The Testing of Rama

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.44.1)

नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन् विधे प्रजानाथ महाप्राज्ञ कृपाकर । श्रावितं शङ्करयशः सतीशङ्करयोः शुभम्

nārada uvāca | brahman vidhe prajānātha mahāprājña kṛpākara | śrāvitaṁ śaṅkarayaśaḥ satīśaṅkarayoḥ śubham

Narada said: "O Brahma, O Creator, O Lord of creatures, greatly wise and gracious one, you have made me hear the glory of Shankara and the auspicious tale of Sati and Shankara."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.44.2)

इदानीं ब्रूहि सत्प्रीत्या परं तद्यश उत्तमम् । किमकार्ष्टां हि तत्स्थौ वै चरितं दम्पती शिवौ

idānīṁ brūhi satprītyā paraṁ tadyaśa uttamam | kimakārṣṭāṁ hi tatsthau vai caritaṁ dampatī śivau

"Now, with true affection, tell me more of that supreme, excellent glory — what deeds did that divine couple, Shiva and his consort, go on to do while dwelling there?"

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.44.3)

ब्रह्मोवाच । सतीशिवचरित्रं च शृणु मे प्रेमतो मुने । लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रित्य चिक्रीडाते सदान्वहम्

brahmovāca | satīśivacaritraṁ ca śṛṇu me premato mune | laukikīṁ gatimāśritya cikrīḍāte sadānvaham

Brahma said: "O sage, hear from me with love the tale of Sati and Shiva; the two of them, following worldly custom, continued to sport together day after day."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.44.4)

ततः सती महादेवी वियोगमलभन्मुने । स्वपतः शङ्करस्येति वदन्त्येके सुबुद्धयः

tataḥ satī mahādevī viyogamalabhanmune | svapataḥ śaṅkarasyeti vadantyeke subuddhayaḥ

"O sage, some wise scholars say that thereafter the great goddess Sati came to be separated from her own husband, Shankara."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.44.5)

वागर्थाविव सम्पृक्तौ शक्तीशौ सर्वदा चितौ । कथं घटेत च तयोर्वियोगस्तत्त्वतो मुने

vāgarthāviva sampṛktau śaktīśau sarvadā citau | kathaṁ ghaṭeta ca tayorviyogastattvato mune

"Shakti and Ishvara are ever conjoined, like word and meaning, both consciousness itself; how then, O sage, could a true separation between the two ever really occur?"

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.44.6)

लीलारुचित्वादथवा सङ्घटेताखिलं च तत् । कुरुते यद्यदीशौ च सतीशौ भवरीतिगौ

līlārucitvādathavā saṅghaṭetākhilaṁ ca tat | kurute yadyadīśau ca satīśau bhavarītigau

"Or else, purely out of a fondness for divine play, all of it may come to pass, whatever those two — Sati and the Lord, following the ways of the world — choose to do."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.44.7)

सा त्यक्ता दक्षजा दृष्ट्वा पतिना जनकाध्वरे । शम्भोरनादरात्तत्र देहं तत्याज सङ्गता

sā tyaktā dakṣajā dṛṣṭvā patinā janakādhvare | śambhoranādarāttatra dehaṁ tatyāja saṅgatā

"Daksha's daughter, finding herself as if forsaken by her husband at her father's sacrifice, and stung by the dishonor shown to Shambhu there, gave up her body on that very spot."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.44.8)

पुनर्हिमालये सैवाविर्भूता नामतः सती । पार्वतीति शिवं प्राप तप्त्वा भूरि विवाहतः

punarhimālaye saivāvirbhūtā nāmataḥ satī | pārvatīti śivaṁ prāpa taptvā bhūri vivāhataḥ

"That same Sati then appeared again in the house of the Himalaya, taking the name Parvati, and after performing great austerity, attained Shiva once more through marriage."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.44.9)

सूत उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य ब्रह्मणः स तु नारदः । पप्रच्छ च विधातारं शिवाशिवमहद्यशः

sūta uvāca | ityākarṇya vacastasya brahmaṇaḥ sa tu nāradaḥ | papraccha ca vidhātāraṁ śivāśivamahadyaśaḥ

Suta said: Hearing this word of Brahma, Narada again questioned the Creator about the great glory of Shiva and Shivā.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.44.10)

