Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 39 of 119 · 41 verses
Sita Adorned; Rama Takes Leave of His Mothers
Hearing Rama and seeing him in a sage’s dress, the king with his wives loses consciousness. Grieving, he cannot look at Raghava or answer him. Coming to, he laments: “I must have made many creatures calfless or killed living beings before, that this has come upon me. Life does not leave the body before its time; tormented by Kaikeyi, I do not even die, though I see my son, like fire, standing before me in ascetic’s dress instead of fine clothes. All these people suffer because of one woman, Kaikeyi, striving for her own gain through this deceit.” He says “Rama!” once and can say no more.
Recovering, he tells Sumantra: “Yoke the royal chariot with the best horses and take this fortunate one beyond the borders of the country. This, I suppose, is the fruit of the virtues of the virtuous: that a good, heroic son is banished to the forest by his father and mother.” Sumantra yokes a gold-adorned chariot. The king calls the treasurer: “Count these years and bring fine clothes and great ornaments for Vaidehi.” Sita, well born, adorns her lovely limbs with them and lights up the palace like the sun’s radiance at dawn.
Kausalya embraces her, kisses her head and says: “In this world, women who have always been honoured by their husbands, but are false, do not stay with them when they fall into misfortune. That is the nature of such women: having enjoyed happiness, they turn against or abandon their husbands at the first small trouble. Neither family, good deeds, learning, gifts nor support holds the hearts of such fickle women. But for good women, steady in character, truth and learning, the husband alone is the highest purifier. Do not despise my son, banished to the forest; rich or poor, he is like a god to you.” Sita, with joined palms, answers: “I will do all that you teach me, noble lady. I know how to behave toward my husband; I have heard it. Do not compare me with bad women; I cannot swerve from dharma, as light cannot leave the moon. A vina without strings does not play, a chariot without wheels does not move, and a woman without her husband finds no happiness even with a hundred sons. A father, brother or son gives in measure; who would not honour a husband, who gives without measure? Why should I, knowing what I know, disrespect him?” Pure-hearted Kausalya weeps with sorrow and joy.
Rama, with joined palms, says to his mother: “Mother, do not look at my father in grief; the end of my exile will come soon. Fourteen years will pass while you sleep, and you will see me back here with my friends.” Then he sees his three hundred and fifty other mothers, just as stricken, and says to them: “If in living together I ever said anything harsh, even unknowingly, forgive me. I take leave of you all.” Hearing his righteous words, the women cry out like krauncha birds, and the palace of Dasharatha, which once resounded like drums and thunder, fills with lamentation and grief.
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रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा मुनिवेषधरं च तम् । समीक्ष्य सह भार्याभी राजा विगतचेतनः ॥ १ ॥
Hearing Rama’s words and seeing him in a sage’s dress, the king with his wives lost consciousness.
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Sita Adorned; Rama Takes Leave of His Mothers 1 min read.
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नैनं दुःखेन संतप्तः प्रत्यवैक्षत राघवम् । न चैनमभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य प्रत्यभाषत दुर्मनाः ॥ २ ॥
Burning with sorrow, he did not look at Raghava, nor, looking at him, could the downcast man answer him.
स मुहूर्तमिवासंज्ञो दुःखितश्च महीपतिः । विललाप महाबाहू राममेवानुचिन्तयन् ॥ ३ ॥
After being senseless for a moment, the grieving lord of the earth lamented, thinking only of mighty-armed Rama:
मन्ये खलु मया पूर्वं विवत्सा बहवः कृताः । प्राणिनो हिंसिता वापि तन्मामिदमुपस्थितम् ॥ ४ ॥
“I think that before this I made many creatures calfless, or harmed living beings; that is why this has come upon me.
न त्वेवानागते काले देहाच्च्यवति जीवितम् । कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानस्य मृत्युर्मम न विद्यते ॥ ५ ॥
“Life does not leave the body before its time comes; tormented by Kaikeyi, I find no death.
योऽहं पावकसंकाशं पश्यामि पुरतः स्थितम् । विहाय वसने सूक्ष्मे तापसाच्छादमात्मजम् ॥ ६ ॥
“I who see before me my son, like fire, having abandoned fine clothes, wearing an ascetic’s covering!
एकस्याः खलु कैकेय्याः कृतेऽयं खिद्यते जनः । स्वार्थे प्रयतमानायाः संश्रित्य निकृतिं त्विमाम् ॥ ७ ॥
“Because of one woman, Kaikeyi, striving for her own gain through this deceit, all these people suffer.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पेण विहतेन्द्रियः । रामेति सकृदेवोक्त्वा व्याहर्तुं न शशाक सः ॥ ८ ॥
Having spoken these words, his senses overcome with tears, he said “Rama!” just once and could speak no more.
