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.
भर्तारं नानुवर्तेत सा च पापगतिर्भवेत्। भर्तुः शुश्रूषया नारी लभते स्वर्गमुत्तमम्
If a woman does not follow her husband, she falls into misfortune; but by serving her husband, a woman attains the highest heaven.
अपि या निर्नमस्कारा निवृत्ता देवपूजनात्। शुश्रूषामेव कुर्वीत भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता
Even one who does not bow or has ceased worshipping the gods should still serve her husband, delighting in what pleases and benefits him.
एष धर्मः स्त्रिया नित्यो वेदे लोके श्रुतः स्मृतः। अग्निकार्येषु च सदा सुमनोभिश्च देवताः
This is the eternal duty of a woman, declared in the Veda and in the world, and always observed in fire-rites and by the noble-minded towards the gods.
पूज्यास्ते मत्कृते देवि ब्राह्मणाश्चैव सत्कृताः। एवं कालं प्रतीक्षस्व ममागमनकांक्षिणी
O Lady, for my sake, let the gods be worshipped and the Brāhmaṇas honored; thus, wait for the time, longing for my return.
नियता नियताहारा भर्तृशुश्रूषणे रता। प्राप्स्यसे परमं कामं मयि पर्यागते सति
Steadfast, with regulated diet, devoted to serving your husband, you will obtain the highest desire when I return.
यदि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम्। एवमुक्ता तु रामेण बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा
If the best among the righteous preserves his life—thus addressed by Rāma, her eyes brimming with tears—
कौसल्या पुत्रशोकार्ता रामं वचनमब्रवीत्। गमने सुकृतां बुद्धिं न ते शक्नोमि पुत्रक
Kausalya, afflicted by grief for her son, spoke to Rama: 'My mind cannot accept your departure, my child.'
विनिवर्तयितुं वीर नूनं कालो दुरत्ययः। गच्छ पुत्र त्वमेकाग्रो भद्रं तेऽस्तु सदा विभो
O hero, surely the time is unyielding and cannot be turned back; go, my son, with single-mindedness—may you always be blessed, O noble one.
पुनस्त्वयि निवृत्ते तु भविष्यामि गतक्लमा। प्रत्यागते महाभागे कृतार्थे चरितव्रते। पितुरानृण्यतां प्राप्ते स्वपिष्ये परमं सुखम्
When you return, I will be free from fatigue; when you, O illustrious one, come back, having fulfilled your vow and accomplished your purpose, and having discharged your duty to your father, I will sleep in supreme happiness.
कृतान्तस्य गतिः पुत्र दुर्विभाव्या सदा भुवि। यस्त्वां संचोदयति मे वच आविध्य राघव
The path of death, my son, is always difficult to discern in this world; whoever urges you, O Raghava, heed my words.