Sita's Farewell Message

Shloka 1 (uttara.48.1)

लक्ष्मणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दारुणं जनकात्मजा । परं विषादमागम्य वैदेही निपपात ह ।। 48.1 ।।

lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ śrutvā dāruṇaṃ janakātmajā | paraṃ viṣādamāgamya vaidehī nipapāta ha || 48.1 ||

Hearing Lakshmana's dreadful words, Vaidehi, the daughter of Janaka, sank into utter despair and fell to the ground.

Shloka 2 (uttara.48.2)

सा मुहूर्तमिवासञ्ज्ञा बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा । लक्ष्मणं दीनया वाचा उवाच जनकात्मजा ।। 48.2 ।।

sā muhūrtamivāsañjñā bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā | lakṣmaṇaṃ dīnayā vācā uvāca janakātmajā || 48.2 ||

For a moment she seemed to lose all consciousness, her eyes clouded with tears; then the daughter of Janaka spoke to Lakshmana in a wretched voice.

Shloka 3 (uttara.48.3)

मामिकेयं तनुर्नूनं सृष्टा दुःखाय लक्ष्मण । धात्रा यस्यास्तथा मे ऽद्य दुःखमूर्तिः प्रदृश्यते ।। 48.3 ।।

māmikeyaṃ tanurnūnaṃ sṛṣṭā duḥkhāya lakṣmaṇa | dhātrā yasyāstathā me 'dya duḥkhamūrtiḥ pradṛśyate || 48.3 ||

"Surely, Lakshmana, this body of mine was fashioned by the Creator for sorrow alone — for today it appears to me as grief itself, given form.

Shloka 4 (uttara.48.4)

किं नु पापं कृतं पूर्वं को वा दारैर्वियोजितः । या ऽहं शुद्धसमाचारा त्यक्ता नृपतिना सती ।। 48.4 ।।

kiṃ nu pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ pūrvaṃ ko vā dārairviyojitaḥ | yā 'haṃ śuddhasamācārā tyaktā nṛpatinā satī || 48.4 ||

"What sin did I commit before, or who else has ever been parted from his wife like this — that I, pure in conduct, faithful, should be cast off by the king?

Shloka 5 (uttara.48.5)

पुरा ऽहमाश्रमे वासं रामपादानुवर्तिनी । अनुरुध्यापि सौमित्रे दुःखे च परिवर्तिनी ।। 48.5 ।।

purā 'hamāśrame vāsaṃ rāmapādānuvartinī | anurudhyāpi saumitre duḥkhe ca parivartinī || 48.5 ||

"Even before this, Saumitri, dwelling in the forest hermitage, following Rama's footsteps, I endured, accepting, living amid hardship.

Shloka 6 (uttara.48.6)

सा कथं ह्याश्रमे सौम्य वत्स्यामि विजनीकृता । आख्यास्यामि च कस्याहं दुःखं दुःखपरायणा ।। 48.6 ।।

sā kathaṃ hyāśrame saumya vatsyāmi vijanīkṛtā | ākhyāsyāmi ca kasyāhaṃ duḥkhaṃ duḥkhaparāyaṇā || 48.6 ||

"How then, gentle one, shall I live in the hermitage, made solitary now? And to whom shall I, sunk in sorrow, tell my grief?

Shloka 7 (uttara.48.7)

किं नु वक्ष्यामि मुनिषु कर्म वा सत्कृतं च किम् । कस्मिंश्चित् कारणे त्यक्ता राघवेण महात्मना ।। 48.7 ।।

kiṃ nu vakṣyāmi muniṣu karma vā satkṛtaṃ ca kim | kasmiṃścit kāraṇe tyaktā rāghaveṇa mahātmanā || 48.7 ||

"What shall I say among the sages, what good deed of mine shall I claim, when I must say that the great-souled Raghava abandoned me for some cause I cannot even name?

Shloka 8 (uttara.48.8)

न खल्वद्यैव सौमित्रे जीवितं जाह्नवीजले । त्यजेयं राजवंशस्तु भर्तुर्मे परिहास्यते ।। 48.8 ।।

na khalvadyaiva saumitre jīvitaṃ jāhnavījale | tyajeyaṃ rājavaṃśastu bharturme parihāsyate || 48.8 ||

"Yet, Saumitri, I shall not, this very day, cast away my life in the waters of the Jahnavi; for were I to do so, my husband's royal line would become an object of mockery.

Shloka 9 (uttara.48.9)

यथाज्ञं कुरु सौमित्रे त्यज मां दुःखभागिनीम् । निदेशे स्थीयतां राज्ञः शृणु चेदं वचो मम ।। 48.9 ।।

yathājñaṃ kuru saumitre tyaja māṃ duḥkhabhāginīm | nideśe sthīyatāṃ rājñaḥ śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama || 48.9 ||

"Do, Saumitri, as you have been commanded; leave me here, sharer in sorrow that I am. Abide by the king's decree. But hear now this word of mine.

