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.
हनिष्ये पितरं वृद्धं कैकेय्यासक्तमानसम्। कृपणं च स्थितं बाल्ये वृद्धभावेन गर्हितम्
I will slay my aged father, whose mind is attached to Kaikeyī, who is pitiable, childish, and condemned for his old age.
एतत् तु वचनं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः। उवाच रामं कौसल्या रुदती शोकलालसा
Hearing these words of the great-souled Lakṣmaṇa, Kausalyā, weeping and overwhelmed with grief, spoke to Rāma.
न चाधर्म्यं वचः श्रुत्वा सपत्न्या मम भाषितम्। विहाय शोकसंतप्तां गन्तुमर्हसि मामितः
You should not, having heard the unrighteous words spoken by my co-wife, abandon me, who am tormented by grief, and depart from here.
धर्मज्ञ इति धर्मिष्ठ धर्मं चरितुमिच्छसि। शुश्रूष मामिहस्थस्त्वं चर धर्ममनुत्तमम्
You are known as one who knows righteousness, and you wish to practice it most faithfully; therefore, while you remain here, serve me and perform the highest duty.
शुश्रूषुर्जननीं पुत्र स्वगृहे नियतो वसन्। परेण तपसा युक्तः काश्यपस्त्रिदिवं गतः
A son who, dwelling obediently in his own house, served his mother, that Kāśyapa, endowed with great austerity, attained heaven.
यथैव राजा पूज्यस्ते गौरवेण तथा ह्यहम्। त्वां साहं नानुजानामि न गन्तव्यमितो वनम्
Just as the king is to be honored by you with respect, so too am I; therefore, I do not permit you—do not go to the forest from here.
त्वद्वियोगान्न मे कार्यं जीवितेन सुखेन च। त्वया सह मम श्रेयस्तृणानामपि भक्षणम्
For me, separated from you, there is no value in life or happiness; it would be better for me to eat even grass, so long as it is with you.
यदि त्वं यास्यसि वनं त्यक्त्वा मां शोकलालसाम्। अहं प्रायमिहासिष्ये न च शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम्
If you go to the forest, abandoning me who am consumed by sorrow, I will remain here fasting unto death, for I will not be able to live.
ततस्त्वं प्राप्स्यसे पुत्र निरयं लोकविश्रुतम्। ब्रह्महत्यामिवाधर्मात् समुद्रः सरितां पतिः
Then, my son, you will incur the infamous hell, as one guilty of unrighteousness, just as the lord of rivers, the ocean, did for the sin of brahminicide.
विलपन्तीं तथा दीनां कौसल्यां जननीं ततः। उवाच रामो धर्मात्मा वचनं धर्मसंहितम्
As Kausalya, your mother, lamented thus in her distress, Rama, whose soul is devoted to righteousness, spoke words in accordance with dharma.