Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 31 of 119 · 37 verses
Lakshmana Will Go Too
Lakshmana, who has come in and heard all this, his face wet with tears, unable to bear his grief, presses his brother’s feet and says to Sita and Rama: “If you have decided to go to the forest full of beasts and elephants, I will go ahead of you, bow in hand. With me you will wander lovely forests ringing with birds and herds of deer. I do not want the conquest of heaven, immortality, or lordship of the worlds without you.” Rama tries to dissuade him. “You agreed before,” Lakshmana says; “why stop me now? Tell me why; I am in doubt.”
Rama explains: “You are loving, righteous, steady, always on the good path, dear as my life, my friend. If you go with me today, who will look after Kausalya and glorious Sumitra? The king, who rained wishes on the earth like a cloud, is caught in the noose of desire. Kaikeyi, now that she has the kingdom, will do no good to her grieving co-wives, and Bharata, standing with Kaikeyi, will not support them. Stay and support my noble mother yourself, or with the king’s help. That will show your devotion to me; serving one’s elders is the highest dharma.” Lakshmana answers gently: “Because of your power, hero, Bharata will surely honour Kausalya and Sumitra. If he does not, made proud by the kingdom, I will kill him and all his party, and the three worlds if need be. Besides, noble Kausalya, who has a thousand villages as her income, could support a thousand like me, and my mother too. Make me your follower; there is nothing wrong in it. I will go ahead of you with my strung bow, carrying a spade and basket, showing you the path. I will bring you roots, fruit and offerings fit for ascetics every day. You will enjoy yourself with Vaidehi on the mountain slopes; I will do everything, whether you are awake or asleep.”
Delighted, Rama says: “Go and take leave of all your friends, Saumitri. Bring the two terrible-looking divine bows Varuna himself gave the king at Janaka’s great sacrifice, the two impenetrable divine coats of armour, the two quivers with inexhaustible arrows, and the two gold-adorned swords bright as the sun, all kept with honour in our teacher’s house.” Lakshmana takes leave of his friends, goes to the Ikshvakus’ guru, and brings the divine weapons, garlanded, to show Rama. Rama says: “You come at the right moment. I want to give away my wealth with you to the brahmanas and ascetics, and to all who depend on me. Bring Suyajna, Vasishtha’s son, quickly; I will honour all the brahmanas before I go.”
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एवं श्रुत्वा स संवादं लक्ष्मणः पूर्वमागतः । बाष्पपर्याकुलमुखः शोकं सोढुमशक्नुवन् ॥ १ ॥
Lakshmana, who had come earlier and heard this conversation, his face streaming with tears, unable to bear his grief,
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स भ्रातुश्चरणौ गाढं निपीड्य रघुनन्दनः । सीतामुवाचातियशां राघवं च महाव्रतम् ॥ २ ॥
pressed his brother’s feet tightly, the delight of the Raghus, and spoke to most glorious Sita and to Raghava of great vows:
यदि गन्तुं कृता बुद्धिर्वनं मृगगजायुतम् । अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि वनमग्रे धनुर्धरः ॥ ३ ॥
“If you have resolved to go to the forest full of beasts and elephants, I will follow you, going ahead with my bow.
मया समेतोऽरण्यानि रम्याणि विचरिष्यसि । पक्षिभिर्मृगयूथैश्च संघुष्टानि समन्ततः ॥ ४ ॥
“With me you will wander through lovely forests echoing on every side with birds and herds of deer.
न देवलोकाक्रमणं नामरत्वमहं वृणे । ऐश्वर्यं चापि लोकानां कामये न त्वया विना ॥ ५ ॥
“I do not choose ascent to the world of the gods, nor immortality; I do not even want lordship over the worlds without you.”
एवं ब्रुवाणः सौमित्रिर्वनवासाय निश्चितः । रामेण बहुभिः सान्त्वैर्निषिद्धः पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ ६ ॥
Speaking so, determined to live in the forest, Saumitri was dissuaded by Rama with many soothing words, and spoke again:
अनुज्ञातस्तु भवता पूर्वमेव यदस्म्यहम् । किमिदानीं पुनरपि क्रियते मे निवारणम् ॥ ७ ॥
“Since I was given leave by you before, why now am I being held back again?
