Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 26 of 119 · 38 verses
Rama Tells Sita
Rama walks to Sita’s house through the crowded royal road, churning people’s hearts with his goodness. Sita has heard nothing; she has done her worship and waits, joyful, for the consecration. Rama enters, his face bowed a little in shame. She springs up trembling and sees him burning with grief, his senses confused. Unable to hold back his grief before her, he lets it show. Seeing his pale, sweating face, she asks: “What is this, lord? Today the brahmanas say Pushya is joined with the moon; why are you sad? Why is your face not shaded by the white umbrella with its hundred ribs, nor fanned by the moon-white whisks? Why do no bards and heralds praise you, no brahmanas pour honey and curd on your head, no people follow you? Where is the flower-chariot with four golden horses, the great elephant like a dark cloud, the golden throne carried before you? Your face has a colour I have never seen, and no joy.”
Rama says: “Sita, my father is sending me to the forest. Hear how it has come about, you who know dharma and live by it. Long ago my truthful father gave two great boons to my mother Kaikeyi. Today, as my consecration was ready, she claimed them, and he was won over by dharma: I must live fourteen years in Dandaka, and Bharata is appointed crown prince. I have come to see you before I go to the lonely forest. Never praise me in front of Bharata; prosperous men cannot bear the praise of others. Be agreeable with him; the king has given him the eternal position of crown prince, so win him and the king over. While I am gone, keep vows and fasts; rise early, worship the gods, salute my father, honour my old mother Kausalya, worn with grief, and all my mothers alike. Treat Bharata and Shatrughna as brothers and sons; never displease Bharata, for he is now king of the land and the family. Kings are pleased by good conduct and service and angered by the opposite; they abandon even their own harmful sons and take in capable strangers. Live here, devoted to the king and to Bharata, faithful to dharma and truth. I go to the great forest, my love; you must stay here. Do as I say, so that you cause no one pain.”
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अभिवाद्य तु कौसल्यां रामः सम्प्रस्थितो वनम् । कृतस्वस्त्ययनो मात्रा धर्मिष्ठे वर्त्मनि स्थितः ॥ १ ॥
Having saluted Kausalya, Rama set out for the forest, his mother having performed the rites for his journey, standing on the most righteous path.
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विराजयन् राजसुतो राजमार्गं नरैर्वृतम् । हृदयान्याममन्थेव जनस्य गुणवत्तया ॥ २ ॥
Lighting up the royal road crowded with men, the prince seemed to churn the hearts of the people with his virtues.
वैदेही चापि तत् सर्वं न शुश्राव तपस्विनी । तदेव हृदि तस्याश्च यौवराज्याभिषेचनम् ॥ ३ ॥
Vaidehi, devoted to her vows, had heard nothing of all this; in her heart there was only the consecration as crown prince.
देवकार्यं स्म सा कृत्वा कृतज्ञा हृष्टचेतना । अभिज्ञा राजधर्माणां राजपुत्री प्रतीक्षति ॥ ४ ॥
Having done the worship of the gods, grateful and glad at heart, the princess, who knew the ways of kings, was waiting.
प्रविवेशाथ रामस्तु स्ववेश्म सुविभूषितम् । प्रहृष्टजनसम्पूर्णं ह्रिया किंचिदवाङ्मुखः ॥ ५ ॥
Then Rama entered his own house, finely decorated, full of joyful people, his face bowed a little with shame.
अथ सीता समुत्पत्य वेपमाना च तं पतिम् । अपश्यच्छोकसंतप्तं चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियम् ॥ ६ ॥
Then Sita sprang up, trembling, and saw her husband burning with grief, his senses confused with anxiety.
तां दृष्ट्वा स हि धर्मात्मा न शशाक मनोगतम् । तं शोकं राघवः सोढुं ततो विवृततां गतः ॥ ७ ॥
Seeing her, righteous Raghava could not bear the grief in his heart, and it came into the open.
विवर्णवदनं दृष्ट्वा तं प्रस्विन्नममर्षणम् । आह दुःखाभिसंतप्ता किमिदानीमिदं प्रभो ॥ ८ ॥
Seeing his face pale, sweating and impatient, she, burning with grief, said: “What is this now, lord?
