न मामन्येन संरब्धं प्रमत्तं वेद्धुमर्हसि। इति मे बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना बभूवादर्शने तव
You ought not to strike me, enraged and careless, by another's hand; such was the thought that arose in me when I did not see you.
स त्वां विनिहतात्मानं धर्मध्वजमधार्मिकम्। जाने पापसमाचारं तृणैः कूपमिवावृतम्
I know you as one whose soul is slain, a banner of righteousness yet unrighteous, evil in conduct, like a well covered with grass.
सतां वेषधरं पापं प्रच्छन्नमिव पावकम्। नाहं त्वामभिजानामि धर्मच्छद्माभिसंवृतम्
A wicked man in the guise of the virtuous, hidden like fire—thus I do not recognize you, concealed by the pretense of righteousness.
विषये वा पुरे वा ते यदा पापं करोम्यहम्। न च त्वामवजानेऽहं कस्मात् तं हंस्यकिल्बिषम्
Whether in your realm or your city, whenever I commit a wrong, I do not disregard you—so why do you slay me, innocent of sin?
फलमूलाशनं नित्यं वानरं वनगोचरम्। मामिहाप्रतियुध्यन्तमन्येन च समागतम्
I, a monkey living in the forest, always eating fruits and roots, not fighting you here, but engaged with another—
त्वं नराधिपतेः पुत्रः प्रतीतः प्रियदर्शनः। लिङ्गमप्यस्ति ते राजन् दृश्यते धर्मसंहितम्
You, son of the lord of men, renowned and pleasing to see, indeed bear the marks of righteousness, O king, visible to all.
कः क्षत्रियकुले जातः श्रुतवान् नष्टसंशयः। धर्मलिङ्गप्रतिच्छन्नः क्रूरं कर्म समाचरेत्
What man, born in a warrior's line, learned and free of doubt, would commit a cruel deed, hiding behind the signs of righteousness?
त्वं राघवकुले जातो धर्मवानिति विश्रुतः। अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण किमर्थं परिधावसे
You are born in the Raghava lineage, renowned for righteousness; why do you, who appear noble, act in a manner unworthy of you?
साम दानं क्षमा धर्मः सत्यं धृतिपराक्रमौ। पार्थिवानां गुणा राजन् दण्डश्चाप्यपकारिषु
Conciliation, generosity, forbearance, righteousness, truth, steadfastness, and valor—these are the virtues of kings, O ruler, as is punishment for wrongdoers.
वयं वनचरा राम मृगा मूलफलाशिनः। एषा प्रकृतिरस्माकं पुरुषस्त्वं नरेश्वर
We are forest-dwellers, Rama, living on roots, fruits, and meat; this is our nature, while you are a man among men, O lord of people.
भूमिर्हिरण्यं रूपं च विग्रहे कारणानि च। तत्र कस्ते वने लोभो मदीयेषु फलेषु वा
Land, gold, women, and causes for conflict—these are sources of desire; what greed could you have here, in my forest fruits?
नयश्च विनयश्चोभौ निग्रहानुग्रहावपि। राजवृत्तिरसंकीर्णा न नृपाः कामवृत्तयः
Both discipline and self-restraint, as well as punishment and favor, are duties of a king; the royal conduct is not tainted—kings do not act on mere desire.
त्वं तु कामप्रधानश्च कोपनश्चानवस्थितः। राजवृत्तेषु संकीर्णः शरासनपरायणः
But you are led by desire, quick to anger, unstable, and your royal conduct is mixed; you are devoted to the bow and arrow.
न तेऽस्त्यपचितिर्धर्मे नार्थे बुद्धिरवस्थिता। इन्द्रियैः कामवृत्तः सन् कृष्यसे मनुजेश्वर
You have no respect for righteousness, nor is your mind fixed on wealth; ruled by your senses and desires, you are swayed, O lord of men.
हत्वा बाणेन काकुत्स्थ मामिहानपराधिनम्। किं वक्ष्यसि सतां मध्ये कर्म कृत्वा जुगुप्सितम्
Having killed me here with an arrow, O Kakutstha, though I am without fault, what will you say among the virtuous after committing such a shameful deed?
