Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 118
In this Sarga, Seetā echoes the sentiments of Anasūyā regarding the glory of any woman serving her husband unconditionally. Seetā tells Anasūyā that her words remind her of the same sentiments that she heard from her mother and mother-in-law.
Anasūyā is pleased with Seetā and asks her to make a wish that she could fulfill. Seetā tells her that her affection was enough of a gift. Anasūyā, even more pleased with her, gives her dresses, cosmetics and ornaments.
Then Anasūyā asks her to tell the story of her Swayamvara. Seetā narrates, in brief, about how she was born, how Janaka announced Swayamvara for her, how the bow broke into two when Rāma pulled the string, how Janaka offered her to Rāma and how Rāma accepted her only after getting the consent of Daṡaratha.
2.118.1 ஸாத்வேவமுக்தா வைதேஹீ
அநஸூயாऽநஸூயயா ।
ப்ரதிபூஜ்ய வசோ மந்தம்
ப்ரவக்துமுபசக்ரமே ॥
sātvēvamuktā vaidēhī
anasūyā'nasūyayā ।
pratipūjya vacō mandaṃ
pravaktumupacakramē ॥
When Anasūyā told her thus,
the princess of Vidēha,
who took it all in modesty,
paid respects to her and
deferentially started to say:
2.118.2 நைததாஸ்சர்யமார்யாயா
யந்மாம் த்வமபிபாஷஸே ।
விதிதந்து மமாப்யேதத்
யதா நார்யா: பதிர்குரு: ॥
naitadāṡcaryamāryāyā
yanmāṃ tvamabhibhāṣasē ।
viditantu mamāpyētat
yathā nāryāḥ patirguruḥ ॥
There is no surprise in what you,
the noble one, said to me.
I fully well understand how a husband
is the most respected person for a woman.
2.118.3 யத்யப்யேஷ பவேத்பர்தா
மமாऽர்யே வ்ருத்தவர்ஜித: ।
அத்வைதமுபசர்தவ்ய:
ததாப்யேஷ மயா பவேத் ॥
yadyapyēṣa bhavēdbhartā
mamā'ryē vṛttavarjitaḥ ।
advaidhamupacartavyaḥ
tathāpyēṣa mayā bhavēt ॥
O noble one! Even if my husband
were to lose all his good character,
it should make no difference
in how I attend on him.
2.118.4 கிம் புநர்யோ குணஸ்லாக்ய:
ஸாநுக்ரோஸோ ஜிதேந்த்ரிய: ।
ஸ்திராநுராகோ தர்மாத்மா
மாத்ருவத்பித்ருவத்ப்ரிய: ॥
kiṃ punaryō guṇaṡlāghyaḥ
sānukrōṡō jitēndriyaḥ ।
sthirānurāgō dharmātmā
mātṛvatpitṛvatpriyaḥ ॥
Then, what to speak of a Dharmātma
who bears every adorable quality,
showers consistent love,
and is as endearing as a mother and a father?
2.118.5 யாம் வ்ருத்திம் வர்ததே ராம:
கௌஸல்யாயாம் மஹாபல: ।
தாமேவ ந்ருபநாரீணாம்
அந்யாஸாமபி வர்ததே ॥
yāṃ vṛttiṃ vartatē rāmaḥ
kausalyāyāṃ mahābalaḥ ।
tāmēva nṛpanārīṇām
anyāsāmapi vartatē ॥
The mighty Rāma treats all the women of the king
the same as he treats Kousalyā.
2.118.6 ஸக்ருத்த்ருஷ்டாஸ்வபி ஸ்த்ரிஷு
ந்ருபேண ந்ருபவத்ஸல: ।
மாத்ருவத்வர்ததே வீரோ
மாநமுத்ஸ்ருஜ்ய தர்மவித் ॥
sakṛddṛṣṭāsvapi striṣu
nṛpēṇa nṛpavatsalaḥ ।
mātṛvadvartatē vīrō
mānamutsṛjya dharmavit ॥
He, the Veera, who loves the king,
treats every woman on whom
the king had ever cast a glance
as his own mother, without giving in to conceit.
