यदि तस्यागमः कश्चिदार्या वा साथ लक्ष्यते। बाढमित्येव काकुत्स्थः प्रस्थितो दक्षिणां दिशम्
'If there is any sign of her coming, or if the noble lady is seen there—' 'Indeed,' said Kakutstha, and set out toward the south.
लक्ष्मणानुगतः श्रीमान् वीक्षमाणो वसुंधराम्। एवं सम्भाषमाणौ तावन्योन्यं भ्रातरावुभौ
Accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, the illustrious one looked upon the earth; thus, the two brothers spoke to each other.
वसुंधरायां पतितपुष्पमार्गमपश्यताम्। पुष्पवृष्टिं निपतितां दृष्ट्वा रामो महीतले
As they gazed upon the path strewn with fallen flowers on the ground, Rāma saw a shower of blossoms lying on the earth.
उवाच लक्ष्मणं वीरो दुःखितो दुःखितं वचः। अभिजानामि पुष्पाणि तानीमानीह लक्ष्मण
The heroic Rāma, distressed, spoke these sorrowful words to Lakṣmaṇa, who was also troubled: 'I recognize these flowers, Lakṣmaṇa, that are here.'
अपिनद्धानि वैदेह्या मया दत्तानि कानने। मन्ये सूर्यश्च वायुश्च मेदिनी च यशस्विनी
'These were tied by Vaidehī and given by me in the forest; I think the glorious sun, wind, and earth are preserving these flowers.'
अभिरक्षन्ति पुष्पाणि प्रकुर्वन्तो मम प्रियम्। एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुर्लक्ष्मणं पुरुषर्षभम्
'They are protecting the flowers, doing what pleases me.' Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed Rāma addressed Lakṣmaṇa, the best of men.
उवाच रामो धर्मात्मा गिरिं प्रस्रवणाकुलम्। कच्चित् क्षितिभृतां नाथ दृष्टा सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी
Rāma, righteous in soul, spoke to the mountain filled with springs: 'O lord of mountains, have you seen the one whose beauty is perfect in every limb?'
रामा रम्ये वनोद्देशे मया विरहिता त्वया। क्रुद्धोऽब्रवीद् गिरिं तत्र सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा
'Rāmā, separated from me by you in this lovely forest, spoke angrily to the mountain there, as a lion to a small animal.'
तां हेमवर्णां हेमाङ्गीं सीतां दर्शय पर्वत। यावत् सानूनि सर्वाणि न ते विध्वंसयाम्यहम्
'Show me Sītā, golden in hue and form, O mountain, before I destroy all your peaks.'
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण पर्वतो मैथिलीं प्रति। दर्शयन्निव तां सीतां नादर्शयत राघवे
Thus addressed by Rāma regarding Maithilī, the mountain, as if to show Sītā, did not reveal her to Rāghava.
ततो दाशरथी राम उवाच च शिलोच्चयम्। मम बाणाग्निनिर्दग्धो भस्मीभूतो भविष्यसि
Then Rāma, son of Daśaratha, spoke to the rocky mass: 'Burned by the fire of my arrows, you will be reduced to ashes.'
असेव्यः सर्वतश्चैव निस्तृणद्रुमपल्लवः। इमां वा सरितं चाद्य शोषयिष्यामि लक्ष्मण
'You will be unapproachable everywhere, devoid of grass, trees, and leaves; or today, Lakṣmaṇa, I will dry up this river.'
यदि नाख्याति मे सीतामद्य चन्द्रनिभाननाम्। एवं प्ररुषितो रामो दिधक्षन्निव चक्षुषा
'If you do not tell me today of Sītā, whose face is like the moon.' Thus, enraged, Rāma seemed to burn with his gaze.
ददर्श भूमौ निष्क्रान्तं राक्षसस्य पदं महत्। त्रस्ताया रामकांक्षिण्याः प्रधावन्त्या इतस्ततः
He saw on the ground the great footprint of a rākṣasa, left by the terrified Sītā, longing for Rāma, as she ran here and there.
राक्षसेनानुसृप्ताया वैदेह्याश्च पदानि तु। स समीक्ष्य परिक्रान्तं सीताया राक्षसस्य च
He saw the tracks of Vaidehī, pursued by the rākṣasa; observing the scattered footprints of Sītā and the rākṣasa.
