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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 18: Resistance or obedience
Summary. Lakṣmaṇa offers force and Kausalyā asks Rāma to stay, Rāma cites ancestral precedents and upholds his father’s word
Sequence
- Lakṣmaṇa tells Kausalyā that Rāma has done nothing wrong and that an aging King led by his wife's wishes should not be obeyed in this matter (2.18.1–5)
- he urges Rāma to take power before the decision becomes public (2.18.6–9)
- he promises to defeat any opposition, including Bharata's supporters, and says that wherever Rāma goes, he will go first (2.18.10–15)
- Kausalyā asks Rāma to stay and fulfill his duty to her instead; she threatens to fast to death if he leaves (2.18.16–24)
- Rāma answers that he cannot disobey his father → he cites Kaṇḍu killing a cow at his father's command, Sagara's sons digging the earth and meeting destruction, and Paraśurāma striking down his mother with an axe on his father's orders → he presents their obedience as precedents for keeping his own father's word (2.18.25–31)
- he tells Lakṣmaṇa that affection and military force cannot cancel a binding promise (2.18.32–36)
- he asks his mother's permission and blessing, promising to return after completing the exile. (2.18.37–40)
Verses 2.18.1–40
2.18.1
tathā tu vilapantīṃ tāṃ kausalyāṃ rāmamātaram
uvāca lakṣmaṇo dīnas tat kālasadṛśaṃ vacaḥ
As Kausalyā, Rāma's mother, was lamenting thus, the dejected Lakṣmaṇa spoke to her these words befitting the moment.
Words: tathā — thus; tu — and, but; vilapantīṃ — lamenting; tāṃ — her; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; rāmamātaram — Rāma's mother; uvāca — spoke; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; dīnas — dejected, miserable; tat — that; kālasadṛśaṃ — befitting the moment; vacaḥ — words, speech
2.18.2
na rocate mamāpy etad ārye yad rāghavo vanam
tyaktvā rājyaśriyaṃ gacchet striyā vākyavaśaṃ gataḥ
"This does not please me either, noble lady—that Rāghava, fallen under the sway of a woman's word, should abandon the royal fortune and go to the forest.
Words: na — not; rocate — pleases; mamāpy — to me too; etad — this; ārye — O noble lady; yad — that; rāghavo — Rāghava; vanam — to the forest; tyaktvā — having abandoned; rājyaśriyaṃ — the royal fortune; gacchet — should go; striyā — of a woman; vākyavaśaṃ — under the sway of the word; gataḥ — gone, fallen
2.18.3
viparītaś ca vṛddhaś ca viṣayaiś ca pradharṣitaḥ
nṛpaḥ kim iva na brūyāc codyamānaḥ samanmathaḥ
Perverse and aged and overcome by the objects of sense, what indeed would the king not say, being urged on and full of passion?
Words: viparītaś — perverse, deranged; ca — and; vṛddhaś — aged, old; ca — and; viṣayaiś — by the objects of sense; ca — and; pradharṣitaḥ — overcome, assailed; nṛpaḥ — the king; kim — what; iva — indeed, as it were; na — not; brūyāc — would say; codyamānaḥ — being urged, incited; samanmathaḥ — full of passion, love
2.18.4
nāsyāparādhaṃ paśyāmi nāpi doṣaṃ tathā vidham
yena nirvāsyate rāṣṭrād vanavāsāya rāghavaḥ
I see no offence of his, nor any fault of such a kind, for which Rāghava should be banished from the realm to dwell in the forest.
Words: nāsyāparādhaṃ — not his offence; paśyāmi — I see; nāpi — nor even; doṣaṃ — fault, flaw; tathā — such; vidham — of a kind; yena — by which, for which; nirvāsyate — he is banished; rāṣṭrād — from the realm; vanavāsāya — for dwelling in the forest; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava
2.18.5
na taṃ paśyāmy ahaṃ loke parokṣam api yo naraḥ
amitro 'pi nirasto 'pi yo 'sya doṣam udāharet
I do not see in this world the man—even in secret, even an enemy, even one who is cast out—who could cite a single fault of his.
