The Journey to the Ganga

Shloka 1 (uttara.46.1)

ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । सुमन्त्रमब्रवीद्वाक्यं मुखेन परिशुष्यता ।। 46.1 ।।

tato rajanyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ lakṣmaṇo dīnacetanaḥ | sumantramabravīdvākyaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā || 46.1 ||

Then, when the night had passed, Lakshmana, his heart wretched with grief, spoke this word to Sumantra, his face parched dry.

Shloka 2 (uttara.46.2)

सारथे तुरगाञ्छीघ्रं योजयस्व रथोत्तमे । स्वास्तीर्णं राजभवनात्सीतायाश्चासनं कुरु ।। 46.2 ।।

sārathe turagāñchīghraṃ yojayasva rathottame | svāstīrṇaṃ rājabhavanātsītāyāścāsanaṃ kuru || 46.2 ||

"O charioteer, quickly yoke the horses to the finest chariot, and bring from the palace a well-spread seat for Sita."

Shloka 3 (uttara.46.3)

सीता हि राजवचनादाश्रमं पुण्यकर्मणाम् । मया नेया महर्षीणां शीघ्रमानीयतां रथः ।। 46.3 ।।

sītā hi rājavacanādāśramaṃ puṇyakarmaṇām | mayā neyā maharṣīṇāṃ śīghramānīyatāṃ rathaḥ || 46.3 ||

"For, by the king's command, Sita must be led by me to the ashram of the great sages of pure deeds. Let the chariot be brought at once."

Shloka 4 (uttara.46.4)

सुमन्त्रस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा युक्तं परमवाजिभिः । रथं सुरुचिरप्रख्यं स्वास्तीर्णं सुखशय्यया ।। 46.4 ।।

sumantrastu tathetyuktvā yuktaṃ paramavājibhiḥ | rathaṃ suruciraprakhyaṃ svāstīrṇaṃ sukhaśayyayā || 46.4 ||

Sumantra, saying "So be it," brought that resplendent chariot, yoked with the finest steeds, spread with a comfortable, pleasant seat.

Shloka 5 (uttara.46.5)

आनीयोवाच सौमित्रिं मित्राणां मानवर्धनम् । रथो ऽयं समनुप्राप्तो यत्कार्यं क्रियतां प्रभो ।। 46.5 ।।

ānīyovāca saumitriṃ mitrāṇāṃ mānavardhanam | ratho 'yaṃ samanuprāpto yatkāryaṃ kriyatāṃ prabho || 46.5 ||

Bringing it, he said to Saumitri, who enhanced the honor of his friends, "My lord, this chariot has arrived; let whatever must be done now be done."

Shloka 6 (uttara.46.6)

एवमुक्तः सुमन्त्रेण राजवेश्मनि लक्ष्मणः । प्रविश्य सीतामासाद्य व्याजहार नरर्षभः ।। 46.6 ।।

evamuktaḥ sumantreṇa rājaveśmani lakṣmaṇaḥ | praviśya sītāmāsādya vyājahāra nararṣabhaḥ || 46.6 ||

Thus addressed by Sumantra, Lakshmana, that bull among men, entered the royal chambers, came before Sita, and spoke.

Shloka 7 (uttara.46.7)

त्वया किलैष नृपतिर्वरं वै याचितः प्रभुः । नृपेण च प्रतिज्ञातमाज्ञप्तश्चाश्रमं प्रति ।। 46.7 ।।

tvayā kilaiṣa nṛpatirvaraṃ vai yācitaḥ prabhuḥ | nṛpeṇa ca pratijñātamājñaptaścāśramaṃ prati || 46.7 ||

"It is you, indeed, who once asked this lord, the king, for a boon; and the king has granted it, and has commanded me concerning the ashram.

Shloka 8 (uttara.46.8)

गङ्गीतीरे मया देवि ऋषीणामाश्रमाञ्छुभान् । शीघ्रं गत्वा तु वैदेहि शासनात्पार्थिवस्य नः । अरण्ये मुनिभिर्जुष्टे अपनेया भविष्यसि ।। 46.8 ।।

gaṅgītīre mayā devi ṛṣīṇāmāśramāñchubhān | śīghraṃ gatvā tu vaidehi śāsanātpārthivasya naḥ | araṇye munibhirjuṣṭe apaneyā bhaviṣyasi || 46.8 ||

O queen, to the blessed ashrams of the sages on the bank of the Ganga — quickly, O Vaidehi, by the command of our king, you are to be taken, into that forest frequented by sages."

