The Telling of the Washerman's Previous Birth

Verse 1 (padma.5.57.1)

वात्स्यायन उवाच। जगत्पवित्रसत्कीर्ति जानक्या वाच्यवाचनम् । कथं समकरोत्स्वामी तन्मे कथय सुव्रत

vātsyāyana uvāca jagatpavitrasatkīrti jānakyā vācyavācanam kathaṁ samakarotsvāmī tanme kathaya suvrata

Vatsyayana said: "How did the lord, whose true fame purifies the world, deal with this slanderous word spoken of Janaki? Tell me this, O one of good vows."

Verse 2 (padma.5.57.2)

यथा मे मनसः सौख्यं भविष्यति सुशोभनम् । तथा कुरुष्व शेषाद्य त्वन्मुखान्निःसृतामृतम् । पिबतस्तृप्तिरेव स्याद्यया संसृतिकृं तनम्

yathā me manasaḥ saukhyaṁ bhaviṣyati suśobhanam tathā kuruṣva śeṣādya tvanmukhānniḥsṛtāmṛtam pibatastṛptireva syādyayā saṁsṛtikṛṁ tanam

"So that my mind may know true happiness, do this for me now, O Shesha — for this nectar flowing from your mouth grants, to whoever drinks it, the very satisfaction that cuts the bonds of transmigration."

Verse 3 (padma.5.57.3)

शेष उवाच। मिथिलायां महापुर्यां जनको नाम भूपतिः । तस्यां करोति सद्राज्यं धर्मेणाराधयन्प्रजाः

śeṣa uvāca mithilāyāṁ mahāpuryāṁ janako nāma bhūpatiḥ tasyāṁ karoti sadrājyaṁ dharmeṇārādhayanprajāḥ

Shesha said: In the great city of Mithila there was a king named Janaka; there he ruled an excellent kingdom, cherishing his subjects with righteousness.

Verse 4 (padma.5.57.4)

तस्य संकर्षतो भूमिं सीतया दीर्घमुख्यया । सीरध्वजस्य निरगात्कुमारी ह्यतिसुंदरी

tasya saṁkarṣato bhūmiṁ sītayā dīrghamukhyayā sīradhvajasya niragātkumārī hyatisuṁdarī

As he plowed the earth, along the long furrow called Sita, from the plow of Sirdhvaja there emerged a maiden of exceeding beauty.

Verse 5 (padma.5.57.5)

तदात्यंतं मुदं प्राप्तः सीरकेतुर्महीपतिः । सीता नामाकरोत्तस्या मोहिन्या जगतः श्रियः

tadātyaṁtaṁ mudaṁ prāptaḥ sīraketurmahīpatiḥ sītā nāmākarottasyā mohinyā jagataḥ śriyaḥ

Then, filled with the greatest delight, King Sirketu gave her the name Sita — she who would enchant the very fortune of the world.

Verse 6 (padma.5.57.6)

सैकदोद्यानविपिने खेलंती सुमनोहरा । अपश्यत्स्वमनःकांतं शुकशुक्योर्युगं वदत्

saikadodyānavipine khelaṁtī sumanoharā apaśyatsvamanaḥkāṁtaṁ śukaśukyoryugaṁ vadat

Once, playing in the grove of a garden, that most lovely girl saw a pair of parrots, male and female, speaking together —

Verse 7 (padma.5.57.7)

अत्यंतं हर्षमापन्नमत्यंतं कामलोलुपम् । परस्परं भाषमाणं स्नेहेन शुभया गिरा

atyaṁtaṁ harṣamāpannamatyaṁtaṁ kāmalolupam parasparaṁ bhāṣamāṇaṁ snehena śubhayā girā

— filled with the greatest joy, filled with the greatest longing, speaking to one another with affection, in fair and gentle voices.