2.118.7 ஆகச்சந்த்யாஸ்ச விஜநம்
வநமேவம் பயாவஹம் ।
ஸமாஹிதம் மே ஸ்வஸ்ர்வா ச
ஹ்ருதயே தத்த்ருதம் மஹத் ॥
āgacchantyāṡca vijanaṃ
vanamēvaṃ bhayāvaham ।
samāhitaṃ mē ṡvaṡrvā ca
hṛdayē taddhṛtaṃ mahat ॥
I keep firmly in my mind
the good advice given by my mother-in-law
when I set out for this
desolate and frightful Vana.
2.118.8 பாணிப்ரதாநகாலே ச
யத்புராத்வக்நி ஸந்நிதௌ ।
அநுஸிஷ்டா ஜநந்யாऽஸ்மி
வாக்யம் ததபி மே த்ருதம் ॥
pāṇipradānakālē ca
yatpurātvagni sannidhau ।
anuṡiṣṭā jananyā'smi
vākyaṃ tadapi mē dhṛtam ॥
I also hold on to the advice
given by my mother earlier,
at the time of bestowal of my hand (to Rāma)
in the presence of the god of fire.
2.118.9 நவீக்ருதம் து தத்ஸர்வம்
வாக்யைஸ்தே தர்மசாரிணி ।
பதிஸுஸ்ரூஷணாந்நார்யா:
தபோ நாந்யத்விதீயதே ॥
navīkṛtaṃ tu tatsarvaṃ
vākyaistē dharmacāriṇi ।
patiṡuṡrūṣaṇānnāryāḥ
tapō nānyadvidhīyatē ॥
O follower of Dharma! Your words
refresh my mind with all of that (advice).
There is no other Tapa enjoined on
a woman than serving her husband.
2.118.10 ஸாவித்ரீ பதிஸுஸ்ரூஷாம்
க்ருத்வா ஸ்வர்கே மஹீயதே ।
ததாவ்ருத்திஸ்ச யாதா த்வம்
பதிஸுஸ்ரூஷயா திவம் ॥
sāvitrī patiṡuṡrūṣāṃ
kṛtvā svargē mahīyatē ।
tathāvṛttiṡca yātā tvaṃ
patiṡuṡrūṣayā divam ॥
Sāvitri was regarded highly in heaven
for serving her husband.
You shall also attain heaven,
for serving your husband.
2.118.11 வரிஷ்டா ஸர்வநாரீணாம்
ஏஷா ச திவி தேவதா ।
ரோஹிணீ ந விநாசந்த்ரம்
முஹூர்தமபி த்ருஸ்யதே ॥
variṣṭhā sarvanārīṇām
ēṣā ca divi dēvatā ।
rōhiṇī na vinācandraṃ
muhūrtamapi dṛṡyatē ॥
Rōhiṇee, the divine and the best of all women,
is not seen in the sky separated
from the moon, even for a moment. Astronomically speaking, Rōhiṇee is seen even without the moon in the sky. There must be a figurative significance to this saying.
2.118.12 ஏவம்விதாஸ்ச ப்ரவரா:
ஸ்த்ரியோ பர்த்ருத்ருடவ்ரதா: ।
தேவலோகே மஹீயந்தே
புண்யேந ஸ்வேந கர்மணா ॥
ēvaṃvidhāṡca pravarāḥ
striyō bhartṛdṛḍhavratāḥ ।
dēvalōkē mahīyantē
puṇyēna svēna karmaṇā ॥
Great women such as these,
firm in their vows to their husbands
are revered in the world of Dēvas
because of their good conduct.
2.118.13 ததோऽநஸூயா ஸம்ஹ்ருஷ்டா
ஸ்ருத்வோக்தம் ஸீதயா வச: ।
ஸிரஸ்யாக்ராய சோவாச
மைதிலீம் ஹர்ஷயந்த்யுத ॥
tatō'nasūyā saṃhṛṣṭā
ṡrutvōktaṃ sītayā vacaḥ ।
ṡirasyāghrāya cōvāca
maithilīṃ harṣayantyuta ॥
So delighted was Anasūyā on
hearing those words of Seetā
that she smelled her head,
making that princess of Mithilā also very happy.
