तं वर्धयित्वा राजानं पूर्वं सूतो जयाशिषा। भयविक्लवया वाचा मन्दया श्लक्ष्णयाब्रवीत्
First, the charioteer greeted the king with a wish for victory, then, with a fearful, faint, and gentle voice, he spoke.
अयं स पुरुषव्याघ्रो द्वारि तिष्ठति ते सुतः। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं दत्त्वा सर्वं चैवोपजीविनाम्
'Here stands your son, the tiger among men, at the door, having given wealth to the Brāhmaṇas and all his dependents.'
स त्वां पश्यतु भद्रं ते रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। सर्वान् सुहृद आपृच्छ्य त्वां हीदानीं दिदृक्षते
'May you be well! Let Rāma, steadfast in truth, see you. Having taken leave of all his friends, he now wishes to see you.'
गमिष्यति महारण्यं तं पश्य जगतीपते। वृतं राजगुणैः सर्वैरादित्यमिव रश्मिभिः
'He will go to the great forest—see him, O lord of the earth, adorned with all royal virtues, like the sun with its rays.'
स सत्यवाक्यो धर्मात्मा गाम्भीर्यात् सागरोपमः। आकाश इव निष्पङ्को नरेन्द्रः प्रत्युवाच तम्
That king, truthful in speech, righteous, and as deep as the ocean, pure as the sky, replied to him.
सुमन्त्रानय मे दारान् ये केचिदिह मामकाः। दारैः परिवृतः सर्वैर्द्रष्टुमिच्छामि राघवम्
'Sumantra, bring here all my wives, whoever are present. Surrounded by them all, I wish to see Rāghava.'
सोऽन्तःपुरमतीत्यैव स्त्रियस्ता वाक्यमब्रवीत्। आर्यो ह्वयति वो राजा गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम्
Passing through the inner chambers, Sumantra spoke to the women, 'The noble king summons you; go there without delay.'
एवमुक्ताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः सुमन्त्रेण नृपाज्ञया। प्रचक्रमुस्तद् भवनं भर्तुराज्ञाय शासनम्
Thus addressed by Sumantra on the king's command, all the women began to proceed to that palace, having received their lord's order.
अर्धसप्तशतास्तत्र प्रमदास्ताम्रलोचनाः। कौसल्यां परिवार्याथ शनैर्जग्मुर्धृतव्रताः
There, three and a half hundred women with coppery eyes, having taken vows, gently surrounded Kausalya and departed.
आगतेषु च दारेषु समवेक्ष्य महीपतिः। उवाच राजा तं सूतं सुमन्त्रानय मे सुतम्
When the wives had arrived, the king, observing them, spoke to the charioteer: 'Sumanta, bring my son to me.'
स सूतो राममादाय लक्ष्मणं मैथिलीं तथा। जगामाभिमुखस्तूर्णं सकाशं जगतीपतेः
That charioteer, taking Rama, Lakshmana, and also Maithili, quickly went towards the presence of the lord of the earth.
स राजा पुत्रमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा चारात् कृताञ्जलिम्। उत्पपातासनात् तूर्णमार्तः स्त्रीजनसंवृतः
The king, seeing his son approaching with joined palms, rose swiftly from his seat, distressed and surrounded by women.
सोऽभिदुद्राव वेगेन रामं दृष्ट्वा विशाम्पतिः। तमसम्प्राप्य दुःखार्तः पपात भुवि मूर्च्छितः
The lord of men, seeing Rama, rushed towards him with speed; overcome by grief, he reached him and fell to the ground unconscious.
तं रामोऽभ्यपतत् क्षिप्रं लक्ष्मणश्च महारथः। विसंज्ञमिव दुःखेन सशोकं नृपतिं तथा
Rama and the mighty Lakshmana quickly approached the king, who was thus afflicted by sorrow and seemed senseless.
स्त्रीसहस्रनिनादश्च संजज्ञे राजवेश्मनि। हा हा रामेति सहसा भूषणध्वनिमिश्रितः
A tumult of thousands of women arose in the royal palace, suddenly crying 'Alas, Rama!' mingled with the sound of ornaments.
