karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

evam vidhāḥ: such | pravarāḥ: excellent | striyaḥ: women | bhartṛdriḍha vratāḥ: devoted to their husbands | svena: by their own | puṇyena: meritorious | karmaṇā: deed | mahīyante: are highly honoured | devaloke: in heaven. |

TRANSLATION

"Such excellent women, devoted to their husbands, and by their meritorious deeds, are highly honoured in heaven."

VERSE 13

ततो अनसूया सम्हृष्टा श्रुत्वा उक्तम् सीतया वचः
शिरस्य् आघ्राय च उवाच मैथिलीम् हर्षयन्त्य् उत

tato anasūyā samhṛṣṭā śrutvā uktam sītayā vacaḥ
śirasy āghrāya ca uvāca maithilīm harṣayanty uta

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | śrutvā: hearing | vacaḥ: the words | uktam: spoken | sītayā: by Seetha | anasūyā: Anasuya | samhṛṣṭā: was very much pleased | āghrāya: kissed on | śirasi: the head | maithilīm: of Seetha | uvāca: and spoke | harṣayantī: delightfully (as follows) |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of Seetha, Anasuya was very much pleased, kissed on Seetha's forehead and spoke delightfully (as follows)

VERSE 14

नियमैर् विविधैर् आप्तम् तपो हि महद् अस्ति मे
तत् संश्रित्य बलम् सीते चन्दये त्वाम् शुचि व्रते

niyamair vividhair āptam tapo hi mahad asti me
tat saṃśritya balam sīte candaye tvām śuci vrate

SYNONYMS

sīte: O | śuci smite: with a bright smile! | asti hi: there is indeed | mahat: a great | tapaḥ: merit | āptam: acquired | me: by me | vividhaiḥ: in virtue of my various | niyamaiḥ: pious observances | samśritya: taking shelter | tat balam: of that power | chandaye: I wish to confer a boon | tvām: on you. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Seetha with a bright smile! There is a great merit acquired by me in virtue of my various pious observances. Through that power, I wish to confer a boon on you."

VERSE 15

उपपन्नम् च युक्तम् च वचनम् तव मैथिलि
प्रीता च अस्म्य् उचितम् किम् ते करवाणि ब्रवीह्यहम्

upapannam ca yuktam ca vacanam tava maithili
prītā ca asmy ucitam kim te karavāṇi bravīhyaham

SYNONYMS

maithili: O | tava racanam: your words | upapannam: are suited for the occasion | manojñamca: and are charming too | asmi: I am | prītā: satisfied | bravīhi: tell | me: me | kim: what | aham karavāṇi: I may do | te: for you. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Seetha! Your words are suitable for the occasion and are charming too. I am satisfied. Tell me what good I may do for you."

VERSE 16

तस्यास्तद्वचनम् श्रुत्वा विस्मिता मन्दविस्मया
कृतम् इत्य् अब्रवीत् सीता तपो बल समन्विताम्

tasyāstadvacanam śrutvā vismitā mandavismayā
kṛtam ity abravīt sītā tapo bala samanvitām

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | tadvacanam: those words | tasyāḥ: of Anasuya | sītā: Seetha | vismitā: was surprised | mandavismayā: and with gentle smile | abravīt: spoke | tapobala samanvitam: to Anasuya who was richly endowed with the power of askesis | (as follovs): kṛtamiti: "Everything stands fulfilled (by your grace)." |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those words of Anasuya, Seetha was surprised and with a gentle smile spoke to her, who was richly endowed with the power of askesis, saying; "Everything stands fulfilled (by your grace).

VERSE 17

सा तु एवम् उक्ता धर्मज्ना तया प्रीततरा अभवत्
सफलम् च प्रहर्षम् ते हन्त सीते करोम्यहम्

sā tu evam uktā dharmajnā tayā prītatarā abhavat
saphalam ca praharṣam te hanta sīte karomyaham

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktā: spoken | tayā: by that Seetha | : that Anasuya | dharmajṇā: the pious minded | abhavat: became | prīta tarā: more delighted | sīte: O | hanta: Alas! | aham: I | karomi: will create | praharṣam: a great joy | te: for you | saphalam: which will be to your advantage. |

TRANSLATION

Thus spoken by Seetha, the pious-minded Anasuya became more delighted and said: "O, Seetha! Alas! I will create a great joy for you, which will be to your advantage."

