महाभारतम् — ३.२६१

युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।

उक्तं भगवता जन्म रामादीनां पृथक्पृथक् ।
प्रस्थानकारणं ब्रह्मञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम् ॥

M N Dutt Yudhishthira said : Your worshipful self has related (to me) separately of the birth of Rama and others, O Brahmana, I am (now) desirous of hearing of the cause of their exile. Tell me, O Brahmana, why the heroic sons of Dasharatha, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana, departed to the forest, together with the renowned Maithili (Sita, daughter of the king of Mithila).

३.२६१.२

कथं दाशरथी वीरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।
प्रस्थापितौ वनं ब्रह्म मैथिली च यशस्विनी ॥

M N Dutt Yudhishthira said : Your worshipful self has related (to me) separately of the birth of Rama and others, O Brahmana, I am (now) desirous of hearing of the cause of their exile. Tell me, O Brahmana, why the heroic sons of Dasharatha, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana, departed to the forest, together with the renowned Maithili (Sita, daughter of the king of Mithila).

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

३.२६१.३

जातपुत्रो दशरथः प्रीतिमानभवन्नृपः ।
क्रियारतिर्धर्मपरः सततं वृद्धसेविता ॥

M N Dutt Markandeya said: O King, Dasharatha, always devoted to religion and given to the performance of) religious ceremonies and engaged in ministering to the comforts of his elders, was (very) glad at the birth of his sons.

३.२६१.४

क्रमेण चास्य ते पुत्रा व्यवर्धन्त महौजसः ।
वेदेषु सरहस्येषु धनुर्वेदे च पारगाः ॥

M N Dutt Those sons of his, gradually grew up in strength, obtained mastery over the Vedas together with all their mysteries and became skilled in the science of weapons.

३.२६१.५

चरितब्रह्मचर्यास्ते कृतदाराश्च पार्थिव ।
यदा तदा दशरथः प्रीतिमानभवत्सुखी ॥

M N Dutt When after having observed the Brahmacharya vows, they got they got married. Dasharatha, O king, became (very) pleased and happy.

३.२६१.६

ज्येष्ठो रामोऽभवत्तेषां रमयामास हि प्रजाः ।
मनोहरतया धीमान्पितुर्हृदयतोषणः ॥

M N Dutt (And) among them his intelligent eldest son, who gladdened the heart of his father and delighted his subjects, was named Rama on account of his sweet disposition.

३.२६१.७

ततः स राजा मतिमान्मत्वात्मानं वयोऽधिकम् ।
मन्त्रयामास सचिवैर्धर्मज्ञैश्च पुरोहितैः ॥

M N Dutt O Bharata, then that wise monarch considering himself far too advanced in age (to look after worldly affairs), for the installation of Rama as the prince regent; consulted with his righteous ministers and priests.

३.२६१.८

अभिषेकाय रामस्य यौवराज्येन भारत ।
प्राप्तकालं च ते सर्वे मेनिरे मन्त्रिसत्तमाः ॥

३.२६१.९

लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं मत्तमातङ्गगामिनम् ।
दीर्घबाहुं महोरस्कं नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजम् ॥

३.२६१.१०

दीप्यमानं श्रिया वीरं शक्रादनवमं बले ।
पारगं सर्वधर्माणां बृहस्पतिसमं मतौ ॥

३.२६१.११

सर्वानुरक्तप्रकृतिं सर्वविद्याविशारदम् ।
जितेन्द्रियममित्राणामपि दृष्टिमनोहरम् ॥

३.२६१.१२

नियन्तारमसाधूनां गोप्तारं धर्मचारिणाम् ।
धृतिमन्तमनाधृष्यं जेतारमपराजितम् ॥

३.२६१.१३

पुत्रं राजा दशरथः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनम् ।
संदृश्य परमां प्रीतिमगच्छत्कुरुनन्दन ॥

३.२६१.१४

चिन्तयंश्च महातेजा गुणान्रामस्य वीर्यवान् ।
अभ्यभाषत भद्रं ते प्रीयमाणः पुरोहितम् ॥

M N Dutt That highly energetic and powerful one (Dasharatha) thinking of the qualifications of Rama, was well-pleased and (thus) addressed his priest, "O Brahmana, this night the constellation Paushya being in the ascendant, will be a highly auspicious time. Let therefore my attendants collect materials (for the inauguration) and let Rama also be invited.”

