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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.46.49

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 46: Rāma crosses the Gaṅgā. He sends Sumantra back as proof of departure, forms matted locks with banyan sap and crosses while Sītā prays

In the sequence: Rāma explains why he must return: the empty chariot will convince Kaikeyī that the exile is real and protect Daśaratha from suspicion of evading his promise

2.46.49

evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ dīnaṃ yācamānaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
rāmo bhṛtyānukampī tu sumantram idam abravīt

To Sumantra, thus begging piteously in many ways again and again, Rāma, compassionate to his servants, said this:

Words: evaṃ — thus; bahuvidhaṃ — in many ways; dīnaṃ — piteous, wretched; yācamānaṃ — begging; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; rāmo — Rāma; bhṛtyānukampī — compassionate to servants; tu — but; sumantram — to Sumantra; idam — this; abravīt — said

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.