The Healing of Lakshmana

Shloka 1 (yuddha.101.1)

शक्त्या निपातितं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन बलीयसा। लक्ष्मणं समरे शूरं शोणितौघपरिप्लुतम् ॥ 101.1 ॥

śaktyā nipātitaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇena balīyasā| lakṣmaṇaṃ samare śūraṃ śoṇitaughapariplutam || 101.1 ||

Seeing valiant Lakshmana struck down in battle by the mighty Ravana's spear, and bathed in a flood of blood,

Shloka 2 (yuddha.101.2)

स दत्त्वा तुमुलं युद्धं रावणस्य दुरात्मनः। विसृजन्नेव बाणौघान् सुषेणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 101.2 ॥

sa dattvā tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ| visṛjanneva bāṇaughān suṣeṇaṃ vākyamabravīt || 101.2 ||

Rama, even while giving fierce battle to the evil-minded Ravana and releasing torrents of arrows at him, spoke these words to Sushena:

Shloka 3 (yuddha.101.3)

एष रावणवेगेन लक्ष्मणः पतितः क्षितौ। सर्पवद्वेष्टते वीरो मम शोकमुदीरयन् ॥ 101.3 ॥

eṣa rāvaṇavegena lakṣmaṇaḥ patitaḥ kṣitau| sarpavadveṣṭate vīro mama śokamudīrayan || 101.3 ||

"Here lies Lakshmana, felled to the ground by the force of Ravana, this hero writhing like a serpent, deepening my grief."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.101.4)

शोणितार्द्रमिमं वीरं प्राणैरिष्टतरं मम। पश्यतो मम का शक्तिर्योद्धुं पर्याकुलात्मनः ॥ 101.4 ॥

śoṇitārdramimaṃ vīraṃ prāṇairiṣṭataraṃ mama| paśyato mama kā śaktiryoddhuṃ paryākulātmanaḥ || 101.4 ||

"Seeing this hero, drenched in blood, dearer to me than life itself, what strength remains in me to fight, my mind so thrown into confusion?"

Shloka 5 (yuddha.101.5)

अयं स समरश्लाघी भ्राता मे शुभलक्षणः। यदि पञ्चत्वमापन्नः प्राणैर्मे किं सुखेन वा ॥ 101.5 ॥

ayaṃ sa samaraślāghī bhrātā me śubhalakṣaṇaḥ| yadi pañcatvamāpannaḥ prāṇairme kiṃ sukhena vā || 101.5 ||

"If this brother of mine, of auspicious marks, who always spoke highly of battle, has met his death, then what use to me is life, or happiness?"

Shloka 6 (yuddha.101.6)

लज्जतीव हि मे वीर्यं भ्रश्यतीव कराद्धनुः। सायका व्यवसीदन्ति दृष्टिर्बाष्पवशं गता ॥ 101.6 ॥

lajjatīva hi me vīryaṃ bhraśyatīva karāddhanuḥ| sāyakā vyavasīdanti dṛṣṭirbāṣpavaśaṃ gatā || 101.6 ||

"My valour seems to shrink in shame, my bow seems to slip from my hand, my arrows fall away, my sight is overcome by tears."

Shloka 7 (yuddha.101.7)

अवसीदन्ति गात्राणि स्वप्नयाने नृणामिव। चिन्ता मे वर्धते तीव्रा मुमूर्षापि च जायते ॥ 101.7 ॥

avasīdanti gātrāṇi svapnayāne nṛṇāmiva| cintā me vardhate tīvrā mumūrṣāpi ca jāyate || 101.7 ||

"My limbs sink down, as when men move about in a dream; a sharp anguish grows in me, and I even wish to die."

Shloka 8 (yuddha.101.8)

भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन दुरात्मना। विष्टनन्तं तु दुःखार्तं मर्मण्यभिहतं भृशम् ॥ 101.8 ॥

bhrātaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇena durātmanā| viṣṭanantaṃ tu duḥkhārtaṃ marmaṇyabhihataṃ bhṛśam || 101.8 ||

Seeing his brother struck down by the evil-minded Ravana, groaning in agony, grievously wounded in his vital parts,

Shloka 9 (yuddha.101.9)

