पादच्छायामुपागम्य सुखमस्य महात्मनः । उपवासपरैकाग्रा वस त्वं जनकात्मजे ।। ७.४७.
Approach the shelter of that great soul's feet, O daughter of Janaka, and dwell there, devoted to fasting and single-mindedness.
पतिव्रतात्वमास्थाय रामं कृत्वा सदा हृदि । श्रेयस्ते परमं देवि तथा कृत्वा भविष्यति ।। ७.४७.
Abide in fidelity to your husband, keeping Rāma always in your heart; O lady, by doing so, your highest good will surely be attained.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Thus ends the forty-seventh sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa, composed by the sage Vālmīki.
लक्ष्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दारुणं जनकात्मजा । परं विषादमागम्य वैदेही निपपात ह ।। ७.४८.
Hearing Lakṣmaṇa's harsh words, the daughter of Janaka, overwhelmed by grief, fell to the ground.
सा मुहूर्तमिवासञ्ज्ञा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा । लक्ष्मणं दीनया वाचा उवाच जनकात्मजा ।। ७.४८.
For a moment she lay unconscious, her eyes filled with tears; then, in a sorrowful voice, the daughter of Janaka spoke to Lakṣmaṇa.
मामिकेयं तनुर्नूनं सृष्टा दुःखाय लक्ष्मण । धात्रा यस्यास्तथा मे ऽद्य दुःखमूर्तिः प्रदृश्यते ।। ७.४८.
Surely, Lakṣmaṇa, this body of mine was created by the Creator for suffering, for today I am seen as the very embodiment of sorrow.
किं नु पापं कृतं पूर्वं को वा दारैर्वियोजितः । या ऽहं शुद्धसमाचारा त्यक्ता नृपतिना सती ।। ७.४८.
What sin did I commit in the past, or who was separated from his wife, that I, though pure in conduct and faithful, have been abandoned by the king?
पुरा ऽहमाश्रमे वासं रामपादानुवर्तिनी । अनुरुध्यापि सौमित्रे दुःखे च परिवर्तिनी ।। ७.४८.
Once, I dwelled in the hermitage, devoted to following Rama's feet, enduring hardship, O Saumitri, and remaining steadfast even in suffering.
सा कथं ह्याश्रमे सौम्य वत्स्यामि विजनीकृता । आख्यास्यामि च कस्याहं दुःखं दुःखपरायणा ।। ७.४८.
How then, gentle one, shall I live in the hermitage, cast into solitude? To whom shall I speak of my sorrow, I who am given over to grief?
किं नु वक्ष्यामि मुनिषु कर्म वा सत्कृतं च किम् । कस्मिंश्चित् कारणे त्यक्ता राघवेण महात्मना ।। ७.४८.
What shall I say to the sages, or what worthy deed can I recount, having been abandoned by the great-souled Raghava for some reason?
न खल्वद्यैव सौमित्रे जीवितं जाह्नवीजले । त्यजेयं राजवंशस्तु भर्तुर्मे परिहास्यते ।। ७.४८.
Indeed, Saumitri, I will not end my life today in the waters of the Jahnavi; for then the royal lineage of my husband would be brought to disgrace.
यथाज्ञं कुरु सोमित्रे त्यज मां दुःखभागिनीम् । निदेशे स्थीयतां राज्ञः शृणु चेदं वचो मम ।। ७.४८.
Do as you are commanded, Saumitri; abandon me, who am burdened with sorrow. Remain obedient to the king's order, and listen now to my words.
श्वश्रूणामविशेषेण प्राञ्जलिप्रग्रहेण च । शिरसा ऽ ऽवन्द्य चरणौ कुशलं ब्रूहि पार्थिवम् ।। ७.४८.
With joined palms, without distinction among my mothers-in-law, bowing your head at their feet, convey my well-wishes to the king.
शिरसा ऽभिनतो ब्रूयाः सर्वासामेव लक्ष्मण । वक्तव्यश्चापि नृपतिर्धर्मेषु सुसमाहितः ।। ७.४८.
Bow your head and speak on my behalf to all of them, O Lakshmana; and tell the king as well, who is firmly established in righteousness.
जानासि च यथा शुद्धा सीता तत्त्वेन राघव । भक्त्या च परया युक्ता हिता च तव नित्यशः ।। ७.४८.
You know well, O Raghava, how pure Sita is in truth, endowed with supreme devotion and always intent on your welfare.
