Ayodhya Kanda — Sarga 45

अनुरक्ता महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्। अनुजग्मुः प्रयान्तं तं वनवासाय मानवाः॥

The people, who yarned after Rāma having truth for prowess, followed him repairing to the forest.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.1

निवर्तितेऽतीव बलात् सुहृद्धर्मेण राजनि। नैव ते संन्यवर्तन्त रामस्यानुगता रथम्॥

Even when the king in the interests of his son had with much ado restrained himself, these, following Răma's car, did not desist.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.2

अयोध्यानिलयानां हि पुरुषाणां महायशाः। बभूव गुणसम्पन्नः पूर्णचन्द्र इव प्रियः॥

That illustrious one crowned with every perfection was dear to the inhabitants of Ayodhyā like to the full moon himself.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.3

स याच्यमानः काकुत्स्थस्ताभिः प्रकृतिभिस्तदा। कुर्वाणः पितरं सत्यं वनमेवान्वपद्यत॥

Although besought by the subjects, the truthful Käkutstha having pledged his word to his father, kept on going to the forest.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.4

अवेक्षमाणः सस्नेहं चक्षुषा प्रपिबनिव। उवाच रामः सस्नेहं ताः प्रजाः स्वाः प्रजा इव ॥ या प्रीतिर्बहुमानश्च मय्ययोध्यानिवासिनाम्। मत्प्रियार्थं विशेषेण भरते सा विधीयताम्॥

And affectionately eyeing them as if drinking them with his sight, Rāma touchingly addressed those subjects as if they were his own, The love and regard which the inhabitants of Ayodhyā have for me, let them, for pleasing me, extend in full measure towards Bharata.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.5

स हि कल्याणचारित्रः कैकेय्यानन्दवर्धनः। करिष्यति यथावद् वः प्रियाणि च हितानि च॥

That enhancer of Kaikeyi's delight bearing an auspicious character, will duly compass your happiness and welfare.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.6

ज्ञानवृद्धो वयोबालो मृदुर्वीर्यगुणान्वितः। अनुरूपः स वो भर्ता भविष्यति भयापहः॥

Aged by virtue of his wisdom, although young in years, and mild albeit furnished with heroic virtue, that remover of fear will make a fit ruler for you. son

Ayodhya Kanda 45.7

स हि राजगुणैर्युक्तो युवराजः समीक्षितः। अपि चापि मया शिष्टैः कार्यं वो भर्तृशासनम्॥

Crowned with every regal virtue and selected as the heir-apparent (by the monarch), he is more meritorious by far than I am. I behove you to obey the order of your master.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.8

न संतप्येद् यथा चासौ वनवासं गते मयि। महाराजस्तथा कार्यो मम प्रियचिकीर्षया॥

And seeking my good, it beloves you to act so that when I shall have gone to the forest, the king may not grieve.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.9

यथा यथा दाशरथिधर्ममेवाश्रितो भवेत्। तथा तथा प्रकृतयो रामं पतिमकामयन्॥

But as Daśaratha's son was bringing home to the people that their duty lay in obeying the royal Mandata, they desried that even Rāma should rule them.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.10

बाष्पेण पिहितं दीनं रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। चकर्षेव गुणैर्बद्धं जनं पुरनिवासिनम्॥

Rāma in company with Sumitrā's attracted the inhabitants of the city subdued by his virtues, who stood with tears in their eyes.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.11

ते द्विजास्त्रिविधं वृद्धा ज्ञानेन वयसौजसा। वय:प्रकम्पशिरसो दूरादूचुरिदं वचः॥

The three kinds of the twice-born ones, viz., those old by virtue, respectively, of age, wisdom, and ascetic energy, the old folks with their heads shaking through length of years, cried from a distance.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.12

वहन्तो जवना रामं भो भो जात्यास्तुरङ्गमाः। निवर्तध्वं न गन्तव्यं हिता भवत भर्तरि॥

O you fleet coursers boasting of exalted extraction that bear Rāma away, do you desist, do not go; do you do even what is for the good of your master.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.13

कर्णवन्ति हि भूतानि विशेषेण तुरङ्गमाः। यूयं तस्मानिवर्तभ्वं याचना प्रतिवेदिताः॥

And more pareicularly being creatures furnished with ears, do you, your horses, knowing our prayer, desist.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.14

धर्मतः स विशुद्धात्मा वीरः शुभदृढव्रतः। उपवाह्यस्तु वो भर्ता नापवाह्यः पुराद् वनम्॥

Pure of spirit and heroic and ever firm in noble promises, that master of yours should in justice be carried (to the city) and not to the forest away from it.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.15

एवमाप्रिलापांस्तान् वृद्धान् प्रलपतो द्विजान्। अवेक्ष्य सहसा रामो रथादवततार ह ॥

Suddenly seeing those old Brāhmaṇas thus lamenting distressfully, Rāma speedily descended from his car.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.16