नारद उवाच । विष्णुशिष्य महाभाग विधे मे वद विस्तरात् । शिवाशिवचरित्रं तद्भवाचारपरानुगम्

nārada uvāca | viṣṇuśiṣya mahābhāga vidhe me vada vistarāt | śivāśivacaritraṁ tadbhavācāraparānugam

Narada said: "O disciple of Vishnu, O most fortunate one, O Creator, tell me in full detail that tale of Shiva and Shivā, which followed the ways of the world."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.44.11)

किमर्थं शङ्करो जायां तत्याज प्राणतः प्रियाम् । तस्मादाचक्ष्व मे तात विचित्रमिति मन्महे

kimarthaṁ śaṅkaro jāyāṁ tatyāja prāṇataḥ priyām | tasmādācakṣva me tāta vicitramiti manmahe

"For what reason did Shankara forsake his wife, dearer to him than life itself? Tell me that, O father — it seems to me a most strange thing."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.44.12)

कुतोऽध्वरेऽजः पुत्रस्यानादरोऽभूच्छिवस्य ते । कथं तत्याज सा देहं गत्वा तत्र पितुः क्रतौ

kuto'dhvare'jaḥ putrasyānādaro'bhūcchivasya te | kathaṁ tatyāja sā dehaṁ gatvā tatra pituḥ kratau

"Why, at that sacrifice, did the unborn Daksha show dishonor to Shiva? And how did she, having gone there to her father's sacrifice, come to give up her very body?"

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.44.13)

ततः किमभवत्तत्र किमकार्षीन्महेश्वरः । तत्सर्वं मे समाचक्ष्व श्रद्धायुक् तच्छ्रुतावहम्

tataḥ kimabhavattatra kimakārṣīnmaheśvaraḥ | tatsarvaṁ me samācakṣva śraddhāyuk tacchrutāvaham

"What happened there after that, and what did Maheshvara do? Tell me all of it — I am eager, with full reverence, to hear it."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.44.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु तात परप्रीत्या मुनिभिः सह नारद । सुतवर्य महाप्राज्ञ चरितं शशिमौलिनः

brahmovāca | śṛṇu tāta paraprītyā munibhiḥ saha nārada | sutavarya mahāprājña caritaṁ śaśimaulinaḥ

Brahma said: "O Narada, my son, O best of the sons of sages, O greatly wise one — listen, together with the assembled sages, with the deepest love, to this tale of the moon-crested Lord."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.44.15)

नमस्कृत्य महेशानं हर्यादिसुरसेवितम् । परब्रह्म प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्चरित्रं महाद्भुतम्

namaskṛtya maheśānaṁ haryādisurasevitam | parabrahma pravakṣyāmi taccaritraṁ mahādbhutam

"Having bowed to Maheshvara, the Supreme Brahman, served by Vishnu and the other gods, I shall now relate that greatly wondrous tale of his."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.44.16)

सर्वेयं शिवलीला हि बहुलीलाकरः प्रभुः । स्वतन्त्रो निर्विकारी च सती सापि हि तद्विधा

sarveyaṁ śivalīlā hi bahulīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ | svatantro nirvikārī ca satī sāpi hi tadvidhā

"All of this is nothing but Shiva's own divine play; the Lord performs many such plays, being ever independent and unchanging — and Sati too is of that very same nature."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.44.17)

अन्यथा कः समर्थो हि तत्कर्मकरणे मुने । परमात्मा परब्रह्म स एव परमेश्वरः

anyathā kaḥ samartho hi tatkarmakaraṇe mune | paramātmā parabrahma sa eva parameśvaraḥ

"Otherwise, O sage, who else could be capable of performing such an act? That Supreme Self, the Supreme Brahman, is verily the Supreme Lord himself."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.44.18)

यं सदा भजते श्रीशोऽहं चापि सकलाः सुराः । मुनयश्च महात्मानः सिद्धाश्च सनकादयः

yaṁ sadā bhajate śrīśo'haṁ cāpi sakalāḥ surāḥ | munayaśca mahātmānaḥ siddhāśca sanakādayaḥ

"He whom the Lord of Shri, and I myself, and all the gods, sages, great souls, and the perfected ones headed by Sanaka ever worship —"