राघवो भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा प्रियं प्राणं बहिश्चरम्। दुःखेन महताविष्टो ध्यानशोकपरायणः ॥ 101.9 ॥

rāghavo bhrātaraṃ dṛṣṭvā priyaṃ prāṇaṃ bahiścaram| duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭo dhyānaśokaparāyaṇaḥ || 101.9 ||

Rama, seeing his beloved brother — his very life-breath moving outside his body — was overwhelmed with great sorrow, given over wholly to brooding grief.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.101.10)

परं विषादमापन्नो विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः। न हि युद्धेन मे कार्यं नैव प्राणैर्न सीतया ॥ 101.10 ॥

paraṃ viṣādamāpanno vilalāpākulendriyaḥ| na hi yuddhena me kāryaṃ naiva prāṇairna sītayā || 101.10 ||

Falling into utter despair, his senses in disarray, he lamented: "I have no need now of fighting, nor of my own life, nor even of Sita —

Shloka 11 (yuddha.101.11)

विजयोऽपि हि मे शूर न प्रियायोपकल्पते। अचक्षुर्विषयश्चन्द्रः कां प्रीतिं जनयिष्यति ॥ 101.11 ॥

vijayo'pi hi me śūra na priyāyopakalpate| acakṣurviṣayaścandraḥ kāṃ prītiṃ janayiṣyati || 101.11 ||

"for even victory, O hero, can bring me no joy. What pleasure can the moon give to one who has lost his very sight?"

Shloka 12 (yuddha.101.12)

किं मे युद्धेन किं प्राणैर्युद्धकार्यं न विद्यते। यत्रायं निहतः शेते रणमूर्धनि लक्ष्मणः ॥ 101.12 ॥

kiṃ me yuddhena kiṃ prāṇairyuddhakāryaṃ na vidyate| yatrāyaṃ nihataḥ śete raṇamūrdhani lakṣmaṇaḥ || 101.12 ||

"What use is fighting to me, what use is even life? I have no cause left for war, when Lakshmana here lies struck down in the forefront of battle."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.101.13)

यथैव मां वनं यान्तमनुयाति महाद्युतिः। अहमप्यनुयास्यामि तथैवैनं यमक्षयम् ॥ 101.13 ॥

yathaiva māṃ vanaṃ yāntamanuyāti mahādyutiḥ| ahamapyanuyāsyāmi tathaivainaṃ yamakṣayam || 101.13 ||

"Just as this glorious brother followed me when I went to the forest, so I too shall now follow him, to the abode of Yama."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.101.14)

इष्टबन्धुजनो नित्यं मां स नित्यमनुव्रतः। इमामवस्थां गमितो राक्षसैः कूटयोधिभिः ॥ 101.14 ॥

iṣṭabandhujano nityaṃ māṃ sa nityamanuvrataḥ| imāmavasthāṃ gamito rākṣasaiḥ kūṭayodhibhiḥ || 101.14 ||

"He who loved his kinsmen dearly, who was ever devoted to me — this is the state to which he has been brought by demons who fight by treachery."

Shloka 15 (yuddha.101.15)

देशे देशे कलत्राणि देशे देशे च बान्धवाः। तं तु देशं न पश्यामि यत्र भ्राता सहोदरः ॥ 101.15 ॥

deśe deśe kalatrāṇi deśe deśe ca bāndhavāḥ| taṃ tu deśaṃ na paśyāmi yatra bhrātā sahodaraḥ || 101.15 ||

"Wives are to be found in every land, kinsmen in every land; but nowhere do I see a land where a brother born of the same womb can be found again."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.101.16)

इत्येवं विलपन्तं तं शोकविह्वलितेन्द्रियम्। विवेष्टमानं करुणमुच्छ्वसन्तं पुनः पुनः ॥ 101.16 ॥

ityevaṃ vilapantaṃ taṃ śokavihvalitendriyam| viveṣṭamānaṃ karuṇamucchvasantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ || 101.16 ||

The monkeys beheld him lamenting thus, his senses overwhelmed with grief, writhing pitiably and sighing again and again.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.101.17)

किं नु राज्येन दुर्धर्षलक्ष्मणेन विना मम। कथं वक्ष्याम्यहं त्वम्बां सुमित्रां पुत्रवत्सलाम् ॥ 101.17 ॥

kiṃ nu rājyena durdharṣalakṣmaṇena vinā mama| kathaṃ vakṣyāmyahaṃ tvambāṃ sumitrāṃ putravatsalām || 101.17 ||

"What use is a kingdom to me without the indomitable Lakshmana? How shall I tell his mother Sumitra, who dotes on her son?"

