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.
एवं स विलपन् रामः सीताहरणकर्षितः। दीनः शोकसमाविष्टो मुहूर्तं विह्वलोऽभवत्
Thus lamenting, Rama, tormented by Sita's abduction, overwhelmed by sorrow, became distraught for a moment.
स विह्वलितसर्वाङ्गो गतबुद्धिर्विचेतनः। निषसादातुरो दीनो निःश्वस्याशीतमायतम्
His whole body trembling, his mind lost and senseless, he sat down, afflicted and miserable, sighing deeply and long.
बहुशः स तु निःश्वस्य रामो राजीवलोचनः। हा प्रियेति विचुक्रोश बहुशो बाष्पगद्गदः
Again and again Rama, lotus-eyed, sighed deeply and cried out, 'Alas, my beloved!'—his voice choked with tears.
तं सान्त्वयामास ततो लक्ष्मणः प्रियबान्धवम्। बहुप्रकारं शोकार्तः प्रश्रितः प्रश्रिताञ्जलिः
Then Lakshmana, his dear companion, afflicted by grief, approached him with joined palms and in many ways tried to console him.
अनादृत्य तु तद् वाक्यं लक्ष्मणोष्ठपुटच्युतम्। अपश्यंस्तां प्रियां सीतां प्राक्रोशत् स पुनः पुनः
But disregarding Lakshmana's words, which fell from his lips, he did not see his beloved Sita and cried out for her again and again.
thumb|द्विषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे द्विषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the sixty-second sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
सीतामपश्यन् धर्मात्मा शोकोपहतचेतनः। विललाप महाबाहू रामः कमललोचनः
Not seeing Sita, the righteous Rama, his mind overcome by grief, lamented—mighty-armed and lotus-eyed.
पश्यन्निव च तां सीतामपश्यन्मन्मथार्दितः। उवाच राघवो वाक्यं विलापाश्रयदुर्वचम्
As if seeing Sita, yet not seeing her, tormented by love, Raghava spoke words, difficult to utter in lamentation.
त्वमशोकस्य शाखाभिः पुष्पप्रियतरा प्रिये। आवृणोषि शरीरं ते मम शोकविवर्धनी
O beloved, you cover your body with the branches of the Ashoka tree, more fond of flowers—yet they only increase my sorrow.
कदलीकाण्डसदृशौ कदल्या संवृतावुभौ। ऊरू पश्यामि ते देवि नासि शक्ता निगूहितुम्
O goddess, your thighs resemble the stems of the plantain, concealed by the plantain leaves, yet I see them—you are unable to hide them.
कर्णिकारवनं भद्रे हसन्ती देवि सेवसे। अलं ते परिहासेन मम बाधावहेन वै
O gentle one, you play in the grove of karṇikāra trees, laughing, O goddess; enough of this jesting that only brings me pain.
विशेषेणाश्रमस्थाने हासोऽयं न प्रशस्यते। अवगच्छामि ते शीलं परिहासप्रियं प्रिये
Especially in this hermitage, such laughter is not proper; I know your nature, beloved, fond of playful teasing.
आगच्छ त्वं विशालाक्षि शून्योऽयमुटजस्तव। सुव्यक्तं राक्षसैः सीता भक्षिता वा हृतापि वा
Come, O wide-eyed one, your hut is empty; surely, Sita has been eaten or carried off by the rākṣasas.
न हि सा विलपन्तं मामुपसम्प्रैति लक्ष्मण। एतानि मृगयूथानि साश्रुनेत्राणि लक्ष्मण
For she does not approach me, lamenting, O Lakshmana; see these herds of deer, their eyes filled with tears, O Lakshmana.
शंसन्तीव हि मे देवीं भक्षितां रजनीचरैः। हा ममार्ये क्व यातासि हा साध्वि वरवर्णिनि
As if they are telling me that the goddess was eaten by night-roaming demons—Alas, my noble one, where have you gone? Alas, virtuous, beautiful lady!
हा सकामाद्य कैकेयी देवि मेऽद्य भविष्यति। सीतया सह निर्यातो विना सीतामुपागतः
Alas, today Kaikeyi will be satisfied, O goddess, for I have returned without Sita, though I set out with her.
कथं नाम प्रवेक्ष्यामि शून्यमन्तःपुरं मम। निर्वीर्य इति लोको मां निर्दयश्चेति वक्ष्यति
How shall I enter my empty inner chambers? People will say I am powerless and pitiless.
कातरत्वं प्रकाशं हि सीतापनयनेन मे। निवृत्तवनवासश्च जनकं मिथिलाधिपम्
Indeed, my fearfulness is plainly revealed by Sita's abduction; and my return from the forest exile to King Janaka, lord of Mithila.
कुशलं परिपृच्छन्तं कथं शक्ष्ये निरीक्षितुम्। विदेहराजो नूनं मां दृष्ट्वा विरहितं तया
How will I be able to look upon the king of Videha, Janaka, when he inquires about Sita's welfare and sees me separated from her?
सुताविनाशसंतप्तो मोहस्य वशमेष्यति। अथवा न गमिष्यामि पुरीं भरतपालिताम्
Tormented by the loss of his daughter, he will surely fall under the sway of delusion; or else, I will not go to the city ruled by Bharata.