Uttara Kanda, Sarga 50

दृष्ट्वा तु मैथिलीं सीतामाश्रमे सम्प्रवेशिताम् । सन्तापमगमद्घोरं लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः ।। 7.50.1 ।।

dṛṣṭvā tu maithilīṃ sītāmāśrame sampraveśitām | santāpamagamadghoraṃ lakṣmaṇo dīnacetanaḥ || 7.50.1 ||

Indeed, having seen Maithili Sita led into the hermitage, Lakshmana, with a distressed mind, experienced terrible sorrow.

अब्रवीच्च महातेजाः सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रसारथिम् । सीतासन्तापजं दुःखं पश्य रामस्य सारथे ।। 7.50.2 ।।

abravīcca mahātejāḥ sumantraṃ mantrasārathim | sītāsantāpajaṃ duḥkhaṃ paśya rāmasya sārathe || 7.50.2 ||

And the greatly effulgent Lakshmana spoke to Sumantra, the wise charioteer, saying, 'O charioteer, behold Rama's sorrow born of Sita's distress!'

ततो दुःखतरं किं नु राघवस्य भविष्यति । पत्नीं शुद्धसमाचारां विसृज्य जनकात्मजाम् ।। 7.50.3 ।।

tato duḥkhataraṃ kiṃ nu rāghavasya bhaviṣyati | patnīṃ śuddhasamācārāṃ visṛjya janakātmajām || 7.50.3 ||

Indeed, what could be more sorrowful for Rama than having abandoned his wife, Janaka's daughter, who is of pure conduct?

व्यक्तं दैवादहं मन्ये राघवस्य विना भवम् । वैदेह्या सारथे नित्यं दैवं हि दुरतिक्रमम् ।। 7.50.4 ।।

vyaktaṃ daivādahaṃ manye rāghavasya vinā bhavam | vaidehyā sārathe nityaṃ daivaṃ hi duratikramam || 7.50.4 ||

O charioteer, I clearly believe that Rama's separation from Sita is due to destiny, for destiny is always insurmountable.

यो हि देवान्सगन्धर्वानसुरान्सह राक्षसैः । निहन्याद्राघवः क्रुद्धः स दैवमनुवर्तते ।। 7.50.5 ।।

yo hi devānsagandharvānasurānsaha rākṣasaiḥ | nihanyādrāghavaḥ kruddhaḥ sa daivamanuvartate || 7.50.5 ||

Even Rama, who when enraged could indeed destroy gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, and Rakshasas, still follows destiny.

पुरा रामः पितुर्वाक्याद्दण्डके विजने वने । उषित्वा नव वर्षाणि पञ्च चैव महावने ।। 7.50.6 ।।

purā rāmaḥ piturvākyāddaṇḍake vijane vane | uṣitvā nava varṣāṇi pañca caiva mahāvane || 7.50.6 ||

Formerly, Rama, obeying his father's command, resided for fourteen years in the solitary Dandaka forest and other great forests.

ततो दुःखतरं भूयः सीताया विप्रवासनम् । पौराणां वचनं श्रुत्वा नृशंसं प्रतिभाति मे ।। 7.50.7 ।।

tato duḥkhataraṃ bhūyaḥ sītāyā vipravāsanam | paurāṇāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā nṛśaṃsaṃ pratibhāti me || 7.50.7 ||

Having heard the words of the citizens, Sita's banishment appears to me even more sorrowful than his previous sufferings, and indeed cruel.

को नु धर्माश्रयः सूत कर्मण्यस्मिन्यशोहरे । मैथिलीं प्रतिसम्प्राप्तः पौरैर्हीनार्थवादिभिः ।। 7.50.8 ।।

ko nu dharmāśrayaḥ sūta karmaṇyasminyaśohare | maithilīṃ pratisamprāptaḥ paurairhīnārthavādibhiḥ || 7.50.8 ||

O charioteer, what basis of righteousness is there in this act, which destroys fame, concerning Sita, especially when it is based on the meaningless words spoken by the citizens?

एता वाचो बहुविधाः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणभाषिताः । सुमन्त्रः श्रद्धया प्राज्ञो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। 7.50.9 ।।

etā vāco bahuvidhāḥ śrutvā lakṣmaṇabhāṣitāḥ | sumantraḥ śraddhayā prājño vākyametaduvāca ha || 7.50.9 ||

Having heard these various words spoken by Lakshmana, the wise Sumantra, with faith, indeed spoke this statement.

न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्यः सौमित्रे मैथिलीं प्रति । दृष्टमेतत्पुरा विप्रैः पितुस्ते लक्ष्मणाग्रतः ।। 7.50.10 ।।

na santāpastvayā kāryaḥ saumitre maithilīṃ prati | dṛṣṭametatpurā vipraiḥ pituste lakṣmaṇāgrataḥ || 7.50.10 ||

O Lakshmana, you should not feel sorrow regarding Sita, for this very event was foretold long ago by sages in the presence of your father.

भविष्यति दृढं रामो दुःखप्रायो ऽपि सौख्यभाक् । प्राप्स्यते च महाबाहुर्विप्रयोगं प्रियैर्ध्रुवम् ।। 7.50.11 ।।

bhaviṣyati dṛḍhaṃ rāmo duḥkhaprāyo 'pi saukhyabhāk | prāpsyate ca mahābāhurviprayogaṃ priyairdhruvam || 7.50.11 ||

Rama, though predominantly sorrowful, will certainly experience happiness, and the mighty-armed one will undoubtedly face separation from his dear ones.

त्वां चैव मैथिलीं चैव शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ । सन्त्यजिष्यति धर्मात्मा कालेन महता महान् ।। 7.50.12 ।।

tvāṃ caiva maithilīṃ caiva śatrughnabharatāvubhau | santyajiṣyati dharmātmā kālena mahatā mahān || 7.50.12 ||

The great and righteous Rama will indeed abandon you, Maithili, and both Shatrughna and Bharata, after a long period of time.

इदं त्वयि न वक्तव्यं सौमित्रे भरते ऽपि वा । राज्ञा वो व्याहृतं वाक्यं दुर्वासा यदुवाच ह ।। 7.50.13 ।।

idaṃ tvayi na vaktavyaṃ saumitre bharate 'pi vā | rājñā vo vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ durvāsā yaduvāca ha || 7.50.13 ||

O Lakshmana, this statement, which Durvasa indeed spoke to the king and which the king then spoke to you all, should not be revealed to you or even to Bharata.

महाजनसमीपे च मम चैव नरर्षभ । ऋषिणा व्याहृतं वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य च सन्निधौ ।। 7.50.14 ।।

mahājanasamīpe ca mama caiva nararṣabha | ṛṣiṇā vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ vasiṣṭhasya ca sannidhau || 7.50.14 ||

O best among men, this statement was spoken by the sage (Valmiki) in a large gathering, in my presence, and also in the presence of Vasistha.

ऋषेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा मामाह पुरुषर्षभः । सूत न क्वचिदेवं ते वक्तव्यं जनसन्निधौ ।। 7.50.15 ।।

ṛṣestu vacanaṃ śrutvā māmāha puruṣarṣabhaḥ | sūta na kvacidevaṃ te vaktavyaṃ janasannidhau || 7.50.15 ||

Having heard the sage's words, the best among men (Rama) said to me, "O charioteer, you should never speak thus in the presence of people."

तस्याहं लोकपालस्य वाक्यं तत्सुसमाहितः । नैव जात्वनृतं कार्यमिति मे सौम्य दर्शनम् ।। 7.50.16 ।।

tasyāhaṃ lokapālasya vākyaṃ tatsusamāhitaḥ | naiva jātvanṛtaṃ kāryamiti me saumya darśanam || 7.50.16 ||

O gentle one, I carefully consider that command of the protector of the world (Rama), for it is my view that one should never utter an untruth.

सर्वथैव न वक्तव्यं मया सौम्य तवाग्रतः । यदि ते श्रवणे श्रद्धा श्रूयतां रघुनन्दन ।। 7.50.17 ।।

sarvathaiva na vaktavyaṃ mayā saumya tavāgrataḥ | yadi te śravaṇe śraddhā śrūyatāṃ raghunandana || 7.50.17 ||

O gentle one, I should not speak of this in front of you at all; however, O delight of the Raghus, if you have faith in listening, then let it be heard.

यद्यप्यहं नरेन्द्रेण रहस्यं श्रावितः पुरा । तथाप्युदाहरिष्यामि दैवं हि दुरतिक्रमम् ।। 7.50.18 ।।

yadyapyahaṃ narendreṇa rahasyaṃ śrāvitaḥ purā | tathāpyudāhariṣyāmi daivaṃ hi duratikramam || 7.50.18 ||

Although the king (Rama) previously told me this secret, I will nevertheless narrate it, for destiny is indeed difficult to overcome.

येनेदमीदृशं प्राप्तं दुःखं शोकसमन्वितम् । न त्वया भरते वाच्यं शत्रुघ्नस्यापि सन्निधौ ।। 7.50.19 ।।

yenedamīdṛśaṃ prāptaṃ duḥkhaṃ śokasamanvitam | na tvayā bharate vācyaṃ śatrughnasyāpi sannidhau || 7.50.19 ||

This sorrow, accompanied by grief, which has been experienced, should not be spoken of by you to Bharata, nor even in the presence of Shatrughna.

तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्य गम्भीरार्थपदं महत् । तथ्यं ब्रूहीति सौमित्रिः सूतं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। 7.50.20 ।।

tacchrutvā bhāṣitaṃ tasya gambhīrārthapadaṃ mahat | tathyaṃ brūhīti saumitriḥ sūtaṃ vākyamathābravīt || 7.50.20 ||

Having heard his profound and significant words, Lakshmana then spoke to the charioteer, saying, "Tell me the truth.". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पञ्चाशः सर्गः ।। 50 ।। Thus ends the fiftieth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.