तम् समीक्ष्य तु अवहितम् पितुर् निर्देश पालने | कौसल्या बाष्प सम्रुद्धा वचो धर्मिष्ठम् अब्रवीत् || २-२४-१
tam samiikShya tu avahitam pitur nirdesha paalane | kausalyaa baaShpa samruddhaa vaco dharmiShTham abraviit || 2-24-1
Seeing him firm minded in protecting the command of his father, Kausalya in a choked voice spoke these righteous words:
अदृष्ट दुह्खो धर्मात्मा सर्व भूत प्रियम् वदः | मयि जातः दशरथात् कथम् उन्चेन वर्तयेत् || २-२४-२
adR^iShTa duhkho dharmaatmaa sarva bhuuta priyam vadaH | mayi jaataH dasharathaat katham unchena vartayet || 2-24-2
�Rama who is born in me and Dasaratha, is a righteous person. He speaks lovingly to all beings. He has not faced grief at any time. How can such a person live in a forest, by gathering grains ?'
यस्य भृत्याः च दासाः च मृष्टानि अन्नानि भुन्जते | कथम् स भोक्ष्यते नाथो वने मूल फलानि अयम् || २-२४-३
yasya bhR^ityaaH ca daasaaH ca mR^iShTaani annaani bhunjate | katham sa bhokShyate naatho vane muula phalaani ayam || 2-24-3
"While the dependants and the servants of Lord Rama eat pleasant foods all the while, how can he eat roots and fruits himself in the forest ?"
क एतत् श्रद्दधेत् श्रुत्वा कस्य वा न भवेद् भयम् | गुणवान् दयितः राज्ञो राघवो यद् विवास्यते || २-२४-४
ka etat shraddadhet shrutvaa kasya vaa na bhaved bhayam | guNavaan dayitaH raaGYo raaghavo yad vivaasyate || 2-24-4
"Hearing that Rama the beloved and virtuous is being thus sent to exile by the king , who will believe these words? Who will not develop fear ?"
नूनम् तु बलवान् लोके कृतान्तः सर्वमादिशन् | लोके रामाभिरामस्त्वम् वनम् यत्र गमिष्यसि || २-२४-५
nuunam tu balavaan loke kR^itaantaH sarvamaadishan | loke raamaabhiraamastvam vanam yatra gamishhyasi || 2-24-5
�Oh, Rama ! If you , the charming in the world are to go to exile , then it can be certainly said that everything is ordered by a strong destiny'
अयम् तु मामात्मभवस्तवादर्शनमारुतः | विलापदुःखसमिधो रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः || २-२४-६ चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूस्तवागमनचिन्तजः | कर्शयित्वा भृशम् पुत्र निश्वासायाससम्भवः || २-२४-७ त्वया विहीनाम् इह माम् शोक अग्निर् अतुलो महान् | प्रधक्ष्यति यथा कक्षम् चित्र भानुर् हिम अत्यये || २-२४-८
ayam tu maamaatmabhavastavaadarshanamaarutaH | vilaapaduHkhasamidho ruditaashruhutaahutiH || 2-24-6 cintaabaashhpamahaadhuustavaagamanacintajaH | karshayitvaa bhR^isham putra nishvaasaayaasasambhavaH || 2-24-7 tvayaa vihiinaam iha maam shoka agnir atulo mahaan | pradhakShyati yathaa kakSham citra bhaanur hima atyaye || 2-24-8
"Oh, Son! Soon after your departure to a distant forest, a great and incomparable fire of sorrow will generate in my whole body. The wind which flares it up is your not being seen here. My lamentation and grief are the fire-sticks. My wailing tears will be the offerings as an oblation to fire. The choking and anxiety will be a great smoke .The thought that when you would return, will generate smoke again. Such a fire of grief will make me emaciated completely and will burn like dry wood by fire in winter.'
कथम् हि धेनुः स्वम् वत्सम् गच्चन्तम् न अनुगच्चति | अहम् त्वा अनुगमिष्यामि यत्र पुत्र गमिष्यसि || २-२४-९
kaikeyyaa vancitaH raajaa mayi ca araNyam aashrite | bhavatyaa ca parityaktaH na nuunam vartayiShyati || 2-24-11
"Oh, Son! A cow follows its calf wherever it goes. So also, I shall come with you wherever you go."'
