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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 44: Rāvaṇa’s parivrājaka disguise

Summary. He approaches Sītā with Vedic words and praise of her beauty, she receives him as a brāhmaṇa guest

Sequence

  1. As soon as Lakṣmaṇa leaves, Rāvaṇa takes the form of a parivrājaka (wandering renunciant) and approaches the unguarded Sītā (3.44.1–2)
  2. he wears an ochre robe and hair tuft and carries a parasol, sandals, staff, and water pot (3.44.3–5)
  3. the forest and Godāvarī become unnaturally still at his presence (3.44.6–7)
  4. concealing his intention behind the disguise, he approaches Sītā as she sits grieving in the hut (3.44.8–12)
  5. he recites Vedic words, speaks humbly, and praises her beauty, asking whether she is a devī (3.44.13–21)
  6. he says the dangerous forest is no place for her and that palaces, gardens, fine clothing, and a suitable husband would better match her (3.44.22–29)
  7. he asks who she is and why she is alone (3.44.30)
  8. believing him to be a brāhmaṇa guest, Sītā offers a grass seat, water for his feet, and prepared forest food (3.44.31–34)
  9. Rāvaṇa smiles while planning the abduction → Sītā continues looking for the brothers, but neither is in sight. (3.44.35–36)

Verses 3.44.1–36

3.44.1

tayā paruṣam uktas tu kupito rāghavānujaḥ
sa vikāṅkṣan bhṛśaṃ rāmaṃ pratasthe nacirād iva

Harshly addressed by her, the younger brother of Rāghava, angered, longing greatly for Rāma, set off, as if to reach him in but a short while.

Words: tayā — by her; paruṣam — harshly; uktas — addressed; tu — but; kupito — angered; rāghavānujaḥ — the younger brother of Rāghava; sa — he; vikāṅkṣan — longing for, anxious about; bhṛśaṃ — greatly; rāmaṃ — Rāma; pratasthe — set off; nacirād — in a short time; iva — as if

3.44.2

tadāsādya daśagrīvaḥ kṣipram antaram āsthitaḥ
abhicakrāma vaidehīṃ parivrājakarūpadhṛk

Then the Ten-necked one, seizing that moment quickly, taking on a wandering mendicant's form, approached Vaidehī.

Words: tadāsādya — having then seized (the opportunity); daśagrīvaḥ — the Ten-necked one; kṣipram — quickly; antaram — opportunity, opening; āsthitaḥ — having taken up, resorting to; abhicakrāma — approached; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; parivrājakarūpadhṛk — taking a wandering mendicant's form

3.44.3

ślakṣṇakāṣāyasaṃvītaḥ śikhī chatrī upānahī
vāme cāṃse 'vasajyātha śubhe yaṣṭikamaṇḍalū
parivrājakarūpeṇa vaidehīṃ samupāgamat

Wrapped in a soft ochre robe, wearing a tuft of hair, bearing a parasol and sandals, and having slung upon his left shoulder the auspicious staff and water-pot, in the guise of a wandering mendicant he came up to Vaidehī.

Words: ślakṣṇakāṣāyasaṃvītaḥ — wrapped in a soft ochre robe; śikhī — with a tuft of hair; chatrī — with a parasol; upānahī — with sandals; vāme — on the left; cāṃse — and on the shoulder; 'vasajyātha — having slung, then; śubhe — auspicious (both); yaṣṭikamaṇḍalū — the staff and water-pot; parivrājakarūpeṇa — in the guise of a wandering mendicant; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; samupāgamat — came up to, approached

3.44.4

tām āsasādātibalo bhrātṛbhyāṃ rahitāṃ vane
rahitāṃ sūryacandrābhyāṃ saṃdhyām iva mahattamaḥ

The exceedingly mighty one came upon her, bereft of the two brothers in the forest, as deep darkness comes upon the twilight bereft of sun and moon.

Words: tām — her; āsasādātibalo — the very mighty one came upon; bhrātṛbhyāṃ — of the two brothers; rahitāṃ — bereft, deprived; vane — in the forest; rahitāṃ — bereft; sūryacandrābhyāṃ — of sun and moon; saṃdhyām — the twilight; iva — as; mahattamaḥ — the deep darkness

3.44.5

tām apaśyat tato bālāṃ rājaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm
rohiṇīṃ śaśinā hīnāṃ grahavad bhṛśadāruṇaḥ

Then, terrible as a malignant planet, he beheld that young and glorious princess — like the star Rohiṇī bereft of the moon.

