Chapter 60

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

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

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

SYNONYMS

ā vraja mānasya: one who started coming towards [hermitage] | tasya: his | vāma: left | locanam: eye | adhaḥ: lower [lower eyelid and below] | bhṛśam: frequently | prāsphurat ca: fluttered, also | rāmaḥ askhalat ca: Rama, stumbled [missed his footing,] also | asya vepathuḥ jāyate: his, falter, bechanced [his gait faltered.] |

TRANSLATION

While Rama is coming towards hermitage his lower eyelid frequently fluttered, his gait faltered, and he missed his footing. [3-60-1]

VERSE 2

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

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

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he, that Rama | a śubhāni: not, auspicious | nimittāni: incidentals [forebodings] | upa ālakṣya: closely, on watching | sītāyā kṣemam api tu [nu]: for Seetha, safety, even [in fact,] but, [will Seetha be safe!] | iti vyājahāra ha: thus, [reflexly] uttered, indeed | muhur muhuḥ vai: again, again, really. |

TRANSLATION

On closely watching those inauspicious forebodings Rama indeed uttered oftentimes reflexly thus as, 'would she be safe, in fact!' [3-60-2]

VERSE 3

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

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

SYNONYMS

atha: then | tvaramāṇaḥ: quickening himself | sītā darśana lālasaḥ: Seetha, to see, with ardency | jagāma: went | śūnyam āvasatham dṛṣṭvā: empty, home, on seeing | udvigna mānasaḥ babhūva: distraught, at heart, he became. |

TRANSLATION

He quickened himself and went with an ardency to see Seetha, and then on seeing an empty home his heart is distraught. [3-60-3]

VERSE 4

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

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

SYNONYMS

, 5| raghu nandanaḥ: Raghu's, descendent, Raghava | vegena: by speed | ud bhraman: up, to fly, [flying-flutterer] | iva: like [looked like] | vikṣipan: jolting [his arms and gait] | tatra tatra: there, there | uṭaja sthānam: cottage's, in places | sam antataḥ: all-over | abhi vīkṣya: towards [on keenly,] probing | tadā: then | sītayā rahitām ca: of Seetha, lacking, also | hemante dhvastām padminīm iva: in wintry [season,] ruined [befogged,] lotus-lake, as with | śriyā vi rahitām: lustre, without, having [lustreless] | parṇa śālām: straw, house of | dadarśa: he has seen. |

TRANSLATION

Raghava looked like a flying-flutterer as his speed jostled his arms and gait flutteringly, and on closely probing there and there, and all-over the places of that cottage, then he saw the lustreless house of straw devoid of Seetha, alike a befogged wintry lotus-lake without lustre. [3-60-4, 5]

VERSE 6

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

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

SYNONYMS

, 7| vṛkṣaiḥ rudantam iva: by trees [of that woodland,] weeping / warbling / whining, as though | glāna [mlāna]: withered / weakened | puṣpa: with flowers | mṛga dvijam: with animals, with birds | śriyā vihīnam: charm, less | vi dhvastam: utterly, shattered | sam tyakta vana daivataiḥ: completely, abandoned, by forest [georgic,] deities. viprakiirNa [vi pra kiirNaa] = rather, utterly, bestrewn | ajina kuśam = dīrskin, k͟huśa: sacred grass | vipraviddha [vi pra viddha]: rather, utterly, battered | bṛsī: tender-grass-seats | kaṭam: [other] mats | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | śūnya uṭaja sthānam: emptied, cottage, locale | [saḥ sītā darśana lālasaḥ: he who wanted to see Seetha ardently, such Rama] | punaḥ punaḥ vilalāpa: over, over again, he wept. |

TRANSLATION

The trees of that woodland are seemingly weeping, as their flowers are witheringly weakening and their birds are weepingly warbling, and the animals are whingeingly weeping, and that woodland is charmless and utterly shattered, since its georgic deities have completely abandoned it. Rather utterly bestrewn are the deerskins and sacred grass blades, rather utterly battered are the tender-grass-seats and other mats in the compound of cottage, and he who ardently wanted to see Seetha, such a Rama, on seeing such an emptied locale and cottage, wept over, over and again. [3-60-6, 7]

PURPORT

By this bestrewn, battered, or shattered state of articles, it is evident that Seetha struggled a lot to get release from the clutches of Ravana, and in their tussle articles are in shambles. Hence, Ravana did not carry Seetha on a clod of earth as said in Adhyaatma Ramayana and other texts. Valmiki's Seetha is an out and out human, as of now.
VERSE 8

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

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

SYNONYMS

bhīruḥ: bashful lady Seetha | hṛtā: stolen [by grudging demons] | mṛtā: slain [by grisly demons] | : or | naṣṭā vā: strayed [in gauntly forest,] or | bhakṣitā vā: savoured [by gruesome beasts,] or | bhaviṣyati: she might be | athavā: or else | ni līnā api: under, cover [shrouded herself, playfully,] even | vanam āśritā: in forest, took shelter. |

TRANSLATION

"That bashful Seetha might be stolen by the grudging demons, or slain by the very same grisly demons, or savoured by some gruesome beasts, or else she strayed in this gauntly forest, and even she might have playfully shrouded herself in the grimly forest, or else she must be sheltering herself in this forest which will be gruelling to locate. [3-60-8]

VERSE 9

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

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

SYNONYMS

api vā: or, else | puṣpāṇi phalāni ca: flowers, fruits, also | vicetum: to pick up | gatā: gone | punaḥ: again | athavā: or else | padminīm yātā: to lotus-lake, gone | jala artham: water, for the sake of | nadīm gatā vā: to river gone, or. |

TRANSLATION

"Or else, she might have again gone to pick the flowers or fruits, or again gone to lotus-lake, or gone to the river for water." Thinking thus, Rama started his search for Seetha. [3-60-9]

VERSE 10

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

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

SYNONYMS

yatnāt: effortfully | mṛgayamāṇaḥ tu: being searched [by Rama,] though | vane priyām: in forest, [his] dear [Seetha] | na āsasāda: not, I have attained | śoka rakta īkṣaṇaḥ: by anguish, reddened, looks [eyes] | śrīmān = glorious one: Rama | unmatta: madman | iva: alike / as though / seems to be | lakṣyate: is appearing. |

TRANSLATION

Though he searched effortfully for his dear Seetha he did not get her, and as his anguish is reddening his eyes the appearance of that glorious one seems to be that of a madman. [3-60-10]

PURPORT

The word iva 'as though, seems to be, alike...' has some importance from the viewpoint of commentators, and some discussion is given in endnote on its usage. Because he is 'like' a madman, the translation shall also be 'like' a mad-translation, as long as he talks 'like' a madman.
VERSE 11

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

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

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | vṛkṣāt vṛkṣam: from tree, to tree [shrub] | girīm ca api: from hill, also, even [to hillock] | nadī nadam: river, to rivulet | pra dhāvan: speedily, running | vilapan: on wailing over | śoka panka arṇava plutaḥ = voe, sludge, ocean, inundated in: sludgy ocean of woes | saḥ: he that Rama | ba bhrāma: revolved around. |

TRANSLATION

Rama ran speedily from tree to shrub, from hill to hillock, from river to rivulet, and revolving around them he wailed for Seetha, as he is inundated in a sludgy ocean of woes. [3-60-11]

PURPORT

Whether Rama 'really wept' over Seetha's absence or it the 'playacting' of god - is a much-debated topic. As a hero of the epic, it is 'real' weeping and it is necessary to arouse pathos, but should he be god or god incarnate, is 'weeping' manifest in the qualities of Omniscient - is the dilemma. Some points are presented in the endnote.
VERSE 12

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

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

SYNONYMS

kadamba: oh, Kadamba tree | kadamba priyā: Kadamba [flowers,] a lover of | priyā: [my] ladylove | : she that Seetha | kaccit: someone [who is a lady] | tvayā: by you | [api] dṛṣṭā: is seen | asti: is she [seen] | jānīṣe yadi: you know [her,] if | śubha ānanām sītām: about lovable, faced, Seetha | śamsa: you tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Kadamba tree, seest thou someone a lady who is lover of Kadamba flowers, one with a lovable face and a love of mine, thou tellest me if thou knowest. [3-60-12]

