Introduction
Rama arrives at the auspicious Pampa Lake according to the suggestion of Kabandha. On seeing that pious environ of that lake Rama has a breather and he expects some good to happen now. On further beholding the ladylike Pampa Lake, his thoughts move to Seetha, and he is again dispirited. However, on overcoming that short spell of his anguish, he proceeds with Lakshmana to the nearby of the lake.
दिवम् तु तस्याम् यातायाम् शबर्याम् स्वेन तेजसा |
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा चिन्तयामास राघवः || ३-७५-१
lakShmaNena saha bhraatraa cintayaamaasa raaghavaH || 3-75-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.1
While Shabari ascended to heaven with her own divine self-resplendence, Raghava who is with Lakshmana started to cogitate over the magnificence of Matanga disciples. [3-75-1]
चिंतयित्वा तु धर्मात्मा प्रभावम् तम् महात्मनाम् |
हित कारिणम् एक अग्रम् लक्ष्मणम् राघवो अब्रवीत् || ३-७५-२
hita kaariNam eka agram lakShmaNam raaghavo abraviit || 3-75-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.2
That noble-souled Raghava on thinking about the efficacy of the disciples of Matanga, said to Lakshmana, who is the maintainer of Rama’s well being, and who is thinking single-mindedly. [3-75-2]
Rama’s thinking is that ‘I happened to see a lady of unswerving loyalty to her teachers, by which adoration alone she is going to her desired worlds, and seeing such pious people will definitely yield good results from now on… hence some good shall betide us for we could have a glimpse of pious place and person puNya sthala, puNya purusa, puNya aatma sandarshana…’ and Lakshmana thinking is ‘this lady has served her teachers with such a devotion by which she is going to the heavens she desired, where placements in heavens will usually be determined by their relative merits… am I serving my brother, teacher, god, and the like… namely Rama, to have an iota of Shabari’s merit… or, all the problems to Rama have chanced by my neglect of my duty…’
दृष्टो मया आश्रमः सौम्य बहु आश्चर्यः कृत आत्मनाम् |
विश्वस्त मृग शार्दूलो नाना विहग सेवितः || ३-७५-३
vishvasta mR^iga shaarduulo naanaa vihaga sevitaH || 3-75-3
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.3
“I have seen a highly astounding hermitage of self-controlled sages, oh, gentle Lakshmana, in which the deer and tigers are at home, and which is adored by divers birds… [3-75-3]
सप्तानाम् च समुद्राणाम् तेषाम् तीर्थेषु लक्ष्मण |
उपस्पृष्टम् च विधिवत् पितरः च अपि तर्पिताः || ३-७५-४
upaspR^iShTam ca vidhivat pitaraH ca api tarpitaaH || 3-75-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.4
“Oh, Lakshmana, holy is our taking a bath in this holy Pampa Lake, for it is formed by the waters of seven seas, and even holier is our oblation of this holy waters to manes… [3-75-4]
प्रणष्टम् अशुभम् यत् नः कल्याणम् समुपस्थितम् |
तेन तु एतत् प्रहृष्टम् मे मनो लक्ष्मण संप्रति || ३-७५-५
हृदये हि नर व्याघ्र शुभम् आविर्भविष्यति |
tena tu etat prahR^iShTam me mano lakShmaNa saMprati || 3-75-5
hR^idaye hi nara vyaaghra shubham aavir.hbhaviShyati |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.5,6a
“What that was unpropitious for us is completely abated by our holy bath and holy oblations, oh, Lakshmana, propitiousness is standing en face us, thereby presently this heart of mine is highly gladdening… oh, lion-like man, indeed, heart alone hatches hope… [3-75-5, 6a]
तत् आगच्छ गमिष्यावः पंपाम् ताम् प्रिय दर्शनाम् || ३-७५-६
ऋष्यमूको गिरिः यत्र न अति दूरे प्रकाशते |
यस्मिन् वसति धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवो अंशुमतः सुतः || ३-७५-७