Verse 8 (padma.5.57.8)

रममाणं तदा युग्मं नभसि क्षिप्रवेगतः । समुत्पतन्नगोपस्थे स्थितं शब्दं चकार तत्

ramamāṇaṁ tadā yugmaṁ nabhasi kṣipravegataḥ samutpatannagopasthe sthitaṁ śabdaṁ cakāra tat

As that pair sported, they then rose swiftly into the sky, and, alighting upon a mountain's flank, made this sound —

Verse 9 (padma.5.57.9)

रामो महीपतिर्भूमौ भविष्यति मनोहरः । तस्य सीतेति नाम्ना तु भविष्यति महेलिका

rāmo mahīpatirbhūmau bhaviṣyati manoharaḥ tasya sīteti nāmnā tu bhaviṣyati mahelikā

"There shall be, upon this earth, a lovely king named Rama; and there shall be for him a lady named Sita."

Verse 10 (padma.5.57.10)

स तया सह वर्षाणां सहस्राण्येकयुग्दश । राज्यं करिष्यते धीमान्कर्षन्भूमिपतीन्बली

sa tayā saha varṣāṇāṁ sahasrāṇyekayugdaśa rājyaṁ kariṣyate dhīmānkarṣanbhūmipatīnbalī

"He, wise and mighty, shall rule the kingdom together with her for eleven thousand years, holding the lords of the earth in his sway."

Verse 11 (padma.5.57.11)

धन्या सा जानकी देवी धन्योऽसौ रामसंज्ञितः । यौ परस्परमापन्नौ पृथिव्यां रंस्यतो मुदा

dhanyā sā jānakī devī dhanyo'sau rāmasaṁjñitaḥ yau parasparamāpannau pṛthivyāṁ raṁsyato mudā

"Blessed is that goddess Janaki, blessed is he who bears the name Rama — for, finding one another, they shall sport joyfully upon this earth."

Verse 12 (padma.5.57.12)

इति संभाष्यमाणं तु शुकयुग्मं तु मैथिली । ज्ञात्वेदं देवतायुग्मं वाणीं तस्य विलोक्य च

iti saṁbhāṣyamāṇaṁ tu śukayugmaṁ tu maithilī jñātvedaṁ devatāyugmaṁ vāṇīṁ tasya vilokya ca

Hearing this pair of parrots conversing thus, Maithili, understanding them to be a divine pair, and attending closely to their words —

Verse 13 (padma.5.57.13)

मदीयास्तु कथा रम्याः कुरुते शुकयोर्युगम् । एतद्गृहीत्वा पृच्छामि सर्वं वाक्यं गतार्थकम्

madīyāstu kathā ramyāḥ kurute śukayoryugam etadgṛhītvā pṛcchāmi sarvaṁ vākyaṁ gatārthakam

— thought: "This pair of parrots speaks a delightful tale about myself; let me catch them and ask them the whole meaning of this speech."

Verse 14 (padma.5.57.14)

एवं विचार्य सा स्वीयाः सखीः प्रतिजगाद ह । गृह्णंतु शनकैरेतत्पक्षियुग्मं मनोहरम्

evaṁ vicārya sā svīyāḥ sakhīḥ pratijagāda ha gṛhṇaṁtu śanakairetatpakṣiyugmaṁ manoharam

Having thought thus, she said to her own companions: "Catch, gently, this lovely pair of birds."

Verse 15 (padma.5.57.15)

सख्यस्तास्तद्गिरिं गत्वा गृह्णन्पक्षियुगं वरम् । निवेदयामासुरिदं स्वसख्याः प्रियकाम्यया

sakhyastāstadgiriṁ gatvā gṛhṇanpakṣiyugaṁ varam nivedayāmāsuridaṁ svasakhyāḥ priyakāmyayā

Those companions, going to that mountain, caught the excellent pair of birds, and, out of love for their friend, brought them and told her the news —

Verse 16 (padma.5.57.16)

बहुधा विविधाञ्छब्दान्कुर्वद्वीक्ष्य मनोहरम् । आश्वासयामास तदा पप्रच्छ तदिदं वचः

bahudhā vividhāñchabdānkurvadvīkṣya manoharam āśvāsayāmāsa tadā papraccha tadidaṁ vacaḥ

Seeing them making sounds of many lovely kinds, she comforted them, and put to them this question —

Verse 17 (padma.5.57.17)

सीतोवाच। मा भैषातां युवां रम्यौ कौ वां कुत्र समागतौ । को रामः का च सा सीता तज्ज्ञानं तु कुतः स्मृतम्

sītovāca mā bhaiṣātāṁ yuvāṁ ramyau kau vāṁ kutra samāgatau ko rāmaḥ kā ca sā sītā tajjñānaṁ tu kutaḥ smṛtam

Sita said: "Do not be afraid, you two lovely birds. Who are you, and whence have you come? Who is this Rama, and who this Sita — whence has this knowledge come to you?"

