At Atri's Hermitage

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.117.1)

राघवः तु अपयातेषु तपस्विषु विचिन्तयन्। न तत्र अरोचयद् वासम् कारणैर् बहुभिः तदा॥ 117.1 ॥

rāghavaḥ tu apayāteṣu tapasviṣu vicintayan| na tatra arocayad vāsam kāraṇair bahubhiḥ tadā

When those ascetics had gone away, Raghava, turning it over in his mind, found for many reasons no pleasure in remaining there.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.117.2)

इह मे भरतो दृष्टो मातरः च सनागराः। सा च मे स्मृतिर् अन्वेति तान् नित्यम् अनुशोचतः॥ 117.2 ॥

iha me bharato dṛṣṭo mātaraḥ ca sanāgarāḥ| sā ca me smṛtir anveti tān nityam anuśocataḥ

Here it was that I saw Bharata, my mothers, and the townsfolk with them; that memory haunts me still, as I grieve for them day after day.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.117.3)

स्कन्ध आवार निवेशेन तेन तस्य महात्मनः। हय हस्ति करीषैः च उपमर्दः कृतो भृशम्॥ 117.3 ॥

skandha āvāra niveśena tena tasya mahātmanaḥ| haya hasti karīṣaiḥ ca upamardaḥ kṛto bhṛśam

By the encampment of that great-souled one's army, and by the dung of its horses and elephants, this ground has been badly trampled and spoiled.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.117.4)

तस्माद् अन्यत्र गच्छाम इति संचिन्त्य राघवः। प्रातिष्ठत स वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च संगतः॥ 117.4 ॥

tasmād anyatra gacchāma iti saṃcintya rāghavaḥ| prātiṣṭhata sa vaidehyā lakṣmaṇena ca saṃgataḥ

"Let us therefore go elsewhere," thinking thus, Raghava set out from that place, together with Vaidehi and Lakshmana.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.117.5)

सो अत्रेर् आश्रमम् आसाद्य तम् ववन्दे महा यशाः। तम् च अपि भगवान् अत्रिः पुत्रवत् प्रत्यपद्यत॥ 117.5 ॥

so atrer āśramam āsādya tam vavande mahā yaśāḥ| tam ca api bhagavān atriḥ putravat pratyapadyata

Reaching the hermitage of the sage Atri, the greatly renowned Rama offered him salutation, and the venerable Atri in turn received him as his own son.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.117.6)

स्वयम् आतिथ्यम् आदिश्य सर्वम् अस्य सुसत्कृतम्। सौमित्रिम् च महा भागाम् सीताम् च समसान्त्वयत्॥ 117.6 ॥

svayam ātithyam ādiśya sarvam asya susatkṛtam| saumitrim ca mahā bhāgām sītām ca samasāntvayat

He himself extended full and gracious hospitality to Rama, and showed equal courtesy and comfort to Saumitri and to the blessed Sita.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.117.7)

पत्नीम् च समनुप्राप्ताम् वृद्धाम् आमन्त्र्य सत्कृताम्। सान्त्वयाम् आस धर्मज्नः सर्व भूत हिते रतः॥ 117.7 ॥

patnīm ca samanuprāptām vṛddhām āmantrya satkṛtām| sāntvayām āsa dharmajñaḥ sarva bhūta hite rataḥ

Then, calling his aged wife, who had just come there and was honoured by all, that righteous sage, ever intent on the welfare of every creature, spoke gently to her.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.117.8)

अनसूयाम् महा भागाम् तापसीम् धर्म चारिणीम्। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व वैदेहीम् अब्रवीद् ऋषि सत्तमः। रामाय च आचचक्षे ताम् तापसीम् धर्म चारिणीम्॥ 117.8 ॥

anasūyām mahā bhāgām tāpasīm dharma cāriṇīm| pratigṛhṇīṣva vaidehīm abravīd ṛṣi sattamaḥ| rāmāya ca ācacakṣe tām tāpasīm dharma cāriṇīm

"Receive Vaidehi," said that most excellent sage to the blessed Anasuya, rich in asceticism and devoted to righteousness, and then he described that same virtuous ascetic to Rama.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.117.9)

दश वर्षाण्य् अनावृष्ट्या दग्धे लोके निरन्तरम्॥ 117.9 ॥

daśa varṣāṇy anāvṛṣṭyā dagdhe loke nirantaram

For ten unbroken years, when the earth lay scorched by drought,

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.117.10)

यया मूल फले सृष्टे जाह्नवी च प्रवर्तिता। उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता नियमैः च अप्य् अलम्कृता॥ 117.10 ॥

yayā mūla phale sṛṣṭe jāhnavī ca pravartitā| ugreṇa tapasā yuktā niyamaiḥ ca apy alaṃkṛtā

it was she who caused roots and fruits to grow and made the Ganga flow here, she who was ever joined to fierce austerity and adorned besides by her strict observances.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.117.11)

