At Lake Pampa

Shloka 1 (aranya.75.1)

दिवं तु तस्यां यातायां शबर्यां स्वेन तेजसा । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा चिन्तयामास राघवः ॥ 75.1 ॥

divaṃ tu tasyāṃ yātāyāṃ śabaryāṃ svena tejasā | lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā cintayāmāsa rāghavaḥ || 75.1 ||

As Shabari ascended to heaven by her own radiance, Raghava, together with his brother Lakshmana, fell to thinking.

Shloka 2 (aranya.75.2)

चिन्तयित्वा तु धर्मात्मा प्रभावं तं महात्मनाम् । हितकारिणमेकाग्रं लक्ष्मणं राघवोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 75.2 ॥

cintayitvā tu dharmātmā prabhāvaṃ taṃ mahātmanām | hitakāriṇamekāgraṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ rāghavo'bravīt || 75.2 ||

Having reflected on the power of those great souls, the righteous Raghava spoke to Lakshmana, ever devoted to his welfare and single of purpose:

Shloka 3 (aranya.75.3)

दृष्टो मयाऽऽश्रमः सौम्य बह्वाश्चर्यः कृतात्मनाम् । विश्वस्तमृगशार्दूलो नानाविहगसेवितः ॥ 75.3 ॥

dṛṣṭo mayā''śramaḥ saumya bahvāścaryaḥ kṛtātmanām | viśvastamṛgaśārdūlo nānāvihagasevitaḥ || 75.3 ||

'O gentle one, I have seen the hermitage of those perfected souls, full of many wonders, where deer and tigers dwell trustingly together, and which is frequented by birds of every kind.

Shloka 4 (aranya.75.4)

सप्तानां च समुद्राणां तेषां तीर्थेषु लक्ष्मण । उपस्पृष्टं च विधिवत् पितरश्चापि तर्पिताः ॥ 75.4 ॥

saptānāṃ ca samudrāṇāṃ teṣāṃ tīrtheṣu lakṣmaṇa | upaspṛṣṭaṃ ca vidhivat pitaraścāpi tarpitāḥ || 75.4 ||

In their sacred waters, formed of the seven seas, O Lakshmana, I have duly bathed, and I have also duly offered oblations to our forefathers.

Shloka 5 (aranya.75.5)

प्रणष्टमशुभं यन्नः कल्याणं समुपस्थितम् । तेन त्वेतत् प्रहृष्टं मे मनो लक्ष्मण सम्प्रति ॥ 75.5 ॥

praṇaṣṭamaśubhaṃ yannaḥ kalyāṇaṃ samupasthitam | tena tvetat prahṛṣṭaṃ me mano lakṣmaṇa samprati || 75.5 ||

Whatever inauspiciousness was upon us has now been dispelled, and good fortune stands before us; because of this, O Lakshmana, my heart is presently filled with joy.

Shloka 6 (aranya.75.6)

हृदये मे नरव्याघ्र शुभमाविर्भविष्यति । तदागच्छ गमिष्यावः पम्पां तां प्रियदर्शनाम् ॥ 75.6 ॥

hṛdaye me naravyāghra śubhamāvirbhaviṣyati | tadāgaccha gamiṣyāvaḥ pampāṃ tāṃ priyadarśanām || 75.6 ||

In my heart, O tiger among men, good fortune shall surely arise. Come then, let us go to that lovely lake, Pampa,

Shloka 7 (aranya.75.7)

ऋष्यमूको गिरिर्यत्र नातिदूरे प्रकाशते । यस्मिन् वसति धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवोंऽशुमतः सुतः ॥ 75.7 ॥

ṛṣyamūko giriryatra nātidūre prakāśate | yasmin vasati dharmātmā sugrīvoṃ'śumataḥ sutaḥ || 75.7 ||

not far from where Mount Rishyamuka shines forth, on which the righteous Sugriva, son of the Sun, dwells,

Shloka 8 (aranya.75.8)

