Sloka & Translation

[Rama returns after killing Maricha-- sees bad omens on the way-- sees sad face of Lakshmana mid-way---blames Lakshmana for leaving Sita alone-- doubts Sita's safety-- experiences bad omens again.]

rākṣasaṅ mṛgarūpēṇa carantaṅ kāmarūpiṇam.

nihatya rāmō mārīcaṅ tūrṇaṅ pathi nyavartata৷৷3.57.1৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, mṛgarūpēṇa in the form of a deer, carantam moving, kāmarūpiṇam assuming a form at will, rākṣasam to the demon, mārīcam Maricha, nihatya slaying, tūrṇam swiftly, pathi on the path, nyavartata returned.

Rama killed Maricha, the demon assuming the form of the deer as per his will and swiftly took the return path.
tasya santvaramāṇasya draṣṭukāmasya maithilīm.

krūrasvanō.tha gōmāyurvinanādāsya pṛṣṭhataḥ৷৷3.57.2৷৷


maithilīm Maithili (Sita), draṣṭukāmasya desiring to see, tasya his, santvaramāṇasya hastening, atha at that time, krūrasvanaḥ ghastly sound, gōmāyuḥ jackal, asya his, pṛṣṭhataḥ from behind, vinanāda screamed.

While Rama was hasting to see Sita, he heard from behind the ghastly howl of a jackal.
sa tasya svaramājñāya dāruṇaṅ rōmaharṣaṇam.

cintayāmāsa gōmāyōssvarēṇa pariśaṅkitaḥ৷৷3.57.3৷৷


saḥ he, tasya gōmāyōḥ the jackal's, dāruṇam dreadful, rōmaharṣaṇam horripilating, svaram tone, ājñāya recognising, svarēṇa voice, pariśaṅkitaḥ doubting it, cintayāmāsa started worrying.

Rama knew it was the horrible, horripilating cry of a jackal which made him apprehensive . It made him think.
aśubhaṅ bata manyē.haṅ gōmāyurvāśyatē yathā.

svasti syādapi vaidēhyā rākṣasairbhakṣaṇaṅ vinā৷৷3.57.4৷৷


bata alas, gōmāyuḥ jackal, yathā as, vāśyatē howling, aham I, aśubham inauspicious, manyē thinking, rākṣasaiḥ by demons, bhakṣaṇaṅ vinā without being eaten up, vaidēhyāḥ Vaidehi's, svasti well-being, syādapi may be.

'The way the jackal is howling appears ominous. May Sita be safe without being eaten up by demons !
mārīcēna tu vijñāya svaramālambya māmakam.

vikruṣṭaṅ mṛgarūpēṇa lakṣmaṇaśśṛṇuyādyadi৷৷3.57.5৷৷

sa saumitrissvaraṅ śrutvā tāṅ ca hitvāca maithilīm.

tayēha prahitaḥ kṣipraṅ matsakāśamihaiṣyati৷৷3.57.6৷৷


mṛgarūpēṇa in the form of a deer, mārīcēna by Maricha, vijñāya having known, māmakam my , svaram voice, ālambya imitating, vikruṣṭam cried out, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, śṛṇuyādyadi if he listens, saḥ saumitriḥ that Saumitri, svaram voice, śrutvā after hearing, tāṅ maithilīm to Sita, hitvā ca leaving her, tayā by her, iha here, prahitaḥ sent, kṣipram at once, iha here, matsakāśam for me, ēṣyati he will come,

'If Lakshmana listens to Maricha imitating my voice in the form of a deer, he, sent by Sita will come for me at once, leaving her behind.
rākṣasaissahitairnūnaṅ sītāyā īpsitō vadhaḥ.

kāñcanaśca mṛgō bhūtvā vyapanīyāśramāttu mām৷৷3.57.7৷৷

dūraṅ nītvā tu mārīcō rākṣasō.bhūccharā hataḥ.

hā lakṣmaṇa hatō.smīti yadvākyaṅ vyājahāra ha৷৷3.57.8৷৷


yat that, mārīcaḥ Maricha, kāñcanaḥ mṛgaḥ golden deer, bhūtvā having become, mām me, āśramāt from the hermitage, vyapanīya dragging away, dūram far off, nītvā after taking, śarāhataḥ hit by my arrows, rākṣasaḥ demon, abhūt he became, hā lakṣmaṇa Alas, Lakshmana, hataḥ asmi I am killed, iti these, vākyam words, vyājahāra he said, sahitaiḥ accompanying, rākṣasaiḥ by demons, sītāyāḥ Sita's, vadhaḥ slaughter, īpsitaḥ desired, nūnam surely.