Shloka 9 (uttara.46.9)

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे गमनं चाप्यरोचयत् ।। 46.9 ।।

evamuktā tu vaidehī lakṣmaṇena mahātmanā | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe gamanaṃ cāpyarocayat || 46.9 ||

Thus addressed by the great-souled Lakshmana, Vaidehi felt incomparable joy, and gladly welcomed the journey.

Shloka 10 (uttara.46.10)

वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च । गृहीत्वा तानि वैदेही गमनायोपचक्रमे ।। 46.10 ।।

vāsāṃsi ca mahārhāṇi ratnāni vividhāni ca | gṛhītvā tāni vaidehī gamanāyopacakrame || 46.10 ||

Taking costly garments and jewels of many kinds, Vaidehi set about preparing for the journey.

Shloka 11 (uttara.46.11)

इमानि मुनिपत्नीनां दास्याम्याभरणान्यहम् । वस्त्राणि च महार्हाणि धनानि विविधानि च ।। 46.11 ।।

imāni munipatnīnāṃ dāsyāmyābharaṇānyaham | vastrāṇi ca mahārhāṇi dhanāni vividhāni ca || 46.11 ||

"These ornaments I shall give to the sages' wives, and costly garments too, and wealth of many kinds."

Shloka 12 (uttara.46.12)

सौमित्रिस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा रथमारोप्य मैथिलीम् । प्रययौ शीघ्रतुरगै रामस्याज्ञामनुस्मरन् ।। 46.12 ।।

saumitristu tathetyuktvā rathamāropya maithilīm | prayayau śīghraturagai rāmasyājñāmanusmaran || 46.12 ||

Saumitri, saying "So be it," set Maithili upon the chariot, and, remembering Rama's command, set out with swift horses.

Shloka 13 (uttara.46.13)

अब्रवीच्च तदा सीता लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मिवर्धनम् । अशुभानि बहून्येव पश्यामि रघुनन्दन ।। 46.13 ।।

abravīcca tadā sītā lakṣmaṇaṃ lakṣmivardhanam | aśubhāni bahūnyeva paśyāmi raghunandana || 46.13 ||

Then Sita said to Lakshmana, the enhancer of fortune, "O Raghunandana, I see many ill omens.

Shloka 14 (uttara.46.14)

नयनं मे स्फुरत्यद्य गात्रोत्कम्पश्च जायते । हृदयं चैव सौमित्रे अस्वस्थमिव लक्षये ।। 46.14 ।।

nayanaṃ me sphuratyadya gātrotkampaśca jāyate | hṛdayaṃ caiva saumitre asvasthamiva lakṣaye || 46.14 ||

My eye twitches today, and my body trembles; and my heart, O Saumitri, feels as if it were unwell.

Shloka 15 (uttara.46.15)

औत्सुक्यं परमं चापि अधृतिश्च परा मम । शून्यामेव च पश्यामि पृथिवीं पृथुलोचन ।। 46.15 ।।

autsukyaṃ paramaṃ cāpi adhṛtiśca parā mama | śūnyāmeva ca paśyāmi pṛthivīṃ pṛthulocana || 46.15 ||

There is a great restlessness in me, and utter unease; and, O wide-eyed one, the very earth appears empty to me.

Shloka 16 (uttara.46.16)

अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्तस्य भ्रातुस्ते भ्रातृवत्सल । श्वश्रूणां चैव मे वीर सर्वासामविशेषतः ।। 46.16 ।।

api svasti bhavettasya bhrātuste bhrātṛvatsala | śvaśrūṇāṃ caiva me vīra sarvāsāmaviśeṣataḥ || 46.16 ||

O you devoted to your brother, may it go well with that brother of yours; and, O hero, with all my mothers-in-law alike.

Shloka 17 (uttara.46.17)

पुरे जनपदे चैव कुशलं प्राणिनामपि । इत्यञ्जलिकृता सीता देवता अभ्ययाचत ।। 46.17 ।।

pure janapade caiva kuśalaṃ prāṇināmapi | ityañjalikṛtā sītā devatā abhyayācata || 46.17 ||

"And may the city and the country, and all living creatures, be well." Thus, with joined palms, Sita prayed to the gods.

