Uttara Kanda — Sarga 46

ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः। सुमन्त्रमब्रवीद्वाक्यं मुखेन परिशुष्यता॥

The night being over, Lakṣmaṇa, with a poor heart and dried countenance, addressed Sumantra, saying.

Uttara Kanda 46.1

सारथे तुरगाशीघ्रान्योजयस्व रथोत्तमे। स्वास्तीर्णं राजवचनात्सीतायाश्चासनं शुभम् ॥ सीता हि राजवचनादाश्रमं पुण्यकर्मणाम्। मया नेया महर्षीणां शीघ्रमानीयतां रथः॥

O charioteer, do you soon yoke quick coursing steeds to an excellent chariot, and for Sītā place an excellent seat on the car. At the command of the King, I shall take Sītā to the hermitage of the ascetics ever engaged in pious actions. Do you soon bring the chariot here.

Uttara Kanda 46.2

सुमन्त्रस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा युक्तं परमवाजिभिः। रथं सुरुचिरप्रख्यं स्वास्तीर्णं सुखशय्यया॥ आनीयोवाच सौमित्रिं मित्राणां मानवर्धनम्। रथोऽयं समनुप्राप्तो यत्कार्य क्रियतां प्रभो॥

Obeying the mandate, and bringing a beautiful and holy car drawn by first-rate steeds and having excellent seats, he said to Saumitri, the enhancer of friends' honour “O lord, here is the chariot ready-do you now satisfy your desire.

Uttara Kanda 46.3

एवमुक्तः सुमन्त्रेण राजवेश्मनि लक्ष्मणः। प्रविश्य सीतामासाद्य व्याजहार नरर्षभः॥

Hearing the words of Sumantra, Laksmana, the foremost of men, approached Sītā in the inner apartment and said.

Uttara Kanda 46.4

त्वया किलैष नृपतिर्वरं वै याचितः प्रभुः। नृपेण च प्रतिज्ञातमाज्ञप्तश्चाश्रमं प्रति॥ गङ्गातीरे मया देवि ऋषीणामाश्रमाञ्शुभान्। शीघ्रं गत्वा तु वैदेहि शासनात्पार्थिवस्य नः॥ अरण्ये मुनिभिर्जुष्टे अवनेया भविष्यसि।

O queen, you did request the king to show he has now commanded me to take you there. Do you therefore follow me, at the command of the king. I shall, at his behest, take you to the forest where dwell many an ascetic.

Uttara Kanda 46.5

एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना॥ प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे गमनं चाप्यरोचयत्।

Hearing the words of the high-souled Lakşmaņa, Janaki attained to excessive delight and became anxious to go.

Uttara Kanda 46.6

वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च॥ गृहीत्वा तानि वैदेही गमनायोपचक्रमे। इमानि मुनिपत्नीनां दास्याम्याभरणान्यहम्।।११ वस्त्राणि च महार्हाणि धनानि विविधानि च।

Taking various jewels and costly clothes she said to Lakşmaņa, on the eve of her departure “I shall confer these ornaments, these costly clothes and riches on the female ascetics."

Uttara Kanda 46.7

सौमित्रिस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा रथमारोप्य मैथिलीम्॥ प्रययौ शीघ्रतुरगं रामस्याज्ञामनुस्मरन्।

Saying 'we shall do the same' he made Sītā ascend the car and remembering Rāma's command proceeded, being carried by quickcoursing steeds.

Uttara Kanda 46.8

अब्रवीच्च तदा सीता लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मिवर्धनम्।।१३। अशुभानि बहून्येव पश्यामि रघुनन्दन। नयनं मे स्फुरत्यद्य गात्रोत्कम्पश्च जायते॥

Thereupon Sītā said to Lakşmaņa, the enhancer of prosperity:-:0 descendant of Raghu, I behold many inauspicious omens. My right eye and body are trembling.

Uttara Kanda 46.9

हृदयं चैव सौमित्रे अस्वस्थमिव लक्षये। औत्सुक्यं परमं चापि अधृतिश्च परा मम॥

My mind is growing depressed. It is stricken with anxiety and I have accordingly grown restless.

Uttara Kanda 46.10

शून्यामेव च पश्यामि पृथिवीं पृथुलोचन। अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्तस्य भ्रातुस्ते भ्रातृवत्सल॥

I behold the earth as void of all happiness. O you fond of brothers— has your brother met with any calamity?

Uttara Kanda 46.11

श्वश्रूणां चैव मे वीर सर्वासामविशेषतः। पुरे जनपदे चैव कुशलं प्राणिनामपि॥

Are all my mothers-in-law and subjects well?

