कृताधिवासं श्रीरामं सर्व मङ्गलसंयुतम् । दृष्ट्वा भरतमाता च कैकेयी शोकविह्वला
Having performed the consecration of Shri Rama, endowed with all auspicious qualities, Bharata's mother Kaikeyi, overcome with grief, looked on.
वरयामास राजानं पूर्वमङ्गीकृतं वरम् । रामस्य वनवासं च राजत्वं भरतस्य च
She requested the king for the previously granted boons: Rama's exile to the forest and the kingship for Bharata.
वरं दातुं महाराजो नेयेष प्रेममोहितः । धर्मसत्यभयेनैवोवाच रामो नृपं सुधी
The great king, overcome by love and affection, was unwilling to grant the boon; but Rama, out of fear of righteousness and truth, spoke to the king, wise as he was.
श्रीराम उवाच तडागशतदानेन यत्पुण्यं लभते नरः । ततोऽधिकं च लभते वापीदानेन निश्चितम्
Shri Rama said: The merit a man gains by giving a hundred ponds is certainly surpassed by the merit gained from donating a single well.
दशवापीप्रदानेन यत्पुण्यं लभते नरः । ततोऽधिकं च लभते पुण्यं कन्याप्रदानतः
The merit a man gains by giving ten wells is certainly surpassed by the merit gained from giving away a maiden in marriage.
दशकन्याप्रदानेन यत्पुण्यं लभते नरः । ततोऽधिकं च लभते यज्ञैकेन नराधिप
The merit a man gains by giving away ten maidens is certainly surpassed by the merit gained from performing a single sacrifice, O king.
शतयज्ञेन यत्पुण्यं लभते पुण्यकृज्जनः । ततोऽधिकं च लभते पुत्रास्यदर्शनेन च
The merit a virtuous person gains by performing a hundred sacrifices is certainly surpassed by the merit gained from seeing one's own son.
दर्शने शतपुत्राणां यत्पुण्यं लभते नरः । तत्पुण्यं लभते नूनं पुण्यवान्सत्यबालनात्
The merit a man gains by seeing a hundred sons is surely gained by a virtuous person from a single truthful child.
न हि सत्यात्परो धर्मो नानृतात्पातकं परम् । न हि गह्घासमं तीर्यं म देवः केशवात्परः
There is no righteousness greater than truth, nor any sin greater than falsehood; there is no holy place equal to the Ganges, nor any god greater than Keshava.
नास्ति धर्मात्परो बन्धुर्नास्ति धर्मात्परं धनम् । धर्मात्प्रियः परः को वा स्पधर्मं रक्ष यत्नतः
There is no relative greater than righteousness, nor any wealth greater than righteousness; who is dearer than righteousness? Therefore, protect your own righteousness with great care.
स्वधर्मे रक्षिते तात शश्वत्सर्वत्र मङ्गलम् । यशस्यं सुप्रतिष्ठा च प्रतापः पूजनं परम्
When one protects one's own righteousness, O dear one, there is always auspiciousness everywhere, lasting fame, firm reputation, great glory, and supreme honor.
यतुर्दशाब्दं धर्मेण त्यक्त्वा गृहसुखं म्रमन् । वनवासं करिष्यामि सत्यस्य पालनाय ते
For ten years, I will abandon the comforts of home and dwell in the forest, upholding your truth.
कृत्वा सत्यं च शपथमिच्छयाऽनिच्छयाऽथवा । न कृर्यात्पालनं यो हि भस्मान्तं तस्य सूतकम्
Having taken a vow of truth, whether willingly or unwillingly, if one does not uphold it, his impurity lasts until he is reduced to ashes.
कुम्भीपाके स पचति यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ । ततो मूको भवेत्कुषठी मानवः सप्तजन्मसु
He cooks in the hell called Kumbhipaka as long as the moon and sun endure; then, for seven births, the man becomes mute and diseased.
इत्योवमुक्त्वा श्रीरामो विधाय कल्कलं जटाम् । प्रययौ च महारण्ये सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च
Having thus spoken, Lord Rāma arranged his matted locks and departed into the great forest, accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.
पुत्रशोकान्महाराजास्तत्याज स्वतनुं मुने । पालनाय पितुः सत्यं रामो बभ्रामकानन
Afflicted by grief for his son, the great king abandoned his body, O sage; and Rāma, upholding his father's word, wandered in the forest.
