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.
नास्ति शक्तिः पितुर्वाक्यं समतिक्रमितुं मम। प्रसादये त्वां शिरसा गन्तुमिच्छाम्यहं वनम्
I do not have the power to transgress my father's command; I beg you with bowed head—permit me to go to the forest.
ऋषिणा च पितुर्वाक्यं कुर्वता वनचारिणा। गौर्हता जानताधर्मं कण्डुना च विपश्चिता
A sage, while living in the forest and obeying his father's command, knowingly committed the unrighteous act of killing a cow, as did the wise Kaṇḍu.
अस्माकं तु कुले पूर्वं सगरस्याज्ञया पितुः। खनद्भिः सागरैर्भूमिमवाप्तः सुमहान् वधः
In our lineage, by the command of their father Sagara, his sons dug the earth, and a great destruction occurred.
जामदग्न्येन रामेण रेणुका जननी स्वयम्। कृत्ता परशुनारण्ये पितुर्वचनकारणात्
By Rāma, son of Jamadagni, his own mother Reṇukā was slain with an axe in the forest, for the sake of obeying his father's word.
एतैरन्यैश्च बहुभिर्देवि देवसमैः कृतम्। पितुर्वचनमक्लीबं करिष्यामि पितुर्हितम्
By these and many other godlike men, O noble lady, the father's command was carried out without weakness; I too shall do what is pleasing to my father.
न खल्वेतन्मयैकेन क्रियते पितृशासनम्। एतैरपि कृतं देवि ये मया परिकीर्तिताः
Indeed, it is not by me alone that obedience to the father is practiced; it was done also by those whom I have just mentioned, O noble lady.
नाहं धर्ममपूर्वं ते प्रतिकूलं प्रवर्तये। पूर्वैरयमभिप्रेतो गतो मार्गोऽनुगम्यते
I do not pursue a new or contrary path of righteousness; this is the course approved by the ancients, and I follow it.
तदेतत् तु मया कार्यं क्रियते भुवि नान्यथा। पितुर्हि वचनं कुर्वन् न कश्चिन्नाम हीयते
Therefore, this must be done by me on earth and in no other way; for by carrying out the father's command, no one ever comes to harm.
तामेवमुक्त्वा जननीं लक्ष्मणं पुनरब्रवीत्। वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्
Having spoken thus to his mother, he then addressed Lakshmana again, he who was the best among speakers and foremost among all bowmen.
तव लक्ष्मण जानामि मयि स्नेहमनुत्तमम्। विक्रमं चैव सत्त्वं च तेजश्च सुदुरासदम्
Lakshmana, I know your unsurpassed affection for me, as well as your valor, steadfastness, and your power that is difficult to withstand.