VERSE 13

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

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

SYNONYMS

bilva: oh, Bilva tree | snigdha pallava samkāśām: smooth [silky,] leaflet, similar to [in skin] | pīta kauśeya vāsinīm: yellowy-ochry, silk, dressed in | bilva upama stanī: Bilva-fruits [rotund and silky,] in simile, breasted | [kaccit: someone ] | yadi sā dṛṣṭā: if, she is, seen by you | śamsasva: you tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Bilva tree, if thou seest someone who is drest in yellowy-ochry silks, whose skin likens to the silkiness of thine leaflets, breasts to thine rotund and silky Bilva fruits, thou tellest me... [3-60-13]

VERSE 14

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

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

SYNONYMS

athavā: otherwise | arjuna: oh, Arjuna tree | tvam: you | [yadi jānīṣe: if, you know her] | arjuna priyām: Arjuna [flowers,] a lover of | tām: of her | priyām: [my] ladylove | tanvī: slender [waisted one] | janakasya sutā: Janaka's, daughter | yadi jīvati vā: whether, living, or | na vā: not, or | śamsa: tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Otherwise, thou Arjuna tree, if thou knowest her who is a lover of thine Arjuna flowers and the ladylove of mine, thou telleth whether that slender-waisted daughter of Janaka liveth or otherwise... [3-60-14]

VERSE 15

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

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

SYNONYMS

eṣa: this | vanaspatiḥ: tree | latā pallava puṣpa: with creeping plants [creepy-creepers,] tender leaves [foliole-foliage,] flowers [flowery-flowers] | āḍhyaḥ: is laden with | [yathā: as to how] | bhāti hi: it is shining forth, indeed | [eṣa: this] | kakubhaḥ: Kakubha tree | kakubha ūrum = about k͟hakubha: tree [its trunk like,] one who has such thighs - about Seetha with thighs like Kakubha tree trunk | tām maithilīm: of her, of Maithili | vyaktam jānāti: obviously, will be knowing. |

TRANSLATION

"As to how this Kakubha tree shineth laden with creepy-creepers, foliole-foliage and flowery-flowers, this tree knowest Maithili whose thighs can be likened to the smoothish trunk of this very Kakubha tree... [3-60-15]

VERSE 16

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

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

SYNONYMS

druma varaḥ: tree, best [among trees] | [ayam: this] | tilakaḥ: Tilaka tree | yathā: as to how | bhramaraiḥ: by honeybees | upa gītaḥ ca asi hi = nearly, singing, also, it is, indīd: because honeybees are singing in chorus at its nearby, that chorus of bees is audible to the tree | eṣa = this: Tilaka tree | tilaka priyām = ṭilaka trī, about the lover of: of Seetha | vyaktam vijānāti: clearly, be knowing. |

TRANSLATION

"As to how this best tree among all trees heareth the chorus of honeybees that singest around it, thereby this Tilaka tree clearly knowest Maithili, a lover of Tilaka trees, as this shouldst have heard her. [3-60-16]

VERSE 17

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

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

SYNONYMS

śoka apa nuda = oh, agony, avay, taker: oh, remover of agony [a shoka = alleviator of agony, name of tree etymologically] | aśoka: oh, Ashoka tree | priyā sandarśanena: my ladylove, by showing | śoka upahata cetanam: by agony, marred, empathy [whose empathetic thinking is marred by agony] | mām: me | kṣipram: readily | tvat nāmānam: yours, name after [name me after your name, make me your namesake with removed agonies] | kuru: you make [you name me.] |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Ashoka tree, an alleviator of agony, that is thine name lingually... but practically and readily name me after thine, by showing my ladylove, as my agony has marred my empathy... [3-60-17]

VERSE 18

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

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

SYNONYMS

tāla: oh, Palm tree | pakva tāla phala stanī: ripened, palm, fruit [like,] breasted | tvayā dṛṣṭā yadi: by you, seen, if | te mayi kāruṇyam yadi: to you, on me, mercy [you have,] if there | varārohām kathayasva: of shapely lady, you tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Palm tree, if thou seest that lady breasted alike ripened-palm fruits of thine, and if thine mercy is mine, thou telleth of that shapely lady Seetha... [3-60-18]

VERSE 19

ओर्

or

SYNONYMS

jambo: oh, Rose-apple tree | tvayā sītā yadi dṛṣṭā: by you, Seetha, if, is seen | jāmbū nada = like gold: golden complexioned | or [jāmbū phala: Rose apple like | sama prabhā: equal, in glitter | priyām: of ladylove | vi jānā asi yadi: clearly, in the know, you are, if, [if you are clearly in the know of] | me niḥ śanka kathayasva = to me, less of, doubt: hesitation, tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rose-apple tree, if thou seest Seetha and thee knowest my ladylove with golden glitter, thou telleth me without hesitation... "Oh, Rose-apple tree, if thou seest Seetha and thou knowest my ladylove whose complexion is smoothish like thine Rose-apples, thou telleth me unhesitatingly... [3-60-19]

VERSE 20

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

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

SYNONYMS

karṇikāra: oh, Karnikaara tree | tvam adya: you, now | puṣpitaḥ: in full bloom | śobhase bhṛśam: blooming, magnificently | aho: Aha! karNikaara priyaam = Karnikaara-flowers, a lover of | sādhvīm: immaculate one | priyā: my ladylove | dṛṣṭā yadi: you have seen, if | śamsa: you tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Aha! Karnikaara tree, now thou art in full bloom and blooming magnificently, if thou seest that lover of Karnikaara-flowers and an immaculate ladylove of mine, thou telleth me... [3-60-20]

PURPORT

Annex: 'you all might have seen when your friend was imperilled and you might have complained, or cried out with the rustle of your leaves or gestured with the swings of your branches, as humans would do with their voice and hands... and the birds and bees nestled on you also might have chorused, sadly... but those birds and bees are unable to communicate what has happened... you trees, though you may not have rushed to rescue her, as you are pegged on ground, you indicate to me, at least with your branchy gestures, what exactly has happened...
VERSE 21

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

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

SYNONYMS

mahāyaśāḥ: of high glory | rāmaḥ: Rama | vane: in forest | cūta: mango trees | nīpa: niipa trees | mahā sālān: massive, saala trees | panasān: jack-fruit trees | kuravān: kuruva trees | dhavān: dhava trees | atha: then | dāḍimān api: daaDima trees, even | bakulān: bakula trees | tathā: like that | pun nāgān ca: pannaga trees, also | candanān: sandalwood trees | ketakān: ketaka trees | dṛṣṭvā = on sīing: those trees | tān gatvā: to them, having gone to trees | pṛcchan: on asking them | bhrānta: while wandering | unmatta iva lakśyate: madman, like, appearing to be. |

TRANSLATION

Rama has gone on asking trees like mango, niipa, massive saala, jack-fruit, kuruva, dhava, and even around daaDima, bakula, punnaaga, sandalwood, ketaka trees, and when he is running around them that highly glorious Rama appeared like a madman. [3-60-21, 22]

VERSE 23

अथवा मृग शाब अक्षीम् मृग जानासि मैथिलीम्
मृग विप्रेक्षणी कांता मृगीभिः सहिता भवेत्

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

SYNONYMS

athavā: or else | mṛga: oh, deer | mṛga śāba akṣīm: deer, fawn, eyed one | maithilīm jānāsi: of Maithili, do you know [what bechanced to her] | mṛga vi prekṣaṇī: deer-like, quick, with looks | [athavā: or else] kaantaa = that lady | mṛgībhiḥ sahitā bhavet: herd of she-deer, along with, she will be [herded into her of deer.] |

TRANSLATION

"Or else, oh, deer, dost thou know what bechanced to that fawn-eyed Maithili, one with quick-looks like thee deer? Or else, hast she herded herself into the herd of she-deer of yours... [3-60-23]

PURPORT

Annex: 'poor trees... they cannot air their expression, hence Maithili is unsaid by them... but you deer, you can voice and gesticulate, then voice it out or gesticulate, since that Maithili is an all time playmate of you deer... and you are an expert in escaping, and you might have escaped when Maithili was in danger, does not matter, it is your nature, now tell me what exactly has happened...' [but, then that deer ran in a particular way, but Rama is now unable to decipher it... and concludes,] 'now also you are escaping expertly... leave it at that...'
VERSE 24

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

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

SYNONYMS

gaja: oh, elephant | gaja nāsa = elephant's, nose: trunk-like | ūruḥ = thighs: she who is having | : she that Maithili | tvayā dṛṣṭā yadi bhavet: by you. seen, if, she is [if she is seen by you] | tām: of her | tubhyam: to you | viditām: [she who is already -] familiar to you | manye: I deem | vara vāraṇa: oh, best, elephant | ākhyāhi: you tell. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, elephant, thou mightst beheld her whose thighs likens to your trunk at that problematic hour, thus methinks, and that Maithili is familiar to thee, and oh, best elephant, if thou beholdest her, thou tallest me... [3-60-24]

PURPORT

Annex: 'though you are a pachyderm you are keen-eyed and you can find out even a thorn in the weed, also you are around this place for a long time, thus well acquainted with all of us... hence I deem that something must have happened and somehow you might have seen... though you could not prevent it with your massive head, trunk or legs, but tell me what exactly has happened...
VERSE 25

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

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

SYNONYMS

śārdūla: oh tiger | candra nibha ānanā = ṃūn, similar in śine, faced one: Seetha | priyā: my ladylove | sā maithilī: she, that Maithili | dṛṣṭā yadi: seen [by you,] if | vi srabdham = vithout, fear: in good faith | mama: to me | kathayasva: you speak up | te bhayam na: to you, fear, is not there. |

TRANSLATION

"Fear not, oh, tiger, hast thou seen Maithili, the moonfaced ladylove of mine, if thou hast seen speak in good faith... [3-60-25]

PURPORT

Annex: 'I know that you are a master prowler and a brave one, these deer and elephants are somehow fearing to tell me, but you tell me because you're a brave one... did you not prowl the prowler of Maithili... I also know that equal is the fear when one sees a tiger or when a tiger sees one... now you need not lift up your fore-paw and step back on seeing me... as I cause no harm now... but tell me, whether you ran after that one who caused some harm to Seetha or not, as Seetha never harmed you, when you were on the prowl hereabouts...' But that tiger retraced its steps, because Rama is an archer with a bow and arrows, without telling him that without exception all the animals vainly ran after Ravana trying to rescue Seetha. Such as he is, an uninformed one, he starts a delirious soliloquy in imagery.
VERSE 26

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

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

SYNONYMS

kamala īkṣaṇe: oh, lotus like, eyed one | priye: oh, my dear | [dūre: distantly] | kim dhāvasi: why, you are running away | dṛṣṭā asi: seen, you are | nūnam: in fact | ātmānam vṛkṣeṇa āccādya: yourself, by trees [by leaves,] veiling [camouflaging] | mām: to me | kim na prati bhāṣase: why, not, in turn, talking [replying me.] |

TRANSLATION

"Oh lotus-eyed lady, in fact I have seen you my dear, then why this running away and concealing yourself under trees, why do not you reply me... [3-60-26]

VERSE 27

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

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

SYNONYMS

varārohe: oh, best lady | tiṣṭha tiṣṭha: stay, stay | te mayi karuṇā na asti: to you, on me, mercy, not, is there | ati artham = tū, muc: unacceptably | hāsya śīlā: tease, humoured | na asi: not, you are | mām: me | kim artham upekṣase: what, for, you ignore. |

TRANSLATION

"Stay...stay... oh, best lady, don't you have mercy on me? You are not unacceptably tease-humoured! What for you ignore me? [3-60-27]

VERSE 28

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

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

SYNONYMS

vara varṇini: oh, beautifully, complexioned one | pīta kauśeyakena: by yellowy, silk-sari | sūcitā asi: betokened, you are | dhāvanti api: running away, even if | mayā dṛṣṭā: by me, seen | sau hṛdam: good, will [for me] | asti yadi: is there is [you have,] if | tiṣṭha: you stay. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, beautifully complexioned lady, even if you are running away your yellowy silk-sari betokens you, stay, if you have goodwill for me... [3-60-28]

