यत् कर्तव्यं मनुष्येण धर्षणां प्रतिमार्जता। तत् कृतं रावणं हत्वा मयेदं मानकांक्षिणा
What a man must do to wipe away dishonor has been done by me, who sought honor, by slaying Ravana.
निर्जिता जीवलोकस्य तपसा भावितात्मना। अगस्त्येन दुराधर्षा मुनिना दक्षिणेव दिक्
Just as the southern quarter, once unconquerable, was subdued by Agastya through his austerity and purified soul, so have I conquered the world of living beings.
विदितश्चास्तु भद्रं ते योऽयं रणपरिश्रमः। सुतीर्णः सुहृदां वीर्यान्न त्वदर्थं मया कृतः
Let it be known to you, O blessed one, that this toil in battle has been endured by me for the sake of my friends’ valor, not for your sake.
रक्षता तु मया वृत्तमपवादं च सर्वतः। प्रख्यातस्यात्मवंशस्य न्यङ्गं च परिमार्जता
By me, who has maintained proper conduct and wiped away all reproach, the blemish upon my renowned lineage has been removed.
प्राप्तचारित्रसंदेहा मम प्रतिमुखे स्थिता। दीपो नेत्रातुरस्येव प्रतिकूलासि मे दृढा
You, standing before me, whose character is now in doubt, are to me as a lamp is to one whose eyes are diseased—truly adverse and painful.
तद् गच्छ त्वानुजानेऽद्य यथेष्टं जनकात्मजे। एता दश दिशो भद्रे कार्यमस्ति न मे त्वया
Therefore, go as you wish today, O daughter of Janaka; these ten directions are open to you, for I have no further use for you.
कः पुमांस्तु कुले जातः स्त्रियं परगृहोषिताम्। तेजस्वी पुनरादद्यात् सुहृल्लोभेन चेतसा
What man born in a noble family, even if powerful, would take back a woman who has lived in another’s house, out of attachment to friends?
रावणाङ्कपरिक्लिष्टां दृष्टां दुष्टेन चक्षुषा। कथं त्वां पुनरादद्यां कुलं व्यपदिशन्महत्
You, who were tormented in Ravana’s lap and seen with a wicked gaze—how could I take you back, claiming a great lineage?
यदर्थं निर्जिता मे त्वं सोऽयमासादितो मया। नास्ति मे त्वय्यभिष्वङ्गो यथेष्टं गम्यतामिति
The purpose for which you were recovered by me has been achieved; I have no attachment to you—go wherever you wish.
तदद्य व्याहृतं भद्रे मयैतत् कृतबुद्धिना। लक्ष्मणे वाथ भरते कुरु बुद्धिं यथासुखम्
So today, O blessed one, I have spoken this with a resolved mind; set your heart, as you wish, on Lakshmana or Bharata.
शत्रुघ्ने वाथ सुग्रीवे राक्षसे वा विभीषणे। निवेशय मनः सीते यथा वा सुखमात्मना
Or on Shatrughna, or Sugriva, or the rakshasa Vibhishana; place your mind, Sita, wherever you find happiness.
नहि त्वां रावणो दृष्ट्वा दिव्यरूपां मनोरमाम्। मर्षयेत चिरं सीते स्वगृहे पर्यवस्थिताम्
For surely, seeing you, O Sītā, possessing a divine and enchanting form, Rāvaṇa could not have long endured your presence in his house.
ततः प्रियार्हश्रवणा तदप्रियं प्रियादुपश्रुत्य चिरस्य मानिनी। मुमोच बाष्पं रुदती तदा भृशं गजेन्द्रहस्ताभिहतेव वल्लरी
Then, hearing those harsh words, so unworthy for beloved ears, and learning of this sorrow after so long, the proud lady wept bitterly, like a vine struck by the trunk of a lordly elephant.
thumb|षोडशाधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे षोडशाधिकशततमः सर्गः ॥६-
Hear now the one hundred sixteenth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa.
एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही परुषं रोमहर्षणम्। राघवेण सरोषेण श्रुत्वा प्रव्यथिताभवत्
Thus addressed with harsh and hair-raising words by Rāghava, spoken in anger, Vaidehī became deeply distressed upon hearing them.
सा तदाश्रुतपूर्वं हि जने महति मैथिली। श्रुत्वा भर्तुर्वचो घोरं लज्जयावनताभवत्
For never before had Maithilī heard such dreadful words from her husband in the presence of a great assembly, and she became bowed down with shame.
प्रविशन्तीव गात्राणि स्वानि सा जनकात्मजा। वाक्शरैस्तैः सशल्येव भृशमश्रूण्यवर्तयत्
It was as if the daughter of Janaka's limbs were withdrawing into themselves; wounded by those words, she could hardly restrain her tears.
ततो बाष्पपरिक्लिन्नं प्रमार्जन्ती स्वमाननम्। शनैर्गद्गदया वाचा भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्
Then, wiping her face, which was wet with tears, she slowly spoke to her husband in a broken, faltering voice.
किं मामसदृशं वाक्यमीदृशं श्रोत्रदारुणम्। रूक्षं श्रावयसे वीर प्राकृतः प्राकृतामिव
Why do you, O hero, speak such harsh and painful words to me, as if you were an ordinary man addressing an ordinary woman?
न तथास्मि महाबाहो यथा मामवगच्छसि। प्रत्ययं गच्छ मे स्वेन चारित्रेणैव ते शपे
I am not as you think me to be, mighty-armed one; trust in my own character—I swear to you by it.
पृथक्स्त्रीणां प्रचारेण जातिं त्वं परिशङ्कसे। परित्यजैनां शङ्कां तु यदि तेऽहं परीक्षिता
Because of the conduct of other women, you suspect my nature; but if you have tested me, then cast aside this doubt.
यदहं गात्रसंस्पर्शं गतास्मि विवशा प्रभो। कामकारो न मे तत्र दैवं तत्रापराध्यति
O lord, when I was forced into another's touch, it was not by my own will; in that, fate alone is at fault, not I.
मदधीनं तु यत् तन्मे हृदयं त्वयि वर्तते। पराधीनेषु गात्रेषु किं करिष्याम्यनीश्वरी
But my heart, which is under my control, remains fixed on you; what can I, powerless, do regarding limbs under another's control?
सह संवृद्धभावेन संसर्गेण च मानद। यदि तेऽहं न विज्ञाता हता तेनास्मि शाश्वतम्
If, despite our long union and intimacy, you do not know me, then I am truly lost forever.
प्रेषितस्ते महावीरो हनुमानवलोककः। लङ्कास्थाहं त्वया राजन् किं तदा न विसर्जिता
You sent the mighty Hanumān to see me; when I was in Laṅkā, O king, why did you not release me then?
प्रत्यक्षं वानरस्यास्य तद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम्। त्वया संत्यक्तया वीर त्यक्तं स्याज्जीवितं मया
If, after the monkey's direct report, you had abandoned me, O hero, then I would have given up my life.
न वृथा ते श्रमोऽयं स्यात् संशये न्यस्य जीवितम्। सुहृज्जनपरिक्लेशो न चायं विफलस्तव
Then your effort would not have been in vain, for I would have staked my life on this doubt; nor would the suffering of your friends have been fruitless.
त्वया तु नृपशार्दूल रोषमेवानुवर्तता। लघुनेव मनुष्येण स्त्रीत्वमेव पुरस्कृतम्
But you, tiger among kings, have only followed anger, and, like an ordinary man, have placed my womanhood at the forefront.
अपदेशेन जनकान्नोत्पत्तिर्वसुधातलात्। मम वृत्तं च वृत्तज्ञ बहु ते न पुरस्कृतम्
You have disregarded my origin from Janaka and the earth, and, though you know my conduct well, you have not given it due weight.
न प्रमाणीकृतः पाणिर्बाल्ये मम निपीडितः। मम भक्तिश्च शीलं च सर्वं ते पृष्ठतः कृतम्
My hand was not properly joined in marriage, I was oppressed in my childhood; my devotion and character—all that has been set aside by you.