'Hence the murder of Sita must have been jointly planned by the demons. Maricha who had assumed the form of a golden deer, took me away from the hermitage to a far-off place where, killed by my arrows, he turned a demon uttering the words, Alas, Lakshmana, I am killed.
api svasti bhavēttābhyāṅ rahitābhyāṅ mahāvanē.

janasthānanimittaṅ hi kṛtavairō.smi rākṣasaiḥ৷৷3.57.9৷৷

nimittāni ca ghōrāṇi dṛśyantē.dya bahūni ca.


mahāvanē in the dense forest, rahitābhyām staying, tābhyām those two, svasti safe, api bhavēt will be, janasthāna nimittam on account of Janasthana, rākṣasaiḥ with demons, kṛtavairaḥ have earned enmity, asmi hi because of me, adya now, ghōrāṇi dreadful, bahūni many, nimittāni ca portents, dṛśyantē are seen.

'On account of living in this dense forest in Janasthana I have earned enmity with the demons. Will Lakshmana and Sita be safe without my protection? I see many terrible portents.'
ityēvaṅ cintayanrāmaśśrutvā gōmāyunissvanam৷৷3.57.10৷৷

ātmanaścāpanayanānmṛgarūpēṇa rakṣasā.

ājagāma janasthānaṅ rāghavaḥ pariśaṅkitaḥ৷৷3.57.11৷৷


rāghavaḥ Rama, gōmāyunissvanam the jackal's howl, śrutvā on hearing, ityēvam like this, cintayan worried, mṛgarūpēṇa in the form of a deer, rakṣasā by the demon, ātmanaḥ his, apanayanāt due to being drawn away, pariśaṅkitaḥ terrified, janasthānam Janasthana, ājagāma came.

On hearing the jackal's howl, Rama began thinking how the demon in the form of a deer drew him away. Thus in the midst of apprehensions he reached Janasthana.
taṅ dīnamanasō dīnamāsēdurmṛgapakṣiṇaḥ.

savyaṅ kṛtvā mahātmānaṅ ghōrāṅśca sasṛjussvarān৷৷3.57.12৷৷


dīnamanasaḥ dejected at heart, mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ animals and birds, dīnam piteous, mahātmānam great soul, tam him, savyam kṛtvā keeping him to the left, āsēduḥ remained, ghōrān horrifying, svarān sounds, sasṛjuśca released.

Dejected at heart, the birds and animals piteously kept the great soul (Rama) to the left and produced a dreadful cacophony.
tāni dṛṣṭvā nimittāni mahāghōrāṇi rāghavaḥ.

nyavartatātha tvaritō javēnāśramamātmanaḥ৷৷3.57.13৷৷


rāghavaḥ Rama, mahāghōrāṇi very dreadful, tāni nimittāni such omens, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, atha then, tvaritaḥ hastened, javēna with speed, ātmanaḥ his, āśramam hermitage, nyavartata returned.

On seeing such dreadfu omens at that time, Rama hurried back to his hermitage.
sītāṅ sa tu varārōhāṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ ca mahābalam.

ājagāma janasthānaṅ cintayannēva rāghavaḥ৷৷3.57.14৷৷


saḥ rāghavaḥ that Rama, varārōhām charming, sītām Sita, mahābalam mighty, lakṣmaṇaṅ ca Lakshmana, cintayannēva thinking of them, janasthānam Janasthana, ājagāma arrived.

Rama arrived at Janasthana thinking (of the safety) of charming Sita and mighty Lakshmana.
tatō lakṣmaṇamāyāntaṅ dadarśa vigataprabham.

tatō.vidūrē rāmēṇa samīyāya sa lakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷3.57.15৷৷

viṣaṇṇassuviṣaṇṇēna duḥkhitō duḥkhabhāginā.


tataḥ thereafter, āyāntam while coming, vigataprabham dull, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, dadarśa saw, tataḥ then, viṣaṇṇaḥ a despondent one, duḥkhitaḥ one in grief, saḥ lakṣmaṇaḥ that Lakshmana, suviṣaṇṇēna with a despondent one, duḥkhabhāginā immersed in sorrow, rāmēṇa Rama, avidūrē not very far, samīyāya went near.

He then saw Lakshmana coming towards him with a cheerless face. When the sad, depressed Lakshmana came near, he saw Rama (equally) despondent and grief-stricken.
sañjagarhē.tha taṅ bhrātā jyēṣṭhō lakṣmaṇamāgatam৷৷3.57.16৷৷

vihāya sītāṅ vijanē vanē rākṣasasēvitē.


atha at that time, jyēṣṭhaḥ bhrātā elder brother Rama, rākṣasasēvitē in a place infested with demons, vijanē in a desolate, vanē forest, sītām Sita, vihāya leaving, āgatam one who came, taṅ lakṣmaṇam to that Lakshmana, sañjagarhē rebuked.

