Sloka & Translation

[Unable to find Sita, Rama gets restless -- Lakshmana consoles him -- Rama's speculation about Sita.]

dṛṣṭvāśramapadaṅ śūnyaṅ rāmō daśarathātmajaḥ.

rahitāṅ parṇaśālāṅ ca vidhvastānyāsanāni ca৷৷3.61.1৷৷

adṛṣṭvā tatra vaidēhīṅ sannirīkṣya ca sarvaśaḥ.

uvāca rāmaḥ prākruśya pragṛhya rucirau bhujau৷৷3.61.2৷৷


daśarathātmajaḥ son of Dasaratha, rāmaḥ Rama, śūnyam empty, āśramapadam hermitage, rahitām devoid of, ca and, vidhvastāni disturbed, āsanāni ca seats, dṛṣṭvā saw, tatra thereafter, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, adṛṣṭvā having not seen, sarvaśaḥ all over, sannirīkṣya ca scanning, prākruśya etched, rucirau lovely, bhujau shoulders, pragṛhya holding, uvāca said.

Rama, son of Dasaratha, saw the empty cottage devoid of Sita. The mats were displaced. He searched everywhere but unable to see Vaidehi lifted his lovely arms and said:
kva nu lakṣmaṇa vaidēhī kaṅ vā dēśamitō gatā.

kēnāhṛtā vā saumitrē bhakṣitā kēna vā priyā৷৷3.61.3৷৷


lakṣmaṇa O Lakshmana, vaidēhī Vaidehi, kva nu where is she, kaṅ vā dēśam in which land, gatā gone, saumitrē O son of Sumitra, kēna by whom, āhṛtā vā is abducted, priyā my beloved, kēna vā by whom, bhakṣitā eaten.

O son of Sumitra, where is my beloved ? Where did she go? By whom was she abducted? Or, devoured? O Lakshmana !
vṛkṣēṇācchādya yadi māṅ sītē hasitumicchasi.

alaṅ tē hasitēnādya māṅ bhajasva suduḥkhitam৷৷3.61.4৷৷


sītē O Sita, vṛkṣēṇa by tree, ācchādya hiding behind, mām me, hasitum to make fun, icchasi yadi are you intending to, tē you, hasitēna fun, alam enough, adya now, suduḥkhitam very muchgrieved, mām me, bhajasva come to me.

O Sita! if you intend to make fun by hiding behind a tree, I tell you it is enough. Stop it and come to this extremely sorrowful man.
yaissaha krīḍasē sītē viśvastairmṛgapōtakaiḥ.

ētē hīnāstvayā saumyē dhyāyantyasrāvilēkṣaṇāḥ৷৷3.61.5৷৷


saumyē O gentle lady, sītē Sita, viśvastaiḥ relied on you, yaiḥ by those, mṛgapōtakaiḥ saha with the fawn, krīḍasē play, ētē these, tvayā by you, hīnāḥ separated, asrāvilēkṣaṇāḥ eyes filled with tears, dhyāyanti they are thinking of you.

O gentle Sita! those fawns who trusted you and played with you, are now separated from you. Brooding over you, their eyes are brimming with tears.
sītayā rahitō.haṅ vai na hi jīvāmi lakṣmaṇa.

mṛtaṅ śōkēna mahatā sītāharaṇajēna mām৷৷3.61.6৷৷

paralōkē mahārājō nūnaṅ drakṣyati mē pitā.


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, sītayā by Sita, rahitaḥ without, aham I, na hi jīvāmi I cannot live, sītāharaṇajēna arising out of Sita's abduction, mahatā by deep, śōkēna by grief, mṛtaṅ dead, mām me, mahārājaḥ the king (Dasaratha), mē pitā my father, nūnam certainly, paralōkē in the other world, drakṣyati will meet me.

O Lakshmana, I cannot live without Sita. I am filled with deep grief on account of Sita's abduction. My late father, the king will certainly see me in the other world (I will definitely commit suicide).
kathaṅ pratijñāṅ saṅśrutya mayā tvamabhiyōjitaḥ৷৷3.61.7৷৷

apūrayitvā taṅ kālaṅ matsakāśamihāgataḥ.

kāmavṛttamanāryaṅ māṅ mṛṣāvādinamēva ca৷৷3.61.8৷৷

dhiktvāmiti parē lōkē vyaktaṅ vakṣyati mē pitā.


mām me, mayā by me, abhiyōjitaḥ employed by me, tvam you, pratijñām a vow, saṅśrutya having promised, taṅ kālam that full term, apūrayitvā without completing, matsakāśam into my presence, katham how, iha here, āgataḥ came, kāmavṛttam an irresponsible person, anāryam ignoble, mṛṣāvādinamēva ca liar, tvām you, dhik fie upon, iti thus, parē lōkē in the other world, mē pitā my father, vyaktam surely, vakṣyati will tell me.

