ततो हृष्टमना वीरो ह्यब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं वचः। सौमित्रेऽनुगृहीतोहं देवदेवेन ब्रह्मणा
Then the hero, his mind gladdened, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa: 'O son of Sumitrā, I am favored by the god of gods, Brahmā.'
अत्राश्रमपदं कृत्वा मासमेकं च लक्ष्मण। व्रतं चरितुमिच्छामि कायशोधनमुत्तमम्
'Here, after establishing a hermitage, I wish to undertake a vow for one month, Lakṣmaṇa, for supreme purification of the body.'
तथेति लक्ष्मणेनोक्ते व्रतं परिसमाप्यतु। पिंडदानादिभिर्दानैः श्राद्धैश्चैव पितामहान्
When Lakṣmaṇa agreed, the vow was completed with offerings such as piṇḍa and other gifts, and with śrāddha rites for the ancestors.
पुष्करे तु तदा रामोऽतर्पयद्विधिवत्तदा। कनका सुप्रभा चैव नंदा प्राची सरस्वती
Then Rāma duly satisfied the ancestors at Puṣkara, with Kanakā, Suprabhā, Nandā, and the eastern Sarasvatī.
पंचस्रोताः पुष्करेषु पितॄणां तुष्टिदायिनी। दैनंदिनीं पितॄणां तु पूजां तां पितृपूर्विकाम्
The five-streamed river at Puṣkara grants satisfaction to the ancestors; he performed the daily ancestral worship, as done by his forefathers.
रचयित्वा तदा रामो लक्ष्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। एहि लक्ष्मण शीघ्रं त्वं पुष्कराज्जलमानय
Having performed this, Rāma then spoke to Lakṣmaṇa: 'Come, Lakṣmaṇa, quickly bring water from Puṣkara.'
पादप्रक्षालनं कृत्वा शयनं कुरु संस्तरे। विभावर्यां निवृत्तायां यास्यामो दक्षिणां दिशम्
After washing your feet, make your bed on the bedding; when the night has passed, we shall go to the southern direction.
लक्ष्मणस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं सीतयानीय तां पयः। नाहं राम सर्वकाले दासभावं करोमि ते
But Lakshmana spoke these words, bringing water for Sita: 'Rama, I do not serve you as a servant at all times.'
इयंपुष्टाचसुभृशंपीवरीचममाप्युत। किं त्वं करिष्यस्यनया भार्यया वद सांप्रतम्
This wife of yours is indeed well-nourished and robust; tell me now, what will you do with her?
किं वा मृतस्य वै पृष्ठ इयं यास्यति ते प्रिया। रक्षसे त्वं सदा कालं सुपुष्टां चैव सर्वदा
Or will this beloved of yours follow you after death? You always protect her, and she is always well-nourished.
हृष्टा चैषा क्लेशयति सततं मां रघूत्तम। त्वं च क्लेशयसे राम परत्र जायते क्षतिः
She, being cheerful, constantly troubles me, O best of the Raghus; and you too, Rama, cause me distress—this leads to harm in the next world.
त्वत्कृते च सदा चाहं पिपासां क्षुधया सह। संसहामि न संदेहः परत्र च निशामय
For your sake, I always endure thirst along with hunger—there is no doubt; consider this also for the next world.
मृतानां पृष्ठतः कश्चिद्गतो नैव च दृश्यते। भार्य्या पुत्रो धनं चापि एवमाहुर्मनीषिणः
No one is seen to have followed the dead—wife, son, or wealth; so say the wise.
मृतश्च ते पिता राम त्यक्त्वा राज्यमकंटकम्। विनिक्षिप्य वने त्वां च कैकेय्याः प्रियकाम्यया
And your father, Rama, died after abandoning the thornless kingdom and leaving you in the forest, to fulfill Kaikeyi's desire.
इहस्थिता सा कैकेयी धनं सर्वे च बांधवाः। महाराजो दशरथ एक एव गतो गतिम्
Kaikeyi remains here, along with the wealth and all the relatives; but King Dasharatha alone has gone on his final journey.
