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.
न चैतन्मे प्रियं पुत्र शपे सत्येन राघव। छन्नया चलितस्त्वस्मि स्त्रिया भस्माग्निकल्पया
But this does not please me, my son—by truth I swear, O Rāghava; I have been deceived by a woman as destructive as fire covered in ashes.
वञ्चना या तु लब्धा मे तां त्वं निस्तर्तुमिच्छसि। अनया वृत्तसादिन्या कैकेय्याभिप्रचोदितः
The deception that has befallen me, you wish to overcome, being urged by Kaikeyī, who is steadfast in her resolve but unrighteous in conduct.
न चैतदाश्चर्यतमं यत् त्वं ज्येष्ठः सुतो मम। अपानृतकथं पुत्र पितरं कर्तुमिच्छसि
Nor is it most astonishing, my son, that you, my eldest, wish to keep your father free from falsehood.
अथ रामस्तदा श्रुत्वा पितुरार्तस्य भाषितम्। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा दीनो वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Rāma, having heard his distressed father's words, spoke sorrowfully to his brother Lakṣmaṇa.
प्राप्स्यामि यानद्य गुणान् को मे श्वस्तान् प्रदास्यति। अपक्रमणमेवातः सर्वकामैरहं वृणे
What virtues will I gain today, and who will grant them to me tomorrow? Therefore, I choose only to depart, renouncing all desires.
इयं सराष्ट्रा सजना धनधान्यसमाकुला। मया विसृष्टा वसुधा भरताय प्रदीयताम्
This earth, with its provinces, people, wealth, and grain, I relinquish; let it be given to Bharata.
वनवासकृता बुद्धिर्न च मेऽद्य चलिष्यति। यस्तु युद्धे वरो दत्तः कैकेय्यै वरद त्वया
My resolve to dwell in the forest will not waver today; the boon you granted to Kaikeyī in battle, O bestower of boons, must be fulfilled.
दीयतां निखिलेनैव सत्यस्त्वं भव पार्थिव। अहं निदेशं भवतो यथोक्तमनुपालयन्
Let it be given in full—be true to your word, O king; I will carry out your command exactly as spoken.
चतुर्दश समा वत्स्ये वने वनचरैः सह। मा विमर्शो वसुमती भरताय प्रदीयताम्
I will dwell in the forest for fourteen years with the forest-dwellers; do not hesitate—let the earth be given to Bharata.
नहि मे कांक्षितं राज्यं सुखमात्मनि वा प्रियम्। यथानिदेशं कर्तुं वै तवैव रघुनन्दन
I do not desire the kingdom, nor happiness, nor anything dear to myself, as much as I wish to carry out your command, O delight of the Raghus.
अपगच्छतु ते दुःखं मा भूर्बाष्पपरिप्लुतः। नहि क्षुभ्यति दुर्धर्षः समुद्रः सरितां पतिः
Let your sorrow depart, do not be overwhelmed with tears; the mighty ocean, lord of rivers, is never disturbed.
नैवाहं राज्यमिच्छामि न सुखं न च मेदिनीम्। नैव सर्वानिमान् कामान् न स्वर्गं न च जीवितुम्
I do not desire the kingdom, nor happiness, nor the earth, nor any of these pleasures, nor heaven, nor even life itself.
त्वामहं सत्यमिच्छामि नानृतं पुरुषर्षभ। प्रत्यक्षं तव सत्येन सुकृतेन च ते शपे
You alone I desire in truth, O best of men, not falsehood; by your truth and virtue, I swear this before you.
न च शक्यं मया तात स्थातुं क्षणमपि प्रभो। स शोकं धारयस्वेमं नहि मेऽस्ति विपर्ययः
Nor is it possible for me, father, to remain even for a moment; bear this grief, for there will be no change in my resolve.
अर्थितो ह्यस्मि कैकेय्या वनं गच्छेति राघव। मया चोक्तं व्रजामीति तत्सत्यमनुपालये
O Rāghava, I have indeed been requested by Kaikeyī to go to the forest, and I replied, 'I will go.' I am now faithfully upholding that truth.
मा चोत्कण्ठां कृथा देव वने रंस्यामहे वयम्। प्रशान्तहरिणाकीर्णे नानाशकुनिनादिते
Do not be anxious, O Lord; we shall enjoy ourselves in the forest, peaceful and filled with gentle deer, resounding with the calls of many birds.
पिता हि दैवतं तात देवतानामपि स्मृतम्। तस्माद् दैवतमित्येव करिष्यामि पितुर्वचः
For, my father is regarded as a deity, even among the gods themselves, O dear one. Therefore, as if it were divine command, I shall carry out my father's word.
चतुर्दशसु वर्षेषु गतेषु नृपसत्तम। पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि मां प्राप्तं संतापोऽयं विमुच्यताम्
When fourteen years have passed, O best of kings, you will see me returned; let go of this sorrow.
येन संस्तम्भनीयोऽयं सर्वो बाष्पकलो जनः। स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल किमर्थं विक्रियां गतः
You, O tiger among men, who ought to restrain all these tears, why have you yourself succumbed to distress?
पुरं च राष्ट्रं च मही च केवला मया विसृष्टा भरताय दीयताम्। अहं निदेशं भवतोऽनुपालयन् वनं गमिष्यामि चिराय सेवितुम्
The city, the kingdom, and the land itself I relinquish; let them be given to Bharata. I, obeying your command, shall go to the forest to dwell for a long time.