My father say will surely in the other world: Without completing the appointed period of the vow taken, how could you come here ? Fie upon you ! You are irresponsible. You are ignoble. You are a liar.
vivaśaṅ śōkasantaptaṅ dīnaṅ bhagnamanōratham৷৷3.61.9৷৷

māmihōtsṛjya karuṇaṅ kīrtirnaramivānṛjum.

kva gacchasi varārōhē māṅ nōtsṛja sumadhyamē৷৷3.61.10৷৷

tvayā virahitaścāhaṅ mōkṣyē jīvitamātmanaḥ.


varārōhē lovely lady, vivaśam helpless, śōkasantaptam tormented by sorrow, dīnam piteous, bhagnamanōratham disappointed , mām me, kīrtiḥ fame, anṛjum crook, naramiva like such a man, iha here, karuṇam pitiable, utsṛjya leaving, kva gacchasi where have you gone, sumadhyamē lady with a slender waist, mā myself, mā utsṛja leave me not, tvayā by you, virahitaḥ separated, aham I, ātmanaḥ my, jīvitam life, mōkṣyē I will give up.

O lovely lady! where have you gone, leaving me here like fame deserting a crook? I am helpless grief-stricken, pitiable, pathetic and disappointed. O lady of slender waist, leave me not. Separated from you, I will give up my life.
itīva vilapanrāmassītādarśanalālasaḥ৷৷3.61.11৷৷

na dadarśa suduḥkhārtō rāghavō janakātmajām.


sītādarśanalālasaḥ eager to see Sita, suduḥkhārtaḥ deeply distressed, rāghavaḥ Rama, itīva in that manner, vilapan wailed, janakātmajām the daughter of Janaka, na dadarśa did not see.

Deeply distressed, Rama who was anxious to see Sita, daughter of Janaka, wailed and wailed but could not see her.
anāsādayamānaṅ taṅ sītāṅ daśarathātmajam৷৷3.61.12৷৷

paṅkamāsādya vipulaṅ sīdantamiva kuñjaram.

lakṣmaṇō rāmamatyarthamuvāca hitakāmyayā৷৷3.61.13৷৷


sītām Sita, anāsādayamānam unable to find, daśarathātmajam the son of Dasaratha, vipulam deep, paṅkam mud, āsādya reached, sīdantam sinking, kuñjaram iva like an elephant, taṅ rāmam that Rama, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, atyartham great, hitakāmyayā for his welfare, uvāca said.

Lakshmana, dedicated to his well-being, spoke to Rama, son of Dasaratha, who was sinking like an elephant into the quagmire, when he failed to trace Sita.
mā viṣādaṅ mahābāhō kuru yatnaṅ mayā saha.

idaṅ ca hi vanaṅ śūra bahukandaraśōbhitam৷৷3.61.14৷৷


mahābāhō long-armed, viṣādam sorrow, mā do not resort to, mayā saha along with me, yatnam effort, kuru do, śūra O hero, idam this,vanam forest,bahukandaraśōbhitaṅ hi full of caves.

O long-armed, heroic Rama, do not grieve. This forest is full of caves. Let us try together.
priyakānanasañcārā vanōnmattā ca maithilī.

sā vanaṅ vā praviṣṭā syānnalinīṅ vā supuṣpitām৷৷3.61.15৷৷


priyakānanasañcārā one who is fond of wandering in the forest, vanōnmattāca mad after forest , sā maithilī that Maithili, vanaṅ vā or in the forest, supuṣpitām flowering, nalinīṅ vā or lotus-pond, praviṣṭā has entered, syāt perhaps.

Sita is madly in love with the forest. She might have entered deep into the jungle or into a fully blossomed lotus-pond.
saritaṅ vāpi samprāptā mīnavañjulasēvitām.

snātukāmā nilīnā syāddhāsakāmā vanē kvacit৷৷3.61.16৷৷


snātukāmā ta take a dip, mīnavañjulasēvitām full of reeds and fishes, saritaṅ vāpi or rivers, samprāptā has reached, hāsakāmā to make fun, kvacit some where, nilīnā vā might have hidden, syāt it may be so.

