Sarga 21

तथा तु विलपन्तीं तां कौसल्यां राममातरम्। उवाच लक्ष्मणो दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं वचः।।2.21.1।।

While Rama's mother, Kausalya was lamenting, miserable Lakshmana said to her these words appropriate...

न रोचते ममाप्येतदार्ये यद्राघवो वनम्। त्यक्त्वा राज्यश्रियं गच्छेत् स्त्रिया वाक्यवशं गतः।।2.21.2।।

O venerable one, I do not like that Rama should go to the forest yielding to the words of a woman an...

विपरीतश्च वृद्धश्च विषयैश्च प्रधर्षितः। नृपः किमिव न ब्रूयाच्चोद्यमानस्समन्मथः।।2.21.3।।

The king has a perverse nature. He is aged. He is overpowered by passions. He is under the spell of...

नास्यापराधं पश्यामि नापि दोषं तथाविधम्। येन निर्वास्यते राष्ट्राद्वनवासाय राघवः।।2.21.4।।

I do not see any fault in Rama nor any offence committed by him for which he is exiled from the king...

न तं पश्याम्यहं लोके परोक्षमपि यो नरः। स्वमित्रोऽपि निरस्तोऽपि योऽस्य दोषमुदाहरेत्।।2.21.5।।

I do not find anybody in this world, even an adversary or one defeated, who finds fault with him eve...

देवकल्पमृजुं दान्तं रिपूणामपि वत्सलम्। अवेक्षमाणः को धर्मं त्यजेत्पुत्रमकारणात्।।2.21.6।।

With no cause nor concern for righteousness, will any one abandon his son who is nearly equal to god...

तदिदं वचनं राज्ञःपुनर्बाल्यमुपेयुषः। पुत्रः को हृदये कुर्याद्राजवृत्तमनुस्मरन्।।2.21.7।।

Will any son with the ideals of a king in mind accept such words of this king who has entered his ch...

यावदेव न जानाति कश्चिदर्थमिमं नरः। तावदेव मया सार्धमात्मस्थं कुरु शासनम्।।2.21.8।।

Before this news is known to any one bring the kingdom under your control with my assistance.

मया पार्श्वे सधनुषा तव गुप्तस्य राघव। क स्समर्थोऽधिकं कर्तुं कृतान्तस्येव तिष्ठतः।।2.21.9।।

O Rama who can commit excesses on you, when you stand like Yama, god of death, protected by me with...

निर्मनुष्यामिमां कृत्स्नामयोध्यां मनुजर्षभ। करिष्यामि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्यदि स्थास्यति विप्रिये।।2.21.10...

O best of men, if the whole of Ayodhya stands against you I shall depopulate it with my sharp arrows...

भरतस्याथ पक्ष्यो वा यो वाऽस्य हितमिच्छति। सर्वानेतान्वधिष्यामि मृदुर्हि परिभूयते।।2.21.11।।

I shall slay all of them who support Bharata and those who seek his prosperity. A gentleman is treat...

प्रोत्साहितोऽयं कैकेय्या स दुष्टो यदि नः पिता। अमित्रभूतो निस्सङ्गं वध्यतां बध्यतामपि।।2.21.12।।

Even if our father instigated by Kaikeyi becomes our enemy, he shall be imprisoned or even slain reg...

गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः। उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य कार्यं भवति शासनम्।।2.21.13।।

Even a preceptor who follows the unrighteous path and is filled with haughtiness and does not know h...

बलमेष किमाश्रित्य हेतुं वापुरुषर्षभ। दातुमिच्छति कैकेय्यै राज्यं स्थितमिदं तव।।2.21.14।।

O best of men, under what authority or reason this king wants to confer on Kaikeyi the kingdom that...

त्वया चैव मया चैव कृत्वा वैरमनुत्तमम्। काऽस्य शक्तिश्श्रियं दातुं भरतायारिशासन।।2.21.15।।

What authority, O Rama, chastiser of foes, this king has to bestow the kingdom upon Bharata by enter...

अनुरक्तोऽस्मि भावेन भ्रातरं देवि तत्त्वतः। सत्येन धनुषा चैव दत्तेनेष्टेन ते शपे।।2.21.16।।

O mother, (Lakshmana now tells Kausalya) I am truly loyal to my brother from the bottom of my heart....

