दश सप्त च वर्षाणि जातस्य तव राघव। अतीतानि प्रकांक्षन्त्या मया दुःखपरिक्षयम्
Seventeen years have passed since you were born, Rāghava, as I have longed for the end of my suffering.
तदक्षयं महद्दुःखं नोत्सहे सहितुं चिरात्। विप्रकारं सपत्नीनामेवं जीर्णापि राघव
I can no longer bear this great and unending sorrow, the mistreatment from my co-wives, even though I have grown old, Rāghava.
अपश्यन्ती तव मुखं परिपूर्णशशिप्रभम्। कृपणा वर्तयिष्यामि कथं कृपणजीविका
How will I, wretched and pitiable, live on, deprived of seeing your face, radiant as the full moon?
उपवासैश्च योगैश्च बहुभिश्च परिश्रमैः। दुःखसंवर्धितो मोघं त्वं हि दुर्गतया मया
Through fasts, disciplines, and many hardships, I raised you in sorrow, yet all my efforts have been in vain, for I am now destitute.
स्थिरं नु हृदयं मन्ये ममेदं यन्न दीर्यते। प्रावृषीव महानद्याः स्पृष्टं कूलं नवाम्भसा
Surely my heart is steadfast, for it does not break or shatter on earth, just as a great river’s bank withstands the fresh flood of rain.
ममैव नूनं मरणं न विद्यते न चावकाशोऽस्ति यमक्षये मम। यदन्तकोऽद्यैव न मां जिहीर्षति प्रसह्य सिंहो रुदतीं मृगीमिव
Surely, death does not exist for me, nor is there any place for me in Yama’s realm, since Death does not seize me today by force, as a lion seizes a weeping doe.
स्थिरं हि नूनं हृदयं ममायसं न भिद्यते यद् भुवि नो विदीर्यते। अनेन दुःखेन च देहमर्पितं ध्रुवं ह्यकाले मरणं न विद्यते
Truly, my heart must be made of iron, for it does not break or shatter on earth, though it is given over to such sorrow; surely, untimely death does not exist.
इदं तु दुःखं यदनर्थकानि मे व्रतानि दानानि च संयमाश्च हि। तपश्च तप्तं यदपत्यकाम्यया सुनिष्फलं बीजमिवोप्तमूषरे
But this is my sorrow: that my vows, gifts, self-restraint, and the austerities I performed for the sake of a child, have all become fruitless, like seed sown on barren ground.
यदि ह्यकाले मरणं यदृच्छया लभेत कश्चिद् गुरुदुःखकर्शितः। गताहमद्यैव परेतसंसदं विना त्वया धेनुरिवात्मजेन वै
If, by chance, one tormented by great sorrow could obtain death before its time, I would go today to the assembly of the departed, without you, like a cow bereft of her calf.
अथापि किं जीवितमद्य मे वृथा त्वया विना चन्द्रनिभाननप्रभ। अनुव्रजिष्यामि वनं त्वयैव गौः सुदुर्बला वत्समिवाभिकांक्षया
But what is the use of my life now, in vain, without you, whose face shines like the moon? I will follow you to the forest, weak as I am, longing for my calf, like a cow.
भृशमसुखममर्षिता तदा बहु विललाप समीक्ष्य राघवम्। व्यसनमुपनिशाम्य सा महत् सुतमिव बद्धमवेक्ष्य किंनरी
Then, overwhelmed by unbearable grief, she wept greatly, gazing at Rāghava, as a celestial nymph might look upon her son bound in misfortune.
thumb|एकविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥२-
Hear now the twenty-first sarga (chapter) in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa.
तथा तु विलपन्तीं तां कौसल्यां राममातरम्। उवाच लक्ष्मणो दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं वचः
As Kausalyā, Rāma’s mother, was lamenting in this way, Lakṣmaṇa spoke to her, distressed, with words suited to the moment.
न रोचते ममाप्येतदार्ये यद् राघवो वनम्। त्यक्त्वा राज्यश्रियं गच्छेत् स्त्रिया वाक्यवशंगतः
This does not please me either, noble lady, that Rāghava should go to the forest, abandoning royal fortune, compelled by a woman’s words.
