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?"
तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वाल्मीकिरिदमब्रवीत् । सीतेयं समनुप्राप्ता पत्नी रामस्य धीमतः ।। ७.४९.
Hearing their words, Vālmīki spoke: "This is Sītā, the wife of wise Rāma, who has come here."
स्नुषा दशरथस्यैषा जनकस्य सुता सती । अपापा पतिना त्यक्ता परिपाल्या मया सदा ।। ७.४९.
"She is the daughter-in-law of Daśaratha, the virtuous daughter of Janaka, innocent, abandoned by her husband, and always to be protected by me."
इमां भवन्त्यः(?) पश्यन्तु स्नेहेन परमेण हि । गौरवान्मम वाक्याच्च पूज्या वो ऽस्तु विशेषतः ।। ७.४९.
"Let you all regard her with the highest affection; and, out of respect for my words, let her be especially honored by you."
मुहुर्मुहुश्च वैदेहीं प्रणिधाय महायशाः । स्वमाश्रमं शिष्यवृतः पुनरायान्महातपाः ।। ७.४९.
Again and again, the illustrious sage looked upon Vaidehī, and then, surrounded by his disciples, the great ascetic returned to his own hermitage.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः
Thus ends the forty-ninth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
दृष्ट्वा तु मैथिलीं सीतामाश्रमे सम्प्रवेशिताम् । सन्तापमगमद्घोरं लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः ।। ७.५०.
Seeing Sītā of Mithilā led into the hermitage, Lakṣmaṇa, his mind cast down, was seized by intense anguish.
अब्रवीच्च महातेजाः सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रसारथिम् । सीतासन्तापजं दुःखं पश्य रामस्य सारथे ।। ७.५०.
And the mighty Lakṣmaṇa spoke to Sumantra, the wise charioteer: "O charioteer, see the sorrow that has come to Rāma from Sītā’s grief."
ततो दुःखतरं किं नु राघवस्य भविष्यति । पत्नीं शुद्धसमाचारां विसृज्य जनकात्मजाम् ।। ७.५०.
"What could be more painful for Rāghava than this—having abandoned his blameless wife, the daughter of Janaka?"
व्यक्तं दैवादहं मन्ये राघवस्य विना भवम् । वैदेह्या सारथे नित्यं दैवं हि दुरतिक्रमम् ।। ७.५०.
"Clearly, I think, this is fate for Rāghava, to be without Vaidehī; for fate, O charioteer, is indeed hard to overcome."
यो हि देवान्सगन्धर्वानसुरान्सह राक्षसैः । निहन्याद्राघवः क्रुद्धः स दैवमनुवर्तते ।। ७.५०.
"Even Rāghava, who in his wrath could slay gods, gandharvas, asuras, and rākṣasas together, follows the course of fate."
पुरा रामः पितुर्वाक्याद्दण्डके विजने वने । उषित्वा नव वर्षाणि पञ्च चैव महावने ।। ७.५०.
"Long ago, at his father’s command, Rāma dwelt in the lonely Daṇḍaka forest for fourteen years."
ततो दुःखतरं भूयः सीताया विप्रवासनम् । पौराणां वचनं श्रुत्वा नृशंसं प्रतिभाति मे ।। ७.५०.
Then, the exile of Sita, which is even more painful, seems cruel to me after hearing the words of the citizens.
को नु धर्माश्रयः सूत कर्मण्यस्मिन्यशोहरे । मैथिलीं प्रतिसम्प्राप्तः पौरैर्हीनार्थवादिभिः ।। ७.५०.
O charioteer, what righteousness is there in this act, so disgraceful, which has come about for Maithili because of the citizens, who speak without true reason?
एता वाचो बहुविधाः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणभाषिताः । सुमन्त्रः श्रद्धया प्राज्ञो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.५०.
Hearing these many words spoken by Lakshmana, Sumantra, wise and faithful, spoke this reply.
न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्यः सौमित्रे मैथिलीं प्रति । दृष्टमेतत्पुरा विप्रैः पितुस्ते लक्ष्मणाग्रतः ।। ७.५०.
Do not grieve, Saumitri, regarding Maithili; this was seen before by the sages, in your father's presence, O Lakshmana.
भविष्यति दृढं रामो दुःखप्रायो ऽपि सौख्यभाक् । प्राप्स्यते च महाबाहुर्विप्रयोगं प्रियैर्ध्रुवम् ।। ७.५०.
Rama will certainly remain steadfast, though afflicted by sorrow, yet he will attain happiness; and surely, the mighty-armed one will experience separation from his loved ones.
त्वां चैव मैथिलीं चैव शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ । सन्त्यजिष्यति धर्मात्मा कालेन महता महान् ।। ७.५०.
He, the great and righteous one, will in time abandon you, Maithili, and both Shatrughna and Bharata as well.
इदं त्वयि न वक्तव्यं सौमित्रे भरते ऽपि वा । राज्ञा वो व्याहृतं वाक्यं दुर्वासा यदुवाच ह ।। ७.५०.
But this must not be spoken by you, Saumitri, nor by Bharata; the king spoke these words, which Durvasa also uttered.
महाजनसमीपे च मम चैव नरर्षभ । ऋषिणा व्याहृतं वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य च सन्निधौ ।। ७.५०.
In the presence of the great assembly and myself, O best of men, the sage spoke these words also before Vasistha.
ऋषेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा मामाह पुरुषर्षभः । सूत न क्वचिदेवं ते वक्तव्यं जनसन्निधौ ।। ७.५०.
Hearing the sage's words, the best of men said to me: 'O charioteer, never speak of this in the presence of people.'