प्रत्याश्वस्तो यदाराजा मोहात् प्रत्यागतस्मृतिः। तदाजुहाव तं सूतं रामवृत्तान्तकारणात्॥
When having been ministered to and when his senses has returned after the swoon, the king summoned Sumantra for hearing tidings of Rama.
तदा सूतो महाराज कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थितः। राममेवानुशोचन्तं दुःखशोकसमन्वितम्॥ वृद्धं परमसंतप्तं नवग्रहमिव द्विपम्। विनिःश्वसन्तं ध्यायन्तमस्वस्थमिव कुञ्जरम्॥ राजा तु रजसा सूतं ध्वस्ताङ्ग समुपस्थितम्। अश्रुपूर्णमुखं दीनमुवाच परमार्तवत्॥
Thereupon the charioteer with joined hands spoke to the mighty monarch, lamenting for Rāma, influenced by grief and sorrow, aged, burning in grief, like a newly-taken elephant, sighing heavily, plunged in thought, and resembling an elephant that is indisposed. Then the king like one exceedingly distressed, spoke to the charioteer, who had presented himself, covered over with dust, with tears starting from his eyes, and in pitiable guise.
क्व नु वत्स्यति धर्मात्मा वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः। सोऽत्यन्तसुखितः सूत किमशिष्यति राघवः॥
Where stays that righteous one, taking refuge under a tree? lapped in luxury, what, O charioteer, will Rāghava feed on?
दुःखस्यानुचितो दुःखं सुमन्त्र शयनोचितः। भूमिपालात्मजो भूमौ शेते कथमनाथवत्॥
Unworthy of privations, and worthy of excellent beds, how, O Sumantra, a king's son, he is sleeping on the ground like one forlorn?
यं यान्तमनुयान्ति स्म पदातिरथकुञ्जराः। स वत्स्यति कथं रामो विजनं वनमाश्रितः॥
How is Rāma passing his days in the lone forest, he who when he went out used to be followed by foot-men and elephants?
व्यालैर्मृगैराचरितं कृष्णसर्पनिवेषितम्। कथं कुमारौ वैदेह्या सार्धं वनमुपाश्रितौ ॥
How are the princes in company with Vaidehi living in the woods, ranged by serpents and beasts and inhabited by black snakes?
सुकुमार्या तपस्विन्या सुमन्त्र सह सीतया। राजपुत्रौ कथं पादैरवरुह्य रथाद् गतौ॥
How, O Sumantra, having descended from the car, the princes along with the tender and unfortunate Sītā are proceeding on foot?
सिद्धार्थः खलु सूत त्वं येन दृष्टौ ममात्मजौ। वनान्तं प्रविशन्तौ तावश्विनाविव मन्दरम्॥
O charioteer, surely you are blessed, for you have beheld my sons enter the forest, like the Asvins entering the Mandāra hill.
किमुवाच वचो रामः किमुवाच च लक्ष्मणः। सुमन्त्र वनमासाध किमुवाच च मैथिली॥
And what did Rāma say? And what did Laks mana? And, O Sumantra, arriving at the forest what did Mithila's daughter?
आसितं शयितं भुक्तं सूत रामस्य कीर्तय। जीविष्याम्ययमेतेन ययातिरिव साधुषु ॥
Do you, O charioteer, describe to me what Rāma lives on and where he lies down. Hearing this, I shall live, like Yayati in the midst of saints.
इति सूतो नरेन्द्रेण चोदितः सज्जमानया। उवाच वाचा राजानं स बाष्पपरिबद्धया॥
Thus urged by the king, the charioteer spoke to the king with his voice faltering and suppressed with the vapour of grief.
अब्रवीन्मे महाराज धर्ममेवानुपालयन्। अञ्जलिं राघवः कृत्वा शिरसाभिप्रणम्य च॥ सूत मद्वचनात् तस्य तातस्य विदितात्मनः। शिरसा वन्दनीयस्य वन्द्यौ पादौ महात्मनः॥ सर्वमन्तःपुरं वाच्यं सूत मद्वचनात् त्वया। आरोग्यमविशेषेण यथार्हमभिवादनम्॥
O mighty monarch observing morality, Rāghava with joined hands and bowing down his head, said, “O charioteer, do you in my name salute with your head the feet of my high-souled sire worthy of being saluted, and famed (in the world).” And, O charioteer, do you in my name as each deserves salute the ladies of the inner apartment and communicate to them tidings of my health.
माता च मम कौसल्या कुशलं चाभिवादनम्। अप्रमादं च वक्तव्या ब्रूयाश्चैनामिदं वचः॥ धर्मनित्या यथाकालमग्न्यगारपरा भव। देवि देवस्य पादौ च देववत् परिपालय॥
Having saluted my mother Kausalyā and conveyed to her news of my welfare, as well as of my unswerving adherence to morality, do you tell her these words, Do you remaining steady in virtue, at the proper hour bestir yourself in behalf of the chamber of sacrificial fire. And, O revered one, do you minister to the feet of that worshipful one, (the king), as if they were very deities.
अभिमानं च मानं च त्यक्त्वा वर्तस्व मातृषु। अनुराजानमार्यां च कैकेयीमम्ब कारय॥
Banishing pride and self-love, do you bear yourself towards my mothers. And, O mother, do you show respect to Kaikeyi, who is followed by the king himself.
