Summary
Rama laments for Seetha's separation. He starts searching for her and goes on asking every plant, tree and animal, in a kind of frenzied attitude. This chapter is too poetic to summarize, hence this much is said here.
Chapter [Sarga] 60 in Detail
bhrisham aavrajamaanasya tasya adho vaama locanam |
praasphurat ca askhalat raamo vepathuh ca asya jaayate || 3-60-1
While Rama is coming towards hermitage his lower eyelid frequently fluttered, his gait faltered, and he missed his footing. [3-60-1]
upaalaksya nimittaani so ashubhaani muhur muhuh |
api ksemam tu siitaayaa iti vai vyaajahaara ha || 3-60-2
On closely watching those inauspicious forebodings Rama indeed uttered oftentimes with reflex thus as, 'would she be safe, in fact!' [3-60-2]
tvaramaano jagaama atha siitaa darshana laalasah |
shuunyam aavasatham dristvaa babhuuva udvigna maanasah || 3-60-3
He quickened himself and went with an ardency to see Seetha, and then on seeing an empty home his heart is distraught. [3-60-3]
ud bhraman iva vegena viksipan raghu nandanah |
tatra tatra utaja sthaanam abhiviiksya sama.ntatah || 3-60-4
dadarsha parna shaalaam ca siitayaa rahitaam tadaa |
shriyaa virahitaam dhvastaam hemante padminiim iva || 3-60-5
Raghava looked like a flying-flutterer as his speed jostled his arms and gait flutteringly, and on closely probing there and there, and all-over the places of that cottage, then he saw the lusterless house of straw devoid of Seetha, alike a befogged wintry lotus-lake without luster. [3-60-4, 5]
rudantam iva vriksaih ca glaana puspa mriga dvijam |
shriyaa vihiinam vidhvastam sa.ntyakta vana daivataih || 3-60-6
viprakiirna ajina kusham vipraviddha brisii katam |
dristvaa shuunya utaja sthaanam vilalaapa punah punah || 3-60-7
The trees of that woodland are seemingly weeping, as their flowers are witheringly weakening and their birds are weepingly warbling [singing], and the animals are whingeingly [to utter or express with or as if with a whine] weeping, and that woodland is charm-less and utterly shattered, since its georgic deities have completely abandoned it. Rather utterly bestrewn are the deerskins and sacred grass blades, rather utterly battered are the tender-grass-seats and other mats in the compound of cottage, and he who ardently wanted to see Seetha, such a Rama, on seeing such an emptied locale and cottage, wept over, over and again. [3-60-6, 7]
hritaa mritaa vaa nastaa vaa bhaksitaa vaa bhavisyati |
niliinaa api athavaa bhiiruh athavaa vanam aashritaa || 3-60-8
"That bashful Seetha might be stolen by the grudging demons, or slain by the very same grisly demons, or savored by some gruesome beasts, or else she strayed in this gauntly forest, and even she might have playfully shrouded herself in the grimly forest, or else she must be sheltering herself in this forest which will be grueling to locate. [3-60-8]
gataa vicetum puspaani phalaani api ca vaa punah |
athavaa padminiim yaataa jala artham vaa nadiim gataa || 3-60-9
"Or else, she might have again gone to pick the flowers or fruits, or again gone to lotus-lake, or gone to the river for water." Thinking thus, Rama started his search for Seetha. [3-60-9]
yatnaat mrigayamaanah tu na aasasaada vane priyaam |
shoka rakta iiksanah shriimaan unmatta iva laksyate || 3-60-10
Though he searched effort fully for his dear Seetha he did not get her, and as his anguish is reddening his eyes the appearance of that glorious one seems to be that of a madman. [3-60-10]
vriksaat vriksam pradhaavan sa giriim ca api nadii nadam |
babhraama vilapan raamah shoka pa.nka arnava plutah || 3-60-11
Rama ran speedily from tree to shrub, from hill to hillock, from river to rivulet, and revolving around them he wailed for Seetha, as he is inundated in a sludgy ocean of woes. [3-60-11]
asti kaccit tvayaa dristaa saa kadamba priyaa priyaa |
kadamba yadi jaaniise sha.msa siitaam shubha aananaam || 3-60-12
"Oh, Kadamba tree, seest thou someone a lady who is lover of Kadamba flowers, one with a lovable face and a love of mine, thou tellest me if thou knowest. [3-60-12]
snigdha pallava sa.mkaashaam piita kausheya vaasiniim |
sha.msasva yadi saa dristaa bilva bilva upama stanii || 3-60-13