Verse 18 (padma.5.57.18)

तत्सर्वं शंसतं क्षिप्रं मत्तो वां व्येतु यद्भयम् । इति पृष्टं तया पक्षियुगं सर्वमशंसत

tatsarvaṁ śaṁsataṁ kṣipraṁ matto vāṁ vyetu yadbhayam iti pṛṣṭaṁ tayā pakṣiyugaṁ sarvamaśaṁsata

"Tell me all this at once, so that whatever fear of me you hold may pass." Questioned thus by her, the pair of birds told her everything.

Verse 19 (padma.5.57.19)

पक्षियुग्ममुवाच। वाल्मीकिरास्ते सुमहानृषिर्धर्मविदुत्तमः । आवां तदाश्रमस्थाने सर्वदा सुमनोहरे

pakṣiyugmamuvāca vālmīkirāste sumahānṛṣirdharmaviduttamaḥ āvāṁ tadāśramasthāne sarvadā sumanohare

The pair of birds said: "There dwells the great sage Valmiki, foremost knower of Dharma; we live always at his own most lovely hermitage."

Verse 20 (padma.5.57.20)

सशिष्यान्गापयामास भावि रामायणं मुनिः । प्रत्यहं तत्पदस्मारी सर्वभूतहिते रतः

saśiṣyāngāpayāmāsa bhāvi rāmāyaṇaṁ muniḥ pratyahaṁ tatpadasmārī sarvabhūtahite rataḥ

"That sage, together with his disciples, has the Ramayana yet to come sung day by day, ever holding those very feet in mind, given wholly to the welfare of all beings."

Verse 21 (padma.5.57.21)

तदावाभ्यां श्रुतं सर्वं भावि रामायणं महत् । मुहुर्मुहुर्गीयमानमायातं परिपाठतः

tadāvābhyāṁ śrutaṁ sarvaṁ bhāvi rāmāyaṇaṁ mahat muhurmuhurgīyamānamāyātaṁ paripāṭhataḥ

"We two have thus heard the whole of that great Ramayana yet to be, sung again and again, and have learned it by heart in its due order."

Verse 22 (padma.5.57.22)

शृण्वावां तेऽभिधास्यावो यो रामो या च जानकी । यद्यद्भविष्यते तस्या रामेण क्रीडितात्मना

śṛṇvāvāṁ te'bhidhāsyāvo yo rāmo yā ca jānakī yadyadbhaviṣyate tasyā rāmeṇa krīḍitātmanā

"Having heard it, we shall tell you: who Rama is, who Janaki, and whatever is to befall her through Rama, whose very being is play."

Verse 23 (padma.5.57.23)

ऋष्यशृंगकृतेष्ट्यां च चतुर्धा त्वंगतो हरिः । प्रादुर्भविष्यति श्रीमान्सुरस्त्रीगीतसत्कथः

ṛṣyaśṛṁgakṛteṣṭyāṁ ca caturdhā tvaṁgato hariḥ prādurbhaviṣyati śrīmānsurastrīgītasatkathaḥ

"At the sacrifice performed by Rishyashringa, Hari shall appear in four forms, glorious, his excellent story sung by celestial women."

Verse 24 (padma.5.57.24)

स कौशिकेन मिथिलां प्राप्स्यते भ्रातृसंयुतः । धनुष्पाणिस्तदा दृष्ट्वा दुर्ग्राह्यमन्यभूभुजाम्

sa kauśikena mithilāṁ prāpsyate bhrātṛsaṁyutaḥ dhanuṣpāṇistadā dṛṣṭvā durgrāhyamanyabhūbhujām

"He, together with his brother, shall come with Kaushika to Mithila, and, beholding that bow which other kings cannot even grasp —"

Verse 25 (padma.5.57.25)

धनुर्भंक्त्वा जनकजां प्राप्स्यते सुमनोहराम् । तया सह महद्राज्यं करिष्यति श्रुतं वरे

dhanurbhaṁktvā janakajāṁ prāpsyate sumanoharām tayā saha mahadrājyaṁ kariṣyati śrutaṁ vare

"— shall break that bow and win the most lovely daughter of Janaka; together with her, we have heard, O excellent one, he shall rule a great kingdom."

