Uttara Kanda, Sarga 46

ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । सुमन्त्रमब्रवीद्वाक्यं मुखेन परिशुष्यता ।। 7.46.1 ।।

tato rajanyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ lakṣmaṇo dīnacetanaḥ | sumantramabravīdvākyaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā || 7.46.1 ||

Then, when the night had dawned, Lakshmana, with a sorrowful mind and a parched face, spoke to Sumantra.

सारथे तुरगाञ्छीघ्रं योजयस्व रथोत्तमे । स्वास्तीर्णं राजभवनात्सीतायाश्चासनं कुरु ।। 7.46.2 ।।

sārathe turagāñchīghraṃ yojayasva rathottame | svāstīrṇaṃ rājabhavanātsītāyāścāsanaṃ kuru || 7.46.2 ||

O charioteer, quickly harness the horses to the excellent chariot and prepare a well-cushioned seat for Sita from the royal palace.

सीता हि राजवचनादाश्रमं पुण्यकर्मणाम् । मया नेया महर्षीणां श्रीघ्रमानीयतां रथः ।। 7.46.3 ।।

sītā hi rājavacanādāśramaṃ puṇyakarmaṇām | mayā neyā maharṣīṇāṃ śrīghramānīyatāṃ rathaḥ || 7.46.3 ||

Indeed, Sita is to be taken by me to the hermitage of the virtuous great sages by the king's command, so let the chariot be brought quickly.

सुमन्त्रस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा युक्तं परमवाजिभिः । रथं सुरुचिरप्रख्यं स्वास्तीर्णं सुखशय्यया ।। 7.46.4 ।।

sumantrastu tathetyuktvā yuktaṃ paramavājibhiḥ | rathaṃ suruciraprakhyaṃ svāstīrṇaṃ sukhaśayyayā || 7.46.4 ||

But Sumantra, having said "so be it," brought the chariot, harnessed with excellent horses, appearing very beautiful, and well-cushioned with a comfortable seat.

आनीयोवाच सौमित्रिं मित्राणां मानवर्धनम् । रथो ऽयं समनुप्राप्तो यत्कार्यं क्रियतां प्रभो ।। 7.46.5 ।।

ānīyovāca saumitriṃ mitrāṇāṃ mānavardhanam | ratho 'yaṃ samanuprāpto yatkāryaṃ kriyatāṃ prabho || 7.46.5 ||

Having brought it, he said to Lakshmana, the augmenter of friends' honor, "O lord, this chariot has arrived; whatever task is to be done, let it be performed."

एवमुक्तः सुमन्त्रेण राजवेश्मनि लक्ष्मणः । प्रविश्य सीतामासाद्य व्याजहार नरर्षभः ।। 7.46.6 ।।

evamuktaḥ sumantreṇa rājaveśmani lakṣmaṇaḥ | praviśya sītāmāsādya vyājahāra nararṣabhaḥ || 7.46.6 ||

Lakshmana, the best among men, thus addressed by Sumantra, entered the royal palace, approached Sita, and spoke to her.

त्वया किलैष नृपतिर्वरं वै याचितः प्रभुः । नृपेण च प्रतिज्ञातमाज्ञप्तश्चाश्रमं प्रति ।। 7.46.7 ।।

tvayā kilaiṣa nṛpatirvaraṃ vai yācitaḥ prabhuḥ | nṛpeṇa ca pratijñātamājñaptaścāśramaṃ prati || 7.46.7 ||

Lakshmana informed Sita that she had indeed requested a boon from the king, who in turn had promised it and now commanded Lakshmana to take her to a hermitage.

गङ्गीतीरे मया देवि ऋषीणामाश्रमाञ्छुभान् । शीघ्रं गत्वा तु वैदेहि शासनात्पार्थिवस्य नः । अरण्ये मुनिभिर्जुष्टे अपनेया भविष्यसि ।। 7.46.8 ।।

gaṅgītīre mayā devi ṛṣīṇāmāśramāñchubhān | śīghraṃ gatvā tu vaidehi śāsanātpārthivasya naḥ | araṇye munibhirjuṣṭe apaneyā bhaviṣyasi || 7.46.8 ||

Lakshmana tells Sita that by the command of their king, he will quickly take her to the auspicious hermitages of sages on the bank of the Ganga, where she will be left in a forest frequented by ascetics.

