Rama and Seetha Spend Some Time at Mandakini River

अथ शैलाद् विनिष्क्रम्य मैथिलीम् कोसल ईश्वरः | अदर्शयत् शुभ जलाम् रम्याम् मन्दाकिनीम् नदीम् || २-९५-१

atha shailaad viniShkramya maithiliim kosala iishvaraH | adarshayat shubha jalaam ramyaam mandaakiniim nadiim || 2-95-1

Then, turning away from the mountain, Rama (The prospective ruler of Kosala) showed Seetha (the daughter of the King of Mithila) the beautiful river of Mandakini carrying splendid waters.

अब्रवीच् च वर आरोहाम् चारु चन्द्र निभ आननाम् | विदेह राजस्य सुताम् रामो राजीव लोचनः || २-९५-२

abraviic ca vara aarohaam caaru candra nibha aananaam | videha raajasya sutaam raamo raajiiva locanaH || 2-95-2

The lotus-eyed Rama spoke to Seetha, (the daughter of Janaka) who was having an elegant waist and whose face resembled the moon:

विचित्र पुलिनाम् रम्याम् हंस सारस सेविताम् | कुसुमैर् उपसम्पन्नाम् पश्य मन्दाकिनीम् नदीम् || २-९५-३

vicitra pulinaam ramyaam ha.nsa saarasa sevitaam | kusumair upasampannaam pashya mandaakiniim nadiim || 2-95-3

"Behold this charming river of Mandakini, with its multi-coloured sandy beaches, frequented by swans and geese and laden with flowers."

नाना विधैः तीर रुहैर् वृताम् पुष्प फल द्रुमैः | राजन्तीम् राज राजस्य नलिनीम् इव सर्वतः || २-९५-४

naanaa vidhaiH tiira ruhair vR^itaam puShpa phala drumaiH | raajantiim raaja raajasya naliniim iva sarvataH || 2-95-4

"Behold this river, hedged on all sides with various kinds of flowers and fruits, growing on its banks and enhance its loveliness like the lake (Sangadhika) of Kubera (the ruler of Yakshas)"

मृग यूथ निपीतानि कलुष अम्भांसि साम्प्रतम् | तीर्थानि रमणीयानि रतिम् सम्जनयन्ति मे || २-९५-५

mR^iga yuutha nipiitaani kaluSha ambhaa.nsi saampratam | tiirthaani ramaNiiyaani ratim samjanayanti me || 2-95-5

"At this moment, its pleasant fords, where herds of deer drink and make the waters turbid, create ecstasy in me."

जटा अजिन धराः काले वल्कल उत्तर वाससः | ऋषयः तु अवगाहन्ते नदीम् मन्दाकिनीम् प्रिये || २-९५-६

jaTaa ajina dharaaH kaale valkala uttara vaasasaH | R^iShayaH tu avagaahante nadiim mandaakiniim priye || 2-95-6

"O, beloved Seetha! Sages with matted locks and wearing antelope-skins and having bark of trees for their upper garment, take a dip in the River Mandakini, at the appointed hour."

आदित्यम् उपतिष्ठन्ते नियमाद् ऊर्ध्व बाहवः | एते अपरे विशाल अक्षि मुनयः संशित व्रताः || २-९५-७

aadityam upatiShThante niyamaad uurdhva baahavaH | ete apare vishaala akShi munayaH sa.nshita vrataaH || 2-95-7

"O, Lady of wide eyes! Here are some other sages of austere vows, worshipping the sun with uplifted arms; as per the scriptural injunctions."

मारुत उद्धूत शिखरैः प्रनृत्त इव पर्वतः | पादपैः पत्र पुष्पाणि सृजद्भिर् अभितो नदीम् || २-९५-८

maaruta uddhuuta shikharaiH pranR^itta iva parvataH | paadapaiH patra puShpaaNi sR^ijadbhir abhito nadiim || 2-95-8

"The trees, their crowns agitated by the breeze, that shower down leaves and flowers on both sides of the river cause the mountain to appear as though it were dancing!"

कच्चिन् मणि निकाश उदाम् कच्चित् पुलिन शालिनीम् | कच्चित् सिद्ध जन आकीर्णाम् पश्य मन्दाकिनीम् नदीम् || २-९५-९

kaccin maNi nikaasha udaam kaccit pulina shaaliniim | kaccit siddha jana aakiirNaam pashya mandaakiniim nadiim || 2-95-9

"See this River Mandakini with its crystal-like clear water at some places, with its shining sand-dunes at some places and crowded with Siddhas who are bathing at some other places."

निर्धूतान् वायुना पश्य विततान् पुष्प संचयान् | पोप्लूयमानान् अपरान् पश्य त्वम् जल मध्यगान् || २-९५-१०

nirdhuutaan vaayunaa pashya vitataan puShpa sa.ncayaan | popluuyamaanaan aparaan pashya tvam jala madhyagaan || 2-95-10

"Behold you, heaps of flowers shaken down by the wind and shattered. See some other heaps of flowers floating, O lady with slender waist!"

