Chapter 59

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

अथ आश्रमात् उपावृत्तम् अंतरा रघुनंदनः
परिपप्रच्छ सौमित्रिम् रामो दुःख अर्दितः पुनः

atha āśramāt upāvṛttam aṃtarā raghunaṃdanaḥ
paripapraccha saumitrim rāmo duḥkha arditaḥ punaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: then/now | raghunandanaḥ: Raghu's, descendent | rāmaḥ: Rama | duḥkha arditaḥ: by anguish, distressed one [Lakshmana] | āśramāt upāvṛttam: from hermitage, strayed from | saumitrim: at Soumitri | antarā: in middle [of path] | punaḥ: again | pari papraccha: analytically, asked. |

TRANSLATION

Rama the descendent of Raghu, again asked Soumitri who strayed from the hermitage and whom his own anguish is distressing now, in the middle of path towards their hermitage. [3-59-1]

VERSE 2

तम् उवाच किम् अर्थम् त्वम् आगतो अपास्य मैथिलीम्
यदा सा तव विश्वासात् वने विहरिता मया

tam uvāca kim artham tvam āgato apāsya maithilīm
yadā sā tava viśvāsāt vane viharitā mayā

SYNONYMS

tam uvāca = to him, spoke: Rama to Lakshmana | tava viśvāsāt: in you, confiding | maya: by me | : she is | vane yadā viharitā = in forest, vhen, śe is left: in your custody | maithilīm: Maithili is | kim artham apāsya: for what, reason, abandoning | tvam āgataḥ: you, came [to me.] |

TRANSLATION

Rama spoke to such Lakshmana, "when I left her in the forest, I left only on confiding in you. For what reason you came to me on abandoning Maithili? [3-59-2]

VERSE 3

दृष्ट्वा एव अभ्यागतम् त्वाम् मे मैथिलीम् त्यज्य लक्ष्मण
शंकमानम् महत् पापम् यत् सत्यम् व्यथितम् मनः

dṛṣṭvā eva abhyāgatam tvām me maithilīm tyajya lakṣmaṇa
śaṃkamānam mahat pāpam yat satyam vyathitam manaḥ

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: oh, Lakshmana | maithilīm: Maithili | tyajya: leaving off | abhi āgatam: towards [me,] who has came | tvām dṛṣṭvā eva: such as you, on seeing, just | me manaḥ: my, heart | śankamānam: on doubting | mahat pāpam: perilous, evil | vyathitam iti yat: distressed, thus, what [what that was being doubted] | satyam: [it has become] a fact. |

TRANSLATION

"What my heart had been doubting, rather a perilous evil, oh, Lakshmana, that has become a fact on seeing only you, coming to me leaving off Maithili. [3-59-3]

VERSE 4

स्फुरते नयनम् सव्यम् बाहुः च हृदयम् च मे
दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मण दूरे त्वाम् सीता विरहितम् पथि

sphurate nayanam savyam bāhuḥ ca hṛdayam ca me
dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇa dūre tvām sītā virahitam pathi

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: oh, Lakshmana | sītā virahitam: Seetha, without | tvām: at you | dūre: at distance | pathi: on pathway | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | me: my | savyam nayanam: left, eye | bāhuḥ ca: [left] shoulder, also | sphurate: are pulsating | hṛdayam ca = heart, also: fluttered. |

TRANSLATION

"Seeing your coming without Seetha on pathway at a distance my left eye and left shoulder have pulsated, and oh, Lakshmana, my heart too has fluttered." Thus Rama said to Lakshmana. [3-59-4]

VERSE 5

एवम् उक्तः तु सौमित्रिः लक्ष्मणः शुभ लक्षणः
भूयो दुःख संआविष्टो दुःखितम् रामम् अब्रवी

evam uktaḥ tu saumitriḥ lakṣmaṇaḥ śubha lakṣaṇaḥ
bhūyo duḥkha saṃāviṣṭo duḥkhitam rāmam abravī