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे गमनं चाप्यरोचयत् ।। 7.46.9 ।।

evamuktā tu vaidehī lakṣmaṇena mahātmanā | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe gamanaṃ cāpyarocayat || 7.46.9 ||

Thus addressed by the great-souled Lakshmana, Vaidehi felt incomparable joy and approved of the journey.

वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च । गृहीत्वा तानि वैदेही गमनायोपचक्रमे ।। 7.46.10 ।।

vāsāṃsi ca mahārhāṇi ratnāni vividhāni ca | gṛhītvā tāni vaidehī gamanāyopacakrame || 7.46.10 ||

Vaidehi, having taken valuable garments and various jewels, prepared herself for the journey.

इमानि मुनिपत्नीनां दास्याम्याभरणान्हम् । वस्त्राणि च महार्हाणि धनानि विविधानि च ।। 7.46.11 ।।

imāni munipatnīnāṃ dāsyāmyābharaṇānham | vastrāṇi ca mahārhāṇi dhanāni vividhāni ca || 7.46.11 ||

I shall give these ornaments, very valuable clothes, and various riches to the wives of the sages.

सौमित्रिस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा रथमारोप्य मैथिलीम् । प्रययौ शीघ्रतुरगै रामस्याज्ञामनुस्मरन् ।। 7.46.12 ।।

saumitristu tathetyuktvā rathamāropya maithilīm | prayayau śīghraturagai rāmasyājñāmanusmaran || 7.46.12 ||

Lakshmana, having said "so be it," made Sita ascend the chariot and proceeded with swift horses, remembering Rama's command.

अब्रवीच्च तदा सीता लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मिवर्धनम् । अशुभानि बहून्येव पश्यामि रघुनन्दन ।। 7.46.13 ।।

abravīcca tadā sītā lakṣmaṇaṃ lakṣmivardhanam | aśubhāni bahūnyeva paśyāmi raghunandana || 7.46.13 ||

Then Sita said to Lakshmana, the augmenter of prosperity, "O delight of the Raghus, I indeed see many inauspicious signs."

नयनं मे स्फुरत्यद्य गात्रोत्कम्पश्च जायते । हृदयं चैव सौमित्रे अस्वस्थमिव लक्षये ।। 7.46.14 ।।

nayanaṃ me sphuratyadya gātrotkampaśca jāyate | hṛdayaṃ caiva saumitre asvasthamiva lakṣaye || 7.46.14 ||

My eye throbs today, and a trembling of my body occurs; indeed, O son of Sumitra, I perceive my heart to be uneasy.

औत्सुक्यं परमं चापि अधृतिश्च परा मम । शून्यामेव च पश्यामि पृथिवीं पृथुलोचन ।। 7.46.15 ।।

autsukyaṃ paramaṃ cāpi adhṛtiśca parā mama | śūnyāmeva ca paśyāmi pṛthivīṃ pṛthulocana || 7.46.15 ||

I also have extreme anxiety and great restlessness, and indeed, O broad-eyed one, I see the earth as empty.

अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्तस्य भ्रातुस्ते भ्रातृवत्सल । श्वश्रूणां चैव मे वीर सर्वासामविशेषतः ।। 7.46.16 ।।

api svasti bhavettasya bhrātuste bhrātṛvatsala | śvaśrūṇāṃ caiva me vīra sarvāsāmaviśeṣataḥ || 7.46.16 ||

Sita, addressing Lakshmana as a lover of brothers and a hero, wishes for the well-being of his brother (Rama) and especially for all her mothers-in-law.

पुरे जनपदे चैव कुशलं प्राणिनामपि । इत्यञ्जलिकृता सीता देवता अभ्ययाचत ।। 7.46.17 ।।

pure janapade caiva kuśalaṃ prāṇināmapi | ityañjalikṛtā sītā devatā abhyayācata || 7.46.17 ||

With folded hands, Sita thus prayed to the deities for the well-being of all living beings in the city and the kingdom.

