Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— हा लक्ष्मणेति त्रिःशब्दं निशम्य जनकात्मजा। अतीवोद्भ्रान्तहृदया बभाषे देवरं सती॥१॥
Brahmā said: Hearing the cry “Ah, Lakṣmaṇa!” three times, Janaka's virtuous daughter became utterly distraught at heart and addressed her brother-in-law.
Passage 2
श्रीसीतोवाच— श्रुतस्त्वयाप्याक्रन्दोऽयं सौमित्रे भीतिकृन्मम। अनेनातीरदेवोऽहं शङ्के प्रोद्विग्नमानसा॥२॥
Śrī Sītā said: “Sumitrā's son, you too have heard this cry that fills me with fear. My mind is violently agitated, and from it I fear that my lord is in extreme distress.
Passage 3
शाम्यति नैव भ्रातुस्ते ज्येष्ठस्यात्र घने वने। नानादुःसत्त्वसदने रक्षोगणसमावृते॥३॥
“The cry of your elder brother does not subside in this dense forest, the dwelling of many dangerous beings and a place surrounded by hosts of rākṣasas.
Passage 4
कोऽन्यस्त्वामिह कान्तारे विषमे निर्जने वने। सम्भालयेदेवमार्तं नूनं तर्कय देवर॥४॥
“Brother-in-law, reflect: who else in this difficult, deserted wilderness would call to you in such distress?
Passage 5
आर्यस्ते मृगयां यातस्तमेवानुद्रुतो मृगम्। मोहनं काञ्चनमयं मम वाक्यानुबन्धतः॥५॥
“Your noble brother went hunting and pursued that enchanting golden deer because I persisted in asking for it.
Passage 6
केनापि दुष्टसत्त्वेन धर्षितः काननेऽत्र सः। नालम्बते मनो धैर्यं शृण्वन्त्या मम तं रवम्॥६॥
“Some wicked creature must have attacked him here in the forest. Hearing that cry, my mind cannot hold fast to courage.
Passage 7
अहो हि मन्दभाग्याहं कथमेकाकिनं प्रियम्। वने सम्प्रेषितवती सुवर्णमृगलोभतः॥७॥
“Alas, how unfortunate I am! Out of desire for the golden deer, I sent my beloved alone into the forest.
Passage 8
न तत्र कुशलं प्रायो यत्रास्ते वल्लभो मम। तर्कयामि मुहुश्चित्ते ध्वनिश्रवणशङ्किता॥८॥
“I fear that all is not well where my beloved is. Alarmed by hearing the cry, I turn this over again and again in my heart.
Passage 9
शीघ्रं त्वं गच्छ सौमित्रे तत्रैव वचनान्मम। आर्यस्तव गतो यत्र दुःसत्त्वबहुले वने॥९॥
“Sumitrā's son, obey me and go quickly to the place where your noble brother entered that forest crowded with dangerous beings.
Passage 10
यस्त्वामापद्गत इदमार्तं वचनमूचिवान्। तमनुत्वरितं याहि बन्धुकृत्यमनुस्मर॥१०॥
“He has fallen into danger and called these anguished words to you. Remember a kinsman's duty and hasten after him.
Passage 11
अभ्युद्धरेद्य आपद्भ्यो ध्रुवं बान्धवमात्मनः। स हितः स्वजनो बन्धुर्नेतरो यस्तटस्थवत्॥११॥
“One who rescues his own kinsman from calamity is truly a helpful relative and friend—not one who remains indifferent. Lakṣmaṇa Reassures Her
Passage 12
श्रुत्वा जनकजावाक्यं लक्ष्मणो धीरमानसः। उवाच भ्रातुरार्यस्य वीर्यमाहात्म्यवेदकः॥१२॥
Hearing Janaka's daughter's words, steadfast Lakṣmaṇa, who knew the power and greatness of his noble brother, replied.
Passage 13
मैवं शङ्कस्व मनसा कर्हिचिज्जनकात्मजे। क आर्यं धर्षयेल्लोके सदेवासुरमानुषे॥१३॥
“Daughter of Janaka, never entertain such a fear. In a world containing gods, asuras, and humans, who could attack my noble brother?
