सा तु सूतस्य वचनादारुरोह रथोत्तमम् । सीता सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सुमन्त्रेण च धीमता ।। ७.४६.
At the charioteer's words, Sītā ascended the excellent chariot, together with Saumitri and wise Sumatra.
आससाद विशालाक्षी गङ्गां पापविनाशिनीम् । अथार्धदिवसं गत्वा भागीरथ्या जलाशयम् ।। ७.४६.
The wide-eyed lady approached the Ganga, destroyer of sin; and after half a day had passed, she reached the waters of the Bhagirathi.
निरीक्ष्य लक्ष्मणो दीनः प्ररुरोद महास्वनः ।। ७.४६.
Lakshmana, gazing upon her, grew despondent and wept aloud.
सीता तु परमायत्ता दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमातुरम् । उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञा किमिदं रुद्यते त्वया ।। ७.४६.
Sita, wholly dependent, seeing Lakshmana distressed, spoke these words, wise in righteousness: 'Why are you crying like this?'
जाह्नवीतीरमासाद्य चिराभिलषितं मम । हर्षकाले किमर्थं मां विषादयसि लक्ष्मण ।। ७.४६.
'Having reached the bank of Jahnavi, which I have long desired, why, at this moment of joy, do you sadden me, Lakshmana?'
नित्यं त्वं रामपार्श्वेषु वर्तसे पुरुषर्षभ । कच्चिद्विनाकृतस्तेन द्विरात्रं शोकमागतः ।। ७.४६.
'You always dwell at Rama’s side, O best of men; have you been separated from him for two nights and fallen into sorrow?'
ममापि दयितो रामो जीवितादपि लक्ष्मण । न चाहमेवं शोचामि मैवं त्वं बालिशो भव ।। ७.४६.
'Rama is dearer to me than life itself, Lakshmana; yet I do not grieve in this way. Do not be childish.'
तारयस्व च मां गङ्गां दर्शयस्व च तापसान् । ततो मुनिभ्यो दास्यामि वांसास्याभरणानि च ।। ७.४६.
'Take me across the Ganga and show me the ascetics; then I will give the sages my ornaments and bangles.'
ततः कृत्वा महर्षीणां यथार्हमभिवादनम् । तत्र चैकां निशामुष्य यास्यामस्तां पुरीं पुनः ।। ७.४६.
'After offering proper salutations to the great sages, and spending one night there, we shall return again to that city.'
ममापि पद्मपत्राक्षं सिंहोरस्कं कृशोदरम् । त्वरते हि मनो द्रष्टुं रामं रमयतां वरम् ।। ७.४६.
'My mind hastens to see Rama, whose eyes are like lotus petals, whose chest is like a lion’s, whose waist is slender—the foremost of those who delight.'
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रमृज्य नयने शुभे । नाविकानाह्वयामास लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा ।। ७.४६.
Hearing her words, Lakshmana, destroyer of foes, wiped his beautiful eyes and summoned the boatmen.
इयं च सज्जा नौश्चेति दाशाः प्राञ्जलयो ऽब्रुवन् ।। ७.४६.
The boatmen, with joined palms, said, 'The boat is ready.'
तितीर्षुर्लक्ष्मणो गङ्गां शुभां नावमुपारुहत् । गङ्गां सन्तारयामास लक्ष्मणस्तां समाहितः ।। ७.४६.
Lakshmana, intent on crossing the auspicious Ganga, boarded the boat, and carefully ferried her across.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Thus ends the forty-sixth sarga in the glorious Uttarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic, composed by Valmiki.
अथ नावं सुविस्तीर्णां नैषादीं राघवानुजः । आरुरोह समायुक्तां पूर्वमारोप्य मैथिलीम् ।। ७.४७.
Then Lakshmana, Rama’s younger brother, boarded the broad Nishada boat, first seating Maithili upon it.
सुमन्त्रं चैव सरथं स्थीयतामिति लक्ष्मणः । उवाच शोकसन्तप्तः प्रयाहीति च नाविकम् ।। ७.४७.
Lakshmana, afflicted by grief, said, 'Let Sumantra and the chariot remain here,' and told the boatman, 'Proceed.'
ततस्तीरमुपागम्य भागीरथ्याः स लक्ष्मणः । उवाच मैथिलीं वाक्यं प्राञ्जलिर्बाष्पसम्प्लुतः ।। ७.४७.