तथा निगदितम् मात्रा तत् वाक्यम् पुरुष ऱ्षभः | श्रुत्वा रामः अब्रवीद् वाक्यम् मातरम् भृश दुह्खिताम् || २-२४-१०
bhartuH kila parityaago nR^isha.nsaH kevalam striyaaH | sa bhavatyaa na kartavyo manasaa api vigarhitaH || 2-24-12
"Oh, son! A cow follows its calf wherever it goes. So also, I shall come with you wherever you go."
कैकेय्या वन्चितः राजा मयि च अरण्यम् आश्रिते | भवत्या च परित्यक्तः न नूनम् वर्तयिष्यति || २-२४-११
yaavaj jiivati kaakutsthaH pitaa me jagatii patiH | shushruuShaa kriyataam taavat sa hi dharmaH sanaatanaH || 2-24-13
"Kaikeyi already deceived the king .He will not be alive, when I leave for the forest and you also leave him .It is certain."
भर्तुः किल परित्यागो नृशंसः केवलम् स्त्रियाः | स भवत्या न कर्तव्यो मनसा अपि विगर्हितः || २-२४-१२
evam uktaa tu raameNa kausalyaa shubha darshanaa | tathaa iti uvaaca supriitaa raamam akliShTa kaariNam || 2-24-14
"To a woman, abandonment of husband is entirely a cruel act. That bad act is not to be perceived even by mind."
यावज् जीवति काकुत्स्थः पिता मे जगती पतिः | शुश्रूषा क्रियताम् तावत् स हि धर्मः सनातनः || २-२४-१३
evam uktaH tu vacanam raamaH dharmabhRtaam varaH | bhuuyaH taam abraviid vaakyam maataram bhR^isha duhkhitaam || 2-24-15
"Till Dasaratha, my father and the great king is alive, you should serve him well. It is eternal justice."
एवम् उक्ता तु रामेण कौसल्या शुभ दर्शना | तथा इति उवाच सुप्रीता रामम् अक्लिष्ट कारिणम् || २-२४-१४
mayaa caiva bhavatyaa ca kartavyam vacanam pituH | raajaa bhartaa guruH shreShThaH sarveShaam iishvaraH prabhuH || 2-24-16
After Rama spoke thus, Kausalya with auspicious appearance, was very much pleased and spoke to Rama, who performs indefatigable actions, in consent.
एवम् उक्तः तु वचनम् रामः धर्मभ्ऱ्ताम् वरः | भूयः ताम् अब्रवीद् वाक्यम् मातरम् भृश दुह्खिताम् || २-२४-१५
imaani tu mahaa araNye vihRtya nava panca ca | varShaaNi parama priitaH sthaasyaami vacane tava || 2-24-17
That Rama, the best among upholders of righteousness, after hearing the words of his mother ,spoke again to her who was very much distressed.
मया चैव भवत्या च कर्तव्यम् वचनम् पितुः | राजा भर्ता गुरुः श्रेष्ठः सर्वेषाम् ईश्वरः प्रभुः || २-२४-१६
evam uktaa priyam putram baaShpa puurNa aananaa tadaa | uvaaca parama aartaa tu kausalyaa putra vatsalaa || 2-24-18
"The words of father are to be followed by you and me. For all, he is the king, the nourished, a venerable man, the best among men, the lord and the ruler."
इमानि तु महा अरण्ये विह्ऱ्त्य नव पन्च च | वर्षाणि परम प्रीतः स्थास्यामि वचने तव || २-२४-१७
aasaam raama sapatniinaam vastum madhye na me kShamam | naya maam api kaakutstha vanam vanyam mRgiim yathaa || 2-24-19 yadi te gamane buddhiH kR^itaa pitur apekShayaa |
"After roaming in the great forest for fourteen years, I shall come back and very gladly stand by your command."
एवम् उक्ता प्रियम् पुत्रम् बाष्प पूर्ण आनना तदा | उवाच परम आर्ता तु कौसल्या पुत्र वत्सला || २-२४-१८
taam tathaa rudatiim raamaH rudan vacanam abraviit || 2-24-20 jiivantyaa hi striyaa bhartaa daivatam prabhur eva ca |
After hearing the words of Rama, Kausalya who was affectionate to her son , was in great sorrow with her face filled with tears and spoke thus to her beloved son Rama .