Words: na — not; taṃ — that (man); paśyāmy — I see; ahaṃ — I; loke — in the world; parokṣam — in secret, out of sight; api — even; yo — who; naraḥ — the man; amitro — an enemy; 'pi — even; nirasto — cast out, rejected; 'pi — even; yo — who; 'sya — of his; doṣam — fault; udāharet — would cite, adduce
2.18.6
devakalpam ṛjuṃ dāntaṃ ripūṇām api vatsalam
avekṣamāṇaḥ ko dharmaṃ tyajet putram akāraṇāt
Who, having regard for dharma, would abandon without cause a son godlike, upright, self-controlled, and tender even to his foes?
Words: devakalpam — godlike; ṛjuṃ — upright, straight; dāntaṃ — self-controlled; ripūṇām — of foes; api — even; vatsalam — tender, affectionate; avekṣamāṇaḥ — having regard, considering; ko — who; dharmaṃ — dharma; tyajet — would abandon; putram — a son; akāraṇāt — without cause
2.18.7
tad idaṃ vacanaṃ rājñaḥ punar bālyam upeyuṣaḥ
putraḥ ko hṛdaye kuryād rājavṛttam anusmaran
What son, remembering the conduct proper to kings, would take to heart this command of a king who has fallen back into childishness?
Words: tad — that; idaṃ — this; vacanaṃ — word, command; rājñaḥ — of the king; punar — again; bālyam — childishness; upeyuṣaḥ — having reached, fallen into; putraḥ — son; ko — who; hṛdaye — in the heart; kuryād — would make, hold; rājavṛttam — the conduct of kings; anusmaran — remembering
2.18.8
yāvad eva na jānāti kaś cid artham imaṃ naraḥ
tāvad eva mayā sādham ātmasthaṃ kuru śāsanam
While not a single man yet knows of this matter, this very moment, with me at your side, take the sovereignty firmly into your own hands.
Words: yāvad — as long as, while; eva — just; na — not; jānāti — knows; kaś — any; cid — -ever, some; artham — matter, affair; imaṃ — this; naraḥ — man; tāvad — so long, then; eva — just, this very; mayā — by me, with me; sādham — together; ātmasthaṃ — standing in yourself, in your own control; kuru — make; śāsanam — rule, sovereignty
2.18.9
mayā pārśve sadhanuṣā tava guptasya rāghava
kaḥ samartho 'dhikaṃ kartuṃ kṛtāntasyeva tiṣṭhataḥ
With me armed with my bow guarding you at your side, Rāghava, who is able to do anything against you, who stand as if you were Death himself?
Words: mayā — by me; pārśve — at the side; sadhanuṣā — armed with a bow; tava — your; guptasya — of (you) being guarded; rāghava — O Rāghava; kaḥ — who; samartho — able; 'dhikaṃ — anything more, superior; kartuṃ — to do; kṛtāntasyeva — as if of Death, Yama; tiṣṭhataḥ — standing
2.18.10
nirmanuṣyām imāṃ sarvām ayodhyāṃ manujarṣabha
kariṣyāmi śarais tīkṣṇair yadi sthāsyati vipriye
This whole city of Ayodhyā, O bull among men, I shall make empty of men with my sharp arrows, if it takes its stand in hostility.
Words: nirmanuṣyām — empty of men; imāṃ — this; sarvām — whole, entire; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; manujarṣabha — O bull among men; kariṣyāmi — I shall make; śarais — with arrows; tīkṣṇair — sharp; yadi — if; sthāsyati — it will stand; vipriye — in hostility, opposition
2.18.11
bharatasyātha pakṣyo vā yo vāsya hitam icchati
sarvān etān vadhiṣyāmi mṛdur hi paribhūyate
Whether a partisan of Bharata, or whoever wishes his welfare—all of these I shall slay; for the gentle man is despised.
