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.
मम मातुर्महद् दुःखमतुलं शुभलक्षण। अभिप्रायं न विज्ञाय सत्यस्य च शमस्य च
My mother, of auspicious character, suffers a great and incomparable sorrow, not understanding the intent of truth and self-restraint.
धर्मो हि परमो लोके धर्मे सत्यं प्रतिष्ठितम्। धर्मसंश्रितमप्येतत् पितुर्वचनमुत्तमम्
For righteousness is supreme in the world, and upon righteousness, truth is established; even this command of my father is rooted in righteousness and is most excellent.
संश्रुत्य च पितुर्वाक्यं मातुर्वा ब्राह्मणस्य वा। न कर्तव्यं वृथा वीर धर्ममाश्रित्य तिष्ठता
O hero, having pledged to the words of one's father, mother, or a Brahmin, one who abides in righteousness must not disregard them in vain.
सोऽहं न शक्ष्यामि पुनर्नियोगमतिवर्तितुम्। पितुर्हि वचनाद् वीर कैकेय्याहं प्रचोदितः
Therefore, I will not be able to transgress the command again; for, O hero, by my father's word, I have been urged by Kaikeyi.
तदेतां विसृजानार्यां क्षत्रधर्माश्रितां मतिम्। धर्ममाश्रय मा तैक्ष्ण्यं मद्बुद्धिरनुगम्यताम्
Therefore, abandon this noble resolve, grounded in the duty of warriors; take refuge in righteousness, not harshness—let your mind follow mine.
तमेवमुक्त्वा सौहार्दाद् भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। उवाच भूयः कौसल्यां प्राञ्जलिः शिरसा नतः
Having thus spoken to his brother out of affection, the elder brother of Lakshmana, with joined palms and bowed head, again addressed Kausalya.
अनुमन्यस्व मां देवि गमिष्यन्तमितो वनम्। शापितासि मम प्राणैः कुरु स्वस्त्ययनानि मे
Grant me your permission, O Lady, as I depart from here to the forest; you are bound to me by my very life—perform auspicious rites for me.
तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च वनात् पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरीम्। ययातिरिव राजर्षिः पुरा हित्वा पुनर्दिवम्
Having fulfilled my vow, I shall return from the forest to the city, just as King Yayati, having once abandoned, returned again to heaven.
शोकः संधार्यतां मातर्हृदये साधु मा शुचः। वनवासादिहैष्यामि पुनः कृत्वा पितुर्वचः
Bear your grief in your heart, Mother, do not sorrow; I shall return here from the forest, having fulfilled my father's command.
त्वया मया च वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन सुमित्रया। पितुर्नियोगे स्थातव्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः
By you, by me, by Vaidehi, by Lakshmana, and by Sumitra, we must abide by our father's command—this is the eternal law.