Crossing the Yamuna

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.55.1)

उषित्वा रजनीं तत्र राजपुत्रावरिंदमौ। महर्षिमभिवाद्याथ जग्मतुस्तं गिरिं प्रति॥ २-५५-१ ॥

uṣitvā rajanīṃ tatra rājaputrāvariṃdamau | maharṣimabhivādyātha jagmatustaṃ giriṃ prati

Having passed the night there, those two princes, tamers of their foes, bowed to the great sage and set out toward that mountain.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.55.2)

तेषां चैव स्वस्त्ययनं महर्षिः स चकार ह। प्रस्थितांश्चैव तान् प्रेक्ष्य पिता पुत्रानिवान्वगात्॥ २-५५-२ ॥

teṣāṃ caiva svastyayanaṃ maharṣiḥ sa cakāra ha | prasthitāṃścaiva tān prekṣya pitā putrānivānvagāt

The great sage performed the rite of blessing for them; and seeing them set out, he walked on a way with them, as a father goes with his own sons.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.55.3)

ततः प्रचक्रमे वक्तुं वचनं स महामुनिः। भरद्वाजो महातेजा रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्॥ २-५५-३ ॥

tataḥ pracakrame vaktuṃ vacanaṃ sa mahāmuniḥ | bharadvājo mahātejā rāmaṃ satyaparākramam

Then the greatly radiant sage Bharadvaja began to speak these words to Rama, true in his valour.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.55.4)

गङ्गायमुनयोः सन्धिमासाद्य मनुजर्षभौ। कालिन्दीमनुगच्छेतां नदीं पश्चान्मुखाश्रिताम्॥ २-५५-४ ॥

gaṅgāyamunayoḥ sandhimāsādya manujarṣabhau | kālindīmanugacchetāṃ nadīṃ paścānmukhāśritām

"O best of men, having reached the meeting of Ganga and Yamuna, follow along the Kalindi, the river that bends toward the west."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.55.5)

अथासाद्य तु कालिन्दीं शीघ्रस्रोतसमापगाम्। तस्यास्तीर्थं प्रचरितं पुराणं प्रेक्ष्य राघव। तत्र यूयं प्लवं कृत्वा तरतांशुमतीं नदीम्॥ २-५५-५ ॥

athāsādya tu kālindīṃ śīghrasrotasamāpagām | tasyāstīrthaṃ pracaritaṃ purāṇaṃ prekṣya rāghava | tatra yūyaṃ plavaṃ kṛtvā taratāṃśumatīṃ nadīm

"Then, Raghava, on reaching that ancient, swift-flowing Kalindi, and finding its well-known crossing-place, make there a raft and cross the sun's daughter, Yamuna."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.55.6)

ततो न्यग्रोधमासाद्य महान्तं हरितच्छदम्॥ २-५५-६ ॥

tato nyagrodhamāsādya mahāntaṃ haritacchadam

"After that you will come upon a great banyan tree, thick with green leaves."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.55.7)

विवृद्धं बहुभिर्वृक्षैः श्यामं सिद्धोपसेवितम्। तस्मै सीताञ्जलिं कृत्वा प्रयुञ्जीताशिषः शिवाः॥ २-५५-७ ॥

vivṛddhaṃ bahubhirvṛkṣaiḥ śyāmaṃ siddhopasevitam | tasmai sītāñjaliṃ kṛtvā prayuñjītāśiṣaḥ śivāḥ

"Grown thick, ringed by many trees, dark-green, and frequented by siddhas - to that tree let Sita, with joined palms, offer her auspicious prayer."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.55.8)

समासाद्य तु तं वृक्षं वसेद्वातिक्रमेत वा। क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा नीलं द्रक्ष्यथ काननम्। पलाशबदरीमिश्रं रम्यं वंशैश्च यामुनैः॥ २-५५-८ ॥

samāsādya tu taṃ vṛkṣaṃ vasedvātikrameta vā | krośamātraṃ tato gatvā nīlaṃ drakṣyatha kānanam | palāśabadarīmiśraṃ ramyaṃ vaṃśaiśca yāmunaiḥ

"Reaching that tree, you may stay a while or pass on; going a league further, you will see a lovely forest, blue in hue, set with palasha and jujube trees and bamboo growing along the Yamuna."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.55.9)

