Aranya Kanda, Sarga 57

राक्षसं मृगरूपेण चरन्तं कामरूपिणम्। निहत्य रामो मारीचं तूर्णं पथि न्यवर्तत।।3.57.1।।

rākṣasaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa carantaṃ kāmarūpiṇam| nihatya rāmo mārīcaṃ tūrṇaṃ pathi nyavartata

Rama killed Maricha, the demon assuming the form of the deer as per his will and swiftly took the return path.

तस्य सन्त्वरमाणस्य द्रष्टुकामस्य मैथिलीम्। क्रूरस्वनोऽथ गोमायुर्विननादास्य पृष्ठतः।।3.57.2।।

tasya santvaramāṇasya draṣṭukāmasya maithilīm| krūrasvano'tha gomāyurvinanādāsya pṛṣṭhataḥ

While Rama was hasting to see Sita, he heard from behind the ghastly howl of a jackal.

स तस्य स्वरमाज्ञाय दारुणं रोमहर्षणम्। चिन्तयामास गोमायोस्स्वरेण परिशङ्कितः।।3.57.3।।

sa tasya svaramājñāya dāruṇaṃ romaharṣaṇam| cintayāmāsa gomāyossvareṇa pariśaṅkitaḥ

Rama knew it was the horrible, horripilating cry of a jackal which made him apprehensive . It made him think.

अशुभं बत मन्येऽहं गोमायुर्वाश्यते यथा। स्वस्ति स्यादपि वैदेह्या राक्षसैर्भक्षणं विना।।3.57.4।।

aśubhaṃ bata manye'haṃ gomāyurvāśyate yathā| svasti syādapi vaidehyā rākṣasairbhakṣaṇaṃ vinā

'The way the jackal is howling appears ominous. May Sita be safe without being eaten up by demons

मारीचेन तु विज्ञाय स्वरमालम्ब्य मामकम्। विक्रुष्टं मृगरूपेण लक्ष्मणश्शृणुयाद्यदि।।3.57.5।। स सौमित्रिस्स्वरं श्रुत्वा तां च हित्वाच मैथिलीम्। तयेह प्रहितः क्षिप्रं मत्सकाशमिहैष्यति।।3.57.6।।

mārīcena tu vijñāya svaramālambya māmakam| vikruṣṭaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa lakṣmaṇaśśṛṇuyādyadi sa saumitrissvaraṃ śrutvā tāṃ ca hitvāca maithilīm| tayeha prahitaḥ kṣipraṃ matsakāśamihaiṣyati

'If Lakshmana listens to Maricha imitating my voice in the form of a deer, he, sent by Sita will come for me at once, leaving her behind.

मारीचेन तु विज्ञाय स्वरमालम्ब्य मामकम्। विक्रुष्टं मृगरूपेण लक्ष्मणश्शृणुयाद्यदि।।3.57.5।। स सौमित्रिस्स्वरं श्रुत्वा तां च हित्वाच मैथिलीम्। तयेह प्रहितः क्षिप्रं मत्सकाशमिहैष्यति।।3.57.6।।

mārīcena tu vijñāya svaramālambya māmakam| vikruṣṭaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa lakṣmaṇaśśṛṇuyādyadi sa saumitrissvaraṃ śrutvā tāṃ ca hitvāca maithilīm| tayeha prahitaḥ kṣipraṃ matsakāśamihaiṣyati

'If Lakshmana listens to Maricha imitating my voice in the form of a deer, he, sent by Sita will come for me at once, leaving her behind.

राक्षसैस्सहितैर्नूनं सीताया ईप्सितो वधः। काञ्चनश्च मृगो भूत्वा व्यपनीयाश्रमात्तु माम्।।3.57.7।। दूरं नीत्वा तु मारीचो राक्षसोऽभूच्छरा हतः। हा लक्ष्मण हतोऽस्मीति यद्वाक्यं व्याजहार ह।।3.57.8।।

rākṣasaissahitairnūnaṃ sītāyā īpsito vadhaḥ| kāñcanaśca mṛgo bhūtvā vyapanīyāśramāttu mām dūraṃ nītvā tu mārīco rākṣaso'bhūccharā hataḥ| hā lakṣmaṇa hato'smīti yadvākyaṃ vyājahāra ha

'Hence the murder of Sita must have been jointly planned by the demons. Maricha who had assumed the form of a golden deer, took me away from the hermitage to a faroff place where, killed by my arrows, he turned a demon uttering the words, Alas, Lakshmana, I am killed.

