Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53

स तं वृक्षं समासाद्य सन्ध्यामन्वास्यपश्चिमाम्। रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठ इति होवाच लक्ष्मणम्।।2.53.1।।

sa taṃ vṛkṣaṃ samāsādya sandhyāmanvāsyapaścimām| rāmo ramayatāṃ śreṣṭha iti hovāca lakṣmaṇam

On reaching the foot of the tree, Rama offered oblations to Sandhya of the west. And then he who is the best in keeping people in good humour said to Lakshmana:

अद्येयं प्रथमा रात्रिर्याता जनपदाद्बहिः। या सुमन्त्रेण रहिता तां नोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि।।2.53.2।।

adyeyaṃ prathamā rātriryātā janapadādbahiḥ| yā sumantreṇa rahitā tāṃ notkaṇṭhitumarhasi

We will have to spend this first night without Sumantra and away from human habitation. (Yet) you need not worry.

जागर्तव्यमतन्द्रिभ्यामद्यप्रभृति रात्रिषु। योगक्षेमौ हि सीताया वर्तेते लक्ष्मणावयोः।।2.53.3।।

jāgartavyamatandribhyāmadyaprabhṛti rātriṣu| yogakṣemau hi sītāyā vartete lakṣmaṇāvayoḥ

O Lakshmana, from now on we must be sleeplessly vigilant at night. The welfare and safety of Sita depend on us both.

रात्रिं कथञ्चिदेवेमां सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे। अपावर्तामहे भूमावास्तीर्य स्वयमार्जितैः।।2.53.4।।

rātriṃ kathañcidevemāṃ saumitre vartayāmahe| apāvartāmahe bhūmāvāstīrya svayamārjitaiḥ

O Lakshmana, we will have to somehow pass this night, sleeping on the ground spread with whatever we have procured.

स तु संविश्य मेदिन्यां महार्हशयनोचितः। इमाः सौमित्रये रामो व्याजहार कथाः शुभाः।।2.53.5।।

sa tu saṃviśya medinyāṃ mahārhaśayanocitaḥ| imāḥ saumitraye rāmo vyājahāra kathāḥ śubhāḥ

Rama who deserved a luxurious bed lay down on the ground and uttered these beneficial words to Lakshamana:

ध्रुवमद्य महाराजो दुःखं स्वपिति लक्ष्मण। कृतकामा तु कैकेयी तुष्टा भवितुमर्हति।।2.53.6।।

dhruvamadya mahārājo duḥkhaṃ svapiti lakṣmaṇa| kṛtakāmā tu kaikeyī tuṣṭā bhavitumarhati

O Lakshmana, the maharaja must be having a painful sleep tonight. But Kaikeyi with her desires fulfilled, ought to feel satisfied.

सा हि देवी महाराजं कैकेयी राज्यकारणात्। अपि न च्यावयेत्प्राणान् दृष्ट्वा भरतमागतम्।।2.53.7।।

sā hi devī mahārājaṃ kaikeyī rājyakāraṇāt| api na cyāvayetprāṇān dṛṣṭvā bharatamāgatam

After the arrival of Bharata, I hope queen Kaikeyi does not deprive the king of his life for the sake of the kingdom?

अनाथश्च हि वृद्धश्च मया चैव विनाकृतः। किं करिष्यति कामात्मा कैकेयी वशमागतः।।2.53.8।।

anāthaśca hi vṛddhaśca mayā caiva vinākṛtaḥ| kiṃ kariṣyati kāmātmā kaikeyī vaśamāgataḥ

That lustful king, having come under the hold of Kaikeyi, has been deprived of my presence. What can that forlorn and aged king do?

इदं व्यसनमालोक्य राज्ञश्च मतिविभ्रमम्। काम एवार्थधर्माभ्यां गरीयानिति मे मतिः।।2.53.9।।

idaṃ vyasanamālokya rājñaśca mativibhramam| kāma evārthadharmābhyāṃ garīyāniti me matiḥ

Reflecting on the calamity and mental aberration of the king, I think passion is stronger than wealth and righteousness.

