Uttara Kanda, Sarga 47

अथ नावं सुविस्तीर्णां नैषादीं राघवानुजः । आरुरोह समायुक्तां पूर्वमारोप्य मैथिलीम् ।। 7.47.1 ।।

atha nāvaṃ suvistīrṇāṃ naiṣādīṃ rāghavānujaḥ | āruroha samāyuktāṃ pūrvamāropya maithilīm || 7.47.1 ||

Then, Rama's younger brother, Lakshmana, first having placed Maithili (Sita) on the very spacious and well-equipped boat belonging to the Nishadas, himself boarded it.

सुमन्त्रं चैव सरथं स्थीयतामिति लक्ष्मणः । उवाच शोकसन्तप्तः प्रयाहीति च नाविकम् ।। 7.47.2 ।।

sumantraṃ caiva sarathaṃ sthīyatāmiti lakṣmaṇaḥ | uvāca śokasantaptaḥ prayāhīti ca nāvikam || 7.47.2 ||

Distressed by sorrow, Lakshmana told Sumantra to stay there with the chariot and instructed the boatman to proceed.

ततस्तीरमुपागम्य भागीरथ्याः स लक्ष्मणः । उवाच मैथिलीं वाक्यं प्राञ्जलिर्बाष्पसम्प्लुतः ।। 7.47.3 ।।

tatastīramupāgamya bhāgīrathyāḥ sa lakṣmaṇaḥ | uvāca maithilīṃ vākyaṃ prāñjalirbāṣpasamplutaḥ || 7.47.3 ||

Then, having reached the bank of the Bhagirathi, Lakshmana, with folded hands and bathed in tears, spoke to Sita.

हृद्गतं मे महच्छल्यं यस्मादार्येण धीमता । अस्मिन्निमित्ते वैदेहि लोकस्य वचनीकृतः ।। 7.47.4 ।।

hṛdgataṃ me mahacchalyaṃ yasmādāryeṇa dhīmatā | asminnimitte vaidehi lokasya vacanīkṛtaḥ || 7.47.4 ||

O Vaidehi, a great thorn resides in my heart because of which the wise and noble Rama has been made an object of public reproach in this matter.

श्रेयो हि मरणं मे ऽद्य मृत्युर्वा यत्परं भवेत् । न चास्मिन्नीदृशे कार्ये नियोज्यो लोकनिन्दिते ।। 7.47.5 ।।

śreyo hi maraṇaṃ me 'dya mṛtyurvā yatparaṃ bhavet | na cāsminnīdṛśe kārye niyojyo lokanindite || 7.47.5 ||

Indeed, death or whatever ultimate demise may befall me today would be better, for I should not be employed in such a task that is censured by the people.

प्रसीद च न मे पापं कर्तुमर्हसि शोभने । इत्यञ्जलिकृतो भूमौ निपपात स लक्ष्मणः ।। 7.47.6 ।।

prasīda ca na me pāpaṃ kartumarhasi śobhane | ityañjalikṛto bhūmau nipapāta sa lakṣmaṇaḥ || 7.47.6 ||

"Be gracious, O beautiful one, and do not commit this sin against me," thus saying, Lakshmana, with folded hands, fell to the ground.

रुदन्तं प्राञ्जलिं दृष्ट्वा काङ्क्षन्तं मृत्युमात्मनः । मैथिली भृशसंविग्ना लक्ष्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। 7.47.7 ।।

rudantaṃ prāñjaliṃ dṛṣṭvā kāṅkṣantaṃ mṛtyumātmanaḥ | maithilī bhṛśasaṃvignā lakṣmaṇaṃ vākyamabravīt || 7.47.7 ||

Seeing Lakshmana crying, with folded hands, and desiring his own death, Sita became greatly agitated and spoke to him.

किमिदं नावगच्छामि ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन लक्ष्मण । पश्यामि त्वां न च स्वस्थमपि क्षेमं महीपतेः ।। 7.47.8 ।।

kimidaṃ nāvagacchāmi brūhi tattvena lakṣmaṇa | paśyāmi tvāṃ na ca svasthamapi kṣemaṃ mahīpateḥ || 7.47.8 ||

O Lakshmana, I do not understand what this is; tell me the truth, for I see you are not well, and I wonder if the king is safe.

शापितो ऽसि नरेन्द्रेण यत्त्वं सन्तापमागतः । तद्ब्रूयाः सन्निधौ मह्यमहमाज्ञापयामि ते ।। 7.47.9 ।।

śāpito 'si narendreṇa yattvaṃ santāpamāgataḥ | tadbrūyāḥ sannidhau mahyamahamājñāpayāmi te || 7.47.9 ||

You must tell me in my presence if you have been cursed by the king, which has caused you such distress, for I command you to do so.