Maybe she has gone to take a dip in the river full of reeds and fishes ! Or has hidden somewhere for the sake of fun.
vitrāsayitukāmā vā līnā syātkānanē kvacit.

jijñāsamānā vaidēhī tvāṅ māṅ ca puruṣarṣabha৷৷3.61.17৷৷

tasyāhyanvēṣaṇē śrīman kṣipramēva yatāvahē.


puruṣarṣabha O bull among men, vaidēhī Vaidehi, tvāṅ ca at you, māṅ ca at me, vitrāsayitukāmā vā intending to scare us, jijñāsamānā desire to know, kānanē in the forest, kvacit somewhere, līnā hidden, syāt may be, śrīman O blessed , tasyāḥ her, anvēṣaṇē in search, kṣipramēva immediately, yatāvahē both of us will strive.

O best of men, maybe Vaidehi has hidden in the forest intending to scare you and me. She wishes to test our love. O blessed Rama! let us ransack the forest immediately.
vanaṅ sarvaṅ vicinuvō yatra sā janakātmajā৷৷3.61.18৷৷

manyasē yadi kākutstha mā sma śōkē manaḥ kṛthāḥ.


kākutstha Rama, manyasē yadi if you think , sā she, janakātmajā Sita, yatra wherever, sarvam all, vanam forest, vicinuva: we both will search, śōkē in grief, manaḥ mind, mā sma kṛthāḥ do not indulge.

O scion of the Kakutsthas, let us search all over the forest if you please. Do not indulge in sorrow.
ēvamuktastu sauhārdāllakṣmaṇēna samāhitaḥ৷৷3.61.19৷৷

saha saumitriṇā rāmō vicētumupacakramē.


lakṣmaṇēna by Lakshmana, sauhārdāt very affectionately, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been told, rāmaḥ Rama, samāhitaḥ became composed, saumitriṇā saha along with Lakshmana the son of Sumitra, vicētum to search, upacakramē he started.

When Lakshmana consoled him so affectionately Rama became composed. He continued the search with Lakshmana, son of Sumitra.
tau vanāni girīṅścaiva saritaśca sarāṅsi ca৷৷3.61.20৷৷

nikhilēna vicinvānau sītāṅ daśarathātmajau.


tau daśarathātmajau those two sons of Dasaratha, vanāni forests, girīn caiva and the mountains, saritaśca and the rivers, sarāṅsi ca and the ponds, nikhilēna entirly, sītām for Sita, vicinvānau while they searched.

The two sons of Dasaratha went on searching for Sita in forests, mountains, rivers, ponds everywhere.
tasya śailasya sānūni guhāśca śikharāṇi ca৷৷3.61.21৷৷

nikhilēna vicinvānau naiva tāmabhijagmatuḥ.


tasya śailasya that mountain's, sānūni slopes, guhāśca caves also, śikharāṇi ca mountain peaks too, nikhilēna entirely, vicinvānau searched, tām her, naiva abhijagmatuḥ were not able to find.

They were not able to find Sita even though they searched all over the mountain slopes, caves and peaks.
vicitya sarvataśśailaṅ rāmō lakṣmaṇamabravit৷৷3.61.22৷৷

nēha paśyāmi saumitrē vaidēhīṅ parvatē śubhām.


rāmaḥ Rama, sarvataḥ everywhere, śailam mountain, vicitya after searching, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, abravīt said, saumitrē O son of Sumitra, iha here, parvatē on mountains, śubhām noble lady, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, na paśyāmi not seen.

After searching her all over, Rama said Saumitri, I am unable to find the noble Vaidehi on the mountain
tatō duḥkhābhisantaptō lakṣmaṇō vākyamabravīt৷৷3.61.23৷৷

vicarandaṇḍakāraṇyaṅ bhrātaraṅ dīptatējasam.


tataḥ then, duḥkhābhisantaptaḥ consumed by sorrow, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, daṇḍakāraṇyam Dandaka forest, vicaran while going about, dīptatējasam glowing with brilliance, bhrātaram brother, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Going about the Dandaka forest Lakshmana, consumed by sorrow, said to his brother, glowing with brilliance:
prāpsyasi tvaṅ mahāprājña maithilīṅ janakātmajām৷৷3.61.24৷৷

yathā viṣṇurmahābāhurbaliṅ baddhvā mahīmimām.


mahāprājña O wise sire, tvam you, janakātmajām daughter of Janaka, maithilīm princess from
Mithila, mahābāhuḥ one with long arms, viṣṇuḥ Visnu, balim Bali, baddhvā after binding, imām this, mahīṅ yathā earned this earth, prāpsyasi you will attain.

