Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 23
Lakshmana's Valiant Resolve
Shloka 1 (ayodhya.23.1)
इति ब्रुवति रामे तु लक्ष्मणोऽवाक् शिरा इव । ध्यात्वा मध्यं जगामाशु सहसा दैन्यहर्षयोः ॥ 23.1 ॥
iti bruvati rāme tu lakṣmaṇo'vāk śirā iva | dhyātvā madhyaṃ jagāmāśu sahasā dainyaharṣayoḥ
As Rama spoke thus, Lakshmana, as though struck speechless, his head bowed in thought, suddenly passed at once into a state midway between dejection and exultation.
Shloka 2 (ayodhya.23.2)
तदा तु बद्ध्वा भ्रुकुटीं भ्रुवोर्मध्ये नरर्षभः । निशश्वास महासर्पो बिलस्थ इव रोषितः ॥ 23.2 ॥
tadā tu badadhvā bhrukuṭīṃ bhruvormadhye nararṣabhaḥ | niśaśvāsa mahāsarpo bilastha iva roṣitaḥ
Then that bull among men, knitting his brows together, breathed heavily, like an angry great serpent coiled within its hole.
Shloka 3 (ayodhya.23.3)
तस्य दुष्प्रतिवीक्ष्यं तद् भ्रुकुटीसहितं तदा । बभौ क्रुद्धस्य सिंहस्य मुखस्य सदृशं मुखम् ॥ 23.3 ॥
tasya duṣprativīkṣyaṃ tad bhrukuṭīsahitaṃ tadā | babhau kruddhasya siṃhasya mukhasya sadṛśaṃ mukham
His face, its brows contracted, terrible now to behold, shone then like the face of an enraged lion.
Shloka 4 (ayodhya.23.4)
अग्रहस्तं विधुन्वंस्तु हस्ती हस्तमिवात्मनः । तिर्यगूर्ध्वं शरीरे च पातयित्वा शिरोधराम् ॥ 23.4 ॥
agrahastaṃ vidhunvaṃstu hastī hastamivātmanaḥ | tiryagūrdhvaṃ śarīre ca pātayitvā śirodharām
Shaking his open hand as an elephant shakes its trunk, and letting his head fall now aslant, now upright upon his body,
Shloka 5 (ayodhya.23.5)
अग्राक्ष्णा वीक्षमाणस्तु तिर्यग्भ्रातरमब्रवीत् । अस्थाने सम्भ्रमो यस्य जातो वै सुमहानयम् ॥ 23.5 ॥
agrākṣṇā vīkṣamāṇastu tiryagbhrātaramabravīt | asthāne sambhramo yasya jāto vai sumahānayam
— glancing sideways at his brother from the corner of his eye, he said: 'This great agitation of yours, born in you at so untimely a moment —
Shloka 6 (ayodhya.23.6)
धर्मदोषप्रसङ्गेन लोकस्यानतिशङ्कया । कथं ह्येतदसम्भ्रान्तस्त्वद्विधो वक्तुमर्हति ॥ 23.6 ॥
dharmadoṣaprasaṅgena lokasyānatiśaṅkayā | kathaṃ hyetadasambhrāntastvadvidho vaktumarhati
— arising from your entanglement in the flaw you take for righteousness, and from your want of suspicion of the world — how can one such as you, unshaken as you claim to be, say such a thing?
Shloka 7 (ayodhya.23.7)
यथा ह्येवमशौण्डीरं शौण्डीरः क्षत्रियर्षभः । किं नाम कृपणं दैवमशक्तमभिशंससि ॥ 23.7 ॥
yathā hyevamaśauṇḍīraṃ śauṇḍīraḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ | kiṃ nāma kṛpaṇaṃ daivamaśaktamabhiśaṃsasi
"How is it that you, a bull among Kshatriyas, ever so bold, speak now in this unheroic way — why do you lay the blame on some feeble, powerless fate?
Shloka 8 (ayodhya.23.8)
पापयोस्ते कथं नाम तयोः शङ्का न विद्यते । सन्ति धर्मोपधासक्ता धर्मात्मन् किं न बुध्यसे ॥ 23.8 ॥
pāpayoste kathaṃ nāma tayoḥ śaṅkā na vidyate | santi dharmopadhāsaktā dharmātman kiṃ na budhyase
"Why is it that you feel no suspicion at all toward those two sinners? They are given to deceit under the guise of righteousness — O righteous soul, why do you not perceive it?"
