← 3.58 Rāma searches for Sītā · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.60 Traces of Sītā’s abduction →
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 59: Lakṣmaṇa renews the search
Summary. He urges Rāma to inspect caves, rivers and groves before assuming Sītā’s death, their fruitless search returns Rāma to grief
Sequence
- At the empty, disordered hermitage, Rāma again calls for Sītā and wonders whether she is hiding nearby (3.59.1–5)
- he imagines dying of grief and meeting Daśaratha before completing the promised exile, only to be reproached for failing his word (3.59.6–8)
- he calls after Sītā and says he cannot live without her (3.59.9–11)
- Lakṣmaṇa urges him to keep searching instead of assuming the worst: she may be in a cave, by a river or lotus pond, or exploring the woods (3.59.12–16)
- steadied for a time, Rāma joins him in searching the forests, mountain ridges, caves, rivers, and lakes (3.59.17–19)
- they still find nothing → Lakṣmaṇa insists that Rāma will recover her, comparing the recovery to Viṣṇu regaining the earth (3.59.20–22)
- Rāma recalls all the places already searched, collapses in renewed grief, and repeatedly cries for her despite his brother's efforts to comfort him. (3.59.23–29)
Verses 3.59.1–29
3.59.1
dṛṣṭāśramapadaṃ śūnyaṃ rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ
rahitāṃ parṇaśālāṃ ca vidhvastāny āsanāni ca
Rāma, son of Daśaratha, having seen the hermitage-ground empty, the leaf-hut deserted, and the seats overturned—
Words: dṛṣṭāśramapadaṃ — having seen the hermitage-ground; śūnyaṃ — empty; rāmo — Rāma; daśarathātmajaḥ — son of Daśaratha; rahitāṃ — deserted, devoid; parṇaśālāṃ — the leaf-hut; ca — and; vidhvastāny — overturned, scattered; āsanāni — the seats; ca — and
3.59.2
adṛṣṭvā tatra vaidehīṃ saṃnirīkṣya ca sarvaśaḥ
uvāca rāmaḥ prākruśya pragṛhya rucirau bhujau
Not seeing Vaidehī there, and looking about in every direction, Rāma cried out and, raising his lovely arms, spoke:
Words: adṛṣṭvā — not having seen; tatra — there; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; saṃnirīkṣya — having looked around; ca — and; sarvaśaḥ — in every direction; uvāca — spoke; rāmaḥ — Rāma; prākruśya — having cried out; pragṛhya — raising, seizing; rucirau — lovely (the two); bhujau — arms (the two)
3.59.3
kva nu lakṣmaṇa vaidehī kaṃ vā deśam ito gatā
kenāhṛtā vā saumitre bhakṣitā kena vā priyā
Where, pray, is Vaidehī, Lakṣmaṇa, or to what region has she gone from here? By whom has my beloved been carried off, Saumitri, or by whom devoured?
Words: kva — where; nu — pray, indeed; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; vaidehī — Vaidehī; kaṃ — to what; vā — or; deśam — region; ito — from here; gatā — gone; kenāhṛtā — by whom carried off; vā — or; saumitre — O Saumitri; bhakṣitā — devoured; kena — by whom; vā — or; priyā — (my) beloved
3.59.4
vṛṣkeṇāvārya yadi māṃ sīte hasitum icchasi
alaṃ te hasitenādya māṃ bhajasva suduḥkhitam
If, screening yourself behind a tree, Sītā, you wish to laugh at me—enough of your laughter now; come to me, who am so sorely grieved.
Words: vṛṣkeṇāvārya — having screened (yourself) with a tree; yadi — if; māṃ — me; sīte — O Sītā; hasitum — to laugh; icchasi — you wish; alaṃ — enough; te — of your; hasitenādya — with laughter now; māṃ — me; bhajasva — attend to, come to; suduḥkhitam — sorely grieved
3.59.5
yaiḥ saha krīḍase sīte viśvastair mṛgapotakaiḥ
ete hīnās tvayā saumye dhyāyanty asrāvilekṣaṇāḥ
The trusting fawns with which you used to play, Sītā—these, deprived of you, O gentle one, stand brooding with eyes clouded by tears.
