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.
एवमुक्ता तु रामेण कौसल्या शुभदर्शना। तथेत्युवाच सुप्रीता राममक्लिष्टकारिणम्
Thus addressed by Rāma, the auspicious Kausalyā, greatly pleased with her blameless son, replied, 'So be it.'
एवमुक्तस्तु वचनं रामो धर्मभृतां वरः। भूयस्तामब्रवीद् वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम्
Having thus spoken, Rāma, foremost among the upholders of righteousness, again addressed words to his mother, who was deeply distressed.
मया चैव भवत्या च कर्तव्यं वचनं पितुः। राजा भर्ता गुरुः श्रेष्ठः सर्वेषामीश्वरः प्रभुः
Both you and I must carry out the command of our father; for the king is husband, teacher, the highest, lord and master of all.
इमानि तु महारण्ये विहृत्य नव पञ्च च। वर्षाणि परमप्रीत्या स्थास्यामि वचने तव
But after spending these fifteen years in the great forest with utmost joy, I shall abide by your word.
एवमुक्ता प्रियं पुत्रं बाष्पपूर्णानना तदा। उवाच परमार्ता तु कौसल्या सुतवत्सला
Thus addressed, Kausalyā, loving her son dearly, her face filled with tears, spoke in great anguish.
आसां राम सपत्नीनां वस्तुं मध्ये न मे क्षमम्। नय मामपि काकुत्स्थ वनं वन्यां मृगीमिव
O Rāma, I cannot bear to dwell among these co-wives; take me also, O Kakutstha, to the forest, like a wild doe.
यदि ते गमने बुद्धिः कृता पितरपेक्षया। तां तथा रुदतीं रामो रुदन् वचनमब्रवीत्
If your mind is made up to depart, out of regard for your father, then as she wept, Rāma, also weeping, spoke these words.
जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतं प्रभुरेव च। भवत्या मम चैवाद्य राजा प्रभवति प्रभुः
For a living woman, her husband is her deity and lord; today, for both you and me, the king is the ruling master.
न ह्यनाथा वयं राज्ञा लोकनाथेन धीमता। भरतश्चापि धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः
We are not without protector, for the wise king, lord of the people, is ours; and Bharata too is righteous, speaking kindly to all beings.
राज्ञो वृद्धस्य सततं हितं चर समाहिता। व्रतोपवासनिरता या नारी परमोत्तमा
Always act with care for the welfare of the aged king; the woman who is devoted to vows and fasting is the most excellent.