Uttara Kanda, Sarga 42

स विसृज्य ततो रामः पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम् । प्रविवेश महाबाहुरशोकवनिकां तदा ।। 7.42.1 ।।

sa visṛjya tato rāmaḥ puṣpakaṃ hemabhūṣitam | praviveśa mahābāhuraśokavanikāṃ tadā || 7.42.1 ||

Then, the mighty-armed Rama, having dismissed the gold-adorned Pushpaka chariot, entered the Ashoka grove.

चन्दनागुरुचूतैश्च तुङ्गकालेयकैरपि । देवदारुवनैश्चापि समन्तादुपशोभिताम् ।। 7.42.2 ।।

candanāgurucūtaiśca tuṅgakāleyakairapi | devadāruvanaiścāpi samantādupaśobhitām || 7.42.2 ||

The grove was beautified all around by sandalwood, aloe wood, and mango trees, as well as tall Kāleyaka trees and forests of Deodar.

चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागमधूकपनसासनैः । शोभितां पारिजातैश्च विधूमज्वलनप्रभैः ।। 7.42.3 ।।

campakāśokapunnāgamadhūkapanasāsanaiḥ | śobhitāṃ pārijātaiśca vidhūmajvalanaprabhaiḥ || 7.42.3 ||

It was adorned with Champaka, Ashoka, Punnaga, Madhuka, Jackfruit, and Asana trees, and by Parijata trees that shone like smokeless flames.

लोध्रनीपार्जुनैर्नागैः सप्तपर्णातिमुक्तकैः । मन्दारकदलीगुल्मलताजालसमावृताम् ।। 7.42.4 ।।

lodhranīpārjunairnāgaiḥ saptaparṇātimuktakaiḥ | mandārakadalīgulmalatājālasamāvṛtām || 7.42.4 ||

The grove was covered with Lodhra, Nipa, Arjuna, Naga, and Saptaparna trees, Atimuktaka creepers, Mandara trees, banana plants, and dense networks of bushes and vines.

प्रियङ्गुभिः कदम्बैश्च तथा च वकुलैरपि । जम्बूभिर्दाडिमैश्चैव कोविदारैश्च शोभिताम् ।। 7.42.5 ।।

priyaṅgubhiḥ kadambaiśca tathā ca vakulairapi | jambūbhirdāḍimaiścaiva kovidāraiśca śobhitām || 7.42.5 ||

It was further adorned by Priyangu, Kadamba, Bakula, Jambu, Pomegranate, and Kovidara trees.

सर्वदा कुसुमै रम्यैः फलवद्भिर्मनोरमैः । दिव्यगन्धरसोपेतैस्तरुणाङ्कुरपल्लवैः ।। 7.42.6 ।।

sarvadā kusumai ramyaiḥ phalavadbhirmanoramaiḥ | divyagandharasopetaistaruṇāṅkurapallavaiḥ || 7.42.6 ||

The description refers to trees that are always adorned with beautiful flowers, charming fruit, and young sprouts and tender leaves, all possessing divine fragrance and taste.

तथैव तरुभिर्दिव्यैः शिल्पिभिः परिकल्पितैः । चारुपल्लवपुष्पाढ्यैर्मत्तभ्रमरसङ्कुलैः ।। 7.42.7 ।।

tathaiva tarubhirdivyaiḥ śilpibhiḥ parikalpitaiḥ | cārupallavapuṣpāḍhyairmattabhramarasaṅkulaiḥ || 7.42.7 ||

The trees, appearing as if divinely crafted by artisans, were similarly splendid, abundant with beautiful sprouts and flowers, and teeming with intoxicated bees.

कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च नानावर्णैश्च पक्षिभिः । शोभितां शतशश्चित्रां चूतवृक्षावतंसकैः ।। 7.42.8 ।।

kokilairbhṛṅgarājaiśca nānāvarṇaiśca pakṣibhiḥ | śobhitāṃ śataśaścitrāṃ cūtavṛkṣāvataṃsakaiḥ || 7.42.8 ||

The place was adorned and made variegated by hundreds of cuckoos, king-bees, and birds of various colors, with mango trees serving as its prominent features.

शातकुम्भनिभाः केचित्केचिदग्निशिखोपमाः । नीलाञ्जननिभाश्चान्ये भान्ति तत्रत्यपादपाः ।। 7.42.9 ।।

śātakumbhanibhāḥ kecitkecidagniśikhopamāḥ | nīlāñjananibhāścānye bhānti tatratyapādapāḥ || 7.42.9 ||

The trees in that place shone with various hues, some resembling refined gold, others like flames of fire, and still others like blue 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 ||

There were fragrant flowers and various garlands, along with long ponds of diverse shapes filled with excellent water.

माणिक्यकृतसोपानाः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः । फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः ।। 7.42.11 ।।

māṇikyakṛtasopānāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ | phullapadmotpalavanāścakravākopaśobhitāḥ || 7.42.11 ||

The place featured steps crafted from rubies, inner floors paved with crystal, abundant groves of blooming lotuses and water lilies, and was graced by the presence of chakravaka birds.

