Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
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Rama laments for Seetha and becomes despondent. But at the advice of Lakshmana both of them start a search for Seetha, presuming that she might be available in the proximity. Later they embark on a thorough search in the entire forest and its mountains and at lakesides, but Seetha is unseen. From here, until Rama meets Hanuma in next book Kishkindha, Rama's lamentation is continually portrayed. This may not be taken as a mere 'weeping' or 'bemoaning' of the principal character of the epic, but this has many poetics and romantics of epical poetry imbibed in it. An epic, basically, requires a hero to have his romantic attributes, naayaka lakshaNaaH and these 'wailings' will portray all of them. There are various, numerous and voluminous derivatives, meanings and commentaries, which cannot possibly be included in here, at this stage, except for passing references on them. Hence, this lengthy lamentation has lengthier romanticism. |
dR^iSTvaa aashrama padam shuunyam raamo dasharatha aatmajaH
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rahitaam parNashaalaam ca praviddhaani aasanaani ca || 3-61-1
adR^iSTvaa tatra vaidehiim sa.mniriikSya ca sarvashaH |
uvaaca raamaH praakrushya pragR^ihya rucirau bhujau || 3-61-2
1, 2. dasharatha aatmajaH raamaH= Dasharatha's, son, Rama; shuunyam= vacant; aashrama padam= hermitage's, threshold; [siitaayaaH =with Seetha]; rahitaam parNa shaalaam ca= devoid of [empty,] straw, cottage, also; pra viddhaani aasanaani ca= utterly, shattered, seats [leaf-mats,] also; dR^iSTa= having seeing; tatra= there; vaidehiim= Vaidehi; a+dR^iSTvaa= not, seen; sarvashaH= everywhere; sam niriikSya ca= well, on eyeing watchfully, even; pra aakrushya= loudly, shrieked; [lakshmaNasya ] rucirau bhujau= [Lakshmana's,] winning, shoulders; pragR^ihya= on taking [clasping]; raamaH uvaaca= Rama, said.
On seeing the vacant threshold of the hermitage and empty cottage of straw, also at the leaf-mat-seats that are utterly shattered, and not finding Vaidehi even on watchfully eyeing everywhere Rama shrieked loudly, and then on clasping the winning shoulders of Lakshmana he said this to him. [3-61-1, 2]
kva nu lakSmaNa vaidehii kam vaa desham ito gataa |
kena aahR^itaa vaa saumitre bhakSitaa kena vaa priyaa || 3-61-3
3. lakSmaNa= oh, Lakshmana; vaidehii= Vaidehi; kva nu= where is, possibly; itaH kam desham vaa gataa = from here, to which, place, or, she has gone; saumitre= oh, Soumitri; kena vaa aahR^itaa= by whom, or, she is stolen; priyaa= my ladylove; kena vaa bhakSitaa= by whom, or, she is gorged.
"Oh, Lakshmana, possibly where can be Vaidehi? Or, to which place she has gone from here? Or, Soumitri, who stole her away? Or, who has gorged up my ladylove? [3-61-3]
vR^iksheNa aavaarya yadi maam siite hasitum icChasi |
alam te hasitena adya maam bhajasva suduHkhitam || 3-61-4
4. siite= oh, Seetha; vR^iksheNa aavaarya= by trees, by concealing; maam= me; hasitum= [poke] fun at; icChasi yadi= you wish, if; te hasitena alam = your, fun [and games,] enough; adya= now; su duHkhitam= with highly, anguished one; maam bhajasva= me, you regard [get in touch.]
"Oh, Seetha, if you have concealed yourself under trees wishing to poke fun at me, enough is your fun and games, get in touch with me now, as I am highly anguished... [3-61-4]
yaiH saha kriiDase siite vishvastaiH mR^iga potakaiH |
ete hiinaaH tvayaa saumye dhyaayanti asra aavila iikSaNaaH || 3-61-5
5. saumye siite= oh, meek, Seetha; vishvastaiH= confidence [keeping in you, hence meekly]; yaiH= which of those; mR^iga potakaiH= deer, children [young deer]; saha kriiDase= with [which,] you were playing; ete= all these; tvayaa hiinaaH = with you, without; asra aavila iikSaNaaH = with tears, fluttery, looks; dhyaayanti [adya]= are broody [now.]