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.44.19)

शेषः सदा यशो यस्य मुदा गायति नित्यशः । पारं न लभते तात स प्रभुः शङ्करः शिवः

śeṣaḥ sadā yaśo yasya mudā gāyati nityaśaḥ | pāraṁ na labhate tāta sa prabhuḥ śaṅkaraḥ śivaḥ

"— whose glory Shesha himself sings joyfully without end, yet never reaches its limit — that, my child, is the Lord Shankara, Shiva."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.44.20)

तस्यैव लीलया सर्वोऽयमिति तत्त्वविभ्रमः । तत्र दोषो न कस्यापि सर्वव्यापी स प्रेरकः

tasyaiva līlayā sarvo'yamiti tattvavibhramaḥ | tatra doṣo na kasyāpi sarvavyāpī sa prerakaḥ

"This whole appearance of confusion regarding the truth is likewise his own play; in it there is no fault of anyone's, for he alone, pervading all, is the mover behind it."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.44.21)

एकस्मिन्समये रुद्रः सत्या त्रिभवने भवः । वृषमारुह्य पर्याटद्रसां लीलाविशारदः

ekasminsamaye rudraḥ satyā tribhavane bhavaḥ | vṛṣamāruhya paryāṭadrasāṁ līlāviśāradaḥ

At one time, Rudra, Bhava, skilled in divine play, mounted his bull and set out roaming the earth together with Sati through all three worlds.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.44.22)

आगत्य दण्डकारण्यं पर्यटन् सागराम्बराम् । दर्शयन् तत्रगां शोभां सत्यै सत्यपणः प्रभुः

āgatya daṇḍakāraṇyaṁ paryaṭan sāgarāmbarām | darśayan tatragāṁ śobhāṁ satyai satyapaṇaḥ prabhuḥ

The Lord, whose every promise is ever true, came to the Dandaka forest and, wandering across the ocean-girdled earth, showed Sati the beauty of that region.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.44.23)

तत्र रामं ददर्शासौ लक्ष्मणेनान्वितं हरः । अन्विष्यन्तं प्रियां सीतां रावणेन हृतां छलात्

tatra rāmaṁ dadarśāsau lakṣmaṇenānvitaṁ haraḥ | anviṣyantaṁ priyāṁ sītāṁ rāvaṇena hṛtāṁ chalāt

There Hara saw Rama, together with Lakshmana, searching for his beloved Sita, who had been stolen away by Ravana through deceit.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.44.24)

हा सीतेति प्रोच्चरन्तं विरहाविष्टमानसम् । यतस्ततश्च पश्यन्तं रुदन्तं हि मुहुर्मुहुः

hā sīteti proccarantaṁ virahāviṣṭamānasam | yatastataśca paśyantaṁ rudantaṁ hi muhurmuhuḥ

He was crying out again and again, "Alas, Sita!", his mind overcome by separation, looking here and there, weeping over and over.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.44.25)

समिच्छन्तं च तत्प्राप्तिं पृच्छन्तं तद्गतिं हृदा । कुजादिभ्यो नष्टधियमत्रपं शोकविह्वलम्

samicchantaṁ ca tatprāptiṁ pṛcchantaṁ tadgatiṁ hṛdā | kujādibhyo naṣṭadhiyamatrapaṁ śokavihvalam

He longed with all his heart to find her again, asking even the trees and shrubs where she had gone, his reason overwhelmed by grief, past all restraint, undone by sorrow.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.44.26)

सूर्यवंशोद्भवं वीरं भूपं दशरथात्मजम् । भरताग्रजमानन्दरहितं विगतप्रभम्

sūryavaṁśodbhavaṁ vīraṁ bhūpaṁ daśarathātmajam | bharatāgrajamānandarahitaṁ vigataprabham

This hero, born of the solar dynasty, king, son of Dasharatha, elder brother of Bharata — was, at that moment, bereft of all joy and stripped of his radiance.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.44.27)

पूर्णकामो वराधीनं प्राणमत्स्म मुदा हरः । रामं भ्रमन्तं विपिने सलक्ष्मणमुदारधीः

pūrṇakāmo varādhīnaṁ prāṇamatsma mudā haraḥ | rāmaṁ bhramantaṁ vipine salakṣmaṇamudāradhīḥ

