---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 52"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-52"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 52

> तत्र तां रजनीमुष्य केशिन्यां रघुनन्दनः।  
> प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय लक्ष्मणः प्रययौ तदा॥ १॥

Lakṣmaṇa the descendant of Raghu, having spent the night on the banks of the Keśinī river, awoke at break of dawn and proceeded on his way to Ayodhyā. (1)

> ततोऽर्धदिवसे प्राप्ते प्रविवेश महारथः।  
> अयोध्यां रत्नसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनावृताम्॥ २॥

When half the day was elapsed (lit., at noon) the great warrior Lakṣmaṇa entered the city. (2)

> सौमित्रिस्तु परं दैन्यं जगाम सुमहामतिः।  
> रामपादौ समासाद्य वक्ष्यामि किमहं गतः॥ ३॥

‘What shall I say when I approach and touch Śrī Rāma’s feet—contemplating thus Lakṣmaṇa was much agitated. (3)

> तस्यैवं चिन्तयानस्य भवनं शशिसंनिभम्।  
> रामस्य परमोदारं पुरस्तात् समदृश्यत॥ ४॥

While he (Lakṣmaṇa) was thus thinking, the apartment of Śrī Rāma soothing to the (Lakṣmaṇa’s) eye as the moon, came in sight. (4)

> राज्ञस्तु भवनद्वारि सोऽवतीर्य नरोत्तमः।  
> अवाङ्मुखो दीनमनाः प्रविवेशानिवारितः॥ ५॥

That best of the men alighting from the chariot at the doorway of the apartment of Śrī Rāma, entered unobstructed, highly agitated and with the face downcast. (5)

> स दृष्ट्वा राघवं दीनमासीनं परमासने।  
> नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां ददर्शाग्रजमग्रतः॥ ६॥

With eyes full of tears, he (Lakṣmaṇa) saw Śrī Rāma, the scion of Raghu, his elder brother, downcast and seated on the throne before him. (6)

> जग्राह चरणौ तस्य लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः।  
> उवाच दीनया वाचा प्राञ्जलिः सुसमाहितः॥ ७॥

Mentally agitated Lakṣmaṇa touched the feet of his elder brother; somehow being composed he spoke woefully with folded hands thus: (7)

> आर्यस्याज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य विसृज्य जनकात्मजाम्।  
> गङ्गातीरे यथोद्दिष्टे वाल्मीकेराश्रमे शुभे॥ ८॥  
> तत्र तां च शुभाचारामाश्रमान्ते यशस्विनीम्।  
> पुनरप्यागतो वीर पादमूलमुपासितुम्॥ ९॥

“Keeping foremost the order of Your noble feet, leaving Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, so pure of conduct and famed among the wives devoted to their husbands, at the holy hermitage of Vālmīki on the banks of the Gaṅgā, as directed, I have returned once again to serve at the feet of yours, the heroic one, Śrī Rāma. (8-9)

> मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र कालस्य गतिरीदृशी।  
> त्वद्विधा नहि शोचन्ति बुद्धिमन्तो मनस्विनः॥ १०॥

“Please do not grieve being separated from Sītā; O tiger among men, such is decreed by Destiny. The wise and able ones like you do not feel dejected. (10)

> सर्वे क्षयान्ता निचयाः पतनान्ताः समुच्छ्रयाः।  
> संयोगा विप्रयोगान्ता मरणान्तं च जीवितम्॥ ११॥  
> तस्मात् पुत्रेषु दारेषु मित्रेषु च धनेषु च।  
> नातिप्रसङ्गः कर्तव्यो विप्रयोगो हि तैर्ध्रुवम्॥ १२॥

“All accumulations end in attenuation, all elevations would end in fall, all forms of union would end in separation, and this life would end in death; therefore, interim attachment to sons, spouses, friends, or even riches is not proper, for separation from them is certain. (11-12)

> शक्तस्त्वमात्मनाऽऽत्मानं विनेतुं मनसा मनः।  
> लोकान् सर्वांश्च काकुत्स्थ किं पुनः शोकमात्मनः॥ १३॥

“You are indeed capable of controlling yourself or your mind through itself and also all the worlds, O scion of Kakutstha, what then is this sorrow for yourself. (13)

> नेदृशेषु विमुह्यन्ति त्वद्विधाः पुरुषर्षभाः।  
> अपवादः स किल ते पुनरेष्यति राघव॥ १४॥  
> यदर्थं मैथिली त्यक्ता अपवादभयान्नृप।  
> सोऽपवादः पुरे राजन् भविष्यति न संशयः॥ १५॥

“The bulls among men, like you, are not infatuated on such matters, for the ill-report will veritably come back to be associated with you. O Rāma (a scion of Raghu), that ill-report shall again circulate in the city, without doubt, for which you have forsaken Sītā, O king. (14-15)

> स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल धैर्येण सुसमाहितः।  
> त्यजेमां दुर्बलां बुद्धिं संतापं मा कुरुष्व ह॥ १६॥

“O tiger among men, it behoves you that you with fortitude set aside this mental weakness and do not indeed be grieved.” (16)

> एवमुक्तः स काकुत्स्थो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना।  
> उवाच परया प्रीत्या सौमित्रिं मित्रवत्सलः॥ १७॥

Thus spoken to by the noble Lakṣmaṇa, the scion of Kakutstha, so affectionate to friends, Śrī Rāma spoke to the son of Sumitrā in great joy. (17)

> एवमेतन्नरश्रेष्ठ यथा वदसि लक्ष्मण।  
> परितोषश्च मे वीर मम कार्यानुशासने॥ १८॥

“O best among men Lakṣmaṇa, it is as you say, and O heroic one, in the carrying out my orders, lies my satisfaction. (18)

> निवृत्तिश्चागता सौम्य संतापश्च निराकृतः।  
> भवद्वाक्यैः सुरुचिरैरनुनीतोऽस्मि लक्ष्मण॥ १९॥

Peace is attained, O Lakṣmaṇa, and grief has been averted by sweet words uttered by you and I am again my own self.” (19)

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

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