इत्युक्त्वा परुषं वाक्यं रावणः शत्रुरावणः। राक्षसीश्च ततः क्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having spoken these harsh words, Ravana, the enemy of enemies, then angrily addressed the Rakshasis.
शीघ्रमेव हि राक्षस्यो विरूपा घोरदर्शनाः। दर्पमस्यापनेष्यन्तु मांसशोणितभोजनाः
Immediately, the Rakshasis, hideous and terrifying to behold, who feast on flesh and blood, will humble her pride.
वचनादेव तास्तस्य सुघोरा घोरदर्शनाः। कृतप्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा मैथिलीं पर्यवारयन्
At his command, those fierce and dreadful Rakshasis, with palms joined in reverence, surrounded Maithili.
स ताः प्रोवाच राजासौ रावणो घोरदर्शनाः। प्रचल्य चरणोत्कर्षैर्दारयन्निव मेदिनीम्
Then Ravana, the king, terrifying to behold, addressed them, stamping his feet as if tearing the earth.
अशोकवनिकामध्ये मैथिली नीयतामिति। तत्रेयं रक्ष्यतां गूढं युष्माभिः परिवारिता
Take Maithili to the center of the Ashoka grove; let her be guarded there, hidden and surrounded by you.
तत्रैनां तर्जनैर्घोरैः पुनः सान्त्वैश्च मैथिलीम्। आनयध्वं वशं सर्वा वन्यां गजवधूमिव
There, with fierce threats and then with coaxing words, bring this daughter of Mithila under control, as one would a wild elephant-cow.
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टा राक्षस्यो रावणेन ताः। अशोकवनिकां जग्मुर्मैथिलीं परिगृह्य तु
Thus commanded by Ravana, those rakshasi women went to the Ashoka grove, taking Maithili with them.
सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैर्नानापुष्पफलैर्वृताम्। सर्वकालमदैश्चापि द्विजैः समुपसेविताम्
It was surrounded by trees bearing all desired fruits, adorned with various flowers and fruits, and always attended by intoxicated birds.
सा तु शोकपरीताङ्गी मैथिली जनकात्मजा। राक्षसीवशमापन्ना व्याघ्रीणां हरिणी यथा
There, Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, her body seized by grief, fell under the power of the rakshasis, like a doe among tigers.
शोकेन महता ग्रस्ता मैथिली जनकात्मजा। न शर्म लभते भीरुः पाशबद्धा मृगी यथा
Consumed by great sorrow, Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, found no peace, like a frightened deer bound in a snare.
न विन्दते तत्र तु शर्म मैथिली विरूपनेत्राभिरतीव तर्जिता। पतिं स्मरन्ती दयितं च देवरं विचेतनाभूद् भयशोकपीडिता
There, Maithili found no comfort, harshly threatened by those with monstrous eyes; remembering her beloved husband and his brother, she became senseless, tormented by fear and grief.
thumb|सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the fifty-seventh sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa.
राक्षसं मृगरूपेण चरन्तं कामरूपिणम्। निहत्य रामो मारीचं तूर्णं पथि न्यवर्तत
Rama swiftly killed Maricha, who was roaming in the form of a deer, able to assume any shape at will, and turned back on the path.
तस्य संत्वरमाणस्य द्रष्टुकामस्य मैथिलीम्। क्रूरस्वनोऽथ गोमायुर्विननादास्य पृष्ठतः
As he hurried, eager to see Maithili, a jackal with a cruel voice howled behind him.
स तस्य स्वरमाज्ञाय दारुणं रोमहर्षणम्। चिन्तयामास गोमायोः स्वरेण परिशङ्कितः
Hearing that dreadful, hair-raising sound, he became suspicious and pondered the jackal's cry.
अशुभं बत मन्येऽहं गोमायुर्वाश्यते यथा। स्वस्ति स्यादपि वैदेह्या राक्षसैर्भक्षणं विना
Alas, I think this jackal's howl is an evil omen; may Vaidehi be safe, unharmed by the rakshasas.
