Aranya Kanda, Sarga 67

पूर्वजोऽप्युक्तमात्रस्तु लक्ष्मणेन सुभाषितम्। सारग्राही महासारं प्रतिजग्राह राघवः।।3.67.1।।

pūrvajo'pyuktamātrastu lakṣmaṇena subhāṣitam| sāragrāhī mahāsāraṃ pratijagrāha rāghavaḥ

Even though Rama was elder, he could grasp the quintessence of the wise counsel only after Lakshmana had said it.

सन्निगृह्य महाबाहुः प्रवृत्तं कोपमात्मनः। अवष्टभ्य धनुश्चित्रं रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।3.67.2।।

sannigṛhya mahābāhuḥ pravṛttaṃ kopamātmanaḥ| avaṣṭabhya dhanuścitraṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt

Restraining his anger, the longarmed Rama leaned over his wonderful bow and spoke to Lakshmana:

किं करिष्यावहे वत्स क्व वा गच्छाव लक्ष्मण। केनोपायेन गच्छेयं सीतामिति विचिन्तय।।3.67.3।।

kiṃ kariṣyāvahe vatsa kva vā gacchāva lakṣmaṇa| kenopāyena gaccheyaṃ sītāmiti vicintaya

O dear Lakshmana, what shall we do? Where do we go ? Think of some means by which we can reach Sita.

तं तथा परितापार्तं लक्ष्मणो राममब्रवीत्। इदमेव जनस्थानं त्वमन्वेषितुमर्हसि।।3.67.4।। राक्षसैर्बहुभिः कीर्णं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्।

taṃ tathā paritāpārtaṃ lakṣmaṇo rāmamabravīt| idameva janasthānaṃ tvamanveṣitumarhasi rākṣasairbahubhiḥ kīrṇaṃ nānādrumalatāyutam|

Lakshmana said to Rama, afflicted with grief, It is proper for you to (first) search in this Janasthana, covered with different kinds of trees and creepers, and teeming with demons.

सन्तीह गिरिदुर्गाणि निर्दराः कन्दराणि च।।3.67.5।। गुहाश्च विविधा घोरा नानामृगगणाकुलाः। आवासाः किन्नराणां च गन्धर्वभवनानि च।।3.67.6।।

santīha giridurgāṇi nirdarāḥ kandarāṇi ca guhāśca vividhā ghorā nānāmṛgagaṇākulāḥ| āvāsāḥ kinnarāṇāṃ ca gandharvabhavanāni ca

Here are difficult mountains, caves, valleys, dreadful caves full of different animals, dwellingplaces of kinneras and mansions of gandharvas.

सन्तीह गिरिदुर्गाणि निर्दराः कन्दराणि च।।3.67.5।। गुहाश्च विविधा घोरा नानामृगगणाकुलाः। आवासाः किन्नराणां च गन्धर्वभवनानि च।।3.67.6।।

santīha giridurgāṇi nirdarāḥ kandarāṇi ca guhāśca vividhā ghorā nānāmṛgagaṇākulāḥ| āvāsāḥ kinnarāṇāṃ ca gandharvabhavanāni ca

Here are difficult mountains, caves, valleys, dreadful caves full of different animals, dwellingplaces of kinneras and mansions of gandharvas.

तानि युक्तो मया सार्धं त्वमन्वेषितुमर्हसि। त्वद्विधा बुद्धिसम्पन्ना महात्मानो नरर्षभ।।3.67.7।। आपत्सु न प्रकम्पन्ते वायुवेगैरिवाचलाः।

tāni yukto mayā sārdhaṃ tvamanveṣitumarhasi| tvadvidhā buddhisampannā mahātmāno nararṣabha āpatsu na prakampante vāyuvegairivācalāḥ|

Accompanied by me you should search for her in those spots. Great people endowed with wisdom do not destabilise in difficulties just as mountains are not shaken by the speed of the wind.

इत्युक्तस्तद्वनं सर्वं विचचार सलक्ष्मणः।।3.67.8।। क्रुद्धो रामश्शरं घोरं सन्धाय धनुषि क्षुरम्।

ityuktastadvanaṃ sarvaṃ vicacāra salakṣmaṇaḥ kruddho rāmaśśaraṃ ghoraṃ sandhāya dhanuṣi kṣuram|

Thus advised, the angry Rama fixed a sharp arrow to his bow and roamed in the forest accompanied by Lakshmana.

ततः पर्वतकूटाभं महाभागं द्विजोत्तमम्।।3.67.9।। ददर्श पतितं भूमौ क्षतजार्द्रं जटायुषम्।

tataḥ parvatakūṭābhaṃ mahābhāgaṃ dvijottamam dadarśa patitaṃ bhūmau kṣatajārdraṃ jaṭāyuṣam|

Then he saw the great Jatayu, a wonderful bird, looking like a mountain top, drenched in blood and fallen on the ground.

तं दृष्ट्वा गिरिशृङ्गाभं रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।3.67.10।। अनेन सीता वैदेही भक्षिता नात्र संशयः।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā giriśṛṅgābhaṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇamabravīt anena sītā vaidehī bhakṣitā nātra saṃśayaḥ|

On seeing Jatayu looking like the peak of a mountain, Rama said to Lakshmana, There is no doubt that this bird has devoured Vaidehi.

