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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 43: Lakṣmaṇa leaves Sītā

Summary. He identifies the cry as deception, but her accusations overcome his resolve to stay and he departs toward Rāma

Sequence

  1. Meanwhile Sītā hears the cry, believes Rāma is in danger, and urges Lakṣmaṇa to run to him (3.43.1–4)
  2. mindful of Rāma's order, Lakṣmaṇa stays → Sītā accuses him of pretending friendship while wishing for his brother's death so that he can obtain her (3.43.5–8)
  3. Lakṣmaṇa answers that no enemy can overcome Rāma and that the voice must be a rākṣasa's deception (3.43.9–15)
  4. he reminds her that Rāma entrusted her to him and that their destruction of Khara has made them enemies among the rākṣasas (3.43.16–18)
  5. Sītā grows angrier, accusing him either of pursuing her himself or of acting for Bharata → she insists that she would die rather than belong to another man. (3.43.19–24)
  1. Wounded by her words, Lakṣmaṇa says he reveres her but responds with bitter generalizations about women and calls the forest beings to witness that he has obeyed his brother (3.43.25–28)
  2. he condemns her suspicion, then agrees to go, entrusting her to the vanadevatās → he notices ominous signs and expresses the hope of seeing her safely with Rāma again (3.43.29–31)
  3. Sītā repeats that she will kill herself if Rāma is lost and beats her body in grief (3.43.32–35)
  4. Lakṣmaṇa tries once more to comfort her, but she will not answer → he bows, takes leave, and sets off toward Rāma, repeatedly looking back at her. (3.43.36–37)

Verses 3.43.1–37

3.43.1

ārtasvaraṃ tu taṃ bhartur vijñāya sadṛśaṃ vane
uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ sītā gaccha jānīhi rāghavam

Recognizing that cry of distress in the forest as like her husband's, Sītā said to Lakṣmaṇa, 'Go, find out about Rāghava.'

Words: ārtasvaraṃ — the cry of distress; tu — and; taṃ — that; bhartur — of her husband; vijñāya — having recognized; sadṛśaṃ — like, resembling; vane — in the forest; uvāca — said; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; sītā — Sītā; gaccha — go; jānīhi — find out, learn; rāghavam — (about) Rāghava

3.43.2

na hi me jīvitaṃ sthāne hṛdayaṃ vāvatiṣṭhate
krośataḥ paramārtasya śrutaḥ śabdo mayā bhṛśam

For neither my life nor my heart holds steady in its place; I have plainly heard the cry of one in utmost distress, calling out.

Words: na — not; hi — for; me — my; jīvitaṃ — life; sthāne — in (its) place; hṛdayaṃ — heart; vāvatiṣṭhate — or holds steady; krośataḥ — of (him) crying out; paramārtasya — of one in utmost distress; śrutaḥ — heard; śabdo — the sound, cry; mayā — by me; bhṛśam — greatly, plainly

3.43.3

ākrandamānaṃ tu vane bhrātaraṃ trātum arhasi
taṃ kṣipram abhidhāva tvaṃ bhrātaraṃ śaraṇaiṣiṇam

You must save your brother, crying out in the forest; run quickly to that brother who seeks refuge,

Words: ākrandamānaṃ — crying out, lamenting; tu — indeed; vane — in the forest; bhrātaraṃ — brother; trātum — to save; arhasi — you ought; taṃ — him; kṣipram — quickly; abhidhāva — run toward; tvaṃ — you; bhrātaraṃ — brother; śaraṇaiṣiṇam — seeking refuge

3.43.4

rakṣasāṃ vaśam āpannaṃ siṃhānām iva govṛṣam
na jagāma tathoktas tu bhrātur ājñāya śāsanam

fallen into the power of the rākṣasas like a bull into the power of lions. But though thus told, he did not go, mindful of his brother's command.

