Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— श्रुत्वा लङ्काधिपः क्रुद्धस्ताः कर्णकटुका गिरः। महामानी महावीर्यो राक्षसानिदमादिशत्॥१॥
Brahmā said: “The proud and immensely powerful lord of Laṅkā became enraged on hearing those words so harsh to his ears, and he gave this order to the rākṣasas.
Passage 2
अहो रे राक्षसश्रेष्ठास्तनयो मम विद्विषः। मत्सपत्नस्य दूतश्च वध्यतां वध्यतामसौ॥२॥
“‘Foremost rākṣasas, this is the son of my enemy and the messenger of my rival. Kill him—kill him!’
Passage 3
भाषते दुर्विनीतोऽयं यत्किञ्चिदयथातथम्। क्षन्तव्यो नैव दुर्बुद्धिरसमाजोचितं वदः॥३॥
“‘This ill-disciplined creature speaks whatever comes to him, falsely and improperly. The fool must not be pardoned, for his speech is unfit for an assembly.’
Passage 4
इत्युक्तास्तेन बलिना बलिनो राक्षसोत्तमाः। निग्रहीतुं तमुद्दण्डं प्रयत्नमतिचक्रिरे॥४॥
“Thus commanded by that powerful king, the mighty rākṣasa chiefs made every effort to seize the defiant Aṅgada.
Passage 5
स तान् रक्षःसभामुख्यान् प्रसभं निग्रहोद्यतान्। अङ्घ्रिप्रहारैर्बलवानाजघान समन्ततः॥५॥
“As those leading members of the rākṣasa assembly rushed violently to capture him, powerful Aṅgada struck them down on every side with blows of his feet.
Passage 6
ते तस्याङ्घ्रिप्रहारोत्थसुनिर्घातसमाहताः। निपेतू राक्षसाः सर्वे राक्षसाधिपतेः पुरः॥६॥
“All those rākṣasas, battered by the thunderclaps raised by his kicks, fell before the lord of the rākṣasas.
Passage 7
चुक्रोध तेभ्यो लङ्केशः प्रहतेभ्यस्तथामुना। आदिदेश मुहुर्वक्रं वध्यतां वध्यतामिति॥७॥
“The lord of Laṅkā grew furious at them for having been beaten by Aṅgada. With a contorted face he repeatedly ordered, ‘Kill him! Kill him!’
Passage 8
तूर्णं स तानधिक्षिप्य पादोत्क्षेपसुनिहतान्। आलूय राक्षसपतेर्नखरैः कर्णनासिकम्॥८॥
“Aṅgada quickly leapt over those he had felled with his feet and tore the rākṣasa king's ears and nose with his nails.
Passage 9
भित्त्वा राजशिरोवेश्म गर्जन् गगनवर्त्मना। निर्गत्य शनकैर्वीरः प्राप्तो रघुपतेः पुरः॥९॥
“Roaring, the hero broke through the roof of the royal palace above the king's head, departed by the path of the sky, and calmly reached the presence of the Lord of the Raghus.
Passage 10
तस्मै निवेदयामास यथावृत्तं कपीश्वरः। दुर्नयं राक्षसपतेर्बलाच्च स्वविनिर्गमम्॥१०॥
“The lord of monkeys reported everything exactly as it had occurred: the rākṣasa king's wicked conduct and his own forceful escape. First Bracketed Alternative — The Rākṣasīs Deceive Sītā
Passage 11
[अथ रावणवाक्येन राक्षस्यो घोरचेतसः। जानकीं वञ्चयामासु रावणाभीष्टसिद्धये॥११॥
“[Then, at Rāvaṇa's command, the dreadful-minded rākṣasī women deceived Jānakī in order to accomplish Rāvaṇa's desire.
Passage 12
सीते राक्षसराजस्य भृत्येन घोरकर्मणा। अन्तर्हितेन ते पत्युः शिरश्छित्त्वा समागतः॥१२॥
“‘Sītā, a servant of the rākṣasa king, terrible in deed and concealed from sight, has severed your husband's head and returned.’
Passage 13
इति घोरतरं वाक्यं वज्रादपि सुनिष्ठुरम्। श्रुत्वा मुमूर्च्छ सा देवी वित्रस्तहृदयेक्षणा॥१३॥
] “Hearing these horrifying words, crueler than a thunderbolt, the goddess fainted, terror filling her heart and eyes.] Sītā Regains Consciousness
Passage 14
ततश्च प्राप्य चैतन्यं विललाप सुदुःखिता। किं जातमद्य नन्वेतद्विपरीतमभाग्यतः॥११॥
“Then, regaining consciousness, the deeply afflicted Sītā lamented: ‘What has happened today? Has this reversal truly arisen from my ill fortune?