आसाम् राम सपत्नीनाम् वस्तुम् मध्ये न मे क्षमम् | नय माम् अपि काकुत्स्थ वनम् वन्यम् म्ऱ्गीम् यथा || २-२४-१९ यदि ते गमने बुद्धिः कृता पितुर् अपेक्षया |
bhavatyaa mama chaivaadya raajaa prabhavati prabhuH || 2-24-21 na hyanaathaa vayaM raajJNaa lokanaathena dhiima taa |
"Oh, Rama! I can not reside in the middle of these step-wives. If you have made up your mind to go to forest as per your father's wish ,also take me, like taking a female deer of the forest ,to the woods ''
ताम् तथा रुदतीम् रामः रुदन् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || २-२४-२० जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतम् प्रभुर् एव च |
bharatashchaapi dharmaatmaa sarvabhuutapriyaMvadaH || 2-24-22 bhavatiimanuvarteta sa hidharmarataH sadaa |
"Rama spoke thus these words bemoaningly to her, who was weeping= "as long as a woman is alive ,her husband is god and master to her".
भवत्या मम चैवाद्य राजा प्रभवति प्रभुः ।।२-२४-२१ न ह्यनाथा वयं राज्ज्ञा लोकनाथेन धीम ता ।
yathaa mayi tu nishhkraante putrashokena paarthivaH || 2-24-23 shramam na avaapnuyaat ki.ncit apramattaa tathaa kuru |
"King Dasaratha, supreme commander has authority over you and me also now. when king, the lord of the earth and the wise man is there , we are not indeed master-less.'
भरतश्चापि धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः ।।२-२४-२२ भवतीमनुवर्तेत स हिधर्मरतः सदा ।
daaruNashchaapyayam shoko yathainam na vinaashayet || 2-24-24 raajJNo vR^iddhasya satatam hitam cara samaahitaa |
"Bharata also, who is a righteous person and who speaks lovingly to all beings will be obliging to you. He is indeed always devoted to righteousness.'
यथा मयि तु निष्क्रान्ते पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवः || २-२४-२३ श्रमम् न अवाप्नुयात् किंचित् अप्रमत्ता तथा कुरु |
vrata upavaasa nirataa yaa naarii parama uttamaa || 2-24-25 bhartaaram na anuvarteta saa ca paapa gatir bhavet |
"While I take leave, take care of the king attentively so that he will not get fatigued even a little with grief over his son."
दारुणश्चाप्ययम् शोको यथैनम् न विनाशयेत् || २-२४-२४ राज्ञो वृद्धस्य सततम् हितम् चर समाहिता |
bhartuH shushruushhayaa naarii labhate svargamu ttamam || 2-24-26 api yaa nirnamaskaaraa nivR^ittaa devapuujanaat |
"Act always soothingly for a well-being of the aged king, seeing that his terrible grief will not destroy him ."
व्रत उपवास निरता या नारी परम उत्तमा || २-२४-२५ भर्तारम् न अनुवर्तेत सा च पाप गतिर् भवेत् |
shushruuSham eva kurviita bhartuH priya hite rataa || 2-24-27 eSha dharmaH puraa dRShTaH loke vede shrutaH smRtaH |
�Even if a woman is interested in religious vows and fastings in addition to being the best of the excellent ;if she does not obey her husband she will become ill-fated !''
भर्तुः शुश्रूषया नारी लभते स्वर्गमु त्तमम् || २-२४-२६ अपि या निर्नमस्कारा निवृत्ता देवपूजनात् |
agnikaaryeshhu ca sadaa sumanobhishca devataaH || 2-24-28 puujyaaH te mat kRte devi braahmaNaaH caiva suvrataaH |
�Even if a woman does not offer salutation to celestials and does not worship the gods, she will attain the highest heaven by service to her husband ."
शुश्रूषम् एव कुर्वीत भर्तुः प्रिय हिते रता || २-२४-२७ एष धर्मः पुरा द्ऱ्ष्टः लोके वेदे श्रुतः स्म्ऱ्तः |
evam kaalam pratiikShasva mama aagamana kaankShiNii || 2-24-29 praapsyase paramam kaamam mayi pratyaagate sati |
�She has to do service, truly devoted in love and welfare of her husband. This is seen in the world from the beginning, was heard from ancient texts and mentioned as righteousness.'
अग्निकार्येषु च सदा सुमनोभिश्च देवताः || २-२४-२८ पूज्याः ते मत् क्ऱ्ते देवि ब्राह्मणाः चैव सुव्रताः |
praapsyase paramam kaamam mayi pratyaagate sati || 2-24-30 yadi dharmabhRtaam shreShTho dhaarayiShyati jiivitam |
Oh, Mother! You always worship gods by sacrificial fire and by flowers for my sake . Brahmanas also with right voes are to be worshipped .'
