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Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda · Chapter 57

Aranya Kanda, Sarga 57

अरण्यकाण्डः सर्गः 57

38 verses

राक्षसं मृगरूपेण चरन्तं कामरूपिणम्। निहत्य रामो मारीचं तूर्णं पथि न्यवर्तत॥

rākṣasaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa carantaṃ kāmarūpiṇam| nihatya rāmo mārīcaṃ tūrṇaṃ pathi nyavartata||

Killing the Rākṣasa, Mārīca assuming shapes at will and ranging in the shape of a deer, Rāma vended speedily his way.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

तस्य संत्वरमाणस्य द्रष्टुकामस्य मैथिलीम्। क्रूरस्वनोऽथ गोमायुर्विननादास्य पृष्ठतः॥

tasya saṃtvaramāṇasya draṣṭukāmasya maithilīm| krūrasvano'tha gomāyurvinanādāsya pṛṣṭhataḥ||

And as he hurried himself, eager to behold Maithilī, jackals began to howl hideously at his back.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

स तस्य स्वरमाज्ञाय दारुणं रोमहर्षणम्। चिन्तयामास गोमायोः स्वरेण परिशङ्कितः॥

sa tasya svaramājñāya dāruṇaṃ romaharṣaṇam| cintayāmāsa gomāyoḥ svareṇa pariśaṅkitaḥ||

Hearing their harsh cries, capable of making one's hair stand on end, Rāma struck with fear at the voices of the jackals, became filled with alarm.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अशुभं वत मन्येऽहं गोमायुर्वाशते यथा। स्वस्ति स्यादपि वैदेह्या राक्षसैर्भक्षणं विना ॥

aśubhaṃ vata manye'haṃ gomāyurvāśate yathā| svasti syādapi vaidehyā rākṣasairbhakṣaṇaṃ vinā ||

Ah! I consider this as inauspicious—that these jackals are crying. Escaping being devoured by the Raksasas, may fair fortune befall Vaidehi!

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

मारीचेन तु विज्ञाय स्वरमालक्ष्य मामकम्। विक्रुष्टं मृगरूपेण लक्ष्मणः शृणुयाद् यदि॥ स सौमित्रिः स्वरं श्रुत्वा तां च हित्वाथ मैथिलीम्। तयैव प्रहितः क्षिप्रं मत्सकाशमिहैष्यति॥

mārīcena tu vijñāya svaramālakṣya māmakam| vikruṣṭaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ śṛṇuyād yadi|| sa saumitriḥ svaraṃ śrutvā tāṃ ca hitvātha maithilīm| tayaiva prahitaḥ kṣipraṃ matsakāśamihaiṣyati||

If Laksmana should have heard the cries which Mārica, knowing my voice, and fixing on the means of harming me, uttered in the form of a deer, Saumitrī, hearing that voice, leaving Mithila's daughter and commissioned by herself, must have come near me.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

राक्षसैः सहितैनूनं सीताया ईप्सितो वधः। काञ्चनश्च मृगो भूत्वा व्यपनीयाश्रमात् तु माम्॥ दूरं नीत्वाथ मारीचो राक्षसोऽभूच्छराहतः। हा लक्ष्मण हतोऽस्मीति यद्वाक्यं व्याजहार ह॥

rākṣasaiḥ sahitainūnaṃ sītāyā īpsito vadhaḥ| kāñcanaśca mṛgo bhūtvā vyapanīyāśramāt tu mām|| dūraṃ nītvātha mārīco rākṣaso'bhūccharāhataḥ| hā lakṣmaṇa hato'smīti yadvākyaṃ vyājahāra ha||

Surely, the Rākṣasas in a body are desirous of slaying Sitä. Becoming a golden deer, Mārica, having allured me far, transformed himself into a Rākşasa, as soon as he had been struck with my shafts; and exclaimed, 'Ah! Laksmana, slain am I.'

