चन्द्रादित्यौ च शंसेते सुराणां सन्निधौ पुरा । ऋषीणां चैव सर्वेषामपापां जनकात्मजाम् ।। ७.४५.
The moon and the sun, too, once testified before the gods and all the sages to the purity of Janaka’s daughter.
एवं शुद्धसमाचारा देवगन्धर्वसन्निधौ । लङ्काद्वीपे महेन्द्रेण मम हस्ते निवेशिता ।। ७.४५.
Thus, pure in conduct, in the presence of gods and gandharvas, she was placed in my hands by Mahendra on the island of Laṅkā.
अन्तरात्मा च मे वेत्ति सीतां शुद्धां यशस्विनीम् । ततो गृहीत्वा वैदेहीमयोध्यामहमागतः ।। ७.४५.
My inner self knows Sītā, illustrious and pure; therefore, having taken Vaidehī, I returned to Ayodhyā.
अयं तु मे महान्वादः शोकश्च हृदि वर्तते । पौरापवादः सुमहांस्तथा जनपदस्य च ।। ७.४५.
But this great reproach and grief dwell in my heart—a vast rumor among the citizens and likewise in the countryside.
अकीर्तिर्यस्य गीयेत लोके भूतस्य कस्यचित् । पतत्येवाधमाँल्लोकान्यावच्छब्दः प्रकीर्त्यते ।। ७.४५.
If infamy is spoken of anyone in the world, he surely falls to the lowest realms as long as that word is spread.
अकीर्तिर्निन्द्यते देवैः कीर्तिर्लोकेषु पूज्यते । कीर्त्यर्थं तु समारम्भः सर्वेषां सुमहात्मनाम् ।। ७.४५.
Disgrace is condemned by the gods, while fame is honored among people; indeed, all great souls undertake actions for the sake of reputation.
अप्यहं जीवितं जह्यां युष्मान्वा पुरुषर्षभाः । अपवादभयाद्भीतः किं पुनर्जनकात्मजाम् ।। ७.४५.
O best of men, I might even give up my own life or you, out of fear of slander—how much more so Janaka's daughter?
तस्माद्भवन्तः पश्यन्तु पतितं शोकसागरे । नहि पश्याम्यहं भूतं किञ्चिद्दुःखमतो ऽधिकम् ।। ७.४५.
Therefore, let you all witness me fallen into the ocean of sorrow; for I do not see any being suffering a pain greater than this.
श्वस्त्वं प्रभाते सौमित्रे सुमन्त्राधिष्ठितं रथम् । आरुह्य सीतामारोप्य विषयान्ते समुत्सृज ।। ७.४५.
Tomorrow morning, O Saumitri, mount the chariot prepared by Sumantra, place Sita upon it, and abandon her at the edge of the kingdom.
गङ्गायास्तु परे पारे वाल्मीकेस्तु महात्मनः । आश्रमो दिव्यसङ्काशस्तमसातीरमाश्रितः ।। ७.४५.
On the far shore of the Ganga, near the great sage Valmiki, there is a hermitage, resplendent like the divine, situated on the bank of the Tamasa.
तत्रैनां विजने देशे विसृज्य रघुनन्दन । शीघ्रमागच्छ भद्रं ते कुरुष्व वचनं मम ।। ७.४५.
There, in that lonely place, O delight of the Raghus, leave her and return quickly—may good befall you—fulfill my command.
न चास्मिन् प्रतिवक्तव्यः सीतां प्रति कथञ्चन । तस्मात्त्वं गच्छ सौमित्रे नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ७.४५.
And in this matter, you must not speak to Sita in any way; therefore, go, O Saumitri, there is no need for deliberation here.
अप्रीतिर्हि परा मह्यं त्वयेतत्प्रतिवारिते । शापिता हि मया यूयं भुजाभ्यां जीवितेन च ।। ७.४५.
If you were to object to this, you would incur my great displeasure; for I have bound you all by oath—by my arms and by my life.
ये मां वाक्यान्तरे ब्रूयुरनुनेतुं कथञ्चन । अहिता नाम ते नित्यं मदभीष्टविघातनात् ।। ७.४५.
Those who would address me with other words, seeking in any way to dissuade me, are always considered hostile, for they obstruct what I desire.
