tvam you, mām to me, yat abhibhāṣasē you are instructing, ētat all this, āryāyāḥ for a noble lady like you, āścaryam wonder, na not, nāryā for a woman, patiḥ husband, guruḥ the revered one, yathā as, ētat all this, mamāpi to me, viditaṅ tu also known.

yaḥ such a man, guṇaślāghyaḥ is worthy of applause for his virtues, sānukrōśa: compassionate, jitēndriyaḥ subdued his senses, sthirānurāgaḥ ever affectionate, dharmātmā righteous man, mātṛvat
like a mother, pitṛvat like a father, priyaḥ is dear, kiṅ punaḥ where is the need to say.

nṛpavatsalaḥ affectionate towards king Dasaratha, dharmavit one who is conversant with righteousness, vīraḥ heroic Rama, nṛpēṇa by king, sakṛt only once, dṛṣṭāsu seen, striṣvapi in any woman, mānam pride, utsṛjya setting aside, mātṛvat like a mother, vartatē abides.

purā formerly, pāṇipradānakālē ca at the time of bestowal of my hand to Rama, agni sannidhau in the presence of sacrificial marriage fire, jananyā by my mother, yat vākyam that word, anuśiṣṭā āsmi I have been taught, tadapi that also, mē to me, dhṛtam hold

patiśuśrūṣām service to her husband, kṛtvā having rendered, sāvitrī Savitri, svargē in heaven, mahīyatē is honoured, tathāvṛtti: having followed the same path, tvaṅ ca you also, patiśuśrūṣayā through serving your husband, divam to heaven, yātā shall go.

ēvaṅvidhāḥ such women, pravarāḥ excellent, bhartṛdṛḍhavratāḥ firm in their vows to their husbands, striyaḥ women, puṇyēna by merit, svēna by their own, karmaṇā deeds, dēvalōkē in the world of the gods, mahīyantē are highly revered.

śucivratē O woman of pure conduct, sītē O Sita!, vividhaiḥ by various, niyamaiḥ by austerities, āptam obtained, mahat great, tapaḥ ascetic power, mē to me, asti hi is there to my credit, tat balam that ascetic power, saṅśritya having resorted to, tvām you, chandayē I shall cause your enjoyment.

sītā Sita, tasyāḥ her, tadvacanam those words, śutvā having heard, vismitā was surprised, mandavismayā with a gentle smile, tapōbalasamanvitām endowed with ascetic power, kṛtamiti has been done, abravīt said.

vaidēhi O princess of Videha, sītē Sita, divyam divine, varam best, idaṅ mālyam this garland, vastram raiment, ābharaṇāni ca jewellery, aṅgarāgaṅ ca fragrant unguents, mahārham precious, anulēpanaṅ ca ointment for anointing the body, mayā by me, dattam is bestowed, idam all this, tava to your, gātrāṇi limbs, śōbhayēt will beautify, nityam always, anurūpam convenient,
asaṅkliṣṭam bhaviṣyati will never impair.

sā maithilī that princess from Mithila, vastram raiment, aṅgarāgaṅ ca fragrant unguent, bhūṣaṇāni jewellery, tathā and, srajaḥ garlands, anuttamam incomparable, prītidānam gifts of love, pratijagrāha accepted.

dṛḍhavratā firm in her vows, anasūyā Anasuya, tathā in that way, upāsīnām sitting, sītām Sita,
kāṅcit certain, priyakathāmanu relating to a dear tale (that was close to her heart), praṣṭum to ask, vacanam these words, ārēbhē commenced.

maithili! O daughter of the king of Mithila, tām that story, vistarēṇa in detail, śrōtum to hear, icchāmi I wish, tat that one, tvam you, yathā.nubhūtam as you experienced, kātsnyēna entirely, vaktum arhasi you should tell me.

mithilādhipatiḥ king of Mithila, vīraḥ a warrior, dharmavit one conversant wtih righteousness, janakō nāma by name Janaka, kṣatradharmē in the duties of kshatriya, abhirataḥ engaged, nyāyataḥ rightly, mēdinīm this earth, śāsti was ruling.

muṣṭivikṣēpatatparaḥ eager to sow fistfuls of seeds, narapatiḥ king, saḥ janakaḥ that Janaka, pāṅsukuṇṭhitasarvāṅgīṅ with my body covered with dust, mām me, dṛṣṭvā having seen, vismitaḥ abhavat was astonished.

narapatē! O king, ētat this, ēvam in this way, apratimā incomparable, amānuṣī not a human being, tava to you, dharmēṇa by right, tanayā daughter, antarikṣē from out of the sky, vāk word, uktā was uttered.

puṇyakarmaṇā by a man of meritorious acts, jyēṣṭhāyai to the chief, dēvyaiḥ queen, iṣṭavat as the choicest one, dattā asmi I was given, snigdhayā by a lady endowed with affection, tayā by her, mātṛsauhṛdāt with the love of a mother, sambhāvitā asmi I was nourished.

bhuvi on earth, śakrēṇa with Indra, samō.pi though equal, kanyāpitā the father of an unmarried girl, sadṛśāḥ equal, apakṛṣṭāt by an inferior, janāt from men, lōkē in this world, pradharṣaṇām humiliation, avāpnōti will receive.

mahīpālaḥ the ruler of earth, mām me, ayōnijām not born from the womb, jñātvā having known, mama for me, sadṛśam equal, anurūpaṅ ca suitable, patim husband, vicintayan thinking over, nādhyagacchat did not find.

tadā then, mahāyajñē at a great sacrifice, tasya to him, mahātmanā by the magnanimous, varuṇēna
by Varuna, prītyā with affection, dhanurvaram an excellent bow, dattam was given, akṣayasāyakau with two inexhaustible arrows, tūṇī ca and two quivers.

satyavādinā by a truthful man, mē pitrā by my father, pūrvam previously, pārthivān kings, āmantya having invited, narēndrāṇām of kings, samavāyē in the assembly, tat dhanuḥ that bow, prāpya having
acquired, vyāhṛtam addressed them.

nṛpāḥ the kings, gauravāt due to heavy weight, girisannibham resembling a mountain, tat dhanuḥ śrēṣṭham that mighty bow, dṛṣṭvā beholding, tasya its, tōlanē in lifting, aśaktāḥ were unable, abhivādya paying obeisance, jagmuḥ went away.

dharmātmā the righteous man, viśvāmitrastu as for Viswamitra, mama pitrā by my father, supūjitaḥ well-honoured, tatra there, bhrātarau brothers, rāmalakṣmaṇau to Rama and Lakshmana, pitaram to
my father, prōvāca uttered.

tēna viprēṇa by that ascetic, iti thus, uktaḥ uttered, tatō then, dhanuḥ bow, upānayat brought,
mahābalaḥ mighty one, vīryavān valiant man, nimēṣāntaramātrēṇa in the twinkling of an eye, tat that one, ānamya having bent, jhaḍiti instantly, jyām the string, samārōpya pulling it, pūrayāmāsa drew it.

tataḥ then, tatra there, satyābhisandhinā by one steadfast in truth, pitrā by my father, uttamam pure, jalabhājanam water-vessel, udyamya having raised, aham I, rāmāya to Rama , dātum to give, niścitā decided.

tataḥ then, mama pitrā by my father, śvaśuram father-in-law, vṛddham aged, daśarathaṅ nṛpam king
Dasaratha, āmantrya having invited, aham I, viditātmana: of a man who is known for his sagacity, rāmāya to Rama, dattā I was given.