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.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वस्तव्यानि वने त्वया। तान्युपक्रमितव्यानि यानि देव्या प्रचोदितः
For fourteen years you must dwell in the forest; those years must be begun, as the queen has instructed.
तं रथं सूर्यसंकाशं सीता हृष्टेन चेतसा। आरुरोह वरारोहा कृत्वालंकारमात्मनः
Sītā, radiant with joy, adorned herself and ascended the chariot, shining like the sun.
वनवासं हि संख्याय वासांस्याभरणानि च। भर्तारमनुगच्छन्त्यै सीतायै श्वशुरो ददौ
Counting the years of exile, and for following her husband, Sītā’s father-in-law gave her clothing and ornaments.
तथैवायुधजातानि भ्रातृभ्यां कवचानि च। रथोपस्थे प्रविन्यस्य सचर्म कठिनं च यत्
Likewise, weapons and armor were given to the two brothers; these, along with a sturdy shield, were placed in the chariot.
अथो ज्वलनसंकाशं चामीकरविभूषितम्। तमारुरुहतुस्तूर्णं भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
Then the two brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, quickly ascended the chariot, which shone like fire and was adorned with gold.
सीतातृतीयानारूढान् दृष्ट्वा रथमचोदयत्। सुमन्त्रः सम्मतानश्वान् वायुवेगसमाञ्जवे
Seeing Sītā and the two brothers mounted, Sumantra urged the chariot onward, yoked with horses swift as the wind.
प्रयाते तु महारण्यं चिररात्राय राघवे। बभूव नगरे मूर्च्छा बलमूर्च्छा जनस्य च
When Rāghava departed for the great forest for a long exile, faintness seized the city and its people.
तत् समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तं मत्तसंकुपितद्विपम्। हयसिञ्जितनिर्घोषं पुरमासीन्महास्वनम्
That city, thrown into confusion and panic, with enraged and maddened elephants, and the clamor of neighing horses, resounded with a great tumult.
ततः सबालवृद्धा सा पुरी परमपीडिता। राममेवाभिदुद्राव घर्मार्तः सलिलं यथा
Then that city, with its children and elders, greatly afflicted, rushed only toward Rāma, as one tormented by heat seeks water.
पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चापि लम्बमानास्तदुन्मुखाः। बाष्पपूर्णमुखाः सर्वे तमूचुर्भृशनिःस्वनाः
On every side, from beside and behind, all of them, faces filled with tears, followed him, calling out with great lamentation.
संयच्छ वाजिनां रश्मीन् सूत याहि शनैः शनैः। मुखं द्रक्ष्याम रामस्य दुर्दर्शं नो भविष्यति
"Hold back the reins of the horses, charioteer, go slowly, slowly; we wish to see Rāma’s face, which soon will be hard for us to behold."
आयसं हृदयं नूनं राममातुरसंशयम्। यद् देवगर्भप्रतिमे वनं याति न भिद्यते
Surely the heart of Rāma’s mother is made of iron, for she does not break as her son, equal to a god in radiance, goes to the forest.
कृतकृत्या हि वैदेही छायेवानुगता पतिम्। न जहाति रता धर्मे मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा
Indeed, Vaidehī, having fulfilled her duty, follows her husband like a shadow, never leaving him, devoted to righteousness as sunlight to Mount Meru.
अहो लक्ष्मण सिद्धार्थः सततं प्रियवादिनम्। भ्रातरं देवसंकाशं यस्त्वं परिचरिष्यसि
Ah, Lakṣmaṇa, you are truly blessed, for you will serve your brother, ever gentle in speech and godlike in form.
महत्येषा हि ते बुद्धिरेष चाभ्युदयो महान्। एष स्वर्गस्य मार्गश्च यदेनमनुगच्छसि
Great indeed is your wisdom, and great this prosperity; this is the path to heaven, that you follow him.