पश्य सानुषु चित्रेषु मृगीभिः सहितान् मृगान्। मां पुनर्मृगशावाक्ष्या वैदेह्या विरहीकृतम्। व्यथयन्तीव मे चित्तं संचरन्तस्ततस्ततः
See, on those lovely slopes, the deer together with their mates; as I, separated from Vaidehī, whose eyes are like young deer, am pained at heart as they wander here and there.
अस्मिन् सानुनि रम्ये हि मत्तद्विजगणाकुले। पश्येयं यदि तां कान्तां ततः स्वस्ति भवेन्मम
On this delightful hill, crowded with intoxicated flocks of birds, if only I could see my beloved, then all would be well for me.
जीवेयं खलु सौमित्रे मया सह सुमध्यमा। सेवेत यदि वैदेही पम्पायाः पवनं शुभम्
Truly, O Saumitri, I could live if the slender-waisted Vaidehī, together with me, could enjoy the pure, auspicious breeze of Pampā.
पद्मसौगन्धिकवहं शिवं शोकविनाशनम्। धन्या लक्ष्मण सेवन्ते पम्पाया वनमारुतम्
Blessed are those who enjoy the forest breeze of Pampā, carrying the fragrance of lotuses and blue lilies, auspicious and dispelling sorrow, O Lakṣmaṇa.
श्यामा पद्मपलाशाक्षी प्रिया विरहिता मया। कथं धारयति प्राणान् विवशा जनकात्मजा
My beloved, dark and lotus-petal-eyed, separated from me—how does Janaka’s daughter, helpless, sustain her life?
किं नु वक्ष्यामि धर्मज्ञं राजानं सत्यवादिनम्। जनकं पृष्टसीतं तं कुशलं जनसंसदि
What shall I say to the righteous king, the truth-speaking Janaka, if he asks about Sītā’s welfare in the assembly of people?
या मामनुगता मन्दं पित्रा प्रस्थापितं वनम्। सीता धर्मं समास्थाय क्व नु सा वर्तते प्रिया
She who followed me, though I was sent to the forest by her father, steadfast in righteousness—where now does my dear Sītā dwell?
तया विहीनः कृपणः कथं लक्ष्मण धारये। या मामनुगता राज्याद् भ्रष्टं विहतचेतसम्
Deprived of her, O Lakṣmaṇa, how shall I, wretched, continue—she who followed me, fallen from the kingdom and with my mind distressed?
तच्चार्वाञ्चितपद्माक्षं सुगन्धि शुभमव्रणम्। अपश्यतो मुखं तस्याः सीदतीव मतिर्मम
As I do not see her face, with eyes like blooming lotuses, fragrant, lovely, and unblemished, my mind seems to sink.
स्मितहास्यान्तरयुतं गुणवन्मधुरं हितम्। वैदेह्या वाक्यमतुलं कदा श्रोष्यामि लक्ष्मण
When shall I hear, O Lakṣmaṇa, the matchless words of Vaidehī—virtuous, sweet, and beneficial—adorned with gentle smiles and laughter?
प्राप्य दुःखं वने श्यामा मां मन्मथविकर्शितम्। नष्टदुःखेव हृष्टेव साध्वी साध्वभ्यभाषत
When she, dark-complexioned, found me tormented by love and suffering in the forest, that virtuous lady, as if freed from sorrow, spoke to me joyfully.
किं नु वक्ष्याम्ययोध्यायां कौसल्यां हि नृपात्मज। क्व सा स्नुषेति पृच्छन्तीं कथं चापि मनस्विनीम्
What shall I say in Ayodhyā to Kausalyā, O prince, when she, wise and noble, asks, 'Where is my daughter-in-law?'
गच्छ लक्ष्मण पश्य त्वं भरतं भ्रातृवत्सलम्। नह्यहं जीवितुं शक्तस्तामृते जनकात्मजाम्
Go, Lakṣmaṇa, see Bharata, who loves his brothers; for I am not able to live without Janaka’s daughter.
इति रामं महात्मानं विलपन्तमनाथवत्। उवाच लक्ष्मणो भ्राता वचनं युक्तमव्ययम्
Thus, as Rāma, the great-souled one, lamented like one bereft of support, his brother Lakṣmaṇa spoke these fitting and unwavering words.
संस्तम्भ राम भद्रं ते मा शुचः पुरुषोत्तम। नेदृशानां मतिर्मन्दा भवत्यकलुषात्मनाम्
Compose yourself, Rāma—may all be well with you; grieve not, best of men. Such thoughts do not arise in those whose hearts are pure.
