thumb|चतुर्दशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्दशः सर्गः ॥२-
Thus ends the fourteenth sarga of the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
पुत्रशोकार्दितं पापा विसंज्ञं पतितं भुवि। विचेष्टमानमुत्प्रेक्ष्य ऐक्ष्वाकमिदमब्रवीत्
Seeing the king, afflicted by grief for his son, senseless, fallen to the ground, and writhing, Kaikeyī spoke these words to the descendant of Ikṣvāku.
पापं कृत्वेव किमिदं मम संश्रुत्य संश्रवम्। शेषे क्षितितले सन्नः स्थित्यां स्थातुं त्वमर्हसि
Having committed this wrongful act, why do you lie collapsed on the ground, after having pledged your word to me? You ought to remain firm in your resolve.
आहुः सत्यं हि परमं धर्मं धर्मविदो जनाः। सत्यमाश्रित्य च मया त्वं धर्मं प्रतिचोदितः
For those who know righteousness declare truth to be the highest dharma; and, relying on truth, I have urged you to act according to righteousness.
संश्रुत्य शैब्यः श्येनाय स्वां तनुं जगतीपतिः। प्रदाय पक्षिणे राजा जगाम गतिमुत्तमाम्
Having made a promise, King Śibi, lord of the earth, gave his own body to a hawk, and thus attained the highest state.
तथा ह्यलर्कस्तेजस्वी ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे। याचमाने स्वके नेत्रे उद्धृत्याविमना ददौ
Likewise, the radiant Alarka, when asked by a learned brāhmaṇa, gave away his own eyes, though unwilling, yet steadfast.
सरितां तु पतिः स्वल्पां मर्यादां सत्यमन्वितः। सत्यानुरोधात् समये वेलां स्वां नातिवर्तते
Even the lord of rivers, bound by truth to his small boundary, does not cross his own shore, keeping his promise to truth.
सत्यमेकपदं ब्रह्म सत्ये धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः। सत्यमेवाक्षया वेदाः सत्येनावाप्यते परम्
Truth is the one eternal principle; upon truth is righteousness established. The Vedas are imperishable through truth, and by truth the highest is attained.
सत्यं समनुवर्तस्व यदि धर्मे धृता मतिः। स वरः सफलो मेऽस्तु वरदो ह्यसि सत्तम
If your mind is set on righteousness, then abide by truth. Let this boon I have asked bear fruit, for you are indeed a bestower of boons, O noble one.
धर्मस्यैवाभिकामार्थं मम चैवाभिचोदनात्। प्रव्राजय सुतं रामं त्रिः खलु त्वां ब्रवीम्यहम्
For the sake of righteousness, and because I urge you, send Rāma into exile. I tell you this three times.
समयं च ममार्येमं यदि त्वं न करिष्यसि। अग्रतस्ते परित्यक्ता परित्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम्
If you, O noble one, do not fulfill this promise of mine, then, forsaken before your eyes, I will abandon my own life.
एवं प्रचोदितो राजा कैकेय्या निर्विशङ्कया। नाशकत् पाशमुन्मोक्तुं बलिरिन्द्रकृतं यथा
Thus urged by Kaikeyī, who was unwavering, the king could not free himself from her bonds, just as Bali could not escape the snare made by Indra.
उद्भ्रान्तहृदयश्चापि विवर्णवदनोऽभवत्। स धुर्यो वै परिस्पन्दन् युगचक्रान्तरं यथा
His heart was agitated, his face became pale, and he was like a yoked horse trembling between the wheels of a chariot.
विकलाभ्यां च नेत्राभ्यामपश्यन्निव भूमिपः। कृच्छ्राद् धैर्येण संस्तभ्य कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्
With his eyes impaired, as if unable to see, the king, mustering his courage with difficulty, spoke these words to Kaikeyī.
प्रयाता रजनी देवि सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति। अभिषेकाय हि जनस्त्वरयिष्यति मां ध्रुवम्
The night has passed, O lady, and the sun is about to rise; surely the people will hasten me for the consecration.
