पूर्वराजर्षिवृत्त्या हि वनवासोऽभिधीयते। प्रजा निक्षिप्य पुत्रेषु पुत्रवत् परिपालने
For, according to the custom of ancient royal sages, forest dwelling is prescribed only after entrusting the people to sons who care for them like their own children.
स चेद् राजन्यनेकाग्रे राज्यविभ्रमशङ्कया। नैवमिच्छसि धर्मात्मन् राज्यं राम त्वमात्मनि
But if, out of concern for the confusion of the kingdom with many princes, you, righteous Rama, do not wish the kingship for yourself—
प्रतिजाने च ते वीर मा भूवं वीरलोकभाक्। राज्यं च तव रक्षेयमहं वेलेव सागरम्
I vow to you, hero, that I will not seek the world of heroes; I will protect your kingdom as the shore protects the ocean.
मङ्गलैरभिषिञ्चस्व तत्र त्वं व्यापृतो भव। अहमेको महीपालानलं वारयितुं बलात्
Perform your consecration with auspicious rites and be engaged there; I alone will forcibly restrain the fire of the other kings.
न शोभार्थाविमौ बाहू न धनुर्भूषणाय मे। नासिराबन्धनार्थाय न शराः स्तम्भहेतवः
These two arms are not for ornament, nor is the bow for decoration; my headband is not for adornment, nor are my arrows for mere display.
अमित्रमथनार्थाय सर्वमेतच्चतुष्टयम्। न चाहं कामयेऽत्यर्थं यः स्याच्छत्रुर्मतो मम
All these four—arms, bow, headband, and arrows—are for crushing the enemy; nor do I desire anything excessive from one considered my foe.
असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण विद्युच्चलितवर्चसा। प्रगृहीतेन वै शत्रुं वज्रिणं वा न कल्पये
With a sword of sharp edge, shining like a flash of lightning, I do not consider any enemy, even one armed with the thunderbolt, as equal to me.
खड्गनिष्पेषनिष्पिष्टैर्गहना दुश्चरा च मे। हस्त्यश्वरथिहस्तोरुशिरोभिर्भविता मही
Crushed by the blows of my sword, the earth will be covered with the heads, arms, hands, and thighs of elephants, horses, charioteers, and warriors, making it impassable.
खड्गधाराहता मेऽद्य दीप्यमाना इवाग्नयः। पतिष्यन्ति द्विषो भूमौ मेघा इव सविद्युतः
Struck by the edge of my sword, my enemies will fall blazing to the ground like thunderclouds with lightning.
बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणे प्रगृहीतशरासने। कथं पुरुषमानी स्यात् पुरुषाणां मयि स्थिते
With my fingers protected by leather guards and my bow and arrows in hand, how could any man consider himself a man while I stand among men?
बहुभिश्चैकमत्यस्यन्नेकेन च बहूञ्जनान्। विनियोक्ष्याम्यहं बाणान्नृवाजिगजमर्मसु
With my arrows, I will strike down many who are united in purpose, and even if alone, I will lay low multitudes, targeting the vital points of men, horses, and elephants.
अद्य मेऽस्त्रप्रभावस्य प्रभावः प्रभविष्यति। राज्ञश्चाप्रभुतां कर्तुं प्रभुत्वं च तव प्रभो
Today, the power of my weapons will truly be displayed; I will render the king powerless and establish your authority, lord.
अद्य चन्दनसारस्य केयूरामोक्षणस्य च। वसूनां च विमोक्षस्य सुहृदां पालनस्य च
Today is the time for sandalwood paste, for the removal of armlets, for the relinquishing of riches, and for the protection of friends.
अनुरूपाविमौ बाहू राम कर्म करिष्यतः। अभिषेचनविघ्नस्य कर्तॄणां ते निवारणे
These two arms of mine are indeed fit, O Rāma, for performing deeds—especially for repelling those who obstruct your consecration.
ब्रवीहि कोऽद्यैव मया वियुज्यतां तवासुहृत् प्राणयशःसुहृज्जनैः। यथा तवेयं वसुधा वशा भवेत् तथैव मां शाधि तवास्मि किंकरः
Tell me, who today shall be struck down by me—who, though not your friend, boasts of life, fame, and loyal followers—so that this earth may come under your sway; command me as you wish, for I am your servant.
