Sarga 24

तं समीक्ष्य त्ववहितं पितुर्निर्देश पालने। कौशल्या बाष्पसंरुद्धा वचो धर्मिष्ठमब्रवीत्।।2.24.1।।

Having perceived that Rama was determined to carry out his father's command, Kausalya with her throa...

अदृष्टदुःखो धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः। मयि जातो दशरथात्कथमुञ्छेन वर्तयेत्।।2.24.2।।

How will this righteous Rama, born to me through Dasaratha, who speaks pleasantly to all, and who ha...

यस्य भृत्याश्च दासाश्च मृष्टान्यन्नानि भुञ्जते। कथं स भोक्ष्यतेऽनाथो वने मूलफलान्ययम्।।2.24.3।।

How will Rama live on roots and fruits in the forest hereafter when his servants and attendants enjo...

कः एतच्छ्रद्दधेच्छ्रुत्वा कस्य वा न भवेद्भयम्। गुणवान्दयितो राज्ञा राघवो यद्विवास्यते।।2.24.4।।

Who will believe that the virtuous and affectionate scion of the Raghus is exiled this way by the ki...

नूनं तु बलवान् लोके कृतान्तस्सर्वमादिशन्। लोके रामाभिरामस्त्वं वनं यत्र गमिष्यसि।।2.24.5।।

O Rama if you, being the delight of the world, are (ordered) to go to the forest, it has to be said ...

अयं तु मामात्मभव स्तवादर्शनमारुतः। विलापदुःखसमिधो रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः।।2.24.6।। चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूमस्त...

After your departure, O son, an incomparably huge fire of grief with sighs of exhaustion will burst ...

अयं तु मामात्मभव स्तवादर्शनमारुतः। विलापदुःखसमिधो रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः।।2.24.6।। चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूमस्त...

After your departure, O son, an incomparably huge fire of grief with sighs of exhaustion will burst ...

अयं तु मामात्मभव स्तवादर्शनमारुतः। विलापदुःखसमिधो रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः।।2.24.6।। चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूमस्त...

After your departure, O son, an incomparably huge fire of grief with sighs of exhaustion will burst ...

कथं हि धेनु स्स्वं वत्सं गच्छन्तं नानुगच्छति। अहं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामि यत्र पुत्र गमिष्यसि।।2.24.9.।।

I shall follow you wherever you go, my son, like a cow following its calf. How is it possible for a ...

तथा निगदितं मात्रा तद्वाक्यं पुरुषर्षभः। श्रुत्वा रामोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम्।।2.24.10।।

At these words of his mother who was deeply afflicted Rama, best among men replied:

कैकेय्या वञ्चितो राजा मयि चारण्यमाश्रिते। भवत्या च परित्यक्तो न नूनं वर्तयिष्यति।।2.24.11।।

The king was deceived by Kaikeyi. If you also desert him after I have gone to the forest, surely he ...

भर्तुः किल परित्यागो नृशंसः केवलं स्त्रियाः। स भवत्या न कर्तव्यो मनसाऽपि विगर्हितः।।2.24.12।।

For a woman, to desert her husband is a cruel act. You must not do that which is contemptible even ...

यावज्जीवति काकुत्स्थः पिता मे जगतीपतिः। शुश्रूषा क्रियतां तावत्सहि धर्मस्सनातनः।।2.24.13।।

As long as the king, my father, the lord of the earth, a descendant of Kakutshta lives, you shall se...

एवमुक्ता तु रामेण कौशल्या शुभदर्शना। तथेत्युवाच सुप्रीता राममक्लिष्टकारिणम्।।2.24.14।।

At these words of Rama, unshakable in action, auspiciouslooking Kausalya, exceedingly pleased said '...

एवमुक्तस्तु वचनं रामो धर्मभृतां वरः। भूयस्तामब्रवीद्वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम्।।2.24.15।।

Thus addressed, Rama, the foremost among upholders of righteousness, said to his mother who was in d...

मया चैव भवत्या च कर्तव्यं वचनं पितुः। राजा भर्ता गुरु श्श्रेष्ठस्सर्वेषामीश्वरः प्रभुः।।2.24.16।।

You and I should obey father's words. He is the king, supporter, preceptor, the best (among men) and...

इमानि तु महारण्ये विहृत्य नव पञ्च च। वर्षाणि परमप्रीतः स्थास्यामि वचने तव।।2.24.17।।

Roaming the wild forest for fourteen years I shall abide by your words with supreme pleasure.

एवमुक्ता प्रियं पुत्रं बाष्पपूर्णानना तदा। उवाच परमार्ता तु कौशल्या पुत्रवत्सला।।2.24.18।।

Thus addressed by Rama, the affectionate Kausalya, deeply distressed, her eyes filled with tears, sa...

आसां राम सपत्नीनां वस्तुं मध्ये न मे क्षमम्। नय मामपि काकुत्स्थ वनं वन्यां मृगीं यथा।।2.24.19।। यदि ...

