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.
अम्ब सम्भृत्य सम्भारान् दुःखं हृदि निगृह्य च। वनवासकृता बुद्धिर्मम धर्म्यानुवर्त्यताम्
Mother, gather the necessary provisions and restrain your sorrow in your heart; since my mind is set on dwelling in the forest, let it be followed in righteousness.
एतद् वचस्तस्य निशम्य माता सुधर्म्यमव्यग्रमविक्लवं च। मृतेव संज्ञां प्रतिलभ्य देवी समीक्ष्य रामं पुनरित्युवाच
Hearing these words of his, so righteous, unwavering, and unshaken, the queen, regaining her senses as if from death, looked at Rama and spoke again.
यथैव ते पुत्र पिता तथाहं गुरुः स्वधर्मेण सुहृत्तया च। न त्वानुजानामि न मां विहाय सुदुःखितामर्हसि पुत्र गन्तुम्
Just as your father is to you, so am I—your teacher, by my own duty and affection; I do not permit you, my son, to leave me, so deeply afflicted.
किं जीवितेनेह विना त्वया मे लोकेन वा किं स्वधयामृतेन। श्रेयो मुहूर्तं तव संनिधानं ममैव कृत्स्नादपि जीवलोकात्
What is life to me without you, or what is the world, or even the nectar of immortality? A moment in your presence is better for me than all the world of the living.
नरैरिवोल्काभिरपोह्यमानो महागजो ध्वान्तमभिप्रविष्टः। भूयः प्रजज्वाल विलापमेवं निशम्य रामः करुणं जनन्याः
Just as a great elephant, driven by torches, enters the darkness, so too did Rama, hearing his mother's pitiful lament, burn even more with grief.
स मातरं चैव विसंज्ञकल्पा- मार्तं च सौमित्रिमभिप्रतप्तम्। धर्मे स्थितो धर्म्यमुवाच वाक्यं यथा स एवार्हति तत्र वक्तुम्
He saw his mother, nearly senseless, and Sumitra's son, tormented by pain; steadfast in righteousness, he spoke words appropriate to righteousness, as was fitting for him to say there.
अहं हि ते लक्ष्मण नित्यमेव जानामि भक्तिं च पराक्रमं च। मम त्वभिप्रायमसंनिरीक्ष्य मात्रा सहाभ्यर्दसि मा सुदुःखम्
Indeed, Lakshmana, I always know your devotion and valor; but since my intention is not being considered, do not, along with my mother, distress me with such deep sorrow.
धर्मार्थकामाः खलु जीवलोके समीक्षिता धर्मफलोदयेषु। ये तत्र सर्वे स्युरसंशयं मे भार्येव वश्याभिमता सपुत्रा
Indeed, in the world of the living, righteousness, wealth, and desire are all seen to arise from the fruits of righteousness; all those who are there, without doubt, are as obedient as a wife, along with her sons, who is dear and under control.
यस्मिंस्तु सर्वे स्युरसंनिविष्टा धर्मो यतः स्यात् तदुपक्रमेत। द्वेष्यो भवत्यर्थपरो हि लोके कामात्मता खल्वपि न प्रशस्ता
One should pursue that in which all are united, from which righteousness arises; for one who is solely intent on gain becomes hated in the world, and self-indulgence is indeed not commendable.
गुरुश्च राजा च पिता च वृद्धः क्रोधात् प्रहर्षादथवापि कामात्। यद् व्यादिशेत् कार्यमवेक्ष्य धर्मं कस्तं न कुर्यादनृशंसवृत्तिः
Who, acting with cruelty, would fail to carry out the task assigned by a teacher, king, father, or elder, whether out of anger, joy, or desire, after considering what is right?