Sloka & Translation

[The trio cross Yamuna -- decide to reside on the river bank -- Sita rejoices getting her favourite flowers and fruits.]

उषित्वा रजनीं तत्र राजपुत्रावरिन्दमौ।

महर्षिमभिवाद्याथ जग्मतुस्तं गिरिं प्रति।।2.55.1।।


अरिन्दमौ destroyers of enemies, राजपुत्राः the (two) princes, तत्र there, रजनी night, उषित्वा having spent, अथ thereafter, महर्षिम् great sage (Bharadwaja), अभिवाद्य having offered obeisance, तं गिरिं प्रति in the direction of that mountain, जग्मतुः went.

After spending the night, the princes, destroyers of enemies, offered obeisance to that
great sage (Bharadhwaja) and went towards that mount Chitrkuta.
तेषां चैव स्वस्त्ययनं महर्षि स्स चकार ह।

प्रस्थितांश्चैव तान्प्रेक्ष्य पिता पुत्रानिवान्वगात्।।2.55.2।।


सः महर्षिः that great sage, तेषाम् to them, स्वस्त्ययनम् blessings for their safe journey, चकार ह made, प्रस्थितान् set forth, तान् them, प्रेक्ष्य having seen, पिता father, पुत्रानिव like his own children, अन्वगात् च followed also.

Seeing them setting forth, the great sage blessed them for a safe journey and followed them like a father following his children.
ततः प्रचक्रमे वक्तुं वचनं स महामुनिः।

भरद्वाजो महातेजा रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।2.55.3।।


ततः then, महातेजाः effulgent, महामुनिः great sage, सः भरद्वाजः that Bharadwaja, सत्यपराक्रमम् to one whose strength is truth, रामम् to Rama, वचनम् words, वक्तुम् to tell, प्रचक्रमे began.

Then that great effulgent sage Bharadwaja began to speak to Rama whose strength was truth.
गङ्गायमुनयो स्सन्धिमासाद्य मनुजर्षभौ।

कालिन्दीमनुगच्छेतां नदीं पश्चान्मुखाश्रिताम्।।2.55.4।।


मनुजर्षभौ two (best) among men, गङ्गायमुनयोः सन्धिम् the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, गत्वा having reached, पश्चान्मुखाश्रिताम् flowing westward, कालिन्दी नदीम् river Kalindi (Yamuna), अनुगच्छेताम् proceed along.

Reaching the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna, O Rama and Lakshmana best among men proceed along the Kalindi (Yamuna) river flowing westward.
अथाऽसाद्य तु कालिन्दी शीघ्रस्रोतसमापगाम्।

तस्यास्तीर्थं प्रचलितं पुराणं प्रेक्ष्य राघवौ।।2.55.5।।

तत्र यूयं प्लवं कृत्वा तरतांशुमतीं नदीम्।


राघवौ the scions of the Raghus (Rama and Lakshmana), अथ then, शीघ्रस्रोतसम् rapidiy flowing आपगाम् river, कालिन्दीम् Kalindi (Yamuna), आसाद्य having reached, प्रचलितम् served by many, पुराणम् ancient, तस्याः तीर्थम् spot on the river bank, प्रेक्ष्य finding, तत्र there, यूयम् you, प्लवम् a raft, कृत्वा having made, अंशुमतीम् that daughter of the Sun (Yamuna), नदीम् river, तरत cross over.

On reaching that swiftflowing river Yamuna, O Rama and Lakshmana O scions of the Raghu race, you will find an ancient spot (on the river bank). There make a raft and cross Kalindi, daughter of the Sun.
ततो न्यग्रोधमासाद्य महान्तं हरितच्छदम्।।2.55.6।।

विवृद्धं बहुभिर्वृक्षै श्श्यामं सिद्धोपसेवितम्।

तस्मै सीताञ्जलिं कृत्वा प्रयुञ्जीताशिषश्शिवाः।।2.55.7।।


ततः हरितच्छदम् with lush green leaves, महान्तम् large, बहुभि: by many, वृक्षै: trees, विवृध्दम् densely grown, सिध्दोपसेवितम् inhabited by siddhas (sages who have attained perfection), श्यामम् dark (shady), न्यग्रोधम् banyan tree, आसाद्य having approached, सीता Sita, तस्मै to it, अञ्जलिम् folded palms, कृत्वा having made, शिवाः auspicious, आशिष: invocations, प्रयुञ्जीत offer.

There you will find a large, banyan tree with its lush green leaves, looking dark with its densely grown trees. It is inhabited by siddhas. Sita should offer with folded palms invocations for her wellbeing.
समासाद्य तु तं वृक्षं वसेद्वातिक्रमेत वा।

क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा नीलं द्रक्ष्यथ काननम्।।2.55.8।।

पलाशबदरीमिश्रं रम्यं वंशैश्च यामुनैः।


तम् वृक्षम् that tree, समासाद्य having reached, वसेद्वा one may tarry or, अतिक्रमेत वा or can go past, तत: from there, क्रोशमात्रम् at a distance of a krosa, गत्वा having gone, नीलम् dark, पलाशबदरीमिश्रम् mixed with Palasa and Badari trees, यामुनै: on Yamuna, वंशै: च with bamboos also, रम्यम् beautiful, काननम् forest, द्रक्ष्यथ you will see.

Reaching that tree, you may tarry or proceed further. A krosa from there, you will see a beautiful forest filled with dark trees mixed with Palasas and badaris and bamboos on the Yamuna.
स पन्थाश्चित्रकूटस्य गत स्सुबहुशो मया।।2.55.9।।

रम्यो मार्दवयुक्तश्च वनदावैर्विवर्जितः।


स: that one, चित्रकूटस्य of Chitrakuta, पन्था: path, मया by me, बहुश: several times, गत: gone, रम्य beautiful, मार्दवयुक्तश्च marked with smoothness, वनदावै: forest fires, विवर्जित: is without.

That path leads to Chitrakuta. I had travelled through it several times. It is beautiful, smooth and safe from forest fires.
इति पन्थानमावेद्य महर्षिस्सन्यवर्तत।।2.55.10।।

अभिवाद्य तथेत्युक्त्वा रामेण विनिवर्तितः।


स: महर्षि: that great sage, इति thus, पन्थानम् path, आवेद्य after directing, रामेण by Rama, तथेति 'so be it', उक्त्वा having said, अभिवाद्य paying obeisance, विनिवर्तित: having been requested to return, न्यवर्तत turned back.

The great sage returned after instructing Rama about the path. So be it, said Rama and offering obeisance requested Bharadhwaja to go back.
उपावृत्ते मुनौ तस्मिन्रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।2.55.11।।

कृतपुण्याः स्म सौमित्रे मुनिर्यन्नोऽनुकम्पते।


तस्मिन् मुनौ the sage (Bharadhwaja), उपावृत्ते having turned back, राम Rama, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, अब्रवीत् said, सौमित्रे son of Sumitra, Lakshmana, कृतपुण्या: स्म we are fortunate indeed, यत् since, मुनिः the sage, न: on us, अनुकम्पते is showing compassion.

With the sage gone, Rama said, O Saumitri (son of Sumitra) we are lucky, for the sage has been so kind.
इति तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ मन्त्रयित्वा मनस्विनौ।

सीतामेवाग्रतः कृत्वा कालिन्दीं जग्मतुर्नदीम्।।2.55.12।।


मनस्विनौ nobleminded, तौ those two, पुरुषव्याघ्रौ tigers (best) among men, इति thus, मन्त्रयित्वा conversing, सीताम् to Sita, अग्रत: इव ahead of them, कृत्वा keeping, कालिन्दीं नदीम् towards river Kalindi (Yamuna), जग्मतु: proceeded.

Thus talking with one another, the two nobleminded tigers (best) among men advanced towards river Kalindi (Yamuna) with Sita walking in front.
अथाऽसाद्य तु कालिन्दीं शीघ्रस्रोतोवहां नदीम्।

चिन्तामापेदिरे सर्वे नदीजलतितीर्षवः।।2.55.13।।


अथ thereafter, सर्वे all of them, शीघ्रस्रोतोवहाम् rapidly flowing, कालिन्दीं नदीम् river Kalindi, आसाद्य having reached, नदीजलतितीर्षव: wishing to cross the river, चिन्ताम् अपेदिरे pondered.