2.118.14 நியமைர்விவிதைராப்தம்
தபோ ஹி மஹதஸ்தி மே ।
தத்ஸம்ஸ்ரித்ய பலம் ஸீதே
சந்தயே த்வாம் ஸுசிவ்ரதே ॥
niyamairvividhairāptaṃ
tapō hi mahadasti mē ।
tatsaṃṡritya balaṃ sītē
chandayē tvāṃ ṡucivratē ॥
O Seetā, of bright smile!
I have accumulated great Tapa
observing austerities of many a kind.
I would like to use that bounty
to grant what you wish!
2.188.15 உபபந்நம் மநோஜ்ஞம் ச
வசநம் தவ மைதிலி ।
ப்ரீதா சாஸ்ம்யுசிதம் கிம் தே
கரவாணி ப்ரவீஹி மே ॥
upapannaṃ manōjñaṃ ca
vacanaṃ tava maithili ।
prītā cāsmyucitaṃ kiṃ tē
karavāṇi bravīhi mē ॥
Your words are so becoming and
heart-warming and I am truly pleased.
Tell me what I can do for you that you would like!
2.118.16 தஸ்யாஸ்தத்வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா
விஸ்மிதா மந்தவிஸ்மயா ।
க்ருதமித்யப்ரவீஸ்தீதா
தபோபலஸமந்விதாம் ॥
tasyāstadvacanaṃ ṡrutvā
vismitā mandavismayā ।
kṛtamityabravīstītā
tapōbalasamanvitām ॥
Moved by hearing those words of hers,
Seetā, with a gentle smile, said to
that lady who had accumulated great Tapa,
‘You have done it already !’
2.118.17 ஸா த்வேவமுக்தா தர்மஜ்ஞா
தயா ப்ரீததராऽபவத் ।
ஸபலம் ச ப்ரஹர்ஷம் தே
ஹந்த ஸீதே கரோம்யஹம் ॥
sā tvēvamuktā dharmajñā
tayā prītatarā'bhavat ।
saphalaṃ ca praharṣaṃ tē
hanta sītē karōmyaham ॥
With those words, that Dharmajña
became even more pleased and said:
'O my dear, I shall make this enchantment
of mine towards you, of some real use for you!'
2.118.18-19 இதம் திவ்யம் வரம் மால்யம்
வஸ்த்ரமாபரணாநி ச ।
அங்கராகம் ச வைதேஹி
மஹார்ஹம் சாநுலேபநம் ॥
மயா தத்தமிதம் ஸீதே
தவ காத்ராணி ஸோபயேத் ।
அநுரூபமஸம்க்லிஷ்டம்
நித்யமேவ பவிஷ்யதி ॥
idaṃ divyaṃ varaṃ mālyaṃ
vastramābharaṇāni ca ।
aṅgarāgaṃ ca vaidēhi
mahārhaṃ cānulēpanam ॥
mayā dattamidaṃ sītē
tava gātrāṇi ṡōbhayēt ।
anurūpamasaṃkliṣṭaṃ
nityamēva bhaviṣyati ॥
Here are the splendid and best of garlands,
and also dresses and jewels,
and cosmetic powders
and creams of exquisite quality.
These, which I give you, Seetā,
shall enhance the luster of your body,
and keep you fresh and comfortable all the time. A Tapasvini in a Vana is also a woman! She too enjoys cosmetics and makeup like any other woman!
2.118.20 அங்கராகேண திவ்யேந
லிப்தாங்கீ ஜநகாத்மஜே! ।
ஸோபயிஷ்யஸி பர்தாரம்
யதா ஸ்ரீர்விஷ்ணுமவ்யயம் ॥
aṅgarāgēṇa divyēna
liptāṅgī janakātmajē! ।
ṡōbhayiṣyasi bhartāraṃ
yathā ṡrīrviṣṇumavyayam ॥
With these splendid creams applied on your body,
O daughter of Janaka, you will enhance
the splendor of your husband
as Lakshmi does the glory of the imperishable Vishnu!
