देहयष्टिम् इमां देव धारयन्त इमे वयम् । खिन्नाः खेदपरिम्लाने विभो रामे सुते तव
O lord, we are merely sustaining these bodies, weary and exhausted, because of your son Rama.
रामो राजीवपत्त्राक्षो यतः प्रभृति चागतः । सविप्रस् तीर्थयात्रायास् ततः प्रभृति दुर्मनाः
Since Rama, whose eyes are like lotus petals, returned from pilgrimage with the sages, he has been troubled in mind.
यत्नप्रार्थनयास्माकं निजव्यापारम् आह्निकम् । सायम् अम्लानवदनः करोति न करोति वा
Despite our efforts and requests, he performs his daily duties in the evening with a gloomy face, or sometimes not at all.
स्नानदेवार्चनाचारपर्यन्ते परिखेदवान् । प्रार्थितो ऽपि हि ना तृप्तेर् अश्नात्य् अशनम् ईश्वरः
Even after bathing, worshipping the gods, and observing proper conduct, he remains fatigued; though urged, he does not eat for satisfaction, O lord.
लोलान्तःपुरनारीभिः कृतदोलाभिर् अङ्गने । न च क्रीडति लीलाभिर् धराद्भिर् इव चातकः
He does not play with the women of the inner palace, who swing him on swings in the courtyards, like a chataka bird that ignores the earth's pleasures.
माणिक्यमुक्तासम्प्रोता केयूरकटकावली । नानन्दयति तं राजन् द्यौः पातविवशं यथा
The bracelets and armlets studded with rubies and pearls do not delight him, O king, as the sky does not please one who is about to fall.
क्रीडद्वधूविलोलेषु वहत्कुसुमवायुषु । लतावलयगेहेषु भवत्य् अतिविषादवान्
He becomes deeply despondent even amidst playful, restless women, in breezes carrying flowers, and in bowers encircled by vines.
यद् रम्यम् उचितं स्वादु पेशलं चित्तहारि वा । बाष्पपूरेक्षण इव तेनैव परिखिद्यते
Whatever is delightful, fitting, charming, or captivating to the mind—he grows weary of it, as if his eyes were filled with tears.
किम् इमा दुःखदायिन्यः प्रस्फुरन्ति पुरोगताः । इति नृत्तविलासेषु कामिनीः परिनिन्दति
In the midst of dancing and merriment, he reproaches the women, saying, 'Why do these bringers of sorrow appear before me?'
भोजनं शयनं स्नानं विलासं पानम् आसनम् । उन्मत्तचेष्टितम् इव नाभिनन्दति निन्दितम्
He takes no pleasure in food, bed, bathing, amusements, drink, or sitting—regarding them as the actions of a madman, he neither welcomes nor condemns them.
किं सम्पदा किं विपदा किं गेहेन किम् ईहितैः । सर्वम् एवासद् इत्य् उक्त्वा तूष्णीम् एको ऽवतिष्ठते
He says, 'What is the use of wealth, what of misfortune, what of a house, what of efforts? All is unreal,' and remains silent and alone.
नोदेति परिहासेषु न भोगेषु निमज्जति । न च तिष्ठति कार्येषु मौनम् एवावलम्बते
He does not join in laughter, does not immerse himself in pleasures, nor does he engage in duties—he simply resorts to silence.
विलोलालकवल्लर्यो हेलावलितलोचनाः । नानन्दयन्ति तं नार्यो मृग्यो वनतरुं यथा
Women with flowing locks and glancing eyes, playful and alluring, do not bring him joy, just as deer do not delight in a forest tree.
एकान्तेषु दिगन्तेषु तीरेषु विपिनेषु च । रतिम् आयात्य् अरण्येषु विक्रीतवद् अजन्तुषु
In solitary places, at the horizon, on riverbanks, and in forests, he finds pleasure among wild creatures as if they were his own kind.
वस्त्रपानाशनादानपराङ्मुखतया तया । परिव्राड्धर्मिणां राजन् सो ऽनुयाति तपस्विनाम्
O King, with a disposition turned away from clothing, drink, food, and possessions, he follows the conduct of wandering ascetics, pursuing the path of austerity.
