सुतः किल स शक्रस्य वायसः पततां वरः। धरान्तरगतः शीघ्रं पवनस्य गतौ समः
That crow, it is said, was the son of Indra, foremost among birds, swift as the wind in flight, who had come down to earth.
ततस्तस्मिन् महाबाहो कोपसंवर्तितेक्षणः। वायसे त्वं व्यधाः क्रूरां मतिं मतिमतां वर
Then, O mighty-armed one, your eyes blazing with anger, you, best among the wise, formed a cruel resolve against the crow.
स दर्भसंस्तराद् गृह्य ब्रह्मास्त्रेण न्ययोजयः। स दीप्त इव कालाग्निर्जज्वालाभिमुखं खगम्
Taking a blade of sacred grass from the mat, you empowered it with the Brahma weapon; it blazed before the bird like fire at the end of time.
स त्वं प्रदीप्तं चिक्षेप दर्भं तं वायसं प्रति। ततस्तु वायसं दीप्तः स दर्भोऽनुजगाम ह
You hurled that blazing blade of grass at the crow; and that fiery blade pursued the crow.
भीतैश्च सम्परित्यक्तः सुरैः सर्वैश्च वायसः। त्रीँल्लोकान् सम्परिक्रम्य त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति
Abandoned in fear by all the gods, the crow wandered through the three worlds but found no protector.
पुनरप्यागतस्तत्र त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम। त्वं तं निपतितं भूमौ शरण्यः शरणागतम्
Again he returned there, to you, O subduer of enemies; you, the refuge, protected him as he fell to the ground, seeking shelter.
वधार्हमपि काकुत्स्थ कृपया परिपालयः। मोघमस्त्रं न शक्यं तु कर्तुमित्येव राघव
Though he deserved death, O descendant of Kakutstha, you preserved him out of compassion; for, O Rāghava, a weapon once released cannot be made futile.
भवांस्तस्याक्षि काकस्य हिनस्ति स्म स दक्षिणम्। राम त्वां स नमस्कृत्य राज्ञो दशरथस्य च
You destroyed the right eye of that crow; and he, bowing to you, Rāma, and to King Daśaratha as well—
विसृष्टस्तु तदा काकः प्रतिपेदे स्वमालयम्। एवमस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठः सत्त्ववाञ्छीलवानपि
—then released, the crow returned to his own abode; thus, though the best of those skilled in weapons, and possessing virtue and character—
किमर्थमस्त्रं रक्षःसु न योजयसि राघव। न दानवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न मरुद्गणाः
Why, O Rāghava, do you not use your weapon against the demons? For neither Dānavas, nor Gandharvas, nor Asuras, nor hosts of Maruts—
तव राम रणे शक्तास्तथा प्रतिसमासितुम्। तव वीर्यवतः कश्चिन्मयि यद्यस्ति सम्भ्रमः
—are able, O Rāma, to withstand you in battle; if you, powerful one, have any hesitation because of me—
क्षिप्रं सुनिशितैर्बाणैर्हन्यतां युधि रावणः। भ्रातुरादेशमाज्ञाय लक्ष्मणो वा परंतपः
Let Rāvaṇa be swiftly slain in battle with sharp, well-aimed arrows, by Lakṣmaṇa, scorcher of foes, obeying his brother’s command.
स किमर्थं नरवरो न मां रक्षति राघवः। शक्तौ तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ
Why does the best of men, Rāghava, not protect me? Those two tigers among men, equal in brilliance to wind and fire, are capable.
सुराणामपि दुर्धर्षौ किमर्थं मामुपेक्षतः। ममैव दुष्कृतं किंचिन्महदस्ति न संशयः
Even those unconquerable by the gods themselves—why do you disregard me? Surely, I must have committed some great wrongdoing; of this there is no doubt.
समर्थौ सहितौ यन्मां न रक्षेते परंतपौ। वैदेह्या वचनं श्रुत्वा करुणं साधुभाषितम्
Though both are capable and mighty in battle, why do those tormentors of foes not protect me, after hearing Vaidehī’s sorrowful and virtuous words?
पुनरप्यहमार्यां तामिदं वचनमब्रुवम्। त्वच्छोकविमुखो रामो देवि सत्येन ते शपे
Once again I spoke these words to that noble lady: 'O Devi, by truth itself I swear to you—Rāma, because of your sorrow, has turned away from all joy.'
रामे दुःखाभिभूते च लक्ष्मणः परितप्यते। कथंचिद् भवती दृष्टा न कालः परिशोचितुम्
And as Rāma is overwhelmed by grief, so too does Lakṣmaṇa suffer. Somehow, I have seen you, but now is not the time for lamentation.
अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते दुःखानामन्तं द्रक्ष्यसि भामिनि। तावुभौ नरशार्दूलौ राजपुत्रौ परंतपौ
In this very moment, O beautiful one, you will see an end to your sorrows. Those two tiger-like princes, destroyers of enemies,
त्वद्दर्शनकृतोत्साहौ लङ्कां भस्मीकरिष्यतः। हत्वा च समरे रौद्रं रावणं सहबान्धवम्
Inspired by the hope of seeing you, will reduce Laṅkā to ashes, slaying the fierce Rāvaṇa and his kin in battle.
राघवस्त्वां वरारोहे स्वपुरीं नयिता ध्रुवम्। यत् तु रामो विजानीयादभिज्ञानमनिन्दिते
Certainly, O slender-waisted one, Rāghava will take you back to his own city. But, O blameless lady, you must give him a token by which Rāma will recognize you.
प्रीतिसंजननं तस्य प्रदातुं तत् त्वमर्हसि। साभिवीक्ष्य दिशः सर्वा वेण्युद्ग्रथनमुत्तमम्
You should give him something that will bring him joy. Then, looking in all directions, she untied her excellent braid.
मुक्त्वा वस्त्राद् ददौ मह्यं मणिमेतं महाबल। प्रतिगृह्य मणिं दोर्भ्यां तव हेतो रघुप्रिय
Removing this jewel from her garment, she gave it to me, the mighty one. Accepting the jewel with both hands for your sake, O beloved of the Raghus—
शिरसा सम्प्रणम्यैनामहमागमने त्वरे। गमने च कृतोत्साहमवेक्ष्य वरवर्णिनी
I bowed my head in reverence to her and hastened to depart. Seeing my eagerness to go, the radiant lady—
विवर्धमानं च हि मामुवाच जनकात्मजा। अश्रुपूर्णमुखी दीना बाष्पगद्गदभाषिणी
As I grew more eager, the daughter of Janaka spoke to me. Her face was filled with tears, her voice choked with sobs, she was overcome by sorrow.
ममोत्पतनसम्भ्रान्ता शोकवेगसमाहता। मामुवाच ततः सीता सभाग्योऽसि महाकपे
Disturbed by my impending departure and overwhelmed by the force of grief, Sītā then spoke to me: 'You are truly fortunate, O mighty monkey,'
यद् द्रक्ष्यसि महाबाहुं रामं कमललोचनम्। लक्ष्मणं च महाबाहुं देवरं मे यशस्विनम्
'That you will see the great-armed Rāma, lotus-eyed, and Lakṣmaṇa, my illustrious brother-in-law, both mighty-armed.'
सीतयाप्येवमुक्तोऽहमब्रुवं मैथिलीं तथा। पृष्ठमारोह मे देवि क्षिप्रं जनकनन्दनि
Thus addressed by Sītā, I spoke likewise to the daughter of Mithilā: 'Climb onto my back, O Devi, O daughter of Janaka, quickly!'
यावत्ते दर्शयाम्यद्य ससुग्रीवं सलक्ष्मणम्। राघवं च महाभागे भर्तारमसितेक्षणे
'Today I will show you Rāghava, along with Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa—your lord, O dark-eyed one, O most fortunate lady.'
साब्रवीन्मां ततो देवी नैष धर्मो महाकपे। यत्ते पृष्ठं सिषेवेऽहं स्ववशा हरिपुङ्गव
Then the lady replied to me: 'This is not proper, O great monkey, that I should ascend your back of my own will, O foremost of monkeys.'
पुरा च यदहं वीर स्पृष्टा गात्रेषु रक्षसा। तत्राहं किं करिष्यामि कालेनोपनिपीडिता
'Before, O hero, when I was touched on my limbs by the demon, what could I do, oppressed by fate?'