चीराजिनधरो धीरो रामो भवतु तापसः। भरतो भजतामद्य यौवराज्यमकण्टकम्
Let Rāma, steadfast and wearing bark and deerskin, become an ascetic; let Bharata today rule the kingdom without obstacle.
एष मे परमः कामो दत्तमेव वरं वृणे। अद्य चैव हि पश्येयं प्रयान्तं राघवं वने
This is my highest desire; I choose the boon you granted. And today, let me see Rāghava departing for the forest.
स राजराजो भव सत्यसंगरः कुलं च शीलं च हि जन्म रक्ष च। परत्र वासे हि वदन्त्यनुत्तमं तपोधनाः सत्यवचो हितं नृणाम्
Be a king of kings, true to your promise; protect your lineage, character, and birth. For in the next world, the sages say, truthfulness is the highest good for men.
thumb|द्वादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः ॥२-
The twelfth sarga is to be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga twelve.
ततः श्रुत्वा महाराजः कैकेय्या दारुणं वचः। चिन्तामभिसमापेदे मुहूर्तं प्रतताप च
Then, having heard Kaikeyī’s cruel words, the great king fell into deep thought for a moment and was greatly tormented.
किं नु मेऽयं दिवास्वप्नश्चित्तमोहोऽपि वा मम। अनुभूतोपसर्गो वा मनसो वाप्युपद्रवः
Is this a daydream of mine, or is my mind deluded? Or is it some affliction I have experienced, or a disturbance of my mind?
इति संचिन्त्य तद् राजा नाध्यगच्छत् तदासुखम्। प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां कैकेयीवाक्यतापितः
Thinking thus, the king found no comfort at that time; regaining consciousness, tormented by Kaikeyī’s words—
व्यथितो विक्लवश्चैव व्याघ्रीं दृष्ट्वा यथा मृगः। असंवृतायामासीनो जगत्यां दीर्घमुच्छ्वसन्
Distressed and bewildered, like a deer seeing a tigress, he sat on the bare ground, breathing heavily.
मण्डले पन्नगो रुद्धो मन्त्रैरिव महाविषः। अहो धिगिति सामर्षो वाचमुक्त्वा नराधिपः
Like a serpent trapped in a circle, restrained by spells though full of deadly venom, the lord of men, in anger, uttered words of reproach.
मोहम् आपेदिवान् भूयः शोकोपहतचेतनः। चिरेण तु नृपः संज्ञां प्रतिलभ्य सुदुःखितः
His mind overwhelmed by grief, he again fell into confusion; but after a long time, the king, deeply afflicted, regained his senses.
कैकेयीमब्रवीत् क्रुद्धो निर्दहन्निव तेजसा। नृशंसे दुष्टचारित्रे कुलस्यास्य विनाशिनि
Enraged, burning with his own energy, he spoke to Kaikeyī: 'Cruel one, of wicked conduct, destroyer of this family!'
किं कृतं तव रामेण पापे पापं मयापि वा। सदा ते जननीतुल्यां वृत्तिं वहति राघवः
'What wrong has Rāma done to you, or what sin have I committed, O wicked one? Rāghava has always behaved towards you as towards his own mother.'
तस्यैवं त्वमनर्थाय किंनिमित्तमिहोद्यता। त्वं मयाऽऽत्मविनाशाय भवनं स्वं निवेशिता
'For what reason, then, are you intent on this harm? You have been placed in this house by me, yet you seek my own destruction.'
अविज्ञानान्नृपसुता व्याला तीक्ष्णविषा यथा। जीवलोको यदा सर्वो रामस्याह गुणस्तवम्
'Unaware, O princess, you are like a serpent with sharp poison; for when the whole world sings the praises of Rāma’s virtues—'
अपराधं कमुद्दिश्य त्यक्ष्यामीष्टमहं सुतम्। कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च त्यजेयमपि वा श्रियम्
For what offense should I abandon my beloved son? I could even forsake Kausalya and Sumitra, or give up my own wealth.