राक्षसैस्सहितैर्नूनं सीताया ईप्सितो वधः। काञ्चनश्च मृगो भूत्वा व्यपनीयाश्रमात्तु माम्।।3.57.7।। दूरं नीत्वा तु मारीचो राक्षसोऽभूच्छरा हतः। हा लक्ष्मण हतोऽस्मीति यद्वाक्यं व्याजहार ह।।3.57.8।।

rākṣasaissahitairnūnaṃ sītāyā īpsito vadhaḥ| kāñcanaśca mṛgo bhūtvā vyapanīyāśramāttu mām dūraṃ nītvā tu mārīco rākṣaso'bhūccharā hataḥ| hā lakṣmaṇa hato'smīti yadvākyaṃ vyājahāra ha

'Hence the murder of Sita must have been jointly planned by the demons. Maricha who had assumed the form of a golden deer, took me away from the hermitage to a faroff place where, killed by my arrows, he turned a demon uttering the words, Alas, Lakshmana, I am killed.

अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्ताभ्यां रहिताभ्यां महावने। जनस्थाननिमित्तं हि कृतवैरोऽस्मि राक्षसैः।।3.57.9।। निमित्तानि च घोराणि दृश्यन्तेऽद्य बहूनि च।

api svasti bhavettābhyāṃ rahitābhyāṃ mahāvane| janasthānanimittaṃ hi kṛtavairo'smi rākṣasaiḥ nimittāni ca ghorāṇi dṛśyante'dya bahūni ca|

'On account of living in this dense forest in Janasthana I have earned enmity with the demons. Will Lakshmana and Sita be safe without my protection? I see many terrible portents.'

इत्येवं चिन्तयन्रामश्श्रुत्वा गोमायुनिस्स्वनम्।।3.57.10।। आत्मनश्चापनयनान्मृगरूपेण रक्षसा। आजगाम जनस्थानं राघवः परिशङ्कितः।।3.57.11।।

ityevaṃ cintayanrāmaśśrutvā gomāyunissvanam ātmanaścāpanayanānmṛgarūpeṇa rakṣasā| ājagāma janasthānaṃ rāghavaḥ pariśaṅkitaḥ

On hearing the jackal's howl, Rama began thinking how the demon in the form of a deer drew him away. Thus in the midst of apprehensions he reached Janasthana.

इत्येवं चिन्तयन्रामश्श्रुत्वा गोमायुनिस्स्वनम्।।3.57.10।। आत्मनश्चापनयनान्मृगरूपेण रक्षसा। आजगाम जनस्थानं राघवः परिशङ्कितः।।3.57.11।।

ityevaṃ cintayanrāmaśśrutvā gomāyunissvanam ātmanaścāpanayanānmṛgarūpeṇa rakṣasā| ājagāma janasthānaṃ rāghavaḥ pariśaṅkitaḥ

On hearing the jackal's howl, Rama began thinking how the demon in the form of a deer drew him away. Thus in the midst of apprehensions he reached Janasthana.

तं दीनमनसो दीनमासेदुर्मृगपक्षिणः। सव्यं कृत्वा महात्मानं घोरांश्च ससृजुस्स्वरान्।।3.57.12।।

taṃ dīnamanaso dīnamāsedurmṛgapakṣiṇaḥ| savyaṃ kṛtvā mahātmānaṃ ghorāṃśca sasṛjussvarān

Dejected at heart, the birds and animals piteously kept the great soul (Rama) to the left and produced a dreadful cacophony.

तानि दृष्ट्वा निमित्तानि महाघोराणि राघवः। न्यवर्तताथ त्वरितो जवेनाश्रममात्मनः।।3.57.13।।

tāni dṛṣṭvā nimittāni mahāghorāṇi rāghavaḥ| nyavartatātha tvarito javenāśramamātmanaḥ

On seeing such dreadfu omens at that time, Rama hurried back to his hermitage.

सीतां स तु वरारोहां लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम्। आजगाम जनस्थानं चिन्तयन्नेव राघवः।।3.57.14।।

sītāṃ sa tu varārohāṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābalam| ājagāma janasthānaṃ cintayanneva rāghavaḥ

Rama arrived at Janasthana thinking (of the safety) of charming Sita and mighty Lakshmana.

ततो लक्ष्मणमायान्तं ददर्श विगतप्रभम्। ततोऽविदूरे रामेण समीयाय स लक्ष्मणः।।3.57.15।। विषण्णस्सुविषण्णेन दुःखितो दुःखभागिना।

tato lakṣmaṇamāyāntaṃ dadarśa vigataprabham| tato'vidūre rāmeṇa samīyāya sa lakṣmaṇaḥ viṣaṇṇassuviṣaṇṇena duḥkhito duḥkhabhāginā|

He then saw Lakshmana coming towards him with a cheerless face. When the sad, depressed Lakshmana came near, he saw Rama (equally) despondent and griefstricken.

