Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— आश्वासितापि कौसल्या सुमन्त्रेण महात्मना। रुदती भूरिशोकार्ता रामविश्लेषदुःखिता॥१॥
Brahmā said: Although noble Sumantra had consoled her, Kauśalyā continued to weep, overwhelmed by grief and suffering from separation from Rāma.
Passage 2
उपालम्भत भर्तारं वाक्शरैः पीडयन्त्यलम्। विललाप च दुःखार्ता तस्याग्रे बाष्पलोचना॥२॥
She reproached her husband, piercing him deeply with arrowlike words. Her eyes full of tears, she lamented before him in her anguish.
Passage 3
तस्या वाक्यशरव्रातैरतिसम्पीडितो नृपः। विश्लेषाद् रामचन्द्रस्य पूर्वमेव विचेतनः॥३॥
The king, already nearly senseless from separation from Rāmacandra, was sorely wounded by the volleys of her verbal arrows.
Passage 4
चिरं निःश्वस्य निःश्वस्य मोहसागरमध्यगः। अपश्यत् तमसा व्याप्तं भुवनं मीलितेक्षणः॥४॥
Sighing again and again for a long time, he sank into an ocean of bewilderment. With eyes closing, he saw the world covered in darkness.
Passage 5
शुशोच परमं चित्ते कौसल्यां दुःखभाषिणीम्। प्रतिवक्तुमशक्तात्मा रुरोद भृशदुःखितः॥५॥
In his heart he grieved deeply for Kauśalyā as she spoke from pain. Unable to answer her, the profoundly afflicted king wept.
Passage 6
विसंज्ञ इव संजातो द्विगुणोद्वेगशोकहतः। ततश्चिराल्लब्धसंज्ञः कौसल्यामिदमूचिवान्॥६॥
Struck by grief and anguish grown twofold, he became almost unconscious. After a long while he regained awareness and spoke to Kauśalyā.
Passage 7
सत्यं ते दुःखतप्ताया उपालम्भनमीदृशम्। मया क्रूरेण कुबुद्ध्या कृतासि किल दुःखभाक्॥७॥
“Your reproach is just, for you are scorched by pain. Through my cruelty and poor judgment, I have indeed made you a sharer in this suffering.
Passage 8
आत्मनः कुत्सितं कर्म शोचाम्यहमभीक्षणशः। भूयो नैवास्य शोकस्य पारं प्राप्तोऽस्मि सुव्रते॥८॥
“I constantly lament my own contemptible deed. Virtuous lady, still I have not reached the far shore of this sorrow.
Passage 9
अलं प्रसादये त्वाहमीदृशोऽतिनिष्ठुरः। न भिद्यते वाक्यशरैर्हृदयं मेऽतिनिष्ठुरम्॥९॥
“Enough—I beg you to be gracious to one as cruel as I. My exceedingly hard heart is not even split by these arrowlike words.”
Passage 10
इत्युक्त्वा विरते भूपे कौसल्या भर्तृवत्सला। परुषाक्षरसम्भाषाजातमागस्तदात्मनः॥१०॥
When the king had spoken and fallen silent, Kauśalyā, devoted to her husband, recognized the fault she had incurred by speaking harsh words.
Passage 11
अक्षामयत सा नृपतेः कृत्वा पादाभिवन्दनम्। मयोक्तं परुषं यत्ते तत् क्षमस्व महीपते॥११॥
Bowing at the king’s feet, she asked his forgiveness: “Lord of the earth, please forgive the harsh words I spoke to you.
Passage 12
दुःखिताः किं न भाषन्त इति विज्ञाय चेतसि। साहं रामप्रवासेन दुःखितास्मि न संशयः॥१२॥
“Understand in your heart: what will people not say when overwhelmed by pain? I am indeed distraught because Rāma has gone into exile.
