Rama's Lament to the Forest

Shloka 1 (aranya.60.1)

भृशम् आव्रजमानस्य तस्य अधो वाम लोचनम् । प्रास्फुरत् च अस्खलत् रामो वेपथुः च अस्य जायते ॥ 60.1 ॥

bhṛśam āvrajamānasya tasya adho vāma locanam | prāsphurat ca askhalat rāmo vepathuḥ ca asya jāyate || 60.1 ||

As he hurried back, his lower left eyelid throbbed again and again; Rama stumbled in his stride, and a shudder ran through his body.

Shloka 2 (aranya.60.2)

उपालक्ष्य निमित्तानि सो अशुभानि मुहुर् मुहुः । अपि क्षेमम् तु सीताया इति वै व्याजहार ह ॥ 60.2 ॥

upālakṣya nimittāni so aśubhāni muhur muhuḥ | api kṣemam tu sītāyā iti vai vyājahāra ha || 60.2 ||

Noticing these ill omens again and again, he kept murmuring, "Will Sita indeed be safe?"

Shloka 3 (aranya.60.3)

त्वरमाणो जगाम अथ सीता दर्शन लालसः । शून्यम् आवसथम् दृष्ट्वा बभूव उद्विग्न मानसः ॥ 60.3 ॥

tvaramāṇo jagāma atha sītā darśana lālasaḥ | śūnyam āvasatham dṛṣṭvā babhūva udvigna mānasaḥ || 60.3 ||

Then, quickening his steps, eager to see Sita, he went on; but seeing the dwelling empty, his heart grew troubled.

Shloka 4 (aranya.60.4)

उद् भ्रमन् इव वेगेन विक्षिपन् रघु नन्दनः । तत्र तत्र उटज स्थानम् अभिवीक्ष्य समंततः ॥ 60.4 ॥

ud bhraman iva vegena vikṣipan raghu nandanaḥ | tatra tatra uṭaja sthānam abhivīkṣya samaṃtataḥ || 60.4 ||

Raghu's son, as though whirled about by the very force of his own speed, his arms flailing, peered again and again into every corner around the hut.

Shloka 5 (aranya.60.5)

ददर्श पर्ण शालाम् च सीतया रहिताम् तदा । श्रिया विरहिताम् ध्वस्ताम् हेमन्ते पद्मिनीम् इव ॥ 60.5 ॥

dadarśa parṇa śālām ca sītayā rahitām tadā | śriyā virahitām dhvastām hemante padminīm iva || 60.5 ||

There he saw the leaf-hut bereft of Sita — its beauty gone, ravaged, like a lotus-pool laid waste in the depth of winter.

Shloka 6 (aranya.60.6)

रुदन्तम् इव वृक्षैः च ग्लान पुष्प मृग द्विजम् । श्रिया विहीनम् विध्वस्तम् संत्यक्त वन दैवतैः ॥ 60.6 ॥

rudantam iva vṛkṣaiḥ ca glāna puṣpa mṛga dvijam | śriyā vihīnam vidhvastam saṃtyakta vana daivataiḥ || 60.6 ||

The trees around seemed to be weeping, their flowers withered, their birds and beasts seemingly grieving; the whole place, stripped of its charm and utterly forlorn, looked as though its own woodland deities had abandoned it.

Shloka 7 (aranya.60.7)

विप्रकीर्ण अजिन कुशम् विप्रविद्ध बृसी कटम् । दृष्ट्वा शून्य उटज स्थानम् विललाप पुनः पुनः ॥ 60.7 ॥

viprakīrṇa ajina kuśam vipraviddha bṛsī kaṭam | dṛṣṭvā śūnya uṭaja sthānam vilalāpa punaḥ punaḥ || 60.7 ||

Seeing the deerskin and sacred kusha grass scattered about, the grass-seats and reed mats flung aside, and the cottage utterly deserted, he wept again and again.

Shloka 8 (aranya.60.8)

हृता मृता वा नष्टा वा भक्षिता वा भविष्यति । निलीना अपि अथवा भीरुः अथवा वनम् आश्रिता ॥ 60.8 ॥

hṛtā mṛtā vā naṣṭā vā bhakṣitā vā bhaviṣyati | nilīnā api athavā bhīruḥ athavā vanam āśritā || 60.8 ||

"She may have been carried off, or slain, or lost her way, or devoured by some beast; or that timid girl may have hidden herself somewhere, or perhaps taken shelter here in the forest.