O long-armed brother! O wise sire ! just as Visnu obtained the earth by binding Bali you will obtain Sita certainly.
ēvamuktastu sauhārdāllakṣmaṇēna sa rāghavaḥ৷৷3.61.25৷৷

uvāca dīnayā vācā duḥkhābhihatacētanaḥ.


lakṣmaṇēna by Lakshmana, sauhārdāt affectionately, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been said, saḥ rāghavaḥ that Rama, duḥkhābhihatacētanaḥ with grief-striken heart, dīnayā piteously, vācā by words, uvāca said.

Having been addressed thus by Lakshmana, Raghava with a grief-striken heart said these piteous words :'
Lakshmana,having spoken like that very affectionately to Rama,who was disturbed by excessive grief said these words piteously:
vanaṅ sarvaṅ suvicitaṅ padminyaḥ phullapaṅkajāḥ৷৷3.61.26৷৷

giriścāyaṅ mahāprājña bahukandaranirjharaḥ.

na hi paśyāmi vaidēhīṅ prāṇēbhyō.pi garīyasīm৷৷3.61.27৷৷


mahāprājña wise sire, sarvam all over, vanam the forest, suvicitam searched thoroughly, phaullapaṅkajāḥ fully blossomed lotuses, padminyaḥ lotus-ponds, bahukandara nirjharaḥ having many caves and streams, ayam I, giriśca mountains also, prāṇēbhyō.pi more than my life, garīyasīm more important, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, na hi paśyāmi do not see.

O wise Lakshmana! I have searched the entire forest, the ponds with fully blossomed lotuses, the mountains with many caves and streams. But could not see Vaidehi who is dearer to me than my life.
ēvaṅ sa vilapanrāmassītāharaṇakarśitaḥ.

dīnaśśōkasamāviṣṭō muhūrtaṅ vihvalō.bhavat৷৷3.61.28৷৷


sītāharaṇakarśitaḥ tormented by Sita's abduction, saḥ rāmaḥ Rama, ēvam thus, vilapan cried, dīnaḥ was dejected, śōkasamāviṣṭaḥ overpowered by grief, muhūrtam for a moment, vihvalaḥ consciousess lost, abhavat became.

Thus tormented by the abduction of Sita, Rama felt dejected and cried.Overpowered by grief he lost his consciousness for a moment.
santaptō hyavasannāṅgō gatabuddhirvicētanaḥ.

niṣasādāturō dīnō niśśvasyāśītamāyatam৷৷3.61.29৷৷


santaptaḥ tormented, avasannāṅgaḥ with limbs enervated, gatabuddhi: intellect atrophied, vicētanaḥ lost senses, āturaḥ anxious, dīnaḥ dejected, aśītam hot, āyatam long, niśśvasya sighing, niṣasāda reclined.

By grief tormented, limbs enervated, intellect atrophied, senses switched off, he felt anxious and depressed and sighed long and hot.
bahulaṅ sa tu niśśvasya rāmō rājīvalōcanaḥ.

hā priyēti vicukrōśa bahuśō bāṣpagadgadaḥ৷৷3.61.30৷৷


rājīvalōcanaḥ lotus-eyed, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, bahulam long, niśśvasya sighing, bāṣpagadgadaḥ throat choked with sobbing, hā priyēti saying 'Alas, my darling', bahuśaḥ many times, vicukrōśa cried lotus-eyed.

Rama, his throat choked, shed propuse tears, sighing, O my darling!.
taṅ tatassāntvayāmāsa lakṣmaṇaḥ priyabāndhavaḥ.

bahuprakāraṅ dharmajñaḥ praśritaṅ praśritāñjaliḥ৷৷3.61.31৷৷


tataḥ then, priyabāndhavaḥ dear friend, dharmajñaḥ knower of dharma, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, praśritāñjaliḥ with folded palms, praśritam humbly, bahuprakāram many ways, tam him, sāntvayāmāsa consoled.

Then Lakshmana, the knower of dharma and a dear friend offered obeisance most humbly with folded palms and consoled Rama in many ways.
anādṛtya tu tadvākyaṅ lakṣmaṇōṣṭhapuṭāccyutam.

apaśyaṅstāṅ priyāṅ sītāṅ prākrōśatsa punaḥ punaḥ৷৷3.61.32৷৷


saḥ he, tu on his part, lakṣmaṇōṣṭhapuṭāt from the lips of Lakshmana, cyutam uttered, tat that, vākyam words, anādṛtya not caring, priyām beloved, tāṅ sītām that Sita, apaśyan not able to see, punaḥ punaḥ again and again, prākrōśat cried loudly.

Without caring for the words from the lips of Lakshmana, Rama sobbed loudly, unable to see his beloved Sita.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixtyfirst sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.