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See how the forests lie empty all around, as if they are weeping, with the animals and birds withdrawn into their shelters.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.
त्वया कार्यं नरव्याघ्र मामनुव्रजता कृतम्। अन्वेष्टव्या हि वैदेह्या रक्षणार्थं सहायता
O tiger among men, you have fulfilled your duty by following me; now you must assist in protecting Vaidehī.
अद्भिरेव हि सौमित्रे वत्स्याम्यद्य निशामिमाम्। एतद्धि रोचते मह्यं वन्येऽपि विविधे सति
Tonight, Saumitri, I will sleep here by the water; this pleases me, even though there are many kinds of forest dwellings.
एवमुक्त्वा तु सौमित्रिं सुमन्त्रमपि राघवः। अप्रमत्तस्त्वमश्वेषु भव सौम्येत्युवाच ह
Having spoken thus to Saumitri, Rāghava also addressed Sumantra: 'Be ever vigilant with the horses, O gentle one.'
सोऽश्वान् सुमन्त्रः संयम्य सूर्येऽस्तं समुपागते। प्रभूतयवसान् कृत्वा बभूव प्रत्यनन्तरः
Sumantra, restraining the horses as the sun set, gave them abundant fodder and remained close by.
उपास्य तु शिवां संध्यां दृष्ट्वा रात्रिमुपागताम्। रामस्य शयनं चक्रे सूतः सौमित्रिणा सह
After performing the auspicious evening worship and seeing that night had come, the charioteer prepared Rāma's bed together with Saumitri.
तां शय्यां तमसातीरे वीक्ष्य वृक्षदलैर्वृताम्। रामः सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सभार्यः संविवेश ह
Seeing that bed on the bank of the Tamasā, covered with leaves, Rāma lay down there with Sītā and Saumitri.
सभार्यं सम्प्रसुप्तं तु श्रान्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य लक्ष्मणः। कथयामास सूताय रामस्य विविधान् गुणान्
When Rāma, weary, lay down with his wife and fell asleep, Lakṣmaṇa began to recount Rāma's many virtues to the charioteer.
जाग्रतोरेव तां रात्रिं सौमित्रेरुदितो रविः। सूतस्य तमसातीरे रामस्य ब्रुवतो गुणान्
As Saumitri stayed awake through that night, the sun rose, while he spoke to the charioteer of Rāma's virtues on the bank of the Tamasā.
गोकुलाकुलतीरायास्तमसाया विदूरतः। अवसत् तत्र तां रात्रिं रामः प्रकृतिभिः सह
On the distant bank of the Tamasā, crowded with herds of cattle, Rāma spent that night there with his companions.
उत्थाय च महातेजाः प्रकृतीस्ता निशाम्य च। अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं पुण्यलक्षणम्
Rising up, the illustrious Rāma, seeing his companions, spoke to his brother Lakṣmaṇa, who bore auspicious marks.
अस्मद्व्यपेक्षान् सौमित्रे निर्व्यपेक्षान् गृहेष्वपि। वृक्षमूलेषु संसक्तान् पश्य लक्ष्मण साम्प्रतम्
O Saumitri, see now those citizens, who, disregarding their own households, have attached themselves beneath the trees, caring only for us.
यथैते नियमं पौराः कुर्वन्त्यस्मन्निवर्तने। अपि प्राणान् न्यसिष्यन्ति न तु त्यक्ष्यन्ति निश्चयम्
Just as these townspeople observe their vow in not turning back from us, so too, they would sooner give up their lives than abandon their resolve.
यावदेव तु संसुप्तास्तावदेव वयं लघु। रथमारुह्य गच्छामः पन्थानमकुतोभयम्
Only while they are still asleep can we swiftly ascend the chariot and travel the path without fear.
अतो भूयोऽपि नेदानीमिक्ष्वाकुपुरवासिनः। स्वपेयुरनुरक्ता मा वृक्षमूलेषु संश्रिताः
Let the devoted citizens of Ikshvaku’s city not continue to sleep now, seeking shelter beneath the trees.
पौरा ह्यात्मकृताद् दुःखाद् विप्रमोच्या नृपात्मजैः। न तु खल्वात्मना योज्या दुःखेन पुरवासिनः
Indeed, the townspeople must be freed from the sorrow caused by their own actions by the princes, but they should not be made to suffer further by us.
अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणो रामं साक्षाद् धर्ममिव स्थितम्। रोचते मे तथा प्राज्ञ क्षिप्रमारुह्यतामिति
Lakshmana then spoke to Rama, standing there like righteousness itself: 'I agree, wise one; let us quickly ascend the chariot.'
अथ रामोऽब्रवीत् सूतं शीघ्रं संयुज्यतां रथः। गमिष्यामि ततोऽरण्यं गच्छ शीघ्रमितः प्रभो
Then Rama said to the charioteer, 'Quickly yoke the chariot; I will go to the forest. Drive swiftly from here, O Sumantra.'
सूतस्ततः संत्वरितः स्यन्दनं तैर्हयोत्तमैः। योजयित्वा तु रामस्य प्राञ्जलिः प्रत्यवेदयत्
The charioteer, hastening, yoked the chariot with those excellent horses, and with joined palms, reported to Rama.
अयं युक्तो महाबाहो रथस्ते रथिनां वर। त्वरयाऽऽरोह भद्रं ते ससीतः सहलक्ष्मणः
'Here is your chariot, mighty-armed prince, best among warriors, yoked and ready. Ascend quickly, with Sita and Lakshmana. May all be well with you.'
तं स्यन्दनमधिष्ठाय राघवः सपरिच्छदः। शीघ्रगामाकुलावर्तां तमसामतरन्नदीम्
Mounting the chariot with his attendants, Raghava crossed the Tamasa river, swift-flowing and swirling, together with Sita and Lakshmana.