Words: bharatasyātha — and of Bharata; pakṣyo — a partisan, adherent; vā — or; yo — who; vāsya — or his; hitam — welfare, good; icchati — wishes; sarvān — all; etān — these; vadhiṣyāmi — I shall slay; mṛdur — the gentle one; hi — for, indeed; paribhūyate — is despised, scorned
2.18.12
tvayā caiva mayā caiva kṛtvā vairam anuttamam
kasya śaktiḥ śriyaṃ dātuṃ bharatāyāriśāsana
Once you and I have set up a matchless enmity, who has the power to give the sovereignty to Bharata, O chastiser of foes?
Words: tvayā — by you; caiva — and; mayā — by me; caiva — and; kṛtvā — having made; vairam — enmity; anuttamam — unsurpassed, matchless; kasya — of whom, whose; śaktiḥ — power; śriyaṃ — the sovereignty, fortune; dātuṃ — to give; bharatāyāriśāsana — to Bharata, O chastiser of foes
2.18.13
anurakto 'smi bhāvena bhrātaraṃ devi tattvataḥ
satyena dhanuṣā caiva datteneṣṭena te śape
I am devoted to my brother in my very being, in truth, O queen; by my truth, by my bow, by my gifts and sacrifices I swear it to you.
Words: anurakto — devoted, attached; 'smi — I am; bhāvena — in feeling, being; bhrātaraṃ — to my brother; devi — O queen; tattvataḥ — truly, in truth; satyena — by truth; dhanuṣā — by my bow; caiva — and; datteneṣṭena — by gifts given and sacrifices offered; te — to you; śape — I swear
2.18.14
dīptam agnim araṇyaṃ vā yadi rāmaḥ pravekṣyate
praviṣṭaṃ tatra māṃ devi tvaṃ pūrvam avadhāraya
If Rāma is to enter blazing fire or the wilderness, know for certain, O queen, that I have entered there before him.
Words: dīptam — blazing; agnim — fire; araṇyaṃ — the wilderness, forest; vā — or; yadi — if; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pravekṣyate — will enter; praviṣṭaṃ — entered; tatra — there; māṃ — me; devi — O queen; tvaṃ — you; pūrvam — before, first; avadhāraya — know for certain, be assured
2.18.15
harāmi vīryād duḥkhaṃ te tamaḥ sūrya ivoditaḥ
devī paśyatu me vīryaṃ rāghavaś caiva paśyatu
By my valour I shall take away your sorrow, as the risen sun dispels darkness; let the queen behold my prowess, and let Rāghava behold it too.
Words: harāmi — I take away; vīryād — by valour; duḥkhaṃ — sorrow; te — your; tamaḥ — darkness; sūrya — the sun; ivoditaḥ — as though risen; devī — the queen; paśyatu — let (her) behold; me — my; vīryaṃ — prowess, valour; rāghavaś — Rāghava; caiva — and too; paśyatu — let (him) behold
2.18.16
etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā lakṣmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ
uvāca rāmaṃ kausalyā rudantī śokalālasā
But having heard this speech of the great-souled Lakṣmaṇa, Kausalyā, weeping and languishing with grief, said to Rāma:
Words: etat — this; tu — but; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; lakṣmaṇasya — of Lakṣmaṇa; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; uvāca — said; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; kausalyā — Kausalyā; rudantī — weeping; śokalālasā — languishing with grief
2.18.17
bhrātus te vadataḥ putra lakṣmaṇasya śrutaṃ tvayā
yad atrānantaraṃ tat tvaṃ kuruṣva yadi rocate
"You have heard, my son, your brother Lakṣmaṇa speaking; do now what follows from this, if it pleases you.
