इत्येवं विलपन् रामः परिधावन् वनाद् वनम्। क्वचिदुद्भ्रमते वेगात् क्वचिद् विभ्रमते बलात्
Thus lamenting, Rāma ran from forest to forest, sometimes wandering swiftly, sometimes stumbling from exhaustion.
क्वचिन्मत्त इवाभाति कान्तान्वेषणतत्परः। स वनानि नदीः शैलान् गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च। काननानि च वेगेन भ्रमत्यपरिसंस्थितः
At times, wholly absorbed in seeking his beloved, he appeared like one mad, roaming swiftly and aimlessly through forests, rivers, mountains, mountain streams, and woods.
तदा स गत्वा विपुलं महद् वनं परीत्य सर्वं त्वथ मैथिलीं प्रति। अनिष्ठिताशः स चकार मार्गणे पुनः प्रियायाः परमं परिश्रमम्
Then, having traversed a vast and great forest, searching everywhere for Maithilī, with hope unsteady, he again made utmost effort in seeking his beloved.
thumb|एकषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे एकषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the sixty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
दृष्ट्वाऽऽश्रमपदं शून्यं रामो दशरथात्मजः। रहितां पर्णशालां च प्रविद्धान्यासनानि च
Seeing the hermitage deserted, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, found the leaf-hut empty and the seats scattered.
अदृष्ट्वा तत्र वैदेहीं संनिरीक्ष्य च सर्वशः। उवाच रामः प्राक्रुश्य प्रगृह्य रुचिरौ भुजौ
Not seeing Vaidehī there, having looked everywhere, Rāma cried out, grasping his lovely arms.
क्व नु लक्ष्मण वैदेही कं वा देशमितो गता। केनाहृता वा सौमित्रे भक्षिता केन वा प्रिया
"Where indeed, O Lakṣmaṇa, is Vaidehī? To what place has she gone from here? By whom was my beloved taken, O Saumitri, or by whom devoured?"
वृक्षेणावार्य यदि मां सीते हसितुमिच्छसि। अलं ते हसितेनाद्य मां भजस्व सुदुःखितम्
"If you wish to mock me, Sītā, by hiding behind a tree, enough of your jesting today—come to me, who am deeply distressed."
यैः परिक्रीडसे सीते विश्वस्तैर्मृगपोतकैः। एते हीनास्त्वया सौम्ये ध्यायन्त्यस्राविलेक्षणाः
"Those young deer, with whom you played, trusting and gentle-eyed, O gentle one, are now bereft of you, Sītā, and sit here, thinking of you."
सीतया रहितोऽहं वै नहि जीवामि लक्ष्मण। वृतं शोकेन महता सीताहरणजेन माम्
"Deprived of Sītā, I cannot live, O Lakṣmaṇa; I am overwhelmed by the great grief of Sītā's abduction."
परलोके महाराजो नूनं द्रक्ष्यति मे पिता। कथं प्रतिज्ञां संश्रुत्य मया त्वमभियोजितः
"Surely, in the next world, my father the great king will see me; having made a vow, how have you, Lakṣmaṇa, been charged by me?"
अपूरयित्वा तं कालं मत्सकाशमिहागतः। कामवृत्तमनार्यं वा मृषावादिनमेव च
Having not fulfilled that time, if one comes here to me, or acts with selfish desires, ignoble conduct, or speaks falsely—
धिक् त्वामिति परे लोके व्यक्तं वक्ष्यति मे पिता। विवशं शोकसंतप्तं दीनं भग्नमनोरथम्
My father, in the other world, will surely say of me: 'Shame on you,' seeing me helpless, tormented by grief, dejected, with my hopes shattered.
मामिहोत्सृज्य करुणं कीर्तिर्नरमिवानृजुम्। क्व गच्छसि वरारोहे मा मोत्सृज सुमध्यमे
Abandoning me here in sorrow, where are you going, O slender-waisted, best of women? Do not leave me, O lovely-hipped one, as fame leaves a man who is not upright.
त्वया विरहितश्चाहं त्यक्ष्ये जीवितमात्मनः। इतीव विलपन् रामः सीतादर्शनलालसः
Bereft of you, I will give up my own life—so lamented Rāma, longing for a sight of Sītā.
