Paumacariya 36
English (machine translation) 36
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36.1
Then, as they dwelt there in due course, the rainy season / passed happily, and meanwhile the autumn arrived.
36.2
Then the lord of the yakṣas, filled with eagerness at Padma's resolve to depart, said: / "O lord, whatever insolence was mine, that should be forgiven by you."
36.3
Having been spoken to thus, sweet-speaking Padma replied to the lord of the yakṣas: / "Do you also forgive all our misdeeds, completely without remainder!"
36.4
Greatly pleased by these words of Lord Rāma, / bowing at his feet, he gave him a self-luminous necklace;
36.5
and the deity presented divine jeweled earrings to the abode of Lakṣmī [Lakṣmaṇa], / while, delighted, he gave an auspicious crest-jewel to Sītā;
36.6
and having given them a lute that sounded as desired, with an eager mind, / that city created by magic was instantly made to vanish.
36.7
Departing from there, eating wild fruits at their pleasure, they went on; / traversing the forest, they arrived directly at Vijayapura.
36.8
When the sun had set and the circle of directions had grown dark, / they took up lodging in the best northern quarter near the city.
36.9
In that city was a bull among men named Mahīdhara, of prominent majesty; / his wife was Indrāṇī, and his daughter was Vanamālā.
36.10
From childhood, that maiden was enamored of the virtues of Lakṣmaṇa; / even when offered, she did not desire any other man, however handsome.
36.11
Hearing that Daśaratha had renounced and that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa had departed, / Mahīdhara became dejected and thought of a groom for his daughter.
36.12
A handsome son of a bull among kings, a childhood friend in Indranagara, was found; / to him that maiden was assigned.
36.13
Learning that news, the maiden, yearning for Lakṣmaṇa, / said: "Even death is better; I have no business with another!"
36.14
Being given to another, having resolved upon death in her heart, / she went and said to her father: "I shall make an offering to the forest deity."
36.15
Consented to by him, having undertaken fasting, she set out with her attendants; / at nighttime they arrived and stayed in the region of the forest.
36.16
Having made the offering to the forest deity, when the people had fallen asleep, / departing from the camp, she went to that very banyan tree.
36.17
Standing in a certain spot by that very large banyan tree, / she was seen by Lakṣmīdhara uttering these words:
36.18
"Whichever forest deity dwells here in this tree, let her hear this plea: / having gone to Lakṣmīdhara, let her tell the circumstance of my death,
36.19
how, through separation from you, Vanamālā, desolate, her mind fixed on no other, / having hanged herself by the neck, met her death in the middle of the forest."
36.20
Having spoken these words, making a noose of cloth around her neck / and tying it to a branch, the son of Sumitrā approached and held her.
36.21
Embracing her, he said: “I am that Lakṣmaṇa, O large-eyed one! / Cast off your despair and sorrow, and look [at me] with a calm eye.”
36.22
That noose was quickly removed from her neck by Lakṣmaṇa, / and the maiden was comforted exceedingly with the nectar of his words.
36.23
Seeing his handsome form, she recognized Lakṣmaṇa and was greatly astonished: / “Has a pleased forest-deity granted this favor to me?”
36.24
Then Vanamālā was led by Lakṣmaṇa to the feet of Rāghava; / with folded hands she bowed to lord Padma together with Sītā.
36.25
Smiling, Sītā saw [them] unawares and said to Lakṣmaṇa: / “O prince, have you brought about a union equal to the moon?”
36.26
“How do you know, O Vaidehī?”, asked Rāma; Sītā replied: / “Only by his demeanour, my lord, do I know! Listen:
36.27
At the very moment when the moon has risen in the sky together with the moonlight, / at that very time the son of Sumitrā has arrived here accompanied by the maiden.”
36.28
“As you command, noble lady!” Having spoken thus, the son of Sumitrā / sat down nearby accompanied by Vanamālā.
36.29
Engaged there in conversation concerning Vanamālā, / they remained beneath the banyan tree, resembling gods.
36.30
Meanwhile, Vanamālā's female companions woke up at the end of sleep; / seeing her bed empty, they then searched [for her].
36.31
At their cries, warriors carrying diverse weapons arose; / accompanied by the Pātāla-army, they too searched for Vanamālā.
36.32
Wandering about, they saw Vanamālā and Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa there; / having understood the matter, the men reported it to Mahīdhara:
36.33
“Prosperity has been seen, O lord of men, for you, my master, together with all your kinsmen! / Lakṣmaṇa and Rāma have arrived here near the city.
36.34
Your distressed [daughter] Vanamālā, my lord, attempting to kill herself, / was stopped by Lakṣmaṇa, and that maiden remains there.”
36.35
Hearing this statement, the delighted king gave them wealth, / and thought of the distressed girl: “Since union with the beloved has occurred!
36.36
Here, union with the beloved brings happiness to all living beings; / and when it happens suddenly, it surpasses even the world of the gods.”
36.37
Thus king Mahīdhara, accompanied by his wife and retinue, / went and embraced lord Rāma along with Lakṣmaṇa.
36.38
And Sītā was greeted and inquired of her bodily health and well-being; / right there the rites of bathing, eating, and adorning were performed for them.
36.39
A great festival with the sound of sharp drums and musical instruments was caused to be made by the king, / with the pomp of many auspicious rites performed by excellent dancing women.
36.40
Anointed with saffron unguent, mounted upon chariots with Sītā, / they were ushered by Mahīdhara into the city crowded with people and wealth.
36.41
Enjoying the supreme pleasure of the senses in that Vijayapura, / the sons of Daśaratha of great virtues dwelt as they pleased.
36.42
Thus, indeed, through accumulated merit, wandering even in various lands, / mortals attain supreme honor; therefore, surely, practice pure dharma!
36.43
Thus ends the thirty-sixth canto, named ‘Vanamālā’, in the Paümacariya.
Linked texts (1)
- Paümacariya — Vimalasūri, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit