Aranya Kanda, Sarga 45

आर्तस्वरं तु तं भर्तुर्विज्ञाय सदृशं वने। उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता गच्छ जीनीहि राघवम्।।3.45.1।।

ārtasvaraṃ tu taṃ bharturvijñāya sadṛśaṃ vane| uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ sītā gaccha jīnīhi rāghavam

On hearing the voice in distress and recognising that it was similar to her husband's voice, Sita said to Lakshmana, 'Go and find out Rama's whereabouts'.

न हि मे हृदयं स्थाने जीवितं वाऽवतिष्ठति। क्रोशतः परमार्तस्य श्रुतश्शब्दो मया भृशम्।।3.45.2।। आक्रन्दमानं तु वने भ्रातरं त्रातुमर्हसि।

na hi me hṛdayaṃ sthāne jīvitaṃ vā'vatiṣṭhati| krośataḥ paramārtasya śrutaśśabdo mayā bhṛśam ākrandamānaṃ tu vane bhrātaraṃ trātumarhasi|

I clearly heard Rama calling out in great distress. Indeed, my heart as well as my life is not in its place (restless). You ought to go and protect your brother who is crying in pain in the forest.

तं क्षिप्रमभिधाव त्वं भ्रातरं शरणैषिणम्।।3.45.3।। रक्षसां वशमापन्नं सिंहानामिव गोवृषम्।

taṃ kṣipramabhidhāva tvaṃ bhrātaraṃ śaraṇaiṣiṇam rakṣasāṃ vaśamāpannaṃ siṃhānāmiva govṛṣam|

Like a bull caught by lions, your brother is seeking help caught by demons. You should run at once to your brother.

न जगाम तथोक्तस्तु भ्रातुराज्ञाय शासनम्।।3.45.4।। तमुवाच ततस्तत्र कुपिता जनकात्मजा।

na jagāma tathoktastu bhrāturājñāya śāsanam tamuvāca tatastatra kupitā janakātmajā|

When he did not budge in obedience to his brother's order (to protect Sita), the daughter of Janaka in a rage said :

सौमित्रे मित्ररूपेण भ्रातुस्त्वमसि शत्रुवत्।।3.45.5।। यस्त्वमस्यामवस्थायां भ्रातरं नाभिपत्स्यसे।

saumitre mitrarūpeṇa bhrātustvamasi śatruvat yastvamasyāmavasthāyāṃ bhrātaraṃ nābhipatsyase|

Since you, O son of Sumitra, are not reaching out to your brother in this situation, you are an enemy to your brother in the guise of a friend৷৷

इच्छसि त्वं विनश्यन्तं रामं लक्ष्मण मत्कृते।।3.45.6।। लोभात्त्वं मत्कृते नूनं नानुगच्छसि राघवम्।

icchasi tvaṃ vinaśyantaṃ rāmaṃ lakṣmaṇa matkṛte lobhāttvaṃ matkṛte nūnaṃ nānugacchasi rāghavam|

It is possess me that you wish Rama's death. You do not rush to him certainly because of greed for me.

व्यसनं ते प्रियं मन्ये स्नेहो भ्रातरिनास्तिते।।3.45.7।। तेन तिष्ठसि विश्रब्धंतमपश्यन्महाद्युतिम्।

vyasanaṃ te priyaṃ manye sneho bhrātarināstite tena tiṣṭhasi viśrabdhaṃtamapaśyanmahādyutim|

I think Rama's adversity is welcome to you. You do not have any love towards your brother. It is for this that you stand unconcerned instead of proceeding to help your brilliant brother.

किं हि संशयमापन्ने तस्मिन्निह मया भवेत्।।3.45.8।। कर्तव्यमिह तिष्ठन्त्या यत्प्रधानस्त्वमागतः।

kiṃ hi saṃśayamāpanne tasminniha mayā bhavet kartavyamiha tiṣṭhantyā yatpradhānastvamāgataḥ|

When he for whose service you have primary come here, has met with difficulty, what is the use of your being here? What purpose you serve by staying here with me ?

इति ब्रुवाणां वैदेहीं बाष्पशोकपरिप्लुताम्।।3.45.9।। अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणस्त्रस्तां सीतां मृगवधूमिव।

iti bruvāṇāṃ vaidehīṃ bāṣpaśokapariplutām abravīllakṣmaṇastrastāṃ sītāṃ mṛgavadhūmiva|

While Sita thus spoke, flooded with tears of sorrow, frightened like a doe, Lakshmana replied :

पन्नगासुरगन्धर्वदेवमानुषराक्षसैः।।3.45.10।। अशक्यस्तव वैदेहि भर्ता जेतुं न संशयः।

pannagāsuragandharvadevamānuṣarākṣasaiḥ aśakyastava vaidehi bhartā jetuṃ na saṃśayaḥ|

O Vaidehi there is no doubt that pannagas, asuras, gandharvas, gods, men or even demons cannot defeat him.

देवि देवमनुष्येषु गन्धर्वेषु पतत्रिषु।।3.45.11।। राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु किन्नरेषु मृगेषु च। दानवेषु च घोरेषु स न विद्येत शोभने।।3.45.12।। यो रामं प्रतियुध्येत समरे वासवोपमम्।

devi devamanuṣyeṣu gandharveṣu patatriṣu rākṣaseṣu piśāceṣu kinnareṣu mṛgeṣu ca| dānaveṣu ca ghoreṣu sa na vidyeta śobhane yo rāmaṃ pratiyudhyeta samare vāsavopamam|

O brilliant Devi none among gods or men, gandharvas, birds or goblins kinnaras, wild animals or dreadful demons can encounter Rama in war.

देवि देवमनुष्येषु गन्धर्वेषु पतत्रिषु।।3.45.11।। राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु किन्नरेषु मृगेषु च। दानवेषु च घोरेषु स न विद्येत शोभने।।3.45.12।। यो रामं प्रतियुध्येत समरे वासवोपमम्।

devi devamanuṣyeṣu gandharveṣu patatriṣu rākṣaseṣu piśāceṣu kinnareṣu mṛgeṣu ca| dānaveṣu ca ghoreṣu sa na vidyeta śobhane yo rāmaṃ pratiyudhyeta samare vāsavopamam|

O brilliant Devi none among gods or men, gandharvas, birds or goblins kinnaras, wild animals or dreadful demons can encounter Rama in war.

अवध्यस्समरे रामो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि।।3.45.13।। न त्वामस्मिन्वने हातुमुत्सहे राघवं विना।

avadhyassamare rāmo naivaṃ tvaṃ vaktumarhasi na tvāmasminvane hātumutsahe rāghavaṃ vinā|

Rama is indestructible in war. It is not proper for you to say what you said. When he is not here I do not wish to leave you alone here in the forest.

अनिवार्यं बलं तस्य बलैर्बलवतामपि।।3.45.14।। त्रिभिर्लोकैस्समुद्युक्तैस्सेश्वरैरपि सामरैः।

anivāryaṃ balaṃ tasya balairbalavatāmapi tribhirlokaissamudyuktaisseśvarairapi sāmaraiḥ|

He cannot be stopped by the strength of the mighty, or by Indra supported by gods or by the wellequipped armies of all the three worlds.

हृदयं निर्वृतं तेऽस्तुसन्तापस्त्यज्यतामयम्।।3.45.15।। आगमिष्यति ते भर्ता श्रीघ्रं हत्वा मृगोत्तमम्।

hṛdayaṃ nirvṛtaṃ te'stusantāpastyajyatāmayam āgamiṣyati te bhartā śrīghraṃ hatvā mṛgottamam|

May your heart be relieved (of this fear) Give up this grief. Your husband will soon return with the excellent deer killed.

न च तस्य स्वरो व्यक्तं मायया केन चित्कृतः। गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या माया सा तस्य रक्षसः।।3.45.16।।

na ca tasya svaro vyaktaṃ māyayā kena citkṛtaḥ| gandharvanagaraprakhyā māyā sā tasya rakṣasaḥ

Surely it is not his voice. It is contrived by some one's illusory power. It is the illusion created by that demon, like the city of the gandharvas. (which does not exist.)