नित्यं वालिभयात् त्रस्तश्चतुर्भिः सह वानरैः । अहं त्वरे च तं द्रष्टुं सुग्रीवं वानरर्षभम् ॥ 75.8 ॥

nityaṃ vālibhayāt trastaścaturbhiḥ saha vānaraiḥ | ahaṃ tvare ca taṃ draṣṭuṃ sugrīvaṃ vānararṣabham || 75.8 ||

ever fearful of Vali, together with four other vanaras. I too am eager to see that bull among vanaras, Sugriva,

Shloka 9 (aranya.75.9)

तदधीनं हि मे कार्यं सीतायाः परिमार्गणम् । इति ब्रुवाणं तं वीरं सौमित्रिरिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 75.9 ॥

tadadhīnaṃ hi me kāryaṃ sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇam | iti bruvāṇaṃ taṃ vīraṃ saumitriridamabravīt || 75.9 ||

for my task, the search for Sita, depends upon him.' To that hero speaking thus, Saumitri replied:

Shloka 10 (aranya.75.10)

गच्छावस्त्वरितं तत्र ममापि त्वरते मनः । आश्रमात्तु ततस्तस्मान्निष्क्रम्य स विशाम्पतिः ॥ 75.10 ॥

gacchāvastvaritaṃ tatra mamāpi tvarate manaḥ | āśramāttu tatastasmānniṣkramya sa viśāmpatiḥ || 75.10 ||

'Let us go there swiftly; my mind, too, is eager.' Then, departing from that hermitage, that lord of men,

Shloka 11 (aranya.75.11)

आजगाम ततः पम्पां लक्ष्मणेन सह प्रभुः । समीक्षमाणः पुष्पाढ्यं सर्वतो विपुलद्रुमम् ॥ 75.11 ॥

ājagāma tataḥ pampāṃ lakṣmaṇena saha prabhuḥ | samīkṣamāṇaḥ puṣpāḍhyaṃ sarvato vipuladrumam || 75.11 ||

that lord, together with Lakshmana, came then to Pampa, surveying on every side the forest rich with flowers and vast trees,

Shloka 12 (aranya.75.12)

कोयष्टिभिश्चार्जुनकैः शतपत्रैश्च कीरकैः । एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिर्नादितं तद् वनं महत् ॥ 75.12 ॥

koyaṣṭibhiścārjunakaiḥ śatapatraiśca kīrakaiḥ | etaiścānyaiśca bahubhirnāditaṃ tad vanaṃ mahat || 75.12 ||

that great forest resounding with plovers, peacocks, waterfowl, parrots, and many other such birds.

Shloka 13 (aranya.75.13)

स रामो विविधान् वृक्षान् सरांसि विविधानि च । पश्यन् कामाभिसंतप्तो जगाम परमं ह्रदम् ॥ 75.13 ॥

sa rāmo vividhān vṛkṣān sarāṃsi vividhāni ca | paśyan kāmābhisaṃtapto jagāma paramaṃ hradam || 75.13 ||

Rama, gazing upon the various trees and the various lakes, tormented now by longing, went on to that supreme lake.

Shloka 14 (aranya.75.14)

स तामासाद्य वै रामो दूरात् पानीयवाहिनीम् । मतङ्गसरसं नाम ह्रदं समवगाहत ॥ 75.14 ॥

sa tāmāsādya vai rāmo dūrāt pānīyavāhinīm | mataṅgasarasaṃ nāma hradaṃ samavagāhata || 75.14 ||

Rama, sighting from afar that water-bearing lake, entered the lake known as Matanga's pool.

Shloka 15 (aranya.75.15)

तत्र जग्मतुरव्यग्रौ राघवौ हि समाहितौ । स तु शोकसमाविष्टो रामो दशरथात्मजः ॥ 75.15 ॥

tatra jagmaturavyagrau rāghavau hi samāhitau | sa tu śokasamāviṣṭo rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ || 75.15 ||

Both Raghavas went there calmly and composedly; yet Rama, the son of Dasharatha, was overcome by grief

Shloka 16 (aranya.75.16)

विवेश नलिनीं रम्यां पंकजैश्च समावृताम् । तिलकाशोकपुंनागबकुलोद्दालकाशिनीम् ॥ 75.16 ॥

viveśa nalinīṃ ramyāṃ paṃkajaiśca samāvṛtām | tilakāśokapuṃnāgabakuloddālakāśinīm || 75.16 ||

as he entered that beautiful lotus-pool, ringed with lotuses and gleaming with tilaka, ashoka, punnaga, bakula, and uddala trees.

