Sloka & Translation

[Rama recalls the events starting from exile--- describes Sita's beauty, virtues and gentleness---drifts back to sorrow--Lakshmana tells Rama to think of a way of finding Sita.]

sa rājaputraḥ priyayā vihīnaḥ śōkēna mōhēna ca pīḍyamānaḥ.

viṣādayanbhrātaramārtarūpō bhūyō viṣādaṅ pravivēśa tīvram৷৷3.63.1৷৷


priyayā by the beloved, vihīnaḥ separated, saḥ rājaputraḥ prince,Rama, śōkēna out of sorrow, mōhēna ca delusion, pīḍyamānaḥ being afflicted, ārtarūpaḥ in distressed state, bhrātaram brother, viṣādayan worrying , bhūyaḥ again, tīvram intense, viṣādam grief, pravivēśa sunk.

Prince Rama, separated from his beloved, lost his senses out of sorrow. Seeing his brother in a distressed state, he sank again into intense grief.
sa lakṣmaṇaṅ śōkavaśābhipannaṅ śōkē nimagnō vipulē tu rāmaḥ.

uvāca vākyaṅ vyasanānurūpamuṣṇaṅ viniśśvasya rudaṅtsaśōkam৷৷3.63.2৷৷


vipulē śōkē in intense grief, nimagnaḥ plunged, saḥ that, rāmaḥ Rama, saśōkam with sorrow, rudan crying, śōkavaśābhipannam who was caught in sorrow, lakṣmaṇam Lakshmana, uṣṇam hot, viniśvasya sighing, vyasanānurūpam in his grief, vākyam these words, uvāca said.

Plunged in deep grief, Rama heaved hot sighs and said these words to grief-stricken Lakshmana-weeping:
na madvidhō duṣkṛtakarmakārī manyē dvitīyō.sti vasundharāyām.

śōkēna śōkō hi paramparāyā mā mēti bhindanhṛdayaṅ manaśca৷৷3.63.3৷৷


vasundharāyām on earth, madvidhaḥ like me, duṣkṛtakarmakārī who undertakes forbidden acts, dvitīyaḥ second person, nāsti not, manyē I think, śōkēna grief, śōkaḥ grief, paramparāyāḥ continuously,
hṛdayam heart, manaśca mind also, bhindan shattered, mām my, ēti hi is befalling.

I think there is none on earth like me who has performed such forbidden acts. One grief after the other is successively piercing my heart and my mind.
pūrvaṅ mayā nūnamabhīpsitāni pāpāni karmāṇyasakṛtkṛtāni.

tatrāyamadyāpatitō vipākō duḥkhēna duḥkhaṅ yadahaṅ viśāmi৷৷3.63.4৷৷


mayā by me, pūrvam in the past, nūnam certainly, abhīpsitāni dear to me, pāpāni karmāṇi sinful deeds, asakṛt often, kṛtāni done, tatra there, adya now, vipākaḥ consequence of that, āpatitaḥ has descended, yat since, aham I, duḥkhēna by sorrow, duḥkham sorrow, viśāmi I am entering.

In the past I had certainly done some sinful deeds I often liked the consequences of which have descended on me now as I am experiencing one sorrow after another.
rājyapraṇāśassvajanairviyōgaḥ piturvināśō jananīviyōgaḥ.

sarvāṇi mē lakṣmaṇa śōkavēgamāpūrayanti pravicintitāni৷৷3.63.5৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, rājyapraṇāśaḥ loss of kingdom, svajanaiḥ kith and kin, viyōgaḥ separation from, pituḥ father, vināśaḥ death, jananīviyōgaḥ separation from mother, sarvāṇi all, pravicintitāni thinking over, mē I, śōkavēgam fast increase sorrow, āpūrayanti greater measure.

O Lakshmana, loss of kingdom, separation from kith and kin, death of father, separation from mother---all these thoughts augment my sorrow faster and in greater measure.
sarvaṅ tu duḥkhaṅ mama lakṣmaṇēdaṅ śāntaṅ śarīrē vanamētya śūnyam.

sītāviyōgātpunarapyudīrṇaṅ kāṣṭhairivāgnissahasā pradīptaḥ৷৷3.63.6৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, idam this, sarvam all, duḥkham sorrow, śūnyam solitary, vanam woods, ētya on coming, śarīrē in the body, śāntam calmness, sītāviyōgāt with the separation from Sita,
kāṣṭhaiḥ logs of wood, sahasā along with, pradīptaḥ blazing flame, agniḥ fire, punarapi again rises, udīrṇam came up.

O Lakshmana, all this sorrow calmed down when I came to this solitary forest. But with Sita's separation, it was rekindled just as fire blazes forth again with logs of wood.
sā nūnamāryā mama rākṣasēna balāddṛtā khaṅ samupētya bhīruḥ.

apasvaraṅ sasvaravipralāpā bhayēna vikranditavatyabhīkṣṇam৷৷3.63.7৷৷


mama my, bhīruḥ timid, sā āryā that princess, rākṣasēna by the demon, balāt forcibly, hṛtā is carried away, kham into the sky, samupētya taken, sasvaravipralāpā cried aloud, bhayēna in fear, abhīkṣṇam repeatedly, apasvaram in a broken voice, ākranditavatī wept bitterly, nūnam surely.

