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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 60: Traces of Sītā’s abduction
Summary. Flowers, footprints, blood and chariot wreckage suggest a struggle, Rāma’s uncertainty turns to threats against the whole world
Sequence
- Rāma sends Lakṣmaṇa to check whether Sītā is gathering lotuses at the Godāvarī (3.60.1–2)
- Lakṣmaṇa searches the bathing places and calls out, but returns without finding her (3.60.3–4)
- Rāma himself questions the river → the narrative says that the Godāvarī knows of the abduction but remains silent from fear of Rāvaṇa, despite other spirits urging it to speak (3.60.5–9)
- Rāma wonders how he can face Sītā's parents and resolves to search the river, Janasthāna, and Prasravaṇa (3.60.10–14)
- the brothers find fallen flowers, which he recognizes as ones he gave Sītā for her hair (3.60.15–17)
- angered by the silence around him, he threatens to destroy the mountain or dry up the river unless they reveal her whereabouts. Rāma finds the deep footprint of a rākṣasa and Sītā's trampled tracks (3.60.18–23)
- he notices fragments of gold, ornament-garlands, and blood (3.60.24–25)
- he fears she has been torn apart and mistakenly supposes that two rākṣasas fought over her (3.60.26–27)
- he examines a broken jeweled bow, shattered armor, a broken parasol, dead goblin-faced draft animals, the wrecked chariot, and scattered arrows, asking who owned them (3.60.28–33)
- unable to determine whether she was abducted or killed, he feels that his compassion has been mistaken for weakness and that dharma has failed to protect her (3.60.34–38)
- his anger expands beyond the unknown offender: he threatens to block the heavens with arrows, destroy mountains and waters, and overturn the worlds unless Sītā is restored unharmed. (3.60.39–52)
Verses 3.60.1–52
3.60.1
sa dīno dīnayā vācā lakṣmaṇaṃ vākyam abravīt
śīghraṃ lakṣmaṇa jānīhi gatvā godāvarīṃ nadīm
api godāvarīṃ sītā padmāny ānayituṃ gatā
Wretched, in a wretched voice he spoke this word to Lakṣmaṇa: “Quickly, Lakṣmaṇa, go to the Godāvarī river and find out whether perhaps Sītā has gone to the Godāvarī to fetch lotuses.”
Words: sa — he; dīno — wretched, dejected; dīnayā — in a wretched; vācā — voice; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; vākyam — the word; abravīt — spoke; śīghraṃ — quickly; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; jānīhi — find out, know; gatvā — having gone; godāvarīṃ — to the Godāvarī; nadīm — river; api — whether, perhaps; godāvarīṃ — to the Godāvarī; sītā — Sītā; padmāny — lotuses; ānayituṃ — to fetch, bring; gatā — has gone
3.60.2
evam uktas tu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ punar eva hi
nadīṃ godāvarīṃ ramyāṃ jagāma laghuvikramaḥ
Thus addressed by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, swift of stride, once more went to the lovely Godāvarī river.
Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but, and; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; punar — again; eva — indeed; hi — truly; nadīṃ — to the river; godāvarīṃ — Godāvarī; ramyāṃ — lovely; jagāma — went; laghuvikramaḥ — swift of stride
3.60.3
tāṃ lakṣmaṇas tīrthavatīṃ vicitvā rāmam abravīt
naināṃ paśyāmi tīrtheṣu krośato na śṛṇoti me
Having searched that river with its bathing-fords, Lakṣmaṇa said to Rāma: “I do not see her at the fords, and she does not hear me though I cry out.”
Words: tāṃ — that; lakṣmaṇas — Lakṣmaṇa; tīrthavatīṃ — having bathing-fords; vicitvā — having searched; rāmam — to Rāma; abravīt — said; naināṃ — not her; paśyāmi — I see; tīrtheṣu — at the fords; krośato — of me crying out; na — not; śṛṇoti — she hears; me — me
3.60.4
kaṃ nu sā deśam āpannā vaidehī kleśanāśinī
na hi taṃ vedmi vai rāma yatra sā tanumadhyamā
“To what region has that Vaidehī, dispeller of distress, come? For I do not know, Rāma, where she of the slender waist may be.”
Words: kaṃ — which, what; nu — indeed; sā — she; deśam — region, place; āpannā — has come to, reached; vaidehī — Vaidehī (Sītā); kleśanāśinī — dispeller of distress; na — not; hi — for; taṃ — that; vedmi — I know; vai — indeed; rāma — O Rāma; yatra — where; sā — she; tanumadhyamā — of slender waist
3.60.5
lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ śrutvā dīnaḥ saṃtāpa mohitaḥ
rāmaḥ samabhicakrāma svayaṃ godāvarīṃ nadīm
Hearing Lakṣmaṇa's words, Rāma, wretched and bewildered by anguish, himself went up to the Godāvarī river.
Words: lakṣmaṇasya — of Lakṣmaṇa; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; dīnaḥ — wretched; saṃtāpa — by anguish; mohitaḥ — bewildered, deluded; rāmaḥ — Rāma; samabhicakrāma — went up to, approached; svayaṃ — himself; godāvarīṃ — the Godāvarī; nadīm — river
3.60.6
sa tām upasthito rāmaḥ kva sītety evam abravīt
Rāma, having reached it, said thus: “Where is Sītā?”
Words: sa — he; tām — it (the river); upasthito — having reached, standing near; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kva — where; sītety — ‘Sītā?’; evam — thus; abravīt — said
3.60.7
bhūtāni rākṣasendreṇa vadhārheṇa hṛtām api
na tāṃ śaśaṃsū rāmāya tathā godāvarī nadī
Though she had been carried off by the lord of the rākṣasas who deserved to be slain, the spirits did not reveal her to Rāma, nor did the Godāvarī river.
Words: bhūtāni — the beings, spirits; rākṣasendreṇa — by the lord of rākṣasas; vadhārheṇa — deserving to be slain; hṛtām — carried off; api — although, even; na — not; tāṃ — her; śaśaṃsū — they revealed, told; rāmāya — to Rāma; tathā — likewise, so; godāvarī — the Godāvarī; nadī — river
3.60.8
tataḥ pracoditā bhūtaiḥ śaṃsāsmai tāṃ priyām iti
na ca sābhyavadat sītāṃ pṛṣṭā rāmeṇa śocitā
Then, urged by the spirits, “Tell him of that beloved one!” — yet, though questioned by Rāma, the grieving river did not speak of Sītā.
Words: tataḥ — then; pracoditā — urged, impelled; bhūtaiḥ — by the spirits; śaṃsāsmai — ‘tell him’; tāṃ — that; priyām — beloved one; iti — thus; na — not; ca — and; sābhyavadat — she spoke; sītāṃ — of Sītā; pṛṣṭā — questioned; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; śocitā — grieving, sorrowful
3.60.9
rāvaṇasya ca tad rūpaṃ karmāṇi ca durātmanaḥ
dhyātvā bhayāt tu vaidehīṃ sā nadī na śaśaṃsa tām
For, calling to mind the form of Rāvaṇa and the deeds of that evil-souled one, the river, out of fear, did not disclose Vaidehī.
Words: rāvaṇasya — of Rāvaṇa; ca — and; tad — that; rūpaṃ — form; karmāṇi — the deeds; ca — and; durātmanaḥ — of the evil-souled one; dhyātvā — having called to mind; bhayāt — out of fear; tu — but; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; sā — that; nadī — river; na — not; śaśaṃsa — disclosed, told; tām — her
3.60.10
nirāśas tu tayā nadyā sītāyā darśane kṛtaḥ
uvāca rāmaḥ saumitriṃ sītādarśanakarśitaḥ
Made hopeless by that river of seeing Sītā, Rāma, wasted with longing to behold Sītā, spoke to Saumitri:
Words: nirāśas — made hopeless, despairing; tu — but; tayā — by that; nadyā — river; sītāyā — of Sītā; darśane — in the seeing; kṛtaḥ — made; uvāca — said; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṃ — to Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); sītādarśanakarśitaḥ — wasted with longing to behold Sītā
3.60.11
kiṃ nu lakṣmaṇa vakṣyāmi sametya janakaṃ vacaḥ
mātaraṃ caiva vaidehyā vinā tām aham apriyam
“What word shall I say, Lakṣmaṇa, when I meet Janaka and the mother of Vaidehī — an unwelcome word, since I am without her?”
Words: kiṃ — what; nu — indeed; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; vakṣyāmi — shall I say; sametya — having met; janakaṃ — Janaka; vacaḥ — the word; mātaraṃ — the mother; caiva — and; vaidehyā — of Vaidehī; vinā — without; tām — her; aham — I; apriyam — unwelcome, unpleasant
3.60.12
yā me rājyavihīnasya vane vanyena jīvataḥ
sarvaṃ vyapanayac chokaṃ vaidehī kva nu sā gatā
She who took away all my grief while I, bereft of kingdom, lived in the forest on forest fare — where indeed has that Vaidehī gone?
Words: yā — who; me — of me, my; rājyavihīnasya — bereft of kingdom; vane — in the forest; vanyena — on forest fare; jīvataḥ — living; sarvaṃ — all; vyapanayac — took away, removed; chokaṃ — grief; vaidehī — Vaidehī; kva — where; nu — indeed; sā — she; gatā — has gone
3.60.13
jñātipakṣavihīnasya rājaputrīm apaśyataḥ
manye dīrghā bhaviṣyanti rātrayo mama jāgrataḥ
For me, deprived of the company of kinsmen and not seeing the princess, I think the nights will be long as I lie awake.
Words: jñātipakṣavihīnasya — deprived of the side of kinsmen; rājaputrīm — the princess; apaśyataḥ — not seeing; manye — I think; dīrghā — long; bhaviṣyanti — will be; rātrayo — the nights; mama — my, of me; jāgrataḥ — lying awake, wakeful
3.60.14
godāvarīṃ janasthānam imaṃ prasravaṇaṃ girim
sarvāṇy anucariṣyāmi yadi sītā hi dṛśyate
The Godāvarī, Janasthāna, this Prasravaṇa mountain — all of these I shall roam through, if only Sītā may be seen.
Words: godāvarīṃ — the Godāvarī; janasthānam — Janasthāna; imaṃ — this; prasravaṇaṃ — Prasravaṇa; girim — mountain; sarvāṇy — all; anucariṣyāmi — I shall roam through; yadi — if; sītā — Sītā; hi — indeed; dṛśyate — may be seen
3.60.15
evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇau tāv anyonyaṃ bhrātarāv ubhau
vasuṃdharāyāṃ patitaṃ puṣpamārgam apaśyatām
As the two brothers were thus conversing with one another, they saw a trail of flowers fallen upon the earth.
Words: evaṃ — thus; saṃbhāṣamāṇau — conversing; tāv — those two; anyonyaṃ — with one another; bhrātarāv — the two brothers; ubhau — both; vasuṃdharāyāṃ — upon the earth; patitaṃ — fallen; puṣpamārgam — a trail of flowers; apaśyatām — the two saw
3.60.16
tāṃ puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmo mahītale
uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ vīro duḥkhito duḥkhitaṃ vacaḥ
Seeing that shower of flowers fallen upon the ground, the hero Rāma, himself sorrowing, spoke sorrowful words to Lakṣmaṇa:
Words: tāṃ — that; puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ — shower of flowers; patitāṃ — fallen; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rāmo — Rāma; mahītale — upon the ground; uvāca — said; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; vīro — the hero; duḥkhito — sorrowing; duḥkhitaṃ — sorrowful; vacaḥ — words
3.60.17
abhijānāmi puṣpāṇi tānīmāmīha lakṣmaṇa
apinaddhāni vaidehyā mayā dattāni kānane
“I recognize these flowers here, Lakṣmaṇa — those which I gave Vaidehī in the forest, and which she bound up in her hair.”
Words: abhijānāmi — I recognize; puṣpāṇi — the flowers; tānīmāmīha — these here; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; apinaddhāni — bound up (in the hair); vaidehyā — by Vaidehī; mayā — by me; dattāni — given; kānane — in the forest
3.60.18
evam uktvā mahābāhur lakṣmaṇaṃ puruṣarṣabham
kruddho 'bravīd giriṃ tatra siṃhaḥ kṣudramṛgaṃ yathā
Having spoken thus to Lakṣmaṇa, the bull among men, the mighty-armed one, enraged, addressed the mountain there, as a lion might a small beast:
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; mahābāhur — the mighty-armed one; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; puruṣarṣabham — the bull among men; kruddho — enraged; 'bravīd — addressed, said; giriṃ — the mountain; tatra — there; siṃhaḥ — a lion; kṣudramṛgaṃ — a small beast; yathā — as, like
3.60.19
tāṃ hemavarṇāṃ hemābhāṃ sītāṃ darśaya parvata
yāvat sānūni sarvāṇi na te vidhvaṃsayāmy aham
“Show me Sītā, gold-hued and golden-gleaming, O mountain — before I shatter all your peaks!”
Words: tāṃ — that; hemavarṇāṃ — gold-hued; hemābhāṃ — golden-gleaming; sītāṃ — Sītā; darśaya — show; parvata — O mountain; yāvat — before, as long as; sānūni — the peaks, table-lands; sarvāṇi — all; na — not; te — your; vidhvaṃsayāmy — I shatter, destroy; aham — I
3.60.20
mama bāṇāgninirdagdho bhasmībhūto bhaviṣyasi
asevyaḥ satataṃ caiva nistṛṇadrumapallavaḥ
“Scorched by the fire of my arrows, you shall be reduced to ashes, forever unfit to dwell upon, stripped of grass, trees, and shoots.”
Words: mama — my; bāṇāgninirdagdho — scorched by the fire of arrows; bhasmībhūto — reduced to ashes; bhaviṣyasi — you shall be; asevyaḥ — unfit to dwell upon, not to be resorted to; satataṃ — forever, constantly; caiva — and indeed; nistṛṇadrumapallavaḥ — stripped of grass, trees, and shoots
3.60.21
imāṃ vā saritaṃ cādya śoṣayiṣyāmi lakṣmaṇa
yadi nākhyāti me sītām adya candranibhānanām
“Or else this river I shall dry up today, Lakṣmaṇa, if it does not tell me now of Sītā, whose face is like the moon.”
Words: imāṃ — this; vā — or; saritaṃ — river; cādya — and today; śoṣayiṣyāmi — I shall dry up; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; yadi — if; nākhyāti — does not tell; me — me; sītām — of Sītā; adya — now, today; candranibhānanām — whose face is like the moon
3.60.22
evaṃ sa ruṣito rāmo didhakṣann iva cakṣuṣā
dadarśa bhūmau niṣkrāntaṃ rākṣasasya padaṃ mahat
Thus enraged, Rāma, as if about to burn it up with his gaze, saw upon the ground the great footprint of a rākṣasa, deeply impressed.
Words: evaṃ — thus; sa — he; ruṣito — enraged; rāmo — Rāma; didhakṣann — wishing to burn; iva — as if; cakṣuṣā — with his gaze, eye; dadarśa — saw; bhūmau — on the ground; niṣkrāntaṃ — impressed, sunk in; rākṣasasya — of a rākṣasa; padaṃ — footprint; mahat — great
3.60.23
sa samīkṣya parikrāntaṃ sītāyā rākṣasasya ca
saṃbhrāntahṛdayo rāmaḥ śaśaṃsa bhrātaraṃ priyam
Observing the trampled tracks of Sītā and of the rākṣasa, Rāma, his heart in turmoil, spoke to his dear brother:
Words: sa — he; samīkṣya — having observed; parikrāntaṃ — the trampled-about (tracks); sītāyā — of Sītā; rākṣasasya — of the rākṣasa; ca — and; saṃbhrāntahṛdayo — his heart in turmoil; rāmaḥ — Rāma; śaśaṃsa — told, said to; bhrātaraṃ — brother; priyam — dear
3.60.24
paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidehyāḥ śīrṇāḥ kanakabindavaḥ
bhūṣaṇānāṃ hi saumitre mālyāni vividhāni ca
“Look, Lakṣmaṇa — Vaidehī's scattered flakes of gold, and, Saumitri, the various garlands from her ornaments.”
Words: paśya — look; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; vaidehyāḥ — of Vaidehī; śīrṇāḥ — scattered, fallen; kanakabindavaḥ — flakes of gold; bhūṣaṇānāṃ — of the ornaments; hi — indeed; saumitre — O Saumitri; mālyāni — the garlands; vividhāni — various; ca — and
3.60.25
taptabindunikāśaiś ca citraiḥ kṣatajabindubhiḥ
āvṛtaṃ paśya saumitre sarvato dharaṇītalam
“See, Saumitri, the surface of the earth covered all over with bright drops of blood, gleaming like molten gold.”
Words: taptabindunikāśaiś — resembling drops of molten (gold); ca — and; citraiḥ — bright, variegated; kṣatajabindubhiḥ — with drops of blood; āvṛtaṃ — covered; paśya — see; saumitre — O Saumitri; sarvato — on every side; dharaṇītalam — the surface of the earth
3.60.26
manye lakṣmaṇa vaidehī rākṣasaiḥ kāmarūpibhiḥ
bhittvā bhittvā vibhaktā vā bhakṣitā vā bhaviṣyati
“I fear, Lakṣmaṇa, that Vaidehī has been torn apart again and again by rākṣasas who take shapes at will, and either divided among them or devoured.”