अहं त्यक्ता त्वया वीर अयशोभीरुणा जने । यच्च ते वचनीयं स्यादपवादसमुत्थितम् । मया च परिहर्तव्यं त्वं हि मे परमा गतिः ।। ७.४८.
I have been abandoned by you, O hero, bringing dishonor among the people; and whatever words may arise from slander, I must avoid them. You are indeed my highest refuge.
वक्तव्यश्चेति नृपतिर्धमेण सुसमाहितः । यथा भ्रातृषु वर्तेथास्तथा पौरेषु नित्यदा ।। ७.४८.
Tell the king, thus, that he should always act toward his brothers and his citizens as he does in matters of righteousness.
परमो ह्येष धर्मस्ते तस्मात्कीर्तिरनुत्तमा ।। ७.४८.
This is your highest duty, and therefore your unsurpassed renown.
यत्तु पौरजनो राजन्धर्मेण समवाप्नुयात् । अहं तु नानुशोचामि स्वशरीरं नरर्षभ ।। ७.४८.
Whatever the citizens may obtain through righteousness, O king, I do not grieve for my own body, O best of men.
यथापवादं पौराणां तथैव रघुनन्दन । पतिर्हि देवता नार्याः पतिर्बन्धुः पतिर्गुरुः ।। ७.४८.
Just as the reproach of the citizens, so, O delight of the Raghus, the husband is a goddess to his wife, her relative, and her teacher.
प्राणैरपि प्रियं तस्माद्भर्तुः कार्यं विशेषतः । इति मद्वचनाद्रामो वक्तव्यो मम सङ्ग्रहः । निरीक्ष्य मा ऽद्य गच्छ त्वमृतुकालातिवर्तिनीम् ।। ७.४८.
Therefore, even at the cost of her life, a wife must especially do what is dear to her husband. Thus, let Rama be told these words of mine in summary. Now, seeing me past the time of my purity, you may go.
एवं ब्रुवन्त्यां सीतायां लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । शिरसा ऽ ऽवन्द्य धरणीं व्याहर्तुं न शशाक ह ।। ७.४८.
As Sita spoke thus, Lakshmana, his heart stricken with sorrow, bowed his head to the earth and was unable to utter a word.
प्रदक्षिणं च तां कृत्वा रुदन्नेव महास्वनः । ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं तामाह किं मां वक्ष्यसि शोभने ।। ७.४८.
Having circumambulated her, he wept aloud, and after reflecting for a moment, he said to her: 'O noble one, what will you say to me?'
दृष्टपूर्वं न ते रूपं पादौ दृष्टौ तवानघे । कथमत्र हि पश्यामि रामेण रहितां वने ।। ७.४८.
Never before have I seen your form, nor your feet, O faultless one; how then can I see you here, left alone in the forest by Rama?
इत्युक्त्वा तां नमस्कृत्य पुनर्नावमुपारुहत् । आरुह्य च पुनर्नावं नाविकं चाभ्यचोदयत् ।। ७.४८.
Having spoken thus and bowed to her, he boarded the boat again; and once aboard, he urged the boatman onward.
स गत्वा चोत्तरं तीरं शोकभारसमन्वितः । सम्मूढ इव दुःखेन रथमध्यारुहद्द्रुतम् ।। ७.४८.
He, burdened with grief, went to the northern bank and, as if bewildered by sorrow, quickly mounted the chariot.
मुहुर्मुहुः परावृत्य दृष्ट्वा सीतामनाथवत् । चेष्टन्तीं परतीरस्थां लक्ष्मणः प्रययावथ ।। ७.४८.
Again and again turning back, seeing Sita helpless, moving about on the far shore, Lakshmana then departed.
दूरस्थं रथमालोक्य लक्ष्मणं च मुहूर्मुहुः । निरीक्षमाणां तूद्विग्नां सीतां शोकः समाविशत् ।। ७.४८.
Seeing the chariot and Lakshmana at a distance, Sita, anxiously watching again and again, was overtaken by sorrow.
सा दुःखभारावनता यशस्विनी यशोधना नाथमपश्यती सती । रुरोद सा बर्हिणनादिते वने महास्वनं दुःखपरायणा सती ।। ७.४८.
She, bowed down by the weight of sorrow, illustrious and rich in fame, though faithful, saw herself without a protector; she wept aloud in the forest, her cry like that of a peacock, wholly given over to grief.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टचत्वारिंशः सर्गः
Thus ends the forty-eighth sarga of the glorious Uttarakanda in the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by the sage Valmiki.