Sarga 118

सात्वेवमुक्ता वैदेही अनसूयाऽनसूयया। प्रतिपूज्य वचो मन्दं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे।।2.118.1।।

When Anasuya thus addressed Vaidehi who is free from any malice, she worshipped Anasuya and starte...

नैतदाश्चर्यमार्याया यन्मां त्वमभिभाषसे। विदितन्तु ममाप्येतद्यथा नार्याः पतिर्गुरुः।।2.118.2।।

It is no wonder that a noble lady like you should instruct me this way. It is known to me that a hu...

यद्यप्येष भवेद्भर्ता ममाऽर्ये वृत्तवर्जितः। अद्वैधमुपचर्तव्यस्तथाप्येष मया भवेत्।।2.118.3।।

O noble lady, even if my husband is devoid of good conduct, he should be obeyed without showing any ...

किं पुनर्यो गुणश्लाघ्य स्सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रियः। स्थिरानुरागो धर्मात्मा मातृवत्पितृवत्प्रियः।।2.118...

What to speak of a husband if he is worthy of applause for his virtues, is compassionate, a subduer ...

यां वृत्तिं वर्तते रामः कौसल्यायां महाबलः। तामेव नृपनारीणामन्यासामपि वर्तते।।2.118.5।।

Mighty Rama shows the same behaviour and treatment towards the other consorts of the king as he does...

सकृद्दृष्टास्वपि स्त्रिषु नृपेण नृपवत्सलः। मातृवद्वर्तते वीरो मानमुत्सृज्य धर्मवित्।।2.118.6।।

Heroic Rama is affectionate towards king Dasaratha and is conversant with righteousness. Renouncing ...

आगच्छन्त्याश्च विजनं वनमेवं भयावहम्। समाहितं मे श्वश्र्वा च हृदये तद्धृतं महत्।।2.118.7।।

When departing for this frightful and desolate forest, the great (advice) imparted by my motherinlaw...

पाणिप्रदानकाले च यत्पुरात्वग्नि सन्निधौ। अनुशिष्टा जनन्याऽस्मि वाक्यं तदपि मे धृतम्।।2.118.8।।

When I have been taught by my mother earlier, at the time of bestowal of my hand to Rama in the pres...

नवीकृतं तु तत्सर्वं वाक्यैस्ते धर्मचारिणि। पतिशुश्रूषणान्नार्यास्तपो नान्यद्विधीयते।।2.118.9।।

O righteous one (Anasuya), after listening to your words the instructions given by my motherinlaw an...

सावित्री पतिशुश्रूषां कृत्वा स्वर्गे महीयते। तथावृत्तिश्च याता त्वं पतिशुश्रूषया दिवम्।।2.118.10।।

Having served her husband (faithfully), Savitri is honoured in heaven. You also, by following the sa...

वरिष्ठा सर्वनारीणामेषा च दिवि देवता। रोहिणी न विनाचन्द्रं मुहूर्तमपि दृश्यते।।2.118.11।।

Rohini, the very best among all women and the goddess of heaven, is never seen in the sky separated ...

एवंविधाश्च प्रवराः स्त्रियो भर्तृदृढव्रताः। देवलोके महीयन्ते पुण्येन स्वेन कर्मणा।।2.118.12।।

Execellent women such as these, firm in their vows to their husband are highly revered in the world ...

ततोऽनसूया संहृष्टा श्रुत्वोक्तं सीतया वचः। शिरस्याघ्राय चोवाच मैथिलीं हर्षयन्त्युत।।2.118.13।।

Thereafter hearing Sita's words, Anasuya affectionately kissed her forehead and said this in order t...

नियमैर्विविधैराप्तं तपो हि महदस्ति मे। तत्संश्रित्य बलं सीते छन्दये त्वां शुचिव्रते।।2.118.14।।

O Sita of pure conduct, I have great ascetic power obtained through practising various austerities. ...

उपपन्नं मनोज्ञं च वचनं तव मैथिलि। प्रीता चास्म्युचितं किं ते करवाणि ब्रवीहि मे।।2.118.15।।

O Sita, I am glad to hear your befitting and pleasing words. Tell me what appropriate thing you des...

तस्यास्तद्  वचनं श्रूत्वा विस्मिता मन्दविस्मया। कृतमित्यब्रवीत् सीता तपोबलसमन्विताम्।।2.118.16।।

On hearing her words Sita was surprised. With a gentle smile she said, to Anasuya who was endowed wi...

सा त्वेवमुक्ता धर्मज्ञा तया प्रीततराऽभवत्। सफलं च प्रहर्षं ते हन्त सीते करोम्यहम्।।2.118.17।।

When Sita said so, Anasuya who knew her righteous duty was immensely pleased. and replied, 'What a j...

इदं दिव्यं वरं माल्यं वस्त्रमाभरणानि च। अङ्गरागं च वैदेहि महार्हं चानुलेपनम्।।2.118.18।। मया दत्तमिद...

