शेष उवाच-। इतिविज्ञापनां देवी श्रुत्वा सीता तमाह सा । नाहं कीर्तिकरी राज्ञो ह्यपकीर्तिः स्वयं त्वहम्
Śeṣa said: Thus, having heard that request, Sītā replied to him: 'I do not bring glory to the king; rather, I am his disgrace myself.'
किं मया तस्य साध्यं स्याद्धर्मकामार्थशून्यया । सत्येवं भवतां भूपे को विश्वासो निरंकुशे
'What could I accomplish for him, being devoid of righteousness, desire, and wealth? Indeed, O king, how can there be unrestrained trust in me?'
प्रत्यक्षा वा परोक्षा वा भर्तुर्दोषा मनःस्थिताः । न वाच्या जातु मादृश्या कल्याणकुलजातया
'Whether the faults of the husband are evident or hidden, they should never be spoken of by a woman like me, born in a noble family.'
पाणिग्रहणकाले मे यद्रूपो हृदये स्थितः । तद्रूपो हृदयान्नासौ कदाचिदपसर्पति
'The form that was fixed in my heart at the time of our marriage—that form never departs from my heart at any time.'
लक्ष्मणेमौ कुमारौ मे तत्तेजोंशसमुद्भवौ । वंशांकुरौ महाशूरौ धनुर्विद्याविशारदौ
'Lakṣmaṇa, these two sons of mine, born from a portion of his splendor, are the shoots of the lineage, great heroes, and skilled in the science of archery.'
नीत्वा पितुः समीपं तु लालनीयौ प्रयत्नतः । तपसाराधयिष्यामि रामं काममिह स्थिता
'Having brought them to their father, they must be carefully cherished; I will worship Rāma with austerity, remaining here as I wish.'
वाच्यं त्वया महाभाग पूज्यपादाभिवंदनम् । सर्वेभ्यः कुशलं चापि गत्वेतो मदपेक्षया
'You must say, O highly fortunate one, reverent salutations at the venerable feet of all, and also convey my well-wishes when you go, on my behalf.'
पुत्रौ समादिशत्सीता गच्छतं पितुरंतिकम् । शुश्रूषणीय एवासौ भवद्भ्यां स्वपदप्रदः
Sītā instructed her sons: 'Go to your father; he alone is to be served by you both, for he grants his own position.'
आज्ञप्तावप्यनिच्छंतौ तौ कुमारौ कुशीलवौ । वाल्मीकिवचनात्तत्र जग्मतुश्च सलक्ष्मणौ
Though commanded, the two princes, Kuśa and Lava, were reluctant, but at Vālmīki's word, they went there with Lakṣmaṇa.
वाल्मीकेरेव पादाब्जसमीपं तत्सुतौ गतौ । लक्ष्मणोऽपि ववंदे तं गत्वा बालकसंयुतः
The sons went to the vicinity of Vālmīki's lotus feet; Lakṣmaṇa also, accompanied by the boys, went and bowed to him.
वाल्मीकिर्लक्ष्मणस्तौ तु कुमारौ मिलिता अमी । सभायां संस्थितं रामं ज्ञात्वा ते जग्मुरुत्सुकाः
Valmiki and Lakshmana, those two princes, having come together, recognized Rama standing in the assembly and, eager, they approached him.
लक्ष्मणः प्रणिपत्याथ सीतावाक्यादिसर्वशः । कथयामास रामाय हर्षशोकयुतः सुधीः
Then Lakshmana, after bowing, conveyed to Rama all of Sita’s words, entirely, his wise mind filled with both joy and sorrow.
सीतासंदेशवाक्येभ्यो रामो मूर्च्छां समन्वभूत् । संज्ञामवाप्य चोवाच लक्ष्मणं नयकोविदम्
From Sita’s message, Rama fell into a faint; regaining consciousness, he spoke to Lakshmana, who was skilled in counsel.
गच्छ मित्र पुनस्तत्र यत्नेन महता च ताम् । शीघ्रमानय भद्रं ते मद्वाक्यानि निवेद्य च
Go, friend, once more there with great effort; quickly bring her, may you fare well, and convey my words to her.
अरण्ये किं तपस्यंत्या गतिरन्या विचिंतिता । श्रुता दृष्टाथ वा मत्तो यन्नागच्छसि जानकि
Why, Janaki, do you not come to me—have you conceived of another path while practicing austerities in the forest? Have you heard or seen something from me?
