Chapter 45
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
आर्तस्वरम् तु तम् भर्तुः विज्ञाय सदृशम् वने
उवाच लक्ष्मणम् सीता गच्छ जानीहि राघवम्
ārtasvaram tu tam bhartuḥ vijñāya sadṛśam vane
uvāca lakṣmaṇam sītā gaccha jānīhi rāghavam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On identifying the grievous voice that is identifiable with her husband's voice, Seetha spoke to Lakshmana, "you go at once, and check up on Raghava.' [3-45-1]
न हि मे जीवितम् स्थाने हृदयम् वा अवतिष्ठते
क्रोशतः परम आर्तस्य श्रुतः शब्दो मया भृशम्
na hi me jīvitam sthāne hṛdayam vā avatiṣṭhate
krośataḥ parama ārtasya śrutaḥ śabdo mayā bhṛśam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I have heard the loud yelling voice of highly fretful Rama whereby my heart, or my very entity, is not abiding in its place, and it will be apt of you to protect such a brother of yours who is screaming in the forest. [3-45-2, 3a]
तम् क्षिप्रम् अभिधाव त्वम् भ्रातरम् शरण एषिणम्
tam kṣipram abhidhāva tvam bhrātaram śaraṇa eṣiṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He might have come under the subjugation of demons as with a bull coming under the seize of lions, hence, you hurry up so as to near such a brother of yours who is seeking protection." So said Seetha toi Lakshmana. [3-45-3b, 4a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Although she spoke a lot to him in this way, Lakshmana on his part has not moved out remembering his brother's order to stay guard to Seetha, and hence that Janaki, the daughter of Janaka, who is already agitated for Rama further spoke to him in the paradox of his not going out of hermitage. [3-45-4b, 5a]
सौमित्रे मित्र रूपेण भ्रातुः त्वम् असि शत्रुवत्
saumitre mitra rūpeṇa bhrātuḥ tvam asi śatruvat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are like a foe of your brother in friend's mien, Soumitri, as you are not making a move towards a brother even if he is in an emergency. [3-45-5b, 6a]
इच्छसि त्वम् विनश्यन्तम् रामम् लक्ष्मण मत् कृते
icchasi tvam vinaśyantam rāmam lakṣmaṇa mat kṛte
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Because of me you wish Rama to be completely destroyed, and only because of your cupidity for me you are not following up on Raghava. It is definite. [3-45-6b, 7a]
PURPORT
व्यसनम् ते प्रियम् मन्ये स्नेहो भ्रातरि न अस्ति ते
vyasanam te priyam manye sneho bhrātari na asti te
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Raghava in direst strait' is the most liked thing to you, thus I deem, as you have no heart for that brother, and as you complacently stay behind even when that great-resplendent Rama is unseen. [3-45-7b, 8a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"After which helmsman you have come here that Rama is undergoing an uncertainty of life-and-death, as such I indeed wonder what business you have here now in staying with me at this hermitage?" Seetha spoke so to Lakshmana. [3-45-8, 9a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lakshmana spoke to Seetha, the princess from Videha kingdom, who is talking deluged under tears and anguish in that way, as she is fretful like a she-deer. [3-45-9a, 10b]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Vaidehi, your husband is an impossible one for vincibility by serpents, asura-s, gandharva-s, gods, fiends, demons, no doubt about it.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, auspicious one, unmarked is some combatant who can counterattack Rama from among gods, humans, gandharva-s, birds, ogres, kinnaraa-s, beasts, or oh, lady, even from horrendous demons, as Rama vies with Indra in any given war. [3-45-11b, 12, 13a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It is inapt of you to talk that way as Rama is inextirpable in a given war, and as for me, I do not venture to abandon you in this forest in the absence of Raghava. [3-45-13b, 14a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let the most forceful Crowns with all their military forces, or, all of the gods together with their heads, why they, let all the three worlds put together come mutinously, whether jointly or severally, Rama's prowess is irrestrainable. [3-45, 14b, 15a]
हृदयम् निर्वृतम् ते अस्तु संतापः त्यज्यताम् तव
