दुष्करं कृतवान् रामो हीनो यदनया प्रभुः। धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न शोकेनावसीदति
Rāma has done what is difficult: though deprived of her, the lord sustains his own body and does not sink under grief.
एवं सीतां तथा दृष्ट्वा हृष्टः पवनसम्भवः। जगाम मनसा रामं प्रशशंस च तं प्रभुम्
Thus, seeing Sītā in this way, the son of the wind, delighted, turned his mind to Rāma and praised that lord.
thumb|षोडशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे षोडशः सर्गः ॥५-
Let the sixteenth chapter be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Sundara Kāṇḍa.
प्रशस्य तु प्रशस्तव्यां सीतां तां हरिपुंगवः। गुणाभिरामं रामं च पुनश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत्
Having praised that praiseworthy Sītā, the foremost of monkeys again became absorbed in thought about the virtuous Rāma.
स मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः। सीतामाश्रित्य तेजस्वी हनूमान् विललाप ह
After meditating for a moment, his eyes filled with tears, the radiant Hanumān, thinking of Sītā, lamented.
मान्या गुरुविनीतस्य लक्ष्मणस्य गुरुप्रिया। यदि सीता हि दुःखार्ता कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः
She is honored, devoted to her elders, and dear to Lakṣmaṇa, who is respectful to his elders; if Sītā, afflicted by sorrow, is lost, truly time is insurmountable.
रामस्य व्यवसायज्ञा लक्ष्मणस्य च धीमतः। नात्यर्थं क्षुभ्यते देवी गंगेव जलदागमे
The lady, knowing Rāma’s resolve and Lakṣmaṇa’s wisdom, is not overly disturbed, like the Gaṅgā at the onset of the rains.
तुल्यशीलवयोवृत्तां तुल्याभिजनलक्षणाम्। राघवोऽर्हति वैदेहीं तं चेयमसितेक्षणा
Rāghava deserves Vaidehī, who matches him in character, age, conduct, family, and marks; and this dark-eyed woman deserves him as well.
तां दृष्ट्वा नवहेमाभां लोककान्तामिव श्रियम्। जगाम मनसा रामं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Seeing her, shining like new gold, beautiful as Fortune beloved by the world, he turned his mind to Rāma and spoke these words:
अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्या हतो वाली महाबलः। रावणप्रतिमो वीर्ये कबन्धश्च निपातितः
For the sake of this wide-eyed woman, the mighty Vāli, equal to Rāvaṇa in strength, was slain, and Kabandha too was brought down.
विराधश्च हतः संख्ये राक्षसो भीमविक्रमः। वने रामेण विक्रम्य महेन्द्रेणेव शम्बरः
Virādha, the fierce and powerful Rākṣasa, was also killed in battle by Rāma in the forest, just as Śambara was by mighty Indra.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। निहतानि जनस्थाने शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः
Fourteen thousand Rākṣasas, doers of terrible deeds, were slain at Janasthāna by arrows blazing like tongues of fire.
खरश्च निहतः संख्ये त्रिशिराश्च निपातितः। दूषणश्च महातेजा रामेण विदितात्मना
Khara was killed in battle, Triśiras was struck down, and the mighty Dūṣaṇa too, all by Rāma, knower of his own self.
ऐश्वर्यं वानराणां च दुर्लभं वालिपालितम्। अस्या निमित्ते सुग्रीवः प्राप्तवाँल्लोकविश्रुतः
The kingship of the Vānaras, hard to obtain and guarded by Vāli, was gained by the renowned Sugrīva for her sake.
सागरश्च मयाऽऽक्रान्तः श्रीमान् नदनदीपतिः। अस्या हेतोर्विशालाक्ष्याः पुरी चेयं निरीक्षिता
The glorious ocean, lord of rivers and streams, was crossed by me; and for the sake of this wide-eyed woman, this city has been observed.
यदि रामः समुद्रान्तां मेदिनीं परिवर्तयेत्। अस्याः कृते जगच्चापि युक्तमित्येव मे मतिः
If Rāma were to overturn the earth as far as the ocean for her sake, even the whole world, it would be fitting—such is my thought.
राज्यं वा त्रिषु लोकेषु सीता वा जनकात्मजा। त्रैलोक्यराज्यं सकलं सीताया नाप्नुयात् कलाम्
The kingdom of the three worlds, or Sītā, daughter of Janaka— even the entire sovereignty of the universe does not equal a fraction of Sītā.
इयं सा धर्मशीलस्य जनकस्य महात्मनः। सुता मैथिलराजस्य सीता भर्तृदृढव्रता
This is Sītā, daughter of the great and righteous king Janaka, princess of Mithilā, steadfast in her vow to her husband.
विक्रान्तस्यार्यशीलस्य संयुगेष्वनिवर्तिनः। स्नुषा दशरथस्यैषा ज्येष्ठा राज्ञो यशस्विनी
She is the eldest daughter-in-law of the illustrious king Daśaratha, wife of the valiant, noble, and unwavering hero in battle.
धर्मज्ञस्य कृतज्ञस्य रामस्य विदितात्मनः। इयं सा दयिता भार्या राक्षसीवशमागता
She is the beloved wife of Rāma, knower of righteousness and gratitude, who understands himself—now fallen under the power of a Rākṣasī.
सर्वान् भोगान् परित्यज्य भर्तृस्नेहबलात् कृता। अचिन्तयित्वा कष्टानि प्रविष्टा निर्जनं वनम्
Abandoning all enjoyments, compelled by her love for her husband, she entered the lonely forest, not considering the hardships.
संतुष्टा फलमूलेन भर्तृशुश्रूषणापरा। या परां भजते प्रीतिं वनेऽपि भवने यथा
Content with fruits and roots, devoted to serving her husband, she finds supreme joy in the forest as she would in a palace.
सेयं कनकवर्णांगी नित्यं सुस्मितभाषिणी। सहते यातनामेतामनर्थानामभागिनी
This golden-limbed woman, ever smiling and gentle in speech, endures this suffering, though undeserving of misfortune.
इमां तु शीलसम्पन्नां द्रष्टुमिच्छति राघवः। रावणेन प्रमथितां प्रपामिव पिपासितः
Rāghava longs to see this virtuous woman, tormented by Rāvaṇa, as a thirsty man longs for a wayside pool.
अस्या नूनं पुनर्लाभाद् राघवः प्रीतिमेष्यति। राजा राज्यपरिभ्रष्टः पुनः प्राप्येव मेदिनीम्
Surely, upon regaining her, Rāghava will find joy again, as a king restored to his lost kingdom.
कामभोगैः परित्यक्ता हीना बन्धुजनेन च। धारयत्यात्मनो देहं तत्समागमकाङ्क्षिणी
She has renounced sensual pleasures and is deprived of her kin; she sustains her body only out of longing for reunion with him.
नैषा पश्यति राक्षस्यो नेमान् पुष्पफलद्रुमान्। एकस्थहृदया नूनं राममेवानुपश्यति
She does not look at the rākṣasī women, nor at these trees with flowers and fruits; surely, her heart is fixed solely on Rāma.
भर्ता नाम परं नार्याः शोभनं भूषणादपि। एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभनार्हा न शोभते
For a husband is, for a woman, the highest ornament, more splendid than any jewel; separated from him, though worthy of beauty, she does not shine.
दुष्करं कुरुते रामो हीनो यदनया प्रभुः। धारयत्यात्मनो देहं न दुःखेनावसीदति
Rāma performs a difficult feat, for though deprived of her, the lord endures, sustaining his own body and not sinking under sorrow.
इमामसितकेशान्तां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणाम्। सुखार्हां दुःखितां ज्ञात्वा ममापि व्यथितं मनः
Seeing her, with dark hair and eyes like lotus petals, deserving of happiness yet afflicted with grief, my own heart too is troubled.