SYNONYMS

evam uktaḥ saumitriḥ tu: thus, who is said so, that Sumitra's son, on his part | śubha lakṣaṇaḥ lakṣmaṇaḥ: one with auspicious, [blameless] traits, such a Lakshmana | bhūyaḥ = again: doubly anguished - one for Seetha's words, the other for Rama's words | duḥkha samāviṣṭaḥ: anguish, cast a spell on him | duḥkhitam rāmam abravī: to anguished, to Rama, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

When Sumitra's son Lakshmana, whose traits are blamelessly auspicious is addressed thus, anguish cast a double spell on him, one for the tongue-lashing of Seetha while the other for the reproach from Rama, and he replied Rama who is anguished in his own way. [3-59-5]

VERSE 6

न स्वयम् काम कारेण ताम् त्यक्त्वा अहम् इह आगतः
प्रचोदितस्तयैवोग्रैत्वत्सकाशमिहाअगतः यद्वा
प्रचोदितः तया एव उग्रैः त्वत् सकाशम् इह आगतः

na svayam kāma kāreṇa tām tyaktvā aham iha āgataḥ
pracoditastayaivograitvatsakāśamihāagataḥ - yadvā -
pracoditaḥ tayā eva ugraiḥ tvat sakāśam iha āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | tām: her | svayam = on my ovn accord: independently | tyaktvā: left off | kāma kāreṇa: desired, deed [intentionally] | iha na āgataḥ: to here, not, I have come | tayā eva: by her, alone | ugraiḥ [vacanaiḥ]: by hurtful [words] | pra coditaḥ: virtually driven | iha tvat sakāśam: here, to your near | āgataḥ: came. |

TRANSLATION

"I have not come here leaving her off either independently or intentionally, I came here, to your proximity, virtually driven by her hurtful words." Thus Lakshmana is relying Rama. [3-59-6]

VERSE 7

आर्येण एव परिक्रुष्टम् पराक्रुष्टम् हा सीते लक्ष्मण इति च
परित्राहि इति यत् वाक्यम् मैथिल्याः तत् श्रुतिम् गतम्

āryeṇa eva parikruṣṭam - parākruṣṭam - hā sīte lakṣmaṇa iti ca
paritrāhi iti yat vākyam maithilyāḥ tat śrutim gatam

SYNONYMS

hā sīte: ha, Seetha | lakṣmaṇa iti ca: ha, Lakshmana, thus, also | pari trāhi: immediately, save me | iti yat vākyam = thus, vhat, vords: message | āryeṇa eva: by honourable [you,] as if | parikruṣṭam: loudly shouted for | tat maithilyāḥ śrutim gatam = that, of ṃaithili, into ear, vent into: she gave an ear to. |

TRANSLATION

"Maithili gave an ear to that message which is loudly shouted as if by your honour saying, 'ha, Seetha... ha, Lakshmana... save me immediately...' [3-59-7]

VERSE 8

सा तम् आर्त स्वरम् श्रुत्वा तव स्नेहेन मैथिली
गच्छ गच्छ इति माम् आह रुदन्ती भय विक्लवा विह्वला

sā tam ārta svaram śrutvā tava snehena maithilī
gaccha gaccha iti mām āha rudantī bhaya - viklavā - vihvalā

SYNONYMS

sā maithilī: she, that Maithili | tam: that | ārta svaram śrutvā: grievous, voice [of yours,] on hearing | rudantī: while weeping | tava snehena: for you, in love | bhaya viklavā: with fear, shuddering | gaccha gaccha: begone, begone | iti mām āha: thus, to me, said. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing that grievous voice of yours and owing to her love for you she shuddered with fear and wept out to me 'hurry up...get going...' [3-59-8]

VERSE 9

प्रचोद्यमानेन मया गच्छ इति बहुशः तया
प्रत्युक्ता मैथिली वाक्यम् इदम् तत् प्रत्यय अन्वितम्

pracodyamānena mayā gaccha iti bahuśaḥ tayā
pratyuktā maithilī vākyam idam tat pratyaya anvitam

