Uttara Kanda, Sarga 45

तेषां समुपविष्टानां सर्वेषां दीनचेतसाम् । उवाच वाक्यं काकुत्स्थो मुखेन परिशुष्यता ।। 7.45.1 ।।

teṣāṃ samupaviṣṭānāṃ sarveṣāṃ dīnacetasām | uvāca vākyaṃ kākutstho mukhena pariśuṣyatā || 7.45.1 ||

Rama, with a face parched by sorrow, spoke to all those who were seated before him with distressed minds.

सर्वे शृणुत भद्रं वो मा कुरुध्वं मनो ऽन्यथा । पौराणां मम सीतायां यादृशी वर्तते कथा ।। 7.45.2 ।।

sarve śṛṇuta bhadraṃ vo mā kurudhvaṃ mano 'nyathā | paurāṇāṃ mama sītāyāṃ yādṛśī vartate kathā || 7.45.2 ||

He asked them all to listen, wishing them well, and not to misunderstand, as he was about to reveal the kind of talk that existed among the citizens concerning his Sita.

पौरापवादः सुमहांस्तथा जनपदस्य च । वर्तते मयि बीभत्सा सा मे मर्माणि कृन्तति ।। 7.45.3 ।।

paurāpavādaḥ sumahāṃstathā janapadasya ca | vartate mayi bībhatsā sā me marmāṇi kṛntati || 7.45.3 ||

A very great and abhorrent scandal from both the citizens and the people of the country exists concerning me, and that talk cuts into my very vitals.

अहं किल कुले जात इक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम् । सीता ऽपि सत्कुले जाता जनकानां महात्मनाम् ।। 7.45.4 ।।

ahaṃ kila kule jāta ikṣvākūṇāṃ mahātmanām | sītā 'pi satkule jātā janakānāṃ mahātmanām || 7.45.4 ||

He stated that he was born in the family of the great-souled Ikshvakus, and Sita too was born in the noble family of the great-souled Janakas.

जानासि त्वं यथा सौम्य दण्डके विजने वने । रावणेन हृता सीता स च विध्वंसितो मया ।। 7.45.5 ।।

jānāsi tvaṃ yathā saumya daṇḍake vijane vane | rāvaṇena hṛtā sītā sa ca vidhvaṃsito mayā || 7.45.5 ||

He reminded them, "O gentle one, you know how Sita was abducted by Ravana in the solitary Dandaka forest, and how I subsequently destroyed him."

तत्र मे बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना जनकस्य सुतां प्रति । अत्रोषितामिमां सीतामानयेयं कथं पुरीम् ।। 7.45.6 ।।

tatra me buddhirutpannā janakasya sutāṃ prati | atroṣitāmimāṃ sītāmānayeyaṃ kathaṃ purīm || 7.45.6 ||

At that time, a thought arose in my mind concerning Janaka's daughter, Sita, wondering how I could bring this Sita, who had resided here, back to the city.

प्रत्ययार्थं ततः सीता विवेश ज्वलनं तदा । प्रत्यक्षं तव सौमित्रे देवानां हव्यवाहनः । अपापां मैथिलीमाह वायुश्चाकाशगोचरः ।। 7.45.7 ।।

pratyayārthaṃ tataḥ sītā viveśa jvalanaṃ tadā | pratyakṣaṃ tava saumitre devānāṃ havyavāhanaḥ | apāpāṃ maithilīmāha vāyuścākāśagocaraḥ || 7.45.7 ||

Then, for the sake of proof, Sita entered the fire, and in your presence, O Lakshmana, the fire-god and the wind-god, who moves in the sky, declared Maithili to be sinless.

चन्द्रादित्यौ च शंसेते सुराणां सन्निधौ पुरा । ऋषीणां चैव सर्वेषामपापां जनकात्मजाम् ।। 7.45.8 ।।

candrādityau ca śaṃsete surāṇāṃ sannidhau purā | ṛṣīṇāṃ caiva sarveṣāmapāpāṃ janakātmajām || 7.45.8 ||

Furthermore, the moon and the sun, in the presence of all the gods and sages, formerly declared Janaka's daughter to be sinless.

