स गृध्रराजः कृतवान् यशस्करं सुदुष्करं कर्म रणे निपातितः। महर्षिकल्पेन च संस्कृतस्तदा जगाम पुण्यां गतिमात्मनः शुभाम्
That king of vultures, having performed a glorious and exceedingly difficult deed, fell in battle; then, honored like a great sage, he attained a blessed state for himself.
कृतोदकौ तावपि पक्षिसत्तमे स्थिरां च बुद्धिं प्रणिधाय जग्मतुः। प्रवेश्य सीताधिगमे ततो मनो वनं सुरेन्द्राविव विष्णुवासवौ
Having performed the water-rite for the foremost of birds, the two, fixing their minds firmly on the search for Sita, entered the forest like Indra and Vishnu.
thumb|एकोनसप्ततितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the sixty-ninth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
कृत्वैवमुदकं तस्मै प्रस्थितौ राघवौ तदा। अवेक्षन्तौ वने सीतां जग्मतुः पश्चिमां दिशम्
Having performed the water-rite for him in this way, the two Raghavas then set out, searching for Sita in the forest, and went toward the western direction.
तां दिशं दक्षिणां गत्वा शरचापासिधारिणौ। अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाकौ पन्थानं प्रतिपेदतुः
Having gone to the southern direction, bearing bow, arrows, and sword, the two Ikshvakus, undeterred, proceeded along the path.
गुल्मैर्वृक्षैश्च बहुभिर्लताभिश्च प्रवेष्टितम्। आवृतं सर्वतो दुर्गं गहनं घोरदर्शनम्
Thickly overgrown with bushes, trees, and many creepers, surrounded on all sides, difficult to traverse, dense, and terrifying to behold.
व्यतिक्रम्य तु वेगेन गृहीत्वा दक्षिणां दिशम्। सुभीमं तन्महारण्यं व्यतियातौ महाबलौ
Swiftly crossing it and taking the southern direction, those two mighty warriors passed through that very dreadful great forest.
ततः परं जनस्थानात् त्रिकोशं गम्य राघवौ। क्रौञ्चारण्यं विविशतुर्गहनं तौ महौजसौ
Then, going three krośas beyond Janasthana, the two Raghavas, of great energy, entered the dense Krauncha forest.
नानामेघघनप्रख्यं प्रहृष्टमिव सर्वतः। नानावर्णैः शुभैः पुष्पैर्मृगपक्षिगणैर्युतम्
Resembling masses of various clouds, delightful on all sides, adorned with flowers of many colors and filled with herds of deer and flocks of birds.
दिदृक्षमाणौ वैदेहीं तद् वनं तौ विचिक्यतुः। तत्र तत्रावतिष्ठन्तौ सीताहरणदुःखितौ
Desiring to see Vaidehi, those two wandered through that forest, stopping here and there, grieving over Sita's abduction.
ततः पूर्वेण तौ गत्वा त्रिक्रोशं भ्रातरौ तदा। क्रौञ्चारण्यमतिक्रम्य मतङ्गाश्रममन्तरे
Then, having gone three krośas eastward, the two brothers, passing through the Krauncha forest, came near the hermitage of Matanga.
दृष्ट्वा तु तद् वनं घोरं बहुभीममृगद्विजम्। नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं सर्वं गहनपादपम्
There, seeing that dreadful forest, filled with many fearsome beasts and birds, crowded with various trees, and entirely dense with great trees.
ददृशाते गिरौ तत्र दरीं दशरथात्मजौ। पातालसमगम्भीरां तमसा नित्यसंवृताम्
There, the sons of Dasaratha saw on the mountain a cave, as deep as the underworld, always covered in darkness.
आसाद्य च नरव्याघ्रौ दर्यास्तस्याविदूरतः। ददर्शतुर्महारूपां राक्षसीं विकृताननाम्
Approaching that cave, the tiger-like men, not far from its entrance, saw a rakshasi of huge form and distorted face.