Verse 26 (padma.5.57.26)

एतदन्यच्च तत्रस्थैः श्रुतमस्माभिरुद्गतैः । कथितं तव चार्वंगि मुंचावां गंतुकामुकौ

etadanyacca tatrasthaiḥ śrutamasmābhirudgataiḥ kathitaṁ tava cārvaṁgi muṁcāvāṁ gaṁtukāmukau

"This and other things too we have heard, dwelling there, and have now told you, O lovely-limbed one; having told you this, let us go now, for we wish to depart."

Verse 27 (padma.5.57.27)

इति वाक्यं तयोर्धृत्वा श्रोत्रयोः सुमनोहरम् । पुनरेवजगादेदं वाक्यं पक्षियुगं प्रति

iti vākyaṁ tayordhṛtvā śrotrayoḥ sumanoharam punarevajagādedaṁ vākyaṁ pakṣiyugaṁ prati

Holding this lovely speech of theirs fast in her ears, she spoke once more to the pair of birds —

Verse 28 (padma.5.57.28)

स रामः कुत्र वर्तेत कस्य पुत्रः कथं तु ताम् । परिग्रहीष्यति वरः कीदृग्रूपधरो नरः

sa rāmaḥ kutra varteta kasya putraḥ kathaṁ tu tām parigrahīṣyati varaḥ kīdṛgrūpadharo naraḥ

"Where does that Rama dwell, whose son is he, and how, bearing what form, shall that finest of men come to claim her as his own?"

Verse 29 (padma.5.57.29)

मया पृष्टमिदं सर्वं कथयंतु यथातथम् । पश्चात्सर्वं करिष्यामि प्रियं युष्मन्मनोहरम्

mayā pṛṣṭamidaṁ sarvaṁ kathayaṁtu yathātatham paścātsarvaṁ kariṣyāmi priyaṁ yuṣmanmanoharam

"All this I ask — tell me the truth of it; and afterward I shall do whatever pleases the two of you."

Verse 30 (padma.5.57.30)

तच्छ्रुत्वा तां तु कामेन पीडितां वीक्ष्य सा शुकी । जानकीं हृदये ज्ञात्वा पपाठ पुरतस्ततः

tacchrutvā tāṁ tu kāmena pīḍitāṁ vīkṣya sā śukī jānakīṁ hṛdaye jñātvā papāṭha puratastataḥ

Hearing this, and seeing her afflicted with longing, the female parrot, reading Janaki's own heart, began to recite before her —

Verse 31 (padma.5.57.31)

सूर्यवंशध्वजो धीमान्राजा पंक्तिरथो बली । यं देवाः श्रित्य सर्वारीन्विजेष्यंति च सर्वशः

sūryavaṁśadhvajo dhīmānrājā paṁktiratho balī yaṁ devāḥ śritya sarvārīnvijeṣyaṁti ca sarvaśaḥ

"Banner of the solar line, wise and mighty King Panktiratha, in whose refuge the gods shall conquer every foe on every side —"

Verse 32 (padma.5.57.32)

तस्य भार्यात्रयं भावि शक्रमोहनरूपधृक् । तस्मिन्नपत्य चातुष्कं भविष्यति बलोन्नतम्

tasya bhāryātrayaṁ bhāvi śakramohanarūpadhṛk tasminnapatya cātuṣkaṁ bhaviṣyati balonnatam

"— his three wives shall bear forms bewildering even to Shakra himself; and to them shall be born four children, exalted in strength."

Verse 33 (padma.5.57.33)

सर्वेषामग्रजो रामो भरतस्तदनुस्मृतः । लक्ष्मणस्तदनु श्रीमाञ्छत्रुघ्नः सर्वतो बली

sarveṣāmagrajo rāmo bharatastadanusmṛtaḥ lakṣmaṇastadanu śrīmāñchatrughnaḥ sarvato balī

"Foremost among them all is Rama; after him is remembered Bharata; after him glorious Lakshmana; and, mighty in every way, Shatrughna."

