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?
न तेन शक्नोमि पितुः प्रतिज्ञा- मिमां न कर्तुं सकलां यथावत्। स ह्यावयोस्तात गुरुर्नियोगे देव्याश्च भर्ता स गतिश्च धर्मः
I am not able to fulfill my father's promise completely as it should be; for he, O father, is our teacher by command, the husband of the queen, and the path of righteousness.
तस्मिन् पुनर्जीवति धर्मराजे विशेषतः स्वे पथि वर्तमाने। देवी मया सार्धमितोऽभिगच्छेत् कथंस्विदन्या विधवेव नारी
While the king of righteousness still lives and especially follows his own path, how could the queen accompany me from here, like a woman bereft of her husband?
सा मानुमन्यस्व वनं व्रजन्तं कुरुष्व नः स्वस्त्ययनानि देवि। यथा समाप्ते पुनराव्रजेयं यथा हि सत्येन पुनर्ययातिः
Do not be angry with me, O queen, as I go to the forest; offer us your blessings, so that when my time is complete I may return, just as Yayāti returned by truth.
यशो ह्यहं केवलराज्यकारणा- न्न पृष्ठतः कर्तुमलं महोदयम्। अदीर्घकालेन तु देवि जीविते वृणेऽवरामद्य महीमधर्मतः
I am not able to achieve great fame merely for the sake of the kingdom; but in this brief span of life, O queen, today I choose the lesser earth, not unrighteously.
प्रसादयन्नरवृषभः स मातरं पराक्रमाज्जिगमिषुरेव दण्डकान्। अथानुजं भृशमनुशास्य दर्शनं चकार तां हृदि जननीं प्रदक्षिणम्
Having sought to please his mother, the bull among men, eager to depart for Dandaka through his resolve, then earnestly instructed his younger brother, and circumambulated his mother in his heart.
thumb|द्वाविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे द्वाविंशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the twenty-second chapter be heard.
अथ तं व्यथया दीनं सविशेषममर्षितम्। सरोषमिव नागेन्द्रं रोषविस्फारितेक्षणम्
Then Rama approached Lakshmana, his dear friend and brother, who was deeply distressed and especially indignant, his eyes blazing with anger like a furious lord of elephants.
आसाद्य रामः सौमित्रिं सुहृदं भ्रातरं प्रियम्। उवाचेदं स धैर्येण धारयन् सत्त्वमात्मवान्
Rama, steadfast in spirit, spoke these words to Lakshmana with composure, restraining himself with courage.
निगृह्य रोषं शोकं च धैर्यमाश्रित्य केवलम्। अवमानं निरस्यैनं गृहीत्वा हर्षमुत्तमम्
Suppressing anger and sorrow, relying solely on fortitude, he cast aside humiliation and embraced supreme joy.
उपक्लृप्तं यदैतन्मे अभिषेकार्थमुत्तमम्। सर्वं निवर्तय क्षिप्रं कुरु कार्यं निरव्ययम्
Whatever has been prepared for my consecration, let all that be quickly withdrawn; carry out the task without delay.