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.'
वाक्यमप्रतिरूपं तु न चित्रं स्त्रीषु मैथिलि। स्वभावस्त्वेष नारीणामेषु लोकेषु दृश्यते
'O Maithilī, it is not surprising to hear such unfitting words from women; this is the nature of women, seen in this world.'
विमुक्तधर्माश्चपलास्तीक्ष्णा भेदकराः स्त्रियः। न सहे हीदृशं वाक्यं वैदेहि जनकात्मजे
'Women are fickle, unrestrained, sharp, and divisive; O Vaidehī, daughter of Janaka, I cannot endure such words.'
श्रोत्रयोरुभयोर्मध्ये तप्तनाराचसंनिभम्। उपशृण्वन्तु मे सर्वे साक्षिणो हि वनेचराः
'Let all the dwellers of the forest bear witness as I speak words, piercing as heated arrows, between both my ears.'
न्यायवादी यथा वाक्यमुक्तोऽहं परुषं त्वया। धिक् त्वामद्य विनश्यन्तीं यन्मामेवं विशङ्कसे
'Though I have spoken justly, you have addressed me with harsh words; shame on you, who are perishing, for suspecting me in this way.'
स्त्रीत्वाद् दुष्टस्वभावेन गुरुवाक्ये व्यवस्थितम्। गच्छामि यत्र काकुत्स्थः स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु वरानने
'Because of your womanhood and wicked nature, you remain fixed in your own view; I go now to where Rāma is, may you fare well, O beautiful-faced one.'
रक्षन्तु त्वां विशालाक्षि समग्रा वनदेवताः। निमित्तानि हि घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे। अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः
'May all the forest deities protect you, O wide-eyed one; for dreadful omens are appearing to me. May I see you again, together with Rāma, when I return.'
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता तु रुदती जनकात्मजा। प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यं तीव्रबाष्पपरिप्लुता
Thus addressed by Lakṣmaṇa, the daughter of Janaka, weeping and overwhelmed with intense tears, replied with these words:
गोदावरीं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हीना रामेण लक्ष्मण। आबन्धिष्येऽथवा त्यक्ष्ये विषमे देहमात्मनः
'Deprived of Rāma, O Lakṣmaṇa, I will enter the Godāvarī, or else I will tie a noose or abandon my body in some perilous place.'
पिबामि वा विषं तीक्ष्णं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्। न त्वहं राघवादन्यं कदापि पुरुषं स्पृशे
I will drink deadly poison or enter a blazing fire, but I will never touch any man other than Rāghava.
इति लक्ष्मणमाश्रुत्य सीता शोकसमन्विता। पाणिभ्यां रुदती दुःखादुदरं प्रजघान ह
Hearing this, Sītā, overwhelmed by grief, struck her belly with her hands as she wept in sorrow.
तामार्तरूपां विमना रुदन्तीं सौमित्रिरालोक्य विशालनेत्राम्। आश्वासयामास न चैव भर्तु- स्तं भ्रातरं किंचिदुवाच सीता
Seeing her in such distress, weeping and dejected, with wide eyes, Saumitri tried to comfort her, but Sītā did not say anything to her husband's brother.
ततस्तु सीतामभिवाद्य लक्ष्मणः कृताञ्जलिः किंचिदभिप्रणम्य। अवेक्षमाणो बहुशः स मैथिलीं जगाम रामस्य समीपमात्मवान्
Then Lakṣmaṇa, bowing to Sītā with joined palms and inclining slightly, looked back at her again and again, and resolutely went to Rāma.
thumb|षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the forty-sixth chapter be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa, Chapter Forty-Six.
तया परुषमुक्तस्तु कुपितो राघवानुजः। स विकांक्षन् भृशं रामं प्रतस्थे नचिरादिव
Having been harshly addressed by her, Rāghava's younger brother, angered and longing for Rāma, set out at once.
तदासाद्य दशग्रीवः क्षिप्रमन्तरमास्थितः। अभिचक्राम वैदेहीं परिव्राजकरूपधृक्
Then Daśagrīva, having quickly seized the opportunity, approached Vaidehī in the guise of a wandering ascetic.
श्लक्ष्णकाषायसंवीतः शिखी छत्री उपानही। वामे चांसेऽवसज्याथ शुभे यष्टिकमण्डलू
Clad in soft ochre robes, with a topknot, an umbrella, and sandals, he had a beautiful staff and water-pot slung over his left shoulder.
परिव्राजकरूपेण वैदेहीमन्ववर्तत। तामाससादातिबलो भ्रातृभ्यां रहितां वने
In the form of a wandering ascetic, he followed Vaidehī, whom he found alone in the forest, separated from her two brothers.
रहितां सूर्यचन्द्राभ्यां संध्यामिव महत्तमः। तामपश्यत् ततो बालां राजपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्
Alone, like twilight bereft of sun and moon, he saw her—a young, illustrious princess.
रोहिणीं शशिना हीनां ग्रहवद् भृशदारुणः। तमुग्रं पापकर्माणं जनस्थानगता द्रुमाः
Like Rohiṇī deprived of the moon, he, fierce and cruel in deed, was as ominous as a planet bringing calamity; the trees of Janasthāna saw him.
संदृश्य न प्रकम्पन्ते न प्रवाति च मारुतः। शीघ्रस्रोताश्च तं दृष्ट्वा वीक्षन्तं रक्तलोचनम्
Seeing him, the trees did not tremble, nor did the wind blow; even the swift-flowing Godāvarī, out of fear, began to move sluggishly as he gazed with blood-red eyes.