Rama Tries to Send Lakshmana Back to Ayodhya

स तम् वृक्षम् समासाद्य संध्याम् अन्वास्य पश्चिमाम् | रामः रमयताम् श्रेष्ठैति ह उवाच लक्ष्मणम् || २-५३-१

sa tam vR^ikSham samaasaadya sa.ndhyaam anvaasya pashcimaam | raamaH ramayataam shreShThaiti ha uvaaca lakShmaNam || 2-53-1

Rama, the foremost of those affording happiness to others, reached the aforesaid tree, worshipped the western twilight and spoke to Lakshmana as follows:

अद्य इयम् प्रथमा रात्रिर् याता जन पदात् बहिः | या सुमन्त्रेण रहिता ताम् न उत्कण्ठितुम् अर्हसि || २-५३-२

adya iyam prathamaa raatrir yaataa jana padaat bahiH | yaa sumantreNa rahitaa taam na utkaNThitum arhasi || 2-53-2

"This might which has got past us today outside the inhabited territory is the first night which has passed without Sumantra. You ought not repent over it."

जागर्तव्यम् अतन्द्रिभ्याम् अद्य प्रभृति रात्रिषु | योग क्षेमः हि सीताया वर्तते लक्ष्मण आवयोह् || २-५३-३

jaagartavyam atandribhyaam adya prabhR^iti raatriShu | yoga kShemaH hi siitaayaa vartate lakShmaNa aavayoh || 2-53-3

"Remaining free from lassitude, we must both keep awake during nights, from today Lakshmana! The safety and welfare of Sita indeed depend on us two."

रात्रिम् कथंचित् एव इमाम् सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे | उपावर्तामहे भूमाव् आस्तीर्य स्वयम् आर्जितैः || २-५३-४

raatrim katha.ncit eva imaam saumitre vartayaamahe | upaavartaamahe bhuumaav aastiirya svayam aarjitaiH || 2-53-4

"Let us pass this night anyhow, Lakshmana! Let us lie down on the ground, covering it by straw, leaves and so on, procured by our own hands."

स तु सम्विश्य मेदिन्याम् महा अर्ह शयन उचितः | इमाः सौमित्रये रामः व्याजहार कथाः शुभाः || २-५३-५

sa tu samvishya medinyaam mahaa arha shayana ucitaH | imaaH saumitraye raamaH vyaajahaara kathaaH shubhaaH || 2-53-5

Streching himself on the bare ground, Rama, who was accustomed to a luxurious coach, uttered the following suitable words to Lakshmana:

ध्रुवम् अद्य महा राजो दुह्खम् स्वपिति लक्ष्मण | कृत कामा तु कैकेयी तुष्टा भवितुम् अर्हति || २-५३-६

dhruvam adya mahaa raajo duhkham svapiti lakShmaNa | kR^ita kaamaa tu kaikeyii tuShTaa bhavitum arhati || 2-53-6

"Assuredly the emperor is sleeping badly tonight, while Kaikeyi, having realized her ambitions, ought to feel satisfied."

सा हि देवी महा राजम् कैकेयी राज्य कारणात् | अपि न च्यावयेत् प्राणान् दृष्ट्वा भरतम् आगतम् || २-५३-७

saa hi devii mahaa raajam kaikeyii raajya kaaraNaat | api na cyaavayet praaNaan dR^iShTvaa bharatam aagatam || 2-53-7

"Seeing Bharata returned, queen Kaikeyi, I am afraid, may not expel the lives of the emperor for the sake of kingdom."

अनाथः चैव वृद्धः च मया चैव विनाकृतः | किम् करिष्यति काम आत्मा कैकेय्या वशम् आगतः || २-५३-८

anaathaH caiva vR^iddhaH ca mayaa caiva vinaakR^itaH | kim kariShyati kaama aatmaa kaikeyyaa vasham aagataH || 2-53-8

"Aged and (therefore) helpless, deprived of my presence, what will he do, dominated as he is by his passion for Kaikeyi and who has fallen into the clutches of Kaikeyi."

इदम् व्यसनम् आलोक्य राज्ञः च मति विभ्रमम् | कामएव अर्ध धर्माभ्याम् गरीयान् इति मे मतिः || २-५३-९

idam vyasanam aalokya raaGYaH ca mati vibhramam | kaamaeva ardha dharmaabhyaam gariiyaan iti me matiH || 2-53-9

"Reflecting on this misfortune of the king and his mental derangement, I deem that passion alone is greater than early gain and religious merit."

