In the Ashoka Grove: Sita's Wish

Shloka 1 (uttara.42.1)

स विसृज्य ततो रामः पुष्पकं हेमभूषितम् । प्रविवेश महाबाहुरशोकवनिकां तदा ।। 42.1 ।।

sa visṛjya tato rāmaḥ puṣpakaṃ hemabhūṣitam | praviveśa mahābāhuraśokavanikāṃ tadā || 42.1 ||

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

Shloka 2 (uttara.42.2)

चन्दनागुरुचूतैश्च तुङ्गकालेयकैरपि । देवदारुवनैश्चापि समन्तादुपशोभिताम् ।। 42.2 ।।

candanāgurucūtaiśca tuṅgakāleyakairapi | devadāruvanaiścāpi samantādupaśobhitām || 42.2 ||

That grove, adorned all around with sandal, agaru and mango trees, with tall aloe-wood trees, and with groves of deodar,

Shloka 3 (uttara.42.3)

चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागमधूकपनसासनैः । शोभितां पारिजातैश्च विधूमज्वलनप्रभैः ।। 42.3 ।।

campakāśokapunnāgamadhūkapanasāsanaiḥ | śobhitāṃ pārijātaiśca vidhūmajvalanaprabhaiḥ || 42.3 ||

adorned with champaka, ashoka, punnaga, mahua, jackfruit and asana trees, and with parijata trees bright as smokeless flame,

Shloka 4 (uttara.42.4)

लोध्रनीपार्जुनैर्नागैः सप्तपर्णातिमुक्तकैः । मन्दारकदलीगुल्मलताजालसमावृताम् ।। 42.4 ।।

lodhranīpārjunairnāgaiḥ saptaparṇātimuktakaiḥ | mandārakadalīgulmalatājālasamāvṛtām || 42.4 ||

encircled with lodhra, nipa, arjuna, naga-kesara, saptaparna and atimuktaka trees, and covered with a network of mandara shrubs, plantains and creepers,

Shloka 5 (uttara.42.5)

प्रियङ्गुभिः कदम्बैश्च तथा च वकुलैरपि । जम्बूभिर्दाडिमैश्चैव कोविदारैश्च शोभिताम् ।। 42.5 ।।

priyaṅgubhiḥ kadambaiśca tathā ca vakulairapi | jambūbhirdāḍimaiścaiva kovidāraiśca śobhitām || 42.5 ||

beautified with priyangu and kadamba trees, and with bakula trees too, and with jambu, pomegranate and kovidara trees,

Shloka 6 (uttara.42.6)

सर्वदा कुसुमै रम्यैः फलवद्भिर्मनोरमैः । दिव्यगन्धरसोपेतैस्तरुणाङ्कुरपल्लवैः ।। 42.6 ।।

sarvadā kusumai ramyaiḥ phalavadbhirmanoramaiḥ | divyagandharasopetaistaruṇāṅkurapallavaiḥ || 42.6 ||

trees ever charming with lovely blossoms, delightful with their fruit, endowed with divine fragrance and sap, with tender shoots and leaves,

Shloka 7 (uttara.42.7)

तथैव तरुभिर्दिव्यैः शिल्पिभिः परिकल्पितैः । चारुपल्लवपुष्पाढ्यैर्मत्तभ्रमरसङ्कुलैः ।। 42.7 ।।

tathaiva tarubhirdivyaiḥ śilpibhiḥ parikalpitaiḥ | cārupallavapuṣpāḍhyairmattabhramarasaṅkulaiḥ || 42.7 ||

and likewise with divine trees fashioned by artisans, rich with lovely leaves and flowers, thronged with intoxicated bees,

Shloka 8 (uttara.42.8)

कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च नानावर्णैश्च पक्षिभिः । शोभितां शतशश्चित्रां चूतवृक्षावतंसकैः ।। 42.8 ।।

kokilairbhṛṅgarājaiśca nānāvarṇaiśca pakṣibhiḥ | śobhitāṃ śataśaścitrāṃ cūtavṛkṣāvataṃsakaiḥ || 42.8 ||

adorned by koels and bhringaraja birds, and by birds of many colours; marvellously varied, with hundreds of mango trees serving as its ornaments,

Shloka 9 (uttara.42.9)

शातकुम्भनिभाः केचित्केचिदग्निशिखोपमाः । नीलाञ्जननिभाश्चान्ये भान्ति तत्रत्यपादपाः ।। 42.9 ।।

śātakumbhanibhāḥ kecitkecidagniśikhopamāḥ | nīlāñjananibhāścānye bhānti tatratyapādapāḥ || 42.9 ||

There the trees shone, some resembling gold, some like a flame's crest, and others like blue collyrium.