hṛdayam nirvṛtam te astu saṃtāpaḥ tyajyatām tava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Hence, let your heart be diverted and anxiety divested, as your husband will be returning soon on killing that extraordinary deer. [3-45-15b, 16a]
न सस् तस्य स्वरो व्यक्तम् न कश्चित् अपि दैवतः
na sas tasya svaro vyaktam na kaścit api daivataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Evidently it is not the voice of Rama, nor that of any other god, but someone mimicked that voice for chicanery, and that must be the illusory voice of that demon Maareecha, similar in effect to the magical city of gandharva-s usually created by magicians in general. [3-45-15b, 16]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"And you are an entrustment, oh, best lady Vaidehi, as the great-souled Rama has entrusted you in my security, as such I do not dare to leave you off now. [3-45-17, 18a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, gracious lady, we have become the adversaries of these night-walkers insofar as the elimination of Khara and others, and concerning the eradication of Janasthaana. [3-45-18b, 19a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The demons are the swaggerers in violence in great forests and they will be employing various voices. Therefore Vaidehi, just do not bother about it." Thus Lakshmana advised Seetha. [3-45-18b, 19, 20a]
लक्ष्मणेन एवम् उक्ता तु क्रुद्धा संरक्त लोचना
lakṣmaṇena evam uktā tu kruddhā saṃrakta locanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As for Seetha, she became furious on hearing Lakshmana's words of advice, and while her eyes are becoming bloodshot she spoke these rude sentences to that veracious Lakshmana. [3-45-20b, 21a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are a debased one devoid of mercy, thus a dreadful one, and a degrader of your dynasty, and I deem that you derive pleasure from fatal hardship to Rama. [3-45-21b, 22a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are haranguing all these sermons only on noticing hardship to Rama. It is unsurprising that the pitiless ones and rivals of your kind, who always behave in a cloak-and dagger way, will tend to commit deadly sins, Lakshmana, and it is not uncommon. [3-45-22b, 23]
सुदुष्टः त्वम् वने रामम् एकम् एको अनुगच्छसि
मम हेतोः प्रतिच्छन्नः प्रयुक्तो भरतेन वा
suduṣṭaḥ tvam vane rāmam ekam eko anugacchasi
mama hetoḥ praticchannaḥ prayukto bharatena vā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are verily maleficent for you have singly and covertly followed Rama, who started to forests all alone, or instigated by Bharata, only because of me. [3-45-24]
PURPORT
तत् न सिद्ध्यति सौमित्रे तव अपि भरतस्य वा
कथम् इंदीवर श्यामम् रामम् पद्म निभेक्षणम्
tat na siddhyati saumitre tava api bharatasya vā
katham iṃdīvara śyāmam rāmam padma nibhekṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Whether this is an intrigue of yours or that of Bharata it is unachievable, Saumitri. How can I long for another commoner when I have put my faith only in the lotus-blue-complexioned and lotus-bright-eyed husband of mine, Rama? [3-45-25, 26a]
PURPORT
समक्षम् तव सौमित्रे प्राणान् त्यक्ष्यामि असंशयम्
samakṣam tava saumitre prāṇān tyakṣyāmi asaṃśayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If that comes to that, I will just discard my life in your presence, Soumitri do not mistake it. I do not eke out an existence on this earth even for a moment without Rama." Thus Seetha threatened Lakshmana. [3-45-26b, 27a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When that self-mortified Lakshmana is addressed in this way with hair-raising and acerbic words by Seetha, he spoke to her suppliantly adjoining his palm-fold. [3-45-27b, 28a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not venture to reply you Maithili, as you are like a deity to me. Women using words that are in a class by themselves is not at all surprising. This sort of bringing stilted words into play is the nature of women and it is obvious in the world. [3-45-28b, 29]
विमुक्त धर्माः चपलाः तीक्ष्णा भेदकराः स्त्रियः
न सहे हि ईदृशम् वाक्यम् वैदेही जनक आत्मजे
vimukta dharmāḥ capalāḥ tīkṣṇā bhedakarāḥ striyaḥ
na sahe hi īdṛśam vākyam vaidehī janaka ātmaje
