Lakshmana's Return and Counsel to Rama

Shloka 1 (uttara.52.1)

तत्र तां रजनीमुष्य केशिन्यां रघुनन्दनः । प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय लक्ष्मणः प्रययौ तदा ।। 52.1 ।।

tatra tāṃ rajanīmuṣya keśinyāṃ raghunandanaḥ | prabhāte punarutthāya lakṣmaṇaḥ prayayau tadā || 52.1 ||

Having spent that night there at the Keshini, Lakshmana, delight of the Raghus, rose again at dawn and set forth.

Shloka 2 (uttara.52.2)

ततो ऽर्धदिवसे प्राप्ते प्रविवेश महारथः । अयोध्यां रत्नसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनावृताम् ।। 52.2 ।।

tato 'rdhadivase prāpte praviveśa mahārathaḥ | ayodhyāṃ ratnasampūrṇāṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanāvṛtām || 52.2 ||

Then, when midday came, that mighty charioteer entered Ayodhya, full of jewels and thronged with cheerful, thriving people.

Shloka 3 (uttara.52.3)

सौमित्रिस्तु परं दैन्यं जगाम सुमहामतिः । रामपादौ समासाद्य वक्ष्यामि किमहं गतः ।। 52.3 ।।

saumitristu paraṃ dainyaṃ jagāma sumahāmatiḥ | rāmapādau samāsādya vakṣyāmi kimahaṃ gataḥ || 52.3 ||

But the wise son of Sumitra fell into deep despondency, thinking, "Having reached Rama's feet, what shall I say — where have I been?"

Shloka 4 (uttara.52.4)

तस्यैवं चिन्तयानस्य भवनं शशिसन्निभम् । रामस्य परमोदारं पुरस्तान्समदृश्यत ।। 52.4 ।।

tasyaivaṃ cintayānasya bhavanaṃ śaśisannibham | rāmasya paramodāraṃ purastānsamadṛśyata || 52.4 ||

As he thought thus, Rama's palace, splendid as the moon, most magnificent, came into view before him.

Shloka 5 (uttara.52.5)

राज्ञस्तु भवनद्वारि सो ऽवतीर्य रथोत्तमात् । अवाङ्मुखो दीनमनाः प्रविवेशानिवारितः ।। 52.5 ।।

rājñastu bhavanadvāri so 'vatīrya rathottamāt | avāṅmukho dīnamanāḥ praviveśānivāritaḥ || 52.5 ||

At the door of the king's palace, descending from his splendid chariot, his face bowed low, his heart heavy, he entered unhindered.

Shloka 6 (uttara.52.6)

स दृष्ट्वा राघवं दीनमासीनं परमासने । नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां ददर्शाग्रजमग्रतः ।। 52.6 ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā rāghavaṃ dīnamāsīnaṃ paramāsane | netrābhyāmaśrupūrṇābhyāṃ dadarśāgrajamagrataḥ || 52.6 ||

He saw Raghava seated on his splendid seat, looking wretched, and with eyes brimming with tears beheld his elder brother before him.

Shloka 7 (uttara.52.7)

जग्राह चरणौ तस्य लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । उवाच दीनया वाचा प्राञ्जलिः सुसमाहितः ।। 52.7 ।।

jagrāha caraṇau tasya lakṣmaṇo dīnacetanaḥ | uvāca dīnayā vācā prāñjaliḥ susamāhitaḥ || 52.7 ||

Lakshmana, his heart stricken, clasped his brother's feet and, hands joined, wholly composed, spoke in a mournful voice.

Shloka 8 (uttara.52.8)

आर्यस्याज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य विसृज्य जनकात्मजाम् । गङ्गातीरे यथोद्दिष्टे वाल्मीकेराश्रमे शुचौ ।। 52.8 ।।

āryasyājñāṃ puraskṛtya visṛjya janakātmajām | gaṅgātīre yathoddiṣṭe vālmīkerāśrame śucau || 52.8 ||

"Honouring my noble brother's command, having left Janaka's daughter on the bank of the Ganga, at the pure hermitage of Valmiki, exactly as directed,

Shloka 9 (uttara.52.9)

तत्र तां च शुभाचारामाश्रमान्ते यशस्विनीम् । पुनरप्यागतो वीर पादमूलमुपासितुम् ।। 52.9 ।।

tatra tāṃ ca śubhācārāmāśramānte yaśasvinīm | punarapyāgato vīra pādamūlamupāsitum || 52.9 ||

and leaving that woman of virtuous conduct, that renowned lady, at the edge of the hermitage — I have come back again, O hero, to wait upon your feet."

Shloka 10 (uttara.52.10)

मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र कालस्य गतिरीदृशी । त्वद्विधा न हि शोचन्ति बुद्धिमन्तो मनस्विनः ।। 52.10 ।।

mā śucaḥ puruṣavyāghra kālasya gatirīdṛśī | tvadvidhā na hi śocanti buddhimanto manasvinaḥ || 52.10 ||

"Grieve not, O tiger among men; such is the way of time. Men of wisdom and firm mind like you do not grieve.