Shloka 10 (uttara.42.10)

सुरभीणि च पुष्पाणि माल्यानि विविधानि च । दीर्घिका विविधाकाराः पूर्णाः परमवारिणा ।। 42.10 ।।

surabhīṇi ca puṣpāṇi mālyāni vividhāni ca | dīrghikā vividhākārāḥ pūrṇāḥ paramavāriṇā || 42.10 ||

There were fragrant flowers and garlands of many kinds; ponds of various shapes, full of the finest water,

Shloka 11 (uttara.42.11)

माणिक्यकृतसोपानाः स्फाटिकान्तरकुट्टिमाः । फुल्लपद्मोत्पलवनाश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः ।। 42.11 ।।

māṇikyakṛtasopānāḥ sphāṭikāntarakuṭṭimāḥ | phullapadmotpalavanāścakravākopaśobhitāḥ || 42.11 ||

with steps made of ruby, their floors inlaid with crystal, their beds of blooming lotuses and blue lotuses adorned with chakravaka birds,

Shloka 12 (uttara.42.12)

दात्यूहशुकसङ्घुष्टा हंससारसनादिताः । तरुभिः पुष्पवद्भिश्च तीरजैरुपशोभिताः ।। 42.12 ।।

dātyūhaśukasaṅghuṣṭā haṃsasārasanāditāḥ | tarubhiḥ puṣpavadbhiśca tīrajairupaśobhitāḥ || 42.12 ||

echoing with the calls of datyuha birds and parrots, resounding with swans and cranes, beautified by flowering trees growing on their banks.

Shloka 13 (uttara.42.13)

प्राकारैर्विविधाकारैः शोभिताश्च शिलातलैः । तत्रैव च वनोद्देशे वैडूर्यमणिसन्निभैः ।। 42.13 ।।

prākārairvividhākāraiḥ śobhitāśca śilātalaiḥ | tatraiva ca vanoddeśe vaiḍūryamaṇisannibhaiḥ || 42.13 ||

and adorned with walls of various shapes and with terraces of stone; and there, in that part of the forest, with meadows like beryl gems,

Shloka 14 (uttara.42.14)

शाद्वलैः परमोपेतां पुष्पितद्रुमकाननाम् । तत्र सङ्घर्षजातानां वृक्षाणां पुष्पशालिनाम् ।। 42.14 ।।

śādvalaiḥ paramopetāṃ puṣpitadrumakānanām | tatra saṅgharṣajātānāṃ vṛkṣāṇāṃ puṣpaśālinām || 42.14 ||

the grove was richly endowed with green meadows, its woods full of flowering trees; there, among those crowding, flower-laden trees,

Shloka 15 (uttara.42.15)

प्रस्तराः पुष्पशबला नभस्तारागणैरिव । नन्दनं हि यथेन्द्रस्य ब्राह्मं चैत्ररथं यथा । तथाभूतं हि रामस्य काननं सन्निवेशनम् ।। 42.15 ।।

prastarāḥ puṣpaśabalā nabhastārāgaṇairiva | nandanaṃ hi yathendrasya brāhmaṃ caitrarathaṃ yathā | tathābhūtaṃ hi rāmasya kānanaṃ sanniveśanam || 42.15 ||

the flat rocks were dappled with fallen flowers as the sky is with the host of stars; as Indra's Nandana, or as Brahma's Chaitraratha, such indeed was that pleasure-grove laid out for Rama.

Shloka 16 (uttara.42.16)

बह्वासनगृहोपेतां लतागृहसमावृताम् । अशोकवनिकां स्फीतां प्रविश्य रघुनन्दनः ।। 42.16 ।।

bahvāsanagṛhopetāṃ latāgṛhasamāvṛtām | aśokavanikāṃ sphītāṃ praviśya raghunandanaḥ || 42.16 ||

Entering that flourishing Ashoka grove, furnished with many seating-pavilions and encircled with bowers of creepers, the delight of the Raghus,

Shloka 17 (uttara.42.17)

आसने च शुभाकारे पुष्पप्रकरभूषिते । कुशास्तरणसंस्तीर्णे रामः सन्निषसाद ह ।। 42.17 ।।

āsane ca śubhākāre puṣpaprakarabhūṣite | kuśāstaraṇasaṃstīrṇe rāmaḥ sanniṣasāda ha || 42.17 ||

Rama sat down upon a beautiful seat, adorned with a heap of flowers and spread with a covering of kusha grass.