दश वर्ष सहस्राणि यया तप्तम् महत् तपः। अनसूया व्रतैः स्नाता प्रत्यूहाः च निबर्हिताः॥ 117.11 ॥

daśa varṣa sahasrāṇi yayā taptam mahat tapaḥ| anasūyā vrataiḥ snātā pratyūhāḥ ca nibarhitāḥ

For ten thousand years she practised the most severe austerity — this Anasuya, purified by her vows, who has swept every obstacle aside.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.117.12)

देव कार्य निमित्तम् च यया संत्वरमाणया। दश रात्रम् कृत्वा रात्रिः सा इयम् माता इव ते अनघ॥ 117.12 ॥

deva kārya nimittam ca yayā saṃtvaramāṇayā| daśa rātram kṛtvā rātriḥ sā iyam mātā iva te anagha

And she it was who, hastening for the sake of a task of the gods, once compressed ten nights into a single night, O blameless one — she is to you as a mother.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.117.13)

ताम् इमाम् सर्व भूतानाम् नमः कार्याम् यशस्विनीम्। अभिगच्छतु वैदेही वृद्धाम् अक्रोधनाम् सदा॥ 117.13 ॥

tām imām sarva bhūtānām namaḥ kāryām yaśasvinīm| abhigacchatu vaidehī vṛddhām akrodhanām sadā

Let Vaidehi go to her, this renowned woman revered by every being, aged yet ever free of anger.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.117.14)

एवम् ब्रुवाणम् तम् ऋषिम् तथा इत्य् उक्त्वा स राघवः। सीताम् उवाच धर्मज्नाम् इदम् वचनम् उत्तमम्॥ 117.14 ॥

evam bruvāṇam tam ṛṣim tathā ity uktvā sa rāghavaḥ| sītām uvāca dharmajñām idam vacanam uttamam

To that sage speaking thus, Raghava said "So be it," and then spoke these excellent words to the righteous Sita.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.117.15)

राज पुत्रि श्रुतम् तु एतन् मुनेर् अस्य समीरितम्। श्रेयो अर्थम् आत्मनः शीघ्रम् अभिगच्छ तपस्विनीम्॥ 117.15 ॥

rāja putri śrutam tu etan muner asya samīritam| śreyo artham ātmanaḥ śīghram abhigaccha tapasvinīm

"O princess, you have heard what this sage has said — for your own good, go quickly now to that ascetic woman."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.117.16)

सीता तु एतद् वचः श्रुत्वा राघवस्य हित एषिणी। ताम् अत्रि पत्नीम् धर्मज्नाम् अभिचक्राम मैथिली॥ 117.16 ॥

sītā tu etad vacaḥ śrutvā rāghavasya hita eṣiṇī| tām atri patnīm dharmajñām abhicakrāma maithilī

Sita, the daughter of Mithila, who ever wished Raghava's welfare, on hearing these words went up to Atri's righteous wife.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.117.17)

शिथिलाम् वलिताम् वृद्धाम् जरा पाण्डुर मूर्धजाम्। सततम् वेपमान अन्गीम् प्रवाते कदली यथा॥ 117.17 ॥

śithilām valitām vṛddhām jarā pāṇḍura mūrdhajām| satatam vepamāna aṅgīm pravāte kadalī yathā

That aged woman was frail and wrinkled, her hair whitened by age, her whole frame trembling continually, like a plantain tree shaken in a gale.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.117.18)

ताम् तु सीता महा भागाम् अनसूयाम् पति व्रताम्। अभ्यवादयद् अव्यग्रा स्वम् नाम समुदाहरत्॥ 117.18 ॥

tām tu sītā mahā bhāgām anasūyām pati vratām| abhyavādayad avyagrā svam nāma samudāharat

Sita, calm and composed, bowed before that blessed and devoted wife Anasuya, and announced her own name to her.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.117.19)

अभिवाद्य च वैदेही तापसीम् ताम् अनिन्दिताम्। बद्ध अन्जलि पुटा हृष्टा पर्यपृच्छद् अनामयम्॥ 117.19 ॥

abhivādya ca vaidehī tāpasīm tām aninditām| baddha añjali puṭā hṛṣṭā paryapṛcchad anāmayam

Having saluted that blameless ascetic, Vaidehi, joyful, with joined palms, inquired after her well-being.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.117.20)

