भृशमाव्रजमानस्य तस्याधो वामलोचनम्। प्रास्फुरच्चास्खलद् रामो वेपथुश्चास्य जायते॥
As Rāma went on, his feet failed him, his left eye to beat, and a trembling came over his frame.
उपालक्ष्य निमित्तानि सोऽशुभानि मुहुर्मुहुः। अपि क्षेमं तु सीताया इति वै व्याजहार ह॥
Seeing again and again all these signs, he continually kept on asking (Lakşmaņa), Is it well with Sita?
त्वरमाणो जगामाथ सीतादर्शनलालसः। शून्यामावसथं दृष्ट्वा बभूवोद्विग्नमानसः॥
Eager to behold Sītā, he proceeded fast; but finding the abode empty, he was filled with anxiety.
उद्भ्रमन्निव वेगेन विक्षिपन् रघुनन्दनः। तत्र तत्रोटजस्थानमभिवीक्ष्य समन्ततः॥ ददर्श पर्णशालां च सीतया रहितां तदा। श्रिया विरहितां ध्वस्तां हेमन्ते पद्मिनीमिव ॥
And proceeding with swiftness, throwing about his limbs, Raghu's son began to survey all around the hut. He then found it empty of Sītā, like to a tank in evil plight and bereft of lotuses-during the winter.
रुदन्तमिव वृक्षैश्च ग्लानपुष्पमृगद्विजम् । श्रिया विहीनं विध्वस्तं संत्यक्तं वनदैवतैः॥ विप्रकीर्णाजिनकुशं विप्रविद्धबृसीकटम्। दृष्ट्वा शून्योटजस्थानं विललाप पुनः पुनः॥
And seeing the cottage empty, with its trees as if sorrowing, and its flowers faded, and its beasts and birds sunk in gloom, shorn of grace, worn out, forsaken by the sylvan deities, strewn with deer-skins and Kusa, and twists of Kasa, he wept again and again.
हृता मृता वा नष्टा वा भक्षिता वा भविष्यति। निलीनाप्यथवा भीरुरथवा वनमाश्रिता।।।।। गता विचेतुं पुष्पाणि फलान्यपि च वा पुनः। अथवा पद्मिनी याता जलार्थं वा नदीं गता॥
Has the timid one been carried off, or is she dead, or has any one eaten her up, or has she vanished (from the earth), or has she gone to the wood, or has she gone to cull flowers and fruits, or has she gone to the pool for procuring water, or has she repaired to the river?
यत्नान्मृगयमाणस्तु नाससाद वने प्रियाम्। शोकरक्तेक्षणः श्रीमानुन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते॥
Although he searched his beloved one carefully, yet he failed to find her out in the wood-land. And that graceful one with his eyes reddened with grief, seemed like a maniac
वृक्षाद् वृक्षं प्रधावन् स गिरिश्चापि नदीनदम्। बभ्राम विलपरामः शोकपङ्कार्णवप्लुतः॥
He rushed from tree to tree, and bewailing being sunk in an ocean of grief traversed all the rivers and mountains.
अस्ति कच्चित्त्वया दृष्ट्वा सा कदम्बप्रिया प्रिया। कदम्ब यदि जानीषे शंस सीतां शुभाननाम्॥ स्निग्धपल्लवसंकाशां पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्। शंसस्व यदि सा दृष्ट्वा बिल्ब बिल्वोपमस्तनी॥
O Kadamba, have you seen where is that one fond of Kadamba groves? If know you this do you tell me of Sītā having an auspicious countenance. O Bilva, tell me pray, if you have seen her, wearing silken cloth, resembling cool leaves and having breast like to Bilva fruits.
अथवार्जुन शंस त्वं प्रियां तामर्जुनप्रियाम्। जनकस्य सुता तन्वी यदि जीवति वा न वा॥
Or, O Aryunā, she was very fond of you, tell me if live that daughter of Janaka of slender frame.
ककुभः ककुभोरूं तां व्यक्तं जानाति मैथिलीम्। लतापल्लवपुष्पाढ्यो भाति ह्येष वनस्पतिः॥ भ्रमरैरूपगीतश्च यथा द्रुमवरो ह्यसि। एष व्यक्तं विजानाति तिलकस्तिलकप्रियाम्॥
This Kakubha know for certain about Maithilī having thighs like to Kakubha. You stands beautifully that Vanaspati being enveloped with creepers flowers and leaves and filled with the hum of Bhramaras. Surely dose this Tilaka know about her who was fond of her.
अशोक शोकापनुद शोकोपहतचेतनम्। त्वन्नामानं कुरु क्षिप्रं प्रियासंदर्शनेन माम्॥
O Asoka, who dose remove sorrows, do you make good your name by making me, who am exercised with grief, see instantly my beloved (spouse).
यदि ताल त्वया दृष्टा पक्वतालोपमस्तनी। कथयस्व वरारोहां कारुण्यं यदि ते मयि ॥
O Tāla, if you have any pity on me do you tell me whether you have beheld that fair damsel having breast resembling ripe Tāla fruits.
यदि दृष्ट्वा त्वया जम्बो जाम्बूनदसमप्रभा। प्रियां यदि विजानासि निःशङ्कं कथयस्व मे॥
Do you tell me without fear, O Jāmbu, if you have seen my dear one resembling in hue the river Jāmbu.
अहो त्वं कर्णिकाराद्य पुष्पितः शोभते भृशम्। कर्णिकारप्रियां साध्वी शंस दृष्टा यदि प्रिया॥
O Karnikar, you appear very beautiful with this blossoming flowers, tell me if you have seen my dear devoted wife who was fond of you.
