अभिनन्द्य समापृच्छ्य समाधाय च राघवम् । स जगामाश्रमं त्यक्त्वा कुलै: कुलपति: सह ।। २.११६.
Having greeted, taken leave of, and reassured Rāghava, the leader of the hermitage departed, leaving the hermitage with his community.
राम: संसाध्य त्वृषिगणमनुगमनाद्देशात्तस्मात् कुलपतिमभिवाद्य ऋषिम् । सम्यक्प्रीतैस्तैरनुमत उपदिष्टार्थ: पुण्यं वासाय स्वनिलयमुपसम्पेदे ।। २.११६.
Then Rāma, having respectfully followed the sage and his group for a distance, saluted the chief sage, and, with their full approval and instructions, returned to his own blessed dwelling.
आश्रमं त्वृषिविरहितं प्रभु: क्षणमपि न विजहौ स राघव: । राघवं हि सततमनुगतास्तापसाश्चार्षचरितधृतगुणा: ।। २.११६.
But the lord Rāghava did not leave the hermitage, even for a moment, though it was deserted by the sages; for the ascetics, steadfast in the ways of the seers, always followed Rāghava.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे षोडशोत्तरशततम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the one hundred sixteenth sarga of the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the ancient epic, the holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
thumb|सप्तदशाधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center राघवस्त्वथ यातेषु तपस्विषु विचिन्तयन् । न तत्रारोचयद्वासं कारणैर्बहुभिस्तदा ।। २.११७.
Then, when the ascetics had departed, Rāghava reflected and, for many reasons, did not find that place suitable for dwelling.
इह मे भरतो दृष्टो मातरश्च सनागरा: । सा च मे स्मृतिरन्वेति तान्नित्यमनुशोचत: ।। २.११७.
Here, Bharata saw me, and my mothers with the people of the city; and my mind, remembering them, constantly grieves for them.
स्कन्धावारनिवेशेन तेन तस्य महात्मन: । हयहस्तिकरीषैश्च उपमर्द्द: कृतो भृशम् ।। २.११७.
Because the great-souled Bharata had set up his camp here, the ground was greatly trampled by the dung of horses and elephants.
तस्मादन्यत्र गच्छाम इति सञ्चिन्त्य राघव: । प्रातिष्ठत स वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च सङ्गत: ।। २.११७.
Therefore, thinking it best to go elsewhere, Rāghava set out, accompanied by Vaidehī and Lakṣmaṇa.
सो ऽत्रेराश्रममासाद्य तं ववन्दे महायशा: । तं चापि भगवानत्रि: पुत्रवत् प्रत्यपद्यत ।। २.११७.
He, of great fame, reached the hermitage of Atri and offered his respects; and the venerable Atri received him as a son.
स्वयमातिथ्यमादिश्य सर्वमस्य सुसत्कृतम् । सौमित्रिं च महाभागां सीतां च समसान्त्वयत् ।। २.११७.
Personally arranging all hospitality, he honored them well, and kindly comforted both Saumitri and the noble Sītā.
पत्नीं च समनुप्राप्तां वृद्धामामन्त्र्य सत्कृताम् । सान्त्वयामास धर्मज्ञ: सर्वभूतहिते रत: ।। २.११७.
He addressed his aged wife, who had come to him, honored and respected, and comforted her, being a knower of righteousness and devoted to the welfare of all beings.
अनसूयां महाभागां तापसीं धर्मचारिणीम् । प्रतिगृह्णीष्व वैदेहीमब्रवीदृषिसत्तम: । रामाय चाचचक्षे तां तापसीं धर्मचारिणीम् ।। २.११७.
The eminent sage said to Vaidehī, 'Receive Anasūyā, the highly fortunate ascetic, who follows the path of righteousness.' He also spoke of that ascetic, devoted to righteousness, to Rāma.
दशवर्षाण्यनावृष्ट्या दग्धे लोके निरन्तरम् । यया मूलफले सृष्टे जाह्नवी च प्रवर्त्तिता ।। २.११७.
When the world was scorched for ten years by drought without interruption, she produced roots and fruits, and caused the Ganges to flow.
उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता नियमैश्चाप्यलङ्कृता । दशवर्षसहस्राणि यया तप्तं महत्तप: ।। २.११७.
Endowed with fierce austerity and adorned with disciplines, she performed great penance for ten thousand years.
अनसूया व्रतै: स्नाता प्रत्यूहाश्च निवर्त्तिता: । देवकार्यनिमित्तं च यया संत्वरमाणया । दशरात्रं कृता रात्रि: सेयं मातेव ते ऽनघ ।। २.११७.
Anasūyā, purified by vows and having removed obstacles, hastened for the sake of the gods' work, and created a night lasting ten days; she is like a mother to you, O sinless one.