राजहा ब्रह्महा गोघ्नश्चोरः प्राणिवधे रतः। नास्तिकः परिवेत्ता च सर्वे निरयगामिनः
A king-slayer, a brahmin-killer, a slayer of cows, a thief, one intent on killing living beings, an atheist, and one who violates another's wife—all these go to hell.
सूचकश्च कदर्यश्च मित्रघ्नो गुरुतल्पगः। लोकं पापात्मनामेते गच्छन्ते नात्र संशयः
A tale-bearer, a miser, a betrayer of friends, one who violates the teacher's bed—these evil-hearted ones go to ruin; there is no doubt about this.
अधार्यं चर्म मे सद्भी रोमाण्यस्थि च वर्जितम्। अभक्ष्याणि च मांसानि त्वद्विधैर्धर्मचारिभिः
My skin, hair, and bones are not to be accepted by the virtuous, nor is my flesh to be eaten by the righteous like you.
पञ्च पञ्चनखा भक्ष्या ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण राघव। शल्यकः श्वाविधो गोधा शशः कूर्मश्च पञ्चमः
Five creatures with five claws are permitted as food for brahmins and kshatriyas, O Raghava: the porcupine, the hedgehog, the iguana, the hare, and the tortoise as the fifth.
चर्म चास्थि च मे राम न स्पृशन्ति मनीषिणः। अभक्ष्याणि च मांसानि सोऽहं पञ्चनखो हतः
Wise men do not touch my skin or bones, O Rama, nor do they eat my flesh; yet I, a five-clawed creature, have been slain.
तारया वाक्यमुक्तोऽहं सत्यं सर्वज्ञया हितम्। तदतिक्रम्य मोहेन कालस्य वशमागतः
I was warned by Tara, who spoke truthfully and for my good, knowing all; but, overcome by delusion, I have fallen under the sway of fate.
त्वया नाथेन काकुत्स्थ न सनाथा वसुंधरा। प्रमदा शीलसम्पूर्णा पत्येव च विधर्मणा
With you as protector, O Kakutstha, the earth is not truly protected—like a virtuous woman with an unworthy husband.
शठो नैकृतिकः क्षुद्रो मिथ्याप्रश्रितमानसः। कथं दशरथेन त्वं जातः पापो महात्मना
Deceitful, treacherous, base, and falsely humble in mind—how could you, a sinner, be born of the great-souled Dasharatha?
छिन्नचारित्र्यकक्ष्येण सतां धर्मातिवर्तिना। त्यक्तधर्माङ्कुशेनाहं निहतो रामहस्तिना
With the bounds of good conduct broken, transgressing the righteousness of the virtuous, and having cast aside the goad of dharma, I am slain by Rama, the elephant among men.
अशुभं चाप्ययुक्तं च सतां चैव विगर्हितम्। वक्ष्यसे चेदृशं कृत्वा सद्भिः सह समागतः
If, after doing such an improper and inauspicious act, condemned by the virtuous, you speak of it among the good, what will you say?
उदासीनेषु योऽस्मासु विक्रमोऽयं प्रकाशितः। अपकारिषु ते राम नैवं पश्यामि विक्रमम्
Rāma, this display of valor you have shown against us, who are neutral, I do not see you showing such courage against those who have wronged you.
दृश्यमानस्तु युध्येथा मया युधि नृपात्मज। अद्य वैवस्वतं देवं पश्येस्त्वं निहतो मया
If you had fought me openly in battle, O prince, you would see the god Vaivasvata today, slain by me in combat.
त्वयादृश्येन तु रणे निहतोऽहं दुरासदः। प्रसुप्तः पन्नगेनैव नरः पापवशं गतः
But I, formidable as I am, have been killed by you in battle while unseen, just as a man under the sway of evil is struck down by a serpent while asleep.
सुग्रीवप्रियकामेन यदहं निहतस्त्वया। मामेव यदि पूर्वं त्वमेतदर्थमचोदयः। मैथिलीमहमेकाह्ना तव चानीतवान् भवेः
If, out of affection for Sugrīva, you have killed me, you should have first told me your purpose; in a single day, I would have brought back Maithilī for you.
राक्षसं च दुरात्मानं तव भार्यापहारिणम्। कण्ठे बद्ध्वा प्रदद्यां तेऽनिहतं रावणं रणे
I would have bound that wicked Rākṣasa, the abductor of your wife, around the neck and delivered Rāvaṇa to you alive on the battlefield.