Sarga 40

अथ रामश्च सीता च लक्ष्मणश्च कृताञ्जलिः। उपसङ्गृह्य राजानं चक्रुर्दीना: प्रदक्षिणम्।।2.40.1।।

Thereafter, Sita, Rama and Lakshmana with folded palms in a forlom state touched (the feet of) the k...

तं चापि समनुज्ञाप्य धर्मज्ञस्सीतया सह। राघव श्शोकसम्मूढो जननीमभ्यवादयत्।।2.40.2।।

Taking leave of Dasaratha, the righteous descendant of the Raghus (Rama) along with Sita paid obeisa...

अअन्वक्षं लक्ष्मणो भ्रातुः कौशल्यामभ्यवादयत्। अथ मातु स्सुमित्राया जग्राह चरणौ पुनः।।2.40.3।।

Immediately following Rama, his brother, Lakshmana also paid obeisance to Kausalya and, thereafter, ...

तं वन्दमानं रुदती माता सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्। हितकामा महाबाहुं मूध्नर्युपाघ्राय लक्ष्मणम्।।2.40.4।।

While the mightyarmed Lakshmana paid her homage, Sumitra wailed, kissed him on his forehead, wished ...

सृष्टस्त्वं वनवासाय स्वनुरक्तस्सुहृज्जने। रामे प्रमादं मा कार्षीः पुत्र भ्रातरि गच्छति।।2.40.5।।

Although deeply attached to your beloved ones, O Son, you are born to dwell in the forest. Never be ...

व्यसनी वा समृद्धो वा गतिरेष तवानघ। एष लोके सतां धर्मो यज्ज्येष्ठवशगो भवेत्।।2.40.6।।

Rama is your refuge in times of adversity or prosperity, O sinless one To be obedient to the eldest ...

इदं हि वृत्तमुचितं कुलस्यास्य सनातनम्। दानं दीक्षा च यज्ञेषु तनुत्यागो मृधेषु च।।2.40.7।।

Charity, initiation at sacrifices and yielding life in battles are the befitting ancient traditions ...

लक्ष्मणं त्वेवमुक्त्वा सा संसिद्धं प्रियराघवम्। सुमित्रा गच्छ गच्छेति पुनः पुनरुवाच तम्।।2.40.8।।

Having said this to Lakshmana Sumitra again and again said to her beloved Rama, who was fully prepar...

रामं दशरथं विद्धि मां विद्धि जनकात्मजाम्। अयोध्यामटवीं विध्दि गच्छ तात यथासुखम्।।2.40.9।।

(To Lakshmana she said) Regard Rama as Dasaratha, Sita as me and the forest as Ayodhya. My child, go...

ततः सुमन्त्रः काकुत्स्थं प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्। विनीतो विनयज्ञश्च मातलिर्वासवं यथा।।2.40.10।।

Then Sumantra who knows the ways of politeness and humility spoke to Rama, with folded hands as Mata...

ररथमारोह भद्रं ते राजपुत्र महायशः। क्षिप्रं त्वां प्रापयिष्यामि यत्र मां राम वक्ष्यसि।।2.40.11।।

O Illustrious prince, wish you well Mount the chariot. I shall convey you speedily whereever you wan...

चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वस्तव्यानि वने त्वया। तान्युपक्रमितव्यानि यानि देव्यासि चोदितः।।2.40.12।।

You have been directed by Kaikeyi to live in the forest for fourteen years. Accordingly you must now...

तं रथं सूर्यसङ्काशं सीता हृष्टेन चेतसा। आरुरोह वरारोहा कृत्वालङ्कारमात्मनः।।2.40.13।।

Sita of lovely limbs decorated herself and with a cheerful mind boarded the chariot which was shinin...

अथो ज्वलनसङ्काशं चामीकरविभूषितम्। तमारुरुहतुस्तूर्णं भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।2.40.14।।

Thereafter, Rama and Lakshmana also boarded that chariot decorated with gold and shining like blazi...

वनवासं हि संख्याय वासांस्याभरणानि च। भर्तारमनुगच्छन्त्यै सीतायै श्वशुरो ददौ।।2.40.15।।

Fatherinlaw (Dasaratha) gave clothes and ornaments on the assessment of the number of years Sita was...

तथैवायुधजालानि भ्रातृभ्यां कवचानि च। रथोपस्थे प्रतिन्यस्य सचर्म कठिनं च तत्।।2.40.16।। सीतातृतीयानार...

So also Dasaratha secured a multitude of weapons, shields and protective leathercoverings for hands ...

तथैवायुधजालानि भ्रातृभ्यां कवचानि च। रथोपस्थे प्रतिन्यस्य सचर्म कठिनं च तत्।।2.40.16।। सीतातृतीयानार...

