Passage 1
तत्र गत्वा ददर्शासौ युद्ध्यन्तं लक्ष्मणं परि। भरतं चैव शत्रुघ्नं दानवैर्बलसंवृतैः॥१॥
Going there, he saw Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, and Śatrughna fighting all around against demons surrounded by their forces.
Passage 2
आगतं राममालोक्य अभियुक्ताः परैस्तु ते। लक्ष्मणो भरतोऽरिघ्नो हर्षमापुरनुत्तमम्॥२॥
Though beset by enemies, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, and the foe-slayer Śatrughna saw Rāma arrive and attained unsurpassed joy.
Passage 3
ततो रामसहायास्ते परान् जिग्युश्च तत्क्षणात्। स्वस्था भूत्वा ततो ज्येष्ठमूचिरे वचनं त्विदम्॥३॥
Then, with Rāma’s aid, they conquered their enemies that very instant. Once safe, they addressed these words to their eldest brother. Lakṣmaṇa said:
Passage 4
स्वागतं ते गुणाधीश कार्यं सम्पादितं प्रभो। सेवनात् कामराजस्य कच्चित् सम्पूरिता स्पृहा॥४॥
“Welcome, master of all virtues! Lord, your task has been accomplished. Has your longing been completely fulfilled through serving King Kāma?
Passage 5
त्वदाज्ञातत्पराः सर्वे वयं गोपगणैः सह। धेनुरक्षापरा नानातीतवन्तः स्म वासरान्॥५॥
“Intent upon your command, all of us, together with the cowherds and devoted to guarding the cows, have passed many days here.
Passage 6
प्रत्यूहाश्चेह सञ्जाता बहवोऽप्यसुरैः कृताः। तेऽपि नीताः क्षयं राम त्वत्प्रसादजुषा मया॥६॥
“Many obstacles fashioned by demons have arisen here, but I, favored by your grace, have brought even those to destruction, Rāma.
Passage 7
एतौ च भ्रातरौ सम्यगवर्तेतां त्वदाज्ञया। अधुना यत्तु कर्तव्यं तदपि श्रूयतां परम्॥७॥
“These two brothers also conducted themselves properly according to your command. Now please hear what must be done next.
Passage 8
राज्ञा दशरथेन त्वमस्माभिः सेवकैः सह। आकारितोऽसि नीतिज्ञ विवाहार्थं वयोयुतः॥८॥
“King Daśaratha has summoned you together with us, your attendants. Knower of right conduct, you have reached the age for marriage.
Passage 9
धात्रीगृहे वयं सर्वे जाताः स्म धृतपुष्टयः। अधुना पितुरादेशादयोध्यां याम राघव॥९॥
“All of us have been raised and nourished in our nurse’s house. Now, by our father’s command, let us go to Ayodhyā, Rāghava.
Passage 10
गजाश्वरथसन्दोहः पित्रा नः प्रेषितोऽनघ। गजा ध्वजपरिप्रौढाः स्वर्णालङ्कारशालिनः॥१०॥
“Blameless one, our father has sent a great company of elephants, horses, and chariots. The elephants tower beneath banners and are splendid with golden ornaments.
Passage 11
हेमपल्याणिनश्चैव रथाश्वाः सपरिच्छदाः। सेवकाश्चापि बहवो नीता दिग्देशभूमिपाः॥११॥
“There are chariot horses with golden saddles and full equipment, many servants, and rulers brought from the surrounding regions.
Passage 12
अस्मदानयनार्थाय प्रेषिताः सर्वभूभृता। श्रीमद्दशरथेनास्मत्तातेन प्रवयोजुषा॥१२॥
“They have been sent to bring us home by the lord of the whole earth—our glorious father Daśaratha, now advanced in years.
Passage 13
आर्य त्वां च कृतोद्वाहं राज्यकार्ये नियोज्य सः। प्रियोऽस्माकं पितृवृत्तिं वानप्रस्थं श्रयिष्यति॥१३॥
“Noble brother, after marrying you and appointing you to the work of the kingdom, our beloved father will adopt the ancestral way of forest retirement.