Words: bhrātus — of your brother; te — your; vadataḥ — speaking; putra — O son; lakṣmaṇasya — of Lakṣmaṇa; śrutaṃ — heard; tvayā — by you; yad — what; atrānantaraṃ — hereupon, next after this; tat — that; tvaṃ — you; kuruṣva — do; yadi — if; rocate — it pleases
2.18.18
na cādharmyaṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sapatnyā mama bhāṣitam
vihāya śokasaṃtaptāṃ gantum arhasi mām itaḥ
And having heard the unrighteous word spoken by my co-wife, you ought not to leave me here, scorched with grief, and go away.
Words: na — not; cādharmyaṃ — and the unrighteous; vacaḥ — word; śrutvā — having heard; sapatnyā — by the co-wife, rival; mama — my; bhāṣitam — spoken; vihāya — abandoning, leaving; śokasaṃtaptāṃ — scorched with grief; gantum — to go; arhasi — you ought; mām — me; itaḥ — from here
2.18.19
dharmajña yadi dharmiṣṭho dharmaṃ caritum icchasi
śuśrūṣa mām ihasthas tvaṃ cara dharmam anuttamam
O knower of dharma, if being most righteous you wish to practise dharma, then stay here and serve me, and so practise the highest dharma.
Words: dharmajña — O knower of dharma; yadi — if; dharmiṣṭho — most righteous; dharmaṃ — dharma; caritum — to practise; icchasi — you wish; śuśrūṣa — serve, obey; mām — me; ihasthas — staying here; tvaṃ — you; cara — practise; dharmam — dharma; anuttamam — the highest
2.18.20
śuśrūṣur jananīṃ putra svagṛhe niyato vasan
pareṇa tapasā yuktaḥ kāśyapas tridivaṃ gataḥ
Serving his mother, my son, dwelling self-restrained in his own home, endowed with supreme austerity, Kāśyapa went to heaven.
Words: śuśrūṣur — serving, obedient; jananīṃ — his mother; putra — O son; svagṛhe — in his own home; niyato — self-restrained; vasan — dwelling; pareṇa — supreme, highest; tapasā — with austerity; yuktaḥ — endowed, joined; kāśyapas — Kāśyapa; tridivaṃ — to heaven; gataḥ — went
2.18.21
yathaiva rājā pūjyas te gauraveṇa tathā hy aham
tvāṃ nāham anujānāmi na gantavyam ito vanam
Just as the king is to be honoured by you with reverence, so too am I; I do not give you leave—you must not go from here to the forest.
Words: yathaiva — just as; rājā — the king; pūjyas — to be honoured; te — by you; gauraveṇa — with reverence; tathā — so; hy — indeed; aham — I; tvāṃ — you; nāham — not I; anujānāmi — give leave, permit; na — not; gantavyam — to be gone, one must go; ito — from here; vanam — to the forest
2.18.22
tvadviyogān na me kāryaṃ jīvitena sukhena vā
tvayā saha mama śreyas tṛṇānām api bhakṣaṇam
Through separation from you I have no use for life or comfort; better for me even to eat grass together with you.
Words: tvadviyogān — because of separation from you; na — not; me — for me; kāryaṃ — need, use, business; jīvitena — with life; sukhena — with comfort, happiness; vā — or; tvayā — with you; saha — together; mama — for me; śreyas — better; tṛṇānām — of grasses; api — even; bhakṣaṇam — the eating
2.18.23
yadi tvaṃ yāsyasi vanaṃ tyaktvā māṃ śokalālasām
ahaṃ prāyam ihāsiṣye na hi śakṣyāmi jīvitum
If you shall go to the forest, abandoning me who languish in grief, I shall sit here fasting unto death, for I shall not be able to live.
Words: yadi — if; tvaṃ — you; yāsyasi — will go; vanaṃ — to the forest; tyaktvā — having abandoned; māṃ — me; śokalālasām — languishing in grief; ahaṃ — I; prāyam — fasting to death; ihāsiṣye — shall sit here; na — not; hi — for; śakṣyāmi — I shall be able; jīvitum — to live
2.18.24
tatas tvaṃ prāpsyase putra nirayaṃ lokaviśrutam
brahmahatyām ivādharmāt samudraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ
Then you, my son, will attain a world-famed hell through that unrighteousness, as the ocean, lord of rivers, incurred the guilt of brahmin-slaying.
Words: tatas — then; tvaṃ — you; prāpsyase — will attain; putra — O son; nirayaṃ — hell; lokaviśrutam — world-famed; brahmahatyām — the guilt of slaying a brahmin; ivādharmāt — as through unrighteousness; samudraḥ — the ocean; saritāṃ — of rivers; patiḥ — lord
2.18.25
vilapantīṃ tathā dīnāṃ kausalyāṃ jananīṃ tataḥ
uvāca rāmo dharmātmā vacanaṃ dharmasaṃhitam
Then to his mother Kausalyā, lamenting thus in her misery, righteous Rāma spoke words in keeping with dharma:
Words: vilapantīṃ — lamenting; tathā — thus; dīnāṃ — wretched, in misery; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; jananīṃ — his mother; tataḥ — then; uvāca — spoke; rāmo — Rāma; dharmātmā — the righteous one; vacanaṃ — words; dharmasaṃhitam — in keeping with dharma
2.18.26
nāsti śaktiḥ pitur vākyaṃ samatikramituṃ mama
prasādaye tvāṃ śirasā gantum icchāmy ahaṃ vanam
"I have no power to transgress my father's word; bowing my head I entreat you—I wish to go to the forest.
Words: nāsti — there is not; śaktiḥ — power; pitur — of the father; vākyaṃ — word; samatikramituṃ — to transgress, overstep; mama — my; prasādaye — I propitiate, entreat; tvāṃ — you; śirasā — with my head; gantum — to go; icchāmy — I wish; ahaṃ — I; vanam — to the forest
2.18.27
ṛṣiṇā ca pitur vākyaṃ kurvatā vratacāriṇā
gaur hatā jānatā dharmaṃ kaṇḍunāpi vipaścitā
Even the sage Kaṇḍu, a vow-keeper and learned, who knew dharma, slew a cow in carrying out his father's word.
Words: ṛṣiṇā — by the sage; ca — and; pitur — of the father; vākyaṃ — word; kurvatā — doing, carrying out; vratacāriṇā — by the vow-keeper; gaur — a cow; hatā — was slain; jānatā — by (him) knowing; dharmaṃ — dharma; kaṇḍunāpi — even by Kaṇḍu; vipaścitā — by the learned, wise
2.18.28
asmākaṃ ca kule pūrvaṃ sagarasyājñayā pituḥ
khanadbhiḥ sāgarair bhūtim avāptaḥ sumahān vadhaḥ
And in our own line long ago, at the command of their father Sagara, the sons of Sagara, digging for treasure, met a very great destruction.
Words: asmākaṃ — our; ca — and; kule — in the line, family; pūrvaṃ — formerly, long ago; sagarasyājñayā — by the command of Sagara; pituḥ — of the father; khanadbhiḥ — by (those) digging; sāgarair — by the sons of Sagara; bhūtim — treasure, wealth; avāptaḥ — was obtained, incurred; sumahān — very great; vadhaḥ — destruction, slaughter
2.18.29
jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa reṇukā jananī svayam
kṛttā paraśunāraṇye pitur vacanakāriṇā
Rāma the son of Jamadagni, doing his father's word, himself cut down his mother Reṇukā with an axe in the forest.
Words: jāmadagnyena — by the son of Jamadagni; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; reṇukā — Reṇukā; jananī — the mother; svayam — himself, in person; kṛttā — was cut down, severed; paraśunāraṇye — with an axe in the forest; pitur — of the father; vacanakāriṇā — by (him) doing the word
2.18.30
na khalv etan mayaikena kriyate pitṛśāsanam
pūrvair ayam abhipreto gato mārgo 'nugamyate
Truly this carrying out of a father's command is not done by me alone; this is the path desired and trodden by my forebears, and I follow it.