Verse 34 (padma.5.57.34)

रघुनाथ इति ख्यातिं गमिष्यति महामनाः । तेषामनंतनामानि रामस्य बलिनः सखि

raghunātha iti khyātiṁ gamiṣyati mahāmanāḥ teṣāmanaṁtanāmāni rāmasya balinaḥ sakhi

"That great-hearted one shall attain the name Raghunatha; endless, my friend, are the names of that mighty Rama."

Verse 35 (padma.5.57.35)

पद्मकोश इव शोभनं मुखं । पंकजाभनयने सुदीर्घके । उन्नता पृथुमनोहरा नसा । वल्गुसंगत मनोहरे भ्रुवौ

padmakośa iva śobhanaṁ mukhaṁ paṁkajābhanayane sudīrghake unnatā pṛthumanoharā nasā valgusaṁgata manohare bhruvau

"His face is lovely as a lotus-bud; his eyes are lotus-hued and long; his nose is raised, broad, and lovely; his brows are graceful, well-matched, and charming —"

Verse 36 (padma.5.57.36)

जानुलंबित मनोहरौ भुजौ । कंबुशोभिगलकोऽतिह्रस्वकः । सत्कपाटतलविस्तृतश्रिकं । वक्ष एतदमलं सलक्ष्मकम्

jānulaṁbita manoharau bhujau kaṁbuśobhigalako'tihrasvakaḥ satkapāṭatalavistṛtaśrikaṁ vakṣa etadamalaṁ salakṣmakam

"— his lovely arms hang down to his knees; his neck, radiant as a conch, is short and fine; his broad chest, wide as a great doorway, unblemished, marked with auspicious signs —"

Verse 37 (padma.5.57.37)

शोभनोरुकटिशोभया युतं । जानुयुग्मममलं स्वसेवितम् । पादपद्ममखिलैर्निजैः सदा । सेवितं रघुपतिं सुशोभनम्

śobhanorukaṭiśobhayā yutaṁ jānuyugmamamalaṁ svasevitam pādapadmamakhilairnijaiḥ sadā sevitaṁ raghupatiṁ suśobhanam

"— his fine thighs and waist graced with beauty; his two unblemished knees, well tended by his own people; his lotus-feet, ever served by all who are his — such is that resplendent lord of the Raghus."

Verse 38 (padma.5.57.38)

एतद्रूपधरो रामो मया किं तु स वर्ण्यते । शताननोपि नो याति पक्षिणः किमु मादृशाः

etadrūpadharo rāmo mayā kiṁ tu sa varṇyate śatānanopi no yāti pakṣiṇaḥ kimu mādṛśāḥ

"Such is the form Rama bears — how then could I ever describe him? Even the thousand-mouthed one cannot do so fully; what then of birds such as we?"

Verse 39 (padma.5.57.39)

यद्रूपं वीक्ष्य ललिता मनोहरवपुर्धरा । लक्ष्मीर्मुमोह भुविका वर्तते या न मोहति

yadrūpaṁ vīkṣya lalitā manoharavapurdharā lakṣmīrmumoha bhuvikā vartate yā na mohati

"Seeing whose form, delicate Lakshmi herself, of mind-enchanting body — she who bewitches this whole world — was herself bewildered."

Verse 40 (padma.5.57.40)

महाबलो महावीर्यो महामोहनरूपधृक् । किं वर्णयामि श्रीरामं सर्वैश्वर्यगुणान्वितम्

mahābalo mahāvīryo mahāmohanarūpadhṛk kiṁ varṇayāmi śrīrāmaṁ sarvaiśvaryaguṇānvitam

"Mighty in strength, mighty in valor, bearing a form of the greatest enchantment — what can I say in describing Shri Rama, endowed with every majesty and virtue?"

Verse 41 (padma.5.57.41)

धन्या सा जानकीदेवी महामोहनरूपधृक् । रंस्यते येन सहिता वर्षाणामयुतं मुदा

dhanyā sā jānakīdevī mahāmohanarūpadhṛk raṁsyate yena sahitā varṣāṇāmayutaṁ mudā

"Blessed is that goddess Janaki, bearing so bewitching a form, with whom he shall sport joyfully for ten thousand years."