पद्भयामेव जगामाथ ससीतः सहलक्ष्मणः। संनिकृष्टपदन्यासो रामो वनपरायणः॥

Along with Lakşmaņa and Sitā, Rāma bound for the forest, began to walk near them on foot.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.17

द्विजातीन् हि पदातीस्तान् रामश्चारित्रवत्सलः। न शशाक घृणाचक्षुः परिमोक्तुं रथेन सः॥

Endowed with kindness, that friend of the good, Rāma, could not by proceeding on his car bear to pare with the Brāhmaṇas that were following on foot.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.18

गच्छन्तमेव तं दृष्ट्वा रामं सम्भ्रान्तमानसाः। ऊचुः परमसंतप्ता रामं वाक्यमिदं द्विजाः॥

Seeing him thus going, the Brāhamaņas with agitated hearts, and burning in grief, addressed Rāma in these words.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.19

ब्राह्मण्यं कृत्स्नमेतत् त्वां ब्रह्मण्यमनुगच्छति। द्विजस्कन्धाधिरूढास्त्वामग्नयोऽप्यनुयान्त्वमी॥

The Brāhmaṇas in a body are following you ever seeking their good, and mounting on the shoulders of the regenerate ones, the (sacrificial) Fires are walking in your wake.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.20

वाजपेयसमुत्थानि च्छत्राण्येतानि पश्य नः। पृष्ठतोऽनुप्रयातानि मेघानिव जलात्यये॥

And behold these raised umbrellas of ours got from the Vājapeya sacrifice, that like to autumnal clouds follow at your back.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.21

अनवाप्तातपत्रस्य रश्मिसंतापितस्य ते। एभिश्छायां करिष्यामः स्वैश्छत्रैर्वाजपेयकैः। :॥

With these umbrellas got at the Vājapeya sacrifice, we will afford shade to Rāma destitute of his own white umbrella, when he shall feel the heat of the (solar) rays.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.22

या हि नः सततं बुद्धिर्वेदमन्त्रानुसारिणी। त्वत्कृते सा कृता वत्स वनवासानुसारिणी॥ मतिः।

That intelligence of ours which ever follows the Vedic Mantras, is now, O child, ready to follow you to the forest in your interests.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.23

हृदयेष्ववतिष्ठन्ते वेदा ये नः परं धनम्। वत्स्यन्त्यपि गृहेष्वेव दाराश्चारित्ररक्षिताः॥

That best of treasurers, the Vedas, resides in our bosoms; and our wives protected by their chastity shall abide in our homes.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.24

पुनर्न निश्चयः कार्यस्त्वद्गतौ सुकृता त्वयि धर्मव्यपेक्षे तु किं स्याद् धर्मपथे स्थितम्॥

As we have already made up our minds to follow you, it is useless to fix our hearts afresh. But if you overlooks virtues, what becomes of abiding by righteousness?* *Another reading is; What becomes of the virtue that we expect at your hands?

Ayodhya Kanda 45.25

याचितो नो निवर्तस्व हंसशुक्लशिरोरुहैः। शिरोभिर्निभृताचार महीपतनपांसुलैः॥

O you that are ever firm in virtue, we beseech you by humbling to the dust our heads covered with hair white-hued like cranes, do you desist.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.26

बहूनां वितता यज्ञा द्विजानां य इहागताः। तेषां समाप्तिरायत्ता तव वत्स निवर्तने॥

These numerous Brāhmaṇas that have come hither have entered upon many a sacrifice. The completion of these, O child, depends upon your return.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.27

भक्तिमन्तीह भूतानि जङ्गमाजङ्गमानि च। याचमानेषु तेषु त्वं भक्तिं भक्तेषु दर्शय॥

All creatures mobile and immobile cherish you with high regard. All these beseech you. Do you show consideration to those that regard you.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.28

अनुगन्तुमशक्तास्त्वां मूलैरुद्धतवेगिनः। उन्नता वायुवेगेन विक्रोशन्तीव पादपाः॥

Tall trees deprived of motion in consequence of being fast rooted to the earth and incapable of following you, are prohibiting you by sounding with the wind.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.29

निश्चेष्टाऽऽहारसंचारा वृक्षकस्थाननिश्चिताः। पक्षिणोऽपि प्रयाचन्ते सर्वभूतानुकम्पनम्॥

And birds staying upon trees and neither manifesting any motion nor seeking for their food, beseech you to have compassion upon all creatures.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.30

एवं विक्रोशतां तेषां द्विजातीनां निवर्तने। ददृशे तमसा तत्र वारयन्तीव राघवम्॥

While the Brāhmaṇas were loudly demanding the return of Rāma, he found the darkness to descend as if forbidding him.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.31

ततः सुमन्त्रोऽपि रथाद् विमुच्य श्रान्तान् हयान् सम्परिवर्त्य शीघ्रम्। नचारयद् वै तमसाविदूरे॥

Then Sumantra unyoked the fatigued horses from the car, which at once fell to rolling in the dust. And then bathing and making them drink, he soon as the dusk set in, set fare before them.

Ayodhya Kanda 45.32