तां परिष्वज्य दु:खार्त्तां माता दुहितरं यथा । वनवासकृशां दीनां कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। २.१०३.
Embracing her, distressed like a mother with her daughter, Kausalya spoke to Sita, who was emaciated and dejected from forest life.
विदेहराजस्य सुता स्नुषा दशरथस्य च । रामपत्नी कथं दु:खं सम्प्राप्ता निर्जने वने ।। २.१०३.
How has Sita, daughter of the king of Videha, daughter-in-law of Dasharatha, and wife of Rama, come to such suffering in this lonely forest?
पद्ममातपसन्तप्तं परिक्लिष्टमिवोत्पलम् । काञ्चनं रजसा ध्वस्तं क्लिष्टं चन्द्रमिवाम्बुदै: ।। २.१०३.
Seeing your face, scorched like a lotus by the sun, withered like a waterlily, gold dulled by dust, or the moon dimmed by clouds—
मुखं ते प्रेक्ष्य मां शोको दहत्यग्निरिवाश्रयम् भृशं मनसि वैदेहि व्यसनारणिसम्भव: ।। २.१०३.
O Vaidehi, seeing your face burns me with grief like fire consumes its fuel, and sorrow, born of misfortune, torments my heart.
ब्रुवन्त्यामेवमार्त्तायां जनन्यां भरताग्रज: । पादावासाद्य जग्राह वसिष्ठस्य च राघव: ।। २.१०३.
While his mother spoke thus in distress, Rama, the elder brother of Bharata, approached and touched the feet of Vasistha.
पुरोहितस्याग्निसमस्य वै तदा बृहस्पतेरिन्द्र इवामराधिप: । प्रगृह्य पादौ सुसमृद्धतेजस: सहैव तेनोपविवेश राघव: ।। २.१०३.
Then, like Indra approaching Brihaspati, Rama, radiant and prosperous, respectfully took the feet of the priest, equal to fire, and sat down with him.
ततो जघन्यं सहितै: समन्त्रिभि: पुरप्रधानैश्च सहैव सैनिकै: । जनेन धर्मज्ञतमेन धर्मवानुपोपविष्टो भरतस्तदाग्रजम् ।। २.१०३.
Then Bharata, who was devoted to righteousness, sat near his elder brother, accompanied by his ministers, the chief citizens, and soldiers, as well as by the people who understood dharma.
उपोपविष्टस्तु तथा स वीर्यवांस्तपस्विवेषेण समीक्ष्य राघवम् । श्रिया ज्वलन्तं भरत: कृताञ्जलिर्यथा महेन्द्र: प्रयत: प्रजापतिम् ।। २.१०३.
Seated thus, the mighty Bharata, with hands joined in reverence, gazed upon Rāghava, who shone with splendor like a sage, just as the devoted Indra would look upon Prajāpati.
किमेष वाक्यं भरतो ऽद्य राघवं प्रणम्य सत्कृत्य च साधु वक्ष्यति । इतीव तस्यार्यजनस्य तत्त्वतो बभूव कौतूहलमुत्तमं तदा ।। २.१०३.
What words will Bharata speak today, after bowing respectfully to Rāghava? Such was the great curiosity that arose among the noble assembly at that moment.
स राघव: सत्यधृतिश्च लक्ष्मणो महानुभवो भरतश्च धार्मिक: । वृता: सुहृद्भिश्च विरेजुरध्वरे यथा सदस्यै: सहितास्त्रयो ऽग्नय: ।। २.१०३.
There, Rāghava, steadfast in truth, Lakṣmaṇa of great prowess, and righteous Bharata, surrounded by their friends, shone in the assembly like three sacred fires with their priests.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्युत्तरशततम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the one hundred and third sarga of the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the ancient and revered Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
thumb|चतुरधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center तं तु राम: समाज्ञाय भ्रातरं गुरुवत्सलम् । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे ।। २.१०४.
Then Rāma, perceiving his brother who was devoted to his elders, began to question him, together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa.
किमेतदिच्छेयमहं श्रोतुं प्रव्याहृतं त्वया । यस्मात्त्वमागतो देशमिमं चीरजटाजिनी ।। २.१०४.
I wish to hear what you have spoken, and for what reason you, wearing bark garments and matted hair, have come to this place.
किं निमित्तमिमं देशं कृष्णाजिनजटाधर: । हित्वा राज्यं प्रविष्टस्त्वं तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ।। २.१०४.
For what purpose have you, clad in black antelope skin and with matted locks, entered this forest, abandoning the kingdom? You ought to tell me everything.
