Sarga 23

इति ब्रुवति रामे तु लक्ष्मणोऽधश्शिरा मुहुः। श्रृत्वा मध्यं जगामेव मनसा दुःखहर्षयोः।।2.23.1।।

While Rama was speaking thus, Lakshmana listened to him with his head down, experiencing both grief ...

तदा तु बध्द्वा भ्रुकुटीं भ्रुवोर्मध्ये नरर्षभः। निशश्वास महासर्पो बिलस्थ इव रोषितः।।2.23.2।।

Lakshmana, frowning between his eyebrows, hissed like a great serpent seized with anger in its hole.

तस्य दुष्प्रतिवीक्षं तद्भ्रुकुटीसहितं तदा। बभौ क्रुद्धस्य सिंहस्य मुखस्य सदृशं मुखम्।।2.23.3।।

With his frown, his face looked frightening like the face of a lion provoked.

अग्रहस्तं विधुन्वंस्तु हस्ती हस्तमिवात्मनः। तिर्यगूर्ध्वं शरीरे च पातयित्वा शिरोधराम्।।2.23.4।। अग्र...

Shaking his forearm like an elephant raising its trunk, moving his neck horizontally and vertically ...

अस्थाने सम्भ्रमो यस्य जातो वै सुमहानयम्।।2.23.5।। धर्मदोष प्रसङ्गेन लोकस्यानतिशङ्कया। कथंह्येतदसम्भ्...

O Rama, the greatest among the brave kshatriyas you say this because of your fear that (by disobeyin...

अस्थाने सम्भ्रमो यस्य जातो वै सुमहानयम्।।2.23.5।। धर्मदोष प्रसङ्गेन लोकस्यानतिशङ्कया। कथंह्येतदसम्भ्...

O Rama, the greatest among the brave kshatriyas you say this because of your fear that (by disobeyin...

किन्नाम कृपणं दैवमशक्तमभिशंससि।।2.23.7।। पापयोस्ते कथं नाम तयोश्शङ्का न विद्यते।

Why do you extol this pitiable and powerless destiny? Why don't you doubt those two vicious persons ...

सन्ति धर्मोपधा श्लक्ष्णाः धर्मात्मन्किं न बुध्यसे।।2.23.8।। तयोस्सुचरितं स्वार्थं शाठ्यात्परिजिहीर्ष...

Why don't you realise, O virtuous one that there are soft means of creating hindrances in their plan...

यदि नैवं व्यवसितं स्याद्धि प्रागेव राघव।।2.23.9।। तयोः प्रागेव दत्तश्च स्याद्वरः प्रकृतश्च सः।

If both of them had not decided before, O Rama the boon granted to Kaikeyi naturally would have been...

लोकविद्विष्टमारब्धं त्वदन्यस्याभिषेचनम्। नोत्सहे सहितुं वीर तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि।।2.23.10।।

The consecration of any one other than you, O valiant one is universally detested. I do not want to ...

येनेय मागता द्वैधं तव बुद्धिर्महामते। स हि धर्मो मम द्वेष्यः प्रसङ्गाद्यस्य मुह्यसि।।2.23.11।।

O noble minded one I hate this righteousness which has deluded your intellect and created this dilem...

कथं त्वं कर्मणा शक्तः कैकेयीवशवर्तिनः। करिष्यसि पितुर्वाक्यमधर्मिष्ठं विगर्हितम्।।2.23.12।।

When you are able to counter (this move), why do you want to execute the unjustifiable and contempti...

यद्ययं किल्बिषाद्भेदः कृतोऽप्येवं न गृह्यते। जायते तत्र मे दुःखं धर्मसङ्गश्च गर्हितः।।2.23.13।।

I am grieved that even though this plot has been hatched by a treacherous mind, you are not taking i...

मनसाऽपि कथं कामं कुर्यास्त्वं कामवृत्तयोः। तयोस्त्वहितयोर्नित्यं शत्र्वोः पित्रभिधानयोः।।2.23.14।।

As both of them are steeped in passion, they never thought of your wellbeing. How will you fulfil th...

यद्यपि प्रतिपत्तिस्ते दैवी चापि तयोर्मतम्। तथाप्युपेक्षणीयं ते न मे तदपि रोचते।।2.23.15।।

It might be your opinion that their dictate is the decree of destiny. Even then, it does not satisfy...

विक्लबो वीर्यहीनो यस्स दैवमनुवर्तते। वीरास्सम्भावितात्मानो न दैवं पर्युपासते।।2.23.16।।

Those who are timid and cowardly alone depend on destiny.The valiant with of selfrespect will not ac...

दैवं पुरुषकारेण यः समर्थः प्रबाधितुम्। न दैवेन विपन्नार्थः पुरुषस्सोऽवसीदति।।2.23.17।।

In the case of one capable of striking destiny with human efforts it cannot defeat his objective and...

द्रक्ष्यन्ति त्वद्य दैवस्य पौरुषं पुरुषस्य च। दैवमानुषयोरद्य व्यक्ता व्यक्तिर्भविष्यति।।2.23.18।।

Today all will witness the power of destiny and the power of man. The difference between man and des...

अद्य मत्पौरुषहतं दैवं द्रक्ष्यन्ति वै जनाः। यद्दैवादाहतं तेऽद्य दृष्टं राज्याभिषेचनम्।।2.23.19।।

Today people will see destiny defeated by my valour just as they saw your consecration defeated (obs...

अत्यङ्कुशमिवोद्दामं गजं मदबलोद्धतम्। प्रधावितमहं दैवं पौरुषेण निवर्तये।।2.23.20।।

I will make destiny, the elephant, running wild on the strength of the rut, unmanageable (even) by t...

