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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 56: Return to the empty hut

Summary. Rāma imagines Sītā’s loss and its consequences, hurries back with Lakṣmaṇa and finds their dwelling deserted

Sequence

  1. Rāma repeatedly asks where Sītā is, recalling how she shared his exile and saying that no Kingdom could compensate for losing her (3.56.1–6)
  2. he imagines his own death, Kausalyā's further suffering, and Kaikeyī's satisfaction → he says he cannot live if Sītā does not greet him at the hermitage (3.56.7–12)
  3. he suspects that the false cry frightened Sītā into sending Lakṣmaṇa away and that this gave their enemies an opportunity (3.56.13–16)
  4. distressed and uncertain what to do, he hurries with Lakṣmaṇa to Janasthāna (3.56.17–18)
  5. exhausted, thirsty, and still reproaching his brother, he reaches the empty dwelling → the familiar places where they lived together intensify his grief. (3.56.19–20)

Verses 3.56.1–20

3.56.1

sa dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇaṃ dīnaṃ śūnye daśarathātmajaḥ
paryapṛcchata dharmātmā vaidehīm āgataṃ vinā

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa dejected and alone, that righteous son of Daśaratha questioned him, come without Vaidehī:

Words: sa — he; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; dīnaṃ — dejected; śūnye — in the lonely (place); daśarathātmajaḥ — son of Daśaratha; paryapṛcchata — questioned; dharmātmā — the righteous one; vaidehīm — Vaidehī; āgataṃ — (him) come; vinā — without

3.56.2

prasthitaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ yā mām anujagāma ha
kva sā lakṣmaṇa vaidehī yāṃ hitvā tvam ihāgataḥ

She who followed me as I set out for the Daṇḍaka forest—where is she, Lakṣmaṇa, that Vaidehī, whom you have left to come here?

Words: prasthitaṃ — (me) set out; daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ — for the Daṇḍaka forest; yā — who; mām — me; anujagāma — followed; ha — indeed; kva — where; sā — she; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; vaidehī — Vaidehī; yāṃ — whom; hitvā — having abandoned; tvam — you; ihāgataḥ — come here

3.56.3

rājyabhraṣṭasya dīnasya daṇḍakān paridhāvataḥ
kva sā duḥkhasahāyā me vaidehī tanumadhyamā

Where is she, my companion in sorrow, slender-waisted Vaidehī—companion to me, fallen from kingship, wretched, roaming the Daṇḍaka wilds?

Words: rājyabhraṣṭasya — of (me) fallen from the kingdom; dīnasya — wretched; daṇḍakān — the Daṇḍaka (wilds); paridhāvataḥ — roaming about; kva — where; sā — she; duḥkhasahāyā — companion in sorrow; me — my; vaidehī — Vaidehī; tanumadhyamā — of slender waist

3.56.4

yāṃ vinā notsahe vīra muhūrtam api jīvitum
kva sā prāṇasahāyā me sītā surasutopamā

Without whom I cannot bear to live even a moment, O hero—where is she, my life's companion, Sītā, like a daughter of the gods?

Words: yāṃ — whom; vinā — without; notsahe — I cannot bear; vīra — O hero; muhūrtam — a moment; api — even; jīvitum — to live; kva — where; sā — she; prāṇasahāyā — companion (dear as) life; me — my; sītā — Sītā; surasutopamā — like a daughter of the gods

3.56.5

patitvam amarāṇāṃ vā pṛthivyāś cāpi lakṣmaṇa
vinā tāṃ tapanīyābhāṃ neccheyaṃ janakātmajām

Even lordship over the immortals or over the earth, Lakṣmaṇa, I would not want without her, the gold-hued daughter of Janaka.

Words: patitvam — lordship, sovereignty; amarāṇāṃ — over the immortals; vā — or; pṛthivyāś — of the earth; cāpi — and even; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; vinā — without; tāṃ — her; tapanīyābhāṃ — radiant as gold; neccheyaṃ — I would not desire; janakātmajām — the daughter of Janaka

3.56.6

kaccij jīvati vaidehī prāṇaiḥ priyatarā mama
kaccit pravrājanaṃ saumya na me mithyā bhaviṣyati

Is Vaidehī, dearer to me than my own life, still alive? Gentle one, will my exile not prove to have been in vain?

Words: kaccij — surely?; jīvati — lives; vaidehī — Vaidehī; prāṇaiḥ — than (my) life-breaths; priyatarā — dearer; mama — to me; kaccit — surely?; pravrājanaṃ — exile, banishment; saumya — O gentle one; na — not; me — my; mithyā — in vain; bhaviṣyati — will become

3.56.7

sītānimittaṃ saumitre mṛte mayi gate tvayi
kaccit sakāmā sukhitā kaikeyī sā bhaviṣyati

O son of Sumitrā, if I die on account of Sītā and you too are gone, will that Kaikeyī have her wish fulfilled and be happy?