Uttara Kanda 46.12

इत्यञ्जलिकृता सीता देवता अभ्ययाचत। लक्ष्मणोऽर्थं ततः श्रुत्वा शिरसा वन्द्य मैथिलीम्।।१८

Saying this Sītā, with folded hands, began to pray to gods. Hearing this Lakşmaņa bowed to her touching the ground with his crown, and though greatly sorry, said as if delighted "All well."

Uttara Kanda 46.13

शिवमित्यब्रवीद्धृष्टो हृदयेन विशुष्यता। ततो वासमुपागम्य गोमतीतीर आश्रमे॥ प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय सौमित्रिः सूतमब्रवीत्। योजयस्व रथं शीघ्रमद्य भागीरथीजलम्॥ शिरसा धारयिष्यामि त्रियम्बक इवौजसा।

Thereupon having arrived at the hermitage situate on the banks of Gomati Lakşmaņa spent the night there. Thereupon at dawn he rose up and asked the charioteer to get the chariot ready, saying, “Like to the powerful Mahādeva we shall hold the waters of the Bhāgirathi on our head.”

Uttara Kanda 46.14

सोऽश्वान्विचारयित्वा तु रथे युक्तान्मनोजवान् ।।२१ आरोहस्वेति वैदेहीं सूतः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्।

Thereupon Sumantra yoked the horses, gifted with the fleet course of the mind, to the chariot and with folded hands said to Sītā “Do you ascend the car."

Uttara Kanda 46.15

सा तु सूतस्य वचनादारुरोह रथोत्तमम्॥ सीता सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सुमन्त्रेण च धीमता। आससाद विशालाक्षी गङ्गां पापविनाशिनीम्।।२३

According to the request of the intelligent charioteer, Sītā, with Lakşmaņa, ascended that excellent conveyance. In no time the daughter of Janaka, having expansive eyes, arrived at the banks of the Gangā removing all sins.

Uttara Kanda 46.16

अथार्धदिवसं गत्वा भागीरथ्या जलाशयम्। निरीक्ष्य लक्ष्मणो दीनः प्ररुरोद महास्वनः॥

Reaching the currents of Bhāgirathi before noon Laksmana, on beholding her, cried aloud.

Uttara Kanda 46.17

सीता तु परमायत्ता दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमातुरम्। उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञा किमिदं रुद्यते त्वया॥ जाह्नवीतीरमासाद्य चिराभिलषितं मम। हर्षकाले किमर्थं मां विषादयसि लक्ष्मण ॥

Thereupon beholding Lakşmaņa thus distressed, Sītā, conversant with piety, waxing are anxious said. “Why you weeping, Lakşmaņa? I have reached the banks of Jāhnavī, for which I have so long desired. So this is the time for rejoicing and do not give me pain at this time.

Uttara Kanda 46.18

नित्यं त्वं रामपार्वेषु वर्तसे पुरुषर्षभ। कच्चिद्विनाकृतस्तेन द्विरात्रं शोकमागतः॥

O foremost of men, you do spend your days and nights in the company of Rama. You have left him for two days only, are you sorry for this?

Uttara Kanda 46.19

ममापि दयितो रामो जीवितादपि लक्ष्मण। न चाहमेवं शोचामि मैवं त्वं बालिशो भव ॥

O Lakşmaņa! Rāma is also dearer than my life, but I am not so sorry— do you not be therefore overwhelmed with grief.

Uttara Kanda 46.20

तारयस्व च मां गङ्गां दर्शयस्व च तापसान्। ततो मुनिभ्यो वासांसि दास्याम्याभरणानि च॥

Do you take me to the other side of the Gangā so that I may behold the ascetics and other confer upon them clothes and ornaments.

Uttara Kanda 46.21

ततः कृत्वा महर्षीणां यथार्हमभिवादनम्। तत्र चैकां निशामुष्य यास्यामस्तां पुरी पुनः॥

Having paid them due salutation to the ascetics, and spending a night we shall return to the capital.

Uttara Kanda 46.22

ममापि पद्मपत्राक्षं सिंहोरस्कं कृशोदरम्। त्वरते हि मनो द्रष्टुं रामं रमयतां वरम्॥

I am also anxious to see Rāma, having eyes like lotus petals, breast like that of a lion and foremost of men.

Uttara Kanda 46.23

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रमृज्य नयने शुभे। नाविकानाह्वयामास लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। इयं च सज्जा नौश्चेति दाशाः प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन्॥

Hearing the words of Sītā and wiping his beautiful eyes, Laksmana, the slayer of enemies, sent for boatmen. As soon as they were called, with folded hands they said. “The boat is ready."

Uttara Kanda 46.24

तितीर्षुर्लक्ष्मणो गङ्गां शुभां नावमुपारुहत्। गङ्गां संतारयामास लक्ष्मणस्तां समाहितः॥

Having them brought about to cross the holy Ganga Laksmana, with a quiescent mind, took her to the other side.

Uttara Kanda 46.25