VERSE 18

इदम् दिव्यम् वरम् माल्यम् वस्त्रम् आभरणानि च
अन्ग रागम् च वैदेहि महा अर्हम् अनुलेपनम्

idam divyam varam mālyam vastram ābharaṇāni ca
anga rāgam ca vaidehi mahā arham anulepanam

SYNONYMS

19| sīte: O | vaidehi: the daughter of Videha kingdom! | idam: these are all | divyam: divine | varam: gifts | mālyam: a garland | vastram: apparel | ābharaṇānica: jewels | aṅga rāgamca: scented cosmetic | mahārham: and a rare | anulepanamca: cream | dattam: given | mayā: by me | śobhayet: to adorn | tava: your | gātrāṇi: limbs | nityameva: It wll be ever | anurūpam: worthy of you | bhaviṣyati: and will remain | asamkliṣṭam: intact (even after constant use). |

TRANSLATION

"O, Seetha, the daughter of Videha kingdom! Here are divine gifts: a garland, an apparel, jewels, a scented cosmetic and rare body-cream. These are all given by me to adorn your limbs. They will be ever worthy of your and will remain in tact (even after constant use)."

VERSE 20

अन्ग रागेण दिव्येन लिप्त अन्गी जनक आत्मजे
शोभयिष्यामि भर्तारम् यथा श्रीर् विष्णुम् अव्ययम्

anga rāgeṇa divyena lipta angī janaka ātmaje
śobhayiṣyāmi bhartāram yathā śrīr viṣṇum avyayam

SYNONYMS

janakātmaje: O | ṣītha! liptāṅgī: your body | divyena: with this celestial | aṅgarāgeṇa: cosmetic | śobhayiṣyasi bhartāram: will cause yourhusabdn to look beautiful | yathā: as | śrīḥ: Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune and beauty) | avyayam: the imperishable | viṣṇum: Vishnu (the lord of preservation). |

TRANSLATION

"O, Seetha! Your body, anointed with these heavenly cosmetics, will cause your husband to look beautiful, as Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune and beauty) does the imperishable Vishnu (the Lord of Preservation)."

VERSE 21

सा वस्त्रम् अन्ग रागम् च भूषणानि स्रजः तथा
मैथिली प्रतिजग्राह प्रीति दानम् अनुत्तमम्

sā vastram anga rāgam ca bhūṣaṇāni srajaḥ tathā
maithilī pratijagrāha prīti dānam anuttamam

SYNONYMS

sā maithilī: that Seetha | pratijagrāha: accepted | vastram: the apparel | aṇgarāgam ca: the scented cosmetic | bhūṣaṇāni: the jewels | tathā: and | srajaḥ: the garlands | anuttamam: as unsurpassed priitidaanam = gifts of love. |

TRANSLATION

Seetha accepted the apparel, the scented cosmetic, the jewels and the garlands as unsurpassed gifts of love.

VERSE 22

प्रतिगृह्य च तत् सीता प्रीति दानम् यशस्विनी
श्लिष्ट अन्जलि पुटा धीरा समुपास्त तपो धनाम्

pratigṛhya ca tat sītā prīti dānam yaśasvinī
śliṣṭa anjali puṭā dhīrā samupāsta tapo dhanām

SYNONYMS

yaśasvinī: the illustrious | sītā: Seetha | pratigṛhya: having accepted | tat: those | prītidānam: gifts of love | śliṣṭājñalipuṭā: with joined palms | samupāsta: sat near | tapodhanām: that female ascetic. |

TRANSLATION

Having accepted those gifts of love, the illustrious Seetha with joined palms, sat near that female ascetic.

