Chapter 52

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

प्रभातायाम् तु शर्वर्याम् पृथु वृक्षा महा यशाः
उवाच रामः सौमित्रिम् लक्ष्मणम् शुभ लक्षणम्

prabhātāyām tu śarvaryām pṛthu vṛkṣā mahā yaśāḥ
uvāca rāmaḥ saumitrim lakṣmaṇam śubha lakṣaṇam

SYNONYMS

śarvaryām: night | prabhatāyāmtu: having given way to dawn | rāmaḥ: Rama | pṛthuvakṣāḥ: the man with a broad chest | mahāyaśāḥ: (and) the illustrious | uvāca: said | lakṣmaṇam: to Lakshmana | soumitrim: the son of Sumitra | śubhalakṣaṇam: endowed with auspicious signs. |

TRANSLATION

That night having given way to dawn, the illustrious Rama with a broad chest spoke (as follows) to Lakshmana, the son of Sumitra and who was endowed with auspicious signs :

VERSE 2

भास्कर उदय कालो अयम् गता भगवती निशा
असौ सुकृष्णो विहगः कोकिलः तात कूजति

bhāskara udaya kālo ayam gatā bhagavatī niśā
asau sukṛṣṇo vihagaḥ kokilaḥ tāta kūjati

SYNONYMS

tāta: "Oh | dear brother| ayam: This | bhāskarodaya kālaḥ: is the hour of sunrise. bhagavatii = The auspicious | niśā: night | gatā: has departed. vihagaH = That bird | sukṛṣṇaḥ: of dark plumage | asou kokilaḥ: the cuckoo | kūjati: is singing". |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, dear brother! This is the hour of sunrise. The auspicious night has departed. That bird of dark plumage, the cuckoo, is singing."

VERSE 3

बर्हिणानाम् च निर्घोषः श्रूयते नदताम् वने
तराम जाह्नवीम् सौम्य शीघ्रगाम् सागरम् गमाम्

barhiṇānām ca nirghoṣaḥ śrūyate nadatām vane
tarāma jāhnavīm saumya śīghragām sāgaram gamām

SYNONYMS

nirghoṣaḥ: the cries | barhiṇānām: of peacocks | nadatām: resounding | vane: in the forest | śrūyate: are being heard. soumya = Oh | gūd brother! tarāma: (let us) cross | śīghragām: the swift-flowing | jāhnavīm**: Ganga river | sāgaram gamām: that gushes to the sea." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, good brother! Hear the cries of peacocks resounding in the forest. Let us cross the swift-flowing Ganga River that gushes to the sea."

PURPORT

--***-The river Ganga, when brought down from heaven by the austerities of Emperor Bhagiratha, followed the latter to the subterranean regions in order to consecrate the remains of his great grand uncles. In its course, it inundated the sacrificial ground of king Jahnu, who in his anger, drank up its waters. But the gods and sages and particularly Bhagiratha appeased his anger and he consented to release the waters through his ears. The river is thereafter regarded as his daughter.
VERSE 4

विज्ञाय रामस्य वचः सौमित्रिर् मित्र नन्दनः
गुहम् आमन्त्र्य सूतम् च सो अतिष्ठद् भ्रातुर् अग्रतः

vijñāya rāmasya vacaḥ saumitrir mitra nandanaḥ
guham āmantrya sūtam ca so atiṣṭhad bhrātur agrataḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ soumitriḥ: that Lakshmana | mitranandanaḥ: who makes his friends happy | viġ^yāya: having understood | vacaḥ: the words | rāmasya: of Rama | āmantrya: called | guham: Guha | sūtamca: and Sumantra | atiṣṭat: and stood | agrataḥ: in front | bhrātuḥ: of his brother. |

TRANSLATION

Lakshmana, the delight of his friends, having understood the words of Rama, called Guha as well as Sumantra and stood in front of his brother.

VERSE 5

स तु रामस्य वचनम् निशम्य प्रतिगृह्य च
स्थपतिस्तूर्णमाहुय सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्

sa tu rāmasya vacanam niśamya pratigṛhya ca
sthapatistūrṇamāhuya sacivānidamabravīt

SYNONYMS

niśamya: hearing | vacanam: the words | rāmasya: of Rama | saḥ sthapatiḥ: that Guha | tūrṇam: quickly | pratigṛhyaca: received them | āhūya: invited | sacivān: his ministers | abravīt: and spoke | idam: these words: |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the command of Rama, Guha quickly received it, invited his ministers and spoke to them as follows:

VERSE 6

अस्य वाहनसम्युक्ताम् कर्णग्राहवतीम् शुभाम्
सुप्रताराम् दृढाम् तीर्खे शीग्रम् नावमुपाहर

asya vāhanasamyuktām karṇagrāhavatīm śubhām
supratārām dṛḍhām tīrkhe śīgram nāvamupāhara

SYNONYMS

asya: for the sake of Rama | śīghram: quickly | upāhara: bring | tīrthe: to the landing place | nāvam: a boat | vāhana samyuktām: accompanied by a boatman | karṇagrāhavatīm: and having a helmsman in it | śubhām: beautiful | supratārām: which can easily ferry across | dṛḍhām: and solidly constructed. |

TRANSLATION

"Let a beautiful boat that is solidly constructed, sails well and a helmsman in it, be brought to the bank to carry this hero across!"

VERSE 7

तम् निशम्य समादेशम् गुहामात्यगणो महान्
उपोह्य रुचिराम् नावम् गुहाय प्रत्यवेदयत्

tam niśamya samādeśam guhāmātyagaṇo mahān
upohya rucirām nāvam guhāya pratyavedayat

SYNONYMS

niśamya: hearing | tam: that | samādeśam: command | mahān guhāmātya gaṇaḥ: the chief minister of Guha | upohya: brought | rucirām: a charming | nāvam: boat | pratyavedayat: ( and) reported the matter | guhāya: to Guha. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing that command, the chief minister of King Guha brought a charming boat to the bank and reported the matter to Guha.

VERSE 8

ततः सप्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा गुहो राघवमब्रवीत्
उपस्थितेयम् नौर्देव भूयः किम् करवाणि ते

tataḥ saprāñjalirbhūtvā guho rāghavamabravīt
upasthiteyam naurdeva bhūyaḥ kim karavāṇi te

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | guhaḥ: Guha | bhūtvā: became | prāṇjaliḥ: one with folded hands | abravīt: and spoke | rāghavam: to Rama: devaH = "Oh | iyam: This | nouḥ: boat | upasthitā: has arrived | kim: what | bhūyaḥ: more | karavāṇi: can I do | te: for you" |

TRANSLATION

Then, Guha with folded hands spoke to Rama as follows: "Oh, Lord! Here, the boat has arrived. What more can I do for you?"

VERSE 9

तवामरसुतप्रख्य तर्तुम् सागरगाम् नदीम्
नौरियम् पुरुषव्याग्र! ताम् त्वमारोह सुव्रत!

tavāmarasutaprakhya tartum sāgaragām nadīm
nauriyam puruṣavyāgra! tām tvamāroha suvrata!

SYNONYMS

puruṣa vyāghra: Oh | tiger among men! amarasuta prakhya: Oh | ṟama resembling a son of divinity! iyam: This | nouḥ: is the boat | tava: for you | tartum: to cross | nadīm: the river | sāgaragām: which flows into the sea. suvrata = Oh | virtuous one! tvam: You | āroha: ascend | tām: it. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, tiger among men! Oh, Rama resembling a son of divinity! Here is the boat for you to cross the river, which flows into the sea. Oh, virtuous one! (Pray) get into it."

VERSE 10

अथोवाच महातेजा रामो गुहमिदम् वचः
कृतकामो।अस्मि भवता शीघ्रमारोप्यतामिति

athovāca mahātejā rāmo guhamidam vacaḥ
kṛtakāmo|asmi bhavatā śīghramāropyatāmiti

SYNONYMS

atha: then | rāmaḥ: Rama | mahā tejāḥ: with great splendor | uvāca: spoke | idam: these | vacaḥ: words | guham: to Guha | iti: thus | asmi: "I became | kṛta kāmaḥ: one whose desire has been accomplished | bhavatā: by you. aaropyataam = Let us embark shiighram = with speed". |

TRANSLATION

Then, Rama with great splendor, spoke to Guha as follows: "My desire has been accomplished by you. Let us embark with all speed."

VERSE 11

ततः कलापान् सम्नह्य खड्गौ बद्ध्वा च धन्विनौ
जग्मतुर् येन तौ गन्गाम् सीतया सह राघवौ

tataḥ kalāpān samnahya khaḍgau baddhvā ca dhanvinau
jagmatur yena tau gangām sītayā saha rāghavau

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | tou rāghavou: both Rama and Lakshmana | sītayāsaha: along with Sita | samnahya: having put on | kalāpān: quivers with arrows | baddhvā: having fastened | khaḍgouca: the swords too | dhanvinou: and holding their bows | jagmatuḥ: went | yena: in which way | gaṅgām: Ganga is situated. |

TRANSLATION

Having equipped themselves with a quiver each with arrows, fastening their swords and armed with their bows, Rama and Lakshmana, with Sita, proceeded towards the river of Ganga.

VERSE 12

रामम् एव तु धर्मज्ञम् उपगम्य विनीतवत्
किम् अहम् करवाणि इति सूतः प्रान्जलिर् अब्रवीत्

rāmam eva tu dharmajñam upagamya vinītavat
kim aham karavāṇi iti sūtaḥ prānjalir abravīt

SYNONYMS

sūtaḥ: Sumantra | prāṅjaliḥ: joining his palms | vinītavat: in humility | upagamya: approached | rāmameva tu: only Rama | dharmaġ^yam: who knew what is right | abravīt: and spoke | iti: thus: kim = :What aham = I | karavāṇi: shall do?" |

TRANSLATION

Sumantra joining his palms in humility, approached Rama who knew what is right and said, "What shall I do?"

