Sarga 94

Verse 1

दीर्घकालोषित स्तस्मिन्गिरौ गिरिवनप्रियः।वैदेह्याः प्रियमाकाङ्क्षन्स्वं च चित्तं विलोभयन्।।।।अथ दाशरथिश्चित्रं चित्रकूटमदर्शयत्।भार्याममरसङ्काश श्शचीमिव पुरन्दरः।।।।

Thereafter Rāma—who had lived long on that mountain and grown fond of mountain and forest—wishing to delight Vaidehī and also to gladden his own heart, showed his consort the wondrous Citrakūṭa, like Indra showing Śacī.

Verse 2

दीर्घकालोषित स्तस्मिन्गिरौ गिरिवनप्रियः।वैदेह्याः प्रियमाकाङ्क्षन्स्वं च चित्तं विलोभयन्।।2.94.1।।अथ दाशरथिश्चित्रं चित्रकूटमदर्शयत्।भार्याममरसङ्काश श्शचीमिव पुरन्दरः।।2.94.2।।

Having lived long upon that mountain, Rāma—fond of hills and forests—wished to gladden Vaidehī and also delight his own heart. Then Dāśarathi, radiant like a god, showed his wife the wondrous Citrakūṭa, as Purandara (Indra) once showed Śacī.

Verse 3

न राज्याद्भ्रंशनं भद्रे न सुहृद्भिर्विनाभवः।मनो मे बाधते दृष्ट्वा रमणीयमिमं गिरिम्।।।।

O gentle one, when I behold this lovely mountain, my mind is not pained either by the loss of the kingdom or by separation from friends.

Verse 4

पश्येममचलं भद्रे नानाद्विजगणायुतम्।शिखरैः खमिवोद्विद्धैर्धातुमद्भिर्विभूषितम्।।।।

O auspicious one, look at this mountain: thronged with flocks of many kinds of birds, and adorned with mineral-rich peaks that seem to pierce the sky.

Verse 5

केचिद्रजतसङ्काशाः केचित्क्षतजसंनिभाः।पीतमाञ्जिष्टवर्णाश्च केचिन्मणिवरप्रभाः।।।।पुष्यार्ककेतकाभाश्च केचिज्ज्योतीरसप्रभाः।विराजन्तेऽचलेन्द्रस्य देशा धातुविभूषिताः।।।।

Adorned with minerals, the regions of this lordly mountain shine in many hues—some like silver, some blood-red, some madder-yellow, some radiant like choice gems; others gleam like topaz, the sun, or ketaka blossoms, and some shimmer like quicksilver.

Verse 6

केचिद्रजतसङ्काशाः केचित्क्षतजसंनिभाः।पीतमाञ्जिष्टवर्णाश्च केचिन्मणिवरप्रभाः।।2.94.5।।पुष्यार्ककेतकाभाश्च केचिज्ज्योतीरसप्रभाः।विराजन्तेऽचलेन्द्रस्य देशा धातुविभूषिताः।।2.94.6।।

Adorned with minerals, the regions of this lordly mountain shine in many hues—some like silver, some blood-red, some madder-yellow, some radiant like choice gems; others gleam like topaz, the sun, or ketaka blossoms, and some shimmer like quicksilver.

Verse 7

नानामृगगणद्वीपितरर्क्ष्वृक्षगणैर्वुतः।अदुष्टैर्भात्ययं शैलो बहुपक्षिसमायुतः।।।।

This mountain shines, filled with many birds and surrounded by herds of varied beasts—tigers, panthers, and bears—who here appear free from cruelty.

Verse 8

आम्रजम्ब्वसनैर्लोध्रैः प्रियालैः पनसैर्धवैः।अङ्कोलैर्भव्यतिनिशैर्बिल्वतिन्दुक वेणुभिः।।।।काश्मर्यरिष्टवरुणैर्मधूकैस्तिलकैस्तथा।बदर्यामलकैर्नीपैर्वेत्रधन्वनबीजकैः।।।।पुष्पवद्भिः फलोपेतैश्छायावद्भिर्मनोरमैः।एवमादिभिराकीर्णः श्रियं पुष्यत्ययं गिरिः।।।।

This mountain is filled with enchanting, shady trees—flowering and fruit-laden—such as mango, rose-apple (jambū), asana, lodhra, priyāla, jackfruit, dhava, aṅkola, tinisa, bilva, tinduka, bamboo, kāśmarya, ariṣṭa, varuṇa, madhūka, tilaka, jujube (badarī), āmalaka, nīpa, cane, dhanvana, and pomegranate; thus covered, the mountain flourishes in splendor.