दात्यूहशुकसङ्घुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः । तरुभिः पुष्पवद्भिश्च तीरजैरुपशोभिताः ।। 7.42.12 ।।

dātyūhaśukasaṅghuṣṭā haṃsasārasanāditāḥ | tarubhiḥ puṣpavadbhiśca tīrajairupaśobhitāḥ || 7.42.12 ||

It was filled with the sounds of gallinules, parrots, swans, and cranes, and beautifully adorned by flowering trees growing along its banks.

प्राकारैर्विविधाकारैः शोभिताश्च शिलातलैः । तत्रैव च वनोद्देशे वैडूर्यमणिसन्निभैः ।। 7.42.13 ।।

prākārairvividhākāraiḥ śobhitāśca śilātalaiḥ | tatraiva ca vanoddeśe vaiḍūryamaṇisannibhaiḥ || 7.42.13 ||

The area was embellished with diverse enclosures and rock surfaces, and within that forest region, there were spots that shimmered like lapis lazuli gems.

शाद्वलैः परमोपेतां पुष्पितद्रुमकाननाम् । तत्र सङ्घर्षजातानां वृक्षाणां पुष्पशालिनाम् ।। 7.42.14 ।।

śādvalaiḥ paramopetāṃ puṣpitadrumakānanām | tatra saṅgharṣajātānāṃ vṛkṣāṇāṃ puṣpaśālinām || 7.42.14 ||

It was supremely rich with green meadows and flowering tree groves, where trees growing in close proximity were resplendent with blossoms.

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 ||

The rock surfaces were variegated with flowers, resembling the sky adorned with clusters of stars, and indeed, Rama's garden and dwelling were as magnificent as Indra's Nandana or Kubera's Chaitraratha.

तथाभूतं हि रामस्य काननं सन्निवेशनम् । बह्वासनगृहोपेतां लतागृहसमावृताम् ।। 7.42.16 ।।

bahvāsanagṛhopetāṃ latāgṛhasamāvṛtām | aśokavanikāṃ sphītāṃ praviśya raghunandanaḥ || 7.42.16 ||

Indeed, such was Rama's dwelling garden, adorned with numerous seats and pavilions, and enveloped by charming creeper-houses.

अशोकवनिकां स्फीतां प्रविश्य रघुनन्दनः । आसने च शुभाकारे पुष्पप्रकरभूषिते ।। 7.42.17 ।।

āsane ca śubhākāre puṣpaprakarabhūṣite | kuśāstaraṇasaṃstīrṇe rāmaḥ sanniṣasāda ha || 7.42.17 ||

Having entered the extensive Ashoka grove, Rama, the delight of the Raghus, found a beautifully shaped seat adorned with heaps of flowers.

कुशास्तरणसंस्तीर्णे रामः सन्निषसाद ह । सीतामादायं हस्तेन मधुमैरेयकं शुचि ।। 7.42.18 ।।

sītāmādāyaṃ hastena madhumaireyakaṃ śuci | pāyayāmāsa kākutsthaḥ śacīmiva purandaraḥ || 7.42.18 ||

Rama indeed sat down on the seat, which was spread with a mat of Kusa grass, and with Sita by his hand, he had the pure Madhu-Maireyaka wine ready.

पाययामास काकुत्स्थः शचीमिव पुरन्दरः । मांसानि च समृष्टानि फलानि विविधानि च ।। 7.42.19 ।।

māṃsāni ca samṛṣṭāni phalāni vividhāni ca | rāmasyābhyavahārārthaṃ kiṅkarāstūrṇamāharan || 7.42.19 ||

Rama, the descendant of Kakutstha, made her drink, just as Indra makes Shachi drink, and there were well-prepared meats and various fruits.

रामस्याभ्यवहारार्थं किङ्करास्तूर्णमाहरन्उ । उपानृत्यंश्च राजानं नृत्यगीतविशारदाः ।। 7.42.20 ।।

upānṛtyaṃśca rājānaṃ nṛtyagītaviśāradāḥ | bālāśca rūpavatyaśca striyaḥ pānavaśānugāḥ || 7.42.20 ||

Servants quickly brought food for Rama's meal, and those skilled in dance and song performed before the king.

बालाश्च रूपवत्यश्च स्त्रियः पानवशानुगाः । मनोभिरामा रामास्ता रामो रमयतां वरः ।। 7.42.21 ।।

manobhirāmā rāmāstā rāmo ramayatāṃ varaḥ | ramayāmāsa dharmātmā nityaṃ paramabhūṣitaḥ || 7.42.21 ||

Rama, the best among those who delight, was in the company of young, beautiful, and charming women who were under the influence of drink.

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 ||

Skilled in dance and song, charming women danced before Rama, the best among those who delight.

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 ||

The righteous Rama, always highly adorned, delighted (them), and he shone splendidly while seated with Sita.