को ह्यविद्वानपि पुमान् प्रमदायाः कृते त्यजेत्। छन्दानुवर्तिनं पुत्रं तातो मामिव लक्ष्मण।।2.53.10।।

ko hyavidvānapi pumān pramadāyāḥ kṛte tyajet| chandānuvartinaṃ putraṃ tāto māmiva lakṣmaṇa

O Lakshmana, will even an illiterate man for the sake of a woman ever abandon his son like me who is faithful and obedient, as did my father?

सुखी बत सभार्यश्च भरतः केकयीसुतः। मुदितान् कोसलानेको यो भोक्ष्यत्यधिराजवत्।।2.53.11।।

sukhī bata sabhāryaśca bharataḥ kekayīsutaḥ| muditān kosalāneko yo bhokṣyatyadhirājavat

Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, with his wife will alone enjoy like an emperor this kingdom of Kosala full of happy people.

स हि सर्वस्य राज्यस्य मुखमेकं भविष्यति। ताते च वयसाऽतीते मयि चारण्यमास्थिते।।2.53.12।।

sa hi sarvasya rājyasya mukhamekaṃ bhaviṣyati| tāte ca vayasā'tīte mayi cāraṇyamāsthite

The king is advanced in age and I have to dwell in the forest. Therefore, Bharata alone will be the chief of this entire kingdom.

अर्थधर्मौ परित्यज्य य काममनुवर्तते। एवमापद्यते क्षिप्रं राजा दशरथो यथा।।2.53.13।।

arthadharmau parityajya ya kāmamanuvartate| evamāpadyate kṣipraṃ rājā daśaratho yathā

Any king who abandons dharma and artha and adopts a life of pleasure will very soon reach this state as Dasaratha has attained.

मन्ये दशरथान्ताय मम प्रव्राजनाय च। कैकेयी सौम्य सम्प्राप्ता राज्याय भरतस्य च।।2.53.14।।

manye daśarathāntāya mama pravrājanāya ca| kaikeyī saumya samprāptā rājyāya bharatasya ca

O handsome Lakshmana I think Kaikeyi has come to our house for the destruction of Dasaratha, for my banishment and enthronement of Bharata in the kingdom.

अपीदानीं तु कैकेयी सौभाग्यमदमोहिता। कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च सम्प्रबाधेत मत्कृते।।2.53.15।।

apīdānīṃ tu kaikeyī saubhāgyamadamohitā| kausalyāṃ ca sumitrāṃ ca samprabādheta matkṛte

Intoxicated with her good fortune will not Kaikeyi torment Kausalya and Sumitra for my sake?

मा स्म मत्कारणाद्देवी सुमित्रा दुःखमावसेत्। अयोध्यामित एव त्वं काल्ये प्रविश लक्ष्मण।।2.53.16।।

mā sma matkāraṇāddevī sumitrā duḥkhamāvaset| ayodhyāmita eva tvaṃ kālye praviśa lakṣmaṇa

O Lakshmana, because of me mother Sumitra should not live in sorrow. Therefore, tomorrow morning go back to Ayodhya from here itself.

अहमेको गमिष्यामि सीतया सह दण्डकान्। अनाथाया हि नाथस्त्वं कौशल्याया भविष्यसि।।2.53.17।।

ahameko gamiṣyāmi sītayā saha daṇḍakān| anāthāyā hi nāthastvaṃ kauśalyāyā bhaviṣyasi

I shall go with Sita into the Dandaka forest and you be the protector of the helpless, Kausalya.

क्षुद्रकर्मा हि कैकेयी द्वेष्यमन्याय्यमाचरेत्। परिदद्याहि धर्मज्ञे भरते मम मातरम्।।2.53.18।।

kṣudrakarmā hi kaikeyī dveṣyamanyāyyamācaret| paridadyāhi dharmajñe bharate mama mātaram

Kaikeyi who is a woman of heinous deeds may follow, out of hostility, an unjust way in respect of my mother. In that case my mother may be entrusted to the care of Bharata who is righteous.

