Sloka & Translation

[There at the hermitage Sita asks Lakshmana to rush to Rama's help Lakshmana resists, stating Rama needs no help--Sita lashes at Lakshmana in harsh words.]

आर्तस्वरं तु तं भर्तुर्विज्ञाय सदृशं वने।

उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता गच्छ जीनीहि राघवम्।।3.45.1।।


सीता Sita, वने in the forest, भर्तुः husband, सदृशम् similar, तम् that, आर्तस्वरम् voice in distress, विज्ञाय knowing, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, उवाच said, गच्छ go, राघवम् Rama, जानीहि know (what happened).

On hearing the voice in distress and recognising that it was similar to her husband's voice, Sita said to Lakshmana, 'Go and find out Rama's whereabouts'.
न हि मे हृदयं स्थाने जीवितं वाऽवतिष्ठति।

क्रोशतः परमार्तस्य श्रुतश्शब्दो मया भृशम्।।3.45.2।।

आक्रन्दमानं तु वने भ्रातरं त्रातुमर्हसि।


भृशम् greatly, क्रोशतः परमार्तस्य crying out in great distress, शब्द: voice, मया by me, श्रुतः heard, मे my, हृदयम् heart, जीवितं वा my life too, स्थाने in its place, न अवतिष्ठति is not resting, हि indeed, वने in the forest, आक्रन्दमानम् crying in pain, भ्रातरम् brother, त्रातुम् to protect, अर्हसि you ought to.

I clearly heard Rama calling out in great distress. Indeed, my heart as well as my life is not in its place (restless). You ought to go and protect your brother who is crying in pain in the forest.
तं क्षिप्रमभिधाव त्वं भ्रातरं शरणैषिणम्।।3.45.3।।

रक्षसां वशमापन्नं सिंहानामिव गोवृषम्।


सिंहानाम् of the lions, गोवृषमिव like a bull, रक्षसाम् of demons, वशम् grip, आपन्नम् been under it, शरणैषिणम् seeking help, तं भ्रातरम् that brother, क्षिप्रम् quickly, त्वम् you, अभिधाव run.

Like a bull caught by lions, your brother is seeking help caught by demons. You should run at once to your brother.
न जगाम तथोक्तस्तु भ्रातुराज्ञाय शासनम्।।3.45.4।।

तमुवाच ततस्तत्र कुपिता जनकात्मजा।


तथा like that, उक्तस्तु though instructed , भ्रातुः brother's, शासनम् order, आज्ञाय knowing, न जगाम did not go, ततः then, कुपिता angry, जनकात्मजा Sita, तत्र there, तम् him, उवाच said.

When he did not budge in obedience to his brother's order (to protect Sita), the daughter of Janaka in a rage said :
सौमित्रे मित्ररूपेण भ्रातुस्त्वमसि शत्रुवत्।।3.45.5।।

यस्त्वमस्यामवस्थायां भ्रातरं नाभिपत्स्यसे।


सौमित्रे son of Sumitra,( Lakshmana), यः who, त्वम् you, अस्याम् in this, अवस्थायाम् situation, भ्रातरम् your brother, नाभिपत्स्यसे not going to, त्वम् you, भ्रातुः to brother, मित्ररूपेण in the form of a friend, शत्रुवत् enemy, असि you are.

Since you, O son of Sumitra, are not reaching out to your brother in this situation, you are an enemy to your brother in the guise of a friend৷৷
इच्छसि त्वं विनश्यन्तं रामं लक्ष्मण मत्कृते।।3.45.6।।

लोभात्त्वं मत्कृते नूनं नानुगच्छसि राघवम्।


लक्ष्मण O Lakshmana, त्वम् you, रामम् Rama, विनश्यन्तम् being destroyed, मत्कृते for my sake, इच्छसि desirous, त्वम् you, मत्कृते for my sake, लोभात् out of greed, रामम् Rama, नानुगच्छसि you are not following him, नूनम् surely.