Passage 14
तदार्य तत्र सङ्गम्य पितरौ नन्दयामहे। धात्रीगृहे निवसतां बहवो वत्सरा ययुः॥१४॥
“Therefore, noble brother, let us go there and delight our parents. Many years have passed while we lived in our nurse’s house.
Passage 15
इदानीं पितृगेहस्य कुर्मोऽलङ्करणं वयम्। किं तैः सुतैर्ये न कुर्युः पितृसन्तोषणक्रियाम्॥१५॥
“Let us now become the adornment of our father’s house. Of what use are sons who do not act for their parents’ satisfaction?
Passage 16
जीवतो गेहसन्तोषो मृते वा पारलौकिकः। एवमुक्तस्तु तै राम ओमित्यूचे वचः प्रभुः॥१६॥
“While a father lives, a son should bring contentment to his home; after his death, he should provide the rites of the next world.” Thus addressed by them, Lord Rāma answered, “So be it.”
Passage 17
अयोध्यां प्रतिगच्छामो नन्दयामः पितॄनथ। ततस्ते कृतसङ्कल्पाः प्रयाणाय पितुर्गुहे॥१७॥
“Then let us return to Ayodhyā and delight our parents.” Thereupon they made their resolve to depart for their father’s house. The cowherd king named Sukhita then said to them:
Passage 18
हे राम हे लक्ष्मण भूरिकर्मन् हे शत्रुहन् भरत पितुर्गृहं प्रति। किं प्रस्थिताः यूयमितोऽधुना व्रजे कः पालयिष्यत्यखिला अमूर्गाः॥१८॥
“O Rāma! O Lakṣmaṇa of mighty deeds! O Śatrughna and Bharata! Are you now setting out from Vraja for your father’s house? Who will protect all these cows?
Passage 19
एताः खलु प्रेमभरेण युष्मत्- सम्पालिताः कञ्चन विश्वसन्ति न। अहो धर्मजा तत्क्षणादेव चामू- र्विनाशमेष्यन्ति च त्वद्वियोगात्॥१९॥
“Tenderly guarded by you with abundant love, these cows trust no one else. O sons of righteousness, they will perish that very moment from separation from you.
Passage 20
अस्माकं वा का गतिस्तात युष्मत्- प्रेमामृतैकाश्रयिणां गोपकानाम्। अयं व्रजो वा मुखदर्शने क्वचित्- पलार्द्धमप्यन्तरायं न सोढा॥२०॥
“And what fate awaits us cowherds, dear sons, whose sole refuge is the nectar of your love? This Vraja cannot bear even half an instant’s interruption in beholding your faces.
Passage 21
क्रीतः प्रेम्णा राजपुत्रैर्भवद्भि- र्लोकोऽत्रत्यः कां गतिं लभ्यतेऽसौ। क्व युष्माकं मन्दिरे नः प्रवेशो भूमेरेकश्छत्रछायास्पदानाम्॥२१॥
“You princes have purchased the people of this place with love; what fate will they meet? How could we, humble people whose place is on the ground beneath a single parasol’s shade, gain entrance to your palace?
Passage 22
यूयं तदेवं कर्तुमर्हन्ति नैव धर्मज्ञातारः सत्कृपासिन्धुचित्ताः। अनन्यभाजां खलु नो यूयमेव चित्रं वित्तं चेह चामुत्रपूर्णम्॥२२॥
“You should not do this, for you know dharma and your hearts are oceans of true compassion. For us, who belong to no other, you alone are our wondrous, all-sufficient treasure both here and in the world beyond.
Passage 23
नान्यं भजामो न च संस्मरामो न चाश्रयामो न च वीक्षयामः। भवत्पदाम्भोरुहमत्र नः परं परं शरण्यं शरणागतानाम्॥२३॥
“We worship no other, remember no other, take refuge in no other, and look to no other. For us who have surrendered, your lotus feet are the highest and only refuge.” Māṅgalyā said:
Passage 24
वत्स राम भवतः प्रणयेन प्रायशो व्रजजनोऽस्ति निबद्धः। अद्य का गतिरमुष्य भवित्री प्रेषिते त्वयि चिरात्कृतसङ्गे॥२४॥
“Dear Rāma, nearly everyone in Vraja is bound by love for you. What will become of them now when you, their companion for so long, are sent away?
