पत्रं मूलं फलं यत्तु अल्पं वा यदि वा बहु। दास्यसे स्वयमाहृत्य तन्मेऽमृतरसोपमम्
Whatever leaves, roots, or fruits you bring me, whether little or much, I will consider it as sweet as nectar.
न मातुर्न पितुस्तत्र स्मरिष्यामि न वेश्मनः। आर्तवान्युपभुञ्जाना पुष्पाणि च फलानि च
There, I will not remember my mother, father, or home, as I enjoy the seasonal flowers and fruits.
न च तत्र ततः किंचिद् द्रष्टुमर्हसि विप्रियम्। मत्कृते न च ते शोको न भविष्यामि दुर्भरा
Nor should you expect to see anything unpleasant there; because of me, you will not have sorrow, nor will I become a burden to you.
यस्त्वया सह स स्वर्गो निरयो यस्त्वया विना। इति जानन् परां प्रीतिं गच्छ राम मया सह
With you, even heaven is heaven; without you, it is hell. Knowing this, O Rama, go with me, for I have the highest love for you.
अथ मामेवमव्यग्रां वनं नैव नयिष्यसे। विषमद्यैव पास्यामि मा वशं द्विषतां गमम्
But if you do not take me, unwavering as I am, to the forest, I will drink poison at once—may I not fall under the power of those who hate me.
पश्चादपि हि दुःखेन मम नैवास्ति जीवितम्। उज्झितायास्त्वया नाथ तदैव मरणं वरम्
Even afterwards, in sorrow, I will have no life; abandoned by you, my lord, death at that moment would be better.
इमं हि सहितुं शोकं मुहूर्तमपि नोत्सहे। किं पुनर्दश वर्षाणि त्रीणि चैकं च दुःखिता
I cannot endure this grief even for a moment—how then, sorrowful, for fourteen years?
इति सा शोकसंतप्ता विलप्य करुणं बहु। चुक्रोश पतिमायस्ता भृशमालिङ्ग्य सस्वरम्
Thus, tormented by grief, she lamented at length, and, embracing her husband tightly, cried out loudly in distress.
सा विद्धा बहुभिर्वाक्यैर्दिग्धैरिव गजाङ्गना। चिरसंनियतं बाष्पं मुमोचाग्निमिवारणिः
Struck by many painful words, like a female elephant wounded by arrows, she released long-held tears, like fire from kindling.
तस्याः स्फटिकसंकाशं वारि संतापसम्भवम्। नेत्राभ्यां परिसुस्राव पङ्कजाभ्यामिवोदकम्
From her eyes, like lotuses, flowed water as clear as crystal, born of her anguish.
तत्सितामलचन्द्राभं मुखमायतलोचनम्। पर्यशुष्यत बाष्पेण जलोद्धृतमिवाम्बुजम्
Her face, white and pure as the moon, with wide eyes, was dried by tears, like a lotus with its water drawn away.
तां परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां विसंज्ञामिव दुःखिताम्। उवाच वचनं रामः परिविश्वासयंस्तदा
Then Rama embraced her with his arms, as if she were senseless with grief, and spoke words to comfort her.
न देवि बत दुःखेन स्वर्गमप्यभिरोचये। नहि मेऽस्ति भयं किंचित् स्वयम्भोरिव सर्वतः
O lady, truly, not even heaven pleases me if it comes with sorrow; I have no fear at all, like the self-born creator.
तव सर्वमभिप्रायमविज्ञाय शुभानने। वासं न रोचयेऽरण्ये शक्तिमानपि रक्षणे
Without knowing your every wish, O auspicious one, I do not desire to dwell in the forest, even though I am able to protect you.
यत् सृष्टासि मया सार्धं वनवासाय मैथिलि। न विहातुं मया शक्या प्रीतिरात्मवता यथा
Since you were created together with me for dwelling in the forest, Maithili, my affection for you, as for my own self, cannot be abandoned.