Words: manye — I think, I fear; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; vaidehī — Vaidehī; rākṣasaiḥ — by the rākṣasas; kāmarūpibhiḥ — taking shapes at will; bhittvā — having torn, split; bhittvā — having torn, split; vibhaktā — divided, apportioned; vā — or; bhakṣitā — devoured; vā — or; bhaviṣyati — will have been
3.60.27
tasya nimittaṃ vaidehyā dvayor vivadamānayoḥ
babhūva yuddhaṃ saumitre ghoraṃ rākṣasayor iha
“On her account, Saumitri, a fearsome battle took place here between two rākṣasas as they contended over Vaidehī.”
Words: tasya — of that, on account of; nimittaṃ — cause, occasion; vaidehyā — of Vaidehī; dvayor — of the two; vivadamānayoḥ — contending, disputing; babhūva — took place, arose; yuddhaṃ — battle; saumitre — O Saumitri; ghoraṃ — fearsome; rākṣasayor — of the two rākṣasas; iha — here
3.60.28
muktāmaṇicitaṃ cedaṃ tapanīyavibhūṣitam
dharaṇyāṃ patitaṃ saumya kasya bhagnaṃ mahad dhanuḥ
“And this great bow, inlaid with pearls and gems and adorned with gold, fallen broken upon the ground — whose is it, gentle one?”
Words: muktāmaṇicitaṃ — inlaid with pearls and gems; cedaṃ — and this; tapanīyavibhūṣitam — adorned with gold; dharaṇyāṃ — upon the ground; patitaṃ — fallen; saumya — O gentle one; kasya — whose; bhagnaṃ — broken; mahad — great; dhanuḥ — bow
3.60.29
taruṇādityasaṃkāśaṃ vaidūryagulikācitam
viśīrṇaṃ patitaṃ bhūmau kavacaṃ kasya kāñcanam
“Bright as the rising sun, studded with beads of beryl, shattered and fallen on the ground — whose is this golden armour?”
Words: taruṇādityasaṃkāśaṃ — bright as the young (rising) sun; vaidūryagulikācitam — studded with beads of beryl; viśīrṇaṃ — shattered; patitaṃ — fallen; bhūmau — on the ground; kavacaṃ — armour, cuirass; kasya — whose; kāñcanam — golden
3.60.30
chatraṃ śataśalākaṃ ca divyamālyopaśobhitam
bhagnadaṇḍam idaṃ kasya bhūmau saumya nipātitam
“This parasol with a hundred ribs, graced with a heavenly garland, its staff broken and cast down upon the ground — whose is it, gentle one?”
Words: chatraṃ — parasol; śataśalākaṃ — with a hundred ribs; ca — and; divyamālyopaśobhitam — graced with a heavenly garland; bhagnadaṇḍam — with broken staff; idaṃ — this; kasya — whose; bhūmau — on the ground; saumya — O gentle one; nipātitam — cast down
3.60.31
kāñcanoraśchadāś ceme piśācavadanāḥ kharāḥ
bhīmarūpā mahākāyāḥ kasya vā nihatā raṇe
“And these mules with golden breast-armour, goblin-faced, of dreadful form and huge body — whose are they, slain in battle?”
Words: kāñcanoraśchadāś — with golden breast-coverings; ceme — and these; piśācavadanāḥ — goblin-faced; kharāḥ — mules, asses; bhīmarūpā — of dreadful form; mahākāyāḥ — of huge body; kasya — whose; vā — or; nihatā — slain; raṇe — in battle
3.60.32
dīptapāvakasaṃkāśo dyutimān samaradhvajaḥ
apaviddhaś ca bhagnaś ca kasya sāṃgrāmiko rathaḥ
“Resembling blazing fire, radiant, with its battle-standard — flung down and broken — whose war-chariot is this?”
Words: dīptapāvakasaṃkāśo — resembling blazing fire; dyutimān — radiant, gleaming; samaradhvajaḥ — with a battle-standard; apaviddhaś — flung down; ca — and; bhagnaś — broken; ca — and; kasya — whose; sāṃgrāmiko — of war, martial; rathaḥ — chariot
3.60.33
rathākṣamātrā viśikhās tapanīyavibhūṣaṇāḥ
kasyeme 'bhihatā bāṇāḥ prakīrṇā ghorakarmaṇaḥ
“These arrows the size of a chariot-axle, adorned with gold — cast about and spent — whose are they, belonging to some doer of dreadful deeds?”