Passage 25
जीवतां खलु जनो भवतासौ चापदां समुदयानपनीय। अद्य किं स न मरिष्यति युष्मद्वक्त्रपूर्णविधुदर्शनहीनः॥२५॥
“These people live because you removed the entire host of their calamities. Will they not now die when deprived of the sight of your faces, full as the moon?
Passage 26
यः खलु प्रतिदिनं त्वया विना वर्तितुं क्षणमपि क्षमते न। स त्वदाननविलोकनं विना कीदृशीं गतिमवाप्स्यति लोकः॥२६॥
“These people cannot endure even a moment without you on any day. What fate will they meet without the sight of your face?
Passage 27
तत्पुरीं प्रति न याहि साम्प्रतं रामचन्द्र पितराविहैव ते। आगमिष्यत इदं वचनं नः पालयस्व वरदेश्वरेश्वर॥२७॥
“Do not go to that city now, Rāmacandra. Let your parents come here instead. Lord of the greatest lords, please honor this request of ours.
Passage 28
एष गोपनृपतिस्त्वया परं पुत्रितां समुपगम्य निर्वृतः। वत्स राम तदमुष्य वियोगं दातुमर्हति भवान्न कदापि॥२८॥
“This cowherd king attained complete fulfillment by receiving you as his son. Dear Rāma, you should never inflict separation upon him.” The cowherds said:
Passage 29
अयि मित्राणि निबोधत रामसुमित्रातनयभरतशत्रुघ्नाः युष्मद्विरहभयार्त्तिः कदाचिदपि नानुभूतपूर्वा नः। सम्प्रति भवतां नगरे प्रस्थानं श्रूयतेऽस्माभि- र्दीर्घमजनिष्ट दुःखं प्राणान्तादप्यतीव गरीयः॥२९॥
“O friends—Rāma, son of Sumitrā, Bharata, and Śatrughna—understand that we have never before experienced this anguish born of fearing separation from you. Now we hear that you will depart for the city, and a lasting sorrow has arisen that weighs far more heavily than death.
Passage 30
अथ भविता किमतोऽग्रे मित्रवियोगेन मरणमस्माक- मथवा पूर्वं मरणं तदनु वियोगो भवतु भवाय॥३०॥
“What will happen next? Will we die through separation from our friends, or may death come first and separation only afterward, for our good?
Passage 31
सार्द्धं तदस्माभिराबाल्याद्बहुलं सुखं लसितम्। तेषां क्षणवियोगेऽपि कथं स्थास्यामहे वयम्॥३१॥
“From childhood onward, abundant happiness has shone for us together with them. How shall we remain even through a moment’s separation from them?
Passage 32
एषां विलोकनेऽस्माभिर्निमेषोऽपि विगर्हितः। वहन्तो विरहं तेषां कथं स्थास्यामहे वयम्॥३२॥
“While looking at them, we have condemned even the blink of an eye. How shall we remain while bearing separation from them?
Passage 33
पानभोजनशय्यादौ यैर्विना न च संस्थिताः। विप्रयोगे चिरं तेषां कथं स्थास्यामहेऽधुना॥३३॥
“We have never been without them while drinking, eating, sleeping, or doing anything else. How shall we now remain through a long separation from them?
Passage 34
एषां राजकुमाराणां तिष्ठतां रत्नवेश्मसु। दौवारिकैर्वयं रुद्धाः प्राप्स्यामः किं प्रवेशनम्॥३४॥
“When these princes live in jeweled palaces, the doorkeepers will bar us. How will we gain entrance?
Passage 35
यौवराज्ये स्थितो रामः किन्त्वस्मान् संस्मरिष्यसि [ति?]। इन्द्रादिदिविषद्वन्द्यो वन्दनीयपदाम्बुजः॥३५॥
“Rāma, when installed as heir apparent, will you at least remember us? Your lotus feet will be worthy of homage and honored by the gods led by Indra.”