दीप्तमग्निमरण्यं वा यदि रामः प्रवेक्ष्यति। प्रविष्टं तत्र मां देवि त्वं पूर्वमवधारय।।2.21.17।।

O mother rest assured should Rama enter a blazing fire or a forest I must have already entered it.

हरामि वीर्याद्दुःखं ते तम स्सूर्य इवोदितः। देवी पश्यतु मे वीर्यं राघवश्चैव पश्यतु।।2.21.18।।

Like the rising Sun dispelling darkness, I shall eliminate your sorrow. O mother Let Rama see my val...

एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः। उवाच रामं कौशल्या रुदन्ती शोकलालसा।।2.21.19।।

Having heard the words of the magnanimous Lakshmana, Kausalya, depressed and weeping, said to Rama:

भ्रातुस्ते वदतः पुत्र लक्ष्मणस्य श्रुतं त्वया। यदत्रानन्तरं कार्यं कुरुष्व यदि रोचते।।2.21.20।।

O my son you have heard what your brother Lakshmana said and if it pleases you, do later what is to ...

न चाधर्म्यं वच श्रुत्वा सपत्न्या मम भाषितम्। विहाय शोकसन्तप्तां गन्तुमर्हसि मामितः।।2.21.21।।

By heeding the unrighteous words of my cowife (Kaikeyi) it does not behove you to leave me griefstri...

धर्मज्ञ यदि धर्मिष्ठो धर्मं चरितुमिच्छसि। शुश्रूष मामिहस्थस्त्वं चर धर्ममनुत्तमम्।।2.21.22।।

You are righteous. You know your duty. If you wish to follow the path of righteousness, stay here, s...

शुश्रूषुर्जननीं पुत्र स्वगृहे नियतो वसन्। परेण तपसा युक्तः काश्यपस्त्रिदिवं गतः।।2.21.23।।

O son Kasyapa who led a life of selfdiscipline and served his mother at home, attained heaven credit...

यथैव राजा पूज्यस्ते गौरवेण तथाऽस्म्यहम्। त्वां नाहमनुजानामि न गन्तव्यमितो वनम्।।2.21.24।।

Just as the king is worthy of your respectful homage, so am I. I will not permit you to go from here...

त्वद्वियोगान्न मे कार्यं जीवितेन सुखेन वा। त्वया सह मम श्रेयस्तृणानामपि भक्षणम्।।2.21.25।।

Separated from you, I have no use of this life or happiness. I prefer to live with you even if it me...

यदि त्वं यास्यसि वनं त्यक्त्वा मां शोकलालसाम्। अहं प्रायमिहासिष्ये न हि शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम्।।2.21.26।...

If you depart for the forest leaving me griefstricken I cannot live. Here I shall seek death by fast...

ततस्त्वं प्राप्स्यसे पुत्र निरयं लोकविश्रुतम्। ब्रह्महत्यामिवाधर्मात्समुद्र स्सरितां पतिः।।2.21.27।।

O son you will then fall into hell. As wellknown in the world, the ocean, the lord of rivers, incurr...

विलपन्तीं तथा दीनां कौसल्यां जननीं ततः। उवाच रामो धर्मात्मा वचनं धर्मसंहितम्।।2.21.28।।

Thereafter, virtuous Rama addressed these words consistent with righteousness to his miserable mothe...

नास्ति शक्तिः पितुर्वाक्यं समतिक्रमितुं मम। प्रसादये त्वां शिरसा गन्तुमिच्छाम्यहं वनम्।।2.21.29।।

I do not have the power to transgress the orders of my father. Bowing my head I beseech you, allow ...

ऋषिणा च पितुर्वाक्यं कुर्वता व्रतचारिणा। गौर्हता जानता धर्मं कण्डुनाऽपि विपश्चिता।।2.21.30।।

Learned sage Kandu who knew what is righteousness and a strict observant of vows, slew a cow for car...

अस्माकं च कुले पूर्वं सगरस्याज्ञया पितुः। खनद्भिस्सागरैर्भूमिमवाप्तस्सुमहान्वधः।।2.21.31।।

Earlier the sons of Sagara, born in our family, while excavating the earth by the order of their fat...

जामद्ग्न्येन रामेण रेणुका जननी स्वयम्। कृत्ता परशुनाऽरण्ये पितुर्वचनकारिणा।।2.21.32।।

Parasurama, son of Jamadagni himself in obedience to the words of his father, decapitated his mother...