Thereafter, they all reached the rapidly flowing river Kalindi and began pondering how to cross it.
तौ काष्ठसङ्घातमथो चक्रतु स्सुमहाप्लवम्।

शुष्कैर्वंशै स्समास्तीर्णमुशीरैश्च समावृतम्।।2.55.14।।


अथ then, तौ both of them, शुष्कै: with dry, वंशै: bamboos, समास्तीर्णम् wellspread, उशीरै:
fragrant roots of Ushira bush, समावृतम् covered with, काष्टसङ्घातम् with logs of wood joined together, महाप्लवम् big float, चक्रतु: made.

Then they both made a big wooden float by joining logs of wood, spreading bamboos on it and covering it with the (fragrant roots of) Ushira bushes.
ततो वेतसशाखाश्च जम्बूशाखाश्च वीर्यवान्।

चकार लक्ष्मणश्छित्वा सीताया स्सुखमासनम्।।2.55.15।।


तत: then, वीर्यवान् valiant, लक्ष्मण: Lakshmana, वेतसशाखाश्च stems of reeds, जम्बूशाखाश्च branches from Jambu tree, छित्वा after cutting, सीताया: for Sita, सुखम् comfortable, आसनम् seat, चकार made.

The valiant Lakshmana cut the stems of reeds and branches of the Jambu tree to prepare a comfortable seat for Sita (on that float).
तत्र श्रियमिवाचिन्त्यां रामो दाशरथिः प्रियाम्।

ईषत्संलज्जमानां तामध्यारोपयतप्लवम्।।2.55.16।।


दाशरथि: Dasaratha's son, रामः Rama, तत्र there, श्रियमिव looking like Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), अचिन्त्याम् inconceivable (majesty), ईषत् a little, संलज्जमानाम् feeling shy, ताम् प्रियाम् that beloved Sita, प्लवम् float, अध्यारोपयत ascended.

Rama, son of Dasaratha helped his beloved (Sita), who was looking inconceivably like Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and was feeling a little bashful while stepping on to the float.
पार्श्वे च तत्र वैदेह्या वसने भूषणानि च।

प्लवे कठिनकाजं च रामश्चक्रे सहायुधैः।।2.55.17।।


राम: Rama, तत्र there, प्लवे on the float, वैदेह्याः Sita's, पार्श्वे on the side of, वसने clothes, भूषणानि च ornaments, कठिनकाजं a crowbar and a basket, आयुधै: weapons, चक्रे placed.

Rama placed robes and ornaments on the float by the side of Sita and a spade and a basket along with weapons.
आरोप्य प्रथमं सीतां सङ्घाटं परिगृह्य तौ।

तत प्रतेरतुर्यत्तौ वीरौ दशरथात्मजौ।।2.55.18।।


वीरौ heroes, तौ those two, दशरथात्मजौ Dasratha's sons, सङ्घाटम् that float, प्रतिगृह्य tightly holding, प्रथमम् at first, सीताम् Sita, आरोप्य making her board, ततः then, यत्तौ carefully, प्रतेरतुः crossed.

Those valiant sons of Dasaratha held the float (firmly) to help Sita step on to it. Then they crossed the river carefully.
कालिन्दीमध्यमायाता सीता त्वेनामवन्दत।

स्वस्ति देवि तरामि त्वां पारये न्मे पतिर्व्रतम्।।2.55.19।।

यक्ष्ये त्वां गोसहस्रेण सुराघटशतेन च।

स्वस्ति प्रत्यागते रामे पुरी मिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम्।।2.56.20।।


कालिन्दीमध्यम् the middle of the river Kalindi (Yamuna), आयाता on reaching, सीता Sita, एनाम् to this river, अवन्दत made reverential salutation, देवी O goddess, त्वाम् you, तरामि crossing, स्वस्ति let safety be ours, मे my, पति: husband, व्रतम् vow, पारयेत् may fulfil, रामे Rama, स्वस्ति safely, इक्ष्वाकुपालिताम् ruled by Ikshvaku kings, पुरीम् city of Ayodhya, प्रत्यागते on his return, त्वाम् you, गोसहस्रेण with the offer of a thousand cows, सुराघटशतेन च with a hundred pots of wine, यक्षे will worship.

