तन्मे कथय वीराग्र्य कथं मुक्ता महात्मना । रामेण दुष्टहृदया क्षिप्रं कथय मे हि तत्
Therefore, tell me, foremost of heroes, how I have been abandoned by the great-souled Rama, whose heart has turned cruel; quickly tell me this.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य लक्ष्मणः शोककर्शितः । संरुद्धबाष्पवदनो न किंचित्प्रोक्तवांस्तदा
Hearing those words, Lakshmana, emaciated by grief, his face choked with tears, said nothing at that moment.
तदेव विपिनं घोरं गच्छंती लक्ष्मणान्विता । पुनरप्याह तं वीरं दुःखार्ता पश्यती मुखम्
Continuing through that dreadful forest, accompanied by Lakshmana, she again spoke to the hero, gazing at his face, afflicted by sorrow.
तदापि स न तां वक्ति किमपि प्रेक्षुलोलुपः । तदा सात्यंतनिर्बंधं चकार परिपृच्छती
Even then, he did not say anything to her, his gaze restless; then she questioned him persistently and sincerely.
आग्रहेण यदा पृष्टो लक्ष्मणः सीतया तदा । रुद्धकंठो मुहुः शोचन्नवदत्त्यागसंभवम्
When Lakshmana was pressed by Sita with insistence, his throat blocked, grieving again and again, he spoke of the abandonment.
तद्वाक्यं पविना तुल्यं निशम्य मुनिसत्तम । सुलताकृत्तमूलेव बभूवाकल्पवर्जिता
Hearing those words, equal to the wind, O best of sages, she became like a lotus cut from its root, bereft of beauty.
तदैव पृथिवी तां न जग्राह तनयामिमाम् । रामो विपापिनीं सीतां न जह्यादिति शंकिनी
At that moment, the earth did not receive her, this daughter, suspecting that Rāma would not abandon Sītā, though she was accused of sin.
पतितां तां तु वैदेहीं दृष्ट्वा सौमित्रिरुत्सुकः । पल्लवाग्र्यसमीरेण संज्ञितां तु चकार सः
Seeing Vaidehī fallen, Saumitri, eager and anxious, revived her with a breeze from the tips of fresh leaves.
संज्ञां प्राप्ता ह्युवाचेदं मा हास्यं कुरु देवर । कथं मां पापरहितां त्यजते स रघूद्वहः
Regaining consciousness, she said: 'Do not make this a matter of ridicule, brother-in-law; how does the great descendant of Raghu abandon me, who am free from sin?'
एवं बहुविलप्याथ लक्ष्मणं दुःखसंयुतम् । संवीक्ष्यमू र्च्छिता भूमौ पपात परिदुःखिता
Thus lamenting greatly, she then looked at Lakṣmaṇa, overwhelmed by sorrow, and, distressed, fainted and fell to the ground.
मुहूर्तेनापि संज्ञां सा प्राप्य दुःखपरिप्लुता । जगाद रामचरणौ स्मंरती शोकविक्षता
After a moment, regaining consciousness though flooded with grief, she spoke, recalling Rāma's feet, her heart wounded by sorrow.
रघुनाथो महाबुद्धिस्त्यजते मां कथं महान् । यो मदर्थे पयोराशिं बद्धवान्वानरैर्युतः
'How does Rāghava, the wise and great one, abandon me—he who, for my sake, built a bridge over the ocean with the help of the monkeys?'
स कथं मां महावीरो निष्पापां रजकोक्तितः । त्यजिष्यति ममैवात्र दैवं तु प्रतिकूलितम्
'How will that great hero abandon me, innocent, just because of the washerman's words? Here, my fate alone is adverse to me.'
एवं वदन्ती पुनरपि मूर्च्छां प्राप्ता विदेहजा । मूर्च्छितां तां समीक्ष्याथ रुरोद विकृतस्वरः
Speaking thus, once again the daughter of Videha fell unconscious; seeing her faint, he wept with a distorted voice.
पुनः संज्ञामवाप्यैवं सौमित्रिं निजगाद सा । दुःखातुरं वीक्षमाणा रुद्धकंठं सुदुःखिता
Regaining consciousness again, she addressed Saumitri, gazing at him, her throat choked with sorrow, overwhelmed by grief.
