Rama Pays Respects to his Father at Departure

दत्त्वा तु सह वैदेह्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनम् बहु | जग्मतुः पितरम् द्रष्टुम् सीतया सह राघवौ || २-३३-१

dattvaa tu saha vaidehyaa braahmaNebhyo dhanam bahu | jagmatuH pitaram draShTum siitayaa saha raaghavau || 2-33-1

Rama and Lakshmana along with Seetha gave away abundant riches to brahmanas and went along with Seetha to see their father.

ततो गृहीते दुष्प्रेक्ष्येअशोभेताम् तदा आयुधे | माला दामभिर् आसक्ते सीतया समलम्कृते || २-३३-२

tato gR^ihiite duShprekShyeashobhetaam tadaa aayudhe | maalaa daamabhir aasakte siitayaa samalamkR^ite || 2-33-2

Those weapons held by Rama and Lakshmana were tied on with garlands by Seetha. The weapons thus decorated were shining brilliantly and were fearful to look at.

ततः प्रासाद हर्म्याणि विमान शिखराणि च | अधिरुह्य जनः श्रीमान् उदासीनो व्यलोकयत् || २-३३-३

tataH praasaada harmyaaNi vimaana shikharaaNi ca | adhiruhya janaH shriimaan udaasiino vyalokayat || 2-33-3

Then, wealthy people ascended lofty palatial mansions, large buildings and tops of palaces of seven stories high and saw them spiritlessly,

न हि रथ्याः स्म शक्यन्ते गन्तुम् बहु जन आकुलाः | आरुह्य तस्मात् प्रासादान् दीनाः पश्यन्ति राघवम् || २-३३-४

na hi rathyaaH sma shakyante gantum bahu jana aakulaaH | aaruhya tasmaat praasaadaan diinaaH pashyanti raaghavam || 2-33-4

The streets were indeed difficult to walk, congested as they were, with many men. For that reason, being in distress, they were seeing Rama by ascending lofty palatial buildings.

पदातिम् वर्जितच् चत्रम् रामम् दृष्ट्वा तदा जनाः | ऊचुर् बहु विधा वाचः शोक उपहत चेतसः || २-३३-५

padaatim varjitac chatram raamam dR^iShTvaa tadaa janaaH | uucur bahu vidhaa vaacaH shoka upahata cetasaH || 2-33-5

Then, by seeing Rama as a pedestrian without an umbrella, the people with their hearts struck by grief were uttering words of many sorts.

यम् यान्तम् अनुयाति स्म चतुर् अन्ग बलम् महत् | तम् एकम् सीतया सार्धम् अनुयाति स्म लक्ष्मणः || २-३३-६

yam yaantam anuyaati sma catur anga balam mahat | tam ekam siitayaa saardham anuyaati sma lakShmaNaH || 2-33-6

The same Sri Rama who was followed by a strong four wings of army(comprising elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry), is walking lonely with Seetha followed by Lakshmana.

ऐश्वर्यस्य रसज्ञः सन् कामिनाम् चैव कामदः | न इच्चति एव अनृतम् कर्तुम् पितरम् धर्म गौरवात् || २-३३-७

aishvaryasya rasaGYaH san kaaminaam caiva kaamadaH | na icchati eva anR^itam kartum pitaram dharma gauravaat || 2-33-7

Rama knew the taste of sovereignty. He can grant desires to the desirous. Even then, because of his respect for virtue, he is careful not to believe his father's words.

या न शक्या पुरा द्रष्टुम् भूतैः आकाशगैः अपि | ताम् अद्य सीताम् पश्यन्ति राज मार्ग गता जनाः || २-३३-८

yaa na shakyaa puraa draShTum bhuutaiH aakaashagaiH api | taam adya siitaam pashyanti raaja maarga gataa janaaH || 2-33-8

Even people walking on road are able to see Seetha, who could not earlier be seen even by beings going through the air.

अङ्ग राग उचिताम् सीताम् रक्त चन्दन सेविनीम् | वर्षम् उष्णम् च शीतम् च नेष्यति आशु विवर्णताम् || २-३३-९

aN^ga raaga ucitaam siitaam rakta candana seviniim | varSham uShNam ca shiitam ca neShyati aashu vivarNataam || 2-33-9

Rain, heat and cold will quickly wane to pallor Seetha, who was fond of applying suitable cosmetics and red sandal to the body.

