Aranya Kanda · Sarga 45 of 76 · 40 verses
Sita Drives Lakshmana Away
Recognising in the forest that cry of distress like her husband’s, Sita says to Lakshmana: “Go and find out about Raghava. My life and my heart do not stay in their place; I have clearly heard the cry of one in great distress. You must save your brother crying out in the forest. Run to him quickly, your brother who seeks refuge, fallen into the power of rakshasas like a bull among lions.” Though told this, he does not go, remembering his brother’s command. Then Janaka’s daughter, agitated, says to him: “Saumitri, in the form of a friend you are like an enemy to your brother, since in this state you do not go to him. You want Rama to perish, Lakshmana, for my sake. Surely out of greed for me you do not follow Raghava. I think his calamity is dear to you; you have no love for your brother. That is why you stay here at ease without seeing the glorious one. What shall I do here, staying, if he, for whom you came, is in danger?” To Vaidehi, speaking so, full of tears and grief, frightened like a doe, Lakshmana says: “Your husband cannot be conquered by serpents, asuras, gandharvas, gods, danavas or rakshasas, Vaidehi, without doubt. Among gods and men, gandharvas and birds, rakshasas, pishachas, kinnaras, beasts and terrible danavas there is no one, lovely one, who could stand against Rama in battle, who is like Vasava. Rama cannot be killed in battle; you should not speak like this. I cannot leave you in this forest without Raghava. His strength cannot be resisted even by the strongest forces, by the three worlds together with their lords and the immortals. Let your heart be at ease; give up your anguish. Your husband will come back soon, having killed the best of deer. That was clearly not his voice, nor any god’s; it is that rakshasa’s illusion, like a city of the gandharvas. You are a trust placed in me by great-souled Rama, Vaidehi, lovely-hipped one; I cannot leave you here. We have made enemies of these night-rangers, auspicious one, by killing Khara and destroying Janasthana. Rakshasas who delight in violence say many kinds of things in the great forest, Vaidehi; you should not think about it.”
Told this by Lakshmana, angry, her eyes red, she speaks harsh words to truthful Lakshmana: “Ignoble one, you who act without pity, cruel, disgrace of your family! I think Rama’s great calamity is welcome to you; that is why you speak like this, seeing Rama’s calamity. It is no wonder that such wickedness should be in rivals like you, Lakshmana, cruel, always acting in secret. Very wicked, you follow Rama alone into the forest, alone yourself, in disguise for my sake, or sent by Bharata. That will not succeed, Saumitri, for you or for Bharata. How could I, having taken refuge in my husband Rama, dark as a blue lotus, lotus-eyed, desire a common man? I will give up my life in front of you, Saumitri, without doubt; I will not live on earth even a moment without Rama.” Spoken to so harshly by Sita, words that make the hair stand on end, Lakshmana, master of his senses, joins his palms and says to Sita: “I cannot bring myself to answer; you are a deity to me. Unfitting words are no wonder among women, Maithili; this is the nature of women, seen in these worlds: women who have cast off dharma are fickle, sharp, makers of division. I cannot bear such words, Vaidehi, daughter of Janaka, like red-hot iron arrows between my two ears. Let all the forest creatures, as witnesses, hear me: I have been spoken to harshly by you, though I spoke rightly. Shame on you, perishing today, that you suspect me like this, out of a woman’s wicked nature, while I stand by my elder’s command. I am going where Kakutstha is. Blessings on you, lovely-faced one. May all the forest deities protect you, large-eyed one. Terrible omens appear before me. Will I see you again when I come back with Rama?” Told this by Lakshmana, Janaka’s daughter, weeping, overwhelmed with tears, answers: “Without Rama, Lakshmana, I will enter the Godavari, or hang myself, or throw my body down on rough ground, or drink sharp poison, or enter fire; but I will never touch any man other than Raghava.” Having declared this to Lakshmana, Sita, full of grief, weeping, beats her belly with her hands in sorrow. Seeing her so distressed, weeping, large-eyed, Saumitri, sick at heart, comforts her; but Sita says nothing to her husband’s brother. Then, saluting Sita with joined palms, bowing a little, looking back at Maithili many times, self-possessed Lakshmana goes toward Rama.