Shloka 9 (aranya.60.9)

गता विचेतुम् पुष्पाणि फलानि अपि च वा पुनः । अथवा पद्मिनीम् याता जल अर्थम् वा नदीम् गता ॥ 60.9 ॥

gatā vicetum puṣpāṇi phalāni api ca vā punaḥ | athavā padminīm yātā jala artham vā nadīm gatā || 60.9 ||

Or perhaps she has gone again to gather flowers or fruit, or gone to the lotus-pool, or to the river for water" — thinking thus, he began to search.

Shloka 10 (aranya.60.10)

यत्नात् मृगयमाणः तु न आससाद वने प्रियाम् । शोक रक्त ईक्षणः श्रीमान् उन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते ॥ 60.10 ॥

yatnāt mṛgayamāṇaḥ tu na āsasāda vane priyām | śoka rakta īkṣaṇaḥ śrīmān unmatta iva lakṣyate || 60.10 ||

Though he searched with all his effort, he could not find his beloved in that forest; his eyes reddened with grief, and that glorious prince now looked like a man gone mad.

Shloka 11 (aranya.60.11)

वृक्षात् वृक्षम् प्रधावन् स गिरीम् च अपि नदी नदम् । बभ्राम विलपन् रामः शोक पंक अर्णव प्लुतः ॥ 60.11 ॥

vṛkṣāt vṛkṣam pradhāvan sa girīm ca api nadī nadam | babhrāma vilapan rāmaḥ śoka paṃka arṇava plutaḥ || 60.11 ||

Running from tree to tree, from hill to hillock, from river to rivulet, Rama wandered about, wailing, as though sunk deep in a sludgy ocean of grief.

Shloka 12 (aranya.60.12)

अस्ति कच्चित् त्वया दृष्टा सा कदम्ब प्रिया प्रिया । कदम्ब यदि जानीषे शंस सीताम् शुभ आननाम् ॥ 60.12 ॥

asti kaccit tvayā dṛṣṭā sā kadamba priyā priyā | kadamba yadi jānīṣe śaṃsa sītām śubha ānanām || 60.12 ||

"O Kadamba tree, hast thou seen anywhere her who so loves thy Kadamba blossoms, my own beloved? If thou knowest her, O Kadamba, tell me of Sita, the sweet-faced one.

Shloka 13 (aranya.60.13)

स्निग्ध पल्लव संकाशाम् पीत कौशेय वासिनीम् । शंसस्व यदि सा दृष्टा बिल्व बिल्व उपम स्तनी ॥ 60.13 ॥

snigdha pallava saṃkāśām pīta kauśeya vāsinīm | śaṃsasva yadi sā dṛṣṭā bilva bilva upama stanī || 60.13 ||

O Bilva tree, if thou hast seen her — she whose skin gleams like thy glossy young leaves, who is clad in yellow silk, whose breasts are round as thy own Bilva fruits — tell me.

Shloka 14 (aranya.60.14)

अथवा अर्जुन शंस त्वम् प्रियाम् ताम् अर्जुन प्रियाम् । जनकस्य सुता तन्वी यदि जीवति वा न वा ॥ 60.14 ॥

athavā arjuna śaṃsa tvam priyām tām arjuna priyām | janakasya sutā tanvī yadi jīvati vā na vā || 60.14 ||

Or, O Arjuna tree, tell me of her who loves thy Arjuna blossoms, my beloved — whether Janaka's slender daughter still lives, or lives no more.

Shloka 15 (aranya.60.15)

ककुभः ककुभ ऊरुम् ताम् व्यक्तम् जानाति मैथिलीम् । लता पल्लव पुष्प आढ्यो भाति हि एष वनस्पतिः ॥ 60.15 ॥

kakubhaḥ kakubha ūrum tām vyaktam jānāti maithilīm | latā pallava puṣpa āḍhyo bhāti hi eṣa vanaspatiḥ || 60.15 ||

This Kakubha tree, so richly laden with creepers, tender leaves, and blossoms that it shines forth thus, must surely know Maithili, whose thighs are as smooth as its own trunk.

