Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— उपदिष्टापि सा पत्या जानकी हितकारिणा। भाव्यार्थवदनिबद्धा मुहुरूचे निरस्य तत्॥१॥
Brahmā said: Although her well-wishing husband had instructed her, Jānakī, bound by what destiny intended, rejected his counsel and spoke again.
Passage 2
अलं ते शङ्कया नाथ किमेवं विप्रभाषसे। को मां वञ्चयितुं शक्तस्त्वयि जाग्रति धन्विनि॥२॥
“Lord, enough of this suspicion! Why do you speak so contrarily? While you stand watchful with bow in hand, who could deceive me?
Passage 3
आलस्याच्छङ्कया वापि त्वमेवं विप्रभाषसे। उभे अपि प्रिय भवत्यनर्हे धीरधन्विनि॥३॥
“You speak this way either from reluctance or suspicion. Beloved, neither is worthy of a steadfast bowman such as you.
Passage 4
ममाभिलाषपूर्तिस्ते न कदापि कृता न च। प्रदेहि मम स्वर्णमृगं मह्यमानीय कामद॥४॥
“You have never before had to fulfill a desire of mine. Desire-granting lord, bring me this golden deer and give it to me.
Passage 5
अपि नैवंविधं वस्तु पुनर्लभ्यं कदाचन। त्वं नावगणयेः कान्त लोकोत्तरगुणं त्विमम्॥५॥
“An object like this may never be obtained again. Beloved, do not disregard this creature of unearthly qualities.
Passage 6
मनोहरोऽयं हरिणो वने क्रीडनको मम। भविष्यति विशेषेण त्वं चेदानेष्यसि प्रिय॥६॥
“If you bring it, beloved, this captivating deer will become my special playmate in the forest.
Passage 7
समानयैनं विद्ध्वापि विचित्रगुणविग्रहम्। सौवर्णमेणमतुलं रमणीयतमाकृतिम्॥७॥
“Bring this incomparable golden antelope of wondrous qualities and supremely lovely form, even if you must shoot it.
Passage 8
न त्वादृशो महावीरः स्वभार्याकामपूरणे। क्वचिद्विलम्बते कान्त समये स्वैककर्मसु॥८॥
“A great hero such as you should never delay at the proper time in the personal duty of fulfilling his wife's desire.
Passage 9
प्रत्येयमस्य हृदयं किमर्थं नु मया पशोः। करिष्यते च किमयं विप्रियं मम तेऽन्तिके॥९॥
“Why should I need to know the heart of a mere animal? What harm could it do me while you are near?
Passage 10
वराकः पशुजातीनां हरिणो नाम सन्ततम्। हीनसारस्तुच्छतनुः का शङ्का नाम तादृशात्॥१०॥
“A deer is always a poor creature among animals, weak in substance and slight of body. What fear could arise from such a being?
Passage 11
आलस्यतः शङ्कया वा महान् स्वार्थो विहन्यते। उभे अपि नरो हित्वा यतेत स्वार्थसिद्धये॥११॥
“A great objective is lost through either laziness or suspicion. A person should abandon both and strive to attain the desired end.
Passage 12
उन्मूलितान्तःशङ्कानामनालस्यभृतां नृणाम्। उपसीदन्ति सकलाः सम्पदः स्वेष्टसम्भृताः॥१२॥
“Every wished-for prosperity approaches those who uproot inner doubt and remain free from laziness.
Passage 13
मृगोऽयं स्वर्गवास्तव्यः स्वर्णरत्नमयोऽखिलः। स्वर्गस्त्रीरसस्याद्यः केलिकृन्नन्दने वने॥१३॥
“This deer belongs in heaven and is entirely made of gold and jewels. It must be the foremost playmate of celestial women in Nandana forest.
Passage 14
क्रीडनं स्वर्गयोषाणां सर्वश्रीनिकेतनम्। अलभ्यो मानुषे लोके देवाद्धि समुपागतः॥१४॥
“This repository of every beauty, a toy of heavenly women and unobtainable in the human world, has come here by divine fortune.
