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.
जानकी देवरं यांतं वीक्ष्य विस्मितलोचना । हसत्ययं महाभागो लक्ष्मणो देवरो मम
Janaki, seeing her brother-in-law departing, gazed with astonished eyes: 'This noble Lakshmana, my brother-in-law, is smiling.'
कथं मां प्राणतः प्रेष्ठां विपापां राघवोऽत्यजत् । इति संचिंतयंती सा तमैक्षदनिमेषणा
How could Raghava abandon me, his beloved, pure wife, while I am still alive? Thinking thus, she stared at him without blinking.
जाह्नवीं सर्वथोत्तीर्णां ज्ञात्वा सत्यं स्वहापनम् । पतिता प्राणसंदेहं प्राप्ता मूर्च्छां गता तदा
Knowing she had completely crossed the Jahnavi and that her offering was true, she fell, her life in doubt, and entered a state of unconsciousness.
तदा हंसाः स्वपक्षाभ्यां जलमानीय सर्वतः । सिषिचुर्मधुरो वायुर्ववौ पुष्पसुगंधिमान्
Then swans brought water from all sides with their wings and sprinkled it; a sweet breeze blew, fragrant with flowers.
करिणः पुष्करैः स्वीयैर्जलपूर्णैः समंततः । व्याप्तं शरीरं रजसा क्षालयंत इवागताः
Elephants arrived, carrying their own lotuses filled with water, and covered her body with dust, as if washing it.
मृगास्तदंतिकं प्राप्य संतस्थुर्विस्मितेक्षणाः । नगाः पुष्पयुता आसंस्तत्कालं मधुना विना
Deer came near and stood, gazing in wonder; trees were adorned with flowers at that moment, but without honey.
एतस्मिन्समये वृत्ते संज्ञां प्राप्य तदा सती । विललाप सुदुःखार्ता रामरामेति जल्पती
At that time, when all this had happened, the virtuous lady regained consciousness; overwhelmed by intense sorrow, she lamented, murmuring 'Rama, Rama.'
हा नाथ दीनबंधो हे करुणामयसंनिधे । अपराधादृते मां त्वं कथं त्यजसि वै वने
'Alas, lord, friend of the afflicted, O embodiment of compassion, how do you abandon me in the forest except for some offense?'
इत्येवमादिभाषंती विलपंती मुहुर्मुहुः । इतस्ततः प्रपश्यंती संमूर्च्छंती पुनःपुनः
Thus, uttering such words and lamenting again and again, looking here and there, she repeatedly fainted.
तदा स्वशिष्यैर्भगवान्वाल्मीकिः संगतो वनम् । शुश्राव रुदितं तत्र करुणास्वरभाषितम्
Then the revered Valmiki, accompanied by his disciples, entered the forest; there he heard her weeping, speaking in a voice full of compassion.
शिष्यान्प्रति जगादाथ पश्यंतु वनमध्यतः । को रोदिति महाघोरे विपिने दुःखितस्वरः
He spoke to his disciples: 'Look within the forest; who is crying in this dreadful wilderness with a voice of sorrow?'
ते प्रयुक्ताश्च मुनिना संजग्मुर्यत्र जानकी । रामरामेति भाषंती बाष्पपूरपरिप्लुता
Sent by the sage, they went to where Janaki was, uttering 'Rama, Rama,' her voice choked with tears.
तां दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियमौत्सुक्याद्वाल्मीकिं प्रत्यगुर्मुनिम् । श्रुत्वा तदीरितं वाक्यं जगामासौ ततो मुनिः
Seeing that woman, out of curiosity, the sage approached Vālmīki and, having heard what he said, the sage then departed.
दृष्ट्वा तं तपसां राशिं जानकी पतिदेवता । नमोस्तु मुनये वेदमूर्तये व्रतवार्धये
Beholding that heap of austerity, Sītā, devoted to her husband, offered reverence: 'Salutations to the sage, embodiment of the Veda, who has perfected his vows.'
इत्युक्तवंतीं तां सीतामाशीर्भिरभ्यनंदयत् । भर्त्रा सह चिरंजीव पुत्रौ प्राप्नुहि शोभनौ
Having spoken thus, he blessed Sītā with benedictions: 'May you live long with your husband and obtain two illustrious sons.'
कासि त्वं किं वने घोरे संगतासि किमीदृशी । सर्वं मे शंस जानीयां तव दुःखस्य कारणम्
'Who are you? Why have you come to this dreadful forest? What has happened to you? Tell me everything so I may know the cause of your sorrow.'
सा तदा प्रत्युवाचेमं रामस्य महिला मुनिम् । निःश्वसंती करुणया गिरासंजातवेपथुः
Then that woman, Sītā, wife of Rāma, replied to the sage, sighing with a voice full of sorrow, her body trembling.
शृणु मे वाक्यमर्थोक्तं सर्वदुःखस्य कारणम् । जानीहि मां भूमिपते रघुनाथस्य सेवकीम्
'Hear my words, which speak the truth and the cause of all my suffering. Know me, O lord of the earth, as the servant of Rāghunātha.'
अपराधं विना त्यक्ता न जाने तत्र कारणम् । लक्ष्मणो मां विमुच्यात्र गतवान्राघवाज्ञया
'I was abandoned without fault; I do not know the reason for it. Lakṣmaṇa released me here and departed, following Rāghava’s command.'
इत्युक्त्वाश्रुकलापूर्णं बिभ्रतीं मुखपंकजम् । वाल्मीकिः सांत्वयन्प्राह जानकीं कमलेक्षणाम्
Having spoken thus, her lotus-face filled with tears, Vālmīki, consoling her, addressed Jānakī, whose eyes were like lotuses.