VERSE 13

ततो।अब्रवीद्दाशरथिः सुमन्त्रम्
स्पृशन् करेणोत्तमदक्षिणेन
सुमन्त्र शीघ्रम् पुनरेव याहि
राज्ञः सकाशे भवचाप्रमत्तः

tato|abravīddāśarathiḥ sumantram
spṛśan kareṇottamadakṣiṇena
sumantra śīghram punareva yāhi
rājñaḥ sakāśe bhavacāpramattaḥ

SYNONYMS

dāśarathiḥ: Rama | tataḥ: then | spṛśan: touching | sumantram: Sumantra | uttama dakṣiṇena: with his auspicious right | kareṇa: hand | abravīt: (and) said: sumantra = "Oh | ṣumantra! yāhi punareva: Return | śīghram: quickly | rāġ^yaḥ: to king's | sakāśe: presence | bhava: (and) be | apramattaḥca: attentive." |

TRANSLATION

Touching Sumantra with his auspicious right hand, Rama then said: "Oh, Sumantra! Return quickly to the king's presence and be attentive in serving him."

VERSE 14

निवर्तस्व इति उवाच एनम् एतावद्द् हि कृतम् मम
रथम् विहाय पद्भ्याम् तु गमिष्यामि महावनम्

nivartasva iti uvāca enam etāvadd hi kṛtam mama
ratham vihāya padbhyām tu gamiṣyāmi mahāvanam

SYNONYMS

etāvat: "this much service | kṛtamhi: has been done indeed | mama: to me. nivartasya = Return. gamishhyaami = I shall go | padbhyām: on foot | mahāvanam: to the great forest | vihāya: abandoning | ratham: the chariot. uvaacha = (he) spoke | iti: thus. |

TRANSLATION

"Go now, that your service to me has been completed. Abandoning the chariot, I shall go on foot to the mighty forest," Rama said.

VERSE 15

आत्मानम् तु अभ्यनुज्ञातम् अवेक्ष्य आर्तः स सारथिः
सुमन्त्रः पुरुष व्याघ्रम् ऐक्ष्वाकम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

ātmānam tu abhyanujñātam avekṣya ārtaḥ sa sārathiḥ
sumantraḥ puruṣa vyāghram aikṣvākam idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

āvekṣya: seeing | ātmānam: himself | abhyanuġ^yātam: dismissed | saḥ sumantraḥ: that Sumantra | sārathiḥ: was distressed | abravīt: and spoke | idam: these words | aikṣvākam: to Rama | puruśavyāghram: the tiger among men. |

TRANSLATION

Finding himself dismissed, Sumantra the charioteer was distressed and spoke to Rama, the tiger among men, as follows:

VERSE 16

न अतिक्रान्तम् इदम् लोके पुरुषेण इह केनचित्
तव सभ्रातृ भार्यस्य वासः प्राकृतवद् वने

na atikrāntam idam loke puruṣeṇa iha kenacit
tava sabhrātṛ bhāryasya vāsaḥ prākṛtavad vane

SYNONYMS

vāsaḥ: dwelling | vane: in the forest | prākṛtavat: like a common man | tava: (has come) to you | sa bhrātṝ bhāryasya: with your brother and your consort. idam = This | nātikrāntam: has never been set aside | kenacit puruṣeṇa: by any man | iha loke: in the world. |

TRANSLATION

"None in the world has had to suffer such a fate as yourself; that you should have to dwell in the forest with your brother and your consort as if you were an ordinary man!"

VERSE 17

न मन्ये ब्रह्म चर्ये अस्ति स्वधीते वा फल उदयः
मार्दव आर्जवयोः वा अपि त्वाम् चेद् व्यसनम् आगतम्

na manye brahma carye asti svadhīte vā phala udayaḥ
mārdava ārjavayoḥ vā api tvām ced vyasanam āgatam

SYNONYMS

manye: I think | nāsti: there is no | phalodayaḥ: reward | brahmacarye: in leading a life of religious student | svadhīte vā: or in studying scriptures | mārdavārjavayorvāpi: or even in cultivating tenderness and strait forwardness | vyasanam cet: (when) adversity | āgatam: has come | tvām: to you." |

TRANSLATION

"I think that there is no reward in leading a life of religious student or in studying religious scriptures or even in cultivating tenderness and straight forwardness, when adversity has come to you."

VERSE 18

सह राघव वैदेह्या भ्रात्रा चैव वने वसन्
त्वम् गतिम् प्राप्स्यसे वीर त्रीम्ल् लोकांस् तु जयन्न् इव

saha rāghava vaidehyā bhrātrā caiva vane vasan
tvam gatim prāpsyase vīra trīml lokāṃs tu jayann iva

SYNONYMS

vīra: "Oh | rāghava: Rama! vasan = Residing | vane: in the forest | vaidehyā saha: along with Sita | bhrātrācaiva: and your brother | tvam: you | prāpsyase: will obtain | gatim: the same position | jayanniva: as one who has conquered | trīn: the three | lokān: worlds" |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, heroic Rama! Living in the forest along with Sita and your brother, you will obtain the same position as one who has conquered the three worlds."

VERSE 19

वयम् खलु हता राम ये तया अपि उपवन्चिताः
कैकेय्या वशम् एष्यामः पापाया दुह्ख भागिनः

vayam khalu hatā rāma ye tayā api upavancitāḥ
kaikeyyā vaśam eṣyāmaḥ pāpāyā duhkha bhāginaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāma: "Oh | ṟama! vayam: We | hatāḥ khalu: are actually ruined | yena: because | upavaṇcitāḥ: disappointed in our hopes | tvayāpi: by you too | eṣyāmaḥ: we shall fall | vaśam: under the sway | kaikeyyāḥ: of Kaikeyi | pāpāyāḥ: of sinful nature | duḥkha bhāginaḥ: and reap suffering". |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama! We are actually ruined, in that, disappointed in our hopes by you too, we shall fall under the sway of Kaikeyi the sinful woman and reap the suffering."

VERSE 20

इति ब्रुवन्न् आत्म समम् सुमन्त्रः सारथिस् तदा
दृष्ट्वा दुर गतम् रामम् दुह्ख आर्तः रुरुदे चिरम्

iti bruvann ātma samam sumantraḥ sārathis tadā
dṛṣṭvā dura gatam rāmam duhkha ārtaḥ rurude ciram

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | sumantraḥ: Sumantra | sārathiḥ: the charioteer | iti: thus | bruvan: speaking | rurude: wept | ciram: long | duhkhārtāḥ: stricken with grief | dṛṣṭvā: seeing | rāmam: Rama | ātmasamam: equal to his soul | dūragatam: gone to a distance. |

TRANSLATION

Sumantra the charioteer thus speaking, wept for a long time, stricken with grief, seeing Rama, equal to his soul, departing to a distance.

VERSE 21

ततः तु विगते बाष्पे सूतम् स्पृष्ट उदकम् शुचिम्
रामः तु मधुरम् वाक्यम् पुनः पुनर् उवाच तम्

tataḥ tu vigate bāṣpe sūtam spṛṣṭa udakam śucim
rāmaḥ tu madhuram vākyam punaḥ punar uvāca tam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | rāmastu: Rama | punaḥ punuḥ: again and again | uvāca: spoke | madhuram: which were sweet | tam sūtam: to that charioteer | bāṣpe: (whose) tears | vigate: had gone away | spṛṣṭodokam: who had sipped some water | śucim: and got purified. |

TRANSLATION

Then, Rama again and again spoke these sweet words as follows to that charioteer, whose tears got dried up and who had sipped some water and got himself purified:

VERSE 22

इक्ष्वाकूणाम् त्वया तुल्यम् सुहृदम् न उपलक्षये
यथा दशरथो राजा माम् न शोचेत् तथा कुरु

ikṣvākūṇām tvayā tulyam suhṛdam na upalakṣaye
yathā daśaratho rājā mām na śocet tathā kuru

SYNONYMS

nopalakṣaye: "I do not see | suhrudam: a friend | tulyam: equal | tvayā: to you | ikṣvākūṇām: for the kings of Ikshvaku dynasty. kuru = Act | tathā: in such a way | yathā: as | rājā: king | daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha | na śocet: may not lament | mām: about me." |

TRANSLATION

"I do not see any one who is as great a friend of the Ikshvakus as you are. (Pray) act in such a way that king Dasaratha may not lament about me"

VERSE 23

शोक उपहत चेताः च वृद्धः च जगती पतिः
काम भार अवसन्नः च तस्मात् एतत् ब्रवीमि ते

śoka upahata cetāḥ ca vṛddhaḥ ca jagatī patiḥ
kāma bhāra avasannaḥ ca tasmāt etat bravīmi te

SYNONYMS

jagatīpatiḥ: the king | śokopahata cetāśca: his mind afflicted with grief | vṛddhaśca: is aged as well. Kaamabhaaraavasannashcha = (He is) pressed down by a burden of passion. tasmaat = for that reason | bravīmi: I tell | etat: this | te: to you. |

TRANSLATION

"The king, his mind afflicted with grief, is aged as well. He is pressed down by a burden of passion. Hence, I tell you this."

VERSE 24

यद् यद् आज्ञापयेत् किंचित् स महात्मा मही पतिः
कैकेय्याः प्रिय काम अर्थम् कार्यम् तत् अविकान्क्षया

yad yad ājñāpayet kiṃcit sa mahātmā mahī patiḥ
kaikeyyāḥ priya kāma artham kāryam tat avikānkṣayā

SYNONYMS

yadyat: what so ever | kimcit: some act | saḥ: that | mahātmā: high-soled | mahīpatiḥ: emperor | āġ^yāpayet: may enjoin | priya kāmārtham: with intent to oblige the desire | kaikeyyāḥ: of Kaikeyi | tat: that | kāryam: is to be done | avikāṇkṣayā: un hesitatingly." |

TRANSLATION

"What so ever act that high-soled emperor may enjoin you to do, with intent to oblige the desire of Kaikeyi, it is to be done unhesitatingly."

