Passage 1
सीतोवाच— यस्य चित्ते महान् स्नेहस्तस्य तापोऽपि वै भवेत्। विपन्ने बान्धवजने कस्ते तापोऽस्ति शोकजः॥१॥
Sītā said: “One whose heart holds great affection naturally feels anguish when a kinsman is in danger. What grief-born anguish do you feel?
Passage 2
उदासीनवदात्थ त्वं सौमित्रे निष्ठुराशयः। मृते वा जीवति भ्रातर्यस्ति ते न विशेषधीः॥२॥
“Cruel-hearted son of Sumitrā, you speak as though indifferent. Whether your brother dies or lives seems to make no difference to you.
Passage 3
अहं सुजीवति प्राणपतौ जीवामि निश्चितम्। अन्यथागतिमापन्ने प्राणान् मुञ्चेयमञ्जसा॥३॥
“I certainly live only while the lord of my life lives in well-being. If misfortune overtakes him, I shall immediately give up my life.
Passage 4
भवांस्तु खलु दायाद इदमेवाभिलाषुकः। राज्यं धनं स्त्रियं चापि हर्तुकामः प्रतीयते॥४॥
“But you are his heir and appear to desire exactly this, wishing to seize his kingdom, wealth, and even his wife.
Passage 5
यत्तथार्तस्वरं श्रुत्वा ज्येष्ठस्य भ्रातुरञ्जसा। उत्थाय धृतचापस्त्वं धावितोऽसि न लक्ष्मण॥५॥
“For after hearing your elder brother's anguished cry, you did not at once rise, take up your bow, and run to him, Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 6
तेन शङ्केऽस्म्यहं त्वत्तो निर्जनेऽस्मिन् घने वने। विपन्ने भ्रातरि ज्येष्ठे किं नु कर्तासि मां बलात्॥६॥
“Therefore I fear you here in this dense, deserted forest. If your elder brother perishes, what will you try to do to me by force?
Passage 7
इतीवगूढहृदयं धिक्त्वामधमदेवरम्। योऽन्यथागतिमन्विच्छन्नार्यस्य स्थितवानिह॥७॥
“Shame upon you, base brother-in-law with such a hidden heart, who remain here as though desiring misfortune for your noble brother.
Passage 8
साहं शून्येऽत्र विपिने पत्यौ यातेऽन्यथागतिम्। प्रवेक्ष्ये वह्निमेवापि भवेयं पाणिगा न ते॥८॥
“If my husband meets disaster in this empty forest, I shall enter the fire. I will never come into your hands.
Passage 9
तव पापीयसी बुद्धिर्व्यथैवेयं प्रतीयते। यस्या लोभेन नो यासि साहमग्नौ प्रवेशिनी॥९॥
“This wicked intention of yours now appears painfully clear. If desire for me keeps you from going, I shall enter the fire.
Passage 10
क एवं भ्रातुरार्यस्य श्रुत्वार्तस्वरं वने। तिष्ठेन्निःशङ्कहृदयस्त्वादृशः कठिनाशयः॥१०॥
“Who but a hardhearted person like you could hear his noble brother's anguished cry in the forest and remain here without alarm?
Passage 11
मन्दभाग्याहमधुना शोचामि कृतमात्मना। वञ्चिता स्वर्णकायेन हरिणेन न संशयः॥११॥
“Unfortunate woman that I am, I now grieve over what I have done. Without doubt, the golden-bodied deer deceived me.
Passage 12
कतिधाहं नोपदिष्टा पत्या तेन महात्मना। क्व शून्येऽत्र वने हीदृक् सुवर्णमृगसम्भवः॥१२॥
“How many times did my great-souled husband warn me? How could such a golden deer possibly arise here in an empty forest?
Passage 13
सर्वं दैवकृतं मन्ये निर्बन्धेन विनष्टधीः। प्राणेश्वरं प्रेषितवत्येकाकिनमहं तु या॥१३॥
“I believe all this was wrought by fate. My judgment destroyed by obstinacy, I sent the lord of my life away alone.” Lakṣmaṇa Is Wounded by Her Words
Passage 14
ब्रह्मोवाच— एभिर्दुरुक्तैः सीताया भाव्यार्थकृतसूचनैः। उद्विग्नहृदयोऽतीव लक्ष्मणः शुभलक्षणः॥१४॥
Brahmā said: These cruel words of Sītā, which foreshadowed what destiny intended, made the virtuous Lakṣmaṇa's heart intensely distressed.
Passage 15
अरोदीत् करुणं भूयो भक्तिप्रह्वः कृताञ्जलिः। उवाचेदं दृशा तस्याः ईक्षमाणः पदाम्बुजम्॥१५॥
Humbled by devotion, he joined his palms and wept piteously. Gazing upon her lotus feet, he spoke.
