Sarga 96

तां तथा दर्शयित्वा तु मैथिलीं गिरिनिम्नगाम्। निषसाद गिरिप्रस्थे सीतां मांसेन छन्दयन्।।2.96.1।।

Rama showed Sita, the princess of Mithila the river Mandakini flowing in the mountain, gratified her...

इदं मेध्यमिदं स्वादु निष्टप्तमिदमग्निना। एवमास्ते स धर्मात्मा सीतया सह राघवः।।2.96.2।।

Offering Sita several kinds of preparations to eat, righteous Rama, seated in her company remarked, ...

तथा तत्राऽसतस्तस्य भरतस्यौपयायिनः। सैन्यरेणुश्च शब्दश्च प्रादुरास्तां नभस्पृशौ।।2.96.3।।

Now as Rama was sitting there, the tumult and the dust raised by the approaching army of Bharata rea...

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे त्रस्ता श्शब्देन महता ततः। अर्दिता यूथपा मत्ता स्सयूथा दुद्रुवुर्दिशः।।2.96.4।।

Meanwhile, the mighty leaders of the elephantherds were agitated, and frightened by the loud noise, ...

स तं सैन्यसमुद्धूतं शब्दं शुश्राव राघवः। तां श्च विप्रद्रुतान्सर्वान्यूथपानन्ववैक्षत।।2.96.5।।

Rama heard the sound generated by the army and saw those leaders of herds fleeing away.

तांश्च विद्रुवतो दृष्ट्वा तं च श्रुत्वा च निस्वनम्। उवाच राम स्सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम्।।2.96....

Seeing those animals fleeing and hearing the clamour, Rama addressed Lakshmana, son of Sumitra, who ...

हन्त लक्ष्मण पश्येह सुमित्रासुप्रजास्त्वया। भीमस्तनितगम्भीरस्तुमुलः श्रूयते स्वनः।।2.96.7।।

O Lakshmana, the worthy son of Sumitra, fearful and tumultuous clamour like rumbling sound of clouds...

गजयूथानि वाऽरण्ये महिषा वा महावने। वित्रासिता मृगा स्सिंहै स्सहसा प्रद्रुता दिशः।।2.96.8।।

Herds of elephants and buffaloes in the great woods and wild beasts frightened by lions are running ...

राजा वा राजपुत्रो वा मृगयामटते वने। अन्यद्वा श्वापदं किञ्चित्सौमित्रे ज्ञातुमर्हसि।।2.96.9।।

O Lakshmana, do ascertain if any king or prince has come for hunting or whether any ferocious animal...

सुदुश्चरो गिरिश्चायं पक्षिणामपि लक्ष्मण। सर्वमेतद्यथातत्त्वमचिरात् ज्ञातुमर्हसि।।2.96.10।।

O Lakshmana, this mountain is highly inaccessible even to birds. Find out exactly and quickly what t...

स लक्ष्मण स्सन्त्वरित स्सालमारुह्य पुष्पितम्। प्रेक्षमाणो दिश स्सर्वाः पूर्वां दिशमुदैक्षत।।2.96.11।...

Lakshmana hurriedly climbed a flowering sala tree, surveyed in all directions and fixed his gaze on ...

उदङ्मुखः प्रेक्षमाणो ददर्श महतीं चमूम्। रथाश्वगजसम्बाधां यत्तैर्युक्तां पदातिभिः।।2.96.12।।

Turning his face to the north, he beheld a vast army consisting of chariots, elephants and horses an...

तामश्वगजसम्पूर्णां रथध्वजविभूषिताम्। शशंस सेनां रामाय वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।2.96.13।।

He (Lakshmana) informed Rama about the army full of horses and elephants and decorated with chariotb...

अग्निं संशमयत्वार्य स्सीता च भजतां गुहाम्। सज्यं कुरुष्व चापं च शरांश्च कवचं तथा।।2.96.14।।

O noble one, put out the sacred fire (Agnihotra) and let Sita take refuge in the cave. String your b...

तं रामः पुरुषव्याघ्रो लक्ष्मणं प्रत्युवाच ह। अङ्गावेक्षस्व सौमित्रे कस्येमां मन्यसे चमूम्।।2.96.15।।

Rama the best among men replied to Lakshamana, Oh, Lakshmana, look properly and tell me to whom do y...