Then Lakshmana, having reached the bank of the Bhagirathi, spoke to Maithili with joined palms, his voice choked with tears.
हृद्गतं मे महच्छल्यं यस्मादार्येण धीमता । अस्मिन्निमित्ते वैदेहि लोकस्य वचनीकृतः ।। ७.४७.
'A great pain has entered my heart, because the noble and wise one, for this reason, Vaidehi, has acted according to the words of the people.'
श्रेयो हि मरणं मे ऽद्य मृत्युर्वा यत्परं भवेत् । न चास्मिन्नीदृशे कार्ये नियोज्यो लोकनिन्दिते ।। ७.४७.
'Death would be better for me today, or whatever is greater than death; for in such a task, condemned by the world, I should not be employed.'
प्रसीद च न मे पापं कर्तुमर्हसि शोभने । इत्यञ्जलिकृतो भूमौ निपपात स लक्ष्मणः ।। ७.४७.
Be gracious, O noble lady, and do not compel me to commit a sin; so saying, Lakṣmaṇa, with joined palms, fell to the ground.
रुदन्तं प्राञ्जलिं दृष्ट्वा काङ्क्षन्तं मृत्युमात्मनः । मैथिली भृशसंविग्ना लक्ष्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ७.४७.
Seeing Lakṣmaṇa weeping, with folded hands, longing for death, Sītā, deeply disturbed, spoke to him these words.
किमिदं नावगच्छामि ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन लक्ष्मण । पश्यामि त्वां न च स्वस्थमपि क्षेमं महीपतेः ।। ७.४७.
What is this? I do not understand; tell me the truth, Lakṣmaṇa. I see you are not yourself, nor is there any well-being for the king.
शापितो ऽसि नरेन्द्रेण यत्त्वं सन्तापमागतः । तद्ब्रूयाः सन्निधौ मह्यमहमाज्ञापयामि ते ।। ७.४७.
You have been cursed by the king, and that is why you are so distressed. Tell me this in my presence; I command you.
वैदेह्या चोद्यमानस्तु लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । अवाङ्मुखो बाष्पकलं वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.४७.
Urged by Vaidehī, Lakṣmaṇa, his mind dejected, with face turned downward and voice choked with tears, spoke these words.
श्रुत्वा परिषदो मध्ये ह्यपवादं सुदारुणम् । पुरे जनपदे चैव त्वत्कृते जनकात्मजे । रामः सन्तप्तहृदयो मा निवेद्य गृहं गतः ।। ७.४७.
Hearing, in the midst of the assembly and throughout the city and country, a most terrible reproach against you, O daughter of Janaka, Rāma, his heart tormented, returned home without informing you.
न तानि वचनीयानि मया देवि तवाग्रतः । यानि राज्ञा हृदि न्यस्तान्यमर्षात्पृष्ठतः कृतः ।। ७.४७.
O lady, I cannot speak before you the words which the king, out of anger, kept in his heart and commanded me in secret.
सा त्वं त्यक्ता नृपतिना निर्दोषा मम सन्निधौ । पौरापवादभीतेन ग्राह्यं देवि न ते ऽन्यथा ।। ७.४७.
You, though blameless, have been abandoned by the king in my presence, out of fear of public reproach; O lady, you must accept this, there is no other way.
आश्रमान्तेषु च मया त्यक्तव्या त्वं भविष्यसि । राज्ञः शासनमाज्ञाय तवेदं किल दौर्हृदम् ।। ७.४७.
At the edge of the hermitage, I am to leave you, as ordered by the king; this, O lady, is indeed your misfortune.
तदेतज्जाह्नवीतीरे ब्रह्मर्षीणां तपोवनम् । पुण्यं च रमणीयं च मा विषादं कृथाः शुभे ।। ७.४७.
Here, on the bank of the Jāhnavī, is the hermitage of the great sages, holy and beautiful; do not grieve, O noble lady.
राज्ञो दशरथस्येष्टः पितुर्मे मुनिपुङ्गवः । सखा परमको विप्रो वाल्मीकिः सुमहायशाः ।। ७.४७.
The illustrious sage Vālmīki, most renowned, is the dear friend and foremost of seers, cherished by King Daśaratha, my father.