अद्य नूनम् दशरथः सत्त्वम् आविश्य भाषते | न हि राजा प्रियम् पुत्रम् विवासयितुम् अर्हति || २-३३-१०

nirguNasya api putrasyaa kaatham syaat vipravaasanam | kim punar yasya loko ayam jitaH vR^ittena kevalam || 2-33-11

निर्गुणस्य अपि पुत्रस्या काथम् स्यात् विप्रवासनम् | किम् पुनर् यस्य लोको अयम् जितः वृत्तेन केवलम् || २-३३-११

aanR^isha.nsyam anukroshaH shrutam shiilam damaH shamaH | raaghavam shobhayanti ete ShaD guNaaH puruSha uttamam || 2-33-12

How banishment can be affected on a son, even devoid of virtues? Why to tell further of whom, this world is conquered merely by his mode of conduct?

आनृशंस्यम् अनुक्रोशः श्रुतम् शीलम् दमः शमः | राघवम् शोभयन्ति एते षड् गुणाः पुरुष उत्तमम् || २-३३-१२

tasmaat tasya upaghaatena prajaaH parama piiDitaaH | audakaani iva sattvaani griiShme salila samkShayaat || 2-33-13

Harmlessness, compassion, learning, good nature, self-control and tranquillity - these six virtues adorn Rama, the best of men.

तस्मात् तस्य उपघातेन प्रजाः परम पीडिताः | औदकानि इव सत्त्वानि ग्रीष्मे सलिल सम्क्षयात् || २-३३-१३

piiDayaa piiDitam sarvam jagad asya jagat pateH | muulasya iva upaghaatena vR^ikShaH puShpa phala upagaH || 2-33-14

Therefore, people are extremely painful for the injury done to him, as aquatic beings in summer are afflicted because of depletion of water.

पीडया पीडितम् सर्वम् जगद् अस्य जगत् पतेः | मूलस्य इव उपघातेन वृक्षः पुष्प फल उपगः || २-३३-१४

muulaM hyeshha manushhyaaNaam dharmasaaro mahaadyutiH | pushhpam phalam cha patram cha shaakhaashchaa syetare janaaH || 2-33-15

The entire world feels afflicted by the hardship inflicted on this protector of the world, as a tree which acquired flowers and fruits is damaged by injury caused to its root.

मूलं ह्येष मनुष्याणाम् धर्मसारो महाद्युतिः | पुष्पम् फलम् च पत्रम् च शाखाश्चा स्येतरे जनाः || २-३३-१५

te lakShmaNaiva kShipram sapatnyaH saha baandhavaaH | gacchantam anugacchaamaH yena gacchati raaghavaH || 2-33-16

This Rama, the essence of virtue possessing great lustre, is indeed the root of the tree of humanity. Other men are his flowers, fruits and branches.

ते लक्ष्मणैव क्षिप्रम् सपत्न्यः सह बान्धवाः | गच्चन्तम् अनुगच्चामः येन गच्चति राघवः || २-३३-१६

udyaanaani parityajya kShetraaNi ca gR^ihaaNi ca | eka duhkha sukhaa raamam anugacchaama dhaarmikam || 2-33-17

We as such along with our wives and relatives atone will follow Rama in the same way as Lakshmana is going with the departing Rama.

उद्यानानि परित्यज्य क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च | एक दुह्ख सुखा रामम् अनुगच्चाम धार्मिकम् || २-३३-१७

samuddhR^ita nidhaanaani paridhvasta ajiraaNi ca | upaatta dhana dhaanyaani hR^ita saaraaNi sarvashaH || 2-33-18 rajasaa abhyavakiirNaani parityaktaani daivataiH | muushhakaiH paridhaavadbhirudbilairaavR^itaani cha || 2-33-19 apetodakadhuumaani hiinasammaarjanaani cha | pranashhTabalikarmejyamantrahomajapaani cha || 2-33-20 dushhkaaleneva bhagnaani bhibhaajanavanti cha | asmat tyaktaani veshmaani kaikeyii pratipadyataam || 2-33-21

Abandoning gardens fields and houses, we shall follow Rama the righteous man, and share his joys and sorrows.

समुद्धृत निधानानि परिध्वस्त अजिराणि च | उपात्त धन धान्यानि हृत साराणि सर्वशः || २-३३-१८ रजसा अभ्यवकीर्णानि परित्यक्तानि दैवतैः | मूषकैः परिधावद्भिरुद्बिलैरावृतानि च || २-३३-१९ अपेतोदकधूमानि हीनसम्मार्जनानि च | प्रनष्टबलिकर्मेज्यमन्त्रहोमजपानि च || २-३३-२० दुष्कालेनेव भग्नानि भिभाजनवन्ति च | अस्मत् त्यक्तानि वेश्मानि कैकेयी प्रतिपद्यताम् || २-३३-२१

vanam nagaram eva astu yena gacchati raaghavaH | asmaabhiH ca parityaktam puram sampadyataam vanam || 2-33-22

Let Kaikeyi obtain the houses deserted by us, their treasures unearthed, their court-yards in ruined state, their wealth and food grains removed, their best parts robbed off from all sides, covered by dust, deserted by the deities(presiding them), overrun by mice, coming out of their holes and turning round here and there, without water and smoke, upswept, the rises of offering oblations to all creatures as well as the sacred fire, worship of gods, the chanting of sacred texts and muttering of prayers having altogether ceased, as though dilapidated by adverse times and scattered with broken vessels.

