Valmiki Ramayana 5.9

5.9.1

avadhūya ca tāṃ buddhiṃ babhūvāvasthitas tadā
jagāma cāparāṃ cintāṃ sītāṃ prati mahākapiḥ

But soon the baseless thought was spurned
And longing hope again returned:
'No: Ráma's wife is none of these,
No careless dame that lives at ease.
Her widowed heart has ceased to care
For dress and sleep and dainty fare.
She near a lover ne'er would lie
Though Indra wooed her from the sky.
Her own, her only lord, whom none
Can match in heaven, is Raghu's son.'
Then to the banquet hall intent
On strictest search his steps he bent.
He passed within the door, and found
Fair women sleeping on the ground,
Where wearied with the song, perchance,
The merry game, the wanton dance,
Each girl with wine and sleep oppressed

5.9.2

na rāmeṇa viyuktā sā svaptum arhati bhāminī
na bhoktuṃ nāpy alaṃkartuṃ na pānam upasevitum

But soon the baseless thought was spurned
And longing hope again returned:
'No: Ráma's wife is none of these,
No careless dame that lives at ease.
Her widowed heart has ceased to care
For dress and sleep and dainty fare.
She near a lover ne'er would lie
Though Indra wooed her from the sky.
Her own, her only lord, whom none
Can match in heaven, is Raghu's son.'
Then to the banquet hall intent
On strictest search his steps he bent.
He passed within the door, and found
Fair women sleeping on the ground,
Where wearied with the song, perchance,
The merry game, the wanton dance,
Each girl with wine and sleep oppressed

5.9.3

nānyaṃ naram upasthātuṃ surāṇām api ceśvaram
na hi rāmasamaḥ kaś cid vidyate tridaśeṣv api
anyeyam iti niścitya pānabhūmau cacāra saḥ

But soon the baseless thought was spurned
And longing hope again returned:
'No: Ráma's wife is none of these,
No careless dame that lives at ease.
Her widowed heart has ceased to care
For dress and sleep and dainty fare.
She near a lover ne'er would lie
Though Indra wooed her from the sky.
Her own, her only lord, whom none
Can match in heaven, is Raghu's son.'
Then to the banquet hall intent
On strictest search his steps he bent.
He passed within the door, and found
Fair women sleeping on the ground,
Where wearied with the song, perchance,
The merry game, the wanton dance,
Each girl with wine and sleep oppressed

5.9.4

krīḍitenāparāḥ klāntā gītena ca tathā parāḥ
nṛttena cāparāḥ klāntāḥ pānaviprahatās tathā

But soon the baseless thought was spurned
And longing hope again returned:
'No: Ráma's wife is none of these,
No careless dame that lives at ease.
Her widowed heart has ceased to care
For dress and sleep and dainty fare.
She near a lover ne'er would lie
Though Indra wooed her from the sky.
Her own, her only lord, whom none
Can match in heaven, is Raghu's son.'
Then to the banquet hall intent
On strictest search his steps he bent.
He passed within the door, and found
Fair women sleeping on the ground,
Where wearied with the song, perchance,
The merry game, the wanton dance,
Each girl with wine and sleep oppressed

5.9.5

murajeṣu mṛdaṅgeṣu pīṭhikāsu ca saṃsthitāḥ
tathāstaraṇamukhyyeṣu saṃviṣṭāś cāparāḥ striyaḥ

But soon the baseless thought was spurned
And longing hope again returned:
'No: Ráma's wife is none of these,
No careless dame that lives at ease.
Her widowed heart has ceased to care
For dress and sleep and dainty fare.
She near a lover ne'er would lie
Though Indra wooed her from the sky.
Her own, her only lord, whom none
Can match in heaven, is Raghu's son.'
Then to the banquet hall intent
On strictest search his steps he bent.
He passed within the door, and found
Fair women sleeping on the ground,
Where wearied with the song, perchance,
The merry game, the wanton dance,
Each girl with wine and sleep oppressed