2.118.21 ஸா வஸ்த்ரமங்கராகம் ச
பூஷணாநி ஸ்ரஜஸ்ததா ।
மைதிலீ ப்ரதிஜக்ராஹ
ப்ரீதிதாநமநுத்தமம் ॥
sā vastramaṅgarāgaṃ ca
bhūṣaṇāni srajastathā ।
maithilī pratijagrāha
prītidānamanuttamam ॥
And the princess of Mithilā
accepted those dresses,
cosmetics, ornaments and garlands
that were gifted to her with unequaled affection.
2.118.22 ப்ரதிக்ருஹ்ய ச தத்ஸீதா
ப்ரீதிதாநம் யஸஸ்விநீ ।
ஸ்லிஷ்டாஞ்ஜலிபுடா தத்ர
ஸமுபாஸ்த தபோதநாம் ॥
pratigṛhya ca tatsītā
prītidānaṃ yaṡasvinī ।
ṡliṣṭāñjalipuṭā tatra
samupāsta tapōdhanām ॥
Receiving that gift of affection,
Seetā of great repute waited with cupped hands
upon her who was rich with Tapa.
2.118.23 ததா ஸீதாமுபாஸீநாம்
அநஸூயா த்ருடவ்ரதா ।
வசநம் ப்ரஷ்டுமாரேபே
காஞ்சித்ப்ரியகதாமநு ॥
tathā sītāmupāsīnām
anasūyā dṛḍhavratā ।
vacanaṃ praṣṭumārēbhē
kāñcitpriyakathāmanu ॥
Anasūyā of strict Vratas,
then started to ask Seetā,
who was sitting next to her
about something that was endearing to her.
2.118.24 ஸ்வயம் வரே கில ப்ராப்தா
த்வமநேந யஸஸ்விநா ।
ராகவேணேதி மே ஸிதே
கதா ஸ்ருதிமுபாகதா ॥
svayaṃ varē kila prāptā
tvamanēna yaṡasvinā ।
rāghavēṇēti mē sitē
kathā ṡrutimupāgatā ॥
I have heard, O Seetā, that you were won by
this Rāghava of great renown in Swayamvara. The traditional process is that the girl's father searches for a suitable boy for his daughter and gives her hand to him in betrothal.
Swayamvara is a different process. In this process, the girl can be claimed by anyone (वीर्यशुल्क – see Bāla Kāṇḍa, Sarga 66) who meets a certain preset criteria.
The Swayamvara of Damayanti, from another legendary story, is a different process. There, the girl chooses a husband from among the many who seek her hand.
Plurality is the theme of India, then and now!
2.118.25 தாம் கதாம் ஸ்ரோதுமிச்சாமி
விஸ்தரேண ச மைதிலி! ।
யதாऽநுபூதம் கார்த்ஸ்ந்யேந
தந்மே த்வம் வக்துமர்ஹஸி ॥
tāṃ kathāṃ ṡrōtumicchāmi
vistarēṇa ca maithili! ।
yathā'nubhūtaṃ kārtsnyēna
tanmē tvaṃ vaktumarhasi ॥
I would like to know that story in detail.
O princess of Mithilā, please tell me
about it just as it happened, in all detail.
2.118.26 ஏவமுக்தா து ஸா ஸீதா
தாம் ததோ தர்மசாரிணீம் ।
ஸ்ரூயதாமிதி சோக்த்வா வை
கதயாமாஸ தாம் கதாம் ॥
ēvamuktā tu sā sītā
tāṃ tatō dharmacāriṇīm ।
ṡrūyatāmiti cōktvā vai
kathayāmāsa tāṃ kathām ॥
Thus asked, Seetā responded
to that follower of Dharma saying:
‘Certainly, hear me!’
and then narrated the story.