On reaching the middle of the river Yamuna, Sita made reverential salutations to her saying O goddess, I am crossing you, may safety be ours and may my husband fulfil his vow After Rama's (safe) return to the city (of Ayodhya) ruled by the Ikshvaku kings, I shall worship you with a thousand cows and a hundred pots of wine.
कालिन्दी मथ सीता तु याचमाना कृताञ्जलिः।

तीरमेवाभिसम्प्राप्ता दक्षिणं वरवर्णिनी।।2.55.21।।


वरवर्णिनी lady of fair complexion, सीता Sita, कालिन्दीम् Yamuna, कृताञ्जलि: folding her hands, याचमाना in supplication, अथ thereafter, दक्षिणं तीरमेव southern bank, अभिसम्प्राप्ता reached.

While Sita with her fair complexion was thus invoking river Yamuna with folded hands they reached the southern bank.
तत प्लवेनांशुमतीं शीघ्रगामूर्मिमालिनीम्।

तीरजै र्बहुभिर्वृक्षै स्सन्तेरुर्यमुनां नदीम्।।2.55.22।।


तत: then, शीघ्रगाम् swiftflowing, ऊर्मिमालिनीम् full of waves, तीरजै: growing on the banks, बहुभि: many, वृक्षै: trees, अंशुमतीम् daughter of the Sungod, यमुनां नदीम् river Yamuna, सन्तेरु: crossed.

They crossed the swiftflowing river Yamuna, daughter of the Sungod, full of waves and with trees growing thick on her banks.
ते तीर्णाः प्लवमुत्सृज्य प्रस्थाय यमुनावनात्।

श्यामं न्यग्रोध मासेदु श्शीतलं हरितच्छदम्।।2.55.23।।


तीर्णा: having crossed, ते they, प्लवम् raft, उत्सृज्य after leaving, यमुनावनात् from the forest adjoining Yamuna river, प्रस्थाय after starting, हरितच्छदम् a place full of greenery, शीतलम् cool, श्यामम् dark, न्यग्रोधम् banyan tree, असेदु: reached.

Having crossed the river, they left the float and proceeded from the adjoining forest of Yamuna and reached the dark, cool banyan tree covered with lush green leaves.
न्यग्रोधं तमुपागम्य वैदेही वाक्यमब्रवीत्।

नमस्तेऽस्तु महावृक्ष पारयेन्मे पतिर्व्रतम्।।2.55.24।।

कौशल्यां चैव पश्येयं सुमित्रां च यशश्विनीम्।

इति सीताऽञ्जलिं कृत्वा पर्यगच्छद्वनस्पतिम्।।2.55.25।।


वैदेही Sita, तं न्यग्रोधम् that banyan tree, उपागम्य having reached, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् said, महावृक्ष O great tree, ते to you, नम:अस्तु my salutations, मे पतिः my husband, व्रतम् vow, पारयेत् may fulfil, कौशल्यां च and Kausalya, यशश्विनीम् illustrious, सुमित्रां च also Sumitra, पश्येयम् may I behold, सीता Sita, इति in this way, अञ्जलिं कृत्वा offering reverential salutations with folded hands, वनस्पतिम् to the tree, पर्यगच्छत् went round.

Having reached the banyan tree, Sita invoked it, saying, 'O great tree I offer you my salutations. May my husband fulfil his vow May I behold Kausalya and the illustrious Sumitra on my return. Saying so, she went round the tree offering reverential salutations with folded hands.
अवलोक्य तत स्सीतामायाचन्तीमनिन्दिताम्।

दयितां च विधेयां च रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।2.55.26।।


तत: then, रामः Rama, अयाचन्तीम् who was seeking blessings, अनिन्दिताम् blemishless, दयिताम् beloved, विधेयां च and obedient, सीताम् Sita, अवलोक्य having seen, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, अब्रवीत् said.

Beholding the obedient, blemishless, beloved Sita invoking blessings, Rama said to Lakhsmana:
सीतामादाय गच्छत्वमग्रतो भरतानुज।

पृष्ठतोऽहं गमिष्यामि सायुधो द्विपदां वर।।2.55.27।।


द्विपदां वर best among bipeds (men), भरतानुज brother of Bharata (Lakshmana), त्वम् you, सीताम् Sita, आदाय taking with you, अग्रत: ahead, गच्छ go, अहम् I, सायुध: armed with weapons, पृष्ठत: from behind, गमिष्यामि will follow.

