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.
सीतां तु रुदतीं दृष्ट्वा ते तत्र मुनिदारकाः । प्राद्रवन्यत्र भगवानास्ते वाल्मीकिरुग्रधीः ।। ७.४९.
Seeing Sita weeping there, the sons of the sages ran to where the revered Valmiki, of intense intellect, was staying.
अभिवाद्य मुनेः पादौ मुनिपुत्रा महर्षये । सर्वं निवेदयामासुस्तस्यास्तु रुदितस्वनम् ।। ७.४९.
Having bowed at the feet of the great sage, the sons of the sage reported everything to him, including the sound of her weeping.
अदृष्टपूर्वा भगवन्कस्याप्येषा महात्मनः । पत्नी श्रीरिव सम्मोहाद्विरौति विकृतानना ।। ७.४९.
O revered one, never before have we seen such a woman, the wife of some great soul, wailing in confusion, her face distorted, like the goddess of fortune herself.
भगवन्साधु पश्य त्वं देवतामिव खाच्च्युताम् । नद्यास्तु तीरे भगवन्वरस्त्री कापि दुःखिता ।। ७.४९.
O revered one, please come and see—a noble woman, as if fallen from the heavens, is grieving on the riverbank.
दृष्टास्माभिः प्ररुदिता दृढं शोकपरायणा । अनर्हा दुःखशोकाभ्यामेकां दीनां ह्यनाथवत् ।। ७.४९.
We have seen her weeping bitterly, wholly given over to sorrow and grief, undeserving of such suffering, alone, wretched, and seemingly without support.
न ह्येनां मानुषीं विद्मः सत्क्रिया ऽस्याः प्रयुज्यताम् । आश्रमस्याविदूरे च त्वामियं शरणं गता ।। ७.४९.
We do not think she is human; let her be properly received. She has come to your hermitage for refuge, not far from here.
त्रातारमिच्छते साध्वी भगवंस्त्रातुमर्हसि । तेषां तु वचनं श्रुत्वा बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य धर्मवित् । तपसा लब्धचक्षुष्मान् प्राद्रवद्यत्र मैथिली ।। ७.४९.
This virtuous woman seeks a protector, O revered one; you ought to protect her. Hearing their words, and discerning with his mind, the sage, endowed with vision through austerity and knowing righteousness, went quickly to where Maithili was.
तं प्रयान्तमभिप्रेत्य शिष्या ह्येनं महामतिम् । तं तु देशमभि प्रेत्य किञ्चित्पद्भ्यां महामतिः ।। ७.४९.
His disciples, recognizing his intent, followed that wise one as he went; and the great-minded sage, having reached that place, proceeded a little further on foot.
अर्घ्यमादाय रुचिरं जाह्नवीतीरमागमत् । ददर्श राघवस्येष्टां सीतां पत्नीमनाथवत् ।। ७.४९.
Taking pure water as an offering, he approached the bank of the Jahnavi and saw Sita, the beloved wife of Raghava, appearing helpless.
तां सीतां शोकभारार्तां वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवः । उवाच मधुरां वाणीं ह्लादयन्निव तेजसा ।। ७.४९.
Valmiki, foremost among sages, seeing Sita weighed down by sorrow, spoke to her sweet words, as if gladdening her with his radiance.
स्नुषा दशरथस्य त्वं रामस्य महिषी प्रिया । जनकस्य सुता राज्ञः स्वागतं ते पतिव्रते ।। ७.४९.
You are the daughter-in-law of Dasharatha, the beloved queen of Rama, and the daughter of King Janaka; welcome to you, O devoted wife.
आयान्ती चासि विज्ञाता मया धर्मसमाधिना । कारणं चैव सर्वं मे हृदयेनोपलक्षितम् ।। ७.४९.
As you were approaching, I recognized you through my steadfastness in righteousness; and the entire reason for your coming has been perceived by my heart.
तव चैव महाभागे विदितं मम तत्त्वतः । सर्वं च विदितं मह्यं त्रैलोक्ये यद्धि वर्तते ।। ७.४९.
O greatly fortunate one, your story is known to me in truth; and all that happens in the three worlds is known to me.
अपापां वेद्मि सीते त्वां तपोलब्धेन चक्षुषा । विस्रब्धा भव वैदेहि साम्प्रतं मयि वर्तसे ।। ७.४९.
O Sītā, I know you are without sin, by the vision gained through ascetic practice. Be at ease, O Vaidehī, for now you dwell with me.
आश्रमस्याविदूरे मे तापस्यस्तपसि स्थिताः । तास्त्वां वत्से यथा वत्सं पालयिष्यन्ति नित्यशः ।। ७.४९.
Near my hermitage are ascetic women devoted to penance; they will always care for you, child, as a calf is cared for by cows.
इदमर्ध्यं प्रतीच्छ त्वं विस्रब्धा विगतज्वरा । यथा स्वगृहमभ्येत्य विषादं चैव मा कृथाः ।। ७.४९.
Receive this honored gift, free from anxiety and distress; and when you return to your own home, do not let sorrow touch you.
श्रुत्वा तु भाषितं सीता मुनेः परममद्भुतम् । शिरसा ऽ ऽवन्द्य चरणौ तथेत्याह कृताञ्जलिः ।। ७.४९.
Hearing the sage’s most wondrous words, Sītā bowed her head to his feet and, with joined palms, replied, 'So be it.'
तं प्रयान्तं मुनिं सीता प्राञ्जलिः पृष्ठतो ऽन्वगात् ।। ७.४९.
As the sage departed, Sītā, with hands joined in reverence, followed behind him.
तं दृष्ट्वा मुनिमायान्तं वैदेह्या मुनिपत्नयः । उपाजग्मुर्मुदा युक्ता वचनं चेदमब्रुवन् ।। ७.४९.
Seeing the sage approaching with Vaidehī, the wives of the ascetics came forward joyfully and spoke these words.
स्वागतं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ चिरस्यागमनं च ते । अभिवादयामस्त्वां सर्वा उच्यतां कि च कुर्महे ।। ७.४९.
"Welcome, best of sages! It has been long since your coming. We all offer you our respects—tell us, what shall we do?"