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 ||

Rama, filled with joy, thus shone with splendor like Vasishtha seated with Arundhati, with Sita resembling a celestial nymph.

रमयामास वैदेहीमहन्यहनि देववत्त । था तयोर्विहरतोः सीताराघवयोश्चिरम् ।। 7.42.25 ।।

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi gatāni sumahātmanoḥ | prāptayorvividhānbhogānatītaḥ śiśirāgamaḥ || 7.42.25 ||

Rama, like a god, delighted Sita day after day, and thus Sita and Raghava sported together for a long time.

अत्यक्रामच्छुभः कालः शैशिरो भोगदः सदा । प्राप्तयोर्विविधान्भोगानतीतः शिशिरागमः ।। 7.42.26 ।।

pūrvāhṇe dharmakāryāṇi kṛtvā dharmeṇa dharmavit | śeṣaṃ divasabhāgārdhamantaḥpuragato 'bhavat || 7.42.26 ||

The auspicious and always pleasure-giving winter season, during which Rama and Sita had enjoyed various pleasures, passed away.

पूर्वाह्णे धर्मकार्याणि कृत्वा धर्मेण धर्मवित् । शेषं दिवसभागार्धमन्तःपुरगतो ऽभवत् ।। 7.42.27 ।।

sītāpi devakāryāṇi kṛtvā paurvāhṇikāni vai | śvaśrūṇāmakarotpūjāṃ sarvāsāmaviśeṣataḥ || 7.42.27 ||

Having performed his religious duties righteously in the forenoon, the knower of dharma, Rama, spent the remaining half of the day in his inner apartments.

सीतापि देवकार्याणि कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकानि वै । श्वश्रूणामकरोत्पूजां सर्वासामविशेषतः ।। 7.42.28 ।।

abhyagacchattato rāmaṃ vicitrābharaṇāmbarā | triviṣṭape sahasrākṣamupaviṣṭaṃ yathā śacī || 7.42.28 ||

Sita also, having performed her morning divine duties, reverently honored all her mothers-in-law without any distinction.

अभ्यगच्छत्ततो रामं विचित्राभरणाम्बरा । त्रिविष्टपे सहस्राक्षमुपविष्टं यथा शची ।। 7.42.29 ।।

dṛṣṭvā tu rāghavaḥ patnīṃ kalyāṇena samanvitām | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe sādhu sādhviti cābravīt || 7.42.29 ||

Then, adorned with various ornaments and garments, Sita approached Rama, just as Shachi approaches the thousand-eyed Indra seated in heaven.

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 ||

Having seen his wife, Sita, endowed with auspiciousness, Rama felt incomparable joy and exclaimed, "Excellent, excellent!"

अब्रवीच्च वरारोहां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् । अपत्यलाभो वैदेहि त्वयि मे समुपस्थितः ।। 7.42.31 ।।

kimicchasi varārohe kāmaḥ kiṃ kriyatāṃ tava || 7.42.31 ||

Rama said to Sita, who had beautiful thighs and resembled a divine daughter, "O Vaidehi, the blessing of progeny has come to me through you."

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 ||

Rama asked Sita, "O one with beautiful thighs, what do you desire? What wish of yours may I fulfill?" Then, smiling, Vaidehi spoke these words to Rama.

तपोवनानि पुण्यानि द्रष्टुमिच्छामि राघव । गङ्गातीरोपविष्टानामृषीणामुग्रतेजसाम् ।। 7.42.33 ।।

gaṅgātīropaviṣṭānāmṛṣīṇāmugratejasām | phalamūlāśināṃ deva pādamūleṣu vartitum || 7.42.33 ||

Sita said, "O Raghava, I desire to see the sacred hermitages and the sages of fierce ascetic power seated on the banks of the Ganga."

फलमूलाशिनां देव पादमूलेषु वर्तितुम् । एष मे परमः कामो यन्मूलफलभोजिनाम् ।। 7.42.34 ।।

eṣa me paramaḥ kāmo yanmūlaphalabhojinām | apyekarātraṃ kākutstha nivaseyaṃ tapovane || 7.42.34 ||

Sita continued, "O Lord, to dwell at the feet of those who subsist on fruits and roots—this is my greatest desire, that I may be among 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 ||

Sita expressed her desire to dwell in a hermitage for even one night, to which Rama, whose deeds were effortless, promised, "So be it, O Vaidehi, be confident, you will undoubtedly go tomorrow."

एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थो मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् । मध्यकक्षान्तरं रामो निर्जगाम सुहृद्वृतः ।। 7.42.36 ।।

evamuktvā tu kākutstho maithilīṃ janakātmajām | madhyakakṣāntaraṃ rāmo nirjagāma suhṛdvṛtaḥ || 7.42.36 ||

After speaking thus to Sita, Janaka's daughter, Rama, surrounded by his friends, went out to the middle apartment. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।। 42 ।। Thus ends the forty-second sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.