नाज्ञातं तेन चास्माकं नामराणां च मानद । शुद्धौ तस्यास्तु लोकानां यन्नष्टं तदिह ध्रुवम्
Nothing is unknown to him or to us, O bestower of honor on the gods; let there be purity for the worlds through her, for what was lost is surely restored here.
शेष उवाच। इति वाल्मीकिना रामः सर्वज्ञोऽप्यवबोधितः । स्तुत्वा नत्वा च वाल्मीकिं प्रत्युवाच स लक्ष्मणम्
Śeṣa said: Thus, Rāma, though all-knowing, was instructed by Vālmīki; having praised and bowed to Vālmīki, he then spoke to Lakṣmaṇa.
गच्छ ताताधुना सीतामानेतुं धर्मचारिणीम् । सपुत्रां रथमास्थाय सुमंत्रसहितः सखे
Go now, dear one, to bring Sītā, who walks in righteousness, along with her sons; mount the chariot with Sumantra, O friend.
श्रावयित्वा ममेमानि मुनेश्च वचनान्यपि । संबोध्य च पुरीमेतां सीतां प्रत्यानयाशु ताम्
After proclaiming these words of mine and those of the sage, and informing this city, quickly bring Sītā back.
लक्ष्मण उवाच। यास्यामि तव संदेशात्सर्वेषां नः प्रभोर्विभो । देव्या यास्यति चेद्देव यात्रा मे सफला ततः
Lakṣmaṇa said: I shall go at your command, O Lord of us all; if the goddess herself comes, then my journey will be fulfilled.
मयि सामाभ्यसूयैव पूर्वदोषवशात्सती । अनागतायां तस्यां तु क्षमस्वागंतुकं मम
If, because of former faults, the virtuous lady bears any resentment toward me, forgive me, who am coming to her, before she arrives.
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणो रामं रथे स्थित्वा नृपाज्ञया । सुमित्रमुनिशिष्याभ्यां युतोऽगाद्भूमिजाश्रमम्
Having said this, Lakṣmaṇa, by the king's command, mounted the chariot and, accompanied by Sumitrā and the sage's disciples, went to the hermitage of the daughter of the earth.
कथं प्रसादनीया स्यात्सीता भगवती मया । पूर्वदोषं विजानंती रामाधीनस्य मे सदा
How might I appease the venerable Sītā, who knows my former fault and whose will is ever dependent on Rāma?
एवं संचिंतयन्नंतर्हर्षसंकोच मध्यगः । लक्ष्मणः प्राप सीताया आश्रमं श्रमनाशनम्
Thus reflecting inwardly, caught between joy and restraint, Lakṣmaṇa reached Sītā's hermitage, which dispels all fatigue.
रथात्सोथावरुह्यारादश्रुरुद्धविलोचनः । आर्ये पूज्ये भगवति शुभे इति वदन्मुहुः
Then, descending from the chariot, his eyes brimming with tears, he repeatedly addressed her, saying, 'O noble, revered, blessed Lady!'
पपात पादयोस्तस्या वेपमानाखिलांगकः । उत्थापितस्तया देव्या प्रीतिविह्वलया स च
He fell at her feet, his whole body trembling; and she, the gracious queen, overwhelmed with affection, raised him up.
किमर्थमागतः सौम्य वनं मुनिजनप्रियम् । आस्ते स कुशली देवः कौसल्याशुक्तिमौक्तिकः
For what reason, gentle one, have you come to this forest, beloved of sages? Does the king, the pearl from Kausalyā's shell, fare well?
अरोषो मयि कश्चित्स कीर्त्या केवलयादृतः । कीर्त्यते सर्वलोकैश्च कल्याणगुणसागरः
Has he any anger toward me, or is he honored only for his fame? He, the ocean of auspicious virtues, is praised by all the worlds.
अकीर्तिभीतिमापन्नस्त्यक्तुं मां त्वां नियुक्तवान् । यदि ततश्च लोकेषु कीर्तिस्तस्यामलाभवत्
Out of fear of infamy, he ordered you to abandon me; and thus, his fame in the worlds remains spotless.
मृत्वापि पतिसत्कीर्तिं कुर्वंत्या मे हि सुस्थिरा । पतिसामीप्यमेवाशु भूयादेव हि देवर
Even after death, a steadfast wife brings honor to her husband; may I swiftly attain nearness to my husband, O noble brother-in-law.