रामाभिषेकसम्भारैस्तदर्थमुपकल्पितैः। रामः कारयितव्यो मे मृतस्य सलिलक्रियाम्
With all the materials prepared for Rāma's consecration, let Rāma perform the water-rites for me as if I were dead.
सपुत्रया त्वया नैव कर्तव्या सलिलक्रिया। व्याहन्तास्यशुभाचारे यदि रामाभिषेचनम्
You, together with your son, must not perform the water-rites for me, if you obstruct Rāma's consecration, O woman of evil conduct.
न शक्तोऽद्यास्म्यहं द्रष्टुं दृष्ट्वा पूर्वं तथामुखम्। हतहर्षं तथानन्दं पुनर्जनमवाङ्मुखम्
Today I am unable to see the people, having once seen their faces so joyful; now, with their happiness destroyed, they will turn away in sorrow.
तां तथा ब्रुवतस्तस्य भूमिपस्य महात्मनः। प्रभाता शर्वरी पुण्या चन्द्रनक्षत्रमालिनी
As that great-souled king spoke thus, the auspicious night adorned with the moon and stars came to an end.
ततः पापसमाचारा कैकेयी पार्थिवं पुनः। उवाच परुषं वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञा रोषमूर्च्छिता
Then Kaikeyi, of wicked conduct, again addressed the king with harsh words, skilled in speech but overcome by anger.
किमिदं भाषसे राजन् वाक्यं गररुजोपमम्। आनाययितुमक्लिष्टं पुत्रं राममिहार्हसि
Why do you speak these words, O King, as if they were poisoned arrows? You should summon your son Rāma here without delay.
स्थाप्य राज्ये मम सुतं कृत्वा रामं वनेचरम्। निःसपत्नां च मां कृत्वा कृतकृत्यो भविष्यसि
Install my son on the throne, send Rāma to the forest, and make me free from rivals—then your duty will be fulfilled.
स तुन्न इव तीक्ष्णेन प्रतोदेन हयोत्तमः। राजा प्रचोदितोऽभीक्ष्णं कैकेय्या वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, like a noble horse repeatedly struck by a sharp goad, the king, urged on by Kaikeyi, spoke these words.
धर्मबन्धेन बद्धोऽस्मि नष्टा च मम चेतना। ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं प्रियं रामं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि धार्मिकम्
Bound by the ties of righteousness, my mind is lost; I wish to see my beloved eldest son Rāma, who is devoted to dharma.
ततः प्रभातां रजनीमुदिते च दिवाकरे। पुण्ये नक्षत्रयोगे च मुहूर्ते च समागते
Then, when the auspicious night had passed, the sun had risen, the stars were in a favorable conjunction, and the proper moment had arrived—
वसिष्ठो गुणसम्पन्नः शिष्यैः परिवृतस्तथा। उपगृह्याशु सम्भारान् प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्
Vasiṣṭha, endowed with virtues and surrounded by his disciples, quickly gathered the necessary items and entered the foremost city.
सिक्तसम्मार्जितपथां पताकोत्तमभूषिताम्। संहृष्टमनुजोपेतां समृद्धविपणापणाम्
He entered the city whose streets were sprinkled and swept, adorned with splendid banners, filled with joyful attendants, and prosperous with shops and markets.
महोत्सवसमायुक्तां राघवार्थे समुत्सुकाम्। चन्दनागुरुधूपैश्च सर्वतः परिधूमिताम्
The city was filled with festival preparations, eager for Rāghava's sake, and perfumed everywhere with sandalwood, aloe, and incense.
तां पुरीं समतिक्रम्य पुरंदरपुरोपमाम्। ददर्शान्तःपुरं श्रीमान् नानाध्वजगणायुतम्
Passing through that city, which rivaled the city of Indra, the illustrious Vasiṣṭha saw the inner palace adorned with many kinds of banners.
पौरजानपदाकीर्णं ब्राह्मणैरुपशोभितम्। यष्टिमद्भिः सुसम्पूर्णं सदश्वैः परमार्चितैः
The palace was crowded with townspeople and countryfolk, graced by Brahmins holding staffs, filled with fine horses, and highly honored.