Passage 15
कस्त्यजेदेनमालस्यादालस्योपहतचेतनः। अतो नैनमुपेक्षस्व मदभीष्टैकसाधनम्॥१५॥
“Who but one whose mind is ruined by laziness would let it go? Therefore do not neglect the sole means of fulfilling my wish.” Rāma Prepares to Pursue the Deer
Passage 16
इति प्रियावचः श्रुत्वा लज्जासंरम्भमध्यगः। राम आकारयामास लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्॥१६॥
Hearing his beloved's words, Rāma was caught between embarrassment and urgency and summoned the auspicious Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 17
पुरोगतं च सौमित्रिं भक्तिप्रह्वं कृताञ्जलिम्। उवाच रभसाद् रामो भाविताशेषगोचरः॥१७॥
When Sumitrā's son came before him, bowed with devotion and joined palms, all-knowing Rāma spoke urgently.
Passage 18
पुरस्तात्पश्यसि भ्रातरेनं स्वर्णतनुं मृगम्। चित्ते कामयते चैनं जानकी कौतुकान्विता॥१८॥
“Brother, you see before us this deer with a golden body. Filled with wonder, Jānakī desires it in her heart.
Passage 19
यावदानयाम्येनं जातिप्रकृतिचञ्चलम्। जीवन्तं वापि हत्वा वा विचित्रगुणविग्रहम्॥१९॥
“Until I bring back this wondrous creature—restless by the nature of its species—either alive or after killing it,
Passage 20
तावत्त्वं प्रयतो भूत्वा मत्प्रियायाः समीपगः। नूनं स्थास्यसि सौमित्रे घोरेऽस्मिन् निर्जने वने॥२०॥
“remain vigilant beside my beloved, Lakṣmaṇa, here in this terrible and deserted forest.
Passage 21
स्त्रीस्वभावसुसिद्धोऽस्या हठोऽयं बलवत्तरः। सुवर्णहरिणस्यास्य संग्रहे खलु वर्तते॥२१॥
“Her powerful insistence on obtaining this golden deer has arisen in accordance with the well-known nature of women.
Passage 22
प्रियाभिलाषपूर्तिश्च न जातु न कृता मया। अत आत्तधनुर्बाणः प्रयाम्येनमहं मृगम्॥२२॥
“Never before have I been required to fulfill a desire of my beloved. Therefore I shall take bow and arrows and go after this deer.
Passage 23
त्वय्यत्र वर्तमाने तु निश्चिन्तहृदयोऽस्म्यहम्। मा पुनस्त्यज सौमित्रे देशमेनं कदाचन॥२३॥
“With you remaining here, my heart is free from anxiety. Lakṣmaṇa, never leave this place for any reason.
Passage 24
अत्याहितोऽपि कार्यं त्वं प्रगुणं मद्वचः स्मरन्। नेतः प्रयास्यसि क्वापि सौमित्रे मदसुप्रियः॥२४॥
“Even if some grave emergency arises, remember my explicit command and do not go anywhere from here, dearer to me than life.
Passage 25
सावधानो धनुर्धारी संहितैकेषुरूर्जितः। तिष्ठ त्वमिह सौमित्रे यावदायान्यहं जवात्॥२५॥
“Stand here alert with bow in hand and a powerful arrow fitted to the string until I return swiftly.
Passage 26
प्रायो रक्षोभिरस्माकं जातो वैरतरुर्महान्। यस्य मूलं शूर्पणखानासाकर्णनिकृन्तनम्॥२६॥
“A great tree of hostility has arisen between us and the rākṣasas, rooted in the cutting of Śūrpaṇakhā's nose and ears.
Passage 27
सा स्वसा दशवक्त्रस्य भुवनेशाभिमानिनः। तदर्थे रक्षसां कोट्यः प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा दिवं गताः॥२७॥
“She is the sister of the ten-headed one who prides himself on being lord of the worlds. For her sake millions of rākṣasas gave up their lives.
Passage 28
रावणेन श्रुतं प्राय इदं वृत्तं भविष्यति। अतो दुरात्मना तेन कार्यैवापकृतिर्मम॥२८॥
“Rāvaṇa has probably heard what occurred, and that wicked being will surely attempt to harm me. Rāma's Charge to Guard Sītā
Passage 29
स्थानमेतच्च संचारो रक्षसामेव सन्ततम्। भार्या च सततं रक्ष्या मन्दाक्षव्ययशङ्कितैः॥२९॥
“This place is continually frequented by rākṣasas, and a wife must always be guarded by those who fear the loss of family honor.