Words: yaiḥ — with which; saha — together; krīḍase — you play; sīte — O Sītā; viśvastair — trusting; mṛgapotakaiḥ — fawns; ete — these; hīnās — deprived; tvayā — of you; saumye — O gentle one; dhyāyanty — they brood, muse; asrāvilekṣaṇāḥ — with tear-clouded eyes
3.59.6
mṛtaṃ śokena mahatā sītāharaṇajena mām
paraloke mahārājo nūnaṃ drakṣyati me pitā
My father, the great king, will surely see me in the other world, dead from the great grief born of Sītā's abduction.
Words: mṛtaṃ — dead; śokena — by grief; mahatā — great; sītāharaṇajena — born of Sītā's abduction; mām — me; paraloke — in the other world; mahārājo — the great king; nūnaṃ — surely; drakṣyati — will see; me — my; pitā — father
3.59.7
kathaṃ pratijñāṃ saṃśrutya mayā tvam abhiyojitaḥ
apūrayitvā taṃ kālaṃ matsakāśam ihāgataḥ
How is it that, having agreed to the promise to which you were charged by me, without completing that period you have come here into my presence?
Words: kathaṃ — how; pratijñāṃ — the promise; saṃśrutya — having agreed to; mayā — by me; tvam — you; abhiyojitaḥ — charged, engaged; apūrayitvā — without fulfilling; taṃ — that; kālaṃ — period, time; matsakāśam — to my presence; ihāgataḥ — come here
3.59.8
kāmavṛttam anāryaṃ māṃ mṛṣāvādinam eva ca
dhik tvām iti pare loke vyaktaṃ vakṣyati me pitā
'Shame on you!'—so, plainly, will my father say to me in the other world, calling me self-willed, ignoble, and a speaker of falsehood.
Words: kāmavṛttam — self-willed, acting on whim; anāryaṃ — ignoble; māṃ — me; mṛṣāvādinam — a speaker of falsehood; eva — indeed; ca — and; dhik — shame, fie; tvām — on you; iti — thus; pare — in the other; loke — world; vyaktaṃ — plainly; vakṣyati — will say; me — to me, my; pitā — father
3.59.9
vivaśaṃ śokasaṃtaptaṃ dīnaṃ bhagnamanoratham
mām ihotsṛjya karuṇaṃ kīrtir naram ivānṛjum
(You have left) me here helpless, scorched with grief, wretched, my hopes shattered, and pitiable—as glory forsakes a crooked man.
Words: vivaśaṃ — helpless; śokasaṃtaptaṃ — scorched with grief; dīnaṃ — wretched; bhagnamanoratham — with hopes shattered; mām — me; ihotsṛjya — having abandoned here; karuṇaṃ — pitiable; kīrtir — glory, fame; naram — a man; ivānṛjum — as a crooked (man)
3.59.10
kva gacchasi varārohe mām utsṛjya sumadhyame
tvayā virahitaś cāhaṃ mokṣye jīvitam ātmanaḥ
Where are you going, fair-hipped one, abandoning me, O slender-waisted one? Parted from you, I shall give up my own life.
Words: kva — where; gacchasi — you go; varārohe — O fair-hipped one; mām — me; utsṛjya — abandoning; sumadhyame — O slender-waisted one; tvayā — from you; virahitaś — parted; cāhaṃ — and I; mokṣye — I shall give up; jīvitam — life; ātmanaḥ — of myself
3.59.11
itīva vilapan rāmaḥ sītādarśanalālasaḥ
na dadarśa suduḥkhārto rāghavo janakātmajām
Thus lamenting, Rāma, longing for the sight of Sītā and sorely afflicted, that Rāghava did not see Janaka's daughter.