Words: tām — her; apaśyat — beheld; tato — then; bālāṃ — young; rājaputrīṃ — princess; yaśasvinīm — glorious; rohiṇīṃ — Rohiṇī (the star); śaśinā — by the moon; hīnāṃ — bereft; grahavad — like a (malignant) planet; bhṛśadāruṇaḥ — exceedingly terrible

3.44.6

tam ugraṃ pāpakarmāṇaṃ janasthānaruhā drumāḥ
samīkṣya na prakampante na pravāti ca mārutaḥ

Beholding him, that fierce doer of evil deeds, the trees growing in Janasthāna did not stir, and the wind did not blow.

Words: tam — him; ugraṃ — fierce; pāpakarmāṇaṃ — doer of evil deeds; janasthānaruhā — growing in Janasthāna; drumāḥ — the trees; samīkṣya — having beheld; na — not; prakampante — stir, tremble; na — not; pravāti — blows; ca — and; mārutaḥ — the wind

3.44.7

śīghrasrotāś ca taṃ dṛṣṭvā vīkṣantaṃ raktalocanam
stimitaṃ gantum ārebhe bhayād godāvarī nadī

And seeing him, red-eyed, gazing (at Sītā), the swift-flowing Godāvarī river, out of fear, began to flow still and silent.

Words: śīghrasrotāś — swift-flowing; ca — and; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; vīkṣantaṃ — gazing; raktalocanam — red-eyed; stimitaṃ — motionless, still; gantum — to flow, go; ārebhe — began; bhayād — out of fear; godāvarī — the Godāvarī; nadī — river

3.44.8

rāmasya tv antaraṃ prepsur daśagrīvas tadantare
upatasthe ca vaidehīṃ bhikṣurūpeṇa rāvaṇaḥ

But the Ten-necked one, seeking an opening against Rāma, in that interval — Rāvaṇa — approached Vaidehī in the guise of a beggar.

Words: rāmasya — of Rāma, against Rāma; tv — but; antaraṃ — an opening, weakness; prepsur — seeking to gain; daśagrīvas — the Ten-necked; tadantare — in that interval; upatasthe — approached, came near; ca — and; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; bhikṣurūpeṇa — in the guise of a beggar; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa

3.44.9

abhavyo bhavyarūpeṇa bhartāram anuśocatīm
abhyavartata vaidehīṃ citrām iva śanaiścaraḥ

The inauspicious one, in an auspicious guise, approached Vaidehī as she grieved for her husband, as Saturn approaches the star Citrā.

Words: abhavyo — the inauspicious one; bhavyarūpeṇa — in an auspicious guise; bhartāram — for her husband; anuśocatīm — grieving; abhyavartata — approached; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; citrām — the star Citrā; iva — as; śanaiścaraḥ — Saturn (the slow-mover)

3.44.10

sa pāpo bhavyarūpeṇa tṛṇaiḥ kūpa ivāvṛtaḥ
atiṣṭhat prekṣya vaidehīṃ rāmapatnīṃ yaśasvinīm

That evil one, in an auspicious guise like a well covered over with grass, stood gazing at Vaidehī, the glorious wife of Rāma —

Words: sa — that; pāpo — evil one; bhavyarūpeṇa — in an auspicious guise; tṛṇaiḥ — with grass; kūpa — a well; ivāvṛtaḥ — like (one) covered; atiṣṭhat — stood; prekṣya — having gazed at; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; rāmapatnīṃ — the wife of Rāma; yaśasvinīm — glorious

3.44.11

śubhāṃ ruciradantauṣṭhīṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām
āsīnāṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ bāṣpaśokābhipīḍitām

lovely, with beautiful teeth and lips, her face like the full moon, seated in the leaf-hut, tormented by tears and grief.

Words: śubhāṃ — lovely; ruciradantauṣṭhīṃ — with lovely teeth and lips; pūrṇacandranibhānanām — her face like the full moon; āsīnāṃ — seated; parṇaśālāyāṃ — in the leaf-hut; bāṣpaśokābhipīḍitām — tormented by tears and grief

3.44.12

sa tāṃ padmapalāśākṣīṃ pītakauśeyavāsinīm
abhyagacchata vaidehīṃ duṣṭacetā niśācaraḥ

That night-roamer of wicked mind approached her — Vaidehī, lotus-petal-eyed, clad in yellow silk.

Words: sa — that; tāṃ — her; padmapalāśākṣīṃ — lotus-petal-eyed; pītakauśeyavāsinīm — clad in yellow silk; abhyagacchata — approached; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; duṣṭacetā — of wicked mind; niśācaraḥ — the night-roamer

3.44.13

sa manmathaśarāviṣṭo brahmaghoṣam udīrayan
abravīt praśritaṃ vākyaṃ rahite rākṣasādhipaḥ

Pierced by the arrows of love, uttering Vedic recitation, the lord of rākṣasas spoke humble words to her in that lonely spot.

Words: sa — he; manmathaśarāviṣṭo — pierced by the arrows of love; brahmaghoṣam — Vedic recitation; udīrayan — uttering; abravīt — spoke; praśritaṃ — humble, modest; vākyaṃ — words; rahite — in a lonely place; rākṣasādhipaḥ — the lord of rākṣasas

3.44.14

tām uttamāṃ trilokānāṃ padmahīnām iva śriyam
vibhrājamānāṃ vapuṣā rāvaṇaḥ praśaśaṃsa ha

Rāvaṇa praised her, the finest in the three worlds, radiant in form, like Śrī (Lakṣmī) without her lotus:

Words: tām — her; uttamāṃ — the finest, best; trilokānāṃ — of the three worlds; padmahīnām — without a lotus; iva — like; śriyam — Śrī (Lakṣmī); vibhrājamānāṃ — radiant, shining; vapuṣā — in body, form; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; praśaśaṃsa — praised; ha — indeed

3.44.15

kā tvaṃ kāñcanavarṇābhe pītakauśeyavāsini
kamalānāṃ śubhāṃ mālāṃ padminīva ca bibhratī

'Who are you, golden-hued one, clad in yellow silk, bearing a lovely garland of lotuses like a lotus-pool?

Words: kā — who; tvaṃ — (are) you; kāñcanavarṇābhe — O golden-hued one; pītakauśeyavāsini — clad in yellow silk; kamalānāṃ — of lotuses; śubhāṃ — lovely; mālāṃ — garland; padminīva — like a lotus-pool; ca — and; bibhratī — bearing

3.44.16

hrīḥ śrīḥ kīrtiḥ śubhā lakṣmīr apsarā vā śubhānane
bhūtir vā tvaṃ varārohe ratir vā svairacāriṇī

Are you Modesty, or Prosperity, or Fame, or lovely Lakṣmī, or an apsaras, O fair-faced one? Or Fortune, O lovely one, or Rati wandering at will?

Words: hrīḥ — Modesty (Hrī); śrīḥ — Prosperity (Śrī); kīrtiḥ — Fame (Kīrti); śubhā — lovely; lakṣmīr — Lakṣmī; apsarā — an apsaras; vā — or; śubhānane — O fair-faced one; bhūtir — Fortune (Bhūti); vā — or; tvaṃ — you; varārohe — O lovely one; ratir — Rati (goddess of love); vā — or; svairacāriṇī — wandering at will

3.44.17

samāḥ śikhariṇaḥ snigdhāḥ pāṇḍurā daśanās tava
viśāle vimale netre raktānte kṛṣṇatārake

Your teeth are even, pointed, glossy, and white; your two eyes are wide and clear, red at the corners, with dark pupils.

Words: samāḥ — even; śikhariṇaḥ — pointed, tipped; snigdhāḥ — glossy; pāṇḍurā — white; daśanās — teeth; tava — your; viśāle — wide (both); vimale — clear, spotless (both); netre — the two eyes; raktānte — red at the corners; kṛṣṇatārake — with dark pupils

3.44.18

viśālaṃ jaghanaṃ pīnam ūrū karikaropamau
etāv upacitau vṛttau sahitau saṃpragalbhitau

Broad and full are your loins; your thighs are like an elephant's trunk; these two (breasts) are plump, round, close-set, and swelling.

