पश्यन्नुद्विग्नहृदयस्तूर्णं प्रापाश्रमं विभुः
Seeing this, his heart anxious, the mighty one quickly reached the hermitage.
नविभूतेव शोकेन प्रारुदद्रेणुका पुनः
As if deprived of her senses by grief, Reṇukā wept again.
उभाभ्यामपि हस्ताभ्यामुदरं समताडयत्
With both hands he struck his belly evenly.
कुररीमिव शोकार्त्ता दृष्ट्वा दुःखमुपेयिवान्
Seeing her, tormented by grief like a distraught female osprey, he was overcome with sorrow.
नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां तस्थौ भूमावर्धोमुखः
With eyes filled with tears, he stood on the ground, his face turned downward.
किमिदं भृगुशार्दूल नैतत्वय्युपपाद्यते
O foremost of the Bhṛgus, what is this? This does not befit you.
धृतिमन्तो महान्तस्तु दुःखं कुर्वति न व्यये
Truly, the great and steadfast do not let sorrow overpower them.
त्यज शोकं महाबाहो न तत्पात्रं भवदृशाः
Abandon grief, O mighty-armed one; such conduct is not fitting for one like you.
शोकस्तस्यावकाशं त्वं कथं त्दृदि नियच्छसि
How do you, with such a heart, give room to sorrow?
रुदतीं बत वैधव्यशं कापहतचेतनाम्
Alas, she weeps, widowed, her mind struck down by misfortune.
तस्मादतीतमखिलं त्यक्त्वा कृत्यं विचिन्तय
Therefore, leaving all that is past behind, consider what must now be done.
रामः संस्तंभयामास शनैरात्मानमात्मना
Rāma gradually steadied himself by his own effort.
त्रिःसप्तकृत्वो हस्ताभ्यामुदरं समताडयत्
He struck his belly with his hands twenty-one times.
रुदतीमलमंबेति सांत्वयामास मातरम्
He comforted his mother, saying, 'Enough of weeping.'
त्रिःसप्तकृत्वो यदिदं त्वया वक्षः समाहतम्
Because you struck your chest thus twenty-one times—
हनिष्ये भुवि सर्वत्र सत्यमेतद्ब्रविमि ते
I will slay, everywhere on earth—this I truly promise you.
नास्त्येव नूनमायातमतिक्रान्तस्य वस्तुनः
Indeed, what has passed does not return.
कृच्छ्राद्धैर्यं समालंब्य तथेति प्रत्यभाषत
With great effort, she composed herself and replied, 'So be it.'
अग्नौ सत्कर्त्तुमारेभे देहं राजन्यथविधि
He began to perform the proper rites for the king's body in the fire, as prescribed.
पुत्रान्सर्वान्समाहूय त्विदं वचनमब्रवीत्
He summoned all his sons and spoke these words:
अनुगन्तुमिहेच्छामि तन्मे ऽनुज्ञातुमर्हथ
I wish to follow him here; you ought to grant me permission for this.
भर्त्रा विरहिता तेन प्रवर्त्तिष्ये विनिन्दिता
Bereft of my husband, I shall proceed thus, though censured.
यथा तेन प्रवर्त्तिष्ये परत्रापि सहानिशम्
Just as I shall proceed thus with him, so also in the next world, always together.
भर्तुर्मम भविष्यामि पितृलोकप्रियातिथिः
I shall become my husband's beloved guest in the realm of the ancestors.
प्रतिभूय न वक्तव्यं यदि मत्प्रियमिच्छथ
If you desire my happiness, you must not speak against it, standing as surety.
अग्निं प्रविश्य भर्त्तारमनुगन्तुं मनोदधे
Resolving in my mind to follow my husband, I entered the fire.
समाभाष्यातिगंभीरा वागुवाचाशरीरीणी
Then, a voice, deep and bodiless, spoke clearly.
मा कार्षीः साहसं भद्रे प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रियं तव
Do not commit rashness, O gentle one; I shall tell you what is dear to you.
न मर्त्तव्यन्त्वया सर्वो जीवन्भद्राणि पश्यति
You must not die; all who live behold auspicious things.
निमित्तमन्तरीकृत्य किञ्चिदेव शुचिस्मिते
Taking some pretext, O one of pure smile,