VERSE 25

एतत् अर्थम् हि राज्यानि प्रशासति नर ईश्वराः
यद् एषाम् सर्व कृत्येषु मनो न प्रतिहन्यते

etat artham hi rājyāni praśāsati nara īśvarāḥ
yad eṣām sarva kṛtyeṣu mano na pratihanyate

SYNONYMS

nareśvarāḥ: "the kings | praśāsatihi: indeed rule | rājyāani: the states | etadartham: with this end in view | manaḥ: that their will | yat na pratihanyate: may not be frustrated | sarva kṛtyeṣu: in all their undertakings." |

TRANSLATION

"The kings indeed rule the states with this end in view that their will may not be frustrated in any undertaking."

VERSE 26

यद्यथा स महा राजो न अलीकम् अधिगच्चति
न च ताम्यति दुह्खेन सुमन्त्र कुरु तत् तथा

yadyathā sa mahā rājo na alīkam adhigaccati
na ca tāmyati duhkhena sumantra kuru tat tathā

SYNONYMS

sumantra: " Oh | ṣumantra! kuru: Carry out | tathā: in such a way | tat: that | saḥ mahārājaḥ: the said emperor | yathā: in which way | yat: whatever | na adhigacchati: may not find it | aḻīkam: as anything unpleasing | na ca tāmyati: nor gets distressed | duḥkhena: by grief." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sumantra! Carry out everything in such a way that the said emperor neither finds it unpleasing nor gets tormented by grief."

VERSE 27

अदृष्ट दुह्खम् राजानम् वृद्धम् आर्यम् जित इन्द्रियम्
ब्रूयाः त्वम् अभिवाद्य एव मम हेतोर् इदम् वचः

adṛṣṭa duhkham rājānam vṛddham āryam jita indriyam
brūyāḥ tvam abhivādya eva mama hetor idam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

abhivādyaiva: "only after doing respectful salutation | rājānāam: to the king | vṛddham: who is old | āryam: (and) venerable | adṛṣṭa duḥkham: who has never known suffering | jiteṅdriyam: and who has subdued his senses | tvam: you | brūyāḥ: tell | idam: these | vacaḥ: words | mama hetoḥ: on my behalf." |

TRANSLATION

"Only after performing respectful salutation to the old and venerable king, who has never known suffering and who has subdued his senses, you tell these words to him on my behalf."

VERSE 28

न एव अहम् अनुशोचामि लक्ष्मणो न च मैथिली
अयोध्यायाः च्युताः च इति वने वत्स्यामह इति वा (महेति!)

na eva aham anuśocāmi lakṣmaṇo na ca maithilī
ayodhyāyāḥ cyutāḥ ca iti vane vatsyāmaha iti vā (maheti!)

SYNONYMS

naiva: "Indeed neither | aham: I | na: nor | lakśmaṇaḥ maithilīca: Lakshmana and Sita | anuśocāmi: grieve | cyutāśceti: for having moved | ayodhyāyāḥ: from Ayodhya | vatsyāmahetica: or that we are going to dwell | vane: in a forest." |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed neither I nor Lakshmana and Sita grieve for having moved from Ayodhya or that we are going to dwell in a forest."

VERSE 29

चतुर् दशसु वर्षेषु निवृत्तेषु पुनः पुनः
लक्ष्मणम् माम् च सीताम् च द्रक्ष्यसि क्षिप्रम् आगतान्

catur daśasu varṣeṣu nivṛtteṣu punaḥ punaḥ
lakṣmaṇam mām ca sītām ca drakṣyasi kṣipram āgatān

SYNONYMS

nivṛtteṣu: after completing | caturdaśasu: fourteen | varṣeṣu: years | drakṣyasi: you will see | punaḥ punaḥ: once again | lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana | mām ca: myself | sītām ca: and Sita too | āgatān: returned | kṣipram: quickly." |

TRANSLATION

"After completing fourteen years, you will once more see Lakshmana, myself and Sita too returned apace from the forest."

VERSE 30

एवम् उक्त्वा तु राजानम् मातरम् च सुमन्त्र मे
अन्याः च देवीः सहिताः कैकेयीम् च पुनः पुनः

evam uktvā tu rājānam mātaram ca sumantra me
anyāḥ ca devīḥ sahitāḥ kaikeyīm ca punaḥ punaḥ

SYNONYMS

31| sumantra: "Oh | ṣumantra! evam: this is | uktvā: what should you say | rājānam: to the king | me mataram ca: and my mother | sahitāḥ: all | anyāḥ: other | devīśca: queens | kaikeyīm ca: and Kaikeyi. bruuhi = tell | kousalyām: Kousalya | ārogyam: (about my)health | punaḥ punaḥ: again and again | atha: and thereafter | pādābhivandanam: salutations at her feet | sītāyāḥ: (on behalf of) Sita | mama ca: as well as myself | vacanāt: the words | lakṣmaṇasyaca: of Lakshmana | āryasya: the faithful man." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh,Sumantra! This is what you should say to the king, my mother, all other queens and Kaikeyi. Tell Kausalya again and again that I am keeping good health. Thereafter, convey salutations at her feet on behalf of Sita as well as myself and Lakshmana the faithful man."

VERSE 32

ब्रूयाः च हि महा राजम् भरतम् क्षिप्रम् आनय
आगतः च अपि भरतः स्थाप्यो नृप मते पदे

brūyāḥ ca hi mahā rājam bharatam kṣipram ānaya
āgataḥ ca api bharataḥ sthāpyo nṛpa mate pade

SYNONYMS

brūyāḥ: "Tell (our salutations) | mahārajāmca: to the emperor also. anaya = Bring | bharatam: Bharata | kṣipram: quickly. aagashchaapi = after his arrival | bharataḥ: Bharata | sthāpya: may be installed | pade: in the position | nṛpa mate: as desired by the king." |

TRANSLATION

"Tell our salutations to the emperor too. Bring Bharata quickly. After his arrival, Bharata may be installed in the position, as desired by the king."

VERSE 33

भरतम् च परिष्वज्य यौवराज्ये अभिषिच्य च
अस्मत् सम्तापजम् दुह्खम् न त्वाम् अभिभविष्यति

bharatam ca pariṣvajya yauvarājye abhiṣicya ca
asmat samtāpajam duhkham na tvām abhibhaviṣyati

SYNONYMS

pariṣvajya: "when you embraced | bharatam: Bharata | abhiṣicya ca: and installed him | youva rājye: in the office of the Prince Regent | duḥkham: the agony | asmatsamtāpajam: caused by the remorse felt by you on our account | na abhibhaviṣyati: will not overpower | tvām: you." |

TRANSLATION

"When you embrace Bharata and install him in the office of the Prince Regent, the agony caused by the repentance felt by you on our account will not overpower you."

VERSE 34

भरतः च अपि वक्तव्यो यथा राजनि वर्तसे
तथा मातृषु वर्तेथाः सर्वास्व् एव अविशेषतः

bharataḥ ca api vaktavyo yathā rājani vartase
tathā mātṛṣu vartethāḥ sarvāsv eva aviśeṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

bharatasyāpi: "Bharata also | vaktavyaḥ: is to be told (thus): vartethaaH = "Treat | aviśeṣataḥ: without distinction | sarvāsveva: all | mātṛṣu: your mothers | tathā: with the same regard | yathā: as | vartase: (you) behave | rājani: towards the king." |

TRANSLATION

"Bharata too is to be told thus: "Treat without distinction all your mothers with the same regard as you behave towards the king."

VERSE 35

यथा च तव कैकेयी सुमित्रा च अविशेषतः
तथैव देवी कौसल्या मम माता विशेषतः

yathā ca tava kaikeyī sumitrā ca aviśeṣataḥ
tathaiva devī kausalyā mama mātā viśeṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

yathāca: as is | kaikeyī: Kaikeyi | tava: to you | tathaiva: so let it be | sumitrāca: for Sumitra | viśeṣataḥ: in particular" | devī: (and) the divine kausalyaa = Kausalya | mama mātā: my mother |

TRANSLATION

"As is your affection for Kaikeyi, so let it be for Sumitra and also the divine Kausalya, my mother"

VERSE 36

तातस्य प्रियकामेन यौवराज्यमपेक्षता
लोकयोरुभयोः शक्यम् त्वया यत्सुखमेधितुम्

tātasya priyakāmena yauvarājyamapekṣatā
lokayorubhayoḥ śakyam tvayā yatsukhamedhitum

SYNONYMS

apekṣataḥ: "(If you) accept | youva rājam: the princely kingdom | priya kāmana: with an intent to please | tātasya: our father | śakyam: it will be possible | tvayā: for you | edhitum: to enhance | sukham: happiness | yat: whatever | ubhayoḥ: in both | lokayāḥ: the worlds." |

TRANSLATION

"If you accept the princely kingdom with an intent to please our father, it will be possible for you to enhance happiness in both the worlds (in this world and the next)."