कालान्तरे महारण्ये भगिनी रावणस्य च । भ्रमन्ती कानने घोरे भर्त्रा सार्धं सुगौतुकात्
After some time, in the great forest, Rāvaṇa’s sister, roaming with her husband in the dreadful woods, encountered them during an auspicious rite.
ददर्श रामं कुलटा कामार्ता राक्षसी तदा । पुलकाञ्चितसर्वाङ्गी सूर्च्छमाप स्मरेण च
Then that lustful demoness, overwhelmed by desire, saw Rāma; her whole body bristling with excitement, she fainted from love’s fever.
श्रीरामनिकटं गत्वा सस्मितोवाच कामुकी । शस्वधौवनसंयुक्ताऽतिप्रौढा कामदुर्मदा
Approaching Lord Rāma, the passionate woman, bold and intoxicated with desire, smiled and spoke these words, her mind fixed on union.
शूर्पणखोवाच हेराम हे धनश्याम रूपधाम सुणान्वित । मायानुरक्तां वनितां मां गृहाण सुनिर्जने
Śūrpaṇakhā said: 'O Rāma, O dark-hued treasure, embodiment of beauty, listen! Take me, a woman enchanted by your charm, here in this lonely place.'
श्रुत्वा शूर्पणखावाक्यं धर्मं संस्मृत्य धार्मिकः । उवाच सधुरें वाक्यं शावभीतश्च नारद
Hearing Śūrpaṇakhā’s words, the righteous Rāma, mindful of duty, spoke to her with gentle words, O Nārada, though inwardly alarmed.
श्रीराम उवाच अम्बमातः सभार्योऽहमभार्यं गच्छ मेऽनुजम् । दुःखं प्रियोऽन्यां प्रभजेदितरं च सुखालयम्
Śrī Rāma said: 'Lady, I am here with my wife; go to my younger brother, who is unmarried. It is sorrowful for a beloved to seek another, but another brings happiness.'
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रययौ लक्ष्मणं मुदा । ददर्श लक्षमणं शान्तं कान्तं च लक्षणान्वितम्
Hearing Rāma’s words, she joyfully went to Lakṣmaṇa and saw him, tranquil, handsome, and adorned with auspicious marks.
मां भजस्व महाभागेत्युवाच च पुनः पुनः । लक्ष्मणास्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तामुवाच कुतूहलात्
She repeatedly said, 'Accept me, O fortunate one!' Hearing her words, Lakṣmaṇa, curious, replied to her.
लक्ष्मण उवाच विहाय रामं सर्वेशं हे मूढे दासमिच्छसि । सीतादासी च मत्पत्नी सीतादासोऽहमेव च
Lakṣmaṇa said: 'Foolish woman, do you desire a servant, abandoning Rāma, the lord of all? Sītā is my mistress, my wife, and I am Sītā’s servant alone.'
भव सीतासपत्नी त्वं गच्छ रामं मदीश्वरम् । तव पुत्रो भविष्यामि सीतायाश्चयथा सति
Become Sītā’s co-wife, and go to Rāma, my lord. If you wish, I will be your son, as I am Sītā’s.'
लक्ष्मणास्य वचः श्रुत्वा कामेन हृतमानसा । उवाच लक्ष्मणं मूढा शुष्ककण्ठेष्ठतालुका
Hearing Lakṣmaṇa’s words, her mind seized by desire, the deluded woman, her throat dry and palate parched, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa.
शूर्पणखोवाच यदी त्यजसि मां मूढ कामात्स्वयमुपस्थिताम् । युवयोश्च विपत्तिश्च भविष्य ति न संशयः
Śūrpaṇakhā said: 'If you, foolish one, reject me though I have come to you out of desire, then surely misfortune will befall both of you—there is no doubt.'
ब्रह्मा च मोहिनीं त्यक्तवा विश्वेऽपूज्ये बभूव सः । रम्भाशापेन दक्षश्च छागमस्तो बभूव सः
Even Brahmā, having rejected Mohinī, became dishonored among the gods; by Rambhā’s curse, Dakṣa became a goat, indeed.
स्वर्वैद्यश्चोर्वशीशापाद्यज्ञभागविवर्जितः । रूपहीनः कुबेरश्च मेनाशापेन लक्ष्मण
By Urvaśī’s curse, the divine physician was deprived of his share in the sacrifice; and by Menā’s curse, O Lakṣmaṇa, Kubera became ugly.