ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञातः सोऽप्युपाविशदासने। उपविष्टे तदा तस्मिन् साक्षाल्लोकपितामहे ॥ तद्गतेनैव मनसा वाल्मीकिानमास्थितः। पापात्मना कृतं कप्टं वैरग्रहणबुद्धिना॥ यत् तादृशं चारुरवं क्रौञ्चं हन्यादकारणात्। शोचन्नेव पुनः क्रौञ्चीमुपश्लोकमिमं जगौ।
brahmaṇā samanujñātaḥ so'pyupāviśadāsane| upaviṣṭe tadā tasmin sākṣāllokapitāmahe || tadgatenaiva manasā vālmīkiānamāsthitaḥ| pāpātmanā kṛtaṃ kapṭaṃ vairagrahaṇabuddhinā|| yat tādṛśaṃ cāruravaṃ krauñcaṃ hanyādakāraṇāt| śocanneva punaḥ krauñcīmupaślokamimaṃ jagau|
English Meaning
Having been seated in the presence of the Grand-sire of all, Vālmīki, his mind running upon the self-same subject, became plunged in thought. What a sin has been committed by the wicked-minded one, incited by hostile feeling, that he without cause slew that sweetly-singing Kraunca! And thereupon, again lamenting that female Krauñca, he, in grief of heart, mentally recited those verses.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)