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.
तदेवमेनं त्वमनुव्रता सती पतिव्रतानां समयानुवर्तिनी । भवस्व भर्त्तु: सहधर्मचारिणी यशश्च धर्मं च तत: समाप्स्यसि ।। २.११७.
Therefore, you, steadfast in devotion, following the path of the faithful wives, be a companion in righteousness to your husband; from this you will attain both honor and virtue.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तदशोत्तरशततम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the one hundred seventeenth sarga in the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
thumb|अष्टादशशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center सा त्वेवमुक्ता वैदेही त्वनसूया ऽनसूयया । प्रतिपूज्य वचो मन्दं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। २.११८.
Thus addressed by Anasūyā, Vaidehī, free from envy, honored her words and began to speak gently.
नैतदाश्चर्य्यमार्याया यन्मां त्वमनुभाषसे । विदितं तु ममाप्येतद्यथा नार्य्या: पतिर्गुरु: ।। २.११८.
It is not surprising, O noble lady, that you speak to me in this way; I too know that a husband is a woman's highest reverence.
यद्यप्येष भवेद्भर्ता ममार्ये वृत्तवर्जित: । अद्वैधमुपचर्तव्यस्तथाप्येष मया भवेत् ।। २.११८.
Even if my husband were to be without good conduct, O noble one, still he must be served by me without deviation.
किं पुनर्यो गुण: श्लाघ्य: सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रिय: । स्थिरानुरागो धर्मात्मा मातृवत्पितृवत्प्रिय: ।। २.११८.
How much more, then, when he is virtuous, praiseworthy, compassionate, self-controlled, steadfast in love, righteous, and dear as a mother and father?
यां वृत्तिं वर्त्तते राम: कौसल्यायां महाबल: । तामेव नृपनारीणामन्यासामपि वर्त्तते ।। २.११८.
The way mighty Rāma behaves toward Kausalyā, he behaves in the same way toward all the other royal women.
सकृद्दृष्टास्वपि स्त्रीषु नृपेण नृपवत्सल: । मातृवद्वर्त्तते वीरो मानमुत्सृज्य धर्मवित् ।। २.११८.
Even toward women whom the king has seen only once, the hero, devoted to righteousness, acts with the respect due to a mother, setting aside pride.
आगच्छन्त्याश्च विजनं वनमेवं भयावहम् । समाहितं मे श्वश्र्वा च हृदये तद्धृतं महत् ।। २.११८.
And as I came to this lonely and fearful forest, the great advice my mother-in-law gave me remains firmly in my heart.
पाणिप्रदानकाले च यत्पुरा त्वग्निसन्निधौ । अनुशिष्टा जनन्या ऽस्मि वाक्यं तदपि मे धृतम् ।। २.११८.
And the words my mother spoke to me long ago at the time of giving my hand in marriage, in the presence of fire, I have also kept in mind.