Shloka 18 (yuddha.101.18)

उपालम्भं न शक्ष्यामि सोढुं दत्तं सुमित्रया। किं नु वक्ष्यामि कौसल्यां मातरं किं नु कैकयीम् ॥ 101.18 ॥

upālambhaṃ na śakṣyāmi soḍhuṃ dattaṃ sumitrayā| kiṃ nu vakṣyāmi kausalyāṃ mātaraṃ kiṃ nu kaikayīm || 101.18 ||

"I shall not be able to bear the reproach that Sumitra will heap on me. What indeed shall I say to mother Kausalya, and what to Kaikeyi?"

Shloka 19 (yuddha.101.19)

भरतं किं नु वक्ष्यामि शत्रुघ्नं च महाबलम्। सह तेन वनं यातो विना तेनागतः कथम् ॥ 101.19 ॥

bharataṃ kiṃ nu vakṣyāmi śatrughnaṃ ca mahābalam| saha tena vanaṃ yāto vinā tenāgataḥ katham || 101.19 ||

"What shall I say to Bharata, and to the mighty Shatrughna? I went to the forest together with him — how shall I return without him?"

Shloka 20 (yuddha.101.20)

इहैव मरणं श्रेयो न तु बन्धुविगर्हणम्। किं मया दुष्कृतं कर्म कृतमन्यत्र जन्मनि ॥ 101.20 ॥

ihaiva maraṇaṃ śreyo na tu bandhuvigarhaṇam| kiṃ mayā duṣkṛtaṃ karma kṛtamanyatra janmani || 101.20 ||

"Death here alone is preferable to the reproach of my own kin. What sinful act did I commit in some other birth,

Shloka 21 (yuddha.101.21)

येन मे धार्मिको भ्राता निहतश्चाग्रतः स्थितः। हा भ्रातर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ शूराणां प्रवर प्रभो ॥ 101.21 ॥

yena me dhārmiko bhrātā nihataścāgrataḥ sthitaḥ| hā bhrātarmanujaśreṣṭha śūrāṇāṃ pravara prabho || 101.21 ||

"because of which my righteous brother lies struck down before my very eyes? Alas, O brother, best among men, foremost of the valiant, O mighty one!"

Shloka 22 (yuddha.101.22)

एकाकी किं नु मां त्यक्त्वा परलोकाय गच्छसि। विलपन्तं च मां भ्रातः किमर्थं नावभाषसे ॥ 101.22 ॥

ekākī kiṃ nu māṃ tyaktvā paralokāya gacchasi| vilapantaṃ ca māṃ bhrātaḥ kimarthaṃ nāvabhāṣase || 101.22 ||

"Why do you leave me alone and go to the other world? Why, brother, do you not answer me, even as I lament?"

Shloka 23 (yuddha.101.23)

उत्तिष्ठ पश्य किं शेषे दीनं मां पश्य चक्षुषा। शोकार्तस्य प्रमत्तस्य पर्वतेषु वनेषु च ॥ 101.23 ॥

uttiṣṭha paśya kiṃ śeṣe dīnaṃ māṃ paśya cakṣuṣā| śokārtasya pramattasya parvateṣu vaneṣu ca || 101.23 ||

"Rise, look! Why do you lie there? Look at wretched me with your own eyes — you who, amid the mountains and forests,

Shloka 24 (yuddha.101.24)

विषण्णस्य महाबाहो समाश्वासयिता मम। राममेवं ब्रुवाणं तु शोकव्याकुलितेन्द्रियम् ॥ 101.24 ॥

viṣaṇṇasya mahābāho samāśvāsayitā mama| rāmamevaṃ bruvāṇaṃ tu śokavyākulitendriyam || 101.24 ||

have always been my comforter, O mighty-armed one, whenever I felt low-spirited and dejected." While Rama, his senses distraught with grief, was speaking thus,

Shloka 25 (yuddha.101.25)

आश्वासयन्नुवाचेदं सुषेणः परमं वचः। त्यजेमां नरशार्दूल बुद्धिं वैक्लव्यकारिणीम् ॥ 101.25 ॥

āśvāsayannuvācedaṃ suṣeṇaḥ paramaṃ vacaḥ| tyajemāṃ naraśārdūla buddhiṃ vaiklavyakāriṇīm || 101.25 ||

