आचचक्षेऽथ सद्भावं लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः। भरतायाप्रमेयाय गुहो गहनगोचरः॥
Guha, acquainted with the forest, described to Bharata of immeasurable prowess the regard the high-souled Laksmana bore to Rama.
तं जाग्रतं गुणैर्युक्तं वरचापेषु धारिणम्। भ्रातृगुप्त्यर्थमत्यन्तमहं लक्ष्मणमब्रुवम्॥
To Lakşmaņa crowned with every virtue, waking up, holding the bow with the arrow fixed on it for the purpose of guarding well his brother.
इयं तात सुखा शय्या त्वदर्थमुपकल्पिता। प्रत्याश्वसिहि शेष्वास्यां सुखं राघवनन्दन ॥ उचितोऽयं जनः सर्वो दुःखानां त्वं सुखोचितः। धर्मात्मस्तस्य गुप्त्यर्थं जागरिष्यामहे वयम्॥
I said, “This easeful bed has been prepared for you, my child. O son of Raghu's descendant, cheer up! Do you lie down at ease. All these people can bear hardship; but you are meant for comfort. For protecting him religiously, we shall wake.
नहि रामात् प्रियतरो ममास्ति भुवि कश्चन। मोत्सुको भूर्बवीम्येतदथ सत्यं तवाग्रतः॥ अस्य प्रसादादाशंसे लोकेऽस्मिन् सुमहद् यशः। धर्मावाप्तिं च विपुलामर्थकामौ च केवलौ॥
To me also there is none that is dearer on earth than Rāma. Do not be anxious. This I tell you truly, through his grace I expect high fame among men, and immense religious merit, and interest and desire in entirety.
सोऽहं प्रियसखं रामं शयानं सह सीतया। रक्षिष्यामि धनुष्पाणिः सर्वैः स्वैातिभिः सह॥
Bow in hand I shall along with my kin protect Rāma lying down with Sītā.
नहि मेऽविदितं किंचिद् वनेऽस्मिंश्चरतः सदा। चतुरङ्ग ह्यपि बलं प्रसहेम वयं युधि ॥
To me always ranging in this forest, nothing whatever is unknown. I can even cope in battle with an army of fourfold forces.
एवमस्माभिरुक्तेन लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना। अनुनीता वयं सर्वे धर्ममेवानुपश्यता ॥
Thus accosted by us, the magnanimous Laks maņa with his gaze ever fixed on virtue, humbly observed.
कथं दाशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया। शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धं जीवितानि सुखानि वा॥
How, Dasaratha's son sleeping on the earth with Sītā, can I attain sleep, or life, or happiness?
यो न देवासुरैः सर्वैः शक्यः प्रसहितुं युधि। तं पश्य गुह संविष्टं तृणेषु सह सीतया॥
How see him who is capable of bearing in battle the onslaught of the gods and the Asuras combined, sleeping in a cave on grass?
महता तपसा लब्धो विविधैश्च परिश्रमैः। एको दशरथस्यैष पुत्रः सदृशलक्षणः॥ अस्मिन् प्रवाजिते राजा न चिरं वर्तयिष्यति। विधवा मेदिनी नूनं क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति॥
It is by virtue of mighty austerities and uncommon exertions that Dasaratha has obtained this son of his crowned with every auspicious sign. He being banished, the king shall not live long; and the Earth shall certainly be widowed soon.
विनद्य सुमहानादं श्रमेणोपरताः स्त्रियः। निर्घोषो विरतो नूनमद्य राजनिवेशने॥
Having bewailed aloud, by this time have the women got exhausted; and surely the king's mansion is to-day still.
कौसल्या चैव राजा च तथैव जननी मम। नाशंसे यदि ते सर्वे जीवेयुः शर्वरीमिमाम्॥
I do not expect that either Kausalyā or the king or my mother is alive. If they live, it can be for this night only.
जीवेदपि च मे माता शत्रुघ्नस्यान्ववेक्षया। दुःखिता या हि कौसल्या वीरसूर्विनशिष्यति॥
Even if my mother live seeing Satrughna, that mother of a hero, the afflicted Kausalyā, will (surely) resign her existence.
अतिक्रान्तमतिक्रान्तमनवाप्य मनोरथम्। राज्ये राममनिक्षिप्य पिता मे विनशिष्यति॥
Saying, All is lost, All is lost, with his desire unattained, my father having failed to install Rāma in the kingdom, will resign his existence.
सिद्धार्थाः पितरं वृत्तं तस्मिन् काले घुपस्थिते। प्रेतकार्येषु सर्वेषु संस्करिष्यन्ति भूमिपम् ॥
Blessed are they that when the time shall come for the same, shall perform the funeral ceremonies of the king, my deceased sire.
रम्यचत्वरसंस्थानां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्। हर्म्यप्रासादसम्पन्नां सर्वरत्नविभूषिताम्॥ गजाश्वरथसम्बाधां तूर्यनादविनादिताम्। सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम् ॥
Then shall they with happy hearts range the looking terraces, with the highways laid out orderly, crowned with lordly edifices, adorned with various gems, crowded by cars and elephants and horses, resounding with the notes of trumpets, abounding in auspicious things, filled with fat and contented people, having gardens and pleasure-houses, and possessed of divers classed of men indulging festal mirth.
आरामोद्यानसम्पूर्णां समाजोत्सवशालिनीम्। सुखिता विचरिष्यन्ति राजधानी पितुर्मम ॥ अपि सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन सार्धं कुशलिना वयम्। निवृत्ते समये ह्यस्मिन् सुखिताः प्रविशेमहि ॥
Shall we, on the occasion of Rāma's return, with glad hearts peacefully enter the city in company with that one firm in his promise?
परिदेवयमानस्य तस्यैवं हि महात्मनः। तिष्ठतो राजपुत्रस्य शर्वरी सात्यवर्तत ॥
As the magnanimous son of the king was thus lamenting, the night passed away.
प्रभाते विमले सूर्ये कारयित्वा जटा उभौ। अस्मिन् भागीरथीतीरे सुखं संतारितौ मया॥
In the morning, with an unclouded sun, both, having made matted locks on the banks of the Bhāgīrathi, crossed the river along with me.
जटाधरौ तौ दुमचीरवाससौ महाबलौ कुञ्जरयूथपोपमौ। वरेषुधीचापधरौ परंतपौ व्यपेक्षमाणौ सह सीतया गतौ॥
Wearing matted locks and clad in barks of trees, those persons possessed of mighty strength, like to leaders of elephant-herds, equipped with excellent arrows and quivers and bows, those repressors of foes, expecting (their return form exile), departed with Sītā.