2.118.27 மிதிலாதிபதிர்வீரோ
ஜநகோ நாம தர்மவித் ।
க்ஷத்ரதர்மே ஹ்யபிரதோ
ந்யாயதஸ்ஸாஸ்தி மேதிநீம் ॥
mithilādhipatirvīrō
janakō nāma dharmavit ।
kṣatradharmē hyabhiratō
nyāyataṡṡāsti mēdinīm ॥
Janaka, a Veera, a savant of Dharma,
is the lord of Mithilā.
He is zealous about the Dharma of a Kshatriya
and rules the earth justly.
2.118.28 தஸ்ய லாங்கலஹஸ்தந்ய
கர்ஷத: க்ஷேத்ரமண்டலம் ।
அஹம் கிலோத்திதா பித்வா
ஜகதீம் ந்ருபதேஸ்ஸுதா ॥
tasya lāṅgalahastanya
karṣataḥ kṣētramaṇḍalam ।
ahaṃ kilōtthitā bhitvā
jagatīṃ nṛpatēssutā ॥
From a patch of land that he
tilled with a plough in his hand,
it is said that I emerged, breaking open the soil,
to become his daughter. The narration by Seetā here, of the events from her birth through marriage, can be seen to be slightly different from that of Janaka earlier (Bāla Kāṇḍa, Sarga 66).
This is because, as we noted earlier, Vālmeeki always takes the opportunity to add extra detail whenever he retells the same story, and also to reflect different perspectives of the different people of the same story.
2.18.29 ஸ மாம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா நரபதி:
முஷ்டிவிக்ஷேபதத்பர: ।
பாம்ஸுகுண்டிதஸர்வாங்கீம்
ஜநகோ விஸ்மிதோऽபவத் ॥
sa māṃ dṛṣṭvā narapatiḥ
muṣṭivikṣēpatatparaḥ ।
pāṃsuguṇṭhitasarvāṅgīṃ
janakō vismitō'bhavat ॥
That lord of men, who was then
set to broadcast a fistful of seed
was taken by wonder seeing me,
well formed with all limbs, covered in dust.
2.118.30 அநபத்யேந ச ஸ்நேஹாத்
அங்கமாரோப்ய ச ஸ்வயம் ।
மமேயம் தநயேத்யுக்த்வா
ஸ்நேஹோ மயி நிபாதித: ॥
anapatyēna ca snēhāt
aṅkamārōpya ca svayam ।
mamēyaṃ tanayētyuktvā
snēhō mayi nipātitaḥ ॥
Being childless, he took me on his lap,
impelled by love saying,
"this is my daughter",
and his heart went out to me.
2.118.31 அந்தரிக்ஷே ச வாகுக்தா
அப்ரதிமாऽமாநுஷீ கில ।
ஏவமேதந்நரபதே
தர்மேண தநயா தவ ॥
antarikṣē ca vāguktā
apratimā'mānuṣī kila ।
ēvamētannarapatē
dharmēṇa tanayā tava ॥
Thereupon, a voice from the skies said:
"As you said, she, the incomparable one,
from beyond the realm of humans,
will be your legitimate daughter!"
2.118.32 தத: ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்டோ தர்மாத்மா
பிதா மே மிதிலாதிப: ।
அவாப்தோ விபுலாம் ருத்திம்
மாமவாப்ய நராதிப: ॥
tataḥ prahṛṣṭō dharmātmā
pitā mē mithilādhipaḥ ।
avāptō vipulāṃ ṛddhiṃ
māmavāpya narādhipaḥ ॥
Then the Dharmātma, my father,
the king of Mithilā, was extremely delighted.
After getting me, the affairs of
that lord of people prospered abundantly.
2.118.33 தத்தா சாஸ்மீஷ்டவத்தேவ்யை
ஜ்யேஷ்டாயை புண்யகர்மணா ।
தயா ஸம்பாவிதா சாஸ்மி
ஸ்நிக்தயா மாத்ருஸௌஹ்ருதாத் ॥
dattā cāsmīṣṭavaddēvyai
jyēṣṭhāyai puṇyakarmaṇā ।
tayā sambhāvitā cāsmi
snigdhayā mātṛsauhṛdāt ॥
That man of meritorious deeds
gave me, like a precious possession,
to his eldest queen, from whom
I received all the love and affection of a mother.