Verse 42 (padma.5.57.42)

त्वं कासि किं तु नामासि बत सुंदरि यत्तु माम् । परिपृच्छसि वैदग्ध्याद्रामकीर्तनमादरात्

tvaṁ kāsi kiṁ tu nāmāsi bata suṁdari yattu mām paripṛcchasi vaidagdhyādrāmakīrtanamādarāt

"But who are you, and what is your name, O beautiful one, that you question me so skillfully, and with such reverence, about Rama's story?"

Verse 43 (padma.5.57.43)

एतद्वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य जानकी पक्षिणोर्युगम् । उवाच जन्मललितं शंसंती स्वस्य मोहनम्

etadvākyaṁ samākarṇya jānakī pakṣiṇoryugam uvāca janmalalitaṁ śaṁsaṁtī svasya mohanam

Hearing this speech, Janaki, telling of her own lovely birth and revealing her own bewitching self, said to the pair of birds —

Verse 44 (padma.5.57.44)

या त्वया जानकी प्रोक्ता साहं जनकपुत्रिका । स रामो मां यदाभ्येत्य प्राप्स्यते सुमनोहरः

yā tvayā jānakī proktā sāhaṁ janakaputrikā sa rāmo māṁ yadābhyetya prāpsyate sumanoharaḥ

"She whom you have spoken of as Janaki — that is I myself, the daughter of Janaka; and that most lovely Rama shall come and win me for his own."

Verse 45 (padma.5.57.45)

तदा वां मोचयाम्यद्धानान्यथा वाक्यलोभिता । लालयामि सुखेनास्तां मद्गेहे मधुराक्षरौ

tadā vāṁ mocayāmyaddhānānyathā vākyalobhitā lālayāmi sukhenāstāṁ madgehe madhurākṣarau

"Then I shall surely set the two of you free — otherwise, tempted by your own words, O sweet-voiced ones, I shall keep you happily and lovingly in my own home."

Verse 46 (padma.5.57.46)

इत्युक्तं तत्समाकर्ण्य वेपतुर्भयतां गतौ । परस्परं प्रक्षुभितौ जानकीमित्यवोचताम्

ityuktaṁ tatsamākarṇya vepaturbhayatāṁ gatau parasparaṁ prakṣubhitau jānakīmityavocatām

Hearing this said, both of them, seized with fear, began to tremble; and, agitated together, they said this to Janaki —

Verse 47 (padma.5.57.47)

वयं वै पक्षिणः साध्वि वनस्था वृक्षगोचराः । परिभ्रमाम सर्वत्र नो सुखं नो भवेद्गृहे

vayaṁ vai pakṣiṇaḥ sādhvi vanasthā vṛkṣagocarāḥ paribhramāma sarvatra no sukhaṁ no bhavedgṛhe

"We are but birds, O virtuous one, dwellers of the forest, haunters of the trees; we wander everywhere — there can be no happiness for us in a house."

Verse 48 (padma.5.57.48)

अंतर्वत्नी स्वके स्थाने गत्वा संसूय पुत्रकान् । त्वत्स्थानमागमिष्यामि सत्यं मे ह्युदितं वचः

aṁtarvatnī svake sthāne gatvā saṁsūya putrakān tvatsthānamāgamiṣyāmi satyaṁ me hyuditaṁ vacaḥ

"I am with child; going to my own place and bearing my little sons there, I shall come back to you — this word of mine is true."

Verse 49 (padma.5.57.49)

एवं प्रोक्ता तया सा तु न मुमोच शुकीं स्वयम् । तदापतिस्तां प्रोवाच विनीतवदनुत्सुकः

evaṁ proktā tayā sā tu na mumoca śukīṁ svayam tadāpatistāṁ provāca vinītavadanutsukaḥ

Though she spoke thus, Sita would not release the female parrot herself; then her husband said to her, humbly, though still eager —

Verse 50 (padma.5.57.50)

सीते मुंच कथं भार्यां रक्षसे मे मनोहरीम् । आवां गच्छाव विपिने विचरावः सुखं वने

sīte muṁca kathaṁ bhāryāṁ rakṣase me manoharīm āvāṁ gacchāva vipine vicarāvaḥ sukhaṁ vane

"O Sita, why do you keep this lovely wife of mine from me? Let the two of us go into the forest, and roam there happily together."