Words: sītānimittaṃ — on account of Sītā; saumitre — O son of Sumitrā; mṛte — when (I am) dead; mayi — when I (am gone); gate — when gone; tvayi — you (being gone); kaccit — perhaps?; sakāmā — with wish fulfilled; sukhitā — happy; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; sā — she; bhaviṣyati — will become

3.56.8

saputrarājyāṃ siddhārthāṃ mṛtaputrā tapasvinī
upasthāsyati kausalyā kaccin saumya na kaikayīm

Will not the wretched Kausalyā, her son dead, have to wait upon Kaikeyī, whose son now holds the kingdom and whose aims are accomplished, gentle one?

Words: saputrarājyāṃ — (Kaikeyī) whose son has the kingdom; siddhārthāṃ — whose aims are accomplished; mṛtaputrā — (Kausalyā) whose son is dead; tapasvinī — the wretched one; upasthāsyati — will wait upon; kausalyā — Kausalyā; kaccin — surely not?; saumya — gentle one; na — not; kaikayīm — Kaikeyī

3.56.9

yadi jīvati vaidehī gamiṣyāmy āśramaṃ punaḥ
suvṛttā yadi vṛttā sā prāṇāṃs tyakṣyāmi lakṣmaṇa

If Vaidehī is alive I will go back to the hermitage; but if that virtuous woman has perished, I too will give up my life, Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: yadi — if; jīvati — lives; vaidehī — Vaidehī; gamiṣyāmy — I will go; āśramaṃ — to the hermitage; punaḥ — again; suvṛttā — virtuous, of good conduct; yadi — if; vṛttā — has perished, is dead; sā — she; prāṇāṃs — (my) life-breaths; tyakṣyāmi — I will give up; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa

3.56.10

yadi mām āśramagataṃ vaidehī nābhibhāṣate
punaḥ prahasitā sītā vinaśiṣyāmi lakṣmaṇa

If, when I reach the hermitage, Vaidehī with her sweet smile does not speak to me again, I shall perish, Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: yadi — if; mām — me; āśramagataṃ — come to the hermitage; vaidehī — Vaidehī; nābhibhāṣate — does not address; punaḥ — again; prahasitā — smiling; sītā — Sītā; vinaśiṣyāmi — I shall perish; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa

3.56.11

brūhi lakṣmaṇa vaidehī yadi jīvati vā na vā
tvayi pramatte rakṣobhir bhakṣitā vā tapasvinī

Tell me, Lakṣmaṇa, whether Vaidehī is alive or not, or whether the poor woman was devoured by the rākṣasas while you were off your guard.

Words: brūhi — tell; lakṣmaṇa — Lakṣmaṇa; vaidehī — Vaidehī; yadi — whether; jīvati — lives; vā — or; na — not; vā — or; tvayi — you (being); pramatte — heedless, off guard; rakṣobhir — by the rākṣasas; bhakṣitā — devoured; vā — or; tapasvinī — the poor woman

3.56.12

sukumārī ca bālā ca nityaṃ cāduḥkhadarśinī
madviyogena vaidehī vyaktaṃ śocati durmanāḥ

Delicate and young and never having known sorrow, Vaidehī surely grieves, downcast, at being parted from me.

Words: sukumārī — delicate; ca — and; bālā — young; ca — and; nityaṃ — ever; cāduḥkhadarśinī — and never seeing sorrow; madviyogena — through separation from me; vaidehī — Vaidehī; vyaktaṃ — clearly; śocati — grieves; durmanāḥ — downcast

3.56.13

sarvathā rakṣasā tena jihmena sudurātmanā
vadatā lakṣmaṇety uccais tavāpi janitaṃ bhayam

Assuredly, by that crooked and utterly evil-souled rākṣasa crying out 'Lakṣmaṇa!' aloud, fear was stirred up even in you.

Words: sarvathā — assuredly; rakṣasā — by the rākṣasa; tena — that; jihmena — crooked; sudurātmanā — utterly evil-souled; vadatā — crying, uttering; lakṣmaṇety — 'Lakṣmaṇa!'; uccais — aloud; tavāpi — even in you; janitaṃ — produced, stirred up; bhayam — fear

3.56.14

śrutaś ca śaṅke vaidehyā sa svaraḥ sadṛśo mama
trastayā preṣitas tvaṃ ca draṣṭuṃ māṃ śīghram āgataḥ

That voice, so like mine, was heard by Vaidehī, I suspect; and, terrified, she sent you, and you came quickly to see me.