कुमारे भरते वृत्तिर्वर्तितव्या च राजवत्। अप्यज्येष्ठा हि राजानो राजधर्ममनुस्मर॥
You should behave towards Bharata as one should towards one's king. Kings (although juveline), are really senior by virtue of their royalty; and do you remember the duties touching sovereigns.
भरतः कुशलं वाच्यो वाच्यो मद्वचनेन च। सर्वास्वेव यथान्यायं वृत्तिं वर्तस्व मातृषु॥
Do you communicate to Bharata news of my welfare and say in my name, Do you behave properly with all your mothers.
वक्तव्यश्च महाबाहुरिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनः। पितरं यौवराज्यस्थो राज्यस्थमनुपालय॥
And to that delight of the Ikṣvāku line do you further say, Having been installed as the heirapparent, be you, looking upon the king as the supreme authority in the state, obedient to him.
अतिक्रान्तवया राजा मा स्मैनं व्यपरोरुधः। कुमारराज्ये जीवस्व तस्यैवाज्ञाप्रवर्तनात्॥
Do you not deprive the king of authority, as he has grown old. O Prince, do you grant him satisfaction in the kingdom and do you proclaim his mandates.
अब्रवीच्चापि मां भूयो भृशमश्रूणि वर्तयन्। मातेव मम माता ते द्रष्टव्या पुत्रगर्धिनी। ॥ इत्येवं मां महाबाहुब्रुवन्नेव महायशाः। रामो राजीवपत्राक्षो भृशमश्रूण्यवर्तयत्॥
And shedding copious tears, he again addressed me, saying, Do you look upon my mother as on your own proud of her son. Having said this, the mighty-armed and illustrious Rāma furnished with eyes resembling lotus-petals, shed plenteous tears.
लक्ष्मणस्तु सुसंक्रुद्धो निःश्वसन् वाक्यमब्रवीत्। केनायमपराधेन राजपुत्रो विवासितः॥
Thereupon Lakşmaņa waxing wroth, breathing hard, said, For what fault of his has the Prince been banished?
राज्ञा तु खलु कैकेय्या लघु चाश्रुत्य शासनम्। कृतं कार्यमकार्यं वा वयं येनाभिपीडिताः॥
Observing the worthless command of Kaikeyſ, whether the king has done well or ill, we have been exceedingly pained thereby.
यदि प्रव्राजितो रामो लोभकारणकारितम्। वरदाननिमित्तं वा सर्वथा दुष्कृतं कृतम्॥
Whether Rāma has been exiled through Kaikeyi's lust for dominion or through the exigencies of the bestowal of the boon, there cannot be any doubt that the king has acted most unrighteously.
इदं तावद् यथाकाममीश्वरस्य कृते कृतम्। रामस्य तु परित्यागे न हेतुमुपलक्षये॥
Even if this has been done in harmony with the wish of the Lord, I do not perceive any reason for the banishment of Rāma.
असमीक्ष्य समारब्धं विरुद्धं बुद्धिलाघवात्। जनयिष्यति संक्रोशं राघवस्य विवासनम्॥
The king through lack of sense has done herulessly what is opposed to morality; and this banishment of Rāma will but bring upon him woe here and hereafter.
अहं तावन्महाराजे पितृत्वं नोपलक्षये। भ्राता भर्ता च बन्धुश्च पिता च मम राघवः॥
Fatherhood find I none in the monarch. My brother and feeder and friend and father is even Rāghava.
सर्वलोकप्रियं त्यक्त्वा सर्वलोकहिते रते। सर्वलोकोऽनुरज्येत कथं चानेन कर्मणा॥
Renouncing one that is universally dear, and that is ever engaged in the good of all, how by such an act will the king please the people?
सर्वप्रजाभिरामं हि रामं प्रव्रज्य धार्मिकम्। सर्वलोकविरोधेन कथं राजा भविष्यति ॥
How by banishing the righteous Rāma dear to all the subjects, and thus withstanding the wishes of all, will he retain his royalty?
जानकी तु महाराज निःश्वसन्ती तपस्विनी। भूतोपहतचित्तेव विष्ठिता विस्मृता स्थिता॥
O mighty monarch, Janaki also, unfortunate that she is, sighing heavily, stood wildered like one that had been possessed.
अदृष्टपूर्वव्यसना राजपुत्री यशस्विनी। तेन दुःखेन रुदती नैव मां किंचिदब्रवीत्॥
And not having experienced any calamity before, the famed princes weeping because of this misfortune, told me nothing.
उद्वीक्षमाणा भर्तारं मुखेन परिशिष्यता। मुमोच सहसा बाष्पं प्रयान्तमुपवीक्ष्य सा॥
Looking up to her lord with a blank countenance, she suddenly let fall tears, perceiving the destruction of the subject.
तथैव रामोऽश्रुमुखः कृताञ्जलिः स्थितोऽब्रवील्लक्ष्मणबाहुपालितः। तथैव सीता रुदती तपस्विनी निरीक्षते राजरथं तथैव माम्॥
Thus said Rāma ministered to by Lakşmaņa, with a tearful countenance; and thus stood the unfortunate and weeping Sītå beholding the royal car and myself.