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.
ततो हलहलाशब्दो जज्ञे रामस्य पृष्ठतः। नराणां प्रेक्ष्य राजानं सीदन्तं भृशदुःखितम्
Then a tumultuous sound arose behind Rāma, as the people, seeing the king sinking and greatly distressed, gathered.
हा रामेति जनाः केचिद् राममातेति चापरे। अन्तःपुरसमृद्धं च क्रोशन्तं पर्यदेवयन्
Some people cried, 'Alas, Rāma!' and others, 'O Rāma's mother!' and those within the inner chambers wailed, lamenting loudly.
अन्वीक्षमाणो रामस्तु विषण्णं भ्रान्तचेतसम्। राजानं मातरं चैव ददर्शानुगतौ पथि
Rāma, looking back, saw the king and his mother, both following him on the road, their minds troubled and dejected.
पदातिनौ च यानार्हावदुःखार्हौ सुखोचितौ। दृष्ट्वा संचोदयामास शीघ्रं याहीति सारथिम्
Seeing his parents, who were accustomed to comfort but now suffering and forced to walk on foot, he urged the charioteer, 'Go quickly!'
नहि तत् पुरुषव्याघ्रो दुःखजं दर्शनं पितुः। मातुश्च सहितुं शक्तस्तोत्त्रैर्नुन्न इव द्विपः
That tiger among men could not bear the sorrowful sight of his father and mother, just as an elephant struck by goads cannot endure the pain.
प्रत्यगारमिवायान्ती सवत्सा वत्सकारणात्। बद्धवत्सा यथा धेनू राममाताभ्यधावत
Just as a cow, bound and separated from her calf, runs towards her calf, so did Rāma's mother rush towards him.
तथा रुदन्तीं कौसल्यां रथं तमनुधावतीम्। क्रोशन्तीं राम रामेति हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च
Thus, Kausalyā, weeping and running after the chariot, cried out, 'Rāma! Alas, Sītā! Lakṣmaṇa!'
रामलक्ष्मणसीतार्थं स्रवन्तीं वारि नेत्रजम्। असकृत् प्रैक्षत स तां नृत्यन्तीमिव मातरम्
He looked again and again at his mother, who, for the sake of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā, shed tears like water, as if she were dancing in grief.
तिष्ठेति राजा चुक्रोश याहि याहीति राघवः। सुमन्त्रस्य बभूवात्मा चक्रयोरिव चान्तरा
The king shouted, 'Stop!' but Rāghava called, 'Go, go!' and Sumantra's mind was caught between their commands, like something caught between two wheels.
नाश्रौषमिति राजानमुपालब्धोऽपि वक्ष्यसि। चिरं दुःखस्य पापिष्ठमिति रामस्तमब्रवीत्
Rāma said to him, 'Even if the king reproaches you, say you did not hear; for long suffering is most sinful.'