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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 55: Rāma meets Lakṣmaṇa
Summary. Omens and the false cry make him fear a plot against Sītā, he reproaches Lakṣmaṇa for leaving her alone
Sequence
- The narrative returns to Rāma after Mārīca's death: hurrying home, he hears an ominous jackal cry behind him (3.55.1–3)
- he fears for Sītā and anticipates exactly how the deception may work—she may send Lakṣmaṇa away after hearing the imitation of his voice (3.55.4–6)
- he suspects the deer was part of a coordinated rākṣasa plan against her and recalls the hostility created by Khara's defeat (3.55.7–9)
- as he approaches Janasthāna, further disturbing animal behavior increases his foreboding (3.55.10–11)
- he sees Lakṣmaṇa coming toward him (3.55.12–13)
- taking his brother's left hand, he reproaches him for leaving Sītā alone (3.55.14–16)
- he fears she has been killed or taken and explains that the deer revealed itself as a rākṣasa when it died (3.55.17–19)
- his twitching left eye and deep unease make him increasingly certain that something has happened, although he does not yet know what. (3.55.20)
Verses 3.55.1–20
3.55.1
rākṣasaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa carantaṃ kāmarūpiṇam
nihatya rāmo mārīcaṃ tūrṇaṃ pathi nyavartata
Having slain the rākṣasa Mārīca, who could take any form at will and roamed about in the guise of a deer, Rāma turned back swiftly onto the path.
Words: rākṣasaṃ — the rākṣasa; mṛgarūpeṇa — in the guise of a deer; carantaṃ — roaming; kāmarūpiṇam — able to take any form at will; nihatya — having slain; rāmo — Rāma; mārīcaṃ — Mārīca; tūrṇaṃ — swiftly; pathi — onto the path; nyavartata — turned back
3.55.2
tasya saṃtvaramāṇasya draṣṭukāmasya maithilīm
krūrasvaro 'tha gomāyur vinanādāsya pṛṣṭhataḥ
As he hurried on, eager to see Maithilī, a jackal with a cruel voice then howled behind him.
Words: tasya — of him; saṃtvaramāṇasya — hurrying; draṣṭukāmasya — eager to see; maithilīm — Maithilī; krūrasvaro — cruel-voiced; 'tha — then; gomāyur — a jackal; vinanādāsya — howled; of him; pṛṣṭhataḥ — behind
3.55.3
sa tasya svaram ājñāya dāruṇaṃ romaharṣaṇam
cintayām āsa gomāyoḥ svareṇa pariśaṅkitaḥ
Recognizing that dreadful, hair-raising cry of the creature, he fell to brooding, alarmed by the jackal's voice.
Words: sa — he; tasya — its; svaram — cry; ājñāya — having recognized; dāruṇaṃ — dreadful; romaharṣaṇam — hair-raising; cintayām — to brooding; āsa — fell; gomāyoḥ — of the jackal; svareṇa — by the voice; pariśaṅkitaḥ — alarmed
3.55.4
aśubhaṃ bata manye 'haṃ gomāyur vāśyate yathā
svasti syād api vaidehyā rākṣasair bhakṣaṇaṃ vinā
"Alas, I think it bodes ill, the way the jackal howls; may it be well with Vaidehī, spared from being devoured by the rākṣasas."
Words: aśubhaṃ — something inauspicious; bata — alas; manye — I think; 'haṃ — I; gomāyur — the jackal; vāśyate — howls; yathā — the way that; svasti — well-being; syād — may it be; api — surely; vaidehyā — with Vaidehī; rākṣasair — by the rākṣasas; bhakṣaṇaṃ — being devoured; vinā — without, spared from
3.55.5
mārīcena tu vijñāya svaram ālakṣya māmakam
vikruṣṭaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ śṛṇuyād yadi
"If Lakṣmaṇa should hear the cry that Mārīca, mimicking and marking my voice, uttered in the deer's form—"
Words: mārīcena — by Mārīca; tu — but; vijñāya — having mimicked, feigned; svaram — voice; ālakṣya — having marked, imitated; māmakam — my; vikruṣṭaṃ — the cry that was uttered; mṛgarūpeṇa — in the deer's form; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; śṛṇuyād — should hear; yadi — if
3.55.6
sa saumitriḥ svaraṃ śrutvā tāṃ ca hitvātha maithilīm
tayaiva prahitaḥ kṣipraṃ matsakāśam ihaiṣyati
"—then that son of Sumitrā, hearing the cry and abandoning Maithilī, sent by her very self, will come here quickly to my side."
Words: sa — he; saumitriḥ — the son of Sumitrā; svaraṃ — the cry; śrutvā — having heard; tāṃ — her; ca — and; hitvātha — having abandoned; then; maithilīm — Maithilī; tayaiva — by her very self; prahitaḥ — sent; kṣipraṃ — quickly; matsakāśam — to my side; ihaiṣyati — will come here
3.55.7
rākṣasaiḥ sahitair nūnaṃ sītāyā īpsito vadhaḥ
kāñcanaś ca mṛgo bhūtvā vyapanīyāśramāt tu mām
"Surely the rākṣasas, banded together, desired Sītā's death; and this one, becoming a golden deer, lured me away from the hermitage."