VERSE 23

तथा सीताम् उपासीनाम् अनसूया दृढ व्रता
वचनम् प्रष्टुम् आरेभे कांचिद् त्प्रियाम् कथामनु

tathā sītām upāsīnām anasūyā dṛḍha vratā
vacanam praṣṭum ārebhe kāṃcid tpriyām kathāmanu

SYNONYMS

praṣṭum: to inquire about | priyakathāmanu: a lovely tale | kāmcit: of once upon a time | anasūyā: Anasuya | dṛḍhavratā: who was firm in austerity | ārebhe: started (asking) | vacanam: (the following) words | sītām: to Seetha | upāsīnām: who was sitting near her | tathā: in that manner. |

TRANSLATION

To inquire about a lovely tale of once upon a time, Anasuya who was firm in austerity, started asking the following words to Seetha who was sitting near her in that manner.

VERSE 24

स्वयम् वरे किल प्राप्ता त्वम् अनेन यशस्विना
राघवेण इति मे सीते कथा श्रुतिम् उपागता

svayam vare kila prāptā tvam anena yaśasvinā
rāghaveṇa iti me sīte kathā śrutim upāgatā

SYNONYMS

sīte: O | ṣītha! kila: It is so said that | tvam: you | prāptā: were received as a wife | rāghaveṇa: by Rama | yaśasvinā: the illustrious man | svayamvare: through a process of your self-choosing | iti: this | kathā: report | upāgatā: has reached | me: my | śrutim: ear. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Seetha! It is so said that you were won by the illustrious Rama through a process of your self-choosing (svayamvara)*. This report has reached my ear."

PURPORT

*Svayamvara= the ceremony of self-choice, when a princess chooses her own consort from the royal suitors assembled, by placing a garland around his neck.
VERSE 25

ताम् कथाम् श्रोतुम् इग्च्छामि विस्तरेण च मैथिलि
यथा अनुभूतम् कार्त्स्न्येन तन् मे त्वम् वक्तुम् अर्हसि

tām kathām śrotum igcchāmi vistareṇa ca maithili
yathā anubhūtam kārtsnyena tan me tvam vaktum arhasi

SYNONYMS

maithili: O | icchāmi: I wish | śrotum: to hear | tām: that narrative | vistareṇa: in detail | tat: hence | tvam: you | arhasi: ought | vaktum: to tell | kārsnnyena: in full | yathānubhūtam: as you experience it. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Seetha! I wish to hear that narrative in detail. Hence, tell me that tale in full as you experienced it."

VERSE 26

एवम् उक्ता तु सा सीता ताम् ततो धर्म चारिणीम्
श्रूयताम् इति च उक्त्वा वै कथयाम् आस ताम् कथाम्

evam uktā tu sā sītā tām tato dharma cāriṇīm
śrūyatām iti ca uktvā vai kathayām āsa tām kathām

SYNONYMS

sā sītā: that Seetha | uktā: having been spoken | evam: thus | tataḥ: then | uktvā: said | iti śrūyatām: "Let this be heard" | kathayāmāsa: and narrated | tām kathām: that tale | vai: truly | tām: to that | dharmacāriṇīm: Anasuya = the virtuous woman. |

TRANSLATION

Then, Seetha obediently answered, saying "Hear me" and began to truly narrate that tale of Svayamvara to the virtuous woman, Anasuya."

VERSE 27

मिथिला अधिपतिर् वीरो जनको नाम धर्मवित्
क्षत्र धर्मण्य् अभिरतो न्यायतः शास्ति मेदिनीम्

mithilā adhipatir vīro janako nāma dharmavit
kṣatra dharmaṇy abhirato nyāyataḥ śāsti medinīm

SYNONYMS

mithilādhipatiḥ: A king of Mithila kingdom | janakonāma: named Janaka | vīraḥ: who was valiant | dharmavit: and knower of righteousness | abhirataḥ: was devoted to | kṣatra dharme: the duty of a Warrior class | śāsti: and was ruling | medinīm: the earth | nyātaḥ: in a fitting manner. |

TRANSLATION

"A king of Mithila kingdom, named Janaka who was valiant and a knower of righteousness, was devoted to the duty of his warrior class and was ruling the earth in a fitting manner."