Verse 51 (padma.5.57.51)

अंतर्वत्नी तु वर्तेत भार्या मम मनोरमा । तस्याः प्रसूतिं कृत्वा त्वामागमिष्यामि शोभने

aṁtarvatnī tu varteta bhāryā mama manoramā tasyāḥ prasūtiṁ kṛtvā tvāmāgamiṣyāmi śobhane

"My lovely wife is with child; having seen to her delivery, I shall come back to you again, O radiant one."

Verse 52 (padma.5.57.52)

इत्युक्ता निजगादेमं सुखं गच्छ महामते । एतां रक्षामि सुखिनीं मत्पार्श्वे प्रियकारिणीम्

ityuktā nijagādemaṁ sukhaṁ gaccha mahāmate etāṁ rakṣāmi sukhinīṁ matpārśve priyakāriṇīm

Thus addressed, Sita said to him: "Go happily, O great-hearted one, on your own; I shall keep her here beside me, content, for she pleases me well."

Verse 53 (padma.5.57.53)

इत्युक्तो दुःखितः पक्षी तामूचे करुणान्वितः । योगिभिः प्रोच्यते यद्वै तद्वचस्तथ्यमेव हि

ityukto duḥkhitaḥ pakṣī tāmūce karuṇānvitaḥ yogibhiḥ procyate yadvai tadvacastathyameva hi

Told this, that grieving bird, filled with compassion, said to her: "That which the yogis say is indeed a true word —"

Verse 54 (padma.5.57.54)

न वक्तव्यं न वक्तव्यं मौनमाश्रित्य तिष्ठताम् । नोचेत्स वाक्यदोषेण प्राप्नोत्यालानमुन्मदः

na vaktavyaṁ na vaktavyaṁ maunamāśritya tiṣṭhatām nocetsa vākyadoṣeṇa prāpnotyālānamunmadaḥ

"'One should not speak, one should not speak — those who abide should take refuge in silence; otherwise, by the fault of speech, even the joyful creature falls into bondage.'"

Verse 55 (padma.5.57.55)

वयं चेदत्र वाक्यं नाकरिष्याम नगोपरि । बंधनं कथमावां स्यात्तस्मान्मौनं समाचरेत्

vayaṁ cedatra vākyaṁ nākariṣyāma nagopari baṁdhanaṁ kathamāvāṁ syāttasmānmaunaṁ samācaret

"Had we not spoken that word upon that mountain, how would this bondage of ours ever have come about? Therefore silence alone should be practiced."

Verse 56 (padma.5.57.56)

इत्युक्त्वा तां प्रत्युवाच नाहं जीवामि सुंदरि । एतया भार्यया सीते तस्मान्मुंच मनोहरे

ityuktvā tāṁ pratyuvāca nāhaṁ jīvāmi suṁdari etayā bhāryayā sīte tasmānmuṁca manohare

Having spoken thus, he said to her: "O beautiful one, I cannot live without this wife; therefore, lovely Sita, release her."

Verse 57 (padma.5.57.57)

अनेकविधवाक्यैः सा बोधिता नामुचत्तदा । कुपिता दुःखिता भार्या शशाप जनकात्मजाम्

anekavidhavākyaiḥ sā bodhitā nāmucattadā kupitā duḥkhitā bhāryā śaśāpa janakātmajām

Though pleaded with by words of every kind, still she would not release her; then, enraged and grieving, that wife cursed Janaka's daughter —

Verse 58 (padma.5.57.58)

यथा त्वं पतिना सार्धं वियोजयसि मामितः । तथा त्वमपि रामेण वियुक्ता भव गर्भिणी

yathā tvaṁ patinā sārdhaṁ viyojayasi māmitaḥ tathā tvamapi rāmeṇa viyuktā bhava garbhiṇī

"Just as you here separate me from my own husband, so may you too, even while with child, be separated from Rama."

Verse 59 (padma.5.57.59)

इत्युक्तवत्यां तस्यां तु दुःखितायां पुनः पुनः । प्राणा निरगमन्दुःखात्पतिदुःखेन पूरितात्

ityuktavatyāṁ tasyāṁ tu duḥkhitāyāṁ punaḥ punaḥ prāṇā niragamanduḥkhātpatiduḥkhena pūritāt

As she spoke thus, grieving again and again, her very breath departed, from a sorrow filled with her own husband's grief.