Shloka 16 (aranya.60.16)

भ्रमरैर् उपगीतः च यथा द्रुम वरो हि असि । एष व्यक्तम् विजानाति तिलकः तिलक प्रियाम् ॥ 60.16 ॥

bhramarair upagītaḥ ca yathā druma varo hi asi | eṣa vyaktam vijānāti tilakaḥ tilaka priyām || 60.16 ||

O best among trees, as the humming bees ever sing around thee, so this Tilaka tree surely knows well her who so loves the Tilaka blossoms.

Shloka 17 (aranya.60.17)

अशोक शोक अपनुद शोक उपहत चेतनम् । त्वन् नामानम् कुरु क्षिप्रम् प्रिया संदर्शनेन माम् ॥ 60.17 ॥

aśoka śoka apanuda śoka upahata cetanam | tvan nāmānam kuru kṣipram priyā saṃdarśanena mām || 60.17 ||

O Ashoka, remover of sorrow — my mind lies stricken with sorrow; swiftly make me thy true namesake by showing me my beloved.

Shloka 18 (aranya.60.18)

यदि ताल त्वया दृष्टा पक्व ताल फल स्तनी । कथयस्व वरारोहाम् कारुण्यम् यदि ते मयि ॥ 60.18 ॥

yadi tāla tvayā dṛṣṭā pakva tāla phala stanī | kathayasva varārohām kāruṇyam yadi te mayi || 60.18 ||

O Tala tree, if thou hast seen her whose breasts are round as thy own ripened fruit, and if thou hast any pity for me, tell me of that shapely one.

Shloka 19 (aranya.60.19)

यदि दृष्टा त्वया सीता जम्बो जांबूनद सम प्रभा । प्रियाम् यदि विजानासि निःशंक कथयस्व मे ॥ 60.19 ॥

yadi dṛṣṭā tvayā sītā jambo jāṃbūnada sama prabhā | priyām yadi vijānāsi niḥśaṃka kathayasva me || 60.19 ||

O Jambu tree, if thou hast seen Sita, whose glow is like burnished gold, and if thou knowest my beloved, speak to me without hesitation.

Shloka 20 (aranya.60.20)

अहो त्वम् कर्णिकार अद्य पुष्पितः शोभसे भृशम् । कर्णिकार प्रियाम् साध्वीम् शंस दृष्टा यदि प्रिया ॥ 60.20 ॥

aho tvam karṇikāra adya puṣpitaḥ śobhase bhṛśam | karṇikāra priyām sādhvīm śaṃsa dṛṣṭā yadi priyā || 60.20 ||

Ah, Karnikara, how splendidly thou art blooming today! If thou hast seen my chaste beloved, a lover of the Karnikara flowers, tell me.

Shloka 21 (aranya.60.21)

चूत नीप महा सालान् पनसान् कुरवान् धवान् । दाडिमान् अपि तान् गत्वा दृष्ट्वा रामो महायशाः ॥ 60.21 ॥

cūta nīpa mahā sālān panasān kuravān dhavān | dāḍimān api tān gatvā dṛṣṭvā rāmo mahāyaśāḥ || 60.21 ||

The glorious Rama went up to mango trees, nipa trees, great sala trees, jackfruit trees, kurava and dhava trees, and even pomegranate trees, gazing intently on each.

Shloka 22 (aranya.60.22)

बकुलान् अथ पुन्नागान् च चंदनान्केतकान् तथा । पृच्छन् रामो वने भ्रान्त उन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते ॥ 60.22 ॥

bakulān atha punnāgān ca caṃdanānketakān tathā | pṛcchan rāmo vane bhrānta unmatta iva lakṣyate || 60.22 ||

He questioned bakula, punnaga, sandalwood, and ketaka trees as well — and wandering through the forest thus, asking each in turn, Rama appeared every bit like a madman.

Shloka 23 (aranya.60.23)

अथवा मृग शाब अक्षीम् मृग जानासि मैथिलीम् । मृग विप्रेक्षणी कांता मृगीभिः सहिता भवेत् ॥ 60.23 ॥

athavā mṛga śāba akṣīm mṛga jānāsi maithilīm | mṛga viprekṣaṇī kāṃtā mṛgībhiḥ sahitā bhavet || 60.23 ||

Or, O deer, dost thou know her whose eyes are like a fawn's own? My beloved, with her quick, deer-like glances, may perhaps be moving even now among a herd of does.