न खल्वहं न गच्छेयं वनं जनकनन्दिनि। वचनं तन्नयति मां पितुः सत्योपबृंहितम्
Indeed, O daughter of Janaka, I would not go to the forest if my father's command, strengthened by truth, did not compel me.
एष धर्मश्च सुश्रोणि पितुर्मातुश्च वश्यता। आज्ञां चाहं व्यतिक्रम्य नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे
This is righteousness, O woman of lovely hips: obedience to father and mother. If I were to disregard their command, I could not bear to live.
अस्वाधीनं कथं दैवं प्रकारैरभिराध्यते। स्वाधीनं समतिक्रम्य मातरं पितरं गुरुम्
How can one worship destiny, which is not under one's control, by neglecting those who are—mother, father, and teacher?
यत्र त्रयं त्रयो लोकाः पवित्रं तत्समं भुवि। नान्यदस्ति शुभापाङ्गे तेनेदमभिराध्यते
Where these three exist, O woman of auspicious eyes, it is as pure as the three worlds on earth; nothing else equals it, and thus it is to be revered.
न सत्यं दानमानौ वा यज्ञो वाप्याप्तदक्षिणाः। तथा बलकराः सीते यथा सेवा पितुर्मता
Neither truth, nor charity, nor honor, nor sacrifices with abundant gifts, O Sita, are as powerful as service to one's father.
स्वर्गो धनं वा धान्यं वा विद्या पुत्राः सुखानि च। गुरुवृत्त्यनुरोधेन न किंचिदपि दुर्लभम्
Heaven, wealth, grain, knowledge, children, and happiness—nothing is unattainable through devoted service to one's teacher.
देवगन्धर्वगोलोकान् ब्रह्मलोकांस्तथापरान्। प्राप्नुवन्ति महात्मानो मातापितृपरायणाः
Great souls devoted to mother and father attain the worlds of the gods, Gandharvas, cows, and even Brahma's realm.
स मा पिता यथा शास्ति सत्यधर्मपथे स्थितः। तथा वर्तितुमिच्छामि स हि धर्मः सनातनः
As my father, established in the path of truth and righteousness, instructs me, so I wish to act; for that is the eternal law.
मम सन्ना मतिः सीते नेतुं त्वां दण्डकावनम्। वसिष्यामीति सा त्वं मामनुयातुं सुनिश्चिता
My mind is firmly resolved, O Sita, to lead you to the Dandaka forest; so be certain to follow me and dwell there.
सा हि दिष्टानवद्याङ्गि वनाय मदिरेक्षणे। अनुगच्छस्व मां भीरु सहधर्मचरी भव
You have been destined, O flawless-limbed one with intoxicating eyes, for the forest; follow me, O timid one, and be my companion in righteousness.
सर्वथा सदृशं सीते मम स्वस्य कुलस्य च। व्यवसायमनुक्रान्ता कान्ते त्वमतिशोभनम्
In every way, O Sita, your resolve is fitting for me and for your own lineage; your decision, O beautiful one, is most admirable.
आरभस्व शुभश्रोणि वनवासक्षमाः क्रियाः। नेदानीं त्वदृते सीते स्वर्गोऽपि मम रोचते
Begin, O woman of auspicious hips, the tasks suited for forest life; now, O Sita, even heaven does not please me without you.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च रत्नानि भिक्षुकेभ्यश्च भोजनम्। देहि चाशंसमानेभ्यः संत्वरस्व च मा चिरम्
Give jewels to the Brahmins and food to the mendicants; grant to those who ask, and hurry—do not delay.
भूषणानि महार्हाणि वरवस्त्राणि यानि च। रमणीयाश्च ये केचित् क्रीडार्थाश्चाप्युपस्कराः
All the precious ornaments, fine garments, and whatever delightful items there are for play—
शयनीयानि यानानि मम चान्यानि यानि च। देहि स्वभृत्यवर्गस्य ब्राह्मणानामनन्तरम्
Beds, vehicles, and all my other possessions—give them to our servants, after giving to the Brahmins.