Words: itīva — thus; vilapan — lamenting; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sītādarśanalālasaḥ — longing for the sight of Sītā; na — not; dadarśa — saw; suduḥkhārto — sorely afflicted; rāghavo — Rāghava; janakātmajām — Janaka's daughter
3.59.12
anāsādayamānaṃ taṃ sītāṃ daśarathātmajam
paṅkam āsādya vipulaṃ sīdantam iva kuñjaram
lakṣmaṇo rāmam atyartham uvāca hitakāmyayā
To that son of Daśaratha, who was failing to find Sītā and sinking like an elephant that has floundered into a vast mire, Lakṣmaṇa, desiring his welfare, spoke earnestly:
Words: anāsādayamānaṃ — not finding; taṃ — him; sītāṃ — Sītā; daśarathātmajam — son of Daśaratha; paṅkam — mire; āsādya — having got into; vipulaṃ — vast; sīdantam — sinking; iva — like; kuñjaram — an elephant; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; rāmam — to Rāma; atyartham — earnestly, exceedingly; uvāca — spoke; hitakāmyayā — out of desire for (his) welfare
3.59.13
mā viṣādaṃ mahābāho kuru yatnaṃ mayā saha
idaṃ ca hi vanaṃ śūra bahukandaraśobhitam
Do not despair, mighty-armed one; make effort together with me. For this forest, O hero, is adorned with many caverns.
Words: mā — do not; viṣādaṃ — despair; mahābāho — O mighty-armed one; kuru — make; yatnaṃ — effort; mayā — with me; saha — together; idaṃ — this; ca — and; hi — for; vanaṃ — forest; śūra — O hero; bahukandaraśobhitam — adorned with many caverns
3.59.14
priyakānanasaṃcārā vanonmattā ca maithilī
sā vanaṃ vā praviṣṭā syān nalinīṃ vā supuṣpitām
Maithilī loves to roam the woods and is enraptured by the forest; she may have entered the forest, or a lotus-pond in full bloom.
Words: priyakānanasaṃcārā — fond of roaming the woods; vanonmattā — enraptured by the forest; ca — and; maithilī — Maithilī; sā — she; vanaṃ — the forest; vā — or; praviṣṭā — entered; syān — may be; nalinīṃ — a lotus-pond; vā — or; supuṣpitām — in full bloom
3.59.15
saritaṃ vāpi saṃprāptā mīnavañjurasevitām
vitrāsayitukāmā vā līnā syāt kānane kva cit
jijñāsamānā vaidehī tvāṃ māṃ ca puruṣarṣabha
Or she may have reached a river frequented by fish and vañju-birds, or, wishing to startle us, she may be hiding somewhere in the wood—Vaidehī putting you and me to the test, O bull among men.
Words: saritaṃ — a river; vāpi — or even; saṃprāptā — reached; mīnavañjurasevitām — frequented by fish and vañju-birds; vitrāsayitukāmā — wishing to startle; vā — or; līnā — hidden; syāt — may be; kānane — in the wood; kva cit — somewhere; jijñāsamānā — putting to the test, curious; vaidehī — Vaidehī; tvāṃ — you; māṃ — me; ca — and; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men
3.59.16
tasyā hy anveṣaṇe śrīman kṣipram eva yatāvahe
vanaṃ sarvaṃ vicinuvo yatra sā janakātmajā
manyase yadi kākutstha mā sma śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ
Illustrious one, let us two swiftly exert ourselves in searching for her; let us scour the whole forest, wherever Janaka's daughter may be. If you agree, Kākutstha, do not set your mind on grief.
Words: tasyā — for her; hy — indeed; anveṣaṇe — in searching; śrīman — O illustrious one; kṣipram — swiftly; eva — indeed; yatāvahe — let us two strive; vanaṃ — forest; sarvaṃ — whole; vicinuvo — let us two search; yatra — wherever; sā — she; janakātmajā — Janaka's daughter; manyase — you think, agree; yadi — if; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; mā — do not; sma — (emphatic particle); śoke — on grief; manaḥ — mind; kṛthāḥ — set, make
3.59.17
evam uktas tu sauhārdāl lakṣmaṇena samāhitaḥ
saha saumitriṇā rāmo vicetum upacakrame
tau vanāni girīṃś caiva saritaś ca sarāṃsi ca
Thus addressed out of affection by Lakṣmaṇa and steadied, Rāma, together with Saumitri, set about searching; the two (searched) forests and mountains and rivers and lakes.
Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; sauhārdāl — out of affection; lakṣmaṇena — by Lakṣmaṇa; samāhitaḥ — steadied, composed; saha — together with; saumitriṇā — Saumitri; rāmo — Rāma; vicetum — to search; upacakrame — set about; tau — the two; vanāni — forests; girīṃś — mountains; caiva — and; saritaś — rivers; ca — and; sarāṃsi — lakes; ca — and
3.59.18
nikhilena vicinvantau sītāṃ daśarathātmajau
tasya śailasya sānūni guhāś ca śikharāṇi ca
The two sons of Daśaratha, searching thoroughly for Sītā—the ridges of that mountain and its caves and peaks—
Words: nikhilena — thoroughly, completely; vicinvantau — the two searching; sītāṃ — for Sītā; daśarathātmajau — the two sons of Daśaratha; tasya — of that; śailasya — mountain; sānūni — ridges, tablelands; guhāś — caves; ca — and; śikharāṇi — peaks; ca — and
3.59.19
nikhilena vicinvantau naiva tām abhijagmatuḥ
vicitya sarvataḥ śailaṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇam abravīt
—searching them thoroughly, the two did not find her at all. Having searched the mountain on every side, Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa:
Words: nikhilena — thoroughly; vicinvantau — the two searching; naiva — not at all; tām — her; abhijagmatuḥ — the two reached, found; vicitya — having searched; sarvataḥ — on every side; śailaṃ — the mountain; rāmo — Rāma; lakṣmaṇam — to Lakṣmaṇa; abravīt — said
3.59.20
neha paśyāmi saumitre vaidehīṃ parvate śubhe
tato duḥkhābhisaṃtapto lakṣmaṇo vākyam abravīt
'I do not see Vaidehī here on this fair mountain, Saumitri.' Then Lakṣmaṇa, scorched with grief, spoke these words:
Words: neha — not here; paśyāmi — I see; saumitre — O Saumitri; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; parvate — on the mountain; śubhe — fair; tato — then; duḥkhābhisaṃtapto — scorched with grief; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke
3.59.21
vicaran daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ bhrātaraṃ dīptatejasaṃ
prāpsyasi tvaṃ mahāprājña maithilīṃ janakātmajām
Roaming the Daṇḍaka forest, O most wise one of blazing splendour, you will find Maithilī, Janaka's daughter—
Words: vicaran — roaming; daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ — the Daṇḍaka forest; bhrātaraṃ — brother; dīptatejasaṃ — of blazing splendour; prāpsyasi — you will obtain; tvaṃ — you; mahāprājña — O most wise; maithilīṃ — Maithilī; janakātmajām — Janaka's daughter
3.59.22
yathā viṣṇur mahābāhur baliṃ baddhvā mahīm imām
evam uktas tu vīreṇa lakṣmaṇena sa rāghavaḥ
just as the mighty-armed Viṣṇu (won back) this earth by binding Bali. Thus addressed by the heroic Lakṣmaṇa, that Rāghava
Words: yathā — just as; viṣṇur — Viṣṇu; mahābāhur — mighty-armed; baliṃ — Bali; baddhvā — having bound; mahīm — the earth; imām — this; evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; vīreṇa — by the heroic; lakṣmaṇena — by Lakṣmaṇa; sa — that; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava
3.59.23
uvāca dīnayā vācā duḥkhābhihatacetanaḥ
vanaṃ sarvaṃ suvicitaṃ padminyaḥ phullapaṅkajāḥ
spoke in a piteous voice, his mind stricken with grief: 'The whole forest has been thoroughly searched, and the lotus-ponds with their blossoming lotuses,'
Words: uvāca — spoke; dīnayā — piteous; vācā — with a voice; duḥkhābhihatacetanaḥ — his mind stricken with grief; vanaṃ — forest; sarvaṃ — whole; suvicitaṃ — well searched; padminyaḥ — the lotus-ponds; phullapaṅkajāḥ — with blossoming lotuses
3.59.24
giriś cāyaṃ mahāprājña bahukandaranirjharaḥ
na hi paśyāmi vaidehīṃ prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyasīm
'and this mountain too, O most wise one, with its many caverns and cascades; yet I do not see Vaidehī, dearer to me than my very life.'
