Summary
This chapter describes Lakshmana's anger and Rama consoling Lakshmana.
Chapter [Sarga] 21 in Detail
tathaa tu vilapantiim taam kausalyaam raama maataram |
uvaaca laksmano diinah tat kaala sadrisham vacah || 2-21-1
Lakshmana became dejected and spoke these words, properly befitting for that time, to that Rama’s mother Kausalya who was thus weeping.
na rocate mama api etat aarye yad raaghavo vanam |
tyaktvaa raajya shriyam gacchet striyaa vaakya vasham gatah || 2-21-2
“Oh, the honored lady ! I also do not like Rama to be influenced by the words of a woman and go to the forest, leaving the prosperous kingdom.”
vipariitah ca vriddhah ca visayaih ca pradharsitah |
nripah kim iva na bruuyaac codyamaanah samanmathah || 2-21-3
“The king with perverted mind, of old age, one who is outraged by sensual enjoyments and possessed of passion can talk any thing, prompted by Kaikeyi.”
na asya aparaadham pashyaami na api dosam tathaa vidham |
yena nirvaasyate raastraat vana vaasaaya raaghavah || 2-21-4
“I can not see any offence or cause for blame in Rama that can expel him from the state to the forest.”
na tam pashyaamy aham loke paroksam api yo narah |
svamitro.api nirasto.api yo.asyadoshhamudaaharet || 2-21-5
I have not seen in this world any person, whether an enemy or an expellee, speaking ill of Rama indirectly.”
deva kalpam rijum daantam ripuunaam api vatsalam |
aveksamaanah ko dharmam tyajet putram akaaranaat || 2-21-6
“Can anybody observing ethicalness, causelessly get rid of a son who is equal to god who is honest, who is self-restrained and who is affectionate even towards adversaries?”
tat idam vacanam raajnah punar baalyam upeyusah |
putrah ko hridaye kuryaat raaja vrttam anusmaran || 2-21-7
“Which son, knowing royal usage, can agree to the words of this king who is behaving as though he got childhood again?”
yaavad eva na jaanaati kashcit artham imam narah |
taavad eva mayaa saadham aatmastham kuru shaasanam ||2-21-8
“Even before others get to know about this matter, make this dominion your own, with my help.”
mayaa paarshve sadhanusaa tava guptasya raaghava |
kah samartho adhikam kartum krita antasya iva tisthatah || 2-21-9
“Oh, Rama! While I am standing by your side along with a bow, protecting you who are standing as God of Death, who is capable of doing too much ?”
nirmanusyaam imaam sarvaam ayodhyaam manuja risabha |
karisyaami sharaiah tiiksnaih yadi sthaasyati vipriye || 2-21-10
“Oh, Rama, the best of men! If the city of Ayodhya turns against you, I shall make it desolate of men with sharp arrows”
bharatasya atha paksyo vaa yo vaa asya hitam icchati |
sarvaan etaan vadhisyaami mridur hi paribhuuyate || 2-21-11
“I shall kill all those who are siding Bharata ,and are favourable to him. Soft person indeed gets disgraced!”
protsaahito.ayam kaikeyyaa sa dushhto yadih pitaa |
amitrabhuuto nissagam vadhyataam badhyataamapi || 2-21-12
“If our father with an evil mind behaves like our enemy with instigation by Kaikeyi. I shall keep him imprisoned with out personal attachment or if necessary, kill him.”
gurorapyavaliptasya kaaryaakaaryamajaanatah |
utphatham pratipannasya kaaryam bhavati shaasanm || 2-21-13
“Even a venerable person is to be punished, if he becomes arrogant, if he does not know good and evil actions and if he takes to a wrong route.”
balameshha kimaashritya hetum vaa purushharshhabha |
daatumichchhati kaikeyya raajyam sthitamidam tava || 2-21-14
“Oh, Rama, the best of men! On what strength or season has he taken shelter to give away this kingdom belonging to you to Kaikeyi?”
tvayaa caiva mayaa caiva kritvaa vairam anuttamam |
kasya shaktih shriyam daatum bharataaya ari shaasana || 2-21-15
“Oh, Rama the chestiser of enemies! Where is the ability for him to give kingdom to Bharata, by making great enmity against you and me ”
anuraktah asmi bhaavena bhraataram devi tattvatah |
satyena dhanusaa caiva dattena istena te shape || 2-21-16
“Oh, queen! Really, I am devotedly attached to my brother Rama. I am swearing an oath to you by truth by bow, by the act of giving and by the act of sacrifice.”