It is possess me that you wish Rama's death. You do not rush to him certainly because of greed for me.
व्यसनं ते प्रियं मन्ये स्नेहो भ्रातरिनास्तिते।।3.45.7।।

तेन तिष्ठसि विश्रब्धंतमपश्यन्महाद्युतिम्।


ते to you, व्यसनम् distrees, प्रियम् dear, मन्ये I think, ते to you, भ्रातरि for your brother, स्नेहः love, नास्ति is not there, तेन by that, महाद्युतिम् brilliiant, तम् him, अपश्यन् not seen, विश्रब्धम् confident, तिष्ठसि you are standing.

I think Rama's adversity is welcome to you. You do not have any love towards your brother. It is for this that you stand unconcerned instead of proceeding to help your brilliant brother.
किं हि संशयमापन्ने तस्मिन्निह मया भवेत्।।3.45.8।।

कर्तव्यमिह तिष्ठन्त्या यत्प्रधानस्त्वमागतः।


त्वम् you, यत्प्रधानः इह primarily to serve Rama, आगतः came here, तस्मिन् when he , संशयम् in difficulty, आपन्ने has met with, इह here, तिष्ठन्त्या remaining, मया by me, किम् what, कर्तव्यम् duty भवेत् be.

When he for whose service you have primary come here, has met with difficulty, what is the use of your being here? What purpose you serve by staying here with me ?
इति ब्रुवाणां वैदेहीं बाष्पशोकपरिप्लुताम्।।3.45.9।।

अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणस्त्रस्तां सीतां मृगवधूमिव।


इति thus, ब्रुवाणाम् while speaking, बाष्पशोकपरिप्लुताम् flooded with tears of sorrow, त्रस्ताम् frightened lady, मृगवधूमिव like a female deer, वैदेहीम् Vaidehi, सीताम् Sita, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, अब्रवीत् said.

While Sita thus spoke, flooded with tears of sorrow, frightened like a doe, Lakshmana replied :
पन्नगासुरगन्धर्वदेवमानुषराक्षसैः।।3.45.10।।

अशक्यस्तव वैदेहि भर्ता जेतुं न संशयः।


वैदेहि Vaidehi, तव your, भर्ता husband, पन्नगासुरगन्धर्वदेवमानुषराक्षसैः pannagas, asuras, gandharvas, gods, men or even demons, जेतुम् to win, अशक्यः not possible, न संशयः there is no doubt.

O Vaidehi there is no doubt that pannagas, asuras, gandharvas, gods, men or even demons cannot defeat him.
देवि देवमनुष्येषु गन्धर्वेषु पतत्रिषु।।3.45.11।।

राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु किन्नरेषु मृगेषु च।

दानवेषु च घोरेषु स न विद्येत शोभने।।3.45.12।।

यो रामं प्रतियुध्येत समरे वासवोपमम्।


शोभने देवि O brilliant Devi, समरे वासवोपमम् like Indra in war, रामम् Rama, यः who, प्रतियुध्येत may encounter, देवमनुष्येषु among gods or men, गन्धर्वेषु among gandharvas, पतत्रिषु among birds, राक्षसेषु among demons, पिशाचेषु among goblins, किन्नरेषु even among kinnaras, मृगेषुच even animals, घोरेषु dreadful, दानवेषु demons, न विद्येत not found.

O brilliant Devi none among gods or men, gandharvas, birds or goblins kinnaras, wild animals or dreadful demons can encounter Rama in war.
अवध्यस्समरे रामो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि।।3.45.13।।

न त्वामस्मिन्वने हातुमुत्सहे राघवं विना।


रामः Rama, समरे in war, अवध्यः indestructible, त्वम् you, एवम् in this way, वक्तुम् to speak,
नार्हसि it is not proper, त्वाम् you, राघवं विना without Rama, अस्मिन् in this, वने in the forest, हातुम् to leave alone, न उत्सहे I do not wish.

