तदाशु शंस मां सर्वं कारणं मुख्यतोऽनघ । एवं वदंतं नृपतिर्वृत्तांतं सर्वमादितः
Tell me quickly, O sinless one, the entire cause in detail. As he spoke thus, the king recounted the whole event from the beginning.
शशंस लक्ष्मणं क्षिप्रं दुःखपूरपरिप्लुतम् । लक्ष्मणस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा सीतायास्त्यागसंभवम्
He swiftly told Lakshmana, who was overwhelmed with sorrow; Lakshmana, hearing those words about Sita's abandonment,
निःश्वसन्मुहुरुच्छ्वासं स्तब्धगात्र इवाभवत् । भ्रातरं स्तब्धगात्रं च कंपमानं मुहुर्मुहुः
Became breathless, sighing repeatedly, as if his limbs were paralyzed; seeing his brother's paralyzed body trembling again and again,
न किंचन वदन्तं तं वीक्ष्य शोकार्दितोऽब्रवीत् । किं करिष्याम्यहं भूमौ स्थित्वा दुर्यशसांकितः
Seeing him not saying anything, afflicted by grief, he said: 'What shall I do, standing on the earth, marked by ill repute?'
त्यजामीदं वपुः श्रीमल्लोकभीत्या च शोकवान् । सर्वदा भ्रातरो मह्यं मद्वाक्यकरणोत्सुकाः
I am abandoning this splendid body, weighed down by sorrow and out of fear of public reproach; my brothers have always been eager to follow my word.
इदानीं तेपि दैवेन प्रतिकूलवचः कराः । कुत्र गच्छामि कं यामि हसिष्यंति नृपा भुवि
Now, even they have become hostile in speech by fate; where shall I go, to whom shall I turn? The kings of the earth will mock me.
दुर्यशो लांछितं मां वै कुष्ठिनं रूपवन्नराः । मनोर्वंशे पुरा भूपा जाता जाता गुणाधिकाः
Stained with disgrace, afflicted with leprosy, I am shunned by men of good appearance; in the line of Manu, kings were always born endowed with virtues.
इदानीं मयि जाते तु विपरीतं बभूव तत् । इति संभाषमाणं तं रामभद्रं समीक्ष्य सः
But now, with my birth, the opposite has happened; as he was thus speaking, looking at Rāmabhadra—
संस्तभ्याश्रूणि विपुलान्युवाच विकल स्वरः । स्वामिन्विषादं मा कार्षीः कथं तव मतिर्हृता
Holding back abundant tears, he spoke in a faltering voice: 'Master, do not give in to despair; how has your mind been led astray?'
सीतामनिंदितां को नु त्यजति श्रुतवान्भवान् । आकारयामि रजकं परिपृच्छामि तं प्रति
Who, having heard, would abandon Sītā, who is blameless? I will summon the washerman and question him directly.
कथं त्वयानिंदिता सा जानकी योषितां वरा । तव देशे बलात्कश्चिद्बाध्यते न जनोऽल्पकः
How has that blameless Jānakī, the best of women, been wronged by you? In your kingdom, no ordinary person is oppressed by force.
तस्मात्तस्य यथास्वांते प्रतीतिः स्यात्तथाचर । किमर्थं त्यज्यते भीरुः पतिव्रतपरायणा
Therefore, act so that he may be convinced in his own mind; why abandon this fearful woman, devoted to her husband?
मनसा वचसा नान्यं जानाति जनकात्मजा । तस्मादेनां गृहाण त्वमेतां मा त्यज जानकीम्
In thought and word, the daughter of Janaka knows no one else; therefore, accept her—do not abandon Jānakī.
ममोपरि कृपां कृत्वा मदुक्तं संश्रयाशु तत् । एवं वदंतं प्रत्यूचे रामः शोकेन कर्षितः
Have compassion on me and quickly follow my advice; as he spoke thus, Rāma, consumed by grief, replied:
लक्ष्मणं धर्मवाक्येन बोधयंस्त्यजनोद्यमः
He instructs Lakṣmaṇa with words of righteousness, intent on abandoning her.