सौमित्रे गच्छ रामं त्वं धर्ममूर्तिं यशोनिधिम् । मद्वाक्यमेवैतद्ब्रूयाः समक्षं तपसां निधेः
'Saumitri, go to Rāma, the embodiment of dharma and treasure of fame; speak these words of mine directly before the lord of ascetics.'
मां तत्याज भवान्यद्वै जानन्नपि विपापिनीम् । कुलस्य सदृशं किं वा शास्त्रज्ञानस्य तत्फलम्
'He abandoned me, though knowing I am accused of sin; is this worthy of his lineage, or is this the fruit of his knowledge of the scriptures?'
नित्यं तव पदे रक्तां त्वदुच्छिष्टभुजं हि माम् । भवांस्तत्याज तत्सर्वं मम दैवं तु कारणम्
'Ever devoted at your feet, eating only your leftovers, you have abandoned me; all this is due to my fate alone.'
कल्याणं तव सर्वत्र भूयाद्वीरवरोत्तम । अहं तावद्वने त्वां हि स्मरंती प्राणधारिका
'May all be well with you everywhere, O foremost of heroes; as for me, I will sustain my life in the forest, remembering you.'
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा भवानेव ममोत्तमः । अन्ये तुच्छीकृताः सर्वे मनसा रघुवंशज
'By mind, by deed, by word, you alone are supreme to me; all others, O descendant of Raghu, are considered insignificant in my mind.'
भवेभवे भवानेव पतिर्भूयान्महीश्वर । त्वत्पदस्मरणानेक हतपापा सतीश्वरी
'In every birth, may you alone be my husband, O lord of the earth; by remembering your feet, I, pure and devoted, am freed from many sins.'
श्वश्रूजनं ब्रूहि सर्वं मत्संदेशं रघूत्तम । त्यक्ता वने महाघोरे रामेण निरघा सती
'Tell everything to my mothers-in-law, O best of Raghus, my message: Sītā, pure though abandoned by Rāma in the dreadful forest, sends this.'
स्मरामि चरणौ युष्मद्वने मृगगणैर्युते । अंतर्वत्नी वने त्यक्ता रामेण सुमहात्मना
'I remember your feet, surrounded by herds of deer in the forest; the inner wife, abandoned in the forest by Rāma, the great-souled.'
सौमित्रे शृणु मद्वाक्यं भद्रं भूयाद्रघूत्तमे । इदानीं संत्यजे प्राणान्रामवीर्यं सुरक्षती
'Saumitri, hear my words—may all be well with the best of Raghus; now I give up my life, protected by Rāma's valor.'
त्वं रामवचनं तथ्यं यत्करोषि शुभं तव । परतंत्त्रेण तत्कार्यं रामपादाब्जसेविना
You act according to Rama's truthful command, which is auspicious for you; that duty must be performed by one who serves at Rama's lotus feet, even under another's authority.
गच्छ त्वं राम सविधे शिवाः पंथान एव ते । ममोपरि कृपा कार्या स्मर्तव्याहं कदा कदा
Go now to Rama's presence; the path is indeed auspicious for you. You must show compassion toward me; remember me from time to time.
इत्युक्त्वा मूर्च्छिता भूमौ पपात पुरतस्तदा । लक्ष्मणो दुःखमापेदे वीक्ष्य मूर्च्छितजानकीम्
Having spoken thus, she fainted and fell to the ground before him; Lakshmana was overcome with sorrow upon seeing Janaki unconscious.
वीजयामास वासोग्रैः संज्ञां प्राप्तां प्रकृत्य च । सौमित्रिः सांत्वयामास वचनैर्मधुरैर्मुहुः
He fanned her with fine garments until she regained consciousness; Sumitra's son repeatedly comforted her with gentle words.
लक्ष्मण उवाच। एष गच्छामि रामं वै गत्वा शंसामि सर्वशः । समीपे ते मुनेरस्ति वाल्मीकेराश्रमो महान्
Lakshmana said: I am going to Rama now; having gone, I will report everything. Near you is the great hermitage of the sage Valmiki.
इत्युक्त्वा तां परिक्रम्य दुःखितो बाष्पपूरितः । मुंचन्नश्रुकलां दुःखाद्ययौ रामं महीपतिम्
Having said this, he circled her, distressed and filled with tears, shedding drops of sorrow, and went to Rama, the king.