VERSE 28

तस्य लान्गल हस्तस्य कर्षतः क्षेत्र मण्डलम्
अहम् किल उत्थिता भित्त्वा जगतीम् नृपतेः सुता

tasya lāngala hastasya karṣataḥ kṣetra maṇḍalam
aham kila utthitā bhittvā jagatīm nṛpateḥ sutā

SYNONYMS

tasya: (While) he | karṣataḥ: was furrowing kSetra maNDalam = a territory of land | lāṇgala hastasya: holding a plough in his hand | kila: it is so said that | aham: I | utthitā: came forth | bhitvā: splitting | jagatīm: the land | sutā: as a daughter | nṛpateḥ: of that king. |

TRANSLATION

"While he was furrowing a territory of land, holding a plough in his hand, it is so said that I came forth, splitting up the land, as a daughter of that king."

VERSE 29

स माम् दृष्ट्वा नर पतिर् मुष्टि विक्षेप तत् परः
पांशु गुण्ठित सर्व अन्गीम् विस्मितो जनको अभवत्

sa mām dṛṣṭvā nara patir muṣṭi vikṣepa tat paraḥ
pāṃśu guṇṭhita sarva angīm vismito janako abhavat

SYNONYMS

saḥ janakaḥ: that Janaka | narapatiḥ: the king | muṣṭi vikṣepa tatparaḥ: who was absorbed in scattering handfuls of seeds | abhavat: became | vismitaḥ: surprised | dṛṣṭvā: to see | mām: me | pā su guṇṭhita sarvāṇgī: with all my limbs covered with dust. |

TRANSLATION

"The king Janaka, who was absorbed in scattering handfuls of seeds was surprised to see me, with all my limbs covered with dust."

VERSE 30

अनपत्येन च स्नेहाद् अन्कम् आरोप्य च स्वयम्
मम इयम् तनया इत्य् उक्त्वा स्नेहो मयि निपातितः

anapatyena ca snehād ankam āropya ca svayam
mama iyam tanayā ity uktvā sneho mayi nipātitaḥ

SYNONYMS

āropya: placing me | svayam: himself | aṇkam: in his lap | sncāt: with affection | anapatyena: that childless king | uktvā: spoke | iti: thus | iyam: She | mama tanayā: is my daughter | snehaḥ: and his fondness | nipātitaḥ: got a place. |

TRANSLATION

"Placing me personally in his lap with affection, that childless king Janaka called one as his daughter, and was very fond of me since then."

VERSE 31

अन्तरिक्षे च वाग् उक्ता अप्रतिमा मानुषी किल
एवम् एतन् नर पते धर्मेण तनया तव

antarikṣe ca vāg uktā apratimā mānuṣī kila
evam etan nara pate dharmeṇa tanayā tava

SYNONYMS

kila: It is so said | vāk: A voice resembling that of a human being | antarikṣe: in the air above me | uktā: rang out | narapate: O | evam etat: let it be so | amānuṣī: this divine being | apratimā: without a match | tanayā: is a daughter | tava: to you | dharmayā: rightly. |

TRANSLATION

"It is said that voice resembling that of a human being in the air above me rang out, saying": "O, King! Let it be so. This divine child without a match is a daughter to you, rightly."

VERSE 32

ततः प्रहृष्टो धर्म आत्मा पिता मे मिथिला अधिपः
अवाप्तो विपुलाम् ऋद्धिम् माम् अवाप्य नर अधिपः

tataḥ prahṛṣṭo dharma ātmā pitā me mithilā adhipaḥ
avāpto vipulām ṛddhim mām avāpya nara adhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | me pitā: my father | dharmātmā: the pious minded | marādhipaḥ: the lord of men | mithilādhipaḥ: and the king of Mithila kingdom | prahṛṣṭaḥ: was rejoiced | mām avāpya: in my possession | avāptaḥ: and acquired | vipulām: extensive | ṛddhim: property. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereafter, my father the pious mind the lord of men and the king of Mithila kingdom was rejoiced in my possession and acquired extensive property."

