Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— सुखयित्वा चिरं विप्रान् पम्पातीरनिवासिनः। निर्ययौ रघुशार्दूलस्ततोऽसौ सहलक्ष्मणः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Having long brought joy to the brāhmaṇas dwelling on Pampā's bank, the tiger among the Raghus departed from there with Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 2
प्रणम्य भक्तिविनतो मुनीन् शीलवशीकृतान्। दक्षिणां दिशमारूढो गिरिकाननभीषणाम्॥२॥
Bowing with devotional humility to the sages won over by his gracious conduct, he set out toward the south, fearsome with mountains and forests.
Passage 3
कुर्वन्तौ विविधां वार्तामुभौ सज्यधनुर्धरौ। पथि घोरतरे प्राप्तौ सीतासम्प्राप्तिसत्वरौ॥३॥
The two bowmen, their bows strung, spoke together on many subjects as they entered a still more dreadful path, intent on swiftly recovering Sītā.
Passage 4
वसन्तौ गिरिदुर्गेषु वनेषु गहनेषु च। विश्रमन्तौ तरुतले सच्छायासुखदायिनि॥४॥
They dwelt among mountain fastnesses and deep forests, resting beneath trees whose fine shade gave relief. Lakṣmaṇa Serves Rāma on the Road
Passage 5
क्वचित्तरुतले रामो मध्याह्नातपपीडितः। विश्रान्तिमभजद् भ्रात्रा भक्तेन सुनिषेवितः॥५॥
At times, oppressed by the midday heat, Rāma rested beneath a tree, lovingly attended by his devoted brother.
Passage 6
विनीताध्वश्रमस्तेन पादसंवाहनादिभिः। उपधाय तदुत्सङ्गमशेत तरुमण्डपे॥६॥
His weariness from the road eased by Lakṣmaṇa's massaging of his feet and other services, Rāma lay down beneath the leafy canopy with his head in his brother's lap.
Passage 7
क्वचित्तरुभवैः पत्रैरातपत्रं विधाय सः। स भक्तिरार्यमभजद् गच्छन्तं तपनातपे॥७॥
Sometimes Lakṣmaṇa made a parasol from tree leaves and devotedly served his noble brother as he walked beneath the burning sun.
Passage 8
क्वचिदम्भोजिनीपत्रं पात्रीकृत्य महामतिः। सुदूरसरसस्तोयमानिनायार्यहेतवे॥८॥
Sometimes the wise brother shaped a lotus leaf into a cup and brought water for Rāma from a distant lake.
Passage 9
क्वचित्सकण्टकं मार्गमात्मचेलाञ्चलेन सः। ममार्ज निविडेऽरण्ये मार्जन्येव पदे पदे॥९॥
Sometimes in the dense forest he swept the thorny path at every step with the hem of his garment as though using a broom.
Passage 10
क्वचित्पल्लवसन्दोहं किरति स्म घने वने। सुतीक्ष्णाश्मकणव्याप्ते सुमित्रातनयोऽध्वनि॥१०॥
Sometimes Sumitrā's son scattered heaps of tender leaves upon a forest path covered with extremely sharp stones.
Passage 11
क्वचिद्द्रुमहरित्पर्णविस्तीर्णव्यजनानिलैः। अध्वश्रमपरिश्रान्तमार्यमुच्चैरसेवत॥११॥
Sometimes he vigorously served his noble brother, exhausted by the road, by fanning him with broad green leaves from the trees.
Passage 12
भक्तिप्रह्वस्य तस्यासौ सेवयाशीलयुक्तया। अतुष्यद्रघुशार्दूलो वियोगज्वरितोऽपि सन्॥१२॥
Although fevered by separation, the tiger among the Raghus was pleased by the gracious service of his devotionally humble brother.
Passage 13
शीलेनामृततुल्येन लक्ष्मणस्य रघूद्वहः। प्रियविश्लेषदग्धोऽपि नितरां परितोषितः॥१३॥
Though burned by separation from his beloved, the scion of Raghu was deeply comforted by Lakṣmaṇa's nectar-like character. Rāma Mistakes the Moon for the Sun
Passage 14
कदाचिन्निशि काकुत्स्थश्चन्द्रे ज्योत्स्नाविसारिणि। उवाच लक्ष्मणं सद्यः प्रोद्भूतविरहज्वरः॥१४॥
One night, as the moon spread its light, the fever of separation suddenly surged within the descendant of Kakutstha, and he spoke to Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 15
कस्यचिदिह तरोर्मूले सौमित्रे परिगृह्यताम्। मध्यं दिनगतो भानुस्तपत्येष प्रचण्डरुक्॥१५॥
“Sumitrā's son, let us take shelter here beneath some tree. The sun has reached midday and burns with fierce rays.”
Passage 16
तमुवाच हसन्नेष श्रीभानुकुलभूषणः। रजन्यां का कथा भानोर्नैष एव रजनीपतिः॥१६॥
The ornament of the radiant solar race replied with a smile, “How can there be talk of the sun at night? This is the lord of night.”