Passage 30
महच्च नः कुलं भ्रातर्मान्धातृसगरादिभिः। अकीर्तिमलिनं जातु न भवेत्क्रियतां तथा॥३०॥
“Brother, our lineage is great through Māndhātṛ, Sagara, and the others. Act so that it may never be stained by dishonor.
Passage 31
स्त्री नाम पुरुषस्यास्य लज्जा जगति दारता। तस्याः संगोपने यत्नः कर्तव्योऽवहितात्मभिः॥३१॥
“A man's wife embodies his modesty and married honor in the world; therefore the vigilant must strive to protect her.
Passage 32
न जातु निर्जने स्थाने स्थापनीया वराङ्गना। गुप्ता प्रकटाश्चापि नास्याः कर्त्रपहारकाः॥३२॥
“A beautiful woman should never be left in a deserted place. When she is visibly guarded, abductors find no opportunity.
Passage 33
गृहस्थस्य तु वै प्राणाः स्त्रियायत्ता भवन्ति हि। अस्यामपगतायां किं प्राणैर्वा जीवितेन वा॥३३॥
“A householder's very life truly depends upon his wife. If she is lost, what use are his vital breaths or life itself?
Passage 34
रक्षणीया च पुरुषैः सर्वदेशेषु सर्वदा। प्राणैरपि धनैरपि भार्या स्वात्मवदुत्तमा॥३४॥
“Men must protect an excellent wife as their own self, in every place and at all times, even at the cost of life or wealth.
Passage 35
गृहस्थस्य यथैवात्मा तथा भार्या गरीयसी। रक्षणीया सुनियतमापद्यपि विशेषतः॥३५॥
“A householder's wife is as weighty as his own self. She must be protected without fail, especially in adversity.
Passage 36
नापद्यपि स्त्रियं जातु समुपेक्षेत मानवः। सा ह्यस्य प्राणसदृशी सर्वापच्छेदकारणम्॥३६॥
“A man must never neglect his wife even during calamity, for she is equal to his life and the means of cutting through every adversity.
Passage 37
आपदः किल नीयन्ते स्त्रीसहायेन मनस्विभिः। उच्छिदन्तेऽखिला यायु सुहृद्बन्धुसुतादयः॥३७॥
“The resolute overcome calamities with a wife's support; if she is lost, friends, relatives, sons, and every other support become uprooted.
Passage 38
पुनर्धनं पुनर्भृत्याः पुनः सखिसुहृज्जनाः। न पुनः प्राप्यते लज्जा स्त्रीरूपेण व्यवस्थिता॥३८॥
“Wealth, servants, companions, and friends may be obtained again, but honor embodied in one's wife cannot be recovered.
Passage 39
धर्मस्य साधनं चापि कुलस्त्री गृहमेधिनाम्। उच्छिदन्तेऽखिला धर्माः स्त्रीषु नष्टासु लक्ष्मण॥३९॥
“A virtuous wife is also the householder's means of practicing dharma. Lakṣmaṇa, when wives are lost, all sacred duties are uprooted.
Passage 40
लौकिकं वैदिकं वापि यत्कर्म क्रियते जनैः। स्त्रिया सहैव तन्नित्यमित्याज्ञा पारमेश्वरी॥४०॥
“The supreme ordinance is that every worldly or Vedic rite be performed together with one's wife.
Passage 41
आश्रमेभ्यश्च सर्वेभ्यो गृहमेधी विशिष्यते। गृहं च गृहिणीरूपं तस्माद्रक्षेत तां सदा॥४१॥
“The householder is distinguished among all stages of life, and the wife is the embodiment of the home; therefore he must always protect her.
Passage 42
स्त्रिय एव नृणां प्राणाः स्त्रिय एव धनानि च। स्त्रीषु नष्टासु सौमित्रे किं तैः किल सुरक्षितैः॥४२॥
“Women are men's very lives and their wealth. Lakṣmaṇa, if the women are lost, what value is there in preserving anything else?
