इच्छामि त्वां समानेतुमद्यैव रघुनन्दिना। गुरुस्नेहेन भक्त्या च नान्यथा तदुदाहृतम्
I wish to bring you together with the descendant of Raghu today, through deep affection and devotion; otherwise, that was not said.
यदि नोत्सहसे यातुं मया सार्धमनिन्दिते। अभिज्ञानं प्रयच्छ त्वं जानीयाद् राघवो हि यत्
If you are unable, O blameless one, to go with me, give a token of recognition, so that Rāghava may know it.
एवमुक्ता हनुमता सीता सुरसुतोपमा। उवाच वचनं मन्दं बाष्पप्रग्रथिताक्षरम्
Thus addressed by Hanumān, Sītā, resembling a daughter of the gods, spoke words slowly, her speech choked with tears.
इदं श्रेष्ठमभिज्ञानं ब्रूयास्त्वं तु मम प्रियम्। शैलस्य चित्रकूटस्य पादे पूर्वोत्तरे पदे
This is the best token of recognition; you should tell my beloved: at the foot of the mountain Citrakūṭa, in the northeast place,
तापसाश्रमवासिन्याः प्राज्यमूलफलोदके। तस्मिन् सिद्धाश्रिते देशे मन्दाकिन्यविदूरतः
In that region, inhabited by ascetics, rich in roots, fruits, and water, near the Mandākinī river, where the accomplished dwell,
तस्योपवनखण्डेषु नानापुष्पसुगन्धिषु। विहृत्य सलिले क्लिन्नो ममाङ्के समुपाविशः
In the groves of that place, fragrant with various flowers, after wandering and being soaked in the water, you sat upon my lap.
ततो मांससमायुक्तो वायसः पर्यतुण्डयत्। तमहं लोष्टमुद्यम्य वारयामि स्म वायसम्
Then a crow, accompanied by meat, pecked at me; I, raising a clod, tried to drive away the crow.
दारयन् स च मां काकस्तत्रैव परिलीयते। न चाप्युपारमन्मांसाद् भक्षार्थी बलिभोजनः
Tearing at me, that crow hid right there; nor did it desist from the meat, desiring food and offerings.
उत्कर्षन्त्यां च रशनां क्रुद्धायां मयि पक्षिणे। स्रंसमाने च वसने ततो दृष्टा त्वया ह्यहम्
As I, angry at the bird, was pulling my waistband and my garment was slipping, then I was seen by you.
त्वया विहसिता चाहं क्रुद्धा संलज्जिता तदा। भक्ष्यगृद्धेन काकेन दारिता त्वामुपागता
By you I was laughed at, and at that time, angry and embarrassed, wounded by the crow greedy for food, I came to you.
ततः श्रान्ताहमुत्सङ्गमासीनस्य तवाविशम्। क्रुध्यन्तीव प्रहृष्टेन त्वयाहं परिसान्त्विता
Then, exhausted, I entered the lap of you who were seated; though angry, I was comforted by you, who were delighted.
बाष्पपूर्णमुखी मन्दं चक्षुषी परिमार्जती। लक्षिताहं त्वया नाथ वायसेन प्रकोपिता
With my face full of tears, slowly wiping my eyes, I was noticed by you, O lord, agitated by the crow.
परिश्रमाच्च सुप्ता हे राघवाङ्केऽस्म्यहं चिरम्। पर्यायेण प्रसुप्तश्च ममाङ्के भरताग्रजः
Because of fatigue, I slept for a long time on Rāghava's lap; and in turn, the elder brother of Bharata slept on my lap.
स तत्र पुनरेवाथ वायसः समुपागमत्। ततः सुप्तप्रबुद्धां मां राघवाङ्कात् समुत्थिताम्। वायसः सहसागम्य विददार स्तनान्तरे
Then again the crow approached; then, as I awoke from sleep and rose from Rāghava's lap, the crow suddenly came and wounded me between the breasts.
पुनः पुनरथोत्पत्य विददार स मां भृशम्। ततः समुत्थितो रामो मुक्तैः शोणितबिन्दुभिः
Again and again, flying up, it wounded me severely; then Rāma arose, seeing drops of blood flowing freely.
स मां दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुर्वितुन्नां स्तनयोस्तदा। आशीविष इव क्रुद्धः श्वसन् वाक्यमभाषत
Then, seeing me wounded on my breasts, that mighty-armed one, like an enraged serpent, spoke these words with a hiss.
केन ते नागनासोरु विक्षतं वै स्तनान्तरम्। कः क्रीडति सरोषेण पञ्चवक्त्रेण भोगिना
By whom, O one with a nose like a serpent’s, has the space between your breasts been injured? Who dares to play in anger with a five-headed serpent?
वीक्षमाणस्ततस्तं वै वायसं समवैक्षत। नखैः सरुधिरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मामेवाभिमुखं स्थितम्
Looking around, he saw that crow standing right before me, with sharp claws stained with blood.
पुत्रः किल स शक्रस्य वायसः पततां वरः। धरान्तरं गतः शीघ्रं पवनस्य गतौ समः
That crow, it is said, was the son of Indra, foremost among birds, swift as the wind, who had traversed the earth.
ततस्तस्मिन् महाबाहुः कोपसंवर्तितेक्षणः। वायसे कृतवान् क्रूरां मतिं मतिमतां वरः
Then that mighty-armed one, his eyes blazing with anger, resolved upon a cruel course of action against the crow, he who was best among the wise.
स दर्भसंस्तराद् गृह्य ब्रह्मणोऽस्त्रेण योजयत्। स दीप्त इव कालाग्निर्जज्वालाभिमुखो द्विजम्
He took a blade of darbha grass from his mat and empowered it with the Brahma weapon; it blazed forth, facing the bird, like the fire of destruction.
स तं प्रदीप्तं चिक्षेप दर्भं तं वायसं प्रति। ततस्तु वायसं दर्भः सोऽम्बरेऽनुजगाम ह
He hurled that blazing blade of grass at the crow, and that blade pursued the crow through the sky.
अनुसृष्टस्तदा काको जगाम विविधां गतिम्। त्राणकाम इमं लोकं सर्वं वै विचचार ह
Pursued in this way, the crow took many different paths, wandering through the whole world seeking protection.
स पित्रा च परित्यक्तः सर्वैश्च परमर्षिभिः। त्रीँल्लोकान् सम्परिक्रम्य तमेव शरणं गतः
Abandoned by his father and all the great sages, he roamed the three worlds and finally sought refuge only with him.
स तं निपतितं भूमौ शरण्यः शरणागतम्। वधार्हमपि काकुत्स्थः कृपया पर्यपालयत्
He who gives refuge protected that crow, who had fallen to the ground and sought shelter, even though he deserved death, out of compassion.
परिद्यूनं विवर्णं च पतमानं तमब्रवीत्। मोघमस्त्रं न शक्यं तु ब्राह्मं कर्तुं तदुच्यताम्
He spoke to that crow, who was exhausted, pale, and falling: 'The Brahma weapon cannot be rendered fruitless; let it be told where it should strike.'
ततस्तस्याक्षि काकस्य हिनस्ति स्म स दक्षिणम्। दत्त्वा तु दक्षिणं नेत्रं प्राणेभ्यः परिरक्षितः
Then it struck the crow’s right eye; having given his right eye, his life was spared.
स रामाय नमस्कृत्वा राज्ञे दशरथाय च। विसृष्टस्तेन वीरेण प्रतिपेदे स्वमालयम्
Having bowed to Rāma and to King Daśaratha, he was released by that hero and returned to his own abode.
मत्कृते काकमात्रेऽपि ब्रह्मास्त्रं समुदीरितम्। कस्माद् यो माहरत् त्वत्तः क्षमसे तं महीपते
For my sake, even for the offense of a crow, the Brahma weapon was invoked; so why do you, O king, forgive the one who has wronged me?
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मस्त्वत्त एव मया श्रुतम्। जानामि त्वां महावीर्यं महोत्साहं महाबलम्
From you I have heard that compassion is the highest virtue; I know you are of great strength, great energy, and great might.