diiptam agnim aranyam vaa yadi raamah praveksyate |
pravistam tatra maam devi tvam puurvam avadhaaraya || 2-21-17
“Oh, queen! If Rama can enter blazing fire or forest, you make certain that even before, I can enter there”
haraami viiryaat duhkham te tamah suuryaiva uditah |
devii pashyatu me viiryam raaghavah caiva pashyatu || 2-21-18
“I shall alleviate your grief, by showing my valor like the rising sun alleviating darkness .Let Rama and yourself see my valor”
etat tu vacanam shrutvaa laksmanasya mahaatmanah |
uvaaca raamam kausalyaa rudantii shoka laalasaa || 2-21-19
Hearing these words of Lakshmana the magnanimous, Kausalya entirely given up to anguish and weeping, spoke thus to Rama.
bhraatus te vadatah putra laksmanasya shrutam tvayaa |
yad atra anantaram tat tvam kurusva yadi rocate || 2-21-20
“Oh, son! You have heard the words of Lakshmana .If you agree, you do what is to be done, immediately.”
na ca adharmyam vacah shrutvaa sapatnyaa mama bhaasitam |
vihaaya shoka samtaptaam gantum arhasi maam itah || 2-21-21
“It is not proper for you to go away from here, leaving me afflicted with grief, after hearing the un-just words spoken by my co-wife.”
dharmajna yadi dharmistho dharmam caritum icchasi |
shushruusa maam ihasthah tvam cara dharmam anuttamam || 2-21-22
“Oh, Rama! You are righteous man. If you desire to practice virtue, be a virtuous man and stay here serving me thereby practicing the best morality in the form of serving your mother.
shushruusur jananiim putra sva grihe niyatah vasan |
parena tapasaa yuktah kaashyapah tridivam gatah || 2-21-23
“Oh, son! Formerly Kashyapa was staying in his own house itself with self restraint, performed great austerity by serving his mother and went to heaven”
yathaa eva raajaa puujyah te gauravena tathaa hi aham |
tvaam na aham anujaanaami na gantavyam itah vanam || 2-21-24
“Just as the king, by respectable feeling to you is worthy of worship, so also being your mother, I am worthy of worship to you. Hence, do not go to the forest”
tvad viyogaan na me kaaryam jiivitena sukhena vaa |
tvayaa saha mama shreyah trinaanaam api bhaksanam || 2-21-25
“After your separation, I shall have no use of this life or comforts for me, it is good even to eat grass while staying with you”
yadi tvam yaasyasi vanam tyaktvaa maam shoka laalasaam |
aham praayam iha aasisye na hi shaksyaami jiivitum || 2-21-26
“I shall not live if you leave for the forest, leaving me who is afflicted with grief. I shall seek death through starvation”
tatah stvam praapsyase putra nirayam loka vishrutam |
brahma hatyaam iva adharmaat samudrah saritaam patih || 2-21-27
“Oh, son! If I fast myself to death for your sake, you will attain the universally famous hell, like the god of the ocean obtaining trouble because of his un justice behavior, towards the sage called Pippalada, producing the latter’s wrath.”
vilapantiim tathaa diinaam kausalyaam jananiim tatah |
uvaaca raamah dharma atmaa vacanam dharma samhitam || 2-21-28
The honest Rama spoke these virtuous words to his mother Kausalya, who was thus weeping miserably.
na asti shaktih pitur vaakyam samatikramitum mama |
prasaadaye tvaam shirasaa gantum icchaamy aham vanam || 2-21-29
“I am not able to violate my father’s words. I am bowing my head and asking your favour. I shall have to go to the forest”
risinaa ca pitur vaakyam kurvataa vrata caarinaa |
gaur hataa jaanataa dharmam kandunaa api vipashcitaa || 2-21-30
“A sage called Kandu, who knew righteousness, who performed religious vows and who was a learned man, killed even a cow, acting as per his father’s words”
asmaakam ca kule puurvam sagarasya aajnayaa pituh |
khanadbhih saagaraih bhuutim avaaptah sumahaan vadhah || 2-21-31
“Previously, the sons of Sagara belonging to our race were got bitterly digging up the earth, as commanded by their father.”
jaamadagnyena raamena renukaa jananii svayam |
krittaa parashunaa aranye pitur vacana kaarinaa || 2-21-32
“Parashurama, the son of Jamadagni personally slayed his mother Renuka in the forest with an axe as per his father’s words.”
etairanyaishcha bahubhirdevi devasamaih kritam |
piturvachanamakliibam karishhyaami piturshitam || 2-21-33
“Oh, mother! These and many others who were equivalent to gods, did not make their father’ s words to go waste. I shall also do what is desired by my father”
na khalv etan mayaa ekena kriyate pitri shaasanam |
etairapi kritam devi ye mayaa tava kiirtitaah || 2-21-34
“Oh, mother! I am not the only person to act according to father’s command. Those I have mentioned to you hitherto also complied with their father’s command.”