"Oh, meek Seetha, with which meekly young deer you were playing, all these are now broody with tearfully fluttery looks, without you... [3-61-5]
siitaayaa rahito aham vai na hi jiivaami lakshmaNa |
vR^itam shokena mahataa siitaa haraNajena maam || 3-61-6
para loke mahaaraajo nuunam drakSyati me pitaa |
6, 7a: lakshmaNa= oh, Lakshmana; siitaayaa rahitaH= Seetha, without; aham vai = I, really; na hi jiivaami= not, indeed, be living [outlasting]; siitaa= of Seetha; haraNa jena= by abduction, caused by; mahataa shokena= in high, anguish; vR^itam = enveloped - along with; maam= me; mahaa raajaH= great king [Dasharatha]; me pita = my, father; nuunam= definitely; para loke= in other, world [on my going there]; drakSyati= he observes.
"Really Lakshmana, I will not live long without Seetha, indeed I am enveloped in high anguish caused by the abduction of Seetha, and this alone will become a murderer, and on my going to other world when murdered by my own agony my father and that great king Dasharatha will definitely observe me in the other world... [3-61-6, 7a]
Some other mms contain the word mR^itam 'dead ...' instead of the word vR^itam 'enveloped...' 'when I am dead and gone to other world, there my father will ask me...' would then be its meaning.
katham pratij~naam sa.mshrutya mayaa tvam abhiyojitaH ||
3-61-7
apuurayitvaa tam kaalam mat sakaasham iha aagataH |
kaama vR^ittam anaaryam maam mR^iSaa vaadinam eva ca || 3-61-8
dhik tvaam iti pare loke vyaktam vakSyati me pitaa |
7b, 8, 9a. Dasharatha may deride me like this: maam= to me [to Dasharatha, he says 'to me you have promised']; maya abhiyojitaH= by me [by Dasharatha,] when directed; tvam= you - Rama; prati j~naam samshrutya= promise, on telling [assuredly]; tam kaalam a+puurayitvaa = that, time [term of exile] without, completing; mat= to my; sakaasham= presence; katham iha aagataH= how, to here [to other world, heaven] have come; by that you Rama, you have become a; kaama vR^ittam= at will, conducting [wilful disobedient - you Rama]; an+ aaryam= not, noble [despicable - you Rama]; mR^iSaa vaadinam= untruth, teller of [liar, dishonest - you Rama]; tvaam dhik = on you, fie; iti= thus - in that way father Dasharatha accuses me; pare loke= in other, world; me= to me; pitaa vyaktam vakSyati= father, obviously, speaks [derides me.]
"When I go to other world after my death our father Dasharatha who is already staying there will deride me saying, 'when I have directed you for a fourteen year exile, and when you too have assuredly agreed and promised me for that term, how you have to my presence in this ultramundane world without completing that term of fourteen year exile, besides breaking your own word of honour... thus you have become a wilful disobedient, despicable and dishonest person, such as you are, fie on you...' [3-61-7b, 8, 9a]
vivasham shoka sa.mtaptam diinam bhagna manoratham || 3-61-9
maam iha utsR^ijya karuNam kiirtiH naram iva an.hR^ijum |
kva gacchasi varaarohe maa motsR^ijya - maa maa utsR^ijya - sumadhyame ||
3-61-10
tvayaa virahitaH ca aham tyakSye jiivitam aatmanaH |
9b, 10, 11a. varaaarohe= oh, beautiful lady; vi vasham= without, self-control [one who is bewildered]; shoka sam taptam= by anguish, [who is] verily seared; diinam= [who is] woebegone; bhagna manoratham= broken, enthusiasm [whose buoyancy is broken]; maam= such as I am, me; kiirtiH= prestige; an + R^ijum naram = not, truthful one, from a man, [from a prevaricator]; iva= as with; iha= now; karuNam= as a woeful one; utsR^ijya= on abandoning; kva gacchasi= where, you are going; su madhyame= good [slender,] waisted one; maa motSR^ijya= maa= me; maa utsR^ijya= don't, leave [me] off; tvayaa virahitaH = by you, without [shunned away]; [if you shun me]; aham= I; aatmanaH jiivitam tyakSye = of mine, live, I will leave off - shun away.
"Anguish seared and bewildered me and I am woebegone with broken down buoyancy, and oh, beautiful lady, jilting such an woeful one as I am, where you are going now, as with prestige jilting a prevaricator? And if you shun me I will have to shun my life..." Thus Rama bewailed imaging her right in his front and running away. [3-61-9b, 10, 11a]
iti iva vilapan raamaH siitaa darshana laalasaH || 3-61-11
na dadarsha suduHkha aarto raaghavo janaka aatmajaam |
10b, 11a. siitaa darshana laalasaH= Seetha, seeing, desperate for; su duHkha aartaH= highly, anguished, agonised; raaghavaH= legatee of Raghu; raamaH= Rama; iti iva vilapan= thus, this way, on bewailing; janaka aatmajaam na dadarsha= Janaka's, daughter, not, he has seen - found.