Passage 43
समक्षे तु स्वयं रक्षेत्पतिरेवावधानतः। असमक्षे स्वसदृशैर्विश्वस्तैस्त्वादृशो हितैः॥४२॥
“A husband should guard his wife attentively when present; when absent, he should entrust her to reliable, well-disposed equals such as you.
Passage 44
मातरं पितरं वापि भ्रातरं तनयं तथा। स्त्रीरक्षायां नियुञ्जीत पुरुषं वा कुलोद्रहम्॥४४॥
“One may appoint a mother, father, brother, son, or another man who upholds the family to protect her.
Passage 45
दुष्टेभ्यः कितवेभ्यश्च पिशुनेभ्यश्च निर्जनात्। स्त्रियो रक्ष्याः सदा पुम्भिर्न प्रमाद्योत कर्हिचित्॥४५॥
“Men must always protect women from the wicked, deceivers, slanderers, and isolated places; they must never be careless.
Passage 46
बालां तज्जनको रक्षेद्युवतीं तत्पतिः पुनः। वृद्धां तत्सन्तती रक्षेन्न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यभाजनम्॥४६॥
“A father protects her in childhood, her husband in youth, and her children in old age; a woman is not to be left without support.
Passage 47
यत्र स्वतन्त्रता स्त्रीणां नष्टप्रायं हि तत्कुलम्। न सतीति च वृद्धेति स्त्रीणां कार्यमुपेक्षणम्॥४७॥
“Where women are left entirely unsupported, that family is nearly ruined. A woman must not be neglected on the grounds that she is virtuous or old.
Passage 48
सतीमप्यसतीं कुर्युः केचिद्धूर्ताः प्रसङ्गतः। कामिनां सङ्गमात्रेण स्त्रियो दुष्यन्ति सर्वथा॥४८॥
“Some rogues may falsely portray even a virtuous woman as unchaste through mere association; mere contact with the lustful can utterly damage her reputation.
Passage 49
अथो यदि न दुष्येयुः स्वसत्त्वेन व्यवस्थिताः। बहुभाषी तु लोकोऽयं कलङ्कयति सर्वथा॥४९॥
“Even if women remain pure through their own integrity, this talkative world will stain them in every way.
Passage 50
वर्षीयसीति नोपेक्ष्या स्त्री क्वचित्कुशलार्थिभिः। बहुभाषी यतो लोकः किं न वक्ति विडम्बयन्॥५०॥
“Those who seek welfare should not neglect a woman because she is elderly. Since the world talks excessively, what will it not say in mockery? The Merchant's Slandered Wife
Passage 51
कस्यचिद्वणिजो भार्या कामरूपे किलास ह। वर्षीयसी प्रजाहीना धनधान्यसमृद्धिनी॥५१॥
“In Kāmarūpa there was an elderly, childless wife of a certain merchant, prosperous in wealth and grain.
Passage 52
धनगृध्नुः पतिस्तस्या देशाद्देशान्तरं व्रजन्। वृद्धोऽपि नोपरमते व्यापाराद्धनसंग्रहात्॥५२॥
“Her husband was greedy for wealth and traveled from country to country. Though old, he never ceased trading and accumulating money.
Passage 53
प्रजाहीनस्य वृद्धस्य योगक्षेमवतः सखे। विडम्बनाय समभूद्व्यापारो धनसंग्रहः॥५३॥
“For that old, childless man who already possessed security and prosperity, commerce and accumulation became only a cause of humiliation.
Passage 54
असन्तस्तस्य भ्रातृव्याः कथञ्चिद्दूषणोद्यताः। असतीं कल्पनां चक्रुः सा लोके पदमादधात्॥५४॥
“His malicious kinsmen, somehow intent on defaming her, fabricated a story that she was unchaste, and it gained currency in the world.
Passage 55
अहो इयं वणिग्भार्या सिद्धमन्त्रप्रभावतः। दिवा वर्षीयसी साधु लक्ष्यते प्रेक्षिभिर्जनैः॥५५॥
“They said, ‘Oh, this merchant's wife appears properly elderly to people who see her by day only through the power of a perfected spell.
Passage 56
रात्रौ तु जाततारुण्या रमते परपुरुषैः। वञ्चयित्वा पतिं चैषा वृद्धं प्रावासयद्गृहात्॥५६॥
“‘At night she becomes young and sports with other men. Deceiving her elderly husband, she has sent him away from home.’