"Oh, Bilva tree, if thou seest someone who is drest in yellowy-ochry silks, whose skin likens to the silkiness of thine leaflets, breasts to thine rotund and silky Bilva fruits, thou tellest me... [3-60-13]
athavaa arjuna sha.msa tvam priyaam taam arjuna priyaam |
janakasya sutaa tanvii yadi jiivati vaa na vaa || 3-60-14
"Otherwise, thou Arjuna tree, if thou knowest her who is a lover of thine Arjuna flowers and the ladylove of mine, thou telleth whether that slender-waisted daughter of Janaka liveth or otherwise... [3-60-14]
kakubhah kakubha uurum taam vyaktam jaanaati maithiliim |
lataa pallava puspa aadhyo bhaati hi esa vanaspatih || 3-60-15
"As to how this Kakubha tree shineth laden with creepy-creepers, foliole-foliage and flowery-flowers, this tree knowest Maithili whose thighs can be likened to the smoothish trunk of this very Kakubha tree... [3-60-15]
bhramarair upagiitah ca yathaa druma varo hi asi |
esa vyaktam vijaanaati tilakah tilaka priyaam || 3-60-16
"As to how this best tree among all trees heareth the chorus of honeybees that singest around it, thereby this Tilaka tree clearly knowest Maithili, a lover of Tilaka trees, as this shouldst have heard her. [3-60-16]
ashoka shoka apanuda shoka upahata cetanam |
tvan naamaanam kuru ksipram priyaa sa.ndar.hshanena maam || 3-60-17
"Oh, Ashoka tree, an alleviator of agony, that is thine name lingually... but practically and readily name me after thine, by showing my ladylove, as my agony has marred my empathy... [3-60-17]
yadi taala tvayaa dristaa pakva taala phala stanii |
kathayasva varaarohaam kaarunyam yadi te mayi || 3-60-18
"Oh, Palm tree, if thou seest that lady breasted alike ripened-palm fruits of thine, and if thine mercy is mine, thou telleth of that shapely lady Seetha... [3-60-18]
yadi dristaa tvayaa siitaa jambo jaa.mbuunada sama prabhaa |
priyaam yadi vijaanaasi nihsha.nka kathayasva me || 3-60-19
"Oh, Rose-apple tree, if thou seest Seetha and thou knowest my ladylove whose complexion is smoothish like thine Rose-apples, thou telleth me unhesitatingly... [3-60-19]
aho tvam karnikaara adya puspitah shobhase bhrisham |
karnikaara priyaam saadhviim sha.msa dristaa yadi priyaa || 3-60-20
"Aha! Karnikara tree, now thou art in full bloom and blooming magnificently, if thou seest that lover of Karnikaara-flowers and an immaculate ladylove of mine, thou telleth me... [3-60-20]
cuuta niipa mahaa saalaan panasaan kuravaan dhavaan |
daadimaan api taan gatvaa dristvaa raamo mahaayashaah || 3-60-21
bakulaan atha punnaagaan ca ca.ndanaanketakaan tathaa |
pricchan raamo vane bhraanta unmatta iva lakshyate || 3-60-22
Rama has gone on asking trees like mango, niipa, massive saala, jack-fruit, kuruva, dhava, and even around daadima, bakula, punnaaga, sandalwood, ketaka trees, and when he is running around them that highly glorious Rama appeared like a madman. [3-60-21, 22]
athavaa mriga shaaba aksiim mriga jaanaasi maithiliim |
mriga vipreksanii kaa.ntaa mrigiibhih sahitaa bhavet || 3-60-23
"Or else, oh, deer, dost thou know what bechanced to that fawn-eyed Maithili, one with quick-looks like thee deer? Or else, hast she herded herself into the herd of she-deer of yours... [3-60-23]
gaja saa gaja naasoruh yadi dristaa tvayaa bhavet |
taam manye viditaam tubhyam aakhyaahi vara vaarana || 3-60-24
"Oh, elephant, thou mightst beheld her whose thighs likens to your trunk at that problematic hour, thus methinks, and that Maithili is familiar to thee, and oh, best elephant, if thou beholdest her, thou tallest me... [3-60-24]
shaarduula yadi saa dristaa priyaa ca.ndra nibha aananaa |
maithilii mama visrabdham kathayasva na te bhayam || 3-60-25
"Fear not, oh, tiger, hast thou seen Maithili, the moonfaced ladylove of mine, if thou hast seen speak in good faith... [3-60-25]
kim dhaavasi priye nuunam dristaa asi kamala iiksane |
vriksena aacchaadya ca aatmaanam kim maam na pratibhaasase || 3-60-26
"Oh lotus-eyed lady, in fact I have seen you my dear, then why this running away and concealing yourself under trees, why do not you reply me... [3-60-26]
tistha tistha varaarohe na te asti karunaa mayi |
na atyartham haasya shiilaa asi kim artham maam upeksase || 3-60-27