Though that legatee of Raghu is desperate for seeing Seetha, though he is highly anguished and agonised, though he bewailed this way, that Rama has not found Janaka's daughter, Seetha. [3-61-10b, 11a]
anaasaadayamaanam tam siitaam shokaparaayaNam || 3-61-12
pa.nkam aasaadya vipulam siidantam iva ku.njaram |
lakSmaNo raamam atyartham uvaaca hita kaamyayaa || 3-61-13
11b, 13. siitaam= at Seetha; an + aasaadayamaanam= one who is not, getting at; shoka paraayaNam= one to sadness, who surrendered himself to - sinking; vipulam pankam aasaadya siidantam= chasmal, mud, on getting at, sinking; kunjaram iva = an elephant, as with; tam raamam= to such a, Rama; lakSmaNaH= Lakshmana; atyartham hita kaamyayaa= positively, well being, desiring; uvaaca= spoke.
To him who is unable to find Seetha, and who is sinking in sadness as with an elephant sinking in a chasmal mud, Lakshmana spoke to such a Rama in a positive manner desiring his wellbeing. [3-61-11b, 13]
maa viSaadam mahaabuddhe kuru yatnam mayaa saha |
idam giri varam viira bahu kandara shobhitam || 3-61-14
14. mahaa buddhe= oh, well-informed one; viSaadam maa= = desperation, do not [get into]; mayaa saha yatnam kuru = me, along with, efforts, you make; viira= oh, brave one; idam giri varam= this, mountain, the best; bahu kandara shobhitam= many, caves, beaming forth with; she may be somewhere there.
"Oh, well-informed one, do not get into desperation, you make efforts along with me, and oh, brave one, this best mountain is beaming forth with many caves, she may be there somewhere. [3-61-14]
priya kaanana sa.ncaaraa vana unmattaa ca maithilii |
saa vanam vaa praviSTaa syaat naliniim vaa supuSpitaam || 3-61-15
saritam vaa api sa.mpraaptaa miina va.njula sevitaam |
15, 16a. priya= fascinated; kaanana= in woodlands; sancaaraa= saunterer - Seetha; vana unmattaa ca= for water [here, not forest but waters,] infatuated, even; saa maithilii= she that, Maithili; vanam vaa= in forest, either; su puSpitaam naliniim vaa = well, bloomed, in lotus-lake, or; praviSTaa syaat = entered, she will be - she might have; miina vanjula sevitaam= by fishes, cane-breaks, one which is adorned by; saritam vaa api= to river, or, even; sampraaptaa= reached.
"Maithili is a fascinated saunterer in woodlands so she might have entered the forest, she is even infatuated with waters, so she might have gone to the fully bloomed lotus-lake, or to the river that is adorned by fishes and cane-breaks. [3-61-15]
vitraasayitu kaamaa vaa liinaa syaat kaanane kvacit ||
3-61-16
jij~naasamaanaa vaidehii tvaam maam ca puruSarSabha |
tasyaa hi anveSaNe shriiman kSipram eva yataavahe || 3-61-17
16b, 17. puruSarSabha= oh, best one among men; vaidehii= Vaidehi; tvaam ca maam ca= you, also, me, also; vi traasayitu kaamaa vaa= to scare [us,] wishing to, or else; jij~naasamaanaa vaa= interested in knowing [our reaction for her pranks,] or; kaanane kvacit liinaa = in forest, somewhere, wrapped up in [squirreled away herself]; syaat= she will be; shriiman= oh, honourable one; tasyaa anveSaNe= her, in searching; kSipram eva yataavahai= quickly, thus, we have to endeavour; hi= indeed.
"Or, wishing to know our reaction when she scares us with her prank, Maithili might have squirreled away into forest. Oh, honourable brother, let us endeavour quickly to search her. [3-61-16]
vanam sarvam vicinuvo yatra saa janaka aatmajaa |
manyase yadi kaakutstha maa sma shoke manaH kR^ithaaH || 3-61-18
18. kaakutstha= oh, Kakutstha Rama; manyase yadi= you consider, if; saa janaka aatmajaa= she, Janaka's, daughter; yatra = [to locate] where [she might be]; sarvam vanam vicinuvaH= in entirety, forest, let us search; shoke= in sadness; manaH= heart; maa sma= do not, be in; kR^ithaaH= do it [engulf.]
