निहत्य पृषतं चान्यं मांसमादाय राघवः। त्वरमाणो जनस्थानं ससाराभिमुखं तदा
Having killed another spotted deer and taken its flesh, Raghava hurried toward Janasthana.
thumb|पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the forty-fifth chapter be heard.
आर्तस्वरं तु तं भर्तुर्विज्ञाय सदृशं वने। उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता गच्छ जानीहि राघवम्
Recognizing that anguished cry in the forest as her husband's, Sita said to Lakshmana, 'Go and find out about Raghava.'
नहि मे जीवितं स्थाने हृदयं वावतिष्ठते। क्रोशतः परमार्तस्य श्रुतः शब्दो मया भृशम्
My life is not secure, nor does my heart remain steady; I have heard the voice of one in great distress, crying out, and it has shaken me deeply.
आक्रन्दमानं तु वने भ्रातरं त्रातुमर्हसि। तं क्षिप्रमभिधाव त्वं भ्रातरं शरणैषिणम्
You must save your brother, who is calling out in the forest; quickly run to him, your brother who seeks refuge.
रक्षसां वशमापन्नं सिंहानामिव गोवृषम्। न जगाम तथोक्तस्तु भ्रातुराज्ञाय शासनम्
He has fallen into the power of the rakshasas, like a bull among lions; yet, Lakshmana did not go, remembering his brother's command.
तमुवाच ततस्तत्र क्षुभिता जनकात्मजा। सौमित्रे मित्ररूपेण भ्रातुस्त्वमसि शत्रुवत्
Then, disturbed, the daughter of Janaka spoke to him there: 'Son of Sumitra, though you appear as a friend, you are acting as an enemy to your brother.'
यस्त्वमस्यामवस्थायां भ्रातरं नाभिपद्यसे। इच्छसि त्वं विनश्यन्तं रामं लक्ष्मण मत्कृते
If, in this situation, you do not go to your brother, then, Lakshmana, it is for my sake that you wish for Rama's destruction.
लोभात्तु मत्कृते नूनं नानुगच्छसि राघवम्। व्यसनं ते प्रियं मन्ये स्नेहो भ्रातरि नास्ति ते
Surely, out of desire for me, you do not follow Raghava; I think you take pleasure in his misfortune, and you have no affection for your brother.
तेन तिष्ठसि विस्रब्धं तमपश्यन् महाद्युतिम्। किं हि संशयमापन्ने तस्मिन्निह मया भवेत्
That is why you remain here so confidently, not seeing him, the radiant one; what would become of me here if he, in whom I trust, is in danger?
कर्तव्यमिह तिष्ठन्त्या यत्प्रधानस्त्वमागतः। एवं ब्रुवाणां वैदेहीं बाष्पशोकसमन्विताम्
What is the purpose of your staying here, when you have come as the chief protector? Thus spoke Vaidehi, filled with tears and sorrow.
अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणस्त्रस्तां सीतां मृगवधूमिव। पन्नगासुरगन्धर्वदेवदानवराक्षसैः
Then Lakshmana spoke to frightened Sita, like a deer-cow, 'By serpents, asuras, gandharvas, gods, danavas, or rakshasas—'
अशक्यस्तव वैदेहि भर्ता जेतुं न संशयः। देवि देवमनुष्येषु गन्धर्वेषु पतत्रिषु
'Your husband, O Vaidehi, cannot be defeated—there is no doubt—by gods, men, gandharvas, or birds.'
राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु किन्नरेषु मृगेषु च। दानवेषु च घोरेषु न स विद्येत शोभने
'Among rakshasas, pisacas, kinnaras, and animals, and even among the fierce danavas, there is none, O beautiful one—'
यो रामं प्रतियुध्येत समरे वासवोपमम्। अवध्यः समरे रामो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
'Who could fight Rama in battle, who is equal to Indra; Rama is invincible in battle, so you should not speak in this way.'
न त्वामस्मिन् वने हातुमुत्सहे राघवं विना। अनिवार्यं बलं तस्य बलैर्बलवतामपि
'I cannot bear to leave you in this forest without Raghava; his strength cannot be resisted, even by the strongest of the strong.'
त्रिभिर्लोकैः समुदितैः सेश्वरैः सामरैरपि। हृदयं निर्वृतं तेऽस्तु संतापस्त्यज्यतां तव
'Even if all three worlds, with their lords and the hosts of gods, were to unite, his power could not be overcome. Let your heart be at peace, and let your distress be set aside.'
आगमिष्यति ते भर्ता शीघ्रं हत्वा मृगोत्तमम्। न स तस्य स्वरो व्यक्तं न कश्चिदपि दैवतः
'Your husband will soon return, having slain the noble deer; that voice you heard is not truly his, nor could it be any god's.'
गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या माया तस्य च रक्षसः। न्यासभूतासि वैदेहि न्यस्ता मयि महात्मना
'That was the illusion of the rakshasa, like a city of the gandharvas; O Vaidehi, you have been entrusted to me by the great-souled Rama.'
रामेण त्वं वरारोहे न त्वां त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे। कृतवैराश्च कल्याणि वयमेतैर्निशाचरैः
'O fair-hipped one, I cannot bear to abandon you here, for you have been entrusted to me by Rama; and now, O auspicious one, we have become enemies to these night-wanderers.'
खरस्य निधने देवि जनस्थानवधं प्रति। राक्षसा विविधा वाचो व्याहरन्ति महावने
O Devi, after Khara was slain, regarding the massacre at Janasthāna, various words are being spoken by the Rākṣasas in the great forest.
हिंसाविहारा वैदेहि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि। लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता तु क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना
O Vaidehī, you should not dwell on these acts of violence and cruelty; thus addressed by Lakṣmaṇa, she, angered and with bloodshot eyes—
अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं सत्यवादिनम्। अनार्याकरुणारम्भ नृशंस कुलपांसन
—spoke harsh words to Lakṣmaṇa, who always speaks the truth: 'You are ignoble, pitiless in your intent, cruel, and a disgrace to your family.'
अहं तव प्रियं मन्ये रामस्य व्यसनं महत्। रामस्य व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा तेनैतानि प्रभाषसे
'I think you take pleasure in Rama’s great misfortune; seeing Rama in distress, you speak these words.'
नैव चित्रं सपत्नेषु पापं लक्ष्मण यद् भवेत्। त्वद्विधेषु नृशंसेषु नित्यं प्रच्छन्नचारिषु
'It is not surprising if evil arises among rivals, Lakṣmaṇa, especially among the cruel and ever-deceitful like you.'
सुदुष्टस्त्वं वने राममेकमेकोऽनुगच्छसि। मम हेतोः प्रतिच्छन्नः प्रयुक्तो भरतेन वा
'You are truly wicked, following Rama alone into the forest, secretly, either for my sake or sent by Bharata.'
तन्न सिध्यति सौमित्रे तवापि भरतस्य वा। कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं रामं पद्मनिभेक्षणम्
'But this will not succeed, O son of Sumitrā, neither for you nor for Bharata; how could I, having taken Rama, dark as a blue lotus and lotus-eyed, as my husband—'
उपसंश्रित्य भर्तारं कामयेयं पृथग्जनम्। समक्षं तव सौमित्रे प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्याम्यसंशयम्
'—desire another man? In your very presence, O son of Sumitrā, I will surely give up my life.'
रामं विना क्षणमपि नैव जीवामि भूतले। इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं सीतया रोमहर्षणम्
'Without Rama, I cannot live even for a moment on this earth.' Thus, addressed with harsh, hair-raising words by Sītā—
अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणः सीतां प्राञ्जलिः स जितेन्द्रियः। उत्तरं नोत्सहे वक्तुं दैवतं भवती मम
—Lakṣmaṇa, self-controlled and with joined palms, spoke to Sītā: 'I am unable to reply; you are as a goddess to me.'