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.
कौसल्यापि तदा देवी रात्रिं स्थित्वा समाहिता। प्रभाते चाकरोत् पूजां विष्णोः पुत्रहितैषिणी
At that time, Queen Kausalyā, having spent the night in meditation, performed worship of Viṣṇu at dawn, wishing for her son's welfare.
सा क्षौमवसना हृष्टा नित्यं व्रतपरायणा। अग्निं जुहोति स्म तदा मन्त्रवत् कृतमङ्गला
Clad in silk garments, joyful and ever devoted to vows, she offered oblations to the fire with proper mantras, having completed auspicious rites.
प्रविश्य तु तदा रामो मातुरन्तःपुरं शुभम्। ददर्श मातरं तत्र हावयन्तीं हुताशनम्
Then Rāma entered his mother's auspicious inner chamber and saw her there, offering oblations to the sacred fire.
देवकार्यनिमित्तं च तत्रापश्यत् समुद्यतम्। दध्यक्षतघृतं चैव मोदकान् हविषस्तथा
There he saw, prepared for divine rites, curds, rice grains, clarified butter, sweet cakes, and other offerings.
लाजान् माल्यानि शुक्लानि पायसं कृसरं तथा। समिधः पूर्णकुम्भांश्च ददर्श रघुनन्दनः
Raghunandana saw fried grains, white garlands, milk-rice, gruel, firewood, and full water pots.
तां शुक्लक्षौमसंवीतां व्रतयोगेन कर्शिताम्। तर्पयन्तीं ददर्शाद्भिर्देवतां वरवर्णिनीम्
He saw her, clad in white silk, emaciated by the practice of vows, offering libations to the gods, radiant in beauty.
स मातरमुपक्रान्तामुपसंगृह्य राघवः। परिष्वक्तश्च बाहुभ्यामवघ्रातश्च मूर्धनि
Rāghava approached his mother, embraced her with his arms, and kissed her on the head.
तमुवाच दुराधर्षं राघवं सुतमात्मनः। कौसल्या पुत्रवात्सल्यादिदं प्रियहितं वचः
Kausalyā, unable to be shaken, addressed her son Rāghava with words of affection and kindness, out of motherly love.
वृद्धानां धर्मशीलानां राजर्षीणां महात्मनाम्। प्राप्नुह्यायुश्च कीर्तिं च धर्मं चाप्युचितं कुले
May you attain long life, fame, and righteousness befitting your lineage, as did the aged, virtuous, royal sages of great soul.
सत्यप्रतिज्ञं पितरं राजानं पश्य राघव। अद्यैव त्वां स धर्मात्मा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति
Behold your father, the king, O Rāghava, steadfast in his word; today itself, that righteous one will anoint you as heir-apparent.
दत्तमासनमालभ्य भोजनेन निमन्त्रितः। मातरं राघवः किंचित् प्रसार्याञ्जलिमब्रवीत्
Having accepted the seat offered and being invited to dine, Rāghava, with hands joined, spoke a little to his mother.
स स्वभावविनीतश्च गौरवाच्च तथानतः। प्रस्थितो दण्डकारण्यमाप्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे
He, naturally humble and bowed with respect, then began to take leave, preparing to depart for the Daṇḍaka forest.
देवि नूनं न जानीषे महद् भयमुपस्थितम्। इदं तव च दुःखाय वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणस्य च
O Queen, surely you do not know the great danger that has come; this is for your sorrow, and for that of Vaidehī and Lakṣmaṇa as well.
गमिष्ये दण्डकारण्यं किमनेनासनेन मे। विष्टरासनयोग्यो हि कालोऽयं मामुपस्थितः
I will go to the Daṇḍaka forest—what use have I for this seat? The time suited for the seat of the forest has now come upon me.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वत्स्याम विजने वने। कन्दमूलफलैर्जीवन् हित्वा मुनिवदामिषम्
For fourteen years I shall dwell in the lonely forest, living on roots, fruits, and bulbs, giving up meat like a sage.
भरताय महाराजो यौवराज्यं प्रयच्छति। मां पुनर्दण्डकारण्यं विवासयति तापसम्
The great king grants the heirship to Bharata, but sends me, like an ascetic, into exile in the Daṇḍaka forest.
स षट् चाष्टौ च वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने वने। आसेवमानो वन्यानि फलमूलैश्च वर्तयन्
For six and eight years I shall dwell in the lonely forest, sustaining myself on wild fruits and roots.
सा निकृत्तेव सालस्य यष्टिः परशुना वने। पपात सहसा देवी देवतेव दिवश्च्युता
She, like a branch of a felled śāla tree cut by an axe in the forest, suddenly collapsed, like a goddess fallen from heaven.
तामदुःखोचितां दृष्ट्वा पतितां कदलीमिव। रामस्तूत्थापयामास मातरं गतचेतसम्
Seeing his mother, unaccustomed to sorrow, fallen like a plantain stalk, Rāma began to raise her up, her senses gone.
उपावृत्योत्थितां दीनां वडवामिव वाहिताम्। पांसुगुण्ठितसर्वाङ्गीं विममर्श च पाणिना
He touched with his hand her whole body, covered in dust, as she, miserable and faint, rose up like a mare swept away by the current.