विमृज्य बाष्पं परिसान्त्व्य चासकृत् स लक्ष्मणं राघववंशवर्धनः। उवाच पित्रोर्वचने व्यवस्थितं निबोध मामेष हि सौम्य सत्पथः
Wiping away his tears and repeatedly consoling Lakṣmaṇa, the enhancer of the Raghava line spoke: 'Hear me, gentle one, I am resolved to follow my father's command; this, indeed, is the righteous path.'
thumb|चतुर्विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः ॥२-
Listen to the twenty-fourth sarga (chapter) in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa.
तं समीक्ष्य व्यवसितं पितुर्निर्देशपालने। कौसल्या बाष्पसंरुद्धा वचो धर्मिष्ठमब्रवीत्
Seeing him determined to obey his father's command, Kausalyā, her voice choked with tears, spoke these righteous words.
अदृष्टदुःखो धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः। मयि जातो दशरथात् कथमुञ्छेन वर्तयेत्
He, who has never known suffering, who is devoted to righteousness and speaks kindly to all beings—how will my son, born of Daśaratha, live by gleaning?
यस्य भृत्याश्च दासाश्च मृष्टान्यन्नानि भुञ्जते। कथं स भोक्ष्यते रामो वने मूलफलान्ययम्
He whose servants and attendants eat well-cooked food—how will this Rāma now eat roots and fruits in the forest?
क एतच्छ्रद्दधेच्छ्रुत्वा कस्य वा न भवेद् भयम्। गुणवान् दयितो राज्ञः काकुत्स्थो यद् विवास्यते
Who could believe this upon hearing it, and who would not be afraid—that the virtuous and beloved son of the king, a descendant of Kakutstha, is being exiled?
नूनं तु बलवाँल्लोके कृतान्तः सर्वमादिशन्। लोके रामाभिरामस्त्वं वनं यत्र गमिष्यसि
Surely, fate is powerful in this world, directing all things; for you, Rāma, so pleasing to all, are now going to the forest.
अयं तु मामात्मभवस्तवादर्शनमारुतः। विलापदुःखसमिधो रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः
This wind, which is like your own kin, brings me only the pain of lamentation, fanned by my weeping and tears, as if offering oblations to the fire of sorrow.
चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूमस्तवागमनचिन्तजः। कर्शयित्वाधिकं पुत्र निःश्वासायाससम्भवः
The great smoke of anxious tears, born from my worry over your departure, will consume me, my son, and the exhaustion of sighs will only increase my suffering.
त्वया विहीनामिह मां शोकाग्निरतुलो महान्। प्रधक्ष्यति यथा कक्ष्यं चित्रभानुर्हिमात्यये
Deprived of you here, my son, this boundless, intense fire of grief will burn me up, just as the sun scorches the undergrowth at the end of winter.
कथं हि धेनुः स्वं वत्सं गच्छन्तमनुगच्छति। अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि यत्र वत्स गमिष्यसि
Just as a cow follows her calf when it departs, so too, my child, will I follow you wherever you go.
यथा निगदितं मात्रा तद् वाक्यं पुरुषर्षभः। श्रुत्वा रामोऽब्रवीद् वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम्
Hearing these words spoken by his mother, the best of men, Rāma, replied to her, who was overwhelmed with grief.
कैकेय्या वञ्चितो राजा मयि चारण्यमाश्रिते। भवत्या च परित्यक्तो न नूनं वर्तयिष्यति
Deceived by Kaikeyī and abandoned by you when I have gone to the forest, the king surely will not survive.
भर्तुः किल परित्यागो नृशंसः केवलं स्त्रियाः। स भवत्या न कर्तव्यो मनसापि विगर्हितः
Indeed, the abandonment of one's husband is an act of sheer cruelty for a woman; such a thing must not be done by you, not even in thought, for it is to be condemned.
यावज्जीवति काकुत्स्थः पिता मे जगतीपतिः। शुश्रूषा क्रियतां तावत् स हि धर्मः सनातनः
As long as my father, the lord of the world and scion of Kakutstha, lives, let service to him be performed; for that is the eternal duty.