Rama Calms Lakshmana

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.97.1)

सुसंरब्धं तु सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं क्रोधमूर्च्छितम्। रामस्तु परिसान्त्व्याथ वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ 97.1 ॥

susaṃrabdhaṃ tu saumitriṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ krodhamūrcchitam| rāmastu parisāntvyātha vacanaṃ cedamabravīt

But Rama, pacifying Saumitri Lakshmana, who was furious and as though overwhelmed with rage, spoke these words.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.97.2)

किमत्र धनुषा कार्यमसिना वा सचर्मणा। महेष्वासे महाप्राज्ञे भरते स्वयमागते॥ 97.2 ॥

kimatra dhanuṣā kāryamasinā vā sacarmaṇā| maheṣvāse mahāprājñe bharate svayamāgate

"What use is there here for a bow, or for a sword with shield, when the great archer, the wise Bharata, has come here in person?"

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.97.3)

पितुः सत्यं प्रतिश्रुत्य हत्वा भरतमागतम्। किं करिष्यामि राज्येन सापवादेन लक्ष्मण॥ 97.3 ॥

pituḥ satyaṃ pratiśrutya hatvā bharatamāgatam| kiṃ kariṣyāmi rājyena sāpavādena lakṣmaṇa

"Having pledged truth to our father, if I were to kill Bharata who has come and take the kingdom, what use, Lakshmana, would I have for a kingdom bound up with such infamy?"

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.97.4)

यद्द्रव्यं बान्धवानां वा मित्राणां वा क्षये भवेत्। नाहं तत्प्रतिगृह्णीयां भक्षान् विषकृतानिव॥ 97.4 ॥

yaddravyaṃ bāndhavānāṃ vā mitrāṇāṃ vā kṣaye bhavet| nāhaṃ tatpratigṛhṇīyāṃ bhakṣān viṣakṛtāniva

"Whatever wealth comes at the cost of the destruction of kinsmen or friends, I would not accept it, any more than I would eat poisoned food."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.97.5)

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण। इच्छामि भवतामर्थे एतत्प्रतिश्रृणोमि ते॥ 97.5 ॥

dharmamarthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa| icchāmi bhavatāmarthe etatpratiśrṛṇomi te

"Dharma, artha, kama, and even this whole earth, Lakshmana, I desire only for your sake and our kinsmen's — this I promise you."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.97.6)

भ्रातॄणां सङ्ग्रहार्थं च सुखार्थं चापि लक्ष्मण। राज्यमप्यहमिच्छामि सत्येनायुधमालभे॥ 97.6 ॥

bhrātṝṇāṃ saṅgrahārthaṃ ca sukhārthaṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa| rājyamapyahamicchāmi satyenāyudhamālabhe

"For the sake of sustaining my brothers and for their happiness, Lakshmana, I do desire the kingdom too; I touch my weapon and swear this by truth."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.97.7)

नेयं मम मही सौम्य दुर्लभा सागराम्बरा। नहीच्छेयमधर्मेण शक्रत्वमपि लक्ष्मण॥ 97.7 ॥

neyaṃ mama mahī saumya durlabhā sāgarāmbarā| nahīccheyamadharmeṇa śakratvamapi lakṣmaṇa

"This ocean-girdled earth is not hard for me to win, gentle one; yet I would not desire even Indra's own lordship, Lakshmana, if it came through unrighteousness."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.97.8)

यद्विना भरतं त्वां च शत्रुघ्नं चापि मानद। भवेन्मम सुखं किञ्चिद्भस्म तत्कुरुतां शिखी॥ 97.8 ॥

yadvinā bharataṃ tvāṃ ca śatrughnaṃ cāpi mānada| bhavenmama sukhaṃ kiñcidbhasma tatkurutāṃ śikhī

"O bestower of honour, whatever little happiness might be mine without Bharata, without you, and without Shatrughna too — let fire burn it to ashes!"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.97.9)

मन्येऽहमागतोऽयोध्यां भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः। मम प्राणात्प्रियतरः कुलधर्ममनुस्मरन्॥ 97.9 ॥

manye'hamāgato'yodhyāṃ bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ| mama prāṇātpriyataraḥ kuladharmamanusmaran

"I believe that Bharata — devoted to his brothers, mindful of our family's dharma, dearer to me than my own life — has come here from Ayodhya."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.97.10)

श्रुत्वा प्रव्राजितं मां हि जटावल्कलधारिणम्। जानक्या सहितं वीर त्वया च पुरुषर्षभ॥ 97.10 ॥

śrutvā pravrājitaṃ māṃ hi jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam| jānakyā sahitaṃ vīra tvayā ca puruṣarṣabha

"Having heard that I have been exiled, wearing matted locks and bark-garments, together with Janaki and with you, O hero, best among men,"

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.97.11)

स्नेहेनाक्रान्तहृदयः शोकेनाकुलितेन्द्रियः। द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो ह्येष भरतो नान्यथा गतः॥ 97.11 ॥

snehenākrāntahṛdayaḥ śokenākulitendriyaḥ| draṣṭumabhyāgato hyeṣa bharato nānyathā gataḥ

"his heart overwhelmed with affection, his senses distraught with grief, this Bharata has surely come here to see us, for no other reason."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.97.12)

अम्बां च कैकयीं रुष्य परुषं चाप्रियं वदन्। प्रसाद्य पितरं श्रीमान् राज्यं मे दातुमागतः॥ 97.12 ॥

ambāṃ ca kaikayīṃ ruṣya paruṣaṃ cāpriyaṃ vadan| prasādya pitaraṃ śrīmān rājyaṃ me dātumāgataḥ

"Having grown angry with mother Kaikeyi, speaking harsh and unpleasant words to her, and having appeased our father, that glorious one has come to give the kingdom to me."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.97.13)

प्राप्तकालं यदेषोऽस्मान् भरतो द्रष्टुमिच्छति। अस्मासु मनसाप्येष नाप्रियं किञ्चिदाचरेत्॥ 97.13 ॥

prāptakālaṃ yadeṣo'smān bharato draṣṭumicchati| asmāsu manasāpyeṣa nāpriyaṃ kiñcidācaret

"It is only fitting that Bharata now wishes to see us; not even in his mind would he do anything unpleasant toward us."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.97.14)

विप्रियं कृतपूर्वं ते भरतेन कदा नु किम्। ईदृशं वा भयं तेऽद्य भरतं योऽत्र शङ्कसे॥ 97.14 ॥

vipriyaṃ kṛtapūrvaṃ te bharatena kadā nu kim| īdṛśaṃ vā bhayaṃ te'dya bharataṃ yo'tra śaṅkase

"When has Bharata ever done anything unpleasant to you before? Why then do you now feel such fear and suspicion about him?"

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.97.15)

नहि ते निष्ठुरं वाच्यो भरतो नाप्रियं वचः। अहं ह्यप्रियमुक्तः स्यां भरतस्याप्रिये कृते॥ 97.15 ॥

nahi te niṣṭhuraṃ vācyo bharato nāpriyaṃ vacaḥ| ahaṃ hyapriyamuktaḥ syāṃ bharatasyāpriye kṛte

"You must not speak harsh or unpleasant words to Bharata; for if anything unpleasant were done to Bharata, I myself would be held to have spoken it."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.97.16)

कथं नु पुत्राः पितरं हन्युः कस्याञ्चिदापदि। भ्राता वा भ्रातरं हन्यात् सौमित्रे प्राणमात्मनः॥ 97.16 ॥

kathaṃ nu putrāḥ pitaraṃ hanyuḥ kasyāñcidāpadi| bhrātā vā bhrātaraṃ hanyāt saumitre prāṇamātmanaḥ

"How, Saumitri, could sons ever slay their father in any calamity, or a brother kill a brother who is as dear as his own life?"

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.97.17)

यदि राज्यस्य हेतोस्त्वमिमां वाचं प्रभाषसे। वक्ष्यामि भरतं दृष्ट्वा राज्यमस्मै प्रदीयताम्॥ 97.17 ॥

yadi rājyasya hetostvamimāṃ vācaṃ prabhāṣase| vakṣyāmi bharataṃ dṛṣṭvā rājyamasmai pradīyatām

"If it is for the sake of the kingdom that you speak so, then, on seeing Bharata, I myself shall say: let the kingdom be given to him."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.97.18)

उच्यमानोऽपि भरतो मया लक्ष्मण तत्त्वतः। राज्यमस्मै प्रयच्छेति बाढमित्येव वक्ष्यति॥ 97.18 ॥

ucyamāno'pi bharato mayā lakṣmaṇa tattvataḥ| rājyamasmai prayaccheti bāḍhamityeva vakṣyati

"In truth, Lakshmana, even if I said this to him, Bharata would only reply, 'so be it, let the kingdom be given to him' — he would readily agree."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.97.19)

तथोक्तो धर्मशीलेन भ्रात्रा तस्य हिते रतः। लक्ष्मणः प्रविवेशेव स्वानि गात्राणि लज्जया॥ 97.19 ॥

tathokto dharmaśīlena bhrātrā tasya hite rataḥ| lakṣmaṇaḥ praviveśeva svāni gātrāṇi lajjayā

Thus addressed by his righteous brother who was devoted to his good, Lakshmana, from shame, seemed to shrink into his own limbs.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.97.20)

तद्वाक्यं लक्ष्मणः श्रुत्वा व्रीडितः प्रत्युवाच ह। त्वां मन्ये द्रष्टुमायातः पिता दशरथः स्वयम्॥ 97.20 ॥

tadvākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaḥ śrutvā vrīḍitaḥ pratyuvāca ha| tvāṃ manye draṣṭumāyātaḥ pitā daśarathaḥ svayam

Hearing those words, the embarrassed Lakshmana replied: "I think it is our father Dasharatha himself who has come to see you."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.97.21)