इत्युक्त: कैकयीपुत्र: काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना । प्रगृह्य बलवद्भूय: प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। २.१०४.
Thus addressed by the great-souled descendant of Kakutstha, the son of Kaikeyī, with joined palms and great effort, spoke these words.
आर्य्यं तात: परित्यज्य कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम् । गत: स्वर्गं महाबाहु: पुत्रशोकाभिपीडित: ।। २.१०४.
Our noble father, having performed a most difficult deed, has abandoned his life and gone to heaven, tormented by grief for his son.
स्त्रिया नियुक्त: कैकेय्या मम मात्रा परन्तप । चकार सुमहत्पापमिदमात्मयशोहरम् ।। २.१०४.
Urged by a woman, my mother Kaikeyī, O subduer of enemies, he committed this great sin that destroyed his own honor.
सा राज्यफलमप्राप्य विधवा शोककर्शिता । पतिष्यति महाघोरे निरये जननी मम ।। २.१०४.
She, my mother, deprived of the fruit of the kingdom, widowed and consumed by sorrow, will fall into a terrible hell.
तस्य मे दासभूतस्य प्रसादं कर्त्तुमर्हसि । अभिषिञ्चस्व चाद्यैव राज्येनप मघवानिव ।। २.१०४.
Therefore, as your servant, I beg your favor; be consecrated as king today, just as Maghavan was anointed.
इमा: प्रकृतय: सर्वा विधवा मातरश्च या: । त्वत्सकाशमनुप्राप्ता: प्रसादं कर्त्तुमर्हसि ।। २.१०४.
All these citizens and widowed mothers who have come to you deserve your grace.
तदानुपूर्व्या युक्तं च युक्तं चात्मनि मानद । राज्यं प्राप्नुहि धर्मेण सकामान् सुहृद: कुरु ।। २.१०४.
Therefore, O bestower of honor, accept the kingdom in due order and in accordance with righteousness, and make your friends happy.
भवत्वविधवा भूमि: समग्रा पतिना त्वया । शशिना विमलेनेव शारदी रजनी यथा ।। २.१०४.
Let the earth, with you as her lord, no longer be widowed, just as the autumn night is brightened by the spotless moon.
एभिश्च सचिवै: सार्द्धं शिरसा याचितो मया । भ्रातु: शिष्यस्य दासस्य प्रसादं कर्त्तुमर्हसि ।। २.१०४.
Together with these ministers, I bow my head and entreat you; as your brother, disciple, and servant, you ought to show me your favor.
तदिदं शाश्वतं पित्र्यं सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम् । पूजितं पुरुषव्याघ्र नातिक्रमितुमर्हसि ।। २.१०४.
Therefore, O tiger among men, you should not transgress this eternal and ancestral circle of subjects, which has always been honored.
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहु: सबाष्प: कैकयीसुत: । रामस्य शिरसा पादौ जग्राह विधिवत्पुन: ।। २.१०४.
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed son of Kaikeyi, with tears in his eyes, again respectfully grasped Rama’s feet with his head, according to custom.
तं मत्तमिव मातङ्गं नि:श्वसन्तं पुन:पुन: । भ्रातरं भरतं राम: परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत् ।। २.१०४.
Seeing his brother Bharata, sighing again and again like a maddened elephant, Rama embraced him and spoke these words.
कुलीन: सत्त्वसम्पन्नस्तेजस्वी चरितव्रत: । राज्यहेतो: कथं पापमाचरेत्त्वद्विधो जन: ।। २.१०४.
You are noble-born, endowed with virtue, radiant, and steadfast in your vows; how could a person like you commit any wrong for the sake of the kingdom?
न दोषं त्वयि पश्यामि सूक्ष्ममप्यरिसूदन । न चापि जननीं बाल्यात्त्वं विगर्हितुमर्हसि ।। २.१०४.
I do not see even the slightest fault in you, O destroyer of foes, nor should you reproach your mother due to her ignorance.
कामकारो महाप्राज्ञ गुरूणां सर्वदा ऽनघ । उपपन्नेषु दारेषु पुत्रेषु च विधीयते ।। २.१०४.
O most wise and blameless one, the will of elders is always to be followed, especially when it concerns suitable spouses and sons.
वयमस्य यथा लोके सङ्ख्याता: सौम्य साधुभि: । भार्य्या: पुत्राश्च शिष्याश्च त्वमनु ज्ञातुमर्हसि ।। २.१०४.
O gentle one, just as in the world we are counted by the virtuous as wives, sons, and disciples, so too should you understand yourself.