Shloka 18 (uttara.42.18)

सीतामादायं हस्तेन मधुमैरेयकं शुचि । पाययामास काकुत्स्थः शचीमिव पुरन्दरः ।। 42.18 ।।

sītāmādāyaṃ hastena madhumaireyakaṃ śuci | pāyayāmāsa kākutsthaḥ śacīmiva purandaraḥ || 42.18 ||

Taking Sita by the hand, Kakutstha gave her pure honeyed wine to drink, as Purandara does Shachi.

Shloka 19 (uttara.42.19)

मांसानि च समृष्टानि फलानि विविधानि च । रामस्याभ्यवहारार्थं किङ्करास्तूर्णमाहरन् ।। 42.19 ।।

māṃsāni ca samṛṣṭāni phalāni vividhāni ca | rāmasyābhyavahārārthaṃ kiṅkarāstūrṇamāharan || 42.19 ||

For Rama's enjoyment, the attendants swiftly brought choice meats and fruits of many kinds.

Shloka 20 (uttara.42.20)

उपानृत्यंश्च राजानं नृत्यगीतविशारदाः । बालाश्च रूपवत्यश्च स्त्रियः पानवशानुगाः ।। 42.20 ।।

upānṛtyaṃśca rājānaṃ nṛtyagītaviśāradāḥ | bālāśca rūpavatyaśca striyaḥ pānavaśānugāḥ || 42.20 ||

Young women, skilled in dance and song, beautiful and mellowed by wine, danced before the king.

Shloka 21 (uttara.42.21)

मनोभिरामा रामास्ता रामो रमयतां वरः । रमयामास धर्मात्मा नित्यं परमभूषितः ।। 42.21 ।।

manobhirāmā rāmāstā rāmo ramayatāṃ varaḥ | ramayāmāsa dharmātmā nityaṃ paramabhūṣitaḥ || 42.21 ||

With those charming, delightful women, Rama, best of those who give delight, righteous of soul, ever richly adorned, made merry.

Shloka 22 (uttara.42.22)

स तया सीतया सार्धमासीनो विरराज ह । अरुन्धत्या सहासीनो वसिष्ठ इव तेजसा ।। 42.22 ।।

sa tayā sītayā sārdhamāsīno virarāja ha | arundhatyā sahāsīno vasiṣṭha iva tejasā || 42.22 ||

Seated there together with Sita, he shone forth in splendour, like Vasishtha seated with Arundhati.

Shloka 23 (uttara.42.23)

एवं रामो मुदा युक्तः सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् । रमयामास वैदेहीमहन्यहनि देववत् ।। 42.23 ।।

evaṃ rāmo mudā yuktaḥ sītāṃ surasutopamām | ramayāmāsa vaidehīmahanyahani devavat || 42.23 ||

Thus Rama, filled with joy, day after day delighted Vaidehi, who was like a daughter of the gods, in godlike fashion.

Shloka 24 (uttara.42.24)

तथा तयोर्विहरतोः सीताराघवयोश्चिरम् । अत्यक्रामच्छुभः कालः शैशिरो भोगदः सदा ।। 42.24 ।।

tathā tayorviharatoḥ sītārāghavayościram | atyakrāmacchubhaḥ kālaḥ śaiśiro bhogadaḥ sadā || 42.24 ||

Thus, as Sita and Raghava sported together for long, the auspicious wintry season, ever giver of delight, passed by.

Shloka 25 (uttara.42.25)

दशवर्षसहस्राणि गतानि सुमहात्मनोः । प्राप्तयोर्विविधान्भोगानतीतः शिशिरागमः ।। 42.25 ।।

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi gatāni sumahātmanoḥ | prāptayorvividhānbhogānatītaḥ śiśirāgamaḥ || 42.25 ||

Ten thousand years passed for those two great souls, enjoying manifold pleasures, and the coming of winter went by.

Shloka 26 (uttara.42.26)

पूर्वाह्णे धर्मकार्याणि कृत्वा धर्मेण धर्मवित् । शेषं दिवसभागार्धमन्तःपुरगतो ऽभवत् ।। 42.26 ।।

pūrvāhṇe dharmakāryāṇi kṛtvā dharmeṇa dharmavit | śeṣaṃ divasabhāgārdhamantaḥpuragato 'bhavat || 42.26 ||

In the forenoon, the knower of dharma, having performed his duties of dharma according to dharma, would spend the remaining half of the day within the inner apartments.