को हि अविद्वान् अपि पुमान् प्रमदायाः कृते त्यजेत् | चन्द अनुवर्तिनम् पुत्रम् तातः माम् इव लक्ष्मण || २-५३-१०

ko hi avidvaan api pumaan pramadaayaaH kR^ite tyajet | chanda anuvartinam putram taataH maam iva lakShmaNa || 2-53-10

"what man however deluded, what father on account of a woman, at his own will and pleasure, abandon a son like myself?

सुखी बत सभार्यः च भरतः केकयी सुतः | मुदितान् कोसलान् एको यो भोक्ष्यति अधिराजवत् || २-५३-११

sukhii bata sabhaaryaH ca bharataH kekayii sutaH | muditaan kosalaan eko yo bhokShyati adhiraajavat || 2-53-11

"Alas, Kaikeyi's son Bharata (alone) is happy along with his wife. Like an overlord, he is going to enjoy the prosperous kingdom of Kosala."

स हि सर्वस्य राज्यस्य मुखम् एकम् भविष्यति | ताते च वयसा अतीते मयि च अरण्यम् आश्रिते || २-५३-१२

sa hi sarvasya raajyasya mukham ekam bhaviShyati | taate ca vayasaa atiite mayi ca araNyam aashrite || 2-53-12

"Father is superannuated. I am staying in the forest. Bharata will become the prime head for the entire kingdom."

अर्थ धर्मौ परित्यज्य यः कामम् अनुवर्तते | एवम् आपद्यते क्षिप्रम् राजा दशरथो यथा || २-५३-१३

artha dharmau parityajya yaH kaamam anuvartate | evam aapadyate kShipram raajaa dasharatho yathaa || 2-53-13

"He who pursues sensuous pleasures neglecting his real interests and discipline soon comes to distress; in the same way as king Dasaratha has."

मन्ये दशरथ अन्ताय मम प्रव्राजनाय च | कैकेयी सौम्य सम्प्राप्ता राज्याय भरतस्य च || २-५३-१४

manye dasharatha antaaya mama pravraajanaaya ca | kaikeyii saumya sampraaptaa raajyaaya bharatasya ca || 2-53-14

"It seems that Kaikeyi came into our house, oh good brother, to bring about an end to Dasaratha, to send me into exile and to secure kingship for Bharata."

अपि इदानीम् न कैकेयी सौभाग्य मद मोहिता | कौसल्याम् च सुमित्राम् च सम्प्रबाधेत मत् कृते || २-५३-१५

api idaaniim na kaikeyii saubhaagya mada mohitaa | kausalyaam ca sumitraam ca samprabaadheta mat kR^ite || 2-53-15

"Blinded by pride of good fortune, Kaikeyi may even now persecute Kausalya and Sumitra because of their relationship with me."

मा स्म मत् कारणात् देवी सुमित्रा दुह्खम् आवसेत् | अयोध्याम् इतएव त्वम् काले प्रविश लक्ष्मण || २-५३-१६

maa sma mat kaaraNaat devii sumitraa duhkham aavaset | ayodhyaam itaeva tvam kaale pravisha lakShmaNa || 2-53-16

"Queen Sumitra is likely to suffer hardship because of her affinity to us. From this very place, you proceed to Ayodhya next morning, oh, Lakshmana!"

अहम् एको गमिष्यामि सीतया सह दण्डकान् | अनाथाया हि नाथः त्वम् कौसल्याया भविष्यसि || २-५३-१७

aham eko gamiShyaami siitayaa saha daNDakaan | anaathaayaa hi naathaH tvam kausalyaayaa bhaviShyasi || 2-53-17

"I shall proceed to Dandaka forest alone with Sita, while you will be the protector for Kausalya, who has no defender."

क्षुद्र कर्मा हि कैकेयी द्वेषात् अन्याय्यम् आचरेत् | परिदद्या हि धर्मज्ञे भरते मम मातरम् || २-५३-१८

kShudra karmaa hi kaikeyii dveShaat anyaayyam aacaret | paridadyaa hi dharmaGYe bharate mama maataram || 2-53-18

"Kaikeyi of base deeds may resort to unjustified means to be disliked. Give (for protection) my mother to Bharata, oh virtuous Prince!"