नित्यम् वालि भयात् त्रस्तः चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः |
R^iShyamuuko giriH yatra na ati duure prakaashate |
yasmin vasati dharmaatmaa sugriivo aMshumataH sutaH || 3-75-7
nityam vaali bhayaat trastaH caturbhiH saha vaanaraiH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.6b,7,8a
“Thereby, where Mt. Rishyamuka is beaming forth at its nearby, on which that right minded son of the Sun, Sugreeva, is living along with four other vanara-s, always frightened by the fear from Vali, we will go to her, to that spectacular Lake Pampa, come on, Lakshmana… [3-75-6b, 7, 8a]
अहम् त्वरे च तम् द्रष्टुम् सुग्रीवम् वानरर्षभम् || ३-७५-८
तत् अधीनम् हि मे कार्यम् सीतायाः परिमार्गणम् |
tat adhiinam hi me kaaryam siitaayaaH parimaargaNam |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.8b,9a
“I am also hasty to see that best one among vanara-s, Sugreeva, for my enterprise called search for Seetha is under his aegis, isn’t it… [3-75-8b, 9a]
इति ब्रुवाणम् तम् वीरम् सौमित्रिः इदम् अब्रवीत् || ३-७५-९
गच्छावः त्वरितम् तत्र मम अपि त्वरते मनः |
gacchhaavaH tvaritam tatra mama api tvarate manaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.9b,3.75.10a
To that brave Rama who is speaking thus, Soumitri said this, ” my heart too is hastening me, let us go there promptly…” [3-75-9b, 10a]
आश्रमात् तु ततः तस्मात् निष्क्रम्य स विशाम् पतिः || ३-७५-१०
आजगाम ततः पंपाम् लक्ष्मणेन सहप्रभुः |
aajagaama tataH paMpaam lakShmaNena sahaprabhuH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.10b,11a
Then that Lord of People and Lord of Nature on exiting from that hermitage, he then came nigh of Lake Pampa along with Lakshmana. [3-75-10b, 11a]
समीक्षमाणः पुष्प आढ्यम् सर्वतो विपुल द्रुमम् || ३-७५-११
कोयष्टिभिः च अर्जुनकैः शत पत्रैः च कीरकैः |
एतैः च अन्यैः च बहुभिः नादितम् तत् वनम् महत् || ३-७५-१२
स रामो विविधान् वृक्षान् सरांसि विविधानि च |
पश्यन् काम अभिसंतप्तो जगाम परमम् ह्रदम् || ३-७५-१३
koyaShTibhiH ca arjunakaiH shata patraiH ca kiirakaiH |
etaiH ca anyaiH ca bahubhiH naaditam tat vanam mahat || 3-75-12
sa raamo vividhaan vR^ikShaan saraaMsi vividhaani ca |
pashyan kaama abhisaMtapto jagaama paramam hradam || 3-75-13
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.11b,12,13
Rama on scrutinising that rosy woodland in which everywhere there are outsized and diverse trees that are thickset with flowers, and different lakes loaded with the trilling birds like plovers, peacocks, waterfowls and suchlike, with which that woodland itself is trilling in much ado, became impassioned as he is instantly rendered thus by Love-god, and thus that Rama went towards that lovely Lake Pampa. [3-75-11b, 12, 13]
Vividly: The pronoun saH is continuously repeated word denoting ‘such as he is…’ when used as opening word in first foot, as used in next verse, until the first verse of next canto. This expression, ‘such as he is’ is to take us back to the olden days when Seetha was found missing and to remind us about his problems from then on. So the above verse is to be said like this: ‘Rama who is so far accustomed to see only blood, wraiths, revenants, and souls is fed up and – such as he is, – he has seen a picturesque lake with a backdrop of pristine nature, and with the background music of trilling birds and rustling waters, then his innate need for visualising Seetha sprang up and he rushed towards lovely Lake of Pampa presuming her to be Lady Seetha…’ but we usually take liberty to cut off other words and retain ‘he’ for pain of retyping.
स ताम् आसाद्य वै रामो दूरात् पानीय वाहिनीम् |
मतंग सरसम् नाम ह्रदम् समवगाहत || ३-७५-१४
mata.nga sarasam naama hradam samavagaahata || 3-75-14
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.14
Rama spotted Pampa Lake from a distance which is plethoric with water, but entered into a lake called Matanga Lake on his way to Pampa… [3-75-14]
From here the real confusion about the arrangement of verses occurs, which is ascribed to the wrong copying of copyists. No two versions agree on the placement of verses and some from the next canto Kishkindha are also brought in here. With the result parsing of verses also goes wrong. Yet, this goes on.
तत्र जग्मतुः अव्यग्रौ राघवौ हि समाहितौ |
स तु शोक समाविष्टो रामो दशरथात्मजः || ३-७५-१५
sa tu shoka samaaviShTo raamo dasharathaatmajaH || 3-75-15
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.15
Though both Raghava-s came there composedly and dispassionately, but Rama, the son of Dasharatha, is ensorcelled by anguish on seeing a ladylike lake Pampa. [3-75-15]
विवेश नलिनीम् रम्याम् पंकजैः च समावृताम् |
तिलकाशोकपुंनागबकुलोद्दालकाशिनीम् – यद्वा –
तिलक अशोक पुन्नाग बकुल उद्दाल काशिनीम् || ३-७५-१६
tilakaashokapuMnaagabakuloddaalakaashiniim – yadvaa –
tilaka ashoka punnaaga bakula uddaala kaashiniim || 3-75-16
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.16
Rama entered the area of that beautiful lake which is beaming forth with lotuses hemming in from inside, and trees like Tilaka, Ashoka, Punnaga, Bakula, Uddala, are hemming it from outside. [3-75-16]
रम्य उपवन संबाधाम् पद्म संपीडित उदकाम् |
स्फटिक उपम तोय आढ्याम् श्लक्ष्ण वालुक संतताम् || ३-७५-१७
sphaTika upama toya aaDhyaam shlakShNa vaaluka saMtataam || 3-75-17
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.17
That lake is huddled with delightful fringe lands and lotuses squeeze it from within, and its water is plethoric and crystalline, and its sand is softish all over. [3-75-17]
मत्स्य कच्छप संबाधाम् तीरस्थ द्रुम शोभिताम् |
सखीभिः इव संयुक्ताम् लताभिः अनुवेष्टिताम् || ३-७५-१८
sakhiibhiH iva saMyuktaam lataabhiH anuveShTitaam || 3-75-18
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.18
That lake is beautified with packs of fishes and tortoises, and packs of trees on its banks, on which climber plants are wraparound like the ladyloves of those trees. [3-75-18]
किंनरोरगगन्धर्वयक्षराक्षससेविताम् -यद्वा – |
किन्नर उरग गन्धर्व यक्ष राक्षस सेविताम् |
नाना द्रुम लता आकीर्णाम् शीत वारि निधिम् शुभाम् || ३-७५-१९
kinnara uraga gandharva yakSha raakShasa sevitaam |
naanaa druma lataa aakiirNaam shiita vaari nidhim shubhaam || 3-75-19
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.19
And that is adored by the beings like sylvan, reptilian, celestial, georgic, and elfish beings, and it is overcrowded with trees and tendrils, and it is a trove for fairish and clodish water. [3-75-19]
पद्म सौगन्धिकैः ताम्राम् शुक्लाम् कुमुद मण्डलैः |
नीलाम् कुवलय उद् घाटैः बहु वर्णाम् कुथाम् इव || ३-७५-२०
अरविन्द उत्पलवतीम् पद्म सौगन्धिक आयुताम् |
पुष्पित आम्र वणोपेताम् बर्हिण उद् घुष्ट नादिताम् || ३-७५-२१
niilaam kuvalaya ud ghaaTaiH bahu varNaam kuthaam iva || 3-75-20
aravinda utpalavatiim padma saugandhika aayutaam |
puShpita aamra vaNopetaam barhiNa ud ghuShTa naaditaam || 3-75-21
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.20,21
The lotuses of the lake are rich in their fragrance, and with the heaps of clusters of reddish, whitish, and blackish lotuses, and with such pinkish, whitish, and reddish lotuses the sheet of water is like a picturesquely painted canvas and it is surrounded by the orchards of flowered mango trees and sounded much by the screams of peacocks. [3-75-20, 21]
Two words used in the verses here udghaaTa a heap of things, which now became ‘a public speech or lecture’ and the other kuthaa detailed as above are said to be rare Sanskrit words in the book: ‘Apart from kutha the verse quoted above contains one more word which unlike kutha is not noticed by Monier Williams in the sense in which it is used in Ramayana. This word is udghaaTa. It means a heap samuuha. This meaning of the word is very rare…’ according to the book – Ramayana – A Linguistic Study, by Pt. Satya Vrata.
स ताम् दृष्ट्वा ततः पंपाम् रामः सौमित्रिणा सह |
विललाप च तेजस्वी कामात् दशरथात्मजः || ३-७५-२२
vilalaapa ca tejasvii kaamaat dasharathaatmajaH || 3-75-22
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.22
Then Rama along with Lakshmana on seeing at that Pampa Lake, that self-refulgent son of Dasharatha whimpered over, owing to his passionate recollection of Seetha. [3-75-22]
तिलकैः बीज पूरैः च वटैः शुक्ल द्रुमैः तथा |
पुष्पितैः करवीरैः च पुन्नागैः च सु पुष्पितैः || ३-७५-२३
मालती कुंद गुल्मैः च भण्डीरैः निचुलैः तथा |
अशोकैः सप्त पर्णैः च केतकैः अतिमुक्तकैः || ३-७५-२४
अन्यैः च विविधैः वृक्षैः प्रमदा इव उपशोभिताम् |
puShpitaiH karaviiraiH ca punnaagaiH ca su puShpitaiH || 3-75-23
maalatii ku.nda gulmaiH ca bhaNDiiraiH niculaiH tathaa |
ashokaiH sapta parNaiH ca ketakaiH atimuktakaiH || 3-75-24
anyaiH ca vividhaiH vR^ikShaiH pramadaa iva upashobhitaam |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.23,24,25a
That Pampa Lake is wraparound with the trees of Tilaka, Citron-fruits, Banyan, White-trees, likewise flowered are flowery trees like Red oleanders, Punnaaga, shrubs of Maalati and Kunda, likewise flowered are the trees of Madder, Nicula, Ashoka, and Seven-leaved banana plants, and plants of Mogra and climbers of Maadhavii Lata are also flowered, and with them she that Ladylike Pampa shone forth like a pulchritudinous lady. [3-75-23, 24]
From now until the end of first chapter of Kishkindha with a hundred couplets, we will be entering into the beauty of the nature. Poetics require romantic exaltation of nature, as usual, varNana aatmakam kavitvam. Rama as Mr. Green extols it with his own tongue. The commentators are very much enthused by this verbal picturing of Valmiki and they have rendered more complex and beautiful compounds for the same verses. Why commentators, Mahaakavi Kaalidas is tempted to rewrite Ramayana, but he refrained to do so, because he cannot possibly tell Ramayana in such a simple language of Valmiki. Hence, Kalidas gave it up and embarked on to write another master piece Raghu Vamsham, tradition says so. Let us touch Dharmaakuutam, which has many such complexly constructed compounds in Ch. 1 of Kishkindha, and one is brought here for this lady called Lake Pampa, for the reading pleasure our readers.
tadanataram ramaNiiyagandhaphalikaakalikaam nikaayanikaamaabhiraamam tribhuvanavijayodyata kusumasharaasanaTa~Nkaarasa~NkaavahamadakalakaNThanikvaaNam adabhramadhusambhramdbhramarajha~Nkaaraa la~NkR^itamanjulama~njariipunjapi~njaritadi~NmaNDalavikasitakusumasamudayavilaasahaasamanoharaabhir lalanaabhi iva lataabhiH
of which lalanaa iva ‘a beautiful lady like…’ is our concern.
अस्याः तीरे तु पूर्व उक्तः पर्वतो धातु मण्डितः || ३-७५-२५
ऋश्यमूक इति ख्यातः चित्र पुष्पित पादपः |
R^ishyamuuka iti khyaataH citra puShpita paadapaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.25b,26a
The aforesaid mountain renowned as Rishyamuka which is abounding with colourful ores and amazingly flowered trees is there on the bank of Pampa Lake. [3-75-25b, 26a]
हरेः ऋक्षरजो नाम्नः पुत्रः तस्य महात्मनः || ३-७५-२६
अध्यास्ते तु महावीर्यः सुग्रीव इति विश्रुतः |
adhyaaste tu mahaaviiryaH sugriiva iti vishrutaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.26b,27a
A noble soul by his name Risharaja was there and that monkey’s son is the highly valiant Sugreeva, thus he is renowned, and he presides over that mountain. [3-75-26b, 27b]
सुग्रीवम् अभिगच्छ त्वम् वानरेन्द्रम् नरर्षभ || ३-७५-२७
इति उवाच पुनः वाक्यम् लक्ष्मणम् सत्य विक्रमम् |
कथम् मया विना सीताम् शक्यम् लक्ष्मण जीवितुम् || ३-७५-२८
iti uvaaca punaH vaakyam lakShmaNam satya vikramam |
katham mayaa vinaa siitaam shakyam lakshmaNa jiivitum || 3-75-28
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.27b,28
That best one among men Rama, said this way, “oh, Lakshmana, you make a headway for that chief of monkeys, Sugreeva…” and further said this to Lakshmana whose valiance is truthfulness alone, “how can I possibly live without Seetha…” [3-75-27b, 28]
There is a filler foot in the above verses raajya bhraSTen diinena tasyaam aakskta cetasaa ‘lorn of my kingdom, lorn is my heart to her, and a lorn one I am… how can then I possibly live…’ In view of mishmashed editing of verses even the critical edition has no perfect order of verses, leave alone ancient copies.
इति एवम् उक्त्वा मदन अभिपीडितः
स लक्ष्मणम् वाक्यम् अनन्य चेतनः |
विवेश पंपाम् नलिनी मनो रमाम्
तम् उत्तमम् शोकम् उदीरयाणः || ३-७५-२९
sa lakshmaNam vaakyam ananya cetanaH |
vivesha paMpaam nalinii mano ramaam
tam uttamam shokam udiirayaaNaH || 3-75-29
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.29
Such as he is whose thinking is applying itself to Seetha alone, and who is vocalising his anguish for her, to whom aa stymie is laid by the Love-god just at the appearance that lake, that Rama on saying that sentence in that way to Lakshmana neared that superb and heart delighting lotus Lake Pampa. [3-75-29]
क्रमेण गत्वा प्रविलोकयन् वनम्
ददर्श पंपाम् शुभ दर्श काननाम् |
अनेक नाना विध पक्षि संकुलाम्
विवेश रामः सह लक्ष्मणेन || ३-७५-३०
dadarsha paMpaam shubha darsha kaananaam |
aneka naanaa vidha pakShi sa.nkulaam
vivesha raamaH saha lakshmaNena || 3-75-30
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.75.30
On going step by step, and on going on seeing ardently and intently at that forest which has picturesque visuals of forestry, and which is with hurly-burly birds, not one, but numerous and divers are they, and then Rama along with Lakshmana on entering the area of that lake, has seen that Lake Pampa. [3-75-30]
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