नूनं जात्यन्तरे कस्मिन् स्त्रियः पुत्रैर्वियोजिताः। जनन्या मम सौमित्रे तस्मादेतदुपस्थितम्।।2.53.19।।

nūnaṃ jātyantare kasmin striyaḥ putrairviyojitāḥ| jananyā mama saumitre tasmādetadupasthitam

O Lakshmana, surely in one of her previous births did my mother separate women from their sons. That is why this (calamity) has befallen her.

मया हि चिरपुष्टेन दुखसंवर्धितेन च। विप्रयुज्यत कौशल्या फलकाले धिगस्तु माम्।।2.53.20।।

mayā hi cirapuṣṭena dukhasaṃvardhitena ca| viprayujyata kauśalyā phalakāle dhigastu mām

Kausalya nurtured me for a long time and reared me with great difficulty. When she was going to enjoy the fruits of her labour, I have been separated from her. Fie upon me

मा स्म सीमन्तिनी काचिज्जनयेत्पुत्रमीदृशम्। सौमित्रे योऽहमम्बाया दद्मि शोकमनन्तकम्।।2.53.21।।

mā sma sīmantinī kācijjanayetputramīdṛśam| saumitre yo'hamambāyā dadmi śokamanantakam

O Lakshmana, I am causing endless sorrow to my mother. May no mother give birth to a son like me

मन्ये प्रीतिविशिष्टा सा मत्तो लक्ष्मण शारिका। यस्यास्तच्छ्रूयते वाक्यं शुक पादमरेर्दश।।2.53.22।।

manye prītiviśiṣṭā sā matto lakṣmaṇa śārikā| yasyāstacchrūyate vākyaṃ śuka pādamarerdaśa

(On hearing my banishment) her myna would say to her parrot, 'O parrot, bite the foot of the enemy (Kaikeyi)'. I think that bird is a greater source of joy to my mother than I, O Lakshmana

शोचन्त्या अल्पभाग्याया न किञ्चिदुपकुर्वता। पुत्रेण किमपुत्राया मया कार्यमरिन्दम।।2.53.23।।

śocantyā alpabhāgyāyā na kiñcidupakurvatā| putreṇa kimaputrāyā mayā kāryamarindama

My mother has less fortune and more grief like a woman without a son, O Lakshmana, subduer of enemies For her, what is the use of a son like me who cannot render any service to her?

अल्पभाग्या हि मे माता कौशल्या रहिता मया। शेते परमदुःखार्ता पतिता शोकसागरे।।2.53.24।।

alpabhāgyā hi me mātā kauśalyā rahitā mayā| śete paramaduḥkhārtā patitā śokasāgare

My mother is unlucky as she has been separated from me. Extremely distressed, she must have plunged into an ocean of grief.

एको ह्यहमयोध्यां च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण। तरेयमिषुभिः क्रुद्धो ननु वीर्यमकारणम्।।2.53.25।।

eko hyahamayodhyāṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa| tareyamiṣubhiḥ kruddho nanu vīryamakāraṇam

Once enraged, O Lakshmana I can overpower Ayodhya, even the whole world all by myself with my arrows. But exhibition of prowess without any reason is not desirable.

अधर्मभयभीतश्च परलोकस्य चानघ। तेन लक्ष्मण नाद्याह मात्मानमभिषेचये।।2.53.26।।

adharmabhayabhītaśca paralokasya cānagha| tena lakṣmaṇa nādyāha mātmānamabhiṣecaye

O sinless one, I did not get myself coronated owing to fear of unrighteous conduct and fear of the other world.

एतदन्यश्च करुणं विलप्य विजने वने। अश्रुपूर्णमुखो रामो निशि तूष्णीमुपाविशत्।।2.53.27।।

etadanyaśca karuṇaṃ vilapya vijane vane| aśrupūrṇamukho rāmo niśi tūṣṇīmupāviśat

Like this and in many other ways Rama lamented pitifully in that desolate forest. When his face was filled with tears, he sat silently in the night.

