रुदन्तमिव वृक्षैश्च ग्लानपुष्पमृगद्विजम्। श्रिया विहीनं विध्वस्तं संत्यक्तं वनदैवतैः
With trees seeming to weep, their flowers, deer, and birds all wilted, the place was desolate, abandoned by the spirits of the forest.
विप्रकीर्णाजिनकुशं विप्रविद्धबृसीकटम्। दृष्ट्वा शून्योटजस्थानं विललाप पुनः पुनः
Seeing the hermitage scattered with disordered skins and sacred grass, and the seat overturned, he lamented again and again.
हृता मृता वा नष्टा वा भक्षिता वा भविष्यति। निलीनाप्यथवा भीरुरथवा वनमाश्रिता
'She has been carried off, or killed, or lost, or perhaps devoured; or maybe, frightened, she is hiding, or has taken refuge in the forest.'
गता विचेतुं पुष्पाणि फलान्यपि च वा पुनः। अथवा पद्मिनीं याता जलार्थं वा नदीं गता
'Perhaps she went to gather flowers or fruits, or perhaps she went to the lotus pond, or to the river for water.'
यत्नान्मृगयमाणस्तु नाससाद वने प्रियाम्। शोकरक्तेक्षणः श्रीमानुन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते
Though he searched the forest with all his effort, he did not find his beloved; his eyes reddened with grief, the glorious one wandered like a madman.
वृक्षाद् वृक्षं प्रधावन् स गिरींश्चापि नदीनदम्। बभ्राम विलपन् रामः शोकपङ्कार्णवप्लुतः
Running from tree to tree, and also among mountains and rivers, Rama wandered, lamenting, submerged in the ocean of sorrow and grief.
अस्ति कच्चित्त्वया दृष्टा सा कदम्बप्रिया प्रिया। कदम्ब यदि जानीषे शंस सीतां शुभाननाम्
O Kadamba tree, have you perchance seen my beloved, who loves kadamba trees? If you know, tell me of Sita, whose face is beautiful.
स्निग्धपल्लवसंकाशां पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्। शंसस्व यदि सा दृष्टा बिल्व बिल्वोपमस्तनी
If you have seen her, who resembles tender leaves and wears yellow silk, tell me, O Bilva tree, of her whose breasts are like bilva fruits.
अथवार्जुन शंस त्वं प्रियां तामर्जुनप्रियाम्। जनकस्य सुता तन्वी यदि जीवति वा न वा
Or, O Arjuna tree, tell me of my beloved, who loves arjuna trees; whether the slender daughter of Janaka is alive or not.
ककुभः ककुभोरुं तां व्यक्तं जानाति मैथिलीम्। लतापल्लवपुष्पाढ्यो भाति ह्येष वनस्पतिः
Surely the trees know Maithili, whose thighs are like tree trunks; this tree, rich with creepers, leaves, and flowers, shines brightly.
भ्रमरैरुपगीतश्च यथा द्रुमवरो ह्यसि। एष व्यक्तं विजानाति तिलकस्तिलकप्रियाम्
Just as you are praised by bees, O noble tree, so this tilaka tree surely knows the one who loves tilaka trees.
अशोक शोकापनुद शोकोपहतचेतनम्। त्वन्नामानं कुरु क्षिप्रं प्रियासंदर्शनेन माम्
O Ashoka tree, remover of sorrow, my mind is afflicted with grief; quickly make your name true by granting me a sight of my beloved.
यदि ताल त्वया दृष्टा पक्वतालोपमस्तनी। कथयस्व वरारोहां कारुण्यं यदि ते मयि
If you have seen her, O Tala tree, whose breasts resemble ripe tala fruits, tell me of the beautiful one, if you have any compassion for me.
यदि दृष्टा त्वया जम्बो जाम्बूनदसमप्रभा। प्रियां यदि विजानासि निःशङ्क कथयस्व मे
If you have seen her, O Jambu tree, whose radiance matches the Jambunada gold, if you know my beloved, tell me without hesitation.
अहो त्वं कर्णिकाराद्य पुष्पितः शोभसे भृशम्। कर्णिकारप्रियां साध्वीं शंस दृष्टा यदि प्रिया
Ah, you, O Karnikara tree, are splendidly blooming; if you have seen my virtuous beloved, who loves karnikara trees, tell me.