Sushena, comforting him, spoke these excellent words: "O tiger among men, give up this thought that gives rise to despondency,

Shloka 26 (yuddha.101.26)

शोकसंजननीं चिन्तां तुल्यां बाणैश्चमूमुखे। नैव पञ्चत्वमापन्नो लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः ॥ 101.26 ॥

śokasaṃjananīṃ cintāṃ tulyāṃ bāṇaiścamūmukhe| naiva pañcatvamāpanno lakṣmaṇo lakṣmivardhanaḥ || 101.26 ||

"this grief-breeding anxiety, as piercing as arrows in the front of battle. Lakshmana, who augments prosperity, has not met with death.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.101.27)

नह्यस्य विकृतं वक्त्रं न च श्यामत्वमागतम्। सुप्रभं च प्रसन्नं च मुखमस्य निरीक्ष्यताम् ॥ 101.27 ॥

nahyasya vikṛtaṃ vaktraṃ na ca śyāmatvamāgatam| suprabhaṃ ca prasannaṃ ca mukhamasya nirīkṣyatām || 101.27 ||

"Neither has his countenance changed, nor has it turned dark. See how his face still glows bright and serene.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.101.28)

पद्मपत्रतलौ हस्तौ सुप्रसन्ने च लोचने। नेदृशं दृश्यते रूपं गतासूनां विशां पते ॥ 101.28 ॥

padmapatratalau hastau suprasanne ca locane| nedṛśaṃ dṛśyate rūpaṃ gatāsūnāṃ viśāṃ pate || 101.28 ||

"His hands, palms like lotus-petals, and his eyes, are both still clear and calm. O king, the dead never look like this.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.101.29)

विषादं मा कृथा वीर सप्राणोऽयमरिंदम। आख्याति तु प्रसुप्तस्य स्रस्तगात्रस्य भूतले ॥ 101.29 ॥

viṣādaṃ mā kṛthā vīra saprāṇo'yamariṃdama| ākhyāti tu prasuptasya srastagātrasya bhūtale || 101.29 ||

"Do not despair, O hero, subduer of foes — he still breathes. See how his heart, as he lies on the ground fast asleep, his limbs relaxed,

Shloka 30 (yuddha.101.30)

सोच्छ्वासं हृदयं वीर कम्पमानं मुहुर्मुहुः। एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः सुषेणो राघवं वचः ॥ 101.30 ॥

socchvāsaṃ hṛdayaṃ vīra kampamānaṃ muhurmuhuḥ| evamuktvā mahāprājñaḥ suṣeṇo rāghavaṃ vacaḥ || 101.30 ||

"still beats again and again, along with his breath, O hero." Having spoken these words to Raghava, the highly wise Sushena

Shloka 31 (yuddha.101.31)

समीपस्थमुवाचेदं हनूमन्तं महाकपिम्। सौम्य शीघ्रमितो गत्वा पर्वतं हि महोदयम् ॥ 101.31 ॥

samīpasthamuvācedaṃ hanūmantaṃ mahākapim| saumya śīghramito gatvā parvataṃ hi mahodayam || 101.31 ||

then spoke this to Hanuman, the great monkey, who was standing nearby: "Gentle one, go quickly from here to the mountain Mahodaya —

Shloka 32 (yuddha.101.32)

पूर्वं तु कथितो योऽसौ वीर जाम्बवता तव। दक्षिणे शिखरे जातां महौषधिमिहानय ॥ 101.32 ॥

pūrvaṃ tu kathito yo'sau vīra jāmbavatā tava| dakṣiṇe śikhare jātāṃ mahauṣadhimihānaya || 101.32 ||

"the one already described to you before by Jambavan, O hero — and bring here the precious herb that has sprung up on its southern peak,

Shloka 33 (yuddha.101.33)

विशल्यकरणीं नाम्ना सावर्ण्यकरणीं तथा। संजीवकरणीं वीर संधानीं च महौषधीम् ॥ 101.33 ॥

viśalyakaraṇīṃ nāmnā sāvarṇyakaraṇīṃ tathā| saṃjīvakaraṇīṃ vīra saṃdhānīṃ ca mahauṣadhīm || 101.33 ||

"the one named Vishalyakarani, and likewise Savarnyakarani, Sanjivakarani, O hero, and the precious herb Sandhani —

