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.
वाल्मीकिं मां विजानीहि पितुस्तव गुरुं मुनिम् । दुःखं मा कुरु वैदेहि ह्यागच्छ मम चाश्रमम्
'Know me, O Jānakī, as Vālmīki, the sage and preceptor of your father. Do not grieve, O Vaidehī; come now to my hermitage.'
भिन्नस्थाने पितुर्गेहं जानीहि पतिदेवते । ईदृशे कर्मणि मम रोषोस्त्वेव महीपतेः
'Know, O devoted wife, that your father’s house is in a different place. In this matter, the king alone is angry with me.'
एवं वचः समाकर्ण्य जानकी पतिदेवता । दुःखपूर्णाश्रुवदना किंचित्सुखमवाप सा
Hearing these words, Jānakī, devoted to her husband, her face full of tears and sorrow, found a little comfort.
शेष उवाच। वाल्मीकिः सांत्वयित्वैनां दुःखपूराकुलेक्षणाम् । निनाय स्वाश्रमं पुण्यं तापसीवृन्दपूरितम्
Śeṣa said: Vālmīki, having consoled her, whose eyes were filled with sorrow, led her to his own sacred hermitage, filled with ascetics.
सा गच्छंती पृष्ठतोऽस्य वाल्मीकेस्तपसां निधेः । रराजेंदोः पृष्ठतो वै तारकेव मनोहरा
As she walked behind him, Vālmīki, the treasure of austerity, she shone beautifully like a star following the moon.
वाल्मीकिः प्राप्य च स्वीयमाश्रमं मुनिपूरितम् । तापसीः प्रतिसंचख्यौ जानकीं स्वाश्रमं गताम्
Vālmīki, having reached his own hermitage, filled with sages, informed the ascetic women that Jānakī had come to his hermitage.
वैदेही तापसीः सर्वा नमश्चक्रे महामनाः । परस्परं प्रहृषिताः परिरंभं समाचरन्
Vaidehī, with great respect, bowed to all the ascetic women; delighted, they embraced each other.
वाल्मीकिर्निजशिष्यान्स प्रत्युवाच तपोनिधिः । रच्यतां बत जानक्याः पर्णशाला मनोरमा
Vālmīki, the treasure of austerity, then addressed his own disciples: 'Let a lovely leaf-hut be built for Jānakī.'
इत्युक्तं वाक्यमाकर्ण्य वाल्मीकेः सुमनोरमम् । व्यरचन्पत्रकैः शालां दारुभिः सुमनोहराम्
Hearing these pleasing words of Vālmīki, they constructed a charming hut with leaves and wood.
तत्रावसद्धि वैदेही पतिव्रतपरायणा । वाल्मीकेः परिचर्यां च कुर्वंती फलभक्षिका
There Vaidehī, devoted to her husband, dwelt, serving Vālmīki and subsisting on fruits.