VERSE 33

दत्त्वा च अस्मि इष्टवद् देव्यै ज्येष्ठायै पुण्य कर्मणा
तया सम्भाविता च अस्मि स्निग्धया मातृ सौहृदात्

dattvā ca asmi iṣṭavad devyai jyeṣṭhāyai puṇya karmaṇā
tayā sambhāvitā ca asmi snigdhayā mātṛ sauhṛdāt

SYNONYMS

puṇyakarmaṇā: by that king performing auspicious acts | asmi: I was | datta: given | iṣṭavat: into the care of | jyeṣṭhāyai devajai: the chief Queen | sambhāvitā: nourished | mātṛ sauhṛdāt: with maternal affection | snighdayā: and tenderness | tayā: by her. |

TRANSLATION

"That king performing auspicious acts gave me into the care of the chief Queen. She nourished me fondly and with maternal affection."

VERSE 34

पति सम्योग सुलभम् वयो दृष्ट्वा तु मे पिता
चिन्ताम् अभ्यगमद् दीनो वित्त नाशाद् इव अधनः

pati samyoga sulabham vayo dṛṣṭvā tu me pitā
cintām abhyagamad dīno vitta nāśād iva adhanaḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | rayaḥ: my age | pati samyoga sulabham: to be such when union with a husabnd can be easily had | me pitā: my father | abhyagamat: fell a prey | cintām: to anxiety | adhanaḥ iva: like an indegent man | dīnaḥ: miserable | vittanāśāt: from the loss of all his possessions. |

TRANSLATION

"Seeing my age to be such, when union with a husband can be easily had, my father fell a prey to anxiety like an indigent man, feeling miserable by the loss of all his possessions."

VERSE 35

सदृशाच् च अपकृष्टाच् च लोके कन्या पिता जनात्
प्रधर्षणाम् अवाप्नोति शक्रेण अपि समो भुवि

sadṛśāc ca apakṛṣṭāc ca loke kanyā pitā janāt
pradharṣaṇām avāpnoti śakreṇa api samo bhuvi

SYNONYMS

kanyāpita samo'pi: even though the father of an unmarried girl be like | śakreṇa: Indra himself | bhuvi: on earth | avāpnoti: gets | pradharṣaṇām: ill-treatment | loke: in the world | janāt: from the suitor's men | sadṛśāśca: ( no matter whether) they are equal | apakṛṣṭāśca: or inferior to him. |

TRANSLATION

"Eventhough the father of an unmarried girl be like Indra himself on earth, suffers indignity in the world from the suitor's men, no matter whether they are equal or inferior to him."

VERSE 36

ताम् धर्षणाम् अदूरस्थाम् संदृश्य आत्मनि पार्थिवः
चिन्न्ता अर्णव गतः पारम् न आससाद अप्लवो यथ

tām dharṣaṇām adūrasthām saṃdṛśya ātmani pārthivaḥ
cinntā arṇava gataḥ pāram na āsasāda aplavo yatha

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: perceiving | tām dharṣaṇām: that ill-treatment | adūrasthām: to be not far-off | ātmani: for him | pārthivaḥ: the king Janaka | cintārṇava gataḥ: was plunged into an ocean of anxiety | nāsasāda: and did not reach | pāram: its end | aplavoyathā: any more than a man without a bark (would reach the end of a sea) |

TRANSLATION

"Perceiving that ill-treatment threatening him at no distant date, the king Janaka was plunged into an ocean of anxiety and did not reach its end any more than a man without a bark would reach the end of a sea."

VERSE 37

अयोनिजाम् हि माम् ज्नात्वा न अध्यगग्च्छत् स चिन्तयन्
सदृशम् च अनुरूपम् च मही पालः पतिम् मम

ayonijām hi mām jnātvā na adhyagagcchat sa cintayan
sadṛśam ca anurūpam ca mahī pālaḥ patim mama

SYNONYMS

jñātvā: knowing | mām: me | ayonijām: to be the one not emerged from a mother's womb | mahīpālaḥ: the king | vicintayan: after a deep reflection | nādhyagacchat: was unable to find | anurūpam ca: a suitable | sadṛśam: and worthy | patim: husband | mama: for me. |

TRANSLATION

"Knowing me to be the one not emerged from a mother's womb, the king after a deep reflection, was unable to find a suitable and worthy husband for me."