VERSE 37

निवर्त्यमानो रामेण सुमन्त्रः शोक कर्शितः
तत् सर्वम् वचनम् श्रुत्वा स्नेहात् काकुत्स्थम् अब्रवीत्

nivartyamāno rāmeṇa sumantraḥ śoka karśitaḥ
tat sarvam vacanam śrutvā snehāt kākutstham abravīt

SYNONYMS

sumantraḥ: Sumantra | nivartyamānaḥ: who was being sent back | rāmeṇa: by Rama | śoka karṣitaḥ: agonized with grief | śrutvā: heard | sarvam: the whole | tat: of that | vacanam: discourse | snehāt: affectionately | abravīt: spoke | kākutstham: to Rama (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Sumantra, who was being sent back by Rama, was agonized with grief after hearing the whole of that discourse and affectionately spoke to Rama as follows:

VERSE 38

यद् अहम् न उपचारेण ब्रूयाम् स्नेहात् अविक्लवः
भक्तिमान् इति तत् तावद् वाक्यम् त्वम् क्षन्तुम् अर्हसि

yad aham na upacāreṇa brūyām snehāt aviklavaḥ
bhaktimān iti tat tāvad vākyam tvam kṣantum arhasi

SYNONYMS

yat vākyam: which mode of expression | aham: I | brūyām: am speaking | snehāt: friendship | aviklabaḥ: fearlessly | nopacāreṇa: and without courtesy | tat: that | tvām: you | arhasitāvat: are justified | kṣantum: to forgive | bhaktimān iti: (considering me) as a devotee." |

TRANSLATION

"If I spoke to you fearlessly in a friendly tone without following courteousness, you ought to forgive my mode of expression, considering me as your devotee"

VERSE 39

कथम् हि त्वद् विहीनो अहम् प्रतियास्यामि ताम् पुरीम्
तव तात वियोगेन पुत्र शोक आकुलाम् इव

katham hi tvad vihīno aham pratiyāsyāmi tām purīm
tava tāta viyogena putra śoka ākulām iva

SYNONYMS

katham hi: "How indeed | aham pratiyāsyāmi: can I return | tvadvihīnaḥ: without you | tām: to that | purīm: city | tava viyogena tāvat: which through separation from you | putra śokākulāmiva: has been reduced to the state of a mother stricken with grief due to separation from her son." |

TRANSLATION

"How indeed can I return without you to that city, which through separation from you, has been reduced to the state of a mother stricken with grief due to separation from her son"

VERSE 40

सरामम् अपि तावन् मे रथम् दृष्ट्वा तदा जनः
विना रामम् रथम् दृष्ट्वा विदीर्येत अपि सा पुरी

sarāmam api tāvan me ratham dṛṣṭvā tadā janaḥ
vinā rāmam ratham dṛṣṭvā vidīryeta api sā purī

SYNONYMS

tadā: "at that time | dṛṣṭvā: by seeing | me ratham: my chariot | sarāmapi: even with Rama in it | janaḥ: the people | tāvat: (were lamenting) so much. DR^ishhTvaa = by seeing (now) | ratham: the chariot | vinā rāmam: without Rama | sā purī: that city | videryetāpi: will even be broken apart." |

TRANSLATION

"By seeing my chariot on that day even with Rama in it, the people were lamenting so much. Now, if they see the chariot without Rama the city of Ayodhya will even be broken asunder."

VERSE 41

दैन्यम् हि नगरी गच्चेद् दृष्ट्वा शून्यम् इमम् रथम्
सूत अवशेषम् स्वम् सैन्यम् हत वीरम् इव आहवे

dainyam hi nagarī gacced dṛṣṭvā śūnyam imam ratham
sūta avaśeṣam svam sainyam hata vīram iva āhave

SYNONYMS

nagarī: "the city | gacchet hi: will go through | dainyam: a miserable condition | sainyam iva: like an army | hata vīram: in which its commander has been killed | āhave: in a battle | svam: and seeing his chariot | sūtavaśeṣam: remaining with charioteer alone | dṛṣtvā: by beholding | imam: this | ratham: chariot | śūnyam: empty." |

TRANSLATION

"The city will be plunged in misery, like an army in which its commander is lost in a combat with the charioteer alone surviving, on seeing this chariot without you."

VERSE 42

दूरे अपि निवसन्तम् त्वाम् मानसेन अग्रतः स्थितम्
चिन्तयन्त्यो अद्य नूनम् त्वाम् निराहाराः कृताः प्रजाः

dūre api nivasantam tvām mānasena agrataḥ sthitam
cintayantyo adya nūnam tvām nirāhārāḥ kṛtāḥ prajāḥ

SYNONYMS

cintayantyaḥ: "thinking | tvām: of you | sthitam: established | agrataḥ: foremost | mānasena: in their minds | nivasantam api: though residing | dūre: at a far away place | prajāḥ: the people | adya: today | kṛtāḥ: were made | nirāhārāḥ: without food. nuunam = It is certain." |

TRANSLATION

"Thinking of you, who though residing far away are established foremost in their minds, the people of Ayodhya must have been deprived of their food today."

VERSE 43

दृष्टं तद्धि त्वया राम! यादृशम् त्वत्प्रवासने
प्रजानाम् सम्कुलम् वृत्तम् त्वच्छोकक्लान्तचेतसाम्

dṛṣṭaṃ taddhi tvayā rāma! yādṛśam tvatpravāsane
prajānām samkulam vṛttam tvacchokaklāntacetasām

SYNONYMS

rāma: "Oh | ṟama! samkulam: Perplexity | yādṟ^śam: of what kind | tat: that | vṛttam: behavior | dṛṣṭam hi: was witnessed indeed | tvayā: by you | tvatpravāsane: on the occasion of your exile | prajānām: among the people(of Ayodhya) | tvaccoka klānta cetasām: whose minds were depressed through grief on your account." |

TRANSLATION

"The great perplexity that ensued, on the occasion of your exile, among the people (of Ayodhya), whose minds were depressed through grief on your account, was witnessed by you indeed, Oh, Rama!"

VERSE 44

आर्त नादो हि यः पौरैः मुक्तः तत् विप्रवासने
रथस्थम् माम् निशाम्य एव कुर्युः शत गुणम् ततः

ārta nādo hi yaḥ pauraiḥ muktaḥ tat vipravāsane
rathastham mām niśāmya eva kuryuḥ śata guṇam tataḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ: "which | ārtanādaḥ: cry of distress | pouraiḥ: the citizens | muktaḥ: raised | tvadvipravāsane: at the time of your banishment | tataḥ: to that | śataguṇam: hundred-fold | kuryuḥ: will be made | niśāmyaiva: soon after seeing | mām: me | saratham: with (an empty) chariot." |

TRANSLATION

"The cry of distress raised by the citizens (of Ayodhya) will be increased a hundred-fold, when they see me with an empty chariot."

VERSE 45

अहम् किम् च अपि वक्ष्यामि देवीम् तव सुतः मया
नीतः असौ मातुल कुलम् सम्तापम् मा कृथाइति

aham kim ca api vakṣyāmi devīm tava sutaḥ mayā
nītaḥ asau mātula kulam samtāpam mā kṛthāiti

SYNONYMS

aham vakṣyāmi kimcāpi: "what shall I say further? Deviim = To Kausalya | iti: that | asou: this | sutāḥ: your son | nītaḥ: has been taken | mayā: by me | mātula kulam: to the house of his maternal uncle | mā kṛthāḥ: do not | santāpam: grieve." |

TRANSLATION

"Further, shall I say to the queen Kausalya as follows: - �Your son, Rama has been taken by me to the house of his maternal uncle, do not grieve'."

VERSE 46

असत्यम् अपि न एव अहम् ब्रूयाम् वचनम् ईदृशम्
कथम् अप्रियम् एव अहम् ब्रूयाम् सत्यम् इदम् वचः

asatyam api na eva aham brūyām vacanam īdṛśam
katham apriyam eva aham brūyām satyam idam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: can I | naiva brūyām: cannot tell | īdṛśam: such | vacanamapi: words too | asatyam: which are untrue. Katham = How | brūyam: tell | idam vacaḥ: whish are true | apriyam: (but) unkind?" |

TRANSLATION

"I cannot tell such words too which are untrue. How can I tell, �I abandoned your son in the forest', which words are true but unkind?"

VERSE 47

मम तावन् नियोगस्थाः त्वद् बन्धु जन वाहिनः
कथम् रथम् त्वया हीनम् प्रवक्ष्यन्ति हय उत्तमाः

mama tāvan niyogasthāḥ tvad bandhu jana vāhinaḥ
katham ratham tvayā hīnam pravakṣyanti haya uttamāḥ

SYNONYMS

katham: "how | hayottamāḥ: the excellent horses | niyogasthāḥ: obedient | mama: to me | tvad bandhu jana vāhinaḥ: which carried yourselves and your relatives(Sita and Lakshmana) | pravakṣyanti: will draw | ratham: the chariot | hīnam: bereft | tvayā: of you?" |

TRANSLATION

"How will the excellent horses obedient to me, which carried yourself, Sita and Lakshmana, draw the chariot bereft of you?"

VERSE 48

तन्न शक्ष्याम्यहम् गन्तुमयोध्याम् त्वदृते।अनघ
वनवासानुयानाय मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि

tanna śakṣyāmyaham gantumayodhyām tvadṛte|anagha
vanavāsānuyānāya māmanujñātumarhasi

SYNONYMS

anagha: "Oh | the faultless ṟama! tat: for that reason | aham: I | na śakṣyāmi: can not | gantum: go | ayodhyām: to Ayodhya. arhasi = You are obliged | anuġ^yātum: to permit | mām: me | vanavāsānuyānāya: to accompany you to the forest." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, the faultless Rama! For this reason, I cannot go back to Ayodhya. (Pray) permit me to accompany you to the forest."

VERSE 49

यदि मे याचमानस्य त्यागम् एव करिष्यसि
सरथो अग्निम् प्रवेक्ष्यामि त्यक्त मात्रैह त्वया

yadi me yācamānasya tyāgam eva kariṣyasi
saratho agnim pravekṣyāmi tyakta mātraiha tvayā

SYNONYMS

kariṣyasi yadi: "If you do | me: my | tyāgameva: abandonment | yācamānasya: (even though I) solicit | tyaktamātraḥ: soon after I am forsaken | pravekṣyāmi: I shall enter | agnim: a fire | sarathaḥ: along with chariot | iha: here." |

TRANSLATION

"If you leave me even though I solicit you to take me with you, I shall enter a fire with chariot and all, here itself the moment I am forsaken by you"

VERSE 50

भविष्यन्ति वने यानि तपो विघ्न कराणि ते
रथेन प्रतिबाधिष्ये तानि सत्त्वानि राघव

bhaviṣyanti vane yāni tapo vighna karāṇi te
rathena pratibādhiṣye tāni sattvāni rāghava

SYNONYMS

rāghava: Oh | ṟama! yāni: which animals | vane: in the forest | bhaviṣyanti: become | tapovighnakarāṇi: creators of obstacles to austerities | pratibādhiṣye: I shall ward off | tāni sattvāni: those animals | rathena: by the chariot." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama! With the help of the chariot, I shall ward off those animals in the forest, which create obstacles to your austerities."