Words: rathākṣamātrā — the size of a chariot-axle; viśikhās — shafts, arrows; tapanīyavibhūṣaṇāḥ — adorned with gold; kasyeme — whose these; 'bhihatā — struck down, spent; bāṇāḥ — arrows; prakīrṇā — scattered, cast about; ghorakarmaṇaḥ — of one of dreadful deeds
3.60.34
vairaṃ śataguṇaṃ paśya mamedaṃ jīvitāntakam
sughorahṛdayaiḥ saumya rākṣasaiḥ kāmarūpibhiḥ
“See this hundredfold enmity of mine, that ends my very life, wrought by fell-hearted rākṣasas who take shapes at will, gentle one!”
Words: vairaṃ — enmity, hostility; śataguṇaṃ — hundredfold; paśya — see; mamedaṃ — this of mine; jīvitāntakam — that ends (my) life; sughorahṛdayaiḥ — by the fell-hearted; saumya — O gentle one; rākṣasaiḥ — by the rākṣasas; kāmarūpibhiḥ — taking shapes at will
3.60.35
hṛtā mṛtā vā sītā hi bhakṣitā vā tapasvinī
na dharmas trāyate sītāṃ hriyamāṇāṃ mahāvane
“Poor Sītā has surely been carried off, or slain, or devoured; dharma did not protect Sītā as she was being borne away in the great forest.”
Words: hṛtā — carried off; mṛtā — dead, slain; vā — or; sītā — Sītā; hi — indeed; bhakṣitā — devoured; vā — or; tapasvinī — the poor one, hapless (lit. austere) one; na — not; dharmas — dharma, righteousness; trāyate — protects, saves; sītāṃ — Sītā; hriyamāṇāṃ — being carried away; mahāvane — in the great forest
3.60.36
bhakṣitāyāṃ hi vaidehyāṃ hṛtāyām api lakṣmaṇa
ke hi loke priyaṃ kartuṃ śaktāḥ saumya mameśvarāḥ
“For if Vaidehī has been devoured or carried off, Lakṣmaṇa, what lords in the world, gentle one, are able to do me a kindness?”
Words: bhakṣitāyāṃ — devoured; hi — for; vaidehyāṃ — Vaidehī; hṛtāyām — carried off; api — even; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; ke — which, who; hi — indeed; loke — in the world; priyaṃ — a kindness, favour; kartuṃ — to do; śaktāḥ — able; saumya — O gentle one; mameśvarāḥ — the lords, for me
3.60.37
kartāram api lokānāṃ śūraṃ karuṇavedinam
ajñānād avamanyeran sarvabhūtāni lakṣmaṇa
“Even the maker of the worlds, though valiant and full of compassion, all beings would slight out of ignorance, Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: kartāram — the maker, doer; api — even; lokānāṃ — of the worlds; śūraṃ — valiant, a hero; karuṇavedinam — feeling compassion; ajñānād — out of ignorance; avamanyeran — would slight, despise; sarvabhūtāni — all beings; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa
3.60.38
mṛduṃ lokahite yuktaṃ dāntaṃ karuṇavedinam
nirvīrya iti manyante nūnaṃ māṃ tridaśeśvarāḥ
“Because I am gentle, devoted to the good of the world, self-controlled and compassionate, the lords of the gods surely think me devoid of valour.
Words: mṛduṃ — gentle, mild; lokahite — in the welfare of the world; yuktaṃ — engaged, devoted; dāntaṃ — self-controlled; karuṇavedinam — compassionate; nirvīrya — devoid of valour; iti — thus; manyante — they think; nūnaṃ — surely; māṃ — me; tridaśeśvarāḥ — the lords of the gods
3.60.39
māṃ prāpya hi guṇo doṣaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ paśya lakṣmaṇa
adyaiva sarvabhūtānāṃ rakṣasām abhavāya ca
saṃhṛtyaiva śaśijyotsnāṃ mahān sūrya ivoditaḥ
“See, Lakṣmaṇa, how in me virtue has turned into a fault; this very day, for the destruction of all beings and of the rākṣasas, I rise like the mighty sun that first draws in the moonlight.
