आर्तस्वरं तु तं भर्तुर्विज्ञाय सदृशं वने। उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता गच्छ जानीहि राघवम्॥
Hearing that cry in the forest resembling her husband's voice Sítā spake to Laksmana saying Do you go and learn what has befallen Rāghava.
नहि मे जीवितं स्थाने हृदयं वावतिष्ठते। क्रोशन: परमार्तस्य श्रुतः शब्दो मया भृशम्॥
He is crying aloud in pitiable accents; hearing them my life and soul are incapable of remaining any longer in their proper places.
आक्रन्दमानं तु वने भ्रातरं त्रातुमर्हसि। तं क्षिप्रमभिधाव त्वं भ्रातरं शरणैषिणम्॥ रक्षसां वशमापन्नं सिंहानामिव गोवृषम्। न जगाम तथोक्तस्तु भ्रातुराज्ञाय शासनम्॥
It behoveth you to save your brother who is crying aloud in the forest; do you immediately repair hence to save him, who is in need of your help. He has been over-powered by the Rākşasas like to a bullock brought under the power of a lion, Remembering the behest of Rāma, Laks maņa did not go, though accosted thus by Sītā.
तमुवाच ततस्तत्र क्षुभिता जनकात्मजा। सौमित्रे मित्ररूपेण भ्रातुस्त्वमसि शत्रुवत्॥ यस्त्वमस्यामवस्थायां भ्रातरं नाभिपद्यसे। इच्छसि त्वं विनश्यन्तं रामं लक्ष्मण मत्कृते॥
Extremely mortified, the daughter of Janaka spake to him saying O Son of Sumitra, you are an enemy to Rāma, in the grab of a brother. You did not proceed for the relief of they brother who has been reduced to such a plight.
लोभात्तु मत्कृते नूनं नानुगच्छसि राघवम्। व्यसनं ते प्रियं मन्ये स्नेहो भ्रातरि नास्ति ते॥
Truely being under the influence of lust for me you did not follow Rāghava! For this you did welcome Rāma's disaster; you have no affection for him.
तेन तिष्ठसि विस्रब्धं तमपश्यन् महाद्युतिम्। किं हि संशयमापन्ने तस्मिन्निह मया भवेत्॥ कर्तव्यमिह तिष्ठन्त्या यत्प्रधानस्त्वमागतः।
For this it is that you did sit here without anxiety not seeing the highly effulgent (Rāma). Råma, following whom you have repaired to this forest, being in danger, of what avail is life to me.?'
एवं ब्रुवाणां वैदेहीं वाष्पशोकसमन्विताम्॥ अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणस्त्रस्तां सीतां मृगवधूमिव।
Vaidehī speaking thus being influenced by sorrow, and with tears in her eyes, like to a deer, Laksmana spoke to her.
पन्नगासुरगन्धर्वदेवदानवराक्षसैः॥ अशक्यस्तव वैदेहि भर्ता जेतुं न संशयः।
O Vaidehi, celestials, Dānavas, Gandharabas, Raksasas, Asuras, or Pannagas, there is none who can defeat your husband. There is not the least doubt in this.
देवी देवमनुष्येषु गन्धर्वेषु पतत्रिषु॥ राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु किन्नरेषु मृगेषु च। दानवेषु च घोरेषु न स विद्येत शोभने॥ यो रामं प्रतियुध्येत समरे वासवोपमम्। अवध्यः समरे रामो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥
Worshipful madam! Celestials, Danavas, Gandharvas, Raksasas, Pisacas, men, Kinnaras, animals, or birds, there is none among them, who can withstand Rāghava, who equals the lord of celestials in warfare. In fact there is none who can do away with Ráma in battle.
न त्वामस्मिन् वने हातुमुत्सहे राघवं विना। अनिवार्य बलं तस्य बलैर्बलवतामपि॥ त्रिभिर्लोकैः समुदितैः सेश्वरैः सामरैरपि। हृदयं निर्वृतं तेऽस्तु संतापस्त्यज्यतां तव॥
It does not behove you therefore to accost me thus. Nor do I dare leave you here alone in this forest without Rāma. Even the mighty heroes, as the Lord of celestials, cannot subdue his prowess with all their strength. Even the Almighty Himself, with the celestials and the three world, cannot defeat him. Do you therefore renounce grief and console theyself.
आगमिष्यति ते भर्ता शीघ्रं हत्वा मृगोत्तमम्।। न स तस्य स्वरो व्यक्तं न कश्चिदपि दैवतः॥ गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या माया तस्य च रक्षसः।
Sooner shall your husband return killing the best of deer. It is not his voice nor one sent by any deity. It is but an illusion of that Rākşasa (Mārīca).
न्यासभूतासि वैदेहि न्यस्ता मयि महात्मना ॥ रामेण त्वं वरारोहे न त्वां त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे।
O Vaidehī, you have been left to my charge by the high-souled (Rama)-I therefore do not dare leave you behind, O you the jewel of a damsel.
कृतवैराश्च कल्याणि वयमेतैर्निशाचरैः॥ खरस्य निधने देवि जनस्थानवधं प्रति।
We have made these night-rangers our enemies. For compassing the destruction of Khara, O worshipful one, and devastating Janasthāna, Rākṣasas oftentimes use improper words to us in this extensive forest.
राक्षसा विविधा वाचो व्याहरन्ति महावने॥ हिंसाविहारा वैदेहि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि ।
O Vaidehī, to create mischief to the pious is the only amusement of these Rākşasas-you shoudst not therefore be anxious for this.
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता तु क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना॥ अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं सत्यवादिनम्।
Being thus addressed by him her eyes were reddened with ire, and she spake these harsh words to the truthful Lakşmaņa.
अनार्यकरुणारम्भ नृशंस कुलपांसन॥ अहं तव प्रियं मन्ये रामस्य व्यसनं महत्। रामस्य व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा तेनैतानि प्रभाषसे॥
O cruel one! O you the destroyer of your line! it is a disgrace to you that you wishest to protect me (killing Răma). Methinks, this mighty disaster of Rāma is welcome to you, or else why should you seeing this, speak thus, O Laksmana.
नैव चित्रं सपत्नेषु पापं लक्ष्मण यद् भवेत्। त्वद्विधेषु नृशंसेषु नित्यं प्रच्छन्नचारिषु॥
It is not a wonder that an evil desire lurks in you who are a hypocrite and a cruel-hearted cnemy.
सुदुष्टस्त्वं वने राममेकमेकोऽनुगच्छसि। मम हेतोः प्रतिच्छन्नः प्रयुक्तो भरतेन वा॥
Verily are you a monster of wickedness, that Rāma repairing to woods, you have, being lustful for me, followed him alone. Or hast you been engaged by Bharata to act thus?
तन्न सिध्यति सौमित्रे तवापि भरतस्य वा। कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं रामं पदानिभेक्षणम्॥ उपसंश्रित्य भर्तारं कामयेयं पृथग्जनम्।
But your or Bharata's intention shall not be satisfied, O Saumitre. How shall I desire another man after serving the lotus-eyed Rāma of dark blue hue as my husband?
समक्षं तव सौमित्रे प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्याम्यसंशयम्॥ रामं बिना क्षणमपि नैव जीवामि भूतले।
I shall renounce my life before you, therefore, O Laksmana; without Rāma I shall not maintain my being for a moment on this earth.
इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं सीतया रोमहर्षणम्॥ अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणः सीतां प्राञ्जलिः स जितेन्द्रियः। उत्तरं सोत्सहे वक्तुं दैवतं भवता मम ॥
Hearing these brazen words of Sītā, capable of making one's down stand on end, the selfcontrolled Lakşmaņa with joined hands spake to her saying You are a very Goddess to me, I therefore dare not answer you.
वाक्यमप्रतिरूपं तु न चित्रं स्त्रीषु मैथिलि। स्वभावस्त्वेष नारीणामेषु लोकेषु दृश्यते॥
What you have spoken, O Maithelee, is nothing surprising-for fernales. Such is the nature of womankind on this earth.
विमुक्तधर्माश्चपलास्तीक्ष्णा भेदकराः स्त्रियः। न सहे हीदृशं वाक्यं वैदेही जनकात्मजे॥ श्रोत्रयोरुभयोर्मध्ये तप्तनाराचसंनिभम्।
Women by nature are crooked, fickle, devoid of religious knowledge, and bring about difference between father and sons. O Vaidehi, O daughter of Janaka, truly am I incapable of putting up with these words of yours. They have pierced through both of my ears like a heated Nāraca.
उपशृण्वन्तु मे सर्वे साक्षिणो हि वनेचराः॥ न्यायवादी यथा वाक्यमुक्तोऽहं परुषं त्वया। धिक् त्वामद्य विनश्यन्ती यन्मामेवं विशङ्कसे॥ स्त्रीत्वाद् दुष्टस्वभावेन गुरुवाक्ये व्यवस्थितम्। गच्छामि यत्र काकुत्स्थः स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु वरानने॥
However the deities ranging in this woodland are my witnesses—may they hear you. I spoke what was fair and have been thus addressed by you with these harsh words. I do always obey my superior's commands. Fie on you! Your destruction is near at hand that do you suspect me, being influenced' by this womanish nature. I shall go where Kākutstha is, may good betide you, O you the best of damsel!
रक्षन्तु त्वां विशालाक्षि समग्रा वनदेवताः। निमित्तानि हि घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे। अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः॥
May the deities of the forest protect you, O you of expansive eyes! many a bad omen appear before me. My I see you again when I shall come back with Rāina.
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता तु रुदती जनकात्मजा। प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यं तीव्रबाष्परिप्लुता॥
Being thus accosted by Lakşmaņa the daughter of Janaka replied weeping and being bathed in tears.
गोदावरी प्रवक्ष्यामि हीना रामेण लक्ष्मण। आबन्धिष्येऽथवा त्यक्ष्ये विषमे देहमात्मनः॥ पिबामि वा विषं तीक्ष्णं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्। न त्वहं राघवादन्यं कदापि पुरुषं स्पृशे॥
Without Rama, O Laksmana, I shall drink virulent poison, enter fire or dive into the Godāverī. I shall destroy this body either by hanging or by falling down from the top of a high object. I shall never be able to touch another man but Rāma.
इति लक्ष्मणमाश्रुत्य सीता शोकसमन्विता। पाणिभ्यां रुदती दुःशादुदरं प्रजघान ह ॥
Speaking thus to Lakşmaņa, Sītā, being enveloped with grief, weeping, struck her belly* with her hands. Properly it should be Struck her breast. But it has a special significance here, i.e.-she would not be satisfied until her belly be filled with all the Raksasas salin.तामार्तरूपां विमना रुदन्ती
सौमित्रिरालोक्य विशालनेत्राम्। स्तं भ्रातरं किंचिदुवाच सीता॥
Seeing the daughter of Janaka of expansive eyes weep thus in pitiable accents, Lakşmaņa losing his attention began to console her.
ततस्तु सीतामभिवाद्य लक्ष्मण: कृताञ्जलिः किचिदभिप्रणम्य। अवेक्षमाणो बहुशः स मैथिली जगाम रामस्य समीपमात्मवान् ॥
Afterwards the pure-hearted Laksmana, having control over his senses, saluting Sītā with clasped palms and bending low a little proceeded where Rāma was, casting again and again his glance upon her as he went.