एतैरन्यैश्च बहुभिर्देवि देवसमैः कृतम्। पितुर्वचनमक्लीबं करिष्यामि पितुर्हितम्।।2.21.33।।

All of them including many other godlike persons, O Mother fulfilled the words of their father. I sh...

न खल्वेतन्मयैकेन क्रियते पितृशासनम्। एतैरपि कृतं देवि ये मया तव कीर्तिताः।।2.21.34।।

I am not O Devi the only one obeying my father's command. All I have mentioned to you did.

नाहं धर्ममपूर्वं ते प्रतिकूलं प्रवर्तये। पूर्वैरयमभिप्रेतो गतो मार्गोऽनुगम्यते।।2.21.35।।

I am not advancing anything new, contrary to the existing practice. I am only following the trodden ...

तदेतत्तु मया कार्यं क्रियते भुवि नान्यथा। पितुर्हि वचनं कुर्वन्न कश्चिन्नाम हीयते।।2.21.36।।

I will not do as duty anything contrary to what is done by others in this world. No one who obeys th...

तामेवमुक्त्वा जननीं लक्ष्मणं पुनरब्रवीत्। वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठश्श्रेष्ठस्सर्वधनुष्मताम्।।2.21.3...

One who is the best among the knowers of speech and best of all archers, Rama spoke to his mother in...

तव लक्ष्मण जानामि मयि स्नेहमनुत्तमम्। विक्रमं चैव सत्त्वं च तेजश्च सुदुरासदम्।।2.21.38।।

I know, O Lakshmana, your profound affection for me. I also know your valour, strength and unassail...

मम मातुर्महद्दुःखमतुलं शुभलक्षण। अभिप्रायमविज्ञाय सत्यस्य च शमस्य च।।2.21.39।।

O Lakshamana of auspicious qualities, since my mother is not aware of the significance of truth and ...

धर्मो हि परमो लोके धर्मे सत्यं प्रतिष्ठितम्। धर्मसंश्रितमेतच्च पितुर्वचनमुत्तमम्।।2.21.40।।

Righteousness alone is supreme in this world and truth is established in righteousness. This excelle...

संश्रुत्य च पितुर्वाक्यं मातुर्वा ब्राह्मणस्य वा। न कर्तव्यं वृथा वीर धर्ममाश्रित्य तिष्ठता।।2.21.41...

Any one, O hero, who has taken recourse to righteousness should not allow the promise made to his f...

सोऽहं न शक्ष्यामि पितुर्नियोगमतिवर्तितुम्। पितुर्हिवचनाद्वीर कैकेय्याऽहं प्रचोदितः।।2.21.42।।

O hero I cannot transgress the command of my father since at his instance only Kaikeyi urged me (to ...

तदेतां विसृजानार्यां क्षत्रधर्माश्रितां मतिम्। धर्ममाश्रय मा तैक्ष्ण्यं मद्बुद्धिरनुगम्यताम्।।2.21.4...

Therefore, leave this ignoble thought, resort to the duty of a kshatriya, take the righteous path. D...

तमेवमुत्त्वा सौहार्दाद्भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। उवाच भूयः कौसल्यां प्राञ्जलिश्शिरसानतः।।2.21.44।।

Speaking affectionately to his brother Lakshmana, Rama with folded hands and head bowed again addre...

अनुमन्यस्व मां देवि गमिष्यन्तमितो वनम्। शापिताऽसि मम प्राणैः कुरु स्वस्त्ययनानि मे।।2.21.45।।

I have decided, O mother to go to the forest from here. Grant me the permission to do so. I swear on...

तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च वनात्पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरीम्। ययातिरिव राजर्षिःपुरा हित्वा पुनर्दिवम्।।2.21.46।।

Like rajarshi Yayati of yore who lost heaven and rejained it, I shall return from the forest to the ...

शोकस्सन्धार्यतां मात र्हृदये साधु मा शुचः। वनवासादिहैष्यामि पुनः कृत्वा पितुर्वचः।।2.21.47।।

Do not grieve, O mother Be prudent enough to subdue your sorrow in your heart. Having fulfilled fath...

त्वया मया च वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन सुमित्रया। पितुर्नियोगे स्थातव्यमेष धर्मस्सनातनः।।2.21.48।।

You, Sita, Lakshmana, Sumitra and I -- all of us shall abide by the words of my father. This indeed ...

