दूरं वै राघवं दृष्ट्वा वने मायाविना किल । त्यक्त्वा त्वां नाधिगच्छामि पदमेकं शुचिस्मिते
'Even seeing Rama far away in the forest, deceived by the magician, I will not abandon you, O pure-smiling one, nor take a single step.'
कृरु धैर्यं न मन्येऽद्य रामं हन्तुं क्षमं क्षिप्तौ । नाहं त्यक्त्वा गमिष्यामि विलंघ्य रामभाषितम्
'I do not consider it proper courage today to rush to kill Rama. I will not go, leaving you, nor violate Rama’s command.'
व्यास उवाच रुदती सुदती प्राह ते तदा विधिनोदिता । अक्रूरा वचनं क्रूरं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्
Vyāsa said: Then Sudatī, weeping, spoke to him as prescribed by custom, though her words were harsh, and Lakṣmaṇa, whose marks were auspicious, was not cruel.
अहं जानामि सौमित्रे सानुरागं च मां प्रति । प्रेरितं भरतेनैव मदर्थमिह सङ्गतम्
I know, O son of Sumitrā, that you have come here with affection for me, sent by Bharata for my sake.
नाहं तथाविधा नारी स्वैरिणी कुहकाधम । मृते रामे पतिं त्वां न कर्तुमिच्छामि कामतः
I am not such a woman—unchaste or deceitful and base; if Rāma dies, I do not wish, out of desire, to take you as my husband.
नागमिष्यति चेद्रामो जीवितं सन्त्यजाम्यहम् । विना तेन न जीवामि विधुरा दुःखिता भृशम्
If Rāma does not return, I will give up my life; without him, I cannot live, being utterly forlorn and deeply afflicted.
गच्छ वा तिष्ठ सौमित्रे न जानेऽहं तवेप्सितम् । क्व गतं तेऽद्य सौहार्दं ज्येष्ठे धर्मरते किल
Go or stay, O son of Sumitrā, I do not know what you desire; where has your affection gone today for your elder brother, who is devoted to righteousness?
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या लक्ष्मणो दीनमानसः । प्रोवाच रुद्धकण्ठस्तु तां तदा जनकात्मजाम्
Hearing her words, Lakṣmaṇa, his mind dejected, then spoke to Janaka’s daughter, his throat choked with emotion.
किमात्थ क्षितिजे वाक्यं मयि क्रूरतरं किल । किं वदस्यत्यनिष्टं ते भावि जाने धिया ह्यहम्
Why do you speak such harsh words to me, as if I were an enemy? What misfortune do you foresee for yourself, that you speak so?
इत्युक्त्वा निर्ययौ वीरस्तां त्यक्त्वा प्ररुदन्भृशम् । अग्रजस्य ययौ पश्यञ्छोकार्तः पृथिवीपते
Having said this, the hero departed, leaving her behind, weeping bitterly; afflicted with grief, he went to see his elder brother, O king.
गतेऽथ लक्ष्मणे तत्र रावणः कपटाकृतिः । भिक्षुवेषं ततः कृत्वा प्रविवेश तदाश्रमे
When Lakṣmaṇa had left, Rāvaṇa, in a deceitful form, then assumed the guise of a mendicant and entered that hermitage.
जानकी तं यतिं मत्वा दत्त्वार्घ्यं वन्यमादरात् । भैक्ष्यं समर्पयामास रावणाय दुरात्मने
Jānakī, taking him for an ascetic, offered him forest hospitality with respect, and presented alms to Rāvaṇa, the wicked one.
तां पप्रच्छ स दुष्टात्मा नम्रपूर्वं मृदुस्वरम् । काऽसि पद्मपलाशाक्षि वने चैकाकिनी प्रिये
That evil-minded one questioned her, first humbly and in a gentle voice: 'Who are you, lotus-eyed one, alone in the forest, O lovely lady?'
पिता कस्तेऽथ वामोरु भ्राता कः कः पतिस्तव । मूढेवैकाकिनी चात्र स्थिताऽसि वरवर्णिनि
'Who is your father, O slender-thighed one? Who is your brother, and who is your husband? Why are you, of excellent complexion, standing here alone like one bewildered?'
निर्जने विपिने किं त्वं सौधार्हा त्वमसि प्रिये । उटजे मुनिपत्नीवद्देवकन्यासमप्रभा
'Why are you, worthy of a palace, here in this lonely forest, O dear one? In this hut, you shine like a sage’s wife or a divine maiden.'