त्यक्तयापि मया तेन नासौ त्यक्तो मनागपि । फलं हि साधनायत्तं हेतुः फलवशो न तु
Though I was abandoned by him, I have not abandoned him in the least; for the fruit depends on effort, not on the outcome itself.
कौसल्याशल्यशून्यासौ कृपापूर्णा सदा मयि । आस्ते कुशलिनी यस्याः पुत्रस्त्रैलोक्यपालकः
Kausalyā, free from sorrow and ever full of compassion for me, prospers, whose son is the protector of the three worlds.
सर्वे कुशलिनः संति भरताद्याश्च बांधवाः । सुमित्रा च महाभागा यस्याः प्राणादहं प्रिया
All are well—Bharata and the other kinsmen, and the illustrious Sumitrā, to whom I am dearer than life.
मद्वत्किं त्वमपि त्यक्तः सर्वलोकेषु कीर्तये । राज्ञः किं दुस्त्यजं तस्य स्वात्मापि यस्य न प्रियः
Like me, have you too been abandoned for the sake of fame in all the worlds? What is hard for the king to give up, for whom even his own self is not dear?
इत्येवं बहुधा पृष्टस्तया रामानुजः सताम् । उवाच कुशली देवः कुशलं त्वयि पृच्छति
Thus questioned in many ways by her, Rāma's brother replied, 'The lord is well and inquires after your welfare.'
कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च याश्चान्या राजयोषितः । पप्रच्छुः कुशलं देवि प्रीत्या त्वामाशिषा सह
Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and the other royal ladies, O goddess, have affectionately asked after your well-being, together with their blessings.
कुशलप्रश्नपूर्वं हि तव पादाभिवंदनम् । निवेदयामि शत्रुघ्न भरताभ्यां कृतं शुभे
First offering you salutations at your feet, I convey the greetings and well-wishes made to you by Śatrughna and Bharata, O blessed one.
गुरुभिर्गुरुपत्नीभिः सर्वाभिरपि ते शुभे । दत्ताशीः कुशलप्रश्नः कृतश्च त्वयि जानकि
By the elders and their wives, O blessed one, you have been given blessings and asked after with concern, O Jānakī.
आकारयति देवस्त्वां निर्व्यलीकेन चात्मवान् । अलभ्यान्यरतिस्त्वत्तोऽन्यत्र सर्वत्र भामिनि
The lord calls you, openly and sincerely; apart from you, O radiant one, he finds no delight anywhere.
शून्या एव दिशः सर्वास्त्वां विना जनकात्मजे । पश्यन्रोदिति नाथो नो रोदयन्नितरानपि
All directions are empty without you, daughter of Janaka; the lord weeps as he looks for you, and does not make others weep.
यत्र देवि स्थितासि त्वं नित्यं स्मरति राघवः । अशून्यं तु तमेवासौ मन्यमानो विदेहजे
Wherever you dwell, O goddess, Rāghava remembers you always; he considers only that place, O daughter of Videha, as not empty.
धन्योऽयमाश्रमो जातो वाल्मीकेर्यत्र जानकी । कालं क्षपति वार्ताभिर्मदीयाभिर्वदन्निति
Blessed is this hermitage of Vālmīki, where Jānakī resides; he passes the time speaking of my affairs, saying thus.
उक्तवान्यद्रुदन्किंचित्स्वामी नस्त्वयि तच्छृणु । व्यक्तीभवति वक्तुर्यद्धृद्गतं तदसंशयम्
The master has spoken something else in grief about you; listen to that. Whatever is in the speaker's heart becomes clear, without doubt.
लोका वदंति मामेव सर्वेषामीश्वरेश्वरम् । अहं त्वदृष्टमेवैषां स्वतंत्रं कारणं ब्रुवे
People say I alone am the lord of all lords; but I declare that only what is unseen by you is the cause of their independence.
अदृष्टमेव कार्येषु सर्वेशोऽप्यनुगच्छति । ईशनीयाः कुतो नैतदन्वीयुः सुखदुःखयोः
Even the lord of all follows only the unseen in actions; how then could those who are to be ruled not follow it in happiness and sorrow?