अम्ब संहृत्य सम्भारान् दुःखं हृदि निगृह्य च। वनवासकृता बुद्धिर्मम धर्म्याऽनु वर्त्यताम्।।2.21.49।।

O mother in withdrawing the articles (for consecration) and also in subduing the sorrow in your hear...

एतद्वचस्तस्य निशम्य माता सुधर्म्यमव्यग्रमविक्लबं च। मृतेव संज्ञां प्रतिलभ्य देवी समीक्ष्य रामं पुनरि...

Having heard these words so unruffled and tranquil which conformed to righteousness, mother (Kausal...

यथैव ते पुत्र पिता तथाऽहं गुरु स्स्वधर्मेण सुहृत्तया च। न त्वाऽनुजानामि न मां विहाय सुदुःखितामर्हसि ...

By virtue of my own duty and affection towards you, O my son I am as much your preceptor as your fat...

किं जीवितेनेह विना त्वया मे लोकेन वा किं स्वधयाऽमृतेन। श्रेयो मुहूर्तं तव सन्निधानं ममेह कृत्स्नादपि...

What is the purpose of my life in this world without you? What purpose do I have with the other wor...

नरैरिवोल्काभिरपोह्यमानो महागजोऽध्वानमनुप्रविष्टः। भूयः प्रजज्वाल विलापमेवं निशम्य रामः करुणं जनन्याः...

At the (inconsolable) lamentations of his mother, Rama was in flames (within) like a mighty elephant...

स मातरं चैव विसंज्ञकल्पा मार्तं च सौमित्रिमभिप्रतप्तम्। धर्मे स्थितो धर्म्यमुवाच वाक्यं यथा स एवार्ह...

Rama, centred on righteousness, again addressed his mother who had almost fainted and Lakshmana who...

अहं हि ते लक्ष्मण नित्यमेव जानामि भक्तिं च पराक्रमं च। मम त्वभिप्रायमसन्निरीक्ष्य मात्रा सहाभ्यर्दसि...

I know your devotion (to me) and your valour, O Lakshmana But now, without understanding my intentio...

धर्मार्थकामाः खलु तात लोके समीक्षिता धर्मफलोदयेषु। ते तत्र सर्वे स्युरसंशयं मे भार्येव वश्याऽभिमता स...

Dharma,artha and kama, O my dear are adjudged in this world according to the fruits of righteous act...

यस्मिंस्तु सर्वे स्युरसन्निविष्टा धर्मो यत स्स्यात्तदुपक्रमेत। द्वेष्यो भवत्यर्थपरो हि लोके कामात्मत...

If actions which combine these three (dharma, artha and kama), cannot be performed (which is likely)...

गुरुश्च राजा च पिता च वृद्धः क्रोधात्प्रहर्षाद्यदि वाऽपि कामात्। यद्व्यादिशेत्कार्यमवेक्ष्य धर्मं कस...

Whatever a preceptor, an old man, a king and a father commands whether it is out of anger or pleasur...

स वै न शक्नोमि पितुः प्रतिज्ञा मिमामकर्तुं सकलां यथावत्। स ह्यावयोस्तात गुरुर्नियोगे देव्याश्च भर्ता...

It is impossible for me not to execute the promise completely, O my dear, he (Dasaratha) is our prec...

तस्मिन्पुनर्जीवति धर्मराजे विशेषतस्स्वे पथि वर्तमाने। देवी मया सार्धमितोऽपगच्छेत् कथं स्विदन्या विधव...

While the righteous king is living, more importantly treading the righteous path, how can mother Kau...

सा माऽनुमन्यस्व वनं व्रजन्तं कुरुष्व न स्स्वस्त्ययनानि देवि। यथा समाप्ते पुनराव्रजेयं यथा हि सत्येन ...

Grant me permission O mother, to depart for the forest. Bless me and perform ceremonies for my wellb...

यशो ह्यहं केवलराज्यकारणा न्न पृष्ठतः कर्तुमलं महोदयम्। अदीर्घकाले न तु देवि जीविते वृणेऽवरामद्य महीम...

I will not forsake this great glory (of fulfilling my father's promise) for the sake of the kingdom....

प्रसादयन्नरवृषभ स्समातरं पराक्रमाज्जिगमिषुरेव दण्डकान्। अथानुजं भृशमनुशास्य दर्शनं चकार तां हृदि जनन...

Rama, the best among men, thus pacified his mother insisting on his desire to depart for Dandaka for...