Passage 14
रक्षोभिरसुरैर्मर्त्यैर्गन्धर्वैर्मानुषैः सुरैः। नार्य आक्रमितुं शक्यस्तेजसाप्रतिमो महान्॥१४॥
“Neither rākṣasas, asuras, mortals, gandharvas, humans, nor gods can overpower my noble brother, whose magnificent splendor is unequaled.
Passage 15
धनुर्मात्रद्वितीयोऽसौ ससुरासुरमानुषम्। जगज्जेतुं सुपर्याप्त आत्मनाप्रतिमद्युतिः॥१५॥
“With only his bow as a companion, that lord of peerless radiance is fully capable of conquering the whole world with its gods, asuras, and humans.
Passage 16
अपरिच्छेद्यवीर्योऽयमार्यस्त्रिभुवने जनैः। नैवान्यजनसाम्येन शङ्कनीयो महाभुजः॥१६॥
“No being in the three worlds can measure my noble brother's valor. This mighty-armed one should never be judged by comparison with ordinary people.
Passage 17
शमयेत्पावकं दीप्तं समुद्रमपि शोषयेत्। सुमेरुमपि बाणैर्द्राग् भित्त्वा दिशि दिशि क्षिपेत्॥१७॥
“He could extinguish a blazing fire, dry up the ocean, or swiftly split Mount Sumeru with arrows and scatter it in every direction.
Passage 18
महीमपि शरैर्भिन्द्यात्पञ्चाशत्कोटियोजनाम्। क्रुद्धः कालमपि क्रुद्धं द्रावयेद्द्राक् स्वतेजसा॥१८॥
“With his arrows he could split even the earth, fifty crores of yojanas across. When angered, he could swiftly drive away wrathful Death itself by his own splendor.
Passage 19
अज्ञातात्मबलोदर्को जनैः सामान्यदर्शिभिः। विचरत्यवनीमार्यो यशोभिर्भूषयन् दिशः॥१९॥
“Ordinary people do not know the ultimate reach of his strength. My noble brother walks the earth, adorning every direction with his fame.
Passage 20
मा पुनस्तत्र शङ्किष्ठा एवं देवि पराभवम्। अमेयबलवीर्यस्य कः पराभविता भवेत्॥२०॥
“Goddess, do not again fear that he has been overcome. Who could defeat one whose strength and valor are immeasurable?
Passage 21
गणयेदपि यस्तारा दिव उच्चावचास्तथा। विमायादपि दैवेन पार्थिवानि रजांस्यपि॥२१॥
“Someone might count all the stars, high and low, in heaven or even measure by divine means every particle of earthly dust.
Passage 22
न सोऽपि रामवीर्याणि जनः संख्यातुमर्हति। अहो वाग्देवताप्यस्य गुणानां पारमेति न॥२२॥
“Even such a person could not enumerate Rāma's feats of valor. Indeed, not even the goddess of speech can reach the limit of his virtues.
Passage 23
इति विज्ञाय देवि त्वं मा शङ्किष्ठा रघूद्वहे। नियतेरपि चैवायं नियतिः स्वयमीश्वरः॥२३॥
“Knowing this, goddess, do not fear for the descendant of Raghu. He is himself the lord and the destiny even of destiny. Sītā's Fear Deepens
Passage 24
इत्युक्तवति सौमित्रौ सीता सामर्षमानसा। शब्दादधीरहृदया पुनरूचे भयान्वितम्॥२४॥
When Sumitrā's son had spoken thus, Sītā grew agitated and indignant. Her heart made unsteady by the cry, she spoke again in fear.
Passage 25
सत्यं जानाति हि भवान् वीर्यं स्वभ्रातुरीदृशम्। अहं त्वधीरहृदया शङ्कयाम्यशुभं महत्॥२५॥
“It is true that you know the extraordinary valor of your own brother. But my heart is unsteady, and I fear some great misfortune.
Passage 26
हा लक्ष्मणेति त्रिःशब्दं श्रुत्वास्य भृशं वने। सीदन्ति मम चाङ्गानि शुष्यतीव मुखं मम॥२६॥
“Hearing his loud cry ‘Ah, Lakṣmaṇa!’ three times in the forest, my limbs fail and my mouth seems to go dry.