VERSE 38

तस्य बुद्धिर् इयम् जाता चिन्तयानस्य सम्ततम्
स्वयम् वरम् तनूजायाः करिष्यामि इति धीमतः

tasya buddhir iyam jātā cintayānasya samtatam
svayam varam tanūjāyāḥ kariṣyāmi iti dhīmataḥ

SYNONYMS

tasya: to him | dhīmataḥ: the wiseman | cintayāmasya: after reflecting (thus) | santatam: constantly | jātā: it has come | iyam buddiḥ: to his mind | iti: thus | kariṣyāmi: "I shall arrange | svayamvaram: for a process of self-choosing marriage | tanūjayāḥ: for my daughter." |

TRANSLATION

"After reflecting thus deeply, the thought came to him, 'I shall inaugurate a Svayamvara, a process of self-choosing marriage, for my daughter."

VERSE 39

महा यज्ने तदा तस्य वरुणेन महात्मना
दत्तम् धनुर् वरम् प्रीत्या तूणी च अक्षय्य सायकौ

mahā yajne tadā tasya varuṇena mahātmanā
dattam dhanur varam prītyā tūṇī ca akṣayya sāyakau

SYNONYMS

tadā: In ancient days | mahāyajñe: on the occasion of a great sacrifice | mahātmanā: by the high-souled | varuṇena: Varuna | tasya: to him | dattam: was given | dhanurvaram: an excellent bow | tūṇīca: with two quivers | akṣaya sāyakau: that should never lack arrows | prītyā: with affection. |

TRANSLATION

"In ancient days, Janaka received with affection from Varuna the rain-god, an excellent bow with two quivers that should never lack arrows."

VERSE 40

असंचाल्यम् मनुष्यैः च यत्नेन अपि च गौरवात्
तन् न शक्ता नमयितुम् स्वप्नेषु अपि नर अधिपाः

asaṃcālyam manuṣyaiḥ ca yatnena api ca gauravāt
tan na śaktā namayitum svapneṣu api nara adhipāḥ

SYNONYMS

gauravāt: because of heavy weight | tat: that bow | asamcālyam: which could not be lifted | manuṣyaiḥ: by men | yatnenāpi: even with effort | narādhiparaḥ: and the kings | na śaktāḥ: were unable | namayitum: to bend (it) | svapneṣvapi: even in their dreams. |

TRANSLATION

"That bow was so heavy in weight that no man could lift it up nor any of the kings were bale to bend it even in their dreams."

VERSE 41

तद् धनुः प्राप्य मे पित्रा व्याहृतम् सत्य वादिना
समवाये नर इन्द्राणाम् पूर्वम् आमन्त्र्य पार्थिवान्

tad dhanuḥ prāpya me pitrā vyāhṛtam satya vādinā
samavāye nara indrāṇām pūrvam āmantrya pārthivān

SYNONYMS

me pitrā: by my father | satyavādinā: who speaks truth | āmantrya: having called paarthivaan = the princes | pūrvam: first | vyāhṛtam: informed | samavāye: in their meeting | tat dhanuḥ: about that bow | prāpya: to be lifted. |

TRANSLATION

"My truthful father called all the princes first and informed them in a meeting about the bow to be lifted."

VERSE 42

इदम् च धनुर् उद्यम्य सज्यम् यः कुरुते नरः
तस्य मे दुहिता भार्या भविष्यति न संशयः

idam ca dhanur udyamya sajyam yaḥ kurute naraḥ
tasya me duhitā bhāryā bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ narah: whichever man | udyamya: lifts | idam dhanuḥ: this bow | kurute sajyamca: and strings it | tasya: to him | me duhitā: my daughter | bhaviṣyati: will become | bhāryā: a consort (to him) | na: there is no | samśayaḥ: doubt. |

TRANSLATION

"Whoever is able to lift up and string this bow, I will bestow my daughter in marriage on him. There is no doubt about it."

