Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23

इति ब्रुवति रामे तु लक्ष्मणोऽधश्शिरा मुहुः। श्रृत्वा मध्यं जगामेव मनसा दुःखहर्षयोः।।2.23.1।।

iti bruvati rāme tu lakṣmaṇo'dhaśśirā muhuḥ| śrṛtvā madhyaṃ jagāmeva manasā duḥkhaharṣayoḥ

While Rama was speaking thus, Lakshmana listened to him with his head down, experiencing both grief and joy.

तदा तु बध्द्वा भ्रुकुटीं भ्रुवोर्मध्ये नरर्षभः। निशश्वास महासर्पो बिलस्थ इव रोषितः।।2.23.2।।

tadā tu badhdvā bhrukuṭīṃ bhruvormadhye nararṣabhaḥ| niśaśvāsa mahāsarpo bilastha iva roṣitaḥ

Lakshmana, frowning between his eyebrows, hissed like a great serpent seized with anger in its hole.

तस्य दुष्प्रतिवीक्षं तद्भ्रुकुटीसहितं तदा। बभौ क्रुद्धस्य सिंहस्य मुखस्य सदृशं मुखम्।।2.23.3।।

tasya duṣprativīkṣaṃ tadbhrukuṭīsahitaṃ tadā| babhau kruddhasya siṃhasya mukhasya sadṛśaṃ mukham

With his frown, his face looked frightening like the face of a lion provoked.

अग्रहस्तं विधुन्वंस्तु हस्ती हस्तमिवात्मनः। तिर्यगूर्ध्वं शरीरे च पातयित्वा शिरोधराम्।।2.23.4।। अग्राक्ष्णा वीक्षमाणस्तु तिर्यग्भ्रातरमब्रवीत्।

agrahastaṃ vidhunvaṃstu hastī hastamivātmanaḥ| tiryagūrdhvaṃ śarīre ca pātayitvā śirodharām agrākṣṇā vīkṣamāṇastu tiryagbhrātaramabravīt|

Shaking his forearm like an elephant raising its trunk, moving his neck horizontally and vertically and casting a pointed and oblique look at his brother, Lakshmana said:

अस्थाने सम्भ्रमो यस्य जातो वै सुमहानयम्।।2.23.5।। धर्मदोष प्रसङ्गेन लोकस्यानतिशङ्कया। कथंह्येतदसम्भ्रान्तस्त्वद्विधो वक्तुमर्हति।।2.23.6।। यथा दैवमशौडीरं शौण्डीर क्षत्रियर्षभ।

asthāne sambhramo yasya jāto vai sumahānayam dharmadoṣa prasaṅgena lokasyānatiśaṅkayā| kathaṃhyetadasambhrāntastvadvidho vaktumarhati yathā daivamaśauḍīraṃ śauṇḍīra kṣatriyarṣabha|

O Rama, the greatest among the brave kshatriyas you say this because of your fear that (by disobeying father's command) harm will be done to righteousness. This great haste is unwarranted for there is the least apprehension about people's verdict (in favour of exile). How do you, of all persons, speak about destiny as allpowerful in these circumstances when it is powerless?

अस्थाने सम्भ्रमो यस्य जातो वै सुमहानयम्।।2.23.5।। धर्मदोष प्रसङ्गेन लोकस्यानतिशङ्कया। कथंह्येतदसम्भ्रान्तस्त्वद्विधो वक्तुमर्हति।।2.23.6।। यथा दैवमशौडीरं शौण्डीर क्षत्रियर्षभ।

asthāne sambhramo yasya jāto vai sumahānayam dharmadoṣa prasaṅgena lokasyānatiśaṅkayā| kathaṃhyetadasambhrāntastvadvidho vaktumarhati yathā daivamaśauḍīraṃ śauṇḍīra kṣatriyarṣabha|

O Rama, the greatest among the brave kshatriyas you say this because of your fear that (by disobeying father's command) harm will be done to righteousness. This great haste is unwarranted for there is the least apprehension about people's verdict (in favour of exile). How do you, of all persons, speak about destiny as allpowerful in these circumstances when it is powerless?

किन्नाम कृपणं दैवमशक्तमभिशंससि।।2.23.7।। पापयोस्ते कथं नाम तयोश्शङ्का न विद्यते।

kinnāma kṛpaṇaṃ daivamaśaktamabhiśaṃsasi pāpayoste kathaṃ nāma tayośśaṅkā na vidyate|

Why do you extol this pitiable and powerless destiny? Why don't you doubt those two vicious persons (Dasaratha and Kaikeyi)?

सन्ति धर्मोपधा श्लक्ष्णाः धर्मात्मन्किं न बुध्यसे।।2.23.8।। तयोस्सुचरितं स्वार्थं शाठ्यात्परिजिहीर्षतोः।

santi dharmopadhā ślakṣṇāḥ dharmātmankiṃ na budhyase tayossucaritaṃ svārthaṃ śāṭhyātparijihīrṣatoḥ|

Why don't you realise, O virtuous one that there are soft means of creating hindrances in their plan without trangressing dharma. You know dharma. Why don't you understand that their acts of deception wear the guise of dharma?

यदि नैवं व्यवसितं स्याद्धि प्रागेव राघव।।2.23.9।। तयोः प्रागेव दत्तश्च स्याद्वरः प्रकृतश्च सः।

yadi naivaṃ vyavasitaṃ syāddhi prāgeva rāghava tayoḥ prāgeva dattaśca syādvaraḥ prakṛtaśca saḥ|

If both of them had not decided before, O Rama the boon granted to Kaikeyi naturally would have been fulfilled long ago.

लोकविद्विष्टमारब्धं त्वदन्यस्याभिषेचनम्। नोत्सहे सहितुं वीर तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि।।2.23.10।।

lokavidviṣṭamārabdhaṃ tvadanyasyābhiṣecanam| notsahe sahituṃ vīra tatra me kṣantumarhasi

The consecration of any one other than you, O valiant one is universally detested. I do not want to tolerate (this act). You should pardon me in this matter.

येनेय मागता द्वैधं तव बुद्धिर्महामते। स हि धर्मो मम द्वेष्यः प्रसङ्गाद्यस्य मुह्यसि।।2.23.11।।

yeneya māgatā dvaidhaṃ tava buddhirmahāmate| sa hi dharmo mama dveṣyaḥ prasaṅgādyasya muhyasi

O noble minded one I hate this righteousness which has deluded your intellect and created this dilemma about this issue.

कथं त्वं कर्मणा शक्तः कैकेयीवशवर्तिनः। करिष्यसि पितुर्वाक्यमधर्मिष्ठं विगर्हितम्।।2.23.12।।

kathaṃ tvaṃ karmaṇā śaktaḥ kaikeyīvaśavartinaḥ| kariṣyasi piturvākyamadharmiṣṭhaṃ vigarhitam

When you are able to counter (this move), why do you want to execute the unjustifiable and contemptible words of the king who is under the spell of Kaikeyi?

यद्ययं किल्बिषाद्भेदः कृतोऽप्येवं न गृह्यते। जायते तत्र मे दुःखं धर्मसङ्गश्च गर्हितः।।2.23.13।।

yadyayaṃ kilbiṣādbhedaḥ kṛto'pyevaṃ na gṛhyate| jāyate tatra me duḥkhaṃ dharmasaṅgaśca garhitaḥ

I am grieved that even though this plot has been hatched by a treacherous mind, you are not taking it in the right perspective. Censurable is adherence to virtue.

मनसाऽपि कथं कामं कुर्यास्त्वं कामवृत्तयोः। तयोस्त्वहितयोर्नित्यं शत्र्वोः पित्रभिधानयोः।।2.23.14।।

manasā'pi kathaṃ kāmaṃ kuryāstvaṃ kāmavṛttayoḥ| tayostvahitayornityaṃ śatrvoḥ pitrabhidhānayoḥ

As both of them are steeped in passion, they never thought of your wellbeing. How will you fulfil the wishes of these enemies miscalled parents?

यद्यपि प्रतिपत्तिस्ते दैवी चापि तयोर्मतम्। तथाप्युपेक्षणीयं ते न मे तदपि रोचते।।2.23.15।।

yadyapi pratipattiste daivī cāpi tayormatam| tathāpyupekṣaṇīyaṃ te na me tadapi rocate

It might be your opinion that their dictate is the decree of destiny. Even then, it does not satisfy me. It (destiny) should be ignored.

विक्लबो वीर्यहीनो यस्स दैवमनुवर्तते। वीरास्सम्भावितात्मानो न दैवं पर्युपासते।।2.23.16।।

viklabo vīryahīno yassa daivamanuvartate| vīrāssambhāvitātmāno na daivaṃ paryupāsate

Those who are timid and cowardly alone depend on destiny.The valiant with of selfrespect will not accept it.