नूनम् जाति अन्तरे कस्मिंस् स्त्रियः पुत्रैः वियोजिताः | जनन्या मम सौमित्रे तत् अपि एतत् उपस्थितम् || २-५३-१९

nuunam jaati antare kasmi.ns striyaH putraiH viyojitaaH | jananyaa mama saumitre tat api etat upasthitam || 2-53-19

"In some other (past) birth, women must have been deprived of their sons by my mother (Kausalya), oh, Lakshmana! For that reason this has arisen certainly."

मया हि चिर पुष्टेन दुह्ख सम्वर्धितेन च | विप्रायुज्यत कौसल्या फल काले धिग् अस्तु माम् || २-५३-२०

mayaa hi cira puShTena duhkha samvardhitena ca | vipraayujyata kausalyaa phala kaale dhig astu maam || 2-53-20

"At a time when Kausalya should have obtained benefits for her labors repaid by me, she has been deprived of my company by me, who was nurtured by her for a long time and brought up with great pains. Woe to me."

मा स्म सीमन्तिनी काचिज् जनयेत् पुत्रम् ईदृशम् | सौमित्रे यो अहम् अम्बाया दद्मि शोकम् अनन्तकम् || २-५३-२१

maa sma siimantinii kaacij janayet putram iidR^isham | saumitre yo aham ambaayaa dadmi shokam anantakam || 2-53-21

"Let no woman ever give birth to such a son as myself, who have caused perpetual grief to my mother, oh, Lakshmana!"

मन्ये प्रीति विशिष्टा सा मत्तः लक्ष्मण सारिका | यस्याः तत् श्रूयते वाक्यम् शुक पादम् अरेर् दश || २-५३-२२

manye priiti vishiShTaa saa mattaH lakShmaNa saarikaa | yasyaaH tat shruuyate vaakyam shuka paadam arer dasha || 2-53-22

"Oh, Lakshmana! I think that myna (which is kept as a pet by mother Kausalya) is more affectionate than I, since her are heard the words, "Bite, oh parrot, the foot of the enemy."

शोचन्त्याः च अल्प भाग्याया न किंचित् उपकुर्वता | पुर्त्रेण किम् अपुत्राया मया कार्यम् अरिम् दम || २-५३-२३

shocantyaaH ca alpa bhaagyaayaa na ki.ncit upakurvataa | purtreNa kim aputraayaa mayaa kaaryam arim dama || 2-53-23

"What can be done by me, her son, who cannot go to her aid even a little to her, my mother, who is weeping, who is unfortunate and who has no son, oh conqueror of foes?"

अल्प भाग्या हि मे माता कौसल्या रहिता मया | शेते परम दुह्ख आर्ता पतिता शोक सागरे || २-५३-२४

alpa bhaagyaa hi me maataa kausalyaa rahitaa mayaa | shete parama duhkha aartaa patitaa shoka saagare || 2-53-24

"Kausalya my mother of poor luck indeed, bereft of me, is stricken with great melancholy and lies plunged in a sea of grief"

एको हि अहम् अयोध्याम् च पृथिवीम् च अपि लक्ष्मण | तरेयम् इषुभिः क्रुद्धो ननु वीर्यम् अकारणम् || २-५३-२५

eko hi aham ayodhyaam ca pR^ithiviim ca api lakShmaNa | tareyam iShubhiH kruddho nanu viiryam akaaraNam || 2-53-25

"Enraged, I can subdue with my arrows single handed not only Ayodhya but also the earth. But it is not a question of valor here."

अधर्म भय भीतः च पर लोकस्य च अनघ | तेन लक्ष्मण न अद्य अहम् आत्मानम् अभिषेचये || २-५३-२६

adharma bhaya bhiitaH ca para lokasya ca anagha | tena lakShmaNa na adya aham aatmaanam abhiShecaye || 2-53-26

"Oh, the sinless Lakshmana! I am terribly concerned of doing wrong and of ruining my prospects in the other world. Hence, I do not allow myself to be crowned."

एतत् अन्यच् च करुणम् विलप्य विजने बहु | अश्रु पूर्ण मुखो रामः निशि तूष्णीम् उपाविशत् || २-५३-२७

etat anyac ca karuNam vilapya vijane bahu | ashru puurNa mukho raamaH nishi tuuShNiim upaavishat || 2-53-27

Rama during the night in that lonely forest, wailed piteously thus and in so many other ways and sat quite, his face full of tears.