३.२६१.१५

अद्य पुष्यो निशि ब्रह्मन्पुण्यं योगमुपैष्यति ।
संभाराः संभ्रियन्तां मे रामश्चोपनिमन्त्र्यताम् ॥

M N Dutt That highly energetic and powerful one (Dasharatha) thinking of the qualifications of Rama, was well-pleased and (thus) addressed his priest, "O Brahmana, this night the constellation Paushya being in the ascendant, will be a highly auspicious time. Let therefore my attendants collect materials (for the inauguration) and let Rama also be invited.”

३.२६१.१६

इति तद्राजवचनं प्रतिश्रुत्याथ मन्थरा ।
कैकेयीमभिगम्येदं काले वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

M N Dutt Hearing these words of the king, Manthara (the maid of Kaikeyi) went to Kaikeyi and addressed her these words suited to the occasion.

३.२६१.१७

अद्य कैकेयि दौर्भाग्यं राज्ञा ते ख्यापितं महत् ।
आशीविषस्त्वां संक्रुद्धश्चण्डो दशति दुर्भगे ॥

M N Dutt O Kaikeyi, your great ill-luck has today been proclaimed by the king. O unfortunate one, may a fierce and angry venomous snake bite you.

३.२६१.१८

सुभगा खलु कौसल्या यस्याः पुत्रोऽभिषेक्ष्यते ।
कुतो हि तव सौभाग्यं यस्याः पुत्रो न राज्यभाक् ॥

M N Dutt It is indeed Kausalya who is fortunate in as much as her son will be installed. Where is your good fortune since your son will not obtain the kingdom?

३.२६१.१९

सा तद्वचनमाज्ञाय सर्वाभरणभूषिता ।
वेदीविलग्नमध्येव बिभ्रती रूपमुत्तमम् ॥

M N Dutt O hearing these words of (Manthara), Kaikeyi with her waist resembling the middle of a Dambura, decked with all sorts of ornaments and wearing a highly beautiful appearance, sought her lord in a secluded place and making a show of love, smilingly spoke these sweet words.

३.२६१.२०

विविक्ते पतिमासाद्य हसन्तीव शुचिस्मिता ।
प्रणयं व्यञ्जयन्तीव मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

M N Dutt O hearing these words of (Manthara), Kaikeyi with her waist resembling the middle of a Dambura, decked with all sorts of ornaments and wearing a highly beautiful appearance, sought her lord in a secluded place and making a show of love, smilingly spoke these sweet words.

३.२६१.२१

सत्यप्रतिज्ञ यन्मे त्वं काममेकं निसृष्टवान् ।
उपाकुरुष्व तद्राजंस्तस्मान्मुच्यस्व संकटात् ॥

M N Dutt "O king, you are (always) firm in your promise. Formerly you promised me a boon. Do you grant it now and thereby save yourself the sin of an unredeemed promise."

राजोवाच ।

३.२६१.२२

वरं ददानि ते हन्त तद्गृहाण यदिच्छसि ।
अवध्यो वध्यतां कोऽद्य वध्यः कोऽद्य विमुच्यताम् ॥

M N Dutt The King said: "I am ready to grant you any boon you like. Is there anybody to be slain that does not deserve death or is there any one to be set at liberty who is imprisoned?

३.२६१.२३

धनं ददानि कस्याद्य ह्रियतां कस्य वा पुनः ।
ब्राह्मणस्वादिहान्यत्र यत्किंचिद्वित्तमस्ति मे ॥

M N Dutt Whom shall I heap riches upon and whom shall I deprive of his wealth? Everything on earth belongs to me except what is possessed by the Brahmanas.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

३.२६१.२४

सा तद्वचनमाज्ञाय परिगृह्य नराधिपम् ।
आत्मनो बलमाज्ञाय तत एनमुवाच ह ॥

M N Dutt Listening to these words of the king and binding him to his promise, she, well aware of her influence over him, spoke these words,

३.२६१.२५

आभिषेचनिकं यत्ते रामार्थमुपकल्पितम् ।
भरतस्तदवाप्नोतु वनं गच्छतु राघवः ॥

M N Dutt “Let Bharata be installed with the materials brought for Rama and let Raghava depart to the forests."

३.२६१.२६

स तद्राजा वचः श्रुत्वा विप्रियं दारुणोदयम् ।
दुःखार्तो भरतश्रेष्ठ न किंचिद्व्याजहार ह ॥

M N Dutt O the best of the Bharata, on hearing this disagreeable speech of terrible significance, the king weighed down with grief, could not speak anything.

३.२६१.२७

ततस्तथोक्तं पितरं रामो विज्ञाय वीर्यवान् ।
वनं प्रतस्थे धर्मात्मा राजा सत्यो भवत्विति ॥

M N Dutt Learning that his father has been thus promise-bound and considering that the king's truth ought to remain inviolable, the virtuous and powerful Rama went into the forests.

३.२६१.२८

तमन्वगच्छल्लक्ष्मीवान्धनुष्माल्लक्ष्मणस्तदा ।
सीता च भार्या भद्रं ते वैदेही जनकात्मजा ॥

M N Dutt And, may you be blessed, he (Rama) was followed by the prosperous Lakshmana, the foremost of bowmen and his wife Sita, the princess of Videha and daughter of Janaka.

३.२६१.२९

ततो वनं गते रामे राजा दशरथस्तदा ।
समयुज्यत देहस्य कालपर्यायधर्मणा ॥

M N Dutt Then Rama having departed to the forest, Dasharatha, following the eternal law of time, gave up the ghost.

३.२६१.३०

रामं तु गतमाज्ञाय राजानं च तथागतम् ।
आनाय्य भरतं देवी कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

M N Dutt And seeing that Rama had left for the forest and that the king had breathed his last, Kaikeyi causing Bharata to be brought, addressed to him these words.

३.२६१.३१

गतो दशरथः स्वर्गं वनस्थौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।
गृहाण राज्यं विपुलं क्षेमं निहतकण्टकम् ॥

M N Dutt “Now that the king has gone to heaven and Rama and Lakshmana have left for the forest, accept this auspicious and extensive kingdom with all its thorns weeded out."

३.२६१.३२

तामुवाच स धर्मात्मा नृशंसं बत ते कृतम् ।
पतिं हत्वा कुलं चेदमुत्साद्य धनलुब्धया ॥

M N Dutt (Thereupon), the virtuous (Bharata) said to her “You have committed a very cruel deed by killing your husband and exterminating the family actuated by greed of wealth alone. O accursed (woman) of (our) family, hurling disgrace upon my head, fulfill your desire now.” Saying this to her mother, he gave free vent to his tears.

३.२६१.३३

अयशः पातयित्वा मे मूर्ध्नि त्वं कुलपांसने ।
सकामा भव मे मातरित्युक्त्वा प्ररुरोद ह ॥

M N Dutt (Thereupon), the virtuous (Bharata) said to her “You have committed a very cruel deed by killing your husband and exterminating the family actuated by greed of wealth alone. O accursed (woman) of (our) family, hurling disgrace upon my head, fulfill your desire now.” Saying this to her mother, he gave free vent to his tears.

३.२६१.३४

स चारित्रं विशोध्याथ सर्वप्रकृतिसंनिधौ ।
अन्वयाद्भ्रातरं रामं विनिवर्तनलालसः ॥

M N Dutt And vindicating his character before all the subjects, he set out, desirous of bringing back his brother Rama.

