Summary
Rama laments while searching for Seetha and reminiscing over his past, which was spent happily with Seetha. Rama and Lakshmana search for her at riversides of Godavari but she is unseen there. Though Lakshmana continuously encourages Rama for a thorough search without submitting to mere anguish, Rama sinks into his own anguish.
Chapter [Sarga] 63 in Detail
sa raaja putra priyaa vihiinah
shokena mohena ca piidyamaanah |
visaadayan bhraataram aarta ruupo
bhuuyo visaadampravivesha tiivram || 3-63-1
That prince Rama whom agony and anguish are distressing has become anxious in his mien, and he again drifted into a dire desperation while despairing his brother Lakshmana. [3-63-1]
sa lakshmanam shoka vasha abhipannam
shoke nimagno vipule tu raamah |
uvaaca vaakyam vyasanaanuruupam
usnam vinihshvasya rudan sa shokam || 3-63-2
Rama who is sunken in a chasmal [deep] sorrow spoke this sentence while wailing sorrowfully, suspiring [to draw a long deep breath] severely and scorchingly [devastate], and which sentence is seemly to his sensitivity, to Lakshmana who is already under the sway of sorrow. [3-63-2]
na mat vidho duskrita karma kaarii
manye dvitiiyo asti vasu.ndharaayaam |
shoka anushoko hi para.mparaayaa
maam eti bhindan hridayam manah ca || 3-63-3
"I am second to none among the blameworthy wrongdoers on this earth, thus I deem, and indeed woe [sorrow] followed by woe [sorrow] are getting at me in seriation [in series] to burst my heart and mind... [3-63-3]
puurvam mayaa nuunam abhiipsitaani
paapaani kar.hmaani asatkrit kritaani |
tatra ayam adya patito vipaako
duhkhena duhkham yad aham vishaami || 3-63-4
"I might have definitely, habitually, and desirably committed damnable deeds in my previous births, and now the result of those impious deeds is very much ripened and has fallen on me, whereby I am entering misery after misery... [3-63-4]
raajya pranaashah sva janaih viyogah
pitur vinaasho jananii viyogah |
sar.hvaani me lakshmana shoka vegam
aapuurayanti pravicintitaani || 3-63-5
"I am deprived of the kingdom, departed from my own people, mainly Seetha, my father departed and I am detached from my mother, and Lakshmana, when all these setbacks are very deeply thought over they are replenishing the haste of my agony... [3-63-5]
sarvam tu duhkham mama lakshmana idam
shaantam shariire vanam etya klesham |
siitaa viyogaat punar api udiirnam
kaastaih iva agnih sahasaa pradiiptah || 3-63-6
"All this sadness of mine has silenced physically and there is some peace on coming to these desolate forests, in association of Seetha, but with the dissociation of Seetha misery is again upshot, as with fire which flares up in a flash when fuel is added... [3-63-6]
saa nuunam aaryaa mama raakshasena hi
abhyaahritaa kham samupetya bhiiruh |
apasvaram su svara vipralaapaa
bhayena vikranditavati abhiikshnam || 3-63-7
"My noblewoman might be abducted by a demon, and on reaching the sky that lady who converses with a sweet voice might have wept a lot fearfully, and it is definite that she must have shouted a lot, un-tunefully... [3-63-7]
tau lohitasya priya darshanasya
sadaa ucitau uttama ca.ndanasya |
vrittau stanau shonita pa.nka dig.hdhau
nuunam priyaayaa mama na abhibhaata || 3-63-8
"Those two round bosoms of my ladylove which always deserved the application of pleasantly looking red-sandalwood's paste might definitely be un-shiny, as they might be bedaubed [smeared] with muddy blood when they are extricated from her body for devouring. [3-63-8]
tat shlakshna su vyakta mridu pralaapam
tasyaa mukham ku.ncita kesha bhaaram |
raksho vasham nuunam upagataayaa
na bhraajate raahu mukhe yathaa i.nduh || 3-63-9
"She has a sweet, soft, and very clear talkativeness on her lips. That visage with such lips is crowned with a hairdo with hair lumped together and plaited, such as her visage is, it must have become un-shiny on her going into the repression of demon, as with an un-shiny moon when repressed in the mouth of eclipsing planet Rahu, it is definite... [3-63-9]
taam haara paashasya sadaa ucita antam
griivaam priyaayaa mama su vrataayaa |
rakshaa.msi nuunam paripiitavanti
shuunye hi bhitvaa rudhira ashanaani || 3-63-10