"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, if you consider that we shall search the forest in its entirety to locate where she that Janaka's daughter might be, let us quickly do so. But do not engulf your heart in sadness." Thus Lakshmana advised Rama. [3-61-18]
evam uktaH tu sauhaardaat lakSmaNena samaahitaH |
saha saumitriNaa raamo vicetum upacakrame || 3-61-19
19. lakSmaNena= by Lakshmana; sau haardaat= owing to good-heart; evam uktaH= this way, who is spoken to; raamaH= Rama; samaahitaH= self-collectedly [Rama]; saumitriNaa saha= Soumitri, with; vicetum upacakrame= to search, made headway.
When Lakshmana good-heartedly spoke this way, Rama self-collectedly made a headway for the search of Seetha along with Soumitri. [3-61-19]
tau vanaani giriin caiva saritaH ca saraa.msi ca |
nikhilena vicinvantau siitaam dasharatha aatmajau || 3-61-20
20. tau= those two; dasharatha aatmajau= Dasharatha's, sons; vanaani giriin caiva= forests, mountains, also thus; saritaH ca saraamsi ca= rivers, also, lakes, also; nikhilena= thoroughly; siitaam= for Seetha; vicinvantau= started searching.
Those two sons of Dasharatha have started a thorough search for Seetha in forests, on mountains, also thus at rivers and lakes. [3-61-20]
tasya shailasya saanuuni shilaaH ca shikharaaNi ca |
nikhilena vicinvantau na eva taam abhijagmatuH || 3-61-21
21. tasya shailasya saanuuni= that, [that mountain where their cottage is there - Chitrakuta,] mountain's, on sides; shilaaH [guhaaH] ca shikharaaNi ca= crags, even, peaks, also; nikhilena= whole of; vicinvantau= on searching; na eva taam abhi jagmatuH= not, thus, her, towards, go [found.]
On searching whole of mountainsides of that Mt. Chitrakuta, where their hermitage is there, even in its caves, crags, and mountain peaks they have not found Seetha. [3-61-21]
vicitya sarvataH shailam raamo lakSmaNam abraviit |
na iha pashyaami saumitre vaidehiim par.hvate shubhaam || 3-61-22
22. raamaH sarvataH shailam vicitya = Rama, everywhere, on that mountain, on exploring; lakSmaNam abraviit = to Lakshmana, said; saumitre= oh, Soumitri; iha parvate= this, on mountain; shubhaam vaidehiim= auspicious, Vaidehi; na pashyaami= not, I descry.
On exploring everywhere on that mountain Rama said to Lakshmana, "oh, Soumitri, here on this mountain I do not descry auspicious Vaidehi." [3-61-22]
tato duHkha abhisa.ntapto lakSmaNo vaakyam abraviit |
vicaran daNDaka araNyam bhraataram diipta tejasam || 3-61-23
23. tataH= then; duHkha abhisantaptaH lakSmaNaH = by anguish, tormented, Lakshmana; daNDaka araNyam vicaran = Dandaka, forest, while roving [searchingly]; diipta tejasam bhraataram= to greatly, resplendent, to brother - Rama; vaakyam abraviit=, sentence, said.
While roving searchingly in Dandaka forest Lakshmana who is tormented by anguish said a sentence to his greatly resplendent brother Rama. [3-61-23]
praapsyasi tvam mahaapraaj~na maithiliim janaka aatmajaam |
yathaa viSNuH mahaabaahuH balim baddhvaa mahiim imaam || 3-61-24
24. mahaapraaj~na= oh, insightful [brother]; tvam= you; janaka aatmajaam maithiliim= Janaka's, daughter, Maithili; mahaabaahuH= ambidextrous; viSNuH= Vishnu; balim= emperor Bali; baddhvaa= on fastening [on subjugating]; imaam mahiim= this, earth; yathaa= as with; praapsyasi= you will reacquire.
"Oh, insightful brother, you will reacquire Janaka's daughter Maithili, as Vishnu once subjugated Emperor Bali and reacquired this earth." [3-61-24]
evam uktaH tu viireNa lakSmaNena sa raaghavaH |
uvaaca diinayaa vaacaa duHkha abhihata cetanaH || 3-61-25
25. viireNa lakSmaNena= by valiant, Lakshmana; evam uktaH tu= thus, addressed, but; saH raaghavaH= he, Raghava; duHkha abhihata cetanaH = by poignance, marred, with thinking; diinayaa vaacaa= with pathetic, words; uvaaca = spoke.