2.118.34 பதிஸம்யோகஸுலபம்
வயோ த்ருஷ்ட்வா து மே பிதா ।
சிந்தாமப்யகமத்தீநோ
வித்தநாஸாதிவாதந: ॥
patisaṃyōgasulabhaṃ
vayō dṛṣṭvā tu mē pitā ।
cintāmabhyagamaddhīnō
vittanāṡādivādhanaḥ ॥
Seeing me grow to the age
to be united with a husband,
my father became depressed and sad,
like one who had lost his all and became a pauper.
2.118.35 ஸத்ருஸாச்சாபக்ருஷ்டாச்ச
லோகே கந்யாபிதா ஜநாத் ।
ப்ரதர்ஷணாமவாப்நோதி
ஸக்ரேணாபி ஸமோ புவி ॥
sadṛṡāccāpakṛṣṭācca
lōkē kanyāpitā janāt ।
pradharṣaṇāmavāpnōti
ṡakrēṇāpi samō bhuvi ॥
Even if one were like Indra on earth,
a father of an unmarried girl, in this world,
would find himself meeting with rejection
from his equals and from even those who are inferior.
2.118.36 தாம் தர்ஷணாமதூரஸ்தாம்
த்ருஷ்ட்வா சாத்மநி பார்திவ: ।
சிந்தார்ணவகத: பாரம்
நாஸஸாதாப்லவோ யதா ॥
tāṃ dharṣaṇāmadūrasthāṃ
dṛṣṭvā cātmani pārthivaḥ ।
cintārṇavagataḥ pāraṃ
nāsasādāplavō yathā ॥
The king realized in his mind that
the ordeal of meeting that rejection
was not too distant in the future.
He plunged into an ocean of worry.
Like a man without a boat,
he was unable to sail to the other shore.
2.118.37 அயோநிஜாம் ஹி மாம் ஜ்ஞாத்வா
நாத்யகச்சத்விசிந்தயந் ।
ஸத்ருஸம் சாநுரூபம் ச
மஹீபால: பதிம் மம ॥
ayōnijāṃ hi māṃ jñātvā
nādhyagacchadvicintayan ।
sadṛṡaṃ cānurūpaṃ ca
mahīpālaḥ patiṃ mama ॥
The ruler of the earth could not think of
a suitable husband for me,
whom he knew well to have
not been born from a human womb.
2.118.38 தஸ்ய புத்திரியம் ஜாதா
சிந்தயாநஸ்ய ஸந்ததம் ।
ஸ்வயம்வரம் தநூஜாயா:
கரிஷ்யாமீதி தீமத: ॥
tasya buddhiriyaṃ jātā
cintayānasya santatam ।
svayaṃvaraṃ tanūjāyāḥ
kariṣyāmīti dhīmataḥ ॥
Then, as that sagacious one
kept brooding over it continually,
it occurred to his wisdom:
'I shall announce a Swayamvara for my daughter'
2.118.39 மஹாயஜ்ஞே ததா தஸ்ய
வருணேந மஹாத்மநா ।
தத்தம் தநுர்வரம் ப்ரீத்யா
தூணீ சாக்ஷயஸாயகௌ ॥
mahāyajñē tadā tasya
varuṇēna mahātmanā ।
dattaṃ dhanurvaraṃ prītyā
tūṇī cākṣayasāyakau ॥
He had a great bow and two quivers
with inexhaustible arrows, given to him
by Mahātma Varuna in a great Yajña.
2.118.40 அஸஞ்சால்யம் மநுஷ்யைஸ்ச
யத்நேநாபி ச கௌரவாத் ।
தந்ந ஸக்தா நமயிதும்
ஸ்வப்நேஷ்வபி நராதிபா: ॥
asañcālyaṃ manuṣyaiṡca
yatnēnāpi ca gauravāt ।
tanna ṡaktā namayituṃ
svapnēṣvapi narādhipāḥ ॥
That bow was so heavy, that no king,
even by summoning all his muscle,
could think of bending it even in his dreams.
2.118.41 தத்தநு: ப்ராப்ய மே பித்ரா
வ்யாஹ்ருதம் ஸத்யவாதிநா ।
ஸமவாயே நரேந்த்ராணாம்
பூர்வமாமந்த்ர்ய பார்திவாந் ॥
taddhanuḥ prāpya mē pitrā
vyāhṛtaṃ satyavādinā ।
samavāyē narēndrāṇāṃ
pūrvamāmantrya pārthivān ॥
Then my father, who could be
but honest and straightforward,
brought the bow, assembled all the kings, and said:
2.118.42 இதம் ச தநுருத்யம்ய
ஸஜ்யம் ய: குருதே நர: ।
தஸ்ய மே துஹிதா பார்யா
பவிஷ்யதி ந ஸம்ஸய: ॥
idaṃ ca dhanurudyamya
sajyaṃ yaḥ kurutē naraḥ ।
tasya mē duhitā bhāryā
bhaviṣyati na saṃṡayaḥ ॥
He who can lift this bow and string it,
will certainly get my daughter for his wife!
2.118.43 தச்ச த்ருஷ்ட்வா தநுஸ்ஸ்ரேஷ்டம்
கௌரவாத்கிரிஸந்நிபம் ।
அபிவாத்ய ந்ருபா ஜக்மு:
அஸக்தாஸ்தஸ்ய தோலநே ॥
tacca dṛṣṭvā dhanuṡṡrēṣṭhaṃ
gauravādgirisannibham ।
abhivādya nṛpā jagmuḥ
aṡaktāstasya tōlanē ॥
Seeing that magnificent bow,
which was as heavy as a mountain,
the kings simply bowed to it and left,
unable to even move it.
2.118.44-45a ஸுதீர்கஸ்ய து காலஸ்ய
ராகவோऽயம் மஹாத்யுதி: ।
விஸ்வாமித்ரேண ஸஹிதோ
யஜ்ஞம் த்ரஷ்டும் ஸமாகத: ।
லக்ஷ்மணேந ஸஹ ப்ராத்ரா
ராம ஸ்ஸத்யபராக்ரம: ॥
sudīrghasya tu kālasya
rāghavō'yaṃ mahādyutiḥ ।
viṡvāmitrēṇa sahitō
yajñaṃ draṣṭuṃ samāgataḥ ।
lakṣmaṇēna saha bhrātrā
rāma ssatyaparākramaḥ ॥
After the passing of a long time,
this truly valorous Rāma, of great radiance,
the scion of Raghu dynasty,
came along with Viṡwāmitra and
his brother Lakshmaṇa, to see the Yajña.
2.118.45b-46a விஸ்வாமித்ரஸ்து தர்மாத்மா
மம பித்ரா ஸுபூஜித: ।
ப்ரோவாச பிதரம் தத்ர
ப்ராதரௌ ராமலக்ஷ்மணௌ ॥
viṡvāmitrastu dharmātmā
mama pitrā supūjitaḥ ।
prōvāca pitaraṃ tatra
bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau ॥
Then, Mahātma Viṡwāmitra, after being
received by my father with all honors
said to my father about the
two brothers Rāma and Lakshmaṇa:
2.118.46b-47a ஸுதௌ தஸரதஸ்யேமௌ
தநுர்தர்ஸநகாக்ஷிணௌ ।
தநுர்தர்ஸய ராமாய
ராஜபுத்ராய தைவிகம் ॥
sutau daṡarathasyēmau
dhanurdarṡanakāँkṣiṇau ।
dhanurdarṡaya rāmāya
rājaputrāya daivikam ॥
These two sons of Daṡaratha want to see the bow.
Please show the bow which came down from Dēvas,
to Rāma, the prince.
2.118.47b-48 இத்யுக்தஸ்தேந விப்ரேண
தத்தநுஸ்ஸமுபாநயத் ॥
நிமேஷாந்தரமாத்ரேண
ததாऽநம்ய மஹாபல: ।
ஜ்யாம் ஸமாரோப்ய ஜடிதி
பூரயாமாஸ வீர்யவாந் ॥
ityuktastēna viprēṇa
taddhanussamupānayat ॥
nimēṣāntaramātrēṇa
tadā'namya mahābalaḥ ।
jyāṃ samārōpya jhaḍiti
pūrayāmāsa vīryavān ॥
Told thus by that Brāhmaṇa,
he arranged for the bow (to be seen).