Hara — ever fulfilled in desire, magnanimous of mind — joyfully bowed down to Rama, subject to that boon of his, wandering the forest together with Lakshmana.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.44.28)

जयेत्युक्त्वान्यतोऽगच्छन्नदात्तस्मै स्वदर्शनम् । रामाय विपिने तस्मिन् शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः

jayetyuktvānyato'gacchannadāttasmai svadarśanam | rāmāya vipine tasmin śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ

Saying only "Victory to you," compassionate Shankara did not reveal his own true form to Rama in that forest, but went elsewhere.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.44.29)

इतीदृशीं सती दृष्ट्वा शिवलीलां विमोहनीम् । सुविस्मिता शिवं प्राह शिवमायाविमोहिता

itīdṛśīṁ satī dṛṣṭvā śivalīlāṁ vimohanīm | suvismitā śivaṁ prāha śivamāyāvimohitā

Seeing this bewildering play of Shiva's, Sati was greatly astonished, and, herself bewildered by Shiva's own power of illusion, spoke to Shiva.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.44.30)

सत्युवाच । देवदेव परब्रह्म सर्वेश परमेश्वर । सेवन्ते त्वां सदा सर्वे हरिब्रह्मादयः सुराः

satyuvāca | devadeva parabrahma sarveśa parameśvara | sevante tvāṁ sadā sarve haribrahmādayaḥ surāḥ

Sati said: "O God of gods, Supreme Brahman, Lord of all, Supreme Ishvara — Hari, Brahma, and all the gods ever render service unto you."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.44.31)

त्वं प्रणम्यो हि सर्वेषां सेव्यो ध्येयश्च सर्वदा । वेदान्तवेद्यो यत्नेन निर्विकारी परप्रभुः

tvaṁ praṇamyo hi sarveṣāṁ sevyo dhyeyaśca sarvadā | vedāntavedyo yatnena nirvikārī paraprabhuḥ

"You alone are worthy to be bowed to, served, and meditated upon by all, ever the supreme, unchanging Lord, to be known only through the diligent study of the Vedanta."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.44.32)

काविमौ पुरुषौ नाथ विरहव्याकुलाकृती । विचरन्तौ वने क्लिष्टौ दीनौ वीरौ धनुर्धरौ

kāvimau puruṣau nātha virahavyākulākṛtī | vicarantau vane kliṣṭau dīnau vīrau dhanurdharau

"O Lord, who are these two men, their forms so distressed with separation, suffering, wretched, and yet heroic bowmen, wandering here in the forest?"

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.44.33)

तयोर्ज्येष्ठं कञ्जश्यामं दृष्ट्वा वै केन हेतुना । मुदितः सुप्रसन्नात्माभवो भक्त इवाधुना

tayorjyeṣṭhaṁ kañjaśyāmaṁ dṛṣṭvā vai kena hetunā | muditaḥ suprasannātmābhavo bhakta ivādhunā

"Seeing the elder of the two, dark as a blue lotus, why did you become so delighted, so gladdened in spirit, just now — as if you yourself were his devotee?"

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.44.34)

इति मे संशयं स्वामिन् शङ्कर छेत्तुमर्हसि । सेव्यस्य सेवके नैव घटते प्रणतिः प्रभो

iti me saṁśayaṁ svāmin śaṅkara chettumarhasi | sevyasya sevake naiva ghaṭate praṇatiḥ prabho

"O Lord, O Shankara, you should dispel this doubt of mine; for, my Lord, it can never be fitting for the one who is served to bow before the one who serves him."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.44.35)

ब्रह्मोवाच । आदिशक्तिः सती देवी शिवा सा परमेश्वरी । शिवमायावशी भूत्वा पप्रच्छेत्थं शिवं प्रभुम्

brahmovāca | ādiśaktiḥ satī devī śivā sā parameśvarī | śivamāyāvaśī bhūtvā papracchetthaṁ śivaṁ prabhum

Brahma said: The goddess Sati, the primordial Shakti, that Supreme Ishvari, Shivā, thus came under the sway of Shiva's own illusion and questioned the Lord Shiva in this way.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.44.36)