विलप्य उपरतम् रामम् गत अर्चिषम् इव अनलम् | समुद्रम् इव निर्वेगम् आश्वासयत लक्ष्मणः || २-५३-२८

vilapya uparatam raamam gata arciSham iva analam | samudram iva nirvegam aashvaasayata lakShmaNaH || 2-53-28

Lakshmana consoled Rama as follows when the later had ceased lamenting like a fire whose flames had gone out and as a sea without a violent motion.

ध्रुवम् अद्य पुरी रामायोध्या युधिनाम् वर | निष्प्रभा त्वयि निष्क्रान्ते गत चन्द्रा इव शर्वरी || २-५३-२९

dhruvam adya purii raamaayodhyaa yudhinaam vara | niShprabhaa tvayi niShkraante gata candraa iva sharvarii || 2-53-29

"The city of Ayodhya, now that you have come away from it, has certainly been divested of its splendor and resembles a night without the moon, Oh, Rama the jewel among armed warriors!"

न एतत् औपयिकम् राम यद् इदम् परितप्यसे | विषादयसि सीताम् च माम् चैव पुरुष ऋषभ || २-५३-३०

na etat aupayikam raama yad idam paritapyase | viShaadayasi siitaam ca maam caiva puruSha R^iShabha || 2-53-30

"It is not proper, oh Rama, that you should grieve in this way. You cause distress to Sita and me too, oh jewel among men!"

न च सीता त्वया हीना न च अहम् अपि राघव | मुहूर्तम् अपि जीवावो जलान् मत्स्याव् इव उद्धृतौ || २-५३-३१

na ca siitaa tvayaa hiinaa na ca aham api raaghava | muhuurtam api jiivaavo jalaan matsyaav iva uddhR^itau || 2-53-31

"Oh, Rama! Bereft of you , neither Sita nor I will not survive even for a moment, like fish pulled out of water."

न हि तातम् न शत्रुघ्नम् न सुमित्राम् परम् तप | द्रष्टुम् इच्चेयम् अद्य अहम् स्वर्गम् वा अपि त्वया विना || २-५३-३२

na hi taatam na shatrughnam na sumitraam param tapa | draShTum iccheyam adya aham svargam vaa api tvayaa vinaa || 2-53-32

"Oh, Rama causing pain to the foes! Without you, I do not wish to see either our father or Satrughna or Sumitra or even the heaven."

ततस्तत्र सुखासीने नातिदूरे निरीक्ष्य ताम् | न्यग्रोधे सुकृताम् शय्याम् भेजाते धर्मवत्सलौ || २-५३-३३

tatastatra sukhaasiine naatiduure niriikshya taam | nyagrodhe sukR^itaam shayyaam bhejaate dharmavatsalau || 2-53-33

Then Rama and Lakshmana the lovers of piety, sitting comfortably there and on seeing a bed well- prepared under a banyan tree, sought for the bed.

स लक्ष्मणस्य उत्तम पुष्कलम् वचो | निशम्य च एवम् वन वासम् आदरात् | समाः समस्ता विदधे परम् तपः | प्रपद्य धर्मम् सुचिराय राघवः || २-५३-३४

sa lakShmaNasya uttama puShkalam vaco | nishamya ca evam vana vaasam aadaraat | samaaH samastaa vidadhe param tapaH | prapadya dharmam suciraaya raaghavaH || 2-53-34

Attentively hearing Lakshmana's words which were excellent and wholistic and adopting for a fairly long period the course of conduct prescribed for hermits, Rama resolved to spend all the fourteen years in exile with Lakshmana.

ततस्तु तस्मिन् विजने वने तदा | महाबलौ राघववंशवर्धनौ | न तौ भयम् सम्भ्रममभ्युपेयतु | र्यथैव सिम्हौ गिरिसानुगोचरौ || २-५३-३५

tatastu tasmin vijane vane tadaa | mahaabalau raaghavava.nshavardhanau | na tau bhayam sambhramamabhyupeyatu | ryathaiva simhau girisaanugocharau || 2-53-35

Thence forward, those two powerful offspring of the Raghu race (Rama and Lakshmana) never admitted fear or agitation (while dwelling) in that vast and lonely forest any more than a couple of lions on the slopes of a mountain.