Sita's Worship of Parvati and the Rama-Lakshmana Dialogue
Sita worships Parvati and prays for the blessing of obtaining Rama as her husband, and receives an auspicious assurance. Meanwhile, Rama and Lakshmana share a graceful conversation about Janakpur and the swayamvara.
Bal Kand · Episode 46 / 59
Episode Text
जानि कठिन सिवचाप बिसूरति। चली राखि उर स्यामल मूरति॥ प्रभु जब जात जानकी जानी। सुख सनेह सोभा गुन खानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāni kaṭhina sivacāpa bisūrati। calī rāakhi ura śyāmala mūrati॥ prabhu jaba jāta jānakī jānī। sukha saneha sobhā guna khānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Knowing Shiva's bow to be difficult, she went on, troubled, keeping the dark-hued image in her heart. When the Lord saw Janaki departing, who was a mine of happiness, love, beauty, and virtue—
परम प्रेममय मृदु मसि कीन्ही। चारु चित्त भीतीं लिखि लीन्ही॥ गई भवानी भवन बहोरी। बंदि चरन बोली कर जोरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
parama premamaya mṛdu masi kīnhī। cāru citta bhītīṃ likhi līnhī॥ gaī bhavānī bhavana bahorī। bandi carana bolī kara joṛī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then, making the soft ink of supreme love, she engraved Him upon the beautiful walls of her heart. She went again to the abode of Bhavani and, bowing at Her feet, spoke with folded hands—
जय जय गिरिबरराज किसोरी। जय महेस मुख चंद चकोरी॥ जय गजबदन षडानन माता। जगत जननि दामिनि दुति गाता॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaya jaya giribararāja kisorī। jaya mahesa mukha canda cakorī॥ jaya gajabadana ṣaḍānana mātā। jagata janani dāmini duti gātā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Victory, victory to you, O daughter of the king of mountains! Victory to you, O chakori of the moon-faced Mahesh! Victory to you, O mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya! O Mother of the universe, whose body shines with lightning-like brilliance, victory to you!
नहिं तव आदि मध्य अवसाना। अमित प्रभाउ बेदु नहिं जाना॥ भव भव बिभव पराभव कारिनि। बिस्व बिमोहनि स्वबस बिहारिनि॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nahiṃ tava ādi madhya avasānā। amita prabhāu bedu nahiṃ jānā॥ bhava bhava bibhava parābhava kārini। bisva bimohani svabasa bihārini॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
You have neither beginning, nor middle, nor end. Even the Vedas do not know Your immeasurable power. You are the cause of becoming, prosperity, and downfall; You enchant the world and move about freely by Your own will.
पतिदेवता सुतीय महुँ मातु प्रथम तव रेख। महिमा अमित न सकहिं कहि सहस सारदा सेष॥ २३५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
patidevatā sutīya mahuṃ mātu prathama tava rekha। mahimā amita na sakahiṃ kahi sahasa sāradā seṣa॥ 235 ॥
Meaning:
Among noble women who regard their husbands as their deity, O Mother, you are foremost. Your immeasurable glory cannot be told even by thousands of Saraswatis or Sheshanaga.
सेवत तोहि सुलभ फल चारी। बरदायनी पुरारि पिआरी॥ देबि पूजि पद कमल तुम्हारे। सुर नर मुनि सब होहिं सुखारे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sevata tohi sulabha phala cārī। baradāyanī purāri piyārī॥ debi pūji pada kamala tumhāre। sura nara muni saba hohiṃ sukhāre॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O granter of boons as desired by devotees! O dear consort of Shiva, the enemy of Tripura! By serving you, the four goals of life become easily attainable. O goddess! By worshipping your lotus feet, gods, humans, and sages all become happy.
मोर मनोरथु जानहु नीकें। बसहु सदा उर पुर सबही कें॥ कीन्हेउँ प्रगट न कारन तेहीं। अस कहि चरन गहे बैदेहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mora manorathu jānahu nīkeṃ। basahu sadā ura pura sabahī keṃ॥ kīhneuṃ pragaṭa na kārana tehīṃ। asa kahi carana gahe baidehīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
You know my heart’s desire very well, for you always dwell in everyone’s heart-city. That is why I did not reveal it. Saying this, Janaki clasped their feet.