O princess of Videha, O Sita, I bestow on you this best garland of the gods, raiment, jewellery, fr...

इदं दिव्यं वरं माल्यं वस्त्रमाभरणानि च। अङ्गरागं च वैदेहि महार्हं चानुलेपनम्।।2.118.18।। मया दत्तमिद...

O princess of Videha, O Sita, I bestow on you this best garland of the gods, raiment, jewellery, fr...

अङ्गरागेण दिव्येन लिप्ताङ्गी जनकात्मजे। शोभयिष्यसि भर्तारं यथा श्रीर्विष्णुमव्ययम्।।2.118.20।।

O daughter of Janaka, you will enhance the glory of your husband by anointing your body with this di...

सा वस्त्रमङ्गरागं च भूषणानि स्रजस्तथा। मैथिली प्रतिजग्राह प्रीतिदानमनुत्तमम्।।2.118.21।।

That princess from Mithila accepted the incomparable gifts of love, the raiment, fragrant unguents, ...

प्रतिगृह्य च तत्सीता प्रीतिदानं यशस्विनी। श्लिष्टाञ्जलिपुटा तत्र समुपास्त तपोधनाम्।।2.118.22।।

Illustrious Sita accepted the gifts of love and with palms folded in reverence sat beside her, an as...

तथा सीतामुपासीनामनसूया दृढव्रता। वचनं प्रष्टुमारेभे काञ्चित्प्रियकथामनु।।2.118.23।।

Anasuya who was firm in her vows commenced to ask Sita this way about a certain tale (that was close...

स्वयं वरे किल प्राप्ता त्वमनेन यशस्विना। राघवेणेति मे सिते कथा श्रुतिमुपागता।।2.118.24।।

O Sita, I have heard that you have been won by the illustrious Rama in the swayamvara. At least that...

तां कथां श्रोतुमिच्छामि विस्तरेण च मैथिलि। यथाऽनुभूतं कार्त्स्न्येन तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि।।2.118.25...

O daughter of Mithila, I would like to hear the story in detail. You should tell me the whole story ...

एवमुक्ता तु सा सीता तां ततो धर्मचारिणीम्। श्रूयतामिति चोक्त्वा वै कथयामास तां कथाम्।।2.118.26।।

'Listen' said Sita, thus addressed, and began relating the story to Anasuya, a performer of austerit...

मिथिलाधिपतिर्वीरो जनको नाम धर्मवित्। क्षत्रधर्मे ह्यभिरतो न्यायतश्शास्ति मेदिनीम्।।2.118.27।।

There is a king in Mithila, Janaka by name. He is heroic and is conversant with righteousness. Enga...

तस्य लाङ्गलहस्तन्य कर्षतः क्षेत्रमण्डलम्। अहं किलोत्थिता भित्वा जगतीं नृपतेस्सुता।।2.118.28।।

When he was ploughing the circular plot of land for performing a sacrifice, it is said I emerged fro...

स मां दृष्ट्वा नरपतिर्मुष्टिविक्षेपतत्परः। पांसुकुण्ठितसर्वाङ्गीं जनको विस्मितोऽभवत्।।2.118.29।।

Engaged in sowing fistfuls of seeds, king Janaka found me covered with dust and was astonished.

अनपत्येन च स्नेहादङ्कमारोप्य च स्वयम्। ममेयं तनयेत्युक्त्वा स्नेहो मयि निपातितः।।2.118.30।।

As he had no children, he, on his own accord, lifted me up and placing me on his lap, saying, This i...

अन्तरिक्षे च वागुक्ताऽप्रतिमाऽमानुषी किल। एवमेतन्नरपते धर्मेण तनया तव।।2.118.31।।

'O king, she is an incomparable divine being. By right she is your daughter'. These were the words (...

ततः प्रहृष्टो धर्मात्मा पिता मे मिथिलाधिपः। अवाप्तो विपुलां बुद्धिं मामवाप्य नराधिपः।।2.118.32।।

Thereafter, my father and the righteous lord of Mithila was delighted in possessing me when a noble...

दत्ता चास्मीष्टवद्देव्यै ज्येष्ठायै पुण्यकर्मणा। तया सम्भाविता चास्मि स्निग्धया मातृसौहृदात्।।2.118....

Bestowed as the choicest one of meritorious acts on the chief queen, I was brought up by her, by nat...

पतिसंयोगसुलभं वयो दृष्ट्वा तु मे पिता। चिन्तामभ्यगमद्धीनो वित्तनाशादिवाधनः।।2.118.34।।

When my father saw I had attained the marriageable age, he was immersed in sorrow like an indigent ...

सदृशाच्चापकृष्टाच्च लोके कन्यापिता जनात्। प्रधर्षणामवाप्नोति शक्रेणापि समो भुवि।।2.118.35।।

Even though he was an Indra on earth, as a father of an unmarried girl he would be humiliated by me...