SYNONYMS

gaccha iti: begone, thus | tayā: by her | bahuśaḥ: frequently | pra codyamānena: insistently, compelled | mayā: by me | maithilī: Maithili is | prati uktā: in turn, she is said [replied by me] | tvat pratyaya anvitam: in you, [with my] confidence, having [expressive of] | idam vākyam: this, sentence. |

TRANSLATION

"When she frequently and insistingly compelled me to go, I have replied Maithili in this sentence which is expressive of my confidence in you. [3-59-9]

VERSE 10

न तत् पश्यामि अहम् रक्षो यत् अस्य भयम् आवहेत्
निर्वृता भव न अस्ति एतत् केन अपि एवम् उदाहृतम्

na tat paśyāmi aham rakṣo yat asya bhayam āvahet
nirvṛtā bhava na asti etat kena api evam udāhṛtam

SYNONYMS

asya: to him [to Rama] | yat: who [he who can] | bhayam āvahet: panic, bring about | tat rakṣaḥ: that [such a,] demon [is there] | aham na paśyāmi = ī, do not, sī: I do not think | nirvṛtā bhāva = control, you be: control yourself | etat na asti: all this, not, is there [feigning] | kena api evam udāhṛtam: by someone, even, this way, said [mimicked, typified.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'I do no think that there is a demon who can cause panic to Rama. All this is feigning. Someone might have typified his voice in this way, please control yourself. [3-59-10]

VERSE 11

विगर्हितम् च नीचम् च कथम् आर्यो अभिधास्यति
त्राहि इति वचनम् सीते यः त्रायेत् त्रिदशान् अपि

vigarhitam ca nīcam ca katham āryo abhidhāsyati
trāhi iti vacanam sīte yaḥ trāyet tridaśān api

SYNONYMS

sīte: oh, Seetha | yaḥ: he who | tridaśān api trāyet: gods, even, safeguards | āryaḥ: esteemed one | katham abhidhāsyati: how, he exclaims | vi garhitam ca: highly, disparaging, also | nīcam ca: in basely [manner,] also | trāhi iti vacanam: save me, thus [in saying.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'How can my esteemed brother who can safeguard even gods, oh, Seetha, will exclaim in saying, 'save me,' which is a highly disparaging and basely manner to call for the help of a lady to safeguard him in such circumstances. [3-59-11]

PURPORT

A hero will not expose a lady to risk when he himself is involved in such a risky position. aapat kaale strii samaahvaanasya kshudra kR^ityatvaat kutsitam - Govindaraja.
VERSE 12

किम् निमित्तम् तु केन अपि भ्रातुः आलंब्य मे स्वरम्
विस्वरम् व्याहृतम् वाक्यम् लक्ष्मण त्राहि माम् इति

kim nimittam tu kena api bhrātuḥ ālaṃbya me svaram
visvaram vyāhṛtam vākyam lakṣmaṇa trāhi mām iti

SYNONYMS

kim nimittam tu: somehow, reason, but | kena api: by someone, even | me bhrātuḥ: my, brother's | svaram ālambya: voice, depending [mimicking] | lakṣmaṇa trāhi mām iti: Lakshmana, save, me, thus | vi svaram = vithout, harmony: discordantly | vākyam vyāhṛtam: words, shouted. |

TRANSLATION

" 'But, somehow, for some reason, someone mimicking my brother's voice discordantly shouted words saying, 'Lakshmana save me.' [3-59-12]

VERSE 13

राक्षसेन ईरितम् वाक्यम् त्रसात् त्राहि इति शोभने
न भवत्या व्यथा कार्या कुनारी जन सेविता

rākṣasena īritam vākyam trasāt trāhi iti śobhane
na bhavatyā vyathā kāryā kunārī jana sevitā

SYNONYMS

śobhane: oh, auspicious lady | [kena api: by some] | rākśasena = by a demon: say Maareecha | īritam vākyam: voiced, words | trāhi iti: save me, thus | bhavatyā: by you | trasāt vyathā: by fear, panicked | ku nārī jana sevitā: by lowly, women, folk, as resorted to | [vyathā: who are trivially panicked] | na kāryā: not, doable [unbefitting.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, auspicious lady, it is unbefitting for you to panic, like lowly womenfolk who will be frivolously panicking for flimsy reasons, for the words like 'save me,' shouted by some demon, who may conceivably be Maareecha. [3-59-13]