गृध्ररूपमिदं रक्षो व्यक्तं भवति कानने।।3.67.11।। भक्षयित्वा विशालाक्षीमास्ते सीतां यथासुखम्। एनं वधिष्ये दीप्तास्यैर्घोरैर्बाणैरजिह्मगैः।।3.67.12।।

gṛdhrarūpamidaṃ rakṣo vyaktaṃ bhavati kānane bhakṣayitvā viśālākṣīmāste sītāṃ yathāsukham| enaṃ vadhiṣye dīptāsyairghorairbāṇairajihmagaiḥ

This demon in the guise of a vulture has evidently eaten away the largeeyed Sita and is happily relaxing in the forest. With my terrific arrows with burning tips that can go straight I will kill him.

गृध्ररूपमिदं रक्षो व्यक्तं भवति कानने।।3.67.11।। भक्षयित्वा विशालाक्षीमास्ते सीतां यथासुखम्। एनं वधिष्ये दीप्तास्यैर्घोरैर्बाणैरजिह्मगैः।।3.67.12।।

gṛdhrarūpamidaṃ rakṣo vyaktaṃ bhavati kānane bhakṣayitvā viśālākṣīmāste sītāṃ yathāsukham| enaṃ vadhiṣye dīptāsyairghorairbāṇairajihmagaiḥ

This demon in the guise of a vulture has evidently eaten away the largeeyed Sita and is happily relaxing in the forest. With my terrific arrows with burning tips that can go straight I will kill him.

इत्युक्त्वाभ्यपतद्गृध्रं सन्धाय धनुषि क्षुरम्। क्रुद्धो रामस्समुद्रान्तां कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम्।।3.67.13।।

ityuktvābhyapatadgṛdhraṃ sandhāya dhanuṣi kṣuram| kruddho rāmassamudrāntāṃ kampayanniva medinīm

Having siad so, Rama took his bow, fixed the sharp arrow, and aimed at the vulture. The seabound earth trembled.

तं दीनं दीनया वाचा सफेनं रुधिरं वमन्। अभ्यभाषत पक्षी तु रामं दशरथात्मजम्।।3.67.14।।

taṃ dīnaṃ dīnayā vācā saphenaṃ rudhiraṃ vaman| abhyabhāṣata pakṣī tu rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam

But the vulture who was in a piteous state, vomitting foamy blood, spoke these words pathetically to Rama, son of Dasaratha:

यामोषधिमिवायुष्मन्नन्वेषसि महावने। सा देवी मम च प्राणा रावणेनोभयं हृतम्।।3.67.15।।

yāmoṣadhimivāyuṣmannanveṣasi mahāvane| sā devī mama ca prāṇā rāvaṇenobhayaṃ hṛtam

O Longlived one she who you are searching in the forest like herbal medicine has been carried away by Ravana along with my life.

त्वया विरहिता देवी लक्ष्मणेन च राघव। ह्रियमाणा मया दृष्टा रावणेन बलीयसा।।3.67.16।।

tvayā virahitā devī lakṣmaṇena ca rāghava| hriyamāṇā mayā dṛṣṭā rāvaṇena balīyasā

I have seen her snatched from you and from Lakshmana and carried off by powerful Ravana.

सीतामभ्यवपन्नोऽहं रावणश्च रणे मया। विध्वंसितरथश्चात्र पातितो धरणीतले।।3.67.17।।

sītāmabhyavapanno'haṃ rāvaṇaśca raṇe mayā| vidhvaṃsitarathaścātra pātito dharaṇītale

I descended down to protect Sita, and in the battle with Ravana his chariot destroyed fell down here on the ground.

एतदस्य धनुर्भग्नमेतदस्य शरावरम्। अयमस्य रथो राम भग्नसाङ्ग्रामिको मया।।3.67.18।।

etadasya dhanurbhagnametadasya śarāvaram| ayamasya ratho rāma bhagnasāṅgrāmiko mayā

O Rama this is his broken bow, this is his quiver and this is his warchariot all devastated by me.

अयं तु सारथिस्तस्य मत्पक्षनिहतो युधि। परिश्रान्तस्य मे पक्षौ छित्त्वा खड्गेन रावणः।।3.67.19।। सीतामादाय वैदेहीमुत्पपात विहायसम्। रक्षसा निहतं पूर्वं न मां हन्तुं त्वमर्हसि।।3.67.20।।

ayaṃ tu sārathistasya matpakṣanihato yudhi| pariśrāntasya me pakṣau chittvā khaḍgena rāvaṇaḥ sītāmādāya vaidehīmutpapāta vihāyasam| rakṣasā nihataṃ pūrvaṃ na māṃ hantuṃ tvamarhasi

He is Ravana's charioteer slain by my wings in the battle. As I was exhausted in the encounter Ravana clipped my wings, took Sita, and flew into the sky. You need not kill me. I am already slain by the demon.