Shloka 11 (uttara.52.11)

सर्वे क्षयान्ता निचयाः पतनान्ताः समुच्छ्रयाः । संयोगा विप्रयोगान्ता मरणान्तं च जीवितम् ।। 52.11 ।।

sarve kṣayāntā nicayāḥ patanāntāḥ samucchrayāḥ | saṃyogā viprayogāntā maraṇāntaṃ ca jīvitam || 52.11 ||

All accumulations end in exhaustion, all risings end in a fall, all unions end in separation, and life ends in death.

Shloka 12 (uttara.52.12)

तस्मात्पुत्रेषु दारेषु मित्रेषु च धनेषु च । नातिप्रसङ्गः कर्तव्यो विप्रयोगो हि तैर्ध्रुवम् ।। 52.12 ।।

tasmātputreṣu dāreṣu mitreṣu ca dhaneṣu ca | nātiprasaṅgaḥ kartavyo viprayogo hi tairdhruvam || 52.12 ||

Therefore one should not form excessive attachment to sons, wives, friends, or wealth, for separation from them is certain.

Shloka 13 (uttara.52.13)

शक्तस्त्वमात्मना ऽ ऽत्मानं विनेतुं मनसैव हि । लोकान्सर्वांश्च काकुत्स्थ किं पुनः शोकमात्मनः ।। 52.13 ।।

śaktastvamātmanā 'tmānaṃ vinetuṃ manasaiva hi | lokānsarvāṃśca kākutstha kiṃ punaḥ śokamātmanaḥ || 52.13 ||

O Kakutstha, you are able, by your own mind alone, to govern yourself and all the worlds besides — how much easier, then, this grief of your own?

Shloka 14 (uttara.52.14)

नेदृशेषु विमुह्यन्ति त्वद्विधाः पुरुषर्षभाः । अपवादः स किल ते पुनरेष्यति राघव ।। 52.14 ।।

nedṛśeṣu vimuhyanti tvadvidhāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ | apavādaḥ sa kila te punareṣyati rāghava || 52.14 ||

Men foremost among men, such as you, are not bewildered by things like this. That very scandal, O Raghava, will indeed come round again.

Shloka 15 (uttara.52.15)

यदर्थं मैथिली त्यक्ता अपवादभयान्नृप । सो ऽपवादः पुरे राजन्भविष्यति न संशयः ।। 52.15 ।।

yadarthaṃ maithilī tyaktā apavādabhayānnṛpa | so 'pavādaḥ pure rājanbhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 52.15 ||

O king, that very scandal from fear of which Maithili was abandoned — that scandal shall arise in the city regardless, without doubt.

Shloka 16 (uttara.52.16)

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल धैर्येण सुसमाहितः । त्यजैनां दुर्बलां बुद्धिं सन्तापं मा कुरुष्व ह ।। 52.16 ।।

sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla dhairyeṇa susamāhitaḥ | tyajaināṃ durbalāṃ buddhiṃ santāpaṃ mā kuruṣva ha || 52.16 ||

So do you, O tiger among men, remain wholly composed in patience; abandon this weak-minded grief, and do not sorrow."

Shloka 17 (uttara.52.17)

एवमुक्तः स काकुत्स्थो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । उवाच परया प्रीत्या सौमित्रिं मित्रवत्सलः ।। 52.17 ।।

evamuktaḥ sa kākutstho lakṣmaṇena mahātmanā | uvāca parayā prītyā saumitriṃ mitravatsalaḥ || 52.17 ||

Thus addressed by the great-souled Lakshmana, Kakutstha, ever fond of his friends, spoke to the son of Sumitra with the greatest affection.

Shloka 18 (uttara.52.18)

एवमेतन्नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण । परितोषश्च मे वीर मम कार्यानुशासने ।। 52.18 ।।

evametannaraśreṣṭha yathā vadasi lakṣmaṇa | paritoṣaśca me vīra mama kāryānuśāsane || 52.18 ||

"It is even so, O best of men, Lakshmana, as you say. And, O hero, I feel content too in the carrying out of my task.

Shloka 19 (uttara.52.19)

निवृत्तिश्चागता सौम्य सन्तापश्च निराकृतः । भवद्वाक्यैः सुरुचिरैरनुनीतो ऽस्मि लक्ष्मण ।। 52.19 ।।

nivṛttiścāgatā saumya santāpaśca nirākṛtaḥ | bhavadvākyaiḥ surucirairanunīto 'smi lakṣmaṇa || 52.19 ||

O gentle one, peace has now come to me, and my sorrow has been driven away. By your most gracious words, Lakshmana, I have been consoled."