Sloka & Translation

[Sita prays Rama to take her along with him to the forest.]

ēvamuktā tu vaidēhī priyārhā priyavādinī.

praṇayādēva saṅkruddhā bhartāramidamabravīt৷৷2.27.1৷৷


priyavādinī speaking pleasant words, priyārhā deserving affection, vaidēhī Sita, ēvam thus, uktā spoken to, praṇayādēva out of love, saṅkruddhā mighty angry, bhartāram to her husband, idam these words, abravīt said.

When the sweet-tongued daughter of Videha (Sita) who deserved affection, heard this she was very angry out of her love (for Rama). She said these wordsto her husband (in reply):
kimidaṅ bhāṣasē rāma! vākyaṅ laghutayā dhruvam.

tvayā yadapahāsyaṅ mē śrutvā naravarātmaja!৷৷2.27.2৷৷


naravarātmaja O Prince, rāma Rama, yat since, laghutayā lightly, tvayā by you, dhruvam certainly, apahāsyam fit to be ridiculed, śrutvā having heard, mē to me (by me also), idam these, kiṅ vākyam what words, bhāṣasē are speaking.

O Rama! why are you speaking so lightly? O prince! if you hear these very same words (spoken to you), you will ridicule me.
āryaputra pitā mātā bhrātā putrastathā snuṣā.

svāni puṇyāni bhuñjānāḥ svaṅ svaṅ bhāgyamupāsatē৷৷2.27.3৷৷


āryaputra O son of a noble monarch, pitā father, mātā mother, bhrātā brother, putraḥ son, tathā also, snuṣā daughter-in-law, svāni their own, puṇyāni merits, bhuñjānāḥ while enjoying, svaṅ svam due to each of them, bhāgyam destiny, upāsatē are receiving.

O son of a noble monarch! father, mother, brother, son or daughter-in-law (everybody) experiences the merit (of their past deeds) and receives what is due from destiny.
bharturbhāgyaṅ tu bhāryaikā prāpnōti puruṣarṣabha!.

ataścaivāhamādiṣṭā vanē vastavyamityapi৷৷2.27.4৷৷


puruṣarṣabha O best of men, (Rama), bharturbhāgyaṅ the destiny of husband, ēkā only, bhāryā wife, prāpnōti receives, ataśca therefore, ahamapi I also, vanē in the forest, vastavyamiti should dwell, adiṣṭā ēva ordered.

A wife alone, O best of men shares the destiny of her husband. I am also therefore, ordered to dwell in the forest. ( a command to you is a command to me).
na pitā nātmajō nātmā na mātā na sakhījanaḥ.

iha prētya ca nārīṇāṅ patirēkō gatissadā৷৷2.27.5৷৷


pitā father, na not, ātmajaḥ son, na not, ātmā own self, na not, mātā mother, na not, sakhījanaḥ friends, na not, nārīṇām for women, iha here, prētya ca in the next world also, sadā always, ēkaḥ alone, patiḥ husband, gatiḥ is the ultimate refuge.

It is not her father or mother, nor her son or herself, nor her friends but her husband alone gives a woman the permanent refuge in this or in the next world.
yadi tvaṅ prasthitō durgaṅ vanamadyaiva rāghava!.

agratastē gamiṣyāmi mṛdnantī kuśakaṇṭakān৷৷2.27.6৷৷


rāghava son of the Raghus (Rama), adyaiva now itself, tvam you, durgam impenetrable, vanam forest, prasthitaḥ yadi if you set out, kuśakaṇṭakān on thorns and on Kusa grass, mṛdnantī crushing, tē agrataḥ in front of you, gamiṣyāmi I shall go.

O son of the Raghus! if you set out for the impenetrable forest now itself, I shall also go, walking ahead of you and crushing the thorns and (spiky) kusa grass (rendering the path comfortable for you to walk).
īrṣyārōṣau bahiṣkṛtya bhuktaśēṣamivōdakam.

naya māṅ vīra! visrabdhaḥ pāpaṅ mayi na vidyatē৷৷2.27.7৷৷


vīra! O Valiant one, īrṣyārōṣau anger and jealousy, bhuktaśēṣam leftover after drinking, udakam iva like water, bahiṣkṛtya dismissing, visrabdha: without hesitation, mām me, naya take me, mayi in me, pāpam fault, na vidyatē does not exist.

Do take me with you, O valiant one! without hesitation. Dismiss all anger and envy (from your mind) like the leftover water after drinking (anger because she disobeys and envy because she, too, like Rama, is willing to brave the hazards of forest life). There is no fault on my part.
prāsādāgrairvimānairvā vaihāyasagatēna vā.

sarvāvasthāgatā bhartuḥ pādacchāyā viśiṣyatē৷৷2.27.8৷৷


prāsādāgraiḥ on top of mansions, vimānairvā or in lovely palaces, vaihāyasagatēna vā moving in air, sarvāvasthāgatā in all stages of life, bhartuḥ husband's, pādacchāyā shelter at his feet, viśiṣyatē is preferable.

Every woman, everywhere be it on the top of mansions or in lovely palaces or flying in the sky should take shelter at his (her husband's) feet (or follow his footsteps).
anuśiṣṭā.smi mātrā ca pitrā ca vividhāśrayam.

nā.smi samprati vaktavyā vartitavyaṅ yathā mayā৷৷2.27.9৷৷


mātrā ca by mother, pitrā ca by father, vividhāśrayam with regard to diverse duties, anuśiṣṭāasmi I have been instructed, mayā by myself, yathā in such a way, vartitavyam to abide, saṅprati now, vaktavyā nāsmi need not be told to me.

I have been so instructed by my parents about diverse duties in all stages of life that I need not be told anything (about my duties) now.
ahaṅ durgaṅ gamiṣyāmi vanaṅ puruṣavarjitam.

nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇaṅ śārdūlavṛkasēvitam৷৷2.27.10৷৷


aham I, durgam impassable, puruṣavarjitam uninhabited by men, nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇam teeming with various kinds of animals, śārdūlavṛkasēvitam inhabited by tigers and wolves, vanam forest, gamiṣyāmi I shall go.

I will also go to the forest, which is impassable, uninhabited, teeming with various kinds of animals and infested with tigers and wolves.
sukhaṅ vanē nivatsyāmi yathaiva bhavanē pituḥ.

acintayantī trīnlōkāṅśccintayantī pativratam৷৷2.27.11৷৷


trīn lōkān the three worlds, acintayantī without thinking, pativratam duties to the husband, cintayantī while thinking, vanē in the forest, pituḥ father's, bhavanē in the palace, yathaiva the same way, sukham happily, nivatsyāmi I shall dwell.

Free from any anxiety about the three worlds, my only concern will be my duties towards my husband. I shall dwell as happily in the forest as I did in my father's abode.
śuśrūṣamāṇā tē nityaṅ niyatā brahmacāriṇī.

saha raṅsyē tvayā vīra! vanēṣu madhugandhiṣu৷৷2.27.12৷৷


vīra! O hero , nityam always, tē to you, śuśrūṣamāṇā doing service, niyatā self- possessed, brahmacāriṇī observing vow of celibacy, madhugandhiṣu honey-scented, vanēṣu in forests, tvayā saha with you, raṅsyē I shall sport.

I shall wander with you, O heroic Rama! in the honey-scented forest remaining self-possessed, always doing your service, and observing the vow of celibacy.
tvaṅ hi śaktō vanē kartuṅ rāma! samparipālanam.

anyasyāpi janasyēha kiṅ punarmama mānada!৷৷2.27.13৷৷


mānada! O bestower of honour, rāma Rama, tvam you, iha here, vanē in the forest, anyasya of others, janasya man's, samparipālanamapi protection also, kartum to do, śakta: hi is capable, mama about my protection, kiṅ punaḥ why again say?

O respector of individuals! when you are capable of protecting other people in the forest, what of me?
saha tvayā gamiṣyāmi vanamadya na saṅśayaḥ.

nāhaṅ śakyā mahābhāga! nivartayitumudyatā৷৷2.27.14৷৷


adya today, tvayā saha along with you, vanam to the forest, gamiṣyāmi shall go, saṅśayaḥ na no doubt about it, mahābhāga O distinguished one, udyatā resolved, aham I, nivartayitum to restrain, na śakyā not able.

There is no doudt that I shall go with you to the forest today. O distinguished one! I cannot be restrained from this resolve.
phalamūlāśanā nityaṅ bhaviṣyāmi na saṅśayaḥ.

na tē duḥkhaṅ kariṣyāmi nivasantī saha tvayā৷৷2.27.15৷৷


nityam always, phalamūlāśanā living on fruits and roots, bhaviṣyāmi I will become, saṅśayaḥ na no doubt, tvayā saha with you, nivasantī while living, tē to you, duḥkham hardship, na kariṣyāmi will not do.

Do not doubt that I shall not be able to live on fruits and roots or that I will create difficulty for you while living with you.
icchāmi saritaśśailānpalvalāni vanāni ca.

draṣṭuṅ sarvatra nirbhītā tvayā nāthēna dhīmatā৷৷2.27.16৷৷


dhīmatā with the sagacious, nāthēna by my lord, tvayā along with you, sarvatra everywhere, nirbhītā without fear, saritaḥ rivers, śailān mountains, palvalāni lakes and, vanāni ca and the forests, draṣṭum to see, icchāmi I wish.

Living with you sans fear, O my sagacious husband, I wish to see the rivers, mountains, lakes and forests here and there.
haṅsakāraṇḍavākīrṇāḥ padminīssādhupuṣpitāḥ.

icchēyaṅ sukhinī draṣṭuṅ tvayā vīrēṇa saṅgatā৷৷2.27.17৷৷


vīrēṇa by a warrior (like you), tvayā with you, saṅgatā in company of, sukhinī happy, haṅsakāraṇḍavākīrṇāḥ abounding in swans and ducks, sādhu puṣpitāḥ fully bloomed, padminī: lotus ponds, draṣṭum to see, icchēyam I wish.

I wish to enjoy the lotus lakes in full bloom, abounding in swans and ducks in the company of a brave husband like you.
abhiṣēkaṅ kariṣyāmi tāsu nityaṅ yatavratā.

saha tvayā viśālākṣa! raṅsyē paramanandinī ৷৷2.27.18৷৷


viśālākṣa! O large-eyed one, yatavratā observing such vows, nityam daily, tāsu in those lotus ponds, abhiṣēkam bathing, kariṣyāmi will take, paramanandinī attaining great happiness, tvayā saha along with you, raṅsyē I will sport.

Observing such vows and bathing daily in the lotus lakes, I shall be very much happy to sport with you, O large-eyed one!
ēvaṅ varṣasahasrāṇāṅ śataṅ vā.haṅ tvayā saha.

vyatikramaṅ na vētsyāmi svargō.pi na hi mē mataḥ৷৷2.27.19৷৷


ēvam in this way, aham I, tvayā saha with you, varṣasahasrāṇām a thousand years, śataṅ vāpi or even a hundred thousand years (of living with you), vyatikramam bassing of time, na vētsyāmi I shall not feel, mē to me, svarga: api even heaven, na mataḥ hi is not desirable.

Thus living in your company for a thousand years or even a hundred thousand years, I shall not feel the passing of time. I shall not desire even heaven.
svargē.pi ca vinā vāsō bhavitā yadi rāghava.

tvayā mama naravyāghra! nāhaṅ tamapi rōcayē৷৷2.27.20৷৷


naravyāghra O best of men, rāghava Rama, tvayā vinā without you, mama to me, svargē.pi even in heaven, vāsaḥ living, bhavitā yadi if it were to happen, aham I, tamapi that one also, na rōcayē I
do not like.

O Raghava, tiger among men, if I were given heaven to live in without you, even that I shall not covet.
ahaṅ gamiṣyāmi vanaṅ sudurgamaṅ

mṛgāyutaṅ vānaravāraṇairyutam.

vanē nivatsyāmi yathā piturgṛhē

tavaiva pādāvupagṛhya saṅyatā৷৷2.27.21৷৷


aham I, sudurgamam highly impenetrable, mṛgāyutam full of animals, vānaravāraṇaiḥ with monkeys and elephants, vanam to the forest, gamiṣyāmi shall go, tava your, pādāvēva feet alone, upagṛhya taking refuge, saṅyatā restraining myself, vanē in the forest, pituḥ father's, gṛhē yathā like in his house, nivatsyāmi I shall reside.

I shall go (along with you) to the highly impenetrable forest infested with animals like
monkeys and elephants. I shall live in the forest in (full) discipline as in my father's abode, taking shelter at your feet.
ananyabhāvāmanuraktacētasaṅ

tvayā viyuktāṅ maraṇāyaniścitām.

nayasva māṅ sādhu kuruṣva yācanām

na tē mayā.tō gurutā bhaviṣyati৷৷2.27.22৷৷


ananyabhāvām without any other thought, anuraktacētasam with heart deeply attached, tvayā by you, viyuktām separated (from you), maraṇāya for death, niścitām resolved, mām me, nayasva take, yācanām my prayer, sādhu be well-disposed, kuruṣva do, ataḥ for that, tē for you, mayā by me, gurutā burden, na bhaviṣyati will not be.

Since I have no thought other than you and my heart is (irretrievably) attached to you
I have resolved to die if separated from you. Pray, be favourably disposed to take me. I shall not be a burden to you.
tathā bruvāṇāmapi dharmavatsalō

na ca sma sītāṅ nṛvarō ninīṣati.

uvāca caināṅ bahu sannivartanē

vanē nivāsasya ca duḥkhitāṅ prati৷৷2.27.23৷৷


dharmavatsalaḥ devoted to righteousness, nṛvaraḥ best of men, tathā that way, brūvāṇāmapi though speaking, sītām tp Sita, na ninīṣati sma was unwilling to take, sannivartanē to dissuade her, ēnām to her, vanē in the forest, nivāsasya of stay, duḥkhitāṅ prati to the grieved, bahu in many ways, uvāca ca said.

Although Sita was thus appealing, Rama, devoted to righteousness, was (still) unwilling to take her. In order to dissuade her, he began to describe to the mournful Sita the many hardships of forest life.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptaviṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyseventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.