The timid princess of mine forcibly carried away into the sky by a demon must have again and again cried aloud out of fear in a broken voice.
tau lōhitasya priyadarśanasya sadōcitāvuttamacandanasya.

vṛttau stanau śōṇitapaṅkadigdhau nūnaṅ priyāyā mama nābhibhātaḥ৷৷3.63.8৷৷


lōhitasya of copper complexion, priyadarśanasya lovely to look at, uttamacandanasya with the best of sandal paste, sadā always, ucitau used, vṛttau two circular ones, mama priyāyāḥ my beloved, tau stanau her breasts, nūnam surely, śōṇitapaṅkadigdhau drenched in blood and mud, nābhibhātaḥ will not be pleasing.

Her captivating copper -coloured skin, smeared with the best of red sandal paste would not be surely pleasing now, drenched in blood and mud.
tacchalakṣṇasuvyaktamṛdupralāpaṅ tasyā mukhaṅ kuñcitakēśabhāram.

rakṣōvaśaṅ nūnamupāgatāyā na bhrājatē rāhumukhē yathēnduḥ৷৷3.63.9৷৷


rakṣōvaśam demons' hold, upāgatāyāḥ coming under, tasyāḥ her, ślakṣṇasuvyakta very clear words,
mṛdupralāpam sweet and gentle, kuñcitakēśabhāram beautiful curly hair, tat mukham her face, rāhumukhē Rahu's mouth, induḥ Moon, yathā like that, na bhrājatē not shine, nūnam certainly.

Her face with her clear, sweet and gentle words and her curly hair falling will no more look bright coming under the grip of demons like the moon eclipsed by Rahu.
tāṅ hārapāśasya sadōcitāyā grīvāṅ priyāyā mama suvratāyāḥ.

rakṣāṅsi nūnaṅ paripītavanti vibhidya śūnyē rudhirāśanāni৷৷3.63.10৷৷


sadā always, hārapāśasya necklace, ucitāyāḥ accustomed to, suvratāyāḥ of a lady of exemplary conduct, mama priyāyāḥ of my beloved, tāṅ grīvām that neck, rudhirāśanāni blood thirsty beings, rakṣāṅsi by demons, śūnyē in desolate , vibhidya breaking, nūnam surely, paripītavanti drunk.

The blood-thirsty demons must have drunk the blood of my faithful beloved in a lonely place breaking her neck that used to wear beautiful necklaces.
mayā vihīnā vijanē vanē yā rakṣōbhirāhṛtya vikṛṣyamāṇā.

nūnaṅ ninādaṅ kurarīva dīnā sā muktavatyāyatakāntanētrā৷৷3.63.11৷৷


yā that, vijanē vanē in the desolate forest, mayā by me, vihīnā separated, sā that, āyatakāntanētrā beautiful large-eyed lady, rakṣōbhiḥ by the demons, āhṛtya after abducting, vikṛṣyamāṇā dragging, dīnā helpless, kurarīva like a female osprey, nūnam surely, ninādam sound, muktavatī would have released.

The lovely, large-eyed lady separated from me in the desolate forest, abducted and dragged by demons must have cried at that time desperately like a female osprey.
asminmayāsārdhamudāraśīlā śilātalē pūrvamupōpaviṣṭā.

kāntasmitā lakṣmaṇa jātahāsā tvāmāha sītā bahuvākyajātam৷৷3.63.12৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, udāraśīlā good natured, kāntasmitā lovely smile, sītā Sita, asmin on this, śilātalē on this rock, mayāsārdham along with me, pūrvam earlier, upōpaviṣṭā sitting here,
jātahāsā laughing away, tvām seeing you, bahuvākyajātam many words, āha spoke.

On this rock, O Lakshmana, my good-natured lady with her lovely smile sat with me in the past and chatted with you.
gōdāvarīyaṅ saritāṅ variṣṭhā priyā priyāyā mama nityakālam.

apyatra gacchēditi cintayāmi naikākinī yāti hi sā kadācit৷৷3.63.13৷৷


saritām among rivers, variṣṭhā foremost, iyaṅ gōdāvarī this Godavari, mama priyāyāḥ of my beloved, nityakālam at all times, priyā dear, atra there, gacchēdapi has she gone, iti thus, cintayāmi I think, sā that, ēkākinī alone, kadācit any time, na yāti hi will not go there.

Would she have gone to Godavari, the foremost of the rivers so dear at all times to my beloved ? But I think she has not gone there alone at any time.
padmānanā padmaviśālanētrā padmāni vānētumabhiprayātā.

tadapyayuktaṅ na hi sā kadācinmayā vinā gacchati paṅkajāni৷৷3.63.14৷৷


padmānanā a lady with a lotus-like face, padmaviśālanētrā lotus- petal- eyed, padmāni vā ānētum or to fetch lotuses, abhiprayātā vā she would have gone, tadapi that also, ayuktam not possible, sā she, kadācit at any time, mayā vinā without me, paṅkajāni lotuses, na gacchati hi will not go there.

The lady whose face was like the lotus, whose large eyes were like lotus petals could have gone to fetch lotuses! (but) that also is not possible as she has never gone there without me.
kāmaṅ tvidaṅ puṣpitavṛkṣaṣaṇḍaṅ nānāvidhaiḥ pakṣigaṇairupētam.

vanaṅ prayātā nu tadapyayukta mēkākinī sātibibhēti bhīruḥ৷৷3.63.15৷৷


kāmam surely, puṣpitavṛkṣaṣaṇḍam this thicket of trees in bloom, nānāvidhaiḥ by many kinds, pakṣigaṇaiḥ flocks of birds, upētam inhabited, idam this, vanam forest, prayātā nu could she have gone?,
tadapi that too, ayuktam not possible, bhīruḥ she is timid, sā that Sita, ēkākinī alone, atibibhēti is scared a lot.

Could she have gone to the forest where there are many kinds of trees in full bloom inhabited by a variety of birds? That is also not possible as she is timid and too scared to go there alone.
āditya bhō lōkakṛtākṛtajña lōkasya satyānṛtakarmasākṣin.

mama priyā sā kva gatā hṛtā vā śaṅsasva mē śōkavaśasya nityam৷৷3.63.16৷৷


lōkakṛtākṛtajña knower of what is going on and not going on, lōkasya in the world, satyānṛtakarmasākṣin a witness to all true and false deeds of the people, ādityaḥ Sun, mama my, priyā dear, sā Sita, kva where, gatā gone, hṛtā vā or taken away, nityam always, śōkavaśasya a grief-stricken, mē to me, śaṅsasva tell.

O Sun-god, you know all the happenings of the world. You are witness to all the deeds of the people, true and false. Tell me where my beloved Sita has gone or has been carried off. My grief never ceases.
lōkēṣu sarvēṣu ca nāsti kiñcidyattē na nityaṅ viditaṅ bhavēttat.

śaṅsasva vāyō kulaśālinīṅ tāṅ hṛtā mṛtā vā pathi vartatē vā৷৷3.63.17৷৷


vāyō O wind, sarvēṣu all over, lōkēṣu in all worlds, yat since, nityam always, tē to you, viditam known, na bhavēt not be, tat that, kiñcit a little, nāsti is not, kulaśālinīm woman of the high birth, tām her, śaṅsasva you may tell me, hṛtā taken away, mṛtā vā or dead, pathi on the way, vartatē vā or where she is moving.

O Wind-god, there is nothing that you know not in all the worlds. Do tell me if that lady of a noble race has been abducted or dead or is on the way.
itīva taṅ śōkavidhēyadēhaṅ rāmaṅ visaṅjñaṅ vilapantamēvam.

uvāca saumitriradīnasattvō nyāyē sthitaḥ kālayutaṅ ca vākyam৷৷3.63.18৷৷


itīva like this, śōkavidhēyadēham one whose body was gripped by grief, visaṅjñam in a state of swoon, ēvam in that way, vilapantam weeping, taṅ rāmam that Rama, adīnasattvaḥ a man of fortitude, nyāyē sthitaḥ rational, saumitriḥ Lakshmana, kālayutam appropriate to time, vākyam these words, uvāca spoke.

While Rama was thus in tears, in a state of sorrow and swoon, Lakshmana who was rational and courageous spoke to him words appropriate to the time :
śōkaṅ vimuñcārya dhṛtiṅ bhajasva sōtsāhatā cāstu vimārgaṇē.syāḥ.

utsāhavantō hi narā na lōkē sīdanti karmasvatiduṣkarēṣu৷৷3.63.19৷৷


āryāḥ O noble one, śōkam grief, vimuñca give up, dhṛtim take courage, bhajasva you may adopt, asyāḥ of Sita, vimārgaṇē in searching, sōtsāhatā enthusiasm, astu be cultivated, lōkē in the world, utsāhavantaḥ enthusiastic people, narāḥ men, atiduṣkarēṣu in most difficult, karmasu in tasks also, na sīdanti hi not get despondent.

O noble prince, give up grief. Take courage. Show enthusiasm to search and find Sita. Enthusiastic people will not get despondent in carrying out the most difficult tasks.
itīva saumitrimudagrapauruṣaṅ bruvantamārtō raghuvaṅśavardhanaḥ.

na cintayāmāsa dhṛtiṅ vimuktavānpunaśca duḥkhaṅ mahadabhyupāgamat৷৷3.63.20৷৷


ārtaḥ dejected , raghuvaṅśavardhanaḥ one who carries on the progeny of Raghu dynasty, itīva in this manner, bruvantam saying, udagrapauruṣam man of great prowess, saumitrim to Lakshmana, na cintayāmāsa not count, dhṛtim courage, vimuktavān he gave up, punaśca again, mahat deep, duḥkham sorrow, abhyupāgamat was overtaken.

Rama who carries on the (glorious) progeny of the Raghu dynasty, did not (however) consider seriously the words of Lakshmana, a man of great prowess. Forsaking his courage he was once again overtaken by deep sorrow.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē triṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixtythird sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.