Lakshmana's Wrath and a Mother's Grief

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.21.1)

तथा तु विलपन्तीं तां कौसल्यां राममातरम् । उवाच लक्ष्मणो दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं वचः ॥ 21.1 ॥

tathā tu vilapantīṃ tāṃ kausalyāṃ rāmamātaram | uvāca lakṣmaṇo dīnastatkālasadṛśaṃ vacaḥ

Thus, seeing Kausalya, Rama's mother, lamenting, the dejected Lakshmana spoke words fitting for that moment.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.21.2)

न रोचते ममाप्येतदार्ये यद् राघवो वनम् । त्यक्त्वा राज्यश्रियं गच्छेत् स्त्रिया वाक्यवशंगतः ॥ 21.2 ॥

na rocate mamāpyetadārye yad rāghavo vanam | tyaktvā rājyaśriyaṃ gacchet striyā vākyavaśaṃgataḥ

"Noble lady, I too do not approve of Raghava abandoning royal splendor and going to the forest, subject to a woman's word."

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.21.3)

विपरीतश्च वृद्धश्च विषयैश्च प्रधर्षितः । नृपः किमिव न ब्रूयाच्चोद्यमानः समन्मथः ॥ 21.3 ॥

viparītaśca vṛddhaśca viṣayaiśca pradharṣitaḥ | nṛpaḥ kimiva na brūyāccodyamānaḥ samanmathaḥ

"A king whose mind is perverse, who is aged, and overpowered by sensual desires — inflamed with passion and prompted by another, what will he not say?"

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.21.4)

नास्यापराधं पश्यामि नापि दोषं तथाविधम् । येन निर्वास्यते राष्ट्राद् वनवासाय राघवः ॥ 21.4 ॥

nāsyāparādhaṃ paśyāmi nāpi doṣaṃ tathāvidham | yena nirvāsyate rāṣṭrād vanavāsāya rāghavaḥ

"I see in Rama neither any offense nor any fault of the kind for which he should be banished from the kingdom to dwell in the forest."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.21.5)

न तं पश्याम्यहं लोके परोक्षमपि यो नरः । स्वमित्रोऽपि निरस्तोऽपि योऽस्य दोषमुदाहरेत् ॥ 21.5 ॥

na taṃ paśyāmyahaṃ loke parokṣamapi yo naraḥ | svamitro'pi nirasto'pi yo'sya doṣamudāharet

"I have not seen anyone in this world, even in secret, who — whether an enemy or an outcast — could point to any fault in Rama."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.21.6)

देवकल्पमृजुं दान्तं रिपूणामपि वत्सलम् । अवेक्षमाणः को धर्मं त्यजेत् पुत्रमकारणात् ॥ 21.6 ॥

devakalpamṛjuṃ dāntaṃ ripūṇāmapi vatsalam | avekṣamāṇaḥ ko dharmaṃ tyajet putramakāraṇāt

"Who, mindful of righteousness, would abandon without cause a son who is godlike, upright, self-controlled, and affectionate even to his enemies?"

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.21.7)

तदिदं वचनं राज्ञः पुनर्बाल्यमुपेयुषः । पुत्रः को हृदये कुर्याद् राजवृत्तमनुस्मरन् ॥ 21.7 ॥

tadidaṃ vacanaṃ rājñaḥ punarbālyamupeyuṣaḥ | putraḥ ko hṛdaye kuryād rājavṛttamanusmaran

"What son, mindful of royal conduct, would take to heart these words of a king who has, as it were, returned to childhood?"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.21.8)

यावदेव न जानाति कश्चिदर्थमिमं नरः । तावदेव मया सार्धमात्मस्थं कुरु शासनम् ॥ 21.8 ॥

yāvadeva na jānāti kaścidarthamimaṃ naraḥ | tāvadeva mayā sārdhamātmasthaṃ kuru śāsanam

"Before anyone comes to know of this matter, seize the kingdom for yourself, with my help."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.21.9)

मया पार्श्वे सधनुषा तव गुप्तस्य राघव । कः समर्थोऽधिकं कर्तुं कृतान्तस्येव तिष्ठतः ॥ 21.9 ॥

mayā pārśve sadhanuṣā tava guptasya rāghava | kaḥ samartho'dhikaṃ kartuṃ kṛtāntasyeva tiṣṭhataḥ