VERSE 51

तत् कृतेन मया प्राप्तम् रथ चर्या कृतम् सुखम्
आशंसे त्वत् कृतेन अहम् वन वास कृतम् सुखम्

tat kṛtena mayā prāptam ratha caryā kṛtam sukham
āśaṃse tvat kṛtena aham vana vāsa kṛtam sukham

SYNONYMS

sukham: the happiness | rathacaryākṛtam: of driving your chariot | avāptam: has been obtained | mayā: by me. TvatkRi^tena = It is through you | aham: I | āśamse: seek | vanavāsakṟi^tam: that comes in dwelling in a forest." |

TRANSLATION

"The pleasure of driving your chariot has been obtained by me because of you and it is through you that I seek the happiness that comes in dwelling in a forest."

VERSE 52

प्रसीद इच्चामि ते अरण्ये भवितुम् प्रत्यनन्तरः
प्रीत्या अभिहितम् इच्चामि भव मे पत्यनन्तरः

prasīda iccāmi te araṇye bhavitum pratyanantaraḥ
prītyā abhihitam iccāmi bhava me patyanantaraḥ

SYNONYMS

prasīda: "Be graceful. Ichchhaami = I desire | bhavitum: to become | pratyanantaraḥ: close associate!" | araṇye: in the forest. ichchhaami = I wish(to hear) | prītyā: (your) loving | abhihitam: assent | bhava: Be | me: my |

TRANSLATION

"Be graceful. I desire to become your close associate in the forest. I wish to hear your loving assent with the words �be my close associate!"

VERSE 53

इमे चापि हया वीर यदि ते वनवासिनः
परिचर्याम् करिष्यन्ति प्राप्स्यन्ति परमाम् गतिम्

ime cāpi hayā vīra yadi te vanavāsinaḥ
paricaryām kariṣyanti prāpsyanti paramām gatim

SYNONYMS

vīra: "Oh | hero! īme hayaścāpi kariṣyanti yadi: If these horses too can do | paricaryām: service | te: to you | prāpsyanti: they can attain | paramām: a supreme | gatim: abode" |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, hero! If these horses too can render service to you, they can attain a supreme abode."

VERSE 54

तव शुश्रूषणम् मूर्ध्ना करिष्यामि वने वसन्
अयोध्याम् देव लोकम् वा सर्वथा प्रजहाम्य् अहम्

tava śuśrūṣaṇam mūrdhnā kariṣyāmi vane vasan
ayodhyām deva lokam vā sarvathā prajahāmy aham

SYNONYMS

aham: "I | prajahāmi: am leaving | ayodhyāmi: Ayodhya | devalokamvā: or even a celestial world (heaven) | sarvathā: by all means. vasam = Dwelling | vane: in the forest | mūrdhanā: with my head bent low | kariṣyāmi: I shall render | tava: your | śuśrūṣaṇam: service." |

TRANSLATION

-"By all means, I am leaving for good, Ayodhya or even heaven. Dwelling in the forest, with my head bent low, I shall render service to you."

VERSE 55

न हि शक्या प्रवेष्टुम् सा मया अयोध्या त्वया विना
राज धानी महा इन्द्रस्य यथा दुष्कृत कर्मणा

na hi śakyā praveṣṭum sā mayā ayodhyā tvayā vinā
rāja dhānī mahā indrasya yathā duṣkṛta karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

sā ayodhyā: That Ayodhya | na hi śakyā: cannot be | praveṣṭum: entered | mayā: by me | tvayā vinā: without you | rājadhānī yathā: as Amaravati the capital | mahendrasya: of Devendra | duṣkṛta karmaṇā: by a doer of wicked deeds." |

TRANSLATION

"As a doer of wicked deeds cannot enter Amaravati, the capital of Devendra, so also I cannot enter Ayodhya without you."

VERSE 56

वन वासे क्षयम् प्राप्ते मम एष हि मनो रथः
यद् अनेन रथेन एव त्वाम् वहेयम् पुरीम् पुनः

vana vāse kṣayam prāpte mama eṣa hi mano rathaḥ
yad anena rathena eva tvām vaheyam purīm punaḥ

SYNONYMS

eṣaḥ hi: "This is indeed | mama: my | manorathaḥ: desire | yat: that | prāpte: after reaching | kṣayam: the end | vanavāse: of dwelling in the forest | vaheyam: I may take | tvām: you | punaḥ: again | anena rathenaiva: in this very chariot | purīm: to the city (of Ayodhya)." |

TRANSLATION

"This is indeed my desire that after reaching the end of your exile, I may take you back to the city of Ayodhya in this very chariot."

VERSE 57

चतुर् दश हि वर्षाणि सहितस्य त्वया वने
क्षण भूतानि यास्यन्ति शतशः तु ततः अन्यथा

catur daśa hi varṣāṇi sahitasya tvayā vane
kṣaṇa bhūtāni yāsyanti śataśaḥ tu tataḥ anyathā

SYNONYMS

sahitasya: "Me | tvayā: you | vane: in the forest | caturdaśa varṣāṇi: fourteen years | yāsyanti: will slip away | kṣaṇa bhūtāni: momentarily. Anyathaa = Otherwise | ataḥ: than this | śata samkhyāni: will multiply hundred-fold." |

TRANSLATION

"So long as I am with you together in the forest, fourteen years will slip away momentarily. Otherwise than this, they will multiply a hundred- fold."

VERSE 58

भृत्य वत्सल तिष्ठन्तम् भर्तृ पुत्र गते पथि
भक्तम् भृत्यम् स्थितम् स्थित्याम् त्वम् न माम् हातुम् अर्हसि

bhṛtya vatsala tiṣṭhantam bhartṛ putra gate pathi
bhaktam bhṛtyam sthitam sthityām tvam na mām hātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

bhṛtya vatsale: "Oh | vho ceriś your dependents! tvam: You | nārhasi: ought not | hātum: abandon | mām: me | bhaktam: your devoted | bhṛtyam: servant | tiṣṭhantam: established | pathi: in the path | bhartṛputra gate: followed by the son of his master | sthitam: (and) keeping | sthityām: within bounds" |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, prince, who are so fond of your dependents! You ought not abandon me, your devoted servant, established in the path followed by the son of his master and (always)keeping within bounds."

VERSE 59

एवम् बहु विधम् दीनम् याचमानम् पुनः पुनः
रामः भृत्य अनुकम्पी तु सुमन्त्रम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

evam bahu vidham dīnam yācamānam punaḥ punaḥ
rāmaḥ bhṛtya anukampī tu sumantram idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

rāmah: Rama | bhṛtyānukampī: who was compassionate towards his dependents | abravīt: spoke | idam: these words | sumantram: to Sumantra | dīnam: who was miserably | yācamānam: entreating | punaḥ punaḥ: again and again | bahuvidham: in many modes. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, who was compassionate towards his dependents, spoke as follows to Sumantra, who was miserably entreating him again and again in many modes.

VERSE 60

जानामि परमाम् भक्तिम् मयि ते भर्तृ वत्सल
शृणु च अपि यद् अर्थम् त्वाम् प्रेषयामि पुरीम् इतः

jānāmi paramām bhaktim mayi te bhartṛ vatsala
śṛṇu ca api yad artham tvām preṣayāmi purīm itaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhartṛvatsala: "Oh | so fond of your master! jānāmi: I knew | te: your | paramām: excellent | bhaktam: devotion | mayi: to me. ShR^iNuchaapi = Hear | yadartham: wherefore | preṣayāmi: I send | tvām: you | itaḥ: from here | purīm: to the city." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, charioteer so fond of your master! I know your excellent devotion to me. Hear wherefore I send you from here to the city of Ayodhya."

VERSE 61

नगरीम् त्वाम् गतम् दृष्ट्वा जननी मे यवीयसी
कैकेयी प्रत्ययम् गच्चेद् इति रामः वनम् गतः

nagarīm tvām gatam dṛṣṭvā jananī me yavīyasī
kaikeyī pratyayam gacced iti rāmaḥ vanam gataḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: "seeing | tvām: you | gatam: going | nagarīm: to the city | kaikeyī: Kaikeyi | me: my | yavīyasī: younger | jananī: mother | gacchet: will get | pratyayam: the proof | iti: that | rāmaḥ: Rama | gataḥ: went | vanam: to the forest." |

TRANSLATION

"Seeing you, returning to Ayodhya, Kaikeyi, my younger mother will get the proof that Rama has gone to the forest."

VERSE 62

परितुष्टा हि सा देवि वन वासम् गते मयि
राजानम् न अतिशन्केत मिथ्या वादी इति धार्मिकम्

parituṣṭā hi sā devi vana vāsam gate mayi
rājānam na atiśanketa mithyā vādī iti dhārmikam

SYNONYMS

parituṣṭā: "having strongly satisfied | mayi: about me | gate: having gone | vanavāsam: to dwell in the forest | sā devī: that queen | nātiśaṇketa: will not suspect strongly | rājānām: about the king | dhārmikam: who is virtuous | mithyāvādīti: as one who speaks untruth" |

TRANSLATION

"Having completely satisfied, about me having gone to forest, Kaikeyi will leave her strong suspicion that the virtuous king may be a person who speaks untruth."

VERSE 63

एष मे प्रथमः कल्पो यद् अम्बा मे यवीयसी
भरत आरक्षितम् स्फीतम् पुत्र राज्यम् अवाप्नुयात्

eṣa me prathamaḥ kalpo yad ambā me yavīyasī
bharata ārakṣitam sphītam putra rājyam avāpnuyāt

SYNONYMS

eṣaḥ: "this is | prathamaḥ: the first | kalpaḥ: rule to be observed before any other rule | me: my | yat: that | yavīyasī: younger | ambā: mother | avāpnuyāt: should get | spītam: the extensive | putra rājyam: kingdom of her son | bharatā rakṣitam: protected by Bharata" |

TRANSLATION

"This is my first priority that my younger mother should get the extensive kingdom, protected by Bharata and thus ruled by her own son."

