दृष्ट्वा तु मैथिली सीतामाश्रमे संप्रवेशिताम्। संतापमगमद्धोरं लक्ष्मणो दीनचेतनः॥
Beholding the great ascetic Vālmīki thus conducting Sītā into his own hermitage Lakş mana's heart was bewildered with grief.
अब्रवीच्च महातेजाः सुमन्वं मन्त्रसारथिम्। सीतासंतापजं दुःखं पश्य रामस्य सारथे॥
Thereupon he said to the expert charioteer Sumantra. Do you perceive Rāma's grief consequent upon the separation from Sītā.
ततो दुःखतरं किं नु राघवस्य भविष्यति। पत्नी शुद्धसमाचारां विसृज्य जनकात्मजाम्॥
His spouse-the daughter of Janaka, is perfectly pure; what can be more painful than that Rāma is living alone having renounced her?
व्यक्तं दैवादहं मन्ये राघवस्य विनाभवम्। वैदेह्या सारथे नित्यं दैवं हि दुरतिक्रमम्॥
It is clear to me, O Sumantra, that this separation of Rāma, has been brought about by the influence of destiny-for it is hard to get over accident.
यो हि देवान्सगन्धर्वानसुरान्सह राक्षसैः। निहन्याद्राघवः क्रुद्धः स दैवं पर्युपासते॥
Even that Rāma, who, when enraged, is capable of slaying the celestials, Gandharvas, Asuras and Rākşasas, has been engaged in the worship of destiny.
पुरा रामः पितुर्वाक्याद्दण्डके विजने वने। उषित्वा नव वर्षाणि पञ्च चैव महावने॥
Formerly did Rāma go through miserics, residing in the forest of Dandaka, at the command of his sire for fourteen years.
ततो दुःखतरं भूयः सीताया विप्रवासनम्। पौराणां वचनं श्रुत्वा नृशंसं प्रतिभाति मे॥ को नु धर्माश्रयः सूत कर्मण्यस्मिन्यशोहरे। मैथिली समनुप्राप्तः पौरे नार्थवादिभिः॥
But this banishment of Sītā appears to me as exceedingly painful and most ruthless. O charioteer, the opinion of the citizens is by no means just; consequently what shall we gain by performing such a bad action for fame as the exile of Sita?
एता वाचो बहुविधाः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणभाषिताः। सुमन्त्रः श्रद्धया प्राज्ञो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥
Hearing those words of Lakşmaņa of various types, the wise Sumantra reverentially replied.
न संतापस्त्वया कार्यः सौमित्रे मैथिली प्रति। दृष्टमेतत्पुरा विप्रैः पितुस्ते लक्ष्मणाग्रतः॥
Be not aggrieved for Sītā, O Saumitri Formerly in the presence of your sire the Brāhmaṇas related this account of Sītā's exile.
भविष्यति दृढं रामो दुःखप्रायो विसौख्यभाक् । प्राप्स्यते च महाबाहुर्विप्रयोगं प्रियैर्वृतम् ॥ त्वां चैव मैथिली चैव शत्रुघ्नभरतौ तथा। स त्यजिष्यति धर्मात्मा कालेन महता महान्॥
Rāma shall be deprived of all happiness and be separated from his dear wife; what more, the virtuous-souled Rāma, having long arms, shall, under the influence of time, renounce you, Sītā, Śatrughna and Bharata.
इदं त्वयि न वक्तव्यं सौमित्रे भरतेऽपि वा। राज्ञा वो व्याहृतं वाक्यं दुर्वासा यदुवाच ह॥ महाजनसमीपे च मम चैव नरर्षभ। ऋषिणा व्याहृतं वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य च संनिधौ ॥
O Lakṣmaṇa, when Durvāsa was addressed by the king Dasaratha as to your future he replied in the above way. I have told you the same. Do you not communicate this to Śatrughna Bharata or any body. O foremost of men, Durbasa said this to Daſaratha before me, Vaşistha and other great men.
ऋषेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा मामाह पुरुषर्षभः। सूत न क्वचिदेवं ते वक्तव्यं जनसंनिधौ॥
Hearing the words of Rsi, Dasaratha, the foremost of men, said to me, "O charioteer, do not reveal this secret to any body.
तस्याहं लोकपालस्य वाक्यं तत्सुसमाहितः। नैव जात्वनृतं कुर्यामिति मे सौम्य दर्शनम्॥ सर्वथैव न वक्तव्यं मया सौम्य तवाग्रतः। यदि ते श्रवणे श्रद्धा श्रूयतां रघुनन्दन ॥
O gentle one, it is not proper by any means to falsify the words of the king Dasaratha. I shall always, very carefully, carry out his orders. It is not proper to reveal this mystery before you. Still I do so for your curiosity has been greatly excited.
यद्यप्यहं नरेन्द्रेण रहस्यं श्रावितं पुरा। तथाप्युदाहरिष्यामि दैवं हि दुरतिक्रमम्॥ येनेदमीदृशं प्राप्तं दुःखं शोकसमन्वितम्। न त्वया भरतस्याग्रे शत्रुघ्नस्यापि संनिधौ॥
Tough this mystery was communicated formerly by the king Dasaratha and though it is not proper to reveal it to any body, still I express it before you that you may not, on hearing it, be worked up with sorrow; for destiny is hard to be got over. And it is by the influence of that destiny that you have met with such a sorrow and grief. However, do you not reveal this secret to Satrughna and Bharata.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्य गम्भीरार्थपदं महत्। तयं ब्रूहीति सौमित्रिः सूतं तं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।२०
Hearing these grave and important words of Sumantra, Laksmana ordered him to relate.