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.
स्तिमितं गन्तुमारेभे भयाद् गोदावरी नदी। रामस्य त्वन्तरं प्रेप्सुर्दशग्रीवस्तदन्तरे
The Godāvarī river, out of fear, began to flow slowly; meanwhile, Daśagrīva, seeking an opportunity against Rāma, approached.
उपतस्थे च वैदेहीं भिक्षुरूपेण रावणः। अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण भर्तारमनुशोचतीम्
Rāvaṇa, in the guise of a mendicant, drew near to Vaidehī—unworthy though he appeared worthy—while she mourned her husband.
अभ्यवर्तत वैदेहीं चित्रामिव शनैश्चरः। सहसा भव्यरूपेण तृणैः कूप इवावृतः
He approached Vaidehī like Saturn approaches a brilliant star, suddenly, in a worthy guise, like a well covered with grass.
अतिष्ठत् प्रेक्ष्य वैदेहीं रामपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्। तिष्ठन् सम्प्रेक्ष्य च तदा पत्नीं रामस्य रावणः
He stood gazing at Vaidehī, Rāma's illustrious wife; thus Rāvaṇa stood, looking at Rāma's wife.
शुभां रुचिरदन्तोष्ठीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्। आसीनां पर्णशालायां बाष्पशोकाभिपीडिताम्
Beautiful, with lovely teeth and lips, her face like the full moon, she sat in the leaf-hut, overwhelmed by tears and sorrow.
स तां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्। अभ्यगच्छत वैदेहीं हृष्टचेता निशाचरः
He, the night-stalker, with delighted mind, approached Vaidehī, whose eyes were like lotus petals and who wore yellow silk.
दृष्ट्वा कामशराविद्धो ब्रह्मघोषमुदीरयन्। अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितं वाक्यं रहिते राक्षसाधिपः
Pierced by the arrows of desire, raising a sound like the chanting of sacred words, the lord of the Rākṣasas spoke courteous words in private.
तामुत्तमां त्रिलोकानां पद्महीनामिव श्रियम्। विभ्राजमानां वपुषा रावणः प्रशशंस ह
Rāvaṇa praised her, radiant in form, like the highest fortune of the three worlds deprived of the lotus, shining in her beauty.
रौप्यकाञ्चनवर्णाभे पीतकौशेयवासिनि। कमलानां शुभां मालां पद्मिनीव च बिभ्रती
Clad in yellow silk, with a garland of lotuses, her appearance rivaled silver and gold, like a blooming lotus-pond.
ह्रीः श्रीः कीर्तिः शुभा लक्ष्मीरप्सरा वा शुभानने। भूतिर्वा त्वं वरारोहे रतिर्वा स्वैरचारिणी
Are you Modesty, Fortune, Fame, Auspicious Lakṣmī, or a celestial nymph, O beautiful-faced one? Or are you Prosperity, O lovely-hipped, or the free-roaming goddess of Love?