Shloka 34 (yuddha.101.34)

संजीवनार्थं वीरस्य लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः। इत्येवमुक्तो हनुमान्गत्वा चौषधिपर्वतम् ॥ 101.34 ॥

saṃjīvanārthaṃ vīrasya lakṣmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ| ityevamukto hanumāngatvā cauṣadhiparvatam || 101.34 ||

"to restore to life the great-souled and heroic Lakshmana." Thus addressed, Hanuman went to the mountain of herbs,

Shloka 35 (yuddha.101.35)

चिन्तामभ्यगमच्छ्रीमानजानंस्ता महौषधीः। तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना मारुतेरमितौजसः ॥ 101.35 ॥

cintāmabhyagamacchrīmānajānaṃstā mahauṣadhīḥ| tasya buddhiḥ samutpannā māruteramitaujasaḥ || 101.35 ||

but, unable to recognize those precious herbs, the glorious one fell into thought. Then this idea arose in that Hanuman of boundless energy:

Shloka 36 (yuddha.101.36)

इदमेव गमिष्यामि गृहीत्वा शिखरं गिरेः। अस्मिंस्तु शिखरे जातामोषधीं तां सुखावहाम् ॥ 101.36 ॥

idameva gamiṣyāmi gṛhītvā śikharaṃ gireḥ| asmiṃstu śikhare jātāmoṣadhīṃ tāṃ sukhāvahām || 101.36 ||

"I shall simply go, taking this very peak of the mountain with me — for by conjecture I understand that the delightful herb

Shloka 37 (yuddha.101.37)

प्रतर्केणावगच्छामि सुषेणो ह्येवमब्रवीत्। अगृह्य यदि गच्छामि विशल्यकरणीमहम् ॥ 101.37 ॥

pratarkeṇāvagacchāmi suṣeṇo hyevamabravīt| agṛhya yadi gacchāmi viśalyakaraṇīmaham || 101.37 ||

"must have sprung up on this very peak, for Sushena indeed said so. If I go without taking the Vishalyakarani,

Shloka 38 (yuddha.101.38)

कालात्ययेन दोषः स्याद्वैक्लव्यं च महद्भवेत्। इति संचिन्त्य हनुमान्गत्वा क्षिप्रं महाबलः ॥ 101.38 ॥

kālātyayena doṣaḥ syādvaiklavyaṃ ca mahadbhavet| iti saṃcintya hanumāngatvā kṣipraṃ mahābalaḥ || 101.38 ||

"harm may come through the passing of time, and great distress may follow." Thinking thus, the mighty Hanuman went swiftly,

Shloka 39 (yuddha.101.39)

आसाद्य पर्वतश्रेष्ठं त्रिः प्रकम्प्य गिरेः शिरः। फुल्लनानातरुगणं समुत्पाट्य महाबलः ॥ 101.39 ॥

āsādya parvataśreṣṭhaṃ triḥ prakampya gireḥ śiraḥ| phullanānātarugaṇaṃ samutpāṭya mahābalaḥ || 101.39 ||

reached that excellent mountain, shook its summit three times, and, mighty as he was, uprooted the mountain-peak with its many trees in full bloom,

Shloka 40 (yuddha.101.40)

गृहीत्वा हरिशार्दूलो हस्ताभ्यां समतोलयत्। स नीलमिव जीमूतं तोयपूर्णं नभस्तलात् ॥ 101.40 ॥

gṛhītvā hariśārdūlo hastābhyāṃ samatolayat| sa nīlamiva jīmūtaṃ toyapūrṇaṃ nabhastalāt || 101.40 ||

and that tiger among monkeys, grasping it with both hands, balanced it aloft. Taking that mountain-peak, dark as a rain-laden cloud,

Shloka 41 (yuddha.101.41)

उत्पपात गृहीत्वा तु हनूमान् शिखरं गिरेः। समागम्य महावेगः संन्यस्य शिखरं गिरेः ॥ 101.41 ॥

utpapāta gṛhītvā tu hanūmān śikharaṃ gireḥ| samāgamya mahāvegaḥ saṃnyasya śikharaṃ gireḥ || 101.41 ||

Hanuman leapt up from the ground into the sky. Arriving with great speed, and setting down the mountain-peak,

Shloka 42 (yuddha.101.42)