तामः च अतिवल्गु वचसो रथ अन्ग आह्वयना द्विजाः | अधिरोहन्ति कल्याणि निष्कूजन्तः शुभाः गिरः || २-९५-११

taamH ca ativalgu vacaso ratha anga aahvayanaa dvijaaH | adhirohanti kalyaaNi niShkuujantaH shubhaaH giraH || 2-95-11

"O, Kalyani! Behold the sweet-voiced ruddy geese, ascending the banks uttering harmonious tones."

दर्शनम् चित्र कूटस्य मन्दाकिन्याः च शोभने | अधिकम् पुर वासाच् च मन्ये च तव दर्शनात् || २-९५-१२

darshanam citra kuuTasya mandaakinyaaH ca shobhane | adhikam pura vaasaac ca manye ca tava darshanaat || 2-95-12

"I consider this sight of Mandakini River and of Chitrakuta, particularly at your sight, to be more delightful than dwelling in the City of Ayodhya, O, lovely woman!"

विधूत कलुषैः सिद्धैः तपो दम शम अन्वितैः | नित्य विक्षोभित जलाम् विहाहस्व मया सह || २-९५-१३

vidhuuta kaluShaiH siddhaiH tapo dama shama anvitaiH | nitya vikShobhita jalaam vihaahasva mayaa saha || 2-95-13

Here are Siddhas (semi-divine beings endowed with mystic powers), free from impurities and rich in asceticism, with their senses and mind under control, who perpetually stir the waters. You too should take a dip in the river along with me."

सखीवच् च विगाहस्व सीते मन्दकिनीम् इमाम् | कमलान्य् अवमज्जन्ती पुष्कराणि च भामिनि || २-९५-१४

sakhiivac ca vigaahasva siite mandakiniim imaam | kamalaany avamajjantii puShkaraaNi ca bhaamini || 2-95-14

"Enter the Mandakini River, as on the breast of a friend, submerging the red and white lotuses in it- O, Lovely Seetha!"

त्वम् पौर जनवद् व्यालान् अयोध्याम् इव पर्वतम् | मन्यस्व वनिते नित्यम् सरयूवद् इमाम् नदीम् || २-९५-१५

tvam paura janavad vyaalaan ayodhyaam iva parvatam | manyasva vanite nityam sarayuuvad imaam nadiim || 2-95-15

"My darling! Think of the wild beasts as inhabitants of the city of Ayodhya, this mountain of Chitrakuta as the city of Ayodhya and this river as the Sarayu from now on!"

लक्ष्मणः चैव धर्म आत्मा मन् निदेशे व्यवस्थितः | त्वम् च अनुकूला वैदेहि प्रीतिम् जनयथो मम || २-९५-१६

lakShmaNaH caiva dharma aatmaa man nideshe vyavasthitaH | tvam ca anukuulaa vaidehi priitim janayatho mama || 2-95-16

"O, Seetha!; The virtuous Lakshmana is obeying my commands and you too are well-disposed, causing delight to me."

उपस्पृशमः त्रि षवणम् मधु मूल फल अशनः | न अयोध्यायै न राज्याय स्पृहये अद्य त्वया सह || २-९५-१७

upaspR^ishamH tri ShavaNam madhu muula phala ashanaH | na ayodhyaayai na raajyaaya spR^ihaye adya tvayaa saha || 2-95-17

"Bathing three times a day in the river and living on honey, roots and fruits in your company, I do not desire for the kingdom nor do I long for Ayodhya now."

इमाम् हि रम्याम् गज यूथ लोलिताम् | निपीत तोयाम् गज सिम्ह वानरैः | सुपुष्पितैः पुष्प धरैर् अलम्कृताम् | न सो अस्ति यः स्यान् न गत क्रमः सुखी || २-९५-१८

imaam hi ramyaam gaja yuutha lolitaam | nipiita toyaam gaja simha vaanaraiH | supuShpitaiH puShpa dharair alamkR^itaam | na so asti yaH syaan na gata kramaH sukhii || 2-95-18

"There is none in the world, who would not be relieved of his fatigue and feel refreshed on the banks of this enchanting river, frequented by herds of elephants, who with lions and monkeys, come here to drink and which is adorned with innumerable flowers in full bloom."

इति इव रामो बहु सम्गतम् वचः | प्रिया सहायः सरितम् प्रति ब्रुवन् | चचार रम्यम् नयन अन्जन प्रभम् | स चित्र कूटम् रघु वंश वर्धनः || २-९५-१९

iti iva raamo bahu samgatam vacaH | priyaa sahaayaH saritam prati bruvan | cacaara ramyam nayana anjana prabham | sa citra kuuTam raghu va.nsha vardhanaH || 2-95-19

Describing the varied beauties of the Mandakini River, Rama the bestower of delight to Raghu dynasty with his beloved consort as a companion, strolled in the lovely mountain of Chitrakuta which was shining like a piece of collieries."