Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 61

वनं गते धर्मपरे रामे रमयतां वरे। कौसल्या रुदती स्वार्ता भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.61.1।।

vanaṃ gate dharmapare rāme ramayatāṃ vare| kausalyā rudatī svārtā bhartāramidamabravīt

When Rama, the greatest among those who please the people, he who was conscious of his duty left for the forest. Kausalya, sobbing in bitter anguish, said to her husband:

यद्यपि त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रथितं ते महद्यशः। सानुक्रोशो वदान्यश्च प्रियवादी च राघवः।।2.61.2।।

yadyapi triṣu lokeṣu prathitaṃ te mahadyaśaḥ| sānukrośo vadānyaśca priyavādī ca rāghavaḥ

Your great fame has spread all over the three worlds. People know you as compassionate, generous and sweetspeaking scion of the Raghus.

कथं नरवरश्रेष्ठ पुत्रौ तौ सह सीतया। दुःखितौ सुखसंवृद्धौ वने दुःखं सहिष्यतः।।2.61.3।।

kathaṃ naravaraśreṣṭha putrau tau saha sītayā| duḥkhitau sukhasaṃvṛddhau vane duḥkhaṃ sahiṣyataḥ

O Dasaratha, the best among kings, how will your two sons and Sita brought up in great comfort now tolerate the hardships of forest life?

सा नूनं तरुणी श्यामा सुकुमारी सुखोचिता। कथमुष्णं च शीतं च मैथिली प्रसहिष्यते।।2.61.4।।

sā nūnaṃ taruṇī śyāmā sukumārī sukhocitā| kathamuṣṇaṃ ca śītaṃ ca maithilī prasahiṣyate

How can the daughter of Mithila (Sita) who in the prime of her life, accustomed to comforts, endure heat and cold indeed?

भुक्त्वाऽशनं विशालाक्षी सूपदं शान्वितं शुभम्। वन्यं नैवारमाहारं कथं सीतोपभोक्ष्यते।।2.61.5।।

bhuktvā'śanaṃ viśālākṣī sūpadaṃ śānvitaṃ śubham| vanyaṃ naivāramāhāraṃ kathaṃ sītopabhokṣyate

How can the largeeyed Sita having enjoyed delicious food mixed with condiments and soup now partake the food prepared with wild grains?

गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा शुभमनिन्दिता। कथं क्रव्यादसिंहानां शब्दं श्रोष्यत्यशोभनम्।।2.61.6।।

gītavāditranirghoṣaṃ śrutvā śubhamaninditā| kathaṃ kravyādasiṃhānāṃ śabdaṃ śroṣyatyaśobhanam

How can the blameless Sita, used to the soft sound of songs and musical instruments hear the frightful roars of lions and other carnivorous animals?

महेन्द्रध्वजसङ्काशः क्व नु शेते महाभुजः। भुजं परिघसङ्काशमुपधाय महाबलः।।2.61.7।।

mahendradhvajasaṅkāśaḥ kva nu śete mahābhujaḥ| bhujaṃ parighasaṅkāśamupadhāya mahābalaḥ

Where will that mightyarmed and powerful Rama, as lofty as Indra's banner, sleep using his ironbarlike arm as pillow?.

पद्मवर्णं सुकेशान्तं पद्मनिश्श्वासमुत्तमम्। कदा द्रक्ष्यामि रामस्य वदनं पुष्करेक्षणम्।।2.61.8।।

padmavarṇaṃ sukeśāntaṃ padmaniśśvāsamuttamam| kadā drakṣyāmi rāmasya vadanaṃ puṣkarekṣaṇam

When shall I see Rama with his lotushued face, his beautiful locks of hair, breath of lotus fragrance and eyes like blue lotus?

वज्रसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मे न संशयः। अपश्यन्त्या न तं यद्वै फलतीदं सहस्रधा।।2.61.9।।

vajrasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ me na saṃśayaḥ| apaśyantyā na taṃ yadvai phalatīdaṃ sahasradhā

No doubt my heart must be made of thunderbolt, since unable to see Rama it does not split into a thousand pieces.

यत्त्वयाऽकरुणं कर्म व्यपोह्य मम बान्धवाः। निरस्ताः परिधावन्ति सुखार्हाः कृपणा वने।।2.61.10।।

yattvayā'karuṇaṃ karma vyapohya mama bāndhavāḥ| nirastāḥ paridhāvanti sukhārhāḥ kṛpaṇā vane

(O king) It is because of your heartless action, my Rama and my relatives who deserve to enjoy pleasures at this age have been banished and are miserably wandering in wilderness.

