कृत्वैवमुदकं तस्मै प्रस्थितौ राघवौ तदा। अवेक्षन्तौ वने सीतां जग्मतुः पश्चिमां दिशम्॥
kṛtvaivamudakaṃ tasmai prasthitau rāghavau tadā| avekṣantau vane sītāṃ jagmatuḥ paścimāṃ diśam||
Having offered him the gift of water, those two descendants of Raghu wended their way in that forest in quest of Sītā and proceeded towards the south-west*. In this sloka west is mentioned and in the next one there is reference to their turning to the south and hence west here refers to south-west.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
तां दिशं दक्षिणां गत्वा शरचापासिधारिणौ। अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाकौ पन्थानं प्रतिपेदतुः॥
tāṃ diśaṃ dakṣiṇāṃ gatvā śaracāpāsidhāriṇau| aviprahatamaikṣvākau panthānaṃ pratipedatuḥ||
Then turning to the south, with bow and arrows in hand, they reached a track not wended by the people.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
गुल्मैर्वृक्षैश्च बहुभिलताभिश्च प्रवेष्टितम्। आवृतं सर्वतो दुर्गं गहनं घोरदर्शनम्॥
gulmairvṛkṣaiśca bahubhilatābhiśca praveṣṭitam| āvṛtaṃ sarvato durgaṃ gahanaṃ ghoradarśanam||
It was a ghastly, impenetrable forest, covered on all sides with groves, trees and creepers,
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
व्यतिक्रम्य तु वेगेन गृहीत्वा दक्षिणां दिशम्। सुभीमं तन्महारण्यं व्यतियातौ महाबलौ॥
vyatikramya tu vegena gṛhītvā dakṣiṇāṃ diśam| subhīmaṃ tanmahāraṇyaṃ vyatiyātau mahābalau||
Proceeding by the southerly direction, those two mighty ones, passed hastily by that terrible, dreary forest.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
ततः परं जनस्थानात् त्रिकोशं गम्य राघवौ। क्रौञ्चारण्यं विविशतुर्गहनं तौ महौजसौ॥
tataḥ paraṃ janasthānāt trikośaṃ gamya rāghavau| krauñcāraṇyaṃ viviśaturgahanaṃ tau mahaujasau||
Thereupon, the highly effulgent descendants of Raghu entered the dense forest of Krauñca, situated at a distance of six miles from Janasthāna.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
नानामेघघनप्रख्यं प्रहृष्टमिव सर्वतः। नानावणैः शुभैः पुष्पैर्मृगपक्षिगणैर्युतम्॥
nānāmeghaghanaprakhyaṃ prahṛṣṭamiva sarvataḥ| nānāvaṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ puṣpairmṛgapakṣigaṇairyutam||
It was a dense forest like to a collection of clouds, as if smiling on all sides blooming with charming flowers of diverse hues and frequented by various animals and birds.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
दिदृक्षमाणौ वैदेही तद् वनं तौ विचिन्वतुः। तत्र तत्रावतिष्ठन्तौ सीताहरणदुःखितौ॥
didṛkṣamāṇau vaidehī tad vanaṃ tau vicinvatuḥ| tatra tatrāvatiṣṭhantau sītāharaṇaduḥkhitau||
Waiting for sometime here and there they, exercised with Sītā's ravishment, explored the entire forest in quest of Vaidehi.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
ततः पूर्वेण तो गत्वा त्रिकोशं भ्रातरौ तदा। क्रौञ्चारण्यमतिकम्य मतङ्गाश्रममन्तरे॥
tataḥ pūrveṇa to gatvā trikośaṃ bhrātarau tadā| krauñcāraṇyamatikamya mataṅgāśramamantare||
Proceeding three Kośas towards the East and passing by the forest of Krauñca the two brothers descried on their way the asylum of Matanga.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
दृष्ट्वा तु तद् वनं घोरं बहुभीममृगद्विजम्। नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं सर्वं गहनपादपम्॥ ददृशाते गिरौ तत्र दरी दशरथात्मजौ। पातालसमगम्भीरां तमसा नित्यसंवृताम्॥
dṛṣṭvā tu tad vanaṃ ghoraṃ bahubhīmamṛgadvijam| nānāvṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ sarvaṃ gahanapādapam|| dadṛśāte girau tatra darī daśarathātmajau| pātālasamagambhīrāṃ tamasā nityasaṃvṛtām||
Having seen that dreary forest frequented by various animals and birds and covered with diverse trees and dense groves, the two sons of Dasaratha beheld a cave in the mountain deep as the region under the earth and ever enveloped with darkness.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