न ददर्श सुदुःखार्तो राघवो जनकात्मजाम्। अनासादयमानं तं सीतां शोकपरायणम्
Tormented by deep sorrow, Rāghava did not see the daughter of Janaka, Sītā, who was not coming into view and was absorbed in grief.
पङ्कमासाद्य विपुलं सीदन्तमिव कुञ्जरम्। लक्ष्मणो राममत्यर्थमुवाच हितकाम्यया
Seeing Rāma, overwhelmed like an elephant sinking in deep mud, Lakṣmaṇa, wishing his welfare, spoke to him earnestly.
मा विषादं महाबुद्धे कुरु यत्नं मया सह। इदं गिरिवरं वीर बहुकन्दरशोभितम्
Do not give in to despair, O great-minded one; strive together with me. This noble mountain, O hero, is adorned with many caves.
प्रियकाननसंचारा वनोन्मत्ता च मैथिली। सा वनं वा प्रविष्टा स्यान्नलिनीं वा सुपुष्पिताम्
Maithilī, who delights in wandering through her beloved forests and is enchanted by the woods, may have entered the forest or a blooming lotus grove.
सरितं वापि सम्प्राप्ता मीनवञ्जुलसेविताम्। वित्रासयितुकामा वा लीना स्यात् कानने क्वचित्
Or she may have reached a river frequented by fish and beautiful birds, or, wishing to frighten us, she may be hiding somewhere in the forest.
जिज्ञासमाना वैदेही त्वां मां च पुरुषर्षभ। तस्या ह्यन्वेषणे श्रीमन् क्षिप्रमेव यतावहे
Vaidehī may be searching for you and me, O best of men. Therefore, illustrious one, let us quickly exert ourselves to search for her.
वनं सर्वं विचिनुवो यत्र सा जनकात्मजा। मन्यसे यदि काकुत्स्थ मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः
Let us search the entire forest where the daughter of Janaka may be. If you agree, O descendant of Kakutstha, do not let your mind be overcome by grief.
एवमुक्तः स सौहार्दाल्लक्ष्मणेन समाहितः। सह सौमित्रिणा रामो विचेतुमुपचक्रमे
Thus addressed out of friendship by Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma, composed, began to search together with the son of Sumitrā.
तौ वनानि गिरींश्चैव सरितश्च सरांसि च। निखिलेन विचिन्वन्तौ सीतां दशरथात्मजौ
The two sons of Daśaratha searched thoroughly through forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes for Sītā.
तस्य शैलस्य सानूनि शिलाश्च शिखराणि च। निखिलेन विचिन्वन्तौ नैव तामभिजग्मतुः
They searched all the slopes, rocks, and peaks of that mountain, but did not find her.
विचित्य सर्वतः शैलं रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्। नेह पश्यामि सौमित्रे वैदेहीं पर्वते शुभाम्
Having searched the entire mountain, Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa: 'O Sumitrā's son, I do not see Vaidehī, the auspicious one, on this mountain.'
ततो दुःखाभिसंतप्तो लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। विचरन् दण्डकारण्यं भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम्
Then, overwhelmed by sorrow, Lakṣmaṇa spoke these words to his radiant brother as they wandered through the Daṇḍaka forest.
प्राप्स्यसे त्वं महाप्राज्ञ मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम्। यथा विष्णुर्महाबाहुर्बलिं बद्ध्वा महीमिमाम्
You will surely regain Maithilī, the daughter of Janaka, O greatly wise one, just as mighty-armed Viṣṇu regained this earth after binding Bali.
एवमुक्तस्तु वीरेण लक्ष्मणेन स राघवः। उवाच दीनया वाचा दुःखाभिहतचेतनः
Thus addressed by the heroic Lakṣmaṇa, Rāghava replied in a faint voice, his mind overcome by sorrow.
वनं सुविचितं सर्वं पद्मिन्यः फुल्लपङ्कजाः। गिरिश्चायं महाप्राज्ञ बहुकन्दरनिर्झरः। नहि पश्यामि वैदेहीं प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्
Though the whole forest is adorned, with lotus ponds blooming, and the mountain is shaded, wise and full of many caves and streams, I do not see Vaidehī, dearer to me than life itself.