मारीचेन तु विज्ञाय स्वरमालक्ष्य मामकम्। विक्रुष्टं मृगरूपेण लक्ष्मणः शृणुयाद् यदि
But if Lakshmana hears the cry, which Maricha, recognizing my voice, has imitated in the form of a deer—
स सौमित्रिः स्वरं श्रुत्वा तां च हित्वाथ मैथिलीम्। तयैव प्रहितः क्षिप्रं मत्सकाशमिहैष्यति
Then Saumitri, hearing that voice and leaving Maithili, will quickly come to me, sent by her.
राक्षसैः सहितैर्नूनं सीताया ईप्सितो वधः। काञ्चनश्च मृगो भूत्वा व्यपनीयाश्रमात्तु माम्
Surely, the rakshasas desire Sita's death; by becoming a golden deer, they lured me away from the hermitage.
दूरं नीत्वाथ मारीचो राक्षसोऽभूच्छराहतः। हा लक्ष्मण हतोऽस्मीति यद्वाक्यं व्याजहार ह
Having led me far away, Maricha, struck by my arrow, cried out, 'Alas, Lakshmana, I am slain!'
अपि स्वस्ति भवेद् द्वाभ्यां रहिताभ्यां मया वने। जनस्थाननिमित्तं हि कृतवैरोऽस्मि राक्षसैः
May all be well for those two, left alone by me in the forest; for, because of Janasthana, I have become an enemy to the rakshasas.
निमित्तानि च घोराणि दृश्यन्तेऽद्य बहूनि च। इत्येवं चिन्तयन् रामः श्रुत्वा गोमायुनिःस्वनम्
Many dreadful omens are seen today; thus thinking, Rama heard the jackal's howl.
निवर्तमानस्त्वरितो जगामाश्रममात्मवान्। आत्मनश्चापनयनं मृगरूपेण रक्षसा
Turning back quickly, self-possessed Rama went to the hermitage, reflecting on how the rakshasa, in the form of a deer, had drawn him away.
आजगाम जनस्थानं राघवः परिशङ्कितः। तं दीनमानसं दीनमासेदुर्मृगपक्षिणः
Rāghava, filled with anxiety, returned to Janasthāna; seeing him dejected in spirit, the forest animals and birds also gathered around him, sharing in his sorrow.
सव्यं कृत्वा महात्मानं घोरांश्च ससृजुः स्वरान्। तानि दृष्ट्वा निमित्तानि महाघोराणि राघवः। न्यवर्तताथ त्वरितो जवेनाश्रममात्मनः
Placing the great-souled one on their left, they uttered dreadful cries; seeing these terrible omens, Rāghava swiftly turned back toward his own hermitage with haste.
ततो लक्ष्मणमायान्तं ददर्श विगतप्रभम्। ततोऽविदूरे रामेण समीयाय स लक्ष्मणः
Then he saw Lakṣmaṇa approaching, his radiance faded; and Lakṣmaṇa drew near to Rāma, not far away.
विषण्णः सन् विषण्णेन दुःखितो दुःखभागिना। स जगर्हेऽथ तं भ्राता दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमागतम्
Distressed himself, seeing his brother equally distressed and afflicted with sorrow, Rāma reproached Lakṣmaṇa as he arrived.
विहाय सीतां विजने वने राक्षससेविते। गृहीत्वा च करं सव्यं लक्ष्मणं रघुनन्दनः
Having left Sītā alone in the forest haunted by rākṣasas, Rāghava took Lakṣmaṇa's left hand.
उवाच मधुरोदर्कमिदं परुषमार्तवत्। अहो लक्ष्मण गर्ह्यं ते कृतं यत् त्वं विहाय ताम्
He spoke these words, both sweet and harsh in their import, filled with pain: 'Ah, Lakṣmaṇa, it is blameworthy what you have done, leaving her behind.'
सीतामिहागतः सौम्य कच्चित् स्वस्ति भवेदिति। न मेऽस्ति संशयो वीर सर्वथा जनकात्मजा
'You have come here, gentle one, leaving Sītā—may all be well! Yet, O hero, I have no doubt: the daughter of Janaka—'