सीतायाश्च ततः पुत्रावभिषेक्ष्यति राघवः ।। ७.५१.
Then Rāghava will consecrate as kings the two sons born of Sītā.
स सर्वमखिलं राज्ञो वंशस्याह गतागतम् । आख्याय सुमहातेजास्तूष्णीमासीन्महामुनिः ।। ७.५१.
Having thus narrated the entire coming and going of the royal lineage, the great sage, endowed with immense brilliance, sat in silence.
तूष्णीम्भूते तदा तस्मिन्राजा दशरथो मुनौ । अभिवाद्य महात्मानौ पुनरायात्पुरोत्तमम् ।। ७.५१.
When the sage became silent, King Daśaratha, having paid homage to the great-souled ones, returned again to the foremost city.
एतद्वचो मया तत्र मुनिना व्याहृतं पुरा । श्रुतं हृदि च निक्षिप्तं नान्यथा तद्भविष्यति ।। ७.५१.
This statement was once spoken there by the sage; I heard it and kept it in my heart—it will not be otherwise.
एवं गते न सन्तापं कर्तुमर्हसि राघव । सीतार्थे राघवार्थे वा दृढो भव नरोत्तम ।। ७.५१.
Since this is so, you should not grieve, O Rāghava, either for Sītā or for yourself; be steadfast, best of men.
श्रुत्वा तु व्याहृतं वाक्यं सूतस्य परमाद्भुतम् । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे साधु साध्विति चाब्रवीत् ।। ७.५१.
Hearing this wondrous speech spoken by the charioteer, he felt incomparable joy and said, 'Well done, well done.'
ततः संवदतोरेवं सूतलक्ष्मणयोः पथि । अस्तमर्के गते वासं केशिन्यां तावथोषतुः ।। ७.५१.
Then, as Sūta and Lakṣmaṇa conversed thus on the road, when the sun had set, they spent the night at Keśinī.
तत्र तां रजनीमुष्य केशिन्यां रघुनन्दनः । प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय लक्ष्मणः प्रययौ तदा ।। ७.५२.
There, having spent the night at Keśinī, Lakṣmaṇa, the delight of the Raghus, rose again at dawn and departed.
ततो ऽर्धदिवसे प्राप्ते प्रविवेश महारथः । अयोध्यां रत्नसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनावृताम् ।। ७.५२.
When half the day had passed, the mighty charioteer entered Ayodhyā, filled with jewels and thronged with joyful, prosperous people.
सौमित्रिस्तु परं दैन्यं जगाम सुमहामतिः । रामपादौ समासाद्य वक्ष्यामि किमहं गतः ।। ७.५२.
But Saumitri, of great intelligence, fell into deep dejection; approaching Rāma's feet, he wondered, 'What shall I say, having come?'
तस्यैवं चिन्तयानस्य भवनं शशिसन्निभम् । रामस्य परमोदारं पुरस्तान्समदृश्यत ।। ७.५२.
As he pondered thus, the exceedingly splendid palace of Rāma, resembling the moon, appeared before him.
राज्ञस्तु भवनद्वारि सो ऽवतीर्य रथोत्तमात् । अवाङ्मुखो दीनमनाः प्रविवेशानिवारितः ।। ७.५२.
At the palace gate, he descended from his excellent chariot, entered—unhindered—downcast and heavy-hearted.
स दृष्ट्वा राघवं दीनमासीनं परमासने । नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां ददर्शाग्रजमग्रतः ।। ७.५२.
Seeing Rāghava, dejected, seated on a lofty throne, he beheld his elder brother before him, with eyes filled with tears.
जग्राह चरणौ तस्य लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । उवाच दीनया वाचा प्राञ्जलिः सुसमाहितः ।। ७.५२.
Lakṣmaṇa, his mind afflicted, grasped his feet and, with joined palms and a sorrowful voice, spoke with great composure.
आर्यस्याज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य विसृज्य जनकात्मजाम् । गङ्गातीरे यथोद्दिष्टे वाल्मीकेराश्रमे शुचौ ।। ७.५२.
Having followed your command, O noble one, I left the daughter of Janaka on the bank of the Gaṅgā, as instructed, in Vālmīki's pure hermitage.
