स्वधर्मे रक्षिते तात शश्वत्सर्वत्र मङ्गलम् । यशस्यं सुप्रतिष्ठा च प्रतापः पूजनं परम्
When one protects one's own righteousness, O dear one, there is always auspiciousness everywhere, lasting fame, firm reputation, great glory, and supreme honor.
यतुर्दशाब्दं धर्मेण त्यक्त्वा गृहसुखं म्रमन् । वनवासं करिष्यामि सत्यस्य पालनाय ते
For ten years, I will abandon the comforts of home and dwell in the forest, upholding your truth.
कृत्वा सत्यं च शपथमिच्छयाऽनिच्छयाऽथवा । न कृर्यात्पालनं यो हि भस्मान्तं तस्य सूतकम्
Having taken a vow of truth, whether willingly or unwillingly, if one does not uphold it, his impurity lasts until he is reduced to ashes.
कुम्भीपाके स पचति यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ । ततो मूको भवेत्कुषठी मानवः सप्तजन्मसु
He cooks in the hell called Kumbhipaka as long as the moon and sun endure; then, for seven births, the man becomes mute and diseased.
इत्योवमुक्त्वा श्रीरामो विधाय कल्कलं जटाम् । प्रययौ च महारण्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च
Having thus spoken, Lord Rāma arranged his matted locks and departed into the great forest, accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.
पुत्रशोकान्महाराजास्तत्याज स्वतनुं मुने । पालनाय पितुः सत्यं रामो बभ्रामकानन
Afflicted by grief for his son, the great king abandoned his body, O sage; and Rāma, upholding his father's word, wandered in the forest.
कालान्तरे महारण्ये भगिनी रावणस्य च । भ्रमन्ती कानने घोरे भर्त्रा सार्धं सुगौतुकात्
After some time, in the great forest, Rāvaṇa’s sister, roaming with her husband in the dreadful woods, encountered them during an auspicious rite.
ददर्श रामं कुलटा कामार्ता राक्षसी तदा । पुलकाञ्चितसर्वाङ्गी सूर्च्छमाप स्मरेण च
Then that lustful demoness, overwhelmed by desire, saw Rāma; her whole body bristling with excitement, she fainted from love’s fever.
श्रीरामनिकटं गत्वा सस्मितोवाच कामुकी । शस्वधौवनसंयुक्ताऽतिप्रौढा कामदुर्मदा
Approaching Lord Rāma, the passionate woman, bold and intoxicated with desire, smiled and spoke these words, her mind fixed on union.
शूर्पणखोवाच हेराम हे धनश्याम रूपधाम सुणान्वित । मायानुरक्तां वनितां मां गृहाण सुनिर्जने
Śūrpaṇakhā said: 'O Rāma, O dark-hued treasure, embodiment of beauty, listen! Take me, a woman enchanted by your charm, here in this lonely place.'
श्रुत्वा शूर्पणखावाक्यं धर्मं संस्मृत्य धार्मिकः । उवाच सधुरें वाक्यं शावभीतश्च नारद
Hearing Śūrpaṇakhā’s words, the righteous Rāma, mindful of duty, spoke to her with gentle words, O Nārada, though inwardly alarmed.
श्रीराम उवाच अम्बमातः सभार्योऽहमभार्यं गच्छ मेऽनुजम् । दुःखं प्रियोऽन्यां प्रभजेदितरं च सुखालयम्
Śrī Rāma said: 'Lady, I am here with my wife; go to my younger brother, who is unmarried. It is sorrowful for a beloved to seek another, but another brings happiness.'
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रययौ लक्ष्मणं मुदा । ददर्श लक्षमणं शान्तं कान्तं च लक्षणान्वितम्
Hearing Rāma’s words, she joyfully went to Lakṣmaṇa and saw him, tranquil, handsome, and adorned with auspicious marks.
मां भजस्व महाभागेत्युवाच च पुनः पुनः । लक्ष्मणास्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तामुवाच कुतूहलात्
She repeatedly said, 'Accept me, O fortunate one!' Hearing her words, Lakṣmaṇa, curious, replied to her.
लक्ष्मण उवाच विहाय रामं सर्वेशं हे मूढे दासमिच्छसि । सीतादासी च मत्पत्नी सीतादासोऽहमेव च
Lakṣmaṇa said: 'Foolish woman, do you desire a servant, abandoning Rāma, the lord of all? Sītā is my mistress, my wife, and I am Sītā’s servant alone.'
