Prakarana 8

Verse 143 (चौपाई)

समाचार जब लछिमन पाए। ब्याकुल बिलख बदन उठि धाए।। कंप पुलक तन नयन सनीरा। गहे चरन अति प्रेम अधीरा।। कहि न सकत कछु चितवत ठाढ़े। मीनु दीन जनु जल तें काढ़े।। सोचु हृदयँ बिधि का होनिहारा। सबु सुखु सुकृत सिरान हमारा।। मो कहुँ काह कहब रघुनाथा। रखिहहिं भवन कि लेहहिं साथा।। राम बिलोकि बंधु कर जोरें। देह गेह सब सन तृनु तोरें।। बोले बचनु राम नय नागर। सील सनेह सरल सुख सागर।। तात प्रेम बस जनि कदराहू। समुझि हृदयँ परिनाम उछाहू।।

When Lakshmana heard the news, he rose in distress, weeping, and ran forth. His body trembled and bristled, his eyes were filled with tears; he clasped the feet with overwhelming love. He could say nothing, but stood gazing; like a poor fish drawn from the water. The heart pondered what the Creator's will might be; all our happiness has turned to sorrow. What can I say to the Lord of the Raghus? Will he keep me in Ayodhya or take me with him? Seeing Rama, his brother joined his hands; body and home, all seemed like straw to him. Rama spoke words full of tenderness, the very ocean of virtue, love, simplicity, and joy. "Brother, do not be troubled by love; understand in your heart the true outcome of joy."

Verse 144 (दोहा/सोरठा)

मातु पिता गुरु स्वामि सिख सिर धरि करहि सुभायँ। लहेउ लाभु तिन्ह जनम कर नतरु जनमु जग जायँ।।70।।

Bear upon your head the counsel of mother, father, guru, and master, and follow it willingly. They have gained the true profit of this life; otherwise this life in the world is in vain.

Verse 145 (चौपाई)

अस जियँ जानि सुनहु सिख भाई। करहु मातु पितु पद सेवकाई।। भवन भरतु रिपुसूदन नाहीं। राउ बृद्ध मम दुखु मन माहीं।। मैं बन जाउँ तुम्हहि लेइ साथा। होइ सबहि बिधि अवध अनाथा।। गुरु पितु मातु प्रजा परिवारू। सब कहुँ परइ दुसह दुख भारू।। रहहु करहु सब कर परितोषू। नतरु तात होइहि बड़ दोषू।। जासु राज प्रिय प्रजा दुखारी। सो नृपु अवसि नरक अधिकारी।। रहहु तात असि नीति बिचारी। सुनत लखनु भए ब्याकुल भारी।। सिअरें बचन सूखि गए कैंसें। परसत तुहिन तामरसु जैसें।।

Knowing this in your heart, hear my counsel, brother; render service at our mother and father's feet. Bharata is the master of the household, and the Slayer of Foes is no longer here; the king is old, and grief fills my mind. I shall go to the forest, taking you with me; by providence, all Ayodhya will become orphaned. Guru, father, mother, subjects, family; upon all of them an unbearable burden of sorrow will fall. Remain and bring satisfaction to all; otherwise, father, there will be great fault. The king whose rule brings distress to his beloved subjects is surely deserving of hell. Remain, father, thus considering what is right. Hearing this, Lakshmana became greatly agitated. At Sita's words his limbs withered, like a lotus touched by frost.

Verse 146 (दोहा/सोरठा)

उतरु न आवत प्रेम बस गहे चरन अकुलाइ। नाथ दासु मैं स्वामि तुम्ह तजहु त काह बसाइ।।71।।

Overcome by love, she could give no answer, but grasped his feet in distress. "Lord, I am your servant and you are my master; if you abandon me, where shall I find shelter?"