But when the valiant Lakshmana addressed him in that way, Raghava whose thinking is marred by poignance spoke these pathetic words. [3-61-25]
vanam suvicitam sarvam padminyaH phulla pa.nkajaaH |
giriH ca ayam mahaapraaj~na bahu kandara nir.hjharaH |
na hi pashyaami vaidehiim praaNebhyo api gariiyasiim || 3-61-26
27. mahaapraaj~na= oh, sensible [brother]; sarvam vanam su vicitam= entire, forest, clearly, is searched; phulla pankajaaH padminyaH [vicitam]= with blossomed, lotuses, lotus-lakes [are searched]; bahu kandara nirjharaH= with many, caves, rapids; ayam giriH ca = this, mountain, also [searched]; praaNebhyaH api gariiyasiim= by lives, even, loftier than; vaidehiim= at Vaidehi; na pashyaami hi= not, I see, indeed.
"This forest in its entirety, these lotus-lakes with their blossomed lotuses, and this mountain with its many caves and mountain-rapids, all are evidently searched. But, oh, sensible brother, I do not descry Vaidehi who is loftier than my lives." [3-61-27]
evam sa vilapan raamaH siitaa haraNa karshitaH |
diinaH shoka samaaviSTo muhuurtam vihvalo abhavat || 3-61-27
28. siitaa haraNa karshitaH = by Seetha's, abduction, languishing [appears to be]; saH raamaH= he, that Rama; evam vilapan= in this way, lamenting; diinaH= pitiable; shoka sam aaviSTaH = by sadness, besieged; muhuurtam= for a moment; vihvalaH abhavat= perturbed, he became.
Lamenting in this way Rama languished owing to the abduction of Seetha and became a pitiable one, and while sadness besieging him he is perturbed for a moment. [3-61-28]
sa vihvalita sarva a.ngo gata buddhiH vicetanaH |
niSasaada aaturo diino niHshvasya ashiitam aayatam || 3-61-28
29. vihvalita sarva angaH= fluttered, all, limbs; gata buddhiH= gone [functionless, ] faculty; vi cetanaH= without, animation [frozen fervour]; aaturaH= flustered; diinaH= forlorn; a+shiitam= not, cold [hot, swelteringly]; aayatam= lengthy; niHshvasya= on suspiring; saH= he [such as he is, he]; niSasaada= sank down / dejected.
All the limbs of Rama are fluttered, his faculty has become functionless, his fervour is frozen, he is forlorn and flustered, and such as he is he sank down suspiring swelteringly and lengthily. [3-61-29]
bahushaH sa tu niHshvasya raamo raajiiva locanaH |
haa priye ti vicukrosha bahusho baaSpa gadgadaH || 3-61-29
30. raajiiva locanaH saH raamaH = lotus, eyed one, he, that Rama; bahushaH= repeatedly [or, bahulam= muchly]; niHshvasya= suspired; baaSpa gadgadaH= by tears, becoming stifle-throated; haa priye iti= ha, dear, thus; bahushaH vi cukrosha= repeatedly, highly, shrieked.
Suspiring repeatedly he that lotus-eyed Rama shrieked repeatedly and loudly thus as, 'ha, Seetha...' with tears stifling his throat. [3-61-30]
tam saantvayaamaasa tato lakSmaNaH priya baandhavam |
bahu prakaaram shoka aartaH prashritaH prashrita a.njaliH || 3-61-30
31. tataH= then; priya baandhavam= loving, kinsfolk [one who has kinsfolk who hold him dear, namely Rama]; shoka aartaH lakSmaNaH = by sadness [of Rama,] [who is already] anguished, [such a] Lakshmana; prashrita= obediently; anjaliH= adjoining palms; prashritaH= obedient one - Lakshmana; bahu prakaaram= in divers, methods; tam saantvayaamaasa= him [at Rama,] started to pacify.
Though Rama has many kinsfolk who hold him dear he is now left with a single one, namely Lakshmana, and that obedient brother Lakshmana who is already anguished for Rama's sadness, then adjoining his palms obediently started to pacify Rama with divers methods. [3-61-31]
anaadR^itya tu tat vaakyam lakSmaNa oSTha puTa cyutam |
apashyan taam priyaam siitaam praakroshat sa punaH punaH || 3-61-31
32. saH= he that Rama; tu= on his part; lakSmaNa oSTha puTa cyutam= Lakshmana's, lips, cup-like, fallen from; tat vaakyam= that, sentence [word of advise]; an+aadR^itya= not, agreeing - disavowing; priyaam taam siitaam= dear, her, that Seetha; a+pashyan = not, seeing; punaH punaH= again, again; praa kroshat= stridently, yelled.
But disavowing the word of advice that fell out from the cupped lips of Lakshmana, Rama stridently yelled again and again when his dear Seetha has become unseeable. [3-61-32]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye araNya kaaNDe eka SaSTitamaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 61st chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© Mar, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : December 04]