सौमित्रे नूनम् अस्माभिर् न ब्राह्मणमुखे हुतम् अवज्ञया महीदेवांस् तर्पयन्त्य् अर्चयन्ति न
Saumitri, surely we have not offered oblations into the mouths of Brāhmaṇas; out of neglect, we have not satisfied or worshipped the deities of the earth.
ते ये लक्ष्मण जायन्ते सर्वदैव बुभुक्षिताः स्नात्वा देवान् अथाभ्यर्च्य होतव्यश् च हुताशनः ततः स्वसमये देवो विधास्यत्य् अशनं तु नौ
Those, O Lakṣmaṇa, who are always hungry are born thus; after bathing and worshipping the gods, one should offer oblations into the fire; then, at the proper time, the god will provide us with food.
भ्रात्रोः संजल्पतोर् एवं पश्यतोः कर्मणो गतिम् शनैर् दशरथो राजा तं देशम् उपजग्मिवान्
As the two brothers conversed thus, observing the course of events, King Dasharatha gradually arrived at that place.
तं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणः शीघ्रं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् धनुर् आकृष्य कोपेन रक्षस् त्वं दानवो ऽथवा
Seeing him, Lakshmana quickly said, 'Stop, stop!' and, drawing his bow in anger, declared, 'You are a demon or a rakshasa!'
आसन्नं च पुनर् दृष्ट्वा याहि याह्य् अत्र पुण्यभाक् रामो दाशरथी राजा धर्मभाक् पश्य वर्तते
Again, seeing him approach, Rama, son of Dasharatha, said, 'Go, go! Here is a righteous king, a virtuous man; observe how he stands.'
गुरुभक्तः सत्यसंधो देवब्राह्मणसेवकः त्रैलोक्यरक्षादक्षो ऽसौ वर्तते यत्र राघवः
Where Raghava stands, devoted to his elders, steadfast in truth, serving gods and brahmins, and skilled in protecting the three worlds.
न तत्र त्वादृशाम् अस्ति प्रवेशः पापकर्मणाम् यदि प्रविशसे पाप ततो वधम् अवाप्स्यसि
There is no entry for those like you, who perform evil deeds; if you enter, you will surely meet your death.
तत् पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा शनैर् आहूय वाचया उवाचाधोमुखो भूत्वा स्नुषां पुत्रौ कृताञ्जलिः मुहुर् अन्तर् विनिध्यायन् गतिं दुष्कृतकर्मणः
Hearing his son's words, he slowly called and spoke, becoming downcast, with folded hands to his daughter-in-law and sons, repeatedly pondering the fate of one who has committed evil.
अहं दशरथो राजा पुत्रौ मे शृणुतं वचः तिसृभिर् ब्रह्महत्याभिर् वृतो ऽहं दुःखम् आगतः छिन्नं पश्यत मे देहं नरकेषु च पातितम्
I am King Dasharatha; listen, my sons, to my words. Surrounded by three acts of brahma-hatya, I have come into suffering. Behold my body, severed and cast into hell.
ततः कृताञ्जली रामः सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च भूमौ प्रणेमुस् ते सर्वे वचनं चैतद् अब्रुवन्
Then Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, with joined palms, bowed to the earth; all of them spoke these words.
कस्येदं कर्मणस् तात फलं नृपतिसत्तम
O father, best of kings, whose deed's fruit is this?
स च प्राह यथावृत्तं ब्रह्महत्यात्रयं तथा
He then narrated, as it happened, the three acts of brahma-hatya.
निष्कृतिर् ब्रह्महन्तॄणां पुत्रौ क्वापि न विद्यते
There is nowhere any expiation for those who slay a brahmin, my sons.
ततो दुःखेन महतावृताः सर्वे भुवं गताः राजानं वनवासं च मातरं पितरं तथा
Then, overwhelmed with great sorrow, all went to the earth—the king, the exile to the forest, the mother, and the father likewise.
दुःखागमं कर्मगतिं नरके पातनं तथा एवमाद्य् अथ संस्मृत्य मुमोह नृपतेः सुतः विसंज्ञं नृपतिं दृष्ट्वा सीता वाक्यम् अथाब्रवीत्
Recalling the arrival of sorrow, the course of karma, and the fall into hell, the king's son fainted; seeing the king unconscious, Sita spoke.
न शोचन्ति महात्मानस् त्वादृशा व्यसनागमे चिन्तयन्ति प्रतीकारं दैव्यम् अप्य् अथ मानुषम्
The great-souled do not grieve at the onset of misfortune; they consider remedies, both divine and human.
शोचद्भिर् युगसाहस्रं विपत्तिर् नैव तीर्यते व्यामोहम् आप्नुवन्तीह न कदाचिद् विचक्षणाः
Even grieving for a thousand ages, calamity is never overcome; those lacking discernment here fall into confusion, never are they wise.
किम् अनेनात्र दुःखेन निष्फलेन जनेश्वर देहि हत्यां प्रथमतो या जाता ह्य् अतिभीषणा
What use is this fruitless sorrow, O lord of men? Tell us first of the murder that occurred, which was exceedingly dreadful.
पितृभक्तः पुण्यशीलो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः अनागा यो हतो विप्रस् तत्पापस्यात्र निष्कृतिम्
A brahmin, devoted to his father, virtuous, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, innocent, who was slain—what is the expiation for that sin here?
आचरामि यथाशास्त्रं मा शोकं कुरुतं युवाम् द्वितीयां लक्ष्मणो हत्यां गृह्णातु त्व् अपरां भवान्
I shall act according to scripture; do not grieve, you two. Let Lakshmana take the second murder, and you, the other.
एतद् धर्मयुतं वाक्यं सीतया भाषितं दृढम् तथेति चाहतुर् उभौ ततो दशरथो ऽब्रवीत्
This statement, filled with righteousness, was firmly spoken by Sita. Both agreed, saying 'So be it.' Then Dasharatha spoke.
त्वं हि ब्रह्मविदः कन्या जनकस्य त्व् अयोनिजा भार्या रामस्य किं चित्रं यद् युक्तम् अनुभाषसे
You are indeed the daughter of Janaka, knowledgeable in Brahman, not born from a womb, and the wife of Rama. What is surprising if you speak what is appropriate?
न कोपि भवतां किंतु श्रमः स्वल्पो ऽपि विद्यते गौतम्यां स्नानदानेन पिण्डनिर्वपणेन च
No one among you has any hardship, but there is a slight effort in bathing Gautami, giving offerings, and performing the ritual of offering balls of food.
तिसृभिर् ब्रह्महत्याभिर् मुक्तो यामि त्रिविष्टपम् त्वया जनकसंभूते स्वकुलोचितम् ईरितम्
Freed from three Brahmin-murders, I go to heaven; what you have spoken, born of Janaka, is fitting for your family.
प्रापयन्ति परं पारं भवाब्धेः कुलयोषितः गोदावर्याः प्रसादेन किं नामास्त्य् अत्र दुर्लभम्
The women of noble families bring others to the far shore of the ocean of existence by the grace of the Godavari. What indeed is difficult to obtain here?
तथेति क्रियमाणे तु पिण्डदानाय शत्रुहा नैवापश्यद् भक्ष्यभोज्यं ततो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत्
When the ritual of offering balls of food was being performed, Shatrughna did not see any food or provisions. Then he spoke to Lakshmana.
लक्ष्मणः प्राह विनयाद् इङ्गुद्याश् च फलानि च सन्ति तेषां च पिण्याकम् आनीतं तत्क्षणाद् इव
Lakshmana respectfully said, 'There are fruits of the Ingudi tree, and their flour has been brought, almost instantly.'
पिण्याकेनाथ गङ्गायां पिण्डं दातुं तथा पितुः मनः कुर्वंस् ततो रामो मन्दो ऽभूद् दुःखितस् तदा
Then, with the flour, Rama prepared to offer the ball of food to his father on the banks of the Ganga, but he became slow and sorrowful.
दैवी वाग् अभवत् तत्र दुःखं त्यज नृपात्मज राज्यभ्रष्टो वनं प्राप्तः किं वै निष्किंचनो भवान्
There, a divine voice arose: 'Abandon sorrow, prince! You have lost the kingdom and reached the forest; what is there for you to lack?'
अशठो धर्मनिरतो न शोचितुम् इहार्हसि वित्तशाठ्येन यो धर्मं करोति स तु पातकी
You are not deceitful, devoted to righteousness; you should not grieve here. One who acts righteously with deceit regarding wealth is indeed sinful.