Uttara Kanda, Sarga 52

तत्र तां रजनीमुष्य केशिन्यां रघुनन्दनः । प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय लक्ष्मणः प्रययौ तदा ।। 7.52.1 ।।

tatra tāṃ rajanīmuṣya keśinyāṃ raghunandanaḥ | prabhāte punarutthāya lakṣmaṇaḥ prayayau tadā || 7.52.1 ||

Having stayed that night in Keshini, Lakshmana, the delight of the Raghus, rose again in the morning and then departed.

ततो ऽर्धदिवसे प्राप्ते प्रविवेश महारथः । अयोध्यां रत्नसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनावृताम् ।। 7.52.2 ।।

tato 'rdhadivase prāpte praviveśa mahārathaḥ | ayodhyāṃ ratnasampūrṇāṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanāvṛtām || 7.52.2 ||

Then, at midday, the great warrior Lakshmana entered Ayodhya, which was full of jewels and teeming with happy and well-nourished people.

सौमित्रिस्तु परं दैन्यं जगाम सुमहामतिः । रामपादौ समासाद्य वक्ष्यामि किमहं गतः ।। 7.52.3 ।।

saumitristu paraṃ dainyaṃ jagāma sumahāmatiḥ | rāmapādau samāsādya vakṣyāmi kimahaṃ gataḥ || 7.52.3 ||

The highly intelligent Lakshmana was overcome with extreme distress, wondering what he would say to Rama upon reaching his feet.

तस्यैवं चिन्तयानस्य भवनं शशिसन्निभम् । रामस्य परमोदारं पुरस्तान्समदृश्यत ।। 7.52.4 ।।

tasyaivaṃ cintayānasya bhavanaṃ śaśisannibham | rāmasya paramodāraṃ purastānsamadṛśyata || 7.52.4 ||

As he was thus contemplating, Rama's most magnificent palace, shining like the moon, appeared before him.

राज्ञस्तु भवनद्वारि सो ऽवतीर्य रथोत्तमात् । अवाङ्मुखो दीनमनाः प्रविवेशानिवारितः ।। 7.52.5 ।।

rājñastu bhavanadvāri so 'vatīrya rathottamāt | avāṅmukho dīnamanāḥ praviveśānivāritaḥ || 7.52.5 ||

At the king's palace gate, he alighted from his excellent chariot and, with a downcast face and sorrowful mind, entered unhindered.

स दृष्ट्वा राघवं दीनमासीनं परमासने । नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां ददर्शाग्रजमग्रतः ।। 7.52.6 ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā rāghavaṃ dīnamāsīnaṃ paramāsane | netrābhyāmaśrupūrṇābhyāṃ dadarśāgrajamagrataḥ || 7.52.6 ||

He saw Rama, his elder brother, seated on an excellent seat in front of him, looking distressed, and his own eyes filled with tears.

जग्राह चरणौ तस्य लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः । उवाच दीनया वाचा प्राञ्जलिः सुसमाहितः ।। 7.52.7 ।।

jagrāha caraṇau tasya lakṣmaṇo dīnacetanaḥ | uvāca dīnayā vācā prāñjaliḥ susamāhitaḥ || 7.52.7 ||

Lakshmana, with a sorrowful mind, grasped Rama's feet and, with folded hands and a very composed yet humble voice, began to speak.

आर्यस्याज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य विसृज्य जनकात्मजाम् । गङ्गातीरे यथोद्दिष्टे वाल्मीकेराश्रमे शुचौ ।। 7.52.8 ।।

āryasyājñāṃ puraskṛtya visṛjya janakātmajām | gaṅgātīre yathoddiṣṭe vālmīkerāśrame śucau || 7.52.8 ||

Having followed your command, I left Janaka's daughter on the pure bank of the Ganga, in Valmiki's hermitage as instructed.

तत्र तां च शुभाचारामाश्रमान्ते यशस्विनीम् । पुनरप्यागतो वीर पादमूलमुपासितुम् ।। 7.52.9 ।।

tatra tāṃ ca śubhācārāmāśramānte yaśasvinīm | punarapyāgato vīra pādamūlamupāsitum || 7.52.9 ||

O hero, I have returned to serve at your feet, having left her, who is of auspicious conduct and glorious, there at the edge of the hermitage.

मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र कालस्य गतिरीदृशी । त्वद्विधा न हि शोचन्ति बुद्धिमन्तो मनस्विनः ।। 7.52.10 ।।

mā śucaḥ puruṣavyāghra kālasya gatirīdṛśī | tvadvidhā na hi śocanti buddhimanto manasvinaḥ || 7.52.10 ||

O tiger among men, do not grieve, for such is the course of time, and intelligent, high-minded individuals like you certainly do not lament.