Shloka 18 (uttara.46.18)

लक्ष्मणो ऽर्थं ततः श्रुत्वा शिरसा वन्द्य मैथिलीम् । शिवमित्यब्रवीद्धृष्टो हृदयेन विशुष्यता ।। 46.18 ।।

lakṣmaṇo 'rthaṃ tataḥ śrutvā śirasā vandya maithilīm | śivamityabravīddhṛṣṭo hṛdayena viśuṣyatā || 46.18 ||

Hearing this, Lakshmana bowed his head to Maithili and said, "May it be well" — outwardly glad, though his heart was withering within.

Shloka 19 (uttara.46.19)

ततो वासमुपागम्य गोमतीतीर आश्रमे । प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय सौमित्रिः सूतमब्रवीत् ।। 46.19 ।।

tato vāsamupāgamya gomatītīra āśrame | prabhāte punarutthāya saumitriḥ sūtamabravīt || 46.19 ||

Then, having stopped for the night at a hermitage on the bank of the Gomati, and rising again at dawn, Saumitri spoke to the charioteer.

Shloka 20 (uttara.46.20)

योजयस्व रथं शीघ्रमद्य भागीरथीजलम् । शिरसा धारयिष्यामि त्र्यम्बकः पर्वते यथा ।। 46.20 ।।

yojayasva rathaṃ śīghramadya bhāgīrathījalam | śirasā dhārayiṣyāmi tryambakaḥ parvate yathā || 46.20 ||

"Yoke the chariot quickly; today we reach the waters of the Bhagirathi. I shall bear it upon my head, as Tryambaka [Shiva] bore it upon the mountain."

Shloka 21 (uttara.46.21)

सो ऽश्वान् रज्वाथ चतुरो रथे युङ्क्त्वा मनोजवान् । आरोहस्वेति वैदेहीं सूतः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ।। 46.21 ।।

so 'śvān rajvātha caturo rathe yuṅktvā manojavān | ārohasveti vaidehīṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalirabravīt || 46.21 ||

Then he, having harnessed with the reins the four mind-swift horses to the chariot, the charioteer, with joined palms, said to Vaidehi, "Mount the chariot."

Shloka 22 (uttara.46.22)

सा तु सूतस्य वचनादारुरोह रथोत्तमम् । सीता सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सुमन्त्रेण च धीमता ।। 46.22 ।।

sā tu sūtasya vacanādāruroha rathottamam | sītā saumitriṇā sārdhaṃ sumantreṇa ca dhīmatā || 46.22 ||

At the charioteer's word, Sita mounted that excellent chariot, together with Saumitri and the wise Sumantra.

Shloka 23 (uttara.46.23)

आससाद विशालाक्षी गङ्गां पापविनाशिनीम् । अथार्धदिवसं गत्वा भागीरथ्या जलाशयम् ।। 46.23 ।।

āsasāda viśālākṣī gaṅgāṃ pāpavināśinīm | athārdhadivasaṃ gatvā bhāgīrathyā jalāśayam || 46.23 ||

The wide-eyed Sita came to the Ganga, destroyer of sin; then, having traveled half the day, they reached the waters of the Bhagirathi.

Shloka 24 (uttara.46.24)

निरीक्ष्य लक्ष्मणो दीनः प्ररुरोद महास्वनः ।। 46.24 ।।

nirīkṣya lakṣmaṇo dīnaḥ praruroda mahāsvanaḥ || 46.24 ||

Beholding it, the grief-stricken Lakshmana wept aloud, with a great sound.

Shloka 25 (uttara.46.25)

सीता तु परमायत्ता दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमातुरम् । उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञ किमिदं रुद्यते त्वया ।। 46.25 ।।

sītā tu paramāyattā dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇamāturam | uvāca vākyaṃ dharmajña kimidaṃ rudyate tvayā || 46.25 ||

But Sita, greatly troubled, seeing Lakshmana in such distress, spoke: "O knower of dharma, why do you weep like this?