Shloka 27 (uttara.42.27)

सीतापि देवकार्याणि कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकानि वै । श्वश्रूणामकरोत्पूजां सर्वासामविशेषतः ।। 42.27 ।।

sītāpi devakāryāṇi kṛtvā paurvāhṇikāni vai | śvaśrūṇāmakarotpūjāṃ sarvāsāmaviśeṣataḥ || 42.27 ||

Sita too, having performed her forenoon rites of worship to the gods, paid homage to all her mothers-in-law without distinction.

Shloka 28 (uttara.42.28)

अभ्यगच्छत्ततो रामं विचित्राभरणाम्बरा । त्रिविष्टपे सहस्राक्षमुपविष्टं यथा शची ।। 42.28 ।।

abhyagacchattato rāmaṃ vicitrābharaṇāmbarā | triviṣṭape sahasrākṣamupaviṣṭaṃ yathā śacī || 42.28 ||

Then, adorned with wondrous ornaments and garments, she would come to Rama, as Shachi comes to the thousand-eyed one seated in heaven.

Shloka 29 (uttara.42.29)

दृष्ट्वा तु राघवः पत्नीं कल्याणेन समन्विताम् । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे साधु साध्विति चाब्रवीत् ।। 42.29 ।।

dṛṣṭvā tu rāghavaḥ patnīṃ kalyāṇena samanvitām | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe sādhu sādhviti cābravīt || 42.29 ||

Seeing his wife thus blessed with an auspicious sign, Raghava felt matchless delight, and said, "Well done, well done!"

Shloka 30 (uttara.42.30)

अब्रवीच्च वरारोहां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् । अपत्यलाभो वैदेहि त्वयि मे समुपस्थितः ।। 42.30 ।।

abravīcca varārohāṃ sītāṃ surasutopamām | apatyalābho vaidehi tvayi me samupasthitaḥ || 42.30 ||

And he said to lovely Sita, resembling a daughter of the gods, "O Vaidehi, the gift of a child through you has now come to me.

Shloka 31 (uttara.42.31)

किमिच्छसि वरारोहे कामः किं क्रियतां तव ।। 42.31 ।।

kimicchasi varārohe kāmaḥ kiṃ kriyatāṃ tava || 42.31 ||

What do you desire, O lovely one? What wish of yours shall be fulfilled?"

Shloka 32 (uttara.42.32)

स्मितं कृत्वा तु वैदेही रामं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् । तपोवनानि पुण्यानि द्रष्टुमिच्छामि राघव ।। 42.32 ।।

smitaṃ kṛtvā tu vaidehī rāmaṃ vākyamathābravīt | tapovanāni puṇyāni draṣṭumicchāmi rāghava || 42.32 ||

Smiling, Vaidehi then said this to Rama: "O Raghava, I wish to see the holy hermitages of the ascetics.

Shloka 33 (uttara.42.33)

गङ्गातीरोपविष्टानामृषीणामुग्रतेजसाम् । फलमूलाशिनां देव पादमूलेषु वर्तितुम् ।। 42.33 ।।

gaṅgātīropaviṣṭānāmṛṣīṇāmugratejasām | phalamūlāśināṃ deva pādamūleṣu vartitum || 42.33 ||

To dwell, O lord, at the feet of the sages of fierce splendour who dwell on the bank of the Ganga, living on fruit and roots.

Shloka 34 (uttara.42.34)

एष मे परमः कामो यन्मूलफलभोजिनाम् । अप्येकरात्रं काकुत्स्थ निवसेयं तपोवने ।। 42.34 ।।

eṣa me paramaḥ kāmo yanmūlaphalabhojinām | apyekarātraṃ kākutstha nivaseyaṃ tapovane || 42.34 ||

This is my supreme desire, O Kakutstha - that I might dwell, even for a single night, in the hermitage of those who live on roots and fruit."

Shloka 35 (uttara.42.35)

तथेति च प्रतिज्ञातं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । विस्रब्धा भव वैदेहि श्वो गमिष्यस्यसंशयम् ।। 42.35 ।।

tatheti ca pratijñātaṃ rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā | visrabdhā bhava vaidehi śvo gamiṣyasyasaṃśayam || 42.35 ||

Rama, of unwearied deeds, promised her, "So be it. Be at ease, O Vaidehi; tomorrow, without doubt, you shall go."

Shloka 36 (uttara.42.36)

एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थो मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् । मध्यकक्षान्तरं रामो निर्जगाम सुहृद्वृतः ।। 42.36 ।।

evamuktvā tu kākutstho maithilīṃ janakātmajām | madhyakakṣāntaraṃ rāmo nirjagāma suhṛdvṛtaḥ || 42.36 ||

Having said this to Maithili, Janaka's daughter, Kakutstha Rama went forth, surrounded by his companions, to the middle hall of the assembly.