Rama is indestructible in war. It is not proper for you to say what you said. When he is not here I do not wish to leave you alone here in the forest.
अनिवार्यं बलं तस्य बलैर्बलवतामपि।।3.45.14।।

त्रिभिर्लोकैस्समुद्युक्तैस्सेश्वरैरपि सामरैः।


बलवताम् of strong people, बलैरपि even with all their strength, सेश्वरैः by Indra, सामरैरपि even by those supported by gods, समुद्युक्तै: by the wellequipped, त्रिभिः लोकै by the three worlds, अपि also, तस्य his, बलम् strength, अनिवार्यम् irresistible.

He cannot be stopped by the strength of the mighty, or by Indra supported by gods or by the wellequipped armies of all the three worlds.
हृदयं निर्वृतं तेऽस्तुसन्तापस्त्यज्यतामयम्।।3.45.15।।

आगमिष्यति ते भर्ता श्रीघ्रं हत्वा मृगोत्तमम्।


ते your, हृदयम् heart, निर्वृतम् relieved, अस्तु may be, अयम् this, सन्तापः sorrow, त्यज्यताम् give up, ते भर्ता your husband, मृगोत्तमम् excellent deer, हत्वा after killing, श्रीघ्रम् quickly, आगमिष्यति will come back.

May your heart be relieved (of this fear) Give up this grief. Your husband will soon return with the excellent deer killed.
न च तस्य स्वरो व्यक्तं मायया केन चित्कृतः।

गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या माया सा तस्य रक्षसः।।3.45.16।।


तस्य his, स्वरः voice, न not, व्यक्तम् it is clear, केन चित् by some one, मायया deceptively, कृतः is made, सा that, तस्य रक्षसः of that demon, गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या like the city of the gandharvas, माया illusion.

Surely it is not his voice. It is contrived by some one's illusory power. It is the illusion created by that demon, like the city of the gandharvas. (which does not exist.)
न्यासभूतासि वैदेहि न्यस्ता मयि महात्मना।।3.45.17।।

रामेण त्वं वरारोहे न त्वां त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे।


वरारोहे O beautiful lady, वैदेहि Vaidehi, न्यासभूतासि entrusted for safety, महात्मना by the great self, रामेण by Rama, मयि with me, न्यस्ता entrusted, इह here, त्वाम् you, त्यक्तुम् to leave, नोत्सहे not act.

O best of women Vaidehi great Rama has entrusted your safty to me. I do not wish to leave you here alone.
कृतवैराश्च वैदेहि वयमेतैर्निशाचरैः।।3.45.18।।

खरस्य निधनादेव जनस्थानवधं प्रति।


वैदेहि Vaidehi, खरस्य Khara's, निधनादेव since his killing, जनस्थानवधं प्रति towards killing of the residents of Janasthana, वयम् we, एतैः by these, निशाचरैः by the demons, कृतवैराः developed enmity.

O Vaidehi since the killing of Khara and the residents of Janasthana we have developed enmity with the demons.
राक्षसा विविधा वाचो विसृजन्ति महावने।।3.45.19।।

हिंसाविहारा वैदेहि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि।


वैदेहि Vaidehi, महावने in the great forest, हिंसा विहाराः who wander by torturing, राक्षसाः demons, विविधाः different , वाचः words, विसृजन्ति they spread, चिन्तयितुम् to worry, नार्हसि you need not.

These demons wander about tormenting others and spreading rumours of all kinds.
You need not worry about them.
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता सा क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना।।3.45.20।।

अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं सत्यवादिनम्।


लक्ष्मणेन by Lakshmana, एवम् in that way, उक्ता having been told, सा Sita, क्रुद्धा an angry, संरक्तलोचना with eyes turned red, सत्यवादिनम् to the truthful, लक्ष्मणम् Lakshmana, परुषम् harsh, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् she spoke.