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। दिधक्षन्निव तां सेनां रुषितः पावको यथा।।2.96.16।।

Hearing the words of Rama, enraged Lakshmana, like a flaming fire as if he would reduce the army to ...

सम्पन्नं राज्यमिच्छंस्तु व्यक्तं प्राप्याभिषेचनम्। आवां हन्तुं समभ्येति कैकेय्या भरतस्सुतः।।2.96.17।...

It is evident that Kaikeyi's son Bharata, who has been consecrated, is coming to slay both of us des...

एष वै सुमहाञ्छ्रीमान्विटपी सम्प्रकाशते। विराजत्युद्गतस्कन्धं कोविदारध्वजो रथे।।2.96.18।।

There on that chariot, is a banner shining brilliantly with the emblem of a lofty majestic Kovidara ...

असौ हि सुमहास्कन्धो विटपी च महाद्रुमः। विराजते महासैन्ये कोविदारध्वजो रथे।।2.96.19।।

There the emblem of the great Kovidara tree of very large trunk spread with many branches shines bri...

भजन्त्येते यथाकाममश्वानारुह्य शीघ्रगान्। एते भ्राजन्ति संहृष्टा गजानारुह्य सादिनः।।2.96.20।।

These men mounted on swiftlymoving horses are following the post. The riders of elephants mounted o...

गृहीतधनुषौ चावां गिरिं वीर श्रयावहै। अथवेहैव तिष्ठाव स्सन्नद्धावुद्यतायुधौ।।2.96.21।।

O mighty warrior, let both of us take up the bows and station ourselves on this mountain or we shall...

अपि नौ वशमागच्छेत्कोविदारध्वजो रणे। अपि द्रक्ष्यामि भरतं यत्कृते व्यसनं महत्।।2.96.22।। त्वया राघव स...

O Rama, will this Kovidara emblem come into our possession in the battle? Can I see Bharata, the cau...

यन्निमित्तं भवान्राज्याच्छ्युतो राघव शाश्वतात्।।2.96.23।। सम्प्राप्तोऽयमरिर्वीर भरतो वध्य एव मे।

O that mighty warrior Bharata, on whose account you have been banished from the perpetual kingdom, c...

भरतस्य वधे दोषं नाहं पश्यामि राघव। पूर्वापकारिणं हत्वा न ह्यधर्मेण युज्यते।।2.96.24।।

O Rama, I do not see anything wrong in slaying Bharata. In killing one who had done harm is not an ...

पूर्वापकारी भरतस्त्यक्तधर्मश्च राघव। एतस्मिन्निहते कृत्स्नामनुशाधि वसुन्धराम्।।2.96.25।।

O Rama, Bharata has abandoned righteousness and has harmed you. When he is slain, you shall rule ove...

अद्य पुत्रं हतं संख्ये कैकेयी राज्यकामुका। मया पश्येत्सुदुःखार्ता हस्तिभग्नमिव द्रुमम्।।2.96.26।।

Let that Kaikeyi, greedy for the kingdom, see in great anguish her son who shall be slain by me toda...

कैकेयीं च वधिष्यामि सानुबन्धां सबान्धवाम्। कलुषेणाद्य महता मेदिनी परिमुच्यताम्।।2.96.27।।

I shall also slay Kaikeyi with her attendants and relations. Let the earth be cleansed of the great ...

अद्येमं संयतं क्रोधमसत्कारं च मानद। मोक्ष्यामि शत्रुसैन्येषु कक्षेष्विव हुताशनम्।।2.96.28।।

O protector of honour, today I shall vent my suppressed anger and dishonour on the enemy's army like...

अद्यैतच्छित्रकूटस्य काननं निशितै श्शरैः। छिन्दञ्चत्रुशरीराणि करिष्ये शोणितोक्षितम्।।2.96.29।।

Today I shall rend the bodies of enemies with my sharpened arrows and spatter the forest of Chitraku...

शरैर्निर्भिन्नहृदयान्कुञ्जरांस्तुरगांस्तथा। श्वापदाः परिकर्षन्तु नरांश्च निहतान्मया।।2.96.30।।

Let the wild beasts drag away the elephants, horses and men to be killed by me with their hearts tra...

शराणां धनुषश्चाहमनृणोऽस्मिन्महावने। ससैन्यं भरतं हत्वा भविष्यामि न संशयः।।2.96.31।।

Having slain Bharata and his army in this great forest, I shall doubtless discharge my debt to my ar...