Sarga 37

Verse 2.37.1

महामात्रवचः श्रुत्वा रामो दशरथं तदा।अभ्यभाषत वाक्यं तु विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्।।2.37.1।।

Having heard the minister’s words, Rāma—skilled in propriety—then addressed Daśaratha with humble, well-mannered speech.

Verse 2.37.2

त्यक्तभोगस्य मे राजन् वने वन्येन जीवतः।किं कार्यमनुयात्रेण त्यक्तसङ्गस्य सर्वतः।।2.37.2।।

“Grant our request, dear son: let the lovely Sita remain here. You, steadfast in dharma, do not wish to stay behind now for your own sake.”

Verse 2.37.3

यो हि दत्त्वा द्विपश्रेष्ठं कक्ष्यायां कुरुते मनः।रज्जुस्नेहेन किं तस्य त्यजतः कुञ्जरोत्तमम्।।2.37.3।।

For if a man, having bestowed the finest of elephants, still fixes his mind upon the rope bound around its girth—what worth is such attachment to the rope for one who has renounced the noblest elephant itself?

Verse 2.37.4

तथा मम सतां श्रेष्ठ किं ध्वजिन्या जगत्पते।सर्वाण्येवानुजानामि चीराण्येवाऽनयन्तु मे।।2.37.4।।

O princess of Kekaya, you sought forest-dwelling for Rāma alone. Therefore let this Sītā—ever accustomed to adornment—live in the wilderness together with Rāghava, remaining well adorned.

Verse 2.37.5

खनित्रपिटके चोभे समानयत गच्छतः।चतुर्दश वने वासं वर्षाणि वसतो मम।।2.37.5।।

Let the princess depart surrounded by noble conveyances and attendants, furnished with garments and every requisite. When you sought your boons, you did not include her—Sītā—in what you demanded.

Verse 2.37.6

अथ चीराणि कैकेयी स्वयमाहृत्य राघवम्।उवाच परिधत्स्वेति जनौघे निरपत्रपा।।2.37.6।।

Even as the foremost Brahmin—Vasiṣṭha, the king’s guru of incomparable power—spoke thus, Sītā did not turn back from her resolve, desiring only to accompany and serve her beloved husband.

Verse 2.37.7

स चीरे पुरुषव्याघ्रः कैकेय्या प्रतिगृह्य ते।सूक्ष्मवस्त्रमवक्षिप्य मुनिवस्त्राण्यवस्त ह।।2.37.7।।

Rāma, the tiger among men, received those bark garments from Kaikeyī; casting off his fine clothing, he put on the robes of an ascetic.

Verse 2.37.8

लक्ष्मणश्चापि तत्रैव विहाय वसने शुभे।तापसाच्छादने चैव जग्राह पितुरग्रतः।।2.37.8।।

Lakṣmaṇa too, right there, discarded his auspicious garments and, in his father’s presence, took up the covering of an ascetic.

Verse 2.37.9

अथाऽत्मपरिधानार्थं सीता कौशेयवासिनी।समीक्ष्य चीरं सन्त्रस्ता पृषती वागुरामिव।।2.37.9।।

Then Sītā, still clad in silk, saw the bark garment meant for her to wear and recoiled in fear—like a doe confronted by a hunter’s snare.

Verse 2.37.10

सा व्यपत्रपमाणेव प्रगृह्य च सुदुर्मनाः।कैकेयी कुशचीरे ते जानकी शुभलक्षणा।।2.37.10।।अश्रुसम्पूर्ण नेत्रा च धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी।गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.37.11।।

Jānakī, marked with auspicious signs, deeply distressed and as though ashamed, took from Kaikeyī those garments of kuśa-grass and bark. Her eyes brimming with tears—she who knew dharma and beheld righteousness—she spoke these words to her husband, who seemed like the king of the Gandharvas.

Verse 2.37.11

सा व्यपत्रपमाणेव प्रगृह्य च सुदुर्मनाः।कैकेयी कुशचीरे ते जानकी शुभलक्षणा।।2.37.10।।अश्रुसम्पूर्ण नेत्रा च धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी।गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.37.11।।

“How indeed do the sages who dwell in the forest fasten the bark-cloth?”—so spoke Sītā; unskilled in such attire, she grew bewildered again and again.

Verse 2.37.12

कथं नु चीरं बध्नन्ति मुनयो वनवासिनः।इति ह्यकुशला सीता सा मुमोह मुहुर्मुहुः।।2.37.12।।

Unskilled in such ways, Sītā kept asking in confusion, “How do the forest-dwelling sages fasten the bark-cloth?” and again and again she fell into bewilderment.