व्यास उवाच इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच विदेहजा । दिव्यं दिष्ट्या यतिं ज्ञात्वा मन्दोदर्याः पतिं तदा
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the daughter of Videha replied, recognizing the ascetic by divine intuition as Mandodarī’s husband.
राजा दशरथः श्रीमांश्चत्वारस्तस्य वै सुताः । तेषां ज्येष्ठः पतिर्मेऽस्ति रामनामेति विश्रुतः
King Daśaratha, illustrious, had four sons; among them, my husband is the eldest, renowned by the name Rāma.
विवासितोऽथ कैकेय्या कृते भूपतिना वरे । चतुर्दश समा रामो वसतेऽत्र सलक्ष्मणः
Exiled by the king at Kaikeyī’s request, Rāma dwells here with Lakṣmaṇa for fourteen years.
जनकस्य सुता चाहं सीतानाम्नीति विश्रुता । भङ्क्त्वा शैवं धनुः कामं रामेणाहं विवाहिता
I am the daughter of Janaka, famed as Sītā by name; after Rāma broke Śiva’s bow, I was wed to him according to my wish.
रामबाहुबलेनात्र वसामो निर्भया वने । काञ्चनं मृगमालोक्य हन्तुं मे निर्गतः पतिः
By the strength of Rāma’s arms, we live here in the forest without fear; seeing a golden deer, my husband went out to hunt it for me.
लक्ष्मणोऽपि पुनः श्रुत्वा रवं भ्रातुर्गतोऽधुना । तयोर्बाहुबलादत्र निर्भयाऽहं वसामि वै
Lakshmana too, hearing again the sound of his brother who has now departed, I dwell here without fear, relying on the strength of their arms.
मयेदं कथितं सर्वं वृत्तान्तं वनवासके । तेऽत्रागत्यार्हणां ते वै करिष्यन्ति यथाविधि
I have told you everything, the entire account of the exile in the forest; when they arrive here, they will honor you according to proper custom.
यतिर्विष्णुस्वरूपोऽसि तस्मात्त्वं पूजितो मया । आश्रमो विपिने घोरे कृतोऽस्ति रक्षसां कुले
You are an ascetic, the embodiment of Vishnu; therefore, I have worshipped you. An ashram has been established in this dreadful forest, among the race of Rakshasas.
तस्मात्त्वां परिपृच्छामि सत्यं ब्रूहि ममाग्रतः । कोऽसि त्रिदण्डिरूपेण विपिने त्वं समागतः
Therefore, I ask you—speak the truth before me: Who are you, appearing in the form of a tridanda-bearing ascetic, who has arrived in this forest?
रावण उवाच लङ्केशोऽहं मरालाक्षि श्रीमान्मन्दोदरीपतिः । त्वत्कृते तु कृतं रूपं मयेत्थं शोभनाकृते
Ravana said: I am the lord of Lanka, O swan-eyed one, the illustrious husband of Mandodari; for your sake, I have assumed this beautiful form.
आगतोऽहं वरारोहे भगिन्या प्रेरितोऽत्र वै । जनस्थाने हतौ श्रुत्वा भ्रातरौ खरदूषणौ
I have come here, O fair-browed one, sent by my sister; hearing that my brothers Khar and Dushana were slain at Janasthana.
अङ्गीकुरु नृपं मां त्वं त्यक्त्वा तं मानुषं पतिम् । हृतराज्यं गतश्रीकं निर्बलं वनवासिनम्
Accept me as your king, abandoning that human husband—who has lost his kingdom, his glory, is powerless, and dwells in the forest.
पट्टराज्ञी भव त्वं मे मन्दोदर्युपरि स्फुटम् । दासोऽस्मि तव तन्वङ्गि स्वामिनी भव भामिनि
Become my chief queen, surpassing Mandodari; I am your servant, O slender-limbed one, be my mistress, O radiant lady.
जेताऽहं लोकपालानां पतामि तव पादयोः । करं गृहाण मेऽद्य त्वं सनाथं कुरु जानकि
I am the conqueror of the guardians of the worlds; I fall at your feet. Take my hand today, O Janaki, make me yours and grant me protection.
पिता ते याचितः पूर्वं मया वै त्वत्कृतेऽबले । जनको मामुवाचेत्थं पणबन्धो मया कृतः
Your father was previously entreated by me for your sake, O powerful one; Janaka spoke to me thus: a wager has been made by me.