VERSE 14

अलम् वैक्लवताम् गंतुम् स्वस्था भव निर् उत्सुका
न च अस्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु पुमान् यो राघवम् रणे

alam vaiklavatām gaṃtum svasthā bhava nir utsukā
na ca asti triṣu lokeṣu pumān yo rāghavam raṇe

SYNONYMS

vaiklavatām gantum alam: consternation, to go in [slipping into,] enough is this | nir utsukā: without, dismay | svasthā bhava: reposed, you be | yaḥ: he | samyuge raṇe: in [any given] terrible, combat | rāghavam parājayet: Raghava, who can defeat | [saḥ: such a] | pumān: person | triṣu lokeṣu: in three, worlds | jātaḥ vā: already took birth, or | jāya mānaḥ vā: going to take birth, or | na asti: not, is there | rāghavaḥ: Raghava | śakra purogamaiḥ devaiḥ = īndra, in van, vith gods: to all gods with Indra in their vanguard | yuddhe: in battle | a jeyaḥ: not, defeated [undefeatable.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Enough is your slipping into consternation and you be undismayed. There is none in all the three worlds who took birth, or going to take birth, to defeat Raghava in any given battle of any terrible nature. Raghava is undefeatable even if all gods come battling along with Indra in their van.' This is what I said to Vaidehi" Thus Lakshmana is informing Rama. [3-59-14, 15]

VERSE 16

एवम् उक्ता तु वैदेही परिमोहित चेतना
उवाच अश्रूणि मुंचन्ती दारुणम् माम् इदम् वचः

evam uktā tu vaidehī parimohita cetanā
uvāca aśrūṇi muṃcantī dāruṇam mām idam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

evam uktā tu: thus, said [by me], though | vaidehī: Vaidehi is | pari mohita cetanā: overly, besotted, with volition | aśrūṇi muncantī: tears, outpouring | mām: to me | idam dāruṇam vacaḥ: this, tart, word | uvāca: said. |

TRANSLATION

"Though I said thus, while her volition is overly besotted for you, Vaidehi said this tartly word to me outpouring tears. [3-59-16]

VERSE 17

भावो मयि तव अत्यर्थम् पाप एव निवेशितः
विनष्टे भ्रातरि प्राप्तुम् न च त्वम् माम् अवाप्स्यसि

bhāvo mayi tava atyartham pāpa eva niveśitaḥ
vinaṣṭe bhrātari prāptum na ca tvam mām avāpsyasi

SYNONYMS

bhrātari: your brother | vi naṣṭe: on utter, ruination | mām: me | prāptum: to achieve | mayi: in my respect | ati artham: too, much [nastily] | pāpa eva: impure, only | tava bhāvaḥ niveśitaḥ: your, perspective, is harboured | tvam: you | na ca avāpsyasi: not, but, you can achieve. |

TRANSLATION

" 'In my respect you have harboured only an impure and nastily perspective to achieve me on the utter ruination of your brother, but I am unachievable to you. [3-59-17]

VERSE 18

संकेतात् भरतेन त्वम् रामम् समनुगच्छसि
क्रोशन्तम् हि यथा अत्यर्थम् न एनम् अभ्यवपद्यसे

saṃketāt bharatena tvam rāmam samanugacchasi
krośantam hi yathā atyartham na enam abhyavapadyase

SYNONYMS

ati artham = very, muc: inordinately | krośantam = vho is yelling: Rama | yathā: as to why | enam: to him [Rama] | na: not | abhyavapadyase [abhi ava pad] = tovards, his near, going: refraining to go to him, for help | tvam: you are | bharatena: by Bharata | samketāt = oving to a hint: by some arrangement | rāmam: to Rama | sam anu gacchasi hi = vell, in tov, you folloved: in exile, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

" 'As to why you are refraining to rush towards Rama even though he is inordinately yelling, it hints that Bharata made some arrangements with you, and that is the reason why you have closely followed Rama in exile. [3-59-18]