Words: viśālaṃ — broad; jaghanaṃ — loins, hips; pīnam — full; ūrū — the two thighs; karikaropamau — like an elephant's trunk; etāv — these two; upacitau — plump, well-developed; vṛttau — round; sahitau — close together; saṃpragalbhitau — swelling, full and bold

3.44.19

pīnonnatamukhau kāntau snigdhatālaphalopamau
maṇipravekābharaṇau rucirau te payodharau

Your breasts, lovely, with full, uplifted tips, glossy like ripe palmyra fruits, adorned with the choicest jewels, are beautiful.

Words: pīnonnatamukhau — with full, uplifted tips; kāntau — lovely; snigdhatālaphalopamau — glossy like palmyra fruits; maṇipravekābharaṇau — adorned with the choicest jewels; rucirau — beautiful; te — your; payodharau — breasts

3.44.20

cārusmite cārudati cārunetre vilāsini
mano harasi me rāme nadīkūlam ivāmbhasā

O you of lovely smile, lovely teeth, and lovely eyes, O charming one — you steal my heart, beautiful woman, as a river's water steals away its bank.

Words: cārusmite — O lovely-smiling one; cārudati — O lovely-toothed one; cārunetre — O lovely-eyed one; vilāsini — O charming one; mano — the heart; harasi — you steal; me — my; rāme — O beautiful woman; nadīkūlam — a river's bank; ivāmbhasā — as by the water

3.44.21

karāntamitamadhyāsi sukeśī saṃhatastanī
naiva devī na gandharvī na yakṣī na ca kiṃnarī

Your waist can be spanned by a hand, your hair is beautiful, your breasts firm-set; you are no goddess, no gandharva-woman, no yakṣī, nor kiṃnarī.

Words: karāntamitamadhyāsi — your waist can be spanned by a hand; sukeśī — having beautiful hair; saṃhatastanī — with firm, close-set breasts; naiva — not; devī — a goddess; na — not; gandharvī — a gandharva-woman; na — not; yakṣī — a yakṣī; na — not; ca — and; kiṃnarī — a kiṃnarī

3.44.22

naivaṃrūpā mayā nārī dṛṣṭapūrvā mahītale
iha vāsaś ca kāntāre cittam unmāthayanti me

Never before have I seen on earth a woman of such beauty; and this — your dwelling here in the wilderness — troubles my mind.

Words: naivaṃrūpā — not (a woman) of such beauty; mayā — by me; nārī — a woman; dṛṣṭapūrvā — seen before; mahītale — on earth; iha — here; vāsaś — dwelling; ca — and; kāntāre — in the wilderness; cittam — the mind; unmāthayanti — trouble, agitate; me — my

3.44.23

sā pratikrāma bhadraṃ te na tvaṃ vastum ihārhasi
rākṣasānām ayaṃ vāso ghorāṇāṃ kāmarūpiṇām

So turn back — blessings on you! You ought not to dwell here; this is the abode of fearsome rākṣasas who take any form at will.

Words: sā — you (lit. she); pratikrāma — turn back, go back; bhadraṃ — blessings, good; te — to you; na — not; tvaṃ — you; vastum — to dwell; ihārhasi — ought here; rākṣasānām — of rākṣasas; ayaṃ — this; vāso — abode; ghorāṇāṃ — fearsome; kāmarūpiṇām — taking any form at will

3.44.24

prāsādāgryāṇi ramyāṇi nagaropavanāni ca
saṃpannāni sugandhīni yuktāny ācarituṃ tvayā

Splendid palace-terraces and lovely city-groves, well-appointed and fragrant, are fit for you to frequent.

Words: prāsādāgryāṇi — the finest palace-terraces; ramyāṇi — lovely; nagaropavanāni — city-groves; ca — and; saṃpannāni — well-appointed, excellent; sugandhīni — fragrant; yuktāny — fit; ācarituṃ — to frequent, resort to; tvayā — by you

3.44.25

varaṃ mālyaṃ varaṃ pānaṃ varaṃ vastraṃ ca śobhane
bhartāraṃ ca varaṃ manye tvadyuktam asitekṣaṇe

The finest garland, the finest drink, the finest garment, O fair one — and a fine husband too, I think, is fit for you, O dark-eyed one.

Words: varaṃ — the best, finest; mālyaṃ — garland; varaṃ — finest; pānaṃ — drink; varaṃ — finest; vastraṃ — garment; ca — and; śobhane — O fair one; bhartāraṃ — husband; ca — and; varaṃ — the best; manye — I think; tvadyuktam — fit for you; asitekṣaṇe — O dark-eyed one

3.44.26

kā tvaṃ bhavasi rudrāṇāṃ marutāṃ vā śucismite
vasūnāṃ vā varārohe devatā pratibhāsi me

Who are you? Of the Rudras, or of the Maruts, O bright-smiling one, or of the Vasus, O lovely one? You seem to me a deity.