भव सीतासपत्नी त्वं गच्छ रामं मदीश्वरम् । तव पुत्रो भविष्यामि सीतायाश्चयथा सति
Become Sītā’s co-wife, and go to Rāma, my lord. If you wish, I will be your son, as I am Sītā’s.'
लक्ष्मणास्य वचः श्रुत्वा कामेन हृतमानसा । उवाच लक्ष्मणं मूढा शुष्ककण्ठेष्ठतालुका
Hearing Lakṣmaṇa’s words, her mind seized by desire, the deluded woman, her throat dry and palate parched, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa.
शूर्पणखोवाच यदी त्यजसि मां मूढ कामात्स्वयमुपस्थिताम् । युवयोश्च विपत्तिश्च भविष्य ति न संशयः
Śūrpaṇakhā said: 'If you, foolish one, reject me though I have come to you out of desire, then surely misfortune will befall both of you—there is no doubt.'
ब्रह्मा च मोहिनीं त्यक्तवा विश्वेऽपूज्ये बभूव सः । रम्भाशापेन दक्षश्च छागमस्तो बभूव सः
Even Brahmā, having rejected Mohinī, became dishonored among the gods; by Rambhā’s curse, Dakṣa became a goat, indeed.
स्वर्वैद्यश्चोर्वशीशापाद्यज्ञभागविवर्जितः । रूपहीनः कुबेरश्च मेनाशापेन लक्ष्मण
By Urvaśī’s curse, the divine physician was deprived of his share in the sacrifice; and by Menā’s curse, O Lakṣmaṇa, Kubera became ugly.
कामो घृताचीशापेन बभूव भस्मसाच्छिवात् । बलिर्मदालसाशापाद्भ्रष्टराज्यो बभूव ह
By Ghṛtācī’s curse, Kāma was reduced to ashes by Śiva; by Madālasā’s curse, Bali lost his kingdom.
शापेन मिश्रकेश्याश्च हृतभार्यो बृहस्पतिः । मम शापात्तथा रामो हृतभार्यो भविष्यति
By Miśrakeśī’s curse, Bṛhaspati lost his wife; and by my curse, so too shall Rāma lose his wife.
कामातुरां यौवनस्थां भार्या स्वयमुपस्थिताम् । न त्यजेद्धर्मभीतश्च श्रुतं माध्यंदिने पुरा
A wife, overcome by desire and in the prime of youth, who approaches her husband herself, should not be rejected by one who fears dharma; this is heard from ancient times, even at midday.
इह त्यक्त्वा पिबद्ग्रस्तः परत्र नरकं व्रजेत् । श्रुत्वा शूर्पणखावाक्यमर्धयन्द्रेण लक्ष्मणः
If one abandons her here and indulges elsewhere, he will go to hell in the next world; having heard Śūrpaṇakhā's words, Lakṣmaṇa, with a half-anger, acted.
चिच्छेद नासिकां तस्याः क्षुरधारेण लीलया । तस्या भ्राता च युयुधे बलवान्खरदूषणः
He cut off her nose with a razor's edge, playfully; her brother, the powerful Khara and Dūṣaṇa, fought.
ससैन्यो लक्ष्मणास्त्रेण स जगाम यमालयम् । चतुर्दशसहस्रं च राक्षसान्खरदूषणम्
With his army, by Lakṣmaṇa's weapon, he went to the abode of Yama; fourteen thousand rākṣasas, Khara and Dūṣaṇa.
मृतान्दृष्ट्वा शूर्पणखा भर्त्सयामास रावणम् । सर्वं निवेदनं कृत्वा जगाम पुष्करं तदा
Seeing them dead, Śūrpaṇakhā reproached Rāvaṇa; after making her entire report, she then went to Puṣkara.
ब्रह्मणश्च वरं प्राप कृत्वा च दुष्करं तपः । उवाच तादृशीं दृष्ट्वा निराहारां तपस्विनीम्
She obtained a boon from Brahmā, having performed difficult austerity; seeing her thus, fasting and ascetic,
सर्वज्ञस्तन्मनो मत्वा कृपासिन्धुश्च नारद
The all-knowing, ocean of compassion, Nārada, understood her mind.
ब्रह्मोवाच अप्राप्य रामं दृष्प्रापं करोषि दुष्करं तपः । जितेन्द्रियाणां प्रवरं लक्ष्मणं धर्मलक्षणम्
Brahmā said: 'Unable to attain Rāma, who is difficult to obtain, you perform arduous austerity; Lakṣmaṇa, the foremost among those who have conquered their senses, marked by dharma.'