भर्तारं निहतं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्। विललाप भृशं सीता करुणं शोककर्शिता
Seeing her husband slain and mighty Lakṣmaṇa as well, Sītā, tormented by grief, wept bitterly and piteously.
ऊचुर्लाक्षणिका ये मां पुत्रिण्यविधवेति च। तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः
Those who said I would never be widowed, that I would always have sons, all those wise ones are today proven false, with Rāma slain.
यज्वनो महिषीं ये मामूचुः पत्नीं च सत्रिणः। तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः
Those who called me the queen of a sacrificer, the wife of one who performs great rites, all those wise ones are today proven false, with Rāma slain.
वीरपार्थिवपत्नीनां ये विदुर्भर्तृपूजिताम्। तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः
Those who knew me as the honored wife of a heroic king, all those wise ones are today proven false, with Rāma slain.
ऊचुः संश्रवणे ये मां द्विजाः कार्तान्तिकाः शुभाम्। तेऽद्य सर्वे हते रामे ज्ञानिनोऽनृतवादिनः
Those twice-born ones who, in auspicious ceremonies, declared me blessed, all those wise ones are today proven false, with Rāma slain.
इमानि खलु पद्मानि पादयोर्वै कुलस्त्रियः। आधिराज्येऽभिषिच्यन्ते नरेन्द्रैः पतिभिः सह
These very marks, indeed, are lotuses at the feet of noble women, who are anointed in sovereignty together with their royal husbands.
वैधव्यं यान्ति यैर्नार्योऽलक्षणैर्भाग्यदुर्लभाः। नात्मनस्तानि पश्यामि पश्यन्ती हतलक्षणा
By which marks women of ill fortune, lacking destiny, become widows—those I do not see in myself, though I now see my fortune destroyed.
सत्यनामानि पद्मानि स्त्रीणामुक्तानि लक्षणैः। तान्यद्य निहते रामे वितथानि भवन्ति मे
The marks of women, called 'true lotuses,' have been spoken of; but today, with Rāma slain, for me they have become empty words.
केशाः सूक्ष्माः समा नीला भ्रुवौ चासंहते मम। वृत्ते चारोमके जङ्घे दन्ताश्चाविरला मम
My hair is fine, even, and dark; my eyebrows are unjoined; my shins are rounded and smooth; my teeth are even and unbroken.
शङ्खे नेत्रे करौ पादौ गुल्फावूरू समौ चितौ। अनुवृत्तनखाः स्निग्धाः समाश्चाङ्गुलयो मम
My eyes are shaped like conch shells, my hands and feet are well-formed, my ankles and thighs are symmetrical and well-marked; my nails are smooth and even, and my fingers are straight.
स्तनौ चाविरलौ पीनौ मामकौ मग्नचूचुकौ। मग्ना चोत्सेधनी नाभिः पार्श्वोरस्कं च मे चितम्
My breasts are full, rounded, and close-set, with sunken nipples; my navel is deep and prominent; my sides and chest are well-shaped.
मम वर्णो मणिनिभो मृदून्यङ्गरुहाणि च। प्रतिष्ठितां द्वादशभिर्मामूचुः शुभलक्षणाम्
My complexion is like a jewel, my body hair is soft; by these twelve marks, they declared me to possess auspicious signs.
समग्रयवमच्छिद्रं पाणिपादं च वर्णवत्। मन्दस्मितेत्येव च मां कन्यालाक्षणिका विदुः
My hands and feet are unblemished, shaped like whole barley grains; my smile is gentle—by these, the seers of maidenly marks recognized me.
आधिराज्येऽभिषेको मे ब्राह्मणैः पतिना सह। कृतान्तकुशलैरुक्तं तत् सर्वं वितथीकृतम्
The Brāhmaṇas, skilled in destiny, foretold that I would be anointed in sovereignty with my husband; but all that has been rendered false.
शोधयित्वा जनस्थानं प्रवृत्तिमुपलभ्य च। तीर्त्वा सागरमक्षोभ्यं भ्रातरौ गोष्पदे हतौ
Having cleared the forest of Janasthāna and learned of the events, having crossed the unshakable ocean, my two brothers were slain as if in a cow's hoofprint.
ननु वारुणमाग्नेयमैन्द्रं वायव्यमेव च। अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव राघवौ प्रत्यपद्यत
Indeed, the Rāghavas obtained the weapons of Varuṇa, Agni, Indra, Vāyu, and even the Brahmaśiras.
अदृश्यमानेन रणे मायया वासवोपमौ। मम नाथावनाथाया निहतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
Yet, by one unseen in battle, through illusion, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—equal to Indra—my protectors, have been slain, leaving me without support.
नहि दृष्टिपथं प्राप्य राघवस्य रणे रिपुः। जीवन् प्रतिनिवर्तेत यद्यपि स्यान्मनोजवः
No enemy who comes within Rāghava's sight in battle returns alive, even if he is as swift as thought.
न कालस्यातिभारोऽस्ति कृतान्तश्च सुदुर्जयः। यत्र रामः सह भ्रात्रा शेते युधि निपातितः
There is no burden too great for Time, and Death is truly unconquerable, when Rāma lies fallen in battle with his brother.
न शोचामि तथा रामं लक्ष्मणं च महारथम्। नात्मानं जननीं चापि यथा श्वश्रूं तपस्विनीम्
I do not grieve so much for Rāma, nor for Lakṣmaṇa the great charioteer, nor for myself or my mother, as I do for my ascetic mother-in-law.
सा तु चिन्तयते नित्यं समाप्तव्रतमागतम्। कदा द्रक्ष्यामि सीतां च लक्ष्मणं च सराघवम्
She constantly thinks, having completed her vows and awaiting their return: 'When will I see Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa together with Rāma?'
परिदेवयमानां तां राक्षसी त्रिजटाब्रवीत्। मा विषादं कृथा देवि भर्तायं तव जीवति
To her, as she lamented, the demoness Trijaṭā spoke: 'Do not despair, lady; your husband is alive.'
कारणनि च वक्ष्यामि महान्ति सदृशानि च। यथेमौ जीवतो देवि भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
I will tell you reasons, great and fitting, why these two brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, are alive, lady.
नहि कोपपरीतानि हर्षपर्युत्सुकानि च। भवन्ति युधि योधानां मुखानि निहते पतौ
The faces of warriors in battle do not become distorted by anger or overwhelmed with joy when their leader has been slain.
इदं विमानं वैदेहि पुष्पकं नाम नामतः। दिव्यं त्वां धारयेन् नेदं यद्येतौ गतजीवितौ
This aerial chariot, Vaidehi, called Puṣpaka by name, would not bear you in its divine form if these two had lost their lives.
हतवीरप्रधाना हि गतोत्साहा निरुद्यमा। सेना भ्रमति संख्येषु हतकर्णेव नौर्जले
For an army whose chief heroes are slain, whose spirit is gone and whose effort is lost, wanders in battle like a boat in water with its rudder broken.
इयं पुनरसम्भ्रान्ता निरुद्विग्ना तपस्विनि। सेना रक्षति काकुत्स्थौ मया प्रीत्या निवेदितौ
Yet this army, undisturbed and untroubled, O ascetic lady, is guarding the sons of Kakutstha, as I have joyfully informed you.
सा त्वं भव सुविस्रब्धा अनुमानैः सुखोदयैः। अहतौ पश्य काकुत्स्थौ स्नेहादेतद् ब्रवीमि ते
So you, be fully confident, relying on these pleasant signs; see the sons of Kakutstha unharmed—I say this to you out of affection.
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे न च वक्ष्यामि मैथिलि। चारित्रसुखशीलत्वात् प्रविष्टासि मनो मम
I have never spoken a lie, nor will I, O Maithilī; because of your virtuous and gentle nature, you have entered my heart.
नेमौ शक्यौ रणे जेतुं सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः। तादृशं दर्शनं दृष्ट्वा मया चोदीरितं तव
Even the gods with Indra, and the demons, cannot defeat these two in battle; seeing such a sight, I have spoken this to you.