किमिदं भाषसे राम वाक्यं लघुतया ध्रुवम्। त्वया यदपहास्यं मे श्रुत्वा नरवरोत्तम
What is this you are saying, Rāma? Surely these words are spoken lightly. Hearing them, O best of men, I think you are mocking me.
वीराणां राजपुत्राणां शस्त्रास्त्रविदुषां नृप। अनर्हमयशस्यं च न श्रोतव्यं त्वयेरितम्
Such unworthy and disgraceful words should not be spoken by you, O prince, among heroes, sons of kings, and those skilled in weapons and missiles.
आर्यपुत्र पिता माता भ्राता पुत्रस्तथा स्नुषा। स्वानि पुण्यानि भुञ्जानाः स्वं स्वं भाग्यमुपासते
O noble one, father, mother, brother, son, and daughter-in-law—all enjoy their own merits and pursue their own destinies.
भर्तुर्भाग्यं तु नार्येका प्राप्नोति पुरुषर्षभ। अतश्चैवाहमादिष्टा वने वस्तव्यमित्यपि
But a woman alone partakes in her husband's destiny, O best of men; therefore, I too have been instructed to dwell in the forest.
न पिता नात्मजो वात्मा न माता न सखीजनः। इह प्रेत्य च नारीणां पतिरेको गतिः सदा
For women, neither father, nor son, nor self, nor mother, nor friends are the way—here or hereafter; the husband alone is always their path.
यदि त्वं प्रस्थितो दुर्गं वनमद्यैव राघव। अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि मृद्नन्ती कुशकण्टकान्
If you set out today for the difficult forest, O Rāghava, I will go before you, treading down the grass and thorns.
ईर्ष्यां रोषं बहिष्कृत्य भुक्तशेषमिवोदकम्। नय मां वीर विस्रब्धः पापं मयि न विद्यते
Casting away jealousy and anger, as one discards water left after drinking, lead me, O hero, with confidence—there is no sin in me.
प्रासादाग्रे विमानैर्वा वैहायसगतेन वा। सर्वावस्थागता भर्तुः पादच्छाया विशिष्यते
Whether at the top of a palace, in a flying chariot, or moving through the sky, in every situation, the shade of the husband's feet is best for the wife.
अनुशिष्टास्मि मात्रा च पित्रा च विविधाश्रयम्। नास्मि सम्प्रति वक्तव्या वर्तितव्यं यथा मया
I have been instructed by my mother and father in many ways; now, there is nothing more to say to me—I must act as I have resolved.
अहं दुर्गं गमिष्यामि वनं पुरुषवर्जितम्। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं शार्दूलगणसेवितम्
I will go to the difficult forest, devoid of men, filled with many kinds of deer and frequented by groups of tigers.
सुखं वने निवत्स्यामि यथैव भवने पितुः। अचिन्तयन्ती त्रीँल्लोकांश्चिन्तयन्ती पतिव्रतम्
I will dwell happily in the forest, just as in my father's house, caring nothing for the three worlds, thinking only of my devotion to my husband.
शुश्रूषमाणा ते नित्यं नियता ब्रह्मचारिणी। सह रंस्ये त्वया वीर वनेषु मधुगन्धिषु
Serving you always, disciplined and observing chastity, I will delight with you, O hero, in the honey-scented woods.
त्वं हि कर्तुं वने शक्तो राम सम्परिपालनम्। अन्यस्यापि जनस्येह किं पुनर्मम मानद
You, Rāma, are able to protect even others in the forest—how much more so me, O giver of honor!
साहं त्वया गमिष्यामि वनमद्य न संशयः। नाहं शक्या महाभाग निवर्तयितुमुद्यता
Therefore, I will go with you to the forest today, without doubt; O greatly fortunate one, I cannot be turned back once I am resolved.
फलमूलाशना नित्यं भविष्यामि न संशयः। न ते दुःखं करिष्यामि निवसन्ती त्वया सदा
I will always subsist on fruits and roots, without doubt; I will not cause you any distress, dwelling with you constantly.
अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि भोक्ष्ये भुक्तवति त्वयि। इच्छामि परतः शैलान् पल्वलानि सरांसि च
I will walk ahead of you, and eat only after you have eaten; afterwards, I wish to see mountains, ponds, and lakes.
द्रष्टुं सर्वत्र निर्भीता त्वया नाथेन धीमता। हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णाः पद्मिनीः साधुपुष्पिताः
With you as my wise protector, I will fearlessly behold everywhere the lotus ponds, filled with swans and cranes, blooming beautifully.
इच्छेयं सुखिनी द्रष्टुं त्वया वीरेण संगता। अभिषेकं करिष्यामि तासु नित्यमनुव्रता
Joined with you, O hero, I wish to happily see them; I will perform ablutions in those ponds, always devoted to you.
सह त्वया विशालाक्ष रंस्ये परमनन्दिनी। एवं वर्षसहस्राणि शतं वापि त्वया सह
With you, O wide-eyed one, I will delight in supreme happiness; thus, for a thousand years or even a hundred, together with you.
व्यतिक्रमं न वेत्स्यामि स्वर्गोऽपि हि न मे मतः। स्वर्गेऽपि च विना वासो भविता यदि राघव। त्वया विना नरव्याघ्र नाहं तदपि रोचये
I will not transgress; even heaven does not appeal to me. If residence in heaven were possible without you, O Rāghava, O tiger among men, I would not desire even that.
अहं गमिष्यामि वनं सुदुर्गमं मृगायुतं वानरवारणैश्च। वने निवत्स्यामि यथा पितुर्गृहे तवैव पादावुपगृह्य सम्मता
I will go to the forest, though it is exceedingly difficult, filled with deer, monkeys, and elephants; I will dwell there as in my father's house, holding your feet, with your approval.
अनन्यभावामनुरक्तचेतसं त्वया वियुक्तां मरणाय निश्चिताम्। नयस्व मां साधु कुरुष्व याचनां नातो मया ते गुरुता भविष्यति
With unwavering devotion and a heart attached to you, separated from you, I am resolved to die; take me, kindly grant my request, and by me your burden will not be increased.
तथा ब्रुवाणामपि धर्मवत्सलां न च स्म सीतां नृवरो निनीषति। उवाच चैनां बहु संनिवर्तने वने निवासस्य च दुःखितां प्रति
Though she spoke thus, full of righteousness, the foremost of men did not wish to take Sītā; he spoke many words to dissuade her, addressing her sorrow over dwelling in the forest.
thumb|अष्टाविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टाविंशः सर्गः ॥२-
The twenty-eighth chapter is to be heard.
स एवं ब्रुवतीं सीतां धर्मज्ञां धर्मवत्सलः। न नेतुं कुरुते बुद्धिं वने दुःखानि चिन्तयन्
He, loving righteousness, seeing Sītā speak thus and knowing her virtue, did not resolve to take her, pondering the hardships of the forest.
सान्त्वयित्वा ततस्तां तु बाष्पदूषितलोचनाम्। निवर्तनार्थे धर्मात्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Then, comforting her whose eyes were stained with tears, the righteous one spoke these words to persuade her to stay.
सीते महाकुलीनासि धर्मे च निरता सदा। इहाचरस्व धर्मं त्वं यथा मे मनसः सुखम्
Sītā, you are of noble lineage and always devoted to righteousness; remain here and practice virtue so that my mind may be at ease.
सीते यथा त्वां वक्ष्यामि तथा कार्यं त्वयाबले। वने दोषा हि बहवो वसतस्तान् निबोध मे
Sītā, you must do as I tell you, O gentle one; listen, for there are many dangers in the forest for those who dwell there.
सीते विमुच्यतामेषा वनवासकृता मतिः। बहुदोषं हि कान्तारं वनमित्यभिधीयते
Sītā, let go of this intention for forest dwelling; the wilderness is called so because it is full of dangers.
हितबुद्ध्या खलु वचो मयैतदभिधीयते। सदा सुखं न जानामि दुःखमेव सदा वनम्
I speak this out of concern and wise counsel; I never know happiness there, only sorrow always in the forest.