स्वयं गत्वा तमुद्देशं सामात्यः ससुहृज्जनः
He himself went to that place, accompanied by his ministers and friends,
हा वत्स मां परित्यज्य किं त्वं संप्रस्थितो दिवम्
Alas, my son! Having abandoned me, why have you set out for heaven?
तस्मिन्नपि महारण्ये गच्छमानः पुरादहम् ॥।? अपि संधार्यमाणेन अनुयातस्त्वया तदा
Even in that great forest, as I was leaving the city, I was then followed by you, holding yourself together.
संप्राप्तेऽपि कबंधाख्ये राक्षसे बलवत्तरे
And when the powerful demon named Kabandha appeared,
येनेन्द्रजिद्धतो युद्धे तादृग्रूपो निशाचरः
By whom, in battle, the night-stalker of such form was struck down, the one who had defeated Indra,
येन शूर्पणखा ध्वस्ता राक्षसी सा च दारुणा
By whom the fierce demoness Śūrpaṇakhā was destroyed,
यद्बाहुबलमाश्रित्य मया ध्वस्ता निशाचराः ।?
Relying on whose strength of arms, I destroyed the night-dwelling demons,
हा वत्स क्व गतो मां त्वं विमुच्य भ्रातरं निजम् ६.१००.
Alas, my child, where have you gone, leaving behind your own brother and me?
मातृभिः सहितो दीनः शोकेन महतान्वितः
Surrounded by his mothers, he was afflicted, overwhelmed by great sorrow.
ततस्ते मंत्रिणस्तस्य प्रोचुस्तं वीक्ष्य दुःखितम् ॥। विलपंतं रघुश्रेष्ठं स्त्रीजनेन समन्वितम्
Then his ministers, seeing him grieving, spoke to the best of the Raghus, who was lamenting, surrounded by women.
कुरुष्व च यथेदं स्यात्सांप्रतं चौर्ध्वदैहिकम्
Do now what is fitting, and perform the funeral rites as are proper at this time.
नष्टं मृतमतीतं च ये शोचन्ति कुबुद्धयः
Those of poor understanding grieve for what is lost, dead, or past.
एवं ते मन्त्रिणः प्रोच्य ततस्तस्य कलेवरम्
Thus, after the ministers spoke to him, they then took up his body.
कर्पूरागुरुमिश्रैश्च तथान्यैः सुसुगन्धिभिः
With camphor, aloe, and other very fragrant substances,
चन्दनागुरुकाष्ठैश्च चितिं कृत्वा सुविस्तराम्
And with sandalwood and aloe wood, they built a broad funeral pyre.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे जातं तत्राश्चर्यं द्विजोत्तमाः
At that moment, O best of twice-born, a wonder occurred there.
यावत्तेंऽतः समारोप्य चितां तस्य कलेवरम्
As they placed his body upon the pyre,
एतस्मिन्नंतरे वाणी निर्गता गगनांगणात् ६.१००.
At that very moment, a voice emerged from the expanse of the sky.
रामराम महाबाहो मा त्वं शोकपरो भव
O Rāma, mighty-armed one, do not be overcome by grief.
ब्रह्मज्ञानप्रयुक्तस्य संन्यस्तस्य विशेषतः
Especially for one who has renounced, endowed with knowledge of Brahman,
तवायं बांधवो राम ब्रह्मणः सदनं गतः। ब्रह्मद्वारेण चात्मानं निष्क्रम्य सुमहायशाः
This kinsman of yours, O Rama, has gone to the abode of Brahma, departing from himself through the gate of Brahman, possessed of great renown.
अथ ते मंत्रिणः प्रोचुस्तच्छ्रुत्वाऽऽकाशगं वचः लक्ष्मणो गम्यतां शीघ्रं तस्मात्स्वभवने विभो
Then your ministers, having heard those words that came from the sky, said: 'Lakshmana, let him quickly go from there to his own house, O lord.'
चिन्त्यन्तां राजकार्याणि तथा यच्चौर्ध्वदैहिकम्
Let the affairs of the kingdom be considered, as well as the rites to be performed after death.
नाहं गृहं गमिष्यामि लक्ष्मणेन विनाऽधुना
I will not go home now without Lakshmana.
एष पुत्रो मया दत्तः कुशाख्यो मम संमतः
This son, named Kusha, whom I approve, has been given by me.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामो गन्तुकामो दिवालयम्
Having spoken thus, Rama then, desiring to depart, went to the divine abode.
मया तस्य तदा दत्तं लंकायां राज्यमक्षयम्
At that time, I granted him the everlasting kingdom of Lanka.
अतिक्रूरतरा जाती राक्षसानां यतः स्मृता ६.१००.
For the race of the Rakshasas is remembered as exceedingly cruel.
तच्चेद्राक्षसभावेन स महात्मा विभीषणः
If that great-souled Vibhishana should act with the nature of a Rakshasa,
तं देवाः सूदयिष्यंति उपायैः सामपूर्वकैः
then the gods will destroy him by means and with conciliation first.