यदि पञ्चदशे वर्षे राघवः पुनरेष्यति। जह्याद्राज्यं च कोषं च भरतो नोपलक्षयते।।2.61.11।।

yadi pañcadaśe varṣe rāghavaḥ punareṣyati| jahyādrājyaṃ ca koṣaṃ ca bharato nopalakṣayate

Even if Rama returns in the fifteenth year, it is unlikely that Bharata will give up the kingdom and royal treasury (in favour of Rama).

भोजयन्ति किल श्राद्धे केचित्स्वानेव बान्धवान्। ततः पश्चात्समीक्षन्ते कृतकार्या द्विजर्षभान्।।2.61.12।।

bhojayanti kila śrāddhe kecitsvāneva bāndhavān| tataḥ paścātsamīkṣante kṛtakāryā dvijarṣabhān

Some first feed their own relatives in shraddha ceremony and thereafter look for the best of brahmins to feed.

तत्र ये गुणवन्तश्च विद्वांसश्च द्विजातयः। न पश्चात्तेऽभिमन्यन्ते सुधामपि सुरोपमाः।।2.61.13।।

tatra ye guṇavantaśca vidvāṃsaśca dvijātayaḥ| na paścātte'bhimanyante sudhāmapi suropamāḥ

The godlike brahmins who are virtuous and learned will not accept the food after others have partaken even if it is ambrosia.

ब्राह्मणेष्वपि तृप्तेषु पश्चाद्भोक्तुं द्विजर्षभाः। नाभ्युपैतुमलं प्राज्ञा श्शृङ्गच्छेदमिवर्षभाः।।2.61.14।।

brāhmaṇeṣvapi tṛpteṣu paścādbhoktuṃ dvijarṣabhāḥ| nābhyupaitumalaṃ prājñā śśṛṅgacchedamivarṣabhāḥ

The bulls (best) among the wise brahmins would not like to accept the food after it is tasted by other brahmins, just as bulls dislike their horns being shorn.

एवं कनीयसा भ्रात्रा भुक्तं राज्यं विशाम्पते। भ्राता ज्येष्ठो वरिष्ठश्च किमर्थं नावमंस्यते।।2.61.15।।

evaṃ kanīyasā bhrātrā bhuktaṃ rājyaṃ viśāmpate| bhrātā jyeṣṭho variṣṭhaśca kimarthaṃ nāvamaṃsyate

O Lord of the world why not the eldest and the most distinguished among the brothers likewise disdain the kingdom enjoyed by the younger brother?

न परेणाऽहृतं भक्ष्यं व्याघ्रः खादितुमिच्छति। एवमेतन्नरव्याघ्रः परलीढं न मन्यते।।2.61.16।।

na pareṇā'hṛtaṃ bhakṣyaṃ vyāghraḥ khāditumicchati| evametannaravyāghraḥ paralīḍhaṃ na manyate

Just as a tiger will not eat the food acquired by another beast, Rama, the tiger (best) among men will not accept the kingdom enjoyed by others.

हविराज्यं पुरोडाशाः कुशा यूपाश्च खादिराः। नैतानि यातयामानि कुर्वन्ति पुनरध्वरे।।2.61.17।।

havirājyaṃ puroḍāśāḥ kuśā yūpāśca khādirāḥ| naitāni yātayāmāni kurvanti punaradhvare

Havis, sacrificial offerings like ghee, cakes, kusha grass, and sacrificial posts made from khadira wood, once used in the sacrifice cannot be used again.

तथा ह्यात्तमिदं राज्यं हृतसारां सुरामिव। नाभिमन्तुमलं रामो नष्टसोममिवाध्वरम्।।2.61.18।।

tathā hyāttamidaṃ rājyaṃ hṛtasārāṃ surāmiva| nābhimantumalaṃ rāmo naṣṭasomamivādhvaram

In the same way Rama will not accept this kingdom enjoyed by others like liquour or soma juice drained of its essence.

न चेमां धर्षणां राम सङ्गच्छेदत्यमर्षणः। दारयेन्मन्दरमपि स हि क्रुद्धश्शितैश्शरैः।।2.61.19।।

na cemāṃ dharṣaṇāṃ rāma saṅgacchedatyamarṣaṇaḥ| dārayenmandaramapi sa hi kruddhaśśitaiśśaraiḥ

Rama, highly determined will not suffer this indignity. If enraged, he can split open even mount Mandara with his sharp arrows.