Verse 147 (चौपाई)

दीन्हि मोहि सिख नीकि गोसाईं। लागि अगम अपनी कदराईं।। नरबर धीर धरम धुर धारी। निगम नीति कहुँ ते अधिकारी।। मैं सिसु प्रभु सनेहँ प्रतिपाला। मंदरु मेरु कि लेहिं मराला।। गुर पितु मातु न जानउँ काहू। कहउँ सुभाउ नाथ पतिआहू।। जहँ लगि जगत सनेह सगाई। प्रीति प्रतीति निगम निजु गाई।। मोरें सबइ एक तुम्ह स्वामी। दीनबंधु उर अंतरजामी।। धरम नीति उपदेसिअ ताही। कीरति भूति सुगति प्रिय जाही।। मन क्रम बचन चरन रत होई। कृपासिंधु परिहरिअ कि सोई।।

My master has given me good counsel, esteeming me as one beyond all reach. O best of men, steadfast, uphold the highest dharma; you are supreme in the Vedas and in moral wisdom. I am a child, reared by your affection; would Mandara or Meru take a swan under their care? I know no guru, father, or mother other than you; I speak my true nature, O lord and master. To the extent that the world is bound by ties of affection, the Vedas sing of love and trust. All my love is for you alone, O master; O friend of the humble, you are the ruler within my heart. Preach dharma and moral wisdom to me alone, for that brings fame, prosperity, the good path, and is dear to you. With mind, action, speech, and devotion at your feet, O ocean of mercy, how can you forsake me?

Verse 148 (दोहा/सोरठा)

करुनासिंधु सुबंध के सुनि मृदु बचन बिनीत। समुझाए उर लाइ प्रभु जानि सनेहँ सभीत।।72।।

Hearing her gentle and humble words, the Lord, an ocean of compassion and noble in his bonds, took her to his heart and comforted her, knowing her to be overcome by love.

Verse 149 (चौपाई)

मागहु बिदा मातु सन जाई। आवहु बेगि चलहु बन भाई।। मुदित भए सुनि रघुबर बानी। भयउ लाभ बड़ गइ बड़ि हानी।। हरषित ह्दयँ मातु पहिं आए। मनहुँ अंध फिरि लोचन पाए। जाइ जननि पग नायउ माथा। मनु रघुनंदन जानकि साथा।। पूँछे मातु मलिन मन देखी। लखन कही सब कथा बिसेषी।। गई सहमि सुनि बचन कठोरा। मृगी देखि दव जनु चहु ओरा।। लखन लखेउ भा अनरथ आजू। एहिं सनेह बस करब अकाजू।। मागत बिदा सभय सकुचाहीं। जाइ संग बिधि कहिहि कि नाही।।

Go and take leave of your mother; come quickly, brother, let us go to the forest. Hearing the words of the best of the Raghus, Lakshmana rejoiced; what seemed a great loss became a great gain. With joyful heart he went to his mother; it was as if a blind man had regained his sight. He went and bowed his head at his mother's feet, his mind set on going with Rama. Seeing her mind troubled, his mother asked the reason; Lakshmana told her the whole story in detail. Hearing those harsh words, she was stricken with fear, like a deer seeing danger on every side. Lakshmana perceived that ruin had come this day; under the sway of this affection he would accomplish nothing. She asked for leave, fearful and ashamed; should he go with her, what would providence say, or not?

Verse 150 (दोहा/सोरठा)

समुझि सुमित्राँ राम सिय रूप सुसीलु सुभाउ। नृप सनेहु लखि धुनेउ सिरु पापिनि दीन्ह कुदाउ।।73।।

Understanding the nature of Rama and Sita, their beauty, their noble character and their gracious ways, and seeing the king's love, Sumitra bowed her head; to the sinner she gave a harsh rebuke.

