Sarga 56

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायामवसुप्तमनन्तरम्। प्रबोधयामास शनैर्लक्ष्मणं रघुनन्दनः।।2.56.1।।

When the night was over, Rama, Delight of the Raghus, gently awakened Lakshmana who was asleep. Not...

सौमित्रे श्रुणु वन्यानां वल्गु व्याहरतां स्वनम्। सम्प्रतिष्ठामहे काल प्रस्थानस्य परन्तप।।2.56.2।।

Listen to the songs of the forest birds, O son of Sumitra O tormentor of foes it is time we set out.

स सुप्तस्समये भ्रात्रा लक्ष्मणः प्रतिबोधितः। जहौ निद्रां च तन्द्रीं च प्रसक्तं च पथि श्रमम्।।2.56.3।...

Awakened by his brother in time, Lakshmana shook off his sleep, his drowsiness and his fatigue due t...

तत उत्थाय ते सर्वे स्पृष्ट्वा नद्या श्शिवं जलम्। पन्थानमृषिणाऽदिष्टं चित्रकूटस्य तं ययुः।।2.56.4।।

Then they all rose, touched the river's auspicious waters and went the way the sage had directed -- ...

ततस्सम्प्रस्थितः काले रामस्सौमित्रिणा सह। सीतां कमलपत्राक्षीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.56.5।।

Early in the morning Rama set out with Lakshmana and said this to Sita with eyes like lotus petals:

आदिप्तानिव वैदेहि सर्वतः पुष्पितान्नगान्। स्वैः पुष्पैः किंशुकान् पश्य मालिनशिशिरात्यये।।2.56.6।।

O daughter of Videha behold these kimsuka trees in full bloom everywhere. With the passing of winter...

पश्य भल्लातकान् फुल्लान्नरै रनुपसेवितान्। फलपत्रैरवनता न्नूनं शक्ष्याम जीवितुम्।।2.56.7।।

Behold these bhallataka trees in full bloom though there are none to enjoy them. They are bent with ...

पश्य द्रोणप्रमाणानि लम्बमानानि लक्ष्मण। मधूनि मधुकारीभि स्सम्भृतानि नगे नगे।।2.56.8।।

O Lakshmana see the honeycombs of the size of wooden vessels crowded by the honeybees hanging down f...

एष क्रोशति नत्यूहस्तं शिखी प्रतिकूजति। रमणीये वनोद्देशे पुष्पसंस्तरसङ्कटे।।2.56.9।।

In this delightful forest region strewn with fallen flowers the peacock is responding to the screami...

मातङ्गयूथानुसृतं पक्षिसंङ्घानुनादितम्। चित्रकूटमिमं पश्य प्रवृद्धशिखरं गिरिम्।।2.56.10।।

See these flocks of singing birds followed by herds of elephants. See this mount Chitrakuta with its...

समभूमितले रम्ये द्रुमैर्बहुभिरावृते। पुण्ये रंस्यामहे तात चित्रकूटस्य कानने।।2.56.11।।

O dear this sacred forest of Chitrakuta standing on a level land is full of various trees. Let us en...

ततस्तौ पादचारेण गच्छन्तौ सह सीतया। रम्यमासेदतुश्शैलं चित्रकूटं मनोरमम्।।2.56.12।।

Then they both along with Sita walked to that lovely, delightful Chitrakuta mountain.

तन्तु पर्वतमासाद्य नानापक्षिगणायुतम्। बहुमूलफलं रम्यं सम्पन्नं सरसोदकम्।।2.56.13।।

Rama arrived at that enchanting mountain full of various kinds of birds, fruits and roots, and sweet...

मनोज्ञोऽयं गिरिस्सौम्य नानाद्रुमलतायुतः। बहुमूलफलो रम्य स्स्वाजीवः प्रतिभाति मे।।2.56.14।।

O gentle one this enchanting mountain with different kinds of trees and creepers and many roots and ...

मुनयश्च महात्मानो वसन्त्यस्मि शिलोच्चये। अयं वासो भवेत्तावदत्र सौम्य रमेमहि।।2.56.15।।

Great sages reside on this high mountain. Let it be our habitation and let us enjoy our life here, O...

इति सीता च रामश्च लक्ष्मणश्च कृताञ्जलिः। अभिगम्याऽश्रमं सर्वे वाल्मीकि मभिवादयन्।।2.56.16।।

Thus Rama, Sita and Lakshmana approached the hermitage of sage Valmiki and paid obeisance to him wit...

तान्महर्षि प्रमुदितः पूजयामास धर्मवित्। अस्यतामिति चोवाच स्वागन्तु निवेद्य च।।2.56.17।।

The great sage Valmiki conversant with righteousness was delighted. He honoured them by extending we...

ततोऽब्रवीन्महाबाहुर्लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। सन्निवेद्य यथान्याय मात्मानमृषये प्रभुः।।2.56.18।।

The mightyarmed elder brother of Lakshmana revealed his identity to the sage by duly introducing him...

लक्ष्मणाऽऽनय दारूणि दृढानि च वराणि च। कुरुष्वाऽवसथं सौम्य वासे मेऽभिरतं मनः।।2.56.19।।

O handsome Lakshmana, make a hut with strong, sound logs of wood. My mind impels me to stay here.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सौमित्रिर्विविधान् द्रुमान्। आजहार तत श्चक्रे पर्णशालामरिन्दमः।।2.56.20।।

Having heard Rama, Saumitri, the subduer of enemies fetched different kinds of logs of wood, and wit...