विश्रम्य किंचिद्धनुमान् सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत्। औषधीर्नावगच्छामि ता अहं हरिपुङ्गव ॥ 101.42 ॥

viśramya kiṃciddhanumān suṣeṇamidamabravīt| auṣadhīrnāvagacchāmi tā ahaṃ haripuṅgava || 101.42 ||

and resting a little while, Hanuman spoke this to Sushena: "I could not recognize those herbs, O foremost of monkeys —

Shloka 43 (yuddha.101.43)

तदिदं शिखरं कृत्स्नं गिरेस्तस्याहृतं मया। एवं कथयमानं तु प्रशस्य पवनात्मजम् ॥ 101.43 ॥

tadidaṃ śikharaṃ kṛtsnaṃ girestasyāhṛtaṃ mayā| evaṃ kathayamānaṃ tu praśasya pavanātmajam || 101.43 ||

"so I have brought the entire peak of that mountain here." Praising the son of the Wind-god as he spoke thus,

Shloka 44 (yuddha.101.44)

सुषेणो वानरश्रेष्ठो जग्राहोत्पाट्य चौषधीः। विस्मितास्तु बभूवुस्ते सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः ॥ 101.44 ॥

suṣeṇo vānaraśreṣṭho jagrāhotpāṭya cauṣadhīḥ| vismitāstu babhūvuste sarve vānarapuṅgavāḥ || 101.44 ||

Sushena, foremost among monkeys, plucked out the herbs and took hold of them. All those chief monkeys were struck with wonder,

Shloka 45 (yuddha.101.45)

दृष्ट्वा तु हनुमत्कर्म सुरैरपि सुदुष्करम्। ततः संक्षोदयित्वा तामोषधीं वानरोत्तमः ॥ 101.45 ॥

dṛṣṭvā tu hanumatkarma surairapi suduṣkaram| tataḥ saṃkṣodayitvā tāmoṣadhīṃ vānarottamaḥ || 101.45 ||

seeing that feat of Hanuman, difficult to achieve even for the gods. Then, crushing that herb, that foremost of monkeys,

Shloka 46 (yuddha.101.46)

लक्ष्मणस्य ददौ नस्तः सुषेणः सुमहाद्युतिः। सशल्यः स समाघ्राय लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा ॥ 101.46 ॥

lakṣmaṇasya dadau nastaḥ suṣeṇaḥ sumahādyutiḥ| saśalyaḥ sa samāghrāya lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā || 101.46 ||

the greatly radiant Sushena, administered it to Lakshmana through his nostrils. Lakshmana, the slayer of enemy heroes, even while the spear-point still lodged in him,

Shloka 47 (yuddha.101.47)

विशल्यो विरुजः शीघ्रमुदतिष्ठन्महीतलात्। तमुत्थितं तु हरयो भूतलात्प्रेक्ष्य लक्ष्मणम् ॥ 101.47 ॥

viśalyo virujaḥ śīghramudatiṣṭhanmahītalāt| tamutthitaṃ tu harayo bhūtalātprekṣya lakṣmaṇam || 101.47 ||

duly inhaled it and, freed of the spear and of pain, rose swiftly from the ground. Seeing Lakshmana thus risen from the earth,

Shloka 48 (yuddha.101.48)

साधुसाध्विति सुप्रीता लक्ष्मणं प्रत्यपूजयन्। एह्येहीत्यब्रवीद्रामो लक्ष्मणं परवीरहा ॥ 101.48 ॥

sādhusādhviti suprītā lakṣmaṇaṃ pratyapūjayan| ehyehītyabravīdrāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ paravīrahā || 101.48 ||

the monkeys, overjoyed, applauded Lakshmana, crying "Excellent, excellent!" Rama, slayer of enemy heroes, said to Lakshmana, "Come, come!"