संज्ञां तु प्रतिलभ्यैव मुहूर्तात् स महीपतिः । नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां सुमन्त्रमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ९ ॥
Regaining consciousness after a moment, the lord of the earth, his eyes full of tears, said to Sumantra:
औपवाह्यं रथं युक्त्वा त्वमायाहि हयोत्तमैः । प्रापयैनं महाभागमितो जनपदात् परम् ॥ १० ॥
“Yoke the riding chariot with the best horses and come; take this fortunate one from here beyond the borders of the country.
एवं मन्ये गुणवतां गुणानां फलमुच्यते । पित्रा मात्रा च यत्साधुर्वीरो निर्वास्यते वनम् ॥ ११ ॥
“This, I suppose, is said to be the fruit of the virtues of the virtuous: that a good hero is banished to the forest by his father and mother.”
राज्ञो वचनमाज्ञाय सुमन्त्रः शीघ्रविक्रमः । योजयित्वा ययौ तत्र रथमश्वैरलंकृतम् ॥ १२ ॥
Understanding the king’s command, swift Sumantra went and yoked a chariot with fine horses.
तं रथं राजपुत्राय सूतः कनकभूषितम् । आचचक्षेऽञ्जलिं कृत्वा युक्तं परमवाजिभिः ॥ १३ ॥
With joined palms, the charioteer told the prince of that chariot, adorned with gold and yoked with the best horses.
राजा सत्वरमाहूय व्यापृतं वित्तसंचये । उवाच देशकालज्ञो निश्चितं सर्वतः शुचिः ॥ १४ ॥
The king quickly summoned the man in charge of the treasury, and, knowing time and place, pure in every way, said decisively:
वासांसि च वरार्हाणि भूषणानि महान्ति च । वर्षाण्येतानि संख्याय वैदेह्याः क्षिप्रमानय ॥ १५ ॥
“Counting these years, bring quickly fine clothes and great ornaments for Vaidehi.”
नरेन्द्रेणैवमुक्तस्तु गत्वा कोशगृहं ततः । प्रायच्छत् सर्वमाहृत्य सीतायै क्षिप्रमेव तत् ॥ १६ ॥
So addressed by the lord of men, he went to the treasury and quickly brought everything and gave it to Sita.
सा सुजाता सुजातानि वैदेही प्रस्थिता वनम् । भूषयामास गात्राणि तैर्विचित्रैर्विभूषणैः ॥ १७ ॥
Well-born Vaidehi, setting out for the forest, adorned her well-made limbs with those bright ornaments.
व्यराजयत वैदेही वेश्म तत् सुविभूषिता । उद्यतोंऽशुमतः काले खं प्रभेव विवस्वतः ॥ १८ ॥
Beautifully adorned, Vaidehi lit up that house, as the radiance of the rising sun lights the sky at its time.
तां भुजाभ्यां परिष्वज्य श्वश्रूर्वचनमब्रवीत् । अनाचरन्तीं कृपणं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय मैथिलीम् ॥ १९ ॥
Her mother-in-law embraced Maithili with both arms, kissed her head, and, as she did nothing unworthy, said:
असत्यः सर्वलोकेऽस्मिन् सततं सत्कृताः प्रियैः । भर्तारं नानुमन्यन्ते विनिपातगतं स्त्रियः ॥ २० ॥
“In this whole world, false women, though always honoured by their beloved husbands, do not stay true to their husbands when they fall into misfortune.
एष स्वभावो नारीणामनुभूय पुरा सुखम् । अल्पामप्यापदं प्राप्य दुष्यन्ति प्रजहत्यपि ॥ २१ ॥
“This is the nature of such women: having enjoyed happiness before, on meeting even a little misfortune they turn bad and even abandon their husbands.
असत्यशीला विकृता दुर्गा अहृदयाः सदा । असत्यः पापसंकल्पाः क्षणमात्रविरागिणः ॥ २२ ॥
“False in character, perverse, hard to know, always heartless, false, of wicked purpose, they lose their love in a moment.
न कुलं न कृतं विद्या न दत्तं नापि संग्रहः । स्त्रीणां गृह्णाति हृदयमनित्यहृदया हि ताः ॥ २३ ॥
“Neither family, nor kindness, nor learning, nor gifts, nor even support holds the hearts of such women, for their hearts are fickle.
साध्वीनां तु स्थितानां तु शीले सत्ये श्रुते स्थिते । स्त्रीणां पवित्रं परमं पतिरेको विशिष्यते ॥ २४ ॥
“But for good women who stand firm in character, truth and learning, the husband alone is the supreme purifier, beyond all else.