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आर्तस्वरं तु तं भर्तुर्विज्ञाय सदृशं वने । उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता गच्छ जानीहि राघवम् ॥ १ ॥
Recognising that cry of distress, like her husband’s, in the forest, Sita said to Lakshmana: “Go, find out about Raghava.
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Sita Drives Lakshmana Away 1 min read.
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नहि मे जीवितं स्थाने हृदयं वावतिष्ठते । क्रोशतः परमार्तस्य श्रुतः शब्दो मया भृशम् ॥ २ ॥
“My life and my heart do not stay in their place. The sound of one crying out in great distress has been clearly heard by me.
आक्रन्दमानं तु वने भ्रातरं त्रातुमर्हसि । तं क्षिप्रमभिधाव त्वं भ्रातरं शरणैषिणम् ॥ ३ ॥
“You should save your brother crying out in the forest. Run quickly to that brother of yours who seeks refuge,
रक्षसां वशमापन्नं सिंहानामिव गोवृषम् । न जगाम तथोक्तस्तु भ्रातुराज्ञाय शासनम् ॥ ४ ॥
“fallen into the power of rakshasas, like a bull among lions.” But told so, he did not go, recognising his brother’s command.
तमुवाच ततस्तत्र क्षुभिता जनकात्मजा । सौमित्रे मित्ररूपेण भ्रातुस्त्वमसि शत्रुवत् ॥ ५ ॥
Then Janaka’s daughter, agitated, said to him there: “Saumitri, in the form of a friend you are like an enemy to your brother,
यस्त्वमस्यामवस्थायां भ्रातरं नाभिपद्यसे । इच्छसि त्वं विनश्यन्तं रामं लक्ष्मण मत्कृते ॥ ६ ॥
“you who in this state do not go to your brother. You want Rama to perish, Lakshmana, for my sake.
लोभात्तु मत्कृते नूनं नानुगच्छसि राघवम् । व्यसनं ते प्रियं मन्ये स्नेहो भ्रातरि नास्ति ते ॥ ७ ॥
“Surely out of greed for me you do not follow Raghava. I think calamity is dear to you; you have no love for your brother.
तेन तिष्ठसि विस्रब्धं तमपश्यन् महाद्युतिम् । किं हि संशयमापन्ने तस्मिन्निह मया भवेत् ॥ ८ ॥
“That is why you stay at ease, not seeing that very radiant one. For what would be for me to do here, staying, when he is fallen into danger,
कर्तव्यमिह तिष्ठन्त्या यत्प्रधानस्त्वमागतः । एवं ब्रुवाणां वैदेहीं बाष्पशोकसमन्विताम् ॥ ९ ॥
“he for whose sake you, his chief, came?” To Vaidehi, speaking so, full of tears and grief,
अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणस्त्रस्तां सीतां मृगवधूमिव । पन्नगासुरगन्धर्वदेवदानवराक्षसैः ॥ १० ॥
to Sita, frightened like a doe, Lakshmana said: “By serpents, asuras, gandharvas, gods, danavas and rakshasas
अशक्यस्तव वैदेहि भर्ता जेतुं न संशयः । देवि देवमनुष्येषु गन्धर्वेषु पतत्रिषु ॥ ११ ॥
“your husband cannot be conquered, Vaidehi, without doubt. Queen, among gods and men, gandharvas and birds,
राक्षसेषु पिशाचेषु किन्नरेषु मृगेषु च । दानवेषु च घोरेषु न स विद्येत शोभने ॥ १२ ॥
“rakshasas, pishachas, kinnaras and beasts, and terrible danavas, there would not be found, lovely one,
यो रामं प्रतियुध्येत समरे वासवोपमम् । अवध्यः समरे रामो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ १३ ॥
“one who could fight Rama in battle, who is like Vasava. Rama is unkillable in battle; you should not speak so.
न त्वामस्मिन् वने हातुमुत्सहे राघवं विना । अनिवार्यं बलं तस्य बलैर्बलवतामपि ॥ १४ ॥
“I cannot bear to leave you in this forest without Raghava. His strength cannot be resisted even by the forces of the strong,
त्रिभिर्लोकैः समुदितैः सेश्वरैः सामरैरपि । हृदयं निर्वृतं तेऽस्तु संतापस्त्यज्यतां तव ॥ १५ ॥
“by the three worlds risen together with their lords and the immortals. Let your heart be at ease; let your anguish be given up.
आगमिष्यति ते भर्ता शीघ्रं हत्वा मृगोत्तमम् । न स तस्य स्वरो व्यक्तं न कश्चिदपि दैवतः ॥ १६ ॥
“Your husband will come quickly, having killed the best of deer. That was clearly not his voice, nor any god’s.
गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या माया तस्य च रक्षसः । न्यासभूतासि वैदेहि न्यस्ता मयि महात्मना ॥ १७ ॥
“It is the illusion of that rakshasa, like a city of the gandharvas. You are a trust, Vaidehi, placed in me by the great soul,
रामेण त्वं वरारोहे न त्वां त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे । कृतवैराश्च कल्याणि वयमेतैर्निशाचरैः ॥ १८ ॥
“by Rama, lovely-hipped one; I cannot bear to leave you here. And we have made enmity with these night-rangers, auspicious one,
खरस्य निधने देवि जनस्थानवधं प्रति । राक्षसा विविधा वाचो व्याहरन्ति महावने ॥ १९ ॥
“at the death of Khara, queen, for the destruction of Janasthana. Rakshasas speak many kinds of words in the great forest,
हिंसाविहारा वैदेहि न चिन्तयितुमर्हसि । लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता तु क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना ॥ २० ॥
“delighting in violence, Vaidehi; you should not think about it.” Spoken to so by Lakshmana, angry, her eyes reddened,
अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं सत्यवादिनम् । अनार्याकरुणारम्भ नृशंस कुलपांसन ॥ २१ ॥
she spoke harsh words to truthful Lakshmana: “Ignoble one, of pitiless undertakings, cruel, disgrace of the family!
अहं तव प्रियं मन्ये रामस्य व्यसनं महत् । रामस्य व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा तेनैतानि प्रभाषसे ॥ २२ ॥
“I think the great calamity of Rama is dear to you. Seeing Rama’s calamity, therefore you say these things.
नैव चित्रं सपत्नेषु पापं लक्ष्मण यद् भवेत् । त्वद्विधेषु नृशंसेषु नित्यं प्रच्छन्नचारिषु ॥ २३ ॥
“It is no wonder that there should be evil in rivals, Lakshmana, in cruel ones like you, always moving in secret.
सुदुष्टस्त्वं वने राममेकमेकोऽनुगच्छसि । मम हेतोः प्रतिच्छन्नः प्रयुक्तो भरतेन वा ॥ २४ ॥
“Very wicked one, you follow Rama alone into the forest, alone, disguised, for my sake, or sent by Bharata.
तन्न सिध्यति सौमित्रे तवापि भरतस्य वा । कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं रामं पद्मनिभेक्षणम् ॥ २५ ॥
“That will not succeed, Saumitri, for you or for Bharata. How, Rama, dark as a blue lotus, lotus-eyed,
उपसंश्रित्य भर्तारं कामयेयं पृथग्जनम् । समक्षं तव सौमित्रे प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्याम्यसंशयम् ॥ २६ ॥
“having taken refuge in my husband, could I desire a common man? Before your eyes, Saumitri, I will give up my life, without doubt.
रामं विना क्षणमपि नैव जीवामि भूतले । इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं सीतया रोमहर्षणम् ॥ २७ ॥
“Without Rama I will not live even a moment on earth.” Spoken to so with harsh words by Sita, words that make the hair stand on end,
अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणः सीतां प्राञ्जलिः स जितेन्द्रियः । उत्तरं नोत्सहे वक्तुं दैवतं भवती मम ॥ २८ ॥
Lakshmana, master of his senses, with joined palms, said to Sita: “I cannot bring myself to speak an answer; you are a deity to me.
