# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 23 — Rāma asks Sītā to remain in Ayodhyā *Rāma reveals the exile and asks Sītā to respect Bharata’s authority, honour the Queens and care for his grieving parents* Portion: Sītā insists on joining Rāma · Verses: 34 · Ref format: 2.23. ## Sequence - Sītā has been worshipping and waiting for the abhiṣeka, unaware of the reversal (23.1–4) - when Rāma enters, she notices his pale, troubled face (23.5–7) - she asks why he has returned without the parasol, fans, ceremonial escort, auspicious rites, and other signs she expected (23.8–17) - he explains the two boons, Bharata's succession, and his own fourteen-year exile (23.18–22) - he asks her to remain in Ayodhyā and avoid praising him before Bharata or challenging the new King's position (23.23–25) - he tells her to continue worship and fasting, honor Daśaratha and all his Queens, and especially comfort Kausalyā (23.26–29) - he asks her to regard Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna as a brother and a son, and to conduct herself without giving offense to Bharata (23.30–34). ## Verses **2.23.1** abhivādya tu kausalyāṃ rāmaḥ saṃprasthito vanam kṛtasvastyayano mātrā dharmiṣṭhe vartmani sthitaḥ Having saluted Kausalyā, Rāma set out for the forest; the benediction performed for him by his mother, he stood firm on the most righteous path. **2.23.2** virājayan rājasuto rājamārgaṃ narair vṛtam hṛdayāny āmamantheva janasya guṇavattayā The prince, gracing the royal highway thronged with people, seemed to churn the hearts of the folk by his abundance of virtues. **2.23.3** vaidehī cāpi tat sarvaṃ na śuśrāva tapasvinī tad eva hṛdi tasyāś ca yauvarājyābhiṣecanam But the poor princess of Videha had heard nothing of all this; only that consecration to the heir-apparency was in her heart. **2.23.4** devakāryaṃ sma sā kṛtvā kṛtajñā hṛṣṭacetanā abhijñā rājadharmāṇāṃ rājaputraṃ pratīkṣate Having done her worship of the gods, the grateful, glad-hearted woman, well versed in the duties of royalty, awaited the prince. **2.23.5** praviveśātha rāmas tu svaveśma suvibhūṣitam prahṛṣṭajanasaṃpūrṇaṃ hriyā kiṃ cid avāṅmukhaḥ Then Rāma entered his own well-adorned dwelling, filled with rejoicing folk, his face a little downcast out of modesty. **2.23.6** atha sītā samutpatya vepamānā ca taṃ patim apaśyac chokasaṃtaptaṃ cintāvyākulilendriyam Then Sītā, springing up and trembling, saw her husband scorched with grief, his senses agitated with anxiety. **2.23.7** vivarṇavadanaṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ prasvinnam amarṣaṇam āha duḥkhābhisaṃtaptā kim idānīm idaṃ prabho Seeing him with face gone pale, sweating and troubled, she, herself burning with grief, said: 'What is this now, my lord?' **2.23.8** adya bārhaspataḥ śrīmān yuktaḥ puṣyo na rāghava procyate brāhmaṇaiḥ prājñaiḥ kena tvam asi durmanāḥ Rāghava, is not today the glorious Puṣya, ruled by Bṛhaspati, declared present by the learned brahmins? Why then are you downcast? **2.23.9** na te śataśalākena jalaphenanibhena ca āvṛtaṃ vadanaṃ valgu chatreṇābhivirājate Your lovely face is not shining, sheltered by the hundred-ribbed parasol white as water-foam. **2.23.10** vyajanābhyāṃ ca mukhyābhyāṃ śatapatranibhekṣaṇam candrahaṃsaprakāśābhyāṃ vījyate na tavānanam Nor is your face, with eyes like lotus-petals, being fanned by the two splendid fans, bright as the moon and swans. **2.23.11** vāgmino bandinaś cāpi prahṛṣṭās tvaṃ nararṣabha stuvanto nādya dṛśyante maṅgalaiḥ sūtamāgadhāḥ O bull among men, the eloquent panegyrists and the bards, the sūtas and māgadhas, are not seen today joyfully praising you with auspicious songs. **2.23.12** na te kṣaudraṃ ca dadhi ca brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ mūrdhni mūrdhāvasiktasya dadhati sma vidhānataḥ The brahmins versed to the far shore of the Vedas are not, as prescribed, placing honey and curds upon your head, you the anointed one. **2.23.13** na tvāṃ prakṛtayaḥ sarvā śreṇīmukhyāś ca bhūṣitāḥ anuvrajitum icchanti paurajāpapadās tathā All the subjects, and the adorned guild-chiefs, and likewise the townsfolk and country-folk, do not wish to escort you. **2.23.14** caturbhir vegasaṃpannair hayaiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ mukhyaḥ puṣyaratho yuktaḥ kiṃ na gacchati te 'grataḥ Why does the chief festal chariot, yoked to four swift horses with golden trappings, not go before you? **2.23.15** na hastī cāgrataḥ śrīmāṃs tava lakṣaṇapūjitaḥ prayāṇe lakṣyate vīra kṛṣṇameghagiri prabhaḥ O hero, no glorious elephant, prized for its auspicious marks and shining like a dark cloud or mountain, is seen before you on your march. **2.23.16** na ca kāñcanacitraṃ te paśyāmi priyadarśana bhadrāsanaṃ puraskṛtya yāntaṃ vīrapuraḥsaram O you of lovely aspect, nor do I see your throne bright with gold set before you, nor you going forth with heroes at the head. **2.23.17** abhiṣeko yadā sajjaḥ kim idānīm idaṃ tava apūrvo mukhavarṇaś ca na praharṣaś ca lakṣyate When the consecration is all prepared, what is this now with you? An unwonted hue is on your face, and no gladness is to be seen. **2.23.18** itīva vilapantīṃ tāṃ provāca raghunandanaḥ sīte tatrabhavāṃs tāta pravrājayati māṃ vanam As she lamented thus, the delight of the Raghus said to her: 'Sītā, my revered father is sending me away to the forest.' **2.23.19** kule mahati saṃbhūte dharmajñe dharmacāriṇi śṛṇu jānaki yenedaṃ krameṇābhyāgataṃ mama O Jānakī, born in a great family, knower of dharma and practicer of dharma, hear by what course this has come upon me. **2.23.20** rājñā satyapratijñena pitrā daśarathena me kaikeyyai prītamanasā purā dattau mahāvarau By my father King Daśaratha, true to his word, two great boons were formerly given to Kaikeyī, his heart well pleased. **2.23.21** tayādya mama sajje 'sminn abhiṣeke nṛpodyate pracoditaḥ sa samayo dharmeṇa pratinirjitaḥ Now, when this consecration of mine was prepared and set going by the king, she pressed for that compact, and my father, bound by dharma, was overmastered. **2.23.22** caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi vastavyaṃ daṇḍake mayā pitrā me bharataś cāpi yauvarājye niyojitaḥ so 'haṃ tvām āgato draṣṭuṃ prasthito vijanaṃ vanam For fourteen years I must dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest; and my father has appointed Bharata to the heir-apparency. So I have come to see you, as I set out for the lonely forest. **2.23.23** bharatasya samīpe te nāhaṃ kathyaḥ kadā cana ṛddhiyuktā hi puruṣā na sahante parastavam tasmān na te guṇāḥ kathyā bharatasyāgrato mama In Bharata's presence I must never be spoken of by you, for men in prosperity cannot endure the praise of another; therefore my virtues should not be told by you before Bharata. **2.23.24** nāpi tvaṃ tena bhartavyā viśeṣeṇa kadā cana anukūlatayā śakyaṃ samīpe tasya vartitum Nor will you ever be specially maintained by him; only by compliance is it possible to live near him. **2.23.25** ahaṃ cāpi pratijñāṃ tāṃ guroḥ samanupālayan vanam adyaiva yāsyāmi sthirā bhava manasvini And I too, keeping that promise of my father, will go to the forest this very day; be steadfast, O noble-minded one. **2.23.26** yāte ca mayi kalyāṇi vanaṃ muniniṣevitam vratopavāsaratayā bhavitavyaṃ tvayānaghe And when I have gone, dear one, to the forest frequented by sages, you, O sinless one, must give yourself to vows and fasting. **2.23.27** kālyam utthāya devānāṃ kṛtvā pūjāṃ yathāvidhi vanditavyo daśarathaḥ pitā mama nareśvaraḥ Rising at dawn and duly performing worship of the gods, you must pay homage to Daśaratha, my father, the lord of men. **2.23.28** mātā ca mama kausalyā vṛddhā saṃtāpakarśitā dharmam evāgrataḥ kṛtvā tvattaḥ saṃmānam arhati And my mother Kausalyā, aged and wasted with grief, deserves honor from you, with dharma placed foremost. **2.23.29** vanditavyāś ca te nityaṃ yāḥ śeṣā mama mātaraḥ snehapraṇayasaṃbhogaiḥ samā hi mama mātaraḥ And you must always salute those who are my other mothers; for in affection, love, and companionship all my mothers are equal. **2.23.30** bhrātṛputrasamau cāpi draṣṭavyau ca viśeṣataḥ tvayā lakṣmaṇaśatrughnau prāṇaiḥ priyatarau mama And Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, dearer to me than my own breath, should be regarded by you especially as a brother and a son. **2.23.31** vipriyaṃ na ca kartavyaṃ bharatasya kadā cana sa hi rājā prabhuś caiva deśasya ca kulasya ca And nothing displeasing to Bharata should ever be done; for he is the king, and the lord both of the country and of the family. **2.23.32** ārādhitā hi śīlena prayatnaiś copasevitāḥ rājānaḥ saṃprasīdanti prakupyanti viparyaye For kings, propitiated by good conduct and attended with diligence, grow gracious; but in the contrary case they grow wroth. **2.23.33** aurasān api putrān hi tyajanty ahitakāriṇaḥ samarthān saṃpragṛhṇanti janān api narādhipāḥ Rulers of men forsake even their own-begotten sons if they act against their interest, and take to themselves able persons though unrelated. **2.23.34** ahaṃ gamiṣyāmi mahāvanaṃ priye tvayā hi vastavyam ihaiva bhāmini tvayā hi vastavyam ihaiva bhāmini yathā vyalīkaṃ kuruṣe na kasya cit tathā tvayā kāryam idaṃ vaco mama tathā tvayā kāryam idaṃ vaco mama I shall go to the great forest, my dear; but you, my lovely one, must remain right here. Act upon this word of mine so that you give offense to no one.