Chapter 42 — Uttara Kanda, Sarga 42

Valmiki Ramayana — Uttara Kanda

Verse 42.6

नन्दनं हि यथेन्द्रस्य ब्राह्मं चैत्ररथं यथा॥ तथाभूतं हि रामस्य काननं संनिवेशनम्। बह्वासनगृहोपेतां लतासनसमावृताम्॥ अशोकवनिकां स्फीतां प्रविश्य रघुनन्दनः। आसने च शुभाकारे पुष्पप्रकरभूषिते॥ कुशास्तरणसंस्तीर्णे रामः संनिषसाद ह। सीतामादाय हस्तेन मधुमैरेयकं शुचि ॥ पाययामास काकुत्स्थः शचीमिव पुरंदरः।

nandanaṃ hi yathendrasya brāhmaṃ caitrarathaṃ yathā|| tathābhūtaṃ hi rāmasya kānanaṃ saṃniveśanam| bahvāsanagṛhopetāṃ latāsanasamāvṛtām|| aśokavanikāṃ sphītāṃ praviśya raghunandanaḥ| āsane ca śubhākāre puṣpaprakarabhūṣite|| kuśāstaraṇasaṃstīrṇe rāmaḥ saṃniṣasāda ha| sītāmādāya hastena madhumaireyakaṃ śuci || pāyayāmāsa kākutsthaḥ śacīmiva puraṃdaraḥ|

English Meaning

And Rama's Asoka forest was like to Indra's Nandana and Kubera's Caitraratha made by Brahmā. Having entered the rich Asoka forestabounding in many seats and houses and creepers Rāma sat on an excellent seat, covered with a beautiful coverlet and well constructed. Like to Purandara with Sacī he took Sītā by the hand, made her sit and drink the wine distilled in the province of forest.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)