VERSE 64

मम प्रिय अर्थम् राज्ञः च सरथः त्वम् पुरीम् व्रज
संदिष्टः च असि या अनर्थांस् तांस् तान् ब्रूयाः तथा तथा

mama priya artham rājñaḥ ca sarathaḥ tvam purīm vraja
saṃdiṣṭaḥ ca asi yā anarthāṃs tāṃs tān brūyāḥ tathā tathā

SYNONYMS

priyārtham: "for the pleasure | mama: of me | rāġ^yaśca: and of the king | tvam: you | sarathaḥ: along with the chariot | vraja: go | purīm: to the city (of Ayodhya) | yān: which | arthān: matters | asi: you are | sandiṣṭaḥ: told | brūyāḥ: inform | tān tān: those and those matters | tathā tathā: in that manner." |

TRANSLATION

"For my pleasure and pleasure of the king, you go along with the chariot to Ayodhya and inform all the matters that you have been asked to tell each in the way you have been asked to do."

VERSE 65

इति उक्त्वा वचनम् सूतम् सान्त्वयित्वा पुनः पुनः
गुहम् वचनम् अक्लीबम् रामः हेतुमद् अब्रवीत्

iti uktvā vacanam sūtam sāntvayitvā punaḥ punaḥ
guham vacanam aklībam rāmaḥ hetumad abravīt

SYNONYMS

uktvā: having spoken | vacanam: words | iti: thus | sūtam: in the chariot | aklībaḥ: the courageous | rāmaḥ: Rama | sāntvayitvā: consoled(him) | punaḥ punaḥ: again and again | abravīt: spoke(the following) | hetumat: reasoned | guham: to Guha. |

TRANSLATION

Having spoken thus to the charioteer, the courageous Rama consoled him again and again. Then, he spoke the following reasoned words to Guha:

VERSE 66

नेदानीम् गुह योग्यो।अयम् वसो मे सजने वने
अवश्यम् ह्याश्रमे वासह् कर्तव्यस्तद्गतो विधिः

nedānīm guha yogyo|ayam vaso me sajane vane
avaśyam hyāśrame vāsah kartavyastadgato vidhiḥ

SYNONYMS

guha: "Oh | ġuha! ayam: this | vāsaḥ: stay | vane: in the forest | sajane: inhabited with people. na yogyaH = is not proper | me: for me. vaasaH = The stay | avaśyam: should be certainly | āśrame: in a hermitage. VidhiH = Let the action | tadgataḥ: directed towards that | kartavyaḥ: be done." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Guha! This stay in the inhabited woods is not proper for me. My stay should definitely be in a hermitage. Let an action diverted towards that aim be taken"

VERSE 67

सो।अहम् गृहीत्वा नियमम् तपस्विजनभूषणम्
हितकामः पितुर्भूयः सीताया लक्ष्मणस्य च

so|aham gṛhītvā niyamam tapasvijanabhūṣaṇam
hitakāmaḥ piturbhūyaḥ sītāyā lakṣmaṇasya ca

SYNONYMS

saḥ aham: "I as such | hita kāmaḥ: wishing well of | pituḥ: my farther | bhunyaḥ: and | sītāyāḥ: of Sita | lakṣmaṇasyaca: and of Lakshmana | gṛhītvā: having taken up | niyamam: the restraint | tapsvi janabhūṣaṇam: to be adorned by ascetics | gamiṣyāmi: and proceed further | kṛtvā: wearing | jaṭāḥ: matted hair. aanaya = (please) bring | nyagrodha kṣīram: the milk-like exudation (latex) of a banyan tree." |

TRANSLATION

"I as such, wishing well of my father, Sita as well as Lakshmana and having taken up a discipline to be followed by ascetics, want to proceed further, wearing matted hair. Please bring the latex of a banyan tree."

VERSE 68

तत् क्षीरम् राज पुत्राय गुहः क्षिप्रम् उपाहरत्

tat kṣīram rāja putrāya guhaḥ kṣipram upāharat

SYNONYMS

guhaḥ: Guha | kṣipram: immediately | upāharat: brought | tat: that | kṣīram: milk-like exudation (latex) | rāja putrāya: to the prince. Tena = with that | rāmaḥ: Rama | ākarot: made | jaṭāḥ: matted hair | ātmanaścaiva: to himself | lakṣmaṇasya: and to Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

Guha immediately brought that latex to the prince. With that, Rama made matted hair to himself and to Lakshmana.

VERSE 69

दीर्घबाहुर्नरव्याघ्रो जटिलत्व मधारयत्

dīrghabāhurnaravyāghro jaṭilatva madhārayat

SYNONYMS

70| dīrgha bāhuḥ: That long armed | nara vyāghraḥ: tiger among men | ādhārayat: wore | jaṭilatvam: the matting | tadā: Then | rāma lakṣmaṇav: Rama and Lakshmana | bhrātarov: the brothers | cīra vasanou: clad in the bark of trees | jaṭā maṇdala dhāriṇau: and wearing a rounded mass of matted locks (on their hair) | aśobhetām: looked bright | ṟ^ṣisamou: like ascetic sages. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, tiger among men who possessed long arms wore the distinguished mark of an ascetic (in the shape of matted hair) . Then, Rama and Lakshmana the brothers clad in the bark of trees and wearing a round mass of matted locks (on their head) looked bright like two ascetic sages.

VERSE 71

ततः वैखानसम् मार्गम् आस्थितः सह लक्ष्मणः
व्रतम् आदिष्टवान् रामः सहायम् गुहम् अब्रवीत्

tataḥ vaikhānasam mārgam āsthitaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ
vratam ādiṣṭavān rāmaḥ sahāyam guham abravīt

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | āsthitaḥ: Having adopted | mārgam: the way | vaikhānasam: of a hermit (temporarily) | saha lakṣmaṇa: along with Lakshmana | rāmaḥ: Rama | ādiṣṭavān: accepted | vratam: the vow (of an ascetic) | abravīt: and spoke | guham: to Guha | sakhāyam: his friend (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Having adopted the way of a hermit (temporarily) along with Lakshmana, Rama then accepted the vow of an ascetic life and spoke to Guha, his friend as follows:

VERSE 72

अप्रमत्तः बले कोशे दुर्गे जन पदे तथा
भवेथा गुह राज्यम् हि दुरारक्षतमम् मतम्

apramattaḥ bale kośe durge jana pade tathā
bhavethā guha rājyam hi durārakṣatamam matam

SYNONYMS

guha: "Oh | ġuha! Bhavethā: Remain | apramattaḥ: vigilant | bale: in the case of an army | kośe: the treasury | durge: the fortress | tathā: and | janapade: the people. Matam hi = It is said | rājyam: that a kingdom | durā rakṣatamam: is the most difficult one to protect." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Guha! Remain vigilant in defense, finance, internal security and public relations, for a kingdom is the most difficult one to be protected!"

VERSE 73

ततः तम् समनुज्ञाय गुहम् इक्ष्वाकु नन्दनः
जगाम तूर्णम् अव्यग्रः सभार्यः सह लक्ष्मणः

tataḥ tam samanujñāya guham ikṣvāku nandanaḥ
jagāma tūrṇam avyagraḥ sabhāryaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | ikṣvāku nandanaḥ: Rama | samanuġ^yāya: bade farewell | tam guham: to Guha | jagāma: and departed | tūrṇam: quickly | avyagraḥ: remaining undistracted | sabhāryaḥ: along with his consort | sahalakṣmaṇaḥ: together with Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

Then Rama, who was a delight to Ikshvaku dynasty, bade farewell to Guha and departed quickly, remaining undistracted, along with his consort and together with Lakshmana.

VERSE 74

स तु दृष्ट्वा नदी तीरे नावम् इक्ष्वाकु नन्दनः
तितीर्षुः शीघ्रगाम् गन्गाम् इदम् लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत्

sa tu dṛṣṭvā nadī tīre nāvam ikṣvāku nandanaḥ
titīrṣuḥ śīghragām gangām idam lakṣmaṇam abravīt

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | nāvam: the boat | nadītīre: on the bank of the river | saḥ ikṣvākunandanaḥ: that Rama | titirṣuḥ: desirous of crossing | śīghragām: the swift-flowing | gaṇgām: Ganga | abravīt: spoke | idam: these words | lakśmaṇam: to Lakshmana: - |

TRANSLATION

Seeing the boat on the bank of the river and keen to cross the swift- flowing Ganga, Rama spoke to Lakshmana as follows: -

VERSE 75

आरोह त्वम् नर व्याघ्र स्थिताम् नावम् इमाम् शनैः
सीताम् च आरोपय अन्वक्षम् परिगृह्य मनस्विनीम्

āroha tvam nara vyāghra sthitām nāvam imām śanaiḥ
sītām ca āropaya anvakṣam parigṛhya manasvinīm

SYNONYMS

nara vyāghraḥ: "Oh | ḻakśmana the tiger among men! ṭvam: you | āroha: get into | imām: this | nāvam: boat | sthityām: stationed | parigṛhya: having helped | sītām ca: Sita | mansvinīm: the virtuous wife | āropaya: step into it." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Lakshmana the tiger among men! You get into the boat stationed here unhurriedly afterwards, having helped Sita the virtuous wife step into it."

VERSE 76

स भ्रातुः शासनम् श्रुत्वा सर्वम् अप्रतिकूलयन्
आरोप्य मैथिलीम् पूर्वम् आरुरोह आत्मवांस् ततः

sa bhrātuḥ śāsanam śrutvā sarvam apratikūlayan
āropya maithilīm pūrvam āruroha ātmavāṃs tataḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | śāsanam: the command | sarvam: wholly | bhrātruḥ: of his (elder) brother | saḥ: that Lakshmana | ātmavān: prudent | apratikūlayan: not resisting it | āropaya maithilīm: having made Sita to ascend (the boat) | pūrvam: first | āruroha: stepped into (the boat) | tataḥ: afterwards. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the command completely of his elder brother, the prudent Lakshmana, by not counteracting it, made Sita to ascend the boat first and stepped into it afterwards.

VERSE 77

अथ आरुरोह तेजस्वी स्वयम् लक्ष्मण पूर्वजः
ततः निषाद अधिपतिर् गुहो ज्ञातीन् अचोदयत्

atha āruroha tejasvī svayam lakṣmaṇa pūrvajaḥ
tataḥ niṣāda adhipatir guho jñātīn acodayat

SYNONYMS

atha: then | tejasvī: the glorious | lakṣmaṇa pūrvajaḥ: Rama | āruroha: got into (the boat) | svayam: himself. TataH = Thereafter | guhaḥ: Guha | niṣadādhipatiḥ: the ruler of the Nishadas | acodayat: commanded | ġ^yātīm: his kinsfolk (to row them across the river). |

TRANSLATION

Then, the glorious Rama got into the boat himself. Thereafter, Guha the ruler of Nishadas commanded his kinsfolk to row them across the river.

VERSE 78

राघवो।अपि महातेजा नावमारुह्य ताम् ततः
ब्रह्मवत् क्षत्रवच्चैव जजाप हितमात्मनः

rāghavo|api mahātejā nāvamāruhya tām tataḥ
brahmavat kṣatravaccaiva jajāpa hitamātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

ārūhya: after ascending | tām nāvam: that boat | rāghava| āpi: Rama too | mahā tejaḥ: of mighty splendor | tataḥ: then | jajāpa: recited (a sacred text Daiviim naavam etc) brahmavat = (fit for) Brahmanas | kṣatriyaścaiva: and Kshatriyas | hitam: and conducive to the good | ātmanaḥ: of his son. |

TRANSLATION

After ascending the boat, Rama too of mighty splendor then recited a sacred text (daiviim naavam etc) fit for brahmanas and Kshatriyas alike and conducive to his own good.

VERSE 79

आचम्य च यथाशास्त्रम् नदीम् ताम् सह सीतया
प्राणमत्प्रीतिसम्हृष्टो लक्ष्मणश्चामितप्रभः

ācamya ca yathāśāstram nadīm tām saha sītayā
prāṇamatprītisamhṛṣṭo lakṣmaṇaścāmitaprabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

ācamyaca: having sipped water | yathā śāstram: as per scriptures | prītisamhṛṣṭaḥ: and with extreme delight | sītayā saha: (Rama) with Sita | prāṇamat: made obeisance | tām nadīm: to that river | lakśmaṇaśca: Lakshmana also | amita prabhaḥ: of infinite splendor (followed suit.) |

TRANSLATION

Having sipped water as per scriptures and with extreme delight, Rama with Sita made obeisance to that river. Lakshmana, of infinite splendor, followed suit.

VERSE 80

अनुज्ञाय सुमन्त्रम् च सबलम् चैव तम् गुहम्
आस्थाय नावम् रामः तु चोदयाम् आस नाविकान्

anujñāya sumantram ca sabalam caiva tam guham
āsthāya nāvam rāmaḥ tu codayām āsa nāvikān

SYNONYMS

anuġ^yāya: bidding farewell | tam guham: to that Guha | sabalam: with his army of men | sumantram: and Sumantra | rāmastu: Rama | āsthāya: sat on | nāvam: the boat | codayāmāsa: and directed | nāvikān: the boatmen (to move on). |

TRANSLATION

Bidding farewell to Guha with his army of men and Sumantra, Rama sat on the boat and directed the boatmen to move on.

VERSE 81

ततः तैः चोदिता सा नौः कर्ण धार समाहिता
शुभ स्फ्य वेग अभिहता शीघ्रम् सलिलम् अत्यगात्

tataḥ taiḥ coditā sā nauḥ karṇa dhāra samāhitā
śubha sphya vega abhihatā śīghram salilam atyagāt

SYNONYMS

taiḥ: through their | coditā: propulsion | sa nauḥ: that boat | karṇadhāra samāhitā: furnished with a pilot | śubha sphya vega abhihatā: obeying those splendid and vigorous oarsmen | śīghram: rapidly | atyagāt: moved across | salilam: water. |

TRANSLATION

Propelled by those splendid and vigorous oarsmen, that boat furnished with a pilot, rapidly moved across the water.

VERSE 82

मध्यम् तु समनुप्राप्य भागीरथ्याः तु अनिन्दिता
वैदेही प्रान्जलिर् भूत्वा ताम् नदीम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

madhyam tu samanuprāpya bhāgīrathyāḥ tu aninditā
vaidehī prānjalir bhūtvā tām nadīm idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

samanuprāpya: coming to | madhyam: the middle | bhāgīrathyāḥ: of Bhagirathi | aninditā: the irresproachable | vaidehī: Sita | bhūtvā: having been | prāṅjaliḥ: with joined palms | abravīt: spoke | idam: these words | tām nadīm: to the said river. |

TRANSLATION

Coming to the middle of Bhagirathi river, the irreproachable Sita with joined palms, spoke as follows to the said river: -

VERSE 83

पुत्रः दशरथस्य अयम् महा राजस्य धीमतः
निदेशम् पालयतु एनम् गन्गे त्वद् अभिरक्षितः

putraḥ daśarathasya ayam mahā rājasya dhīmataḥ
nideśam pālayatu enam gange tvad abhirakṣitaḥ

SYNONYMS

85| gaṇge: "Oh | putraḥ: the son | daśarathasya: of Dasaratha | mahārājasya: the emperor | pālayitvā: honor | imam: this (his father's) | nideśam: command | tvadabhirakṣitaḥ: under your protection! Ushhya = Having dwelled | kānane: in the forest | samagrāṇi: in full | caturdaśa: for fourteen | varṣāṇi: years | pratyāgamiṣyati: (may he) return | punaḥ: once more (to your bank) | bhrātā saha: with his brother | mayācaiva: and myself! Subhage = Oh | devī: goddess | gaṅge: Ganga! PunaH aagataa = Returning | kṣemeṇa: safely | tataḥ: then | pramuditā: I | sarva kāma samṛddhinī: all my desires fulfilled | yakṣye: shall worship | tvām: you." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Ganga! Let Rama, the son of the emperor Dasaratha honor his father's command under your protection! Having dwelled in the forest in full fourteen years, may he return once more to your bank with his brother, Lakshmana and myself! Oh, blessed goddess Ganga! Returning safely, with all my desires fulfilled, I shall worship you with great joy."

VERSE 86

त्वम् हि त्रिपथगा देवि ब्रह्म लोकम् समीक्षसे
भार्या च उदधि राजस्य लोके अस्मिन् सम्प्रदृश्यसे

tvam hi tripathagā devi brahma lokam samīkṣase
bhāryā ca udadhi rājasya loke asmin sampradṛśyase

SYNONYMS

tvam: "you | devī: Oh | tripathagā: flowing through three regions | samīkṣase hi: are indeed seeing | brahmalokam: Brahma's realm (the outermost of the six spheres enveloping the earth) | sampradṛśyase: and are vividly seen | asmin: on this | loke: terrestrial plane | bhāryāca: as a consort | udadhirājasya: of the ocean king." |

TRANSLATION

You, Oh goddess flowing through three regions (namely heaven, earth and subterranean regions), include in your basin the realm of Brahma (the outermost of the six spheres enveloping the earth) and are vividly seen on this terrestrial plane as a consort of the ocean king."

VERSE 87

सा त्वाम् देवि नमस्यामि प्रशंसामि च शोभने
प्राप्त राज्ये नर व्याघ्र शिवेन पुनर् आगते

sā tvām devi namasyāmi praśaṃsāmi ca śobhane
prāpta rājye nara vyāghra śivena punar āgate

SYNONYMS

88| śobhane devī: "oh | carming goddess! ṣā: I | namasyāmi: greet | tvām: you | praśamsāmi ca: and extol you too | naravyāghre: when Rama the tiger among men | śivena: has safely | āgate: returned | punaḥ: again | prāpte rājye: and regains his kingdom | pradāsyāmi: I shall give away | śatasahasrāṇi: a lakh | gavām: of cows | peśalam: soft | vastrāṇi: clothing | annamca: and food stuff | brahmaṇebhya: to Brahmanas | priyacikīrṣayā: with an intent to please you." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, charming goddess! I, Sita, greet you and extol you too. When Rama the tiger among men safely returns and regains his kingdom, I shall give away a lakh of cows, soft clothing and food to brahmanas with intent to please you."

VERSE 89

सुराघटसहस्रेण मांसभूतोदनेन च
यक्ष्ये त्वाम् प्रयता देवि पुरीम् पुनरुपागता

surāghaṭasahasreṇa māṃsabhūtodanena ca
yakṣye tvām prayatā devi purīm punarupāgatā

SYNONYMS

devī: "Oh | goddess! ūpāgata: After reaching | purīm: the city (Ayodhya) | punaḥ: again | yakṣye: I shall worship (you) | surāghata sahasreṇa: with thousand pots of spirituous liquor | māmsa bhūtodanena ca: and jellied meat with cooked rice | prayatā: well-prepared for the solemn rite." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, goddess! After reaching back the city of Ayodhya, I shall worship you with thousand pots of spirituous liquor and jellied meat with cooked rice well prepared for the solemn rite."

VERSE 90

यानि त्वत्तीरवासीनि दैवतानि च सन्ति हि
तानि सर्वाणि यक्ष्यामि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च

yāni tvattīravāsīni daivatāni ca santi hi
tāni sarvāṇi yakṣyāmi tīrthānyāyatanāni ca

SYNONYMS

yakṣyāmi: I shall worship | yāmi: whatever | daivatāni: deities | santi: are there | sarvāṇi: all | tvattīra vāsini: dwelling on your banks | tīrthāni: sacred spots | āyatanāmica: and sanctuaries." |

TRANSLATION

"I shall worship all deities dwelling on your banks as also sacred spots and sanctuaries."