VERSE 29

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

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

SYNONYMS

athavā: otherwise | : she [whom I just saw] | na eva: not, thus [may not be Seetha] | cāru hāsinī: cheerful, smiles [one who have them, Seetha] | nūnam: definitely. | himsitā: she is murdered | yathā: as to how [why because] | kṛcchram prāptam: wretched-state, one who attained | mām: me | upekṣitum na arhati = to avoid me, not, aptly of her: she would not avoid me |

TRANSLATION

"Otherwise, she whom I have just seen me may not be Seetha, why because, it is unapt of her to avoid me who attained this wretched state, hence Seetha with cheery smiles is certainly murdered... [3-60-29]

VERSE 30

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

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

SYNONYMS

mayā virahitā priyā: by me, without being present [in my absence,] my dear one | sā bālā: she, who is youngish | vyaktam: obviously | sarvāṇi angāni vi bhajya: [her] all, limbs, on verily, dividing | piśita aśanaiḥ rākṣasaiḥ bhakṣitā: by raw-flesh, gorgers, by demons, she is gorged. |

TRANSLATION

"Obviously the raw-flesh gorgers must have gorged that youngish lady on diving all her limbs in my absence from my dear one... [3-60-30]

VERSE 31

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

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

SYNONYMS

nūnam: evidently | tat śubha danta oṣṭham: that [lady with] pretty, teethed, lipped one | su nāsam: with prettily, nose | śubha kuṇḍalam: with prettyish, earrings | pūrṇa candra nibham: full, moon, similar | [tat: that] | mukham: face | grastam: when devoured | niṣ prabhatām gatam: without, lustre [blanched looked,] entered [obtained.] |

TRANSLATION

"Her face which is similar to a full-moon with pretty teeth, prettier lips, prettily nose and with prettyish earrings, might have obtained a blanched look when being devoured... [3-60-31]

VERSE 32

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

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

SYNONYMS

vilapantyāḥ: while bewailing | kāntāyā: lady's | campaka varṇa ābhā: campaka flower's, colour, in shine | graiveyaka ucitā = for neck ornaments, befitting: neck | komalā: exquisite | śubhā: beautiful | sā grīvā tu: hers/that, neck, but | bhakṣitā hi: glutted down, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"But that exquisite and beautiful neck of that lady which shines forth in the colour of Campaka flower, befitting for any neck ornament, indeed it might be glutted down while she is bewailing... [3-60-32]

VERSE 33

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

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

SYNONYMS

vikṣipyamāṇau: when wriggling | pallava komalau: tender-leaf like, delicate | vepamāna agrau = having quivering, having ends: of arms, fingers | sa hasta ābharaṇa angadau: with, hand, ornaments [bangles,] bicep-lets | tau bāhū: those two, arms | nūnam: definitely | bhakṣitau = eaten: are nibbled. |

TRANSLATION

"Her two arms which are delicate like tender leaves, ornamented with bangles and bicep-lets might have been definitely nibbled while they are wriggling with quivering fingers... [3-60-33]

VERSE 34

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

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

SYNONYMS

bālā = youngiś: Seetha | rakṣasām bhakṣaṇāya vai: for demons, as though for feast, really | mayā vi rahitā: by me, without presence [in my absence] | [maya pari tyaktā iva: by me, forsaken, as though] | bahu bāndhavā: many, relatives, [though Seetha has many relatives] | sārthena parityaktā iva: = by caravan, completely forsaken [woman,] like [as worse as] | bhakṣitā: she is feasted. |

TRANSLATION

"This is as though I have forsaken this youngish Seetha really as a feast for the demons in my absence, and though Seetha has many relatives she has become as worse as a lonesome woman who is completely forsaken by her caravan who is lonesomely ready for the feast of highwaymen, and demons have feasted on her. [3-60-34]