तदाकर्ण्य वचः सत्याः शङ्करः परमेश्वरः । तदा विहस्य स प्राह सतीं लीलाविशारदः

tadākarṇya vacaḥ satyāḥ śaṅkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ | tadā vihasya sa prāha satīṁ līlāviśāradaḥ

Hearing Sati's words, Shankara, the Supreme Lord, skilled in divine play, then smiled and spoke to Sati.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.44.37)

परमेश्वर उवाच । शृणु देवि सति प्रीत्या यथार्थं वच्मि नच्छलम् । वरदानप्रभावात्तु प्रणामं चैवमादरात्

parameśvara uvāca | śṛṇu devi sati prītyā yathārthaṁ vacmi nacchalam | varadānaprabhāvāttu praṇāmaṁ caivamādarāt

The Supreme Lord said: "Listen with love, O goddess Sati; I speak the truth, without any deceit. It was owing to the power of a boon that I bowed to him thus, with such reverence."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.44.38)

रामलक्ष्मणनामानौ भ्रातरौ वीरसम्मतौ । सूर्यवंशोद्भवौ देवि प्राज्ञौ दशरथात्मजौ

rāmalakṣmaṇanāmānau bhrātarau vīrasammatau | sūryavaṁśodbhavau devi prājñau daśarathātmajau

"O goddess, these two brothers are named Rama and Lakshmana; both are honored among heroes, born of the solar dynasty, wise, and sons of Dasharatha."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.44.39)

गौरवर्णौ लघुर्बन्धुः शेषेशो लक्ष्मणाभिधः । ज्येष्ठो रामाभिधो विष्णुः पूर्णांशो निरुपद्रवः

gauravarṇau laghurbandhuḥ śeṣeśo lakṣmaṇābhidhaḥ | jyeṣṭho rāmābhidho viṣṇuḥ pūrṇāṁśo nirupadravaḥ

"The younger, fair of hue, named Lakshmana, is Shesha, lord of serpents, himself; the elder, named Rama, is Vishnu himself, come down in his full and undiminished portion, free of all disturbance."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.44.40)

अवतीर्णः क्षितौ साधुरक्षणाय भवाय नः । इत्युक्त्वा विररामासौ शम्भुः सूतिकरः प्रभुः

avatīrṇaḥ kṣitau sādhurakṣaṇāya bhavāya naḥ | ityuktvā virarāmāsau śambhuḥ sūtikaraḥ prabhuḥ

"He has descended to the earth for the protection of the righteous, for our own well-being." Having said this, Shambhu, the Lord who brings all beings into existence, fell silent.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.44.41)

श्रुत्वापीत्थं वचः शम्भोर्न विशश्वास तन्मनः । शिवमाया बलवती सैव त्रैलोक्यमोहिनी

śrutvāpītthaṁ vacaḥ śambhorna viśaśvāsa tanmanaḥ | śivamāyā balavatī saiva trailokyamohinī

Yet, even after hearing these words of Shambhu's, Sati's mind could not fully believe them; for the power of Shiva's own illusion is so mighty that it bewilders even the three worlds.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.44.42)

अविश्वस्तं मनो ज्ञात्वा तस्याः शम्भुः सनातनः । अवोचद्वचनं चेति प्रभुर्लीलाविशारदः

aviśvastaṁ mano jñātvā tasyāḥ śambhuḥ sanātanaḥ | avocadvacanaṁ ceti prabhurlīlāviśāradaḥ

Knowing her mind to be unconvinced, the eternal Lord Shambhu, ever skilled in divine play, then spoke these words.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.44.43)

शिव उवाच । शृणु मद्वचनं देवि न विश्वसिति चेन्मनः । तव रामपरिक्षां हि कुरु तत्र स्वया धिया

śiva uvāca | śṛṇu madvacanaṁ devi na viśvasiti cenmanaḥ | tava rāmaparikṣāṁ hi kuru tatra svayā dhiyā

Shiva said: "Listen to my word, goddess; if your mind does not believe me, then go and test Rama yourself, by your own judgment."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.44.44)

विनश्यति यथा मोहस्तत्कुरु त्वं सति प्रिये । गत्वा तत्र स्थितस्तावद् वटे भव परीक्षिका

vinaśyati yathā mohastatkuru tvaṁ sati priye | gatvā tatra sthitastāvad vaṭe bhava parīkṣikā

