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.
एवं वदन्तस्ते सोढुं न शेकुर्बाष्पमागतम्। नरास्तमनुगच्छन्ति प्रियमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्
Speaking thus, they could not hold back the tears that came, as the people followed their beloved, the joy of the Ikṣvāku line.
अथ राजा वृतः स्त्रीभिर्दीनाभिर्दीनचेतनः। निर्जगाम प्रियं पुत्रं द्रक्ष्यामीति ब्रुवन् गृहात्
Then the king, surrounded by sorrowful women, himself stricken and faint of heart, came out from his house, saying, 'I will see my dear son.'
शुश्रुवे चाग्रतः स्त्रीणां रुदतीनां महास्वनः। यथा नादः करेणूनां बद्धे महति कुञ्जरे
And before him was heard the great wailing of the women, like the cry of female elephants when their mighty leader is bound.
पिता हि राजा काकुत्स्थः श्रीमान् सन्नस्तदा बभौ। परिपूर्णः शशी काले ग्रहेणोपप्लुतो यथा
The illustrious king, father of Kakutstha, appeared at that moment like the full moon eclipsed by a planet.
स च श्रीमानचिन्त्यात्मा रामो दशरथात्मजः। सूतं संचोदयामास त्वरितं वाह्यतामिति
And Rāma, son of Daśaratha, glorious and of unfathomable soul, urged the charioteer, 'Drive quickly!'
रामो याहीति तं सूतं तिष्ठेति च जनस्तथा। उभयं नाशकत् सूतः कर्तुमध्वनि चोदितः
Rāma said to the charioteer, 'Go,' while the people called, 'Stop!'—but the charioteer, pressed on the road, could do neither.
निर्गच्छति महाबाहौ रामे पौरजनाश्रुभिः। पतितैरभ्यवहितं प्रणनाश महीरजः
As mighty-armed Rāma departed, the townspeople’s falling tears soaked the dust of the earth, laying it low.
रुदिताश्रुपरिद्यूनं हाहाकृतमचेतनम्। प्रयाणे राघवस्यासीत् पुरं परमपीडितम्
The city, overcome with weeping, tears, and confusion, filled with cries of 'Alas!', became insensible at Rāghava’s departure, greatly afflicted.
सुस्राव नयनैः स्त्रीणामस्रमायाससम्भवम्। मीनसंक्षोभचलितैः सलिलं पङ्कजैरिव
From the eyes of the women flowed tears born of anguish, like water stirred by fish, moving the lotuses.
दृष्ट्वा तु नृपतिः श्रीमानेकचित्तगतं पुरम्। निपपातैव दुःखेन कृत्तमूल इव द्रुमः
But when the illustrious king saw the city, its people’s minds fixed on Rāma, he fell to the ground in grief, like a tree cut at the root.