अद्य बार्हस्पतः श्रीमान् युक्तः पुष्येण राघव । प्रोच्यते ब्राह्मणैः प्राज्ञैः केन त्वमसि दुर्मनाः ॥ ९ ॥
“Today the glorious Brihaspati star, Pushya, is joined with the moon, Raghava, so the wise brahmanas declare. Why are you sad?
न ते शतशलाकेन जलफेननिभेन च । आवृतं वदनं वल्गु च्छत्रेणाभिविराजते ॥ १० ॥
“Your lovely face does not shine shaded by the umbrella with a hundred ribs, like the foam of water.
व्यजनाभ्यां च मुख्याभ्यां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणम् । चन्द्रहंसप्रकाशाभ्यां वीज्यते न तवाननम् ॥ ११ ॥
“Your face, with eyes like lotus petals, is not being fanned by the two fine whisks, bright as the moon and swans.
वाग्मिनो वन्दिनश्चापि प्रहृष्टास्त्वां नरर्षभ । स्तुवन्तो नाद्य दृश्यन्ते मङ्गलैः सूतमागधाः ॥ १२ ॥
“The eloquent panegyrists, bards and heralds are not seen today praising you joyfully with auspicious words, bull among men.
न ते क्षौद्रं च दधि च ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः । मूर्ध्नि मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य ददति स्म विधानतः ॥ १३ ॥
“The brahmanas, masters of the Vedas, have not poured honey and curd on your head, as on a consecrated king’s, according to rule.
न त्वां प्रकृतयः सर्वाः श्रेणीमुख्याश्च भूषिताः । अनुव्रजितुमिच्छन्ति पौरजानपदास्तथा ॥ १४ ॥
“The people, the heads of the guilds in their finery, and the people of town and country do not wish to follow you.
चतुर्भिर्वेगसम्पन्नैर्हयैः काञ्चनभूषणैः । मुख्यः पुष्परथो युक्तः किं न गच्छति तेऽग्रतः ॥ १५ ॥
“Why does the foremost flower-chariot, yoked with four swift horses adorned with gold, not go before you?
न हस्ती चाग्रतः श्रीमान् सर्वलक्षणपूजितः । प्रयाणे लक्ष्यते वीर कृष्णमेघगिरिप्रभः ॥ १६ ॥
“No glorious elephant, honoured for every auspicious mark, like a dark cloud or a mountain, is seen at your departure, hero.
न च काञ्चनचित्रं ते पश्यामि प्रियदर्शन । भद्रासनं पुरस्कृत्य यान्तं वीर पुरःसरम् ॥ १७ ॥
“I do not see the golden, ornamented throne carried before you as you go, lovely one, hero.
अभिषेको यदा सज्जः किमिदानीमिदं तव । अपूर्वो मुखवर्णश्च न प्रहर्षश्च लक्ष्यते ॥ १८ ॥
“When the consecration is ready, what is this with you now? Your face has a colour never seen before, and no joy is to be seen.”
इतीव विलपन्तीं तां प्रोवाच रघुनन्दनः । सीते तत्रभवांस्तातः प्रव्राजयति मां वनम् ॥ १९ ॥
To her, lamenting so, the delight of the Raghus said: “Sita, my revered father is banishing me to the forest.
कुले महति सम्भूते धर्मज्ञे धर्मचारिणि । शृणु जानकि येनेदं क्रमेणाद्यागतं मम ॥ २० ॥
“Born in a great family, knowing dharma, practising dharma, hear, Janaki, the course by which this has come to me today.
राज्ञा सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन पित्रा दशरथेन वै । कैकेय्यै मम मात्रे तु पुरा दत्तौ महावरौ ॥ २१ ॥
“My father, King Dasharatha, true to his promises, long ago gave two great boons to my mother Kaikeyi.
तयाद्य मम सज्जेऽस्मिन्नभिषेके नृपोद्यते । प्रचोदितः स समयो धर्मेण प्रतिनिर्जितः ॥ २२ ॥
“Today, with my consecration prepared by the king, she has called in that agreement, and he has been overcome by dharma.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वस्तव्यं दण्डके मया । पित्रा मे भरतश्चापि यौवराज्ये नियोजितः ॥ २३ ॥
“For fourteen years I must live in Dandaka, and my father has appointed Bharata crown prince.