VERSE 43

तच् च दृष्ट्वा धनुः श्रेष्ठम् गौरवाद् गिरि सम्निभम्
अभिवाद्य नृपा जग्मुर् अशक्ताः तस्य तोलने

tac ca dṛṣṭvā dhanuḥ śreṣṭham gauravād giri samnibham
abhivādya nṛpā jagmur aśaktāḥ tasya tolane

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | girisannibham: resembling a mountain | gauravāto: from the point of view of its heavy weight | asaktāḥ: and bieng unable | tolane: to life | tasya: it | nṛpāḥ: the princes | abhivādhya: offered salutation to it | jagmuḥ: and went away. |

TRANSLATION

"Seeing that excellent bow, resembling a mountain in weight, and being unable to lift it up, the princes offered salutation to it and went away."

VERSE 44

सुदीर्घस्य तु कालस्य राघवो अयम् महा द्युतिः
विश्वामित्रेण सहितो यज्नम् द्रष्टुम् समागतः

sudīrghasya tu kālasya rāghavo ayam mahā dyutiḥ
viśvāmitreṇa sahito yajnam draṣṭum samāgataḥ

SYNONYMS

sudīrghasya kālasya: after a very long time | ayam rāmaḥ: this Rama | rāghavaḥ: born in Raghu dynasty | mahā dyutiḥ: with a great splendour | satya parākramaḥ: possessing a true valour | lakṣmaṇena saha: along with Lakshmana | bhrātrā: his brother | viśvāmitreṇa sahitaḥ: together with Visvamitra the sage | draṣṭum: to behold | yajṇam: a sacrifice. |

TRANSLATION

"After a very long time, this Rama born in Raghu dynasty with a great splendour possessing a true valour, along with his brother Lakshmana together with a sage Visvamitra, came to witness a sacrifice."

VERSE 45

विश्वामित्रः तु धर्म आत्मा मम पित्रा सुपूजितः

viśvāmitraḥ tu dharma ātmā mama pitrā supūjitaḥ

SYNONYMS

dharmātmā: the pious souled | viśvāmitrastu: Visvamitra | supūjitaḥ: having been worshipped well | mama pitrā: by my father | bhrātarau: about the two brothers | rāma lakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana | tatra: there. |

TRANSLATION

"The pious-souled Visvamitra, having been received well by my father said to my father, (as follows):

VERSE 46

सुतौ दशरथस्य इमौ धनुर् दर्शन कान्क्षिणौ

sutau daśarathasya imau dhanur darśana kānkṣiṇau

SYNONYMS

imau: these two boys | sutau: the sons | daśarathasya: of Dasaratha | dhanurdarśana kāṅkṣiṇau: wish to see that bow | darśaya: show | dhanuḥ: the bow | daivikam: coming from gods | rāmāya: to Rama | rājaputrāya: the prince. |

TRANSLATION

"These two boys, the sons of Dasaratha wish to see that bow. Show that bow, coming from gods, to Rama the prince."

VERSE 47

इत्य् उक्तः तेन विप्रेण तद् धनुः समुपानयत्

ity uktaḥ tena vipreṇa tad dhanuḥ samupānayat

SYNONYMS

48| iti: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | tena viprena: by that Brahmana | tatodhanuḥ upānayat: (Janaka) caused that bow to be brought there | mahābalaḥ: the mighty | vīryavān: and the valiant Rama | ānamya: bent | tat: that bow | nimeṣāntara meatreṇa: merely within an instant | jhaṭiti: and soon | samāropya: stringed the bow | jyām: with the bows-cord | pūrayāmāsa: ad drew the bow to the full. |

TRANSLATION

"Hearing the words of Vivamitra, Janaka caused the bow to be brought there. The mighty and the valiant Rama bent that bow merely within an instant and immediately stringed the bow with the bow-cord and drew the bow to the full."