न्यासभूतासि वैदेहि न्यस्ता मयि महात्मना।।3.45.17।। रामेण त्वं वरारोहे न त्वां त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे।

nyāsabhūtāsi vaidehi nyastā mayi mahātmanā rāmeṇa tvaṃ varārohe na tvāṃ tyaktumihotsahe|

O best of women Vaidehi great Rama has entrusted your safty to me. I do not wish to leave you here alone.

कृतवैराश्च वैदेहि वयमेतैर्निशाचरैः।।3.45.18।। खरस्य निधनादेव जनस्थानवधं प्रति।

kṛtavairāśca vaidehi vayametairniśācaraiḥ kharasya nidhanādeva janasthānavadhaṃ prati|

O Vaidehi since the killing of Khara and the residents of Janasthana we have developed enmity with the demons.

राक्षसा विविधा वाचो विसृजन्ति महावने।।3.45.19।। हिंसाविहारा वैदेहि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि।

rākṣasā vividhā vāco visṛjanti mahāvane hiṃsāvihārā vaidehi na cintayitumarhasi|

These demons wander about tormenting others and spreading rumours of all kinds. You need not worry about them.

लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता सा क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना।।3.45.20।। अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं सत्यवादिनम्।

lakṣmaṇenaivamuktā sā kruddhā saṃraktalocanā abravītparuṣaṃ vākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ satyavādinam|

Addressed thus by Lakshmana, Sita got mighty angry. Her eyes turned red and she spoke harshly to truthful Lakshmana

अनार्याकरणारम्भ नृशंस कुलपांसन।।3.45.21।। अहं तव प्रियं मन्ये रामस्य व्यसनं महत्।

anāryākaraṇārambha nṛśaṃsa kulapāṃsana ahaṃ tava priyaṃ manye rāmasya vyasanaṃ mahat|

O ignoble, cruel Lakshmana, you are a disgrace to your family. I think this great disaster of Rama is a pleasure to you.

रामस्य व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा तेनैतानि प्रभाषसे।।3.45.22।। नैतच्चित्रं सपत्नेषु पापं लक्ष्मण यद्भवेत्। त्वद्विधेषु नृशंसेषु नित्यं प्रच्छन्नचारिषु।।3.45.23।।

rāmasya vyasanaṃ dṛṣṭvā tenaitāni prabhāṣase naitaccitraṃ sapatneṣu pāpaṃ lakṣmaṇa yadbhavet| tvadvidheṣu nṛśaṃseṣu nityaṃ pracchannacāriṣu

O Lakshmana,do you speak such words seeing the disaster of Rama? No wonder that cruel men who always move like you in disguise will thus resort to sinful action against rivals.

रामस्य व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा तेनैतानि प्रभाषसे।।3.45.22।। नैतच्चित्रं सपत्नेषु पापं लक्ष्मण यद्भवेत्। त्वद्विधेषु नृशंसेषु नित्यं प्रच्छन्नचारिषु।।3.45.23।।

rāmasya vyasanaṃ dṛṣṭvā tenaitāni prabhāṣase naitaccitraṃ sapatneṣu pāpaṃ lakṣmaṇa yadbhavet| tvadvidheṣu nṛśaṃseṣu nityaṃ pracchannacāriṣu

O Lakshmana,do you speak such words seeing the disaster of Rama? No wonder that cruel men who always move like you in disguise will thus resort to sinful action against rivals.

सुदुष्टस्त्वं वने राममेकमेकोऽनुगच्छसि। मम हेतोः प्रतिच्छन्नः प्रयुक्तोभरतेन वा।।3.45.24।।

suduṣṭastvaṃ vane rāmamekameko'nugacchasi| mama hetoḥ praticchannaḥ prayuktobharatena vā

You are very wicked. You are hiding your true identity, and employed by Bharata, you are following Rama in the forest as he is alone.