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अपि स्वस्ति भवेद् द्वाभ्यां रहिताभ्यां मया वने। जनस्थाननिमित्तं हि कृतवैरोऽस्मि राक्षसैः॥

api svasti bhaved dvābhyāṃ rahitābhyāṃ mayā vane| janasthānanimittaṃ hi kṛtavairo'smi rākṣasaiḥ||

It is doubtless, we having left (Sītā, whether all is well with her. I having raised the hostility of the Räksasas for the sake of Janasthāna;

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

निमित्तानि च घोराणि दृश्यन्तेऽद्य बहूनि च। इत्येवं चिन्तयन् रामः श्रुत्वा गोमायुनिःस्वनम् ॥ निवर्तमानस्त्वरितो जगामाश्रममात्मवान्।

nimittāni ca ghorāṇi dṛśyante'dya bahūni ca| ityevaṃ cintayan rāmaḥ śrutvā gomāyuniḥsvanam || nivartamānastvarito jagāmāśramamātmavān|

And many and dreadful are the omens I see (around me). Thus reflecting as he heard the howlings of the jackals, the self-possessed Rāma with hasty steps returned to the asylum.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

आत्मनश्चापनयनं मृगरूपेण रक्षसा॥ आजगाम जनस्थानं राघवः परिशङ्कितः।

ātmanaścāpanayanaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa rakṣasā|| ājagāma janasthānaṃ rāghavaḥ pariśaṅkitaḥ|

Rāghava went back to Janasthāna, alarmed in consequence of his having been drawn away by the Raksasa in the form of a dear.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

तं दीनमानसं दीनमासेदुर्मृगपक्षिणः॥ सव्यं कृत्वा महात्मानं घोरांश्च ससृजुः स्वरान्।

taṃ dīnamānasaṃ dīnamāsedurmṛgapakṣiṇaḥ|| savyaṃ kṛtvā mahātmānaṃ ghorāṃśca sasṛjuḥ svarān|

And birds and beasts approached that highsouled one distressed and depressed in spirit; and staying on his left set up frightful cries.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

तानि दृष्ट्वा निमित्तानि महाघोरणि राघवः॥ ततो लक्ष्मणमायान्तं ददर्श विगतप्रभम्। ततो विदूरे रामेण समीयाय स लक्ष्मणः॥

tāni dṛṣṭvā nimittāni mahāghoraṇi rāghavaḥ|| tato lakṣmaṇamāyāntaṃ dadarśa vigataprabham| tato vidūre rāmeṇa samīyāya sa lakṣmaṇaḥ||

As he was witnessing the exceedingly dreadful signs, Rāghava saw Lakşmaņa coming with a lacklustre (countenance); and Lakşmaņa came up to Rāma.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

विषण्णः सन् विषण्णेन दुःखितो दुःखभागिना । स जगहेऽथ तं भ्राता दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमागतम्॥ विहाय सीतां विजने वने राक्षससेविते।

viṣaṇṇaḥ san viṣaṇṇena duḥkhito duḥkhabhāginā | sa jagahe'tha taṃ bhrātā dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇamāgatam|| vihāya sītāṃ vijane vane rākṣasasevite|

And depressed in spirit, he was rendered still more sad by that one who, afflicted with depression shared his sorrow. And, seeing that (Laksmana) bad come, leaving Sita in that solitary wood frequented by Rākşasas, his brother fell to reprimanding him.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

गृहीत्वा च करं सव्यं लक्ष्मणं रघुनन्दनः॥ उवाच मधुरोदर्कमिदं परुषमार्तवत्।

gṛhītvā ca karaṃ savyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ raghunandanaḥ|| uvāca madhurodarkamidaṃ paruṣamārtavat|

And taking Lakşmaņa's left hand, the son of Raghu in extreme distress sweetly spoke these rough words,

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अहो लक्ष्मण गौँ ते कृतं यत् त्वं विहाय ताम्॥ सीतामिहागतः सौम्य कच्चित् स्वस्ति भवेदिति।

aho lakṣmaṇa gau~ te kṛtaṃ yat tvaṃ vihāya tām|| sītāmihāgataḥ saumya kaccit svasti bhavediti|

Alas! Laksmana, you have committed a censurable.,act; leaving Sita, O mild one, you have come hither. Is it well with her?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