Passage 27
मनो मे दह्यते शोकाद् व्यथा मे परिवर्धते। सम्भावयामि न शुभं तवार्यस्याद्य लक्ष्मण॥२७॥
“My mind burns with grief and my anguish grows. Lakṣmaṇa, I fear that all is not well with your noble brother today.
Passage 28
शब्दश्रवणमात्रेण विलुप्ता मे मनोधृतिः। अद्यापि नागतश्चैव रघूणां वल्लभो वनात्॥२८॥
“Merely hearing that cry has destroyed my composure, and the beloved descendant of Raghu has still not returned from the forest.
Passage 29
तन्निमित्तं न जानामि कुतो वा स विलम्बितः। तर्कयन्ती चिरेणाहं मग्ना शोकमहोदधौ॥२९॥
“I do not know the reason or why he has been delayed. Pondering it for so long, I am submerged in a vast ocean of grief.
Passage 30
दूरं गतो वा प्राणेशो लब्धः स्वर्णमृगो न वा। वने कृतं वा किमपि दुष्टसत्त्वेन केनचित्॥३०॥
“Has the lord of my life gone far away? Did he capture the golden deer or not? Or has some wicked creature done something to him in the forest?
Passage 31
मृगानवाप्तिलज्जातोऽथवा क्वापि विलम्बितः। इति चिन्ताकुलैवाहमश्रौषं तादृशं ध्वनिम्॥३१॥
“Or has shame at failing to catch the deer delayed him somewhere? While tormented by such thoughts, I heard that terrible cry.
Passage 32
ततोऽपि किल जीवामि पत्युरार्तिं विजानती। किं नु कुर्यामहं मूढा शोचामि हठमात्मनः॥३२॥
“Yet I still live even while knowing my husband's distress. What can I do? Fool that I am, I grieve over my own obstinacy.
Passage 33
येन सम्प्रेषितोऽरण्यमेकाकी प्राणवल्लभः। किं नु भावि न जानामि शुभं नोपलभेऽद्य वै॥३३॥
“Because of it, the beloved of my life was sent alone into the wilderness. I do not know what will happen; today I see no good at all.
Passage 34
वामो मेऽद्य विधिर्मन्ये क्व तं दयितमाप्नुयाम्। गच्छ लक्ष्मण तत्रैव मा चिरं शीघ्रमानय॥३४॥
“I believe fate is hostile to me today. Where shall I find my beloved? Go there, Lakṣmaṇa—do not delay, but bring him quickly.
Passage 35
भुजमूलं तु सव्यं मे स्फुरतीवाद्य भूरिशः। तथैव सव्यं चक्षुर्मे किं नु वक्ष्यत्यमङ्गलम्॥३५॥
“The base of my left arm throbs repeatedly today, and so does my left eye. What misfortune do these omens foretell?
Passage 36
अथापि धैर्यमालम्ब्य स्थितोऽसि बत देवर। न वै प्रयासि त्वरितं भ्रातृचिन्तासमाकुलः॥३६॥
“Yet you still stand here holding fast to composure, brother-in-law. Why do you not hurry away, overcome with concern for your brother?
Passage 37
विपन्नोऽयं स्मरत्यार्यः स उदासीनवद्भवान्। स्थितोऽसि तत्र नोपैषि किं नु दुःखमतः परम्॥३७॥
“Your noble brother is in danger and calls for you, yet you remain there as though indifferent and do not go to him. What sorrow could be greater than this?
Passage 38
हा लक्ष्मणेति त्रिः प्रोच्य स इदानीं न भाषते। इति मे स्फुटतीवान्तर्मनः किं नु भविष्यति॥३८॥
“After crying ‘Ah, Lakṣmaṇa!’ three times, he now speaks no more. My heart seems to split within me—what will happen?”
Passage 39
इत्याकर्ण्य स्त्रीस्वभावोदितं तत्तस्या वाक्यं नैम्यभूमीन्द्रपुत्र्याः। आर्यस्याज्ञां संस्मरन् धीरचेता ऊचे वाचं श्रीसुमित्रातनूजः॥३९॥
Hearing those words born of the distressed woman's nature of the daughter of the lord of the land of Nimi, steadfast Sumitrā's son remembered his noble brother's command and spoke in reply. Thus ends Chapter 152, “The Fear in Maithilī's Heart,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.