Words: na — not; khalv — truly, indeed; etan — this; mayaikena — by me alone; kriyate — is done; pitṛśāsanam — a father's command; pūrvair — by the forebears, ancestors; ayam — this; abhipreto — desired, intended; gato — gone, trodden; mārgo — the path; 'nugamyate — is followed
2.18.31
tad etat tu mayā kāryaṃ kriyate bhuvi nānyathā
pitur hi vacanaṃ kurvan na kaś cin nāma hīyate
So this duty is done by me, and not otherwise, upon the earth; for by doing his father's word no one, indeed, is ever ruined.
Words: tad — therefore; etat — this; tu — but, indeed; mayā — by me; kāryaṃ — duty, to be done; kriyate — is done; bhuvi — on earth; nānyathā — not otherwise; pitur — of the father; hi — for; vacanaṃ — word; kurvan — doing; na — not; kaś — any; cin — -ever; nāma — indeed, at all; hīyate — is ruined, comes to harm
2.18.32
tām evam uktvā jananīṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ punar abravīt
tava lakṣmaṇa jānāmi mayi sneham anuttamam
abhiprāyam avijñāya satyasya ca śamasya ca
Having spoken thus to his mother, he said again to Lakṣmaṇa: "I know, Lakṣmaṇa, your matchless love for me—but without understanding the true intent of truth and of self-restraint.
Words: tām — her; evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; jananīṃ — to his mother; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; punar — again; abravīt — said; tava — your; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; jānāmi — I know; mayi — for me, in me; sneham — love, affection; anuttamam — matchless; abhiprāyam — the intent, purport; avijñāya — not having understood; satyasya — of truth; ca — and; śamasya — of self-restraint, tranquillity; ca — and
2.18.33
dharmo hi paramo loke dharme satyaṃ pratiṣṭhitam
dharmasaṃśritam etac ca pitur vacanam uttamam
For dharma is supreme in the world, and in dharma is truth established; and this excellent word of my father rests upon dharma.
Words: dharmo — dharma; hi — for; paramo — supreme; loke — in the world; dharme — in dharma; satyaṃ — truth; pratiṣṭhitam — established; dharmasaṃśritam — resting upon dharma; etac — this; ca — and; pitur — of the father; vacanam — word; uttamam — excellent, highest
2.18.34
saṃśrutya ca pitur vākyaṃ mātur vā brāhmaṇasya vā
na kartavyaṃ vṛthā vīra dharmam āśritya tiṣṭhatā
And having promised to obey the word of a father, or a mother, or a brahmin, it must not be made void, O hero, by one who stands firm in dharma.
Words: saṃśrutya — having promised, heard; ca — and; pitur — of the father; vākyaṃ — word; mātur — of the mother; vā — or; brāhmaṇasya — of a brahmin; vā — or; na — not; kartavyaṃ — to be made; vṛthā — in vain, void; vīra — O hero; dharmam — dharma; āśritya — resorting to, relying on; tiṣṭhatā — by (one) standing firm
2.18.35
so 'haṃ na śakṣyāmi pitur niyogam ativartitum
pitur hi vacanād vīra kaikeyyāhaṃ pracoditaḥ
So I shall not be able to overstep my father's injunction; for by my father's word, O hero, I have been urged on by Kaikeyī.
Words: so — he, that one; 'haṃ — I; na — not; śakṣyāmi — I shall be able; pitur — of the father; niyogam — injunction, command; ativartitum — to overstep, transgress; pitur — of the father; hi — for; vacanād — by the word; vīra — O hero; kaikeyyāhaṃ — by Kaikeyī, I; pracoditaḥ — urged on, impelled
2.18.36
tad enāṃ visṛjānāryāṃ kṣatradharmāśritāṃ matim
dharmam āśraya mā taikṣṇyaṃ madbuddhir anugamyatām
So give up this ignoble intent that rests on the warrior's code; take to dharma, not to harshness—let my resolve be the one you follow.
