अनसूया तु धर्मज्ना श्रुत्वा ताम् महतीम् कथाम् | पर्यष्वजत बाहुभ्याम् शिरस्य् आघ्राय मैथिलीम् || २-११९-१
anasuuyaa tu dharmajnaa shrutvaa taam mahatiim kathaam | paryaShvajata baahubhyaam shirasy aaghraaya maithiliim || 2-119-1
Hearing that great story, Anasuya the knower of piety kissed Seetha's forehead and hugged her in her arms.
व्यक्त अक्षर पदम् चित्रम् भाषितम् मधुरम् त्वया | यथा स्वयम् वरम् वृत्तम् तत् सर्वम् हि श्रुतम् मया || २-११९-२ रमे अहम् कथया ते तु दृष्ढम् मधुर भाषिणि |
vyakta akShara padam citram bhaaShitam madhuram tvayaa | yathaa svayam varam vR^ittam tat sarvam hi shrutam mayaa || 2-119-2 rame aham kathayaa te tu dR^iShDham madhura bhaaShiNi |
"It was narrated sweetly and amazingly by you, in clear words and syllables. It has been indeed heard by me how all that Svayamvara, the process of self-choosing marriage took place. O, the sweet speaking Seetha! I am overjoyed by hearing your story."
रविर् अस्तम् गतः श्रीमान् उपोह्य रजनीम् शिवाम् || २-११९-३ दिवसम् प्रति कीर्णानाम् आहार अर्थम् पतत्रिणाम् | संध्या काले निलीनानाम् निद्रा अर्थम् श्रूयते ध्वनिः ||२-११९-४
ravir astam gataH shriimaan upohya rajaniim shivaam || 2-119-3 divasam prati kiirNaanaam aahaara artham patatriNaam | sa.ndhyaa kaale niliinaanaam nidraa artham shruuyate dhvaniH ||2-119-4
"O, Fortunate One! While the auspicious night drawing near, the sun has sunk below horizon. The twittering of the birds can be heard, who, through the day, have sought their nourishment far and wide and are seeking their shelter for sleep at the time of evening-twilight."
एते च अप्य् अभिषेक आर्द्रा मुनयः फल शोधनाः | सहिता उपवर्तन्ते सलिल आप्लुत वल्कलाः || २-११९-५
R^iShiiNaam agni hotreShu huteShu vidhi purvakam | kapota anga aruNo dhuumo dR^ishyate pavana uddhataH || 2-119-6
"These ascetics too are returning together, their bark-robes drenched from bathing, and with uplifted vessels, wet with sprinkled water on them."
ऋषीणाम् अग्नि होत्रेषु हुतेषु विधि पुर्वकम् | कपोत अन्ग अरुणो धूमो दृश्यते पवन उद्धतः || २-११९-६
alpa parNaa hi taravo ghanii bhuutaaH samantataH | viprakR^iShTe api ye deshe na prakaashanti vai dishaH || 2-119-7
"From the sacred fire kindled by the sages, according to the scriptural ordinance, a column of smoke with the hue of a Pigeon's neck, raised by the wind, is seen there."
अल्प पर्णा हि तरवो घनी भूताः समन्ततः | विप्रकृष्टे अपि ये देशे न प्रकाशन्ति वै दिशः || २-११९-७
rajanii rasa sattvaani pracaranti samantataH | tapo vana mR^igaa hy ete vedi tiirtheShu sherate || 2-119-8
"Thought their foliage is sparse, the trees look dense all around. The quarters of the world, by whom the senses are drawn apart, do not shine brilliantly at this place."
रजनी रस सत्त्वानि प्रचरन्ति समन्ततः | तपो वन मृगा ह्य् एते वेदि तीर्थेषु शेरते || २-११९-८
sampravR^ittaa nishaa siite nakShatra samalamkR^itaa | jyotsnaa praavaraNaH candro dR^ishyate abhyudito ambare || 2-119-9
"The animals who wander about at night are ranging everywhere. The deer of the hermitage are sleeping round the sacred altars."
सम्प्रवृत्ता निशा सीते नक्षत्र समलम्कृता | ज्योत्स्ना प्रावरणः चन्द्रो दृश्यते अभ्युदितो अम्बरे || २-११९-९
gamyataam anujaanaami raamasya anucarii bhava | kathayantyaa hi madhuram tvayaa aham paritoShitaa || 2-119-10
"O, Seetha! The night richly adorned with stars has set well in motion. The moon encircled with light is seen rising in the sky."
गम्यताम् अनुजानामि रामस्य अनुचरी भव | कथयन्त्या हि मधुरम् त्वया अहम् परितोषिता || २-११९-१०
alamkuru ca taavat tvam pratyakSham mama maithili | priitim janaya me vatsa divya alamkaala shobhinii || 2-119-11
"Go now. I give you leave. Be a female companion to Rama. Your sweet conversation has charmed me."
अलम्कुरु च तावत् त्वम् प्रत्यक्षम् मम मैथिलि | प्रीतिम् जनय मे वत्स दिव्य अलम्काल शोभिनी || २-११९-११
saa tadaa samalamkR^itya siitaa sura suta upamaa | praNamya shirasaa tasyai raamam tu abhimukhii yayau || 2-119-12
"O, Seetha! O, Dear child! Adorn (with ornaments and apparel gifted by me_ before my eyes and cause delight to me in embellishing yourself with heavenly jewels."