Shloka 9 (ayodhya.23.9)
तयोः सुचरितं स्वार्थं शाठ्यात् परिजिहीर्षतोः । यदि नैवं व्यवसितं स्याद्धि प्रागेव राघव । तयोः प्रागेव दत्तश्च स्याद् वरः प्रकृतश्च सः ॥ 23.9 ॥
tayoḥ sucaritaṃ svārthaṃ śāṭhyāt parijihīrṣatoḥ | yadi naivaṃ vyavasitaṃ syāddhi prāgeva rāghava | tayoḥ prāgeva dattaśca syād varaḥ prakṛtaśca saḥ
"Those two, wishing through deceit to strip away your good name for their own gain — had this not been resolved upon long beforehand, O Raghava, then the boon itself would surely have been given and made use of long before now."
Shloka 10 (ayodhya.23.10)
लोकविद्विष्टमारब्धं त्वदन्यस्याभिषेचनम् । नोत्सहे सहितुं वीर तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥ 23.10 ॥
lokavidviṣṭamārabdhaṃ tvadanyasyābhiṣecanam | notsahe sahituṃ vīra tatra me kṣantumarhasi
"This coronation of someone other than you, which has been undertaken against the wish of the people — O hero, I cannot bear it; you must forgive me in this."
Shloka 11 (ayodhya.23.11)
येनैवमागता द्वैधं तव बुद्धिर्महामते । सोऽपि धर्मो मम द्वेष्यो यत्प्रसङ्गाद् विमुह्यसि ॥ 23.11 ॥
yenaivamāgatā dvaidhaṃ tava buddhirmahāmate | so'pi dharmo mama dveṣyo yatprasaṅgād vimuhyasi
"O great-minded one, that very righteousness by which your judgment has been thus divided, and by attachment to which you are so bewildered — even that righteousness is hateful to me."
Shloka 12 (ayodhya.23.12)
कथं त्वं कर्मणा शक्तः कैकेयीवशवर्तिनः । करिष्यसि पितुर्वाक्यमधर्मिष्ठं विगर्हितम् ॥ 23.12 ॥
kathaṃ tvaṃ karmaṇā śaktaḥ kaikeyīvaśavartinaḥ | kariṣyasi piturvākyamadharmiṣṭhaṃ vigarhitam
"How, capable as you are of action, will you carry out this reprehensible and unrighteous command of a father who has fallen under Kaikeyi's sway?"
Shloka 13 (ayodhya.23.13)
यदयं किल्बिषाद् भेदः कृतोऽप्येवं न गृह्यते । जायते तत्र मे दुःखं धर्मसङ्गश्च गर्हितः ॥ 23.13 ॥
yadayaṃ kilbiṣād bhedaḥ kṛto'pyevaṃ na gṛhyate | jāyate tatra me duḥkhaṃ dharmasaṅgaśca garhitaḥ
"That this division, wrought out of wrongdoing, still goes unrecognized by you as such — this causes me sorrow, and this clinging of yours to so blameworthy a 'righteousness.'"
Shloka 14 (ayodhya.23.14)
तवायं धर्मसंयोगो लोकस्यास्य विगर्हितः । मनसापि कथं कामं कुर्यात् त्वां कामवृत्तयोः । तयोस्त्वहितयोर्नित्यं शत्र्वोः पित्रभिधानयोः ॥ 23.14 ॥
tavāyaṃ dharmasaṃyogo lokasyāsya vigarhitaḥ | manasāpi kathaṃ kāmaṃ kuryāt tvāṃ kāmavṛttayoḥ | tayostvahitayornityaṃ śatrvoḥ pitrabhidhānayoḥ
"This clinging of yours to righteousness is condemned by the whole world here. How could you even in thought wish to fulfil the desire of those two, who act only from self-will — those two who are, in truth, your ever-hostile enemies, though called by the names of father and mother?"
Shloka 15 (ayodhya.23.15)
यद्यपि प्रतिपत्तिस्ते दैवी चापि तयोर्मतम् । तथाप्युपेक्षणीयं ते न मे तदपि रोचते ॥ 23.15 ॥
yadyapi pratipattiste daivī cāpi tayormatam | tathāpyupekṣaṇīyaṃ te na me tadapi rocate
"Even if it be your conviction that their intention too is divinely ordained, still I do not think it right that you should let this pass unheeded."
Shloka 16 (ayodhya.23.16)
विक्लवो वीर्यहीनो यः स दैवमनुवर्तते । वीराः सम्भावितात्मानो न दैवं पर्युपासते ॥ 23.16 ॥
viklavo vīryahīno yaḥ sa daivamanuvartate | vīrāḥ sambhāvitātmāno na daivaṃ paryupāsate
"It is only the faint-hearted, the one devoid of strength, who bows to fate; heroes of true self-worth do not wait upon fate."
Shloka 17 (ayodhya.23.17)
दैवं पुरुषकारेण यः समर्थः प्रबाधितुम् । न दैवेन विपन्नार्थः पुरुषः सोऽवसीदति ॥ 23.17 ॥
daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa yaḥ samarthaḥ prabādhitum | na daivena vipannārthaḥ puruṣaḥ so'vasīdati
"A man who is able to overcome fate through human effort does not sink into despair, even when his purpose seems undone by fate."
Shloka 18 (ayodhya.23.18)
द्रक्ष्यन्ति त्वद्य दैवस्य पौरुषं पुरुषस्य च । दैवमानुषयोरद्य व्यक्ता व्यक्तिर्भविष्यति ॥ 23.18 ॥
drakṣyanti tvadya daivasya pauruṣaṃ puruṣasya ca | daivamānuṣayoradya vyaktā vyaktirbhaviṣyati
"Today all shall witness the strength of fate and the strength of man; today the difference between the divine and the human shall become plainly manifest."
Shloka 19 (ayodhya.23.19)
अद्य मे पौरुषहतं दैवं द्रक्ष्यन्ति वै जनाः । यैर्दैवादाहतं तेऽद्य दृष्टं राज्याभिषेचनम् ॥ 23.19 ॥
adya me pauruṣahataṃ daivaṃ drakṣyanti vai janāḥ | yairdaivādāhataṃ te'dya dṛṣṭaṃ rājyābhiṣecanam
"This day, people shall see fate itself struck down by my valor — those very people who have seen your coronation struck down, as they think, by fate."
Shloka 20 (ayodhya.23.20)
अत्यङ्कुशमिवोद्दामं गजं मदजलोद्धतम् । प्रधावितमहं दैवं पौरुषेण निवर्तये ॥ 23.20 ॥
atyaṅkuśamivoddāmaṃ gajaṃ madajaloddhatam | pradhāvitamahaṃ daivaṃ pauruṣeṇa nivartaye
"As one turns back with force a wild elephant, maddened by its temporal fluid, running heedless of the goad, so shall I, by my own valor, turn back this rushing fate."
Shloka 21 (ayodhya.23.21)
लोकपालाः समस्तास्ते नाद्य रामाभिषेचनम् । न च कृत्स्नास्त्रयो लोका विहन्युः किं पुनः पिता ॥ 23.21 ॥
lokapālāḥ samastāste nādya rāmābhiṣecanam | na ca kṛtsnāstrayo lokā vihanyuḥ kiṃ punaḥ pitā
"Not even all the guardians of the world together could today prevent Rama's coronation, nor could the three worlds combined — how much less, then, our father?"
Shloka 22 (ayodhya.23.22)
यैर्विवासस्तवारण्ये मिथो राजन् समर्थितः । अरण्ये ते विवत्स्यन्ति चतुर्दश समास्तथा ॥ 23.22 ॥
yairvivāsastavāraṇye mitho rājan samarthitaḥ | araṇye te vivatsyanti caturdaśa samāstathā
"O king, those who among themselves have contrived your exile to the forest shall themselves dwell in the forest for those same fourteen years."
Shloka 23 (ayodhya.23.23)
अहं तदाशां धक्ष्यामि पितुस्तस्याश्च या तव । अभिषेकविघातेन पुत्रराज्याय वर्तते ॥ 23.23 ॥
ahaṃ tadāśāṃ dhakṣyāmi pitustasyāśca yā tava | abhiṣekavighātena putrarājyāya vartate
"I shall burn to ashes that very hope of father and of her, which now works, through the obstruction of your coronation, toward the kingdom for her son."
Shloka 24 (ayodhya.23.24)
मद्बलेन विरुद्धाय न स्याद् दैवबलं तथा । प्रभविष्यति दुःखाय यथोग्रं पौरुषं मम ॥ 23.24 ॥
madabalena viruddhāya na syād daivabalaṃ tathā | prabhaviṣyati duḥkhāya yathograṃ pauruṣaṃ mama
"The strength of fate, set against my strength, will never have the power to cause as much suffering as my own fierce valor will."
Shloka 25 (ayodhya.23.25)
ऊर्ध्वं वर्षसहस्रान्ते प्रजापाल्यमनन्तरम् । आर्यपुत्राः करिष्यन्ति वनवासं गते त्वयि ॥ 23.25 ॥
ūrdhvaṃ varṣasahasrānte prajāpālyamanantaram | āryaputrāḥ kariṣyanti vanavāsaṃ gate tvayi
"After you have ruled the people for a thousand years to come, when at last you go to the forest, your noble sons shall then take up the governance of the people."
Shloka 26 (ayodhya.23.26)
पूर्वराजर्षिवृत्त्या हि वनवासोऽभिधीयते । प्रजा निक्षिप्य पुत्रेषु पुत्रवत् परिपालने ॥ 23.26 ॥
pūrvarājarṣivṛttyā hi vanavāso'bhidhīyate | prajā nikṣipya putreṣu putravat paripālane
"For it is said to be the ancient custom of royal sages that they go to dwell in the forest only after entrusting the people, to be cherished like children, into the care of their own sons."
Shloka 27 (ayodhya.23.27)
स चेद् राजन्यनेकाग्रे राज्यविभ्रमशङ्कया । नैवमिच्छसि धर्मात्मन् राज्यं राम त्वमात्मनि ॥ 23.27 ॥
sa ced rājanyanekāgre rājyavibhramaśaṅkayā | naivamicchasi dharmātman rājyaṃ rāma tvamātmani
"But if, O righteous king, fearing that the kingdom might fall into disorder under an unsteady ruler, you, Rama, do not wish the kingdom for yourself in this way,
Shloka 28 (ayodhya.23.28)
प्रतिजाने च ते वीर मा भूवं वीरलोकभाक् । राज्यं च तव रक्षेयमहं वेलेव सागरम् ॥ 23.28 ॥
pratijāne ca te vīra mā bhūvaṃ vīralokabhāk | rājyaṃ ca tava rakṣeyamahaṃ veleva sāgaram
— then I make you this vow, O hero: may I be denied the world reserved for heroes, if I do not guard your kingdom, as the shore holds back the sea."
Shloka 29 (ayodhya.23.29)
मङ्गलैरभिषिञ्चस्व तत्र त्वं व्यापृतो भव । अहमेको महीपालानलं वारयितुं बलात् ॥ 23.29 ॥
maṅgalairabhiṣiñcasva tatra tvaṃ vyāpṛto bhava | ahameko mahīpālānalaṃ vārayituṃ balāt
"You need only occupy yourself with being consecrated amid the auspicious rites; I alone am equal to holding back, by force, all the rulers of the earth."
Shloka 30 (ayodhya.23.30)
न शोभार्थाविमौ बाहू न धनुर्भूषणाय मे । नासिराबन्धनार्थाय न शराः स्तम्भहेतवः ॥ 23.30 ॥
na śobhārthāvimau bāhū na dhanurbhūṣaṇāya me | nāsirābandhanārthāya na śarāḥ stambhahetavaḥ
"These two arms of mine are not meant merely for adornment; my bow is not for decoration; my sword is not for hanging idly at my waist; my arrows are not made to lie inert."
Shloka 31 (ayodhya.23.31)
अमित्रमथनार्थाय सर्वमेतच्चतुष्टयम् । न चाहं कामयेऽत्यर्थं यः स्याच्छत्रुर्मतो मम ॥ 23.31 ॥
amitramathanārthāya sarvametaccatuṣṭayam | na cāhaṃ kāmaye'tyarthaṃ yaḥ syācchatrurmato mama
"All these four are meant for the crushing of enemies; and I would not spare, in the least, anyone whom I consider my foe."
Shloka 32 (ayodhya.23.32)
असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण विद्युच्चलितवर्चसा । प्रगृहीतेन वै शत्रुं वज्रिणं वा न कल्पये ॥ 23.32 ॥
asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa vidyuccalitavarcasā | pragṛhītena vai śatruṃ vajriṇaṃ vā na kalpaye
"With this keen-edged sword in hand, flashing like lightning in motion, I would not think even the wielder of the thunderbolt himself a match for me as an enemy."
Shloka 33 (ayodhya.23.33)
खड्गनिष्पेषनिष्पिष्टैर्गहना दुश्चरा च मे । हस्त्यश्वरथिहस्तोरुशिरोभिर्भविता मही ॥ 23.33 ॥
khaḍganiṣpeṣaniṣpiṣṭairgahanā duścarā ca me | hastyaśvarathihastoruśirobhirbhavitā mahī
"This earth of mine shall become dense and impassable, strewn with the crushed heads, hands, and thighs of elephants, horses, and their riders, ground down beneath the grinding of my sword."