सोऽहं त्वामागतो द्रष्टुं प्रस्थितो विजनं वनम् । भरतस्य समीपे ते नाहं कथ्यः कदाचन ॥ २४ ॥
“So I have come to see you before setting out for the lonely forest. In Bharata’s presence I must never be spoken of by you.
ऋद्धियुक्ता हि पुरुषा न सहन्ते परस्तवम् । तस्मान्न ते गुणाः कथ्या भरतस्याग्रतो मम ॥ २५ ॥
“Men who have prospered do not tolerate praise of another; so my virtues must not be told before Bharata.
अहं ते नानुवक्तव्यो विशेषेण कदाचन । अनुकूलतया शक्यं समीपे तस्य वर्तितुम् ॥ २६ ॥
“Above all, I must never be mentioned by you. It is possible to live near him only by being agreeable.
तस्मै दत्तं नृपतिना यौवराज्यं सनातनम् । स प्रसाद्यस्त्वया सीते नृपतिश्च विशेषतः ॥ २७ ॥
“The king has given him the eternal position of crown prince; he must be won over by you, Sita, and the king especially.
अहं चापि प्रतिज्ञां तां गुरोः समनुपालयन् । वनमद्यैव यास्यामि स्थिरीभव मनस्विनि ॥ २८ ॥
“And I, keeping that promise of my guru, will go to the forest this very day. Be steady, high-minded one.
याते च मयि कल्याणि वनं मुनिनिषेवितम् । व्रतोपवासपरया भवितव्यं त्वयानघे ॥ २९ ॥
“When I have gone to the forest frequented by sages, auspicious one, you must be devoted to vows and fasts, sinless one.
कल्यमुत्थाय देवानां कृत्वा पूजां यथाविधि । वन्दितव्यो दशरथः पिता मम जनेश्वरः ॥ ३० ॥
“Rising early and worshipping the gods according to rule, you should salute my father Dasharatha, lord of men.
माता च मम कौसल्या वृद्धा संतापकर्शिता । धर्ममेवाग्रतः कृत्वा त्वत्तः सम्मानमर्हति ॥ ३१ ॥
“And my mother Kausalya, old and worn with grief, deserves honour from you, putting dharma first.
वन्दितव्याश्च ते नित्यं याः शेषा मम मातरः । स्नेहप्रणयसम्भोगैः समा हि मम मातरः ॥ ३२ ॥
“My other mothers too you should always salute; my mothers are equal in love, affection and care for me.
भ्रातृपुत्रसमौ चापि द्रष्टव्यौ च विशेषतः । त्वया भरतशत्रुघ्नौ प्राणैः प्रियतरौ मम ॥ ३३ ॥
“Bharata and Shatrughna, dearer to me than life, you should regard especially as brothers and sons.
विप्रियं च न कर्तव्यं भरतस्य कदाचन । स हि राजा च वैदेहि देशस्य च कुलस्य च ॥ ३४ ॥
“Never do anything to displease Bharata, Vaidehi, for he is king of the land and of the family.
आराधिता हि शीलेन प्रयत्नैश्चोपसेविताः । राजानः सम्प्रसीदन्ति प्रकुप्यन्ति विपर्यये ॥ ३५ ॥
“Kings, when propitiated by good conduct and served with effort, are gracious; and they grow angry in the opposite case.
औरस्यानपि पुत्रान् हि त्यजन्त्यहितकारिणः । समर्थान् सम्प्रगृह्णन्ति जनानपि नराधिपाः ॥ ३६ ॥
“Kings abandon even their own sons if they do harm, and take in even strangers if they are capable.
सा त्वं वसेह कल्याणि राज्ञः समनुवर्तिनी । भरतस्य रता धर्मे सत्यव्रतपरायणा ॥ ३७ ॥
“So live here, auspicious one, following the king, devoted to Bharata, firm in dharma and devoted to truthful vows.
अहं गमिष्यामि महावनं प्रिये त्वया हि वस्तव्यमिहैव भामिनि । यथा व्यलीकं कुरुषे न कस्यचित् तथा त्वया कार्यमिदं वचो मम ॥ ३८ ॥
“I will go to the great forest, my love; you must live right here, passionate one. Do as I have told you, so that you cause no one pain.”