Uttara Kanda — Sarga 44

विसृज्य तु सुहृद्वर्ग बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य राघवः। समीपे द्वा:स्थमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥

Having sent away his friends and determined what to do, Rāma, the delight of the Råghus, commanded the warder, who was seated hard by, saying.

Uttara Kanda 44.1

शीघ्रमानय सौमित्रि लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्। भरतं च महाभागं शत्रुघ्नमपराजितम्॥

Do you bring in no time, Lakşmaņa, a son of Sumitrā, gifted with auspicious marks, alongwith great Bharata and the irrepressible Šatrughna.

Uttara Kanda 44.2

रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा द्वा:स्थो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः। लक्ष्मणस्य गृहं गत्वा प्रविवेशानिवारितः॥

Hearing the words of Rāma and placing his folded palms on his head the warder reached house of Lakşmaņa and unobstructed entered therein.

Uttara Kanda 44.3

उवाच सुमहात्मानं वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः। द्रष्टुमिच्छति राजा त्वां गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम्॥

And having saluted him, with folded palms he said to the high-souled Laksmana and:-"The King wishes to behold you-do you soon go there.

Uttara Kanda 44.4

बाढमित्येव सौमित्रिः कृत्वा राघवशासनम्। प्राद्रवद्रथमारुह्य राघवस्य निवेशनम्॥

Thereupon being apprised of Rāghava's command and saying 'so be it.' Saumitri ascended his car and went speedily towards Rāma's abode.

Uttara Kanda 44.5

प्रयान्तं लक्ष्मणं दृष्ट्वा द्वा:स्थो भरतमन्तिकात्। उवाच भरतं तत्र वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः॥ विनयावनतो भूत्वा राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति।

Having beheld Lakşmana's departure the warder humbly went to Bharata and having blessed him with folded hands said: “The King wishes to see you."

Uttara Kanda 44.6

भरतस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा द्वाःस्थाद्रामसमीरितम्॥ उत्पपातासनात्तूर्णं पद्भ्यामेव महाबलः।

Hearing of the command of Rāma from the warder, the highly powerful Bharata at once got up from his seat and proceeded on foot.

Uttara Kanda 44.7

दृष्ट्वा प्रयान्तं भरतं त्वरमाणः कृताञ्जलिः॥ शत्रुघ्नभवनं गत्वा ततो वाक्यमुवाच ह।

Seeing Bharata's departure the warder speedily went to the mansion of Satrughna and with folded hands said.

Uttara Kanda 44.8

एह्यागच्छ रघुश्रेष्ठ राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति॥ गतो हि लक्ष्मणः पूर्वं भरतश्च महायशाः।

"Do you come, O foremost Raghus, the King wish to behold you.” Lakşmaņa and Bharata are also there.

Uttara Kanda 44.9

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य शत्रुघ्नः परमासनात्॥ शिरसा वन्द्य धरणी प्रययौ यत्र राघवः।

Hearing the words of the warder Satrughna lowered his head and rising up speedily proceeded to Rama.

Uttara Kanda 44.10

द्वाःस्थस्त्वागम्य रामाय सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः॥ निवेदयामास तथा भ्रातृन्स्वान्समुपस्थितान्।

Thereupon returning, the warder, with folded। hands, communicated to Rama, the arrivals of his brothers.

Uttara Kanda 44.11

कुमारानागताञ्छ्रुत्वा चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः॥ अवाङ्मुखो दीनमना द्वाःस्थं वचनमब्रवीत्। प्रवेशय कुमारांस्त्वं मत्समीपं त्वरान्वितः॥ एतेषु जीवितं मह्यमेते प्राणाः प्रिया मम।

So long Rāma was engaged poorly in anxious meditation with his crown bent downwards. Informed of the princes' arrival he commanded the warder, “Do you soon bring the princes here. My life depends upon them. They are my dearest life.

Uttara Kanda 44.12

आज्ञप्तास्तु नरेन्द्रेण कुमाराः शुक्लवाससः॥ प्रह्वाः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा विविशुस्ते समाहिताः।

Having obtained Rāma's command, the princes, clothed in white raiment, entered there, with folded palms and quiescent mind.

Uttara Kanda 44.13

ते तु दृष्ट्वा मुखं तस्य सग्रहं शशिनं यथा॥ संध्यागतमिवादित्यं प्रभया परिवर्जितम्। वाष्पपूर्णे च नयने दृष्ट्वा रामस्य धीमतः। हतशोभं यथा पद्मं मुखं वीक्ष्य च तस्य ते॥

Having entered there they saw that Rāma's countenance was shorn of beauty like to the moon possessed by Rāhu, the setting sun and the withered lotus and his eyes were full of tears.

Uttara Kanda 44.14

ततोऽभिवाद्य त्वरिताः पादौ रामस्य मूर्धभिः। तस्थुः समाहिताः सर्वे रामस्त्वश्रूण्यवर्तयत्॥

Then having approached him quickly, and saluted his feet they all anxiously sat there. Rāma also wiped off his tears.

Uttara Kanda 44.15

तान्परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यामुत्थाप्य च महाबलः। आसनेष्वासतेत्युक्त्वा ततो वाक्यं जगाद ह॥

Thereupon having embraced them with his arms he raised up the princes and pressed them to take their seats. Then he said.

Uttara Kanda 44.16

भवन्तो मम सर्वस्वं भवन्तो जीवितं मम। भवद्भिश्च कृतं राज्यं पालयामि नरेश्वराः॥ भवन्तः कृतशास्त्रार्था बुद्ध्या च परिनिष्ठिताः। संभूय च मदर्थोऽयमन्वेष्टव्यो नरेश्वराः॥

"You are mine all; you constitute my life; O princes, I am governing the kingdom gained by you; you are all learned, pious and intelligent. Do you follow the duties I point out."

Uttara Kanda 44.17

तथा वदति काकुत्स्थे अवधानपरायणाः। उद्विग्नमनसः सर्वे किं नु राजाभिधास्यति॥

Rāma, the descendant of Kakutstha having said this, they, with anxiety and attention, awaited the orders of the king.

Uttara Kanda 44.18