त्वदिच्छया त्वमेवेतो गतारण्यं मुनिप्रियम् । पूजिता मुनिपत्न्यस्ता दृष्टा मुनिगणास्त्वया
It was by your own wish alone that you went to the forest, dear to the sages; you have been honored by the wives of the sages, and you have seen the groups of ascetics.
पूर्णो मनोरथस्तेऽद्य किं नागच्छसि भामिनि । न दोषं मयि पश्येस्त्वं स्वात्मेच्छाया विलोकनात्
Today your heart’s desire is fulfilled—why do you not come, O beautiful one? Do not see fault in me for looking to your own will.
गत्वा गत्वाथ वामोरु पतिरेव गतिः स्त्रियाः । निर्गुणोपि गुणांभोधिः किंपुनर्मनसेप्सितः
Going again and again, O slender-waisted one, the husband alone is the refuge of a woman; even if he is without qualities, he is an ocean of virtues—how much more so if he is desired by the mind.
याया क्रियाकुलस्त्रीणां सासा पत्युः प्रतुष्टये । पूर्वमेवप्रतुष्टोऽहमिदानीं सुतरां त्वयि
She who is busy with duties seeks her husband’s satisfaction; I was already satisfied before, and now I am all the more so with you.
यागो जपस्तपोदानं व्रतं तीर्थं दयादिकम् । देवाश्च मयि संतुष्टे तुष्टमेतदसंशयम्
Sacrifice, recitation, austerity, charity, vows, pilgrimage, compassion, and the like—all the gods are pleased when I am pleased; of this there is no doubt.
शेष उवाच-। इति संदेशमादाय सीतां प्रति जगत्पतेः । आह लक्ष्मण आत्मेशमानतः प्रणयाद्धरौ
Shesha said: Having received this message from the Lord of the world for Sita, Lakshmana, bowing with affection, spoke to the Lord of his soul.
सीतानयनमुद्दिश्य प्रसन्नस्त्वं यदूचिवान् । कथयिष्यामि तद्वाक्यं विनयेन समन्वितम्
With a clear mind, you spoke about bringing Sita; I will relate those words, imbued with humility.
इत्युक्त्वा पादयोर्नत्वा रघुनाथस्य लक्ष्मणः । जगाम त्वरितः सीतां रथे तिष्ठन्महाजवे
Having said this and bowed at the feet of Raghunatha, Lakshmana quickly departed for Sita, standing on a swift chariot.
वाल्मीकिः श्रीयुतौ वीक्ष्य रामपुत्रौ महौजसौ । उवाच स्मितमाधाय मुखं कृत्वा मनोहरम्
Valmiki, seeing the two sons of Rama, radiant with splendor, spoke with a charming smile upon his delightful face.
युवां प्रगायतां पुत्रौ रामचारित्रमद्भुतम् । वीणां प्रवादयंतौ च कलगानेन शोभितम्
You two, O sons, sing the wondrous deeds of Rama, playing the vina and adorned by sweet, melodious song.
इत्यक्तौ तौ सुतौ रामचारित्रं बहुपुण्यदम् । अगायतां महाभागौ सुवाक्यपदचित्रितम्
Thus, those two illustrious sons sang the story of Rama, bestowing great merit, adorned with beautiful and well-chosen words.
यस्मिन्धर्मविधिः साक्षात्पातिव्रत्यं तु यत्स्थितम् । भ्रातृस्नेहो महान्यत्र गुरुभक्तिस्तथैव च
In which the law of righteousness is manifest, in which chastity is established, in which brotherly love is great, and devotion to elders likewise.
स्वामिसेवकयोर्यत्र नीतिर्मूर्तिमती किल । अधर्मकरशास्तिं वै यत्र साक्षाद्रघूद्वहात्
Where, between master and servant, right conduct is embodied, and where the punishment of the wicked is directly from the illustrious descendant of Raghu.
तद्गानेन जगद्व्याप्तं दिवि देवा अपि स्थिताः । किन्नरा अपि यद्गानं श्रुत्वा मूर्च्छामिताः क्षणात्
With that song, the world was filled; even the gods in heaven stood still, and the Kinnaras, upon hearing that music, were instantly overcome with swooning.
वीणायारणितं श्रुत्वा तालमानेन शोभितम् । निखिला परिषत्तत्र शालभं जीवचित्रिता
Hearing the melodious sound of the lute, adorned with measured rhythm, the entire assembly there was captivated, as if painted alive.