Words: māṃ — me; prāpya — having come upon, reaching; hi — indeed; guṇo — virtue, merit; doṣaḥ — a fault, defect; saṃvṛttaḥ — has become, turned into; paśya — see; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; adyaiva — this very day; sarvabhūtānāṃ — of all beings; rakṣasām — of the rākṣasas; abhavāya — for the destruction, non-existence; ca — and; saṃhṛtyaiva — having drawn in, gathered up; śaśijyotsnāṃ — the moonlight; mahān — the mighty; sūrya — sun; ivoditaḥ — as if risen
3.60.40
naiva yakṣā na gandharvā na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ
kiṃnarā vā manuṣyā vā sukhaṃ prāpsyanti lakṣmaṇa
“Neither yakṣas nor gandharvas, neither piśācas nor rākṣasas, neither kiṃnaras nor men shall find any ease, Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: naiva — not at all; yakṣā — the yakṣas; na — not; gandharvā — the gandharvas; na — not; piśācā — the piśācas; na — not; rākṣasāḥ — the rākṣasas; kiṃnarā — the kiṃnaras; vā — or; manuṣyā — men; vā — or; sukhaṃ — ease, happiness; prāpsyanti — shall attain, find; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa
3.60.41
mamāstrabāṇasaṃpūrṇam ākāśaṃ paśya lakṣmaṇa
niḥsaṃpātaṃ kariṣyāmi hy adya trailokyacāriṇām
“See the sky filled with my missiles and arrows, Lakṣmaṇa; this very day I shall leave no passage for those who roam the three worlds.
Words: mamāstrabāṇasaṃpūrṇam — filled with my missiles and arrows; ākāśaṃ — the sky; paśya — see; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; niḥsaṃpātaṃ — without passage, impassable; kariṣyāmi — I shall make; hy — indeed; adya — today; trailokyacāriṇām — of those roaming the three worlds
3.60.42
saṃniruddhagrahagaṇam āvāritaniśākaram
vipranaṣṭānalamarudbhāskaradyutisaṃvṛtam
“(A sky) with the host of planets checked, the moon shut off, and the light of fire, wind, and sun made to vanish and be obscured —
Words: saṃniruddhagrahagaṇam — with the host of planets checked; āvāritaniśākaram — with the moon shut off; vipranaṣṭānalamarudbhāskaradyutisaṃvṛtam — obscured, with the light of fire, wind and sun made to vanish
3.60.43
vinirmathitaśailāgraṃ śuṣyamāṇajalāśayam
dhvastadrumalatāgulmaṃ vipraṇāśitasāgaram
“with the mountain-peaks crushed, the reservoirs dried up, the trees, creepers, and thickets destroyed, and the ocean made to vanish —
Words: vinirmathitaśailāgraṃ — with mountain-peaks crushed; śuṣyamāṇajalāśayam — with the reservoirs being dried up; dhvastadrumalatāgulmaṃ — with trees, creepers and thickets destroyed; vipraṇāśitasāgaram — with the ocean made to vanish
3.60.44
na tāṃ kuśalinīṃ sītāṃ pradāsyanti mameśvarāḥ
asmin muhūrte saumitre mama drakṣyanti vikramam
“If the lords will not restore that Sītā to me safe and well, at this very moment, Saumitri, they shall behold my prowess.
Words: na — not; tāṃ — that; kuśalinīṃ — safe and well; sītāṃ — Sītā; pradāsyanti — will restore, give back; mameśvarāḥ — the lords, to me; asmin — in this; muhūrte — moment, instant; saumitre — O Saumitri; mama — my; drakṣyanti — they shall behold; vikramam — prowess, valour
3.60.45
nākāśam utpatiṣyanti sarvabhūtāni lakṣmaṇa
mama cāpaguṇān muktair bāṇajālair nirantaram
“No creatures shall fly up into the sky, Lakṣmaṇa, for the nets of arrows loosed from my bowstring will leave no gap.
Words: nākāśam — not into the sky; utpatiṣyanti — shall fly up; sarvabhūtāni — all creatures; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; mama — my; cāpaguṇān — from the bowstring; muktair — loosed, released; bāṇajālair — with nets of arrows; nirantaram — without gap, ceaselessly
3.60.46
arditaṃ mama nārācair dhvastabhrāntamṛgadvijam
samākulam amaryādaṃ jagat paśyādya lakṣmaṇa
“Behold today, Lakṣmaṇa, the world tormented by my iron shafts, its beasts and birds struck down and driven in panic, thrown into confusion and bereft of all bounds.
Words: arditaṃ — tormented, afflicted; mama — my; nārācair — by iron arrows; dhvastabhrāntamṛgadvijam — with beasts and birds struck down and panic-stricken; samākulam — thrown into confusion, crowded; amaryādaṃ — bereft of bounds, without limits; jagat — the world; paśyādya — behold today; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa
3.60.47
ākarṇapūrṇair iṣubhir jīvalokaṃ durāvaraiḥ
kariṣye maithilīhetor apiśācam arākṣasaṃ
“With arrows drawn back to the ear, irresistible, for Maithilī's sake I shall make the world of the living free of piśācas and of rākṣasas.