एक एव वसन् देशे जनशून्ये जनेश्वर । न हसत्य् एकया बुद्ध्या न गायति न रोदिति
Dwelling alone in a deserted place, O Lord of men, he neither laughs with his solitary mind, nor sings, nor weeps.
बद्धपद्मासनश् शून्यमना वामकरस्थले । कपोलतलम् आदाय केवलं परितिष्ठति
Seated in the bound lotus posture, his mind empty, he rests his cheek upon his left palm and simply remains there.
नाभिमानम् उपादत्ते नाभिवाञ्छति राजताम् । नोदेति नास्तम् आयाति सुखदुःखानुवृत्तिषु
He does not adopt pride, nor does he desire sovereignty; he neither rises nor sets in the succession of pleasure and pain.
न विद्मः किम् असौ जातः किं करोति किम् ईहते । किं ध्यायति किम् आयाति कथं किम् अनुधावति
We do not know whether he was born, what he does, what he desires, what he contemplates, where he goes, or how or why he acts.
प्रत्यहं कृशतां याति प्रत्यहं याति पाण्डुताम् । विरागं प्रत्यहं याति शरदन्त इव द्रुमः
Day by day he grows thin, day by day he becomes pale; day by day he attains dispassion, like a tree at the end of autumn.
अनुयातौ तम् एवैतौ राजञ् शत्रुघ्नलक्ष्मणौ । तादृशाव् एव तस्यैव प्रतिबिम्बाव् इवोत्थितौ
O King, Śatrughna and Lakṣmaṇa follow him, just as if they were his very reflections arisen in the same manner.
भृत्यै राजभिर् अम्बाभिस् स पृष्टो ऽपि पुनः पुनः । उक्त्वा न किञ्चिद् एवेति तूष्णीम् आस्ते निरीहितः
Though repeatedly questioned by servants, kings, and mothers, he simply replies, 'Nothing,' and sits in silence, without desire.
आपातमात्रहृद्येषु मा भोगेषु मनः कृथाः । इति पार्श्वगतं भव्यम् अनुशास्ति सुहृज्जनम्
He instructs his dear friend who is beside him, saying: 'Do not let your mind dwell on pleasures that only touch the heart for a moment.'
नानाविभवरम्यासु स्त्रीषु गोष्ठीकथासु च । पुरस्स्थितम् इवास्नेहो नाशम् एवानुपश्यति
He sees that affection, even for women who delight in various enjoyments and for conversations in gatherings, vanishes as if it were right before his eyes.
रीतिमाधुर्यसायासपदसंस्थितिवर्जितैः । चेष्टितैर् एव काकल्या भूयो भूयः प्रगायति
Again and again, the crow sings only with gestures that lack elegance, sweetness, effort, or proper form.
सम्राड् भवेति पार्श्वस्थं वदन्तम् अनुजीविनम् । प्रलपन्तम् इवोन्मत्तं हसत्य् अन्यमना मुनिः
When a dependent standing nearby says, 'Become emperor,' the sage, absorbed elsewhere, laughs at him as if he were a madman babbling.
न प्रोक्तम् आकर्णयति प्रेक्षते न पुरोगतम् । करोत्य् अवज्ञां सर्वत्र सुमहत्य् अपि वस्तुनि
He does not listen to what is spoken, nor does he look at what is before him; he disregards everything, even the greatest things.
अप्य् आकाशसरोजिन्याम् अप्य् आकाशमहावने । इत्थम् एतत् कथम् इति विस्मयो ऽस्य न जायते
Even if there were a lotus pond or a great forest in the sky, he would not feel any wonder, thinking, 'How is this so?'
कान्तामध्यगतस्यापि मनो ऽस्य मदनेषवः । न भेदयन्ति दुर्भेदं धारा इव महोपलम्
Even when surrounded by beautiful women, the arrows of love do not pierce his mind, which is as hard to break as a massive stone.
आपदाम् एकम् आवासम् अभिवाञ्छसि किं धनम् । अनुशास्येति सर्वस्वम् अर्थिने स प्रयच्छति
If someone in distress asks him, 'Do you desire a single dwelling place or wealth?' he gives away everything to the one who requests it, as an instruction.