वनम् नगरम् एव अस्तु येन गच्चति राघवः | अस्माभिः च परित्यक्तम् पुरम् सम्पद्यताम् वनम् || २-३३-२२

sa tu veshma piturduuraa tkailaasashikharaprabham | abhichakraama dharmaatmaa mattamaataN^gavikramaH || 2-33-27

As Rama is going away to the forest, let that forest become a city and let this city being deserted by us become a forest.

बिलानि दम्ष्ट्रिणः सर्वे सानूनि मृग पक्षिणः | अस्मत् त्यक्तम् प्रपद्यन्ताम् सेव्यमानम् त्यजन्तु च || २-३३-२३ इति एवम् विविधा वाचो नाना जन समीरिताः |

viniitaviirapurushhaM pravishya tu nR^ipaalayam | dadarshavasthitam diinam sumantramaviduurataH || 2-33-28

Scared by fear of us, let all the snakes abandon their holes, the dears and birds the mountain peaks, the elephants and the lions the forest itself. let them leave the region going to be inhabited by us and reach the city of Ayodhya.

तृणमांसफलादानाम् देशम् व्यालमृगद्विजम् || २-३३-२४ प्रपद्यताम् हि कैकेयी सपुत्रा सहबान्धवैः | राघावेण वने सर्वे सह वत्स्याम निर्वृताः || २-३३-२५

pratiikShamaaNo abhijanam tadaa aartam | anaarta ruupaH prahasann iva atha| jagaama raamaH pitaram didR^ikShuH | pitur nidesham vidhivac cikiirShuH || 2-33-29

Let Kaikeyi with her son along with her relatives indeed inhabit the region where ferocious animals and vultures live with grass, meat and fruits. Let us all (on the other hand) live happily in the forest along with Rama.

इत्येवम् विविधा वाचो नानाजनसमीरिताः| शुश्राव रामः श्रुत्वा च न विचक्रे अस्य मानसम् || २-३३-२६

piturnideshena tu dharmavatsalo | vana praveshe kR^ita buddhi nishcayaH | sa raaghavaH prekShya sumantram abraviin | nivedayasva aagamanam nR^ipaaya me || 2-33-31

Rama heard various kinds of remarks thus made by many people. Hearing them also, his mind was not disturbed.

स तु वेश्म पितुर्दूरा त्कैलासशिखरप्रभम् | अभिचक्राम धर्मात्मा मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः || २-३३-२७

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe trayaH triMshaH sargaH

That Rama the virtuous man, by walking with strides of an elephant in rut, approached his father's palace, which from a distance glowed like a peak of the Kailasa mountain.

विनीतवीरपुरुषं प्रविश्य तु नृपालयम् | ददर्शवस्थितम् दीनम् सुमन्त्रमविदूरतः || २-३३-२८

After entering the royal palace, which had in it disciplined and valiant attendants, saw Sumantra standing dejected not far from the palace.

प्रतीक्षमाणो अभिजनम् तदा आर्तम् | अनार्त रूपः प्रहसन्न् इव अथ| जगाम रामः पितरम् दिदृक्षुः | पितुर् निदेशम् विधिवच् चिकीर्षुः || २-३३-२९

The, Rama even on seeing the people disturbed, appeared unmoved and smiling, intending to fulfill his father's behest and went to see his father.

तत् पूर्वम् ऐक्ष्वाक सुतः महात्मा | रामः गमिष्यन् वनम् आर्त रूपम् | व्यतिष्ठत प्रेक्ष्य तदा सुमन्त्रम् | पितुर् महात्मा प्रतिहारण अर्थम् || २-३३-३०

Seeing Sumantra appearing disturbed before that, Rama the son of Dasaratha( a scion of Ikshhvaaku) whose mind is mighty and who is setting out to the forest, waited awhile to have his presence announced to his father.

पितुर्निदेशेन तु धर्मवत्सलो | वन प्रवेशे कृत बुद्धि निश्चयः | स राघवः प्रेक्ष्य सुमन्त्रम् अब्रवीन् | निवेदयस्व आगमनम् नृपाय मे || २-३३-३१

That Rama, who had passion towards piety, having made up his mind positively to enter the exile as per his father's command, spoke thus, seeing Sumantra, "Inform my arrival to the king."