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.'
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादीनामीश्वरं प्रकृतेः परम् । जन्मान्तरे च भर्तारं प्राप्स्यसि त्वं वरानने
The lord of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others, transcending nature; in another birth, O beautiful-faced one, you will obtain him as your husband.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा ब्रह्म च जगाम स्वालयं मुदा । देहं तत्याज सा वह्नो सा च कुब्जा बभूव ह
Thus speaking, Brahmā joyfully went to his own abode; she abandoned her body in fire and became Kubjā.
अथ शूर्पणखा वाक्यात्कोपात्कम्पितविग्रहः । जहार मायया सीतां मायावी राक्षसेश्वरः
Then, because of Śūrpaṇakhā's words, trembling with anger, the lord of the rākṣasas, skilled in illusion, abducted Sītā by magic.
सीतां न दृष्ट्वा रामश्च मूर्च्छां प्राप चिरं मुने । चेतनां कारयामास भ्राता चऽऽध्यात्मिकेन च
Not seeing Sītā, Rāma fell into a long swoon, O sage; his brother revived him with spiritual means.
ततो बभ्राम गहनं शैलं च कंदरं नदम् । अहर्निशं च शोकार्तो मुनीनामाश्रमं मुने
Then he wandered through forest, mountain, cave, and river, day and night, afflicted by grief, to the hermitages of sages, O sage.
चिरमन्वेषणं कृत्वा न दृष्ट्वा जानकीं विभुः । चकार मित्रतां रामः सुग्रीवेण स्वयं प्रभुः
After searching for a long time and not seeing Jānakī, the lord Rāma himself made friendship with Sugrīva.
निहत्य वालिनं बाणैर्ददौ राज्यं च लीलया । सुग्रीवाय च मित्राय स्वीकारपालनाय वै
Having slain Vāli with arrows, he easily gave the kingdom to Sugrīva, his friend, for acceptance and protection.
दूतान्प्रस्थापयामास सर्वत्र वानरेश्वाः । तस्थौ सुग्रीवभवने श्रीरामश्च सलक्ष्मणः
He sent messengers everywhere among the chiefs of the monkeys; Śrī Rāma, with Lakṣmaṇa, remained in Sugrīva's house.
हनूमते वरं दत्तवा रम्यं रत्नाङ्गुलीयकम् । सीतायै शुभसंदेशं प्राणधारणकारणम्
He gave Hanumān a boon, a beautiful jeweled ring; a auspicious message for Sītā, for the purpose of sustaining her life.
तं च प्रस्थापयामास दक्षिणां दिशमुत्तमाम् । सुप्रीत्याऽऽलिङ्गनं दत्त्वा पादरेणून्सुदुर्लभान्
He sent him to the excellent southern direction; with great affection, he embraced him and gave him the dust of his feet, which is very rare.