राम उवाच। कथं तु मां ब्रवीषि त्वं मा त्यजैनामनिंदिताम् । लोकापवादात्त्यक्ष्येऽहं जानन्नपि विपापिनीम्
Rāma said: How can you tell me not to abandon this blameless woman? Because of public slander, I will abandon her, even knowing she is not at fault.
स्वयशः कारणेऽहं स्वं देहं त्यक्ष्याम्यशोभनम् । त्वामपि भ्रातरं त्यक्ष्ये लोकवादाद्विगर्हितम्
For the sake of my own reputation, I will give up this unworthy body; I will even give up you, my brother, if you are censured by the people.
किमुतान्ये गृहाः पुत्रा मित्राणि वसुशोभनम् । स्वयशःकारणे सर्वं त्यजामि किमु मैथिलीम्
What then of houses, sons, friends, or splendid wealth? For the sake of my own reputation, I would give up everything—why not Maithilī?
न तथा मे प्रियो भ्राता न कलत्रं न बांधवाः । यथा मे विमलाकीर्तिर्वल्लभा लोकविश्रुता
Neither brother, nor wife, nor relatives are as dear to me as my spotless and widely renowned reputation.
इदानीं रजको नैव प्रष्टव्यो भवति ध्रुवम् । कालेन सर्वं भविता लोकचित्तस्य रंजनम्
Now, the washerman certainly need not be questioned; in time, everything will become pleasing to the minds of the people.
आमयो यद्वदामस्तु न चिकित्स्यो भवेत्क्षितौ । सकालेन परीपाकाद्भेषजादेव नश्यति
Just as a disease, though incurable on earth, disappears in time through the ripening of circumstances and medicine—
तथा कालेन संभावि सांप्रतं मा विलंबय । त्यजैनां विपिने साध्वीं मां वा खड्गेन घातय
So too, in time, this will be resolved; do not delay now—either abandon this virtuous woman in the forest, or strike me down with your sword.
इत्युक्तं वाक्यमाकर्ण्य दुःखितोऽभूत्तदा महान् । चिंतयामास च स्वांते लक्ष्मणः शोककर्षितः
Hearing these words, the great one became sorrowful, and Lakṣmaṇa, afflicted by grief, began to ponder in his heart.
पित्राज्ञप्तो जामदग्न्यो मातरं चाप्यघातयत् । गुरोराज्ञा नैव लंघ्या युक्ताऽयुक्तापि सर्वथा
Commanded by his father, Jāmadagnya even slew his own mother; the command of a guru must never be transgressed, whether right or wrong, in any circumstance.
तस्मादेनां त्यजाम्येव रामस्य प्रियकाम्यया । इति संचिंत्य मनसि भ्रातरं प्रत्युवाच सः
Therefore, for the sake of fulfilling Rāma’s wish, I will abandon her; thus resolved in his mind, he spoke to his brother.
लक्ष्मणउवाच। अकृत्यमपि कार्यं वै गुर्वाज्ञां नैव लंघयेत् । तस्मात्कुर्वे भवद्वाक्यं यत्त्वं वदसि सुव्रत
Lakṣmaṇa said: Even what should not be done must be done; the command of a guru must never be disobeyed. Therefore, I will do as you say, O steadfast one.
इत्येवं भाषमाणं तं लक्ष्मणं प्रत्युवाच सः । साधुसाधु महाप्राज्ञ त्वया मे तोषितं मनः
As Lakṣmaṇa was thus speaking, he was addressed: 'Well done, well done, O great and wise one! By you my mind is satisfied.'
अद्यैव रात्रौ जानक्या दोहदस्तापसी क्षणे । तन्मिषेण रथे स्थाप्य मोचयैनां महावने
Tonight itself, in a moment when Jānakī expresses a desire, place her in the chariot and release her in the great forest.
इत्थं भाषितमाकर्ण्य विशुष्यद्वदनोऽभितः । रुदन्बाष्पकलां मुंचञ्जगाम स्वं निवेशनम्
Hearing these words, his face dried with grief, he wept, shedding tears, and returned to his own dwelling.
सुमंत्रं तु समाहूय वचनं तमथाब्रवीत् । रथं मे कुरु सज्जं वै सदश्ववरभूषितम्
Then, summoning Sumantra, he spoke these words: 'Prepare the chariot for me, adorned with excellent horses and finest ornaments.'