३.२६१.३५

कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च कैकेयीं च सुदुःखितः ।
अग्रे प्रस्थाप्य यानैः स शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ ॥

M N Dutt Placing, Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi in vehicle at the van (of his train), he set out with a sorrowful heart, accompanied by Shatrughna.

३.२६१.३६

वसिष्ठवामदेवाभ्यां विप्रैश्चान्यैः सहस्रशः ।
पौरजानपदैः सार्धं रामानयनकाङ्क्षया ॥

M N Dutt Vasishtha, Vamadeva, thousands of other Brahmanas and the people of the cities and the provinces, with an eager desire to bring Rama back.

३.२६१.३७

ददर्श चित्रकूटस्थं स रामं सहलक्ष्मणम् ।
तापसानामलंकारं धारयन्तं धनुर्धरम् ॥

M N Dutt (And he) found Rama together with Lakshmana in the mountain) Chitrakuta bow in hand and wearing the garb of ascetics.

३.२६१.३८

विसर्जितः स रामेण पितुर्वचनकारिणा ।
नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद्राज्यं पुरस्कृत्यास्य पादुके ॥

M N Dutt (But), being dismissed by Rama who was bent on obeying his fathers; words, he (Bharata) began to reign at Nandigram placing his brother's shoes before him.

३.२६१.३९

रामस्तु पुनराशङ्क्य पौरजानपदागमम् ।
प्रविवेश महारण्यं शरभङ्गाश्रमं प्रति ॥

M N Dutt And Rama too, afraid of the return of the people of the cities and provinces entered into the mighty forest of Dandaka near the hermitage of Sharabhanga.

३.२६१.४०

सत्कृत्य शरभङ्गं स दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः ।
नदीं गोदावरीं रम्यामाश्रित्य न्यवसत्तदा ॥

M N Dutt Paying his adorations to Sharabhanga and taking refuge in the Dandaka, forest he began to dwell on the banks of the beautiful river Godavari.

३.२६१.४१

वसतस्तस्य रामस्य ततः शूर्पणखाकृतम् ।
खरेणासीन्महद्वैरं जनस्थाननिवासिना ॥

M N Dutt While dwelling there, Rama had great enmity with Khara who had his abode in the Janasthana, on account of Shurpanakha.

३.२६१.४२

रक्षार्थं तापसानां च राघवो धर्मवत्सलः ।
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि जघान भुवि रक्षसाम् ॥

M N Dutt The descendant of Raghu, devoted to virtue, slew fourteen thousands of Rakshasas on earth for the protection of the ascetics and the intelligent Raghava having slain the highlypowerful Khara and Dushana resorted peace to that sacred forest.

३.२६१.४३

दूषणं च खरं चैव निहत्य सुमहाबलौ ।
चक्रे क्षेमं पुनर्धीमान्धर्मारण्यं स राघवः ॥

M N Dutt The descendant of Raghu, devoted to virtue, slew fourteen thousands of Rakshasas on earth for the protection of the ascetics and the intelligent Raghava having slain the highlypowerful Khara and Dushana resorted peace to that sacred forest.

३.२६१.४४

हतेषु तेषु रक्षःसु ततः शूर्पणखा पुनः ।
ययौ निकृत्तनासोष्ठी लङ्कां भ्रातुर्निवेशनम् ॥

M N Dutt Those Rakshasas being slain, Shurpanakha with her nose and lips cut off returned to Lanka, the abode of her brother (Ravana).

३.२६१.४५

ततो रावणमभ्येत्य राक्षसी दुःखमूर्छिता ।
पपात पादयोर्भ्रातुः संशुष्करुधिरानना ॥

M N Dutt Then that Rakshasas-woman senseless with grief and with marks of dry blood on her face, approaching Ravana, fell down at his feet.

३.२६१.४६

तां तथा विकृतां दृष्ट्वा रावणः क्रोधमूर्छितः ।
उत्पपातासनात्क्रुद्धो दन्तैर्दन्तानुपस्पृशन् ॥

M N Dutt Seeing her thus multilated Ravana became senseless with rage and fired with anger and gnashing his teeth, rose up from his throne.