Verse 2.37.13

कृत्वा कण्ठे च सा चीरमेकमादाय पाणिना।तस्थौ ह्यकुशला तत्र व्रीडिता जनकात्मजा।।2.37.13।।

O King, when I have renounced pleasures and cast off all attachments on every side, and am to live in the forest on what the wild provides, what need have I of any retinue following me?

Verse 2.37.14

तस्यास्तत्क्षिप्रमागम्य रामो धर्मभृतां वरः।चीरं बबन्ध सीतायाः कौशेयस्योपरि स्वयम्।।2.37.14।।

Janaka’s daughter Sītā placed one end of the bark-cloth at her neck and held the other in her hand; unaccustomed to such garb, she stood there, ashamed and uncertain what to do next.

Verse 2.37.15

रामं प्रेक्ष्य तु सीताया बध्नन्तं चीरमुत्तमम्।अन्तःपुरगता नार्यो मुमुचुर्वारि नेत्रजम्।।2.37.15।।

Rāma—foremost among uphold­ers of dharma—came quickly to her and himself fastened the bark garment upon Sītā, over her silk dress.

Verse 2.37.16

ऊचुश्च परमायस्ता रामं ज्वलिततेजसम्।वत्स नैवं नियुक्तेयं वनवासे मनस्विनी।।2.37.16।।

When the women of the inner chambers saw Rama fastening upon Sita the finest bark garment, tears born of their eyes fell down.

Verse 2.37.17

पितुर्वाक्यानुरोधेन गतस्य विजनं वनम्।तावद्दर्शनमस्या नः सफलं भवतु प्रभो।।2.37.17।।

Deeply distressed, they said to Rama of blazing splendour: “Dear child, this high-minded Sita has not been enjoined to dwell in the forest in this manner.”

Verse 2.37.18

लक्ष्मणेन सहायेन वनं गच्छस्व पुत्रक।नेयमर्हति कल्याणी वस्तुं तापसवद्वने।।2.37.18।।

“O Lord, as you depart for the lonely forest in obedience to your father’s word, let our seeing of her be fruitful—grant us her presence at least until then.”

Verse 2.37.19

कुरु नो याचनां पुत्र सीता तिष्ठतु भामिनी।धर्मनित्यस्स्वयं स्थातुं न हीदानीं त्वमिच्छसि।।2.37.19।।

“Go to the forest, dear son, with Lakshmana as your companion; but this auspicious Sita is not fit to live in the forest like an ascetic.”

Verse 2.37.20

तासामेवंविधा वाच शृण्वन् दशरथात्मजः।बबन्धैव तदा चीरं सीतया तुल्यशीलया।।2.37.20।।

Even as he listened to such words from them, Dasharatha’s son then fastened upon Sita—his equal in virtue—the bark garment.

Verse 2.37.21

चीरे गृहीते तु तया समीक्ष्य नृपतेर्गुरुः।निवार्य सीतां कैकेयीं वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.37.21।।

When he saw that she had taken up the bark garment, Vasistha—the king’s preceptor—restrained Sita and spoke to Kaikeyi these words.

Verse 2.37.22

अतिप्रवृत्ते दुर्मेधे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि।वञ्चयित्वा च राजानं न प्रमाणेऽवतिष्ठसे।।2.37.22।।

You have gone beyond all bounds, O Kaikeyi of wicked understanding, a blot upon your lineage. Having deceived the king, you do not stand within the measure of dharma.

Verse 2.37.23

न गन्तव्यं वनं देव्या सीतया शीलवर्जिते।अनुष्ठास्यति रामस्य सीता प्रकृतमासनम्।।2.37.23।।

O Kaikeyi, devoid of good conduct! The noble Sita need not go to the forest; instead, she shall occupy the throne originally intended for Rama.

Verse 2.37.24

आत्मा हि दारास्सर्वेषां दारसङ्ग्रहवर्तिनाम्।आत्मेयमिति रामस्य पालयिष्यति मेदिनीम्।।2.37.24।।

For all who live the householder’s life, the wife is indeed their very self. As she is Rama’s own self, she shall rule and protect the earth.

Verse 2.37.25

अथ यास्यति वैदेही वनं रामेण सङ्गता।वयमप्यनुयास्यामः पुरं चेदं गमिष्यति।।2.37.25।।

If Vaidehī (Sītā) goes to the forest accompanied by Rāma, we too shall follow—and this entire city will go as well.