Shloka 26 (uttara.46.26)

जाह्नवीतीरमासाद्य चिराभिलषितं मम । हर्षकाले किमर्थं मां विषादयसि लक्ष्मण ।। 46.26 ।।

jāhnavītīramāsādya cirābhilaṣitaṃ mama | harṣakāle kimarthaṃ māṃ viṣādayasi lakṣmaṇa || 46.26 ||

"Having reached the bank of the Jahnavi, so long desired by me — at this hour of joy, why, Lakshmana, do you cast me into sorrow?

Shloka 27 (uttara.46.27)

नित्यं त्वं रामपार्श्वेषु वर्तसे पुरुषर्षभ । कच्चिद्विनाकृतस्तेन द्विरात्रं शोकमागतः ।। 46.27 ।।

nityaṃ tvaṃ rāmapārśveṣu vartase puruṣarṣabha | kaccidvinākṛtastena dvirātraṃ śokamāgataḥ || 46.27 ||

You, O best of men, are always at Rama's side; is it, perhaps, that being parted from him these two nights, sorrow has come upon you?

Shloka 28 (uttara.46.28)

ममापि दयितो रामो जीवितादपि लक्ष्मण । न चाहमेवं शोचामि मैवं त्वं बालिशो भव ।। 46.28 ।।

mamāpi dayito rāmo jīvitādapi lakṣmaṇa | na cāhamevaṃ śocāmi maivaṃ tvaṃ bāliśo bhava || 46.28 ||

To me too, Lakshmana, Rama is dear, dearer than life itself; yet I do not grieve so — do not be so childish."

Shloka 29 (uttara.46.29)

तारयस्व च मां गङ्गां दर्शयस्व च तापसान् । ततो मुनिभ्यो दास्यामि वासांस्याभरणानि च ।। 46.29 ।।

tārayasva ca māṃ gaṅgāṃ darśayasva ca tāpasān | tato munibhyo dāsyāmi vāsāṃsyābharaṇāni ca || 46.29 ||

"Take me across the Ganga, and let me see the ascetics; then I shall give garments and ornaments to the sages.

Shloka 30 (uttara.46.30)

ततः कृत्वा महर्षीणां यथार्हमभिवादनम् । तत्र चैकां निशामुष्य यास्यामस्तां पुरीं पुनः ।। 46.30 ।।

tataḥ kṛtvā maharṣīṇāṃ yathārhamabhivādanam | tatra caikāṃ niśāmuṣya yāsyāmastāṃ purīṃ punaḥ || 46.30 ||

Then, having duly saluted the great sages, and spending a single night there, we shall return again to that city.

Shloka 31 (uttara.46.31)

ममापि पद्मपत्राक्षं सिंहोरस्कं कृशोदरम् । त्वरते हि मनो द्रष्टुं रामं रमयतां वरम् ।। 46.31 ।।

mamāpi padmapatrākṣaṃ siṃhoraskaṃ kṛśodaram | tvarate hi mano draṣṭuṃ rāmaṃ ramayatāṃ varam || 46.31 ||

For my own heart, too, hastens to see lotus-eyed, lion-chested, slender-waisted Rama, foremost of those who give joy."

Shloka 32 (uttara.46.32)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रमृज्य नयने शुभे । नाविकानाह्वयामास लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा ।। 46.32 ।।

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā pramṛjya nayane śubhe | nāvikānāhvayāmāsa lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā || 46.32 ||

Hearing her words, wiping his handsome eyes, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, called out to the boatmen.

Shloka 33 (uttara.46.33)

इयं च सज्जा नौश्चेति दाशाः प्राञ्जलयो ऽब्रुवन् ।। 46.33 ।।

iyaṃ ca sajjā nauśceti dāśāḥ prāñjalayo 'bruvan || 46.33 ||

"This boat here is ready," said the boatmen, palms joined in reverence.

Shloka 34 (uttara.46.34)

तितीर्षुर्लक्ष्मणो गङ्गां शुभां नावमुपारुहत् । गङ्गां सन्तारयामास लक्ष्मणस्तां समाहितः ।। 46.34 ।।

titīrṣurlakṣmaṇo gaṅgāṃ śubhāṃ nāvamupāruhat | gaṅgāṃ santārayāmāsa lakṣmaṇastāṃ samāhitaḥ || 46.34 ||

Desiring to cross, Lakshmana boarded the fair boat; and Lakshmana, with a composed heart, ferried her across the Ganga.