Passage 16
लक्ष्मण उवाच— हा देवि मातर्जनकेन्द्रपुत्रि ब्रवीषि मां त्वं कथमेवमद्धा। निजे तनूजे न खलु प्रसूर्वा लोकेऽन्यथाशङ्कितमातनोति॥१६॥
Lakṣmaṇa said: “Alas, goddess and mother, daughter of King Janaka, how can you speak to me so? No mother in the world directs such a suspicion toward her own son.
Passage 17
रामः पिता मे रघुवंशकेतुस्त्वं चापि माता मम राजपुत्रि। इतोऽन्यथा चेद् हृदयं मम स्यात् स्वप्नेऽपि मातस्तदहं शपामि॥१७॥
“Rāma, banner of Raghu's line, is my father, and you, princess, are my mother. Mother, I swear that not even in a dream could my heart be otherwise.
Passage 18
विपर्ययो वा कालस्य किं न भाषयते जनम्। आज्ञाभङ्गोऽस्तु वा भ्रातुरहं गच्छामि सम्प्रति॥१८॥
“What will a reversal of fortune not make a person say? Even though it means breaking my brother's command, I shall go now.
Passage 19
दुरुक्तैस्तव हा मातश्छिन्नमर्मास्मि भूरिशः। आज्ञाभङ्गमपि भ्रातुः सोढाहं यामि तद्दिशि॥१९॥
“Alas, mother, your cruel words have deeply pierced my vital heart. I shall endure even the breach of my brother's command and go in that direction.
Passage 20
यथा मम भ्रातुराज्ञा तस्यार्यस्य सुवर्मणः। तवापि मे तथैवाज्ञा यामि रामान्तिकं ततः॥२०॥
“Just as the command of my noble and virtuous brother binds me, so does yours. Therefore I shall go to Rāma.
Passage 21
विपर्ययेण कालस्य यत्त्वमुक्तवती हि माम्। तद्दोषं क्षालयिष्यामि त्वदाज्ञाकृतिवारिणा॥२१॥
“The reversal of fortune made you speak these words to me. I shall wash away their fault with the water of obeying your command.
Passage 22
आर्योऽपि मामितो यातं निर्दोषं ज्ञास्यति स्फुटम्। नहि स्वत इतो यामि त्वदाज्ञाधीन एव हि॥२२॥
“My noble brother will clearly know that I am blameless for leaving here, because I do not go independently but only under your command.
Passage 23
ममैव चापराधोऽयं यदार्यं न निषिद्धवान्। धनुरुद्यम्य सारङ्गमन्वहं नागमं कृतः॥२३॥
“This fault is truly mine: I did not restrain my noble brother, raise my bow, and go after the deer myself.
Passage 24
मयि जीवति भृत्ये हि किमार्यो धावनश्रमम्। आसादयेन्मृगमनु जातो बुद्धिव्ययो हि मे॥२४॥
“Why should my noble brother endure the strain of running after a deer while I, his servant, am alive? My judgment has indeed failed.
Passage 25
अतः परं मामनुजानीहि मातर्गन्तुं किलार्यस्य समीपदेशे। त्वदाज्ञयाहं रघुपुङ्गवाज्ञामुल्लङ्घ्य गच्छामि न मेऽस्तु दोषः॥२५॥
“Therefore, mother, now permit me to go where my noble brother is. At your command I transgress the bull of Raghu's line's command and depart; let no fault attach to me. The Protective Line
Passage 26
किं त्वात्मधनुषः कोट्या कुण्डलीकृतमेतकम्। देशं मा देवि लङ्घिष्ठाः कृतोऽयं ते मया पणः॥२६॥
“Yet, goddess, do not cross this encircled ground that I mark with the tip of my bow. This is the solemn condition I place before you.
Passage 27
रक्षोभिरसुरैर्यक्षैर्दृढसत्त्वैर्दुरात्मभिः। भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्यैर्देशोऽयं दुर्गमो भवेत्॥२७॥
“This ground will be impassable to rākṣasas, asuras, yakṣas, powerful evil beings, bhūtas, pretas, piśācas, and the like.
Passage 28
एनं देशं त्वमातिष्ठ निःशङ्कं जनकात्मजे। वर्तमाने मयि यथा तथा रक्षा भविष्यति॥२८॥
“Daughter of Janaka, remain fearlessly within this ground. You will be protected just as though I were still present.
Passage 29
इत्युक्त्वा खलु सौमित्रिः प्रतापनिधिरच्युतः। तां भुवं कुण्डलीचक्रे स्वधनुष्कोटिरेखया॥२९॥
Having spoken thus, the unfailing son of Sumitrā, treasury of majesty, encircled the ground with a line drawn by the tip of his bow. The Forest Is Entrusted with Sītā
Passage 30
अथ पञ्चवटीवनस्पतीन् समभिष्ट्य मुहुर्न्ययोजयत्। जनकेन्द्रसुताभिरक्षणे निभृतं तद्वनदेवतामपि॥३०॥
Then he repeatedly invoked the trees of Pañcavaṭī and solemnly charged both them and the deity of that forest with protecting King Janaka's daughter.
