पुत्रशोकं यथा नर्च्छेत् त्वया पूज्येन पूजिता। मां हि संचिन्तयन्ती सा त्वयि जीवेत् तपस्विनी
You, who are to be revered, should care for her so that she does not perish from grief for her son; for thinking of me, that devoted woman would live only because of you.
इमां महेन्द्रोपम जातगर्धिनीं तथा विधातुं जननीं ममार्हसि। यथा वनस्थे मयि शोककर्शिता न जीवितं न्यस्य यमक्षयं व्रजेत्
You should support my mother, who is like Indra's consort and now stricken with sorrow, so that while I dwell in the forest, worn down by grief, she does not abandon her life and go to the abode of Yama.
thumb|एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥२-
Hear now the thirty-ninth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Ayodhyā section.
रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा मुनिवेषधरं च तम्। समीक्ष्य सह भार्याभी राजा विगतचेतनः
But when he heard Rama's words and saw him dressed as an ascetic, the king, together with his wife, lost consciousness.
नैनं दुःखेन संतप्तः प्रत्यवैक्षत राघवम्। न चैनमभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य प्रत्यभाषत दुर्मनाः
Tormented by grief, the king did not look at Rāghava, nor, seeing him, did he speak to him, his mind overwhelmed.
स मुहूर्तमिवासंज्ञो दुःखितश्च महीपतिः। विललाप महाबाहू राममेवानुचिन्तयन्
For a moment, the great-armed king, overcome by sorrow, lost awareness, lamenting and thinking only of Rama.
मन्ये खलु मया पूर्वं विवत्सा बहवः कृताः। प्राणिनो हिंसिता वापि तन्मामिदमुपस्थितम्
Surely, I must have separated many calves from their mothers in the past, or harmed living beings; that is why this has come upon me.
न त्वेवानागते काले देहाच्च्यवति जीवितम्। कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानस्य मृत्युर्मम न विद्यते
Yet, even though the time has not come, my life does not leave my body; though I am tormented by Kaikeyi, death does not come to me.
योऽहं पावकसंकाशं पश्यामि पुरतः स्थितम्। विहाय वसने सूक्ष्मे तापसाच्छादमात्मजम्
I, who see before me my son, shining like fire, standing there, having set aside his fine garments and taken on the ascetic's attire—
एकस्याः खलु कैकेय्याः कृतेऽयं खिद्यते जनः। स्वार्थे प्रयतमानायाः संश्रित्य निकृतिं त्विमाम्
—all these people are distressed because of that one Kaikeyi, who, striving for her own gain, has resorted to this deceit.
एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पेण विहतेन्द्रियः। रामेति सकृदेवोक्त्वा व्याहर्तुं न शशाक सः
Having spoken thus, his senses overwhelmed by tears, he could only utter 'Rāma' once, and was unable to say more.
संज्ञां तु प्रतिलभ्यैव मुहूर्तात् स महीपतिः। नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां सुमन्त्रमिदमब्रवीत्
But after a moment, regaining consciousness, that king, his eyes filled with tears, spoke these words to Sumantra:
औपवाह्यं रथं युक्त्वा त्वमायाहि हयोत्तमैः। प्रापयैनं महाभागमितो जनपदात् परम्
Harness the chariot, drawn by the finest horses, and bring it here; take this noble one far from the city into the countryside.
एवं मन्ये गुणवतां गुणानां फलमुच्यते। पित्रा मात्रा च यत्साधुर्वीरो निर्वास्यते वनम्
Thus, I think, this is said to be the reward for virtue among the virtuous: that a noble hero is sent into exile in the forest by his own father and mother.
राज्ञो वचनमाज्ञाय सुमन्त्रः शीघ्रविक्रमः। योजयित्वा ययौ तत्र रथमश्वैरलंकृतम्
Hearing the king's command, Sumantra, swift in action, yoked the adorned chariot with horses and went there.