"The contours of the neck of that strait-laced ladylove of mine are always worthy for necklaces and chain-wears. The bloodthirsty demons would have indeed mangled that neck in a secluded place and they might have drunk her blood, it is definite... [3-63-10]
mayaa vihiinaa vijane vane yaa
rakshobhih aahritya vikrisyamaanaa |
nuunam vinaadam kurari iva diinaa
saa muktavatii aayata kaanta netraa || 3-63-11
"While I was away from her in this uninhibited forest demons would have forcibly hauled her up when they are abducting that lady with broad-bright eyes, and she would have discordantly shrieked out like a piteous she-dove, it is definite... [3-63-11]
asmin mayaa saartham udaara shiilaa
shilaa tale puurvam upopavistaa |
kaanta smitaa lakshmana jaata haasaa
tvaam aaha siitaa bahu vaakya jaatam || 3-63-12
"Sitting very close to me on this stone's surface, oh, Lakshmana, she that well-mannered Seetha with bright smiles was speaking to you verbosely with all smiles... [3-63-12]
godaavarii iyaam saritaam varistaa
priyaa priyaayaa mama nitya kaalam |
api atra gacchet iti ci.ntayaami
na ekaakinii yaati hi saa kadaacit || 3-63-13
"Among rivers this Godavari is the best and it is an all the time cherished river to my ladylove, and I think she would have gone thereunto. But, at anytime she did not go there, singly... [3-63-13]
padma aananaa padma palaasha netraa
padmaani vaa aanetum abhiprayaataa |
tat api ayuktam na hi saa kaddacit
mayaa vinaa gacchati pa.nkajaani || 3-63-14
"Or, that lotus-faced, lotus-petal eyed Seetha has gone straight to bring lotuses! Nay, that idea itself is incongruous, for she never goes to get lotuses, indeed without me... [3-63-14]
kaamam tu idam puspita vriksha sandam
naanaa vidhaih pakshi ganaih upetam |
vanam prayaataa nu tat api ayuktam
ekaakinii saa ati bibheti bhiiruh || 3-63-15
"But has she really gone to this stand of thicket which is with flowered trees and with birds of divers kind! Nay, that thought also is incongruent, because she as a timid one is much scared of solitude... [3-63-15]
aaditya bho loka krrita akrita jnah
lokasya satya anrita karma saakshin |
mama priyaa saa kva gataa hritaa vaa
sha.msava me shoka hatasya sarvam || 3-63-16
"Oh, Sun, you are the knower of performed and unperformed deeds in the world, a witness of good and bad deeds in the world, tell me, who am woefully writhing, to where my ladylove strolled, or is she stolen... [3-63-16]
lokesu sarvesu na naasti ki.mcit
yat te na nityam viditam bhavet tat |
sha.msasva vayoh kula shaaliniim taam
mritaa hritaa vaa pathi var.htate vaa || 3-63-17
"Oh, Air, whatsoever is there in the world, where so ever it might be, or when so ever it might have happened, and which so ever it might be, and whence so ever it might exist, that cannot possibly be unknown to you. Hence, tell me of the lady from noble heritage... is she stolen, or slain, or strayed her steps..." Thus Rama begged of the Eternals for locating Seetha. [3-63-17]
iti iva tam shoka vidheya deham
raamam visa.njnam vilapantam eva |
uvaaca saumitrihadiina sattvah
nyaaye sthitah kaala yutam ca vaakyam || 3-63-18
To such a Rama whose physique is routed by his anguish in this way and who is insensately bewailing in that way, Soumitri whose courage is un-dispirited gave a justifiable and timely suggestion. [3-63-18]
shokam vimunca aarya dhritim bhajasva
saha utsaahataa ca astu vimaargane asyaah |
utsaahavanto hi naraa na loke
siidanti karmasu ati duskaresu || 3-63-19
"Oh, noble brother, banish that anguish and brace yourself with fortitude, and let you be with spiritedness in her searching... indeed, there is no backsliding for spirited men in their enterprises in this world, even though the enterprises are highly impracticable..." [3-63-19]
iti iva saumitrim udagra paurusam
bruvantam aarto raghu va.msha vardhanah |
na ci.ntayaamaasa dhritim vimuktavaan
punah ca duhkham mahat abhyupaagamat || 3-63-20
When Soumitri of towering bravery is speaking this way, Rama, the enhancer of Raghu's lineage, gave no heed to it, and since he castaway his fortitude he again encountered an inexplicable anguish. [3-63-20]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande tri sastitamah sargah
Thus, this is the 63rd chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate