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,
भवित्री चिररात्राय बहुकल्याण भाजनम्
You shall live for a long time and be a vessel of many blessings.
तद्वाक्यगौरवाद्धर्षमवापुस्तनयाश्च ते
Because of the weight of those words, your sons regained courage.
शाययित्वा निवाते तु परितः समुपाविशन्
Having laid her down in a sheltered place, they sat all around.
निमत्तानि शुभान्यासन्ननेकानि महान्ति च
Auspicious and great omens appeared, many and manifold.
निषेदुः सहिता मात्रा काङ्क्षन्तो जीवितं पितुः
Together with their mother, they sat, longing for their father's life.
विधेर्बलेन मतिमांस्तत्रागच्छद्यदृच्छया
By the force of destiny, the wise one arrived there by chance.
सर्वशास्त्रार्थवित्प्राज्ञः सकलासुरवन्दितः
He was learned in the meaning of all scriptures, wise, and honored by all the gods and demons.
यथाहतान्मृतान्देवैरुत्थापयति दानवान्
Just as he revives the slain and dead demons whom the gods have struck down.
प्रणीतमनुजीवन्ति सर्वे ऽद्यापीह पार्थिवाः
All the kings here still live by what has been provided.
ददर्श तदवस्थांस्तान्सर्वान्दुःखपरिप्लुतान्
He saw their condition, all overwhelmed by suffering.