"O Raghava, while I stand at your side, bow in hand, guarding you who stand there like Death himself — who is capable of doing you further harm?"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.21.10)

निर्मनुष्यामिमां सर्वामयोध्यां मनुजर्षभ । करिष्यामि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्यदि स्थास्यति विप्रिये ॥ 21.10 ॥

nirmanuṣyāmimāṃ sarvāmayodhyāṃ manujarṣabha | kariṣyāmi śaraistīkṣṇairyadi sthāsyati vipriye

"O foremost of men, if this whole Ayodhya should turn hostile to you, I shall render it void of people with my sharp arrows."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.21.11)

भरतस्याथ पक्ष्यो वा यो वास्य हितमिच्छति । सर्वांस्तांश्च वधिष्यामि मृदुर्हि परिभूयते ॥ 21.11 ॥

bharatasyātha pakṣyo vā yo vāsya hitamicchati | sarvāṃstāṃśca vadhiṣyāmi mṛdurhi paribhūyate

"Whoever sides with Bharata or wishes him well — I shall slay them all, for it is the gentle who are held in contempt."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.21.12)

प्रोत्साहितोऽयं कैकेय्या संतुष्टो यदि नः पिता । अमित्रभूतो निःसङ्गं वध्यतां वध्यतामपि ॥ 21.12 ॥

protsāhito'yaṃ kaikeyyā saṃtuṣṭo yadi naḥ pitā | amitrabhūto niḥsaṅgaṃ vadhyatāṃ vadhyatāmapi

"If our father, incited and pleased by Kaikeyi, has turned an enemy without any bond of kinship to us, let this enemy be bound — or even slain."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.21.13)

गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः । उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य कार्यं भवति शासनम् ॥ 21.13 ॥

gurorapyavaliptasya kāryākāryamajānataḥ | utpathaṃ pratipannasya kāryaṃ bhavati śāsanam

"Even a venerable elder, if he becomes arrogant, loses the sense of what should and should not be done, and takes to a wrong path, becomes fit for correction."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.21.14)

बलमेष किमाश्रित्य हेतुं वा पुरुषोत्तम । दातुमिच्छति कैकेय्यै उपस्थितमिदं तव ॥ 21.14 ॥

balameṣa kimāśritya hetuṃ vā puruṣottama | dātumicchati kaikeyyai upasthitamidaṃ tava

"O best of men, on what strength, or for what reason, does our father wish to bestow this kingdom of yours upon Kaikeyi?"

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.21.15)

त्वया चैव मया चैव कृत्वा वैरमनुत्तमम् । कास्य शक्तिः श्रियं दातुं भरतायारिशासन ॥ 21.15 ॥

tvayā caiva mayā caiva kṛtvā vairamanuttamam | kāsya śaktiḥ śriyaṃ dātuṃ bharatāyāriśāsana

"O chastiser of foes, having thus made bitter enmity with both you and me, what power does he have left to bestow the royal fortune upon Bharata?"

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.21.16)

अनुरक्तोऽस्मि भावेन भ्रातरं देवि तत्त्वतः । सत्येन धनुषा चैव दत्तेनेष्टेन ते शपे ॥ 21.16 ॥

anurakto'smi bhāvena bhrātaraṃ devi tattvataḥ | satyena dhanuṣā caiva datteneṣṭena te śape

"O queen, I am truly, in heart, devoted to my brother; I swear this to you by truth, and by this cherished bow that has been given to me."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.21.17)

दीप्तमग्निमरण्यं वा यदि रामः प्रवेक्ष्यति । प्रविष्टं तत्र मां देवि त्वं पूर्वमवधारय ॥ 21.17 ॥

dīptamagnimaraṇyaṃ vā yadi rāmaḥ pravekṣyati | praviṣṭaṃ tatra māṃ devi tvaṃ pūrvamavadhāraya

"O queen, if Rama should enter blazing fire or the forest, know for certain, even beforehand, that I shall have entered there first."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.21.18)