स्मृत्वा वियोगजं दुःखं त्यज स्नेहं प्रिये जने। अतिस्नेहपरिष्वङ्गाद् वर्तिरार्द्रापि दह्यते
Remembering the sorrow born of separation, let go of your attachment to your beloved. Even a moist wick, when embraced too closely by flame, is consumed.
यदि गच्छति पातालं ततोऽभ्यधिकमेव वा। सर्वथा रावणस्तात न भविष्यति राघव
Even if he goes to the netherworld or to a place beyond, Rāvaṇa will not escape you, Rāghava, in any way.
प्रवृत्तिर्लभ्यतां तावत् तस्य पापस्य रक्षसः। ततो हास्यति वा सीतां निधनं वा गमिष्यति
Let us first discover the whereabouts of that wicked Rākṣasa; then he will either release Sītā or meet his end.
यदि याति दितेर्गर्भं रावणं सह सीतया। तत्राप्येनं हनिष्यामि न चेद् दास्यति मैथिलीम्
If Rāvaṇa goes into the womb of Diti along with Sītā, even there I will slay him, unless he returns the daughter of Mithilā.
स्वास्थ्यं भद्रं भजस्वार्य त्यज्यतां कृपणा मतिः। अर्थो हि नष्टकार्यार्थैरयत्नेनाधिगम्यते
Regain your composure, noble one, and cast aside this pitiable state of mind. Lost purposes are not regained by those who make no effort.
उत्साहो बलवानार्य नास्त्युत्साहात् परं बलम्। सोत्साहस्य हि लोकेषु न किंचिदपि दुर्लभम्
Energy is powerful, noble one; there is no strength greater than energy. For the energetic, nothing in the world is difficult to obtain.
उत्साहवन्तः पुरुषा नावसीदन्ति कर्मसु। उत्साहमात्रमाश्रित्य प्रतिलप्स्याम जानकीम्
Men endowed with energy do not falter in their actions. Relying solely on energy, we shall recover Jānakī.
त्यजतां कामवृत्तत्वं शोकं संन्यस्य पृष्ठतः। महात्मानं कृतात्मानमात्मानं नावबुध्यसे
Abandoning the ways of desire and casting grief behind you, you do not recognize yourself, the great-souled, self-controlled one.
एवं सम्बोधितस्तेन शोकोपहतचेतनः। त्यज्य शोकं च मोहं च रामो धैर्यमुपागमत्
Thus addressed by him, Rāma, whose mind was afflicted by grief, set aside his sorrow and delusion, and regained his composure.
सोऽभ्यतिक्रामदव्यग्रस्तामचिन्त्यपराक्रमः। रामः पम्पां सुरुचिरां रम्यां पारिप्लवद्रुमाम्
That Rāma, of unfathomable prowess, undisturbed, crossed the beautiful Pampā, lovely with trees growing along its banks.
निरीक्षमाणः सहसा महात्मा सर्वं वनं निर्झरकन्दरं च। उद्विग्नचेताः सह लक्ष्मणेन विचार्य दुःखोपहतः प्रतस्थे
The great-souled one, suddenly surveying the entire forest with its waterfalls and caves, his heart troubled, set out with Lakṣmaṇa, weighed down by sorrow.
तं मत्तमातङ्गविलासगामी गच्छन्तमव्यग्रमना महात्मा। स लक्ष्मणो राघवमिष्टचेष्टो ररक्ष धर्मेण बलेन चैव
As he walked, moving with the grace of a rutting elephant, undisturbed in mind, Lakṣmaṇa, devoted to his brother, protected Rāghava by righteousness and by strength.
तावृष्यमूकस्य समीपचारी चरन् ददर्शाद्भुतदर्शनीयौ। शाखामृगाणामधिपस्तरस्वी वितत्रसे नैव विचेष्ट चेष्टाम्
As they moved near the slopes of Ṛṣyamūka, they saw two wondrously strange leaders of the monkey bands, who neither trembled nor stirred at their approach.
स तौ महात्मा गजमन्दगामी शाखामृगस्तत्र चरंश्चरन्तौ। दृष्ट्वा विषादं परमं जगाम चिन्तापरीतो भयभारभग्नः
There, the great-souled leader of the monkeys, moving with the gait of a slow elephant, saw the two as they wandered, and, overwhelmed by fear and anxiety, fell into deep despondency.
तमाश्रमं पुण्यसुखं शरण्यं सदैव शाखामृगसेवितान्तम्। त्रस्ताश्च दृष्ट्वा हरयोऽभिजग्मु- र्महौजसौ राघवलक्ष्मणौ तौ
Seeing those two mighty Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa, the monkeys, frightened, approached that hermitage, holy, blissful, and a refuge, always frequented by monkey chiefs.