VERSE 19

रिपुः प्रच्छन्न चारी त्वम् मत् अर्थम् अनुगच्छसि
राघवस्य अन्तर प्रेप्सुः तथा एनम् न अभिपद्यसे

ripuḥ pracchanna cārī tvam mat artham anugacchasi
rāghavasya antara prepsuḥ tathā enam na abhipadyase

SYNONYMS

pracchanna cārī = in disguise, one vho is moving: comporting yourself | [rāmasya] ripuḥ: [Rama's,] adversary | tvam: you are | rāghavasya: Raghava's | antara prepsuḥ: randhra anveSi = leeway, one who is searching for | mat artham anugacchasi = me, because of, you are folloving: Rama | tathā: thereby | enam na abhipadyase: him [Rama,] not, reaching at [now.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'You are an adversary of Rama comporting yourself in disguise, following him because of me, and searching for a leeway from Rama. Thereby now you are not rushing to Rama. [3-59-19]

VERSE 20

एवम् उक्तो हि वैदेह्या संरब्धो रक्त लोचनः
क्रोधात् प्रस्फुरमाण ओष्ठ आश्रमात् अभिनिर्गतः

evam ukto hi vaidehyā saṃrabdho rakta locanaḥ
krodhāt prasphuramāṇa oṣṭha āśramāt abhinirgataḥ

SYNONYMS

vaidehyā evam uktaḥ: by Vaidehi, thus, I was spoken | hi: indeed | samrabdhaḥ: hurriedly | krodhāt rakta locanaḥ: by anger, with reddened, eyes | pra sphuramāṇa oṣṭha: with highly, trembling, lips | āśramāt: from hermitage | abhi nir gataḥ: towards [you,] out, I came. |

TRANSLATION

"When Vaidehi spoke to me thus I hurriedly came out of hermitage to you with anger reddening my eyes and trembling my lips. [3-59-20]

VERSE 21

एवम् ब्रुवाणम् सौमित्रिम् रामः संताप मोहितः
अब्रवीत् दुष्कृतम् सौम्य ताम् विना यत् त्वम् आगतः

evam bruvāṇam saumitrim rāmaḥ saṃtāpa mohitaḥ
abravīt duṣkṛtam saumya tām vinā yat tvam āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | bruvāṇam: speaking | saumitrim: to Soumitri | santāpa mohitaḥ: by angst, deluded | rāmaḥ: Rama | abravīt: said | saumya: oh, gentle one | yat: by which [deed of your coming] | tvam: you | tām vinā: her, without | āgataḥ: arrived | duṣ kṛtam: wrong, doing[improper deed] | [kṛtam = is done: you have done wrong.] |

TRANSLATION

Rama who is deluded by angst said to Soumitri who is speaking thus, that "your arrival without her is an improper deed, oh, gentle one. [3-59-21]

VERSE 22

जानन् अपि समर्थम् माम् रक्षसाम् अपवारणे
अनेन क्रोध वाक्येन मैथिल्या निर्गतो भवान्

jānan api samartham mām rakṣasām apavāraṇe
anena krodha vākyena maithilyā nirgato bhavān

SYNONYMS

mām: me | rakṣasām apa vāraṇe: demons, in foiling | samartham: as capable [enough] | jānan api: knowing, though | bhavān: you | maithilyā krodha vākyena: of Maithili, by angry, words | nirgataḥ = ekṣited: hermitage. |

TRANSLATION

"You know that I am capable enough to foil the demons, even then you have come out by the angry words of Maithili? [3-59-22]

VERSE 23

न हि ते परितुष्यामि त्यक्त्वा यत् यासि मैथिलीम्
क्रुद्धायाः परुषम् श्रुत्वा स्त्रिया यत् त्वम् इह आगतः

na hi te parituṣyāmi tyaktvā yat yāsi maithilīm
kruddhāyāḥ paruṣam śrutvā striyā yat tvam iha āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

maithilīm tyaktvā: Maithili, on leaving off | yat yāsi: he who has, come out | te na parituṣyāmi hi: at you, not, happy I am, at all | kruddhāyāḥ striyāḥ: angering, lady's | paruṣam śrutvā: bitter [words,] on hearing | yat: who | tvam iha āgataḥ: you, to here, came away. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing bitter words of an angry lady you have came away on leaving her off, such as you are, I am not at all happy with you. [3-59-23]

