Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 55 of 119 · 34 verses
Crossing the Yamuna
After the night, the princes salute the great sage and set out for the mountain. Bharadvaja performs the rites for their safe journey and follows them a little way, like a father his sons. He tells Rama the road: “From the meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna, follow the Kalindi (Yamuna), which flows westward. When you reach the swift river, find its old, well-used ford, make a raft and cross the sun’s daughter. Then you will come to a great banyan with green leaves, dark, grown huge among many trees, frequented by siddhas; let Sita salute it with joined palms and ask its blessings. You may rest there or pass on. A krosha further you will see a dark forest of palasha and jujube, lovely with the Yamuna’s bamboos. That is the road to Chitrakuta; I have gone that way many times. It is pleasant, soft underfoot and free of forest fires.” Telling them the road, the sage turns back. “We have done good deeds, Saumitri, since the sage takes pity on us,” says Rama.
With Sita in front, the two go to the Kalindi. Reaching the swift river, they make a great raft of logs, spread with dry bamboo and covered with ushira grass; mighty Lakshmana cuts cane and rose-apple branches to make Sita a comfortable seat. Rama helps his beloved Sita, lovely as Shri herself, a little shy, onto the raft, and places beside her her clothes and ornaments, the spade and basket and the weapons. Holding the raft, the two sons of Dasharatha cross. In midstream Sita bows to the Kalindi: “Blessings, goddess; I cross you. May my husband fulfil his vow. When Rama has come back safely to the city ruled by the Ikshvakus, I will worship you with a thousand cows and a hundred jars of sura.” Praying so, with joined palms, the fair one reaches the south bank. They leave the raft, go from the Yamuna’s woods, and come to the dark, cool, green banyan Shyama. Vaidehi says: “Salutations to you, great tree; may my husband complete his vow; may I see Kausalya and glorious Sumitra again.” With joined palms Sita walks around the tree. Seeing his dear and obedient wife praying, Rama tells Lakshmana: “Take Sita and go in front, younger brother of Bharata. I will follow behind, armed. Whatever fruit or flower Janaka’s daughter asks for, wherever her mind delights, give it to Vaidehi.” Janaka’s daughter walks between them like a lovely young cow-elephant between two tuskers. Seeing each tree, bush or flowering creeper she has never seen before, she asks Rama about it, and at her word Lakshmana brings her many lovely trees in full bloom. Janaka’s daughter delights in the river with its bright sand and water, echoing with swans and cranes. After a krosha, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana kill many pure animals and wander in the Yamuna forest. Having enjoyed the auspicious forest, echoing with flocks of peacocks and full of monkeys and elephants, they come, cheerful, to a pleasant level spot on the riverbank to stay.
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उषित्वा रजनीं तत्र राजपुत्रावरिंदमौ । महर्षिमभिवाद्याथ जग्मतुस्तं गिरिं प्रति ॥ १ ॥
Having spent the night there, the two princes, subduers of enemies, saluted the great sage and set out for that mountain.
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तेषां चैव स्वस्त्ययनं महर्षिः स चकार ह । प्रस्थितांश्चैव तान्प्रेक्ष्यपिता पुत्रानिवान्वगात् ॥ २ ॥
The great sage performed the rites for their safe journey, and seeing them set out, followed them like a father his sons.
ततः प्रचक्रमे वक्तुं वचनं स महामुनिः । भर्द्वाजो महातेजा रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥ ३ ॥
Then the great sage, radiant Bharadvaja, began to speak to Rama of true valour:
गङ्गायमुनयोः संधिमासाद्य मनुजर्षभौ । कालिन्दीमनुगच्छेतां नदीं पश्चान्मुखाश्रिताम् ॥ ४ ॥
“Reaching the meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna, best of men, follow the river Kalindi, which flows facing west.
अथासाद्य तु कालिन्दीं शीघ्रस्रोतसमापगाम् । तस्यास्तीर्थं प्रचरितं पुराणं प्रेक्ष्य राघवौ ॥ ५ ॥
तत्र यूयं प्लवं कृत्वा तरतांशुमतीं नदीम् । ततो न्यग्रोधमासाद्य महान्तं हरितच्छदम् ॥ ६ ॥
“Then, reaching the Kalindi, a swift-flowing river, and seeing its old, much-used ford, you two Raghavas should make a raft there and cross the river, daughter of the sun. Then, reaching a great banyan with green leaves,
विवृद्धं बहुभिर्वऋक्षैः श्यामं सिद्धोपसेवितम् । तस्मै सीताञ्जलिं कृत्वा प्रयुञ्जीताशिषः शिवाः ॥ ७ ॥
“grown great among many trees, dark, frequented by siddhas, let Sita join her palms to it and invoke auspicious blessings.
समासाद्य तु तं वृक्षं वसेद्वातिक्रमेत वा । क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा नीलं द्रक्ष्यथ काननम् ॥ ८ ॥
“Reaching that tree, one may stay or pass on. Then, going a krosha, you will see a dark forest,
पलाशबदरीमिश्रं रम्यं वंशैश्च यामुनैः । स पन्थाश्चित्रकूटस्य गतः सुबहुशो मया ॥ ९ ॥
“lovely, mixed with palasha and jujube, and with the bamboos of the Yamuna. That is the road to Chitrakuta; I have gone it very many times.
रम्यो मार्दवयुक्तश्च वनदावैर्विवर्जितः । इति पन्थानमावेद्य महर्षिः संन्यवर्तत ॥ १० ॥
“It is pleasant and soft, and free of forest fires.” Having told them the road, the great sage turned back.
अभिवाद्य तथेत्युक्त्वा रामेण विनिवर्तितः । उपावृत्ते मुनौ तस्मिन्रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् ॥ ११ ॥
Saluting him and saying “So be it”, sent back by Rama, when the sage had returned, Rama said to Lakshmana:
कृतपुण्याः स्म सौमित्रे मुनिर्यन्नोऽनुकम्पते । इति तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ मन्त्रयित्वा मनस्विनौ ॥ १२ ॥
“We have done good deeds, Saumitri, since the sage takes pity on us.” So, having consulted together, the two high-minded tigers among men
सीतामेवाग्रतः कृत्वा कालिन्दीं जग्मतुर्नदीम् । अथासाद्य तु कालिन्दीं शीघ्रस्रोतोवहां नदीम् ॥ १३ ॥
went to the river Kalindi with Sita in front. Then, reaching the Kalindi, a river carrying a swift stream,
तौ काष्ठसंघाटमथो चक्रतुः सुमहाप्लवम् । शुष्कैर्वंशैः समास्तीर्णमुशीरैश्च समावृतम् ॥ १४ ॥
the two then made a great raft, a bundle of logs, spread with dry bamboos and covered with ushira grass.
ततो वेतसशाखाश्च जम्बूशाखाश्च वीर्यवान् । चकार लक्ष्मणश्छित्वा सीतायाः सुखमासनम् ॥ १५ ॥
Then mighty Lakshmana, cutting cane branches and rose-apple branches, made a comfortable seat for Sita.
तत्र श्रियमिवाचिन्त्यां रामो दाशरथिः प्रियाम् । ईषत्संलज्जमानां तामध्यारोपयत प्लवम् ॥ १६ ॥
There Rama, son of Dasharatha, made his beloved, like inconceivable Shri herself, a little shy, mount the raft.
पार्श्वे च तत्र वैदेह्या वसने भूषणानि च । प्लवे कठिनकाजं च रामश्चक्रे सहायुधैः ॥ १७ ॥
Beside Vaidehi he placed her garments and ornaments, and on the raft Rama put the spade and basket together with the weapons.
आरोप्य प्रथमं सीतां संघाटं परिगृह्य तौ । ततः प्रतेरतुर्यत्तौ वीरौ दशरथात्मजौ ॥ १८ ॥
Having first helped Sita aboard and holding on to the raft, the two heroic sons of Dasharatha then crossed with care.
कालिन्दीमध्यमायाता सीता त्वेनामवन्दत । स्वस्ति देवि तरामि त्वां पार्येन्मे पतिर्व्रतम् ॥ १९ ॥
Coming to the middle of the Kalindi, Sita bowed to her: “Blessings, goddess; I am crossing you. May my husband fulfil his vow.
यक्ष्ये त्वां गोसहस्रेण सुराघटशतेन च । स्वस्ति प्रत्यागते रामे पुरीमिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम् ॥ २० ॥
“I will worship you with a thousand cows and a hundred jars of sura, when Rama has come back safely to the city ruled by the Ikshvakus.”
कालिन्दीमथ सीता तु याचमाना कृताञ्जलिः । तीरमेवाभिसम्प्राप्ता दक्षिणं वरवर्णिनी ॥ २१ ॥
Praying so to the Kalindi with joined palms, the fair one reached the south bank.
ततः प्लवेनांशुमतीं शीघ्रगामूर्मिमालिनीम् । तीरजैर्बहुभिर्वृक्षैः संतेरुर्यमुनां नदीम् ॥ २२ ॥
Then by raft they crossed the swift Yamuna, daughter of the sun, garlanded with waves, with many trees growing on its banks.
ते तीर्णाः प्लवमुत्सृज्य प्रस्थाय यमुनावनात् । श्यामं न्यग्रोधमासेदुः शीतलं हरितच्छदम् ॥ २३ ॥
Having crossed and left the raft, setting out from the Yamuna’s forest, they came to the dark banyan, cool, with green leaves.
न्यग्रोधं तमुपागम्य वैदेही वाक्यमब्रवीत् । नमस्तेऽस्तु महावृक्ष पारयेन्मे पतिर्व्रतम् ॥ २४ ॥
Approaching that banyan, Vaidehi said: “Salutations to you, great tree; may my husband complete his vow;
कौसल्यां चैव पश्येयं सुमित्रां च यशस्विनीम् । इति सीताञ्जलिं कृत्वा पर्यगच्छद्वनस्पतिम् ॥ २५ ॥
“and may I see Kausalya and glorious Sumitra.” So saying, Sita joined her palms and walked around the lord of the forest.
अवलोक्य ततः सीतामायाचन्तीमनिन्दिताम् । दयितां च विधेयां च रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् ॥ २६ ॥
Then, seeing faultless Sita praying, his dear and obedient wife, Rama said to Lakshmana:
सीतामादाय गच्छ त्वमग्रतो भरतानुज । पृष्ठतोऽहं गमिष्यामि सायुधो द्विपदांवर ॥ २७ ॥
“Take Sita and go in front, younger brother of Bharata. I will go behind, armed, best of two-footed beings.
यद्यत्फलं प्रार्थयते पुष्पं वा जनकात्मजा । तत्तत्प्रदद्या वैदेह्या यत्रास्या रमते मनः ॥ २८ ॥
“Whatever fruit or flower Janaka’s daughter asks for, give it to Vaidehi, wherever her mind delights.”
गच्छतोस्तु तयोर्मध्ये बभूव जनकात्मजा । मातङ्गयोर्मध्यगता शुभा नागवधूरिव ॥ २९ ॥
Between those two as they went was Janaka’s daughter, like a lovely young cow-elephant walking between two tusked elephants.
एकैकं पादपं गुल्मं लतां वा पुष्पशालिनीम् । अदृष्टपूर्वां पश्यन्ती रामं पप्रच्छ साऽबला ॥ ३० ॥
Seeing each tree, bush or flowering creeper never seen before, the young woman asked Rama about it,
रमणीयान्बहुविधान्पादपान्कुसुमोत्कटान् । सीतावचनसंरब्ध आनयामास लक्ष्मणः ॥ ३१ ॥
and, at Sita’s word, Lakshmana brought her many kinds of lovely trees full of blossoms.
विचित्रवालुकजलां हंससारसनादिताम् । रेमे जनकराजस्य तदा प्रेक्ष्य सुता नदीम् ॥ ३२ ॥
The daughter of the king of Janakas then delighted, seeing the river with its bright sand and water, echoing with swans and cranes.
क्रोशमात्रं ततो गत्वा भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मनौ । बहून्मेध्यान्मृगान्हत्वा चेरतुर्यमुनावने ॥ ३३ ॥
Having gone a krosha, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana killed many pure animals and wandered in the Yamuna forest.
विहृत्य ते बर्हिणपूगनादिते शुभे वने वानरवारणायुते । समं नदीवप्रमुपेत्य सम्मतं निवासमाजग्मुरदीनदर्शनाः ॥ ३४ ॥
Having roamed that auspicious forest, echoing with flocks of peacocks and full of monkeys and elephants, they came, of cheerful look, together to a pleasant level spot by the river for their dwelling.