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Women by their nature are unbound by the etiquette of decency, whimsical, cantankerous and they tend to become the artificers of vicissitudes, and oh, Vaidehi, the daughter of Janaka, indeed unbearable are this kind of words that are much the same as burnt iron arrows thrust in between my two ears. [3-45-30, 31a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let all of the forest-itinerants indeed listen as to how you are addressing me with bitter words, though I am reasoning with you conscientiously, and let them become my corroborators for the sake of justice. [3-45-31b, 32a]
धिक् त्वाम् अद्य प्रणश्यन्तीम् यन् माम् एवम् विशंकसे
dhik tvām adya praṇaśyantīm yan mām evam viśaṃkase
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Fie upon you, you are acrimoniously tempered owing to your faminality, and by which impulsive reason you mistrust me who am presently abiding in my brother's order, may God damn you for that crotchety. [3-45-32b, 33a]
गमिष्ये यत्र काकुत्स्थः स्वस्ति ते अस्तु वरानने
gamiṣye yatra kākutsthaḥ svasti te astu varānane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I am going there where Rama is, oh, lady with best visage, you be blest, and oh, broad-eyed one, let all of the forest deities protect you. [3-45-33b, 34a]
निमित्तानि हि घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे
अपि त्वाम् सह रामेण पश्येयम् पुनरागतः
nimittāni hi ghorāṇi yāni prādurbhavanti me
api tvām saha rāmeṇa paśyeyam punarāgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Gauging by those dangerous forebodings that are now bidding fair, can I to see you again along with Rama on my return, or not? That I do not know." Thus Lakshmana spoke to Seetha. [3-45-34b, c]
PURPORT
लक्ष्मणेन एवम् उक्ता तु रुदती जनकाअत्मजा
प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यम् तीव्रम् बाष्प परिप्लुता
lakṣmaṇena evam uktā tu rudatī janakāatmajā
pratyuvāca tato vākyam tīvram bāṣpa pariplutā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When Lakshmana spoke to that wailful daughter of Janaka, she on her part spoke this curt sentence to him, while tears whelmed her to a fault. [3-45-35]
गोदावरीम् प्रवेक्ष्यामि हीना रामेण लक्ष्मण
आबन्धिष्ये अथवा त्यक्ष्ये विषमे देहम् आत्मनः
godāvarīm pravekṣyāmi hīnā rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇa
ābandhiṣye athavā tyakṣye viṣame deham ātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Without Rama I plunge myself in River Godavari, or else I string up myself, or discard this body of mine from heights..." Thus Seetha started to vent out her feelings. [3-45-36]
पिबामि वा विषम् तीक्ष्णम् प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्
न तु अहम् राघवात् अन्यम् कदाअपि पुरुषम् स्पृशे
pibāmi vā viṣam tīkṣṇam pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam
na tu aham rāghavāt anyam kadāapi puruṣam spṛśe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I drink deadly poison, or I enter a flaring fire, but I will never touch another man other than Raghava. [3-45-37]
PURPORT
इति लक्ष्मणम् आश्रुत्य सीता दुह्ख समन्विता
पाणिभ्याम् रुदती दुह्खाद् उदरम् प्रजघान ह
iti lakṣmaṇam āśrutya sītā duhkha samanvitā
pāṇibhyām rudatī duhkhād udaram prajaghāna ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha on declaring to Lakshmana in this way, she who is anguished and weeping bitterly, then started to smite her belly with both of her palms in a heightened agony. [3-45-38]
ताम् आर्त रूपाम् विमना रुदन्तीम्
सौमित्रिः आलोक्य विशाल नेत्राम्
आश्वासयामास न चैव भर्तुः
तम् भ्रातरम् किंचित् उवाच सीता
tām ārta rūpām vimanā rudantīm
saumitriḥ ālokya viśāla netrām
āśvāsayāmāsa na caiva bhartuḥ
tam bhrātaram kiṃcit uvāca sītā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Observing the agonised aspect of Seetha that cheerless Saumitri started to cheer her up by repeatedly informing that her husband Rama will come soon. Even then Seetha has not spoken in the least to the brother of her husband, and maintained a silence of antipathy. [3-45-39]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे पंच
चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe paṃca
catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
But then, holding Seetha in usual reverence that self-respectful Lakshmana briefly came to her fore making a reverential palm-fold that briefly, and then he proceeded to the proximity of Rama, while repeatedly looking back at that lonely lady in the thick of forest. [3-45-40]