यावन्मातरमापृच्छे सीतां चानुनयाम्यहम्। ततोऽद्यैव गमिष्यामि दण्डकानां महद् वनम्
As soon as I have taken leave of my mother and comforted Sita, I will go today itself to the great forest of the Dandakas.
भरतः पालयेद् राज्यं शुश्रूषेच्च पितुर्यथा। तथा भवत्या कर्तव्यं स हि धर्मः सनातनः
Let Bharata rule the kingdom and serve his father as he should; so too must you act, for that is the eternal law.
रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा भृशं दुःखगतः पिता। शोकादशक्नुवन् वक्तुं प्ररुरोद महास्वनम्
But when he heard Rāma's words, the father, overwhelmed by grief, unable to speak because of sorrow, broke into loud weeping.
वन्दित्वा चरणौ राज्ञो विसंज्ञस्य पितुस्तदा। कैकेय्याश्चाप्यनार्याया निष्पपात महाद्युतिः
Then the radiant Rāma, having bowed at the feet of his senseless father and also at those of the unworthy Kaikeyī, fell to the ground.
स रामः पितरं कृत्वा कैकेयीं च प्रदक्षिणम्। निष्क्रम्यान्तःपुरात् तस्मात् स्वं ददर्श सुहृज्जनम्
Rāma, having circumambulated his father and Kaikeyī, departed from the inner chambers and saw his own friends.
तं बाष्पपरिपूर्णाक्षः पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह। लक्ष्मणः परमक्रुद्धः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः
Lakṣmaṇa, the joy of Sumitrā, his eyes filled with tears and burning with anger, followed behind him.
आभिषेचनिकं भाण्डं कृत्वा रामः प्रदक्षिणम्। शनैर्जगाम सापेक्षो दृष्टिं तत्राविचालयन्
Rāma, having circumambulated the vessels prepared for his consecration, walked away slowly, not turning his gaze from them.
न चास्य महतीं लक्ष्मीं राज्यनाशोऽपकर्षति। लोककान्तस्य कान्तत्वाच्छीतरश्मेरिव क्षयः
The loss of the kingdom did not diminish his great splendor, for he was beloved by all, just as the waning of the cool-rayed moon does not lessen its beauty.
न वनं गन्तुकामस्य त्यजतश्च वसुंधराम्। सर्वलोकातिगस्येव लक्ष्यते चित्तविक्रिया
Even as he wished to go to the forest and abandon the earth, no disturbance of mind could be seen in him, as if he were beyond all the world.
प्रतिषिध्य शुभं छत्रं व्यजने च स्वलंकृते। विसर्जयित्वा स्वजनं रथं पौरांस्तथा जनान्
He dismissed the auspicious white parasol and the finely adorned fans, sent away his own people, the chariot, the citizens, and the townsfolk.
धारयन् मनसा दुःखमिन्द्रियाणि निगृह्य च। प्रविवेशात्मवान् वेश्म मातुरप्रियशंसिवान्
Bearing his sorrow in his mind and restraining his senses, the self-controlled one entered his mother's house, though he brought her unwelcome news.
सर्वोऽप्यभिजनः श्रीमान् श्रीमतः सत्यवादिनः। नालक्षयत रामस्य कंचिदाकारमानने
All the noble attendants of the illustrious, truthful Rāma could not discern any change in his face.
उचितं च महाबाहुर्न जहौ हर्षमात्मवान्। शारदः समुदीर्णांशुश्चन्द्रस्तेज इवात्मजम्
The mighty-armed, self-controlled one did not abandon his usual composure, like the autumn moon, radiant with its own light.
वाचा मधुरया रामः सर्वं सम्मानयञ्जनम्। मातुः समीपं धर्मात्मा प्रविवेश महायशाः
Rāma, of great fame and righteous soul, honoring everyone with sweet words, entered his mother's presence.
तं गुणैः समतां प्राप्तो भ्राता विपुलविक्रमः। सौमित्रिरनुवव्राज धारयन् दुःखमात्मजम्
Lakṣmaṇa, his brother of great prowess, equal to him in virtues, followed, bearing his own sorrow.