Passage 13
धृतिर्मे लुप्यते शोकात् प्रज्ञा च श्रुतमेव च। तमोऽभिभूतं पश्यामि शोकेन सकलं जगत्॥१३॥
“Grief destroys my fortitude, wisdom, and even all I have learned. Through sorrow I see the entire world overcome by darkness.”
Passage 14
तामित्थमात्मपरुषोक्तिभवापराधसम्मार्जनाय नृपतिं प्रतिभाषमाणाम्। सम्बोध्य रामजननीं सुमतिः सुमित्रा नीचैरुवाच नृपतौ लघुलब्धनिद्रे॥१४॥
As Kauśalyā spoke thus to the king to wipe away the fault born from her own harsh words, wise Sumitrā addressed Rāma’s mother softly when the king had obtained a little sleep. Sumitrā Praises Rāma’s Dharma
Passage 15
तनयस्तव कौसल्ये वीरस्त्रैलोक्यरञ्जनः। यदि निर्वासितो राज्ञा किं ततस्तस्य हीयते॥१५॥
“Kauśalyā, your heroic son brings delight to the three worlds. If the king has sent him into exile, what of his can thereby be diminished?
Passage 16
स्वाभाविकगुणाढ्यानां पुरुषाणां महौजसाम्। गृहे वापि वने वापि सर्वत्र विपुलं यशः॥१६॥
“Mighty persons endowed with innate virtue possess abundant glory everywhere, whether at home or in a forest.
Passage 17
पितुर्नियोगतो रामः सत्येन प्रोषितो वनम्। सर्वत्र कुशली लोके न तं शोचितुमर्हसि॥१७॥
“Obeying his father’s command and honoring truth, Rāma has gone into the forest. He prospers everywhere in the world; you ought not to grieve for him.
Passage 18
य एवं धार्मिकाः शूराः प्रज्ञाकौशलभूषिताः। सर्वत्र सर्वदा तेषां विजयश्रीरचञ्चला॥१८॥
“For righteous heroes such as he, adorned with wisdom and skill, the fortune of victory remains unwavering everywhere and always.
Passage 19
धर्मेण यो वनं यातः पितुः सत्याभिवृद्धये। तस्य पौरुषसारस्य शुभं भूरि पदे पदे॥१९॥
“He has gone to the forest through dharma to uphold his father’s truth. For that very essence of heroism, abundant good awaits at every step.
Passage 20
यस्य त्रैलोक्यमखिलं यशसा विमलं बभौ। तस्य रामवरेण्यस्य महीराज्यसुखं कियत्॥२०॥
“The whole of the three worlds shines purified by his fame. Of what importance is the pleasure of an earthly kingdom to that most excellent Rāma?
Passage 21
गोपायतः सतां मार्गं वर्तमानस्य धर्मतः। न त्वं रामस्य विषये कल्याणि कलयेः शुचम्॥२१॥
“Auspicious lady, do not nurture sorrow concerning Rāma, who lives righteously and protects the path followed by the good.
Passage 22
यस्तादृशं महात्मानं धर्मेणानुवर्तते। तस्यापि मम पुत्रस्य विषये सति मा शुचः॥२२॥
“Virtuous lady, do not grieve for my son either, for he follows such a great soul in accordance with dharma.
Passage 23
भवनानि परित्यज्य धर्मतोऽनुगता पतिम्। शुचिस्मितातिमुदिता त्रैलोक्ये यशसां निधिः॥२३॥
“Leaving the palaces behind, the pure-smiling and supremely joyful Sītā has rightfully followed her husband. She is a treasury of glory in the three worlds.
Passage 24
विदेहराजकन्यां तां किमर्थमनुशोचसि। यस्याः संस्मरणेनाशु पूयते भुवनत्रयम्॥२४॥
“Why do you grieve for that daughter of the king of Videha, by whose very remembrance the three worlds are swiftly purified?