बिनय प्रेम बस भई भवानी। खसी माल मूरति मुसुकानी॥ सादर सियँ प्रसादु सिर धरेऊ। बोली गौरि हरषु हियँ भरेऊ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
binaya prema basa bhaī bhavānī। khasī māla mūrati musukānī॥ sādara siyaṃ prasādu sira dhareū। bolī gauri haraṣu hiyaṃ bhareū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Bhavani, the goddess, was won over by Sita’s humility and love. The garland slipped down and the image smiled. With reverence, Sita placed that blessed garland on her head. Gauri’s heart overflowed with joy, and she spoke—
सुनु सिय सत्य असीस हमारी। पूजिहि मन कामना तुम्हारी॥ नारद बचन सदा सुचि साचा। सो बरु मिलिहि जाहिं मनु राचा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu siya satya asīsa hamārī। pūjihi mana kāmanā tumhārī॥ nārada bacana sadā suci sāchā। so baru milihi jāhiṃ manu rācā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Sita, listen to our true blessing: your wish will be fulfilled. Narada’s word is always pure and true, free from doubt and delusion. The one to whom your heart has turned—that very bridegroom you will obtain.
मनु जाहिं राचेउ मिलिहि सो बरु सहज सुंदर साँवरो। करुना निधान सुजान सीलु सनेहु जानत रावरो॥ एहि भाँति गौरि असीस सुनि सिय सहित हियँ हरषीं अली। तुलसी भवानिहि पूजि पुनि पुनि मुदित मन मंदिर चली॥
Transliteration (IAST)
manu jāhiṃ rācheu milihi so baru sahaja sundara sāṃvaro। karunā nidhāna sujāna sīlu sanehu jānata rāvro॥ ehi bhāṃti gauri asīsa suni siya sahita hiyaṃ haraṣīṃ alī। tulasī bhavānihi pūji puni puni mudita mana mandira calī॥
Meaning:
The one your heart has chosen will indeed be yours: Rama, the naturally handsome, dark-hued bridegroom. He is a storehouse of compassion, wise and all-knowing; he knows your virtue and affection. Hearing Gauri’s blessing in this way, Sita and her companions rejoiced in their hearts. Tulsidas says—after worshipping Bhavani again and again, Sita returned to the palace with a joyful mind.
जानि गौरि अनुकूल सिय हिय हरषु न जाइ कहि। मंजुल मंगल मूल बाम अंग फरकन लगे॥ २३६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāni gauri anukūla siya hiya haraṣu na jāi kahi। mañjula maṅgala mūla bāma aṅga pharakana lage॥ 236 ॥
Meaning:
Knowing Gauri to be favorably disposed, the joy that arose in Sita’s heart cannot be described. Auspicious omens began to stir in her left limbs.
हृदयँ सराहत सीय लोनाई। गुर समीप गवने दोउ भाई॥ राम कहा सबु कौसिक पाहीं। सरल सुभाउ छुअत छल नाहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hṛdayaṃ sarāhata sīya lonāī। gura samīpa gavane dou bhāī॥ rāma kahā sabu kausika pāhīṃ। sarala subhāu chuata chala nāhīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Praising Sita’s loveliness in their hearts, the two brothers went near the Guru. Rama told everything to Vishvamitra. Since his nature is simple, deceit does not even touch him.
सुमन पाइ मुनि पूजा कीन्ही। पुनि असीस दुहु भाइन्ह दीन्ही॥ सुफल मनोरथ होहुँ तुम्हारे। रामु लखनु सुनि भए सुखारे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sumana pāi muni pūjā kīnhī। puni asīsa duhu bhāinha dīnhī॥ suphala manoratha hohuṃ tumhāre। rāmu lakhanu suni bhae sukhāre॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Receiving the flowers, the sage performed the worship. Then he gave blessing to both brothers: may your wishes be fulfilled. Hearing this, Rama and Lakshmana felt glad.
करि भोजनु मुनिबर बिग्यानी। लगे कहन कछु कथा पुरानी॥ बिगत दिवसु गुरु आयसु पाई। संध्या करन चले दोउ भाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kari bhojanu munibara bigyānī। lage kahana kachu kathā purānī॥ bigata divasu guru āyasu pāī। saṃdhyā karana cale dou bhāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The learned sage Vishvamitra finished his meal and began speaking of some ancient tales. Meanwhile, the day passed, and after receiving the Guru’s permission, both brothers went to perform the evening worship.
प्राची दिसि ससि उयउ सुहावा। सिय मुख सरिस देखि सुखु पावा॥ बहुरि बिचारु कीन्ह मन माहीं। सीय बदन सम हिमकर नाहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prācī disi sasi uya u suhāvā। siya mukha sarisa dekhi sukhu pāvā॥ bahuri bichāru kīhna mana māhīṃ। sīya badana sama himakara nāhīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
There, the beautiful moon rose in the eastern sky. Rama saw it as resembling Sita’s face and felt delight. Then he reflected in his mind that this moon is not equal to Sita’s face.