Words: rākṣasaiḥ — by the rākṣasas; sahitair — banded together; nūnaṃ — surely; sītāyā — of Sītā; īpsito — desired; vadhaḥ — the death, slaying; kāñcanaś — golden; ca — and; mṛgo — deer; bhūtvā — having become; vyapanīyāśramāt — having lured away from the hermitage; tu — indeed; mām — me
3.55.8
dūraṃ nītvā tu mārīco rākṣaso 'bhūc charāhataḥ
hā lakṣmaṇa hato 'smīti yad vākyaṃ vyajahāra ha
"Having led me far off, Mārīca the rākṣasa, struck by my arrow, uttered the words, 'Alas, Lakṣmaṇa, I am slain!'"
Words: dūraṃ — far off; nītvā — having led; tu — and; mārīco — Mārīca; rākṣaso — the rākṣasa; 'bhūc — became; charāhataḥ — struck by the arrow; hā — alas; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; hato — slain; 'smīti — 'I am,' thus; yad — which; vākyaṃ — words; vyajahāra — uttered; ha — indeed
3.55.9
api svasti bhaved dvābhyāṃ rahitābhyāṃ mayā vane
janasthānanimittaṃ hi kṛtavairo 'smi rākṣasaiḥ
nimittāni ca ghorāṇi dṛśyante 'dya bahūni ca
"May it be well with those two left without me in the forest; for on account of Janasthāna I have made enmity with the rākṣasas, and today many dreadful portents are seen."
Words: api — may it be that; svasti — well-being; bhaved — there be; dvābhyāṃ — with the two; rahitābhyāṃ — left, deprived; mayā — by me, of me; vane — in the forest; janasthānanimittaṃ — on account of Janasthāna; hi — for; kṛtavairo — having made enmity; 'smi — I am; rākṣasaiḥ — with the rākṣasas; nimittāni — portents; ca — and; ghorāṇi — dreadful; dṛśyante — are seen; 'dya — today; bahūni — many; ca — and
3.55.10
ity evaṃ cintayan rāmaḥ śrutvā gomāyuniḥsvanam
ātmanaś cāpanayanaṃ mṛgarūpeṇa rakṣasā
ājagāma janasthānaṃ rāghavaḥ pariśaṅkitaḥ
Brooding thus, having heard the jackal's cry and knowing his own being led away by the rākṣasa in the deer's form, Rāghava came to Janasthāna, filled with foreboding.
Words: ity — thus; evaṃ — in this way; cintayan — brooding; rāmaḥ — Rāma; śrutvā — having heard; gomāyuniḥsvanam — the jackal's cry; ātmanaś — of himself; cāpanayanaṃ — and the leading away; mṛgarūpeṇa — in the deer's form; rakṣasā — by the rākṣasa; ājagāma — came; janasthānaṃ — to Janasthāna; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; pariśaṅkitaḥ — filled with foreboding
3.55.11
taṃ dīnamānasaṃ dīnam āsedur mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ
savyaṃ kṛtvā mahātmānaṃ ghorāṃś ca sasṛjuḥ svarān
Beasts and birds came up to him, downcast and low in spirit, and keeping the great one on their left, they let loose dreadful cries.
Words: taṃ — him; dīnamānasaṃ — low in spirit; dīnam — downcast; āsedur — came up to; mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ — beasts and birds; savyaṃ — on the left; kṛtvā — having kept, made; mahātmānaṃ — the great one; ghorāṃś — dreadful; ca — and; sasṛjuḥ — let loose; svarān — cries
3.55.12
tāni dṛṣṭvā nimittāni mahāghorāṇi rāghavaḥ
tato lakṣaṇam āyāntaṃ dadarśa vigataprabham
Seeing those exceedingly dreadful portents, Rāghava then beheld Lakṣmaṇa coming toward him, his radiance gone.
Words: tāni — those; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; nimittāni — portents; mahāghorāṇi — exceedingly dreadful; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; tato — then; lakṣaṇam — Lakṣmaṇa; āyāntaṃ — coming; dadarśa — beheld; vigataprabham — his radiance gone
3.55.13
tato 'vidūre rāmeṇa samīyāya sa lakṣmaṇaḥ
viṣaṇṇaḥ sa viṣaṇṇena duḥkhito duḥkhabhāginā
Then, not far off, that Lakṣmaṇa met with Rāma—the one dejected meeting the dejected, the one grieved meeting him who shared his grief.
Words: tato — then; 'vidūre — not far off; rāmeṇa — with Rāma; samīyāya — met; sa — that; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; viṣaṇṇaḥ — dejected; sa — he; viṣaṇṇena — with the dejected one; duḥkhito — grieved; duḥkhabhāginā — with him who shared the grief
3.55.14
saṃjagarhe 'tha taṃ bhrātā jeṣṭho lakṣmaṇam āgatam
vihāya sītāṃ vijane vane rākṣasasevite
Then the elder brother reproached that Lakṣmaṇa who had come, having left Sītā in the lonely forest haunted by rākṣasas.
