Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— जानकीविरहोन्मत्तः स्खलद्बुद्धिगुणोदयः। बभ्राम रघुशार्दूलः खिन्नः पञ्चवटीवने॥१॥
Brahmā said: Maddened by separation from Jānakī, the qualities of his understanding faltering, the afflicted tiger of Raghu's line wandered through the forest of Pañcavaṭī.
Passage 2
क्वचित्स्खलन् क्वचिद्गच्छन् क्वचिद्धावन् क्वचिद्भ्रमन्। क्वचिद्रुदन् क्वचिज्जल्पन् क्वचिन्मौनमुपाश्रयत्॥२॥
At times he stumbled, at times walked, at times ran, and at times wandered aimlessly; at times he wept, at times spoke, and at times took refuge in silence.
Passage 3
अवीक्षमाणो दयितां पश्यन् शून्यतमं जगत्। पर्यटन् संस्थया हीनोऽदीनः खिन्नतमश्च सः॥३॥
Unable to see his beloved and beholding the world utterly empty, he roamed without composure—unbroken in spirit, yet profoundly distressed.
Passage 4
जगाहे काननं सर्वं प्रियान्वेषणतत्परः। पृच्छमानस्तरुलतागुल्मतुङ्गवनस्पतीन्॥४॥
Intent on searching for his beloved, he entered every part of the forest, questioning the trees, vines, thickets, and lofty forest lords.
Passage 5
अवीक्षमाणः शोकान्तमपारविरहज्वरः। पश्यन्नन्धन्तमोव्याप्ता दिशः शून्यतमा इव॥५॥
Unable to see an end to his grief, burning with the boundless fever of separation, he saw the directions shrouded in blinding darkness and wholly empty. Rāma Collapses beside the Godāvarī
Passage 6
अन्तःसंतापसंवीतो बहिः शान्तकलेवरः। गतो गोदावरीं पुण्यां गङ्गां गौतमनिर्मिताम्॥६॥
Wrapped inwardly in torment while his body appeared outwardly still, he came to the sacred Godāvarī, the Gaṅgā brought forth through Gautama.
Passage 7
तस्यास्तीरभुवि श्रान्तः पश्यन् प्राणप्रियापदैः। अङ्कितं सैकतं रामो मुमूर्छ हतचेतनः॥७॥
Exhausted on her riverbank, Rāma saw the sand marked by the footprints of his life's beloved; his awareness overcome, he fainted.
Passage 8
तदाननं शीततमैर्गौतमीनीरविन्दुभिः। ममार्जातिखिन्नहृदयो लक्ष्मणः करुणान्वितः॥८॥
Compassionate Lakṣmaṇa, his heart deeply afflicted, bathed Rāma's face with the coldest drops of the Gautamī's water.
Passage 9
प्रक्षालितमुखस्तेन भ्रात्रा प्राकृतचेतनः। कथंचिदुन्मील्य दृशौ तस्थिवान् मौनमाश्रितः॥९॥
His face washed by his brother and ordinary awareness restored, Rāma somehow opened his eyes and remained standing in silence. Lakṣmaṇa Counsels Steadfast Action
Passage 10
तमाह लक्ष्मणो नीचैर्भक्तिप्रह्वः कृताञ्जलिः। शोकसंतप्तहृदयो वाष्पव्याकुललोचनः॥१०॥
Then Lakṣmaṇa spoke softly to him, bowed in devotion with joined palms, his heart scorched by grief and his eyes clouded with tears.
Passage 11
हा राम जगदाराम विश्वसंतापनाशन। बधान धैर्यं मनसि स्वीयकृत्यमनुस्मर॥११॥
“O Rāma, delight of the world and destroyer of the universe's suffering, bind courage within your mind and remember the task that is yours.
Passage 12
अलं गवेषणायासैरलं पर्यटनश्रमैः। अज्ञातस्थानविषय इत्थं त्वमतिखिद्यसे॥१२॥
“Enough of the strain of searching and the exhaustion of roaming. You are afflicting yourself in this way when her location remains unknown.
Passage 13
यदि विज्ञायते स्थानं यत्र ते प्राणवल्लभा। ध्रुवमन्वेषणं कार्यं यत्नोऽपि सफलो भवेत्॥१३॥
“If the place where your life's beloved is staying becomes known, then the search must certainly be made and the effort will bear fruit.
Passage 14
अत आर्य सहस्वामुं शोकवेगं सुदुर्धरम्। यावत्सम्प्राप्यते देवी प्राणेशी तव जानकी॥१४॥
“Therefore, noble brother, endure this nearly unbearable surge of grief until the goddess Jānakī, mistress of your life, is recovered.
Passage 15
स्वर्गे मर्त्येऽथ वा नागलोके गन्धर्वसद्मनि। क्व नु सा वर्तते साध्वी देवी जनकभूपजा॥१५॥
“Whether in heaven, the mortal world, the realm of the nāgas, or a gandharva dwelling—where is that virtuous goddess, King Janaka's daughter, now staying?
Passage 16
पातिव्रत्यं ध्रुवं तस्याः शक्यं केन विनाशितुम्। यत्रास्ति तत्र सा देवी शुद्धैवात्र न संशयः॥१६॥
“Who could possibly destroy her steadfast fidelity to her husband? Wherever she is, that goddess remains perfectly pure—there is no doubt of this.
Passage 17
यत्नस्तस्याः परिप्राप्तौ कर्तव्यो रघुपुङ्गव। यदि बुध्येत तत् स्थानं यत्र सा शुद्धविग्रहा॥१७॥
“Best of the Raghus, effort must be made to recover her once the place where that embodiment of purity remains is learned.
Passage 18
वेधनीयो हृदि शरैस्तेन तदपकारकः। ध्रुवमात्मविनाशाय हृता केनापि सा रहः॥१८॥
“Her offender must be pierced in the heart with your arrows. Whoever secretly took her away has surely done so for his own destruction.” The Brothers Depart Pañcavaṭī
Passage 19
इत्थं तौ कृतसंविदौ रघुवरौ शोकेन रुग्णाशयौ तूणीयुग्मनिबन्धनोदरकटीदेशौ कृपाणीधरौ। सज्जीकृत्य धनुर्युगं जनकजालोकाय बद्धोद्यमौ हित्वा पञ्चवटीवनं द्रुततरावग्रे समं जग्मतुः॥१९॥
Thus the two princes of Raghu, their hearts wounded by grief, formed their resolve. With paired quivers bound at their waists and swords in hand, they readied their two bows and fixed their effort on finding Janaka's daughter; leaving the forest of Pañcavaṭī, they swiftly went onward together.