Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26

Meaning

Saluting Kausalyā while about to set out for the forest, Śrī Rāma, for his part, on whom blessings had been invoked by his mother and who stuck to the most righteous path, agitated as were the hearts of the people that had gathered there, through his richness in excellences of various kinds, illumining at the same time by his very proximity the king’s highway crowded with men anxious to have a look at the prince. (1-2)

Meaning

Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory, in her turn, who had been observing austere vows, had not so far heard all that had happened in the meantime, causing interruption in the installation of Śrī Rāma and making for his exile into the forest, so that the aforesaid installation alone of Śrī Rāma in the office of Prince Regent stood foremost in her heart. (3)

Meaning

Having offered worship to the gods, the celebrated princess, who knew her duty and was conversant with the moral code prescribed for kings, was waiting for her husband with a delighted mind. (4)

Meaning

In the meantime Śrī Rāma for his part entered his gynaeceum, which was most tastefully decorated and was crowded with overjoyed attendants, his head bent somewhat low through bashfulness. (5)

Meaning

Forthwith springing up from her seat, Sītā tremblingly saw her celebrated husband stricken with grief, his mind perplexed with anxiety. (6)

Meaning

Seeing her the said Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, whose mind was given to righteousness, could not contain that grief existing in his mind; hence it became manifest. (7)

Meaning

Seeing him pale of countenance, bathed in perspiration and unable to restrain his grief, Sītā, who felt sore stricken with grief, said, “What is this now, my lord? (8)

Meaning

“The auspicious constellation Puṣya, which is presided over by the sage Bṛhaspati and which is propitious for installation is in the ascendant today. The ceremony is recommended by learned Brāhmaṇas when the moon is in conjunction with the said asterism, O scion of Raghu ! Wherefore then are you ill at ease? (9)

Meaning

“Your lovely countenance does not shine splendidly as it should when canopied by an umbrella white as foam and provided with a hundred ribs. (10)

Meaning

“Nor is your lotus-eyed face, I find, being fanned as it should with a pair of excellent chowries shining like the moon and a swan. (11)

Meaning

“Nor again are overjoyed minstrels and bards or even eloquent panegyrists seen extolling you in words full of benedictions today, O jewel among men! (12)

Meaning

“Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Vedas have not poured with due ceremony honey and curds alongwith water from holy places on your head after you had taken a full bath drenching your head too. (13)

Meaning

“Nor do all the king’s ministers and the foremost among the traders, decked with ornaments, nor again the citizens and people belonging to the countryside seek to follow you in state. (14)

Meaning

“How does an excellent chariot used for travelling or pleasure and driven by four swift horses, decked with gold ornaments, not go ahead of you? (15)

Meaning

“Nor is a glorious elephant, adorned with all noble characteristics and resembling a mountain crowned with a dark cloud, seen ahead of you in your drive back to the gynaeceum, O gallant prince? (16)

Meaning

“Nor again do I perceive marching before you a servant carrying in his hand an excellent seat (sitting mat) embroidered with a gold figure, O valiant prince of delightful appearance ! (17)

Meaning

“When the preparations for your consecration are complete, how is it that the colour of your face appears so changed and no great joy is perceived in you at this moment?” (18)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, replied as follows to Sītā, who was wailing as aforesaid : “My adorable father, O Śītā, is sending me into exile to the forest. (19)

Meaning

“Hear in order of sequence, O daughter of Janaka, descended, as you are, in a noble family, knowing as you do what is right and practising virtue, wherefore this exile has fallen to my lot today. (20)

Meaning

“Indeed, a couple of momentous boons were actually granted in the days gone by in favour of mother, Kaikeyī, by my father, King Daśaratha, who is so true to his promise. (21)

Meaning

“The preparations for my consecration, arranged through the Emperor’s endeavour, being complete today, the king was pressed hard by her to grant those boons and, having been bound with an oath, was completely brought under her thumb on grounds of morality. (22)

Meaning

“I must take up my abode in the forest of Daṇḍaka for fourteen years and, furthermore, Bharata has been nominated by my father for the office of Prince Regent. (23)

Meaning

“As such I have come to see you while on my way to the lonely forest of Daṇḍaka. I should never be praised by you in the presence of Bharata whenever he calls on you in order to pay his respects to you, lest you should forfeit his goodwill. (24)

Meaning

“For, men endowed with power and fortune do not brook to hear the glorification of others. Therefore my virtues should never be extolled by you before Bharata. (25)

Meaning

“I should never be exalted to the skies by you even before your companions. You can stay with him only by behaving conformably to him. (26)

Meaning

“The office of Prince Regent has been conferred on him by the king once for all. He should, therefore, be pleased by you, O Sītā, more so because he is going to be the king as well. (27)

Meaning

“Duly implementing the aforesaid pledge of my father, I for my part shall proceed to the forest this very day. Please remain firm, O high-minded lady ! (28)

Meaning

“Nay, when I have left for the forest, inhabited by ascetics, O blessed lady, you should take to sacred observances and fasts, O sinless one ! (29)

Meaning

“Rising at dawn and after performing worship of the gods according to the scriptural ordinance, King Daśaratha, my father, must be saluted by you. (30)

Meaning

“My mother, Kausalyā too, aged as she is and emaciated through agony, deserves to be duly respected by you since you must keep virtue foremost in your mind. (31)

Meaning

“Those others too who are related to me as mothers deserve to be saluted by you everyday since all mothers are equal in my eyes, in point of affection and goodwill they cherish for me and the way in which they have looked after me when I was a child. (32)

Meaning

“My brothers, Bharata and Śatrughna too, who are dearer to me than life, should be particularly regarded by you as your own brothers or sons. (33)

Meaning

“No offence should be given to Bharata at any time; for he is now, as it were, the ruler of our country as well as of our family, O princess of the Videha territory ! (34)

Meaning

“Kings, really speaking, get highly pleased when propitiated through good conduct and served with continued endeavours and feel enraged otherwise. (35)

Meaning

“Rulers of men forsake even sons sprung from their own loins if they are adverse, and duly accept as their own even strangers who are friendly to them. (36)

Meaning

“Dwell you as such in Ayodhyā under the protection of the Emperor and conformably to the will of Bharata, remaining devoted to righteousness and following sacred observances of unfailing efficacy, O blessed lady ! (37)

Meaning

“I shall immediately proceed to the great forest of Daṇḍaka, my darling; while you should live here only, O high-minded lady ! You should conduct yourself in such a way as not to offend anyone: this is my advice to you.” (38)