5.9.6

aṅganānāṃ sahasreṇa bhūṣitena vibhūṣaṇaiḥ
rūpasaṃlāpaśīlena yuktagītārthabhāṣiṇā

5.9.7

deśakālābhiyuktena yuktavākyābhidhāyinā
ratābhiratasaṃsuptaṃ dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ

5.9.8

tāsāṃ madhye mahābāhuḥ śuśubhe rākṣaseśvaraḥ
goṣṭhe mahati mukhyānāṃ gavāṃ madhye yathā vṛṣaḥ

5.9.9

sa rākṣasendraḥ śuśubhe tābhiḥ parivṛtaḥ svayam
kareṇubhir yathāraṇyaṃ parikīrṇo mahādvipaḥ

5.9.10

sarvakāmair upetāṃ ca pānabhūmiṃ mahātmanaḥ
dadarśa kapiśārdūlas tasya rakṣaḥpater gṛhe

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.11

mṛgāṇāṃ mahiṣāṇāṃ ca varāhāṇāṃ ca bhāgaśaḥ
tatra nyastāni māṃsāni pānabhūmau dadarśa saḥ

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.12

raukmeṣu ca viśaleṣu bhājaneṣv ardhabhakṣitān
dadarśa kapiśārdūla mayūrān kukkuṭāṃs tathā

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.13

varāhavārdhrāṇasakān dadhisauvarcalāyutān
śalyān mṛgamayūrāṃś ca hanūmān anvavaikṣata

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.14

kṛkarān vividhān siddhāṃś cakorān ardhabhakṣitān
mahiṣān ekaśalyāṃś ca chāgāṃś ca kṛtaniṣṭhitān
lekhyam uccāvacaṃ peyaṃ bhojyāni vividhāni ca

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.15

tathāmlalavaṇottaṃsair vividhai rāgaṣāḍavaiḥ
hāra nūpurakeyūrair apaviddhair mahādhanaiḥ

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.16

pānabhājanavikṣiptaiḥ phalaiś ca vividhair api
kṛtapuṣpopahārā bhūr adhikaṃ puṣyati śriyam

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.17

tatra tatra ca vinyastaiḥ suśliṣṭaiḥ śayanāsanaiḥ
pānabhūmir vinā vahniṃ pradīptevopalakṣyate

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.18

bahuprakārair vividhair varasaṃskārasaṃskṛtaiḥ
māṃsaiḥ kuśalasaṃyuktaiḥ pānabhūmigataiḥ pṛthak

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.19

divyāḥ prasannā vividhāḥ surāḥ kṛtasurā api
śarkarāsavamādhvīkāḥ puṣpāsavaphalāsavāḥ
vāsacūrṇaiś ca vividhair mṛṣṭās tais taiḥ pṛthakpṛthak

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.20

saṃtatā śuśubhe bhūmir mālyaiś ca bahusaṃsthitaiḥ
hiraṇmayaiś ca karakair bhājanaiḥ sphāṭikair api
jāmbūnadamayaiś cānyaiḥ karakair abhisaṃvṛtā

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.21

rājateṣu ca kumbheṣu jāmbūnadamayeṣu ca
pānaśreṣṭhaṃ tadā bhūri kapis tatra dadarśa ha

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.22

so 'paśyac chātakumbhāni śīdhor maṇimayāni ca
rājatāni ca pūrṇāni bhājanāni mahākapiḥ

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.23

kva cid ardhāvaśeṣāṇi kva cit pītāni sarvaśaḥ
kva cin naiva prapītāni pānāni sa dadarśa ha

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.24

kva cid bhakṣyāṃś ca vividhān kva cit pānāni bhāgaśaḥ
kva cid annāvaśeṣāṇi paśyan vai vicacāra ha