चूतनीपमहासालान् पनसान् कुरवान् धवान्। दाडिमानपि तान् गत्वा दृष्ट्वा रामो महायशाः
Rama, renowned for his greatness, went to mango, nipa, great sal, jackfruit, kurava, dhava, and pomegranate trees, and looked among them.
बकुलानथ पुन्नागांश्चन्दनान् केतकांस्तथा। पृच्छन् रामो वने भ्रान्त उन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते
Then, wandering in the forest, Rama questioned bakula, punnaga, sandalwood, and ketaka trees, appearing as if mad.
अथवा मृगशावाक्षीं मृग जानासि मैथिलीम्। मृगविप्रेक्षणी कान्ता मृगीभिः सहिता भवेत्
Or, O deer, do you know Maithili, whose eyes are like those of a fawn? The lovely one, with deer-like gaze, may be with the deer.
गज सा गजनासोरुर्यदि दृष्टा त्वया भवेत्। तां मन्ये विदितां तुभ्यमाख्याहि वरवारण
O elephant, if you have seen her, whose thighs are like elephant trunks, I believe you know her; tell me, O noble elephant.
शार्दूल यदि सा दृष्टा प्रिया चन्द्रनिभानना। मैथिली मम विस्रब्धः कथयस्व न ते भयम्
O tiger, if you have seen my beloved, whose face is like the moon, tell me of Maithili without fear; you need not be afraid.
किं धावसि प्रिये नूनं दृष्टासि कमलेक्षणे। वृक्षैराच्छाद्य चात्मानं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे
Why do you run, beloved? Surely you have been seen, O lotus-eyed one. Hiding yourself behind the trees, why do you not reply to me?
तिष्ठ तिष्ठ वरारोहे न तेऽस्ति करुणा मयि। नात्यर्थं हास्यशीलासि किमर्थं मामुपेक्षसे
Stay, stay, O beautiful one; you have no compassion for me. You are not excessively given to laughter; why do you neglect me?
पीतकौशेयकेनासि सूचिता वरवर्णिनि। धावन्त्यपि मया दृष्टा तिष्ठ यद्यस्ति सौहृदम्
You have been revealed by your yellow silk garment, O fair-complexioned one; though running, I have seen you. Stay, if there is any affection.
नैव सा नूनमथवा हिंसिता चारुहासिनी। कृच्छ्रं प्राप्तं न मां नूनं यथोपेक्षितुमर्हति
Surely, that lovely-smiling one has not been harmed; she, having come to hardship, would not neglect me as she ought.
व्यक्तं सा भक्षिता बाला राक्षसैः पिशिताशनैः। विभज्याङ्गानि सर्वाणि मया विरहिता प्रिया
Clearly, that young girl has been devoured by flesh-eating demons, my beloved, deprived of me, her limbs torn apart.
नूनं तच्छुभदन्तोष्ठं सुनासं शुभकुण्डलम्। पूर्णचन्द्रनिभं ग्रस्तं मुखं निष्प्रभतां गतम्
Surely, that face with beautiful teeth and lips, fine nose, lovely earrings, like the full moon, has been swallowed and lost its radiance.
सा हि चम्पकवर्णाभा ग्रीवा ग्रैवेयकोचिता। कोमला विलपन्त्यास्तु कान्ताया भक्षिता शुभा
That graceful neck, golden as champaka flowers, adorned with a necklace, delicate, of my beloved who wept—she, the lovely one, has been devoured.
नूनं विक्षिप्यमाणौ तौ बाहू पल्लवकोमलौ। भक्षितौ वेपमानाग्रौ सहस्ताभरणाङ्गदौ
Surely, those two arms, soft as young shoots, trembling at the tips, adorned with bracelets, were seized and devoured.
मया विरहिता बाला रक्षसां भक्षणाय वै। सार्थेनेव परित्यक्ता भक्षिता बहुबान्धवा
The young girl, deprived of me, has truly been eaten by demons, abandoned like a caravan left behind, devoured though surrounded by many kin.
हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो पश्यसे त्वं प्रियां क्वचित्। हा प्रिये क्व गता भद्रे हा सीतेति पुनः पुनः
"O Lakṣmaṇa, mighty-armed, do you see my beloved anywhere? O dear one, where have you gone, gentle Sītā? O Sītā!"—thus he cried again and again.