"Do whatever will dispel your delusion, my beloved Sati; meanwhile I shall remain right here beneath this banyan tree — go and test him yourself."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.44.45)

ब्रह्मोवाच । शिवाज्ञया सती तत्र गत्वाचिन्तयदीश्वरी । कुर्यां परीक्षां च कथं रामस्य वनचारिणः

brahmovāca | śivājñayā satī tatra gatvācintayadīśvarī | kuryāṁ parīkṣāṁ ca kathaṁ rāmasya vanacāriṇaḥ

Brahma said: At Shiva's command, the goddess went forth and began to consider how she might test Rama, wandering there in the forest.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.44.46)

सीतारूपमहं धृत्वा गच्छेयं रामसन्निधौ । यदि रामो हरिः सर्वं विज्ञास्यति न चान्यथा

sītārūpamahaṁ dhṛtvā gaccheyaṁ rāmasannidhau | yadi rāmo hariḥ sarvaṁ vijñāsyati na cānyathā

"If I take the form of Sita and go before Rama — then, if Rama is truly Hari himself, he will know everything at once; otherwise he will not."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.44.47)

इत्थं विचार्य सीता सा भूत्वा रामसमीपतः । अगमत्तत्परीक्षार्थं सती मोहपरायणा

itthaṁ vicārya sītā sā bhūtvā rāmasamīpataḥ | agamattatparīkṣārthaṁ satī mohaparāyaṇā

Having thought thus, Sati, still caught in delusion, took on the form of Sita and went close to Rama, in order to test him.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.44.48)

सीतारूपां सतीं दृष्ट्वा जपन्नाम शिवेति च । विहस्य तत्प्रविज्ञाय नत्वावोचद् रघूद्वहः

sītārūpāṁ satīṁ dṛṣṭvā japannāma śiveti ca | vihasya tatpravijñāya natvāvocad raghūdvahaḥ

Seeing Sati in the guise of Sita, and even as he silently repeated the name "Shiva," Rama, foremost of the Raghus, smiled, understood everything at once, bowed, and spoke.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.44.49)

श्रीराम उवाच । प्रेमतस्त्वं सति ब्रूहि क्व शम्भुस्ते नमो गतः । एकाकी विपिने कस्मादागता पतिना विना

śrīrāma uvāca | prematastvaṁ sati brūhi kva śambhuste namo gataḥ | ekākī vipine kasmādāgatā patinā vinā

Shri Rama said: "Tell me lovingly, O Sati — where is your Shambhu, to whom I bow? Why have you come here alone into this forest, without your husband?"

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.44.50)

त्यक्त्वा स्वरूपं कस्मात्ते धृतं रूपमिदं सति । ब्रूहि तत्कारणं देवि कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि

tyaktvā svarūpaṁ kasmātte dhṛtaṁ rūpamidaṁ sati | brūhi tatkāraṇaṁ devi kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mamopari

"Why, O Sati, having set aside your own true form, have you assumed this form instead? Tell me the reason, O goddess, and show me your grace."

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.44.51)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति रामवचः श्रुत्वा चकितासीत्सती तदा । स्मृत्वा शिवोक्तं मत्वा चावितथं लज्जिता भृशम्

brahmovāca | iti rāmavacaḥ śrutvā cakitāsītsatī tadā | smṛtvā śivoktaṁ matvā cāvitathaṁ lajjitā bhṛśam

Brahma said: Hearing these words of Rama, Sati was struck with astonishment; remembering what Shiva had told her, and now knowing it to be true, she was overcome with deep shame.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.44.52)

रामं विज्ञाय विष्णुं तं स्वरूपं संविधाय च । स्मृत्वा शिवपदं चित्ते सत्युवाच प्रसन्नधीः

rāmaṁ vijñāya viṣṇuṁ taṁ svarūpaṁ saṁvidhāya ca | smṛtvā śivapadaṁ citte satyuvāca prasannadhīḥ

Recognizing Rama now as Vishnu himself, resuming her own true form, and calling to mind the feet of Shiva, Sati, her mind now at peace, spoke.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.44.53)

शिवो मया गणैश्चैव पर्यटन् वसुधां प्रभुः । इहागच्छच्च विपिने स्वतन्त्रः परमेश्वरः

śivo mayā gaṇaiścaiva paryaṭan vasudhāṁ prabhuḥ | ihāgacchacca vipine svatantraḥ parameśvaraḥ

"The Lord Shiva, wandering the earth with me and his attendants, being himself the free and Supreme Lord, came to this very forest."