हरामि वीर्याद् दुःखं ते तमः सूर्य इवोदितः । देवी पश्यतु मे वीर्यं राघवश्चैव पश्यतु ॥ 21.18 ॥

harāmi vīryād duḥkhaṃ te tamaḥ sūrya ivoditaḥ | devī paśyatu me vīryaṃ rāghavaścaiva paśyatu

"Like the rising sun dispelling darkness, I shall, by my valor, remove this sorrow of yours; let the queen herself witness my strength — and let Raghava too see it."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.21.19)

हनिष्ये पितरं वृद्धं कैकेय्यासक्तमानसम् । कृपणं च स्थितं बाल्ये वृद्धभावेन गर्हितम् ॥ 21.19 ॥

haniṣye pitaraṃ vṛddhaṃ kaikeyyāsaktamānasam | kṛpaṇaṃ ca sthitaṃ bālye vṛddhabhāvena garhitam

"I shall kill my own father — aged, his mind ensnared by Kaikeyi, pitiable in this state, and disgraced by his own senility."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.21.20)

एतत् तु वचनं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः । उवाच रामं कौसल्या रुदती शोकलालसा ॥ 21.20 ॥

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā lakṣmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ | uvāca rāmaṃ kausalyā rudatī śokalālasā

Hearing these words of the noble Lakshmana, Kausalya, given over to grief and weeping, spoke thus to Rama.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.21.21)

भ्रातुस्ते वदतः पुत्र लक्ष्मणस्य श्रुतं त्वया । यदत्रानन्तरं तत्त्वं कुरुष्व यदि रोचते ॥ 21.21 ॥

bhrātuste vadataḥ putra lakṣmaṇasya śrutaṃ tvayā | yadatrānantaraṃ tattvaṃ kuruṣva yadi rocate

"My son, you have heard what your brother Lakshmana has just said; if it pleases you, do now whatever follows from it."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.21.22)

न चाधर्म्यं वचः श्रुत्वा सपत्न्या मम भाषितम् । विहाय शोकसंतप्तां गन्तुमर्हसि मामितः ॥ 21.22 ॥

na cādharmyaṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sapatnyā mama bhāṣitam | vihāya śokasaṃtaptāṃ gantumarhasi māmitaḥ

"Having heard these unrighteous words spoken by my co-wife, it is not right for you to leave me here, tormented by grief, and go away."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.21.23)

धर्मज्ञ इति धर्मिष्ठ धर्मं चरितुमिच्छसि । शुश्रूष मामिहस्थस्त्वं चर धर्ममनुत्तमम् ॥ 21.23 ॥

dharmajña iti dharmiṣṭha dharmaṃ caritumicchasi | śuśrūṣa māmihasthastvaṃ cara dharmamanuttamam

"You are known as one who knows and upholds righteousness; if you truly wish to practice dharma, then stay here and serve me — that is the highest righteousness of all."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.21.24)

शुश्रूषुर्जननीं पुत्र स्वगृहे नियतो वसन् । परेण तपसा युक्तः काश्यपस्त्रिदिवं गतः ॥ 21.24 ॥

śuśrūṣurjananīṃ putra svagṛhe niyato vasan | pareṇa tapasā yuktaḥ kāśyapastridivaṃ gataḥ

"My son, sage Kashyapa, dwelling in his own home, ever restrained, serving his mother, attained the heavens through great austerity."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.21.25)

यथैव राजा पूज्यस्ते गौरवेण तथा ह्यहम् । त्वां साहं नानुजानामि न गन्तव्यमितो वनम् ॥ 21.25 ॥

yathaiva rājā pūjyaste gauraveṇa tathā hyaham | tvāṃ sāhaṃ nānujānāmi na gantavyamito vanam

"Just as your father is worthy of your reverence, so too am I; therefore I do not permit this — you must not go from here to the forest."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.21.26)

त्वद्वियोगान्न मे कार्यं जीवितेन सुखेन च । त्वया सह मम श्रेयस्तृणानामपि भक्षणम् ॥ 21.26 ॥

tvadviyogānna me kāryaṃ jīvitena sukhena ca | tvayā saha mama śreyastṛṇānāmapi bhakṣaṇam

"In separation from you, I shall have no use for life or comfort; even eating grass, so long as I am with you, would be better for me."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.21.27)

यदि त्वं यास्यसि वनं त्यक्त्वा मां शोकलालसाम् । अहं प्रायमिहासिष्ये न च शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम् ॥ 21.27 ॥

yadi tvaṃ yāsyasi vanaṃ tyaktvā māṃ śokalālasām | ahaṃ prāyamihāsiṣye na ca śakṣyāmi jīvitum

"If you go to the forest, abandoning me thus consumed with grief, I shall sit here and starve myself to death; I shall not be able to live."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.21.28)

ततस्त्वं प्राप्स्यसे पुत्र निरयं लोकविश्रुतम् । ब्रह्महत्यामिवाधर्मात् समुद्रः सरितां पतिः ॥ 21.28 ॥

tatastvaṃ prāpsyase putra nirayaṃ lokaviśrutam | brahmahatyāmivādharmāt samudraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ

"Then, my son, you would incur that infamy known throughout the world, just as the ocean, lord of rivers, once incurred guilt akin to the slaying of a brahmin, through its own wrongdoing."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.21.29)

विलपन्तीं तथा दीनां कौसल्यां जननीं ततः । उवाच रामो धर्मात्मा वचनं धर्मसंहितम् ॥ 21.29 ॥

vilapantīṃ tathā dīnāṃ kausalyāṃ jananīṃ tataḥ | uvāca rāmo dharmātmā vacanaṃ dharmasaṃhitam

To his mother Kausalya, thus lamenting in her wretchedness, the righteous Rama spoke these words, grounded in dharma.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.21.30)

नास्ति शक्तिः पितुर्वाक्यं समतिक्रमितुं मम । प्रसादये त्वां शिरसा गन्तुमिच्छाम्यहं वनम् ॥ 21.30 ॥

nāsti śaktiḥ piturvākyaṃ samatikramituṃ mama | prasādaye tvāṃ śirasā gantumicchāmyahaṃ vanam

"I do not have the power to transgress my father's word; bowing my head, I beg your favor — I must go to the forest."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.21.31)

ऋषिणा च पितुर्वाक्यं कुर्वता वनचारिणा । गौर्हता जानताधर्मं कण्डुना च विपश्चिता ॥ 21.31 ॥

ṛṣiṇā ca piturvākyaṃ kurvatā vanacāriṇā | gaurhatā jānatādharmaṃ kaṇḍunā ca vipaścitā

"Even the sage Kandu, a forest-dweller who knew righteousness well, killed a cow while carrying out his father's command."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.21.32)

अस्माकं तु कुले पूर्वं सगरस्याज्ञया पितुः । खनद्भिः सागरैर्भूमिमवाप्तः सुमहान् वधः ॥ 21.32 ॥

asmākaṃ tu kule pūrvaṃ sagarasyājñayā pituḥ | khanadbhiḥ sāgarairbhūmimavāptaḥ sumahān vadhaḥ

"In our own lineage, long ago, at King Sagara's command, his sons met with great destruction while digging into the earth."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.21.33)

जामदग्न्येन रामेण रेणुका जननी स्वयम् । कृत्ता परशुनारण्ये पितुर्वचनकारणात् ॥ 21.33 ॥

jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa reṇukā jananī svayam | kṛttā paraśunāraṇye piturvacanakāraṇāt

"Parashurama, son of Jamadagni, at his father's word, himself slew his own mother Renuka in the forest with his axe."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.21.34)

एतैरन्यैश्च बहुभिर्देवि देवसमैः कृतम् । पितुर्वचनमक्लीबं करिष्यामि पितुर्हितम् ॥ 21.34 ॥

etairanyaiśca bahubhirdevi devasamaiḥ kṛtam | piturvacanamaklībaṃ kariṣyāmi piturhitam

"O mother, these and many other god-like men never let their father's word go in vain; I too shall carry out what is for my father's good."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.21.35)

न खल्वेतन्मयैकेन क्रियते पितृशासनम् । एतैरपि कृतं देवि ये मया परिकीर्तिताः ॥ 21.35 ॥

na khalvetanmayaikena kriyate pitṛśāsanam | etairapi kṛtaṃ devi ye mayā parikīrtitāḥ

"O mother, I am not the only one carrying out a father's command; all those I have just named have done the very same."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.21.36)

