Uttara Kanda — Sarga 88

तां कथामैलसंबद्धां रामेण समुदीरिताम्। लक्ष्मणो भरतश्चैव श्रुत्वा परमविस्मितौ॥ तौ रामं प्राञ्जली भूत्वा तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः। विस्तरं तस्य भावस्य तदा पप्रच्छतुः पुनः॥

Having heard of the story of the king Ila from Rāma, Lakşmaņa and Bharata were greatly surprised. And And with folded hands they, requesting the noble king Rāma, for further particulars, said.

Uttara Kanda 88.1

कथं स राजा स्त्रीभूतो वर्तयामास दुर्गतिः। पुरुषः स यदा भूतः कां वृत्तिं वर्तयत्यसौ॥

How could the king Ila subject himself to those afflictions in the shape of a female? And how did he use to behave himself in his male form?

Uttara Kanda 88.2

तयोस्तद्भाषितं श्रुत्वा कौतूहलसमन्वितम्। कथयामास काकुत्स्थस्तस्य राज्ञो यथागमम्॥

Hearing those words begotten of curiosity, Rāma engaged in relating the whole story as he had heard before, saying.

Uttara Kanda 88.3

तमेव प्रथमं मासं स्त्री भूत्वा लोकसुन्दरी। तत्काननं विगाह्याशु विजह्वे लोकसुन्दरी। दुमगुल्मलताकीर्णं पद्भ्यां पद्मदलेक्षणा॥ ताभिः परिवृता स्त्रीभिर्येऽस्य पूर्व पदानुगाः।।।।।

In the first month, assuming his female form having lotus-eyes and charming the three world, he used to sport in the forest abounding in groves, in the company of his companions metamorphosed into the same form.

Uttara Kanda 88.4

वाहनानि च सर्वाणि संत्यक्त्वा वै समन्ततः। पर्वताभोगविवरे तस्मिन्रेमे इला तदा॥

Having sent away all his conveyances Ilā used to sport in the mountain vale.

Uttara Kanda 88.5

अथ तस्मिन्वनोद्देशे पर्वतस्याविदूरतः। सरः सुरुचिरप्रख्यं नानापक्षिगणायुतम्॥ ददर्श सा इला तस्मिन्बुधं सोमसुतं तदा। ज्वलन्तं स्वेन वपुषा पूर्ण सोममिवोदितम्।।।।

Thus roaming, Ila one day espied Budha, a bundle of rays, resembling the full moon in a picturesque pond filled with birds at some distance from the mountain.

Uttara Kanda 88.6

तपन्तं च तपस्तीव्रमम्भोमध्ये दुरासदम्। यशस्करं कामकरं कारुण्ये पर्यवस्थितम्॥

Having compassion for all creatures Budha, at that time, was performing, hard, glorious and wished-for austerities within waters.

Uttara Kanda 88.7

सा तं जलाशयं सर्व क्षोभयामास विस्मिता। सह तैः पूर्वपुरुषैः स्त्रीभूतै रघुनन्दन॥

O son of Raghu, on beholding him Ilā was greatly surprised, and with her female companions began to agitate waters.

Uttara Kanda 88.8

बुधस्तु तां समीक्ष्यैव कामबाणवशं गतः। नोपलेभे तदात्मानं स चचाल तदाम्भसि ॥ इलां निरीक्षमाणस्तु त्रैलोक्यादधिकां शुभाम्। चित्तं समभ्यतिक्रामत्कान्वियं देवताधिका ॥

As soon as Budha saw her he was assailed by the arrows of Cupid. Not being able to control himself he grew impatient within waters and thought. This damsel is far more beautiful even than the celestial girls.

Uttara Kanda 88.9

न देवीषु न नागीषु नासुरीष्वप्सरःसु च। दृष्टपूर्वा मया काचिदूपेणानेन शोभिता॥

I have never seen before a like among the celestials, Nagas, Asuras and Apsaras.

Uttara Kanda 88.10

सदृशीयं मम भवेद्यदि नान्यपरिग्रहः। इति बुद्धिंसमास्थाय जलात्कूलमुपागमत्॥ आश्रमं समुपागम्य ततस्ताः प्रमदोत्तमाः। शब्दापयत धर्मात्मा ताश्चैनं च ववन्दिरे॥

If she has not been married before then she is my worthy spouse. With this resolution Budha got up from the waters, and repairing to his hermitage, sent for the fair ones. they all saluted him.

Uttara Kanda 88.11

स ताः पप्रच्छ धर्मात्मा कस्यैषा लोकसुन्दरी। किमर्थमागता चैव सर्वमाख्यात मा चिरम्॥

Thereupon the virtuous-souled Budha accosted them saying: Whose daughter is this graceful girl among you and for what she has come here? Do not delay-tell me soon.

Uttara Kanda 88.12

शुभं तु तस्य तद्वाक्यं मधुरं मधुराक्षरम्। श्रुत्वा स्त्रियश्च ताः सर्वा ऊचुर्मधुरया गिरा॥

Hearing those sweet words of Budha, the all females also said in sweet accents.

Uttara Kanda 88.13

अस्माकमेषा सुश्रोणी प्रभुत्वे वर्तते सदा। अपतिः काननान्तेषु सहास्माभिश्चरत्यसौ॥

This fair damsel is our supreme lady. She has no husband. Journeying she has come here in the forest with us.

Uttara Kanda 88.14

तद्वाक्यमाव्यक्तपदं तासां स्त्रीणां निशम्य च। विद्यामावर्तनी पुण्यामावर्तयति स द्विजः॥

Hearing those plain words, Budha thought of the learning by which one can perceive everything.

Uttara Kanda 88.15

सोऽर्थं विदित्वा सकलं तस्य राज्ञो यथा तथा। सर्वा एव स्त्रियस्ताश्च बभाषे मुनिपुङ्गवः॥

And being informed of all inatters regarding the king Ila, thereby that foremost of sages said to the females.

Uttara Kanda 88.16

अत्र किंपुरुषीभूत्वा शैलरोधसि वत्स्यथ। आवासस्तु गिरावस्मिञ्शीघ्रमेव विधीयताम्॥

Do you all live in this mountain being Kimpurusas; do you make your respective habitations here.

Uttara Kanda 88.17

मूलपत्रफलैः सर्वा वर्तयिष्यथ नित्यदा। स्त्रियः किंपुरुषानाम भर्तृन्समुपलप्स्यथ ॥

I shall give you always fruits and roots. O you females, you shall have all Kimpuruşas as your husbands.

Uttara Kanda 88.18

ताः श्रुत्वा सोमपुत्रस्य स्त्रियः किंपुरुषीकृताः। उपासांचक्रिरे शैलं वध्वस्ता बहुलास्तदा॥

According to the words of Budha they lived in that mountains as Kimpuruşas. In this wise many Kimpurusa-Budhas were procreated.

Uttara Kanda 88.19