एवम् कालम् प्रतीक्षस्व मम आगमन कान्क्षिणी || २-२४-२९ प्राप्स्यसे परमम् कामम् मयि प्रत्यागते सति |
evam uktaa tu raameNa baaShpa paryaakula iikShaNaa || 2-24-31 kausalyaa putra shoka aartaa raamam vacanam abraviit |
"Look forward for the time of my return in such a manner with restraint, being temperate in food and being devoted in the service of your husband."
प्राप्स्यसे परमम् कामम् मयि प्रत्यागते सति || २-२४-३० यदि धर्मभ्ऱ्ताम् श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम् |
gamane sukR^itaam buddhim na te shaknomi putraka || 2-24-32 vinivartayitum viira nuunam kaalo duratyayaH |
"After my return, your best desire will be fulfilled if our father the best among protectors of righteousness ,is still alive till then."
एवम् उक्ता तु रामेण बाष्प पर्याकुल ईक्षणा || २-२४-३१ कौसल्या पुत्र शोक आर्ता रामम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् |
gaccha putra tvam eka agraH bhadram te astu sadaa vibho || 2-24-33 punastvayi nivR^itte tu bhavishhyaami gataklamaa |
Kausalya who was afflicted with grief over her son, was with eyes full of tears after hearing Rama's utterances and spoke thus to Rama.
गमने सुकृताम् बुद्धिम् न ते शक्नोमि पुत्रक || २-२४-३२ विनिवर्तयितुम् वीर नूनम् कालो दुरत्ययः |
pratyaagate mahaabhaage kR^itaarthe caritavrate || 2-24-34 pituraanR^iNyataam praaptetvayi lapsye param sukham |
"Oh, Brave son! I am not able to avert your well-made resolution, in the matter of your going to forest. Time is inscrutable .It is certain."
गच्च पुत्र त्वम् एक अग्रः भद्रम् ते अस्तु सदा विभो || २-२४-३३ पुनस्त्वयि निवृत्ते तु भविष्यामि गतक्लमा |
kR^itaantasya gatiH putra durvibhaavyaa sadaa bhuvi || 2-24-35 yastvaa sa.ncodayati me vaca aaccidya raaghava |
"Oh, son! You go undisturbed. Let there be auspiciousness always to you .I shall become refreshed, when you return again."
प्रत्यागते महाभागे कृतार्थे चरितव्रते || २-२४-३४ पितुरानृण्यताम् प्राप्तेत्वयि लप्स्ये परम् सुखम् |
gachchhedaaniim mahaabaaho kshemeNa punaraagataH || 2-24-36 nandayishhyasi maam putraH saamnaa vaakyena caaruNaa |
"You, the illustrious after accomplishing a purpose, having observed a vow and having attained freedom from debt to your father, after having come again, I shall get great happiness".
कृतान्तस्य गतिः पुत्र दुर्विभाव्या सदा भुवि || २-२४-३५ यस्त्वा संचोदयति मे वच आच्चिद्य राघव |
apiidaaniim sa kaalaH ssyaadvanaatpratyaagatam punaH || 2-24-37 yattvaam putrakaH pashyeyam jaTaavalkadhaariNam |
"The path of the destiny, which extinguishes my words and impels you to go to the forest ,is ever not imaginable on this earth"
गच्छेदानीम् महाबाहो क्षेमेण पुनरागतः || २-२४-३६ नन्दयिष्यसि माम् पुत्रः साम्ना वाक्येन चारुणा |
tathaa hi raamam vana vaasa nishcitam | dadarsha devii parameNa cetasaa | uvaaca raamam shubha lakShaNam vaco| babhuuva ca svastyayana abhikaankShiNii || 2-24-38
"Oh, Rama the valiant !Go just now and come again safely, when you will rejoice me with your pleasing and tranquillising words ."
अपीदानीम् स कालः स्स्याद्वनात्प्रत्यागतम् पुनः || २-२४-३७ यत्त्वाम् पुत्रकः पश्येयम् जटावल्कधारिणम् |
"How good it will be, if today itself is the day of your returning from the forest, wearing twisted hair and garment made of bark."
तथा हि रामम् वन वास निश्चितम् | ददर्श देवी परमेण चेतसा | उवाच रामम् शुभ लक्षणम् वचो| बभूव च स्वस्त्ययन अभिकान्क्षिणी || २-२४-३८
"The queen kausalya thus saw Rama who decided to go to forest .She spoke these words with most excellent mind to Rama having auspicious qualities, being desirous of averting evil by recitation of auspicious words."