So also Dasaratha secured a multitude of weapons, shields and protective leathercoverings for hands ...

प्रतियाते महारण्यं चिररात्राय राघवे। बभूव नगरे मूर्छा बलमूर्छा जनस्य च।।2.40.18।।

Having seen Rama set out for the great forest for a long period, the city was stilled and men were ...

तत्समाकुलसम्भ्रान्तं मत्तसङ्कुपितद्विपम्। हयशिञ्जितनिर्घोषं पुरमासीन्महास्वनम्।।2.40.19।।

The city was distressed and flurried by the intoxicated elephants, provoked by the mighty sound of t...

तत स्सबालवृद्धा सा पुरी परमपीडिता। राममेवाभिदुद्राव घर्मार्ता सलिलं यथा।।2.40.20।।

Thereafter the extremely afflicted people of the city, including young and old alike, ran towards Ra...

पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चापि लम्बमानास्तदुन्मुखाः। बाष्पपूर्णमुखास्सर्वे तमूचुर्भृशनिस्वनाः।।2.40.21।।

All the people hanging from the chariot from behind and by the sides, heaving deeply, their faces co...

संयच्छ वाजिनां रश्मीन् सूत याहि शनैश्शनैः। मुखं द्रक्ष्याम रामस्य दुर्दर्शं नो भविष्यति।।2.40.22।।

O charioteer, control the reins of the horses and go slow so that we may look at the face of Rama, f...

आयसं हृदयं नूनं राममातुरसंशयम्। यद्देवगर्भप्रतिमे वनं याति न भिद्यते।।2.40.23।।

Alas, the heart of Kausalya whose son, Rama, resembles the offspring of the gods, does not break eve...

कृतकृत्या हि वैदेही छायेवानुगता पतिम्। न जहाति रता धर्मे मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा।।2.40.24।।

Sita, deeply attached to her duty, and with her desire fulfilled is following her husband like a sha...

अहो लक्ष्मण सिद्धार्थ स्सततं प्रियवादिनम्। भ्रातरं देवसङ्काशं यस्त्वं परिचरिष्यसि।।2.40.25।।

With your desires fulfilled, O Lakshmana, you will attend to your godlike brother who always speaks ...

महत्येषा हि ते सिध्दिरेष चाभ्युदयो महान्। एष स्वर्गस्य मार्गश्च यदेनमनुगच्छसि।।2.40.26।।

The very fact that you are following Rama is a great achievement and a great fortune for you. This,...

एवं वदन्तस्ते सोढुं न शेकुर्बाष्पमागतम्। नरास्तमनुगच्छन्तः प्रियमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्।।2.40.27।।

Speaking thus, the people following their beloved Rama, the delight of the Ikshvaku dynasty, were no...

अथ राजा वृत स्त्रीभिर्दीनाभिर्दीनचेतनः। निर्जगाम प्रियं पुत्रं द्रक्ष्यामीति ब्रुवन् गृहात्।।2.40.28...

I wish to see my beloved son said the king with a sense of desolation and emerged, surrounded by for...

शुश्रुवे चाग्रतः स्त्रीणां रुदन्तीनां महास्वनः। यथा नादः करेणूनां बद्धे महति कुञ्जरे।।2.40.29।।

He heard the women crying loudly in front like wailings of cowelephants when their bull elephant is ...

पिता हि राजा काकुत्स्थः श्रीमान् सन्नस्तदाऽभवत्। परिपूर्णः शशी काले ग्रहेणोपप्लुतो यथा।।2.40.30।।

The king born in the race of Kakutstha, though bright, looked dull then like the full Moon eclipsed ...

स च श्रीमानचिन्त्यात्मा रामो दशरथात्मजः। सूतं सञ्चोदयामास त्वरितं वाह्यतामिति।।2.40.31।।

The son of Dasaratha, glorious Rama of inconceivable courage, exhorted the charioteer to drive the c...

रामो याहीति सूतं तं तिष्ठेति स जनस्तदा। उभयं नाशकत्सूतः कर्तुमध्वनि चोदितः।।2.40.32।।

Urged by Rama to drive fast on the one hand and by the citizens to stay, on the other, the chariotee...

निर्गच्छति महाबाहौ रामे पौरजनाश्रुभिः। पतितैरभ्यवहितं प्रशशाम महीरजः।।2.40.33।।

As the mightyarmed Rama was going away, the dust raised from the earth subsided with the tears falli...

रुदिताश्रुपरिद्यूनं हाहाकृतमचेतनम्। प्रयाणे राघवस्यासीत्पुरं परमपीडितम्।।2.40.34।।

At the time of Rama's departure, the insensate city was drenched with tears of the deeply afflicted ...

