ते द्विजास्त्रिविधं वृद्धा ज्ञानेन वयसौजसा। वयःप्रकम्पशिरसो दूरादूचुरिदं वचः
Then the elders among the twice-born, advanced in knowledge, age, and vigor, their heads trembling with age, spoke these words from afar.
वहन्तो जवना रामं भो भो जात्यास्तुरंगमाः। निवर्तध्वं न गन्तव्यं हिता भवत भर्तरि
"O swift horses carrying Rama, turn back! You must not go further. It is for your own good and your master's."
कर्णवन्ति हि भूतानि विशेषेण तुरङ्गमाः। यूयं तस्मान्निवर्तध्वं याचनां प्रतिवेदिताः
For all creatures, especially horses, are attentive to speech; therefore, having heard our request, you must turn back.
धर्मतः स विशुद्धात्मा वीरः शुभदृढव्रतः। उपवाह्यस्तु वो भर्ता नापवाह्यः पुराद् वनम्
For your lord, pure in spirit, righteous, heroic, and firm in his noble vow, should be brought back to the city by you, not carried away to the forest.
एवमार्तप्रलापांस्तान् वृद्धान् प्रलपतो द्विजान्। अवेक्ष्य सहसा रामो रथादवततार ह
Seeing those elders, distressed and uttering anguished words, Rama suddenly descended from the chariot.
पद्भ्यामेव जगामाथ ससीतः सहलक्ष्मणः। संनिकृष्टपदन्यासो रामो वनपरायणः
Then Rama, with Sita and Lakshmana, proceeded on foot, placing his steps close together, intent on the forest.
द्विजातीन् हि पदातींस्तान् रामश्चारित्रवत्सलः। न शशाक घृणाचक्षुः परिमोक्तुं रथेन सः
Rama, who cherished righteous conduct, could not, out of compassion, leave those Brahmins behind by chariot.
गच्छन्तमेव तं दृष्ट्वा रामं सम्भ्रान्तमानसाः। ऊचुः परमसंतप्ता रामं वाक्यमिदं द्विजाः
Seeing Rama departing, the Brahmins, their minds troubled and deeply afflicted, spoke these words to him.
ब्राह्मण्यं कृत्स्नमेतत् त्वां ब्रह्मण्यमनुगच्छति। द्विजस्कन्धाधिरूढास्त्वामग्नयोऽप्यनुयान्त्वमी
All Brahminhood follows you, for you are devoted to Brahmins; even these fires, borne on the shoulders of Brahmins, accompany you.
वाजपेयसमुत्थानि च्छत्राण्येतानि पश्य नः। पृष्ठतोऽनुप्रयातानि मेघानिव जलात्यये
See these umbrellas, arisen from Vājapeya sacrifices, following behind us like clouds after the end of the rains.
अनवाप्तातपत्रस्य रश्मिसंतापितस्य ते। एभिश्छायां करिष्यामः स्वैश्छत्रैर्वाजपेयकैः
For you, scorched by the sun's rays and lacking an umbrella, we will provide shade with our own Vājapeya umbrellas.
या हि नः सततं बुद्धिर्वेदमन्त्रानुसारिणी। त्वत्कृते सा कृता वत्स वनवासानुसारिणी
The resolve that always guided us according to Vedic mantras, for your sake, now follows you into the forest, dear one.
हृदयेष्ववतिष्ठन्ते वेदा ये नः परं धनम्। वत्स्यन्त्यपि गृहेष्वेव दाराश्चारित्ररक्षिताः
The Vedas, which dwell in our hearts and are our greatest wealth, will remain in our homes, as will our wives, protected by virtue.
पुनर्न निश्चयः कार्यस्त्वद्गतौ सुकृता मतिः। त्वयि धर्मव्यपेक्षे तु किं स्याद् धर्मपथे स्थितम्
There is no need for further deliberation regarding your departure; when you are devoted to righteousness, what remains for us who stand on the path of dharma?
याचितो नो निवर्तस्व हंसशुक्लशिरोरुहैः। शिरोभिर्निभृताचार महीपतनपांसुलैः
We beseech you to return, with our heads bowed, hair white as swans, and our conduct humble, dusted by the earth.
बहूनां वितता यज्ञा द्विजानां य इहागताः। तेषां समाप्तिरायत्ता तव वत्स निवर्तने
Many sacrifices performed by Brahmins here await completion; their fulfillment depends, dear one, on your return.
भक्तिमन्तीह भूतानि जङ्गमाजङ्गमानि च। याचमानेषु तेषु त्वं भक्तिं भक्तेषु दर्शय
All beings here, both moving and unmoving, are devoted; when they beseech you, show devotion to the devoted.
अनुगन्तुमशक्तास्त्वां मूलैरुद्धतवेगिनः। उन्नता वायुवेगेन विक्रोशन्तीव पादपाः
Unable to follow you, their roots torn and driven by the wind, the trees seem to cry out as they are lifted by the breeze.
निश्चेष्टाहारसंचारा वृक्षैकस्थाननिश्चिताः। पक्षिणोऽपि प्रयाचन्ते सर्वभूतानुकम्पिनम्
Birds, motionless in food and movement, fixed in their trees, also beseech you, the compassionate to all beings.
एवं विक्रोशतां तेषां द्विजातीनां निवर्तने। ददृशे तमसा तत्र वारयन्तीव राघवम्
As those Brahmins cried out for your return, darkness appeared there, seeming to block Raghava.
ततः सुमन्त्रोऽपि रथाद् विमुच्य श्रान्तान् हयान् सम्परिवर्त्य शीघ्रम्। पीतोदकांस्तोयपरिप्लुताङ्गा- नचारयद् वै तमसाविदूरे
Then Sumantra, too, released the weary horses from the chariot, turned them quickly, and led them, their bodies soaked with water, near the darkness.
thumb|षड्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥२-
Let the forty-sixth chapter be heard.
ततस्तु तमसातीरं रम्यमाश्रित्य राघवः। सीतामुद्वीक्ष्य सौमित्रिमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Rāghava, having settled on the pleasant bank of the Tamasā, looked at Sītā and said these words to Saumitri.
इयमद्य निशा पूर्वा सौमित्रे प्रहिता वनम्। वनवासस्य भद्रं ते न चोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि
This is our first night, Saumitri, sent into the forest; may your forest dwelling be auspicious, and do not let your heart be troubled.
पश्य शून्यान्यरण्यानि रुदन्तीव समन्ततः। यथानिलयमायद्भिर्निलीनानि मृगद्विजैः
See how the forests lie empty all around, as if they are weeping, with the animals and birds withdrawn into their shelters.
अद्यायोध्या तु नगरी राजधानी पितुर्मम। सस्त्रीपुंसा गतानस्मान् शोचिष्यति न संशयः
Today, the city of Ayodhyā, my father's royal capital, will surely grieve for us who have departed, with its men and women—there is no doubt.
अनुरक्ता हि मनुजा राजानं बहुभिर्गुणैः। त्वां च मां च नरव्याघ्र शत्रुघ्नभरतौ तथा
For the people, deeply devoted to the king for his many virtues, will also mourn you, me, O tiger among men, and likewise Śatrughna and Bharata.
पितरं चानुशोचामि मातरं च यशस्विनीम्। अपि नान्धौ भवेतां नौ रुदन्तौ तावभीक्ष्णशः
I grieve for my father and my noble mother; may they not become blind from weeping for us so often.
भरतः खलु धर्मात्मा पितरं मातरं च मे। धर्मार्थकामसहितैर्वाक्यैराश्वासयिष्यति
Indeed, Bharata, who is righteous at heart, will comfort my father and mother with words joined to duty, wealth, and desire.
भरतस्यानृशंसत्वं संचिन्त्याहं पुनः पुनः। नानुशोचामि पितरं मातरं च महाभुज
Reflecting again and again on Bharata's compassion, O mighty-armed one, I do not grieve for my father or my mother.