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.25

kva cit prabhinnaiḥ karakaiḥ kva cid āloḍitair ghaṭaiḥ
kva cit saṃpṛktamālyāni jalāni ca phalāni ca

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.26

śayanāny atra nārīṇāṃ śūnyāni bahudhā punaḥ
parasparaṃ samāśliṣya kāś cit suptā varāṅganāḥ

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.27

kā cic ca vastram anyasyā apahṛtyopaguhya ca
upagamyābalā suptā nidrābalaparājitā

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.28

tāsām ucchvāsavātena vastraṃ mālyaṃ ca gātrajam
nātyarthaṃ spandate citraṃ prāpya mandam ivānilam

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.29

candanasya ca śītasya śīdhor madhurasasya ca
vividhasya ca mālyasya puṣpasya vividhasya ca

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.30

bahudhā mārutas tatra gandhaṃ vividham udvahan
snānānāṃ candanānāṃ ca dhūpānāṃ caiva mūrchitaḥ
pravavau surabhir gandho vimāne puṣpake tadā

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.31

śyāmāvadātās tatrānyāḥ kāś cit kṛṣṇā varāṅganāḥ
kāś cit kāñcanavarṇāṅgyaḥ pramadā rākṣasālaye

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.32

tāsāṃ nidrāvaśatvāc ca madanena vimūrchitam
padminīnāṃ prasuptānāṃ rūpam āsīd yathaiva hi

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.33

evaṃ sarvam aśeṣeṇa rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṃ kapiḥ
dadarśa sumahātejā na dadarśa ca jānakīm

Had sunk her drooping head to rest.
That spacious hall from side to side
With noblest fare was well supplied,
There quarters of the boar, and here
Roast of the buffalo and deer,
There on gold plate, untouched as yet
The peacock and the hen were set.
There deftly mixed with gait and curd
Was meat of many a beast and bird,
Of kid and porcupine and hare,
And dainties of the sea and air.
There wrought of gold, ablaze with shine
Of precious stones, were cups of wine.
Through court and bower and banquet hall
The Vánared and viewed them all;
From end to end, in every spot,
For Sítá but found her not.

5.9.34

nirīkṣamāṇaś ca tatas tāḥ striyaḥ sa mahākapiḥ
jagāma mahatīṃ cintāṃ dharmasādhvasaśaṅkitaḥ

5.9.35

paradārāvarodhasya prasuptasya nirīkṣaṇam
idaṃ khalu mamātyarthaṃ dharmalopaṃ kariṣyati

5.9.36

na hi me paradārāṇāṃ dṛṣṭir viṣayavartinī
ayaṃ cātra mayā dṛṣṭaḥ paradāraparigrahaḥ

5.9.37

tasya prādurabhūc cintāpunar anyā manasvinaḥ
niścitaikāntacittasya kāryaniścayadarśinī

5.9.38

kāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā mayā sarvā viśvastā rāvaṇastriyaḥ
na tu me manasaḥ kiṃ cid vaikṛtyam upapadyate

5.9.39

mano hi hetuḥ sarveṣām indriyāṇāṃ pravartate
śubhāśubhāsv avasthāsu tac ca me suvyavasthitam

5.9.40

nānyatra hi mayā śakyā vaidehī parimārgitum
striyo hi strīṣu dṛśyante sadā saṃparimārgaṇe

5.9.41

yasya sattvasya yā yonis tasyāṃ tat parimārgyate
na śakyaṃ pramadā naṣṭā mṛgīṣu parimārgitum

5.9.42

tad idaṃ mārgitaṃ tāvac chuddhena manasā mayā
rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṃ saraṃ dṛśyate na ca jānakī

5.9.43

devagandharvakanyāś ca nāgakanyāś ca vīryavān
avekṣamāṇo hanumān naivāpaśyata jānakīm

5.9.44

tām apaśyan kapis tatra paśyaṃś cānyā varastriyaḥ
apakramya tadā vīraḥ pradhyātum upacakrame