यदर्थं प्रतिषेधो मे क्रियते गन्तुमिच्छतः । एतदिच्छामि विज्ञातुं संशयो हि ममानघ ॥ ८ ॥
“I wish to know why you forbid me, though I want to go; I am in doubt, sinless one.”
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा रामो लक्ष्मणमग्रतः । स्थितं प्राग्गामिनं धीरं याचमानं कृताञ्जलिम् ॥ ९ ॥
Then radiant Rama said to Lakshmana, who stood before him eager to go first, steadfast, begging with joined palms:
स्निग्धो धर्मरतो धीरः सततं सत्पथे स्थितः । प्रियः प्राणसमो वश्यो विजेयश्च सखा च मे ॥ १० ॥
“You are loving, devoted to dharma, steadfast, always on the good path, dear, equal to my life, obedient, to be won over, and my friend.
मयाद्य सह सौमित्रे त्वयि गच्छति तद्वनम् । को भजिष्यति कौसल्यां सुमित्रां वा यशस्विनीम् ॥ ११ ॥
“If you go to the forest with me today, Saumitri, who will look after Kausalya, or glorious Sumitra?
अभिवर्षति कामैर्यः पर्जन्यः पृथिवीमिव । स कामपाशपर्यस्तो महातेजा महीपतिः ॥ १२ ॥
“The radiant lord of the earth, who rained wishes like a cloud on the earth, is caught in the noose of desire.
सा हि राज्यमिदं प्राप्य नृपस्याश्वपतेः सुता । दुःखितानां सपत्नीनां न करिष्यति शोभनम् ॥ १३ ॥
“The daughter of King Ashvapati, having gained this kingdom, will do no good to her grieving co-wives.
न भरिष्यति कौसल्यां सुमित्रां च सुदुःखिताम् । भरतो राज्यमासाद्य कैकेय्यां पर्यवस्थितः ॥ १४ ॥
“Bharata, having gained the kingdom and standing by Kaikeyi, will not support Kausalya and Sumitra in their deep grief.
तामार्यां स्वयमेवेह राजानुग्रहणेन वा । सौमित्रे भर कौसल्यामुक्तमर्थममुं चर ॥ १५ ॥
“Support that noble Kausalya yourself here, Saumitri, or through the king’s favour; do this thing I have said.
एवं मयि च ते भक्तिर्भविष्यति सुदर्शिता । धर्मज्ञगुरुपूजायां धर्मश्चाप्यतुलो महान् ॥ १६ ॥
“So your devotion to me will be well shown, and in honouring elders who know dharma there is great and matchless dharma.
एवं कुरुष्व सौमित्रे मत्कृते रघुनन्दन । अस्माभिर्विप्रहीणाया मातुर्नो न भवेत् सुखम् ॥ १७ ॥
“Do this, Saumitri, for my sake, delight of the Raghus, so that our mother, bereft of us, may not lack happiness.”
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः श्लक्ष्णया गिरा । प्रत्युवाच तदा रामं वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकोविदम् ॥ १८ ॥
So addressed by Rama, Lakshmana, skilled in speech, replied in a gentle voice to Rama, master of speech:
तवैव तेजसा वीर भरतः पूजयिष्यति । कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च प्रयतो नास्ति संशयः ॥ १९ ॥
“By your power, hero, Bharata will carefully honour Kausalya and Sumitra; there is no doubt.
यदि दुःस्थो न रक्षेत भरतो राज्यमुत्तमम् । प्राप्य दुर्मनसा वीर गर्वेण च विशेषतः ॥ २० ॥
तमहं दुर्मतिं क्रूरं वधिष्यामि न संशयः । तत्पक्षानपि तान् सर्वांस्त्रैलोक्यमपि किं तु सा ॥ २१ ॥
“If, hero, having gained the excellent kingdom, Bharata, ill-disposed, should not protect them, out of ill will and especially pride, I will kill that cruel, wicked man without doubt, and all his party, and the three worlds too. But that
कौसल्या बिभृयादार्या सहस्रं मद्विधानपि । यस्याः सहस्रं ग्रामाणां सम्प्राप्तमुपजीविनाम् ॥ २२ ॥
“noble Kausalya could support a thousand like me, she who has received a thousand villages for her dependants.
तदात्मभरणे चैव मम मातुस्तथैव च । पर्याप्ता मद्विधानां च भरणाय मनस्विनी ॥ २३ ॥
“So that high-minded woman is able to support herself, and my mother too, and people like me.