तां निष्ठितां बद्धकटां दृष्ट्वा रामस्सुदर्शनाम्। शुश्रूषमाणमेकाग्रमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.56.21।।

Rama saw the goodlooking leafhut with mats tied around as walls, and said to Lakshmana who was await...

ऐणेयं मांसमाहृत्य शालां यक्ष्यामहे वयम्। कर्तव्यं वास्तुशमनं सौमित्रे चिरजीविभिः।।2.56.22।।

O Lakshmana those who intend to live for long (in this hut), should pacify the deity presiding over ...

मृगं हत्वाऽऽनय क्षिप्रं लक्ष्मणेह शुभेक्षण। कर्तव्य श्शास्त्रदृष्टो हि विधिर्धर्ममनुस्मर।।2.56.23।।

Slay an antelope and bring it here quickly. O Lakshmana The rites as prescribed by the scriptures wi...

भ्रातुर्वचनमाज्ञाय लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। चकार स यथोक्तं च तं राम पुनरब्रवीत्।।2.56.24।।

Lakshmana, slayer of heroes on the enemy's side, understood and implemented what he was told. Rama a...

ऐणेयं श्रपयस्वैतच्छालां यक्ष्यामहे वयम्। त्वर सौम्य मुहूर्तोऽयं ध्रुवश्च दिवसोऽप्ययम्।।2.56.25।।

Cook this venison, O handsome one We will offer it to the presiding deity of this hut. Hasten, the d...

स लक्ष्मणः कृष्णमृगं मेध्यं हत्वा प्रतापवान्। अथ चिक्षेप सौमित्रिस्समिद्धे जातवेदसि।।2.56.26।।

Then the powerful son of Sumitra killed a black antelope fit for offering, and offered it to the wel...

तन्तु पक्वं परिज्ञाय निष्टप्तं छिन्नशोणितम्। लक्ष्मण: पुरुषव्याघ्रमथ राघवमब्रवीत्।।2.56.27।।

With the blood drained out of the venison, Lakshmana roasted it and cooked it well, and then said to...

अयं सर्व: समस्ताग्ङ: श्रृत: कृष्णमृगो मया। देवतां देवसङ्काश यजस्व कुशलो ह्यसि।।2.56.28।।

This black antelope with all its limbs is wellcooked. O divine sire, you may make the offering to Va...

राम: स्नात्वा तु नियतो गुणवान् जप्यकोविदः। सङ्ग्रहेणाकरोत् स्रवार्न मन्त्रान् सत्रावसानिकान्।।2.56.2...

Virtuous Rama, who was an expert in the recitation of mantras, took his bath and his mind controlled...

इष्ट्वा देवगणान्सर्वान्विवेशाऽवसथं शुचिः। बभूव च मनोह्लादो रामस्यामिततेजसः।।2.56.30।।

Sanctified with the worship of all the gods, Rama of immeasurable lustre felt a great happiness on e...

वैश्वदेवबलिं कृत्वा रौद्रं वैष्णव मेव च। वास्तुसंशमनीयानि मङ्गलानि प्रवर्तयन्।।2.56.31।। जपं च न्याय...

Rama, offered oblations to Visvadevas, Rudra and Visnu, performed the auspices for the appeasement ...

वैश्वदेवबलिं कृत्वा रौद्रं वैष्णव मेव च। वास्तुसंशमनीयानि मङ्गलानि प्रवर्तयन्।।2.56.31।। जपं च न्याय...

Rama, offered oblations to Visvadevas, Rudra and Visnu, performed the auspices for the appeasement ...

वेदिस्थलविधानानि चैत्यान्यायतनानि च। आश्रमस्यानुरूपाणि स्थापयामास राघवः।।2.56.33।।

Rama, son of the Raghus, made altars in all the quarters, places of worship and sacred spots for fir...

वन्यैर्माल्यैः फलैर्मूलैः पक्वैर्मांसैर्यथाविधि। अद्भिर्जपैश्च वेदोक्तैर्दर्भैश्च ससमित्कुशैः।।2.56....

Bestowed with auspicious qualities, Rama and Lakshmana along with Sita propitiated those celestial b...

तां वृक्षपर्णच्छदनां मनोज्ञां यथाप्रदेशं सुकृतां निवाताम्। वासाय सर्वे विविशुस्समेतास्सभां यथा देवगण...

Just like the gods enter the court of Sudharma, they all stepped into the hut to dwell there. The hu...

अनेकनानामृगपक्षिसङ्कुले विचित्रपत्रस्तबकैर्द्रुमैर्युते। वनोत्तमे व्यालमृगानुनादिते तदा विजह्रु स्सु...

Then they with their senses conquered, enjoyed perfect happiness in that splendid forest teeming wit...

सुरम्यमासाद्य तु चित्रकूटं नदीं च तां माल्यवतीं सुतीर्थाम्। ननन्द हृष्टो मृगपक्षिजुष्टां जहौ च दुखं ...

Having reached the marvellous mount Chitrakuta and river Malyavati with excellent holy places and fu...