Shloka 10 (uttara.48.10)

श्वश्रूणामविशेषेण प्राञ्जलिप्रग्रहेण च । शिरसा वन्द्य चरणौ कुशलं ब्रूहि पार्थिवम् ।। 48.10 ।।

śvaśrūṇāmaviśeṣeṇa prāñjalipragraheṇa ca | śirasā vandya caraṇau kuśalaṃ brūhi pārthivam || 48.10 ||

"To all my mothers-in-law alike, with hands joined, bow your head to their feet in salutation; and ask the king if he is well.

Shloka 11 (uttara.48.11)

शिरसा ऽभिनतो ब्रूयाः सर्वासामेव लक्ष्मण । वक्तव्यश्चापि नृपतिर्धर्मेषु सुसमाहितः ।। 48.11 ।।

śirasā 'bhinato brūyāḥ sarvāsāmeva lakṣmaṇa | vaktavyaścāpi nṛpatirdharmeṣu susamāhitaḥ || 48.11 ||

"With bowed head, say this to them all, Lakshmana; and this too must be said to the king, ever steadfast in righteousness.

Shloka 12 (uttara.48.12)

जानासि च यथा शुद्धा सीता तत्त्वेन राघव । भक्त्या च परया युक्ता हिता च तव नित्यशः ।। 48.12 ।।

jānāsi ca yathā śuddhā sītā tattvena rāghava | bhaktyā ca parayā yuktā hitā ca tava nityaśaḥ || 48.12 ||

"'You know in truth, O Raghava, how pure Sita is — full of the deepest devotion, ever seeking your good.'

Shloka 13 (uttara.48.13)

अहं त्यक्ता त्वया वीर अयशोभीरुणा जने । यच्च ते वचनीयं स्यादपवादसमुत्थितम् । मया च परिहर्तव्यं त्वं हि मे परमा गतिः ।। 48.13 ।।

ahaṃ tyaktā tvayā vīra ayaśobhīruṇā jane | yacca te vacanīyaṃ syādapavādasamutthitam | mayā ca parihartavyaṃ tvaṃ hi me paramā gatiḥ || 48.13 ||

"'I have been cast off by you, O hero, in your fear of disgrace before the people; and whatever slander might have fallen upon you, that I must avert — for you alone are my supreme refuge.'

Shloka 14 (uttara.48.14)

वक्तव्यश्चेति नृपतिर्धर्मेण सुसमाहितः । यथा भ्रातृषु वर्तेथास्तथा पौरेषु नित्यदा ।। 48.14 ।।

vaktavyaśceti nṛpatirdharmeṇa susamāhitaḥ | yathā bhrātṛṣu vartethāstathā paureṣu nityadā || 48.14 ||

"And this too should be said to the king, ever devoted to righteousness: 'As you deal with your own brothers, so deal always with the citizens.'

Shloka 15 (uttara.48.15)

परमो ह्येष धर्मस्ते तस्मात्कीर्तिरनुत्तमा ।। 48.15 ।।

paramo hyeṣa dharmaste tasmātkīrtiranuttamā || 48.15 ||

"For this is your highest duty, and from it comes fame unsurpassed."

Shloka 16 (uttara.48.16)

यत्तु पौरजनो राजन्धर्मेण समवाप्नुयात् । अहं तु नानुशोचामि स्वशरीरं नरर्षभ ।। 48.16 ।।

yattu paurajano rājandharmeṇa samavāpnuyāt | ahaṃ tu nānuśocāmi svaśarīraṃ nararṣabha || 48.16 ||

"'Whatever, O king, the people may rightly claim by way of dharma, let it be granted. As for myself, O bull among men, I do not grieve for my own body.'

Shloka 17 (uttara.48.17)

यथापवादं पौराणां तथैव रघुनन्दन । पतिर्हि देवता नार्याः पतिर्बन्धुः पतिर्गुरुः ।। 48.17 ।।

yathāpavādaṃ paurāṇāṃ tathaiva raghunandana | patirhi devatā nāryāḥ patirbandhuḥ patirguruḥ || 48.17 ||

"'As you have acted in accordance with the citizens' talk, O Raghunandana, so let it be — for a husband alone is a woman's god, her kinsman, and her guide.'

Shloka 18 (uttara.48.18)

प्राणैरपि प्रियं तस्माद्भर्तुः कार्यं विशेषतः । इति मद्वचनाद्रामो वक्तव्यो मम सङ्ग्रहः । निरीक्ष्य मा ऽद्य गच्छ त्वमृतुकालातिवर्तिनीम् ।। 48.18 ।।

prāṇairapi priyaṃ tasmādbhartuḥ kāryaṃ viśeṣataḥ | iti madvacanādrāmo vaktavyo mama saṅgrahaḥ | nirīkṣya mā 'dya gaccha tvamṛtukālātivartinīm || 48.18 ||

"'Therefore the husband's bidding is to be cherished above all, dearer even than life itself.' This, in my very words, is my message, in full, for Rama. And, my time being near, do not go away today.

