सुपुष्पितांस्तु पश्यैतान् कर्णिकारान् समन्ततः। हाटकप्रतिसंछन्नान् नरान् पीताम्बरानिव
See all these fully blossomed karṇikāra trees everywhere, shining like men clad in yellow garments, covered with gold.
अयं वसन्तः सौमित्रे नानाविहगनादितः। सीतया विप्रहीणस्य शोकसंदीपनो मम
This spring, O Saumitri, resounding with the calls of many birds, only intensifies my grief, deprived as I am of Sita.
मां हि शोकसमाक्रान्तं संतापयति मन्मथः। हृष्टं प्रवदमानश्च समाह्वयति कोकिलः
For desire torments me, overwhelmed as I am by sorrow, and the joyful cuckoo, singing, calls to me.
एष दात्यूहको हृष्टो रम्ये मां वननिर्झरे। प्रणदन्मन्मथाविष्टं शोचयिष्यति लक्ष्मण
This joyful cuckoo, Lakshmana, will cry out in this lovely forest stream, and, seized by love, will make me grieve.
श्रुत्वैतस्य पुरा शब्दमाश्रमस्था मम प्रिया। मामाहूय प्रमुदिताः परमं प्रत्यनन्दत
Once, hearing its call while she was at the hermitage, my beloved happily called me and was deeply delighted.
एवं विचित्राः पतगा नानारावविराविणः। वृक्षगुल्मलताः पश्य सम्पतन्ति समन्ततः
See, all around, the trees, bushes, and vines are filled with many kinds of birds, each singing their varied songs.
विमिश्रा विहगाः पुंभिरात्मव्यूहाभिनन्दिताः। भृङ्गराजप्रमुदिताः सौमित्रे मधुरस्वराः
The birds, mingling with their mates, are rejoicing in their own flocks, O Saumitri, and the king of bees is delighted, their voices sweet.
अस्याः कूले प्रमुदिताः सङ्घशः शकुनास्त्विह। दात्यूहरतिविक्रन्दैः पुंस्कोकिलरुतैरपि
On this riverbank, flocks of birds are joyful, with the loud calls of cuckoos and the songs of male kokilas.
स्वनन्ति पादपाश्चेमे ममानङ्गप्रदीपकाः। अशोकस्तबकाङ्गारः षट्पदस्वननिःस्वनः
These trees, which kindle the fire of love in me, resound—the ashoka’s clusters glow like embers, and the hum of bees fills the air.
मां हि पल्लवताम्रार्चिर्वसन्ताग्निः प्रधक्ष्यति। नहि तां सूक्ष्मपक्ष्माक्षीं सुकेशीं मृदुभाषिणीम्
The fire of spring, with its red-tipped new leaves, will surely burn me, for I do not see her—she of delicate lashes, lovely hair, and gentle speech.
अपश्यतो मे सौमित्रे जीवितेऽस्ति प्रयोजनम्। अयं हि रुचिरस्तस्याः कालो रुचिरकाननः
Without seeing her, Saumitri, I have no purpose in life; this season, so beautiful and bright, was meant for her.
कोकिलाकुलसीमान्तो दयिताया ममानघ। मन्मथायाससम्भूतो वसन्तगुणवर्धितः
The forest, filled with the cries of kokilas, is adorned for my beloved, O faultless one; the qualities of spring, born of love’s longing, are increasing.
अयं मां धक्ष्यति क्षिप्रं शोकाग्निर्नचिरादिव। अपश्यतस्तां वनितां पश्यतो रुचिरान् द्रुमान्
This fire of grief will soon consume me, as I gaze on these lovely trees but do not see that woman.
ममायमात्मप्रभवो भूयस्त्वमुपयास्यति। अदृश्यमाना वैदेही शोकं वर्धयतीह मे
This sorrow, arising from within me, will only grow; Vaidehī, unseen, increases my pain here.
दृश्यमानो वसन्तश्च स्वेदसंसर्गदूषकः। मां हि सा मृगशावाक्षी चिन्ताशोकबलात्कृतम्
Spring, though visible, is tainted by sweat and longing; that doe-eyed one, by force of worry and grief, torments me.
