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title: "Aranya Kanda, Sarga 61"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/aranya-kanda/sarga-61"
lang: "en"
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# Aranya Kanda, Sarga 61

> भृशमाव्रजमानस्य तस्याधो वामलोचनम्।  
> प्रास्फुरच्चास्खलद् रामो वेपथुश्चास्य जायते॥ १॥

While Śrī Rāma was returning to his hermitage, his lower left eyelid* violently throbbed again and again, he himself stumbled and a tremor ran through his limbs. (1)

> उपालक्ष्य निमित्तानि सोऽशुभानि मुहुर्मुहुः।  
> अपि क्षेमं तु सीताया इति वै व्याजहार ह॥ २॥

Observing the evil omens appearing again and again, he instinctively spoke as follows, so the tradition goes: “Is all well with Sītā?” (2)

> त्वरमाणो जगामाथ सीतादर्शनलालसः।  
> शून्यमावसथं दृष्ट्वा बभूवोद्विग्नमानसः॥ ३॥

Eager to see Sītā, he went with hasty steps, but he felt perturbed in mind to find the dwelling deserted. (3)

> उद्भ्रमन्निव वेगेन विक्षिपन् रघुनन्दनः।  
> तत्र तत्रोटजस्थानमभिवीक्ष्य समन्ततः॥ ४॥  
> ददर्श पर्णशालां च सीतया रहितां तदा।  
> श्रिया विरहितां ध्वस्तां हेमन्ते पद्मिनीमिव॥ ५॥

Appearing on account of his speed as though he were flying and moving his hands etc., with impatience on his not finding Sītā anywhere, nay, closely examining the site of the hut made of leaves all over, on every side, Śrī Rāma (the delight of the Raghus) found the hut at the moment bereft of Sītā and resembling a lotus flower blighted and deprived of its charm in winter. (4-5)

> रुदन्तमिव वृक्षैश्च ग्लानपुष्पमृगद्विजम्।  
> श्रिया विहीनं विध्वस्तं संत्यक्तं वनदैवतैः॥ ६॥  
> विप्रकीर्णाजिनकुशं विप्रविद्धबृसीकटम्।  
> दृष्ट्वा शून्योटजस्थानं विललाप पुनः पुनः॥ ७॥

Seeing the site of the lonely hut desolate and shorn of its charm, deserted by the sylvan deities and crying as it were through its creaking trees, its flowers faded, deer and birds ill at case, deerskin and blades of Kuśa grass scattered all around and seats of fresh grass and mats lying in disorder, he wailed again and again as follows : (6-7)

> हृता मृता वा नष्टा वा भक्षिता वा भविष्यति।  
> निलीनाप्यथवा भीरुरथवा वनमाश्रिता॥ ८॥

“The timid lady Sītā must have been carried away or devoured or is dead or lost in the way or she lies hidden somewhere out of fun or has entered the forest. (8)

> गता विचेतुं पुष्पाणि फलान्यपि च वा पुनः।  
> अथवा पद्मिनीं याता जलार्थं वा नदीं गता॥ ९॥

“Or she has gone out to pluck flowers or even fruits for that matter or has gone to the lotus pond for a bath or to the river to bring water.” (9)

> यत्नान्मृगयमाणस्तु नाससाद वने प्रियाम्।  
> शोकरक्तेक्षणः श्रीमानुन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते॥ १०॥

Though looking about for her in that forest with effort, he did not find his darling. His eyes red through grief, the glorious one looked as though gone mad. (10)

> वृक्षाद् वृक्षं प्रधावन् स गिरींश्चापि नदीनदम्।  
> बभ्राम विलपन् रामः शोकपङ्कार्णवप्लुतः॥ ११॥

Running fast from tree to tree the said Śrī Rāma roamed about along the slopes of mountains as well as on the banks of rivers and streams wailing and accosting trees as below, plunged as he was in an ocean of bog in the form of grief : (11)

> अस्ति कच्चित्त्वया दृष्टा सा कदम्बप्रिया प्रिया।  
> कदम्ब यदि जानीषे शंस सीतां शुभाननाम्॥ १२॥

“Was my celebrated darling, who is so fond of Kadamba flowers, seen by you, O Kadamba? If you know anything about Sītā of charming countenance, pray, tell me. (12)

> स्निग्धपल्लवसंकाशां पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्।  
> शंसस्व यदि सा दृष्टा बिल्व बिल्वोपमस्तनी॥ १३॥

“If Sītā, whose breasts resemble a Bilva fruit in shape, O Bilva, was seen by you, please tell me the whereabouts of that lady, who is tender as a soft shoot and is clad in yellow silk. (13)