सुस्राव नयनैः स्त्रीणामस्रमायाससम्भवम्। मीनसङ्क्षोभचलितै स्सलिलं पङ्कजैरिव।।2.40.35।।

Tears born of anguish fell from the eyes of women just as waterdrops fall from lotuses shaken by the...

दृष्ट्वा तु नृपति श्श्रीमानेकचित्तगतं पुरम्। निपपातैव दुःखेन हतमूल इव द्रुमः।।2.40.36।।

Having seen the city (people) absorbed in one single thought, the prosperous king, griefstricken, fe...

ततो हलहलाशब्दो जज्ञे रामस्य पृष्ठतः। नराणां प्रेक्ष्य राजानं सीदन्तं भृशदुःखितम्।।2.40.37।।

When the people saw the king enfeebled by deep grief, they raised an uproar behind Rama's (chariot).

हा रामेति जनाः केचिद्राममातेति चापरे। अन्तःपुरं समृद्धं च क्रोशन्तः पर्यदेवयन्।।2.40.38।।

Some among them wailed 'Oh Rama', while some others cried 'Oh mother of Rama' By crying loudly, they...

अन्वीक्षमाणो रामस्तु विषण्णं भ्रान्तचेतसम्। राजानं मातरं चैव ददर्शानुगतौ पथि।।2.40.39।।

When Rama glanced back, he saw his mother and father trailing behind him on the highway, with an agi...

स बद्ध इव पाशेन किशोरो मातरं यथा। धर्मपाशेन सङ्क्षिप्तः प्रकाशं नाभ्युदैक्षत।।2.40.40।।

Like a fastened foal cannot see its mother, Rama restrained by bonds of duty could not see his paren...

पदातिनौ च यानार्हावदुःखार्हौ सुखोचितौ। दृष्ट्वा सञ्चोदयामास शीघ्रं याहीति सारथिम्।।2.40.41।।

Seeing his parents, who were worthy of riding a chariot now going on foot, who were accustomed to co...

न हि तत्पुरुषव्याघ्रो दुःखदं दर्शनं पितुः। मातुश्च सहितुं शक्तस्तोत्रार्दित इव द्विपः।।2.40.42।।

Rama the best among men, could not, like an elephant tormented by the goad, endure that pitiful sigh...

प्रत्यगारमिवायान्ती वत्सला वत्सकारणात्। बद्धवत्सा यथा धेनू राममाताभ्यधावत।।2.40.43।।

Rama's mother ran after the chariot, like an affectionate cow running towards the shed to join its f...

तथा रुदन्तीं कौसल्यां रथं तमनुधावतीम्। क्रोशन्तीं राम रामेति हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च।।2.40.44।। रामलक्ष...

While Kausalya was weeping and running after the chariot, crying O 'Rama, O Sita, O Lakshmana, shedd...

तथा रुदन्तीं कौसल्यां रथं तमनुधावतीम्। क्रोशन्तीं राम रामेति हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च।।2.40.44।। रामलक्ष...

While Kausalya was weeping and running after the chariot, crying O 'Rama, O Sita, O Lakshmana, shedd...

तिष्ठेति राजा चुक्रोश याहि याहीति राघवः। सुमन्त्रस्य बभूवात्मा चक्रयोरिव चान्तरा।।2.40.46।।

The king cried, 'Stay, Stay', while Rama said 'Go on, Go on'. Sumantra's mind was caught as if in be...

नाश्रौषमिति राजानमुपालब्धोऽपि वक्ष्यसि। चिरं दुःखस्य पापिष्ठमिति रामस्तमब्रवीत्।।2.40.47।।

When the king reproaches you for not stopping the chariot, you can say 'I could not hear'.Prolonging...

रामस्य स वचः कुर्वन्ननुज्ञाप्य च तं जनम्। व्रजतोऽपि हयान् शीघ्रं चोदयामास सारथिः।।2.40.48।।

Obeying the command of Rama and after taking leave of the people, Sumantra hastened the horses altho...

न्यवर्तत जनो राज्ञो रामं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। मनसाप्यश्रुवेगैश्च न न्यवर्तत मानुषम्।।2.40.49।।

The king's men returned, with Rama circumambulated (on the plane of their minds). But from their min...

यमिच्छेत्पुनरायान्तं नैनं दूरमनुव्रजेत्। इत्यमात्या महाराजमूचुर्दशरथं वचः।।2.40.50।।

We should not follow over a long distance those we wish to return, said the ministers to king Dasara...

तेषां वचः सर्वगुणोपपन्नं प्रस्विन्नगात्रः प्रविषण्णरूपः। निशम्य राजा कृपणः सभार्यो व्यवस्थितस्तं सुत...

Dasaratha and his wives, overcome with grief, heard their words steeped in virtue (wisdom). The king...