Shloka 34 (ayodhya.23.34)
खड्गधाराहता मेऽद्य दीप्यमाना इवाग्नयः । पतिष्यन्ति द्विषो भूमौ मेघा इव सविद्युतः ॥ 23.34 ॥
khaḍgadhārāhatā me'dya dīpyamānā ivāgnayaḥ | patiṣyanti dviṣo bhūmau meghā iva savidyutaḥ
"This day, struck by the edge of my sword, my enemies shall fall to the earth, blazing like flames, like storm-clouds shot through with lightning."
Shloka 35 (ayodhya.23.35)
बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणे प्रगृहीतशरासने । कथं पुरुषमानी स्यात् पुरुषाणां मयि स्थिते ॥ 23.35 ॥
baddhagodhāṅgulitrāṇe pragṛhītaśarāsane | kathaṃ puruṣamānī syāt puruṣāṇāṃ mayi sthite
"With my finger-guard of iguana-hide bound fast and my bow taken up in hand, how could any man, so long as I stand here, still think himself a hero among men?"
Shloka 36 (ayodhya.23.36)
बहुभिश्चैकमत्यस्यन्नेकेन च बहूञ्जनान् । विनियोक्ष्याम्यहं बाणान्नृवाजिगजमर्मसु ॥ 23.36 ॥
bahubhiścaikamatyasyannekena ca bahūñjanān | viniyokṣyāmyahaṃ bāṇānnṛvājigajamarmasu
"Striking down one man with many arrows, and many men with a single arrow, I shall lodge my shafts in the vital points of men, horses, and elephants."
Shloka 37 (ayodhya.23.37)
अद्य मेऽस्त्रप्रभावस्य प्रभावः प्रभविष्यति । राज्ञश्चाप्रभुतां कर्तुं प्रभुत्वं च तव प्रभो ॥ 23.37 ॥
adya me'straprabhāvasya prabhāvaḥ prabhaviṣyati | rājñaścāprabhutāṃ kartuṃ prabhutvaṃ ca tava prabho
"This day, O lord, the power of my weapons' power shall come into effect — to strip our father of his sovereignty and to establish sovereignty in you."
Shloka 38 (ayodhya.23.38)
अद्य चन्दनसारस्य केयूरामोक्षणस्य च । वसूनां च विमोक्षस्य सुहृदां पालनस्य च ॥ 23.38 ॥
adya candanasārasya keyūrāmokṣaṇasya ca | vasūnāṃ ca vimokṣasya suhṛdāṃ pālanasya ca
"This day, for the giving out of the essence of sandalwood, for the bestowing of armlets, for the giving away of wealth, and for the protection of friends —
Shloka 39 (ayodhya.23.39)
अनुरूपाविमौ बाहू राम कर्म करिष्यतः । अभिषेचनविघ्नस्य कर्तॄणां ते निवारणे ॥ 23.39 ॥
anurūpāvimau bāhū rāma karma kariṣyataḥ | abhiṣecanavighnasya kartṝṇāṃ te nivāraṇe
— these two arms of mine, Rama, shall now do a fitting deed: they shall check and turn back all those who have caused this obstruction to your coronation."
Shloka 40 (ayodhya.23.40)
ब्रवीहि कोऽद्यैव मया वियुज्यतां तवासुहृत् प्राणयशःसुहृज्जनैः । यथा तवेयं वसुधा वशा भवेत् तथैव मां शाधि तवास्मि किंकरः ॥ 23.40 ॥
bravīhi ko'dyaiva mayā viyujyatāṃ tavāsuhṛt prāṇayaśaḥsuhṛjjanaiḥ | yathā taveyaṃ vasudhā vaśā bhavet tathaiva māṃ śādhi tavāsmi kiṃkaraḥ
"Tell me — who, this very day, shall be parted by my hand from his life, his honor, and his friends, being no true well-wisher of yours? Only command me so that this earth may become subject to you; I am your servant."
Shloka 41 (ayodhya.23.41)
विमृज्य बाष्पं परिसान्त्व्य चासकृत् स लक्ष्मणं राघववंशवर्धनः । उवाच पित्रोर्वचने व्यवस्थितं निबोध मामेष हि सौम्य सत्पथः ॥ 23.41 ॥
vimṛjya bāṣpaṃ parisāntvya cāsakṛt sa lakṣmaṇaṃ rāghavavaṃśavardhanaḥ | uvāca pitrorvacane vyavasthitaṃ nibodha māmeṣa hi saumya satpathaḥ
Wiping away his brother's tears and comforting him again and again, that increaser of the Raghu line spoke to Lakshmana: "Know me as one firmly set upon obeying the word of my parents; gentle one, this indeed is the true and righteous path."