भग्नं धनुश्च तूणी च विकीर्णं बहुधा रथम्। सम्भ्रान्तहृदयो रामः शशंस भ्रातरं प्रियम्
A broken bow, a quiver, and a chariot shattered in many pieces; Rāma, his heart alarmed, told his beloved brother.
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्या कीर्णाः कनकबिन्दवः। भूषणानां हि सौमित्रे माल्यानि विविधानि च
'See, Lakṣmaṇa, the golden drops of Vaidehī's ornaments scattered, and various garlands, O Saumitri.'
तप्तबिन्दुनिकाशैश्च चित्रैः क्षतजबिन्दुभिः। आवृतं पश्य सौमित्रे सर्वतो धरणीतलम्
'See, Saumitri, the earth everywhere is covered with bright drops like molten gold, and strange drops of blood.'
मन्ये लक्ष्मण वैदेही राक्षसैः कामरूपिभिः। भित्त्वा भित्त्वा विभक्ता वा भक्षिता वा भविष्यति
'I think, Lakṣmaṇa, that Vaidehī has been struck, torn apart, or perhaps even eaten by rākṣasas who can assume any form.'
तस्या निमित्तं सीताया द्वयोर्विवदमानयोः। बभूव युद्धं सौमित्रे घोरं राक्षसयोरिह
Because of Sītā, O son of Sumitrā, a fierce battle took place here between the two quarrelling Rākṣasas.
मुक्तामणिचितं चेदं रमणीयं विभूषितम्। धरण्यां पतितं सौम्य कस्य भग्नं महद् धनुः
Gentle one, whose great bow, adorned with pearls and gems, beautiful and splendid, lies broken here upon the ground?
राक्षसानामिदं वत्स सुराणामथवापि वा। तरुणादित्यसंकाशं वैदूर्यगुलिकाचितम्
Child, is this the bow of the Rākṣasas or perhaps of the gods, radiant like the rising sun and studded with cat's-eye gems?
विशीर्णं पतितं भूमौ कवचं कस्य काञ्चनम्। छत्रं शतशलाकं च दिव्यमाल्योपशोभितम्
Whose golden armor, shattered and fallen to the earth, is this? And whose royal umbrella, with a hundred ribs and adorned with divine garlands?
भग्नदण्डमिदं सौम्य भूमौ कस्य निपातितम्। काञ्चनोरश्छदाश्चेमे पिशाचवदनाः खराः
Gentle one, whose broken staff is this, lying on the ground? And these Kharas, with ghastly faces and golden chest-plates—
भीमरूपा महाकायाः कस्य वा निहता रणे। दीप्तपावकसंकाशो द्युतिमान् समरध्वजः
Terrifying in form, massive in body—whose are these, struck down in battle? And whose war-banner, shining like blazing fire, lies here?
अपविद्धश्च भग्नश्च कस्य साङ्ग्रामिको रथः। रथाक्षमात्रा विशिखास्तपनीयविभूषणाः
Whose war chariot is this, cast aside and broken, O gentle one? The arrows, adorned with gold, are scattered like chariot wheels.
कस्येमे निहता बाणाः प्रकीर्णा घोरदर्शनाः। शरावरौ शरैः पूर्णौ विध्वस्तौ पश्य लक्ष्मण
Lakṣmaṇa, whose are these slain arrows, dreadful to behold, scattered about? See, the two quivers are shattered and filled with arrows.
प्रतोदाभीषुहस्तोऽयं कस्य वा सारथिर्हतः। पदवी पुरुषस्यैषा व्यक्तं कस्यापि रक्षसः
Whose charioteer is this, struck down, still clutching the whip and goad? This is clearly the path of some Rākṣasa.
वैरं शतगुणं पश्य मम तैर्जीवितान्तकम्। सुघोरहृदयैः सौम्य राक्षसैः कामरूपिभिः
See, gentle one, how my enmity with those Rākṣasas, fierce-hearted and shape-shifting, has become a hundredfold, bringing death.
हृता मृता वा वैदेही भक्षिता वा तपस्विनी। न धर्मस्त्रायते सीतां ह्रियमाणां महावने
If Vaidehī has been taken, killed, or devoured—if the ascetic Sītā has been lost—then righteousness does not protect her, seized in this great forest.