Passage 25
लभन्ते मङ्गलं लोका यस्याः समनुकीर्तनात्। शोच्या न सा जनकजा दीनचित्ता यथेतरा॥२५॥
“The worlds obtain auspiciousness by praising her. Janaka’s daughter is not to be pitied as though she were some ordinary, dispirited woman. The Promise of Rāma’s Return
Passage 26
त्वमेव खलु कौसल्ये या शोकेनानुतप्यसे। सा राजराजजननी भूयो निर्वृतिमेष्यसि॥२६॥
“It is you alone, Kauśalyā, who now torment yourself with grief. As the mother of the king of kings, you will again attain happiness.
Passage 27
भविता ते सुतो नूनं धरण्याः पतिरूर्जितः। यशःसौरभ्यसन्दोहसुखिताखिलविष्टपः॥२७॥
“Your mighty son will surely become lord of the earth, delighting every realm with the gathered fragrance of his fame.
Passage 28
मा वदः करुणां वाचं वीरेन्द्रजननी सती। द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं सुतं स्वीयमेकच्छत्रावनीपतिम्॥२८॥
“As the noble mother of the foremost hero, do not speak piteous words. You will see your own son as sovereign of the earth beneath a single royal parasol.
Passage 29
कियच्चतुर्दशाब्दानां कियच्च वनवासनम्। सर्वं महानुभावानां कष्टमेतन्मतं लघु॥२९॥
“What are fourteen years, and what is residence in a forest? Every such hardship is considered slight by the great-hearted.
Passage 30
यं सेवते वनेऽपि श्रीः साक्षात्सीताभिधापरा। तस्य त्रैलोक्यमखिलमनुकूलं विलोकये॥३०॥
“Even in the forest he is served by the supreme Goddess of Fortune herself, who bears the name Sītā. I see the whole of the three worlds favorably disposed toward him.
Passage 31
किं न राज्यं समस्ताया मेदिन्याः कुरुते सति। अद्यापि ते सुतो यस्य राज्यश्रीः सा विदेहजा॥३१॥
“Virtuous lady, why would your son not rule the whole earth when even now that Vaidehī is the royal fortune belonging to him?
Passage 32
अथ यस्य कृते ननु दुःखशतैरनुशोचसि कोसलराजसुते। स विलङ्घ्य चतुर्दशवर्षरुजं भवतीं प्रणमिष्यति हृष्टमनाः॥३२॥
“O daughter of the king of Kosala, he for whose sake you suffer hundreds of sorrows will pass beyond the pain of fourteen years and joyfully bow before you.
Passage 33
वनवसतिमुपास्य रामचन्द्रे समुपगते नगरीमिमां सुखाढ्याम्। विकसति यदि काञ्चनः प्रसूनैर्ननु भवती स्मरसि ध्रुवं वचो मे॥३३॥
“When Rāmacandra has completed his forest dwelling and returns to this city filled with happiness, if any golden tree bursts into flower, you will surely remember these words of mine.
Passage 34
ये धीराः प्रकृतिसुवृत्तभाजः सत्येन प्रशमितसर्वपापकृत्याः। तेषां तत्कियदिव दुःखमापदुत्थं त्रैलोक्ये दधति शुभानि ते परेषाम्॥३४॥
“What weight can suffering born of adversity have for steadfast people whose nature is noble and whose sinful acts are pacified by truth? Throughout the three worlds, such people bring blessings to others.”
Passage 35
इतीत्थमाश्वास्य वचोऽमृतैस्तां धृतज्वरां कोसलराजपुत्रीम्। सुधीरचित्ता शनकैः सुमित्रा जगाम मौनं स्वपतौ क्षितीन्द्रे॥३५॥
Having thus consoled the fevered daughter of the king of Kosala with the nectar of her words, resolute-minded Sumitrā gradually fell silent beside her husband, the king. *Thus ends Chapter Twenty-two, “Sumitrā’s Counsel,” in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the venerable Ādi-Rāmāyaṇa.*