तन्नसिध्यति सौमित्रे तव वा भरतस्य वा। कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम्।।3.45.25।। उपसंश्रित्य भर्तारं कामयेयं पृथग्जनम्।

tannasidhyati saumitre tava vā bharatasya vā| kathamindīvaraśyāmaṃ padmapatranibhekṣaṇam upasaṃśritya bhartāraṃ kāmayeyaṃ pṛthagjanam|

O Lakshmana such intention of yours or even of Bharata's will not be fulfilled. I have held the hands of Rama who has eyes like the lotus petal, who has the complexion of the blue lotus. How can I prefer some other man?

समक्षं तव सौमित्रे प्राणांस्त्यक्षे न संशयः। रामं विना क्षणमपि न हि जीवामि भूतले।।3.45.26।।

samakṣaṃ tava saumitre prāṇāṃstyakṣe na saṃśayaḥ| rāmaṃ vinā kṣaṇamapi na hi jīvāmi bhūtale

I will undoubtedly give up my life in your presence.I will not live even for a moment on earth without Rama, O son of Sumitra

इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं सीतया रोमहर्षणम्।।3.45.27।। अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणस्सीतां प्राञ्जलिर्विजितेन्द्रियः।

ityuktaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ sītayā romaharṣaṇam abravīllakṣmaṇassītāṃ prāñjalirvijitendriyaḥ|

The selfcontrolled Lakshmana with folded palms replied to Sita's harsh, horripilating words:

उत्तरं नोत्सहे वक्तुं दैवतं भवती मम।।3.45.28।। वाक्यमप्रतिरूपं तु न चित्रं स्त्रीषु मैथिलि। स्वभावस्त्वेष नारीणामेवं लोकेषु दृश्यते।।3.45.29।।

uttaraṃ notsahe vaktuṃ daivataṃ bhavatī mama vākyamapratirūpaṃ tu na citraṃ strīṣu maithili| svabhāvastveṣa nārīṇāmevaṃ lokeṣu dṛśyate

O princess from Mithila, I do not want to use such harsh words. To me you are a deity (worthy of adoration). It is not surprising that women of the world use such undeserving words. It is their nature.

उत्तरं नोत्सहे वक्तुं दैवतं भवती मम।।3.45.28।। वाक्यमप्रतिरूपं तु न चित्रं स्त्रीषु मैथिलि। स्वभावस्त्वेष नारीणामेवं लोकेषु दृश्यते।।3.45.29।।

uttaraṃ notsahe vaktuṃ daivataṃ bhavatī mama vākyamapratirūpaṃ tu na citraṃ strīṣu maithili| svabhāvastveṣa nārīṇāmevaṃ lokeṣu dṛśyate

O princess from Mithila, I do not want to use such harsh words. To me you are a deity (worthy of adoration). It is not surprising that women of the world use such undeserving words. It is their nature.

विमुक्तधर्माश्चपलास्तीक्ष्णा भेदकराः स्त्रियः। न सहे हीदृशं वाक्यं वैदेहि जनकात्मजे।।3.45.30।। श्रोत्रयोरुभयोर्मेद्य तप्तनाराचसन्निभम्।

vimuktadharmāścapalāstīkṣṇā bhedakarāḥ striyaḥ| na sahe hīdṛśaṃ vākyaṃ vaidehi janakātmaje śrotrayorubhayormedya taptanārācasannibham|

Women devoid dharma are fickle and inconsistent. They use sharp, piercing words. O daughter of Janaka, O princess from Videha, your words pierce my ears like redhot darts.I cannot tolerate them.

उपशृण्वन्तु मे सर्वे साक्षिभूता वनेचराः।।3.45.31।। न्यायवादी यथान्यायमुक्तोऽहं परुषं त्वया।

upaśṛṇvantu me sarve sākṣibhūtā vanecarāḥ nyāyavādī yathānyāyamukto'haṃ paruṣaṃ tvayā|

I speak what is just while you use harsh and unjust words. Let all beings who move in the forest bear witness.