Passage 15
धिङ्मे प्राणान् दृशौ चापि धिक् च मां गृहजीविताम्। पतितोऽयं मदुपरि को नाम सुमहाशनिः॥१२॥
“‘Shame upon my life and upon my eyes; shame upon me for remaining alive in this dwelling! What immense thunderbolt has fallen upon me?
Passage 16
दग्धे मम दृशौ सम्प्रत्याशाबन्धगते चिरात्। न लब्धं दर्शनं किं वा वाञ्छाफलविधायिनोः॥१३॥
“‘My eyes are burned now, after being bound to hope for so long. Why were they not granted the sight of those two who fulfill the fruit of every longing?’ Second Bracketed Alternative — The Illusory Heads
Passage 17
[वज्रदंष्ट्रं समाहूय राक्षसं घोरमायिनम्। जानकीं मोहनार्थाय चाज्ञापयत रावणः॥११॥
“[Rāvaṇa summoned Vajradaṃṣṭra, a rākṣasa of dreadful magic, and commanded him to bewilder Jānakī.
Passage 18
अहो रक्षोवर भवान् राक्षस्या घोरमायया। सीतापुरः प्रक्षिप रामलक्ष्मणयोरुभे॥१२॥
“‘Foremost rākṣasa, by your terrible rākṣasa magic cast before Sītā the two heads of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 19
शिरसी सम्प्रति यथा वस्त्रालङ्कारसंयुते। तद्दर्शनादियं मोहं यास्यति ध्रुवमञ्जसा॥१३॥
“‘Fashion the two heads complete with their garments and ornaments. At the sight of them she will certainly and immediately fall into delusion.’
Passage 20
इत्यादिष्टः स तेनोग्रः कौणपस्तत्तथाकरोत्। दृष्ट्वा च जानकी देवी शिरसी रघुनाथयोः॥१४॥
“Thus commanded by him, that fierce corpse-eating rākṣasa did exactly so. When the goddess Jānakī saw the two heads of the lords of the Raghu line,
Passage 21
हा हतास्मीति बहुशश्चक्रन्द मनसाऽऽहता। हा नाथ हा रघुपते हा वीरवर हा पते॥१५॥
“she cried again and again, stricken in heart: ‘Alas, I am slain! O Lord! O Lord of the Raghus! O foremost hero! O my husband!
Passage 22
अनाथां मां वने त्यक्त्वा क्व गतोऽसि महामते। हा लक्ष्मण महावीर हा सुमित्राङ्कभूषण॥१६॥
“‘Great-minded one, where have you gone, leaving me orphaned in the forest? Alas, Lakṣmaṇa, great hero and ornament of Sumitrā's lap!
Passage 23
हा देवर गुणागार कथं जातोऽसि सम्प्रति। शृण्वन्ती वां समुत्कर्षं किमहं विधिना हता॥१७॥
“‘Alas, brother-in-law and treasury of virtue, how have you come to this state? As I listened to the exalted deeds of you both, why has destiny struck me down?
Passage 24
त्रैलोक्यजेता वीरेन्द्र सर्वलोकेकशासक। कथं मां त्यजसे वीर भ्रातुः पत्नीं गरीयसीम्॥१८॥
“‘Conqueror of the three worlds, lord of heroes, sole ruler of every realm—hero, how can you abandon me, the honored wife of your elder brother?
Passage 25
सम्बोधय रघुश्रेष्ठं विद्यया गारुडाख्यया। जहि शीघ्रमिमं वीर रावणं लोककण्टकम्॥१९॥
“‘Awaken the best of the Raghus with the lore called Gāruḍa. Hero, swiftly kill this Rāvaṇa, the thorn of the worlds!
Passage 26
निराशेवाद्य किमहं ध्रुवं यास्यामि पञ्चताम्। दीर्घायुषोर्वां किमयमायुर्नाशो मया कलिः॥२०॥
हा देवता हा मुनयः क्वाशिषो भवतां गताः।] “‘Have I become utterly without hope today? I shall surely die. You two were destined for long lives—has this calamity brought by me destroyed your lives? Alas, gods! Alas, sages! Where have all your blessings gone?] Sītā's Lament Continues
Passage 27
हा वीरेन्द्र हतो वाली सुग्रीवश्च कृतः सखा। बद्धश्च वारिधौ सेतुः समुत्पाद्य महीधरैः॥१४॥
“‘Alas, lord of heroes! Vāli was slain, Sugrīva was made your friend, and a bridge was bound across the ocean by raising mountains.
Passage 28
रुद्धं च लङ्काहृदयमित्याद्यान् भवतो गुणान्। शृण्वन्त्येवाधुना किमहं दग्धा शोकेन भूयसा॥१५॥
“‘The heart of Laṅkā was blockaded. I was still hearing of these and your other deeds—why am I now consumed by overwhelming grief?