वैदेह्या चोद्यमानस्तु लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । अवाङ्मुखो बाष्पकलं वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। 7.47.10 ।।

vaidehyā codyamānastu lakṣmaṇo dīnacetanaḥ | avāṅmukho bāṣpakalaṃ vākyametaduvāca ha || 7.47.10 ||

Being urged by Sita, Lakshmana, with a sorrowful mind and downcast face, spoke these words in a voice choked with tears.

श्रुत्वा परिषदो मध्ये ह्यपवादं सुदारुणम् । पुरे जनपदे चैव त्वत्कृते जनकात्मजे । रामः सन्तप्तहृदयो मा निवेद्य गृहं गतः ।। 7.47.11 ।।

śrutvā pariṣado madhye hyapavādaṃ sudāruṇam | pure janapade caiva tvatkṛte janakātmaje | rāmaḥ santaptahṛdayo mā nivedya gṛhaṃ gataḥ || 7.47.11 ||

O daughter of Janaka, having heard a very harsh slander against you in the assembly, both in the city and the countryside, Rama, with a tormented heart, informed me and then went home.

न तानि वचनीयानि मया देवि तवाग्रतः । यानि राज्ञा हृदि न्यस्तान्यमर्षात्पृष्ठतः कृतः ।। 7.47.12 ।।

na tāni vacanīyāni mayā devi tavāgrataḥ | yāni rājñā hṛdi nyastānyamarṣātpṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtaḥ || 7.47.12 ||

Lakshmana tells Sita that he cannot speak to her the words that King Rama has kept in his heart but has set aside due to public opinion.

सा त्वं त्यक्ता नृपतिना निर्दोषा मम सन्निधौ । पौरापवादभीतेन ग्राह्यं देवि न ते ऽन्यथा ।। 7.47.13 ।।

sā tvaṃ tyaktā nṛpatinā nirdoṣā mama sannidhau | paurāpavādabhītena grāhyaṃ devi na te 'nyathā || 7.47.13 ||

Lakshmana informs Sita that she, though faultless in his presence, has been abandoned by the king who fears public scandal, and this command must be accepted by her without question.

आश्रमान्तेषु च मया त्यक्तव्या त्वं भविष्यसि । राज्ञः शासनमाज्ञाय तवेदं किल दौर्हृदम् ।। 7.47.14 ।।

āśramānteṣu ca mayā tyaktavyā tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi | rājñaḥ śāsanamājñāya tavedaṃ kila daurhṛdam || 7.47.14 ||

Lakshmana further explains that he will abandon her at the borders of the hermitages, understanding that this is the king's command and also related to her longing for the forest.

तदेतज्जाह्नवीतीरे ब्रह्मर्षीणां तपोवनम् । पुण्यं च रमणीयं च मा विषादं कृथाः शुभे ।। 7.47.15 ।।

tadetajjāhnavītīre brahmarṣīṇāṃ tapovanam | puṇyaṃ ca ramaṇīyaṃ ca mā viṣādaṃ kṛthāḥ śubhe || 7.47.15 ||

Lakshmana points out that this hermitage on the bank of the Ganga is sacred and delightful, belonging to Brahmarishis, and urges Sita, the auspicious one, not to despair.

राज्ञो दशरथस्येष्टः पितुर्मे मुनिपुङ्गवः । सखा परमको विप्रो वाल्मीकिः सुमहायशाः ।। 7.47.16 ।।

rājño daśarathasyeṣṭaḥ piturme munipuṅgavaḥ | sakhā paramako vipro vālmīkiḥ sumahāyaśāḥ || 7.47.16 ||

Lakshmana informs Sita that the highly renowned sage Valmiki, who is a dear and supreme friend to his father King Dasharatha, resides here.

पादच्छायामुपागम्य सुखमस्य महात्मनः । उपवासपरैकाग्रा वस त्वं जनकात्मजे ।। 7.47.17 ।।

pādacchāyāmupāgamya sukhamasya mahātmanaḥ | upavāsaparaikāgrā vasa tvaṃ janakātmaje || 7.47.17 ||

O daughter of Janaka, you should dwell happily and with focused devotion to fasting in the shade of this great soul (Valmiki).

पतिव्रतात्वमास्थाय रामं कृत्वा सदा हृदि । श्रेयस्ते परमं देवि तथा कृत्वा भविष्यति ।। 7.47.18 ।।

pativratātvamāsthāya rāmaṃ kṛtvā sadā hṛdi | śreyaste paramaṃ devi tathā kṛtvā bhaviṣyati || 7.47.18 ||

O goddess, by adopting the state of a devoted wife and always keeping Rama in your heart, your supreme welfare will be achieved. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।। 47 ।। Thus ends the forty-seventh sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.