> अथवार्जुन शंस त्वं प्रियां तामर्जुनप्रियाम्।  
> जनकस्य सुता तन्वी यदि जीवति वा न वा॥ १४॥

“Else, O Arjuna, give you me the news of my aforesaid darling, who is fond of Arjuna flowers. Tell me if the frail daughter of Janaka is still alive or not. (14)

> ककुभः ककुभोरुं तां व्यक्तं जानाति मैथिलीम्।  
> लतापल्लवपुष्पाढ्यो भाति ह्येष वनस्पतिः॥ १५॥

“The Kakubha tree evidently knows the aforesaid princess of Mithilā, whose thighs are smooth as the boughs of a Kakubha tree. Enriched with climbers, shoots and blossoms this tree looks charming indeed. (15)

> भ्रमरैरुपगीतश्च यथा द्रुमवरो ह्यसि।  
> एष व्यक्तं विजानाति तिलकस्तिलकप्रियाम्॥ १६॥

“As you are no doubt the foremost of trees, O Tilaka, whose praises are sung by bees humming close by, you the Tilaka tree, evidently know the truth about her, who is fond of Tilaka flowers. (16)

> अशोक शोकापनुद शोकोपहतचेतनम्।  
> त्वन्नामानं कुरु क्षिप्रं प्रियासंदर्शनेन माम्॥ १७॥

“O Aśoka tree, the dispeller of grief by bringing my darling clearly to my view, make me, whose understanding has been clouded by grief, your namesake soon by ridding me of my grief. (17)

> यदि ताल त्वया दृष्टा पक्वतालोपमस्तनी।  
> कथयस्व वरारोहां कारुण्यं यदि ते मयि॥ १८॥

“O palmyra, if Sītā, whose breasts resemble a ripe palmyra fruit, has been seen by you, pray, give me the news about that lady of excellent limbs, if there is any compassion in your heart for me. (18)

> यदि दृष्टा त्वया जम्बो जाम्बूनदसमप्रभा।  
> प्रियां यदि विजानासि निःशङ्कं कथयस्व मे॥ १९॥

“If, O Jambu (a rose-apple tree), Sītā, who possesses the splendour of gold, has been seen by you or if you know the truth about my darling, pray, let me know without fear. (19)

> अहो त्वं कर्णिकाराद्य पुष्पितः शोभसे भृशम्।  
> कर्णिकारप्रियां साध्वीं शंस दृष्टा यदि प्रिया॥ २०॥

“Laden with flowers, O Karṇikāra tree, you look most charming today. Tell me the whereabouts of the virtuous Sītā, who is fond of Karṇikāra flowers, if my darling has been seen by you.” (20)

> चूतनीपमहासालान् पनसान् कुरवान् धवान्।  
> दाडिमानपि तान् गत्वा दृष्ट्वा रामो महायशाः॥ २१॥  
> बकुलानथ पुन्नागांश्चन्दनान् केतकांस्तथा।  
> पृच्छन् रामो वने भ्रान्त उन्मत्त इव लक्ष्यते॥ २२॥

Seeing the familiar mango and Nīpa trees, gigantic sal trees, jack-fruit and Kurava and Dhava trees as also pomegranate trees, the highly illustrious Śrī Rāma went up to them. Nay, addressing questions to Bakula, Punnāga, sandalwood and Ketaka trees, while roaming about in the forest, Śrī Rāma looked hysterical, as it were. (21-22)

> अथवा मृगशावाक्षीं मृग जानासि मैथिलीम्।  
> मृगविप्रेक्षणी कान्ता मृगीभिः सहिता भवेत्॥ २३॥

Addressing the animals of the forest, he said: “O deer, do you know of Sītā, a princess of Mithilā, whose eyes resemble those of a fawn? My darling, who glances round like a female deer, is likely to be with female deer. (23)

> गज सा गजनासोरुर्यदि दृष्टा त्वया भवेत्।  
> तां मन्ये विदितां तुभ्यमाख्याहि वरवारण॥ २४॥

“O elephant, tell me if Sītā, whose thighs resemble the proboscis of an elephant (in their tapering shape), has been seen by you? I presume her to be known to you, O excellent elephant! (24)

> शार्दूल यदि सा दृष्टा प्रिया चन्द्रनिभानना।  
> मैथिली मम विस्रब्धः कथयस्व न ते भयम्॥ २५॥

“Tell me without fear, O tiger, if that darling, the princess of Mithilā, who has a moon-like countenance, has been seen by you? There is no cause for fear to you. (25)

> किं धावसि प्रिये नूनं दृष्टासि कमलेक्षणे।  
> वृक्षैराच्छाद्य चात्मानं किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे॥ २६॥