भयदामल्पसत्त्वानां बीभत्सां रौद्रदर्शनाम्। लम्बोदरीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां करालीं परुषत्वचम्
Terrifying to the faint-hearted, hideous, dreadful in appearance, with a hanging belly, sharp fangs, fierce, and harsh-skinned.
भक्षयन्तीं मृगान् भीमान् विकटां मुक्तमूर्धजाम्। अवैक्षतां तु तौ तत्र भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
Devouring fearsome animals, monstrous, with disheveled hair—there the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, saw her.
सा समासाद्य तौ वीरौ व्रजन्तं भ्रातुरग्रतः। एहि रंस्यावहेत्युक्त्वा समालम्भत लक्ष्मणम्
Approaching those two heroes as they went, with the younger brother in front, she said, 'Come, let us enjoy,' and seized Lakshmana.
उवाच चैनं वचनं सौमित्रिमुपगुह्य च। अहं त्वयोमुखी नाम लाभस्ते त्वमसि प्रियः
Embracing Saumitri, she spoke these words: 'I am Ayomukhi by name; you are fortunate, you are dear to me.'
नाथ पर्वतदुर्गेषु नदीनां पुलिनेषु च। आयुश्चिरमिदं वीर त्वं मया सह रंस्यसे
'Lord, in the mountain fastnesses and on the riverbanks, you will enjoy a long life with me, O hero.'
एवमुक्तस्तु कुपितः खड्गमुद्धृत्य लक्ष्मणः। कर्णनासस्तनं तस्या निचकर्तारिसूदनः
Thus addressed, Lakshmana, enraged, drew his sword and, destroyer of foes, cut off her ears, nose, and breasts.
कर्णनासे निकृत्ते तु विस्वरं विननाद सा। यथागतं प्रदुद्राव राक्षसी घोरदर्शना
With her ears and nose severed, she howled in a hoarse voice, and the dreadful-looking rakshasi fled the way she had come.
तस्यां गतायां गहनं व्रजन्तौ वनमोजसा। आसेदतुरमित्रघ्नौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
When she had departed, the two brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, destroyers of enemies, entered the dense forest with vigor.
लक्ष्मणस्तु महातेजाः सत्त्ववाञ्छीलवाञ्छुचिः। अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम्
Then Lakṣmaṇa, of great splendor, steadfast, virtuous, and pure, spoke with joined palms to his brother, radiant in brilliance.
स्पन्दते मे दृढं बाहुरुद्विग्नमिव मे मनः। प्रायशश्चाप्यनिष्टानि निमित्तान्युपलक्षये
My arm throbs intensely, my mind is agitated, and I observe many unfavorable omens.
तस्मात् सज्जीभवार्य त्वं कुरुष्व वचनं मम। ममैव हि निमित्तानि सद्यः शंसन्ति सम्भ्रमम्
Therefore, noble one, be prepared and heed my words; for these omens of mine immediately foretell alarm.
एष वञ्जुलको नाम पक्षी परमदारुणः। आवयोर्विजयं युद्धे शंसन्निव विनर्दति
This bird called Vañjulaka, exceedingly dreadful, cries out as if proclaiming our victory in battle.
तयोरन्वेषतोरेवं सर्वं तद् वनमोजसा। संजज्ञे विपुलः शब्दः प्रभञ्जन्निव तद् वनम्
As the two searched thus with vigor, a great sound arose in that forest, as if shattering it.
संवेष्टितमिवात्यर्थं गहनं मातरिश्वना। वनस्य तस्य शब्दोऽभूद् वनमापूरयन्निव
The sound in that forest, as if tightly enveloped by the wind, seemed to fill the entire woodland.
तं शब्दं कांक्षमाणस्तु रामः खड्गी सहानुजः। ददर्श सुमहाकायं राक्षसं विपुलोरसम्
Eager for that sound, Rāma, sword in hand and with his brother, beheld a mighty-bodied Rākṣasa of vast chest.
आसेदतुश्च तद्रक्षस्तावुभौ प्रमुखे स्थितम्। विवृद्धमशिरोग्रीवं कबन्धमुदरेमुखम्
The two approached that Rākṣasa, standing before them, headless and neckless, Kabandha with a mouth on his belly.