कुरुष्व मामनुचरं वैधर्म्यं नेह विद्यते । कृतार्थोऽहं भविष्यामि तव चार्थः प्रकल्प्यते ॥ २४ ॥
“Make me your follower; there is no breach of dharma here. I shall have my purpose fulfilled, and your purpose will be served.
धनुरादाय सगुणं खनित्रपिटकाधरः । अग्रतस्ते गमिष्यामि पन्थानं तव दर्शयन् ॥ २५ ॥
“Taking my strung bow, carrying spade and basket, I will go ahead of you, showing you the path.
आहरिष्यामि ते नित्यं मूलानि च फलानि च । वन्यानि च तथान्यानि स्वाहार्हाणि तपस्विनाम् ॥ २६ ॥
“Every day I will bring you roots and fruit, and other forest things fit to be offered by ascetics.
भवांस्तु सह वैदेह्या गिरिसानुषु रंस्यसे । अहं सर्वं करिष्यामि जाग्रतः स्वपतश्च ते ॥ २७ ॥
“You will enjoy yourself with Vaidehi on the mountain slopes; I will do everything for you, whether you are awake or asleep.”
रामस्त्वनेन वाक्येन सुप्रीतः प्रत्युवाच तम् । व्रजापृच्छस्व सौमित्रे सर्वमेव सुहृज्जनम् ॥ २८ ॥
Rama, greatly pleased by these words, replied: “Go, Saumitri, and take leave of all your friends.
ये च राज्ञो ददौ दिव्ये महात्मा वरुणः स्वयम् । जनकस्य महायज्ञे धनुषी रौद्रदर्शने ॥ २९ ॥
अभेद्ये कवचे दिव्ये तूणी चाक्षय्यसायकौ । आदित्यविमलाभौ द्वौ खड्गौ हेमपरिष्कृतौ ॥ ३० ॥
सत्कृत्य निहितं सर्वमेतदाचार्यसद्मनि । सर्वमायुधमादाय क्षिप्रमाव्रज लक्ष्मण ॥ ३१ ॥
“The two terrible-looking divine bows that great-souled Varuna himself gave the king at Janaka’s great sacrifice, the two impenetrable divine coats of armour, the two quivers with inexhaustible arrows, and the two gold-adorned swords, clear as the sun: all this is kept with honour in our teacher’s house. Take all the weapons and come back quickly, Lakshmana.”
स सुहृज्जनमामन्त्र्य वनवासाय निश्चितः । इक्ष्वाकुगुरुमागम्य जग्राहायुधमुत्तमम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Having taken leave of his friends, resolved on forest life, he went to the guru of the Ikshvakus and took the excellent weapons.
तद् दिव्यं राजशार्दूलः सत्कृतं माल्यभूषितम् । रामाय दर्शयामास सौमित्रिः सर्वमायुधम् ॥ ३३ ॥
The tiger among kings, Saumitri, showed Rama all those divine weapons, honoured and adorned with garlands.
तमुवाचात्मवान् रामः प्रीत्या लक्ष्मणमागतम् । काले त्वमागतः सौम्य कांक्षिते मम लक्ष्मण ॥ ३४ ॥
Self-possessed Rama said lovingly to Lakshmana as he came: “You have come at the time I wished, gentle Lakshmana.
अहं प्रदातुमिच्छामि यदिदं मामकं धनम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तपस्विभ्यस्त्वया सह परंतप ॥ ३५ ॥
“I want, with you, scorcher of enemies, to give this wealth of mine to the brahmanas and ascetics.
वसन्तीह दृढं भक्त्या गुरुषु द्विजसत्तमाः । तेषामपि च मे भूयः सर्वेषां चोपजीविनाम् ॥ ३६ ॥
“The best of brahmanas who live here with firm devotion to our elders, and all those besides who depend on me:
वसिष्ठपुत्रं तु सुयज्ञमार्यं त्वमानयाशु प्रवरं द्विजानाम् । अपि प्रयास्यामि वनं समस्ता- नभ्यर्च्य शिष्टानपरान् द्विजातीन् ॥ ३७ ॥
“bring quickly Suyajna, the noble son of Vasishtha, foremost of brahmanas. I will go to the forest only after honouring all the other learned brahmanas.”