O Lakshmana, best among bipeds (men) and brother of Bharata walk ahead with Sita and I shall follow with weapons.
यद्यत्फलं प्रार्थयते पुष्पं वा जनकात्मजा।

तत्तत्प्रदद्या वैदेह्या यत्राऽस्या रमते मनः।।2.55.28।।


जनकात्मजा daughter of Janaka, यद्यत्फलम् whichever fruit, पुष्पं वा or flower, प्रार्थयते requests for, तत्तत् that one, अस्या: वैदेह्या: for this Sita, मन: mind, यत्र where, रमते takes pleasure, प्रदद्य give.

Whatever fruit or flower the daughter of Janaka asks for, get it. Whatever pleases her mind give it.
गच्छतोऽस्तु तयोर्मध्ये बभूव जनकात्मजा।

मातङ्गयोर्मध्यगता शुभा नागवधूरिव।।2.55.29।।


गच्छतोः going like that, तयोः of both, मध्यगता moving in the middle, जनकात्मजा daughter of Janaka, मातङ्गयोः of two male elephants, मध्यगता in between, शुभा auspicious, नागवधूरिव
like a female elephant, बभूव remained.

The daughter of Janaka walked between them like a sheelephant between two males.
एकैकं पादपं गुल्मं लतां वा पुष्पशालिनीम्।

अदृष्टपूर्वां पश्यन्ती रामं पप्रच्छ साऽबला।।2.55.30।।


सा अबला that gentle lady, एकैकम् one by one, पादपम् tree, गुल्मम् shrub, अदृष्टपूर्वाम् never seen before, पुष्पशालिनीम् flowering, लतां वा or a creeper, पश्यन्ती seeing, रामम् to Rama, पप्रच्छ asked.

That gentle lady enquired of Rama about a tree or a shrub or a creeper in full bloom which she did not see before.
रमणीयान्बहुविधान्पादपान्कुसुमोत्कटान्।

सीतावचनसंरब्ध आनयामास लक्ष्मणः।।2.55.31।।


लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, सीतावचनसंरब्धः cheered by the indent of Sita, कुसुमोत्कटान् laden with flowers, रमणीयान् beautiful, बहुविधान् various, पादपान् trees, आनयामास brought.

Cheered by Sita's indents, Lakshmana brought her various beautiful plants and stocks of flowers.
विचित्रवालुकजलां हंससारसनादिताम्।

रेमे जनकराजस्य सुता प्रेक्ष्य तदा नदीम्।।2.55.32।।


तदा then, जनकराजस्य सुता daughter of king Janaka (Sita), विचित्रवालुकजलाम् wonderful water and sand, हंससारसनादिताम् echoing with the sounds of swans and cranes, नदीम् river Yamuna, प्रेक्ष्य beholding, रेमे exceedingly delighted.

Beholding the river Yamuna with its wonderful water and sand echoing with the cackle of swans and cranes, Sita went ecstatic.
क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।

बहून्मेध्यान्मृगान्हत्वा चेरतुर्यमुनावने।।2.55.33।।


तत: then, भ्रातरौ the two brothers, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, क्रोशमात्रम् a krosa, गत्वा having gone, मेध्यान् suitable for sacrifice (pure), बहून् many, मृगान् deer, हत्वा having slain, यमुनावने in the forest on the bank of Yamuna, चेरतु: ate.

After walking a krosa into the forest on the bank of Yamuna, the two brothers killed many deer suitable for sacrifice and ate them.
विहृत्य ते बर्हिणपूगनादिते शुभे वने वानरवारणायुते।

समं नदीवप्रमुपेत्य सम्मतं निवास माजग्मु रदीनदर्शनाः।।2.55.34।।


अदीनदर्शना: appearing in high spirits, ते they, बर्हिणपूगनादिते resounding with the melody of peacocks, वानरवारणायुते inhabited by monkeys and elephants, शुभे वने in that lovely forest, विहृत्य roaming about, समम् levelled, सम्मतम् convenient, नदीवप्रम् bank of the river, उपेत्य having reached, निवासम् dwelling, आजग्मतु: made.

They reached the tableland on the bank of that river and moved in high spirit in the lovely forest resounding with cries of flocks of peacocks and teeming with monkeys and elephants. Finally they selected a spot for their stay.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftyfifth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.