Sarga 37

महामात्रवचः श्रुत्वा रामो दशरथं तदा। अभ्यभाषत वाक्यं तु विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्।।2.37.1।।

On hearing the minister, Rama who knew how to be polite spoke these words to Dasaratha humbly: Not...

त्यक्तभोगस्य मे राजन् वने वन्येन जीवतः। किं कार्यमनुयात्रेण त्यक्तसङ्गस्य सर्वतः।।2.37.2।।

O king giving up pleasures and attachments altogether I am going to live on whatever is available in...

यो हि दत्त्वा द्विपश्रेष्ठं कक्ष्यायां कुरुते मनः। रज्जुस्नेहेन किं तस्य त्यजतः कुञ्जरोत्तमम्।।2.37....

Having given away the best of elephants, will any one be interested in the rope tied to its girth? W...

तथा मम सतां श्रेष्ठ किं ध्वजिन्या जगत्पते। सर्वाण्येवानुजानामि चीराण्येवाऽनयन्तु मे।।2.37.4।।

O best among the virtuous O lord of the world, I do not have any use for this army. I am giving away...

खनित्रपिटके चोभे समानयत गच्छतः। चतुर्दश वने वासं वर्षाणि वसतो मम।।2.37.5।।

I am going to the forest to live there for fourteen years. Bring me two things: a basket and a crowb...

अथ चीराणि कैकेयी स्वयमाहृत्य राघवम्। उवाच परिधत्स्वेति जनौघे निरपत्रपा।।2.37.6।।

Thereupon in the assembly of people, without any sense of shame Kaikeyi herself brought the bark rob...

स चीरे पुरुषव्याघ्रः कैकेय्या प्रतिगृह्य ते। सूक्ष्मवस्त्रमवक्षिप्य मुनिवस्त्राण्यवस्त ह।।2.37.7।।

The tiger among men (Rama) received the bark robes from Kaikeyi and putting off the fine apparel wor...

लक्ष्मणश्चापि तत्रैव विहाय वसने शुभे। तापसाच्छादने चैव जग्राह पितुरग्रतः।।2.37.8।।

Lakshmana also removed his auspicious raiment in front (presence) of his father and accepted (put o...

अथाऽत्मपरिधानार्थं सीता कौशेयवासिनी। समीक्ष्य चीरं सन्त्रस्ता पृषती वागुरामिव।।2.37.9।।

Then Sita in silk clothes glanced at the bark robes meant for her to wear and was frightened like a ...

सा व्यपत्रपमाणेव प्रगृह्य च सुदुर्मनाः। कैकेयी कुशचीरे ते जानकी शुभलक्षणा।।2.37.10।। अश्रुसम्पूर्ण न...

Sita of auspicious nature who knew her duties and understood righteousness, took the garments made o...

सा व्यपत्रपमाणेव प्रगृह्य च सुदुर्मनाः। कैकेयी कुशचीरे ते जानकी शुभलक्षणा।।2.37.10।। अश्रुसम्पूर्ण न...

Sita of auspicious nature who knew her duties and understood righteousness, took the garments made o...

कथं नु चीरं बध्नन्ति मुनयो वनवासिनः। इति ह्यकुशला सीता सा मुमोह मुहुर्मुहुः।।2.37.12।।

Sita, unacquainted with wearing bark robes, asked Rama, perplexed 'How do the sages who live in the ...

कृत्वा कण्ठे च सा चीरमेकमादाय पाणिना। तस्थौ ह्यकुशला तत्र व्रीडिता जनकात्मजा।।2.37.13।।

The daughter of Janaka, placed one end of the garment round her neck and held the other in her hand,...

तस्यास्तत्क्षिप्रमागम्य रामो धर्मभृतां वरः। चीरं बबन्ध सीतायाः कौशेयस्योपरि स्वयम्।।2.37.14।।

Rama, foremost among protectors of righteousness, came forward quickly and fastened the bark himself...

रामं प्रेक्ष्य तु सीताया बध्नन्तं चीरमुत्तमम्। अन्तःपुरगता नार्यो मुमुचुर्वारि नेत्रजम्।।2.37.15।।

Beholding Rama fastening the bark garment on Sita, the women of the inner apartment shed tears from ...

ऊचुश्च परमायस्ता रामं ज्वलिततेजसम्। वत्स नैवं नियुक्तेयं वनवासे मनस्विनी।।2.37.16।।

Profoundly distressed, they said to Rama glowing with burning lustre O dear, no one has ordered this...

पितुर्वाक्यानुरोधेन गतस्य विजनं वनम्। तावद्दर्शनमस्या नः सफलं भवतु प्रभो।।2.37.17।।

In obedience to the words of your father, O lord you are going to the forest. Till you return, pleas...

लक्ष्मणेन सहायेन वनं गच्छस्व पुत्रक। नेयमर्हति कल्याणी वस्तुं तापसवद्वने।।2.37.18।।

Go, O son to the forest with Lakshmana as your companion. (But) this auspicious Sita, will not be ab...