Passage 31
हे वनस्पतयो देवाः फलदाः पुष्पमण्डिताः। यूयं सर्वतरुश्रेष्ठाः शृणुतेदं वचो मम॥३१॥
“Divine trees, givers of fruit and adorned with flowers, finest of all trees, hear these words of mine.
Passage 32
प्रजावती मे जनकेन्द्रपुत्री वीरेन्द्रजाया जननी त्रिलोक्याः। युष्मासु भाग्यैरवतिष्ठतीयं संरक्षणीया नितरां भवद्भिः॥३२॥
“This daughter of King Janaka, wife of the foremost hero and mother of the three worlds, remains among you through great fortune. You must protect her completely.
Passage 33
हे अश्वत्थ वनाधीश नारायणसमाश्रयः। हे न्यग्रोध तरुश्रेष्ठ जटामण्डितशङ्कुर॥३३॥
“O aśvattha, lord of the forest and abode of Nārāyaṇa! O banyan, best of trees, whose shoots are adorned like matted locks!
Passage 34
हे धात्रि मालति लते तुलसि श्रीशरूपिणि। भाण्डीर जम्बू पनस चाम्पेय रुचिराकृते॥३४॥
“O dhātrī, mālatī vine, and tulasī who embodies Śrī! O bhāṇḍīra, rose apple, jackfruit, and lovely campaka!
Passage 35
एते भवन्तः शृण्वन्तु सर्वे देवस्वरूपिणः। रक्ष्येयं विजने देशे युष्माभिर्जनकात्मजा॥३५॥
“May all of you, embodiments of the gods, listen: you must protect Janaka's daughter in this desolate place.
Passage 36
युष्मासु संनिधायैनामहं गच्छामि सम्प्रति। आर्यस्य सन्निधौ तत्र प्रजावत्याः किलाज्ञया॥३६॥
“Entrusting her to you, I now go to my noble brother under the command of this revered lady.
Passage 37
हे देवि सर्वसत्त्वोघरक्षित्रि वनदेवते। इमां रक्षतमां शश्वन्मम भ्रातृवधूं सतीम्॥३७॥
“Goddess of the forest, protector from every host of creatures, always protect this virtuous wife of my brother with utmost care.
Passage 38
आर्यो रघुकुलाधीशो युष्माकं क्षेमकारकः। मंस्यते ह्यपकारं वः सर्वदैवतसंश्रयः॥३८॥
“My noble brother, lord of Raghu's line and refuge of all divinities, brings you well-being; otherwise he will regard any neglect by you as an offense. Lakṣmaṇa Appeals to the Sacred Fire
Passage 39
अथावसथ्यनिहितमग्निं तुष्टाव लक्ष्मणः। रक्षायै भ्रातृजायायाः सर्वदैवतस्वरूपिणम्॥३९॥
Lakṣmaṇa then praised the sacred household fire, embodiment of every divinity, and asked it to protect his brother's wife.
Passage 40
त्वमग्ने सर्वदेवानां मुखं वै हव्यकव्यभुक्। त्वयि देवाश्च लोकाश्च वेदाश्चैव प्रतिष्ठिताः॥४०॥
“Agni, you are the mouth of all the gods and consume offerings to gods and ancestors. The gods, worlds, and Vedas are established in you.
Passage 41
भ्रातुरार्यस्य मे जायां तिष्ठन्तीं विजने वने। भवान् रक्षिष्यति तरां रक्षोभ्यो दुष्टसार्थतः॥४१॥
“Please protect most carefully the wife of my noble brother while she remains in this lonely forest, guarding her from rākṣasas and every band of the wicked.
Passage 42
हुतोऽस्यार्येण सततं मन्त्रतन्त्रत्रयीविदा। अतस्तस्य वधूमेनां मोपेक्षस्व हुताशन॥४२॥
“Fire, my noble brother, who knows the threefold lore of mantra and rite, has constantly offered oblations to you. Therefore do not neglect his wife.”
Passage 43
इत्युक्त्वा वनदेवतां वनपतींश्चैव सुमित्रासुतो दुर्वाक्यैर्विशिखैर्निजार्यललनाप्रोक्तैः सुतीक्ष्णैर्हतः। देशं कुण्डलितं तमात्मधनुषः कोट्याभिधाय द्रुतं स्कन्धन्यस्तधनुः कटीनिहिततूणीरोऽन्वगाद्भ्रातरम्॥४३॥
Having addressed the forest deity and the trees, Sumitrā's son—pierced by the exceedingly sharp arrow-like cruel words spoken by his noble brother's wife—marked that encircled ground with the tip of his bow. Placing the bow upon his shoulder and the quiver at his waist, he quickly followed after his brother. Thus ends Chapter 154, “Lakṣmaṇa's Departure,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.