Verse 151 (चौपाई)

धीरजु धरेउ कुअवसर जानी। सहज सुह्द बोली मृदु बानी।। तात तुम्हारि मातु बैदेही। पिता रामु सब भाँति सनेही।। अवध तहाँ जहँ राम निवासू। तहँइँ दिवसु जहँ भानु प्रकासू।। जौ पै सीय रामु बन जाहीं। अवध तुम्हार काजु कछु नाहिं।। गुर पितु मातु बंधु सुर साई। सेइअहिं सकल प्रान की नाईं।। रामु प्रानप्रिय जीवन जी के। स्वारथ रहित सखा सबही कै।। पूजनीय प्रिय परम जहाँ तें। सब मानिअहिं राम के नातें।। अस जियँ जानि संग बन जाहू। लेहु तात जग जीवन लाहू।।

Knowing the critical moment, she held her patience and spoke gentle words in a natural, friendly tone. "Father, your mother is the daughter of Videha; Rama is your father, loving in every way. Ayodhya is wherever Rama dwells; the day is wherever the sun shines. If Sita and Rama go to the forest, then Ayodhya holds no purpose for you. Guru, father, mother, brother, and the gods should all be served as one serves one's own life. Rama is dearer than life itself, the very life of the living; he is the selfless friend of all. He is worthy of worship, beloved, supreme above all; therefore let all hold Rama in honor. Knowing this in your heart, go to the forest with them; take, my son, the profit of life in this world."

Verse 152 (दोहा/सोरठा)

भूरि भाग भाजनु भयहु मोहि समेत बलि जाउँ। जौम तुम्हरें मन छाड़ि छलु कीन्ह राम पद ठाउँ।।74।।

Great is my fortune; I am ready to sacrifice myself entirely. If you have, out of love, abandoned all deception and made Rama's feet your refuge, then I am blessed indeed.

Verse 153 (चौपाई)

पुत्रवती जुबती जग सोई। रघुपति भगतु जासु सुतु होई।। नतरु बाँझ भलि बादि बिआनी। राम बिमुख सुत तें हित जानी।। तुम्हरेहिं भाग रामु बन जाहीं। दूसर हेतु तात कछु नाहीं।। सकल सुकृत कर बड़ फलु एहू। राम सीय पद सहज सनेहू।। राग रोषु इरिषा मदु मोहू। जनि सपनेहुँ इन्ह के बस होहू।। सकल प्रकार बिकार बिहाई। मन क्रम बचन करेहु सेवकाई।। तुम्ह कहुँ बन सब भाँति सुपासू। सँग पितु मातु रामु सिय जासू।। जेहिं न रामु बन लहहिं कलेसू। सुत सोइ करेहु इहइ उपदेसू।।

She alone is truly a mother who has a son devoted to the Lord of the Raghus; otherwise a barren woman is better, for she is known to be happy without a son averse to Rama. It is your own good fortune that Rama goes to the forest; there is no other cause for this, my son. This is the supreme fruit of all meritorious deeds: natural love for the feet of Rama and Sita. Let not attachment, anger, envy, pride or delusion hold sway over you even in a dream. Abandoning every kind of mental impurity, serve with heart, action and speech. You are wholly successful in every way; with you go father, mother, Rama and Sita. Instruct your son in this teaching, that he may not suffer distress when Rama goes to the forest.

Verse 154 (छंद)

उपदेसु यहु जेहिं तात तुम्हरे राम सिय सुख पावहीं। पितु मातु प्रिय परिवार पुर सुख सुरति बन बिसरावहीं।। तुलसी प्रभुहि सिख देइ आयसु दीन्ह पुनि आसिष दई। रति होउ अबिरल अमल सिय रघुबीर पद नित नित नई।।

This is the teaching, my son, by which you and Rama and Sita shall find happiness; father, mother, dear family, the city, pleasures and memories shall all be forgotten in the forest. Tulsidas gave counsel to the Lord, received his command, and then received his blessing. May there be uninterrupted and pure love for the feet of Sita and the Lord of the Raghus, ever new, day after day.