लक्ष्मणो ऽर्थं ततः श्रुत्वा शिरसा वन्द्य मैथिलीम् । शिवमित्यब्रवीद्धृष्टो हृदयेन विशुष्यता ।। 7.46.18 ।।

lakṣmaṇo 'rthaṃ tataḥ śrutvā śirasā vandya maithilīm | śivamityabravīddhṛṣṭo hṛdayena viśuṣyatā || 7.46.18 ||

Lakshmana, having heard Sita's request, bowed his head to Maithili and, though outwardly appearing pleased, said "auspicious" with a heart that was inwardly grieving.

ततो वासमुपागम्य गोमतीतीर आश्रमे । प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय सौमित्रिः सूतमब्रवीत् ।। 7.46.19 ।।

tato vāsamupāgamya gomatītīra āśrame | prabhāte punarutthāya saumitriḥ sūtamabravīt || 7.46.19 ||

Then, having stayed in a hermitage on the bank of the Gomati, Lakshmana rose again in the morning and spoke to the charioteer.

योजयस्व रथं शीघ्रमद्य भागीरथीजलम् । शिरसा धारयिष्यामि त्र्यम्बकः पर्वते यथा ।। 7.46.20 ।।

yojayasva rathaṃ śīghramadya bhāgīrathījalam | śirasā dhārayiṣyāmi tryambakaḥ parvate yathā || 7.46.20 ||

Lakshmana instructed the charioteer to quickly harness the chariot, stating that he would bear the waters of the Bhagirathi on his head today, just as Lord Shiva bears them on the mountain.

सो ऽश्वान् रज्वाथ चतुरो रथे युङ्क्त्वा मनोजवान् । आरोहस्वेति वैदेहीं सूतः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् ।। 7.46.21 ।।

so 'śvān rajvātha caturo rathe yuṅktvā manojavān | ārohasveti vaidehīṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalirabravīt || 7.46.21 ||

The charioteer Sumantra, having yoked four mind-swift horses to the chariot, then respectfully requested Vaidehi to ascend it.

सा तु सूतस्य वचनादारुरोह रथोत्तमम् । सीता सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सुमन्त्रेण च धीमता ।। 7.46.22 ।।

sā tu sūtasya vacanādāruroha rathottamam | sītā saumitriṇā sārdhaṃ sumantreṇa ca dhīmatā || 7.46.22 ||

Sita, in response to the charioteer's words, ascended the excellent chariot accompanied by Lakshmana and the intelligent Sumantra.

आससाद विशालाक्षी गङ्गां पापविनाशिनीम् । अथार्धदिवसं गत्वा भागीरथ्या जलाशयम् ।। 7.46.23 ।।

āsasāda viśālākṣī gaṅgāṃ pāpavināśinīm | athārdhadivasaṃ gatvā bhāgīrathyā jalāśayam || 7.46.23 ||

After traveling for half a day, the wide-eyed Sita reached the sacred waters of the Ganga, the destroyer of sins.

निरीक्ष्य लक्ष्मणो दीनः प्ररुरोद महास्वनः ।। 7.46.24 ।।

nirīkṣya lakṣmaṇo dīnaḥ praruroda mahāsvanaḥ || 7.46.24 ||

Observing the situation, the distressed Lakshmana wept loudly with a great sound.

सीता तु परमायत्ता दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमातुरम् । उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञा किमिदं रुद्यते त्वया ।। 7.46.25 ।।

sītā tu paramāyattā dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇamāturam | uvāca vākyaṃ dharmajñā kimidaṃ rudyate tvayā || 7.46.25 ||

But Sita, a knower of dharma and greatly agitated upon seeing Lakshmana distressed, asked him, "Why are you weeping like this?"

