← 2.87 Bharata locates Citrakūṭa · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.89 Rāma invites Sītā into the Mandākinī →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 88: Rāma shows Sītā Citrakūṭa
Summary. Mineral-coloured peaks, fruit trees and waterfalls relieve his grief, forest life fulfils his father’s command while Bharata rules
Sequence
- Before describing the encounter, the narrative returns to Rāma's life at Citrakūṭa → he tells Sītā that the mountain's beauty relieves his grief over the Kingdom and their absent friends (2.88.1–3)
- he points out its brightly colored mineral peaks, birds, animals, flowering and fruit-bearing trees, waterfalls, and fragrant breezes (2.88.4–14)
- he says he could live there happily for years with her and Lakṣmaṇa → forest life also allows him to fulfill his father's command and leave Bharata the Kingdom → he asks whether she too is finding contentment there (2.88.15–19)
- he shows her the varied rocks, luminous plants, and places of beauty and recreation → he looks forward to completing his vow in this setting. (2.88.20–27)
Verses 2.88.1–27
2.88.1
dīrghakāloṣitas tasmin girau girivanapriyaḥ
videhyāḥ priyamākāṅkṣan svaṃ ca cittaṃ vilobhayan
Having dwelt a long while on that mountain, fond of mountains and forests, wishing to please Vaidehī and to gladden his own heart,
Words: dīrghakāloṣitas — having dwelt a long time; tasmin — on that; girau — mountain; girivanapriyaḥ — fond of mountains and forests; videhyāḥ — of Vaidehī (Sītā); priyamākāṅkṣan — wishing (her) pleasure; svaṃ ca cittaṃ — and his own heart; vilobhayan — gladdening, enticing
2.88.2
atha dāśarathiś citraṃ citrakūṭam adarśayat
bhāryām amarasaṃkāśaḥ śacīm iva puraṃdaraḥ
then the son of Daśaratha, resembling a god, showed the wondrous Citrakūṭa to his wife, as Indra, the sacker of cities, once showed it to Śacī.
Words: atha — then; dāśarathiś — the son of Daśaratha (Rāma); citraṃ — wondrous, marvellous; citrakūṭam — Citrakūṭa; adarśayat — showed; bhāryām — to his wife; amarasaṃkāśaḥ — resembling a god; śacīm — to Śacī; iva — as, like; puraṃdaraḥ — Indra, the sacker of cities
2.88.3
na rājyād bhraṃśanaṃ bhadre na suhṛdbhir vinābhavaḥ
mano me bādhate dṛṣṭvā ramaṇīyam imaṃ girim
“Neither the fall from the kingdom, my dear, nor separation from friends afflicts my mind, when I behold this delightful mountain.
Words: na — not; rājyād — from the kingdom; bhraṃśanaṃ — the fall, loss; bhadre — my dear, good lady; na — nor; suhṛdbhir — from friends; vinābhavaḥ — the being without, separation; mano me — my mind; bādhate — afflicts, torments; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; ramaṇīyam — delightful; imaṃ girim — this mountain
2.88.4
paśyemam acalaṃ bhadre nānādvijagaṇāyutam
śikharaiḥ kham ivodviddhair dhātumadbhir vibhūṣitam
Behold this mountain, my dear, teeming with flocks of many kinds of birds, adorned with mineral-rich peaks that tower as if piercing the sky.
Words: paśyemam — behold this; acalaṃ — the mountain (lit. the unmoving); bhadre — my dear; nānādvijagaṇāyutam — teeming with flocks of various birds; śikharaiḥ — with peaks; kham — the sky; ivodviddhair — as if towering upward; dhātumadbhir — rich in minerals; vibhūṣitam — adorned
2.88.5
ke cid rajatasaṃkāśāḥ ke cit kṣatajasaṃnibhāḥ
pītamāñjiṣṭhavarṇāś ca ke cin maṇivaraprabhāḥ
Some tracts resemble silver, some are blood-red, some are of yellow and madder hue, and some shine like the finest gems.
Words: ke cid — some; rajatasaṃkāśāḥ — resembling silver; ke cit — some; kṣatajasaṃnibhāḥ — resembling blood; pītamāñjiṣṭhavarṇāś — of yellow and madder-red hue; ca — and; ke cin — some; maṇivaraprabhāḥ — shining like the finest gems
2.88.6
puṣyārkaketukābhāś ca ke cij jyotī rasaprabhāḥ
virājante 'calendrasya deśā dhātuvibhūṣitāḥ
And some gleam with the sheen of the Puṣya star, the sun, and crystal, some with the luster of light and quicksilver — the mineral-decked regions of this lord of mountains shine resplendent.
Words: puṣyārkaketukābhāś — with the sheen of the Puṣya star, the sun, and crystal; ca — and; ke cij — some; jyotī — light, luster; rasaprabhāḥ — shining like quicksilver; virājante — shine, gleam; 'calendrasya — of the lord of mountains; deśā — the regions; dhātuvibhūṣitāḥ — adorned with minerals
2.88.7
nānāmṛgagaṇadvīpitarakṣvṛkṣagaṇair vṛtaḥ
aduṣṭair bhāty ayaṃ śailo bahupakṣisamākulaḥ
Encircled by troops of various deer, leopards, hyenas, and bears — all harmless — this mountain gleams, thronged with many birds.
Words: nānāmṛgagaṇadvīpitarakṣvṛkṣagaṇair — by troops of various deer, leopards, hyenas and bears; vṛtaḥ — surrounded, encircled; aduṣṭair — harmless, gentle; bhāty — shines; ayaṃ — this; śailo — mountain; bahupakṣisamākulaḥ — thronged with many birds
2.88.8
āmrajambvasanair lodhraiḥ priyālaiḥ panasair dhavaiḥ
aṅkolair bhavyatiniśair bilvatindukaveṇubhiḥ
With mango, rose-apple, and asana trees, with lodhra, priyāla, jackfruit, and dhava, with aṅkola, bhavya, and tiniśa, with bilva, tinduka, and bamboo,
Words: āmrajambvasanair — with mango, rose-apple and asana; lodhraiḥ — with lodhra trees; priyālaiḥ — with priyāla trees; panasair — with jackfruit trees; dhavaiḥ — with dhava trees; aṅkolair — with aṅkola trees; bhavyatiniśair — with bhavya and tiniśa trees; bilvatindukaveṇubhiḥ — with bilva, tinduka and bamboo
2.88.9
kāśmaryariṣṭavaraṇair madhūkais tilakais tathā
badaryāmalakair nīpair vetradhanvanabījakaiḥ
with kāśmarī, riṣṭa, and varaṇa, with madhūka and tilaka too, with jujube, myrobalan, and nīpa, with cane, dhanvana, and bījaka —
Words: kāśmaryariṣṭavaraṇair — with kāśmarī, riṣṭa and varaṇa; madhūkais — with madhūka trees; tilakais — with tilaka trees; tathā — likewise; badaryāmalakair — with jujube and myrobalan; nīpair — with nīpa (kadamba) trees; vetradhanvanabījakaiḥ — with cane, dhanvana and bījaka
2.88.10
puṣpavadbhiḥ phalopetaiś chāyāvadbhir manoramaiḥ
evamādibhir ākīrṇaḥ śriyaṃ puṣyaty ayaṃ giriḥ
with trees full of blossom, laden with fruit, shady and delightful, and others like them — strewn with all these, this mountain abounds in beauty.
Words: puṣpavadbhiḥ — with flower-bearing trees; phalopetaiś — laden with fruit; chāyāvadbhir — casting shade, shady; manoramaiḥ — delightful; evamādibhir — with these and such others; ākīrṇaḥ — strewn, filled; śriyaṃ — beauty, splendor; puṣyaty — abounds in, nourishes; ayaṃ giriḥ — this mountain
2.88.11
śailaprastheṣu ramyeṣu paśyemān kāmaharṣaṇān
kinnarān dvaṃdvaśo bhadre ramamāṇān manasvinaḥ
On the lovely mountain tablelands, my dear, behold these high-spirited kinnaras, exciting to love, sporting in pairs.
Words: śailaprastheṣu — on the mountain tablelands; ramyeṣu — lovely; paśyemān — behold these; kāmaharṣaṇān — exciting to love, arousing desire; kinnarān — the kinnaras; dvaṃdvaśo — in pairs, couple by couple; bhadre — my dear; ramamāṇān — sporting, taking delight; manasvinaḥ — high-spirited, spirited
2.88.12
śākhāvasaktān khaḍgāṃś ca pravarāṇy ambarāṇi ca
paśya vidyādharastrīṇāṃ krīḍed deśān manoramān
See the swords and fine garments of the Vidyādhara women hung upon the branches, and the delightful spots where they play.
Words: śākhāvasaktān — hung upon the branches; khaḍgāṃś — the swords; ca — and; pravarāṇy — excellent, fine; ambarāṇi — garments; ca — and; paśya — behold; vidyādharastrīṇāṃ — of the Vidyādhara women; krīḍed — for play, sporting; deśān — places, spots; manoramān — delightful
2.88.13
jalaprapātair udbhedair niṣyandaiś ca kva cit kva cit
sravadbhir bhāty ayaṃ śailaḥ sravan mada iva dvipaḥ
With waterfalls, springs, and streams trickling here and there, this mountain gleams like an elephant streaming with rut.
Words: jalaprapātair — with waterfalls; udbhedair — with springs, gushings; niṣyandaiś — with streams, flowings; ca — and; kva cit kva cit — here and there; sravadbhir — flowing, trickling; bhāty — shines; ayaṃ śailaḥ — this mountain; sravan — streaming, oozing; mada — with rut, rut-fluid; iva — as, like; dvipaḥ — an elephant
2.88.14
guhāsamīraṇo gandhān nānāpuṣpabhavān vahan
ghrāṇatarpaṇam abhyetya kaṃ naraṃ na praharṣayet
The breeze from the caves, bearing fragrances born of many kinds of flowers, coming to gratify the nose — what man would it not delight?
Words: guhāsamīraṇo — the breeze from the caves; gandhān — the fragrances; nānāpuṣpabhavān — born of various flowers; vahan — bearing, carrying; ghrāṇatarpaṇam — gratifying the sense of smell; abhyetya — having approached, come; kaṃ naraṃ — what man; na praharṣayet — would it not delight
2.88.15
yadīha śarado 'nekās tvayā sārdham anindite
lakṣmaṇena ca vatsyāmi na māṃ śokaḥ pradhakṣyati
If here, O blameless one, I dwell many years together with you and with Lakṣmaṇa, no grief will consume me.
Words: yadīha — if here; śarado 'nekās — many autumns (years); tvayā sārdham — together with you; anindite — O blameless one; lakṣmaṇena ca — and with Lakṣmaṇa; vatsyāmi — I shall dwell; na māṃ — not me; śokaḥ — grief; pradhakṣyati — will burn up, consume
2.88.16
bahupuṣpaphale ramye nānādvijagaṇāyute
vicitraśikhare hy asmin ratavān asmi bhāmini
On this mountain, rich in flowers and fruit, lovely, teeming with flocks of various birds, with its wondrous peaks, I have found delight, O lovely lady.
Words: bahupuṣpaphale — rich in flowers and fruit; ramye — lovely; nānādvijagaṇāyute — teeming with flocks of various birds; vicitraśikhare — with wondrous peaks; hy asmin — indeed on this; ratavān asmi — I am delighted; bhāmini — O lovely lady
2.88.17
anena vanavāsena mayā prāptaṃ phaladvayam
pituś cānṛṇatā dharme bharatasya priyaṃ tathā
By this dwelling in the forest a twofold fruit has been won by me: freedom from debt to my father in dharma, and likewise the pleasing of Bharata.
Words: anena — by this; vanavāsena — by the forest-dwelling; mayā — by me; prāptaṃ — obtained, won; phaladvayam — a twofold fruit; pituś — to the father; cānṛṇatā — and freedom from debt; dharme — in respect of dharma; bharatasya — of Bharata; priyaṃ — the pleasing, gratification; tathā — likewise
2.88.18
vaidehi ramase kaccic citrakūṭe mayā saha
paśyantī vividhān bhāvān manovākkāyasaṃyatān
Vaidehī, do you take delight here on Citrakūṭa with me, beholding the manifold creatures, restrained in mind, speech, and body?
Words: vaidehi — O Vaidehī; ramase — do you delight; kaccic — (surely?), I hope; citrakūṭe — on Citrakūṭa; mayā saha — together with me; paśyantī — beholding; vividhān — manifold, various; bhāvān — creatures, beings; manovākkāyasaṃyatān — restrained in mind, speech and body
2.88.19
idam evāmṛtaṃ prāhū rājñāṃ rājarṣayaḥ pare
vanavāsaṃ bhavārthāya pretya me prapitāmahāḥ
This very forest-dwelling the supreme royal seers, my forefathers now departed, declared to be the nectar of kings, for the sake of the life hereafter.
Words: idam evāmṛtaṃ — this very nectar; prāhū — declared, called; rājñāṃ — of kings; rājarṣayaḥ — the royal seers; pare — the supreme, foremost; vanavāsaṃ — the forest-dwelling; bhavārthāya — for the sake of (future) existence; pretya — after death, having departed; me — my; prapitāmahāḥ — forefathers, great-grandsires
2.88.20
śilāḥ śailasya śobhante viśālāḥ śataśo 'bhitaḥ
bahulā bahulair varṇair nīlapītasitāruṇaiḥ
The broad rocks of the mountain, in their hundreds on every side, gleam manifold with their many hues — dark, yellow, white, and red.
Words: śilāḥ — the rocks; śailasya — of the mountain; śobhante — gleam, look beautiful; viśālāḥ — broad, vast; śataśo — by the hundreds; 'bhitaḥ — on all sides; bahulā — manifold, abundant; bahulair — with manifold; varṇair — hues, colors; nīlapītasitāruṇaiḥ — dark, yellow, white, and red
2.88.21
niśi bhānty acalendrasya hutāśanaśikhā iva
oṣadhyaḥ svaprabhā lakṣmyā bhrājamānāḥ sahasraśaḥ
By night the herbs of the mountain-lord shine like tongues of fire, glowing by the thousand with their own radiance and splendor.
Words: niśi — by night; bhānty — shine; acalendrasya — of the mountain-lord; hutāśanaśikhā — tongues of fire; iva — as, like; oṣadhyaḥ — the herbs (luminous plants); svaprabhā — self-luminous; lakṣmyā — with splendor, beauty; bhrājamānāḥ — shining, glittering; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands
2.88.22
ke cit kṣayanibhā deśāḥ ke cid udyānasaṃnibhāḥ
ke cid ekaśilā bhānti parvatasyāsya bhāmini
Some regions of this mountain look like dwellings, some like pleasure-gardens, and some appear as a single slab of rock, O lovely one.
Words: ke cit — some; kṣayanibhā — resembling dwellings; deśāḥ — regions; ke cid — some; udyānasaṃnibhāḥ — resembling pleasure-gardens; ke cid — some; ekaśilā — of a single rock; bhānti — appear, shine; parvatasyāsya — of this mountain; bhāmini — O lovely one
2.88.23
bhittveva vasudhāṃ bhāti citrakūṭaḥ samutthitaḥ
citrakūṭasya kūṭo 'sau dṛśyate sarvataḥ śivaḥ
Citrakūṭa, risen up as though it had cloven the earth, shines forth; that peak of Citrakūṭa is seen to be auspicious on every side.
Words: bhittveva — as if having split; vasudhāṃ — the earth; bhāti — shines; citrakūṭaḥ — Citrakūṭa; samutthitaḥ — risen up; citrakūṭasya — of Citrakūṭa; kūṭo — the peak; 'sau — that; dṛśyate — is seen; sarvataḥ — on all sides; śivaḥ — auspicious, benign
2.88.24
kuṣṭhapuṃnāgatagarabhūrjapatrottaracchadān
kāmināṃ svāstarān paśya kuśeśayadalāyutān
Behold the comfortable couches of the lovers, spread over with the leaves of kuṣṭha, punnāga, tagara, and birch, and strewn with lotus-petals.
Words: kuṣṭhapuṃnāgatagarabhūrjapatrottaracchadān — covered over with leaves of kuṣṭha, punnāga, tagara and birch; kāmināṃ — of the lovers; svāstarān — comfortable couches, beds; paśya — behold; kuśeśayadalāyutān — strewn with lotus-petals
2.88.25
mṛditāś cāpaviddhāś ca dṛśyante kamalasrajaḥ
kāmibhir vanite paśya phalāni vividhāni ca
Lotus-garlands are seen, crushed and cast aside by the lovers, O woman; and behold, too, the fruits of many kinds.
Words: mṛditāś — crushed; cāpaviddhāś — and flung aside; ca — and; dṛśyante — are seen; kamalasrajaḥ — lotus-garlands; kāmibhir — by the lovers; vanite — O woman; paśya — behold; phalāni — fruits; vividhāni — various, of many kinds; ca — and
2.88.26
vasvaukasārāṃ nalinīm atyetīvottarān kurūn
parvataś citrakūṭo 'sau bahumūlaphalodakaḥ
This Mount Citrakūṭa, rich in roots, fruit, and water, surpasses, as it were, Vasvaukasārā, the pool Nalinī, and the northern Kurus.
Words: vasvaukasārāṃ — Vasvaukasārā (Kubera's city); nalinīm — Nalinī (a celestial lotus-pool); atyetīvottarān — surpasses, as it were, the northern; kurūn — the Kurus (Uttarakurus); parvataś — the mountain; citrakūṭo — Citrakūṭa; 'sau — this; bahumūlaphalodakaḥ — rich in many roots, fruits and water
2.88.27
imaṃ tu kālaṃ vanite vijahrivāṃs tvayā ca sīte saha lakṣmaṇena ca
ratiṃ prapatsye kuladharmavardhinīṃ satāṃ pathi svair niyamaiḥ paraiḥ sthitaḥ
Passing this time here, O woman, O Sītā, with you and with Lakṣmaṇa, and abiding by my own highest vows on the path of the good, I shall attain a joy that augments the dharma of my lineage.
Words: imaṃ tu kālaṃ — this time; vanite — O woman; vijahrivāṃs — having spent, passed (the time); tvayā ca — and with you; sīte — O Sītā; saha — together with; lakṣmaṇena ca — and with Lakṣmaṇa; ratiṃ — a joy, delight; prapatsye — I shall attain; kuladharmavardhinīṃ — that augments the dharma of the lineage; satāṃ pathi — on the path of the good; svair — by my own; niyamaiḥ — by (my) vows, restraints; paraiḥ — highest, supreme; sthitaḥ — standing, abiding
← 2.87 Bharata locates Citrakūṭa · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.89 Rāma invites Sītā into the Mandākinī →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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