Verse 155 (दोहा/सोरठा)

मातु चरन सिरु नाइ चले तुरत संकित हृदयँ। बागुर बिषम तोराइ मनहुँ भाग मृगु भाग बस।।75।।

Bowing his head at his mother's feet, he set forth at once, his heart full of anxiety. It was as though a deer, with a cruel hunter in pursuit, fled for its very life.

Verse 156 (चौपाई)

गए लखनु जहँ जानकिनाथू। भे मन मुदित पाइ प्रिय साथू।। बंदि राम सिय चरन सुहाए। चले संग नृपमंदिर आए।। कहहिं परसपर पुर नर नारी। भलि बनाइ बिधि बात बिगारी।। तन कृस दुखु बदन मलीने। बिकल मनहुँ माखी मधु छीने।। कर मीजहिं सिरु धुनि पछिताहीं। जनु बिन पंख बिहग अकुलाहीं।। भइ बड़ि भीर भूप दरबारा। बरनि न जाइ बिषादु अपारा।। सचिवँ उठाइ राउ बैठारे। कहि प्रिय बचन रामु पगु धारे।। सिय समेत दोउ तनय निहारी। ब्याकुल भयउ भूमिपति भारी।।

Lakshmana went where the Lord of Janaka's daughter was, and his heart was gladdened to find his beloved companion. Having bowed at the lovely feet of Rama and Sita, he walked with them until they came to the king's palace. The men and women of the city spoke among themselves, saying that the Creator had made a fair thing into a grievous matter. Their bodies were wasted with grief, their faces pale; their hearts were troubled, like bees whose honey has been taken. They wrung their hands and beat their heads in remorse, like birds that flutter helplessly without their wings. A great fear fell upon the king's court; the boundless sorrow cannot be told. The ministers raised the king and set him upon his seat; speaking gentle words, Rama stood at his feet. Seeing Sita and both his sons together, the king was sorely distressed.

Verse 157 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सीय सहित सुत सुभग दोउ देखि देखि अकुलाइ। बारहिं बार सनेह बस राउ लेइ उर लाइ।।76।।

Seeing Sita and his two noble sons, and seeing them again, he was overcome with anguish; again and again, in the grip of love, the king clasped them to his heart.

Verse 158 (चौपाई)

सकइ न बोलि बिकल नरनाहू। सोक जनित उर दारुन दाहू।। नाइ सीसु पद अति अनुरागा। उठि रघुबीर बिदा तब मागा।। पितु असीस आयसु मोहि दीजै। हरष समय बिसमउ कत कीजै।। तात किएँ प्रिय प्रेम प्रमादू। जसु जग जाइ होइ अपबादू।। सुनि सनेह बस उठि नरनाहाँ। बैठारे रघुपति गहि बाहाँ।। सुनहु तात तुम्ह कहुँ मुनि कहहीं। रामु चराचर नायक अहहीं।। सुभ अरु असुभ करम अनुहारी। ईस देइ फलु ह्दयँ बिचारी।। करइ जो करम पाव फल सोई। निगम नीति असि कह सबु कोई।।

The king could not speak, so stricken was he; a terrible burning born of sorrow was in his heart. Bowing his head with deep love at their feet, the Hero of the Raghus rose and asked leave to depart. "Father, give me your blessing and your command. Why do you grieve at a time that should be joyful? Dear father, through love and affection you have done what will bring blame upon you in the world. Hearing this, the king rose in the power of love, and taking the Lord of the Raghus by the arms, he set him down. "Hear, my son: the sages say that you are the Lord of all that moves and moves not. God, considering in his heart, gives the fruit of good and evil deeds according to each one's actions. Whoever performs an action receives its fruit; this is what the scriptures and all moral teachings declare."

Verse 159 (दोहा/सोरठा)

औरु करै अपराधु कोउ और पाव फल भोगु। अति बिचित्र भगवंत गति को जग जानै जोगु।।77।।

One commits a fault, and another receives the fruit and endures it. The ways of the Lord are most strange; who can know what is fitting in this world?