naaham dharmamapuurvam te pratikuulam pravartaye |
puurvaih ayam abhipretah gatah maargo anugamyate || 2-21-35
“I am not setting any new contradicting customary conduct for your sake. I am adhering to the way agreed and followed by the ancient.”
tat etat tu mayaa kaaryam kriyate bhuvi na anyathaa |
pitur hi vacanam kurvan na kashcin naama hiiyate || 2-21-36
“I cannot do otherwise than acting in accordance with father’s words, the prevalent practice on earth. There is no deprivation indeed for anyone who complies with father’s commands.”
taam evam uktvaa jananiim laksmanam punar abraviit |
tava laksmana jaanaami mayi sneham anuttamam || 2-21-37
Rama, the best of those who speak skillfully and the best of all those wearing the bow, spoke thus to his mother and turned round to Lakshmana to speak.
tava lakshmana jaanaami mayi snehamanuttamam |
vikramam chaiva satyam cha tejashcha suduraasadam || 2-21-38
"Oh, Lakshmana ! I know your highest affection towards me, your heroic valor ,your strength and your unassailable splendor .”
mama maaturmahadduhkhamatulam shubhalakshamna |
abhipraayam avijnaaya satyasya ca shamasya ca || 2-21-39
“Oh, Lakshmana, with good attributes! My mother is feeling a great and unequalled sorrow, by not knowing the secret of truth and tranquility."
dharmah hi paramah loke dharme satyam pratisthitam |
dharma samshritam etac ca pitur vacanam uttamam || 2-21-40
"Righteousness is the best of all qualities in the world. Truth is established in righteousness. Even these best words of father are enjoined with righteousness."
samshrutya ca pitur vaakyam maatur vaa braahmanasya vaa |
na kartavyam vrithaa viira dharmam aashritya tisthataa || 2-21-41
"One who follows righteousness, does not waste his promise given to one's father or mother or Brahmana."
so aham na shaksyaami pitur niyogam ativartitum |
pitur hi vacanaat viira kaikeyyaa aham pracoditah || 2-21-42
“I cannot transgress my father's command. On the word given by my father only, Kaikeyi instigated me to go to the forest."
tat enaam visrija anaaryaam ksatra dharma aashritaam matim |
dharmam aashraya maa taiksnyam mad buddhir anugamyataam || 2-21-43
"Hence, leave this mean mentality of military heroism. Observe righteousness and not rudeness. Follow my perception."
tam evam uktvaa sauhaardaat bhraataram laksmana agrajah |
uvaaca bhuuyah kausalyaam praanjalih shirasaa aanatah || 2-21-44
Rama spoke thus to his brother affectionately, bowed to his mother and with folded hands, spoke again to Kausalya as follows.
anumanyasva maam devi gamisyantam itah vanam |
shaapitaa asi mama praanaih kuru svastyayanaani me || 2-21-45
"OH, mother! I have decided to go to forest. Please give me permission. I am swearing to you on my life. Please invoke blessings on me."
tiirna pratijnah ca vanaat punar esyaamy aham puriim |
yayaatiriva raajarshhih puraa hitvaa punardhivam || 2-21-46
"As sage king named Yayaati in olden times left the heaven and reached back heaven again, I shall be back to the city from the forest, after fulfilling my promise."
shokassamdhaaryataam maatarhridaye saadhu maa shuchah |
vanavaasaadihaishhyaami punah kritvaa piturvachah || 2-21-47
"Oh, mother! Please do not grieve, Bear it well in your heart. I shall come back here again from the forest after fulfilling the father's command."
tvayaa mayaa cha vaidehyaa lakshmanena sumitrayaa |
piturniyoge sthaatavyameshha dharmah sanaaanah || 2-21-48
"You and I, Sita, Lakshmana, Sumitra and all of us should follow father's directions. This is an eternal custom."
amba samhritya sambhaaraan duhkham hridi nigrihya cha |
vanavaasakritaa buddhirmama dharmyaanuvartyataam || 2-21-49
"Oh mother! Please approve my righteous intention of going to the forest, duly withdrawing preparations for my coronation and keeping in check the sorrow in your heart."
etadvacha stasya nishamya maataa |
sudharmyamavyagramaviklabam cha |
mriteva samjjnaam pratilabhya devii |
samiikshya raamam punarityuvaacha || 2-21-50
The mother Kausalya heard the most virtuous, cool and steady words of Rama and rose, as though regained consciousness once more after death, looked at Rama and spoke thus again.
yathaiva te putra pitaa tathaaham |
guruh svadharmena suhrittayaa cha |
na tvaanujaanaami na maamvihaaya |
suduhkhitaamarhasi gantumevam || 2-21-51
"Oh, son! I am also as respectable a person to you as your father, in my own right and due to great affection. I do not give permission to you. You cannot thus go away, leaving me in great sorrow."