O Rama, I am not able to live in the midst of these cowives. O descendant of Kakutstha, if you have ...

तां तथा रुदतीं रामो रुदन्वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.24.20।। जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतं प्रभुरेव च

Adding his tears to his mother's who was wailing Rama said As long as a woman lives, her husband is ...

भवत्या मम चैवाद्य राजा प्रभवति प्रभुः। न ह्यनाथा वयं राज्ञा लोकनाथेन धीमता।।2.24.21।।

The powerful king has authority over you as well as over me. As long as he is the sagacious lord of ...

भरतश्चापि धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः। भवतीमनुवर्तेत स हि धर्मरतस्सदा।।2.24.22।।

Bharata, who is virtuous and speaks pleasantly to all beings and who is always attached to righteous...

यथा मयि तु निष्क्रान्ते पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवः। श्रमं नावाप्नुयात्किञ्चिदप्रमत्ता तथा कुरु।।2.24.23।।

After my departure, you must see that the king is not overpowered by grief for his son and struggle...

दारुणश्चाप्ययं शोको यथैनं न विनाशयेत्। राज्ञो वृद्धस्य सततं हितं चर समाहिता।।2.24.24।।

See that the old king does not succumb to this terrible grief. Serve him with a composed mind.

व्रतोपवासनिरता या नारी परमोत्तमा। भर्तारं नानुवर्तेत सा तु पापगतिर्भवेत्।।2.24.25।।

A woman may be highly pious engaged in vows and fastings, but if she does not follow her husband, sh...

भर्तु श्शुश्रूषया नारी लभते स्वर्गमुत्तमम्। अपि या निर्नमस्कारा निवृत्ता देवपूजनात्।।2.24.26।।

A woman who serves her husband will attain the highest heaven even if she pays no homage to gods and...

शुश्रूषामेव कुर्वीत भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता। एष धर्मः पुरा दृष्टो लोके वेदे श्रुतः स्मृतः।।2.24.27।।

A wife who serves her husband and who is engaged in doing good to him is righteous. This dharma exis...

अग्निकार्येषु च सदा सुमनोभिश्च देवताः। पूज्यास्ते मत्कृते देवि बाह्मणाश्चैव सुव्रताः।।2.24.28।।

For my sake, O devi worship the firegod with offerings of oblations and flowers, and brahmins who ar...

एवं कालं प्रतीक्षस्व ममागमनकाङ्क्षिणी। नियता नियताहारा भर्तृशुश्रूषणे रता।।2.24.29।।

Looking forward to my return, spend your time this way with moderate intake, a mind under control an...

प्राप्स्यसे परमं कामं मयि प्रत्यागते सति। यदि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम्।।2.24.30।।

If my father, who is the best among the upholders of righteousness, survives till I come back, you w...

एवमुक्ता तु रामेण बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा। कौशल्या पुत्रशोकार्ता रामं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.24.31।।

To these words of Rama, Kausalya, distressed with grief for her son, replied with her eyes filled wi...

गमने सुकृतां बुद्धिं न ते शक्नोमि पुत्रक। विनिवर्तयितुं वीर नूनं कालो दुरत्ययः।।2.24.32।।

I am unable to dissuade you, O my brave son, from your firm resolve to go to the forest. It is surel...

गच्छ पुत्र त्वमेकाग्रो भद्रं तेऽस्तु सदा विभुः। पुनस्त्वयि निवृत्ते तु भविष्यामि गतव्यथा।।2.24.33।।

Go with a steadfast mind, O my son May god be gracious. Only with your return, I shall be relieved o...

प्रत्यागते महाभागे कृतार्थे चरितव्रते। पितुरानृण्यतां प्राप्ते त्वयि लप्स्ये परं सुखम्।।2.24.34।।

O reverend one, when you come back after having accomplished your purpose, performed your vows and a...

कृतान्तस्य गतिः पुत्र दुर्विभाव्या सदा भुवि। यस्त्वां सञ्चोदयति मे वच आच्छिद्य राघव।।2.24.35।।

O Rama inconceivable is the course of destiny which is inciting you to go to the forest disregarding...

गच्छेदानीं महाबाहो क्षेमेण पुनरागतः। नन्दयिष्यसि मां पुत्र साम्ना वाक्येन चारुणा।।2.24.36।।

Go now, O my mightyarmed son and come back safe. And on your return, delight me with your sweet, gen...

अपीदानीं स कालस्स्याद्वनात्प्रत्यागतं पुनः। यत्त्वां पुत्रक पश्येयं जटावल्कलधारिणम्।।2.24.37।।

O my dear child, how pleasing would it be, if today were to be the day of your return from the fores...

तथा हि रामं वनवासनिश्चितं समीक्ष्य देवी परमेण चेतसा। उवाच रामं शुभलक्षणं वचो बभूव च स्वस्त्ययनाभिकाङ...

Seeing Rama full of auspicious qualities resolved to go to the forest and having spoken to him with ...