वाक्यमप्रतिरूपं तु न चित्रं स्त्रीषु मैथिलि । स्वभावस्त्वेष नारीणामेषु लोकेषु दृश्यते ॥ २९ ॥
“Unfitting words are no wonder among women, Maithili. This is the nature of women, seen in these worlds:
विमुक्तधर्माश्चपलास्तीक्ष्णा भेदकराः स्त्रियः । न सहे हीदृशं वाक्यं वैदेहि जनकात्मजे ॥ ३० ॥
“women who have cast off dharma are fickle, sharp, makers of division. I cannot bear such words, Vaidehi, daughter of Janaka,
श्रोत्रयोरुभयोर्मध्ये तप्तनाराचसंनिभम् । उपशृण्वन्तु मे सर्वे साक्षिणो हि वनेचराः ॥ ३१ ॥
“like red-hot iron arrows in the middle of both ears. Let all the forest creatures hear me, as witnesses:
न्यायवादी यथा वाक्यमुक्तोऽहं परुषं त्वया । धिक् त्वामद्य विनश्यन्तीं यन्मामेवं विशङ्कसे ॥ ३२ ॥
“I, speaking justly, have been spoken to harshly by you. Shame on you, perishing today, since you suspect me so,
स्त्रीत्वाद् दुष्टस्वभावेन गुरुवाक्ये व्यवस्थितम् । गच्छामि यत्र काकुत्स्थः स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु वरानने ॥ ३३ ॥
“out of a woman’s wicked nature, me who stand by my elder’s word. I go where Kakutstha is. Blessings on you, lovely-faced one.
रक्षन्तु त्वां विशालाक्षि समग्रा वनदेवताः । निमित्तानि हि घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे । अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः ॥ ३४ ॥
“May all the forest deities protect you, large-eyed one; for terrible omens appear before me. Will I see you again, having come back with Rama?”
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्ता तु रुदती जनकात्मजा । प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यं तीव्रबाष्पपरिप्लुता ॥ ३५ ॥
Spoken to so by Lakshmana, Janaka’s daughter, weeping, then replied with words, flooded with sharp tears:
गोदावरीं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हीना रामेण लक्ष्मण । आबन्धिष्येऽथवा त्यक्ष्ये विषमे देहमात्मनः ॥ ३६ ॥
“Without Rama, Lakshmana, I will enter the Godavari; or I will hang myself, or cast my own body away on rough ground;
पिबामि वा विषं तीक्ष्णं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम् । न त्वहं राघवादन्यं कदापि पुरुषं स्पृशे ॥ ३७ ॥
“or I will drink sharp poison, or enter fire; but I will never touch any man other than Raghava.”
इति लक्ष्मणमाश्रुत्य सीता शोकसमन्विता । पाणिभ्यां रुदती दुःखादुदरं प्रजघान ह ॥ ३८ ॥
Having declared this to Lakshmana, Sita, full of grief, weeping, struck her belly with her hands in sorrow.
तामार्तरूपां विमना रुदन्तीं सौमित्रिरालोक्य विशालनेत्राम् । आश्वासयामास न चैव भर्तु- स्तं भ्रातरं किंचिदुवाच सीता ॥ ३९ ॥
Seeing her in her distress, weeping, large-eyed, Saumitri, sick at heart, comforted her; but Sita said nothing to her husband’s brother.
ततस्तु सीतामभिवाद्य लक्ष्मणः कृताञ्जलिः किंचिदभिप्रणम्य । अवेक्षमाणो बहुशः स मैथिलीं जगाम रामस्य समीपमात्मवान् ॥ ४० ॥
Then, having saluted Sita with joined palms, bowing a little, looking at Maithili many times, self-possessed Lakshmana went to Rama’s side.