अपश्यतस्तु मे रामं नष्टं भवति चेतनम्। तिष्ठेल्लोको विना सूर्यं सस्यं वा सलिलं विना
If I do not see Rama, my consciousness will be lost; can the world remain without the sun, or crops without water?
न तु रामं विना देहे तिष्ठेत्तु मम जीवितम्। तदलं त्यज्यतामेष निश्चयः पापनिश्चये
But without Rama, my life cannot remain in this body; therefore, let this sinful resolve be abandoned at once.
अपि ते चरणौ मूर्ध्ना स्पृशाम्येष प्रसीद मे। किमर्थं चिन्तितं पापे त्वया परमदारुणम्
I am ready to touch your feet with my head—be gracious to me. Why have you conceived such a most dreadful thought, O sinful one?
अथ जिज्ञाससे मां त्वं भरतस्य प्रियाप्रिये। अस्तु यत्तत्त्वया पूर्वं व्याहृतं राघवं प्रति
If you wish to test my affection or aversion for Bharata, let it be as you previously declared regarding Raghava.
स मे ज्येष्ठसुतः श्रीमान् धर्मज्येष्ठ इतीव मे। तत् त्वया प्रियवादिन्या सेवार्थं कथितं भवेत्
He is my eldest son, illustrious and foremost in righteousness; what you, who speak kindly, said was only for the sake of service.
तच्छ्रुत्वा शोकसंतप्ता संतापयसि मां भृशम्। आविष्टासि गृहे शून्ये सा त्वं परवशं गता
Hearing that, tormented by grief, you cause me great pain; you have become possessed in this empty house, now fallen under another's control.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले देवि सम्प्राप्तः सुमहानयम्। अनयो नयसम्पन्ने यत्र ते विकृता मतिः
O queen, a great calamity has come upon the house of the Ikshvakus, where your mind, once guided by virtue, has turned astray.
नहि किंचिदयुक्तं वा विप्रियं वा पुरा मम। अकरोस्त्वं विशालाक्षि तेन न श्रद्दधामि ते
Never before, O large-eyed one, did you do anything improper or displeasing to me; therefore, I cannot believe this of you.
ननु ते राघवस्तुल्यो भरतेन महात्मना। बहुशो हि स्म बाले त्वं कथाः कथयसे मम
Surely, Raghava is equal to Bharata, the great-souled one, in your eyes; for as a child, you often told me so.
तस्य धर्मात्मनो देवि वने वासं यशस्विनः। कथं रोचयसे भीरु नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च
How, O timid one, do you desire the exile to the forest for that righteous and renowned one for fourteen years?
अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्य तस्य धर्मे कृतात्मनः। कथं रोचयसे वासमरण्ये भृशदारुणे
How do you wish for the dwelling in the harsh forest for him, who is extremely delicate and whose mind is set on righteousness?
रोचयस्यभिरामस्य रामस्य शुभलोचने। तव शुश्रूषमाणस्य किमर्थं विप्रवासनम्
O auspicious-eyed one, why do you desire the banishment of Rama, who is charming and devoted to serving you?
रामो हि भरताद् भूयस्तव शुश्रूषते सदा। विशेषं त्वयि तस्मात् तु भरतस्य न लक्षये
Indeed, Rama always serves you more than Bharata does; I do not see any special regard from Bharata towards you in this.
शुश्रूषां गौरवं चैव प्रमाणं वचनक्रियाम्। कस्तु भूयस्तरं कुर्यादन्यत्र पुरुषर्षभात्
Who else, apart from that best of men, would show greater service, respect, and obedience in word and deed?
बहूनां स्त्रीसहस्राणां बहूनां चोपजीविनाम्। परिवादोऽपवादो वा राघवे नोपपद्यते
Among the many thousands of women and dependents, no reproach or slander is ever found against Raghava.