Passage 17
तमूचे पुनरप्येष कथं विज्ञायतेऽनुज। भानुर्वा रजनीशो वा तुल्यस्तापो ह्ययोरपि॥१७॥
Rāma answered him, “How can one tell, younger brother, whether it is the sun or the lord of night? The burning caused by either is the same to me.”
Passage 18
उपलक्षय काकुत्स्थ कुरङ्गं रजनीकरे। इत्युक्तवति सौमित्रौ स्मृतकान्ताविलोचनः॥१८॥
“Descendant of Kakutstha, observe the deer-mark in the moon,” said Sumitrā's son. At those words Rāma remembered his beloved's doe-like eyes.
Passage 19
विललाप रघुश्रेष्ठो हा कुरङ्गाक्षि जानकि। क्वासि क्वासीति सम्प्रोच्य मूर्छितः पतितः पथि॥१९॥
The best of the Raghus cried, “Alas, doe-eyed Jānakī! Where are you? Where are you?” Then he fainted and fell upon the path.
Passage 20
स तमुत्थापयामास प्रियाविरहविह्वलम्। धीरो भवेति बहुशो जल्पन् भक्तिकृताञ्जलिः॥२०॥
Lakṣmaṇa raised him, distraught by separation from his beloved, and repeatedly pleaded with folded hands, “Be steadfast.”
Passage 21
एवमुच्चावचैर्वृत्तैः प्रव्यक्तं विरहव्यथः। मन्दं जगाम काकुत्स्थः कृत्वा भ्रातुः करे करम्॥२१॥
His pain of separation revealed through such shifting states, the descendant of Kakutstha walked slowly with his hand in his brother's. Sītā's Anklet
Passage 22
क्वचिद् घने वनेऽपश्यत्प्रियाचरणनूपुरम्। पतितं भुवि रत्नांशुसुप्रकाशीकृतस्थलम्॥२२॥
In one dense part of the forest he saw his beloved's anklet fallen upon the ground, its jeweled rays brightly illuminating the spot.
Passage 23
तमेष सहसादाय करेण रघुनन्दनः। हृदा संगमयामास सन्तप्तेन वियोगतः॥२३॥
Raghu's descendant quickly picked it up in his hand and pressed it to his heart, which burned in separation.
Passage 24
उदश्रुनयनो रामः प्रियाचरणनूपुरम्। उवाच विरहोत्तापविप्रलापमयं वचः॥२४॥
His eyes streaming with tears, Rāma addressed his beloved's anklet in words of fevered lament born of separation.
Passage 25
अये नूपुर रत्नांशुद्योतभूषितविग्रह। सखे तवापि संजाता ममेव विषमा दशा॥२५॥
“O anklet, your form adorned by the brilliance of jeweled rays, my friend, the same terrible condition that has befallen me has befallen you.
Passage 26
तस्याश्चरणपद्माभ्यां दूरगः किल सम्प्रति। अत एव सखे क्लिष्टो मौनं वहसि सन्ततम्॥२६॥
“You are now far from her lotus feet. That is why, afflicted friend, you remain continually silent.
Passage 27
क्व च ते तादृशा नादा अलिझङ्कारमञ्जुलाः। नूनं विरहखेदेन सर्वं विस्मृतवानसि॥२७॥
“Where are those former sounds of yours, lovely as the humming of bees? Surely the pain of separation has made you forget everything.
Passage 28
अये तवेदं दौर्भाग्यं सखे कथमिवाजनि। येनैकान्तवने वासः सम्प्राप्तो मुनिवत्त्वया॥२८॥
“My friend, how did this misfortune befall you, that you now dwell like an ascetic in a lonely forest?
Passage 29
कदाचित् सोऽपि समयो भविष्यति सखे तव। यर्हि तच्चरणे लग्नः करिष्यसि मुदा ध्वनिम्॥२९॥
“Perhaps that time will come again, friend, when fastened to her foot you will joyfully make your sound.
Passage 30
सखे स्वमान्तरं दुःखं कं नु ब्रूया भवानिह। तिष्ठत्यहमिवात्यन्तमवाच्यविरहज्वरः॥३०॥
“Friend, to whom could you speak here of the sorrow within you? Like me, you remain consumed by an utterly inexpressible fever of separation.”
Passage 31
इति ब्रुवाणो जानक्या नूपुरं रत्नभूषितम्। हृदि संस्थापितं पश्यन् मुमूर्छ रघुनन्दनः॥३१॥
Speaking thus and gazing at Jānakī's jewel-adorned anklet held against his heart, Raghu's descendant fainted.
Passage 32
तं सन्दधार सौमित्रिर्बाहुभ्यां परिरभ्य वै। हन्तार्य धीरतामेहीत्यारोपितधृतिर्वदन्॥३२॥
Sumitrā's son caught and embraced him with both arms, seeking to restore his courage as he said, “Noble brother, please regain your composure.”
Passage 33
उवास घोरे विपिने प्रियेण भ्रात्रा समानीतफलादिभक्षः। निनाय रात्रीर्जनकात्मजाया विश्लेषदुःखेन नितान्तदीर्घाः॥३३॥
He remained in that dreadful forest, eating fruits and other food brought by his beloved brother, and passed nights made exceedingly long by the pain of separation from Janaka's daughter.