Words: kā — who; tvaṃ — you; bhavasi — are; rudrāṇāṃ — of the Rudras; marutāṃ — of the Maruts; vā — or; śucismite — O bright-smiling one; vasūnāṃ — of the Vasus; vā — or; varārohe — O lovely one; devatā — a deity; pratibhāsi — you appear; me — to me

3.44.27

neha gacchantī gandharvā na devā na ca kiṃnarāḥ
rākṣasānām ayaṃ vāsaḥ kathaṃ nu tvam ihāgatā

No gandharvas come here, no gods, nor kiṃnaras; this is the abode of rākṣasas — how then have you come here? [gacchantī: source form; sense as gacchanti, '(they) come'.]

Words: neha — not here; gacchantī — come (source: gacchantī); gandharvā — gandharvas; na — not; devā — gods; na — not; ca — and; kiṃnarāḥ — kiṃnaras; rākṣasānām — of rākṣasas; ayaṃ — this; vāsaḥ — abode; kathaṃ — how; nu — indeed; tvam — you; ihāgatā — have come here

3.44.28

iha śākhāmṛgāḥ siṃhā dvīpivyāghramṛgās tathā
ṛkṣās tarakṣavaḥ kaṅkāḥ kathaṃ tebhyo na bibhyase

Here are monkeys, lions, leopards, tigers, and (other) beasts, and bears, hyenas, and herons — how do you not fear them?

Words: iha — here; śākhāmṛgāḥ — monkeys (branch-beasts); siṃhā — lions; dvīpivyāghramṛgās — leopards, tigers, and beasts; tathā — likewise; ṛkṣās — bears; tarakṣavaḥ — hyenas; kaṅkāḥ — herons; kathaṃ — how; tebhyo — of them; na — not; bibhyase — do you fear

3.44.29

madānvitānāṃ ghorāṇāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ tarasvinām
katham ekā mahāraṇye na bibheṣi vanānane

How, alone in the great forest, do you not fear the fearsome, powerful elephants in rut, O fair, forest-dwelling one? [vanānane: perh. for varānane, 'fair-faced'.]

Words: madānvitānāṃ — of those in rut; ghorāṇāṃ — fearsome; kuñjarāṇāṃ — of elephants; tarasvinām — powerful, swift; katham — how; ekā — alone; mahāraṇye — in the great forest; na — not; bibheṣi — do you fear; vanānane — O fair, forest-dwelling one (source: vanānane)

3.44.30

kāsi kasya kutaś ca tvaṃ kiṃnimittaṃ ca daṇḍakān
ekā carasi kalyāṇi ghorān rākṣasasevitān

Who are you, whose are you, and whence? And for what reason do you wander alone, O blessed one, through the dreadful Daṇḍaka forests, haunted by rākṣasas?

Words: kāsi — who are you; kasya — whose; kutaś — whence; ca — and; tvaṃ — you; kiṃnimittaṃ — for what reason; ca — and; daṇḍakān — the Daṇḍaka forests; ekā — alone; carasi — you wander; kalyāṇi — O blessed one; ghorān — dreadful; rākṣasasevitān — haunted by rākṣasas

3.44.31

iti praśastā vaidehī rāvaṇena durātmanā
dvijātiveṣeṇa hi taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇam āgatam
sarvair atithisatkāraiḥ pūjayām āsa maithilī

Thus praised by the wicked Rāvaṇa — and seeing him, Rāvaṇa, come in the guise of a brahmin — Maithilī honored him with all the courtesies due a guest.

Words: iti — thus; praśastā — praised; vaidehī — Vaidehī; rāvaṇena — by Rāvaṇa; durātmanā — the wicked; dvijātiveṣeṇa — in the guise of a brahmin; hi — indeed; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rāvaṇam — Rāvaṇa; āgatam — come, arrived; sarvair — with all; atithisatkāraiḥ — with hospitalities due a guest; pūjayām āsa — honored; maithilī — Maithilī

3.44.32

upānīyāsanaṃ pūrvaṃ pādyenābhinimantrya ca
abravīt siddham ity eva tadā taṃ saumyadarśanam

First bringing him a seat and inviting him with water for the feet, she then said to him, of gentle appearance, 'The food is ready.'

