Sarga 60

Verse 1

ततो भूतोपसृष्टेव वेपमाना पुनः पुनः।धरण्यां गतसत्त्वेव कौसल्या सूतमब्रवीत्।।।।

Then Kausalyā—trembling again and again, as though seized by a spirit, and as if bereft of her senses upon the ground—spoke to the charioteer (Sumantra).

Verse 2

नय मां यत्र काकुत्स्थस्सीता यत्र च लक्ष्मणः।तान्विना क्षणमप्यत्र जीवितुं नोत्सहेह्यहम्।।।।

Take me to wherever Rama of the Kakutsthas is—where Sita is, and where Lakshmana is. Without them, I do not wish to live here even for a single moment.

Verse 3

निवर्तय रथं शीघ्रं दण्डकान्नय मामपि।अथ तान्नानुगच्छामि गमिष्यामि यमक्षयम्।।।।

Turn the chariot back at once, and take me too to the Dandaka forest. If I do not go after them, then I shall go to Yama’s abode (death).

Verse 4

बाष्पवेगोपहतया स वाचा सज्जमानया।इदमाश्वासयन्देवीं सूतः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्।।।।

Then the charioteer, with palms joined, spoke these words to console the queen—his speech faltering and choked by the rush of tears.

Verse 5

त्यज शोकं च मोहं च सम्भ्रमं दुःखजं तथा।व्यवधूय च सन्तापं वने वत्स्यति राघवः।।।।

Give up grief, delusion, and the turmoil born of sorrow. Raghava will live in the forest, brushing aside hardships.

Verse 6

लक्ष्मणश्चापि रामस्य पादौ परिचरन्वने।आराधयति धर्मज्ञः परलोकं जितेन्द्रियः।।।।

And Lakshmana too—self-controlled and knowing what is right—serves at Rama’s feet in the forest, thereby securing spiritual merit for the world beyond.

Verse 7

विजनेऽपि वने सीता वासं प्राप्य गृहेष्विव।विस्रम्भं लभतेऽभीता रामे सन्न्यस्तमानसा।।।।

Even in the lonely forest, Sītā—having made her dwelling there as though it were her own home—feels secure and unafraid, for her mind rests wholly upon Rāma.

Verse 8

नास्या दैन्यं कृतं किञ्चित्सुसूक्ष्ममपि लक्ष्यते।उचितेव प्रवासानां वैदेही प्रतिभाति मा।।।।

In her, I can detect not even the faintest trace of dejection; Vaidehī appears to me as though she were already accustomed to life away from home.

Verse 9

नगरोपवनं गत्वा यथा स्मरमते पुरा।तथैव रमते सीता निर्जनेषु वनेष्वपि।।।।

Just as she once delighted in the city’s pleasure-groves, so too Sītā now takes delight even in these lonely forests.

Verse 10

बालेव रमते सीताऽबालचन्द्रनिभानना।रामा रामे ह्यधीनात्मा विजनेऽपि वने सती।।।।

Sītā—lovely, with a face like the young moon—keeps her whole mind dependent on Rāma; and though she is in a lonely forest, she delights in it like a child.

Verse 11

तद्गतं हृदयं ह्यस्यास्तदधीनं च जीवितम्।अयोध्यापि भवेऽत्तस्या रामहीना तदा वनम्।।।।

For her heart is fixed upon him, and her very life depends upon him; if she were without Rāma, even Ayodhyā would then become a forest to her.

Verse 12

परिपृच्छति वैदेही ग्रामांश्च नगराणि च।गतिं दृष्ट्वा नदीनां च पादपान्विविधानपि।।।।रामं हि लक्ष्मणं वापि पृष्ट्वा जानाति जानकी।अयोध्या क्रोशमात्रे तु विहारमिव संश्रिता।।।।

Vaidehī, seeing villages and towns, the courses of rivers, and trees of many kinds, keeps asking about them; and after asking either Rāma or Lakṣmaṇa, Jānakī comes to know them—dwelling as though in a pleasure-grove only a krośa away from Ayodhyā.