स पन्थाश्चित्रकूटस्य गतः सुबहुशो मया। रम्यो मार्दवयुक्तश्च वनदावैर्विवर्जितः॥ २-५५-९ ॥

sa panthāścitrakūṭasya gataḥ subahuśo mayā | ramyo mārdavayuktaśca vanadāvairvivarjitaḥ

"This is the very path by which I myself have gone to Chitrakuta many times; it is pleasant, easy underfoot, and free of forest fires."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.55.10)

इति पन्थानमावेद्य महर्षिः स न्यवर्तत। अभिवाद्य तथेत्युक्त्वा रामेण विनिवर्तितः॥ २-५५-१० ॥

iti panthānamāvedya maharṣiḥ sa nyavartata | abhivādya tathetyuktvā rāmeṇa vinivartitaḥ

Having thus shown the way, the great sage turned back; persuaded to return once Rama had bowed to him and said, 'So be it.'

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.55.11)

उपावृत्ते मुनौ तस्मिन् रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्। कृतपुण्याः स्म सौमित्रे मुनिर्यन्नोऽनुकम्पते॥ २-५५-११ ॥

upāvṛtte munau tasmin rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt | kṛtapuṇyāḥ sma saumitre muniryanno'nukampate

When that sage had turned back, Rama said to Lakshmana, "We are blessed indeed, Saumitri, that this sage shows us such kindness."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.55.12)

इति तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ मन्त्रयित्वा मनस्विनौ। सीतामेवाग्रतः कृत्वा कालिन्दीं जग्मतुर्नदीम्॥ २-५५-१२ ॥

iti tau puruṣavyāghrau mantrayitvā manasvinau | sītāmevāgrataḥ kṛtvā kālindīṃ jagmaturnadīm

Speaking thus, those two resolute tigers among men set out toward the river Kalindi, keeping Sita ahead of them.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.55.13)

अथासाद्य तु कालिन्दीं शीघ्रस्रोतोवहां नदीम्। चिन्तामापेदिरे सर्वे नदीजलतितीर्षवः॥ २-५५-१३ ॥

athāsādya tu kālindīṃ śīghrasrotovahāṃ nadīm | cintāmāpedire sarve nadījalatitīrṣavaḥ

Reaching that swift-flowing Kalindi, they all fell to wondering how to cross her waters.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.55.14)

तौ काष्ठसंघातमथो चक्रतुस्तु महाप्लवम्। शुष्कैर्वंशैः समास्तीर्णमुशीरैश्च समावृतम्॥ २-५५-१४ ॥

tau kāṣṭhasaṃghātamatho cakratustu mahāplavam | śuṣkairvaṃśaiḥ samāstīrṇamuśīraiśca samāvṛtam

Then the two of them made a great raft of gathered timber, spread with dry bamboo and covered over with fragrant grass.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.55.15)

ततो वेतसशाखाश्च जम्बूशाखाश्च वीर्यवान्। चकार लक्ष्मणश्छित्त्वा सीतायाः सुखमासनम्॥ २-५५-१५ ॥

tato vetasaśākhāśca jambūśākhāśca vīryavān | cakāra lakṣmaṇaśchittvā sītāyāḥ sukhamāsanam

Then the valiant Lakshmana, cutting branches of cane and rose-apple, fashioned a comfortable seat for Sita.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.55.16)

तत्र श्रियमिवाचिन्त्यां रामो दाशरथिः प्रियाम्। ईषत्स लज्जमानां तामध्यारोपयत प्लवम्॥ २-५५-१६ ॥

tatra śriyamivācintyāṃ rāmo dāśarathiḥ priyām | īṣatsa lajjamānāṃ tāmadhyāropayata plavam

There Dasharatha's son gently helped his beloved, somewhat bashful, unimaginably lovely as Fortune herself, up onto that raft.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.55.17)

पार्श्वे च तत्र वैदेह्या वसने भूषणानि च। प्लवे कठिनकाजं च रामश्चक्रे सहायुधैः॥ २-५५-१७ ॥

pārśve ca tatra vaidehyā vasane bhūṣaṇāni ca | plave kaṭhinakājaṃ ca rāmaścakre sahāyudhaiḥ