Passage 57
इति लोकापवादेन तद्भ्रातृव्यकृतेन हि। सतीत्वं नाशितं तस्याः स्त्रिया आजन्मसंचितम्॥५७॥
“Thus the public slander created by those kinsmen destroyed the woman's lifelong reputation for chastity.
Passage 58
अतः कथमपि स्त्रीणां स्वातन्त्र्यं वा रहःस्थितिः। न कार्या श्रेय इच्छद्भिः कलङ्कभयशङ्कितैः॥५८॥
“Therefore those who desire welfare and fear the danger of disgrace should never leave women unsupported or alone in seclusion.
Passage 59
स्त्री नाम भाजनं प्रोक्तं यशसोऽयशसस्तथा। रक्षिता तु यशो धत्ते परं धत्ते ह्यपेक्षिता॥५९॥
“A wife is said to be a vessel of either honor or dishonor. Protected, she bears supreme honor; neglected, she bears the opposite.
Passage 60
दुष्प्रमाद्यैः कलङ्कश्च कुले स्त्रीव्यभिचारजः। अद्यापि गर्हयन्त्येव लोके दारान् बृहस्पतेः॥६०॥
“A stain born from alleged misconduct by a woman is difficult to erase from a family. Even today people condemn the wife of Bṛhaspati. Rāma Restates the Danger
Passage 61
वयमापद्गता भ्रातर्विधुरयुक्ताश्च बन्धुभिः। स्त्रीयुक्ताः सततं चैव परदेशनिवासिनः॥६१॥
“Brother, we have fallen into adversity, are separated from our relatives, travel with a woman, and continually live in another land.
Passage 62
कदा किलापदं तीर्त्वा पूर्वेषां पुण्ययोगतः। क्षेमवन्तो गमिष्यामः स्वगृहान्निर्जितारयः॥६२॥
“When, through our ancestors' merit, shall we cross this adversity and return safely to our home after defeating our enemies?
Passage 63
इति शङ्कां दिवारात्रं कालाद्वै विघ्नभूयसः। विचरन्ति सदा दुष्टा रन्ध्रान्वेषणतत्पराः॥६२॥
“While we remain anxious day and night in a time filled with obstacles, wicked beings continually roam about intent on finding an opening.
Passage 64
सिद्धमन्त्रो न विश्वस्थो न विश्वस्यः सुतोऽर्भकः। न विश्वस्यो निधिः प्राप्तो न विश्वस्था वराङ्गना॥६४॥
“A perfected spell must not be treated carelessly; a young child cannot yet be relied upon; newly found treasure must not be left unsecured; nor should a beautiful woman be left unguarded.
Passage 65
अपक्वः किल सार्थोऽयं स्त्रीणां परपदस्थितौ। देवेनैव हि निर्वाह्यो भाग्यवान् विरलो जनः॥६५॥
“A household living abroad with its women is like an unripe enterprise. Only through divine protection can the rare fortunate person carry it through.
Passage 66
अर्थं साधयतः पुंसो भूयांसो विघ्नसम्भवाः। अनुकूलेन देवेन तेभ्य उत्तार्यते जनः॥६६॥
“Many obstacles arise for a person pursuing an objective. Only when providence is favorable is one carried safely beyond them.
Passage 67
अहो वयं राजपुत्राः क्व तावत्सुखसंश्रयाः। क्व चेयं दुःस्थितिर्भ्रातर्दैवं किं न करोति हि॥६७॥
“Alas, brother! We are royal princes who once possessed such abundant happiness, yet now endure this plight. What can fate not do?
Passage 68
इत्युक्त आर्येण कृतावधानो नये सुमित्रातनयो निशम्य। कृताञ्जलिर्भक्तिविनीतवेशः प्रत्यूचिवांस्तन्न रणाहिताक्षः॥६८॥
Thus addressed by his noble brother, Sumitrā's son listened attentively to the instruction. Joining his palms, his bearing humbled by devotion and his eyes fixed upon Rāma, he prepared to reply. Thus ends Chapter 150, “The Charge to Protect Sītā,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.