Shloka 17 (aranya.75.17)

रम्योपवनसम्बाधां पद्मसम्पीडितोदकाम् । स्फटिकोपमतोयां तां श्लक्ष्णवालुकसंतताम् ॥ 75.17 ॥

ramyopavanasambādhāṃ padmasampīḍitodakām | sphaṭikopamatoyāṃ tāṃ ślakṣṇavālukasaṃtatām || 75.17 ||

That lake, crowded with delightful groves, its waters pressed thick with lotuses, its crystal-clear water spread over soft, fine sand,

Shloka 18 (aranya.75.18)

मत्स्यकच्छपसम्बाधां तीरस्थद्रुमशोभिताम् । सखीभिरिव संयुक्तां लताभिरनुवेष्टिताम् ॥ 75.18 ॥

matsyakacchapasambādhāṃ tīrasthadrumaśobhitām | sakhībhiriva saṃyuktāṃ latābhiranuveṣṭitām || 75.18 ||

thronged with fish and tortoises, beautified by the trees standing on its banks, embraced all about by creepers as if by loving companions,

Shloka 19 (aranya.75.19)

किंनरोरगगन्धर्वयक्षराक्षससेविताम् । नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णां शीतवारिनिधिं शुभाम् ॥ 75.19 ॥

kiṃnaroragagandharvayakṣarākṣasasevitām | nānādrumalatākīrṇāṃ śītavārinidhiṃ śubhām || 75.19 ||

frequented by kinnaras, serpents, gandharvas, yakshas and rakshasas, thronged with divers trees and creepers — that fair treasury of cool water,

Shloka 20 (aranya.75.20)

पद्मसौगन्धिकैस्ताम्रां शुक्लां कुमुदमण्डलैः । नीलां कुवलयोद्घाटैर्बहुवर्णां कुथामिव ॥ 75.20 ॥

padmasaugandhikaistāmrāṃ śuklāṃ kumudamaṇḍalaiḥ | nīlāṃ kuvalayoda‍ghāṭairbahuvarṇāṃ kuthāmiva || 75.20 ||

coppery with red lotuses and fragrant flowers, white with clusters of white water-lilies, blue with masses of blue lotuses — many-hued like a richly woven cloth,

Shloka 21 (aranya.75.21)

अरविन्दोत्पलवतीं पद्मसौगन्धिकायुताम् । पुष्पिताम्रवणोपेतां बर्हिणोद्घुष्टनादिताम् ॥ 75.21 ॥

aravindotpalavatīṃ padmasaugandhikāyutām | puṣpitāmravaṇopetāṃ barhiṇoda‍ghuṣṭanāditām || 75.21 ||

rich with red and blue lotuses and fragrant blossoms, bordered by flowering mango groves, and resounding with the cries of peacocks.

Shloka 22 (aranya.75.22)

स तां दृष्ट्वा ततः पम्पां रामः सौमित्रिणा सह । विललाप च तेजस्वी रामो दशरथात्मजः ॥ 75.22 ॥

sa tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tataḥ pampāṃ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha | vilalāpa ca tejasvī rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ || 75.22 ||

On beholding that Pampa, Rama, together with Saumitri, that radiant son of Dasharatha, gave voice to his lament.

Shloka 23 (aranya.75.23)

तिलकैर्बीजपूरैश्च वटैः शुक्लद्रुमैस्तथा । पुष्पितैः करवीरैश्च पुंनागैश्च सुपुष्पितैः ॥ 75.23 ॥

tilakairbījapūraiśca vaṭaiḥ śukladrumaistathā | puṣpitaiḥ karavīraiśca puṃnāgaiśca supuṣpitaiḥ || 75.23 ||

With tilaka trees, citron trees, banyans, and pale-barked trees, with flowering karavira and richly blossoming punnaga,

Shloka 24 (aranya.75.24)

