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.
भक्षितायां हि वैदेह्यां हृतायामपि लक्ष्मण। के हि लोके प्रियं कर्तुं शक्ताः सौम्य ममेश्वराः
If Vaidehī has been devoured or carried off, Lakṣmaṇa, who in this world, gentle one, even among the gods, could bring me joy?
कर्तारमपि लोकानां शूरं करुणवेदिनम्। अज्ञानादवमन्येरन् सर्वभूतानि लक्ष्मण
Lakṣmaṇa, even the lord of all beings, heroic and compassionate, might be disregarded by all creatures out of ignorance.
मृदुं लोकहिते युक्तं दान्तं करुणवेदिनम्। निर्वीर्य इति मन्यन्ते नूनं मां त्रिदशेश्वराः
Surely, the lords of the gods think me weak, because I am gentle, devoted to the good of the world, self-controlled, and compassionate.
मां प्राप्य हि गुणो दोषः संवृत्तः पश्य लक्ष्मण। अद्यैव सर्वभूतानां रक्षसामभवाय च
See, Lakṣmaṇa, how my virtue has turned into a fault for me; today, it will be the destruction of all beings and the Rākṣasas.
संहृत्यैव शशिज्योत्स्नां महान् सूर्य इवोदितः। संहृत्यैव गुणान् सर्वान् मम तेजः प्रकाशते
Just as the great sun, when risen, withdraws the light of the moon, so, withdrawing all virtues, my power will shine forth.
नैव यक्षा न गन्धर्वा न पिशाचा न राक्षसाः। किंनरा वा मनुष्या वा सुखं प्राप्स्यन्ति लक्ष्मण
Neither Yakṣas, nor Gandharvas, nor Piśācas, nor Rākṣasas, nor Kinnaras, nor humans, Lakṣmaṇa, shall find happiness.
ममास्त्रबाणसम्पूर्णमाकाशं पश्य लक्ष्मण। असम्पातं करिष्यामि ह्यद्य त्रैलोक्यचारिणाम्
See, Lakṣmaṇa, the sky filled with my weapons and arrows; today I will make it impassable for all who roam the three worlds.
संनिरुद्धग्रहगणमावारितनिशाकरम्। विप्रणष्टानलमरुद्भास्करद्युतिसंवृतम्
With the hosts of planets restrained, the moon obstructed, the fire and wind vanished, and the radiance of the sun concealed—
विनिर्मथितशैलाग्रं शुष्यमाणजलाशयम्। ध्वस्तद्रुमलतागुल्मं विप्रणाशितसागरम्
With mountain peaks shattered, lakes drying up, trees, creepers, and thickets destroyed, and the ocean itself vanished—
त्रैलोक्यं तु करिष्यामि संयुक्तं कालकर्मणा। न ते कुशलिनीं सीतां प्रदास्यन्ति ममेश्वराः
I shall bring the three worlds, joined with the force of Time and Death, to ruin; the lords of the world will not return Sita to me unharmed.