---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 47"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-47"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 47

> अथ नावं सुविस्तीर्णां नैषादीं राघवानुजः।  
> आरुरोह समायुक्तां पूर्वमारोप्य मैथिलीम्॥ १॥

Then Lakṣmaṇa (the younger brother of Rāma) ascended the boat brought by Niṣāda, which was spacious and well-furnished, seating Sītā (the princess of Mithilā) first. (1)

> सुमन्त्रं चैव सरथं स्थीयतामिति लक्ष्मणः।  
> उवाच शोकसंतप्तः प्रयाहीति च नाविकम्॥ २॥

Lakṣmaṇa struck with grief ordered Sumantra to stay with the chariot on the other banks of the Gaṅgā and told the ferryman to steer the boat. (2)

> ततस्तीरमुपागम्य भागीरथ्याः स लक्ष्मणः।  
> उवाच मैथिलीं वाक्यं प्राञ्जलिर्बाष्पसंवृतः॥ ३॥

Then on reaching the other bank of the Gaṅgā, Lakṣmaṇa with folded hands and face covered with tears, uttered the following words: (3)

> हृद्गतं मे महच्छल्यं यस्मादार्येण धीमता।  
> अस्मिन्निमित्ते वैदेहि लोकस्य वचनीकृतः॥ ४॥

“My heart is pierced by a mighty dart as I have been entrusted to carry this task (so cruel) and (made) worthy of censure (by people). (4)

> श्रेयो हि मरणं मेऽद्य मृत्युर्वा यत्परं भवेत्।  
> न चास्मिन्नीदृशे कार्ये नियोज्यो लोकनिन्दिते॥ ५॥

“A death like torture or even death would have been prefered by me. But I should not have been employed in such a task deserving popular condemnation. (5)

> प्रसीद च न मे पापं कर्तुमर्हसि शोभने।  
> इत्यञ्जलिकृतो भूमौ निपपात स लक्ष्मणः॥ ६॥

“I beg of you, do not consider this as my fault, O auspicious one.” Saying these words with folded hands Lakṣmaṇa fell on the ground before Sītā. (6)

> रुदन्तं प्राञ्जलिं दृष्ट्वा काङ्क्षन्तं मृत्युमात्मनः।  
> मैथिली भृशसंविग्ना लक्ष्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ ७॥  
> किमिदं नावगच्छामि ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन लक्ष्मण।  
> पश्यामि त्वां न च स्वस्थमपि क्षेमं महीपतेः॥ ८॥  
> शापितोऽसि नरेन्द्रेण यत् त्वं संतापमागतः।  
> तद् ब्रूयाः संनिधौ मह्यमहमाज्ञापयामि ते॥ ९॥

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa crying with folded hands and wishing for his death, the daughter of the lord of Mithilā (Sītā) deeply perturbed said to Lakṣmaṇa: “I do not know what this is, speak out the truth. It seems you are not well, nor is the king, Śrī Rāma, happy. You are indeed sworn by the king as you seem to be in agony, so narrate the fact before me, this is my command.” (7—9)

> वैदेह्या चोद्यमानस्तु लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः।  
> अवाङ्मुखो बाष्पगलो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥ १०॥

Urged by Sītā (the daughter of the Lord of Videha,) Lakṣmaṇa on his part, with an agitated mind, and face downward with tears choking his throat spoke out (against his wish). (10)

> श्रुत्वा परिषदो मध्ये ह्यपवादं सुदारुणम्।  
> पुरे जनपदे चैव त्वत्कृते जनकात्मजे॥ ११॥  
> रामः संतप्तहृदयो मां निवेद्य गृहं गतः।  
> न तानि वचनीयानि मया देवि तवाग्रतः॥ १२॥

“O daughter of Janaka (Sītā), hearing the most painful ill-report circulating among the citizens and countrymen, in the presence of the courtiers, Śrī Rāma struck with grief, conveying to me the report, entered the inner apartment. The shameful words that pierced the heart of the king in anger are not indeed to be uttered before you, and hence I refrain from uttering them. (11—12)

> यानि राज्ञा हृदि न्यस्तान्यमर्षात्पृष्ठतः कृतः।  
> सा त्वं त्यक्ता नृपतिना निर्दोषा मम संनिधौ॥ १३॥  
> पौरापवादभीतेन ग्राह्यं देवि न तेऽन्यथा।  
> आश्रमान्तेषु च मया त्यक्तव्या त्वं भविष्यसि॥ १४॥  
> राज्ञः शासनमादाय तथैव किल दौर्हृदम्।  
> तदेतज्जाह्नवीतीरे ब्रह्मर्षीणां तपोवनम्॥ १५॥  
> पुण्यं च रमणीयं च मा विषादं कृथाः शुभे।  
> राज्ञो दशरथस्यैव पितुर्मे मुनिपुङ्गवः॥ १६॥  
> सखा परमको विप्रो वाल्मीकिः सुमहायशाः।  
> पादच्छायामुपागम्य सुखमस्य महात्मनः।  
> उपवासपरैकाग्रा वस त्वं जनकात्मजे॥ १७॥  
> पतिव्रतात्वमास्थाय रामं कृत्वा सदा हृदि।  
> श्रेयस्ते परमं देवि तथा कृत्वा भविष्यति॥ १८॥

“You have been forsaken by the king afraid of the ill-report circulating among the citizens, although you were proved to be free from blamishes by the gods even in my presence; you should not take it otherwise. You are to be left near the hermitage by me. Bearing in mind the orders of the king and the desire of the pregnant woman (that has to be fulfilled). Do not be dejected, here is that beautiful and holy penance-grove of the Brahmarṣis, (where dwells) the famous Brahmarṣi Vālmīki, who was a close friend of my father, king Daśaratha and is the foremost among ascetics, approaching him for shelter, do dwell observing fasts and attached to Rāma. Keeping your loyalty to your husband and placing Śrī Rāma in your heart forever, O Lady, in this manner your greater welfare shall be achieved.” (13—18)

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

---

Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition

Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.