Passage 36
एवमालपतां तेषां वचांस्याकर्ण्य गोपिकाः। अमी वदन्ति किं तावदिति प्रोचुः परस्परम्॥३६॥
Hearing the words of those who spoke in this way, the gopīs asked one another, “What are they saying?”
Passage 37
तत्रैकापि च लोकेभ्यो रामयानं विजानती। प्रोवाच गाढधैर्येण नस्फुटद्धृदया सती॥३७॥
One among them had learned from the people that Rāma was leaving. With firm courage, her heart somehow not bursting, that faithful woman spoke.
Passage 38
अयि गोपा अहो आल्यः सर्वेऽपि नगरं प्रति। प्रस्थानं रामचन्द्रस्य समाचक्षत आर्त्तिदम्॥३८॥
“Friends, alas! They are all reporting Rāmacandra’s grief-giving departure for the city.
Passage 39
अयं खलु पितृभ्यां वै धात्रीगेहे चिरोषितः। यौवराज्याभिषेकार्थमाहूत इति शुश्रुमः॥३९॥
“He has indeed lived for a long time in his nurse’s house, and we have heard that his parents have summoned him for consecration as heir apparent.
Passage 40
एते खलु नरेन्द्रस्य कुमारा अग्निवर्चसः। राक्षसानां भयेनात्र गोपगेहे निवेशिताः॥४०॥
“These princes of the king, radiant as fire, were placed here in a cowherd’s house because of the threat from demons.
Passage 41
इह तिष्ठद्भिरेतैस्तु कति दैत्या विनाशिताः। राक्षसाः पूतनाद्यास्तु विकटाद्याश्च राक्षसाः॥४१॥
“How many demons have they destroyed while staying here—rākṣasas beginning with Pūtanā and others beginning with Vikaṭa!
Passage 42
रामेण क्रीडता सख्यः सद्य एव विनाशिताः। त्रिलोकमध्ये नरदैत्यदैवतात् कुतोऽप्यमीषां हि भयं न विद्यते। एते खलु क्ष्मातलसाधुपालकाः कृतावताराः पुरुषोत्तमाः स्वयम्॥४२॥
“Friends, they were destroyed at once by Rāma as he played. Within the three worlds, no fear can come to these brothers from any man, demon, or god. They are the supreme persons themselves, descended into incarnation as guardians of the good upon the earth.
Passage 43
यथा रामस्तथा लक्ष्मा यथा स भरतस्तथा। यथैव भरतो वीरस्तथा शत्रुघ्न उच्चकैः॥४३॥
“As Rāma is, so is Lakṣmaṇa; as he is, so is Bharata; and just as Bharata is heroic, so is Śatrughna in the highest degree.
Passage 44
एते स्वयं रुचा पूर्णा भगवन्तो नरोत्तमाः। पितृभ्यामिति विज्ञाय समाहूताः स्वपत्तने॥४४॥
“These supreme men are divine lords, full of their own radiance. Their parents have recognized this and summoned them to their city.
Passage 45
जीवने चापि सन्देहः किन्त्वस्माकमतः परम्। येषां क्षणेऽपि विच्छेदो नानुभूतः कदाचन॥४५॥
“From this point onward, even our continuing to live is doubtful, for we have never experienced separation from them for so much as a moment.
Passage 46
तेऽमी प्रयाताः स्वपुरं द्रष्टव्याः कथमक्षिभिः। इति श्रुत्वा सखीवाक्यं सर्वास्ता व्रजयोषितः॥४६॥
“They are going away to their own city—how can our eyes bear to see it?” Upon hearing these words from their companion, all the women of Vraja—
Passage 47
मूर्छिताः सहसा तत्र निपेतुर्धरणीतले। पतितास्वासु धरणौ महान् कोलाहलोऽभवत्॥४७॥
—suddenly fainted there and fell to the ground. When they had fallen upon the earth, a tremendous commotion arose.