न मेऽस्ति संशयो वीर सर्वथा जनकात्मजा ॥ विनष्टा भक्षिता वापि राक्षसैर्वनचारिभिः।

na me'sti saṃśayo vīra sarvathā janakātmajā || vinaṣṭā bhakṣitā vāpi rākṣasairvanacāribhiḥ|

I make no doubt, O hero, but that Janaka's daughter has either been slain or devoured by Rākṣasas ranging the forest.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अशुभान्येव भूयिष्ठं यथा प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे॥ अपि लक्ष्मण सीतायाः सामग्र्यं प्राप्नुयामहे। जीवन्त्याः पुरुषव्याघ्र सुताया जनकस्य वै॥

aśubhānyeva bhūyiṣṭhaṃ yathā prādurbhavanti me|| api lakṣmaṇa sītāyāḥ sāmagryaṃ prāpnuyāmahe| jīvantyāḥ puruṣavyāghra sutāyā janakasya vai||

And, considering the many omens that take place before me, O Laksmana, I do not know whether we shall light upon welfare of Janaka's daughter Sita being alive, O best of men.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

यथा वै मृगसंघाश्च गोमायुश्चैव भैरवम्। वाशन्ते शकुनाश्चापि प्रदीप्तामभितो दिशम्। अपि स्वस्ति भवेत् तस्या राजपुत्र्या महाबल॥

yathā vai mṛgasaṃghāśca gomāyuścaiva bhairavam| vāśante śakunāścāpi pradīptāmabhito diśam| api svasti bhavet tasyā rājaputryā mahābala||

As these multitudes of beasts and these jackals are crying frightfully in the flaming direction*, I do not know, O you of mighty strength, whether it is well with that daughter of the king. i.e. The quarter presided over by the sun, vic., the East.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

इदं हि रक्षो मृगसंनिकाशं प्रलोभ्य मां दूरमनुप्रयातम्। हतं कथंचिन्महता श्रमेण स राक्षसोऽभून्द्रियमाण एव॥

idaṃ hi rakṣo mṛgasaṃnikāśaṃ pralobhya māṃ dūramanuprayātam| hataṃ kathaṃcinmahatā śrameṇa sa rākṣaso'bhūndriyamāṇa eva||

This Rākşasa, who, wearing the shape of a deer, and, alluring me, had drawn me far, has in some sort been slain by me wiih much ado; and he became a Rāksasa at the time of his death.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

मनश्च मे दीनमिहाप्रहृष्टं चक्षुश्च सव्यं कुरुते विकारम्। असंशयं लक्ष्मण नास्ति सीता हृता मृता वा पथि वर्तते वा॥

manaśca me dīnamihāprahṛṣṭaṃ cakṣuśca savyaṃ kurute vikāram| asaṃśayaṃ lakṣmaṇa nāsti sītā hṛtā mṛtā vā pathi vartate vā||

Yet my mind is poor and cheerless; and my left eye throbs. Doubtless, O Laksmana, Sita is not, she is either carried away, or dead, or is wandering on the way. SECITION 58

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

स दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं दीनं शून्यं दशरथात्मजः। पर्यपृच्छत धर्मात्मा वैदहीमागतं विना॥

sa dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇaṃ dīnaṃ śūnyaṃ daśarathātmajaḥ| paryapṛcchata dharmātmā vaidahīmāgataṃ vinā||

Seeing Lakşmana cast down, cheerless, and come without Vaidehī, the righteous son of Dasaratha, asked him.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

प्रस्थितं दण्डकारण्यं या मामनुजगाम ह। क्व सा लक्ष्मण वैदेही यां हित्वा त्वमिहागतः॥

prasthitaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ yā māmanujagāma ha| kva sā lakṣmaṇa vaidehī yāṃ hitvā tvamihāgataḥ||

Where, O Laksmana is that Vaidehi, who has followed me to the Dandaka forest, and leaving whom you have come hither?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

राज्यभ्रष्टस्य दीनस्य दण्डकान् परिधावतः। क्व सा दुःखसहाया मे वैदेही तनुमध्यमा॥

rājyabhraṣṭasya dīnasya daṇḍakān paridhāvataḥ| kva sā duḥkhasahāyā me vaidehī tanumadhyamā||