धिक्त्वामद्य प्रणश्य त्वं यन्मामेवं विशङ्कसे। स्त्रीत्वलदुष्टं स्वभावेन गुरुवाक्ये व्यवस्थितम्।।3.45.32।।

dhiktvāmadya praṇaśya tvaṃ yanmāmevaṃ viśaṅkase| strītvaladuṣṭaṃ svabhāvena guruvākye vyavasthitam

Fie upon you. Like a woman of wicked nature you doubt me when I stood firm by my brother's words. You will go to ruin.

गमिष्ये यत्र काकुत्स्थ स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु वरानने।।3.45.33।। रक्षन्तु त्वां विशालाक्षि समग्रा वनदेवताः।

gamiṣye yatra kākutstha svasti te'stu varānane rakṣantu tvāṃ viśālākṣi samagrā vanadevatāḥ|

O beautiful lady, I will go to Rama wherever he may be. Be happy. O largeeyed one, may all the deities of the forest protect you.

निमित्तानि च घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे।।3.45.34।। अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः। न वेत्येतन्न जानामि वैदेहि जनकात्मजे।।3.45.35।।

nimittāni ca ghorāṇi yāni prādurbhavanti me api tvāṃ saha rāmeṇa paśyeyaṃ punarāgataḥ| na vetyetanna jānāmi vaidehi janakātmaje

O daughter of Janaka O princess from Videha, I see dreadful omens. I do not know whether I will see you when I am back with Rama.

निमित्तानि च घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे।।3.45.34।। अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः। न वेत्येतन्न जानामि वैदेहि जनकात्मजे।।3.45.35।।

nimittāni ca ghorāṇi yāni prādurbhavanti me api tvāṃ saha rāmeṇa paśyeyaṃ punarāgataḥ| na vetyetanna jānāmi vaidehi janakātmaje

O daughter of Janaka O princess from Videha, I see dreadful omens. I do not know whether I will see you when I am back with Rama.

लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता सा रुदन्ती जनकात्मजा। प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यं तीव्रं बाष्पपरिप्लुता।।3.45.36।।

lakṣmaṇenaivamuktā sā rudantī janakātmajā| pratyuvāca tato vākyaṃ tīvraṃ bāṣpapariplutā

At these words of Lakshmana Sita started crying. With eyes filled with tears she replied with harshness :

गोदावरीं प्रवेक्ष्यामि विना रामेण लक्ष्मण। अबन्धिष्येऽथवा त्यक्ष्ये विषमे देहमात्मनः।।3.45.37।।

godāvarīṃ pravekṣyāmi vinā rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇa| abandhiṣye'thavā tyakṣye viṣame dehamātmanaḥ

O Lakshmana without Rama I will drown myself in Godavari or hang myself or leap from a cliff into death.

पिबाम्यहं विषं तीक्ष्णं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्। न त्वहं राघवादन्यं पदापि पुरुषं स्पृशे।।3.45.38।।

pibāmyahaṃ viṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam| na tvahaṃ rāghavādanyaṃ padāpi puruṣaṃ spṛśe

I will drink deadly poison or enter fire and die, but will not touch any other man even with my feet.

इति लक्ष्मणमाक्रुश्य सीता दुःखसमन्विता। पाणिभ्यां रुदती दुःखादुदरं प्रजघान ह।।3.45.39।।

iti lakṣmaṇamākruśya sītā duḥkhasamanvitā| pāṇibhyāṃ rudatī duḥkhādudaraṃ prajaghāna ha

Thus Sita cried in distress, sadly hitting her belly with both the hands, blaming Lakshmana (all the time).

तामार्तरूपां विमना रुदन्तीं सौमित्रिरालोक्य विशालनेत्राम्। आश्वासयामास न चैव भर्तु स्तं भ्रातरंकिञ्चिदुवाच सीता।।3.45.40।।

tāmārtarūpāṃ vimanā rudantīṃ saumitrirālokya viśālanetrām| āśvāsayāmāsa na caiva bhartu staṃ bhrātaraṃkiñciduvāca sītā

Saumitri saw the largeeyed, dejected Sita crying in distress.He pacified and consoled her but she did not say anything at all to her husband's brother.