Passage 29
त्रायस्व मां रघुपते पतितां शोकसागरे। मा चूर्णय मनः शोकमहाशनिनिपातनात्॥१६॥
“‘Lord of the Raghus, rescue me, fallen into an ocean of sorrow. Do not crush my mind beneath the fall of this immense thunderbolt of grief.
Passage 30
हा हा दशरथातुच्छतपःसिद्धिफलं प्रभो। किमियं राक्षसी माया स्वप्नो वा सम्प्रदृश्यते॥१७॥
“‘Alas, alas, Lord—the fruit attained through Daśaratha's no-small austerity! Is what I see this rākṣasī magic, or is it a dream?
Passage 31
किमसम्भाव्यमेतन्मे दृश्यते पुरतः प्रभो। कथं जीवेयमद्येश पश्यन्तीदृग्विधां तव॥१८॥
“‘Lord, why does this impossible sight appear before me? Master, how can I live today after seeing you in such a condition?
Passage 32
कस्ते मारयिता वीर भवेऽस्मिन् सचराचरे। किमकस्मादिदं जातं विपरीततमं प्रभो॥१९॥
“‘Hero, who in this world of moving and unmoving beings could kill you? Lord, how has this most terrible reversal suddenly come to pass?’
Passage 33
इत्यादि विलपन्तीं तां रावणस्याथ चेटिकाः। राक्षस्यो वीतकरुणा बोधयन्ति स्म जानकीम्॥२०॥
“As Jānakī lamented in this way, Rāvaṇa's rākṣasī servants, devoid of compassion, began trying to persuade her. The Rākṣasīs Praise Rāvaṇa
Passage 34
किं विलप्यातिमात्रं ते भूतं तु ननु भावि यत्। वृथा शोकेन किं चेतः खेदयस्यब्जलोचने॥२१॥
“‘Why do you lament so excessively? What was destined to happen has happened. Lotus-eyed woman, why distress your heart with useless grief?
Passage 35
निवारयतमां तन्वि बाष्पाणि परितो मुखम्। पूर्णेन्दुसुन्दरं ह्येतद् ग्लपयन्ति निरर्थकम्॥२२॥
“‘Slender woman, stop these tears from flowing over your face. They needlessly cause that face, beautiful as the full moon, to wither.
Passage 36
प्रसीद लङ्कानाथस्य नूनमूर्धाङ्गिनी भव। प्रणिपातपरोऽयं ते त्रैलोक्येशो दशाननः॥२३॥
“‘Be gracious to the lord of Laṅkā and become his chief queen. Daśānana, ruler of the three worlds, remains intent upon bowing before you.
Passage 37
स्वर्गादुत्पाट्य वीरेण रोपितानां निजाङ्गणे। कल्पद्रुमाणां छायासु विहरानेन भामिनि॥२४॥
“‘Beautiful woman, sport with this hero beneath the shade of wish-fulfilling trees that he uprooted from heaven and planted in his own courtyard.
Passage 38
नमदिन्द्रादिदेवौघशिखामणिमरीचिभिः। नीराजिताङ्घ्रिपद्मस्य तस्य त्वं महिषी भव॥२५॥
“‘Become queen to him whose lotus feet are waved with light from the crest jewels of Indra and the other hosts of bowing gods.
Passage 39
नित्यं परिचरन्तु त्वां शयनासनभुक्तिषु। बन्दीकृत्य समानीता वीरेन्द्रेण सुराङ्गनाः॥२६॥
“‘Let the celestial women whom this lord of heroes brought here as captives serve you constantly in bed, seat, and meal.
Passage 40
त्वादृशी रूपसर्वस्वशालिनी मधुरस्मिता। किमेदं खिद्यते तन्वि स्वल्पेनानेन हेतुना॥२७॥
“‘Slender, sweetly smiling woman, you possess the very fullness of beauty. Why grieve over so slight a cause?
Passage 41
मर्त्यः सोऽपि तयोर्दग्धस्तमेनमनुशोचसि। हेलाजितयमो भोगी हृदि नानीयते कथम्॥२८॥
“‘That man was mortal and has now been destroyed; why mourn him? Why not take into your heart this lord of pleasures, who conquered Yama as if in play?
Passage 42
त्रैलोक्यवर्तिवीरेन्द्रः स्वलक्ष्मीभोगभाजनम्। वाञ्छति त्वां दशमुखः किं सौभाग्यमतः परम्॥२९॥
“‘The ten-headed lord, foremost among all heroes in the three worlds, desires you as the vessel for enjoyment of his sovereign fortune. What greater good fortune could there be?
Passage 43
पश्येमे शिरसी कृत्ते पतिदेवरयोस्तव। अधुनापि पतित्वेन वृणुष्वैनं दशाननम्॥३०॥
“‘Look at these two severed heads of your husband and brother-in-law. Even now, choose this Daśānana as your husband.