नाहं धर्ममपूर्वं ते प्रतिकूलं प्रवर्तये । पूर्वैरयमभिप्रेतो गतो मार्गोऽनुगम्यते ॥ 21.36 ॥

nāhaṃ dharmamapūrvaṃ te pratikūlaṃ pravartaye | pūrvairayamabhipreto gato mārgo'nugamyate

"I am not instituting for your sake any new, contrary code of conduct; I am merely following the path that our forefathers approved and walked."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.21.37)

तदेतत् तु मया कार्यं क्रियते भुवि नान्यथा । पितुर्हि वचनं कुर्वन् न कश्चिन्नाम हीयते ॥ 21.37 ॥

tadetat tu mayā kāryaṃ kriyate bhuvi nānyathā | piturhi vacanaṃ kurvan na kaścinnāma hīyate

"This I must do; there is no other way on this earth. Indeed, one who carries out a father's command never truly loses by it."

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.21.38)

तामेवमुक्त्वा जननीं लक्ष्मणं पुनरब्रवीत् । वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम् ॥ 21.38 ॥

tāmevamuktvā jananīṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ punarabravīt | vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām

Having said this to his mother, Rama — foremost among the eloquent and foremost among all wielders of the bow — turned once more and spoke these words to Lakshmana.

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.21.39)

तव लक्ष्मण जानामि मयि स्नेहमनुत्तमम् । विक्रमं चैव सत्त्वं च तेजश्च सुदुरासदम् ॥ 21.39 ॥

tava lakṣmaṇa jānāmi mayi snehamanuttamam | vikramaṃ caiva sattvaṃ ca tejaśca sudurāsadam

"Lakshmana, I know your love for me is beyond compare, as are your valor, your strength, and your splendor that none can withstand."

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.21.40)

मम मातुर्महद् दुःखमतुलं शुभलक्षण । अभिप्रायं न विज्ञाय सत्यस्य च शमस्य च ॥ 21.40 ॥

mama māturmahad duḥkhamatulaṃ śubhalakṣaṇa | abhiprāyaṃ na vijñāya satyasya ca śamasya ca

"O one of auspicious marks, our mother, not understanding the true purpose behind truth and equanimity here, suffers a grief that is great and beyond compare."

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.21.41)

धर्मो हि परमो लोके धर्मे सत्यं प्रतिष्ठितम् । धर्मसंश्रितमप्येतत् पितुर्वचनमुत्तमम् ॥ 21.41 ॥

dharmo hi paramo loke dharme satyaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | dharmasaṃśritamapyetat piturvacanamuttamam

"In this world, righteousness alone is supreme; truth itself rests upon righteousness; and this excellent word of our father, too, is grounded in dharma."

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.21.42)

संश्रुत्य च पितुर्वाक्यं मातुर्वा ब्राह्मणस्य वा । न कर्तव्यं वृथा वीर धर्ममाश्रित्य तिष्ठता ॥ 21.42 ॥

saṃśrutya ca piturvākyaṃ māturvā brāhmaṇasya vā | na kartavyaṃ vṛthā vīra dharmamāśritya tiṣṭhatā

"O hero, one who stands firm in righteousness does not render vain a promise made and heard, whether given to father, mother, or a brahmin."

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.21.43)

सोऽहं न शक्ष्यामि पुनर्नियोगमतिवर्तितुम् । पितुर्हि वचनाद् वीर कैकेय्याहं प्रचोदितः ॥ 21.43 ॥

so'haṃ na śakṣyāmi punarniyogamativartitum | piturhi vacanād vīra kaikeyyāhaṃ pracoditaḥ

"So I cannot go against this charge; O hero, it is by our father's own word that Kaikeyi has urged me to go to the forest."

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.21.44)

तदेतां विसृजानार्यां क्षत्रधर्माश्रितां मतिम् । धर्ममाश्रय मा तैक्ष्ण्यं मद्बुद्धिरनुगम्यताम् ॥ 21.44 ॥

tadetāṃ visṛjānāryāṃ kṣatradharmāśritāṃ matim | dharmamāśraya mā taikṣṇyaṃ mada‍buddhiranugamyatām

"So set aside this unworthy resolve born of martial pride; take refuge in righteousness, not in harshness — follow my judgment in this."

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.21.45)

तमेवमुक्त्वा सौहार्दाद् भ्रातरं लक्ष्मणाग्रजः । उवाच भूयः कौसल्यां प्राञ्जलिः शिरसा नतः ॥ 21.45 ॥

tamevamuktvā sauhārdād bhrātaraṃ lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ | uvāca bhūyaḥ kausalyāṃ prāñjaliḥ śirasā nataḥ

Having thus spoken affectionately to his brother, Rama, Lakshmana's elder, turned again to Kausalya, and with joined palms and bowed head, spoke as follows.

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.21.46)

अनुमन्यस्व मां देवि गमिष्यन्तमितो वनम् । शापितासि मम प्राणैः कुरु स्वस्त्ययनानि मे ॥ 21.46 ॥

anumanyasva māṃ devi gamiṣyantamito vanam | śāpitāsi mama prāṇaiḥ kuru svastyayanāni me

"O queen, permit me to go to the forest; I swear this upon my own life — please invoke your blessings for my well-being."

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.21.47)

तीर्णप्रतिज्ञश्च वनात् पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरीम् । ययातिरिव राजर्षिः पुरा हित्वा पुनर्दिवम् ॥ 21.47 ॥

tīrṇapratijñaśca vanāt punareṣyāmyahaṃ purīm | yayātiriva rājarṣiḥ purā hitvā punardivam

"Once my vow is fulfilled, I shall return again from the forest to this city, just as the royal sage Yayati of old, having lost heaven, returned to it once more."

Shloka 48 (ayodhya.21.48)

शोकः संधार्यतां मातर्हृदये साधु मा शुचः । वनवासादिहैष्यामि पुनः कृत्वा पितुर्वचः ॥ 21.48 ॥

śokaḥ saṃdhāryatāṃ mātarhṛdaye sādhu mā śucaḥ | vanavāsādihaiṣyāmi punaḥ kṛtvā piturvacaḥ

"Mother, hold your grief steady within your heart — do not sorrow; having fulfilled father's word, I shall come back here again."

Shloka 49 (ayodhya.21.49)

त्वया मया च वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन सुमित्रया । पितुर्नियोगे स्थातव्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ 21.49 ॥

tvayā mayā ca vaidehyā lakṣmaṇena sumitrayā | piturniyoge sthātavyameṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

"You, and I, and Vaidehi, and Lakshmana, and Sumitra — all of us must abide by our father's command; this is the eternal law."

Shloka 50 (ayodhya.21.50)

अम्ब सम्भृत्य सम्भारान् दुःखं हृदि निगृह्य च । वनवासकृता बुद्धिर्मम धर्म्यानुवर्त्यताम् ॥ 21.50 ॥

amba sambhṛtya sambhārān duḥkhaṃ hṛdi nigṛhya ca | vanavāsakṛtā buddhirmama dharmyānuvartyatām

"Mother, having gathered in the preparations made for my coronation and restraining the grief in your heart, please approve this righteous resolve of mine to dwell in the forest."

Shloka 51 (ayodhya.21.51)

एतद् वचस्तस्य निशम्य माता सुधर्म्यमव्यग्रमविक्लवं च । मृतेव संज्ञां प्रतिलभ्य देवी समीक्ष्य रामं पुनरित्युवाच ॥ 21.51 ॥

etad vacastasya niśamya mātā sudharmyamavyagramaviklavaṃ ca | mṛteva saṃjñāṃ pratilabhya devī samīkṣya rāmaṃ punarityuvāca

Hearing these deeply righteous, steady, and untroubled words of Rama, the queen, as though regaining consciousness after death, looked at Rama and spoke once more.

Shloka 52 (ayodhya.21.52)

यथैव ते पुत्र पिता तथाहं गुरुः स्वधर्मेण सुहृत्तया च । न त्वानुजानामि न मां विहाय सुदुःखितामर्हसि पुत्र गन्तुम् ॥ 21.52 ॥

yathaiva te putra pitā tathāhaṃ guruḥ svadharmeṇa suhṛttayā ca | na tvānujānāmi na māṃ vihāya suduḥkhitāmarhasi putra gantum

"My son, just as your father is to you, so too, by my own right and through affection, am I your elder; I do not give you leave. It is not right for you to leave me thus, sunk in sorrow, and go away."

Shloka 53 (ayodhya.21.53)

किं जीवितेनेह विना त्वया मे लोकेन वा किं स्वधयामृतेन । श्रेयो मुहूर्तं तव संनिधानं ममैव कृत्स्नादपि जीवलोकात् ॥ 21.53 ॥

kiṃ jīviteneha vinā tvayā me lokena vā kiṃ svadhayāmṛtena | śreyo muhūrtaṃ tava saṃnidhānaṃ mamaiva kṛtsnādapi jīvalokāt

"What use is this life to me here without you, or the world beyond, or even the nectar-like offerings made to the ancestors? Your presence, even for a moment, is better to me than the entire world of the living."

Shloka 54 (ayodhya.21.54)

नरैरिवोल्काभिरपोह्यमानो महागजो ध्वान्तमभिप्रविष्टः । भूयः प्रजज्वाल विलापमेवं निशम्य रामः करुणं जनन्याः ॥ 21.54 ॥

narairivolkābhirapohyamāno mahāgajo dhvāntamabhipraviṣṭaḥ | bhūyaḥ prajajvāla vilāpamevaṃ niśamya rāmaḥ karuṇaṃ jananyāḥ

Like a great elephant driven back by torches plunging deeper still into the darkness, Rama, hearing his mother's pitiable lament, was again seized by even greater anguish.

Shloka 55 (ayodhya.21.55)

स मातरं चैव विसंज्ञकल्पा- मार्तं च सौमित्रिमभिप्रतप्तम् । धर्मे स्थितो धर्म्यमुवाच वाक्यं यथा स एवार्हति तत्र वक्तुम् ॥ 21.55 ॥

sa mātaraṃ caiva visaṃjñakalpā- mārtaṃ ca saumitrimabhiprataptam | dharme sthito dharmyamuvāca vākyaṃ yathā sa evārhati tatra vaktum

Seeing his mother nearly senseless with grief, and Lakshmana likewise overwhelmed with distress, Rama, ever grounded in dharma, spoke the fitting, righteous words that only he was fit to speak at that moment.

Shloka 56 (ayodhya.21.56)

अहं हि ते लक्ष्मण नित्यमेव जानामि भक्तिं च पराक्रमं च । मम त्वभिप्रायमसंनिरीक्ष्य मात्रा सहाभ्यर्दसि मा सुदुःखम् ॥ 21.56 ॥

ahaṃ hi te lakṣmaṇa nityameva jānāmi bhaktiṃ ca parākramaṃ ca | mama tvabhiprāyamasaṃnirīkṣya mātrā sahābhyardasi mā suduḥkham

"Lakshmana, I have always known your devotion and your valor; but now, without regard for my own intent, you join our mother in causing me such deep distress."

Shloka 57 (ayodhya.21.57)

धर्मार्थकामाः खलु जीवलोके समीक्षिता धर्मफलोदयेषु । ये तत्र सर्वे स्युरसंशयं मे भार्येव वश्याभिमता सपुत्रा ॥ 21.57 ॥

dharmārthakāmāḥ khalu jīvaloke samīkṣitā dharmaphalodayeṣu | ye tatra sarve syurasaṃśayaṃ me bhāryeva vaśyābhimatā saputrā

"In this world, dharma, artha, and kama are all judged by whether they bear the fruit of righteousness; without doubt, all three come together, as they would from a wife who is obedient, beloved, and blessed with good sons."

Shloka 58 (ayodhya.21.58)

यस्मिंस्तु सर्वे स्युरसंनिविष्टा धर्मो यतः स्यात् तदुपक्रमेत । द्वेष्यो भवत्यर्थपरो हि लोके कामात्मता खल्वपि न प्रशस्ता ॥ 21.58 ॥

yasmiṃstu sarve syurasaṃniviṣṭā dharmo yataḥ syāt tadupakrameta | dveṣyo bhavatyarthaparo hi loke kāmātmatā khalvapi na praśastā

"One should undertake only that course in which all these truly converge toward righteousness, leaving aside what does not. He who is devoted to wealth alone becomes hateful in the world; and he whose very nature is desire alone is likewise not to be praised."

