---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 108"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-108"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 108

> अवाङ्मुखमथो दीनं दृष्ट्वा सोममिवाप्लुतम्।  
> राघवं लक्ष्मणो वाक्यं हृष्टो मधुरमब्रवीत्॥ १॥

Seeing the descendant of Raghu, Śrī Rāma, speechless and in sorrow like the moon eclipsed by Rāhu, Lakṣmaṇa cheerfully spoke to him in sweet accents: (1)

> न संतापं महाबाहो मदर्थं कर्तुमर्हसि।  
> पूर्वनिर्माणबद्धा हि कालस्य गतिरीदृशी॥ २॥

‘O one of long arms, you should not feel grieved for me, because bound by former actions, this is the law of time (Death). (2)

> जहि मां सौम्य विस्रब्धं प्रतिज्ञां परिपालय।  
> हीनप्रतिज्ञाः काकुत्स्थ प्रयान्ति नरकं नराः॥ ३॥

‘Give me death award, O gracious one, and confidently keep your word, O scion of Kakutstha; those men who do not keep their promises do go to Hell. (3)

> यदि प्रीतिर्महाराज यद्यनुग्राह्यता मयि।  
> जहि मां निर्विशङ्कस्त्वं धर्मं वर्धय राघव॥ ४॥

‘O King, descendant of Raghu, kill me without hesitation if you have love for and are favourable to me, and promote righteousness.’ (4)

> लक्ष्मणेन तथोक्तस्तु रामः प्रचलितेन्द्रियः।  
> मन्त्रिणः समुपानीय तथैव च पुरोधसम्॥ ५॥  
> अब्रवीच्च तदा वृत्तं तेषां मध्ये स राघवः।  
> दुर्वासोऽभिगमं चैव प्रतिज्ञां तापसस्य च॥ ६॥

Thus spoken to by Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma with his senses disturbed, summoned his councillors and also priests, and said in their midst, what had happened, i.e., the arrival of Durvāsā and also the promise made in accordance with the condition laid down by the ascetic. (5-6)

> तच्छ्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणः सर्वे सोपाध्यायाः समासत।  
> वसिष्ठस्तु महातेजा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥ ७॥

Hearing these words all the councillors together with the preceptors kept mum. Then Vasiṣṭha, the powerful one, however, said thus: (7)

> दृष्टमेतन्महाबाहो क्षयं ते रोमहर्षणम्।  
> लक्ष्मणेन वियोगश्च तव राम महायशः॥ ८॥

‘O one of long arms, this end of yours was foreseen by me, which causes horripilation and also separation from Lakṣmaṇa, O Śrī Rāma, possessed of glory. (8)

> त्यजैनं बलवान् कालो मा प्रतिज्ञां वृथा कृथाः।  
> प्रतिज्ञायां हि नष्टायां धर्मो हि विलयं व्रजेत्॥ ९॥

‘Leave him, Lakṣmaṇa. Time (Death) is indeed too powerful, do not give up your promise, for, it being given up, righteousness will perish. (9)

> ततो धर्मे विनष्टे तु त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्।  
> सदेवर्षिगणं सर्वं विनश्येत् तु न संशयः॥ १०॥

‘With righteousness gone, the three worlds, both moving and stationary, indeed the hosts of divine sages, shall perish, there is no doubt. (10)

> स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल त्रैलोक्यस्याभिपालनात्।  
> लक्ष्मणेन विना चाद्य जगत् स्वस्थं कुरुष्व ह॥ ११॥

‘Therefore, O lion among men, separated from Lakṣmaṇa today, you, on your part, restore normalcy to this earth with the protection of the three worlds.’ (11)

> तेषां तत् समवेतानां वाक्यं धर्मार्थसंहितम्।  
> श्रुत्वा परिषदो मध्ये रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्॥ १२॥

Hearing these words full of righteous import, spoken by those assembled, Śrī Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa in the midst of that assembly: (12)

> विसर्जये त्वां सौमित्रे मा भूद् धर्मविपर्ययः।  
> त्यागो वधो वा विहितः साधूनां ह्युभयं समम्॥ १३॥

‘I leave you, O son of Sumitrā (Lakṣmaṇa), may not the cause of righteousness suffer; desertion or slaying—both are the same to the pious ones.’ (13)

> रामेण भाषिते वाक्ये बाष्पव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः।  
> लक्ष्मणस्त्वरितं प्रायात् स्वगृहं न विवेश ह॥ १४॥

On Śrī Rāma speaking thus, Lakṣmaṇa, with his eyes filled with tears, went out in haste and did not enter his apartment. (14)

> स गत्वा सरयूतीरमुपस्पृश्य कृताञ्जलिः।  
> निगृह्य सर्वस्रोतांसि निःश्वासं न मुमोच ह॥ १५॥

Having reached the banks of the Sarayū, he performed ablutions, restraining all senses and holding his breath. (15)

> अनिःश्वसन्तं युक्तं तं सशक्राः साप्सरोगणाः।  
> देवाः सर्षिगणाः सर्वे पुष्पैरभ्यकिरंस्तदा॥ १६॥

The gods, together with Indra, the Apsarās and all sages sprinkled flowers on him, who was performing the Yoga of restraining senses. (16)

> अदृश्यं सर्वमनुजैः सशरीरं महाबलम्।  
> प्रगृह्य लक्ष्मणं शक्रस्त्रिदिवं संविवेश ह॥ १७॥

Taking hold of Lakṣmaṇa alive and invisible to men, Indra entered the heaven alongwith him. (17)

> ततो विष्णोश्चतुर्भागमागतं सुरसत्तमाः।  
> हृष्टाः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म राघवम्॥ १८॥

Then all the great gods, pleased at seeing the fourth part of Viṣṇu coming back to heaven, honoured indeed the descendant of Raghu, Lakṣmaṇa. (18)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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