आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः। वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः
With mansions pale as clouds, adorned with jeweled lattices, rising up as if to cover the sky—
तत् पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्। राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्
That foremost house on earth, rivaling the palace of Indra, the prince entered, shining with splendor, his father's residence.
स कक्ष्या धन्विभिर्गुप्तास्तिस्रोऽतिक्रम्य वाजिभिः। पदातिरपरे कक्ष्ये द्वे जगाम नरोत्तमः
Passing through three courtyards guarded by archers and horses, the best of men then crossed two more courtyards on foot.
स सर्वाः समतिक्रम्य कक्ष्या दशरथात्मजः। संनिवर्त्य जनं सर्वं शुद्धान्तःपुरमत्यगात्
Having passed through all the courtyards, the son of Dasharatha dismissed all the people and entered the pure inner chambers.
तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे पितुरन्तिकं तदा जनः स सर्वो मुदितो नृपात्मजे। प्रतीक्षते तस्य पुनः स्म निर्गमं यथोदयं चन्द्रमसः सरित्पतिः
When he entered his father's presence, all the people, delighted with the prince, waited for his return, as the ocean waits for the moon's rising.
thumb|अष्टादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the eighteenth sarga be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa.
स ददर्शासने रामो विषण्णं पितरं शुभे। कैकेय्या सहितं दीनं मुखेन परिशुष्यता
There, Rāma saw his father seated, dejected, with Kaikeyī, his face dried and sorrowful.
स पितुश्चरणौ पूर्वमभिवाद्य विनीतवत्। ततो ववन्दे चरणौ कैकेय्याः सुसमाहितः
First, with proper conduct, he bowed to his father's feet; then, with full composure, he bowed to Kaikeyī's feet.
रामेत्युक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः। शशाक नृपतिर्दीनो नेक्षितुं नाभिभाषितुम्
When the king, his eyes filled with tears, said 'Rāma,' he was too distressed to look at him or to speak.
तदपूर्वं नरपतेर्दृष्ट्वा रूपं भयावहम्। रामोऽपि भयमापन्नः पदा स्पृष्ट्वेव पन्नगम्
Seeing this unprecedented, fearsome appearance of the king, Rāma too was seized by fear, as if stepping on a serpent.
इन्द्रियैरप्रहृष्टैस्तं शोकसंतापकर्शितम्। निःश्वसन्तं महाराजं व्यथिताकुलचेतसम्
He saw the great king, tormented by grief and sorrow, sighing deeply, his mind disturbed and troubled, his senses joyless.
ऊर्मिमालिनमक्षोभ्यं क्षुभ्यन्तमिव सागरम्। उपप्लुतमिवादित्यमुक्तानृतमृषिं यथा
Like the ocean, wreathed in waves yet unshaken, now agitated; like the sun eclipsed; like a sage who has spoken falsehood.
अचिन्त्यकल्पं नृपतेस्तं शोकमुपधारयन्। बभूव संरब्धतरः समुद्र इव पर्वणि
Perceiving the king's grief, unfathomable as it was, Rāma became even more anxious, like the ocean at the time of the full moon.
चिन्तयामास चतुरो रामः पितृहिते रतः। किंस्विदद्यैव नृपतिर्न मां प्रत्यभिनन्दति
Devoted to his father's welfare, Rāma pondered four possibilities: 'Why does the king not greet me today?'
अन्यदा मां पिता दृष्ट्वा कुपितोऽपि प्रसीदति। तस्य मामद्य सम्प्रेक्ष्य किमायासः प्रवर्तते
'At other times, even if angry, my father is pleased to see me; what distress has now arisen in him when he looks upon me?'
स दीन इव शोकार्तो विषण्णवदनद्युतिः। कैकेयीमभिवाद्यैव रामो वचनमब्रवीत्
Appearing sorrowful, afflicted by grief, his face downcast, Rāma bowed to Kaikeyī and spoke these words:
कच्चिन्मया नापराद्धमज्ञानाद् येन मे पिता। कुपितस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व त्वमेवैनं प्रसादय
'I hope I have not unknowingly done wrong, on account of which my father is angry with me. Tell me, and please appease him.'
अप्रसन्नमनाः किं नु सदा मां प्रति वत्सलः। विषण्णवदनो दीनः नहि मां प्रति भाषते
'Why is my father, who is always affectionate toward me, now displeased, his face sorrowful, and does not speak to me?'
शारीरो मानसो वापि कच्चिदेनं न बाधते। संतापो वाभितापो वा दुर्लभं हि सदा सुखम्
I hope that neither physical nor mental distress troubles him; for happiness is always hard to obtain, and sorrow or anxiety may arise.
कच्चिन्न किंचिद् भरते कुमारे प्रियदर्शने। शत्रुघ्ने वा महासत्त्वे मातॄणां वा ममाशुभम्
I trust that nothing inauspicious has happened to Prince Bharata, who is pleasing to behold, or to the mighty Shatrughna, or to any of my mothers.
अतोषयन् महाराजमकुर्वन् वा पितुर्वचः। मुहूर्तमपि नेच्छेयं जीवितुं कुपिते नृपे
If I were to displease the great king, or fail to carry out my father's command, I would not wish to live even for a moment while the king is angered.
यतोमूलं नरः पश्येत् प्रादुर्भावमिहात्मनः। कथं तस्मिन् न वर्तेत प्रत्यक्षे सति दैवते
Since a person sees the very source of his own existence here, how could he not act according to the wishes of that visible divinity?
कच्चित्ते परुषं किंचिदभिमानात् पिता मम। उक्तो भवत्या रोषेण येनास्य लुलितं मनः
Has my father, out of pride or anger, ever spoken any harsh word to you, by which his mind has been disturbed?
एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी राघवेण महात्मना। उवाचेदं सुनिर्लज्जा धृष्टमात्महितं वचः
Thus addressed by the high-souled Rāghava, Kaikeyī, without any shame and with boldness, spoke these words for her own benefit.
न राजा कुपितो राम व्यसनं नास्य किंचन। किंचिन्मनोगतं त्वस्य त्वद्भयान्नानुभाषते
Rāma, the king is not angry, nor has any misfortune befallen him; but because of fear of you, he does not express what is on his mind.
प्रियं त्वामप्रियं वक्तुं वाणी नास्य प्रवर्तते। तदवश्यं त्वया कार्यं यदनेनाश्रुतं मम
He cannot bring himself to speak to you either pleasant or unpleasant words; therefore, you must certainly do what he has not told me.
एष मह्यं वरं दत्त्वा पुरा मामभिपूज्य च। स पश्चात् तप्यते राजा यथान्यः प्राकृतस्तथा
Long ago, after honoring me, he granted me a boon; now the king regrets it, just as an ordinary man might.
अतिसृज्य ददानीति वरं मम विशाम्पतिः। स निरर्थं गतजले सेतुं बन्धितुमिच्छति
Having declared, 'I will grant you a boon,' the lord of the people now wishes to go back on his word, like one who tries to build a bridge over water that has already flowed away.
धर्ममूलमिदं राम विदितं च सतामपि। तत् सत्यं न त्यजेद् राजा कुपितस्त्वत्कृते यथा
This is rooted in righteousness, Rāma, and is known even to the virtuous; therefore, the king, even if angry for your sake, should not abandon truth.
यदि तद् वक्ष्यते राजा शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्। करिष्यसि ततः सर्वमाख्यास्यामि पुनस्त्वहम्
If the king tells you what is good or what is not, will you carry out everything? If so, I will tell you everything again.