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.
न मामसज्जनेनार्या समानयितुमर्हति। धर्माद् विचलितुं नाहमलं चन्द्रादिव प्रभा
Noble lady, you should not try to persuade me by improper means; I am incapable of deviating from righteousness, just as light cannot depart from the moon.
नातन्त्री वाद्यते वीणा नाचक्रो विद्यते रथः। नापतिः सुखमेधेत या स्यादपि शतात्मजा
A lute cannot be played without strings, nor can a chariot move without wheels; even a woman with a hundred sons cannot find happiness without her husband.
मितं ददाति हि पिता मितं भ्राता मितं सुतः। अमितस्य तु दातारं भर्तारं का न पूजयेत्
A father gives in measure, a brother gives in measure, a son gives in measure; but who would not honor the husband, the giver of the immeasurable?
साहमेवंगता श्रेष्ठा श्रुतधर्मपरावरा। आर्ये किमवमन्येयं स्त्रिया भर्ता हि दैवतम्
Thus, having become devoted to the highest virtue and the teachings of righteousness, how could I, noble lady, ever disregard my husband, for to a woman the husband is divine.
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा कौसल्या हृदयङ्गमम्। शुद्धसत्त्वा मुमोचाश्रु सहसा दुःखहर्षजम्
Hearing Sītā's words, which touched her heart, Kausalyā, pure in spirit, suddenly shed tears born of both sorrow and joy.
तां प्राञ्जलिरभिप्रेक्ष्य मातृमध्येऽतिसत्कृताम्। रामः परमधर्मात्मा मातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Seeing her, with joined palms, highly honored among mothers, Rāma, supremely righteous, spoke these words to his mother.
अम्ब मा दुःखिता भूत्वा पश्येस्त्वं पितरं मम। क्षयोऽपि वनवासस्य क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति
Mother, do not be sorrowful; you should look upon my father. Even the period of my stay in the forest will soon come to an end.
सुप्तायास्ते गमिष्यन्ति नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च। समग्रमिह सम्प्राप्तं मां द्रक्ष्यसि सुहृद्वृतम्
Fifteen years will pass for you as if in sleep, and you will see me here again, surrounded by friends.
एतावदभिनीतार्थमुक्त्वा स जननीं वचः। त्रयः शतशतार्धा हि ददर्शावेक्ष्य मातरः
Having spoken these words, which conveyed his intent, to his mother, he looked upon the hundreds of mothers gathered there.
ताश्चापि स तथैवार्ता मातॄर्दशरथात्मजः। धर्मयुक्तमिदं वाक्यं निजगाद कृताञ्जलिः
Then, the son of Daśaratha, afflicted as they were, addressed his mothers with joined palms, speaking words grounded in righteousness.