Words: śrutaś — heard; ca — and; śaṅke — I suspect; vaidehyā — by Vaidehī; sa — that; svaraḥ — voice; sadṛśo — resembling; mama — mine; trastayā — by (her) terrified; preṣitas — sent; tvaṃ — you; ca — and; draṣṭuṃ — to see; māṃ — me; śīghram — quickly; āgataḥ — come

3.56.15

sarvathā tu kṛtaṃ kaṣṭaṃ sītām utsṛjatā vane
pratikartuṃ nṛśaṃsānāṃ rakṣasāṃ dattam antaram

In every way a grievous wrong has been done by abandoning Sītā in the forest; an opening has been given to the cruel rākṣasas to strike back.

Words: sarvathā — in every way; tu — indeed; kṛtaṃ — done; kaṣṭaṃ — a grievous wrong; sītām — Sītā; utsṛjatā — by (you) abandoning; vane — in the forest; pratikartuṃ — to strike back, retaliate; nṛśaṃsānāṃ — of the cruel; rakṣasāṃ — of the rākṣasas; dattam — given; antaram — an opening, opportunity

3.56.16

duḥkhitāḥ kharaghātena rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ
taiḥ sītā nihatā ghorair bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

The flesh-eating rākṣasas, aggrieved by the slaying of Khara—by those dreadful ones Sītā will have been slain, there is no doubt.

Words: duḥkhitāḥ — aggrieved; kharaghātena — by the slaying of Khara; rākṣasāḥ — the rākṣasas; piśitāśanāḥ — flesh-eaters; taiḥ — by those; sītā — Sītā; nihatā — slain; ghorair — dreadful; bhaviṣyati — will be; na — no; saṃśayaḥ — doubt

3.56.17

aho 'smi vyasane magnaḥ sarvathā ripunāśana
kiṃ tv idānīṃ kariṣyāmi śaṅke prāptavyam īdṛśam

Ah, I am utterly sunk in calamity, O destroyer of foes! But what shall I do now? I fear such was the fate destined to befall me.

Words: aho — ah, alas; 'smi — I am; vyasane — in calamity; magnaḥ — sunk; sarvathā — utterly; ripunāśana — O destroyer of foes; kiṃ — what; tv — but; idānīṃ — now; kariṣyāmi — shall I do; śaṅke — I fear; prāptavyam — what was destined to befall; īdṛśam — such

3.56.18

iti sītāṃ varārohāṃ cintayann eva rāghavaḥ
ājagāma janasthānaṃ tvarayā sahalakṣmaṇaḥ

Thus brooding on the shapely Sītā, Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, came in haste to Janasthāna.

Words: iti — thus; sītāṃ — Sītā; varārohāṃ — the shapely one; cintayann — brooding; eva — even, indeed; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; ājagāma — came; janasthānaṃ — to Janasthāna; tvarayā — in haste; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa

3.56.19

vigarhamāṇo 'nujam ārtarūpaṃ kṣudhā śramāc caiva pipāsayā ca
viniḥśvasañ śuṣkamukho viṣaṇṇaḥ pratiśrayaṃ prāpya samīkṣya śūnyam

Reproaching his younger brother, who looked distressed, sighing from hunger, weariness, and thirst, dry-mouthed and dejected, he reached the dwelling and beheld it empty.

Words: vigarhamāṇo — reproaching; 'nujam — (his) younger brother; ārtarūpaṃ — of distressed appearance; kṣudhā — from hunger; śramāc — from weariness; caiva — and; pipāsayā — from thirst; ca — and; viniḥśvasañ — sighing; śuṣkamukho — dry-mouthed; viṣaṇṇaḥ — dejected; pratiśrayaṃ — the dwelling, shelter; prāpya — having reached; samīkṣya — having beheld; śūnyam — empty

3.56.20

svam āśramaṃ saṃpravigāhya vīro vihāradeśān anusṛtya kāṃś cit
etat tad ity eva nivāsabhūmau prahṛṣṭaromā vyathito babhūva

Entering his own hermitage and retracing some of their old haunts—'here it is, that very spot'—on the ground where they had dwelt, his hair bristling, the hero became stricken with grief.

Words: svam — his own; āśramaṃ — hermitage; saṃpravigāhya — having entered; vīro — the hero; vihāradeśān — the places of (their) roaming; anusṛtya — having retraced; kāṃś cit — some, certain; etat — this; tad — that; ity — thus; eva — indeed; nivāsabhūmau — on the ground of (their) dwelling; prahṛṣṭaromā — with hair bristling; vyathito — stricken, agitated; babhūva — became

← 3.55 Rāma meets Lakṣmaṇa · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.57 Lakṣmaṇa explains his departure →

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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