संतापयति सौमित्रे क्रूरश्चैत्रवनानिलः। अमी मयूराः शोभन्ते प्रनृत्यन्तस्ततस्ततः
The cruel wind of the Chaitra forest torments me, Saumitri; see how the peacocks shine, dancing here and there.
स्वैः पक्षैः पवनोद्धूतैर्गवाक्षैः स्फाटिकैरिव। शिखिनीभिः परिवृतास्त एते मदमूर्च्छिताः
With their wings stirred by the wind, like crystal windows, these peacocks, surrounded by peahens, are overcome with passion.
मन्मथाभिपरीतस्य मम मन्मथवर्धनाः। पश्य लक्ष्मण नृत्यन्तं मयूरमुपनृत्यति
For me, overwhelmed by love, these sights only increase my longing; see, Lakshmana, as the peacock dances, the peahen dances beside him.
शिखिनी मन्मथार्तैषा भर्तारं गिरिसानुनि। तामेव मनसा रामां मयूरोऽप्यनुधावति
This peahen, afflicted by love, follows her mate on the mountain slope; likewise, the peacock pursues his beloved with his heart.
वितत्य रुचिरौ पक्षौ रुतैरुपहसन्निव। मयूरस्य वने नूनं रक्षसा न हृता प्रिया
Spreading his beautiful wings, as if mocking with his cries, the peacock’s beloved has surely not been taken by a demon in this forest.
तस्मान्नृत्यति रम्येषु वनेषु सह कान्तया। मम त्वयं विना वासः पुष्पमासे सुदुःसहः
That is why he dances with his beloved in these delightful woods; but for me, living without her in this season of flowers is unbearable.
पश्य लक्ष्मण संरागस्तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि। यदेषा शिखिनी कामाद् भर्तारमभिवर्तते
See, Lakṣmaṇa, how passion stirs even among creatures of other species: this peahen approaches her mate out of desire.
ममाप्येवं विशालाक्षी जानकी जातसम्भ्रमा। मदनेनाभिवर्तेत यदि नापहृता भवेत्
If she had not been abducted, my wide-eyed Janakī, too, would have come to me, stirred by love.
पश्य लक्ष्मण पुष्पाणि निष्फलानि भवन्ति मे। पुष्पभारसमृद्धानां वनानां शिशिरात्यये
See, Lakṣmaṇa, the flowers are fruitless for me; after the cold season, the forests, though heavy with blossoms, yield nothing.
रुचिराण्यपि पुष्पाणि पादपानामतिश्रिया। निष्फलानि महीं यान्ति समं मधुकरोत्करैः
Even the beautiful flowers of the trees, though splendid, fall to the ground fruitlessly, together with swarms of bees.
नदन्ति कामं शकुना मुदिताः सङ्घशः कलम्। आह्वयन्त इवान्योन्यं कामोन्मादकरा मम
The birds sing joyfully in groups, calling to one another as if inviting each other; their cries stir my longing.
वसन्तो यदि तत्रापि यत्र मे वसति प्रिया। नूनं परवशा सीता सापि शोचत्यहं यथा
If spring has come even where my beloved dwells, surely Sītā, too, is helpless and grieves as I do.
नूनं न तु वसन्तस्तं देशं स्पृशति यत्र सा। कथं ह्यसितपद्माक्षी वर्तयेत् सा मया विना
Surely spring does not touch the place where she is; how could the dark-eyed Sītā endure without me?
अथवा वर्तते तत्र वसन्तो यत्र मे प्रिया। किं करिष्यति सुश्रोणी सा तु निर्भर्त्सिता परैः
Or perhaps spring does come where my beloved is; what will the lovely-waisted one do, scorned by others?
श्यामा पद्मपलाशाक्षी मृदुभाषा च मे प्रिया। नूनं वसन्तमासाद्य परित्यक्ष्यति जीवितम्
My beloved, dark-skinned, lotus-eyed, gentle in speech—surely, upon the arrival of spring, she will abandon her life.