तामिमां सर्वभूतानां नमस्कार्य्यां यशस्विनीम् । अभिगच्छतु वैदेही वृद्धामक्रोधनां सदा । अनसूयेति या लोके कर्मभि: ख्यातिमागता ।। २.११७.
Let Vaidehī approach this renowned woman, worthy of reverence by all beings, aged and always free from anger, known in the world as Anasūyā, who has gained fame through her deeds.
एवं ब्रुवाणं तमृषिं तथेत्युक्त्वा स राघव: । सीतामुवाच धर्मज्ञामिदं वचनमुत्तमम् ।। २.११७.
When the sage spoke thus, Rāghava replied, 'So be it,' and then addressed Sītā, who knows righteousness, with these excellent words.
राजपुत्रि श्रुतं त्वेतन्मुनेरस्य समीरितम् । श्रेयोर्थमात्मन: श्रीघ्रमभिगच्छ तपस्विनीम् ।। २.११७.
Princess, you have heard what this sage has spoken; for your own welfare, quickly approach the ascetic.
सीता त्वेतद्वच: श्रुत्वा राघवस्य हितैषिण: । तामत्रिपत्नीं धर्मज्ञामभिचक्राम मैथिली ।। २.११७.
Sītā, hearing these words of Rāghava, who wished for her good, approached that aged wife, who knows righteousness.
शिथिलां वलितां वृद्धां जरापाण्डरमूर्द्धजाम् । सततं वेपमानाङ्गी प्रवाते कदली यथा ।। २.११७.
She was frail, wrinkled, aged, her hair pale with old age, always trembling in body like a banana plant in the wind.
तां तु सीता महाभागामनसूयां पतिव्रताम् । अभ्यवादयदव्यग्रा स्वनाम समुदाहरत् ।। २.११७.
Sītā, highly fortunate, greeted Anasūyā, devoted to her husband, without hesitation, and stated her own name.
अभिवाद्य च वैदेही तापसीं तामनिन्दिताम् । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा हृष्टा पर्यपृच्छदनामयम् ।। २.११७.
Vaidehī, having respectfully greeted the blameless ascetic, with hands joined in reverence and delighted, inquired about her well-being.
तत: सीतां महाभागां दृष्ट्वा तां धर्मचारिणीम् । सान्त्वयन्त्यब्रवीद्धृष्टा दिष्ट्या धर्ममवेक्षसे ।। २.११७.
Then, seeing Sītā, the highly fortunate and righteous woman, Anasūyā spoke kindly, rejoicing, 'By fortune you observe righteousness.'
त्यक्त्वा ज्ञातिजनं सीते मानमृद्धिं च भामिनि । अवरुद्धं वने रामं दिष्ट्या त्वमनुगच्छसि ।। २.११७.
O Sītā, having abandoned your kinsfolk and honor and prosperity, you have followed Rāma, confined in the forest; by fortune you accompany him.
नगरस्थो वनस्थो वा पापो वा यदि वा शुभ: । यासां स्त्रीणां प्रियो भर्ता तासां लोका महोदया: ।। २.११७.
Whether he dwells in the city or the forest, whether he is wicked or virtuous, for those women whose husband is dear, their worlds are greatly elevated.
दु:शील: कामवृत्तो वा धनैवा परिवर्जित: । स्त्रीणामार्यस्वभावानां परमं दैवतं पति: ।। २.११७.
Whether he is of bad conduct, driven by desire, or deprived of wealth, for women of noble nature, the husband is the highest deity.
नातो विशिष्टं पश्यामि बान्धवं विमृशन्त्यहम् । सर्वत्रयोग्यं वैदेहि तप:कृतमिवाव्ययम् ।। २.११७.
I do not see any relative superior to the husband, O Vaidehī, considering carefully; everywhere he is suitable, like the inexhaustible fruit of austerity.
न त्वेनमवगच्छन्ति गुणदोषमसत्स्त्रिय: । कामवक्तव्यहृदया भर्तृनाथा श्चरन्ति या: ।। २.११७.
But ignoble women do not discern virtue or fault in him; their hearts speak only desire, and they wander, dependent on their husband.
प्राप्नुवन्त्ययशश्चैव धर्मभ्रंशं च मैथिलि । अकार्यवशमापन्ना: स्त्रियो या: खलु तद्विधा: ।। २.११७.
Women of such a kind, O Maithili, who fall under the sway of improper conduct, indeed incur disgrace and a fall from righteousness.
त्वद्विधास्तु गुणैर्युक्ता दृष्टलोकपरावरा: । स्त्रिय: स्वग चरिष्यन्ति यथा धर्मकृतस्तथा ।। २.११७.
But women like you, endowed with virtues and understanding the ways of the world, will live according to their own nature, just as those who uphold righteousness.