दैवं पुरुषकारेण यः समर्थः प्रबाधितुम्। न दैवेन विपन्नार्थः पुरुषस्सोऽवसीदति।।2.23.17।।

daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa yaḥ samarthaḥ prabādhitum| na daivena vipannārthaḥ puruṣasso'vasīdati

In the case of one capable of striking destiny with human efforts it cannot defeat his objective and bring him despondency.

द्रक्ष्यन्ति त्वद्य दैवस्य पौरुषं पुरुषस्य च। दैवमानुषयोरद्य व्यक्ता व्यक्तिर्भविष्यति।।2.23.18।।

drakṣyanti tvadya daivasya pauruṣaṃ puruṣasya ca| daivamānuṣayoradya vyaktā vyaktirbhaviṣyati

Today all will witness the power of destiny and the power of man. The difference between man and destiny will be manifested today.

अद्य मत्पौरुषहतं दैवं द्रक्ष्यन्ति वै जनाः। यद्दैवादाहतं तेऽद्य दृष्टं राज्याभिषेचनम्।।2.23.19।।

adya matpauruṣahataṃ daivaṃ drakṣyanti vai janāḥ| yaddaivādāhataṃ te'dya dṛṣṭaṃ rājyābhiṣecanam

Today people will see destiny defeated by my valour just as they saw your consecration defeated (obstructed) by destiny.

अत्यङ्कुशमिवोद्दामं गजं मदबलोद्धतम्। प्रधावितमहं दैवं पौरुषेण निवर्तये।।2.23.20।।

atyaṅkuśamivoddāmaṃ gajaṃ madabaloddhatam| pradhāvitamahaṃ daivaṃ pauruṣeṇa nivartaye

I will make destiny, the elephant, running wild on the strength of the rut, unmanageable (even) by the goad, turn back with my valour.

लोकपालास्समस्ता स्ते नाद्य रामाभिषेचनम्। न च कृत्स्नास्त्रयो लोका विहन्युः किं पुनः पिता।।2.23.21।।

lokapālāssamastā ste nādya rāmābhiṣecanam| na ca kṛtsnāstrayo lokā vihanyuḥ kiṃ punaḥ pitā

All the guardians of the quarters and all the three worlds united cannot prevent the consecration of Rama today, what to speak of our father (king Dasaratha).

यैर्निवासस्तवारण्ये मिथो राजन्समर्थितः। अरण्ये ते निवत्स्यन्ति चतुर्दश समास्तथा।।2.23.22।।

yairnivāsastavāraṇye mitho rājansamarthitaḥ| araṇye te nivatsyanti caturdaśa samāstathā

O king those who, with mutual support banished you to the forest, will themselves dwell in the forest for fourteen years.

अहं तदाशां छेत्स्यामि पितुस्तस्याश्च या तव। अभिषेकविघातेन पुत्रराज्याय वर्तते।।2.23.23।।

ahaṃ tadāśāṃ chetsyāmi pitustasyāśca yā tava| abhiṣekavighātena putrarājyāya vartate

Therefore, I shall frustrate the desire of father and of Kaikeyi who plans the kingdom for her son by obstructing your consecration.

मद्बलेन विरुद्धाय न स्याद्दैवबलं तथा। प्रभविष्यति दुःखाय यथोग्रं पौरुषं मम।।2.23.24।।

madbalena viruddhāya na syāddaivabalaṃ tathā| prabhaviṣyati duḥkhāya yathograṃ pauruṣaṃ mama

Any one who opposes my terrible valour will come to grief. The power of destiny will not cause that much sorrow as my valour will.

ऊर्ध्वं वर्षसहस्रान्ते प्रजापाल्यमनन्तरम्। आर्यपुत्राः करिष्यन्ति वनवासं गते त्वयि।।2.23.25।।

ūrdhvaṃ varṣasahasrānte prajāpālyamanantaram| āryaputrāḥ kariṣyanti vanavāsaṃ gate tvayi

When after ruling the subjects for a thousand years you withdraw into the forest (for yativrata) your sons will rule them.

पूर्वं राजर्षिवृत्त्या हि वनवासो विधीयते। प्रजा निक्षिप्य पुत्रेषु पुत्रवत्परिपालने।।2.23.26।।

pūrvaṃ rājarṣivṛttyā hi vanavāso vidhīyate| prajā nikṣipya putreṣu putravatparipālane

Leaving their sons to look after the subjects as their own children, the rajarsis in ancient times used to retire into the forest as per practice.