लोकपालास्समस्ता स्ते नाद्य रामाभिषेचनम्। न च कृत्स्नास्त्रयो लोका विहन्युः किं पुनः पिता।।2.23.21।।

All the guardians of the quarters and all the three worlds united cannot prevent the consecration of...

यैर्निवासस्तवारण्ये मिथो राजन्समर्थितः। अरण्ये ते निवत्स्यन्ति चतुर्दश समास्तथा।।2.23.22।।

O king those who, with mutual support banished you to the forest, will themselves dwell in the fore...

अहं तदाशां छेत्स्यामि पितुस्तस्याश्च या तव। अभिषेकविघातेन पुत्रराज्याय वर्तते।।2.23.23।।

Therefore, I shall frustrate the desire of father and of Kaikeyi who plans the kingdom for her son ...

मद्बलेन विरुद्धाय न स्याद्दैवबलं तथा। प्रभविष्यति दुःखाय यथोग्रं पौरुषं मम।।2.23.24।।

Any one who opposes my terrible valour will come to grief. The power of destiny will not cause that ...

ऊर्ध्वं वर्षसहस्रान्ते प्रजापाल्यमनन्तरम्। आर्यपुत्राः करिष्यन्ति वनवासं गते त्वयि।।2.23.25।।

When after ruling the subjects for a thousand years you withdraw into the forest (for yativrata) you...

पूर्वं राजर्षिवृत्त्या हि वनवासो विधीयते। प्रजा निक्षिप्य पुत्रेषु पुत्रवत्परिपालने।।2.23.26।।

Leaving their sons to look after the subjects as their own children, the rajarsis in ancient times ...

स चेद्राजन्यनेकाग्रे राज्यविभ्रमशङ्कया। नैवमिच्छसि धर्मात्मन् राज्यं राम त्वमात्मनि।।2.23.27।। प्रति...

O righteous one, if you apprehend chaos in the kingdom for want of wholehearted support from the (fe...

स चेद्राजन्यनेकाग्रे राज्यविभ्रमशङ्कया। नैवमिच्छसि धर्मात्मन् राज्यं राम त्वमात्मनि।।2.23.27।। प्रति...

O righteous one, if you apprehend chaos in the kingdom for want of wholehearted support from the (fe...

मङ्गलैरभिषिञ्चस्व तत्र त्वं व्यापृतो भव। अहमेको महीपालानलं वारयितुं बलात्।।2.23.29।।

The consecration may be performed with these auspicious materials. I am alone capable of facing thes...

न शोभार्थाविमौ बाहू न धनुर्भूषणाय मे। नाऽसिराबन्धनार्थाय न शरास्तम्भहेतवः।।2.23.30।। अमित्रदमनार्थं ...

These my arms are not intended to enhance the beauty (of my body). This bow is not for decoration. T...

न चाहं कामयेऽत्यर्थं यस्स्याच्छत्रुर्मतो मम।।2.23.31।। असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण विद्युच्चलितवर्चसा। प्रगृह...

Any one who turns my enemy will not be allowed to remain alive. Holding my sharpedged sword, lustrou...

न चाहं कामयेऽत्यर्थं यस्स्याच्छत्रुर्मतो मम।।2.23.31।। असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण विद्युच्चलितवर्चसा। प्रगृह...

Any one who turns my enemy will not be allowed to remain alive. Holding my sharpedged sword, lustrou...

खड्गनिष्पेषनिष्पिष्टैर्गहना दुश्चरा च मे। हस्त्यश्वनरहस्तोरुशिरोभिर्भविता मही।।2.23.33।।

This entire earth will become impenetrable and impassable, scattered with the trunks, thighs and hea...

खड्गधाराहता मेऽद्य दीप्यमाना इवाद्रयः। पतिष्यन्ति द्विपा भूमौ मेघा इव सविद्युतः।।2.23.34।।

The elephants, struck by the blows of my sword, will fall on earth like mountains engulfed in flames...

बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणे प्रगृहीतशरासने। कथं पुरुषमानी स्यात्पुरुषाणां मयि स्थिते।।2.23.35।।

When I stand before men (enemies) wearing godha and fingerprotector, holding the bow ready, who amon...

बहुभिश्चैकमत्यस्यन्नेकेन च बहून्जनान्। विनियोक्ष्याम्यहं बाणान्नृवाजिगजमर्मसु।।2.23.36।।

Striking each of my foes with many arrows and many with one arrow, I shall aim them at the vitals of...

अद्य मेऽस्त्रप्रभावस्य प्रभावः प्रभविष्यति। राज्ञश्चाप्रभुतां कर्तुं प्रभुत्वं तव च प्रभोः।।2.23.37।...

O Lord today you shall see the power of my glorious weapons in depriving the king (Dasaratha) of his...

अद्य चन्दनसारस्य केयूरामोक्षणस्य च। वसूनां च विमोक्षस्य सुहृदां पालनस्य च।।2.23.38।। अनुरूपाविमौ बाह...

These arms, O Rama which are fit for sandalwood cream, for wearing armlets, for distributing wealth ...

अद्य चन्दनसारस्य केयूरामोक्षणस्य च। वसूनां च विमोक्षस्य सुहृदां पालनस्य च।।2.23.38।। अनुरूपाविमौ बाह...

These arms, O Rama which are fit for sandalwood cream, for wearing armlets, for distributing wealth ...

ब्रवीहि कोऽद्यैव मया वियुज्यताम् तवा सुहृत्प्राणयशस्सुहृज्जनैः। यथा तवेयं वसुधा वशे भवे त्तथैव मां श...

Tell me your enemy who should be deprived of his life, fame and friends. Command me as to how this e...