Verse 9

आम्रजम्ब्वसनैर्लोध्रैः प्रियालैः पनसैर्धवैः।अङ्कोलैर्भव्यतिनिशैर्बिल्वतिन्दुक वेणुभिः।।2.94.8।।काश्मर्यरिष्टवरुणैर्मधूकैस्तिलकैस्तथा।बदर्यामलकैर्नीपैर्वेत्रधन्वनबीजकैः।।2.94.9।।पुष्पवद्भिः फलोपेतैश्छायावद्भिर्मनोरमैः।एवमादिभिराकीर्णः श्रियं पुष्यत्ययं गिरिः।।2.94.10।।

This mountain is filled with enchanting, shady trees—flowering and fruit-laden—such as mango, rose-apple (jambū), asana, lodhra, priyāla, jackfruit, dhava, aṅkola, tinisa, bilva, tinduka, bamboo, kāśmarya, ariṣṭa, varuṇa, madhūka, tilaka, jujube (badarī), āmalaka, nīpa, cane, dhanvana, and pomegranate; thus covered, the mountain flourishes in splendor.

Verse 10

आम्रजम्ब्वसनैर्लोध्रैः प्रियालैः पनसैर्धवैः।अङ्कोलैर्भव्यतिनिशैर्बिल्वतिन्दुक वेणुभिः।।2.94.8।।काश्मर्यरिष्टवरुणैर्मधूकैस्तिलकैस्तथा।बदर्यामलकैर्नीपैर्वेत्रधन्वनबीजकैः।।2.94.9।।पुष्पवद्भिः फलोपेतैश्छायावद्भिर्मनोरमैः।एवमादिभिराकीर्णः श्रियं पुष्यत्ययं गिरिः।।2.94.10।।

Filled with such trees—flowering, fruit-laden, shady, and delightful—mango, rose-apple, asana, lodhra, priyāla, jackfruit, dhava, aṅkola, fine tiniśa, bilva, tinduka, bamboo; also kāśmarya, ariṣṭa, varuṇa, madhūka, tilaka; badarī, āmalaka, nīpa, cane, dhanvana, and bījaka—this mountain flourishes in splendor.

Verse 11

शैलप्रस्थेषु रम्येषु पश्येमान् रोमहर्षणान्।किन्नरान् द्वन्द्वशो भद्रे रममाणान्मनस्विनः।।।।

O gentle one, behold—upon these lovely rocky plateaus are the high-spirited Kinnaras, in pairs, sporting in a way that stirs wondrous awe.

Verse 12

शाखावसक्तान् खड्गांश्च प्रवराण्यम्बराणि च।पश्य विद्याधरस्त्रीणां क्रीडोद्धेशान्मनोरमान्।।।।

Behold these delightful play-grounds of the Vidyādhara women—where swords and fine garments hang suspended from the branches.

Verse 13

जलप्रपातैरुद्भेदैर्निष्यन्दैश्च क्वचित्क्वचित्।स्रवद्भिर्भात्ययं शैल स्स्रवन्मद इव द्विपः।।।।

With waterfalls, upsurging springs, and trickling streams flowing here and there, this mountain gleams—like an elephant in rut streaming ichor.

Verse 14

गुहासमीरणो गन्धान्नानापुष्पभवान्वहन्।घ्राणतर्पणमभ्येत्य कं नरं न प्रहर्षयेत्।।।।

The cave-breeze, carrying fragrances born of many flowers, comes to delight the sense of smell—what person would it not gladden?

Verse 15

यदीह शरदोऽनेकास्त्वया सार्धमनिन्दिते।लक्ष्मणेन च वत्स्यामि न मां शोकः प्रधक्ष्यति।।।।

O blameless one, if I were to live here through many autumns with you and with Lakṣmaṇa, grief would never burn me away.

