Sloka & Translation

[Sita insists on going with Rama]

ētattu vacanaṅ śrutvā sītā rāmasya duḥkhitā.

prasaktāśrumukhī mandamidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷2.29.1৷৷


sītā Sita, rāmasya Rama's, ētat these, vacanam words, śrutvā tu having heard, duḥkhitā sad, prasaktāśrumukhī with tears flowing incessantly from her face, mandam in a faint voice, idaṅ vacanam these words, abravīt spoke.

Having heard the words of Rama, thus spoke Sita in a faint voice in sadness, with tears flowing incessantly from her eyes:
yē tvayā kīrtitā dōṣā vanē vastavyatāṅ prati.

guṇānityēva tānviddhi tava snēhapuraskṛtān৷৷2.29.2৷৷


vanē in the forest, vastavyatāṅ prati about dwelling in the forest, tvayā by you, yē those, dōṣāḥ
difficulties, kīrtitāḥ described, tava your, snēhapuraskṛtān accompanied by your affection, tān them, guṇānityēva as virtues only, viddhi understand.

Understand that the difficulties of forest life described by you will be turned into advantages if they are accompanied by your affection.
mṛgā ssiṅhā gajāścaiva śārdūlā śśarabhāstathā.

pakṣiṇa ssṛmarāścaiva yē cānyē vanacāriṇaḥ৷৷2.29.3৷৷

adṛṣṭapūrvarūpatvātsarvē tē tava rāghava!.

rūpaṅ dṛṣṭvā.pasarpēyurbhayē sarvē hi bibhyati৷৷2.29.4৷৷


rāghava! Rama, mṛgāḥ antelopes, siṅhāḥ lions, gajāścaiva elephants also, śārdūlā: tigers, tathā also, śarabhāḥ sarabhas (a fabulous deer said to have eight legs), pakṣiṇaḥ birds, sṛmarāścaiva srimaras (a kind of deer), anyē other, yē all, vanacāriṇaḥ wild beasts wandering in the forest, tē sarvē all those, tava your, adṛṣṭapūrvarūpatvāt which had not been seen by you before, rūpam your appearance, dṛṣṭvaiva on seeing alone, apasarpēyuḥ will flee away, bhayē when fear arises, sarvē all, bibhyati hi are afraid of.

O scion of the Raghu race! antelopes, lions, elephants, tigers, sarabhas, birds, srimaras and other wild beasts wandering in the forest have not seen your beauty before. Now on seeing you, they will flee away. In fact, who will not be afraid of seeing an object of fear?.
tvayā ca saha gantavyaṅ mayā gurujanājñayā.

tvadviyōgēna mē rāma! tyaktavyamiha jīvitam৷৷2.29.5৷৷


gurujanājñayā with the command of elders, tvayā saha along with you, mayā ca gantavyam I should follow, rāma Rama, tvadviyōgēna if separated from you, mē my, jīvitam life, iha here, tyaktavyam will have to be given up.

In accordance with the command of the elders, I must accompany you to the forest. If I am separated from you, I will give up my life here itself.
na hi māṅ tvatsamīpasthāmapi śaknōtirāghava.

surāṇāmīśvara śśakraḥ pradharṣayitumōjasā৷৷2.29.6৷৷


rāghava O Rama!, tvatsamīvasthām in your company, mām me, surāṇām for gods, īśvaraḥ lord, śakra: api even Indra, ōjasā with his might, pradharṣayitum to injure, na śaknōti will not be able

If I am in your company, O Rama! even the lord of the gods, Indra with all his might will not be able to hurt me.
patihīnā tu yā nārī na sā śakṣyati jīvitum.

kāmamēvaṅ vidhaṅ rāma! tvayā mama nidarśitam৷৷2.29.7৷৷


yā nārī a woman, patihīnā without her husband, sā she, jīvitum to live, na śakṣyati cannot live, rāma Rama, tvayā by you, kāmam greatly, ēvaṅ vidham in this manner, mama to me, nidarśitam has been illustrated.

Your salutary instruction to me, O Rama, is 'A woman cannot live without her husband'. This truth is greatly applicable to me.
atha cāpi mahāprājña! brāhmaṇānāṅ mayā śrutam.

purā pitṛgṛhē satyaṅ vastavyaṅ kila mē vanē৷৷2.29.8৷৷


mahāprājña O Sagacious one, atha cāpi moreover, purā formerly, pitṛgṛhē at my father's house, mayā by me, brāhmāṇānām brahmins' (word), śrutam has been heard, mē about me, satyam in sooth, vanē in the forest, vastavyaṅ kila to dwell certainly.

O highly sagacious Rama! I had also heard in my father's house long ago, from brahmins prophesing that some day I shall have certainly to dwell in the forest.
lakṣaṇibhyō dvijātibhya śśṛtvā.haṅ vacanaṅ purā.

vanavāsakṛtōtsāhā nityamēva mahābala!৷৷2.29.9৷৷


mahābala! O mighty one, aham I, purā long ago, lakṣaṇibhyaḥ from palmist, dvijātibhyaḥ from brahmins, vacanam words, śṛtvā having heard, nityamēva always, vanavāsakṛtōtsāhā I have become eager to dwell in the forest.

O mighty hero! ever since I heard the prophesies from the brahmin palmists I am yearning to dwell in the forest.
ādēśō vanavāsasya prāptavya ssa mayā kila.

sā tvayā saha tatrāhaṅ yāsyāmi priya! nānyathā৷৷2.29.10৷৷


priya O beloved Rama, mayā by me, vanavāsasya to dwell in the forest, saḥ ādēśaḥ such orders, prāptavyaḥ kila certainly needs to be obtained, sā aham such I am, tvayā saha along with you, tatra there, yāsyāmi I shall accompany, anyathā na not otherwise.

Therefore, O my beloved I must certainly obtain such a command to dwell in the forest. I must accompany you to the forest and it cannot be otherwise.
kṛtādēśā bhaviṣyāmi gamiṣyāmi saha tvayā.

kālaścāyaṅ samutpanna ssatyavāgbhavatu dvijaḥ৷৷2.29.11৷৷


kṛtādēśā carrying out the orders, bhaviṣyāmi I shall become, tvayā saha along with you, gamiṣyāmi shall go, ayam this, kālaśca time, samutpannaḥ has come, dvija: brahmin, satyavāk true to his words, bhavatu let him be.

I will go with you, true to the prediction of the brahmin. That time has come and let his prediction come to pass.
vanavāsē.bhijānāmi duḥkhāni bahuthā kila.

prāpyantē niyataṅ vīra! puruṣairakṛtātmabhiḥ৷৷2.29.12৷৷


vīra! O valiant one, vanavāsē while residing in the forest, duḥkhāni hardships, bahuthā kila certainly of every kind, abhijānāmi I am aware, akṛtātmabhiḥ by those whose senses are not under their control, puruṣaiḥ by men, niyatam definitely, prāpyantē will be experienced.

I am aware, O valiant one, that there are hardships of every kind in forest life. But they befall those whose senses are not under their control.
kanyayā ca piturgēhē vanavāsa śśṛtō mayā.

bhikṣiṇyā ssādhuvṛttāyā mama māturihāgrataḥ৷৷2.29.13৷৷


pituḥ father's, gēhē in the house, kanyayā when I was young, mayā by me, mama mātuḥ my mother's, agrataḥ in the presence, sādhuvṛttāyāḥ a saint, bhikṣiṇyā a female mendicant, iha in
this world, vanavāsaḥ forest life, śrutaḥ heard.

When I was young in my father's house, a holy female mendicant foretold in the presence of my mother that I would dwell in the forest (in this life).
prasāditaśca vai pūrvaṅ tvaṅ mē bahutithaṅ prabhō!.

gamanaṅ vanavāsasya kāṅkṣitaṅ hi saha tvayā৷৷2.29.14৷৷


prabhō O Lord, pūrvam in the past, tvam you, bahutitham for a long time, mē for me, prasāditaśca vai favoured, tvayā saha along with you, vanavāsasya gamanam to go to the forest, kāṅkṣitaṅ hi is wished for.

Pleased with my long entreaties in the past to dwell with you in the forest, O lord, you had granted my desire.
kṛtakṣaṇā.haṅ bhadraṅ tē gamanaṅ prati rāghava.

vanavāsasya śūrasya caryā hi mama rōcatē৷৷2.29.15৷৷


rāghava Rama, tē to you, vanavāsasya of forest life, gamanaṅ prati about departure, aham I, kṛtakṣaṇā counting time, tē bhadram prosperity to you, śūrasya of a valiant one, caryā movement, mama to me, rōcatē hi is pleasing.

Since then I have been counting time for this forest life. It pleases me to follow my valiant hero as he lives in the forest. Rama, prosperity to you!
śuddhātmanprēmabhāvādhdi bhaviṣyāmi vikalmaṣā.

bhartāramanugacchantī bhartā hi mama daivatam৷৷2.29.16৷৷


śuddhātman O pure-hearted one!, prēmabhāvāt with feeling of love, bhartāram husband, anugacchantī following, vikalmaṣā sinless, bhaviṣyāmi I shall become, bhartā husband, mama to me, daivataṅ hi is a god.

O my pure-hearted one! by following my husband with love I shall become sinless, because my husband is my god.
prētyabhāvē hi kalyāṇa ssaṅgamō mē saha tvayā.