विपरीतश्च वृद्धश्च विषयैश्च प्रधर्षितः। नृपः किमिव न ब्रूयाच्चोद्यमानः समन्मथः
An old man, led astray and overpowered by desires, what would a king not say when pressed and agitated?
नास्यापराधं पश्यामि नापि दोषं तथाविधम्। येन निर्वास्यते राष्ट्राद् वनवासाय राघवः
I do not see any fault in him, nor any such wrongdoing, for which Rāghava should be exiled from the kingdom to the forest.
न तं पश्याम्यहं लोके परोक्षमपि यो नरः। स्वमित्रोऽपि निरस्तोऽपि योऽस्य दोषमुदाहरेत्
I do not see anyone in the world, even secretly, whether a friend or one cast aside, who could declare any fault of his.
देवकल्पमृजुं दान्तं रिपूणामपि वत्सलम्। अवेक्षमाणः को धर्मं त्यजेत् पुत्रमकारणात्
Who, considering righteousness, would abandon a son who is like a god, upright, self-controlled, and affectionate even to his enemies, without cause?
तदिदं वचनं राज्ञः पुनर्बाल्यमुपेयुषः। पुत्रः को हृदये कुर्याद् राजवृत्तमनुस्मरन्
Which son, remembering the conduct of kings, would act with a royal disposition in his heart toward a father who has returned to childishness?
यावदेव न जानाति कश्चिदर्थमिमं नरः। तावदेव मया सार्धमात्मस्थं कुरु शासनम्
As long as no one knows of this matter, keep the command within yourself together with me.
मया पार्श्वे सधनुषा तव गुप्तस्य राघव। कः समर्थोऽधिकं कर्तुं कृतान्तस्येव तिष्ठतः
With me at your side, armed with my bow, who could do anything against you, Rāghava, while you are protected, just as none can act against Death standing by?
निर्मनुष्यामिमां सर्वामयोध्यां मनुजर्षभ। करिष्यामि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्यदि स्थास्यति विप्रिये
O best of men, if Ayodhyā remains hostile, I will make this entire city devoid of people with sharp arrows.
भरतस्याथ पक्ष्यो वा यो वास्य हितमिच्छति। सर्वांस्तांश्च वधिष्यामि मृदुर्हि परिभूयते
Whoever sides with Bharata or wishes for his welfare, I will slay them all, for the gentle are always scorned.
प्रोत्साहितोऽयं कैकेय्या संतुष्टो यदि नः पिता। अमित्रभूतो निःसङ्गं वध्यतां वध्यतामपि
If our father, encouraged by Kaikeyī, is not pleased with us and has become an enemy, let him be slain without hesitation, let him be slain indeed.
गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः। उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य कार्यं भवति शासनम्
Even for a teacher who is arrogant, ignorant of right and wrong, and has strayed from the path, discipline becomes necessary.
बलमेष किमाश्रित्य हेतुं वा पुरुषोत्तम। दातुमिच्छति कैकेय्यै उपस्थितमिदं तव
Ruler of foes, relying on what strength or reason does he wish to give this ready-made fortune to Kaikeyī?
त्वया चैव मया चैव कृत्वा वैरमनुत्तमम्। कास्य शक्तिः श्रियं दातुं भरतायारिशासन
Having made enmity with you and with me, what power does he have to bestow the kingdom's wealth upon Bharata, O subduer of enemies?
अनुरक्तोऽस्मि भावेन भ्रातरं देवि तत्त्वतः। सत्येन धनुषा चैव दत्तेनेष्टेन ते शपे
O queen, I am truly devoted in heart to my brother; by truth, by my bow, and by the sacrifices I have given, I swear to you.
दीप्तमग्निमरण्यं वा यदि रामः प्रवेक्ष्यति। प्रविष्टं तत्र मां देवि त्वं पूर्वमवधारय
If Rāma enters blazing fire or the forest, know, O queen, that I will have entered there before him.
हरामि वीर्याद् दुःखं ते तमः सूर्य इवोदितः। देवी पश्यतु मे वीर्यं राघवश्चैव पश्यतु
With my strength I will remove your sorrow, like the sun dispelling darkness at dawn; let the queen see my valor, and let Rāghava see it as well.