Shloka 24 (aranya.60.24)

गज सा गज नासोरुः यदि दृष्टा त्वया भवेत् । ताम् मन्ये विदिताम् तुभ्यम् आख्याहि वर वारण ॥ 60.24 ॥

gaja sā gaja nāsoruḥ yadi dṛṣṭā tvayā bhavet | tām manye viditām tubhyam ākhyāhi vara vāraṇa || 60.24 ||

O elephant, if thou hast seen her whose thighs are round as thy own trunk, I think thou must surely know her — tell me, O noble one.

Shloka 25 (aranya.60.25)

शार्दूल यदि सा दृष्टा प्रिया चंद्र निभ आनना । मैथिली मम विस्रब्धम् कथयस्व न ते भयम् ॥ 60.25 ॥

śārdūla yadi sā dṛṣṭā priyā caṃdra nibha ānanā | maithilī mama visrabdham kathayasva na te bhayam || 60.25 ||

O tiger, if thou hast seen my beloved whose face is like the moon, that Maithili, speak to me freely — thou needst have no fear of me.

Shloka 26 (aranya.60.26)

किम् धावसि प्रिये नूनम् दृष्टा असि कमल ईक्षणे । वृक्षेण आच्चाद्य च आत्मानम् किम् माम् न प्रतिभाषसे ॥ 60.26 ॥

kim dhāvasi priye nūnam dṛṣṭā asi kamala īkṣaṇe | vṛkṣeṇa āccādya ca ātmānam kim mām na pratibhāṣase || 60.26 ||

Why do you run from me, my love? Lotus-eyed one, I have surely seen you — why do you hide behind that tree and not answer me?

Shloka 27 (aranya.60.27)

तिष्ठ तिष्ठ वरारोहे न ते अस्ति करुणा मयि । न अत्यर्थम् हास्य शीला असि किम् अर्थम् माम् उपेक्षसे ॥ 60.27 ॥

tiṣṭha tiṣṭha varārohe na te asti karuṇā mayi | na atyartham hāsya śīlā asi kim artham mām upekṣase || 60.27 ||

Stay, stay, O lovely one! Have you no pity on me at all? You were never so given to jest — then why do you now ignore me?

Shloka 28 (aranya.60.28)

पीत कौशेयकेन असि सूचिता वर वर्णिनि । धावन्ति अपि मया दृष्टा तिष्ठ यदि अस्ति सौहृदम् ॥ 60.28 ॥

pīta kauśeyakena asi sūcitā vara varṇini | dhāvanti api mayā dṛṣṭā tiṣṭha yadi asti sauhṛdam || 60.28 ||

O fair one, your yellow silk sari betrays you even as you run — I have seen you. If you feel any love for me at all, stay.

Shloka 29 (aranya.60.29)

न एव सा नूनम् अथवा हिंसिता चारु हासिनी । कृच्छ्रम् प्राप्तम् न माम् नूनम् यथा उपेक्षितुम् अर्हति ॥ 60.29 ॥

na eva sā nūnam athavā hiṃsitā cāru hāsinī | kṛcchram prāptam na mām nūnam yathā upekṣitum arhati || 60.29 ||

But no — that surely was not her. She of the sweet smile must indeed have been slain, for she would never turn away from me in this state of misery.

Shloka 30 (aranya.60.30)

व्यक्तम् सा भक्षिता बाला राक्षसैः पिशित अशनैः । विभज्य अंगानि सर्वाणि मया विरहिता प्रिया ॥ 60.30 ॥

vyaktam sā bhakṣitā bālā rākṣasaiḥ piśita aśanaiḥ | vibhajya aṃgāni sarvāṇi mayā virahitā priyā || 60.30 ||

It is clear — in my absence, the raw-flesh-eating demons must have torn apart her every limb and devoured her, my young and helpless beloved.

Shloka 31 (aranya.60.31)

नूनम् तत् शुभ दंत ओष्ठम् सुनासम् शुभ कुण्डलम् । पूर्ण चंद्र निभम् ग्रस्तम् मुखम् निष्प्रभताम् गतम् ॥ 60.31 ॥

nūnam tat śubha daṃta oṣṭham sunāsam śubha kuṇḍalam | pūrṇa caṃdra nibham grastam mukham niṣprabhatām gatam || 60.31 ||

Surely that face of hers — lovely of teeth and lips, fine of nose, adorned with beautiful earrings, radiant as the full moon — must have gone dark and lifeless as it was devoured.