अयं तु सारथिस्तस्य मत्पक्षनिहतो युधि। परिश्रान्तस्य मे पक्षौ छित्त्वा खड्गेन रावणः।।3.67.19।। सीतामादाय वैदेहीमुत्पपात विहायसम्। रक्षसा निहतं पूर्वं न मां हन्तुं त्वमर्हसि।।3.67.20।।

ayaṃ tu sārathistasya matpakṣanihato yudhi| pariśrāntasya me pakṣau chittvā khaḍgena rāvaṇaḥ sītāmādāya vaidehīmutpapāta vihāyasam| rakṣasā nihataṃ pūrvaṃ na māṃ hantuṃ tvamarhasi

He is Ravana's charioteer slain by my wings in the battle. As I was exhausted in the encounter Ravana clipped my wings, took Sita, and flew into the sky. You need not kill me. I am already slain by the demon.

रामस्तस्य तु विज्ञाय बाष्पपूर्णमुखस्तदा। द्विगुणीकृततापार्तस्सीतासक्तां प्रियां कथाम्।।3.67.21।।

rāmastasya tu vijñāya bāṣpapūrṇamukhastadā| dviguṇīkṛtatāpārtassītāsaktāṃ priyāṃ kathām

Having known from Jatayu the story of his beloved Sita, Rama was full of tears, his grief redoubled.

गृध्रराजं परिष्वज्य परित्यज्य महद्धनुः। निपपातावशो भूमौ रुरोद सहलक्ष्मणः।।3.67.22।।

gṛdhrarājaṃ pariṣvajya parityajya mahaddhanuḥ| nipapātāvaśo bhūmau ruroda sahalakṣmaṇaḥ

Rama dropped the bow and embraced the king of birds. He fell down despondent on the ground and began crying along with Lakshmana.

एकमेकायने दुर्गे निश्श्वसन्तं कथञ्चन। समीक्ष्य दुःखिततरो रामस्सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्।।3.67.23।।

ekamekāyane durge niśśvasantaṃ kathañcana| samīkṣya duḥkhitataro rāmassaumitrimabravīt

Rama saw Jatayu breathing with difficulty in that solitary, inaccessible place.Overcome by greater grief he said to Lakshmana:

राज्यं भ्रष्टं वने वासस्सीता नष्टा हतो द्विजः। ईदृशीयं ममालक्ष्मीर्निर्दहेदपि पावकम्।।3.67.24।।

rājyaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ vane vāsassītā naṣṭā hato dvijaḥ| īdṛśīyaṃ mamālakṣmīrnirdahedapi pāvakam

I have been expelled from the kingdom. I am made to stay in the forest. I have lost Sita (my beloved wife). This bird (who was my wellwisher) has been slain. Such misfortune will burn even fire.

सम्पूर्णमपि चेदद्य प्रविशेयं महोदधिम्। सोऽपि नूनं ममालक्ष्म्या विशुष्येत्सरितांपतिः।।3.67.25।।

sampūrṇamapi cedadya praviśeyaṃ mahodadhim| so'pi nūnaṃ mamālakṣmyā viśuṣyetsaritāṃpatiḥ

Now if I enter even the great sea, the lord of the rivers filled with water, it will also dry up due to my misfortune.

नास्त्यभाग्यतरो लोके मत्तोऽस्मिन्सचराचरे। येनेयं महती प्राप्ता मया व्यसनवागुरा।।3.67.26।।

nāstyabhāgyataro loke matto'sminsacarācare| yeneyaṃ mahatī prāptā mayā vyasanavāgurā

In this world of the animate and the inanimate there is no one more unfortunate than me fallen into the trap of adversities.

अयं पितृवयस्यो मे गृध्रराजो जरान्वितः। शेते विनिहतो भूमौ मम भाग्यविपर्ययात्।।3.67.27।।

ayaṃ pitṛvayasyo me gṛdhrarājo jarānvitaḥ| śete vinihato bhūmau mama bhāgyaviparyayāt

This aged king of birds is my father's friend. To my illluck, he is struck down and is lying on the ground.

इत्येवमुक्त्वा बहुशो राघवस्सहलक्ष्मणः। जटायुषं च पस्पर्श पितृस्नेहं विदर्शयन्।।3.67.28।।

ityevamuktvā bahuśo rāghavassahalakṣmaṇaḥ| jaṭāyuṣaṃ ca pasparśa pitṛsnehaṃ vidarśayan

Saying such words and showing filial affection, he caressed Jatayu repeatedly with Lakshmana.

निकृत्तपक्षं रुधिरावसिक्तं स गृध्रराजं परिरभ्य रामः। क्व मैथिली प्राणसमा ममेति विमुच्य वाचं निपपात भूमौ।।3.67.29।।

nikṛttapakṣaṃ rudhirāvasiktaṃ sa gṛdhrarājaṃ parirabhya rāmaḥ| kva maithilī prāṇasamā mameti vimucya vācaṃ nipapāta bhūmau

Rama hugged the king of vultures with servered wings, drenched in blood and asking him where Sita who was as dear to him as his life was, he dropped him and fell down on the ground. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तषष्टितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the sixtyseventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.