व्रीडितं लक्ष्मणं दृष्ट्वा राघवः प्रत्युवाच ह। एष मन्ये महाबाहुरिहास्मान् द्रष्टुमागतः॥ 97.21 ॥

vrīḍitaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ pratyuvāca ha| eṣa manye mahābāhurihāsmān draṣṭumāgataḥ

Seeing the embarrassed Lakshmana, Raghava replied: "I think it is this mighty-armed one who has come here to see us."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.97.22)

अथवा नौ ध्रुवं मन्ये मन्यमानः सुखोचितौ। वनवासमनुध्याय गृहाय प्रतिनेष्यति॥ 97.22 ॥

athavā nau dhruvaṃ manye manyamānaḥ sukhocitau| vanavāsamanudhyāya gṛhāya pratineṣyati

"Or rather, I am certain that, judging us both fit for comfort and reflecting on our forest life, he will lead us back home."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.97.23)

इमां वाप्येष वैदेहीमत्यन्तसुखसेविनीम्। पिता मे राघवः श्रीमान् वनादादाय यास्यति॥ 97.23 ॥

imāṃ vāpyeṣa vaidehīmatyantasukhasevinīm| pitā me rāghavaḥ śrīmān vanādādāya yāsyati

"And this Vaidehi too, so accustomed to every comfort, my glorious father will take away from the forest with him."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.97.24)

एतौ तौ सम्प्रकाशेते गोत्रवन्तौ मनोरमौ। वायुवेगसमौ वीर जवनौ तुरगोत्तमौ॥ 97.24 ॥

etau tau samprakāśete gotravantau manoramau| vāyuvegasamau vīra javanau turagottamau

"See there, O hero, those two noble and lovely horses, swift as the wind, the finest of steeds, shining forth."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.97.25)

स एष सुमहाकायः कम्पते वाहिनीमुखे। नागः शत्रुञ्जयो नाम वृद्धस्तातस्य धीमतः॥ 97.25 ॥

sa eṣa sumahākāyaḥ kampate vāhinīmukhe| nāgaḥ śatruñjayo nāma vṛddhastātasya dhīmataḥ

"That huge-bodied elephant moving at the head of the army is 'Shatrunjaya', the aged elephant belonging to our wise father."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.97.26)

न तु पश्यामि तच्छत्रं पाण्डरं लोकसत्कृतम्। पितुर्दिव्यं महाबाहो संशयो भवतीह मे॥ 97.26 ॥

na tu paśyāmi tacchatraṃ pāṇḍaraṃ lokasatkṛtam| piturdivyaṃ mahābāho saṃśayo bhavatīha me

"But, O mighty-armed one, I do not see here our father's white umbrella, honoured by the world; about this I feel some doubt."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.97.27)

वृक्षाग्रादवरोह त्वं कुरु लक्ष्मण मद्वचः। इतीव रामो धर्मात्मा सौमित्रिं तमुवाच ह॥ 97.27 ॥

vṛkṣāgrādavaroha tvaṃ kuru lakṣmaṇa madvacaḥ| itīva rāmo dharmātmā saumitriṃ tamuvāca ha

"Come down from the top of the tree, Lakshmana, and do as I say" — thus spoke the righteous Rama to Saumitri.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.97.28)

अवतीर्य्य तु सालाग्रात्तस्मात्स समितिञ्जयः। लक्ष्मणः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः॥ 97.28 ॥

avatīryya tu sālāgrāttasmātsa samitiñjayaḥ| lakṣmaṇaḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā tasthau rāmasya pārśvataḥ

Then, victorious in battle, Lakshmana descended from the top of that Sala tree and stood beside Rama with joined palms.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.97.29)

भरतेनापि सन्दिष्टा सम्मर्दो न भवेदिति। समन्तात्तस्य शैलस्य सेना वासमकल्पयत्॥ 97.29 ॥

bharatenāpi sandiṣṭā sammardo na bhavediti| samantāttasya śailasya senā vāsamakalpayat

Since Bharata too had ordered that there be no crowding, the army made its encampment all around that mountain.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.97.30)

अध्यर्द्धमिक्ष्वाकुचमूर्योजनं पर्वतस्य सा। पार्श्वे न्यविशदावृत्य गजवाजिरथाकुला॥ 97.30 ॥

adhyarddhamikṣvākucamūryojanaṃ parvatasya sā| pārśve nyaviśadāvṛtya gajavājirathākulā

That army of the Ikshvakus, thronging with elephants, horses and chariots, spread out and encamped over a yojana and a half around the mountain.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.97.31)

सा चित्रकूटे भरतेन सेना धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य विधूय दर्प्पम्। प्रसादनार्थं रघुनन्दनस्य विराजते नीतिमता प्रणीता॥ 97.31 ॥

sā citrakūṭe bharatena senā dharmaṃ puraskṛtya vidhūya darppam| prasādanārthaṃ raghunandanasya virājate nītimatā praṇītā

So that army of Bharata's at Chitrakuta, holding dharma foremost and having laid aside all pride, led there by the wise and righteous prince for the sole purpose of winning the favour of Rama, delight of the Raghus, shone forth in splendour.