सञ्जगर्हेऽथ तं भ्राता ज्येष्ठो लक्ष्मणमागतम्।।3.57.16।। विहाय सीतां विजने वने राक्षससेविते।

sañjagarhe'tha taṃ bhrātā jyeṣṭho lakṣmaṇamāgatam vihāya sītāṃ vijane vane rākṣasasevite|

In this situation Rama the elder brother rebuked Lakshmana for having left Sita behind in a desolate forest infested with demons.

गृहीत्वा च करं सव्यं लक्ष्मणं रघुनन्दनः।।3.57.17।। उवाच मधुरोदर्कमिदं परुषमार्तिमत्।

gṛhītvā ca karaṃ savyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ raghunandanaḥ uvāca madhurodarkamidaṃ paruṣamārtimat|

Rama, the delight of the Raghus, took hold of Lakshmana's left hand, and in sadness said these sweet harsh words :

अहो लक्ष्मण गर्ह्यं ते कृतं यस्त्वं विहाय ताम्।।3.57.18।। सीतामिहाऽगतस्सौम्य कच्चित्स्वस्ति भवेदिह।

aho lakṣmaṇa garhyaṃ te kṛtaṃ yastvaṃ vihāya tām sītāmihā'gatassaumya kaccitsvasti bhavediha|

O gentle Lakshmana you are to blame for coming here, leaving Sita behind. Alas will she be safe now?

न मेऽस्ति संशयो वीर सर्वथा जनकात्मजा।।3.57.19।। विनष्टा भक्षिता वापि राक्षसैर्वनचारिभिः। अशुभान्येव भूयिष्ठं यथा प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे।।3.57.20।।

na me'sti saṃśayo vīra sarvathā janakātmajā vinaṣṭā bhakṣitā vāpi rākṣasairvanacāribhiḥ| aśubhānyeva bhūyiṣṭhaṃ yathā prādurbhavanti me

O heroic Lakshmana I see many inauspicious omens. I think Sita might have been lost or eaten away by the demons of the forest. There is no doubt about it.

न मेऽस्ति संशयो वीर सर्वथा जनकात्मजा।।3.57.19।। विनष्टा भक्षिता वापि राक्षसैर्वनचारिभिः। अशुभान्येव भूयिष्ठं यथा प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे।।3.57.20।।

na me'sti saṃśayo vīra sarvathā janakātmajā vinaṣṭā bhakṣitā vāpi rākṣasairvanacāribhiḥ| aśubhānyeva bhūyiṣṭhaṃ yathā prādurbhavanti me

O heroic Lakshmana I see many inauspicious omens. I think Sita might have been lost or eaten away by the demons of the forest. There is no doubt about it.

अपि लक्ष्मण सीतायास्सामग्र्यं प्राप्नुयावहे। जीवन्त्याः पुरुषव्याघ्र सुताया जनकस्य वै।।3.57.21।।

api lakṣmaṇa sītāyāssāmagryaṃ prāpnuyāvahe| jīvantyāḥ puruṣavyāghra sutāyā janakasya vai

O Lakshmana, a tiger among men, will we be able to see the daughter of Janaka, living in a state of total wellbeing? Will we be able to get her back ?

यथा वै मृगसङ्घाश्च गोमायुश्चैव भैरवम्। वाश्यन्ते शकुनाश्चापि प्रदीप्तामभितो दिशम्।।3.57.22।। अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्तस्या राजपुत्र्या महाबल।

yathā vai mṛgasaṅghāśca gomāyuścaiva bhairavam| vāśyante śakunāścāpi pradīptāmabhito diśam api svasti bhavettasyā rājaputryā mahābala|

O mighty Lakshmana from the way the beasts, jackals and birds too have turned in the bright direction of the Sun, crying in a frightful manner, can we hope princess Sita is safe ?

इदं हि रक्षो मृगसन्निकाशं प्रलोभ्य मां दूरमनुप्रयान्तम्। हतं कथञ्चिन्महता श्रमेण स राक्षसोऽभून्म्रियमाण एव।।3.57.23।।

idaṃ hi rakṣo mṛgasannikāśaṃ pralobhya māṃ dūramanuprayāntam| hataṃ kathañcinmahatā śrameṇa sa rākṣaso'bhūnmriyamāṇa eva

Appearing in the guise of a deer, this demon allured me to a great distance. With much effort he was somehow killed. but he assumed his demoniac form while dying.

मनश्च मे दीनमिहाप्रहृष्टं चक्षुश्च सव्यं कुरुते विकारम्। असंशयं लक्ष्मण नास्ति सीता हृता मृता वा पथि वर्तते वा।।3.57.24।।

manaśca me dīnamihāprahṛṣṭaṃ cakṣuśca savyaṃ kurute vikāram| asaṃśayaṃ lakṣmaṇa nāsti sītā hṛtā mṛtā vā pathi vartate vā

With my heart dejected and depressed, my left eye throbbing, O Lakshmana, I have no doubt that Sita is either abducted or dead or abandoned on the way. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fiftyseventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.