प्रविश्य वेश्मातिभृशं मुदा युतं समीक्ष्य तां चार्थविपत्तिमागताम्। न चैव रामोऽत्र जगाम विक्रियां सुहृज्जनस्यात्मविपत्तिशङ्कया
Entering the house, filled with great joy, and seeing that misfortune had come, Rāma did not show any agitation, fearing for the distress of his friends.
thumb|विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the twentieth sarga be heard.
तस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे निष्क्रामति कृताञ्जलौ। आर्तशब्दो महान् जज्ञे स्त्रीणामन्तःपुरे तदा
As that tiger among men departed with joined palms, a great cry of anguish arose from the women in the inner chambers.
कृत्येष्वचोदितः पित्रा सर्वस्यान्तःपुरस्य च। गतिश्च शरणं चासीत् स रामोऽद्य प्रवत्स्यति
Commanded by his father and by all the inner palace, Rāma was their guide and refuge, but today he will depart.
कौसल्यायां यथा युक्तो जनन्यां वर्तते सदा। तथैव वर्ततेऽस्मासु जन्मप्रभृति राघवः
Just as he always behaves toward his mother Kausalyā, so too has Rāghava conducted himself toward us since birth.
न क्रुध्यत्यभिशप्तोऽपि क्रोधनीयानि वर्जयन्। क्रुद्धान् प्रसादयन् सर्वान् स इतोऽद्य प्रवत्स्यति
He does not become angry even when insulted, avoiding all causes for wrath; appeasing all those who are angry, he will depart from here today.
अबुद्धिर्बत नो राजा जीवलोकं चरत्ययम्। यो गतिं सर्वभूतानां परित्यजति राघवम्
Alas, our king acts without wisdom among the living, for he abandons Rāghava, who is the path for all beings.
इति सर्वा महिष्यस्ता विवत्सा इव धेनवः। पतिमाचुक्रुशुश्चापि सस्वनं चापि चुक्रुशुः
Thus, all the royal wives cried out, like cows bereft of their calves, and they wailed aloud for their husband.
स हि चान्तःपुरे घोरमार्तशब्दं महीपतिः। पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तः श्रुत्वा व्यालीयतासने
The king, tormented by grief for his son, heard the dreadful sounds of anguish within the palace and collapsed upon his seat.
रामस्तु भृशमायस्तो निःश्वसन्निव कुञ्जरः। जगाम सहितो भ्रात्रा मातुरन्तःपुरं वशी
Rāma, deeply troubled, breathed heavily like an elephant, and accompanied by his brother, entered his mother's inner chambers, self-controlled.
सोऽपश्यत् पुरुषं तत्र वृद्धं परमपूजितम्। उपविष्टं गृहद्वारि तिष्ठतश्चापरान् बहून्
There he saw an elderly man, greatly honored, seated at the doorway, and many others standing nearby.
दृष्ट्वैव तु तदा रामं ते सर्वे समुपस्थिताः। जयेन जयतां श्रेष्ठं वर्धयन्ति स्म राघवम्
Upon seeing Rāma, all those present greeted him, praising Rāghava, the best among victors, with acclamations of victory.
प्रविश्य प्रथमां कक्ष्यां द्वितीयायां ददर्श सः। ब्राह्मणान् वेदसम्पन्नान् वृद्धान् राज्ञाभिसत्कृतान्
Entering the first chamber, he saw in the second chamber Brahmins, learned in the Vedas, elderly and honored by the king.
प्रणम्य रामस्तान् वृद्धांस्तृतीयायां ददर्श सः। स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च द्वाररक्षणतत्पराः
After bowing to those elders, Rāma saw in the third chamber women, children, and elderly, all devoted to guarding the doorway.
वर्धयित्वा प्रहृष्टास्ताः प्रविश्य च गृहं स्त्रियः। न्यवेदयन्त त्वरितं राममातुः प्रियं तदा
Those joyful women, having offered their blessings, entered the house and quickly informed Rāma's mother of her beloved son's arrival.