Verse 16

बहुपुष्पफले रम्ये नानाद्विजगणायुते।विचित्रशिखरे ह्यस्मिन्रतवानस्मि भामिनि।।।।

O beloved, I am truly enamored of this delightful mountain—its peaks are wondrous, rich with many flowers and fruits, and alive with flocks of varied birds.

Verse 17

अनेन वनवासेन मया प्राप्तं फलद्वयम्।पितुश्चानृणता धर्मे भरतस्य प्रियं तथा।।।।

By this forest-dwelling I have gained a twofold fruit: I have repaid my father’s claim upon me in the matter of dharma, and I have also brought satisfaction to Bharata.

Verse 18

वैदेहि रमसे कच्चिच्चित्रकूटे मया सह।पश्यन्ती विविधान्भावान्मनोवाक्कायसम्मतान्।।।।

O Vaidehī (Sītā), are you finding joy here on Citrakūṭa with me, as you look upon the many sights and experiences that delight the mind, speech, and body?

Verse 19

इदमेवामृतं प्राहू राज्ञि राजर्षयः परे।वनवासं भवार्थाय प्रेत्य मे प्रपितामहाः।।।।

My forefathers—those ancient royal sages—declared that for a king, this very forest-dwelling is like nectar, bringing spiritual welfare and a higher state after death.

Verse 20

शिला श्शैलस्य शोभन्ते विशाला श्शतशोऽभितः।बहुला बहुलैर्वर्णैर्नीलपीतसितारुणैः।।।।

All around the mountain, hundreds of broad rocks shine splendidly, rich with many hues—dark blue to black, yellow, white, and red.

Verse 21

निशिभान्त्यचलेन्द्रस्य हुताशनशिखा इव।ओषध्यः स्वप्रभालक्ष्म्या भ्राजमाना स्सहस्रशः।।।।

At night, upon this lordly mountain, thousands of herbs glow with their own radiance, shining like tongues of fire.

Verse 22

केचित् क्षयनिभा देशाः केचिदुद्यानसन्निभाः।केचिदेकशिला भान्ति पर्वतस्यास्य भामिनि।।।।

O lovely one, some parts of this mountain resemble dwellings, some resemble pleasure-gardens, and some gleam as though formed of a single rock.

Verse 23

भित्त्वेव वसुधां भाति चित्रकूटस्समुत्थितः।चित्रकूटस्य कूटोऽसौ दृश्यते सर्वत श्शुभः।।।।

Citrakūṭa shines as though it has risen by splitting the earth; and that peak of Citrakūṭa appears auspicious and beautiful from every side.

Verse 24

कुष्ठस्थगरपुन्नाग भूर्जपत्रोत्तरच्छदान्।कामिनां स्वास्तरान्पश्य कुशेशयदलायुतान्।।।।

See, as it were, the fine couches of lovers—spread with leaves of kuṣṭha, sthagara, punnāga, and bhūrja, and heaped with lotus petals.

Verse 25

मृदिताश्चापविद्धाश्च दृश्यन्ते कमलस्रजः।कामिभिर्वनिते पश्य फलानि विविधानि च।।।।

O lady, see—here are lotus garlands, crushed and cast aside by lovers; and many kinds of fruits as well, left behind.

Verse 26

वस्वौकसारां नलिनीमत्येतीवोत्तरान्कुरून्।पर्वतश्चित्रकूटोऽसौ बहुमूलफलोदकः।।।।

This Citrakūṭa mountain—rich in roots, fruits, and water—seems to surpass Vasvaukasārā, Nalini, and even the northern Kurus (Uttarakuru) in abundance and charm.

Verse 27

इमं तु कालं वनिते विजह्रिवांस्त्वया च सीते सह लक्ष्मणेन च।रतिं प्रपत्स्ये कुलधर्मवर्धनीं सतां पथि स्वैर्नियमैः परैः स्थितः।।।।

O beloved Sītā, by spending this time in the forest with you and with Lakṣmaṇa—steadfast on the path of the virtuous and governed by my own strict self-restraints—I shall attain a deep joy that also strengthens the dharma of our lineage.