त्वां तु नोत्सहते हन्तुं महात्मा पितृगौरवात्। ससोमार्कग्रहगणं नभस्ताराविचित्रितम्।।2.61.20।। पातयेद्योदिवं क्रुद्धस्सत्वां न व्यतिवर्तते। प्रक्षोभयेद्वारये द्वा महीं शैलशताचिताम्।।2.61.21।।

tvāṃ tu notsahate hantuṃ mahātmā pitṛgauravāt| sasomārkagrahagaṇaṃ nabhastārāvicitritam pātayedyodivaṃ kruddhassatvāṃ na vyativartate| prakṣobhayedvāraye dvā mahīṃ śailaśatācitām

Out of respect for his father magnanimous Rama is not inclined to kill you. He has not defied the anger, the Sun, the Moon and the sky looking wonderful with stars can be pulled down. He will not even shake or break the earth surrounded by hundreds of mountains.

त्वां तु नोत्सहते हन्तुं महात्मा पितृगौरवात्। ससोमार्कग्रहगणं नभस्ताराविचित्रितम्।।2.61.20।। पातयेद्योदिवं क्रुद्धस्सत्वां न व्यतिवर्तते। प्रक्षोभयेद्वारये द्वा महीं शैलशताचिताम्।।2.61.21।।

tvāṃ tu notsahate hantuṃ mahātmā pitṛgauravāt| sasomārkagrahagaṇaṃ nabhastārāvicitritam pātayedyodivaṃ kruddhassatvāṃ na vyativartate| prakṣobhayedvāraye dvā mahīṃ śailaśatācitām

Out of respect for his father magnanimous Rama is not inclined to kill you. He has not defied the anger, the Sun, the Moon and the sky looking wonderful with stars can be pulled down. He will not even shake or break the earth surrounded by hundreds of mountains.

नैवं विधमसत्कारं राघवो मर्षयिष्यति। बलवानिव शार्दूलो वालधेरभिमर्शनम्।।2.61.22।।

naivaṃ vidhamasatkāraṃ rāghavo marṣayiṣyati| balavāniva śārdūlo vāladherabhimarśanam

A powerful tiger will not allow its tail to be twisted. In the same way Rama also will not tolerate an insult of this sort.

नैतस्य सहिता लोका भयं कुर्युर्महामृथे। अधर्मंत्विह धर्मात्मा लोकं धर्मेण योजयेत्।।2.61.23।।

naitasya sahitā lokā bhayaṃ kuryurmahāmṛthe| adharmaṃtviha dharmātmā lokaṃ dharmeṇa yojayet

Even if all the worlds were to unite and fight against him, he will not fear. This righteous Rama will reestablish justice in this unrighteous world.

नन्वसौ काञ्चनैर्बाणैर्महावीर्यो महाभुजः। युगान्त इव भूतानि सागरानपि निर्दहेत्।।2.61.24।।

nanvasau kāñcanairbāṇairmahāvīryo mahābhujaḥ| yugānta iva bhūtāni sāgarānapi nirdahet

Valiant and mightyarmed Rama, with his golden shafts can annihilate all living beings and oceans like at the time of deluge everything is consumed in fire.

स तादृशस्सिंहबलो वृषभाक्षो नरर्षभः। स्वयमेव हतः पित्रा जलजेनात्मजो यथा।।2.61.25।।

sa tādṛśassiṃhabalo vṛṣabhākṣo nararṣabhaḥ| svayameva hataḥ pitrā jalajenātmajo yathā

Such Rama, the best among men, powerful like a lion, with eyes fierce like that of a bull has been destroyed by his own father just as the big fish destroys its own offsprings.

द्विजातिचरितो धर्मश्शास्त्रदृष्टस्सनातनः। यदि ते धर्मनिरते त्वया पुत्रे विवासिते।।2.61.26।।

dvijāticarito dharmaśśāstradṛṣṭassanātanaḥ| yadi te dharmanirate tvayā putre vivāsite

You have banished your son who is devoted to righteousness. Is it in accordance with the scriptures and the eternal tradition followed by the twiceborn?

गतिरेका पतिर्नार्या द्वितीया गतिरात्मजः। तृतीया ज्ञातयो राजंश्चतुर्थी नेह विद्यते।।2.61.27।।

gatirekā patirnāryā dvitīyā gatirātmajaḥ| tṛtīyā jñātayo rājaṃścaturthī neha vidyate

O king for a woman the first refuge is the husband, the second her son, the third her relatives and there is no fourth alternative in this world.