Where is that one of a slender waist, who is the help in trouble of me, deprived of my kingdom, dispirited, and running about the Dandakas?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

यां विना नोत्सहे वीर मुहूर्तमपि जीवितुम्। क्व सा प्राणसहाया मे सीता सुरसुतोपमा॥

yāṃ vinā notsahe vīra muhūrtamapi jīvitum| kva sā prāṇasahāyā me sītā surasutopamā||

Without whom, O hero, I cannot live for a moment-where is that life's help of me Sītā resembling the daughter of a celestial?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

पतित्वममराणां हि पृथिव्याश्चापि लक्ष्मण । विना तां तपनीयाभा नेच्छेयं जनकात्मजाम्॥

patitvamamarāṇāṃ hi pṛthivyāścāpi lakṣmaṇa | vinā tāṃ tapanīyābhā neccheyaṃ janakātmajām||

O Laksmana, without Janaka's daughter (hued) like burning gold, I covet not the sovereignty of the celestials or the earth.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

कच्चिज्जीवति वैदेही प्राणैः प्रियतरा मम। कच्चित् प्रव्राजनं वीर न मे मिथ्या भविष्यति॥

kaccijjīvati vaidehī prāṇaiḥ priyatarā mama| kaccit pravrājanaṃ vīra na me mithyā bhaviṣyati||

Is Vaidehī, dearer to me than my life still living? Shall this exile of mine be of no avail?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

सीतानिमित्तं सौमित्रे मृते मयि गते त्वयि। कच्चित् सकामा कैकेयी सुखिता सा भविष्यति॥ सपुत्रराज्यां सिद्धार्थां मृतपुत्रा तपस्विनी। उपस्थास्यति कौसल्या कच्चित्सौम्येन कैकयीम्॥

sītānimittaṃ saumitre mṛte mayi gate tvayi| kaccit sakāmā kaikeyī sukhitā sā bhaviṣyati|| saputrarājyāṃ siddhārthāṃ mṛtaputrā tapasvinī| upasthāsyati kausalyā kaccitsaumyena kaikayīm||

O Sumitrā's son, on my dying for Sītā and your returning (to the city). shall Kaikeyi have her desire, and attain felicity; and shall Kausalyā, her son dead, and herself wearing the guise of a female mendicant, humbly wait upon Kaikeyi when she shall have succeeded in obtaining the kingdom for her son?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

यदि जीवति वैदेही गमिष्याम्याश्रमं पुनः। संवृत्ता यदि वृत्ता सा प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि लक्ष्मण ॥

yadi jīvati vaidehī gamiṣyāmyāśramaṃ punaḥ| saṃvṛttā yadi vṛttā sā prāṇāṃstyakṣyāmi lakṣmaṇa ||

If Vaidehī live, I will then return to the asylum; but O Lakşmaņa, if that one of excellent character should happen to be dead, I will also renounce my life.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

यदि मामाश्रमगतं वैदेही नाभिभाषते। पुरः प्रहसिता सीता विनशिष्यामि लक्ष्मण ॥

yadi māmāśramagataṃ vaidehī nābhibhāṣate| puraḥ prahasitā sītā vinaśiṣyāmi lakṣmaṇa ||

If, O Laksmana, Vaidehi ever precluding her speech with a smile should not speak to me when I arrive at the asylum, I shall give up my life.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

ब्रूहि लक्ष्मण वैदेही यदि जीवति वा न वा। त्वयि प्रमत्ते रक्षोभिर्भक्षिता वा तपस्विनी॥

brūhi lakṣmaṇa vaidehī yadi jīvati vā na vā| tvayi pramatte rakṣobhirbhakṣitā vā tapasvinī||

tell me, O Laksmana, whether Do you Videha's daughter live or not; or whether, in consequence of your acting heedlessly, that forlorn wench has been devoured by Raksasas.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

सुकुमारी च बाला च नित्यं चादुः :खभागिनी। मद्वियोगेन वैदेही व्यक्तं शोचति दुर्मनाः॥

sukumārī ca bālā ca nityaṃ cāduḥ :khabhāginī| madviyogena vaidehī vyaktaṃ śocati durmanāḥ||

Of a tender frame, and a mere girl, Vaidehi, never having experienced unhappiness being cast down, surely weep for my separation.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

सर्वथा रक्षसा तेन जिह्येन सुदुरात्मना। वदता लक्ष्मणेत्युच्चस्तवापि जनितं भयम्॥

sarvathā rakṣasā tena jihyena sudurātmanā| vadatā lakṣmaṇetyuccastavāpi janitaṃ bhayam||

When that exceedingly wicked Rākşasa cried, Lakşmaņa at the top of his voice, was you also seized with fear?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

श्रुतश्च मन्ये वैदेह्या स स्वरः सदृशो मम। त्रस्तया प्रेषितस्त्वं च द्रष्टुं मां शीघ्रमागतः॥

śrutaśca manye vaidehyā sa svaraḥ sadṛśo mama| trastayā preṣitastvaṃ ca draṣṭuṃ māṃ śīghramāgataḥ||

And I apprehend that voice resembling mine was heard by Vaidehī; and, despatched by her from fear, you may have come hither swiftly to see* me. Some texts-to rescue me.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

सर्वथा तु कृतं कष्टं सीतामुत्सृजता वने। प्रतिकर्तुं नृशंसानां रक्षसां दत्तमन्तरम्॥

sarvathā tu kṛtaṃ kaṣṭaṃ sītāmutsṛjatā vane| pratikartuṃ nṛśaṃsānāṃ rakṣasāṃ dattamantaram||

You have every way acted unwisely in having left Şītā alone in the wood. By this you have afforded opportunity to the cruel Rākşasas to repair the mischief (I have done them).

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

दुःखिताः खरघातेन राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः। तैः सीता निहता घोरैर्भविष्यति न संशयः॥

duḥkhitāḥ kharaghātena rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ| taiḥ sītā nihatā ghorairbhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ||

The Rākşasas subsisting flesh are aggrieved because of Khara having been slain; and now, without doubt, those terrible ones have slain Sita.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अहोऽस्मि व्यसने मग्नः सर्वथा रिपुनाशन। किं त्विदानीं करिष्यामि शङ्के प्राप्तव्यमीदृशम्॥

aho'smi vyasane magnaḥ sarvathā ripunāśana| kiṃ tvidānīṃ kariṣyāmi śaṅke prāptavyamīdṛśam||

Alas! absolutely sunk am I in peril, O destroyer of foes. What shall I do now? I fear such an event was appointed for me.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

इति सीतां वरारोहां चिन्तयन्नेव राघवः। आजगाम जनस्थानं त्वरया सहलक्ष्मणः॥

iti sītāṃ varārohāṃ cintayanneva rāghavaḥ| ājagāma janasthānaṃ tvarayā sahalakṣmaṇaḥ||

Thus thinking of Sītā, paragon among women, Rāghava hastily went to Janasthāna in company with Laksmana. on

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

विगर्हमाणोऽनुजमार्तरूपं क्षुधाश्रमेणैव पिपासया च। विनिःश्वसशुष्कमुखो विषण्णः प्रतिश्रयं प्राप्य समीक्ष्य शून्यम्॥

vigarhamāṇo'nujamārtarūpaṃ kṣudhāśrameṇaiva pipāsayā ca| viniḥśvasaśuṣkamukho viṣaṇṇaḥ pratiśrayaṃ prāpya samīkṣya śūnyam||

Taking to task his younger brother of distressed visage, Rāma, afflicted with hunger and thirst, and dejected in spirits, sighing heavily with a countenance turned pale, entered the asylum and found it vacant.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

स्वमाश्रमं स प्रविगाह्य वीरो विहारदेशाननुसृत्य कांश्चित्। एतत्तदित्येव निवासभूमौ प्रहृष्टरोमा व्यथितो बभूव ॥

svamāśramaṃ sa pravigāhya vīro vihāradeśānanusṛtya kāṃścit| etattadityeva nivāsabhūmau prahṛṣṭaromā vyathito babhūva ||

And entering his own asylum that hero went to the play-grounds (of Sītā) and remembering the sporting ground (of Sītā) in that abode, he was filled with grief and his down stood on end.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)