Words: rakṣasāṃ — of the rākṣasas; vaśam — power; āpannaṃ — fallen into; siṃhānām — of lions; iva — like; govṛṣam — a bull; na — not; jagāma — went; tathoktas — thus addressed; tu — but; bhrātur — of his brother; ājñāya — being mindful of, knowing; śāsanam — the command

3.43.5

tam uvāca tatas tatra kupitā janakātmajā
saumitre mitrarūpeṇa bhrātus tvam asi śatruvat

Then, angered, Janaka's daughter said to him there, 'Saumitri, in the guise of a friend you are like an enemy to your brother,

Words: tam — to him; uvāca — said; tatas — then; tatra — there; kupitā — angered; janakātmajā — Janaka's daughter; saumitre — O Saumitri; mitrarūpeṇa — in the guise of a friend; bhrātus — to your brother; tvam — you; asi — are; śatruvat — like an enemy

3.43.6

yas tvam asyām avasthāyāṃ bhrātaraṃ nābhipadyase
icchasi tvaṃ vinaśyantaṃ rāmaṃ lakṣmaṇa matkṛte

you who in this plight do not go to your brother; you wish, Lakṣmaṇa, that Rāma should perish, on my account.

Words: yas — who; tvam — you; asyām — in this; avasthāyāṃ — plight, condition; bhrātaraṃ — brother; nābhipadyase — do not go to, aid; icchasi — you wish; tvaṃ — you; vinaśyantaṃ — perishing; rāmaṃ — Rāma; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; matkṛte — on my account

3.43.7

vyasanaṃ te priyaṃ manye sneho bhrātari nāsti te
tena tiṣṭhasi visrabdhas tam apaśyan mahādyutim

I think calamity is dear to you; you have no love for your brother; that is why you stand unconcerned, not looking for him of great splendour.

Words: vyasanaṃ — calamity, misfortune; te — to you; priyaṃ — dear; manye — I think; sneho — affection; bhrātari — for your brother; nāsti — is not; te — your; tena — therefore; tiṣṭhasi — you stand; visrabdhas — unconcerned, at ease; tam — him; apaśyan — not seeing; mahādyutim — of great splendour

3.43.8

kiṃ hi saṃśayam āpanne tasminn iha mayā bhavet
kartavyam iha tiṣṭhantyā yat pradhānas tvam āgataḥ

For what should I do, remaining here, when he has fallen into peril — you being the very one who came here chiefly (to protect him)? [c: elliptical; sense uncertain.]

Words: kiṃ — what; hi — for; saṃśayam — peril, crisis (lit. doubt); āpanne — having fallen into; tasminn — in that, when he; iha — here; mayā — by me; bhavet — should be; kartavyam — to be done; iha — here; tiṣṭhantyā — by (me) remaining; yat — since; pradhānas — the chief (protector); tvam — you; āgataḥ — have come

3.43.9

iti bruvāṇaṃ vaidehīṃ bāṣpaśokapariplutām
abravīl lakṣmaṇas trastāṃ sītāṃ mṛgavadhūm iva

To Vaidehī, speaking thus, flooded with tears and grief, trembling like a doe, Lakṣmaṇa spoke:

Words: iti — thus; bruvāṇaṃ — speaking (of Sītā; source: bruvāṇaṃ); vaidehīṃ — to Vaidehī; bāṣpaśokapariplutām — flooded with tears and grief; abravīl — spoke; lakṣmaṇas — Lakṣmaṇa; trastāṃ — trembling, frightened; sītāṃ — Sītā; mṛgavadhūm — a doe; iva — like

3.43.10

devi devamanuṣyeṣu gandharveṣu patatriṣu
rākṣaseṣu piśāceṣu kiṃnareṣu mṛgeṣu ca

'Lady, among gods and men, gandharvas, birds, rākṣasas, piśācas, kiṃnaras, and beasts,

Words: devi — O lady; devamanuṣyeṣu — among gods and men; gandharveṣu — among gandharvas; patatriṣu — among birds; rākṣaseṣu — among rākṣasas; piśāceṣu — among piśācas; kiṃnareṣu — among kiṃnaras; mṛgeṣu — among beasts; ca — and

3.43.11

dānaveṣu ca ghoreṣu na sa vidyeta śobhane
yo rāmaṃ pratiyudhyeta samare vāsavopamam

and among the fearsome dānavas, O fair one, there could be found no one who might fight against Rāma, the equal of Vāsava, in battle.

Words: dānaveṣu — among dānavas; ca — and; ghoreṣu — fearsome; na — not; sa — he, that one; vidyeta — could be found; śobhane — O fair one; yo — who; rāmaṃ — Rāma; pratiyudhyeta — could fight against; samare — in battle; vāsavopamam — the equal of Vāsava (Indra)

3.43.12

avadhyaḥ samare rāmo naivaṃ tvaṃ vaktum arhasi
na tvām asmin vane hātum utsahe rāghavaṃ vinā

Rāma cannot be slain in battle; you ought not to speak thus. I cannot bring myself to leave you in this forest without Rāghava.

Words: avadhyaḥ — not to be slain; samare — in battle; rāmo — Rāma; naivaṃ — not thus; tvaṃ — you; vaktum — to speak; arhasi — you ought; na — not; tvām — you; asmin — in this; vane — forest; hātum — to leave; utsahe — I dare, am able; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; vinā — without

3.43.13

anivāryaṃ balaṃ tasya balair balavatām api
tribhir lokaiḥ samudyuktaiḥ seśvaraiḥ sāmarair api

His strength is irresistible, even by the forces of the mighty — even by the three worlds united, with their lords and their gods.

Words: anivāryaṃ — irresistible; balaṃ — strength; tasya — his; balair — by the forces; balavatām — of the mighty; api — even; tribhir — by the three; lokaiḥ — by the worlds; samudyuktaiḥ — united, joined together; seśvaraiḥ — with their lords; sāmarair — with their gods; api — even

3.43.14

hṛdayaṃ nirvṛtaṃ te 'stu saṃtāpas tyajyatām ayam
āgamiṣyati te bhartā śīghraṃ hatvā mṛgottamam

Let your heart be at ease; let this anguish be cast off. Your husband will return soon, having slain that finest of deer.

Words: hṛdayaṃ — heart; nirvṛtaṃ — at ease, calmed; te — your; 'stu — let it be; saṃtāpas — anguish; tyajyatām — let it be cast off; ayam — this; āgamiṣyati — will return; te — your; bhartā — husband; śīghraṃ — soon, quickly; hatvā — having slain; mṛgottamam — the finest deer

3.43.15

na sa tasya svaro vyaktaṃ na kaś cid api daivataḥ
gandharvanagaraprakhyā māyā sā tasya rakṣasaḥ

That was clearly not his voice, nor was it any voice of a god; it was an illusion of that rākṣasa, like a phantom gandharva-city.

Words: na — not; sa — that; tasya — his (Rāma's); svaro — voice; vyaktaṃ — clearly; na — not; kaś — any; cid — (at all); api — even; daivataḥ — of a god, divine; gandharvanagaraprakhyā — like a phantom gandharva-city (mirage); māyā — an illusion; sā — that; tasya — of that; rakṣasaḥ — rākṣasa

3.43.16

nyāsabhūtāsi vaidehi nyastā mayi mahātmanā
rāmeṇa tvaṃ varārohe na tvāṃ tyaktum ihotsahe

You are a trust, Vaidehī, placed in my keeping by the great-souled Rāma; O lovely one, I cannot bring myself to abandon you here.

Words: nyāsabhūtāsi — you are (as) a trust; vaidehi — O Vaidehī; nyastā — entrusted, placed; mayi — in my keeping; mahātmanā — by the great-souled; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; tvaṃ — you; varārohe — O lovely one (fair-hipped); na — not; tvāṃ — you; tyaktum — to abandon; ihotsahe — here I dare

3.43.17

kṛtavairāś ca kalyāṇi vayam etair niśācaraiḥ
kharasya nidhane devi janasthānavadhaṃ prati

And, O blessed one, we have made enemies of these night-roamers, O lady, over the slaying of Khara and the destruction at Janasthāna.

Words: kṛtavairāś — having made enmity; ca — and; kalyāṇi — O blessed one; vayam — we; etair — with these; niśācaraiḥ — night-roamers; kharasya — of Khara; nidhane — in the slaying; devi — O lady; janasthānavadhaṃ — the destruction at Janasthāna; prati — concerning

3.43.18

rākṣasā vidhinā vāco visṛjanti mahāvane
hiṃsāvihārā vaidehi na cintayitum arhasi

The rākṣasas, who delight in violence, purposely let loose such cries in the great forest; O Vaidehī, you should not be troubled.

Words: rākṣasā — the rākṣasas; vidhinā — by design, purposely; vāco — cries, sounds; visṛjanti — let loose, emit; mahāvane — in the great forest; hiṃsāvihārā — who delight in violence; vaidehi — O Vaidehī; na — not; cintayitum — to be troubled, worry; arhasi — you ought

3.43.19

lakṣmaṇenaivam uktā tu kruddhā saṃraktalocanā
abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ satyavādinam

Thus addressed by Lakṣmaṇa, angered, her eyes reddened, she spoke harsh words to Lakṣmaṇa, the truth-speaker:

Words: lakṣmaṇenaivam — thus by Lakṣmaṇa; uktā — addressed; tu — but; kruddhā — angered; saṃraktalocanā — with reddened eyes; abravīt — spoke; paruṣaṃ — harsh; vākyaṃ — words; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; satyavādinam — the truth-speaker

3.43.20

anārya karuṇārambha nṛśaṃsa kulapāṃsana
ahaṃ tava priyaṃ manye tenaitāni prabhāṣase

'O ignoble one, whose show of pity is a pretense, cruel disgrace of your line! I think this is what pleases you, and so you speak these things. [karuṇārambha: sense uncertain.]

Words: anārya — O ignoble one; karuṇārambha — O you who make a show of pity; nṛśaṃsa — O cruel one; kulapāṃsana — O disgrace of your line; ahaṃ — I; tava — to you; priyaṃ — dear, pleasing; manye — I think; tenaitāni — therefore these things; prabhāṣase — you say

3.43.21

naitac citraṃ sapatneṣu pāpaṃ lakṣmaṇa yad bhavet
tvadvidheṣu nṛśaṃseṣu nityaṃ pracchannacāriṣu

It is no wonder, Lakṣmaṇa, that evil should be found among rivals such as you — cruel men, ever moving about in secret.

Words: naitac — not this; citraṃ — a wonder, strange; sapatneṣu — among rivals, foes; pāpaṃ — evil; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; yad — which; bhavet — should be; tvadvidheṣu — among those like you; nṛśaṃseṣu — among the cruel; nityaṃ — ever; pracchannacāriṣu — moving about in secret

3.43.22

suduṣṭas tvaṃ vane rāmam ekam eko 'nugacchasi
mama hetoḥ praticchannaḥ prayukto bharatena vā

You are utterly wicked: alone, you follow the lone Rāma into the forest — for my sake, in disguise, or perhaps set on by Bharata.

Words: suduṣṭas — utterly wicked; tvaṃ — you; vane — in the forest; rāmam — Rāma; ekam — alone (him); eko — alone (you); 'nugacchasi — you follow; mama — my; hetoḥ — for the sake of; praticchannaḥ — in disguise, concealed; prayukto — set on, employed; bharatena — by Bharata; vā — or

3.43.23

katham indīvaraśyāmaṃ rāmaṃ padmanibhekṣaṇam
upasaṃśritya bhartāraṃ kāmayeyaṃ pṛthag janam

How, having taken Rāma as my husband — dark as a blue lotus, his eyes like lotuses — could I ever desire a common man?

Words: katham — how; indīvaraśyāmaṃ — dark as a blue lotus; rāmaṃ — Rāma; padmanibhekṣaṇam — with eyes like lotuses; upasaṃśritya — having taken refuge in, resorted to; bhartāraṃ — husband; kāmayeyaṃ — could I desire; pṛthag — a common, an ordinary; janam — man

3.43.24

samakṣaṃ tava saumitre prāṇāṃs tyakṣye na saṃśayaḥ
rāmaṃ vinā kṣaṇam api na hi jīvāmi bhūtale

Before your very eyes, Saumitri, I shall give up my life, without doubt; for without Rāma I will not live even a moment upon this earth.

Words: samakṣaṃ — before the eyes of; tava — your; saumitre — O Saumitri; prāṇāṃs — life; tyakṣye — I shall give up; na — no; saṃśayaḥ — doubt; rāmaṃ — Rāma; vinā — without; kṣaṇam — a moment; api — even; na — not; hi — for; jīvāmi — I live; bhūtale — upon the earth

3.43.25

ity uktaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ sītayā somaharṣaṇam
abravīl lakṣmaṇaḥ sītāṃ prāñjalir vijitendriyaḥ

Thus addressed with harsh, hair-raising words by Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, palms joined, his senses mastered, said to Sītā: [somaharṣaṇam: source spelling for romaharṣaṇam, 'hair-raising'.]

Words: ity — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; paruṣaṃ — harsh; vākyaṃ — words; sītayā — by Sītā; somaharṣaṇam — hair-raising (source: somaharṣaṇam); abravīl — said; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; sītāṃ — to Sītā; prāñjalir — with palms joined; vijitendriyaḥ — with senses mastered

3.43.26

uttaraṃ notsahe vaktuṃ daivataṃ bhavatī mama
vākyam apratirūpaṃ tu na citraṃ strīṣu maithili

'I dare not make reply — your ladyship is a deity to me; but an unseemly word is nothing strange in women, Maithilī.

Words: uttaraṃ — a reply; notsahe — I dare not; vaktuṃ — to speak; daivataṃ — a deity; bhavatī — your ladyship, you; mama — to me; vākyam — a word; apratirūpaṃ — unseemly, unbecoming; tu — but; na — not; citraṃ — strange, a wonder; strīṣu — among women; maithili — O Maithilī

3.43.27

svabhāvas tv eṣa nārīṇām eṣu lokeṣu dṛśyate
vimuktadharmāś capalās tīkṣṇā bhedakarāḥ striyaḥ

This is indeed the nature of women, as is seen in these worlds: women are loose in conduct, fickle, harsh, and sowers of discord.

Words: svabhāvas — nature; tv — indeed; eṣa — this; nārīṇām — of women; eṣu — in these; lokeṣu — worlds; dṛśyate — is seen; vimuktadharmāś — loose in conduct (having abandoned dharma); capalās — fickle; tīkṣṇā — harsh, sharp; bhedakarāḥ — sowers of discord; striyaḥ — women

3.43.28

upaśṛṇvantu me sarve sākṣibhūtā vanecarāḥ
nyāyavādī yathā vākyam ukto 'haṃ paruṣaṃ tvayā

Let all the forest-dwellers who stand as witnesses hear me: though I speak justly, I have been addressed harshly by you.

Words: upaśṛṇvantu — let (them) hear; me — me; sarve — all; sākṣibhūtā — being witnesses; vanecarāḥ — forest-dwellers; nyāyavādī — (I) speaking justly; yathā — how, that; vākyam — word; ukto — spoken, addressed; 'haṃ — I; paruṣaṃ — harshly; tvayā — by you

3.43.29

dhik tvām adya praṇaśya tvaṃ yan mām evaṃ viśaṅkase
strītvād duṣṭasvabhāvena guruvākye vyavasthitam

Shame on you! May you perish now, in that you suspect me thus — me who abide by my elder's command — through that evil nature which springs from womanhood.

Words: dhik — shame, fie; tvām — on you; adya — now; praṇaśya — perish!; tvaṃ — you; yan — in that; mām — me; evaṃ — thus; viśaṅkase — you suspect; strītvād — because of womanhood; duṣṭasvabhāvena — through evil nature; guruvākye — in my elder's command; vyavasthitam — (me) abiding, steadfast

3.43.30

gamiṣye yatra kākutsthaḥ svasti te 'stu varānane
rakṣantu tvāṃ viśālākṣi samagrā vanadevatāḥ

I shall go where Kākutstha is; may it be well with you, fair-faced one; may all the forest-deities protect you, O wide-eyed one.

Words: gamiṣye — I shall go; yatra — where; kākutsthaḥ — Kākutstha (Rāma); svasti — well-being; te — to you; 'stu — let it be; varānane — O fair-faced one; rakṣantu — let (them) protect; tvāṃ — you; viśālākṣi — O wide-eyed one; samagrā — all; vanadevatāḥ — forest-deities

3.43.31

nimittāni hi ghorāṇi yāni prādurbhavanti me
api tvāṃ saha rāmeṇa paśyeyaṃ punar āgataḥ

For dreadful omens are appearing to me; may I, on returning, see you again together with Rāma.