VERSE 35

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

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

SYNONYMS

mahābāhaḥ: oh, dextrous one | hā lakṣmaṇa: ha, Lakshmana | tvam: you | kvacit: anywhere | priyām: my ladylove | paśyase: are you seeing | bhadre: oh, auspicious lady | hā priye: ha, dear | kva gatā: where, you have gone | hā sīte: ha, Seetha | iti punaḥ punaḥ: thus, again, again | [rudan = vhile bevailing]: he serched. |

TRANSLATION

"Ha, Lakshmana... oh, dextrous one... have you seen my ladylove anywhere... ha, dear, where have you gone... oh, auspicious lady... ha, Seetha..." thus Rama lamented again and again in his search. [3-60-35]

VERSE 36

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

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

SYNONYMS

, 37a| rāmaḥ: Rama | iti evam: thus, this way | vilapan: on bewailing | vanāt vanam: from wood, to wood | pari dhāvan: on overly, rushing | kvacit: else where | vegāt: by forcefulness [of delusion] | ud bhramate: highly, delusional [he becomes] | balat: by powerfulness [of allusion] | vi bhramate: verily, [he is] alluded | kāntā anveṣaṇa tatparaḥ: ladylove, in search of, impassioned one | matta iva [unmatta iva]: mad [madman,] like | ābhāti: shining forth [he is nitid.] |

TRANSLATION

On bewailing in this way and on overly rushing from wood to wood, somewhere Rama has become highly delusional by the forcefulness of delusion and spots forest stuff as Seetha, though none of them have any resemblance to Seetha, and somewhere else, marking creepers, plants or slender shrubs and suchlike delicacies as Seetha he has become really alluded by the powerfulness of allusion, and elsewhere, he is not discriminating paths or pathless routes for his trekking as an impassioned one in the search of his ladylove, and thus he is nitid like a madman. [3-60-36, 37a]

VERSE 37

स वनानि नदीः शैलान् गिरि प्रस्रवणानि च
काननानि च वेगेन भ्रमति अपरिसंस्थितः

sa vanāni nadīḥ śailān giri prasravaṇāni ca
kānanāni ca vegena bhramati aparisaṃsthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he, Rama | vanāni nadīḥ śailān: woods, rivers, hills | giri prasravaṇāni ca: mountain, rapids, also | kānanāni ca: thick forests, also | aparisamsthitaḥ [a pari sam sthitaḥ: not, completely, well, stable one] = restlessly | vegena bhramati: speedily, he roves. |

TRANSLATION

Rama is on the rove around woods, rivers, hills, mountain-rapids and thicketed forests, speedily and restlessly. [3-60-37]

VERSE 38

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे षष्टितमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe ṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he | vipulam mahat vanam: to vast, great, forest | tadā: that way | gatvā: on going round | sarvam parītya: everywhere, on searching | maithilīm prati: Maithili, towards | an iṣṭhita āśaḥ: not, tangible, hope [hope became intangible] | atha: then | punaḥ: again | priyāyāḥ: of ladylove | mārgaṇe: in searching | paramam pariśramam = ekṣtreme, effort: over-strenuous effort | cakāra: he made. |

TRANSLATION

On going round the vast of great forest in that way and on searching for Maithili, his hope became intangible, but again he undertook the search for his ladylove, over-strenuously. [3-60-38]