Passage 44
निवारयैनं सखि वितथक्लेशदायिनम्। भजस्वाम्भोजनयने प्रेम्णा दशमुखं पतिम्॥३१॥
“‘Friend, put away this useless suffering. Lotus-eyed woman, lovingly accept the ten-headed king as your husband.
Passage 45
अथ न स्वेच्छया चेत्त्वं वरमेनमुपेष्यसि। बलान्नेयासि तत्पार्श्वे भग्नमाना निशाचरैः॥३२॥
“‘If you will not approach this excellent man of your own accord, the night-roamers will break your pride and drag you forcibly to his side.
Passage 46
यावत्प्रसीदेद्भवती स्वयमेवास्य भुक्तये। केशेष्वाकृष्य गृह्णाति न तावन्मानदः प्रभुः॥३३॥
“‘Until you consent of yourself to become his enjoyment, the honor-giving lord refrains from taking you by pulling your hair.
Passage 47
अपि त्वद्विरहेणैष चिरात् सीदति भामिनि। त्रैलोक्यराज्येऽप्यलसः शय्यामालिङ्ग्य संस्थितः॥३४॥
“‘Beautiful woman, he has long languished because of separation from you. Indifferent even to sovereignty over the three worlds, he lies embracing his bed.
Passage 48
नयते यामिनीः कृच्छ्रात्तनुज्वरपीडितः। तवाधरसुधापानसोत्कण्ठो दशकन्धरः॥३५॥
“‘Afflicted by fever throughout his body, Daśakandhara passes the nights with difficulty, intensely longing to drink the nectar of your lips.
Passage 49
प्रेम्णा समुपसन्नास्ताः स्वर्लोकवरयोषितः। नेक्षते त्वद्वियोगातिभग्नचेता दशाननः॥३६॥
“‘Daśānana does not even look at the finest women of heaven who approach him lovingly, for his heart is shattered by separation from you.
Passage 50
निवेदितान् प्रतीहारैर्नमतो राक्षसेश्वरान्। दृक्प्रसादेन गृह्णाति त्वद्गृहीतमना असौ॥३७॥
“‘His mind possessed by you, he acknowledges the bowing rākṣasa lords announced by his doorkeepers only through the favor of a glance.
Passage 51
नान्यां पश्यति नो वक्ति न शृणोति न गच्छति। न प्रशंसति लङ्केशस्त्वन्मात्रनिहिताशयः॥३८॥
“‘The lord of Laṅkā, whose heart is fixed upon you alone, looks at no other woman, speaks not, listens not, goes nowhere, and praises no one.
Passage 52
हरिचन्दनच्छायासु संस्थितश्चन्दनानिलैः। वीज्यमानोऽपि नो शैत्यं याति त्वद्विरहानले॥३९॥
“‘Even seated in the shade of fragrant sandalwood and fanned by sandal-scented breezes, he finds no coolness in the fire of separation from you.
Passage 53
स्वर्गाङ्गनागणस्थोऽपि रमते न तरामसौ। सीते त्वन्नयनालोकसाभिलाषतमान्तरः॥४०॥
“‘Sītā, even when surrounded by hosts of heavenly women, he takes no delight at all; inwardly he longs above everything for a glance from your eyes.
Passage 54
वर्तनावर्तनैरेष शय्याः पद्मदलास्तृताः। मृद्नाति शतशो रात्रौ महासंतापशोषितः॥४१॥
“‘Dried up by immense anguish, he tosses and turns through the night, crushing again and again the beds strewn with lotus petals.
Passage 55
त्रैलोक्यराज्यलक्ष्मीस्तं न मोदयति सम्प्रति। त्वां विना पद्मपत्राक्षि भजमानाप्यनादृता॥४२॥
“‘Lotus-petal-eyed woman, even the fortune of sovereignty over the three worlds gives him no joy now. Though she serves him, he disregards her without you.
Passage 56
इति दशमुखपक्षस्थायिरात्रिचरीणां वचनरचनयासौ संततं बोध्यमाना। सरुषभरुणनेत्राधोमुखीभूय तस्थौ प्रतिवचनमलब्ध्वानादृतास्ताश्च जग्मुः॥४३॥
“Continually addressed by these artfully composed words from the night-roaming women who stood on the ten-headed king's side, Sītā remained silent, her face lowered and her eyes reddened with anger. Receiving no reply and finding themselves disregarded, they departed. Source Numbering Note The photographed edition prints passages 1–10, then a bracketed alternative sequence numbered 11–13. It restarts at 11–13 for Sītā's lament, inserts a second bracketed alternative numbered 11–20, and finally resumes the principal sequence at 14–43. The reader headings register all 56 independently presented passages while every printed marker and both sets of brackets remain visible in the Sanskrit.