Shloka 59 (ayodhya.21.59)

गुरुश्च राजा च पिता च वृद्धः क्रोधात् प्रहर्षादथवापि कामात् । यद् व्यादिशेत् कार्यमवेक्ष्य धर्मं कस्तं न कुर्यादनृशंसवृत्तिः ॥ 21.59 ॥

guruśca rājā ca pitā ca vṛddhaḥ krodhāt praharṣādathavāpi kāmāt | yad vyādiśet kāryamavekṣya dharmaṃ kastaṃ na kuryādanṛśaṃsavṛttiḥ

"When a guru, a king, or an aged father commands some act — whether out of anger, or excessive joy, or even desire — who, mindful of righteousness, would fail to carry it out, unless he were cruel by nature?"

Shloka 60 (ayodhya.21.60)

न तेन शक्नोमि पितुः प्रतिज्ञा- मिमां न कर्तुं सकलां यथावत् । स ह्यावयोस्तात गुरुर्नियोगे देव्याश्च भर्ता स गतिश्च धर्मः ॥ 21.60 ॥

na tena śaknomi pituḥ pratijñā- mimāṃ na kartuṃ sakalāṃ yathāvat | sa hyāvayostāta gururniyoge devyāśca bhartā sa gatiśca dharmaḥ

"So I cannot help but fulfill this promise of my father completely, just as it stands; dear one, he alone is the guru who commands us both, and to our mother he is husband, refuge, and dharma incarnate."

Shloka 61 (ayodhya.21.61)

तस्मिन् पुनर्जीवति धर्मराजे विशेषतः स्वे पथि वर्तमाने । देवी मया सार्धमितोऽभिगच्छेत् कथंस्विदन्या विधवेव नारी ॥ 21.61 ॥

tasmin punarjīvati dharmarāje viśeṣataḥ sve pathi vartamāne | devī mayā sārdhamito'bhigacchet kathaṃsvidanyā vidhaveva nārī

"So long as that righteous king lives — and especially while he himself remains steadfast on his own path — how could our mother go away from here with me, as though she were some widowed woman?"

Shloka 62 (ayodhya.21.62)

सा मानुमन्यस्व वनं व्रजन्तं कुरुष्व नः स्वस्त्ययनानि देवि । यथा समाप्ते पुनराव्रजेयं यथा हि सत्येन पुनर्ययातिः ॥ 21.62 ॥

sā mānumanyasva vanaṃ vrajantaṃ kuruṣva naḥ svastyayanāni devi | yathā samāpte punarāvrajeyaṃ yathā hi satyena punaryayātiḥ

"So, O queen, grant me leave as I go to the forest; perform for us the rites of blessing, so that I may return once my term is complete, just as Yayati returned through the power of truth."

Shloka 63 (ayodhya.21.63)

यशो ह्यहं केवलराज्यकारणा- न्न पृष्ठतः कर्तुमलं महोदयम् । अदीर्घकालेन तु देवि जीविते वृणेऽवरामद्य महीमधर्मतः ॥ 21.63 ॥

yaśo hyahaṃ kevalarājyakāraṇā- nna pṛṣṭhataḥ kartumalaṃ mahodayam | adīrghakālena tu devi jīvite vṛṇe'varāmadya mahīmadharmataḥ

"For the sake of a mere kingdom, I cannot cast away my honor and my great renown; O queen, in this life that is not long, I do not, this day, desire this lesser earth gained through unrighteousness."

Shloka 64 (ayodhya.21.64)

प्रसादयन्नरवृषभः स मातरं पराक्रमाज्जिगमिषुरेव दण्डकान् । अथानुजं भृशमनुशास्य दर्शनं चकार तां हृदि जननीं प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ 21.64 ॥

prasādayannaravṛṣabhaḥ sa mātaraṃ parākramājjigamiṣureva daṇḍakān | athānujaṃ bhṛśamanuśāsya darśanaṃ cakāra tāṃ hṛdi jananīṃ pradakṣiṇam

Thus placating his mother, and resolved by his own valor to set out for the Dandaka forest, that best of men fully instructed his younger brother as well, and then, with his whole heart, walked around his mother in reverent circumambulation.