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.44.54)

अपश्यदत्र स त्वां हि सीतान्वेषणतत्परम् । सलक्ष्मणं विरहिणं सीतया क्लिष्टमानसम्

apaśyadatra sa tvāṁ hi sītānveṣaṇatatparam | salakṣmaṇaṁ virahiṇaṁ sītayā kliṣṭamānasam

"There he saw you, intent upon searching for Sita, together with Lakshmana, your mind afflicted with grief at your separation from her."

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.44.55)

नत्वा त्वां स गतो मूले वटस्य स्थित एव हि । प्रशंसन् महिमानं ते वैष्णवं परमं मुदा

natvā tvāṁ sa gato mūle vaṭasya sthita eva hi | praśaṁsan mahimānaṁ te vaiṣṇavaṁ paramaṁ mudā

"Having bowed to you, he has remained there, right at the foot of that banyan tree, joyfully praising your supreme Vaishnava glory."

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.44.56)

चतुर्भुजं हरिं त्वां नो दृष्ट्वैव मुदितोऽभवत् । यथेदं रूपममलं पश्यन्नानन्दमाप्तवान्

caturbhujaṁ hariṁ tvāṁ no dṛṣṭvaiva mudito'bhavat | yathedaṁ rūpamamalaṁ paśyannānandamāptavān

"Even without seeing you in your four-armed form as Hari, he was already filled with delight, as though the mere sight of this spotless form of yours had been enough to bring him joy."

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.44.57)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं शम्भोर्भ्रममानीय चेतसि । तदाज्ञया परीक्षां ते कृतवत्यस्मि राघव

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ śambhorbhramamānīya cetasi | tadājñayā parīkṣāṁ te kṛtavatyasmi rāghava

"Hearing that word of Shambhu's, a doubt arose in my mind, O descendant of Raghu, and it was at his very command that I have come to test you thus."

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.44.58)

ज्ञातं मे राम विष्णुस्त्वं दृष्टा ते प्रभुताखिला । निःसंशया तदापि तच्छृणु त्वं च महामते

jñātaṁ me rāma viṣṇustvaṁ dṛṣṭā te prabhutākhilā | niḥsaṁśayā tadāpi tacchṛṇu tvaṁ ca mahāmate

"O Rama, now I know that you are Vishnu himself; I have seen the whole of your divine sovereignty, and I am now free of all doubt; yet still, O wise one, hear this from me."

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.44.59)

कथं प्रणम्यस्त्वं तस्य सत्यं ब्रूहि ममाग्रतः । कुरु निःसंशयां त्वं मां शमलं प्राप्नुहि द्रुतम्

kathaṁ praṇamyastvaṁ tasya satyaṁ brūhi mamāgrataḥ | kuru niḥsaṁśayāṁ tvaṁ māṁ śamalaṁ prāpnuhi drutam

"Then how is it that you yourself must bow to him? Tell me this truth before me; free me wholly of my doubt, and swiftly remove this fault of mine."

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.44.60)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्या रामश्चोत्फुल्ललोचनः । अस्मरत्स्वं प्रभुं शम्भुं प्रेमाभूद् हृदि चाधिकम्

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacastasyā rāmaścotphullalocanaḥ | asmaratsvaṁ prabhuṁ śambhuṁ premābhūd hṛdi cādhikam

Brahma said: Hearing these words of Sati's, Rama's eyes lit up with joy; he called to mind his own Lord Shambhu, and love welled up even more abundantly in his heart.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.44.61)

सत्या विनाज्ञया शम्भुसमीपं नागमन्मुने । संवर्ण्य महिमानं च प्रावोचद्राघवः सतीम्

satyā vinājñayā śambhusamīpaṁ nāgamanmune | saṁvarṇya mahimānaṁ ca prāvocadrāghavaḥ satīm

O sage, Raghava did not go himself to Shambhu without Sati's leave, but, having praised his greatness at length, spoke on to Sati.