PURPORT

Maheshvara Tiirtha says that, 'the word iva 'alike, seemingly, as though' is to be ellipted to all the expressions given by Rama, as god incarnate Rama did not 'really' weep over...' As such the expressions will become: shokaat paripluta iva, shokaat pradhaavan iva, vilapan iva etc., and they mean 'as though he is inundated in sea called lamentation... as though he wept... as though he ran after...' and the like. For this the viSNu puraaNa, umaa samhita is cited as reference, where Vishnu himself says: aham daasharathiH buutvaa hanmi raavaNam aahave | shrii mad raama avataare asmin aj~navat kriyate mama | tatra shankaa na kartavyaa sarvaj~nena api maayayaa | mat maayaa mohitam rakSho manuShyam maam avekShyati | anyathaa tasya saa nuunam na bhavet atra kutracit 'I on becoming Dasharatha's son will eliminate Ravana in combat... though Omniscient I conduct myself in the incarnation of Rama as a commoner by my Maya... thereby no doubt be nurtured by any... believing me a human Ravana will be mislead, as there is no other way for his elimination...' thus Tiirtha says that Rama did not actually 'weep or wail...' But this is contradicted and said by later commentators, 'though Rama is Supreme Being he took up human incarnation and he conducted himself as a human. Hence there is no need to ellipt ellipses for many a time and portray him as a 'direct' god on earth. Valmiki has said this more than once through Rama's words that he is just a 'human...' aatmaanam aham maanuSam manye 'I for myself am a human...' etc., and here also Valmiki used this word iva only at a few places like unmatta iva, udbhraanta iva Even if Rama were to be 'god' on earth, for his fate of taking a human incarnation he is fated to behave as a human, and gets involved in human emotions, according to situations and his mental conditions. In such conditions, for he is 'god' he can 'evoke' an emotion as he evoked rancour many times when eliminating demons as in the episodes of Aranya when he was eliminating Khara, Dushana, and others. There is roSam aahaarayat tiivram... 'rancour, evoking, unusual...' 'and then evoking an unusual rancour to eliminate Khara in war, he eliminated Khara...' as at 3-30-19. Here when the word roSam is replaced with shokam and if it be said as shokam aaharayet tiivram... it suffices all contradictions. And in many other places, we see him aaharayet 'getting' wrath or sadness, or other humanly emotion. When he can 'evoke' one human emotion 'wrath', why not evoke other emotions like 'love, sadness, pity, kindness' and the like. Again, there are some subhuman emotions like greed, avarice, hate, jealousy etc., which are unbefitting to humans themselves, hence the question of Rama's evoking them for his activities, does not arise. Then 'is this playacting of god, of hoodwinking of man called Rama in the name of Ravana...' is the connective question. The answer is 'neither...' for it is maya of Vishnu. In other way, it is not hoodwinking of Rama but it is the bewailing of god/Rama caused by the suffering of his adherents/devotee/subjects - particularly for Seetha, who is not just a devotee or adherer, but his own altar ego. Particularly when that god alone, through the so-called destiny, karma, fate etc, causes that suffering. Rama admits at verse 34 of this chapter 'this is as though I have forsaken this Seetha...' because of his passion for hunting, either the deer or the demon, thus bechanced is an ill fate on Seetha. If Rama were to be god, he is not an 'featureless' god of advaita tenet, a nirguNa but he is saguNa 'featured' god and some of his many features are: svabhaavika anavadhika atishaya, j~naana, bala, aishvarya, viirya, shakti, tejaH, saushiilya, maardava, aarjava, sauhaardra, saumya, kaaruNya, maadhuryam, gaambhiirya, audaaryaadi aneka kalyaaNa guNa sampanna... of which we are concerned with kaaruNya, maardava features, 'pity and sheltering...' as Shudarshanaacaarya defined maardavam as aashrita viraha a-sahatvam maardavam 'impatience for the separation from his adherers...' and Rama wept with this pity and impatience for Seetha's separation from him. However delinquent the children be, they do not know or care to know what their parents feel about their delinquency, because they themselves are thinking that they are not at all delinquent. But their parents, though they are aware of their children's delinquency, but unable to mend them, they suffer silently or blatantly. Here too it is the same predicament for Rama, though it is not parent-child relation, but it is man-wife relation, worthier enough for more suffering. His anguish is for the 'soul' called Seetha, going to be captivated in the 'body' called Lanka, and her deliverance is possible only on the annihilation of that body or holder of that body, namely Ravana, in the karmic cycle of birth-death. And none has a real glimpse or knowledge of that god or soul, but all go on assuming on their own as Bhagavad Gita says at7-24: avyaktam vyaktim aapannam manyate maam a-buddhaya | param bhaavam ajaananto mama avyayam anuttamam | gita Which deem th' Unmanifested manifest, / Not comprehending Me in my true Self! / Imperishable, viewless, undeclared, - Sir Edwin Arnold. Hence, Rama really wept for Seetha and in fact, gods really weep even for us, madly and sadly, but we do not care, or wish to care.