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.
नभः समीक्ष्याम्बुधरैर्विमुक्तं विमुक्तबर्हाभरणा वनेषु। प्रियास्वरक्ता विनिवृत्तशोभा गतोत्सवा ध्यानपरा मयूराः
Looking at the sky, now free from clouds, and at the forests where peacocks have shed their jeweled feathers, the peahens, their beloved voices now silent and their former beauty gone, absorbed in meditation, have abandoned their festivities.
मनोज्ञगन्धैः प्रियकैरनल्पैः पुष्पातिभारावनताग्रशाखैः। सुवर्णगौरैर्नयनाभिरामै- रुद्योतितानीव वनान्तराणि
The forest groves seem illuminated by golden-yellow, eye-delighting trees, their branches bowed under the weight of abundant blossoms, exuding charming and gentle fragrances.
प्रियान्वितानां नलिनीप्रियाणां वने प्रियाणां कुसुमोद्गतानाम्। मदोत्कटानां मदलालसानां गजोत्तमानां गतयोऽद्य मन्दाः
Today, the movements of the best of elephants—surrounded by their beloved mates, fond of lotus ponds, intoxicated and eager for pleasure, their bodies fragrant with flowers—are slow in the forest.
व्यक्तं नभः शस्त्रविधौतवर्णं कृशप्रवाहानि नदीजलानि। कह्लारशीताः पवनाः प्रवान्ति तमो विमुक्ताश्च दिशः प्रकाशाः
The sky is clearly bright, its color washed clean as if by weapons; the rivers flow with scant water; cool breezes, fragrant with blue lotuses, blow; and the directions, freed from darkness, are luminous.
सूर्यातपक्रामणनष्टपङ्का भूमिश्चिरोद्घाटितसान्द्ररेणुः। अन्योन्यवैरेण समायुताना- मुद्योगकालोऽद्य नराधिपानाम्
The earth, its mud dried up by the sun's heat and its thick dust long settled, is now ready for the endeavors of kings who are mutually hostile—this is the time for their activity.
शरद्गुणाप्यायितरूपशोभाः प्रहर्षिताः पांसुसमुत्थिताङ्गाः। मदोत्कटाः सम्प्रति युद्धलुब्धा वृषा गवां मध्यगता नदन्ति
The bulls, emboldened by the qualities of autumn, delighted, their bodies covered in dust, now intoxicated and eager for battle, stand among the cows and bellow.
समन्मथा तीव्रतरानुरागा कुलान्विता मन्दगतिः करेणुः। मदान्वितं सम्परिवार्य यान्तं वनेषु भर्तारमनुप्रयाति
A female elephant, filled with intense longing and deep affection, accompanied by her companions and moving slowly, follows her intoxicated mate as he walks through the forest, surrounding him on all sides.
त्यक्त्वा वराण्यात्मविभूषितानि बर्हाणि तीरोपगता नदीनाम्। निर्भर्त्स्यमाना इव सारसौघैः प्रयान्ति दीना विमना मयूराः
The peacocks, having left behind their splendid, self-adorned feathers and come to the riverbanks, move on sadly and dispirited, as if scolded by the flocks of cranes.
वित्रास्य कारण्डवचक्रवाकान् महारवैर्भिन्नकटा गजेन्द्राः। सरस्सुबद्धाम्बुजभूषणेषु विक्षोभ्य विक्षोभ्य जलं पिबन्ति
The lordly elephants, with broken tusks and mighty roars, frighten the ducks and chakravāka birds, and, disturbing again and again the water in the lakes adorned with blooming lotuses, drink deeply.
व्यपेतपङ्कासु सवालुकासु प्रसन्नतोयासु सगोकुलासु। ससारसारावविनादितासु नदीषु हंसा निपतन्ति हृष्टाः
In the rivers, now free from mud, sandy, clear, and filled with herds of cattle, resounding with the cries of cranes and waterfowl, the swans joyfully descend.