मालतीकुन्दगुल्मैश्च भण्डीरैर्निचुलैस्तथा । अशोकैः सप्तपर्णैश्च कतकैरतिमुक्तकैः ॥ 75.24 ॥

mālatīkundagulmaiśca bhaṇḍīrairniculaistathā | aśokaiḥ saptaparṇaiśca katakairatimuktakaiḥ || 75.24 ||

with thickets of malati and kunda, with bhandira and nicula trees, with ashoka, saptaparna, ketaki, and atimuktaka creepers,

Shloka 25 (aranya.75.25)

अन्यैश्च विविधैर्वृक्षैः प्रमदामिव शोभिताम् । अस्यास्तीरे तु पूर्वोक्तः पर्वतो धातुमण्डितः ॥ 75.25 ॥

anyaiśca vividhairvṛkṣaiḥ pramadāmiva śobhitām | asyāstīre tu pūrvoktaḥ parvato dhātumaṇḍitaḥ || 75.25 ||

and with many other kinds of trees, that lake shone forth like a beautiful woman adorned. On its shore stands that aforementioned mountain, adorned with mineral ores,

Shloka 26 (aranya.75.26)

ऋष्यमूक इति ख्यातश्चित्रपुष्पितपादपः । हरिर्ऋक्षरजोनाम्नः पुत्रस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥ 75.26 ॥

ṛṣyamūka iti khyātaścitrapuṣpitapādapaḥ | harirṛkṣarajonāmnaḥ putrastasya mahātmanaḥ || 75.26 ||

known as Rishyamuka, its trees flowering in wondrous colours. The son of that great-souled one named Riksharajas —

Shloka 27 (aranya.75.27)

अध्यास्ते तु महावीर्यः सुग्रीव इति विश्रुतः । सुग्रीवमभिगच्छ त्वं वानरेन्द्रं नरर्षभ ॥ 75.27 ॥

adhyāste tu mahāvīryaḥ sugrīva iti viśrutaḥ | sugrīvamabhigaccha tvaṃ vānarendraṃ nararṣabha || 75.27 ||

the greatly valiant one renowned as Sugriva — presides there. 'Go, O bull among men, to Sugriva, lord of the vanaras,'

Shloka 28 (aranya.75.28)

इत्युवाच पुनर्वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं सत्यविक्रमः । कथं मया विना सीतां शक्यं लक्ष्मण जीवितुम् ॥ 75.28 ॥

ityuvāca punarvākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ satyavikramaḥ | kathaṃ mayā vinā sītāṃ śakyaṃ lakṣmaṇa jīvitum || 75.28 ||

so he, of truthful valour, said this to Lakshmana once more: 'O Lakshmana, how indeed can I go on living without Sita?'

Shloka 29 (aranya.75.29)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा मदनाभिपीडितः स लक्ष्मणं वाक्यमनन्यचेतनः । विवेश पम्पां नलिनीमनोरमां तमुत्तमं शोकमुदीरयाणः ॥ 75.29 ॥

ityevamuktvā madanābhipīḍitaḥ sa lakṣmaṇaṃ vākyamananyacetanaḥ | viveśa pampāṃ nalinīmanoramāṃ tamuttamaṃ śokamudīrayāṇaḥ || 75.29 ||

Having thus spoken to Lakshmana, tormented by love's anguish, his mind fixed on nothing else, and giving voice to that deep sorrow, he entered the enchanting lotus-lake of Pampa.

Shloka 30 (aranya.75.30)

क्रमेण गत्वा प्रविलोकयन् वनं ददर्श पम्पां शुभदर्शकाननाम् । अनेकनानाविधपक्षिसंकुलां विवेश रामः सह लक्ष्मणेन ॥ 75.30 ॥

krameṇa gatvā pravilokayan vanaṃ dadarśa pampāṃ śubhadarśakānanām | anekanānāvidhapakṣisaṃkulāṃ viveśa rāmaḥ saha lakṣmaṇena || 75.30 ||

Advancing step by step, gazing intently upon the forest, Rama, together with Lakshmana, beheld Pampa with her beautiful woodland groves, thronging with birds of countless different kinds, and entered that place.