Verse 13

परिपृच्छति वैदेही ग्रामांश्च नगराणि च।गतिं दृष्ट्वा नदीनां च पादपान्विविधानपि।।2.60.12।।रामं हि लक्ष्मणं वापि पृष्ट्वा जानाति जानकी।अयोध्या क्रोशमात्रे तु विहारमिव संश्रिता।।2.60.13।।

Vaidehī, seeing villages and towns, the courses of rivers, and trees of many kinds, keeps asking about them; and after asking either Rāma or Lakṣmaṇa, Jānakī comes to know them—dwelling as though in a pleasure-grove only a krośa away from Ayodhyā.

Verse 14

इदमेव स्मराम्यस्यास्सहसैवोपजल्पितम्।कैकेयी संश्रितं वाक्यं नेदानीं प्रतिभाति मा।।।।

I remember only this much—that she suddenly uttered some words concerning Kaikeyī; but what they were does not now occur to me.

Verse 15

ध्वंसयित्वा तु तद्वाक्यं प्रमादात्पर्युपत्स्थितम्।ह्लादनं वचनं सूतो देव्या मधुरमब्रवीत्।।।।

But, setting aside those words that had arisen inadvertently, the charioteer spoke to the queen gentle, pleasing speech meant to bring her relief.

Verse 16

अध्वना वातवेगेन सम्भ्रमेणाऽऽतपेन च।न विगच्छति वैदेह्याश्चन्द्रांशु सदृशी प्रभा।।।।

Vaidehī’s radiance—like moonbeams—does not diminish, whether from the road’s fatigue, the wind’s speed, the haste of travel, or even the heat of the sun.

Verse 17

सदृशं शतपत्रस्य पूर्णचन्द्रोपमप्रभम्।वदनं तद्वदान्याया वैदेह्या न विकम्पते।।।।

Vaidehī’s face—of that gracious lady—shines like a full moon and resembles a hundred-petalled lotus; it does not waver or wither.

Verse 18

अलक्तरसरक्ताभावलक्तरसवर्जितौ।अद्यापि चरणौ तस्याः पद्मकोशसमप्रभौ।।।।

Even now her feet—though no longer stained with red lac—still appear as if reddened with lac, shining like the buds of a lotus.

Verse 19

नूपुरोद्घुष्टहेलेव खेलं गच्छति भामिनी।इदानीमपि वैदेही तद्रागान्नयस्त भूषणा।।।।

Even now Vaidehi—having cast aside her ornaments out of love for him—walks with a gentle grace, as though in playful dalliance, while her anklets softly proclaim each step.

Verse 20

गजं वा वीक्ष्य सिंहं वा व्याघ्रं वा वनमाश्रिता।नाऽहारयति सन्त्रासं बाहू रामस्य संश्रिता।।।।

Dwelling in the forest, even on seeing an elephant, a lion, or a tiger, she does not feel fear—having taken refuge in Rama’s arms.

Verse 21

न शोच्यास्ते न चात्मनश्शोच्यो नापि जनाधिपः।इदं हि चरितं लोके प्रतिष्ठास्यति शाश्वतम्।।।।

They are not to be pitied—nor are you to be pitied, nor even the king. For this story (of conduct) will stand established in the world forever.

Verse 22

विधूय शोकं परिहृष्टमानसा महर्षियाते पथि सुव्यवत्स्थिताः।वनेरता वन्यफलाशनाः पितुश्शुभां प्रतिज्ञां परिपालयन्ति ते।।।।

Shaking off grief, with hearts made serene, firmly established on the path laid down by great seers, delighting in the forest and living on wild fruits, they are fulfilling their father’s noble promise.

Verse 23

तथापि सूतेन सुयुक्तवादिना निवार्यमाणा सुतशोककर्शिता।न चैव देवी विरराम कूजितात्प्रियेति पुत्रेति च राघवेति च।।।।

Yet, though restrained by the charioteer who spoke fittingly, the queen—worn down by grief for her son—did not cease her cries: “Beloved!”, “Son!”, and “O Raghava!”