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.
रुद्रचापभयान्नाहं सम्प्राप्तस्तु स्वयंवरे । मनो मे संस्थितं तावन्निमग्नं विरहातुरम्
Out of fear of Rudra's bow, I did not come to the svayamvara; my mind remained there, plunged in sorrow from separation.
वनेऽत्र संस्थितां श्रुत्वा पूर्वानुरागमोहितः । आगतोऽस्म्यसितापाङ्गि सफलं कुरु मे श्रमम्
Hearing that you remain in the forest, captivated by former affection, I have come, O dark-eyed one; make my effort fruitful.
लक्ष्मणकृतरामशोकसान्त्वनम् व्यास उवाच तदाकर्ण्य वचो दुष्टं जानकी भयविह्वला । वेपमाना स्थिरं कृत्वा मनो वाचमुवाच ह
Vyasa said: Hearing those wicked words, Janaki, trembling with fear, steadied her mind and spoke.
पौलस्त्य किमसद्वाक्यं त्वमात्थ स्मरमोहितः । नाहं वै स्वैरिणी किन्तु जनकस्य कुलोद्भवा
O descendant of Pulastya, why do you utter such unworthy words, deluded by desire? I am not a wanton woman, but born in the noble lineage of Janaka.
गच्छ लङ्कां दशास्य त्वं राम त्वां वै हनिष्यति । मत्कृते मरणं तत्र भविष्यति न संशयः
Go to Lanka, O ten-headed one; Rama will surely slay you. For my sake, your death will occur there—there is no doubt.
इत्युक्त्वा पर्णशालायां गता सा वह्निसन्निधौ । गच्छ गच्छेति वदती रावणं लोकरावणम्
Having spoken thus, she went into the leaf-hut, near the fire, repeatedly saying 'Go, go!' to Ravana, the terror of the worlds.
सोऽथ कृत्वा निजं रूपं जगामोटजमन्तिकम् । बलाज्जग्राह तां बालां रुदती भयविह्वलाम्
Then, resuming his own form, he approached the hut; by force, he seized the young woman, who was crying and overwhelmed by fear.
रामरामेति क्रन्दन्ती लक्ष्मणेति मुहुर्मुहुः । गृहीत्वा निर्गतः पापो रथमारोप्य सत्वरः
Crying out 'Rama, Rama!' and 'Lakshmana!' again and again, the wicked one carried her away, quickly placing her on his chariot.
गच्छन्नरुणपुत्रेण मार्गे रुद्धो जटायुषा । सङ्ग्रामोऽभून्महारौद्रस्तयोस्तत्र वनान्तरे
As he was going, his path was blocked by Jatayu, son of Aruna; there, in the depths of the forest, a fierce battle arose between the two.
हत्वा तं तां गृहीत्वा च गतोऽसौ राक्षसाधिपः । लङ्कायां क्रन्दती तात कुररीव दुरात्मनः
Having slain him and seized her, that lord of the Rakshasas departed; in Lanka, she wept like a distressed curlew, O dear one, at the hands of that wicked soul.
अशोकवनिकायां सा स्थापिता राक्षसीयुता । स्ववृत्तान्नैव चलिता सामदानादिभिः किल
She was placed in the Ashoka grove, surrounded by demonesses; she did not waver from her conduct, even when coaxed or threatened, it is said.
रामोऽपि तं मृगं हत्वा जगामादाय निर्वृतः । आयान्तं लक्ष्मणं वीक्ष्य किं कृतं तेऽनुजासमम्
Rama, too, after killing that deer, returned content, and seeing Lakshmana approaching, asked, 'What have you done with my younger brother's wife?'
एकाकिनीं प्रियां हित्वा किमर्थं त्वमिहागतः । श्रुत्वा स्वनं तु पापस्य राघवस्त्वब्रवीदिदम्
'Why have you come here, leaving my beloved alone?' Having heard the evil one's cry, Raghava then spoke these words.
सौमित्रिस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं सीतावाग्बाणपीडितः । प्रभोऽत्राहं समायातः कालयोगान्न संशयः
Saumitri replied, troubled by Sita's words like arrows, 'Lord, I have come here due to the force of fate—there is no doubt.'
तदा तौ पर्णशालायां गत्वा वीक्ष्यातिदुःखितौ । जानक्यन्वेषणे यत्नमुभौ कर्तुं समुद्यतौ
Then the two, going to the leaf-hut, saw and were overwhelmed with grief; both were resolved to make every effort to search for Janaki.
मार्गमाणौ तु सम्प्राप्तौ यत्रासौ पतितः खगः । जटायुः प्राणशेषस्तु पतितः पृथिवीतले
While searching, they came to the place where that bird had fallen; Jatayu, with life barely remaining, lay fallen on the earth.
तेनोक्तं रावणेनाद्य हृताऽसौ जनकात्मजा । मया निरुद्धः पापात्मा पातितोऽहं मृधे पुनः
He told them, 'Today Ravana has carried off Janaka's daughter; I tried to stop that wicked soul and was struck down in battle.'
इत्युक्त्वाऽसौ गतप्राणः संस्कृतो राघवेण वै । कृत्वौर्घ्वदैहिकं रामलक्ष्मणौ निर्गतौ ततः
Having said this, his life departed; he was duly cremated by Raghava. After performing the last rites, Rama and Lakshmana set out from there.
कबन्धं घातयित्वासौ शापाच्चामोचयत्प्रभुः । वचनात्तस्य हरिणा सख्यं चक्रेऽथ राघवः
Having slain Kabandha, the Lord freed him from his curse; by his words, Rama then made friendship with the monkey chief.
हत्वा च वालिनं वीरं किष्किन्धाराज्यमुत्तमम् । सुग्रीवाय ददौ रामः कृतसख्याय कार्यतः
After killing the heroic Vali, Rama gave the excellent kingdom of Kishkindha to Sugriva, his ally, as was proper.