Words: giriś — mountain; cāyaṃ — and this; mahāprājña — O most wise; bahukandaranirjharaḥ — with many caverns and cascades; na — not; hi — indeed; paśyāmi — I see; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; prāṇebhyo — than (my) life-breaths; 'pi — even; garīyasīm — dearer, weightier
3.59.25
evaṃ sa vilapan rāmaḥ sītāharaṇakarśitaḥ
dīnaḥ śokasamāviṣṭo muhūrtaṃ vihvalo 'bhavat
Thus lamenting, Rāma, wasted by the abduction of Sītā, wretched and overwhelmed with grief, became distraught for a while.
Words: evaṃ — thus; sa — he; vilapan — lamenting; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sītāharaṇakarśitaḥ — wasted by Sītā's abduction; dīnaḥ — wretched; śokasamāviṣṭo — overwhelmed with grief; muhūrtaṃ — for a while; vihvalo — distraught; 'bhavat — became
3.59.26
sa vihvalitasarvāṅgo gatabuddhir vicetanaḥ
viṣasādāturo dīno niḥśvasyāśītam āyatam
With all his limbs trembling, his wits gone and senseless, he sank down afflicted and wretched, sighing a hot, long breath.
Words: sa — he; vihvalitasarvāṅgo — with all his limbs trembling; gatabuddhir — his wits gone; vicetanaḥ — senseless; viṣasādāturo — sank down afflicted; dīno — wretched; niḥśvasyāśītam — having sighed a hot (breath); āyatam — long, drawn-out
3.59.27
bahuśaḥ sa tu niḥśvasya rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ
hā priyeti vicukrośa bahuśo bāṣpagadgadaḥ
Sighing again and again, the lotus-eyed Rāma cried out over and over, 'Ah, beloved!', choked with tears.
Words: bahuśaḥ — many times; sa — he; tu — and; niḥśvasya — having sighed; rāmo — Rāma; rājīvalocanaḥ — lotus-eyed; hā — ah; priyeti — 'beloved!' thus; vicukrośa — cried out; bahuśo — many times; bāṣpagadgadaḥ — choked with tears
3.59.28
taṃ sāntvayām āsa tato lakṣmaṇaḥ priyabāndhavaḥ
bahuprakāraṃ dharmajñaḥ praśritaḥ praśritāñjaliḥ
Then Lakṣmaṇa, his dear kinsman and knower of dharma, humble and with palms joined in reverence, comforted him in many ways.
Words: taṃ — him; sāntvayām āsa — comforted; tato — then; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; priyabāndhavaḥ — dear kinsman; bahuprakāraṃ — in many ways; dharmajñaḥ — knower of dharma; praśritaḥ — humble; praśritāñjaliḥ — with palms joined in reverence
3.59.29
anādṛtya tu tad vākyaṃ lakṣmaṇauṣṭhapuṭacyutam
apaśyaṃs tāṃ priyāṃ sītāṃ prākrośat sa punaḥ punaḥ
But disregarding that speech fallen from the lips of Lakṣmaṇa, and not seeing his beloved Sītā, he cried out again and again.
Words: anādṛtya — disregarding; tu — but; tad — that; vākyaṃ — speech; lakṣmaṇauṣṭhapuṭacyutam — fallen from the lips of Lakṣmaṇa; apaśyaṃs — not seeing; tāṃ — her; priyāṃ — beloved; sītāṃ — Sītā; prākrośat — cried out; sa — he; punaḥ — again; punaḥ — again
← 3.58 Rāma searches for Sītā · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.60 Traces of Sītā’s abduction →
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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