VERSE 91

पुनरेव महाबाउर्मया भ्रात्रा च सम्गतः
अयोध्याम् वनवासात्तु प्रविशत्वनघो।अनघे

punareva mahābāurmayā bhrātrā ca samgataḥ
ayodhyām vanavāsāttu praviśatvanagho|anaghe

SYNONYMS

anaghe: "oh | irreproacable one! ānaghaḥ: (May) the sinless | mahābāhuḥ: and mighty armed Rama | praviśatu: re-enter | ayodhyām: Ayodhya | punareva: again | vanavāsāt: from dwelling in the forest | sangataḥ: along with | bhrātrāca: Lakshmana | mayā: (and) myself." |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, irreproachable goddess! May the sinless Rama (with mighty arms) re-enter Ayodhya again from the forest, along with Lakshmana and myself."

VERSE 92

तथा सम्भाषमाणा सा सीता गन्गाम् अनिन्दिता
दक्षिणा दक्षिणम् तीरम् क्षिप्रम् एव अभ्युपागमत्

tathā sambhāṣamāṇā sā sītā gangām aninditā
dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇam tīram kṣipram eva abhyupāgamat

SYNONYMS

tathā: then | sambhāṣa māṇā: praying (to Ganga) | sīta: Sita | dakṣiṇā: the efficient | aninditā: irreproachable | abhyupāgamat: reached | kṣiprameva: rapidly | dakṣiṇam: the right | tīram: bank. |

TRANSLATION

Thus praying to Ganga, the efficient and irreproachable Sita rapidly reached the right bank of the river.

VERSE 93

तीरम् तु समनुप्राप्य नावम् हित्वा नर ऋषभः
प्रातिष्ठत सह भ्रात्रा वैदेह्या च परम् तपः

tīram tu samanuprāpya nāvam hitvā nara ṛṣabhaḥ
prātiṣṭhata saha bhrātrā vaidehyā ca param tapaḥ

SYNONYMS

samanuprāpya: reaching | tīram: the bank | nararṣabhaḥ: Rama the best among men | paramtapaḥ: and the chastiser of foes | hitvā: left | nāvam: the boat | prātiṣṭhata: and further proceeded | bhrātrāsaha: along with Lakshmana his brother | vaidehyāca: and Sita. |

TRANSLATION

Reaching the bank and leaving the boat, Rama the best among men and the chastiser of foes proceeded further along with Lakshmana and Sita.

VERSE 94

अथ अब्रवीन् महा बाहुः सुमित्र आनन्द वर्धनम्
भव सम्रक्षणार्थाय सजने विजने।अपि वा

atha abravīn mahā bāhuḥ sumitra ānanda vardhanam
bhava samrakṣaṇārthāya sajane vijane|api vā

SYNONYMS

"Be prepared for protecting ṣita in the inhabited as vell as in uninhabited areas also|" W|vṃ---atha: then | mahābāhuḥ: Rama | abravīt: spoke | sumitrā nandanam: to Lakshmana (who heightened the joy of Sumitra) | bhava: "Be prepared | samrakśaṇārthāya: for protecting | sajane: in the inhabited | vijane'pivā: and in the uninhabited areas also." |

TRANSLATION

Then, Rama the mighty armed, spoke to Lakshmana (who heightened the joy of Sumitra) as follows:

VERSE 95

अवश्यम् रक्षणम् कार्यमदृष्टे विजने वने
अग्रतः गच्च सौमित्रे सीता त्वाम् अनुगच्चतु

avaśyam rakṣaṇam kāryamadṛṣṭe vijane vane
agrataḥ gacca saumitre sītā tvām anugaccatu

SYNONYMS

rakṣaṇam: "security | kāryam: is to be arranged | avaśyam: inevitably | adṟ^ṣṭe: and in an unforeseen | vijane: and in an uninhabited | vane: forest. soumitre = Oh | ḻakśmana! ġaccha: Go | agrataḥ: in front. Siitaa anugachchhatu = Let Sita follow | tvām: you." |

TRANSLATION

"Security is an inevitable need in a forest, which has unforeseen dangers and is uninhabited, Oh, Lakshmana! Go in front. Let Sita follow you."

VERSE 96

पृष्ठतः अहम् गमिष्यामि त्वाम् च सीताम् च पालयन्
अद्य दुह्खम् तु वैदेही वन वासस्य वेत्स्यति

pṛṣṭhataḥ aham gamiṣyāmi tvām ca sītām ca pālayan
adya duhkham tu vaidehī vana vāsasya vetsyati

SYNONYMS

aham: "I | gamiṣyāmi: shall proceed | pṛṣṭhataḥ: in the back | pālayam: protecting | tvām ca: you | sītāmca: and Sita | puruṣarṣabha: Oh | jevel among men! ṟakṣa: Protection | kartavyā: must be accorded | iha: here | naḥ: by us | anyonyasya: to one another." |

TRANSLATION

"I shall proceed in the rear, protecting you and Sita. Oh, jewel among men! We must accord protection here to one another."

VERSE 97

न हि तावदतिक्रान्ता सुकरा काचन क्रिया
अद्य दुःखम् तु वैदेही वनवासस्य वेत्स्यति

na hi tāvadatikrāntā sukarā kācana kriyā
adya duḥkham tu vaidehī vanavāsasya vetsyati

SYNONYMS

atikrānta: "an over stepped | kācana kriyā: doing whatsoever | ṇa hi tāvat: cannot indeed be | sukarā: smoothly done again. Vaidehii = Sita | vetsyati: will experience | duḥkham: the hardship | vanavāsasya: of staying in a forest | adya: (only) from us." |

TRANSLATION

"An act which has gone out of hand, whatsoever, cannot indeed be remedied again. Sita will experience the hardship of staying in a forest only from now."

VERSE 98

प्रणष्टजनसम्बाधम् क्षेत्रारामविवर्बितम्
विषमम् च प्रपातम् च वनमद्य प्रवेक्ष्यति

praṇaṣṭajanasambādham kṣetrārāmavivarbitam
viṣamam ca prapātam ca vanamadya pravekṣyati

SYNONYMS

adya: " today | pravekṣyati: (she)will enter | vanam: the forest | praṇaṣṭajana sambādhām: when density of people is not seen | kṣetra arāma vivarjitam: which is utterly devoid of fields and gardens | viṣamamca: and is full of stumbles." |

TRANSLATION

"Today she will enter the forest, where density of people is not seen, which is utterly devoid of fields and gardens, has a rugged surface and is full of stumbles."

VERSE 99

श्रुत्वा रामस्य वचनम् प्रतिस्थे लक्ष्मणो।अग्रतः
अनन्तरम् च सीताया राघवो रघनन्धनः

śrutvā rāmasya vacanam pratisthe lakṣmaṇo|agrataḥ
anantaram ca sītāyā rāghavo raghanandhanaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: listening to | rāmasya: Rama's | vacanam: words | lakśmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | pratasthe: walked | agrataḥ: in front. Anantaram = immediately after | sītāyāḥ: Sita | rāghavaḥ: Rama | raghunandanaḥ: the delight of Raghu dynasty (advanced). |

TRANSLATION

Listening to Rama's words, Lakshmana walked in front. Immediately after Sita, Rama, the delight of Raghu dynasty, advanced.

VERSE 100

गतम् तु गन्गा पर पारम् आशु
रामम् सुमन्त्रः प्रततम् निरीक्ष्य
अध्व प्रकर्षात् विनिवृत्त दृष्टिर्
र्मुमोच बाष्पम् व्यथितः तपस्वी

gatam tu gangā para pāram āśu
rāmam sumantraḥ pratatam nirīkṣya
adhva prakarṣāt vinivṛtta dṛṣṭir
rmumoca bāṣpam vyathitaḥ tapasvī

SYNONYMS

pratatam: constantly | nirīkṣya: gazing at | rāmam: Rama | gatam: who reached | aśu: soon | gaṅgā para pāram: the other bank of Ganga river | tapasvī: the distressed | sumantraḥ: Sumantra | vinivṛtta dṛṣṭiḥ: his vision having failed | adhvaprakarṣāt: due to the great distance | vyathitaḥ: and perturbed as he was | mumoca: shed | bāṣpam: tears (of grief over separation from Rama). |

TRANSLATION

Constantly gazing at Rama, who reached soon the other bank of Ganga River, the distressed Sumantra, his vision having failed due to the long distance and perturbed as he was, shed tears (of grief over separation from Rama).

VERSE 101

स लोकपालप्रतिमप्रभाववाम्
स्तीर्त्वा महात्मा वरदो महानदीम्
ततः समृद्धान् शुभसस्यमालिनः
क्रमेण वत्सान् मुदितानुपागमत्

sa lokapālapratimaprabhāvavām
stīrtvā mahātmā varado mahānadīm
tataḥ samṛddhān śubhasasyamālinaḥ
krameṇa vatsān muditānupāgamat

SYNONYMS

tīrvā: having crossed | mahānadīm: the great river | saḥ: that Rama | mahātmā: the high-soled | varadaḥ: the bestowal of boons | loka pāla pratimaprabhāva vān: equal in glory with the guardians of spheres | tataḥ: then | upāgamat: reached | krameṇa: progressively | vatsān: the land of Vatsa | samṟidhdhhān: and the happy | śubha sasya mālinaḥ: which contained rows of beautiful crops. |

TRANSLATION

Having crossed the great river, Rama the high-soled, the bestowal of boons, equal in glory with the guardians of spheres, then reached progressively the prosperous and the happy land of Vatsa; which contained rows of beautiful crops.

VERSE 102

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अयोध्य काण्डे द्विपंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye ayodhya kāṇḍe dvipaṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

hatvā: having killed | tatra: there | caturaḥ: four | mṛgān: deer (namely) | varāham: Varaaha | ṛśyam: Risya | pṛṣatam: PR^isata | mahāruru: (and) Mahaaruru | ādayā: and taking | tvaritam: quickly | medhyam: the portions that were pure | tou: Rama and Lakshmana | bubhukṣitou: being hungry as they were | yayatuḥ: reached | vanaspatim: a tree | vāsayā: to take rest | kāle: in the evening. |

TRANSLATION

Having hunted there four deer, namely Varaaha, Rishya, Prisata; and Mahaaruru (the four principal species of deer) and taking quickly the portions that were pure, being hungry as they were, Rama and Lakshmana reached a tree to take rest in the evening.