आसाद्य च नरव्याघ्रौ दर्यास्तस्याविदूरतः। ददर्शतुर्महारूपां राक्षसी विकृताननाम्॥ भयदामल्पसत्वानां बीभत्सां रौद्रदर्शनाम्। लम्बोदरी तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां कराली परुषत्वचम्॥ भक्षयन्ती मृगान् भीमान् विकटां मुक्तमूर्धजाम्। अवैक्षतां तु तौ तत्र भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥
āsādya ca naravyāghrau daryāstasyāvidūrataḥ| dadarśaturmahārūpāṃ rākṣasī vikṛtānanām|| bhayadāmalpasatvānāṃ bībhatsāṃ raudradarśanām| lambodarī tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāṃ karālī paruṣatvacam|| bhakṣayantī mṛgān bhīmān vikaṭāṃ muktamūrdhajām| avaikṣatāṃ tu tau tatra bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau||
Arriving there they espied hard by a grimvisaged Rākşasī, having a formidable figure, ever causing fright to persons of feeble courage, loathsome terrible-looking, having a huge belly, sharpened teeth, a high person and rough skin, devouring voracious animals and looking fearful with dishevelled hair.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
सा समासाद्य तौ वीरौ व्रजन्तं भ्रातुरग्रतः। एहि रस्यावहेत्युक्त्वा समालम्भत लक्ष्मणम्॥
sā samāsādya tau vīrau vrajantaṃ bhrāturagrataḥ| ehi rasyāvahetyuktvā samālambhata lakṣmaṇam||
Beholding there the two brothers, Rāma and Laksmana, she neared the heroes and saying, 'come, we shall sport' assailed Laksmana who had been going before his brother.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
उवाच चैनं वचनं सौमित्रिमुपगुह्य च। अहं त्वयोमुखी नाम लाभस्ते त्वमसि प्रियः॥
uvāca cainaṃ vacanaṃ saumitrimupaguhya ca| ahaṃ tvayomukhī nāma lābhaste tvamasi priyaḥ||
And embracing him she spoke to Saumitrī the following words:-My name is Ayomukhi; it is a great gain to you that you have becoine my beloved one, O my lord.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
नाथ पर्वतदुर्गेषु नदीनां पुलिनेषु च। आयुश्चिरमिदं वीर त्वं मया सह रंस्यसे॥
nātha parvatadurgeṣu nadīnāṃ pulineṣu ca| āyuściramidaṃ vīra tvaṃ mayā saha raṃsyase||
Do you sport with me, for ever, O hero, in these mountainous strongholds and on the banks of the rivers.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
एवमुक्तस्तु कुपितः खङ्गमुद्धृत्य लक्ष्मणः। कर्णनासस्तनं तस्या निचकर्तारिसूदनः॥
evamuktastu kupitaḥ khaṅgamuddhṛtya lakṣmaṇaḥ| karṇanāsastanaṃ tasyā nicakartārisūdanaḥ||
Thereat, exercised with ire, Laksmana, the subduer of foes, uplifting his dagger, chopped off her nose, ears and breast.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
कर्णनासे निकृत्ते तु विस्वरं विननाद सा। यथागतं प्रदुद्राव राक्षसी घोरदर्शना ॥
karṇanāse nikṛtte tu visvaraṃ vinanāda sā| yathāgataṃ pradudrāva rākṣasī ghoradarśanā ||
Having her nose and ears cut off, that terriblelooking Räkşasi, emitting fearful cries, fled away whence she had come.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
तस्यां गतायां गहनं व्रजन्तौ वनमोजसा। आसेदतुरमित्रघ्नौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥
tasyāṃ gatāyāṃ gahanaṃ vrajantau vanamojasā| āsedaturamitraghnau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau||
On her departure, proceeding quickly, the two brothers, Rāma and Lakşmaņa, the conquerors of foes, reached a dense forest.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
लक्ष्मणस्तु महातेजाः सत्त्ववाञ्छीलवाञ्छुचिः। अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं भ्रातरं दीप्तेजसम्॥
lakṣmaṇastu mahātejāḥ sattvavāñchīlavāñchuciḥ| abravīt prāñjalirvākyaṃ bhrātaraṃ dīptejasam||
There upon the highly effulgent and truthful Laksmana, possessing a pure character, spoke, with folded hands, to his brother of flaming energy.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
स्पन्दते मे दृढं बाहुरुद्विग्नमिव मे मनः। प्रायशश्चाप्यनिष्टानि निमित्तान्युपलक्षये॥ तस्मात् सज्जीभवार्य त्वं कुरुष्व वचनं मम। ममैव हि निमित्तानि सद्यः शंसन्ति सम्भ्रमम्॥
spandate me dṛḍhaṃ bāhurudvignamiva me manaḥ| prāyaśaścāpyaniṣṭāni nimittānyupalakṣaye|| tasmāt sajjībhavārya tvaṃ kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama| mamaiva hi nimittāni sadyaḥ śaṃsanti sambhramam||
My left arm is throbbing, my mind is filled with anxiety and I perceive before me many a bad omen. Do you put on your habiliments, O worshipful one, and act by what I say for your well-being. Methinks from these bad omens some calamity shall soon befall us.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
एष वञ्जलको नाम पक्षी परमदारुणः। आवयोर्विजयं युद्धे शंसन्निव विनर्दति ॥
eṣa vañjalako nāma pakṣī paramadāruṇaḥ| āvayorvijayaṃ yuddhe śaṃsanniva vinardati ||
O Rāma, this terrible bird Vanjulaka is emitting fearful cries as if announcing our victory in the conflict.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
तयोरन्वेषतोरेवं सर्वं तद्वनमोजसा। संजज्ञे विपुलः शब्दः प्रभञ्जन्निव तद्वनम्॥
tayoranveṣatorevaṃ sarvaṃ tadvanamojasā| saṃjajñe vipulaḥ śabdaḥ prabhañjanniva tadvanam||
Thereupon while they began to explore the entire forest with their prowess there arose a terrible sound as if breaking down the wood.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
संवेष्टितमिवात्यर्थं गहनं मातरिश्वना। वनस्य तस्य शब्दोऽभूद् वनमापूरयन्निव॥
saṃveṣṭitamivātyarthaṃ gahanaṃ mātariśvanā| vanasya tasya śabdo'bhūd vanamāpūrayanniva||
The forest was enveloped on all sides with a mighty wind and everywhere was audible a roar filling the wood-land.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
तं शब्दं काश्माणस्तु रामः खङ्गी सहानुजः। ददर्श सुमहाकायं राक्षसं विपुलोरसम्॥
taṃ śabdaṃ kāśmāṇastu rāmaḥ khaṅgī sahānujaḥ| dadarśa sumahākāyaṃ rākṣasaṃ vipulorasam||
With a view to ascertain whence the sound proceeded, Rāma, with a dagger in hand, along with his younger brother, espied a Rākşasha of huge proportions, having big thighs.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
आसेदतुश्च तद्रक्षस्तावुभौ प्रमुखे स्थितम्। विवृद्धमशिरोग्रीवं कवन्धमुदरेमुखम् ॥
āsedatuśca tadrakṣastāvubhau pramukhe sthitam| vivṛddhamaśirogrīvaṃ kavandhamudaremukham ||
The two brothers beheld that Rākşasa stationed before them, having a huge body, devoid of head and neck and therefore a headless demon and having its mouth on its belly.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
रोमभिर्निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्महागिरिमिवोच्छ्रितम्। नीलमेघनिभं रौद्रं मेघस्तनितनि:स्वनम्॥
romabhirniśitaistīkṣṇairmahāgirimivocchritam| nīlameghanibhaṃ raudraṃ meghastanitani:svanam||
Its body resembled a huge mountain and was covered with sharpened down; its look was terrible like to sable cloud and its roar resembled the muttering where of.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
अग्निज्वालानिकाशेन ललाटस्थेन दीप्यता। महापक्ष्मेण पिङ्गेन विपुलेनायतेन च॥ एकेनोरसि घोरेण नयनेन सुदर्शिना। महादंष्ट्रोपपन्नं तं लेलिहानं महामुखम्॥
agnijvālānikāśena lalāṭasthena dīpyatā| mahāpakṣmeṇa piṅgena vipulenāyatena ca|| ekenorasi ghoreṇa nayanena sudarśinā| mahādaṃṣṭropapannaṃ taṃ lelihānaṃ mahāmukham||
Its one terrible, expansive eye, seeing all, was on the fore-head placed on its breast and shone forth like to the flaming fire and it had huge yellow eye-lashes. Its mouth was greatly widened and covered with rows of huge teeth and it was again and again licking that terrible mouth.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
भक्षयन्तं महाघोरानृक्षसिंहमृगद्विजान्। घोरौ भुजौ विकुर्वाणमुभौ योजनमायतौ॥ कराभ्यां विविधान् गृह्य ऋक्षान् पक्षिगणान् मृगान्। आकर्षन्तं विकर्षन्तमनेकान् मृगयूथपान्॥
bhakṣayantaṃ mahāghorānṛkṣasiṃhamṛgadvijān| ghorau bhujau vikurvāṇamubhau yojanamāyatau|| karābhyāṃ vividhān gṛhya ṛkṣān pakṣigaṇān mṛgān| ākarṣantaṃ vikarṣantamanekān mṛgayūthapān||
And stretching forth its two huge arms extending over a Yojana it was devouring bears, lions and deer. It was catching and throwing with its huge hands many an animal, bird and bear.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
स्थितमावृत्य पन्थानं तयोभ्रांत्रोः प्रपन्नयोः। अथ तं समतिक्रम्य क्रोशमात्रं ददर्शतुः॥ महान्तं दारुणं भीमं कबन्धं भुजसंवृतम्। कबन्धमिव संस्थानादतिघोरप्रदर्शनम् ॥
sthitamāvṛtya panthānaṃ tayobhrāṃtroḥ prapannayoḥ| atha taṃ samatikramya krośamātraṃ dadarśatuḥ|| mahāntaṃ dāruṇaṃ bhīmaṃ kabandhaṃ bhujasaṃvṛtam| kabandhamiva saṃsthānādatighorapradarśanam ||
Hindering the way-fare it was awaiting those two brothers. And proceeding a Krosa, they espied that fearful, grim-visaged, headless demon, hindering all creatures with its arms, terrible-looking and appearing like a kabandha from its very situation,
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
स महाबाहुरत्यर्थं प्रसार्य विपुलौ भुजौ। जग्राह सहितावेव राघवो पीडयन् बलात्॥
sa mahābāhuratyarthaṃ prasārya vipulau bhujau| jagrāha sahitāveva rāghavo pīḍayan balāt||
Thereupon that one, of huge arms, stretching them forth, got hold of those two descendants of Raghu crushing them with its strength.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
खङ्गिनौ दृढधन्वानौ तिग्मतेजो महाभुजौ। भ्रातरौ विवशं प्राप्तौ कृष्यमाणौ महाबलौ॥
khaṅginau dṛḍhadhanvānau tigmatejo mahābhujau| bhrātarau vivaśaṃ prāptau kṛṣyamāṇau mahābalau||
Those two highly powerful brothers, of mighty arms, with daggers and bows in their hands, were assailed and got hold of by that Raksasha.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
तत्र धैर्याच्च शूरस्तु राघवो नैव विव्यथे। बाल्पादनाश्रयाच्चैव लक्ष्मणस्त्वभिविव्यथे॥
tatra dhairyācca śūrastu rāghavo naiva vivyathe| bālpādanāśrayāccaiva lakṣmaṇastvabhivivyathe||
Rāma was heroic and patient by nature and consequently was not much afflicted; but Laks maņa was a mere boy and impatient by nature and was consequently greatly afflicted.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
उवाच च विषण्णः सन् राघवं राघवानुजः। पश्य मां विवशं वीर राक्षसस्य वशंगतम्॥ मयैकेन तु निर्युक्तः परिमुच्यस्व राघव। मां हि भूतबलिं दत्वा पलायस्व यथासुखम्॥
uvāca ca viṣaṇṇaḥ san rāghavaṃ rāghavānujaḥ| paśya māṃ vivaśaṃ vīra rākṣasasya vaśaṃgatam|| mayaikena tu niryuktaḥ parimucyasva rāghava| māṃ hi bhūtabaliṃ datvā palāyasva yathāsukham||
Being greatly distressed, the younger brother of Răghava spoke to him, saying Do you behold me, O hero, brought under the hold of this Raks asha, and renouncing me only, O Rāghava, do you get yourself cff. And offering me as sacrifice, do you escape at your ease.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
अधिगन्तासि वैदेहीमचिरेणेति मे मतिः। प्रतिलभ्य च काकुत्स्थ पितृपैतामहीं महीम्॥ तत्र मां राम राज्यस्थः स्मर्तुमर्हसि सर्वदा।
adhigantāsi vaidehīmacireṇeti me matiḥ| pratilabhya ca kākutstha pitṛpaitāmahīṃ mahīm|| tatra māṃ rāma rājyasthaḥ smartumarhasi sarvadā|
Methinks for certain, O Kākutstha, you shall soon come by Vaidehi and regain your ancestral kingdom. But remember me always, O Rāma, when you shall find yourself placed on the throne.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु रामः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्॥ मा स्म त्रासं वृथा वीर नहि त्वादृग् विषीदति।
lakṣmaṇenaivamuktastu rāmaḥ saumitrimabravīt|| mā sma trāsaṃ vṛthā vīra nahi tvādṛg viṣīdati|
Being thus addressed by Lakşmaņa, Rāma spoke to Saumitrī—Fear not in vain, O hero; persons of your prowess are never afflicted (with fear).
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रूरो भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।॥ तावुवाच महाबाहुः कबन्धो दानवोत्तमः।
etasminnantare krūro bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau||| tāvuvāca mahābāhuḥ kabandho dānavottamaḥ|
Meanwhile the wicked headless, demon, of huge arms, the foremost of Dānavas, addressed the two brothers Rāma and Lakşmaņa.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
कौ युवां वृषभस्कन्धौ महाखङ्गधनुर्धरौ॥ घोरं देशमिमं प्राप्तौ दैवेन मम चाक्षुषो। वदतं कार्यमिह वां किमर्थं जागतौ युवाम्॥ इमं देशमनुप्राप्तौ दुर्लभं जीवितं हि वाम्।
kau yuvāṃ vṛṣabhaskandhau mahākhaṅgadhanurdharau|| ghoraṃ deśamimaṃ prāptau daivena mama cākṣuṣo| vadataṃ kāryamiha vāṃ kimarthaṃ jāgatau yuvām|| imaṃ deśamanuprāptau durlabhaṃ jīvitaṃ hi vām|
Who are you two youthful figures having the neck of a bull and with mighty daggers and bows in your hands? Arriving in this fearful place you have by chance come within the compass of my vision. Tell me now what have you to do here, and what for have you come? I have been waiting here being hungry, and you have come here having daggers and bows with arrows in your hands like to two oxen having sharpened horns. Nearing me quickly, it will be hard for you to draw your vital breath.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा कबन्धस्य दुरात्मनः॥ उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो मुखेन परिशुष्यता। कृच्छात् कृच्छ्रतरं प्राप्य वारुणं सत्यविक्रम ॥ व्यसनं जीवितान्ताय प्राप्तमप्राप्य तां प्रियाम्।
tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā kabandhasya durātmanaḥ|| uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmo mukhena pariśuṣyatā| kṛcchāt kṛcchrataraṃ prāpya vāruṇaṃ satyavikrama || vyasanaṃ jīvitāntāya prāptamaprāpya tāṃ priyām|
Hearing those words of the vicious-souled Kabandha, Rāma having his countenance dried up, bespoke Laksmana-O you, having truth for your prowess, again and again, greater and worse calamities have been threatening us. We have already met with a dire disaster leading to our death, consequent on my separation from my dear one.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
कालस्य सुमहद् वीर्यं सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मण ॥ त्वां च मां च नरव्याघ्र व्यसनैः पश्य मोहितौ। नहि भारोऽस्ति दैवस्य सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मण ॥
kālasya sumahad vīryaṃ sarvabhūteṣu lakṣmaṇa || tvāṃ ca māṃ ca naravyāghra vyasanaiḥ paśya mohitau| nahi bhāro'sti daivasya sarvabhūteṣu lakṣmaṇa ||
Mighty is the course of Destiny in all creatures, O Lakşmaņa. Do you O best of men, behold even yourself and me stricken with calamity. But O Lakşmaņa it is not very difficult for destiny to afflict all creatures.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
शूराश्च बलवन्तश्च कृतास्त्राश्च रणाजिरे। कालाभिपन्नाश्च सीदन्ति यथा वालुकसेतवः॥
śūrāśca balavantaśca kṛtāstrāśca raṇājire| kālābhipannāśca sīdanti yathā vālukasetavaḥ||
Under the influence of destiny even the mighty heroes, well habited in armours are distressed like to a bridge of sands.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
इति ब्रुवाणो दृढसत्यविक्रमो महायशा दाशरथिः प्रतापवान्। अवेक्ष्य सौमित्रिमुदग्रविक्रमः स्थिरां तदा स्वां मतिमात्मनाऽकरोत्॥
iti bruvāṇo dṛḍhasatyavikramo mahāyaśā dāśarathiḥ pratāpavān| avekṣya saumitrimudagravikramaḥ sthirāṃ tadā svāṃ matimātmanā'karot||
Addressing these words to Saumitrī, the resolute, powerful and highly famous son of Dasaratha, having truth for his prowess, composed himself by dint of his own understanding.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)