सा तदा समलम्कृत्य सीता सुर सुत उपमा | प्रणम्य शिरसा तस्यै रामम् तु अभिमुखी ययौ || २-११९-१२
tathaa tu bhuuShitaam siitaam dadarsha vadataam varaH | raaghavaH priiti daanena tapasvinyaa jaharSha ca || 2-119-13
Then Seetha, adorning herself, resembled the daughter of a god, and making obeisance to the feet of Anasuya, she went forward to meet Rama.
तथा तु भूषिताम् सीताम् ददर्श वदताम् वरः | राघवः प्रीति दानेन तपस्विन्या जहर्ष च || २-११९-१३
nyavedayat tataH sarvam siitaa raamaaya maithilii | priiti daanam tapasvinyaa vasana aabharaNa srajaam || 2-119-14
Rama, the most eloquent one, saw Seetha adorned as aforesaid and felt delighted over the charming gifts of the ascetic.
न्यवेदयत् ततः सर्वम् सीता रामाय मैथिली | प्रीति दानम् तपस्विन्या वसन आभरण स्रजाम् || २-११९-१४
prahR^iShTaH tu abhavad raamo lakShmaNaH ca mahaa rathaH | maithilyaaH satkriyaam dR^iShTvaa maanuSheShu sudurlabhaam || 2-119-15
Seetha, the daughter of Mithila kingdom then showed to Rama all the apparel, jewels and garlands the affectionate gifts of Anasuya the hermitess.
प्रहृष्टः तु अभवद् रामो लक्ष्मणः च महा रथः | मैथिल्याः सत्क्रियाम् दृष्ट्वा मानुषेषु सुदुर्लभाम् || २-११९-१५
tataH taam sarvariim priitaH puNyaam shashi nibha aananaH | arcitaH taapasaiH siddhair uvaasa raghu nandanaH || 2-119-16
Seeing the respectful treatment, received by Seetha, which was very rare among human beings, Rama and Lakshmana the great car-warrior felt highly rejoiced.
ततः ताम् सर्वरीम् प्रीतः पुण्याम् शशि निभ आननः | अर्चितः तापसैः सिद्धैर् उवास रघु नन्दनः || २-११९-१६
tasyaam raatryaam vyatiitaayaam abhiShicya huta agnikaan | aapR^igcchhetaam nara vyaaghrau taapasaan vana gocaraan || 2-119-17
Thereupon, Rama with his face resembling the moon, having been honoured by the holy ascetics, was delighted and spent that auspicious night there.
तस्याम् रात्र्याम् व्यतीतायाम् अभिषिच्य हुत अग्निकान् | आपृग्च्छेताम् नर व्याघ्रौ तापसान् वन गोचरान् || २-११९-१७
taau uucuH te vana caraaH taapasaa dharma caariNaH | vanasya tasya sa.ncaaram raakShasaiH samabhiplutam || 2-119-18
While that night passed away, Rama and Lakshmana the tigers among men finished their ablutions and took leave of the ascetics dwelling the forest, who had just poured oblations into the sacred fire.
ताउ ऊचुः ते वन चराः तापसा धर्म चारिणः | वनस्य तस्य संचारम् राक्षसैः समभिप्लुतम् || २-११९-१८
rakShaa.nsi puruShaadaani naanaaruupaaNi raaghava! | vasantyasmin mahaaraNye vyaaLaashchashcha rudhiraashanaaH || 2-119-19
Those ascetics dwelling in the forest and practising virtue told Rama and Lakshmana about the region of that forest, which was infested with demons (as follows):
रक्षांसि पुरुषादानि नानारूपाणि राघव! | वसन्त्यस्मिन् महारण्ये व्याळाश्चश्च रुधिराशनाः || २-११९-१९
ucchiShTam vaa pramattam vaa taapasam dharmachaariNam | adantyasmin mahaaraNye taannivaaraya raaghavaH || 2-119-20
"O, Rama! Various forms of man-eating demons and beasts drinking the blood are living in this great forest."
उच्चिष्टम् वा प्रमत्तम् वा तापसम् धर्मचारिणम् | अदन्त्यस्मिन् महारण्ये तान्निवारय राघवः || २-११९-२०
eSha panthaa maharShiiNaam phalaany aaharataam vane | anena tu vanam durgam gantum raaghava te kShamam || 2-119-21
"O, Rama! They devour an ascetic or a celibate, who has not rinsed his mouth after finishing his meal or who is inattentive in this great forest. (Pray ward them off!"
एष पन्था महर्षीणाम् फलान्य् आहरताम् वने | अनेन तु वनम् दुर्गम् गन्तुम् राघव ते क्षमम् || २-११९-२१
iti iva taiH praanjalibhiH tapasvibhir rdvijaiH kR^ita svastyayanaH param tapaH | vanam sabhaaryaH pravivesha raaghavaH | salakShmaNaH suurya iva abhra maNDalam || 2-119-22
"O, Rama! Here is the path of the great sages, through which they fetch the fruits in this forest. It is appropriate for you to go by this path in this dangerous forest."
इति इव तैः प्रान्जलिभिः तपस्विभिर् र्द्विजैः कृत स्वस्त्ययनः परम् तपः | वनम् सभार्यः प्रविवेश राघवः | सलक्ष्मणः सूर्य इव अभ्र मण्डलम् || २-११९-२२
Thus addressed by those Brahmanas having great asceticism, who, with joined palms paid obedience to him and blessed his journey, Rama the harasser of his foes entered the forest with his consort along with Lakshmana, as sun enters a mass of clouds.