चूतनीपमहासालान् पनसान् कुररांस्तथा। दाडिमानपि तान् गत्वा दृष्ट्वा रामो महायशाः॥ बकुलानथ पुन्नागांश्चन्दनान् केतकांस्तथा। पृच्छन् रामो वने भ्रान्त उन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते॥
Thus the highly famous Rāma asking about Sītā, nearing the various trees such as mangoes, Nipa, Mahaśālā, Panasa, Kurava, Pomegranate, Bakula, Punnaga, Sandal and Ketak began to traverse the forest like a maniac.
अथवा मृगशावाक्षी मृग जानासि मैथिलीम्। मृगविप्रेक्षणी कान्ता मृगीभिः सहिता भवेत्॥
Again addressed he the diverse animals-O dear, know you for certain about Janakī having the eyes of a doe; is she engaged in play with the does?
गज सा गजनासोरूय॑दि दृष्ट्वा त्वया भवेत् तां मन्ये विदितां तुभ्यमाख्याहि वरवारण॥
O elephant, methinks you do know about the daughter of Janaka having thighs resembling your trunk; pray tell me if you have beheld her.
शार्दूल यदि सा दृष्ट्वा प्रिया चन्द्रनिभानना। मैथिली मम विस्रब्धः कथयस्व न ते भयम्॥
O tiger, fearlessly do you relate to me if you have seen my beloved Maithilī, having a countenance resembling Moon.
किं धावसि प्रिये नूनं दृष्टासि कमलेक्षणे। वृक्षराच्छाद्य चात्मानं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे॥
O dear! O you having eyes like to lotuses! why do you fly away? Surely have I seen you. Why do you not address me hiding yourself behind the tree?
तिष्ठ तिष्ठ वरारोहे न तेऽस्ति करुणा मयि। नात्यर्थं हास्यशीलासि किमर्थं मामुपेक्षसे॥
Wait, wait, O you fair damsel, you have no compassion for me! Never had you mock me before in this way! Why do you neglect me now?
पीतकौशेयकेनासि सूचिता वरवर्णिनि। धावन्त्यपि मया दृष्ट्वा तिष्ठ यद्यस्ति सौहृदम्॥
O exquisitely fair damsel, truly have I found you out from this your yellow silken cloth. I have seen you flying away. Stand if you have any love for me.
नैव सा नूनमथवा हिंसिता चारुहासिनी। कृच्छं प्राप्तं हि मां नूनं यथोपेक्षितुमर्हति॥
Or, O you having a sweet smile, you are not she; truly you have been killed or else you would not have neglected me at this time of dire affliction.
व्यक्तं सा भक्षिता बाला राक्षसैः पिशिताशनैः। विभज्याङ्गानि सर्वाणि मया विरहिता प्रिया॥
True it is that she has been devoured in my absence by the Rākşasas living on flesh having torn into pieces her limbs.
नूनं तच्छुभदन्तोष्ठं सुनासं शुभकुण्डलम्। पूर्णचन्द्रनिभं ग्रस्तं मुखं निष्प्रभतां गतम्॥
Truly has her face, resembling the full-moon, having beautiful teeth a fine nose and white Kundalas, become of pale countenance being brought under the possession of the Rākșasas.
सा हि चन्दनकवर्णाभा ग्रीवा ग्रैवेयकोचिता। कोमला विलपन्त्यास्तु कान्ताया भक्षिता शुभा॥
Her neck had the hue of sandal and was adorned with necklace—that beautiful tender neck was eaten up by the Rākşasas, my beloved wife wailing.
नूनं विक्षिप्यमाणौ तौ बाहू पल्लवकोमलौ। भक्षितौ वेपमानाग्रौ सहस्ताभरणाङ्गदौ॥
Her arms were tender like leaves and adorned with various ornaments; truly have the Rākşasas eaten them up, shaken as they were, by throwing them here and there.
मया विरहिता बाला रक्षसां भक्षणाय वै। सार्थेनेव परित्यक्ता भक्षिता बहुबान्धवा ॥
Alas! did I leave her alone only to be devoured by the Rākşasas? And she has been eaten up like one weak and helpless albeit she has many friends.
हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो पश्यसे त्वं प्रियां क्वचित्। हा प्रिये व गता भद्रे हा सीतेति पुनः पुनः॥ इत्येवं विलपन् रामः परिधावन् वनाद् वनम्। क्वचिदुद्भ्रमते वेगात् क्वचिद् विभ्रमते बलात्॥
O Lakşmaņa, O you of mighty-arms, have you seen where my dear wife is? O dear! O Sītā! where have you gone? bewailing again and again in this strain Rāma began to range the forest. Sometimes leaping, sometimes walking in an uncertain direction, again and again he looked like one void of sense.
क्वचिन्मत्त इवाभाति कान्तान्वेषणतत्परः। स वनानि नदीः शैलान् गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च। काननानि च वेगेन भ्रमत्यपरिसंस्थितः॥
And again intent on searching Sītā he furiously engaged in traversing the rivers, mountains, fountains and the woods. he could not wait patiently anywhere.
तदा स गत्वा विपुलं महद् वनं परीत्य सर्वं त्वथ मैथिली प्रति। अनिष्ठिताशः स चकार मार्गणे पुनः प्रियायाः परमं परिश्रमम्॥
Entering a vast forest he searched every nook and corner for Maithilī; his desire was not satisfied and he again engaged with great labour in the finding out of his dear spouse.