Words: tad — therefore; enāṃ — this; visṛjānāryāṃ — give up the ignoble; kṣatradharmāśritāṃ — resting on the warrior's code; matim — intent, notion; dharmam — dharma; āśraya — take to, rely on; mā — do not; taikṣṇyaṃ — harshness, fierceness; madbuddhir — my resolve, mind; anugamyatām — let it be followed
2.18.37
tam evam uktvā sauhārdād bhrātaraṃ lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ
uvāca bhūyaḥ kausalyāṃ prāñjaliḥ śirasānataḥ
Having thus spoken to his brother out of affection, Rāma, the elder of Lakṣmaṇa, spoke again to Kausalyā with joined palms and bowed head:
Words: tam — him; evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; sauhārdād — out of affection; bhrātaraṃ — to his brother; lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ — the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa; uvāca — spoke; bhūyaḥ — again; kausalyāṃ — to Kausalyā; prāñjaliḥ — with joined palms; śirasānataḥ — with bowed head
2.18.38
anumanyasva māṃ devi gamiṣyantam ito vanam
śāpitāsi mama prāṇaiḥ kuru svastyayanāni me
tīrṇapratijñaś ca vanāt punar eṣyāmy ahaṃ purīm
"Give me your leave, O queen, as I set out from here to the forest; I adjure you by my life—perform rites of blessing for me; and, my vow fulfilled, I shall return again from the forest to the city.
Words: anumanyasva — give leave, consent; māṃ — me; devi — O queen; gamiṣyantam — about to go; ito — from here; vanam — to the forest; śāpitāsi — you are adjured; mama — my; prāṇaiḥ — by my life-breaths; kuru — make, perform; svastyayanāni — rites of blessing, well-wishing; me — for me; tīrṇapratijñaś — having fulfilled the vow; ca — and; vanāt — from the forest; punar — again; eṣyāmy — I shall come; ahaṃ — I; purīm — to the city
2.18.39
yaśo hy ahaṃ kevalarājyakāraṇān na pṛṣṭhataḥ kartum alaṃ mahodayam
adīrghakāle na tu devi jīvite vṛṇe 'varām adya mahīm adharmataḥ
For I am not able, merely for the sake of a kingdom, to cast behind me a glory of great fruit; and since life, O queen, is short, I would not choose today a lowly earth won by unrighteousness.
Words: yaśo — glory, fame; hy — for; ahaṃ — I; kevalarājyakāraṇān — merely for the sake of a kingdom; na — not; pṛṣṭhataḥ — behind, at the back; kartum — to place, make; alaṃ — able, capable; mahodayam — of great fruit, prosperity; adīrghakāle — short in duration; na — not; tu — but; devi — O queen; jīvite — life being; vṛṇe — I choose; 'varām — a lowly, inferior; adya — today; mahīm — the earth; adharmataḥ — through unrighteousness
2.18.40
prasādayan naravṛṣabhaḥ sa mātaraṃ parākramāj jigamiṣur eva daṇḍakān
athānujaṃ bhṛśam anuśāsya darśanaṃ cakāra tāṃ hṛdi jananīṃ pradakṣiṇam
That bull among men, propitiating his mother while resolved by his own resolve to set out for the Daṇḍaka forest, then, having earnestly instructed his younger brother, fixed the sight of his mother in his heart and reverently circled her.
Words: prasādayan — propitiating, conciliating; naravṛṣabhaḥ — the bull among men; sa — he; mātaraṃ — his mother; parākramāj — through his resolve, valour; jigamiṣur — desiring to go; eva — indeed; daṇḍakān — to the Daṇḍaka forests; athānujaṃ — then his younger brother; bhṛśam — earnestly, greatly; anuśāsya — having instructed, admonished; darśanaṃ — the sight, seeing; cakāra — made, fixed; tāṃ — her; hṛdi — in the heart; jananīṃ — his mother; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation to the right
← 2.17 Kausalyā learns of Rāma’s exile · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.19 Rāma attributes the reversal to fate →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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