Verse 60 (padma.5.57.60)

रामं रामं स्मरंत्याश्च वदंत्यांश्च पुनः पुनः । विमानमागतं सुष्ठु पक्षिणी स्वर्गता बभौ

rāmaṁ rāmaṁ smaraṁtyāśca vadaṁtyāṁśca punaḥ punaḥ vimānamāgataṁ suṣṭhu pakṣiṇī svargatā babhau

Calling to mind Rama, Rama, and speaking of him again and again, that bird, borne away upon a fine celestial car, rose radiant to heaven.

Verse 61 (padma.5.57.61)

तस्यां मृतायां दुःखार्तो भर्ता तस्याः स पक्षिराट् । परमं क्रोधमापन्नो जाह्नव्यां दुःखितोऽपतत्

tasyāṁ mṛtāyāṁ duḥkhārto bhartā tasyāḥ sa pakṣirāṭ paramaṁ krodhamāpanno jāhnavyāṁ duḥkhito'patat

When she died, her husband, that king of birds, stricken with sorrow and seized by the greatest fury, fell grieving into the Ganga.

Verse 62 (padma.5.57.62)

तथा भवामि रामस्य नगरे जनपूरिते । मद्वाक्यादियमुद्विग्ना वियोगेन सुदुःखिता

tathā bhavāmi rāmasya nagare janapūrite madvākyādiyamudvignā viyogena suduḥkhitā

"So may I too become, in Rama's own city, thronged with people, troubled by my very own words, made greatly sorrowful by separation."

Verse 63 (padma.5.57.63)

इत्युक्त्वा स पपातोदे जाह्नव्या भ्रमशोभिते । दुःखितः कुपितो भीतस्तद्वियोगेन कंपितः

ityuktvā sa papātode jāhnavyā bhramaśobhite duḥkhitaḥ kupito bhītastadviyogena kaṁpitaḥ

Having spoken thus, he fell into the waters of the Ganga, resplendent with their eddies, grieving, enraged, afraid, trembling from that separation.

Verse 64 (padma.5.57.64)

क्रुद्धत्वाद्दुःखितत्वाच्च सीताया अपमाननात् । अंत्यजत्वं परं प्राप्तो रजकः क्रोधनाभिधः

kruddhatvādduḥkhitatvācca sītāyā apamānanāt aṁtyajatvaṁ paraṁ prāpto rajakaḥ krodhanābhidhaḥ

From his own fury, his sorrow, and the dishonoring of Sita, he was born into the lowest outcaste birth, as a washerman named Krodhana.

Verse 65 (padma.5.57.65)

यः क्रोधाच्च स्वकान्प्राणान्महतां दुष्टमाचरन् । संत्यजेत्स मृतो याति अंत्यजत्वं द्विजोत्तमः

yaḥ krodhācca svakānprāṇānmahatāṁ duṣṭamācaran saṁtyajetsa mṛto yāti aṁtyajatvaṁ dvijottamaḥ

Whoever, out of anger, casting away his own life, does wickedly against great souls — such a one, O foremost of brahmins, is born, upon dying, into an outcaste birth.

Verse 66 (padma.5.57.66)

तज्जातं रजकोक्त्यासौ निंदिता च वियोगिता । रजकस्य च शापेन वियुक्ता सा वनं गता

tajjātaṁ rajakoktyāsau niṁditā ca viyogitā rajakasya ca śāpena viyuktā sā vanaṁ gatā

Thus was he born; and by that very washerman's word Sita was slandered and separated; and it was by the female parrot's own curse that she, separated, went into the forest.

Verse 67 (padma.5.57.67)

एतत्ते कथितं विप्र यत्ते पृष्टं विदेहजाम् । पुनरत्र परं वृत्तं शृणुष्व निगदामि तत्

etatte kathitaṁ vipra yatte pṛṣṭaṁ videhajām punaratra paraṁ vṛttaṁ śṛṇuṣva nigadāmi tat

This, O brahmin, has been told you, that which you asked concerning Videha's daughter; now hear what else came to pass — I shall tell it further.