तं परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। पर्यङ्के सीतया सार्धं रुदन्तः समवेशयन्
Embracing both Rama and Lakshmana with his arms, they, together with Sita, placed him, weeping, on the couch.
अथ रामो मुहूर्तस्य लब्धसंज्ञं महीपतिम्। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्बाष्पशोकार्णवपरिप्लुतम्
Then Rama, after a moment, seeing the king regain consciousness, with joined palms and overwhelmed by an ocean of tears and grief, spoke:
आपृच्छे त्वां महाराज सर्वेषामीश्वरोऽसि नः। प्रस्थितं दण्डकारण्यं पश्य त्वं कुशलेन माम्
I take leave of you, great king, lord of us all; as I depart for the Dandaka forest, may you see me safe.
लक्ष्मणं चानुजानीहि सीता चान्वेतु मां वनम्। कारणैर्बहुभिस्तथ्यैर्वार्यमाणौ न चेच्छतः
Grant permission to Lakshmana, and let Sita follow me to the forest; though restrained by many true reasons, they do not wish to stay.
अनुजानीहि सर्वान् नः शोकमुत्सृज्य मानद। लक्ष्मणं मां च सीतां च प्रजापतिरिवात्मजान्
Grant permission to all of us, O giver of honor, casting off your grief—Lakshmana, myself, and Sita, as the Lord of creatures does for his children.
प्रतीक्षमाणमव्यग्रमनुज्ञां जगतीपतेः। उवाच राजा सम्प्रेक्ष्य वनवासाय राघवम्
As Rama, awaiting the king's untroubled consent, looked on, the king spoke to him regarding his dwelling in the forest.
अहं राघव कैकेय्या वरदानेन मोहितः। अयोध्यायां त्वमेवाद्य भव राजा निगृह्य माम्
O Raghava, deluded by Kaikeyi's boon, I have been bound; you alone today should be king in Ayodhya, restraining me.
एवमुक्तो नृपतिना रामो धर्मभृतां वरः। प्रत्युवाचाञ्जलिं कृत्वा पितरं वाक्यकोविदः
Thus addressed by the king, Rama, best of the righteous, made obeisance with joined palms and replied skillfully to his father:
भवान् वर्षसहस्राय पृथिव्या नृपते पतिः। अहं त्वरण्ये वत्स्यामि न मे राज्यस्य कांक्षिता
You, O king, should rule the earth for a thousand years; I will dwell in the forest, desiring no kingdom.
नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि वनवासे विहृत्य ते। पुनः पादौ ग्रहीष्यामि प्रतिज्ञान्ते नराधिप
After spending fourteen years in the forest, I will again clasp your feet, O lord of men, at the end of my vow.
रुदन्नार्तः प्रियं पुत्रं सत्यपाशेन संयुतः। कैकेय्या चोद्यमानस्तु मिथो राजा तमब्रवीत्
Weeping, distressed, bound by the fetter of truth, and urged by Kaikeyi, the king spoke to his beloved son.
श्रेयसे वृद्धये तात पुनरागमनाय च। गच्छस्वारिष्टमव्यग्रः पन्थानमकुतोभयम्
For your welfare, growth, and return, dear father, go without anxiety on a safe and unobstructed path.
न हि सत्यात्मनस्तात धर्माभिमनसस्तव। संनिवर्तयितुं बुद्धिः शक्यते रघुनन्दन
Indeed, O delight of the Raghus, it is not possible to turn back the resolve of one such as you, whose mind is set on truth and righteousness.
अद्य त्विदानीं रजनीं पुत्र मा गच्छ सर्वथा। एकाहं दर्शनेनापि साधु तावच्चराम्यहम्
But now, my son, do not go tonight under any circumstances; let me spend at least this one day in your presence.
दुष्करं क्रियते पुत्र सर्वथा राघव प्रिय। त्वया हि मत्प्रियार्थं तु वनमेवमुपाश्रितम्
What you are doing, beloved Rāghava, is truly difficult; for my sake, you have taken up the forest life in this way.