तां धर्षणामदूरस्थां दृष्ट्वा चात्मनि पार्थिवः। चिन्तार्णवगतः पारं नाससादाप्लवो यथा।।2.118.36।।

Having perceived that the humiliation is not very far, king Janaka was plunged in a sea of sorrow li...

अयोनिजां हि मां ज्ञात्वा नाध्यगच्छद्विचिन्तयन्। सदृशं चानुरूपं च महीपालः पतिं मम।।2.118.37।।

The ruler of the earth knew that I was not born from a woman's womb, and could not find a suitable h...

तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता चिन्तयानस्य सन्ततम्। स्वयंवरं तनूजायाः करिष्यामीति धीमतः।।2.118.38।।

After constantly pondering over the matter, the wise king arrived at the decision to perform a swaya...

महायज्ञे तदा तस्य वरुणेन महात्मना। दत्तं धनुर्वरं प्रीत्या तूणी चाक्षयसायकौ।।2.118.39।।

Magnanimous Varuna out of his affection had given him, on the occasion of a great sacrifice, an exce...

असञ्चाल्यं मनुष्यैश्च यत्नेनापि च गौरवात्। तन्न शक्ता नमयितुं स्वप्नेष्वपि नराधिपाः।।2.118.40।।

Because of its weight, no human could move that bow despite great effort nor were the kings capable ...

तद्धनुः प्राप्य मे पित्रा व्याहृतं सत्यवादिना। समवाये नरेन्द्राणां पूर्वमामन्त्र्य पार्थिवान्।।2.118...

My truthful father, after having acquired the bow, invited all the princes and placed the great bow ...

इदं च धनुरुद्यम्य सज्यं यः कुरुते नरः। तस्य मे दुहिता भार्या भविष्यति न संशयः।।2.118.42।।

तच्च दृष्ट्वा धनुश्श्रेष्ठं गौरवाद्गिरिसन्निभम्। अभिवाद्य नृपा जग्मुरशक्तास्तस्य तोलने।।2.118.43।।

Beholding the mighty bow resembling a mountain in weight, the kings, unable to lift it, paid their h...

सुदीर्घस्य तु कालस्य राघवोऽयं महाद्युतिः। विश्वामित्रेण सहितो यज्ञं द्रष्टुं समागतः।।2.118.44।। लक्ष...

After a long time, resplendent Rama whose prowess was truth, arrived along with his brother Lakshma...

विश्वामित्रस्तु धर्मात्मा मम पित्रा सुपूजितः।।2.118.45।। प्रोवाच पितरं तत्र भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।

Having accepted the honour extended by my father, righteous Viswamitra spoke to him about those two ...

सुतौ दशरथस्येमौ धनुर्दर्शकाङ्क्षिणौ। धनुर्दर्शय रामाय राजपुत्राय दैविकम्।।2.118.46।।

'Both these sons of king Dasaratha wish to see the bow. Show the divine bow to prince Rama'.

इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण तद्धनुस्समुपानयत्।।2.118.47।। निमेषान्तरमात्रेण तदाऽनम्य महाबलः। ज्यां समारोप्...

At the words of that ascetic, my father brought out the bow. Mighty and valiant Rama bent it and str...

इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण तद्धनुस्समुपानयत्।।2.118.47।। निमेषान्तरमात्रेण तदाऽनम्य महाबलः। ज्यां समारोप्...

At the words of that ascetic, my father brought out the bow. Mighty and valiant Rama bent it and str...

तेन पूरयता वेगान्मध्ये भग्नं द्विधा धनुः। तस्य शब्दो भवद्भीमः पतितस्याशनेरिव।।2.118.49।।

When Rama was stringing the bow with force, it was broken into two in the middle and fell down with ...

ततोऽहं तत्र रामाय पित्रा सत्याभिसन्धिना। निश्चिता दातुमुद्यम्य जलभाजनमुत्तमम्।।2.118.50।।

Then, my father steadfast in truth, held a vessel of pure water and declared his decision to offer m...

दीयमानां न तु तदा प्रतिजग्राह राघवः। अविज्ञाय पितुश्छन्दमयोध्याऽधिपतेः प्रभोः।।2.118.51।।

Then Rama did not accept the offer of my father straightaway before he knew the opinion of his fathe...

तत श्श्वशुरमामन्त्र्य वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम्। मम पित्रा त्वहं दत्ता रामाय विदितात्मने।।2.118.52।।

Thereafter, my fatherinlaw, the aged king Dasaratha was invited and my father offered me to Rama k...

मम चैवानुजा साध्वी ऊर्मिला प्रियदर्शना। भार्यार्थे लक्ष्मणस्यापि दत्ता पित्रा मम स्वयम्।।2.118.53।।

My father, on his own accord, bestowed Urmila, my younger sister of chaste and of pleasing appearan...

एवं दत्ताऽस्मि रामाय तदा तस्मिन्स्वयंवरे। अनुरक्ताऽस्मि धर्मेण पतिं वीर्यवतां वरम्।।2.118.54।।

In this way my father bestowed me on Rama in that swayamvara and I remain devoted to my husband who ...