Verse 160 (चौपाई)

रायँ राम राखन हित लागी। बहुत उपाय किए छलु त्यागी।। लखी राम रुख रहत न जाने। धरम धुरंधर धीर सयाने।। तब नृप सीय लाइ उर लीन्ही। अति हित बहुत भाँति सिख दीन्ही।। कहि बन के दुख दुसह सुनाए। सासु ससुर पितु सुख समुझाए।। सिय मनु राम चरन अनुरागा। घरु न सुगमु बनु बिषमु न लागा।। औरउ सबहिं सीय समुझाई। कहि कहि बिपिन बिपति अधिकाई।। सचिव नारि गुर नारि सयानी। सहित सनेह कहहिं मृदु बानी।। तुम्ह कहुँ तौ न दीन्ह बनबासू। करहु जो कहहिं ससुर गुर सासू।।

The king, out of love for Rama, set himself to keep him back, devising many stratagems, abandoning all deceit. Rama saw the king's distress, yet he would not remain; steadfast in righteousness, resolute and wise, he stood firm. Then the king took Sita to his heart and gave her much counsel in many ways, with great affection. He spoke of the unbearable sorrows of the forest, and reminded her of the happiness of her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Sita's heart was devoted to Rama's feet; she felt no ease at home, nor did the dreadful forest seem harsh to her. She counseled all the others too, speaking again and again of the manifold perils of the woods. The minister's wife, the guru's wife, a wise woman, spoke gentle words full of love. "To you indeed the forest exile was not given; do as your father-in-law, your guru, and your mother-in-law bid you."

Verse 161 (दोहा/सोरठा)

-सिख सीतलि हित मधुर मृदु सुनि सीतहि न सोहानि। सरद चंद चंदनि लगत जनु चकई अकुलानि।।78।।

Hearing the sweet and gentle counsel for her comfort and peace, it did not please Sita. It was as if the autumn moon touched her with its rays, and she was distressed like a chakora bird.

Verse 162 (चौपाई)

सीय सकुच बस उतरु न देई। सो सुनि तमकि उठी कैकेई।। मुनि पट भूषन भाजन आनी। आगें धरि बोली मृदु बानी।। नृपहि प्रान प्रिय तुम्ह रघुबीरा। सील सनेह न छाड़िहि भीरा।। सुकृत सुजसु परलोकु नसाऊ। तुम्हहि जान बन कहिहि न काऊ।। अस बिचारि सोइ करहु जो भावा। राम जननि सिख सुनि सुखु पावा।। भूपहि बचन बानसम लागे। करहिं न प्रान पयान अभागे।। लोग बिकल मुरुछित नरनाहू। काह करिअ कछु सूझ न काहू।। रामु तुरत मुनि बेषु बनाई। चले जनक जननिहि सिरु नाई।।

Out of modesty, Sita could not refuse; hearing this, Kaikeyi rose in wrath. She brought ascetic garments, ornaments, and vessels, and placing them before the king, spoke gentle words. "O Raghuvira, you are dearer to the king than his own life; you will not abandon your virtue and love, O brave one. Do not destroy your merit, your fair fame, and your hereafter; know that no one will speak of you going to the forest." Thinking thus, do as pleases you; hearing this counsel, Rama's mother was comforted. The king's words struck him like an arrow; the unfortunate one could not summon courage to live. The people were distraught, the king fell senseless; what could be done? Nothing came to anyone's mind. Rama quickly donned the ascetic's garb and set forth, bowing his head to his mother, Janaka's daughter.

Verse 163 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सजि बन साजु समाजु सबु बनिता बंधु समेत। बंदि बिप्र गुर चरन प्रभु चले करि सबहि अचेत।।79।।

Having made ready the forest gear, with all the assembly, with the women and kinsfolk together, the Lord bowed to the feet of the brahmins and his guru and departed, leaving all unconscious.