स त्वया नावमन्तव्यः पुत्रः प्रव्राजितो वनम् । तव देवसमस्त्वेष निर्धनः सधनोऽपि वा ॥ २५ ॥
“You must not despise my son, banished to the forest. Whether poor or rich, he is like a god to you.”
विज्ञाय वचनं सीता तस्या धर्मार्थसंहितम् । कृत्वाञ्जलिमुवाचेदं श्वश्रूमभिमुखे स्थिता ॥ २६ ॥
Understanding her words, full of dharma and good sense, Sita joined her palms and, standing before her mother-in-law, said:
करिष्ये सर्वमेवाहमार्या यदनुशास्ति माम् । अभिज्ञास्मि यथा भर्तुर्वर्तितव्यं श्रुतं च मे ॥ २७ ॥
“I will do all that the noble lady teaches me. I know how I should behave toward my husband; I have heard it.
न मामसज्जनेनार्या समानयितुमर्हति । धर्माद् विचलितुं नाहमलं चन्द्रादिव प्रभा ॥ २८ ॥
“The noble lady should not class me with the wicked. I am no more able to swerve from dharma than light from the moon.
नातन्त्री वाद्यते वीणा नाचक्रो विद्यते रथः । नापतिः सुखमेधेत या स्यादपि शतात्मजा ॥ २९ ॥
“A vina without strings is not played; a chariot without wheels does not exist; a woman without her husband does not prosper in happiness, even if she has a hundred sons.
मितं ददाति हि पिता मितं भ्राता मितं सुतः । अमितस्य तु दातारं भर्तारं का न पूजयेत् ॥ ३० ॥
“A father gives in measure, a brother in measure, a son in measure; who would not honour a husband, the giver of what is without measure?
साहमेवंगता श्रेष्ठा श्रुतधर्मपरावरा । आर्ये किमवमन्येयं स्त्रिया भर्ता हि दैवतम् ॥ ३१ ॥
“I, who have come to this, excellent, having heard dharma high and low, how could I disrespect him, noble lady? For a woman, the husband is her deity.”
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा कौसल्या हृदयङ्गमम् । शुद्धसत्त्वा मुमोचाश्रु सहसा दुःखहर्षजम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Hearing Sita’s heartfelt words, pure-hearted Kausalya suddenly shed tears born of sorrow and joy.
तां प्राञ्जलिरभिप्रेक्ष्य मातृमध्येऽतिसत्कृताम् । रामः परमधर्मात्मा मातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ३३ ॥
Seeing her greatly honoured among the mothers, supremely righteous Rama, with joined palms, said to his mother:
अम्ब मा दुःखिता भूत्वा पश्येस्त्वं पितरं मम । क्षयोऽपि वनवासस्य क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति ॥ ३४ ॥
“Mother, do not look at my father with grief. The end of my forest life will come soon.
सुप्तायास्ते गमिष्यन्ति नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च । समग्रमिह सम्प्राप्तं मां द्रक्ष्यसि सुहृद्वृतम् ॥ ३५ ॥
“Nine years and five will pass while you sleep; you will see me come back here whole, surrounded by friends.”
एतावदभिनीतार्थमुक्त्वा स जननीं वचः । त्रयः शतशतार्धा हि ददर्शावेक्ष्य मातरः ॥ ३६ ॥
Having said these meaningful words to his mother, he looked around and saw his three hundred and fifty mothers.
ताश्चापि स तथैवार्ता मातॄर्दशरथात्मजः । धर्मयुक्तमिदं वाक्यं निजगाद कृताञ्जलिः ॥ ३७ ॥
To those mothers too, equally afflicted, Dasharatha’s son spoke these righteous words with joined palms:
संवासात् परुषं किंचिदज्ञानादपि यत् कृतम् । तन्मे समुपजानीत सर्वाश्चामन्त्रयामि वः ॥ ३८ ॥
“If from living together I have done anything harsh, even unknowingly, forgive me for it; I take leave of you all.”
वचनं राघवस्यैतद् धर्मयुक्तं समाहितम् । शुश्रुवुस्ताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः शोकोपहतचेतसः ॥ ३९ ॥
All those women, their minds struck with grief, heard these righteous, composed words of Raghava.
जज्ञोऽथ तासां संनादः क्रौञ्चीनामिव निःस्वनः । मानवेन्द्रस्य भार्याणामेवं वदति राघवे ॥ ४० ॥
As Raghava spoke so, a cry arose from the wives of the king of men, like the crying of krauncha birds.
मुरजपणवमेघघोषवद् दशरथवेश्म बभूव यत् पुरा । विलपितपरिदेवनाकुलं व्यसनगतं तदभूत् सुदुःखितम् ॥ ४१ ॥
Dasharatha’s palace, which before had resounded like drums, panavas and thunder, became filled with weeping and lament, fallen into calamity, deeply grieved.