Addressed thus by Lakshmana, Sita got mighty angry. Her eyes turned red and she spoke harshly to truthful Lakshmana
अनार्याकरणारम्भ नृशंस कुलपांसन।।3.45.21।।

अहं तव प्रियं मन्ये रामस्य व्यसनं महत्।


अनार्यकरणारम्भ man of bad conduct, नृशंस cruel one, कुलपांसन disgrace to your family, रामस्य at Rama's, महत् great, व्यसनम् disaster, तव yours, प्रियम् pleasing, अहम् I, मन्ये I think.

O ignoble, cruel Lakshmana, you are a disgrace to your family. I think this great disaster of Rama is a pleasure to you.
रामस्य व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा तेनैतानि प्रभाषसे।।3.45.22।।

नैतच्चित्रं सपत्नेषु पापं लक्ष्मण यद्भवेत्।

त्वद्विधेषु नृशंसेषु नित्यं प्रच्छन्नचारिषु।।3.45.23।।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, रामस्य व्यसनम् Rama's disaster, दृष्ट्वा seeing, तेन by that, एतानि these words, (प्र)भाषसे speak, नित्यम् always, प्रच्छन्नचारिषु who move in disguise, नृशंसेषु cruel men, त्वद्विधेषु among men like you, सपत्नेषु among rivals, पापम् sin, भवेत् इति यत् will be thus, एतत् this, चित्रम् wonder, न not .

O Lakshmana,do you speak such words seeing the disaster of Rama? No wonder that cruel men who always move like you in disguise will thus resort to sinful action against rivals.
सुदुष्टस्त्वं वने राममेकमेकोऽनुगच्छसि।

मम हेतोः प्रतिच्छन्नः प्रयुक्तोभरतेन वा।।3.45.24।।


सुदुष्टः very wicked , त्वम् you, एकः alone, प्रतिच्छन्नः hiding your true self, हेतोः reason, भरतेन by Bharata, प्रयुक्तः वा or employed, एकम् alone, रामम् Rama, वने in forest, अनुगच्छसि you are following.

You are very wicked. You are hiding your true identity, and employed by Bharata, you are following Rama in the forest as he is alone.
तन्नसिध्यति सौमित्रे तव वा भरतस्य वा।

कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम्।।3.45.25।।

उपसंश्रित्य भर्तारं कामयेयं पृथग्जनम्।


सौमित्रे Lakshmana, तव वा yours or, भरतस्य वा or Bharata's, तत् such, नसिध्यति will not be fulfilled, पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम् eyes like lotus petals, इन्दीवरश्यामम् looks like a blue lotus, भर्तारम् husband, उपसंश्रित्य held the hands of, पृथग्जनम् other men, कथम् how, कामयेयम् can I prefer ?

O Lakshmana such intention of yours or even of Bharata's will not be fulfilled. I have held the hands of Rama who has eyes like the lotus petal, who has the complexion of the blue lotus. How can I prefer some other man?
समक्षं तव सौमित्रे प्राणांस्त्यक्षे न संशयः।

रामं विना क्षणमपि न हि जीवामि भूतले।।3.45.26।।


सौमित्रे O Saumitri, तव in your, समक्षम् presence, प्राणाम् life, त्यक्ष्ये I give up, संशयः doubt, न
not, रामं विना without Rama, क्षणमपि even a moment, भूतले on earth, न जीवामि हि I will not live.

I will undoubtedly give up my life in your presence.I will not live even for a moment on earth without Rama, O son of Sumitra
इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं सीतया रोमहर्षणम्।।3.45.27।।

अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणस्सीतां प्राञ्जलिर्विजितेन्द्रियः।


विजितेन्द्रियः selfcontrolled, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, सीतया by Sita, इति in this way, रोमहर्षणम् causing horripilation, परुषम् harsh, वाक्यम् words, उक्तः uttered, प्राञ्जलिः with folded palms, सीताम् to Sita, अब्रवीत् said.