एवं शुद्धसमाचारा देवगन्धर्वसन्निधौ । लङ्काद्वीपे महेन्द्रेण मम हस्ते निवेशिता ।। 7.45.9 ।।

evaṃ śuddhasamācārā devagandharvasannidhau | laṅkādvīpe mahendreṇa mama haste niveśitā || 7.45.9 ||

Thus, she of pure conduct was entrusted into my hands by the great Indra himself on the island of Lanka, in the presence of gods and Gandharvas.

अन्तरात्मा च मे वेत्ति सीतां शुद्धां यशस्विनीम् । ततो गृहीत्वा वैदेहीमयोध्यामहमागतः ।। 7.45.10 ।।

antarātmā ca me vetti sītāṃ śuddhāṃ yaśasvinīm | tato gṛhītvā vaidehīmayodhyāmahamāgataḥ || 7.45.10 ||

And my inner self knows Sita to be pure and glorious, so thereafter, I brought Vaidehi to Ayodhya.

अयं तु मे महान्वादः शोकश्च हृदि वर्तते । पौरापवादः सुमहांस्तथा जनपदस्य च ।। 7.45.11 ।।

ayaṃ tu me mahānvādaḥ śokaśca hṛdi vartate | paurāpavādaḥ sumahāṃstathā janapadasya ca || 7.45.11 ||

This great accusation and sorrow, which is the very great slander of the citizens and the people of the country, exists in my heart.

अकीर्तिर्यस्य गीयेत लोके भूतस्य कस्यचित् । पतत्येवाधमाँल्लोकान्यावच्छब्दः प्रकीर्त्यते ।। 7.45.12 ।।

akīrtiryasya gīyeta loke bhūtasya kasyacit | patatyevādhamāँllokānyāvacchabdaḥ prakīrtyate || 7.45.12 ||

Any being whose infamy is spoken of in the world falls to lower realms as long as that word of disgrace is proclaimed.

अकीर्तिर्निन्द्यते देवैः कीर्तिर्लोकेषु पूज्यते । कीर्त्यर्थं तु समारम्भः सर्वेषां सुमहात्मनाम् ।। 7.45.13 ।।

akīrtirnindyate devaiḥ kīrtirlokeṣu pūjyate | kīrtyarthaṃ tu samārambhaḥ sarveṣāṃ sumahātmanām || 7.45.13 ||

Infamy is condemned by the gods, while fame is honored in all worlds, and indeed, all great-souled individuals undertake their endeavors for the sake of renown.

अप्यहं जीवितं जह्यां युष्मान्वा पुरुषर्षभाः । अपवादभयाद्भीतः किं पुनर्जनकात्मजाम् ।। 7.45.14 ।।

apyahaṃ jīvitaṃ jahyāṃ yuṣmānvā puruṣarṣabhāḥ | apavādabhayādbhītaḥ kiṃ punarjanakātmajām || 7.45.14 ||

O best among men, I, being afraid of the fear of slander, would even abandon my life or you all, so what then of Janaka's daughter?

तस्माद्भवन्तः पश्यन्तु पतितं शोकसागरे । नहि पश्याम्यहं भूतं किञ्चिद्दुःखमतो ऽधिकम् ।। 7.45.15 ।।

tasmādbhavantaḥ paśyantu patitaṃ śokasāgare | nahi paśyāmyahaṃ bhūtaṃ kiñcidduḥkhamato 'dhikam || 7.45.15 ||

Therefore, you should see me fallen into an ocean of sorrow, for I indeed do not see any existing sorrow greater than this.

श्वस्त्वं प्रभाते सौमित्रे सुमन्त्राधिष्ठितं रथम् । आरुह्य सीतामारोप्य विषयान्ते समुत्सृज ।। 7.45.16 ।।

śvastvaṃ prabhāte saumitre sumantrādhiṣṭhitaṃ ratham | āruhya sītāmāropya viṣayānte samutsṛja || 7.45.16 ||

O Lakshmana, tomorrow morning, you must ascend the chariot driven by Sumantra, place Sita in it, and abandon her at the border of the kingdom.