"Stay...stay... oh, best lady, don't you have mercy on me? You are not unacceptably tease-humored! What for you ignore me? [3-60-27]
piita kausheyakena asi suucitaa vara var.hnini |
dhaavanti api mayaa dristaa tistha yadi asti sauhridam || 3-60-28
"Oh, beautifully complexioned lady, even if you are running away your yellowy silk-sari betokens you, stay, if you have goodwill for me... [3-60-28]
na eva saa nuunam athavaa hi.msitaa caaru haasinii |
kricchram praaptam na maam nuunam yathaa upeksitum ar.hhati || 3-60-29
"Otherwise, she whom I have just seen me may not be Seetha, why because, it is unapt of her to avoid me who attained this wretched state, hence Seetha with cheery smiles is certainly murdered... [3-60-29]
vyaktam saa bhaksitaa baalaa raaksasaih pishita ashanaih |
vibhajya a.ngaani sar.hvaani mayaa virahitaa priyaa || 3-60-30
"Obviously the raw-flesh gorgers must have gorged that youngish lady on diving all her limbs in my absence from my dear one... [3-60-30]
nuunam tat shubha da.nta ostham sunaasam shubha kundalam |
puurna ca.ndra nibham grastam mukham nis.hprabhataam gatam || 3-60-31
"Her face which is similar to a full-moon with pretty teeth, prettier lips, prettily nose and with pretty earrings, might have obtained a blanched look when being devoured... [3-60-31]
saa hi ca.mpaka varna aabhaa griivaa graiveyaka ucitaa |
komalaa vilapantyaah tu kaantaayaa bhaksitaa shubhaa || 3-60-32
"But that exquisite and beautiful neck of that lady which shines forth in the color of Champaka flower, befitting for any neck ornament, indeed it might be glutted down while she is bewailing... [3-60-32]
nuunam viksipyamaanau tau baahuu pallava komalau |
bhaksitau vepamaana agrau sa hasta aabharana a.ngadau || 3-60-33
"Her two arms which are delicate like tender leaves, ornamented with bangles and bicep-lets might have been definitely nibbled while they are wriggling with quivering fingers... [3-60-33]
mayaa virahitaa baalaa raksasaam bhaksanaaya vai |
saarthena iva parityaktaa bhaksitaa bahu baa.ndhavaa || 3-60-34
"This is as though I have forsaken this youngish Seetha really as a feast for the demons in my absence, and though Seetha has many relatives she has become as worse as a lonesome woman who is completely forsaken by her caravan who is lonesome ready for the feast of highwaymen, and demons have feasted on her. [3-60-34]
haa laksmana mahaabaaho pashyase tvam priyaam kvacit |
haa priye kva gataa bhadre haa siite iti punah punah || 3-60-35
"Ha, Lakshmana... oh, dexterous one... have you seen my ladylove anywhere... ha, dear, where have you gone... oh, auspicious lady... ha, Seetha..." thus Rama lamented again and again in his search. [3-60-35]
iti evam vilapan raamah paridhaavan vanaat vanam |
kvacit ud bhramate vegaat kvacit vibhramate balaat || 3-60-36
kvacit matta iva aabhaati kaa.ntaa anvesana tatparah |
On bewailing in this way and on overly rushing from wood to wood, somewhere Rama has become highly delusional by the forcefulness of delusion and spots forest stuff as Seetha, though none of them have any resemblance to Seetha, and somewhere else, marking creepers, plants or slender shrubs and suchlike delicacies as Seetha he has become really alluded by the powerfulness of allusion, and elsewhere, he is not discriminating paths or pathless routes for his trekking as an impassioned one in the search of his ladylove, and thus he is nitid like a madman. [3-60-36, 37a]
sa vanaani nadiih shailaan giri prasravanaani ca |
kaananaani ca vegena bhramati aparisa.msthitah || 3-60-37
Rama is on the rove around woods, rivers, hills, mountain-rapids and thicketed forests, speedily and restlessly. [3-60-37]
tadaa sa gatvaa vipulam mahat vanam
pariitya sarvam tu atha maithiliim prati |
anisthita aashah sa cakaara maargane
punah priyaayaah paramam parishramam || 3-60-38
On going round the vast of great forest in that way and on searching for Maithili, his hope became intangible, but again he undertook the search for his ladylove, over-strenuously. [3-60-38]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande sastitamah sargah
Thus, this is the 60th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate