Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55

Meaning

Having spent the night at the hermitage of Sage Bharadwāja and greeting the great seer, the two princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the subduers of their foes, forthwith proceeded in the direction of the said mountain. (1)

Meaning

Nay, perceiving the three travellers about to start on their journey, that great seer too, so the tradition goes, performed a religious rite ensuring their safe journey (scattering boiled rice on the ground and invoking blessings through the repetition of certain sacred texts) in the same way as a father would bless his own sons (and daughter-in-law). (2)

Meaning

Then that eminent sage, Bharadwāja, who was invested with great spiritual glory, proceeded to instruct Śrī Rāma, who was possessed of unfailing valour, as follows : (3)

Meaning

“Reaching the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, the two jewels among men, should follow the river Yamunā, which has taken a westerly course (for some distance due to the great rush of the waters of the Gaṅgā). (4)

Meaning

“Then, approaching the Yamunā turned in an opposite direction, and carefully perceiving in it a passage (across the river) too much frequented, O scion of Raghu, cross you the river Yamunā (the deity presiding over which is the daughter of the sun-god) after preparing a raft. (5)

Meaning

“Then, approaching an extensive banyan tree, full of dark green leaves and, therefore, going by the name of Śyāma (dark-green), nay, surrounded by many other trees and visited by Siddhas, Sītā should, joining her palms, offer prayers to the deity presiding over the tree for your safe return to Ayodhyā. Again, duly reaching the foot of the aforesaid tree, she should halt there awhile in the event of her feeling fatigued, or else pass beyond it. (6-7)

Meaning

“After walking a distance of only two miles from that tree and beholding the Nīlavana, interspersed with Sallakī and jujube trees and charming with bamboos standing on the bank of the Yamunā, will be found that delightful way to Citrakūṭa—which has frequently been visited by me—marked with smoothness and devoid of forest fires.”(8-9)

Meaning

Having thus pointed out the way to Citrakūṭa and being urged by Śrī Rāma to return, after he had greeted the sage and said “I shall follow your instructions”, the great seer, Bharadwāja, duly returned. (10)

Meaning

The aforesaid sage having returned, Śrī Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa, “May prosperity attend on you! We must have done meritorious deeds in the past in that the sage has been compassionate to us.” (11)

Meaning

Talking as aforesaid, and placing Sītā definitely ahead, the two high-minded tigers among men headed towards the river Yamunā. (12)

Meaning

Reaching the bank of the river Yamunā, which flowed in a swift current, the princely travellers for their part fell apondering, keen as they were to cross speedily the waters of the river. (13)

Meaning

The two brothers then prepared a fairly big raft consisting of a number of wooden logs placed side by side, overspread with dry bamboos and covered all over with the fragrant roots of the Uśīra plant (Andropogon muricatus). (14)

Meaning

Then, cutting shoots of canes and twigs of the rose-apple tree, the powerful Lakṣmaṇa made a comfortable seat for Sītā. (15)

Meaning

Then the celebrated Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, helped Sītā, his beloved consort—who vied with Śrī (the goddess of fortune) of unimaginable beauty and was feeling a bit abashed—ascend the raft. (16)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma also carefully placed on the aforesaid raft the pair of her garments as well as her jewels as also the shovel and basket beside her. (17)

Meaning

Having first enabled Sītā to ascend the raft, holding the structure themselves, the two sons of Daśaratha, full of delight, now cautiously began to row the raft. (18)

Meaning

Arrived in mid stream, Sītā for her part saluted the deity presiding over the stream and prayed to her as follows : “May I safely cross your waters (with my husband and brother-in-law), O glorious lady; and let my husband fulfil his vow of spending fourteen years in exile in the forest. (19)

Meaning

“When Śrī Rāma safely returns to the city of Ayodhyā, ruled over by the Ikṣwākus, I shall propitiate you by offering a thousand cows and a hundred and one articles of worship which cannot be procured even by gods.” (20)

Meaning

Even while praying to the river Kālindī in the aforesaid words with folded hands, Sītā, for her part, who was possessed of a most excellent complexion, forthwith approached the southern bank of the Yamunā itself. (21)

Meaning

Thus they duly crossed by means of a raft the rippling and swift-going Yamunā river, daughter of the sun-god, fringed with numerous trees sprung on its banks. (22)

Meaning

Leaving the raft in the midst of those trees and departing from the forest on the bank of the Yamunā, they reached the cool banyan tree, covered with green leaves and accordingly bearing the name of Śyāma. (23)

Meaning

Nay, going very near the banyan tree, Sītā (a princess of the Videha dynasty) bowed low to it and said, “Hail to you, O gigantic tree! Let my husband fulfil his vow of forest life and let us see once more mother Kausalyā as well as the illustrious Sumitrā.” So saying and joining her palms, the high-minded Sītā went round the banyan tree clockwise. (24-25)

Meaning

Seeing his beloved and agreeable consort, Sītā, of unimpeachable conduct, offering prayers to the deity presiding over the banyan tree, Śrī Rāma now said to Lakṣmaṇa, “Taking Sītā with you, walk you in the van, O Lakṣmaṇa, younger brother of Bharata ! Equipped with arms, I shall follow in the rear, O jewel among men ! (26-27)

Meaning

“Offer to Sītā, a princess of the Videha clan, whatever fruit or flower the daughter of Janaka asks for and in which her mind finds delight.” (28)

Meaning

Beholding every single tree, shrub or creeper, charming with blossoms, that she had never seen before, that lady questioned Śrī Rāma about it. (29)

Meaning

Seized with a flurry on hearing Sītā’s command, Lakṣmaṇa fetched lovely twigs of various trees, bearing bunches of flowers. (30)

Meaning

The daughter of King Janaka rejoiced to gaze at that time on the river distinguished with charming sands and waters and rendered noisy by swans and cranes. (31)

Meaning

Having walked only a couple of miles from that place and killing many a consecrated deer, the two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, roamed about in the forest on the bank of the Yamunā. (32)

Meaning

Having diverted themselves in the charming forest, made noisy by flocks of peacocks and infested with monkeys and elephants, and reaching a level ground on the bank of the river, the princely travellers, who wore an undepressed look, quickly sought a tree fit for abode. (33)