विलप्योपरतं रामं गतार्चिषमिवानलम्। समुद्रमिव निर्वेगमाश्वासयत लक्ष्मणः।।2.53.28।।

vilapyoparataṃ rāmaṃ gatārciṣamivānalam| samudramiva nirvegamāśvāsayata lakṣmaṇaḥ

Lakshmana consoled Rama who ceased to lament like fire with extinguished flames or like a motionless sea:

ध्रुवमद्य पुरी राजन्नयोध्यायुधिनां वर। निष्प्रभा त्वयि निष्क्रान्ते गतचन्द्रेव शर्वरी।।2.53.29।।

dhruvamadya purī rājannayodhyāyudhināṃ vara| niṣprabhā tvayi niṣkrānte gatacandreva śarvarī

O Rama, foremost of warriors, it is certain that since your departure, the city of Ayodhya must be lustreless like night without the Moon.

नैतदौपयिकं राम यदिदं परितप्यते। विषादयसि सीतां च मां चैव पुरुषर्षभ।।2.53.30।।

naitadaupayikaṃ rāma yadidaṃ paritapyate| viṣādayasi sītāṃ ca māṃ caiva puruṣarṣabha

This is not the way you should lament, O Rama. O foremost of men, by doing so you are disheartening me and Sita as well.

न च सीता त्वया हीना न चाहमपि राघव। मुहूर्तमपि जीवावो जलान्मत्स्याविनोद्धृतौ।।2.53.31।।

na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na cāhamapi rāghava| muhūrtamapi jīvāvo jalānmatsyāvinoddhṛtau

Without you Sita or I will not survive even for a moment like a fish taken out of water, O Rama

नहि तातं न शत्रुघ्नं न सुमित्रां परन्तप। द्रष्टुमिच्छेयमद्याहं स्वर्गं चापि त्वया विना।।2.53.32।।

nahi tātaṃ na śatrughnaṃ na sumitrāṃ parantapa| draṣṭumiccheyamadyāhaṃ svargaṃ cāpi tvayā vinā

Without you, O Rama, tormentor of enemies, I wish to see neither father nor Satrughna nor Sumitra nor even heaven itself

ततस्तत्र सुखासीनौ नातिदूरे निरीक्ष्य ताम्। न्यग्रोधे सुकृतां शय्यां भेजाते धर्मवत्सलौ।।2.53.33।।

tatastatra sukhāsīnau nātidūre nirīkṣya tām| nyagrodhe sukṛtāṃ śayyāṃ bhejāte dharmavatsalau

Thereafter Rama and Sita, the duo, nurturers of righteousness, from their comfortable seats moved to the bed wellmade under the banyan tree not far (from there where they were sitting) and lay down (to sleep).

स लक्ष्मणस्योत्तमपुष्कलं वचो निशम्य चैवं वनवासमादरात्। समाः समस्ता विदधे परन्तपः प्रपद्य धर्मं सुचिराय राघवः।।2.53.34।।

sa lakṣmaṇasyottamapuṣkalaṃ vaco niśamya caivaṃ vanavāsamādarāt| samāḥ samastā vidadhe parantapaḥ prapadya dharmaṃ sucirāya rāghavaḥ

Rama, the tormentor of enemies, listened, out of love, to the excellent and copious words of Lakshmana and permitted him to live in the forest for the entire period of fourteen years by observing the prescribed code of conduct as enjoined on life in the forest.

ततस्तु तस्मिन् विजने वने तदा महाबलौ राघववंशवर्धनौ। न तौ भयं सम्भ्रममभ्युपेयतु र्यथैव सिंहौ गिरिसानुगोचरौ।।2.53.35।।

tatastu tasmin vijane vane tadā mahābalau rāghavavaṃśavardhanau| na tau bhayaṃ sambhramamabhyupeyatu ryathaiva siṃhau girisānugocarau

Then the two mighty perpetuators of the Raghu race, who were like two lions dwelling on the slopes of mountains, lived in that lonely forest without fear or hesitation. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.