There, beside Vaidehi, he placed her garments and ornaments, and Rama also set upon the raft the digging-tool and the basket, together with the weapons.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.55.18)

आरोप्य प्रथमं सीतां संघाटं प्रतिगृह्य तौ। ततः प्रतेरतुर्यत्तौ वीरौ दशरथात्मजौ॥ २-५५-१८ ॥

āropya prathamaṃ sītāṃ saṃghāṭaṃ pratigṛhya tau | tataḥ prateraturyattau vīrau daśarathātmajau

Helping Sita aboard first, and then taking hold of the raft themselves, those two valiant sons of Dasharatha began to row.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.55.19)

कालिन्दीमध्यमायाता सीता त्वेनामवन्दत। स्वस्ति देवि तरामि त्वां पारयेन्मे पतिव्रतम्॥ २-५५-१९ ॥

kālindīmadhyamāyātā sītā tvenāmavandata | svasti devi tarāmi tvāṃ pārayenme pativratam

Reaching the middle of the Kalindi's stream, Sita bowed to her: "O goddess, I cross you now - may all be well; guard my vow of devotion to my husband."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.55.20)

यक्ष्ये त्वां गोसहस्रेण सुराघटशतेन च। स्वस्ति प्रत्यागते रामे पुरीमिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम्॥ २-५५-२० ॥

yakṣye tvāṃ gosahasreṇa surāghaṭaśatena ca | svasti pratyāgate rāme purīmikṣvākupālitām

"I shall worship you with a thousand cows and a hundred vessels of choice offering, when Rama returns safely to the city ruled by the Ikshvakus."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.55.21)

कालिन्दीमथ सीता तु याचमाना कृताञ्जलिः। तीरमेवाभिसम्प्राप्ता दक्षिणं वरवर्णिनी॥ २-५५-२१ ॥

kālindīmatha sītā tu yācamānā kṛtāñjaliḥ | tīramevābhisamprāptā dakṣiṇaṃ varavarṇinī

Thus praying with joined palms to the Kalindi, the fair Sita soon reached the southern bank.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.55.22)

ततः प्लवेनांशुमतीं शीघ्रगामूर्मिमालिनीम्। तीरजैर्बहुभिर्वृक्षैः संतेरुर्यमुनां नदीम्॥ २-५५-२२ ॥

tataḥ plavenāṃśumatīṃ śīghragāmūrmimālinīm | tīrajairbahubhirvṛkṣaiḥ saṃteruryamunāṃ nadīm

In this way, by the raft, they crossed the swift-flowing Yamuna, garlanded with waves and graced by many trees along her banks.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.55.23)

ते तीर्णाः प्लवमुत्सृज्य प्रस्थाय यमुनावनात्। श्यामं न्यग्रोधमासेदुः शीतलं हरितच्छदम्॥ २-५५-२३ ॥

te tīrṇāḥ plavamutsṛjya prasthāya yamunāvanāt | śyāmaṃ nyagrodhamāseduḥ śītalaṃ haritacchadam

Having crossed, and leaving the raft behind, they went on from that Yamuna forest and reached the cool, green-leaved Shyama banyan.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.55.24)

न्यग्रोधं तमुपागम्य वैदेही वाक्यमब्रवीत्। नमस्तेऽस्तु महावृक्ष पारयेन्मे पतिव्रतम्॥ २-५५-२४ ॥

nyagrodhaṃ tamupāgamya vaidehī vākyamabravīt | namaste'stu mahāvṛkṣa pārayenme pativratam

Coming to that banyan, Vaidehi spoke: "Homage to you, great tree; guard my vow of devotion to my husband."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.55.25)

कौसल्यां चैव पश्येयं सुमित्रां च यशस्विनीम्। इति सीताञ्जलिं कृत्वा पर्यगच्छद्वनस्पतिम्॥ २-५५-२५ ॥

kausalyāṃ caiva paśyeyaṃ sumitrāṃ ca yaśasvinīm | iti sītāñjaliṃ kṛtvā paryagacchadvanaspatim

"May I see Kausalya and glorious Sumitra again." So saying, Sita, with joined palms, walked around that great tree.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.55.26)