तत्र तां च शुभाचारामाश्रमान्ते यशस्विनीम् । पुनरप्यागतो वीर पादमूलमुपासितुम् ।। ७.५२.
There, at the edge of the hermitage, he once again approached that illustrious woman of virtuous conduct, O hero, to sit at her feet.
मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र कालस्य गतिरीदृशी । त्वद्विधा न हि शोचन्ति बुद्धिमन्तो मनस्विनः ।। ७.५२.
Do not grieve, O tiger among men; such is the course of time. The wise and self-controlled like you do not mourn.
सर्वे क्षयान्ता निचयाः पतनान्ताः समुच्छ्रयाः । संयोगा विप्रयोगान्ता मरणान्तं च जीवितम् ।। ७.५२.
All accumulations end in depletion, all elevations end in a fall; all unions end in separation, and life itself ends in death.
तस्मात्पुत्रेषु दारेषु मित्रेषु च धनेषु च । नातिप्रसङ्गः कर्तव्यो विप्रयोगो हि तैर्ध्रुवम् ।। ७.५२.
Therefore, one should not become overly attached to sons, wives, friends, or wealth, for separation from them is certain.
शक्तस्त्वमात्मना ऽ ऽत्मानं विनेतुं मनसैव हि । लोकान्सर्वांश्च काकुत्स्थ किं पुनः शोकमात्मनः ।। ७.५२.
You are indeed capable, O Kakutstha, of restraining yourself by your own mind; if you can govern all worlds, how much more your own sorrow?
नेदृशेषु विमुह्यन्ति त्वद्विधाः पुरुषर्षभाः । अपवादः स किल ते पुनरेष्यति राघव ।। ७.५२.
Men like you, O best of men, do not become deluded in such circumstances; otherwise, reproach will surely return to you, O Rāghava.
यदर्थं मैथिली त्यक्ता अपवादभयान्नृप । सो ऽपवादः पुरे राजन्भविष्यति न संशयः ।। ७.५२.
The reason for which Maithilī was abandoned, out of fear of reproach, O king, that reproach will indeed arise in the city—there is no doubt.
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल धैर्येण सुसमाहितः । त्यजैनां दुर्बलां बुद्धिं सन्तापं मा कुरुष्व ह ।। ७.५२.
Therefore, O tiger among men, composed with steadfast courage, abandon this weak resolve; do not give in to grief.
एवमुक्तः स काकुत्स्थो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । उवाच परया प्रीत्या सौमित्रिं मित्रवत्सलः ।। ७.५२.
Thus addressed by the high-souled Lakṣmaṇa, Kakutstha, who cherished his friend, spoke to Saumitri with great affection.
एवमेतन्नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण । परितोषश्च मे वीर मम कार्यानुशासने ।। ७.५२.
So it is, O best of men, just as you say, Lakṣmaṇa; I am satisfied, O hero, with your guidance regarding my duty.
निवृत्तिश्चागता सौम्य सन्तापश्च निराकृतः । भवद्वाक्यैः सुरुचिरैरनुनीतो ऽस्मि लक्ष्मण ।। ७.५२.
My agitation has subsided, O gentle one, and my distress has been dispelled; by your delightful words, I have been consoled, O Lakṣmaṇa.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे द्विपञ्चाशः सर्गः
Thus ends the fifty-second sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
लक्ष्मणस्य तु तद्वाक्यं निशम्य परमाद्भुतम् । सुप्रीतश्चाभवद्रामो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.५३.
Hearing those most wondrous words of Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma became exceedingly pleased and spoke these words.
दुर्लभस्त्वीदृशो बन्धुरस्मिन्काले विशेषतः । यादृशस्त्वं महाबुद्धेर्मम सौम्य मनो ऽनुगः ।। ७.५३.
A companion such as you is rare, especially in these times—one of great wisdom, gentle one, who is devoted to me in mind.
यच्च मे हृदये किञ्चिद्वर्तते शुभलक्षण । तन्निशामय च श्रुत्वा कुरुष्व वचनं मम ।। ७.५३.
And whatever auspicious matter is present in my heart, listen to it, and having heard, act upon my words.