kim jiiviteneha vinaa tvayaa me |
lokena vaa kim svadhayaa.amritena |
shreyo muhuurtam tava sannidhaanam |
mameha kritsnaadapi jiivalokaat || 2-21-52
"What is the use of my living in this world without you? What is the use of the other world or the oblation of food offered to the deceased ancestors or the nectar of immortality? Your proximity even for a moment is better than that of the entire world of living beings."
narairivolkaabhirapohyamaano |
mahaagajo.adhvaanamanupravishhtah |
bhuuyah prajajvaala vilaapamevam |
nishamya raamah karunam jananyaa || 2-21-53
After hearing the pathetic lamentation of his mother, he was highly anguished, as when an elephant is removed highly from its way by men with flames of fire.
sa maataram chaiva visamjjnakalpaa |
maartam cha saumitri mabhiprataptam |
dharme sthito dharmyamuvaacha vaakyam |
yathaa sa evaarhati tatra vaktum || 2-21-54
Rama, who was established in righteousness, spoke these words endowed with virtue, to his mother who was looking unconscious and to Lakshmana who was disturbed and exhausted with distress. He was the only person worthy of speaking thus at that time.
aham hi te lakshmana nityameva |
jaanaami bhaktim cha paraakramam cha |
mama tvabhipraaya masanniriikshya |
maatraa sahaabhyardasi maa suduhkham || 2-21-55
"Oh, Lakshmana! I always know your devotion towards me as well as your strength. But now, you are joining with mother in afflicting much trouble to me without looking at my opinion."
dharmaarthakaamaah khalu taata loke |
samiikshitaa dharmaphalodayeshhu |
te tatra sarve syurasamshayam me |
bhaaryeva vashyaabhimataa suputraa || 2-21-56
"Oh, Lakshmana! In obtaining the fruit of good works in the world, righteousness utility and free will are being considered. As a wife who is obedient, who is beloved and who is having good sons, good work yields all these three things."
yasmimstu sarve syurasannivishhtaa |
dharmo yatah syaat tadupakrameta |
dveshhyo bhavatyarthaparo hi loke |
kaamaatmataa khalvapi na prashastaa || 2-21-57
"Only such an action, which is righteous, is to be initiated, leaving that in which wealth, desire and righteousness do not come together. One who is infested [to live in or on as a parasite] in wealth alone becomes indeed fit to be hated in the world. So also the one whose very essence is desire, cannot indeed be considered good.
gurushcha raajaa cha pitaa cha vriddhah |
krodhaatpraharshha dyadi vaapi kaamaat |
yadvyaadishet kaaryamavekshya dharmam |
kastanna kuryaadanridanrishamsavrittih || 2-21-58
"When father, who is venerable, a king and old-aged, commands an action either by anger or by extreme joy or by even desire, which right person will not perform it? Only a person who chooses to be cruel will not do it."
savai na shaknomi pituh pratijjnaa |
mimaamakartum sakalam yathaavat |
sa hyavayostata gururniyoge |
devaashcha bhartaa sa gatissa dharmah || 2-21-59
"I cannot avoid fulfilling the father's command completely. For both of us, he is an important person indeed to command us. To mother Kausalya also, he is the husband, the resource person and the personified law."
tasmin punarjiivati dharmaraaje |
visheshhatah sve pathi vartamaane |
devii mayaa saarthamito.apagachchhet |
katham svidanyaa vidhaveva naarii || 2-21-60
"while the righteous king Dasaratha is alive and especially when he is following his own righteous path, how the mother Kausalya can go out with me from here leaving the city like other widowed woman?"
saa maanumanyasva vanam vrajantam |
kurushhva nah svastyayanaani devi |
yathaa samaapte punaraavrajeyam |
yathaa hi styena punaryayaatih || 2-21-61
"Oh, mother the queen! Permit me to go to forest. As Yayaati returned to heaven by the power of truth, give me your power of blessings so that I can return here after completion of exile."
yasho hyaham kevalaraajyakaaranaat |
na prishhthatah kartumalam mahodayam |
adiirghakaale na tu devi jiivite |
vrine.avaraamadya mahiimadharmatah || 2-21-62
"I cannot keep back reputation and glory for the sake of kingdom alone. This cannot unrighteous long for this inferior kingdom."
prasaadayan nara vrisabhah sa maataram |
paraakramaajjigamishhureva domdakaan |
atha anujam bhrsham anushaasya darshanam |
cakaara taam hrdi jananiim pradaksinam || 2-21-63
Rama, the best of men, decided to go to Dandaka forest fearlessly with his prowess, consoled his mother, advised his brother by good thoughts and made hearty circumbulatory salutation to his mother.
|| ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande ekavimshah sargah ||
Thus this is the twenty first chapter in Ayodhya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana the second epic of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate