Having sent away the golden Pushpaka, the highly powerful Rāma entered
the Asoka forest beautified by sandal, Aguru, Mangoe, dark sandal and
Debadaru trees, and covered with Champaka, Aguru, Nāga, Kesara, Madhuka,
Panasa, Sarja, Pārijāta, resembling smokeless fire, Sodhra, Neepa,
Arjuna, Nāga, Saptaparna, Muktaka, Mandāra, Kadalee and various
creepers, abounding in Priyanga, Kadamba, Vakula, Jambu, pomegranate,
and Kadali trees, containing various flowers, picturesque, having many
fruits, fragrant, decorated with new leaves and adorned with various
other trees. There were many a tree, having profuse foliage and flowers
and covered with maddened black bees as if constructed by architects.
The forest-land was variegated and beautified by cuckoos, the ornaments
of mangoe trees, black-bees and various birds of various colours.
Amongst the trees beautifying the forest some were gold-hued, some were
radiant as the flame of fire and some were like red collyrium. There
were various flowers, spreading fragrance and making garlands. And there
were various ponds filled with pure water. The stairs of those ponds
were made of corals and the ground was of crystal. And they were all
filled with lotuses and lilies. They were beautified with Chakrabakas
and the banks were graced with variegated trees and flowers. And the
forest was encompassed by stone walls and in the inside were dwelling
many a Sārdula bird resembling _Vaiduryas_. All the trees in the forest
were filled with flowers. And the rocks there, covered with flowers
falling down from trees, appeared like welkin beautified with stars. And
Rāma’s Asoka forest was like unto Indra’s Nandana and Kuvera’s
Chitraratha made by Brahmā. Having entered the rich Asoka forest
abounding in many seats and houses and creepers Rāma sat on an excellent
seat, covered with a beautiful coverlet and well constructed. Like unto
Purandara with Sachi he took Sitā by the hand, made her sit and drink
the wine distilled in the province of Mira. And in no time the servants
brought for him well-cooked meat and various fruits. Being inebriete the
beautiful Apsarās, well-skilled in the art of singing and dancing, began
to dance before Rāma in the company of Kinnaris. The virtuous-souled
Rāma, the foremost of those who know how to please, satisfied those
beautiful damsels adorned with various ornaments. And Sitā sitting by
him, he appeared like the effulgent Vasishtha in the company of
Arundhati. Being greatly delighted the celestial-like Rāma pleased every
day Sitā resembling a celestial damsel. Sitā and Rāghava thus spent
their days happily. And thus was spent the delightful winter giving all
enjoyments. Enjoying various things the high-souled Rāma and Sitā spent
ten thousand years. Once on a time, having performed all the religious
ceremonies, in the fore part of the day, Rāma, to spend the evening,
entered the inner apartment. Sitā, too, having performed all religious
ceremonies, at first attended to the service of her mothers-in-law.
Thereupon wearing a beautifully coloured cloth and being adorned with
various ornaments Sitā appeared before Rāma like unto Sachi approaching
the king of celestials in heaven. And beholding the auspicious signs of
pregnancy in his spouse Rāma attained to excessive delight. Thereupon he
said to the beautiful Sitā resembling a celestial damsel:—"O
Vaidehi—signs of pregnancy are manifest in thee. What desires of thine
can we satisfy?" Smiling a little the daughter of Janaka said:—"O
Rāghava, I wish to behold the holy hermitages. I wish to salute the
greatly effulgent Rishis living on fruits and roots and residing on the
banks of the Ganges. I greatly desire, O Rāma, that I may spend even one
night in the hermitage of the Rishis living on fruits and roots."
Whereto replied Rāma of unwearied actions, saying "So be it. Believe me,
O Vaidehi, that thou shalt undoubtedly go there to-morrow." Having thus
addressed Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, Rāma, the descendant of
Kākutstha, then issued out of the inner apartment and entered the middle
one filled with his friends.