Immediately, in the blink of an eye,
that mighty one bent the bow, strung it,
and pulled (the string).
2.118.49 தேந பூரயதா வேகாந்
மத்யே பக்நம் த்விதா தநு: ।
தஸ்ய ஸப்தோ பவத்பீம:
பதிதஸ்யாஸநேரிவ ॥
tēna pūrayatā vēgān
madhyē bhagnaṃ dvidhā dhanuḥ ।
tasya ṡabdō bhavadbhīmaḥ
patitasyāṡanēriva ॥
Then the bow broke into two in the middle
by the force of the pull.
The sound of it was frightful
like that of a thunderclap.
2.118.50 ததோऽஹம் தத்ர ராமாய
பித்ரா ஸத்யாபிஸந்திநா ।
நிஸ்சிதா தாதுமுத்யம்ய
ஜலபாஜநமுத்தமம் ॥
tatō'haṃ tatra rāmāya
pitrā satyābhisandhinā ।
niṡcitā dātumudyamya
jalabhājanamuttamam ॥
Then, my father, who was faithful to his word,
decided that I be given to Rāma (in betrothal)
by pouring water from a sacred pitcher.
2.118.51 தீயமாநாம் ந து ததா
ப்ரதிஜக்ராஹ ராகவ: ।
அவிஜ்ஞாய பிதுஸ்சந்தம்
அயோத்யாऽதிபதே: ப்ரபோ: ॥
dīyamānāṃ na tu tadā
pratijagrāha rāghavaḥ ।
avijñāya pituṡchandam
ayōdhyā'dhipatēḥ prabhōḥ ॥
I was given, but Rāghava did not
accept me without knowing the opinion
of his father, the lord of Ayōdhyā. Ah, women! They don't forget anything!
2.118.52 தத ஸ்ஸ்வஸுரமாமந்த்ர்ய
வ்ருத்தம் தஸரதம் ந்ருபம் ।
மம பித்ரா த்வஹம் தத்தா
ராமாய விதிதாத்மநே ॥
tata ṡṡvaṡuramāmantrya
vṛddhaṃ daṡarathaṃ nṛpam ।
mama pitrā tvahaṃ dattā
rāmāya viditātmanē ॥
Then my father invited my father-in-law,
the aged king Daṡaratha,
and gave me away to Rāma,
who is known for his prudence.
2.118.53 மம சைவாநுஜா ஸாத்வீ
ஊர்மிலா ப்ரியதர்ஸநா ।
பார்யார்தே லக்ஷ்மணஸ்யாபி
பித்ரா தத்தா மம ஸ்வயம் ॥
mama caivānujā sādhvī
ūrmilā priyadarṡanā ।
bhāryārthē lakṣmaṇasyāpi
pitrā dattā mama svayam ॥
And my father himself
gave away my younger sister,
the good Ūrmila of pleasing looks,
to Lakshmaṇa, for wife.
2.118.54 ஏவம் தத்தாऽஸ்மி ராமாய
ததா தஸ்மிந்ஸ்வயம்வரே ।
அநுரக்தாऽஸ்மி தர்மேண
பதிம் வீர்யவதாம் வரம் ॥
ēvaṃ dattā'smi rāmāya
tadā tasminsvayaṃvarē ।
anuraktā'smi dharmēṇa
patiṃ vīryavatāṃ varam ॥
Thus was I given to Rāma then, in that Swayamvara.
And I am in complete love, as Dharma would demand,
with my husband, the foremost of valiant men.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே
வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே
அஷ்டாதஸோத்தரஸததமஸ்ஸர்க: ।
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē
vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē
aṣṭādaṡōttaraṡatatamassargaḥ ।
Thus concludes the one hundred and eighteenth Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.