Passage 48
ता एवोपचरन्तीनां गच्छन्तीनामितस्ततः। दूतीनां च सखीनां च सद्य एव व्रजाङ्गणे॥४८॥
At once in Vraja’s courtyard, the messengers and companions tending the women hurried here and there:
Passage 49
तालवृन्तानि कुरुत नाडी पश्यत पश्यत। मुखेषु सलिलं दत्त किञ्चित्पृच्छत पृच्छत॥४९॥
“Make fans! Check their pulses—check them! Put water on their faces! Ask them something—ask them!
Passage 50
अहो हि निमिषत्येषा श्वसित्येषा तु किञ्चन। अहो किञ्चिद्वदत्येषा ईषद्विस्फुरिताधरा॥५०॥
“Ah, this one is blinking! This one is breathing a little! Ah, this one is saying something; her lips are moving slightly!”
Passage 51
इत्येवं वदतां तत्र जनानां च परस्परम्। ततश्चिराय प्रतिलब्धचेतना गवेन्द्रघोषस्य कुरङ्गलोचनाः। प्रियप्रयाणश्रवणेन कातरा परं वचः प्रोचुरिदं परस्परम्॥५१॥
As the people spoke thus to one another, after a long while the deer-eyed women of Gavendra’s settlement regained consciousness. Terrified by hearing of their beloved’s departure, they then said this to one another.
Passage 52
अहो वयस्याः प्रतिकूलदेवाः क्वचित्समाकर्णितमीदृशं वचः। अयं खलु श्वो नगरं प्रयाता हूतः पितृभ्यां युवराजयोग्यः॥५२॥
“Friends, alas—the gods are hostile! When has such a statement ever been heard? Tomorrow he will leave for the city, summoned by his parents as one fit to be heir apparent.
Passage 53
ततः कथं जीवनमाप्नुयामः कदाप्यनभ्यस्तवियोगवेदनाः। गतिस्मिताप्रेक्षणभाषणादिभिः सख्योऽमुनाकृष्टवशीकृतान्तराः॥५३॥
“How then shall we continue living, friends? We have never practiced the pain of separation, and he has drawn and enthralled our hearts with his gait, smile, glances, speech, and all the rest.
Passage 54
ईदृग्विपत् क्वापि कदापि जन्मनि प्राप्ता न चास्मासु यतः सुसंशयः। अहोऽमुना वर्षदवानलादिना प्राणान्तकेभ्यः किमु रक्षिता वयम्॥५४॥
“Never in any birth has a calamity like this befallen us; because of it, our survival is gravely in doubt. Ah, why did he save us from the deadly rain, forest fire, and other perils?
Passage 55
इत्युक्त्वा सहसा गोप्यो गलत्कज्जलकैश्चलैः। कदम्बकुसुमस्थूलैर्बहुलैरश्रुविन्दुभिः॥५५॥
Having said this, the gopīs suddenly shed abundant, trembling teardrops, thick as kadamba blossoms and mingled with their streaming collyrium.
Passage 56
ममृजुः कुचकाश्मीरं दीर्घनिःश्वासकम्पिताः। यथा कथञ्चिद्धैर्येण प्राणान् संरुध्य तस्थिरे॥५६॥
With those tears the gopīs wiped away the saffron on their breasts. Trembling with long sighs, they somehow held their lives within by courage and remained there. --- Thus ends the fortieth chapter, “Rāma’s Departure,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the Śrīmad Ādi Rāmāyaṇa. Textual notes The chapter begins on source leaf 315, occupies leaves 315–319, and ends with passage 56 and its complete colophon on physical PDF page 320. All fifty-six passage numbers are sequential in the edition. The scan controls युद्ध्यन्तं against the auxiliary transcription’s mechanically broken युद्।ह्ध्यन्तं in passage 1 and गच्छन्तीनाम् against गछन्तीनाम् in passage 48. Passage 35 preserves the edition’s uncertain bracketed reading [ति?]; it is not silently resolved. The extended prose-like appeals in passages 29–30 and the syntactic carryovers across passages 17–18, 41–42, 46–48, and 50–51 are preserved rather than compressed into independent aphorisms. Compounds and sandhi are otherwise normalized only where word division introduces no textual choice.