स चेद्राजन्यनेकाग्रे राज्यविभ्रमशङ्कया। नैवमिच्छसि धर्मात्मन् राज्यं राम त्वमात्मनि।।2.23.27।। प्रतिजाने च ते वीर माऽभूवं वीरलोकभाक्। राज्यं च तव रक्षेयमहं वेलेव सागरम्।।2.23.28।।

sa cedrājanyanekāgre rājyavibhramaśaṅkayā| naivamicchasi dharmātman rājyaṃ rāma tvamātmani pratijāne ca te vīra mā'bhūvaṃ vīralokabhāk| rājyaṃ ca tava rakṣeyamahaṃ veleva sāgaram

O righteous one, if you apprehend chaos in the kingdom for want of wholehearted support from the (feudatory) kings then, O my valiant brother, I swear to you, I will protect your kingdom like the shore protecting the ocean. Or else, I shall never attain the afterworld of heroes.

स चेद्राजन्यनेकाग्रे राज्यविभ्रमशङ्कया। नैवमिच्छसि धर्मात्मन् राज्यं राम त्वमात्मनि।।2.23.27।। प्रतिजाने च ते वीर माऽभूवं वीरलोकभाक्। राज्यं च तव रक्षेयमहं वेलेव सागरम्।।2.23.28।।

sa cedrājanyanekāgre rājyavibhramaśaṅkayā| naivamicchasi dharmātman rājyaṃ rāma tvamātmani pratijāne ca te vīra mā'bhūvaṃ vīralokabhāk| rājyaṃ ca tava rakṣeyamahaṃ veleva sāgaram

O righteous one, if you apprehend chaos in the kingdom for want of wholehearted support from the (feudatory) kings then, O my valiant brother, I swear to you, I will protect your kingdom like the shore protecting the ocean. Or else, I shall never attain the afterworld of heroes.

मङ्गलैरभिषिञ्चस्व तत्र त्वं व्यापृतो भव। अहमेको महीपालानलं वारयितुं बलात्।।2.23.29।।

maṅgalairabhiṣiñcasva tatra tvaṃ vyāpṛto bhava| ahameko mahīpālānalaṃ vārayituṃ balāt

The consecration may be performed with these auspicious materials. I am alone capable of facing these kings with my valour.

न शोभार्थाविमौ बाहू न धनुर्भूषणाय मे। नाऽसिराबन्धनार्थाय न शरास्तम्भहेतवः।।2.23.30।। अमित्रदमनार्थं मे सर्वमेतच्चतुष्टयम्।

na śobhārthāvimau bāhū na dhanurbhūṣaṇāya me| nā'sirābandhanārthāya na śarāstambhahetavaḥ amitradamanārthaṃ me sarvametaccatuṣṭayam|

These my arms are not intended to enhance the beauty (of my body). This bow is not for decoration. The sword is not for the sake of strapping my waist. The arrows are not meant to be fixed to my quiver. All these four are meant for taming my enemies.

न चाहं कामयेऽत्यर्थं यस्स्याच्छत्रुर्मतो मम।।2.23.31।। असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण विद्युच्चलितवर्चसा। प्रगृहीतेन वै शत्रुं वज्रिणं वा न कल्पये।।2.23.32।।

na cāhaṃ kāmaye'tyarthaṃ yassyācchatrurmato mama asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa vidyuccalitavarcasā| pragṛhītena vai śatruṃ vajriṇaṃ vā na kalpaye

Any one who turns my enemy will not be allowed to remain alive. Holding my sharpedged sword, lustrous as a flash of lightning, I shall exterminate my enemy even if it were Indra, the bearer of thunder.

न चाहं कामयेऽत्यर्थं यस्स्याच्छत्रुर्मतो मम।।2.23.31।। असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण विद्युच्चलितवर्चसा। प्रगृहीतेन वै शत्रुं वज्रिणं वा न कल्पये।।2.23.32।।

na cāhaṃ kāmaye'tyarthaṃ yassyācchatrurmato mama asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa vidyuccalitavarcasā| pragṛhītena vai śatruṃ vajriṇaṃ vā na kalpaye

Any one who turns my enemy will not be allowed to remain alive. Holding my sharpedged sword, lustrous as a flash of lightning, I shall exterminate my enemy even if it were Indra, the bearer of thunder.