Words: upānīyāsanaṃ — having brought a seat; pūrvaṃ — first; pādyenābhinimantrya — inviting with foot-water; ca — and; abravīt — said; siddham — (it is) ready, prepared; ity — thus; eva — indeed; tadā — then; taṃ — to him; saumyadarśanam — of gentle appearance

3.44.33

dvijātiveṣeṇa samīkṣya maithilī tam āgataṃ pātrakusumbhadhāriṇam
aśakyam uddveṣṭum upāyadarśanān nyamantrayad brāhmaṇavad yathāgatam

Seeing him come in the guise of a brahmin, bearing his begging-bowl and ochre garb, Maithilī — since decorum made it impossible to turn him away — invited him as befits a brahmin who has come.

Words: dvijātiveṣeṇa — in the guise of a brahmin; samīkṣya — having seen; maithilī — Maithilī; tam — him; āgataṃ — come; pātrakusumbhadhāriṇam — bearing a begging-bowl and ochre garb; aśakyam — impossible; uddveṣṭum — to reject, treat with hostility; upāyadarśanān — from consideration of propriety; nyamantrayad — invited; brāhmaṇavad — as a brahmin; yathāgatam — just as he had come

3.44.34

iyaṃ bṛsī brāhmaṇa kāmam āsyatām idaṃ ca pādyaṃ pratigṛhyatām iti
idaṃ ca siddhaṃ vanajātam uttamaṃ tvadartham avyagram ihopabhujyatām

'Here is a grass mat, brahmin — please be seated; and accept this water for the feet; and this excellent food, grown wild in the forest and made ready for you — eat it here at your ease.'

Words: iyaṃ — this; bṛsī — a mat of grass, seat; brāhmaṇa — O brahmin; kāmam — at will, please; āsyatām — let (you) be seated; idaṃ — this; ca — and; pādyaṃ — foot-water; pratigṛhyatām — let it be accepted; iti — thus; idaṃ — this; ca — and; siddhaṃ — prepared, ready; vanajātam — grown in the forest; uttamaṃ — excellent; tvadartham — for your sake; avyagram — at ease, calmly; ihopabhujyatām — let it be eaten here

3.44.35

nimantryamāṇaḥ pratipūrṇabhāṣiṇīṃ narendrapatnīṃ prasamīkṣya maithilīm
prahasya tasyā haraṇe dhṛtaṃ manaḥ samarpayām āsa vadhāya rāvaṇaḥ

Being thus invited, gazing upon Maithilī, the king's wife, gracious in her speech, Rāvaṇa smiled and, his mind set upon carrying her off, thereby delivered himself up to his own destruction.

Words: nimantryamāṇaḥ — being invited; pratipūrṇabhāṣiṇīṃ — gracious, full in her speech; narendrapatnīṃ — the wife of the king; prasamīkṣya — having gazed upon; maithilīm — Maithilī; prahasya — having smiled; tasyā — her; haraṇe — on the abduction; dhṛtaṃ — fixed, held; manaḥ — mind; samarpayām āsa — delivered up, directed; vadhāya — toward (his own) destruction; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa

3.44.36

tataḥ suveṣaṃ mṛgayā gataṃ patiṃ pratīkṣamāṇā sahalakṣmaṇaṃ tadā
nirīkṣamāṇā haritaṃ dadarśa tan mahad vanaṃ naiva tu rāmalakṣmaṇau

Then, awaiting her handsome husband gone hunting together with Lakṣmaṇa, and gazing about over the greenery, she looked upon that great forest — but saw neither Rāma nor Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: tataḥ — then; suveṣaṃ — handsome, well-attired; mṛgayā — to the hunt; gataṃ — gone; patiṃ — husband; pratīkṣamāṇā — awaiting; sahalakṣmaṇaṃ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; tadā — then; nirīkṣamāṇā — gazing about; haritaṃ — the greenery; dadarśa — saw, looked upon; tan — that; mahad — great; vanaṃ — forest; naiva — but not; tu — however; rāmalakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

← 3.43 Lakṣmaṇa leaves Sītā · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.45 Rāvaṇa reveals his identity →

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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