मानयन्तु भवन्तो मां यदि मच्छासने स्थिताः । इतो ऽद्य नीयतां सीता कुरुष्व वचनं मम ।। ७.४५.
If you remain under my command, then honor me; today, let Sita be taken from here—carry out my instruction.
पूर्वमुक्तो ऽहमनया गङ्गातीरे ऽहमाश्रमान् । पश्येयमिति तस्याश्च कामः संवर्त्यतामयम् ।। ७.४५.
Previously, I promised her that I would show her the hermitages on the bank of the Ganga; let that wish of hers now be fulfilled.
एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थो बाष्पेण पिहिताननः । प्रविवेश स धर्मात्मा भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ।। ७.४५.
Having spoken thus, Kakutstha, his face veiled with tears, entered within, that righteous one surrounded by his brothers.
शोकसंलग्नहृदयो निशश्वास यथा द्विपः ।। ७.४५.
His heart seized by grief, he sighed like an elephant.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Thus ends the forty-fifth sarga in the glorious Uttarakanda of the ancient and noble poem, the Valmiki Ramayana.
ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । सुमन्त्रमब्रवीद्वाक्यं मुखेन परिशुष्यता ।। ७.४६.
Then, when night had passed, Lakshmana, his mind dejected, spoke to Sumantra with a face dried by sorrow.
सारथे तुरगाञ्छीघ्रं योजयस्व रथोत्तमे । स्वास्तीर्णं राजभवनात्सीतायाश्चासनं कुरु ।। ७.४६.
"Charioteer, quickly yoke the horses to the excellent chariot, and prepare a seat for Sita, well-spread, from the royal palace."
सीता हि राजवचनादाश्रमं पुण्यकर्मणाम् । मया नेया महर्षीणां श्रीघ्रमानीयतां रथः ।। ७.४६.
"By the king's command, I must take Sita to the hermitage of the great sages; bring the chariot swiftly."
सुमन्त्रस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा युक्तं परमवाजिभिः । रथं सुरुचिरप्रख्यं स्वास्तीर्णं सुखशय्यया ।। ७.४६.
Sumantra, having replied, 'So be it,' readied the splendid chariot, yoked with excellent steeds, and furnished with a comfortable, well-spread seat.
आनीयोवाच सौमित्रिं मित्राणां मानवर्धनम् । रथो ऽयं समनुप्राप्तो यत्कार्यं क्रियतां प्रभो ।। ७.४६.
He brought and addressed Saumitri, the enhancer of friends and men: 'The chariot has arrived; whatever needs to be done, let it be done, lord.'
एवमुक्तः सुमन्त्रेण राजवेश्मनि लक्ष्मणः । प्रविश्य सीतामासाद्य व्याजहार नरर्षभः ।। ७.४६.
Thus addressed by Sumatra, Lakṣmaṇa entered the royal palace, approached Sītā, and spoke, that foremost of men.
त्वया किलैष नृपतिर्वरं वै याचितः प्रभुः । नृपेण च प्रतिज्ञातमाज्ञप्तश्चाश्रमं प्रति ।। ७.४६.
'It is said that you requested a boon from the king, the lord; and the king has promised and commanded you to go to the hermitage.'
गङ्गीतीरे मया देवि ऋषीणामाश्रमाञ्छुभान् । शीघ्रं गत्वा तु वैदेहि शासनात्पार्थिवस्य नः । अरण्ये मुनिभिर्जुष्टे अपनेया भविष्यसि ।। ७.४६.
'On the banks of the Gaṅgā, O lady, I will swiftly lead you to the auspicious hermitages of the sages, Vaidehī, by the king's command; in the forest, honored by ascetics, you will dwell apart.'
एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे गमनं चाप्यरोचयत् ।। ७.४६.
Thus addressed by the great-souled Lakṣmaṇa, Vaidehī felt incomparable joy and agreed to depart.
वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च । गृहीत्वा तानि वैदेही गमनायोपचक्रमे ।। ७.४६.
Vaidehī took fine garments and various jewels, and began preparations for departure.
इमानि मुनिपत्नीनां दास्याम्याभरणान्हम् । वस्त्राणि च महार्हाणि धनानि विविधानि च ।। ७.४६.
'I will give these ornaments, fine garments, and various treasures to the wives of the sages.'