Imagining to see Sītā before him, he addresses her: “Why do you run, my darling? You have undoubtedly been seen by me, O lotus-eyed one ! Screening yourself behind the trees, why do you not answer me? (26)

> तिष्ठ तिष्ठ वरारोहे न तेऽस्ति करुणा मयि।  
> नात्यर्थं हास्यशीलासि किमर्थं मामुपेक्षसे॥ २७॥

“Stay, tarry awhile, O Sītā with excellent limbs ! Is there no compassion in your heart for me? You are not excessively given to fun; why then do you disregard me? (27)

> पीतकौशेयकेनासि सूचिता वरवर्णिनि।  
> धावन्त्यपि मया दृष्टा तिष्ठ यद्यस्ति सौहृदम्॥ २८॥

“You stand disclosed by your yellow silk garment, O lady with an excellent complexion! You have been seen by me even while running. Therefore, halt if there is any affection left in you for me. (28)

> नैव सा नूनमथवा हिंसिता चारुहासिनी।  
> कृच्छ्रं प्राप्तं न मां नूनं यथोपेक्षितुमर्हति॥ २९॥

“Or, it was definitely not Sītā of charming smiles, who has most probably been killed; surely she could not have ignored me, fallen in adversity. (29)

> व्यक्तं सा भक्षिता बाला राक्षसैः पिशिताशनैः।  
> विभज्याङ्गानि सर्वाणि मया विरहिता प्रिया॥ ३०॥

“Bereft of me, my youthful darling has evidently been devoured by flesh-eating ogres, dividing all her limbs among themselves. (30)

> नूनं तच्छुभदन्तोष्ठं सुनासं शुभकुण्डलम्।  
> पूर्णचन्द्रनिभं ग्रस्तं मुखं निष्प्रभतां गतम्॥ ३१॥

“Seized by the ogres, that face of Sītā, which was distinguished by charming teeth and lips and a shapely nose and adorned with beautiful earrings and resembled the full moon, must have surely been eclipsed. (31)

> सा हि चम्पकवर्णाभा ग्रीवा ग्रैवेयकोचिता।  
> कोमला विलपन्त्यास्तु कान्ताया भक्षिता शुभा॥ ३२॥

“That lovely and delicate neck, possessing the hue and splendour of a Campaka flower and worthy of being adorned with a necklace, of my wailing darling has undoubtedly been devoured by the ogres. (32)

> नूनं विक्षिप्यमाणौ तौ बाहू पल्लवकोमलौ।  
> भक्षितौ वेपमानाग्रौ सहस्ताभरणाङ्गदौ॥ ३३॥

“Being thrown restlessly, those arms of hers, tender as shoots and adorned with bracelets and armlets, with their fore parts trembling through fear have surely been eaten up. (33)

> मया विरहिता बाला रक्षसां भक्षणाय वै।  
> सार्थेनेव परित्यक्ता भक्षिता बहुबान्धवा॥ ३४॥

“The youthful lady was left alone by me only for being eaten up by the ogres. Though having numerous kinsfolk, she has been devoured by the ogres like a women deserted by co-travellers. (34)

> हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो पश्यसे त्वं प्रियां क्वचित्।  
> हा प्रिये क्व गता भद्रे हा सीतेति पुनः पुनः॥ ३५॥  
> इत्येवं विलपन् रामः परिधावन् वनाद् वनम्।  
> क्वचिदुद्भ्रमते वेगात् क्वचिद् विभ्रमते बलात्॥ ३६॥

“Ah, mighty-armed Lakṣmaṇa, do you perceive my darling anywhere? Ah Sītā, my darling, where have you gone, O blessed one?” Wailing in these words again and again and running about from grove to grove, Śrī Rāma now sprang up with impetuosity and now violently revolved like a whirlwind. (35-36)

> क्वचिन्मत्त इवाभाति कान्तान्वेषणतत्परः।  
> स वनानि नदीः शैलान् गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च।  
> काननानि च वेगेन भ्रमत्यपरिसंस्थितः॥ ३७॥

Intent on finding out his darling, he now appeared as though drunk and (now) he would range with rapidity forests, rivers, mountains, cataracts falling from mountains and woodlands too, knowing no rest. (37)

> तदा स गत्वा विपुलं महद् वनं  
> परीत्य सर्वं त्वथ मैथिलीं प्रति।  
> अनिष्ठिताशः स चकार मार्गणे  
> पुनः प्रियायाः परमं परिश्रमम्॥ ३८॥

Then entering the large and dense forest and forthwith ransacking it all with a view to tracing out Sītā, the princess of Mithilā, the aforesaid Śrī Rāma, who had not yet given up hope of finding out Sītā, once more put forth great exertion for tracing out his darling. (38)

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