अवलोक्य ततः सीतामायाचन्तीमनिन्दिताम्। दयितां च विधेयां च रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्॥ २-५५-२६ ॥

avalokya tataḥ sītāmāyācantīmaninditām | dayitāṃ ca vidheyāṃ ca rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt

Seeing blameless Sita thus praying - his beloved, obedient wife - Rama spoke to Lakshmana.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.55.27)

सीतामादाय गच्छ त्वमग्रतो भरतानुज। पृष्ठतोऽहं गमिष्यामि सायुधो द्विपदां वर॥ २-५५-२७ ॥

sītāmādāya gaccha tvamagrato bharatānuja | pṛṣṭhato'haṃ gamiṣyāmi sāyudho dvipadāṃ vara

"Bharata's younger brother, take Sita and go ahead; I, weapon in hand, shall follow behind, O best of men."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.55.28)

यद्यत्फलं प्रार्थयते पुष्पं वा जनकात्मजा। तत्तत्प्रदद्या वैदेह्या यत्रास्या रमते मनः॥ २-५५-२८ ॥

yadyatphalaṃ prārthayate puṣpaṃ vā janakātmajā | tattatpradadyā vaidehyā yatrāsyā ramate manaḥ

"Whatever fruit or flower Janaka's daughter may desire, whatever delights her mind - give that to Vaidehi."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.55.29)

गच्छतोस्तु तयोर्मध्ये बभूव जनकात्मजा। मातङ्गयोर्मध्यगता शुभा नागवधूरिव॥ २-५५-२९ ॥

gacchatostu tayormadhye babhūva janakātmajā | mātaṅgayormadhyagatā śubhā nāgavadhūriva

So walking between the two of them, Janaka's daughter shone like a fair young elephant-cow walking between two mighty tuskers.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.55.30)

एकैकं पादपं गुल्मं लतां वा पुष्पशालिनीम्। अदृष्टपूर्वां पश्यन्ती रामं पप्रच्छ साबला॥ २-५५-३० ॥

ekaikaṃ pādapaṃ gulmaṃ latāṃ vā puṣpaśālinīm | adṛṣṭapūrvāṃ paśyantī rāmaṃ papraccha sābalā

Whenever she saw some tree, bush, or flower-laden vine never seen before, that gentle Sita would ask Rama about it.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.55.31)

रमणीयान् बहुविधान् पादपान् कुसुमोत्कटान्। सीतावचनसंरब्ध आनयामास लक्ष्मणः॥ २-५५-३१ ॥

ramaṇīyān bahuvidhān pādapān kusumotkaṭān | sītāvacanasaṃrabdha ānayāmāsa lakṣmaṇaḥ

At Sita's word, Lakshmana would eagerly bring her the lovely branches of many kinds of trees, laden with blossoms.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.55.32)

विचित्रवालुकजलां हंससारसनादिताम्। रेमे जनकराजस्य तदा प्रेक्ष्य सुता नदीम्॥ २-५५-३२ ॥

vicitravālukajalāṃ haṃsasārasanāditām | reme janakarājasya tadā prekṣya sutā nadīm

Seeing that Yamuna, with her wondrous sands and waters, resounding with the cries of swans and cranes, Janaka's daughter was greatly delighted.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.55.33)

क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। बहून्मेध्यान् मृगान् हत्वा चेरतुर्यमुनावने॥ २-५५-३३ ॥

krośamātraṃ tato gatvā bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau | bahūnmedhyān mṛgān hatvā ceraturyamunāvane

Then, going on a league further, the two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, having slain many consecrated deer, roamed through the Yamuna forest.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.55.34)

विहृत्य ते बर्हिणपूगनादिते शुभे वने वानरवारणायुते। समं नदीवप्रमुपेत्य सम्मतं निवासमाजग्मुरदीनदर्शनाः॥ २-५५-३४ ॥

vihṛtya te barhiṇapūganādite śubhe vane vānaravāraṇāyute | samaṃ nadīvapramupetya sammataṃ nivāsamājagmuradīnadarśanāḥ

Having ranged through that lovely forest, loud with flocks of peacocks and thronged with monkeys and elephants, they came, undespairing in look, to a level spot by the riverbank and reached a fitting place to rest.