Shloka 49 (yuddha.101.49)

सस्वजे गाढमालिङ्ग्य बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः। अब्रवीच्च परिष्वज्य सौमित्रिं राघवस्तदा ॥ 101.49 ॥

sasvaje gāḍhamāliṅgya bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ| abravīcca pariṣvajya saumitriṃ rāghavastadā || 101.49 ||

and, his eyes clouded with tears, embraced him firmly. Then Raghava, having embraced Lakshmana, said to him:

Shloka 50 (yuddha.101.50)

दिष्ट्या त्वां वीर पश्यामि मरणात्पुनरागतम्। नहि मे जीवितेनार्थः सीतया च जयेन वा ॥ 101.50 ॥

diṣṭyā tvāṃ vīra paśyāmi maraṇātpunarāgatam| nahi me jīvitenārthaḥ sītayā ca jayena vā || 101.50 ||

"By good fortune, O hero, I see you returned from the very jaws of death. I have no need now of my own life, nor of Sita, nor of victory —

Shloka 51 (yuddha.101.51)

को हि मे जीवितेनार्थस्त्वयि पञ्चत्वमागते। इत्येवं वदतस्तस्य राघवस्य महात्मनः ॥ 101.51 ॥

ko hi me jīvitenārthastvayi pañcatvamāgate| ityevaṃ vadatastasya rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ || 101.51 ||

"for what use would life be to me, had you met your death?" While the great-souled Raghava was speaking thus,

Shloka 52 (yuddha.101.52)

खिन्नः शिथिलया वाचा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। तां प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिज्ञाय पुरा सत्यपराक्रम ॥ 101.52 ॥

khinnaḥ śithilayā vācā lakṣmaṇo vākyamabravīt| tāṃ pratijñāṃ pratijñāya purā satyaparākrama || 101.52 ||

Lakshmana, exhausted, spoke these words in a feeble voice: "O you of true valour, having once made that vow,

Shloka 53 (yuddha.101.53)

लघुः कश्चिदिवासत्त्वो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि। नहि प्रतिज्ञां कुर्वन्ति वितथां सत्यवादिनः ॥ 101.53 ॥

laghuḥ kaścidivāsattvo naivaṃ tvaṃ vaktumarhasi| nahi pratijñāṃ kurvanti vitathāṃ satyavādinaḥ || 101.53 ||

"you ought not to speak like this, as though you were some feeble, faint-hearted man. Those who speak the truth never make their pledge in vain —

Shloka 54 (yuddha.101.54)

लक्षणं हि महत्त्वस्य प्रतिज्ञापरिपालनम्। नैराश्यमुपगन्तुं च नालं ते मत्कृतेऽनघ ॥ 101.54 ॥

lakṣaṇaṃ hi mahattvasya pratijñāparipālanam| nairāśyamupagantuṃ ca nālaṃ te matkṛte'nagha || 101.54 ||

"fulfilling one's pledge is indeed the very mark of greatness. It does not become you, O sinless one, to fall into despair for my sake —

Shloka 55 (yuddha.101.55)

वधेन रावणस्याद्य प्रतिज्ञामनुपालय। न जीवन्यास्यते शत्रुस्तव बाणपथं गतः ॥ 101.55 ॥

vadhena rāvaṇasyādya pratijñāmanupālaya| na jīvanyāsyate śatrustava bāṇapathaṃ gataḥ || 101.55 ||

"fulfil your vow this very day by slaying Ravana. No enemy who falls within the path of your arrows can escape alive,

Shloka 56 (yuddha.101.56)

नर्दतस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रस्य सिंहस्येव महागजः। अहं तु वधमिच्छामि शीघ्रमस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 101.56 ॥

nardatastīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrasya siṃhasyeva mahāgajaḥ| ahaṃ tu vadhamicchāmi śīghramasya durātmanaḥ || 101.56 ||

"just as no great elephant escapes alive from the path of a roaring, sharp-tusked lion. I, for my part, wish for the swift death of this evil-minded one,

Shloka 57 (yuddha.101.57)

यावदस्तं न यात्येष कृतकर्मा दिवाकरः। यदि वधमिच्छसि रावणस्य संख्ये। यदि च कृतां हि तवेच्छसि प्रतिज्ञाम्। यदि तव राजसुताभिलाष आर्य। कुरु च वचो मम शीघ्रमद्य वीर ॥ 101.57 ॥

yāvadastaṃ na yātyeṣa kṛtakarmā divākaraḥ| yadi vadhamicchasi rāvaṇasya saṃkhye| yadi ca kṛtāṃ hi tavecchasi pratijñām| yadi tava rājasutābhilāṣa ārya| kuru ca vaco mama śīghramadya vīra || 101.57 ||

"before this sun, its task done, sets below the horizon. If you wish for the death of Ravana in battle, if you wish to fulfil the vow you made, and if you long for the king's daughter, O noble one — then do as I say, swiftly, this very day, O hero!"