गङ्गायास्तु परे पारे वाल्मीकेस्तु महात्मनः । आश्रमो दिव्यसङ्काशस्तमसातीरमाश्रितः ।। 7.45.17 ।।

gaṅgāyāstu pare pāre vālmīkestu mahātmanaḥ | āśramo divyasaṅkāśastamasātīramāśritaḥ || 7.45.17 ||

On the other bank of the Ganga, there is the divine-looking hermitage of the great sage Valmiki, situated on the banks of the Tamasa river.

तत्रैनां विजने देशे विसृज्य रघुनन्दन । शीघ्रमागच्छ भद्रं ते कुरुष्व वचनं मम ।। 7.45.18 ।।

tatraināṃ vijane deśe visṛjya raghunandana | śīghramāgaccha bhadraṃ te kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama || 7.45.18 ||

O Lakshmana, having abandoned her there in that solitary place, return quickly; may good fortune be yours, and carry out my command.

न चास्मिन् प्रतिवक्तव्यः सीतां प्रति कथञ्चन । तस्मात्त्वं गच्छ सौमित्रे नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। 7.45.19 ।।

na cāsmin prativaktavyaḥ sītāṃ prati kathañcana | tasmāttvaṃ gaccha saumitre nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 7.45.19 ||

And regarding Sita, you must not argue against this command in any way; therefore, O Lakshmana, go, for no deliberation is to be done in this matter.

अप्रीतिर्हि परा मह्यं त्वयेतत्प्रतिवारिते । शापिता हि मया यूयं भुजाभ्यां जीवितेन च ।। 7.45.20 ।।

aprītirhi parā mahyaṃ tvayetatprativārite | śāpitā hi mayā yūyaṃ bhujābhyāṃ jīvitena ca || 7.45.20 ||

Indeed, great displeasure will befall me if you oppose this, for I have made you all swear by my arms and by my very life.

ये मां वाक्यान्तरे ब्रूयुरनुनेतुं कथञ्चन । अहिता नाम ते नित्यं मदभीष्टविघातनात् ।। 7.45.21 ।।

ye māṃ vākyāntare brūyuranunetuṃ kathañcana | ahitā nāma te nityaṃ madabhīṣṭavighātanāt || 7.45.21 ||

Those who would speak to me with other words, attempting to persuade me in any way, are indeed always my enemies because they obstruct my desire.

मानयन्तु भवन्तो मां यदि मच्छासने स्थिताः । इतो ऽद्य नीयतां सीता कुरुष्व वचनं मम ।। 7.45.22 ।।

mānayantu bhavanto māṃ yadi macchāsane sthitāḥ | ito 'dya nīyatāṃ sītā kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama || 7.45.22 ||

If you abide by my command, then respect me; let Sita be taken from here today, and obey my word.

पूर्वमुक्तो ऽहमनया गङ्गातीरे ऽहमाश्रमान् । पश्येयमिति तस्याश्च कामः संवर्त्यतामयम् ।। 7.45.23 ।।

pūrvamukto 'hamanayā gaṅgātīre 'hamāśramān | paśyeyamiti tasyāśca kāmaḥ saṃvartyatāmayam || 7.45.23 ||

She had previously told me that she wished to see the hermitages on the bank of the Ganga, so let this desire of hers be fulfilled.

एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थो बाष्पेण पिहिताननः । प्रविवेश स धर्मात्मा भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ।। 7.45.24 ।।

evamuktvā tu kākutstho bāṣpeṇa pihitānanaḥ | praviveśa sa dharmātmā bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ || 7.45.24 ||

Having spoken thus, Rama, the righteous one, with his face covered in tears, entered, surrounded by his brothers.

शोकसंलग्नहृदयो निशश्वास यथा द्विपः ।। 7.45.25 ।।

śokasaṃlagnahṛdayo niśaśvāsa yathā dvipaḥ || 7.45.25 ||

With his heart engulfed by sorrow, he sighed like an elephant. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।। 45 ।। Thus ends the forty-fifth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.