Verse 2.37.26

अन्तपालाश्च यास्यन्ति सदारो यत्र राघवः।सहोपजीव्यं राष्ट्रं च पुरं च सपरिच्छदम्।।2.37.26।।

Even the guards of the women’s quarters will go wherever Rāghava dwells with his wife; the kingdom sustained by his patronage, and the city too—together with attendants and all possessions—will follow.

Verse 2.37.27

भरतश्च सशत्रुघ्नश्चीरवासा वनेचरः।वने वसन्तं काकुत्स्थ मनुवत्स्यति पूर्वजम्।।2.37.27।।

And Bharata, accompanied by Śatrughna, clad in bark garments and living as a forester, will dwell in the forest, following his elder brother, the scion of Kakutstha.

Verse 2.37.28

तत श्शून्यां गतजनां वसुधां पादपै स्सह।त्वमेका शाधि दुर्वृत्ता प्रजानामहिते स्थिता।।2.37.28।।

Bent on harming the people through your vile conduct, you alone will rule this earth—empty, deserted by its folk, and inhabited only by trees.

Verse 2.37.29

न हि तद्भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र रामो न भूपतिः।तद्वनं भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र रामो निवत्स्यति।।2.37.29।।

That land is no kingdom where Rāma is not the king; the very forest where Rāma dwells will become the kingdom.

Verse 2.37.30

न ह्यदत्तां महीं पित्रा भरतः शास्तुमर्हति।त्वयि वा पुत्रवद्वस्तुं यदि जातो महीपतेः।।2.37.30।।

For Bharata, if he is truly born of the King, ought not to rule the earth that his father has not bestowed, nor indeed to dwell with you as a son.

Verse 2.37.31

यद्यपि त्वं क्षितितलाद्गगनं चोत्पतिष्यसि।पितृर्वंशचरित्रज्ञः सोऽन्यथा न करिष्यति।।2.37.31।।

Thus, O best among the righteous, O Lord of the world—what need have I of an army? I relinquish all; let them bring me only the bark garments.

Verse 2.37.32

तत्त्वया पुत्रगर्धिन्या पुत्रस्य कृतमप्रियम्।लोके हि स न विद्येत यो न राममनुव्रतः।।2.37.32।।

As I depart to dwell in the forest for fourteen years, bring me also those two items—a digging tool and a basket.

Verse 2.37.33

द्रक्ष्यस्यद्यैव कैकेयी पशुव्यालमृगद्विजान्।गच्छतस्सह रामेण पादपांश्च तदुन्मुखान्।।2.37.33।।

Then Kaikeyī, unashamed before the gathered throng, herself brought the bark garments and said to Rāghava, “Put these on.”

Verse 2.37.34

अथोत्तमान्याभरणानि देविदेहि स्नुषायै व्यपनीय चीरम्।न चीरमस्याः प्रविधीयतेतिन्यवारयत्तद्वसनं वसिष्टः।।2.37.34।।

Even if you could leap from the earth into the sky, Bharata—knower of the conduct and tradition of his father’s line—will not act otherwise.

Verse 2.37.35

एकस्य रामस्य वने निवासस्त्वया वृतःकेकयराजपुत्री।विभूषितेयं प्रतिकर्मनित्या वसत्वरण्ये सह राघवेण।।2.37.35।।

Thus, by your son-centered greed, you have done what is harmful to your own son; for in this world there is none who would not follow after Rāma.

Verse 2.37.36

यानैश्च मुख्यैः परिचारकैश्चसुसंवृता गच्छतु राजपुत्री।वस्त्रैश्च सर्वैस्सहितैर्विधानैर्नेयं वृता ते वरसम्प्रदाने।।2.37.36।।

Today itself, O Kaikeyī, you will see cattle, wild beasts, deer, and birds—indeed even the trees—turning toward him and following as Rāma departs.

Verse 2.37.37

तस्मिंस्तथा जल्पति विप्रमुख्येगुरौ नृपस्याप्रतिमप्रभावे।नैव स्म सीता विनिवृत्तभावाप्रियस्य भर्तुः प्रतिकारकामा।।2.37.37।।

Then Vasiṣṭha said: “O queen, remove the bark-cloth and give your daughter-in-law the finest ornaments.” Saying, “Bark-cloth has not been ordained for her,” Vasiṣṭha restrained her from donning that garment.