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.
संवासात् परुषं किंचिदज्ञानादपि यत् कृतम्। तन्मे समुपजानीत सर्वाश्चामन्त्रयामि वः
Whatever harshness has occurred, even unknowingly, through living together, I ask you all to forgive me; I entreat you.
जज्ञोऽथ तासां संनादः क्रौञ्चीनामिव निःस्वनः। मानवेन्द्रस्य भार्याणामेवं वदति राघवे
Then arose a sound among them, like the cry of cranes, as Rāghava spoke thus to the wives of the king.
मुरजपणवमेघघोषवद् दशरथवेश्म बभूव यत् पुरा। विलपितपरिदेवनाकुलं व्यसनगतं तदभूत् सुदुःखितम्
The house of Daśaratha became as it once was, resounding like drums, cymbals, and thunderclouds—filled with lamentation and grief, plunged into misfortune, and exceedingly sorrowful.
thumb|चत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the fortieth chapter be heard.
अथ रामश्च सीता च लक्ष्मणश्च कृताञ्जलिः। उपसंगृह्य राजानं चक्रुर्दीनाः प्रदक्षिणम्
Then Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa, with hands joined in reverence, circled the king, sorrowful, performing the ritual circumambulation.
तं चापि समनुज्ञाप्य धर्मज्ञः सह सीतया। राघवः शोकसम्मूढो जननीमभ्यवादयत्
Having received the king’s permission, the righteous Rāghava, together with Sītā, bewildered by grief, bowed to his mother.
अन्वक्षं लक्ष्मणो भ्रातुः कौसल्यामभ्यवादयत्। अपि मातुः सुमित्राया जग्राह चरणौ पुनः
Lakṣmaṇa, following his brother, bowed to Kausalyā; and again, he grasped the feet of his own mother, Sumitrā.
तं वन्दमानं रुदती माता सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्। हितकामा महाबाहुं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय लक्ष्मणम्
His mother, weeping, spoke to Saumitri as he bowed, wishing him well, and kissed Lakṣmaṇa, the mighty-armed, on the head.
सृष्टस्त्वं वनवासाय स्वनुरक्तः सुहृज्जने। रामे प्रमादं मा कार्षीः पुत्र भ्रातरि गच्छति
You are sent for dwelling in the forest, devoted to your dear ones; do not be careless, my son, as you follow your brother Rāma.
व्यसनी वा समृद्धो वा गतिरेष तवानघ। एष लोके सतां धर्मो यज्ज्येष्ठवशगो भवेत्
Whether in adversity or prosperity, this is your path, O blameless one; it is the dharma of the virtuous to be obedient to the elder.
इदं हि वृत्तमुचितं कुलस्यास्य सनातनम्। दानं दीक्षा च यज्ञेषु तनुत्यागो मृधेषु हि
This conduct is fitting for this noble lineage, eternal: giving, initiation in sacrifices, and self-sacrifice in battle.
लक्ष्मणं त्वेवमुक्त्वासौ संसिद्धं प्रियराघवम्। सुमित्रा गच्छ गच्छेति पुनः पुनरुवाच तम्
Having thus spoken to Lakṣmaṇa, Sumitrā, who loved Rāghava, repeatedly said to him, 'Go, go.'
रामं दशरथं विद्धि मां विद्धि जनकात्मजाम्। अयोध्यामटवीं विद्धि गच्छ तात यथासुखम्
Regard Rāma as your father, me as your mother, and Janaka’s daughter as your own; consider Ayodhyā as the forest, and go, my child, as you please.
ततः सुमन्त्रः काकुत्स्थं प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्। विनीतो विनयज्ञश्च मातलिर्वासवं यथा
Then Sumantra, with joined palms, spoke to the descendant of Kakutstha, humble and skilled in humility, as Mātali speaks to Indra.
रथमारोह भद्रं ते राजपुत्र महायशः। क्षिप्रं त्वां प्रापयिष्यामि यत्र मां राम वक्ष्यसे
Ascend the chariot, O illustrious prince; may it be auspicious for you. I will swiftly take you wherever Rāma commands me.