तं रथं राजपुत्राय सूतः कनकभूषितम्। आचचक्षेऽञ्जलिं कृत्वा युक्तं परमवाजिभिः
The charioteer, after joining the chariot adorned with gold and yoked to excellent horses, announced it to the prince, bowing with joined palms.
राजा सत्वरमाहूय व्यापृतं वित्तसंचये। उवाच देशकालज्ञो निश्चितं सर्वतः शुचिः
The king, summoning with urgency one occupied with managing wealth, spoke, being wise in time and place, always pure in resolve:
वासांसि च वरार्हाणि भूषणानि महान्ति च। वर्षाण्येतानि संख्याय वैदेह्याः क्षिप्रमानय
Quickly bring for Vaidehī these excellent garments and great ornaments, counting out enough for the years ahead.
नरेन्द्रेणैवमुक्तस्तु गत्वा कोशगृहं ततः। प्रायच्छत् सर्वमाहृत्य सीतायै क्षिप्रमेव तत्
Thus addressed by the king, he went to the treasury, brought everything at once, and quickly gave it all to Sītā.
सा सुजाता सुजातानि वैदेही प्रस्थिता वनम्। भूषयामास गात्राणि तैर्विचित्रैर्विभूषणैः
That noble Vaidehī, adorned with those various splendid ornaments, set out for the forest, beautifying her limbs.
व्यराजयत वैदेही वेश्म तत् सुविभूषिता। उद्यतोंऽशुमतः काले खं प्रभेव विवस्वतः
Thus beautifully adorned, Vaidehī made that house shine, like the sky illuminated at dawn by the rising sun.
तां भुजाभ्यां परिष्वज्य श्वश्रूर्वचनमब्रवीत्। अनाचरन्तीं कृपणं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय मैथिलीम्
Embracing her with both arms, her mother-in-law, weeping, smelled the head of Maithilī and spoke these words:
असत्यः सर्वलोकेऽस्मिन् सततं सत्कृताः प्रियैः। भर्तारं नानुमन्यन्ते विनिपातगतं स्त्रियः
In this world, women, though always honored by their dear ones, do not support their fallen husbands; they are unfaithful.
एष स्वभावो नारीणामनुभूय पुरा सुखम्। अल्पामप्यापदं प्राप्य दुष्यन्ति प्रजहत्यपि
Such is the nature of women: having once enjoyed happiness, at the slightest misfortune, they turn away and abandon even their own.
असत्यशीला विकृता दुर्गा अहृदयाः सदा। असत्यः पापसंकल्पाः क्षणमात्रविरागिणः
Women are ever untruthful, fickle, hard-hearted, and cruel; their minds are set on evil, and their affections last but a moment.
न कुलं न कृतं विद्या न दत्तं नापि संग्रहः। स्त्रीणां गृह्णाति हृदयमनित्यहृदया हि ताः
Neither family, nor deeds, nor learning, nor gifts, nor even affection—nothing holds the hearts of women, for their hearts are inconstant.
साध्वीनां तु स्थितानां तु शीले सत्ये श्रुते स्थिते। स्त्रीणां पवित्रं परमं पतिरेको विशिष्यते
For women who are steadfast in virtue, truth, and learning, the husband alone is the highest sanctity.
स त्वया नावमन्तव्यः पुत्रः प्रव्राजितो वनम्। तव देवसमस्त्वेष निर्धनः सधनोऽपि वा
You must not disregard your son who has departed to the forest; whether he is wealthy or destitute, he remains your god among all.
विज्ञाय वचनं सीता तस्या धर्मार्थसंहितम्। कृत्वाञ्जलिमुवाचेदं श्वश्रूमभिमुखे स्थिता
Understanding those words, which were imbued with righteousness and purpose, Sītā, standing before her mother-in-law, joined her palms and spoke thus.
करिष्ये सर्वमेवाहमार्या यदनुशास्ति माम्। अभिज्ञास्मि यथा भर्तुर्वर्तितव्यं श्रुतं च मे
I will do everything, noble lady, that you instruct me; I know how a wife should conduct herself toward her husband, and I have heard it as well.