सर्वे क्षयान्ता निचयाः पतनान्ताः समुच्छ्रयाः । संयोगा विप्रयोगान्ता मरणान्तं च जीवितम् ।। 7.52.11 ।।

sarve kṣayāntā nicayāḥ patanāntāḥ samucchrayāḥ | saṃyogā viprayogāntā maraṇāntaṃ ca jīvitam || 7.52.11 ||

All accumulations end in decay, all elevations end in a fall, all unions end in separation, and life itself ends in death.

तस्मात्पुत्रेषु दारेषु मित्रेषु च धनेषु च । नातिप्रसङ्गः कर्तव्यो विप्रयोगो हि तैर्ध्रुवम् ।। 7.52.12 ।।

tasmātputreṣu dāreṣu mitreṣu ca dhaneṣu ca | nātiprasaṅgaḥ kartavyo viprayogo hi tairdhruvam || 7.52.12 ||

Therefore, one should not have excessive attachment to sons, wives, friends, or wealth, for separation from them is indeed inevitable.

शक्तस्त्वमात्मना ऽ ऽत्मानं विनेतुं मनसैव हि । लोकान्सर्वांश्च काकुत्स्थ किं पुनः शोकमात्मनः ।। 7.52.13 ।।

śaktastvamātmanā ' 'tmānaṃ vinetuṃ manasaiva hi | lokānsarvāṃśca kākutstha kiṃ punaḥ śokamātmanaḥ || 7.52.13 ||

O Kakutstha, you are surely capable of controlling your own self and indeed all worlds by your mind, so how much more easily can you control your own sorrow?

नेदृशेषु विमुह्यन्ति त्वद्विधाः पुरुषर्षभाः । अपवादः स किल ते पुनरेष्यति राघव ।। 7.52.14 ।।

nedṛśeṣu vimuhyanti tvadvidhāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ | apavādaḥ sa kila te punareṣyati rāghava || 7.52.14 ||

Best among men like you do not become bewildered in such situations, and indeed, O Raghava, that very blame will come upon you again.

यदर्थं मैथिली त्यक्ता अपवादभयान्नृप । सो ऽपवादः पुरे राजन्भविष्यति न संशयः ।। 7.52.15 ।।

yadarthaṃ maithilī tyaktā apavādabhayānnṛpa | so 'pavādaḥ pure rājanbhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 7.52.15 ||

O King, that very blame for which Maithili was abandoned out of fear of scandal will undoubtedly arise again among the people in the city.

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल धैर्येण सुसमाहितः । त्यजैनां दुर्बलां बुद्धिं सन्तापं मा कुरुष्व ह ।। 7.52.16 ।।

sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla dhairyeṇa susamāhitaḥ | tyajaināṃ durbalāṃ buddhiṃ santāpaṃ mā kuruṣva ha || 7.52.16 ||

O best of men, you, being well-composed with fortitude, should abandon this weak thought and indeed do not give in to grief.

एवमुक्तः स काकुत्स्थो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । उवाच परया प्रीत्या सौमित्रिं मित्रवत्सलः ।। 7.52.17 ।।

evamuktaḥ sa kākutstho lakṣmaṇena mahātmanā | uvāca parayā prītyā saumitriṃ mitravatsalaḥ || 7.52.17 ||

Thus addressed by the great-souled Lakshmana, that Kakutstha, who was affectionate towards his friends, spoke to Saumitri with great affection.

एवमेतन्नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण । परितोषश्च मे वीर मम कार्यानुशासने ।। 7.52.18 ।।

evametannaraśreṣṭha yathā vadasi lakṣmaṇa | paritoṣaśca me vīra mama kāryānuśāsane || 7.52.18 ||

O best among men, Lakshmana, this is indeed as you say, and I am greatly satisfied, O hero, with your counsel regarding my duty.

निवृत्तिश्चागता सौम्य सन्तापश्च निराकृतः । भवद्वाक्यैः सुरुचिरैरनुनीतो ऽस्मि लक्ष्मण ।। 7.52.19 ।।

nivṛttiścāgatā saumya santāpaśca nirākṛtaḥ | bhavadvākyaiḥ surucirairanunīto 'smi lakṣmaṇa || 7.52.19 ||

O gentle Lakshmana, relief has come, and my sorrow has been dispelled; I have been comforted by your very pleasing words. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे द्विपञ्चाशः सर्गः ।। 52 ।। Thus ends the fifty-second sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.