कुरु नो याचनां पुत्र सीता तिष्ठतु भामिनी। धर्मनित्यस्स्वयं स्थातुं न हीदानीं त्वमिच्छसि।।2.37.19।।

Do accede to our prayer. Let lovely Sita stay with us as you, O son faithful to your duty, will not ...

तासामेवंविधा वाच शृण्वन् दशरथात्मजः। बबन्धैव तदा चीरं सीतया तुल्यशीलया।।2.37.20।।

While Rama was listening to such words uttered by them, he got the bark robes fastened round Sita wh...

चीरे गृहीते तु तया समीक्ष्य नृपतेर्गुरुः। निवार्य सीतां कैकेयीं वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.37.21।।

When Sita wore the bark garments, Vasistha, the king's preceptor who was watching this restrained he...

अतिप्रवृत्ते दुर्मेधे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि। वञ्चयित्वा च राजानं न प्रमाणेऽवतिष्ठसे।।2.37.22।।

. You are exceeding all limits of decency O Kaikeyi your motive is evil. You are a disgrace to the r...

न गन्तव्यं वनं देव्या सीतया शीलवर्जिते। अनुष्ठास्यति रामस्य सीता प्रकृतमासनम्।।2.37.23।।

You are devoid of good conduct, O Kaikeyi Divine Sita need not go to the forest. Remaining here she ...

आत्मा हि दारास्सर्वेषां दारसङ्ग्रहवर्तिनाम्। आत्मेयमिति रामस्य पालयिष्यति मेदिनीम्।।2.37.24।।

For every householder, his wife is the soul. Since Sita is the soul of Rama, she can rule this earth...

अथ यास्यति वैदेही वनं रामेण सङ्गता। वयमप्यनुयास्यामः पुरं चेदं गमिष्यति।।2.37.25।।

Otherwise, if Sita goes with Rama to the forest, all of us along with the entire city will follow.

अन्तपालाश्च यास्यन्ति सदारो यत्र राघवः। सहोपजीव्यं राष्ट्रं च पुरं च सपरिच्छदम्।।2.37.26।।

The guardians of the harem, its patron king Dasaratha with his retinue and, the people of this city ...

भरतश्च सशत्रुघ्नश्चीरवासा वनेचरः। वने वसन्तं काकुत्स्थ मनुवत्स्यति पूर्वजम्।।2.37.27।।

Wandering in the forest and wearing bark, Satrughna and Bharata will live in the company of their el...

तत श्शून्यां गतजनां वसुधां पादपै स्सह। त्वमेका शाधि दुर्वृत्ता प्रजानामहिते स्थिता।।2.37.28।।

Intent upon doing harm to the people with your vile behaviour, you alone rule this kingdom full of t...

न हि तद्भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र रामो न भूपतिः। तद्वनं भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र रामो निवत्स्यति।।2.37.29।।

That is not a kingdom where Rama does not rule. If Rama lives in the forest, that shall be the king...

न ह्यदत्तां महीं पित्रा भरतः शास्तुमर्हति। त्वयि वा पुत्रवद्वस्तुं यदि जातो महीपतेः।।2.37.30।।

If Bharata is truly born to the king, he will not rule the kingdom which has not been bestowed on hi...

यद्यपि त्वं क्षितितलाद्गगनं चोत्पतिष्यसि। पितृर्वंशचरित्रज्ञः सोऽन्यथा न करिष्यति।।2.37.31।।

Even if you were to fly from earth to sky, Bharata who knows the traditions of his father's dynasty...

तत्त्वया पुत्रगर्धिन्या पुत्रस्य कृतमप्रियम्। लोके हि स न विद्येत यो न राममनुव्रतः।।2.37.32।।

Therefore, by greedily guarding your son's interest you are doing him harm. There is none in this w...

द्रक्ष्यस्यद्यैव कैकेयी पशुव्यालमृगद्विजान्। गच्छतस्सह रामेण पादपांश्च तदुन्मुखान्।।2.37.33।।

Today you shall see, O Kaikeyi, flocks of cattle, elephants, deer and birds following Rama, even th...

अथोत्तमान्याभरणानि देवि देहि स्नुषायै व्यपनीय चीरम्। न चीरमस्याः प्रविधीयतेति न्यवारयत्तद्वसनं वसिष्...

O Kaikeyi remove those bark robes and bestow on your daughterinlaw precious ornaments. She was not o...

एकस्य रामस्य वने निवास स्त्वया वृतःकेकयराजपुत्री। विभूषितेयं प्रतिकर्मनित्या वसत्वरण्ये सह राघवेण।।2...

O Kaikeyi, you asked that Rama only should dwell in the forest (wearing bark robes). Therefore let S...

यानैश्च मुख्यैः परिचारकैश्च सुसंवृता गच्छतु राजपुत्री। वस्त्रैश्च सर्वैस्सहितैर्विधानै र्नेयं वृता त...

Equipped with excellent chariots, attendants, garments, and all other needs let the princess (Sita) ...

तस्मिंस्तथा जल्पति विप्रमुख्ये गुरौ नृपस्याप्रतिमप्रभावे। नैव स्म सीता विनिवृत्तभावा प्रियस्य भर्तुः...

(Though) Vasistha, endowed with matchless power, the preceptor of the king and foremost among the br...