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.
दृढं हि हृदये बुद्धिर्मम सम्परिवर्तते। नालं वर्तयितुं सीता साध्वी मद्विरहं गता
A firm conviction turns in my heart: Sītā, so virtuous, cannot endure my absence.
मयि भावो हि वैदेह्यास्तत्त्वतो विनिवेशितः। ममापि भावः सीतायां सर्वथा विनिवेशितः
Vaidehī’s love is truly fixed in me; my love for Sītā is likewise fixed in every way.
एष पुष्पवहो वायुः सुखस्पर्शो हिमावहः। तां विचिन्तयतः कान्तां पावकप्रतिमो मम
This flower-laden breeze, pleasant to the touch and cool, feels like fire to me as I think of my beloved.
सदा सुखमहं मन्ये यं पुरा सह सीतया। मारुतः स विना सीतां शोकसंजननो मम
I once thought this wind, so pleasant with Sītā, brought happiness; now, without her, it only brings me sorrow.
तां विनाथ विहङ्गोऽसौ पक्षी प्रणदितस्तदा। वायसः पादपगतः प्रहृष्टमभिकूजति
Without her, that bird, the crow, perched on the tree, cries out joyfully.
एष वै तत्र वैदेह्या विहगः प्रतिहारकः। पक्षी मां तु विशालाक्ष्याः समीपमुपनेष्यति
That bird is the doorkeeper for Vaidehī; but the bird will bring me near to the wide-eyed one.
पश्य लक्ष्मण संनादं वने मदविवर्धनम्। पुष्पिताग्रेषु वृक्षेषु द्विजानामवकूजताम्
See, Lakṣmaṇa, the sound in the forest, swelling with passion, as the birds sing atop blossoming trees.
विक्षिप्तां पवनेनैतामसौ तिलकमञ्जरीम्। षट्पदः सहसाभ्येति मदोद्धूतामिव प्रियाम्
The wind scatters this cluster of sesame flowers; the bee suddenly approaches, as if drawn to a beloved stirred by passion.
कामिनामयमत्यन्तमशोकः शोकवर्धनः। स्तबकैः पवनोत्क्षिप्तैस्तर्जयन्निव मां स्थितः
This ashoka tree, beloved of lovers, stands before me, increasing my sorrow, as if threatening me with its wind-tossed clusters.
अमी लक्ष्मण दृश्यन्ते चूताः कुसुमशालिनः। विभ्रमोत्सिक्तमनसः साङ्गरागा नरा इव
Look, Lakshmana, here are mango trees laden with blossoms, their minds uplifted by the play of the wind, like men adorned with sandalwood, stirred by passion.