The selfcontrolled Lakshmana with folded palms replied to Sita's harsh, horripilating words:
उत्तरं नोत्सहे वक्तुं दैवतं भवती मम।।3.45.28।।

वाक्यमप्रतिरूपं तु न चित्रं स्त्रीषु मैथिलि।

स्वभावस्त्वेष नारीणामेवं लोकेषु दृश्यते।।3.45.29।।


मैथिलि Mythili, उत्तरम् reply, वक्तुम् to tell, नोत्सहे not wish, भवती yourself, मम for me, दैवतम् deity, अप्रतिरूपम् unworthy, वाक्यम् word, स्त्रीषु among women, चित्रम् wonder, न not, एषः such, नारीणाम् women's, स्वभावस्तु nature, लोकेषु in the world, एवम् likewise, दृश्यते is seen.

O princess from Mithila, I do not want to use such harsh words. To me you are a deity (worthy of adoration). It is not surprising that women of the world use such undeserving words. It is their nature.
विमुक्तधर्माश्चपलास्तीक्ष्णा भेदकराः स्त्रियः।

न सहे हीदृशं वाक्यं वैदेहि जनकात्मजे।।3.45.30।।

श्रोत्रयोरुभयोर्मेद्य तप्तनाराचसन्निभम्।


स्त्रियः women, विमुक्तधर्माः devoid of dharma, चपलाः fickle, तीक्ष्णाः sharptongued, भेदकराः piercing, जनकात्मजे daughter of Janaka, वैदेहि Vaidehi, मे my, उभयोः two, श्रोत्रयोः ears, तप्तनाराचसन्निभम् like red hot darts(words that pierce ears like arrows), वाक्यम् words, अद्य now, न सहे हि cannot bear

Women devoid dharma are fickle and inconsistent. They use sharp, piercing words. O daughter of Janaka, O princess from Videha, your words pierce my ears like redhot darts.I cannot tolerate them.
उपशृण्वन्तु मे सर्वे साक्षिभूता वनेचराः।।3.45.31।।

न्यायवादी यथान्यायमुक्तोऽहं परुषं त्वया।


न्यायवादी am just in speaking, अहम् I, त्वया by you, यथा like this, परुषम् harsh words, अन्यायम् unjustified, उक्तः spoken, मे to me, साक्षिभूताः witnesses , सर्वे all, वनेचराः foresters, उपशृण्वन्तु listen.

I speak what is just while you use harsh and unjust words. Let all beings who move in the forest bear witness.
धिक्त्वामद्य प्रणश्य त्वं यन्मामेवं विशङ्कसे।

स्त्रीत्वलदुष्टं स्वभावेन गुरुवाक्ये व्यवस्थितम्।।3.45.32।।


त्वाम् you, धिक् fie upon, स्त्रीत्वात् दुष्टस्वभावेन woman's wicked nature, त्वम् you, गुरुवाक्ये on the word of my brother, व्यवस्थितम् stood firmly, माम् me, यत् since, एवम् thus, विशङ्कसे doubting, प्रणश्य you will fall to ruin.

Fie upon you. Like a woman of wicked nature you doubt me when I stood firm by my brother's words. You will go to ruin.
गमिष्ये यत्र काकुत्स्थ स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु वरानने।।3.45.33।।

रक्षन्तु त्वां विशालाक्षि समग्रा वनदेवताः।


वरानने O beautiful lady, काकुत्स्थ Rama, यत्र whereever he be, गमिष्ये will go, ते स्वस्ति अस्तु be happy, विशालाक्षि O largeeyed lady, त्वाम् to you, समग्राः all the, वनदेवताः sylvan deties, रक्षन्तु protect you.

O beautiful lady, I will go to Rama wherever he may be. Be happy. O largeeyed one, may all the deities of the forest protect you.
निमित्तानि च घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे।।3.45.34।।

अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः।

न वेत्येतन्न जानामि वैदेहि जनकात्मजे।।3.45.35।।


जनकात्मजे daughter of Janaka, वैदेहि Vaidehi, घोराणि dreadful, यानि those, निमित्तानि omens, मे me, प्रादुर्भवन्ति are manifesting, पुनः again, आगतः when I return, त्वाम् you, सह along with, रामेण with Rama, अपि पश्येयम् will I ever see, न वा or not, इत्येतत् in this way, न जानामि I do not know.