Words: ākarṇapūrṇair — drawn full to the ear; iṣubhir — with arrows; jīvalokaṃ — the world of the living; durāvaraiḥ — irresistible, hard to ward off; kariṣye — I shall make; maithilīhetor — for the sake of Maithilī; apiśācam — free of piśācas; arākṣasaṃ — free of rākṣasas
3.60.48
mama roṣaprayuktānāṃ sāyakānāṃ balaṃ surāḥ
drakṣyanty adya vimuktānām amarṣād dūragāminām
“This very day the gods shall see the force of my arrows, sped by fury, loosed in wrath and flying far.
Words: mama — my; roṣaprayuktānāṃ — impelled by rage; sāyakānāṃ — of the arrows; balaṃ — the force, power; surāḥ — the gods; drakṣyanty — shall see; adya — today; vimuktānām — of the loosed ones; amarṣād — out of wrath, impatience; dūragāminām — of the far-flying ones
3.60.49
naiva devā na daiteyā na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ
bhaviṣyanti mama krodhāt trailokye vipraṇāśite
“When the three worlds are utterly destroyed by my wrath, neither gods nor daityas, neither piśācas nor rākṣasas shall remain.
Words: naiva — not at all; devā — the gods; na — not; daiteyā — the daityas; na — not; piśācā — the piśācas; na — not; rākṣasāḥ — the rākṣasas; bhaviṣyanti — shall be, remain; mama — my; krodhāt — from wrath; trailokye — when the three worlds; vipraṇāśite — are utterly destroyed
3.60.50
devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ lokā ye rakṣasām api
bahudhā nipatiṣyanti bāṇaughaiḥ śakulīkṛtāḥ
nirmaryādān imāṃl lokān kariṣyāmy adya sāyakaiḥ
“The worlds of gods, dānavas, and yakṣas, and of the rākṣasas too, torn to shreds by floods of my arrows, shall fall asunder in many pieces; this very day with my shafts I shall strip these worlds of all their bounds.
Words: devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ — of gods, dānavas and yakṣas; lokā — the worlds; ye — which; rakṣasām — of the rākṣasas; api — too; bahudhā — in many ways, into many pieces; nipatiṣyanti — shall fall down; bāṇaughaiḥ — by floods of arrows; śakulīkṛtāḥ — torn to shreds, cut to bits; nirmaryādān — bereft of bounds; imāṃl — these; lokān — the worlds; kariṣyāmy — I shall make; adya — today; sāyakaiḥ — with my shafts, arrows
3.60.51
yathā jarā yathā mṛtyur yathākālo yathāvidhiḥ
nityaṃ na pratihanyante sarvabhūteṣu lakṣmaṇa
tathāhaṃ krodhasaṃyukto na nivāryo 'smy asaṃśayam
“As old age, as death, as time, and as ordinance are never turned back among all beings, Lakṣmaṇa, so I, joined with wrath, am not to be checked — of that there is no doubt.
Words: yathā — as; jarā — old age; yathā — as; mṛtyur — death; yathākālo — as time; yathāvidhiḥ — as ordinance, fate; nityaṃ — ever, always; na — not; pratihanyante — are turned back, checked; sarvabhūteṣu — among all beings; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; tathāhaṃ — so I; krodhasaṃyukto — joined with wrath; na — not; nivāryo — to be checked, warded off; 'smy — I am; asaṃśayam — without doubt
3.60.52
pureva me cārudatīm aninditāṃ diśanti sītāṃ yadi nādya maithilīm
sadevagandharvamanuṣya pannagaṃ jagat saśailaṃ parivartayāmy aham
“If they do not restore to me today, as before, Sītā of lovely teeth and blameless — Maithilī — then I shall overturn the whole world with its gods, gandharvas, men, serpents, and mountains.”
Words: pureva — as before; me — to me; cārudatīm — of lovely teeth; aninditāṃ — blameless, faultless; diśanti — they grant, restore; sītāṃ — Sītā; yadi — if; nādya — not today; maithilīm — Maithilī; sadevagandharvamanuṣya — together with gods, gandharvas and men; pannagaṃ — serpents; jagat — the world; saśailaṃ — together with its mountains; parivartayāmy — I shall overturn; aham — I
← 3.59 Lakṣmaṇa renews the search · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.61 Lakṣmaṇa restrains Rāma’s anger →
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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