खड्गनिष्पेषनिष्पिष्टैर्गहना दुश्चरा च मे। हस्त्यश्वनरहस्तोरुशिरोभिर्भविता मही।।2.23.33।।

khaḍganiṣpeṣaniṣpiṣṭairgahanā duścarā ca me| hastyaśvanarahastoruśirobhirbhavitā mahī

This entire earth will become impenetrable and impassable, scattered with the trunks, thighs and heads of elephants, horses and warriors hacked off with my sword.

खड्गधाराहता मेऽद्य दीप्यमाना इवाद्रयः। पतिष्यन्ति द्विपा भूमौ मेघा इव सविद्युतः।।2.23.34।।

khaḍgadhārāhatā me'dya dīpyamānā ivādrayaḥ| patiṣyanti dvipā bhūmau meghā iva savidyutaḥ

The elephants, struck by the blows of my sword, will fall on earth like mountains engulfed in flames and like clouds with lightning.

बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणे प्रगृहीतशरासने। कथं पुरुषमानी स्यात्पुरुषाणां मयि स्थिते।।2.23.35।।

baddhagodhāṅgulitrāṇe pragṛhītaśarāsane| kathaṃ puruṣamānī syātpuruṣāṇāṃ mayi sthite

When I stand before men (enemies) wearing godha and fingerprotector, holding the bow ready, who amongst men will boast of his manliness?

बहुभिश्चैकमत्यस्यन्नेकेन च बहून्जनान्। विनियोक्ष्याम्यहं बाणान्नृवाजिगजमर्मसु।।2.23.36।।

bahubhiścaikamatyasyannekena ca bahūnjanān| viniyokṣyāmyahaṃ bāṇānnṛvājigajamarmasu

Striking each of my foes with many arrows and many with one arrow, I shall aim them at the vitals of men, horses and elephants.

अद्य मेऽस्त्रप्रभावस्य प्रभावः प्रभविष्यति। राज्ञश्चाप्रभुतां कर्तुं प्रभुत्वं तव च प्रभोः।।2.23.37।।

adya me'straprabhāvasya prabhāvaḥ prabhaviṣyati| rājñaścāprabhutāṃ kartuṃ prabhutvaṃ tava ca prabhoḥ

O Lord today you shall see the power of my glorious weapons in depriving the king (Dasaratha) of his authority and establishing your supremacy over the kingdom.

अद्य चन्दनसारस्य केयूरामोक्षणस्य च। वसूनां च विमोक्षस्य सुहृदां पालनस्य च।।2.23.38।। अनुरूपाविमौ बाहू राम कर्म करिष्यतः। अभिषेचनविघ्नस्य कर्तृ़णां ते निवारणे।।2.23.39।।

adya candanasārasya keyūrāmokṣaṇasya ca| vasūnāṃ ca vimokṣasya suhṛdāṃ pālanasya ca anurūpāvimau bāhū rāma karma kariṣyataḥ| abhiṣecanavighnasya kartṛ़ṇāṃ te nivāraṇe

These arms, O Rama which are fit for sandalwood cream, for wearing armlets, for distributing wealth and for protecting friends, will perform the worthy act of subduing those who are creating obstruction to your consecration.

अद्य चन्दनसारस्य केयूरामोक्षणस्य च। वसूनां च विमोक्षस्य सुहृदां पालनस्य च।।2.23.38।। अनुरूपाविमौ बाहू राम कर्म करिष्यतः। अभिषेचनविघ्नस्य कर्तृ़णां ते निवारणे।।2.23.39।।

adya candanasārasya keyūrāmokṣaṇasya ca| vasūnāṃ ca vimokṣasya suhṛdāṃ pālanasya ca anurūpāvimau bāhū rāma karma kariṣyataḥ| abhiṣecanavighnasya kartṛ़ṇāṃ te nivāraṇe

These arms, O Rama which are fit for sandalwood cream, for wearing armlets, for distributing wealth and for protecting friends, will perform the worthy act of subduing those who are creating obstruction to your consecration.

ब्रवीहि कोऽद्यैव मया वियुज्यताम् तवा सुहृत्प्राणयशस्सुहृज्जनैः। यथा तवेयं वसुधा वशे भवे त्तथैव मां शाधि तवास्मि किङ्करः।।2.23.40।।

bravīhi ko'dyaiva mayā viyujyatām tavā suhṛtprāṇayaśassuhṛjjanaiḥ| yathā taveyaṃ vasudhā vaśe bhave ttathaiva māṃ śādhi tavāsmi kiṅkaraḥ

Tell me your enemy who should be deprived of his life, fame and friends. Command me as to how this earth shall come under your control. Now itself I shall do that. I am your servant.