Words: nimittāni — omens; hi — for; ghorāṇi — dreadful; yāni — which; prādurbhavanti — appear, manifest; me — to me; api — (may) — expressing a wish; tvāṃ — you; saha — together with; rāmeṇa — Rāma; paśyeyaṃ — may I see; punar — again; āgataḥ — having returned

3.43.32

lakṣmaṇenaivam uktā tu rudatī janakātmajā
pratyuvāca tato vākyaṃ tīvraṃ bāṣpapariplutā

Thus addressed by Lakṣmaṇa, Janaka's daughter, weeping, flooded with tears, then replied with fierce words:

Words: lakṣmaṇenaivam — thus by Lakṣmaṇa; uktā — addressed; tu — but; rudatī — weeping; janakātmajā — Janaka's daughter; pratyuvāca — replied; tato — then; vākyaṃ — words; tīvraṃ — fierce; bāṣpapariplutā — flooded with tears

3.43.33

godāvarīṃ pravekṣyāmi vinā rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇa
ābandhiṣye 'thavā tyakṣye viṣame deham ātmanaḥ

'Without Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, I shall plunge into the Godāvarī, or hang myself, or cast my own body down from a precipice;

Words: godāvarīṃ — the Godāvarī; pravekṣyāmi — I shall plunge into; vinā — without; rāmeṇa — Rāma; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; ābandhiṣye — I shall hang myself; 'thavā — or; tyakṣye — I shall cast off, give up; viṣame — on rough ground, a precipice; deham — the body; ātmanaḥ — my own

3.43.34

pibāmi vā viṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam
na tv ahaṃ rāghavād anyaṃ padāpi puruṣaṃ spṛśe

or I shall drink virulent poison, or enter the fire; but I will not touch any man other than Rāghava, not even with my foot.'

Words: pibāmi — I shall drink; vā — or; viṣaṃ — poison; tīkṣṇaṃ — sharp, virulent; pravekṣyāmi — I shall enter; hutāśanam — the fire; na — not; tv — but; ahaṃ — I; rāghavād — than Rāghava; anyaṃ — other; padāpi — even with a foot; puruṣaṃ — a man; spṛśe — I touch

3.43.35

iti lakṣmaṇam ākruśya sītā duḥkhasamanvitā
pāṇibhyāṃ rudatī duḥkhād udaraṃ prajaghāna ha

Thus reviling Lakṣmaṇa, Sītā, filled with sorrow, weeping, in her grief beat her belly with her hands.

Words: iti — thus; lakṣmaṇam — Lakṣmaṇa; ākruśya — having reviled; sītā — Sītā; duḥkhasamanvitā — filled with sorrow; pāṇibhyāṃ — with (both) hands; rudatī — weeping; duḥkhād — out of grief; udaraṃ — the belly; prajaghāna — beat, struck; ha — indeed

3.43.36

tām ārtarūpāṃ vimanā rudantīṃ saumitrir ālokya viśālanetrām
āśvāsayām āsa na caiva bhartus taṃ bhrātaraṃ kiṃ cid uvāca sītā

Seeing her, wide-eyed, weeping, and stricken in appearance, the dejected Saumitri tried to console her; yet Sītā said not a word to that brother of her husband.

Words: tām — her; ārtarūpāṃ — stricken in appearance; vimanā — dejected; rudantīṃ — weeping; saumitrir — Saumitri; ālokya — having looked upon; viśālanetrām — wide-eyed; āśvāsayām āsa — tried to console; na — not; caiva — and indeed; bhartus — of her husband; taṃ — that; bhrātaraṃ — brother; kiṃ — any; cid — (thing); uvāca — said; sītā — Sītā

3.43.37

tatas tu sītām abhivādya lakṣmaṇaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ kiṃ cid abhipraṇamya
avekṣamāṇo bahuśaś ca maithilīṃ jagāma rāmasya samīpam ātmavān

Then Lakṣmaṇa, saluting Sītā, palms joined, and bowing slightly, and looking back at Maithilī again and again, the self-possessed one went to Rāma's side.

Words: tatas — then; tu — and; sītām — Sītā; abhivādya — having saluted; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; kiṃ — a; cid — little; abhipraṇamya — having bowed; avekṣamāṇo — looking back; bahuśaś — many times; ca — and; maithilīṃ — Maithilī; jagāma — went; rāmasya — of Rāma; samīpam — to the side, vicinity; ātmavān — the self-possessed

← 3.42 Mārīca’s false cry · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.44 Rāvaṇa’s parivrājaka disguise →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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