पाण्डुरं गगनं दृष्ट्वा विमलं चन्द्रमण्डलम्। शारदीं रजनीं चैव दृष्ट्वा ज्योत्स्नानुलेपनाम्
Seeing the pale sky, the spotless orb of the moon, and the autumn night anointed with moonlight,
कामवृत्तं च सुग्रीवं नष्टां च जनकात्मजाम्। दृष्ट्वा कालमतीतं च मुमोह परमातुरः
Seeing Sugrīva given over to pleasure, the lost daughter of Janaka, and the time that had passed, he, greatly afflicted, fell into despair.
स तु संज्ञामुपागम्य मुहूर्तान्मतिमान् नृपः। मनःस्थामपि वैदेहीं चिन्तयामास राघवः
But regaining consciousness after a moment, the wise prince Rāghava began to think of Vaidehī, who dwelled in his heart.
दृष्ट्वा च विमलं व्योम गतविद्युद्बलाहकम्। सारसारावसंघुष्टं विललापार्तया गिरा
Seeing the clear sky, free of lightning and clouds, resounding with the cries of cranes and sarus birds, he lamented with a voice full of pain.
आसीनः पर्वतस्याग्रे हेमधातुविभूषिते। शारदं गगनं दृष्ट्वा जगाम मनसा प्रियाम्
Seated on the summit of a mountain adorned with veins of gold, beholding the autumn sky, his mind went to his beloved.
सारसारावसंनादैः सारसारावनादिनी। याऽऽश्रमे रमते बाला साद्य मे रमते कथम्
Where the young girl once delighted in the ashram to the sounds of cranes and sarus birds—how does she find joy now, without me?
पुष्पितांश्चासनान् दृष्ट्वा काञ्चनानिव निर्मलान्। कथं सा रमते बाला पश्यन्ती मामपश्यती
Seeing the blossoming, pure trees shining like gold, how can that young girl, looking at them but not seeing me, find happiness?
या पुरा कलहंसानां कलेन कलभाषिणी। बुध्यते चारुसर्वाङ्गी साद्य मे रमते कथम्
She who once, with her sweet voice, awakened to the gentle calls of the swans—how does she find joy now, that lovely-limbed one?
निःस्वनं चक्रवाकानां निशम्य सहचारिणाम्। पुण्डरीकविशालाक्षी कथमेषा भविष्यति
Hearing the cries of the chakravāka birds with their companions, how will she, with eyes wide as lotuses, be now?
सरांसि सरितो वापीः काननानि वनानि च। तां विना मृगशावाक्षीं चरन्नाद्य सुखं लभे
Though I wander through lakes, rivers, wells, forests, and woods, today I find no happiness without her, the doe-eyed one.
अपि तां मद्वियोगाच्च सौकुमार्याच्च भामिनीम्। सुदूरं पीडयेत् कामः शरद्गुणनिरन्तरः
Perhaps, separated from me and because of her delicate nature, desire—unceasing as the autumn wind—torments that radiant woman far away.
एवमादि नरश्रेष्ठो विललाप नृपात्मजः। विहंग इव सारङ्गः सलिलं त्रिदशेश्वरात्
Thus, the best of men, the prince, lamented—like a bird or a deer longing for water from the lord of the gods.
ततश्चञ्चूर्य रम्येषु फलार्थी गिरिसानुषु। ददर्श पर्युपावृत्तो लक्ष्मीवाँल्लक्ष्मणोऽग्रजम्
Then, as he searched the beautiful mountain slopes for fruit, Lakshmana, radiant with fortune, saw his elder brother turned away.
स चिन्तया दुस्सहया परीतं विसंज्ञमेकं विजने मनस्वी। भ्रातुर्विषादात् त्वरितोऽतिदीनः समीक्ष्य सौमित्रिरुवाच दीनम्
Seeing his noble-minded brother overwhelmed by unbearable grief, senseless and alone in the wilderness, Saumitri, deeply troubled and hastening, spoke to him, who was dejected.
किमार्य कामस्य वशंगतेन किमात्मपौरुष्यपराभवेन । अयं ह्रिया संह्रियते समाधिः किमत्र योगेन निवर्तते न
Why, noble one, do you submit to desire? Why accept defeat of your own strength? When shame restrains your concentration, why does discipline not turn it back?
क्रियाभियोगं मनसः प्रसादं समाधियोगानुगतं च कालम्। सहायसामर्थ्यमदीनसत्त्वः स्वकर्महेतुं च कुरुष्व तात
Direct your effort to action, calmness of mind, the right time guided by concentration, the strength of allies, unwavering courage, and the cause of your own duty, dear brother.
न जानकी मानववंशनाथ त्वया सनाथा सुलभा परेण। न चाग्निचूडां ज्वलितामुपेत्य न दह्यते वीर वरार्ह कश्चित्
O lord of men, Janaki, protected by you, cannot be easily taken by another; nor, O hero worthy of the best, does anyone approach blazing fire and remain unburned.
सलक्षणं लक्ष्मणमप्रधृष्यं स्वभावजं वाक्यमुवाच रामः। हितं च पथ्यं च नयप्रसक्तं ससामधर्मार्थसमाहितं च
To Lakshmana, steadfast and invincible, Rama spoke words marked by character—beneficial, wholesome, grounded in policy, and imbued with righteousness and purpose.
निस्संशयं कार्यमवेक्षितव्यं क्रियाविशेषोऽप्यनुवर्तितव्यः। न तु प्रवृद्धस्य दुरासदस्य कुमार वीर्यस्य फलं च चिन्त्यम्
Undoubtedly, one must consider what is to be done and follow the proper course of action; but, prince, the fruit of great and formidable valor should not be doubted.
अथ पद्मपलाशाक्षीं मैथिलीमनुचिन्तयन्। उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो मुखेन परिशुष्यता
Then, thinking of Maithili, whose eyes are like lotus petals, Rama spoke to Lakshmana, his lips parched.
तर्पयित्वा सहस्राक्षः सलिलेन वसुंधराम्। निर्वर्तयित्वा सस्यानि कृतकर्मा व्यवस्थितः
Having satisfied the earth with water, Indra, his task accomplished, stands firm after bringing forth the crops.
दीर्घगम्भीरनिर्घोषाः शैलद्रुमपुरोगमाः। विसृज्य सलिलं मेघाः परिशान्ता नृपात्मज
The clouds, with deep and resonant thunder, led by mountains and trees, have released their waters and now, prince, are at rest.
नीलोत्पलदलश्यामाः श्यामीकृत्वा दिशो दश। विमदा इव मातङ्गाः शान्तवेगाः पयोधराः
The clouds, dark as blue lotus petals, have turned all ten directions dusky; their force spent, they are like elephants freed from rut.
जलगर्भा महावेगाः कुटजार्जुनगन्धिनः। चरित्वा विरताः सौम्य वृष्टिवाताः समुद्यताः
The rainstorms, filled with water, swift and fragrant with kutaja and arjuna, have ceased, gentle one, after sweeping through.
घनानां वारणानां च मयूराणां च लक्ष्मण। नादः प्रस्रवणानां च प्रशान्तः सहसानघ
Lakshmana, the thunder of clouds, elephants, and peacocks, and the roar of waterfalls, has suddenly fallen silent.
अभिवृष्टा महामेघैर्निर्मलाश्चित्रसानवः। अनुलिप्ता इवाभान्ति गिरयश्चन्द्ररश्मिभिः
The mountains, their slopes washed clean by heavy rains, shine as if freshly anointed, gleaming with the rays of the moon.
शाखासु सप्तच्छदपादपानां प्रभासु तारार्कनिशाकराणाम्। लीलासु चैवोत्तमवारणानां श्रियं विभज्याद्य शरत्प्रवृत्ता
Now autumn has come, dividing its beauty among the branches of saptacchada trees, the radiance of stars, sun, and moon, and the playful movements of noble elephants.
सम्प्रत्यनेकाश्रयचित्रशोभा लक्ष्मीः शरत्कालगुणोपपन्ना। सूर्याग्रहस्तप्रतिबोधितेषु पद्माकरेष्वभ्यधिकं विभाति
The beauty of fortune, adorned with the qualities of autumn, shines forth with wondrous variety, resting upon many supports, and is especially radiant in the lotus ponds awakened by the touch of the sun's rays.
अभ्यागतैश्चारुविशालपक्षैः स्मरप्रियैः पद्मरजोऽवकीर्णैः। महानदीनां पुलिनोपयातैः क्रीडन्ति हंसाः सह चक्रवाकैः
Swans with lovely, broad wings, dear to the god of love and dusted with lotus pollen, have arrived and play together with chakravāka birds on the sandbanks of the great rivers.
मदप्रगल्भेषु च वारणेषु गवां समूहेषु च दर्पितेषु। प्रसन्नतोयासु च निम्नगासु विभाति लक्ष्मीर्बहुधा विभक्ता
Splendor appears in many forms: among elephants emboldened by rut, among herds of proud cattle, and in the clear waters of flowing rivers.