Words: saṃjagarhe — reproached; 'tha — then; taṃ — that; bhrātā — the brother; jeṣṭho — elder; lakṣmaṇam — Lakṣmaṇa; āgatam — who had come; vihāya — having left; sītāṃ — Sītā; vijane — in the lonely (place); vane — in the forest; rākṣasasevite — haunted by rākṣasas
3.55.15
gṛhītvā ca karaṃ savyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ raghunandanaḥ
uvāca madhurodarkam idaṃ paruṣam ārtavat
And grasping Lakṣmaṇa's left hand, the delight of the Raghus spoke these words—harsh yet sweet in their outcome, as one in distress:
Words: gṛhītvā — having grasped; ca — and; karaṃ — the hand; savyaṃ — left; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa's; raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus; uvāca — spoke; madhurodarkam — sweet in its outcome; idaṃ — this; paruṣam — harsh; ārtavat — as one in distress
3.55.16
aho lakṣmaṇa garhyaṃ te kṛtaṃ yat tvaṃ vihāya tām
sītām ihāgataḥ saumya kaccit svasti bhaved iti
"Ah, Lakṣmaṇa, blameworthy is this deed of yours, that you have left Sītā and come here, gentle one—can it be that all is well?"
Words: aho — ah; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; garhyaṃ — blameworthy; te — of yours; kṛtaṃ — deed done; yat — that; tvaṃ — you; vihāya — having left; tām — her; sītām — Sītā; ihāgataḥ — come here; saumya — gentle one; kaccit — can it be that; svasti — well; bhaved — may be; iti — thus
3.55.17
na me 'sti saṃśayo vīra sarvathā janakātmajā
vinaṣṭā bhakṣitā vāpa rākṣasair vanacāribhiḥ
"I have no doubt, hero, that in every way the daughter of Janaka is lost, or devoured by the forest-roaming rākṣasas."
Words: na — not; me — for me; 'sti — there is; saṃśayo — doubt; vīra — hero; sarvathā — in every way; janakātmajā — the daughter of Janaka; vinaṣṭā — lost, perished; bhakṣitā — devoured; vāpa — or; rākṣasair — by the rākṣasas; vanacāribhiḥ — forest-roaming
3.55.18
aśubhāny eva bhūyiṣṭhaṃ yathā prādurbhavanti me
api lakṣmaṇa sītāyāḥ sāmagryaṃ prāpnuyāvahe
"Since inauspicious signs mostly keep appearing to me—O Lakṣmaṇa, may we yet regain Sītā safe and whole!"
Words: aśubhāny — inauspicious signs; eva — indeed; bhūyiṣṭhaṃ — mostly, for the most part; yathā — since, as; prādurbhavanti — appear, manifest; me — to me; api — may it be that; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; sītāyāḥ — of Sītā; sāmagryaṃ — wholeness, entirety; prāpnuyāvahe — may we two regain
3.55.19
idaṃ hi rakṣomṛgasaṃnikāśaṃ pralobhya māṃ dūram anuprayātam
hataṃ kathaṃ cin mahatā śrameṇa sa rākṣaso 'bhūn mriyamāṇa eva
"For this creature, in the semblance of a rākṣasa-deer, lured me and made me follow it far; slain only with great effort, it turned into a rākṣasa in the very act of dying."
Words: idaṃ — this; hi — for; rakṣomṛgasaṃnikāśaṃ — in the semblance of a rākṣasa-deer; pralobhya — having lured, enticed; māṃ — me; dūram — far; anuprayātam — followed after; hataṃ — slain; kathaṃ — somehow; cin — -ever; mahatā — great; śrameṇa — with effort; sa — that; rākṣaso — rākṣasa; 'bhūn — became; mriyamāṇa — while dying; eva — in the very act
3.55.20
manaś ca me dīnam ihāprahṛṣṭaṃ cakṣuś ca savyaṃ kurute vikāram
asaṃśayaṃ lakṣmaṇa nāsti sītā hṛtā mṛtā vā pathi vartate vā
"And my mind here is downcast and cheerless, and my left eye is twitching; without a doubt, Lakṣmaṇa, Sītā is no more—she has been carried off, or killed, or is lost somewhere on the way."
Words: manaś — mind; ca — and; me — my; dīnam — downcast; ihāprahṛṣṭaṃ — cheerless here; cakṣuś — eye; ca — and; savyaṃ — left; kurute — makes; vikāram — a twitching, disturbance; asaṃśayaṃ — without a doubt; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; nāsti — is not; sītā — Sītā; hṛtā — carried off; mṛtā — killed, dead; vā — or; pathi — on the way; vartate — is, remains; vā — or
← 3.54 Rāvaṇa’s deadline and threat · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.56 Return to the empty hut →
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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