जाह्नवीतीरमासाद्य चिराभिलषितं मम । हर्षकाले किमर्थं मां विषादयसि लक्ष्मण ।। 7.46.26 ।।

jāhnavītīramāsādya cirābhilaṣitaṃ mama | harṣakāle kimarthaṃ māṃ viṣādayasi lakṣmaṇa || 7.46.26 ||

O Lakshmana, why do you make me sad at this joyful moment, when we have reached the bank of the Ganga, which I have desired for so long?

नित्यं त्वं रामपार्श्वेषु वर्तसे पुरुषर्षभ । कच्चिद्विनाकृतस्तेन द्विरात्रं शोकमागतः ।। 7.46.27 ।।

nityaṃ tvaṃ rāmapārśveṣu vartase puruṣarṣabha | kaccidvinākṛtastena dvirātraṃ śokamāgataḥ || 7.46.27 ||

O best among men, you are always by Rama's side; I hope you have not become sorrowful because you have been separated from him for two nights.

ममापि दयितो रामो जीवितादपि लक्ष्मण । न चाहमेवं शोचामि मैवं त्वं बालिशो भव ।। 7.46.28 ।।

mamāpi dayito rāmo jīvitādapi lakṣmaṇa | na cāhamevaṃ śocāmi maivaṃ tvaṃ bāliśo bhava || 7.46.28 ||

O Lakshmana, Rama is dearer to me even than my own life, yet I do not grieve in this manner, so do not be childish.

तारयस्व च मां गङ्गां दर्शयस्व च तापसान् । ततो मुनिभ्यो दास्यामि वांसास्याभरणानि च ।। 7.46.29 ।।

tārayasva ca māṃ gaṅgāṃ darśayasva ca tāpasān | tato munibhyo dāsyāmi vāṃsāsyābharaṇāni ca || 7.46.29 ||

Please ferry me across the Ganga and show me the ascetics, and then I will give clothes and ornaments to the sages.

ततः कृत्वा महर्षीणां यथार्हमभिवादनम् । तत्र चैकां निशामुष्य यास्यामस्तां पुरीं पुनः ।। 7.46.30 ।।

tataḥ kṛtvā maharṣīṇāṃ yathārhamabhivādanam | tatra caikāṃ niśāmuṣya yāsyāmastāṃ purīṃ punaḥ || 7.46.30 ||

Then, after appropriately saluting the great sages and staying there for one night, we will return to that city (Ayodhya) again.

ममापि पद्मपत्राक्षं सिंहोरस्कं कृशोदरम् । त्वरते हि मनो द्रष्टुं रामं रमयतां वरम् ।। 7.46.31 ।।

mamāpi padmapatrākṣaṃ siṃhoraskaṃ kṛśodaram | tvarate hi mano draṣṭuṃ rāmaṃ ramayatāṃ varam || 7.46.31 ||

My mind also indeed yearns to see Rama, who has eyes like lotus leaves, a lion-like chest, a slender belly, and is the best among those who delight others.

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रमृज्य नयने शुभे । नाविकानाह्वयामास लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा ।। 7.46.32 ।।

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā pramṛjya nayane śubhe | nāvikānāhvayāmāsa lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā || 7.46.32 ||

Having heard her words and wiped his beautiful eyes, Lakshmana, the destroyer of enemy heroes, called the boatmen.

इयं च सज्जा नौश्चेति दाशाः प्राञ्जलयो ऽब्रुवन् ।। 7.46.33 ।।

iyaṃ ca sajjā nauśceti dāśāḥ prāñjalayo 'bruvan || 7.46.33 ||

The boatmen, with folded hands, said, "This boat is ready."

तितीर्षुर्लक्ष्मणो गङ्गां शुभां नावमुपारुहत् । गङ्गां सन्तारयामास लक्ष्मणस्तां समाहितः ।। 7.46.34 ।।

titīrṣurlakṣmaṇo gaṅgāṃ śubhāṃ nāvamupāruhat | gaṅgāṃ santārayāmāsa lakṣmaṇastāṃ samāhitaḥ || 7.46.34 ||

Desiring to cross the Ganga, Lakshmana boarded the auspicious boat and then attentively ferried Sita across the Ganga. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे षट्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।। 46 ।। Thus ends the forty-sixth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.