śrutirhi śrūyatē puṇyā brāhmaṇānāṅ yaśasvinām৷৷2.29.17৷৷

ihalōkē ca pitṛbhiryā strī yasya mahāmatē!.

adbhirdattā svadharmēṇa prētyabhāvē.pi tasya sā৷৷2.29.18৷৷


prētyabhāvē.pi even after death, tvayā saha with you, mē to me, kalyāṇaḥ auspiciousness, saṅgamaḥ union, yaśasvinām by the famous, brāhmaṇānām brahmins', puṇyā pious, śrutiḥ statement from the Vedas, śrūyatē is heard, mahāmatē O high-minded one, yā strī that woman, iha lōkē in this world, pitṛbhiḥ by parents, yasya to whom, svadharmēṇa in accordance with one's own tradition, adbhi: with waters, dattā is given, prētyabhāvē.pi even after death, sā she, tasya belongs to him.

My union with you, O high-minded one, is auspicious even beyond death. A woman, given away by her parents in accordance with traditional offerings of water belongs to him even after death and lives with him. This is a statement from the Vedas quoted by famous brahmins.
ēvamasmātsvakāṅ nārīṅ suvṛttāṅ hi pativratām.

nābhirōcayasē nētuṅ tvaṅ māṅ kēnēha hētunā৷৷2.29.19৷৷


tvam you, kēna hētunā for what reason, iha now, ēvam this way, suvṛttām a woman of good conduct, pativratām faithful and loyal wife, svakāṅ nārīm your own woman, mām me, asmāt from this place, nētum to take, nābhirōcayasē you are not willing.

Why don't you want to take to the forest your own wife who is loyal and devoted, and is of good conduct.
bhaktāṅ pativratāṅ dīnāṅ māṅ samāṅ sukhaduḥkhayōḥ.

nētumarhasi kākutstha! samāna sukhaduḥkhinīm৷৷2.29.20৷৷


kākutthsa O descendant of Kakutstha!, bhaktām devotee, pativratām faithful to the husband, dīnāṅ distressed, sukhaduḥkhayōḥ in happines and sorrow, samām having equal disposition, samāna sukha duḥkhinīm equally share your prosperity and adversity, mām me, nētum arhasi should take.

O Rama, I am faithful and devoted to you. I have equal disposition to happiness and sorrow. I equally share your prosperity and adversity. Therefore, you should take your wife (to the forest). In this time of distress.
yayadi māṅ duḥkhitāmēvaṅ vanaṅ nētuṅ na cēcchasi.

viṣamagniṅ jalaṅ vā.hamāsthāsyē mṛtyukāraṇāt৷৷2.29.21৷৷


ēvam in this, duḥkhitām distressed, mām me, vanam to the forest, nētum to take, na ca icchasi yadi if you do not wish, mṛtyukāraṇāt to seek death, viṣam poison, agnim fire, jalaṅ vā or water, āsthāsyē I shall take refuge.

If you do not wish to take your wife in this time of distress to the forest I shall die by consuming poison or throwing myself into fire or drowning in water.
ēvaṅ bahuvidhaṅ taṅ sā yācatē gamanaṅ prati.

nānumēnē mahābāhustāṅ nētuṅ vijanaṅ vanam৷৷2.29.22৷৷


ēvam in this way, sā she, gamanaṅ prati about her departure, bahuvidham in several ways, tam him, yācatē requested, mahābāhuḥ mighty-armed Rama, tām her, vijanam desolate, vanam forest, nētum to take, nānumēnē did not consent.

Despite Sita's pleadings with him in various ways the mighty-armed Rama would not consent to take her to the desolate forest.
ēvamuktā tu sā cintāṅ maithilī samupāgatā.

snāpayantīva gāmuṣṇairaśrubhirnayanacyutaiḥ৷৷2.29.23৷৷


ēvam in this way, uktā spoken, sā maithilī that daughter from Mithila, nayanacyutaiḥ fallen from her eyes, uṣṇaiḥ by warm, aśrubhiḥ tears, gām the ground, snāpayantīva as if drenching, cintām grief, samupāgatā obtained.

Thus spoken to (prevented), Sita was filled with grief and cried, drenching the ground with warm tears that fell from her eyes.
cintayantīṅ tathā tāṅ tu nivartayitumātmavān.

tāmrōṣṭhīṅ sa tadā sītāṅ kākutsthō bahvasāntvayat৷৷2.29.24৷৷


ātmavān self-possessed, saḥ kākutstha: that scion of the Kakutstha dynasty, tathā that way, cintayantīm grieving, tāmrōṣṭhīm to the lady with copper-red lips, tāṅ sītām to that Sita, tadā then, nivartayitam to dissuade her (from going to the forest), bahu many ways, asāntvayat consoled.

That self-possessed scion of the Kakutstha dynasty consoled the copper-red-lipped Sita in several ways to dissuade her (from going to the forest).
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkōnatriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyninth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.