In this situation Rama the elder brother rebuked Lakshmana for having left Sita behind in a desolate forest infested with demons.
gṛhītvā ca karaṅ savyaṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ raghunandanaḥ৷৷3.57.17৷৷

uvāca madhurōdarkamidaṅ paruṣamārtimat.


raghunandanaḥ a delight of the Raghu dynasty, ārtimat piteously, savyaṅ karam left hand, gṛhītvā on
taking hold, madhurōdarkam sweet as ever, paruṣam harsh, idam this, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, uvāca said.

Rama, the delight of the Raghus, took hold of Lakshmana's left hand, and in sadness said these sweet harsh words :
ahō lakṣmaṇa garhyaṅ tē kṛtaṅ yastvaṅ vihāya tām৷৷3.57.18৷৷

sītāmihā.gatassaumya kaccitsvasti bhavēdiha.


saumya O gentle one!, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, yaḥ who, tvam you, tām her, sītām Sita, vihāya leaving, iha here, āgataḥ came, tē to you, garhyam blameworthy, kṛtam done, iha here, svasti safe, bhavēt kaccit will she be safe, ahō Alas.

O gentle Lakshmana! you are to blame for coming here, leaving Sita behind. Alas! will she be safe now?
na mē.sti saṅśayō vīra sarvathā janakātmajā৷৷3.57.19৷৷

vinaṣṭā bhakṣitā vāpi rākṣasairvanacāribhiḥ.

aśubhānyēva bhūyiṣṭhaṅ yathā prādurbhavanti mē৷৷3.57.20৷৷


vīra O great hero, mē to me, bhūyiṣṭham many, aśubhānyēva inauspicious omens only, yathā similarly, prādurbhavanti got manifested, janakātmajā Sita, sarvathā by all means, vinaṣṭā she is lost, vanacāribhiḥ by forset-rangers, rākṣasaiḥ demons, bhakṣitā vāpi must have been eaten up, mē for me, saṅśayaḥ doubt, nāsti is not.

O heroic Lakshmana! I see many inauspicious omens. I think Sita might have been lost or eaten away by the demons of the forest. There is no doubt about it.
api lakṣmaṇa sītāyāssāmagryaṅ prāpnuyāvahē.

jīvantyāḥ puruṣavyāghra sutāyā janakasya vai৷৷3.57.21৷৷


puruṣavyāghra O tiger among men, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, jīvantyā: of the living, janakasya sutāyāḥ of the daughter of Janaka, sītāyāḥ Sita's, sāmagryam total well being, api prāpnuyāvahē will we be able to get her back.

O Lakshmana, a tiger among men, will we be able to see the daughter of Janaka, living in a state of total well-being? Will we be able to get her back ?
yathā vai mṛgasaṅghāśca gōmāyuścaiva bhairavam.

vāśyantē śakunāścāpi pradīptāmabhitō diśam৷৷3.57.22৷৷

api svasti bhavēttasyā rājaputryā mahābala.


mahābala mighty, mṛgasaṅghāśca herds of beasts, gōmāyuśca jackal also, śakunāścāpi birds too, pradīptām shining bright, diśam direction, abhitaḥ towards, yathā as, bhairavam in frightful manner, vāśyantē howling, rājaputryāḥ of the princess, tasyāḥ of that Sita, svasti api bhavēt may her be well.

O mighty Lakshmana ! from the way the beasts, jackals and birds too have turned in the bright direction of the Sun, crying in a frightful manner, can we hope princess Sita is safe ?
idaṅ hi rakṣō mṛgasannikāśaṅ pralōbhya māṅ dūramanuprayāntam.

hataṅ kathañcinmahatā śramēṇa sa rākṣasō.bhūnmriyamāṇa ēva৷৷3.57.23৷৷


mṛgasannikāśam appearing like a deer, idaṅ rakṣaḥ this demon, anuprayāntam who followed, mām me, dūram far, pralōbhya alluring, mahatā with great, śramēṇa with effort, kathañcit somehow, hatam killed, saḥ he, mriyamāṇaḥ while on the verge of death, ēva too, rākṣasaḥ demon, abhūt turned.

Appearing in the guise of a deer, this demon allured me to a great distance. With much effort he was somehow killed. but he assumed his demoniac form while dying.
manaśca mē dīnamihāprahṛṣṭaṅ cakṣuśca savyaṅ kurutē vikāram.

asaṅśayaṅ lakṣmaṇa nāsti sītā hṛtā mṛtā vā pathi vartatē vā৷৷3.57.24৷৷


iha here, dīnam depressed, mē manaśca my heart, aprahṛṣṭam sorrowful, savyaṅ cakṣuśca left eye, vikāram throbbing, kurutē doing, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, asaṅśayam no doubt, sītā Sita, nāsti is not alive, hṛtā either abducted, mṛtā vā or died, pathi on the way, vartatē vā lies.

With my heart dejected and depressed, my left eye throbbing, O Lakshmana, I have no doubt that Sita is either abducted or dead or abandoned on the way.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē saptapañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyseventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.