ततः सीताम् महा भागाम् दृष्ट्वा ताम् धर्म चारिणीम्। सान्त्वयन्त्य् अब्रवीत् हृष्टा दिष्ट्या धर्मम् अवेक्षसे॥ 117.20 ॥

tataḥ sītām mahā bhāgām dṛṣṭvā tām dharma cāriṇīm| sāntvayanty abravīt hṛṣṭā diṣṭyā dharmam avekṣase

Then, seeing that blessed and righteous Sita, Anasuya, pleased, comforted her, saying, "Happily indeed you keep to the path of duty."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.117.21)

त्यक्त्वा ज्नाति जनम् सीते मानम् ऋद्धिम् च मानिनि। अवरुद्धम् वने रामम् दिष्ट्या त्वम् अनुगच्छसि॥ 117.21 ॥

tyaktvā jñāti janam sīte mānam ṛddhim ca mānini| avaruddham vane rāmam diṣṭyā tvam anugacchasi

O proud Sita, leaving behind your kinsfolk, your honour and your wealth, you have, most fortunately, followed Rama into his exile in the forest.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.117.22)

नगरस्थो वनस्थो वा पापो वा यदि वा अशुभः। यासाम् स्त्रीणाम् प्रियो भर्ता तासाम् लोका महा उदयाः॥ 117.22 ॥

nagarastho vanastho vā pāpo vā yadi vā aśubhaḥ| yāsām strīṇām priyo bhartā tāsām lokā mahā udayāḥ

Whether a husband dwells in the city or in the forest, whether he be sinful or ill-starred — those women to whom their husband is dear attain the most exalted worlds.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.117.23)

दुःशीलः काम वृत्तो वा धनैर् वा परिवर्जितः। स्त्रीणाम् आर्य स्वभावानाम् परमम् दैवतम् पतिः॥ 117.23 ॥

duḥśīlaḥ kāma vṛtto vā dhanair vā parivarjitaḥ| strīṇām ārya svabhāvānām paramam daivatam patiḥ

Be he ill-behaved, given over to passion, or stripped of wealth — for women of noble nature, a husband remains the highest deity.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.117.24)

न अतो विशिष्टम् पश्यामि बान्धवम् विमृशन्त्य् अहम्। सर्वत्र योग्यम् वैदेहि तपः कृतम् इव अव्ययम्॥ 117.24 ॥

na ato viśiṣṭam paśyāmi bāndhavam vimṛśanty aham| sarvatra yogyam vaidehi tapaḥ kṛtam iva avyayam

O Vaidehi, reflecting on it, I find no kinsman more worthy than a husband, one fit to stand by a woman in every circumstance, like the imperishable fruit of austerity performed.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.117.25)

न तु एवम् अवगच्छन्ति गुण दोषम् असत् स्त्रियः। काम वक्तव्य हृदया भर्तृ नाथाः चरन्ति याः॥ 117.25 ॥

na tu evam avagacchanti guṇa doṣam asat striyaḥ| kāma vaktavya hṛdayā bhartṛ nāthāḥ caranti yāḥ

But those wicked women whose hearts are ruled by desire, though they live under their husband's protection, do not understand virtue and fault in this way.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.117.26)

प्राप्नुवन्त्य् अयशः चैव धर्म भ्रंशम् च मैथिलि। अकार्य वशम् आपन्नाः स्त्रियो याः खलु तद् विधाः॥ 117.26 ॥

prāpnuvanty ayaśaḥ caiva dharma bhraṃśam ca maithili| akārya vaśam āpannāḥ striyo yāḥ khalu tad vidhāḥ

O Maithili, women of that kind, who fall under the sway of what should not be done, reap only infamy and a fall from righteousness.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.117.27)

त्वद् विधाः तु गुणैर् युक्ता दृष्ट लोक पर अवराः। स्त्रियः स्वर्गे चरिष्यन्ति यथा पुण्य कृतः तथा॥ 117.27 ॥

tvad vidhāḥ tu guṇair yuktā dṛṣṭa loka para avarāḥ| striyaḥ svarge cariṣyanti yathā puṇya kṛtaḥ tathā

But women like you, endowed with virtue, who look with equanimity on this world's rise and fall, shall dwell in heaven even as those who have performed meritorious deeds.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.117.28)

तदेवम् एनम् त्वम् अनुव्रता सती। पति व्रतानाम् समयानुवर्तिनी। भव स्व भर्तुः सह धर्म चारिणी। यशः च धर्मम् च ततः समाप्स्यसि॥ 117.28 ॥

tad evam enam tvam anuvratā satī| pati vratānām samayānuvartinī| bhava sva bhartuḥ saha dharma cāriṇī| yaśaḥ ca dharmam ca tataḥ samāpsyasi

So, remaining devoted and true to him in this way, following the code that all faithful wives observe, be your husband's partner in righteousness — and thereby you shall attain both merit and renown."