VERSE 49

तेन पूरयता वेगान् मध्ये भग्नम् द्विधा धनुः
तस्य शब्दो अभवद् भीमः पतितस्य अशनेर् इव

tena pūrayatā vegān madhye bhagnam dvidhā dhanuḥ
tasya śabdo abhavad bhīmaḥ patitasya aśaner iva

SYNONYMS

tena: by that Rama | pūrayatā: who was drawing the bow to the full | dhanuḥ: the bow | bhagnam: was broken | dvidhāḥ: into two | madhye: in the middle vegaat = due to that jerk | tasya: its | bhīmaḥ: terrific | śabdaḥ: sound | abhavat: was | patitasya aśaneriva: like that of a falling thunder-bolt. |

TRANSLATION

"While Rama was drawing the bow to the full, the bow was broken into two in the middle due to the resultant jerk. The terrific sound then created was like that of a falling thunderbolt."

VERSE 50

ततो अहम् तत्र रामाय पित्रा सत्य अभिसंधिना
उद्यता दातुम् उद्यम्य जल भाजनम् उत्तमम्

tato aham tatra rāmāya pitrā satya abhisaṃdhinā
udyatā dātum udyamya jala bhājanam uttamam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | tatra: and there | pitrā: by my father | satyābhisandhinā: who was true to his promise | niścitā: it was decided | dātum: to give | aham: me | rāmāya: to Rama | udyamya: offering him | jalabhājanam: of jar of pure water. |

TRANSLATION

"Then and there, my father true to his promise decided to bestow me on Rama, offering him a jar of pure water."

VERSE 51

दीयमानाम् न तु तदा प्रतिजग्राह राघवः
अविज्नाय पितुः चन्दम् अयोध्या अधिपतेः प्रभोः

dīyamānām na tu tadā pratijagrāha rāghavaḥ
avijnāya pituḥ candam ayodhyā adhipateḥ prabhoḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | rāghavaḥ: Rama | na tu pratijagrāha: did not consent to accept | dīyamānām: me who was being offered to him | avijñāya: withut knowing | chandam: the opinion | pituḥ: of his father | prabhoḥ: the Lord | ayodhyādhipateḥ: and the king of Ayodhya. |

TRANSLATION

"But Rama did not consent to accept my hand till the will of his father, the Lord and the king of Ayodhya had been made known to him."

VERSE 52

ततः श्वशुरम् आमन्त्र्य वृद्धम् दशरथम् नृपम्
मम पित्रा अहम् दत्ता रामाय विदित आत्मने

tataḥ śvaśuram āmantrya vṛddham daśaratham nṛpam
mama pitrā aham dattā rāmāya vidita ātmane

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereupon | mama pitrā: by my father | śvaśuram: my father -in-law | vṛddham: and the aged | daśaratham nṛpam: king Dasaratha | āmantrya: was invited | aham: I | dattā: was given | rāmāya: to Rama | viditātmane: the knower of the self. |

TRANSLATION

Thereupon, my father-in-law and the aged Dasaratha was invited to Mithila by my father and with his approval, I was bestowed on Rama, the knower of the self."

VERSE 53

मम चैव अनुजा साध्वी ऊर्मिला प्रिय दर्शना
भार्य अर्थे लक्ष्मणस्य अपि दत्ता पित्रा मम स्वयम्

mama caiva anujā sādhvī ūrmilā priya darśanā
bhārya arthe lakṣmaṇasya api dattā pitrā mama svayam

SYNONYMS

dattā: was given | mama pitrā: by my father | svayam: personally | mama: my | anujā: younger sister | ūrmilā: Urmila | sādhvī: the virtuous lady | priyadarśanā: of lovely looks | bhāryārthe: as a consort | lakṣmaṇasyāpi: to Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

"My younger sister Urmila, the virtuous lady of lovely looks was given as a consort to Lakshmana by my father himself."

VERSE 54

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe aṣṭādaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | asmi: I became | dattā: given | evam: thus | rāmāya: to Rama | tasmin svayamvare: in that | anuraktā: devoted | dhameṇa: by my good works | patim: to my husband | param: who is excellent | vīryavatām: among men of strength. |

TRANSLATION

"I was given thus to Rama in that Svayamvara, a process of self-choosing marriage. I became devoted, by my good works, to my husband who is excellent among men of strength."