Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथार्येण समं तत्र सुमित्रातनयो वने। संजगामोपावृत्तेन हत्वा मायामृगं खलम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: There in the forest, Sumitrā's son met his noble brother as Rāma returned after killing the wicked illusory deer.
Passage 2
वीक्ष्य लक्ष्मणमायान्तं रामो दूराद्विशङ्कितः। समीपस्थं च तं भूयः पप्रच्छागमकारणम्। यथावृत्तं च सौमित्रिः सर्वं तस्मै न्यवेदयत्॥२॥
Seeing Lakṣmaṇa approaching from afar, Rāma became apprehensive. When Lakṣmaṇa drew near, Rāma asked why he had come, and Sumitrā's son related everything exactly as it had occurred.
Passage 3
ततश्च तावुभौ वीरौ क्षिप्रं प्रचलितौ वनात्। स्वाश्रमाभिमुखौ सीतां शङ्कमानौ रहोगताम्॥३॥
Then the two heroes quickly set out from the forest toward their hermitage, fearing that Sītā had been taken away in secret. Ominous Signs Around Pañcavaṭī
Passage 4
अथ दूराद्रघुपतिर्ददर्शाश्रममण्डलम्। शून्यं प्रियतमाहीनं वृतं काकैः समन्ततः॥४॥
From a distance, the lord of the Raghus saw the hermitage precinct empty of his beloved and surrounded on every side by crows.
Passage 5
शुष्यद्द्रुमलतागुल्मं रुदद्भिरिव पक्षिभिः। कूजद्भिरशुभध्वानं समन्तात्परिवेष्टितम्॥५॥
Its trees, vines, and thickets seemed to wither. Birds crying as though in grief encircled it with inauspicious calls.
Passage 6
पुरस्तात्तप्तपवनागमदुर्दैवसूचकम्। सरस्तु मूर्च्छिताम्भोजमकस्माद्दुःखबोधकम्॥६॥
The arrival of a hot wind ahead foretold misfortune, while the lake, its lotuses fainted, suddenly signaled sorrow.
Passage 7
कङ्कगृध्रैर्वायसैश्च भ्रमद्भिर्व्योममण्डले। सान्द्रैः पक्षकृतच्छायैः कथितामङ्गलागमम्॥७॥
Herons, vultures, and crows wheeled densely across the sky, the shadow of their wings announcing the arrival of calamity.
Passage 8
अकस्मान्मौनमालम्ब्य स्थितैरमधुपायिभिः। मधुव्रतैः परित्यक्तलतावृक्षप्रसूनकम्॥८॥
The bees had abruptly fallen silent and abandoned the blossoms of vines and trees from which they drank nectar.
Passage 9
सरःसु मौनमालम्ब्य स्थितैरबिसभक्षणैः। कुटुम्बैः कलहंसानां त्यक्तवारिविहारकम्॥९॥
Families of beautiful swans, eaters of lotus stalks, stood silent in the lakes and had forsaken their play upon the water.
Passage 10
पुरस्तादिव संध्योच्चैः रटद्भिः फेरवीकुलैः। आक्रान्तं तरुशाखासु रटदुलूककदम्बकम्॥१०॥
It was overrun by packs of jackals howling loudly as though dusk had come early, and by flocks of owls hooting from the tree branches.
Passage 11
चित्तस्योच्चाटजननं मरुता पूतिगन्धिना। अत्यर्थामङ्गलप्रायमरुच्यं मनसः स्फुटम्॥११॥
A foul-smelling wind unsettled the heart; everything appeared profoundly inauspicious and plainly repellent to the mind. Rāma Voices His Dread
Passage 12
उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो वीक्ष्याश्रमदशामिमाम्। पुरस्तादद्य सौमित्रे पर्यस्याश्रममण्डलम्॥१२॥
Seeing the hermitage in this condition, Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa, “Son of Sumitrā, today look carefully over the hermitage precinct ahead.
Passage 13
अमङ्गलानि चिह्नानि सर्वाण्यत्र विलोकये। किं नु मे सूचयिष्यन्ति भ्रातरद्य हते दिने॥१३॥
“Brother, I see every kind of inauspicious sign here. What will they reveal to me on this ruined day?
Passage 14
वामं च भुजमूलं मे समं वामेन चक्षुषा। मुहुः स्फुरति सौमित्रे दर्शयिष्यति किं भयम्॥१४॥
“My left upper arm and left eye throb repeatedly, Lakṣmaṇa. What terror will this disclose?
Passage 15
शुष्यतीव मम स्वान्तं शोको मे परिवर्धते। त्वक् च मे दह्यत इव किं नु भाव्यमतः परम्॥१५॥
“My heart seems to dry up, my sorrow increases, and my skin feels as though it burns. What is about to happen now?
Passage 16
नूनमत्राश्रमे भ्रातः सीतां पश्यामि नात्र वै। त्वां हित्वा निर्जने देशे तस्थौ सा वञ्चनाय मे॥१६॥
“Brother, I surely will not find Sītā here in the hermitage. She sent you away in this lonely place and remained behind, only for me to be deceived.
Passage 17
तया विरहितश्चाहं प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि तत्क्षणात्। इतीवामङ्गलं भ्रातरहं पश्यामि दुःसहम्॥१७॥
“If separated from her, I shall give up my life that very instant. Brother, this is the unbearable calamity I seem to foresee.
Passage 18
एते कङ्काश्च काकाश्च गृध्राश्च व्योममण्डले। भ्रमन्तः किं नु वक्ष्यन्ति मम भाग्यविपर्ययम्॥१८॥
“These herons, crows, and vultures circling in the sky—what reversal of my fortune do they proclaim?
Passage 19
अयमङ्गारकणमुक् तप्तस्पर्शः समीरणः। किं नु मे चित्तसन्तापं प्रवक्तीति न बुध्यते॥१९॥
“This wind casts particles of burning coal and is hot to the touch. I cannot tell what torment of heart it foretells for me.
Passage 20
एते खगा मृगाश्चैव शिवारुतविशङ्किताः। रुदन्त इव कूजन्ति किं नु वक्ष्यन्ति मेऽहितम्॥२०॥
“These birds and deer, alarmed by the cries of jackals, call as though weeping. What harm do they announce for me?
Passage 21
तरुगुल्मलतावृन्दं सोद्वेगमिव दृश्यते। अन्यामिव दशां पश्याम्यद्य पञ्चवटीवने॥२१॥
“The trees, thickets, and masses of vines appear distressed. Today I see the Pañcavaṭī forest in an altogether altered state.
Passage 22
उच्चाटमिव चित्तस्य स्थानमेतत् करोति मे। सम्भावयामि भद्रं नो अद्य शून्यायितं जगत्॥२२॥
“This place seems to unseat my mind. I expect no good; today the whole world appears empty.
Passage 23
उड्डीयत इव स्वान्तं स्थानं भक्षयतीव माम्। दिशो भयानकाः पश्याम्यटवीं भूर्यमङ्गलाम्॥२३॥
“My heart seems to fly from me, and this place seems to devour me. I see the directions filled with terror and the forest laden with ill omens.”
Passage 24
इति ब्रुवाणो रघुसार्वभौमोऽटव्यामभद्राणि वितर्कमाणः। प्रियान्यथावृत्तिविशङ्कुचेता जवादुपेतः खलु पर्णशालाम्॥२४॥
Speaking thus, the sovereign of the Raghus pondered the forest's evil signs. His heart fearing disaster for his beloved, he swiftly reached the leaf-hut.