Shloka 32 (aranya.60.32)

सा हि चंपक वर्ण आभा ग्रीवा ग्रैवेयक उचिता । कोमला विलपन्त्याः तु कान्ताया भक्षिता शुभा ॥ 60.32 ॥

sā hi caṃpaka varṇa ābhā grīvā graiveyaka ucitā | komalā vilapantyāḥ tu kāntāyā bhakṣitā śubhā || 60.32 ||

That lovely neck of hers, golden as a champak blossom and fit for the finest ornaments — soft and beautiful — must have been devoured even as my beloved wailed.

Shloka 33 (aranya.60.33)

नूनम् विक्षिप्यमाणौ तौ बाहू पल्लव कोमलौ । भक्षितौ वेपमान अग्रौ स हस्त आभरण अंगदौ ॥ 60.33 ॥

nūnam vikṣipyamāṇau tau bāhū pallava komalau | bhakṣitau vepamāna agrau sa hasta ābharaṇa aṃgadau || 60.33 ||

Those two arms of hers, delicate as tender shoots and adorned with bangles and armlets, must surely have been devoured too, thrashing and quivering to their very fingertips.

Shloka 34 (aranya.60.34)

मया विरहिता बाला रक्षसाम् भक्षणाय वै । सार्थेन इव परित्यक्ता भक्षिता बहु बांधवा ॥ 60.34 ॥

mayā virahitā bālā rakṣasām bhakṣaṇāya vai | sārthena iva parityaktā bhakṣitā bahu bāṃdhavā || 60.34 ||

In my absence that young girl became food for the demons — as though she, though she has so many kinsmen, had been abandoned like a lone traveler cut off from her caravan and devoured.

Shloka 35 (aranya.60.35)

हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो पश्यसे त्वम् प्रियाम् क्वचित् । हा प्रिये क्व गता भद्रे हा सीते इति पुनः पुनः ॥ 60.35 ॥

hā lakṣmaṇa mahābāho paśyase tvam priyām kvacit | hā priye kva gatā bhadre hā sīte iti punaḥ punaḥ || 60.35 ||

"Ah, Lakshmana, mighty-armed one, have you seen my beloved anywhere? Ah, my love, where have you gone, gentle one? Ah, Sita!" — thus he cried, again and again.

Shloka 36 (aranya.60.36)

इति एवम् विलपन् रामः परिधावन् वनात् वनम् । क्वचित् उद् भ्रमते वेगात् क्वचित् विभ्रमते बलात् ॥ 60.36 ॥

iti evam vilapan rāmaḥ paridhāvan vanāt vanam | kvacit ud bhramate vegāt kvacit vibhramate balāt || 60.36 ||

Lamenting thus and rushing from forest to forest, Rama at times became wildly frantic under the force of his own grief, and at other times wandered helplessly, overpowered by delusion.

Shloka 37 (aranya.60.37)

क्वचित् मत्त इव आभाति कांता अन्वेषण तत्परः । स वनानि नदीः शैलान् गिरि प्रस्रवणानि च । काननानि च वेगेन भ्रमति अपरिसंस्थितः ॥ 60.37 ॥

kvacit matta iva ābhāti kāṃtā anveṣaṇa tatparaḥ | sa vanāni nadīḥ śailān giri prasravaṇāni ca | kānanāni ca vegena bhramati aparisaṃsthitaḥ || 60.37 ||

At times, so intent was he on finding his beloved that he seemed altogether like a madman; restless and unsettled, he ranged with great speed over forests, rivers, hills, mountain streams, and thickets.

Shloka 38 (aranya.60.38)

तदा स गत्वा विपुलम् महत् वनम् परीत्य सर्वम् तु अथ मैथिलीम् प्रति । अनिष्ठित आशः स चकार मार्गणे पुनः प्रियायाः परमम् परिश्रमम् ॥ 60.38 ॥

tadā sa gatvā vipulam mahat vanam parītya sarvam tu atha maithilīm prati | aniṣṭhita āśaḥ sa cakāra mārgaṇe punaḥ priyāyāḥ paramam pariśramam || 60.38 ||

Thus he went through and searched the whole of that vast, great forest for Maithili; though his hope had grown faint, he yet again undertook the most strenuous search for his beloved.