भरतस्यार्यपुत्रस्य श्वश्रूणां मम च प्रभो। मृगरूपमिदं दिव्यं विस्मयं जनयिष्यति
For Bharata, noble prince, for my mothers-in-law, and for me, O lord, this divine deer form will inspire wonder.
जीवन्न यदि तेऽभ्येति ग्रहणं मृगसत्तमः। अजिनं नरशार्दूल रुचिरं तु भविष्यति
If you capture this foremost deer alive, O tiger among men, its beautiful skin will be yours.
निहतस्यास्य सत्त्वस्य जाम्बूनदमयत्वचि। शष्पबृस्यां विनीतायामिच्छाम्यहमुपासितुम्
If this creature is slain, I wish to worship its golden skin, laid upon the grass mat.
कामवृत्तमिदं रौद्रं स्त्रीणामसदृशं मतम्। वपुषा त्वस्य सत्त्वस्य विस्मयो जनितो मम
This desire is fierce and unbefitting for women, I think; yet the form of this creature has filled me with wonder.
तेन काञ्चनरोम्णा तु मणिप्रवरशृङ्गिणा। तरुणादित्यवर्णेन नक्षत्रपथवर्चसा
With its golden hair, its splendid jeweled horns, its youthful sun-like color, and the brilliance of the starry path—
बभूव राघवस्यापि मनो विस्मयमागतम्। इति सीतावचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च मृगमद्भुतम्
Even Rāghava's mind was struck with wonder, hearing Sītā's words and seeing the marvelous deer.
लोभितस्तेन रूपेण सीतया च प्रचोदितः। उवाच राघवो हृष्टो भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणं वचः
Enchanted by its form and urged by Sītā, Rāghava, delighted, spoke to his brother Lakṣmaṇa.
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहामुल्लसितामिमाम्। रूपश्रेष्ठतया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति
Look, Lakṣmaṇa, at Vaidehī's eager longing; for its supreme beauty, this deer will not remain today.
न वने नन्दनोद्देशे न चैत्ररथसंश्रये। कुतः पृथिव्यां सौमित्रे योऽस्य कश्चित् समो मृगः
In the forest, in the groves of Nandana, nor in the retreats of Caitraratha—where on earth, O Saumitri, is there any deer equal to this one?
प्रतिलोमानुलोमाश्च रुचिरा रोमराजयः। शोभन्ते मृगमाश्रित्य चित्राः कनकबिन्दुभिः
Beautiful rows of hair, both against and with the grain, shine upon this deer, adorned with varied golden spots.
पश्यास्य जृम्भमाणस्य दीप्तामग्निशिखोपमाम्। जिह्वां मुखान्निःसरन्तीं मेघादिव शतह्रदाम्
Behold, as it yawns, its tongue—brilliant as a blazing flame—emerges from its mouth like a hundred-rayed cloud.
मसारगल्वर्कमुखः शङ्खमुक्तानिभोदरः। कस्य नामानिरूप्योऽसौ न मनो लोभयेन्मृगः
With a face like sapphire and gold, and a belly resembling conch and pearls—who would not feel desire for such an indescribable deer?
कस्य रूपमिदं दृष्ट्वा जाम्बूनदमयप्रभम्। नानारत्नमयं दिव्यं न मनो विस्मयं व्रजेत्
Who, seeing this form—radiant as gold from the Jambū river, divine, adorned with various gems—would not be filled with wonder?
मांसहेतोरपि मृगान् विहारार्थं च धन्विनः। घ्नन्ति लक्ष्मण राजानो मृगयायां महावने
For the sake of meat, and also for sport, kings, O Lakṣmaṇa, hunt deer with bows in the great forest.
धनानि व्यवसायेन विचीयन्ते महावने। धातवो विविधाश्चापि मणिरत्नसुवर्णिनः
In the great forest, through effort, treasures are sought—various minerals, gems, and gold.
तत् सारमखिलं नॄणां धनं निचयवर्धनम्। मनसा चिन्तितं सर्वं यथा शुक्रस्य लक्ष्मण
All that is considered the essence of wealth among men, the means of increasing riches, and all that is desired in the mind, O Lakṣmaṇa, is as it is for Śukra.
अर्थी येनार्थकृत्येन संव्रजत्यविचारयन्। तमर्थमर्थशास्त्रज्ञाः प्राहुरर्थ्याः सुलक्ष्मण
Whatever a seeker pursues for the sake of gain, without hesitation, that is called 'wealth' by those skilled in the science of wealth, O noble Lakṣmaṇa.
एतस्य मृगरत्नस्य परार्घ्ये काञ्चनत्वचि। उपवेक्ष्यति वैदेही मया सह सुमध्यमा
On the priceless golden skin of this jewel among deer, Vaidehī, slender-waisted, will sit with me.
न कादली न प्रियकी न प्रवेणी न चाविकी। भवेदेतस्य सदृशी स्पर्शेऽनेनेति मे मतिः
Neither the plantain, nor the priyaka, nor the praveṇī, nor the āvikī—none of these, I think, would match this one in touch.
एष चैव मृगः श्रीमान् यश्च दिव्यो नभश्चरः। उभावेतौ मृगौ दिव्यौ तारामृगमहीमृगौ
This splendid deer and that celestial one moving in the sky—both are divine: the star-deer and the earth-deer.
यदि वायं तथा यन्मां भवेद् वदसि लक्ष्मण। मायैषा राक्षसस्येति कर्तव्योऽस्य वधो मया
If, as you say, O Lakṣmaṇa, this is indeed a demon's illusion, then I must slay this deer.
एतेन हि नृशंसेन मारीचेनाकृतात्मना। वने विचरता पूर्वं हिंसिता मुनिपुंगवाः
For by this cruel Māricā, whose nature is unrighteous, the foremost sages wandering in the forest were previously harmed.
उत्थाय बहवोऽनेन मृगयायां जनाधिपाः। निहताः परमेष्वासास्तस्माद् वध्यस्त्वयं मृगः
Many kings, expert archers, rose up for the hunt and were slain by him; therefore, this deer must be killed.
पुरस्तादिह वातापिः परिभूय तपस्विनः। उदरस्थो द्विजान् हन्ति स्वगर्भोऽश्वतरीमिव
Earlier, here, Vātāpi, having deceived ascetics, killed brahmins from within their bellies, as a foal within its mother.
स कदाचिच्चिराल्लोभादाससाद महामुनिम्। अगस्त्यं तेजसा युक्तं भक्ष्यस्तस्य बभूव ह
Once, out of greed, he approached the great sage Agastya, endowed with brilliance, and became his food.
त्वयाविगण्य वातापे परिभूताश्च तेजसा। जीवलोके द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्मादसि जरां गतः
By you, O Vātāpi, the best of brahmins were disregarded and overpowered by your might; thus you have come to old age among the living.
तद् रक्षो न भवेदेव वातापिरिव लक्ष्मण। मद्विधं योऽतिमन्येत धर्मनित्यं जितेन्द्रियम्
Such a being is not a true demon, O Lakshmana, who would scorn someone like me—steadfast in righteousness and self-control—just as Vatapi did.
भवेद्धतोऽयं वातापिरगस्त्येनेव मा गतः। इह त्वं भव संनद्धो यन्त्रितो रक्ष मैथिलीम्
He will meet his end, just as Vatapi was destroyed by Agastya; do not go, but remain here, armed and vigilant, to guard Maithili.
अस्यामायत्तमस्माकं यत् कृत्यं रघुनन्दन। अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ग्रहीष्याम्यथवा मृगम्
Our duty here, O delight of the Raghus, depends on her; I will either slay this creature or capture the deer.
यावद् गच्छामि सौमित्रे मृगमानयितुं द्रुतम्। पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्या मृगत्वचि गतां स्पृहाम्
While I go swiftly, O Saumitri, to bring back the deer, observe the longing Vaidehi has for its beautiful skin.