ततः प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञवाटमुपागमत्॥
Then proceeding north-east Rāma is company with Sumitrā's son, placing Viśvāmitra at their head, appeared before the sacrificial ground.
रामस्तु मुनिशार्दूलमुवाच सहलक्ष्मणः। साध्वी यज्ञसमृद्धिर्हि जनकस्य महात्मनः॥ बहूनीह सहस्राणि नानादेवनिवासिनाम्। ब्राह्मणानां महाभाग वेदाध्ययनशालिनाम्॥
And Rāma and Lakşmaņa said to that puissant ascetic, Great is the pomp and splendour of the high-souled Janaka's sacrifice. And, o pious one, many thousand of Brāhmaṇas inhabiting various regions, and well-read in the Vedas (have come to this sacrifice);2-3
ऋषिवाटाश्च दृश्यन्ते शकटीशतसंकुलाः। देशो विधीयतां ब्रह्मन् यत्र वत्स्यामहे वयम्॥
And the abodes of ascetics are thronged with hundreds of cars. Do you, O Brahmana, arrange for some place were we may put up.
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। निवासमकरोद् देशे विविक्ते सलिलान्विते॥
Hearing Rāma's words, the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra selected for their abode a wellwatered spot free from bustle and tumult.
विश्वामित्रमनुप्राप्तं श्रुत्वा नृपवरस्तदा। शतानन्दं पुरस्कृत्य पुरोहितमनिन्दितः॥ ऋत्विजोऽपि महात्मानस्त्वय॑मादाय सत्वरम्। प्रत्युज्जगाम सहसा विनयेन समन्वितः॥ विश्वामित्राय धर्मेण ददौ धर्मपुरस्कृतम्।
And hearing of Viśvāmitra's arrival, the best of monarchs without blame, placing the priests Satānanda before him, as well as the high-souled family priests, speedily taking the Arghya, at once went out in humble guise, and offered it to Viśvāmitra according to the ordinance.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां जनकस्य महात्मनः॥ पप्रच्छ कुशलं राज्ञो यज्ञस्य च निरामयम्। स तांश्चाथ मुनीन् पृष्ट्वा सोपाध्यायपुरोधसः॥ यथार्हमृषिभिः सर्वैः समागच्छत् प्रहृष्टवत्।
Having accepted that homage of the highsouled Janaka, the ascetic enquired after the king's welfare, and the uninterrupted performance of his sacrifice. And the king together with his priests, having enquired of the ascetics as to their welfare, cheerfully embraced them all in a proper way.
अथ राजा मुनिश्रेष्ठं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥ आसने भगवानास्तां सहैभिर्मुनिपुङ्गवैः।
Then he with clasped hands, spoke to that foremost of anchorets, saying, O worshipful one, do you along with these eminent ascetics take your seat.
जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा निषसाद महामुनिः॥ पुरोधा ऋत्विजश्चैव राजा च सहमन्त्रिभिः। आसनेषु यथान्यायनुपविष्टाः समन्ततः॥
Hearing Janaka's words, the mighty ascetic sat him down. And the king also, in company with his priests and counsellors sat down around in order of rank.
दृष्ट्वा स नृपतिस्तत्र विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्। अद्य यज्ञसमृद्धिर्मे सफला दैवतैः कृता॥
And then the monarch looking into Viśvāmitra's face, said, To-day by the grace of the gods, has my sacrifice been crowned with success, to-day.
अद्य यज्ञफलं प्राप्तं भगवदर्शनान्मया। धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुङ्गवः॥
Have I reaped the fruit of my sacrifice by beholding your worshipful self. Blessed and obliged am I whose sacrificial ground, O Brāhmaṇa, has been graced by you along with these ascetics.
यज्ञोपसदनं ब्रह्मन् प्राप्तोऽसि मुनिभिः सह। द्वादशाहं तु ब्रह्मर्षे दीक्षामाहुर्मनीषिणः॥ ततो भागार्थिनो देवान् द्रष्टुमर्हसि कौशिक।
Twelve days, O Brahmarși, have been fixed for the period of initiation by the sages. On the expiry of that term, you will, O Kausika, behold the celestials come to the sacrifice for claiming their respective shares.
इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलं प्रहृष्टवदनस्तदा॥ पुनस्तं परिपप्रच्छ प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतो नृपः।
Having said this, the king with a cheerful countenance, with folded hands, again intently asked that foremost of ascetics.
इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ॥ गजतुल्यगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ। पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खङ्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ। अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ॥ यदृच्छयेव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ। कथं पद्भयामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने॥ वरायुधधरौ वीरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने। भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्॥ परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितैः। काकपक्षधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः॥
These youths, good betide you, like to celestials in prowess, of the gait of lions or elephants, heroic, and resembling tigers or bulls, of expansive eyes like to lotus-patals, bearing scimitars, quivers and bows, graceful like to the Asvins, endowed with youth, resembling immortals fancy-led from heaven to the earth, whose sons, O ascetic, are they, and what for have they come, and why again have they come afoot? And bearing excellent arms, whose sons, O mighty anchorite, are these heroic ones, who grace this place even as the sun and the moon do the welkin, and resemble each other in bodily proportions, expression, and gestures; wearing side-locks and of warlike mien? This I would hear truly related.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा जनकस्य महात्मनः। न्यवेदयदमेयात्मा पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ॥
Hearing this speech of the high-souled Janaka, that ascetic of immeasurable soul related all about Dasaratha's sons.
सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा। तत्रागमनमव्यग्रं विशालायाश्च दर्शनम्॥ अहल्यादर्शनं चैव गौतमेन समागमम्। महाधनुषि जिज्ञासां कर्तुमागमनं तथा॥
Their sojourn in Siddhāśrama, and the slaughter there of the Raksasas, their undaunted journey, the sight of Viśālā, the encounter with Ahalyā and Gautama, Rāma's curiosity about the mighty bow, and visit there for beholding the same.
एतत् सर्वं महातेजा जनकाय महात्मने। निवेद्य विररामाथ विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः॥
Having related all this to the high-souled Janaka, that one endowed with exceeding energy, the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra, paused.