O daughter of Janaka O princess from Videha, I see dreadful omens. I do not know whether I will see you when I am back with Rama.
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता सा रुदन्ती जनकात्मजा।

प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यं तीव्रं बाष्पपरिप्लुता।।3.45.36।।


लक्ष्मणेन by Lakshmana, एवम् likewise, उक्ता spoken, सा जनकात्मजा she, the daughter of Janaka, ततः then, रुदन्ती while crying, बाष्पपरिप्लुता eyes filled with tears, तीव्रम् harsh, वाक्यम् words, प्रत्युवाच replied.

At these words of Lakshmana Sita started crying. With eyes filled with tears she replied with harshness :
गोदावरीं प्रवेक्ष्यामि विना रामेण लक्ष्मण।

अबन्धिष्येऽथवा त्यक्ष्ये विषमे देहमात्मनः।।3.45.37।।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, रामेण विना without Rama, गोदावरीम् Godavari, प्रवेक्ष्यामि I will enter, अथवा or else, अबन्धिष्ये hang myself, विषमे cliff ( dangerous place), आत्मनः myself, देहम् body, त्यक्ष्ये will give up.

O Lakshmana without Rama I will drown myself in Godavari or hang myself or leap from a cliff into death.
पिबाम्यहं विषं तीक्ष्णं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्।

न त्वहं राघवादन्यं पदापि पुरुषं स्पृशे।।3.45.38।।


अहम् I, तीक्ष्णम् विषम् venom, पिबामि I will drink, हुताशनम् fire, प्रवेक्ष्यामि I will enter, तु but, अहम् I, राघवात् Rama's, अन्यम् other, पुरुषम् man, पदापि even with feet, न स्पृशे I will not touch.

I will drink deadly poison or enter fire and die, but will not touch any other man even with my feet.
इति लक्ष्मणमाक्रुश्य सीता दुःखसमन्विता।

पाणिभ्यां रुदती दुःखादुदरं प्रजघान ह।।3.45.39।।


सीता Sita, इति thus, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, आक्रुश्य दुःखसमन्विता blaming and crying in distress, रुदती crying, दुःखात् with grief, पाणिभ्याम् by her hands, उदरम् belly, प्रजघान ह hit herself.

Thus Sita cried in distress, sadly hitting her belly with both the hands, blaming Lakshmana (all the time).
तामार्तरूपां विमना रुदन्तीं सौमित्रिरालोक्य विशालनेत्राम्।

आश्वासयामास न चैव भर्तु स्तं भ्रातरंकिञ्चिदुवाच सीता।।3.45.40।।


सौमित्रिः Saumitri, विमनाः dejected, आर्तरूपाम् in a pitiable state, रुदन्तीम् crying, ताम् her, विशालनेत्राम् largeeyed, आलोक्य seeing, आश्वसयामास consoled, सीता Sita, भर्तुः husband's, भ्रातरम् brother, तम् him, किञ्चित् any thing, न उवाच did not speak.

Saumitri saw the largeeyed, dejected Sita crying in distress.He pacified and consoled her but she did not say anything at all to her husband's brother.
ततस्तु सीतामभिवाद्य लक्ष्मणः कृताञ्जलिः किञ्चिदभिप्रणम्य च।

अन्वीक्षमाणो बहुशश्च मैथिलीम् जगाम रामस्य समीपमात्मवान्।।3.45.41।।


ततः then, आत्मवान् selfcomposed, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, सीताम् to Sita, अभिवाद्य taking leave, कृताञ्जलिः with joined palms, किञ्चित् a little, अभिप्रणम्य saluting with great reverence, बहुशः in several ways, मैथिलीम् princess from Mithila, अन्वीक्षमाणः looking at her, रामस्य of Rama, समीपम् near, जगाम went.

Selfcomposed Lakshmana with joined palms saluted her with great reverence.And then, turning towards her again and again, left for Rama.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्जचत्वारिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fortyfifth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.