मन्येहं न त्वया सार्धं सीता यास्यति वै ध्रुवम्। करिष्यसे किमनया वद राघव सांप्रतम्
I think Sita will certainly not go with you; tell me now, Raghava, what will you do with her?
श्रुत्वा चाश्रुतपूर्वं हि वाक्यं लक्ष्मणभाषितम्। विमना राघवस्तस्थौ सीता चापि वरानना
Hearing Lakshmana's words, which had never been spoken before, Raghava stood dejected, and Sita too, with her beautiful face.
यदुक्तं लक्ष्मणेनाथ सीता सर्वं चकार ह। स्नात्वा भुक्त्वा ततो वीरौ पुष्करे पुष्करेक्षणौ
Then Sita did everything that Lakshmana had said; after bathing and eating, the two heroes with lotus-like eyes rested.
नीत्वा विभावरीं तत्र गमनाय मनो दधुः। एह्युत्तिष्ठ च सौमित्रे व्रजामो दक्षिणां दिशम्
There they passed the night, and then set their minds on departure: 'Come, rise, O Saumitri, let us go to the southern direction.'
सौमित्रिरब्रवीद्राम नाहं यास्ये कथंचन। व्रज त्वमनया सार्धं भार्यया कमलेक्षण
Saumitri said to Rama, 'I will not go under any circumstances; you go with your wife, O lotus-eyed one.'
नान्यद्वनं गमिष्यामि नैवायोध्यां च राघव। अस्मिन्वने वसिष्यामि वर्षाणीह चतुर्दश
'I will not go to another forest, nor to Ayodhya, O Raghava; I will remain in this forest for fourteen years.'
मया विना त्वयोध्यायां यदि त्वं न गमिष्यसि। अनेन वर्त्मना भूप आगंतव्यं त्वया विभो
'If you do not go to Ayodhya without me, O king, you must return by this path.'
यदि जीवामि तत्कालं पुनर्यास्ये पितुः पुरम्। तपस्संभावयिष्यामि मया त्वं किं करिष्यसि
'If I am alive at that time, I will return again to my father's city; I will practice austerity—what will you do with me?'
व्रज सौम्य शिवः पंथामा च ते परिपंथिनः। पश्यामि त्वां पुनः प्राप्तं सभार्यं कमलेक्षणम्
'Go, gentle one, may your path be auspicious and free from obstacles; I shall see you again, returned with your wife, O lotus-eyed one.'
पितृपैतामहं राज्यमयोध्यायां नराधिप। शत्रुघ्नभरतौ चोभौ त्वदाज्ञाकरणे स्थितौ
The kingdom of Ayodhya, inherited from fathers and grandfathers, is ruled by the king; both Shatrughna and Bharata remain ready to carry out your command.
अहं ते प्रतिकूलस्तु वनवासे विशेषतः। अनारतं दिवा चाहं रात्रौ चैव परंतप
But I am opposed to you, especially during your stay in the forest; day and night, O scorcher of foes, I am constantly so.
कर्मकर्तुं न शक्रोमि व्रज सौम्य यथासुखम्। एवं ब्रुवाणं सौमित्रिमुवाच रघुनंदनः
I am unable to perform the task; go, gentle one, as you wish. Thus speaking, Raghu's descendant addressed Saumitri.
कथं पूर्वमयोध्याया निर्गतोसि मया सह। वने वत्स्याम्यहं राम नववर्षाणि पंच च
How did you leave Ayodhya earlier together with me? I will dwell in the forest, O Rama, for nine years and five more.
न तु त्वया विरहितः स्वर्गेपि निवसे क्वचित्। या गतिस्ते नरव्याघ्र मम सापि भविष्यति
But I will not live anywhere, even in heaven, separated from you; whatever fate is yours, O tiger among men, that shall be mine as well.
प्रसादः क्रियतां मह्यं नय मामपि राघव। इदानीमर्धमार्गे त्वं कथं स्थास्यसि शत्रुहन्
Grant me your favor; lead me also, O descendant of Raghu. Now, halfway along the path, how will you remain, O destroyer of enemies?