जनमु सिंधु पुनि बंधु बिषु दिन मलीन सकलंक। सिय मुख समता पाव किमि चंदु बापुरो रंक॥ २३७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janamu sindhu puni bandhu biṣu dina malīna sakalaṃka। siya mukha samatā pāva kimi candu bāpuro raṃka॥ 237 ॥
Meaning:
Its birth is in the salty sea; then, being born of that same sea, poison is its brother. By day it is dim and unlovely, and it is blemished as well. How could that poor, wretched moon ever बराबर Sita’s face?
घटइ बढ़इ बिरहिनि दुखदाई। ग्रसइ राहु निज संधिहिं पाई॥ कोक सोकप्रद पंकज द्रोही। अवगुन बहुत चंद्रमा तोही॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ghaṭai baṛhai birahini dukhadāī। grasai rāhu nija saṃdhihiṃ pāī॥ koka sokaprada paṅkaja drohī। avaguna bahuta candramā tohī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Moreover, it waxes and wanes and brings sorrow to women separated from their beloved. Rahu seizes and swallows it when it comes to the junction. It causes grief to the chakora and is an enemy of the lotus, making it wither. O moon, you have many faults—which Sita does not.
बैदेही मुख पटतर दीन्हे। होइ दोषु बड़ अनुचित कीन्हे॥ सिय मुखछबि बिधु ब्याज बखानी। गुर पहिं चले निसा बड़ि जानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
baidehī mukha paṭatara dīhne। hoi doṣu baḍa anucita kīhne॥ siya mukha chabi bidhu byāja bakhānī। gura pahiṃ cale nisā baṛi jānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Thus, if one were to compare Janaki’s face to the moon, it would incur the fault of a very improper act. So, describing Sita’s beauty through the pretext of the moon, they went to the Guru, realizing that the night had become deep.
करि मुनि चरन सरोज प्रनामा। आयसु पाइ कीन्ह बिश्रामा॥ बिगत निसा रघुनायक जागे। बंधु बिलोकि कहन अस लागे॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kari muni charana saroja pranāmā। āyasu pāi kīhna biśrāmā॥ bigata nisā raghunāyaka jāge। bandhu biloki kahana asa lāge॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
After bowing to the sage’s lotus feet, and receiving permission, they rested. When the night passed, Lord Raghunatha awoke and, seeing his brother, began to speak thus—
उयउ अरुन अवलोकहु ताता। पंकज कोक लोक सुखदाता॥ बोले लखनु जोरि जुग पानी प्रभु प्रभाउ सूचक मृदु बानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
uyau aruna avalokahu tātā। paṅkaja koka loka sukhadātā॥ bole lakhanu jori juga pānī prabhu prabhāu sūcaka mṛdu bānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O father, behold! The dawn has come, bringing joy to the lotus, the chakora, and the whole world. Lakshmana, with joined hands, spoke in a gentle voice that hinted at the Lord’s majesty—
अरुनोदयँ सकुचे कुमुद उडगन जोति मलीन। जिमि तुम्हार आगमन सुनि भए नृपति बलहीन॥ २३८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
arunodayaṃ sakuce kumuda uḍagana joti malīna। jimi tumhāra āgamana suni bhae nṛpati balahīna॥ 238 ॥
Meaning:
With the dawn, the night-blooming lotus shrank and the light of the stars dimmed, just as hearing of your arrival made all the kings powerless.
नृप सब नखत करहिं उजिआरी। टारि न सकहिं चाप तम भारी॥ कमल कोक मधुकर खग नाना। हरषे सकल निसा अवसाना॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nṛpa saba nakhata karahiṃ ujiyārī। ṭāri na sakahiṃ cāpa tama bhārī॥ kamala koka madhukara khaga nānā। haraṣe sakala nisā avasānā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
All the king-like stars shed a faint light, but they cannot dispel the great darkness of the bow. As night comes to an end, the lotus, chakora birds, bees, and many kinds of birds rejoice.
ऐसेहिं प्रभु सब भगत तुम्हारे। होइहहिं टूटें धनुष सुखारे॥ उयउ भानु बिनु श्रम तम नासा। दुरे नखत जग तेजु प्रकासा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aisehiṃ prabhu saba bhagata tumhāre। hoihahiṃ tūṭeṃ dhanuṣa sukhāre॥ uyau bhānu binu śrama tama nāsā। dure nakhata jaga teju prakāsā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Likewise, O Lord, all your devotees will rejoice when the bow is broken. The sun has risen; without any effort, darkness has been destroyed. The stars have faded, and the light of glory has spread through the world.
रबि निज उदय ब्याज रघुराया। प्रभु प्रतापु सब नृपन्ह दिखाया॥ तव भुज बल महिमा उदघाटी। प्रगटी धनु बिघटन परिपाटी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rabi nija udaya byāja raghurāyā। prabhu pratāpu saba nṛpanhaṃ dikhāyā॥ tava bhuja bala mahimā udaghāṭī। pragaṭī dhanu bighaṭana paripāṭī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Raghuraya! The sun, under the pretext of rising, has shown all the kings your majesty. This way of breaking the bow has appeared only to reveal the glory of the strength of your arms.
बंधु बचन सुनि प्रभु मुसुकाने। होइ सुचि सहज पुनीत नहाने॥ नित्यक्रिया करि गुरु पहिं आए। चरन सरोज सुभग सिर नाए॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandhu bacana suni prabhu musukāne। hoi suci sahaja punīta nahāne॥ nityakriyā kari guru pahiṃ āe। carana saroja subhaga sira nāe॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing his brother’s words, the Lord smiled. Then, naturally pure, Shri Rama bathed after relieving himself, performed his daily duties, and came to the Guru. Arriving, he bowed his head to the Guru’s beautiful lotus feet.
सतानंदु तब जनक बोलाए। कौसिक मुनि पहिं तुरत पठाए॥ जनक बिनय तिन्ह आइ सुनाई। हरषे बोलि लिए दोउ भाई॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
satānandu taba janaka bolāe। kausika muni pahiṃ turata paṭhāe॥ janaka binaya tinha āi sunāī। haraṣe boli lie dou bhāī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Then King Janaka called Shatananda and sent him at once to the sage Vishvamitra. He came and conveyed Janaka’s request. Vishvamitra, delighted, summoned both brothers.
सतानंद पद बंदि प्रभु बैठे गुर पहिं जाइ। चलहु तात मुनि कहेउ तब पठवा जनक बोलाइ॥ २३९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
satānanda pada bandi prabhu baiṭhe guru pahiṃ jāi। calahu tāta muni kaheu taba paṭhavā janaka bolāi॥ 239 ॥
Meaning:
Having bowed to Shatananda’s feet, Lord Rama went and sat near the Guru. Then the sage said, “Come, dear one; Janaka has sent for you.”
सीय स्वयंबरु देखिअ जाई। ईसु काहि धौं देइ बड़ाई॥ लखन कहा जस भाजनु सोई। नाथ कृपा तव जापर होई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sīya svayaṃbaru dekhiya jāī। īsu kāhi dhauṃ dei baṛāī॥ lakhana kahā jasa bhājanu soī। nātha kṛpā tava jāpara hoī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Let us go and see Sita's swayamvara. Let us see whom the Lord chooses to honor. Lakshmana said, 'O Lord, whoever receives your grace will be the one worthy of honor (the credit for breaking the bow will belong to him).'
हरषे मुनि सब सुनि बर बानी। दीन्हि असीस सबहिं सुखु मानी॥ पुनि मुनिबृंद समेत कृपाला। देखन चले धनुषमख साला॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haraṣe muni saba suni bara bānī। dīnhī asīsa sabahiṃ sukhu mānī॥ puni munibṛnda sameta kṛpālā। dekhana cale dhanuṣamakha sālā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this noble speech, all the sages rejoiced. Taking it as a blessing, they all gave their good wishes. Then the compassionate Lord, together with the host of sages, set out to see the hall of the bow-sacrifice.
रंगभूमि आए दोउ भाई। असि सुधि सब पुरबासिन्ह पाई॥ चले सकल गृह काज बिसारी। बाल जुबान जरठ नर नारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
raṃgabhūmi āe dou bhāī। asi sudhi saba purabāsinha pāī॥ cale sakala gṛha kāja bisārī। bāla jubāna jaraṭha nara nārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
When the people of the city learned that the two brothers had come to the arena, all—children, young men, the old, men and women—forgot their homes and their work and went out [to see them].
देखी जनक भीर भै भारी। सुचि सेवक सब लिए हँकारी॥ तुरत सकल लोगन्ह पहिं जाहू। आसन उचित देहु सब काहू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhī janaka bhīra bhai bhārī। suci sevaka saba lie haṃkārī॥ turata sakala loganha pahiṃ jāhū। āsana ucita dehu saba kāhū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
When Janaka saw that the crowd had become very large, he called all his trusted servants and said, 'Go at once to everyone and give each person a fitting seat.'
कहि मृदु बचन बिनीत तिन्ह बैठारे नर नारि। उत्तम मध्यम नीच लघु निज निज थल अनुहारि॥ २४० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahi mṛdu bachana binīta tinha baiṭhāre nara nāri। uttama madhyama nīca laghu nija nija thala anuhāri॥ 240 ॥
Meaning:
The servants spoke gently and courteously and seated the men and women of every rank—high, middle, low, and humble—in places appropriate to each.