Shloka 19 (uttara.48.19)

एवं ब्रुवन्त्यां सीतायां लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । शिरसा वन्द्य धरणीं व्याहर्तुं न शशाक ह ।। 48.19 ।।

evaṃ bruvantyāṃ sītāyāṃ lakṣmaṇo dīnacetanaḥ | śirasā vandya dharaṇīṃ vyāhartuṃ na śaśāka ha || 48.19 ||

While Sita spoke thus, Lakshmana, his heart wretched, bowing his head to the earth, was unable to say a word.

Shloka 20 (uttara.48.20)

प्रदक्षिणं च तां कृत्वा रुदन्नेव महास्वनः । ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं तामाह किं मां वक्ष्यसि शोभने ।। 48.20 ।।

pradakṣiṇaṃ ca tāṃ kṛtvā rudanneva mahāsvanaḥ | dhyātvā muhūrtaṃ tāmāha kiṃ māṃ vakṣyasi śobhane || 48.20 ||

Circling her in reverence, weeping loudly, he paused a moment in thought, then said to her, "What am I to say of you, lovely one?

Shloka 21 (uttara.48.21)

दृष्टपूर्वं न ते रूपं पादौ दृष्टौ तवानघे । कथमत्र हि पश्यामि रामेण रहितां वने ।। 48.21 ।।

dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ na te rūpaṃ pādau dṛṣṭau tavānaghe | kathamatra hi paśyāmi rāmeṇa rahitāṃ vane || 48.21 ||

"I have never before looked upon your face, O sinless one — only your feet have I seen. How then shall I bear to see you here, in this forest, parted from Rama?

Shloka 22 (uttara.48.22)

इत्युक्त्वा तां नमस्कृत्य पुनर्नावमुपारुहत् । आरुह्य च पुनर्नावं नाविकं चाभ्यचोदयत् ।। 48.22 ।।

ityuktvā tāṃ namaskṛtya punarnāvamupāruhat | āruhya ca punarnāvaṃ nāvikaṃ cābhyacodayat || 48.22 ||

So saying, and saluting her, he boarded the boat once more; and having boarded it, he urged the boatman on.

Shloka 23 (uttara.48.23)

स गत्वा चोत्तरं तीरं शोकभारसमन्वितः । सम्मूढ इव दुःखेन रथमध्यारुहद्द्रुतम् ।। 48.23 ।।

sa gatvā cottaraṃ tīraṃ śokabhārasamanvitaḥ | sammūḍha iva duḥkhena rathamadhyāruhaddrutam || 48.23 ||

Reaching the far bank, weighed down with grief, as if stunned with sorrow, he mounted the chariot swiftly.

Shloka 24 (uttara.48.24)

मुहुर्मुहुः परावृत्य दृष्ट्वा सीतामनाथवत् । चेष्टन्तीं परतीरस्थां लक्ष्मणः प्रययावथ ।। 48.24 ।।

muhurmuhuḥ parāvṛtya dṛṣṭvā sītāmanāthavat | ceṣṭantīṃ paratīrasthāṃ lakṣmaṇaḥ prayayāvatha || 48.24 ||

Turning back again and again, seeing Sita, helpless as one without protector, standing on the far bank, gesturing toward him, Lakshmana at last set out.

Shloka 25 (uttara.48.25)

दूरस्थं रथमालोक्य लक्ष्मणं च मुहूर्मुहुः । निरीक्षमाणां तूद्विग्नां सीतां शोकः समाविशत् ।। 48.25 ।।

dūrasthaṃ rathamālokya lakṣmaṇaṃ ca muhūrmuhuḥ | nirīkṣamāṇāṃ tūdvignāṃ sītāṃ śokaḥ samāviśat || 48.25 ||

Watching the chariot recede into the distance, gazing again and again at Lakshmana, sorrow overwhelmed the anguished Sita.

Shloka 26 (uttara.48.26)

सा दुःखभारावनता यशस्विनी यशोधना नाथमपश्यती सती । रुरोद सा बर्हिणनादिते वने महास्वनं दुःखपरायणा सती ।। 48.26 ।।

sā duḥkhabhārāvanatā yaśasvinī yaśodhanā nāthamapaśyatī satī | ruroda sā barhiṇanādite vane mahāsvanaṃ duḥkhaparāyaṇā satī || 48.26 ||

Bowed beneath the weight of grief, that glorious and honored, faithful woman, seeing her protector gone, wept aloud, lost in sorrow, in that forest ringing with the cries of peacocks.