VERSE 24

सर्वथा तु अपनीतम् ते सीतया यत् प्रचोदितः
क्रोधस्य वशम् आगम्य न अकरोः शासनम् मम

sarvathā tu apanītam te sītayā yat pracoditaḥ
krodhasya vaśam āgamya na akaroḥ śāsanam mama

SYNONYMS

sītayā: by Seetha | pracoditaḥ: compelled by | krodhasya vaśam āgamya: ire's, control, coming under | mama śāsanam: my, directive | iti yat: thus, which [that which issue is there] | sarvathā te: in everyway, of yours | apa nītam: astray, led yourself [a viniitam] = [dereliction.] |

TRANSLATION

"That which action of yours is there in non-compliance of my directive to stand guard to Seetha, either compelled by Seetha, or coming under your own ire, it shows your dereliction in everyway. [3-59-24]

VERSE 25

असौ हि राक्षसः शेते शरेण अभिहतो मया
मृग रूपेण येन अहम् आश्रमात् अपवाहितः

asau hi rākṣasaḥ śete śareṇa abhihato mayā
mṛga rūpeṇa yena aham āśramāt apavāhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

mṛga rūpeṇa: by deer's, form | yena: by whom | aham: I am | āśramāt: from hermitage | apa vāhitaḥ: away, taken [detoured] | asau rākṣasaḥ hi: he is, a demon indeed | maya: by me | śareṇa abhihataḥ śete = by arrov, hit dovn, slīping: fell flat. |

TRANSLATION

"By whom I am detoured from hermitage in the form of a deer he is indeed a demon, and he fell flat when my arrow hit him down. [3-59-25]

VERSE 26

विकृष्य चापम् परिधाय सायकम्
स लील बाणेन च ताडितो मया
मार्गीम् तनुम् त्यज्य च विक्लव स्वरो
बभूव केयूर धरः स राक्षसः

vikṛṣya cāpam paridhāya sāyakam
sa līla bāṇena ca tāḍito mayā
mārgīm tanum tyajya ca viklava svaro
babhūva keyūra dharaḥ sa rākṣasaḥ

SYNONYMS

maya: by me | cāpam: bow | vikṛṣya: on drawing [bowstring, full length] | sāyakam: arrow | paridhāya: on setting [target, or, on bowstring] | sa līla: with, play [effortless shooting] | bāṇena tāḍitaḥ ca: by arrow, hit, also | saḥ: he | mārgīm tanum: pertaining to deer, body | tyajya ca: leaving, also | viklava svaraḥ: piteously, voicing [bewailing] | keyūra dharaḥ: bracelets [and the like,] wearing | rākṣasaḥ babhūva: demon, he became. |

TRANSLATION

"When I effortlessly shot an arrow setting on bowstring and stretching the bow to full length, he hit by that arrow left deer's body to become a piteously bewailing demon wearing bracelets and the like ornaments. [3-59-26]

VERSE 27

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे एको न षष्टितमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe eko na ṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | śara: by arrow | āhatena: hit down | eva: thus | ārtayā: with anguished | girā: voice | su dūra: very, remotely [place] | su śravam: clearly, audible | svaram: voice | mama: mine | ālambya: depend on [mimicking] | su dāruṇam: highly, gruesome | tat: those | vacanam: words | udā hṛtam: spoken | yena tvam āgataḥ: by which, you, came | maithilīm vihāya: Maithili, on forsaking. |

TRANSLATION

"Then hit down by arrow thus, he with an anguished voice that is clearly audible at a very remotely place and that which is mimicking my voice, uttered those highly gruesome words, whereby you have come here forsaking Maithili." Thus Rama said to Lakshmana on their way to their hermitage. [3-59-27]