Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच उक्तं भगवता जन्म रामादीनां पृथक्पृथक् प्रस्थानकारणं ब्रह्मञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्
AI Translation: Yudhisthira said: The Blessed One has spoken of the births of Rama and others separately. O Brahman, I wish to hear the reason for their departure. Please tell me.
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.1 After 1ab, G1 ins.: *1242 जन्मादि चरितं सर्वं विवाहादि मया श्रुतम्
कथं दाशरथी वीरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ प्रस्थापितौ वनं ब्रह्म मैथिली च यशस्विनी
AI Translation: How did the heroic brothers, Dasharatha's sons, Rama and Lakshmana, and the glorious Maithilee, be banished to the forest? Tell me, O Brahman.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच 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.
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.3 After the ref., D1 ins. (cf. Rām. 1.7.3): *1243 वृष्टिर्जयन्तो विजयः सिद्धार्थो राष्ट्रवर्धनः अशोको धर्मपालश्च सुमन्त्रश्चाष्टमोऽभवत् एतेष्टौ दशरथामात्याः
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.
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.
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.
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.
अभिषेकाय रामस्य यौवराज्येन भारत प्राप्तकालं च ते सर्वे मेनिरे मन्त्रिसत्तमाः
AI Translation: For the consecration of Rama as prince regent, O descendant of the Bharata lineage, and all the best ministers considered the time to be opportune.
लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं मत्तमातङ्गगामिनम् दीर्घबाहुं महोरस्कं नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजम्
AI Translation: With red eyes, long arms, moving like a rutting elephant, Long-armed, broad-chested, with curly black hair,
दीप्यमानं श्रिया वीरं शक्रादनवमं बले पारगं सर्वधर्माणां बृहस्पतिसमं मतौ
AI Translation: Shining with glory, the hero, the ninth in strength after Indra, The one who has crossed over all phenomena, considered equal to Brihaspati in wisdom,
सर्वानुरक्तप्रकृतिं सर्वविद्याविशारदम् जितेन्द्रियममित्राणामपि दृष्टिमनोहरम्
AI Translation: One who is loved by all, skilled in all knowledge, One who has conquered the senses, whose sight is captivating even to enemies,
नियन्तारमसाधूनां गोप्तारं धर्मचारिणाम् धृतिमन्तमनाधृष्यं जेतारमपराजितम्
AI Translation: Protector of the unrighteous, guardian of those who follow the Dharma, endowed with fortitude, invincible, conqueror, unconquered,
पुत्रं राजा दशरथः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनम् संदृश्य परमां प्रीतिमगच्छत्कुरुनन्दन
AI Translation: The king, Dasharatha, saw his son, the increaser of the joy of Kausalya, and was filled with great joy, O descendant of the Kurus.
चिन्तयंश्च महातेजा गुणान्रामस्य वीर्यवान् अभ्यभाषत भद्रं ते प्रीयमाणः पुरोहितम्
AI Translation: Thinking about the qualities of the valorous Rama, the very radiant one, he spoke to the priest, "May you be well!" being pleased.
अद्य पुष्यो निशि ब्रह्मन्पुण्यं योगमुपैष्यति संभाराः संभ्रियन्तां मे रामश्चोपनिमन्त्र्यताम्
AI Translation: "O Brahman, today, at night, Pushya will come. " "Let my provisions be prepared, and let Rama be invited."
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.15 After 15, B1.3 (marg.) Dc D1.2 ins.: *1244 श्व एष पुष्यो भविता यत्र रामः सुतो मया यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्तव्यः पौरैश्च सह मन्त्रिभिः
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.
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.
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?
सा तद्वचनमाज्ञाय सर्वाभरणभूषिता वेदीविलग्नमध्येव बिभ्रती रूपमुत्तमम्
AI Translation: Having understood his words, adorned with all ornaments, bearing a form that is supreme, as if resting in the middle of a lotus,
विविक्ते पतिमासाद्य हसन्तीव शुचिस्मिता प्रणयं व्यञ्जयन्तीव मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Having approached her husband in a secluded place, she smiled sweetly, as if expressing affection, and spoke these sweet words:
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 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?
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.
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.23 After 23, N (except K1.3.4) G3 ins.: *1245 पृथिव्यां राजराजोऽस्मि चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षिता यस्तेऽभिलषितः कामो ब्रूहि कल्याणि माचिरम्
मार्कण्डेय उवाच 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,
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."
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.25 After 25, B3.4 Dc D1.2 ins.: *1246 नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः चीराजिनजटाधारी रामो वसतु तापसः
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.
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.
तमन्वगच्छल्लक्ष्मीवान्धनुष्माँल्लक्ष्मणस्तदा 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.
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.
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.
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."
तामुवाच स धर्मात्मा नृशंसं बत ते कृतम् पतिं हत्वा कुलं चेदमुत्साद्य धनलुब्धया
AI Translation: The righteous one said to her, "You have done a cruel thing. Having killed your husband and destroyed this family out of greed for wealth,
अयशः पातयित्वा मे मूर्ध्नि त्वं कुलपांसने सकामा भव मे मातरित्युक्त्वा प्ररुरोद ह
AI Translation: "Having placed infamy on my head, O you who defile the family, " "Be my lover, O mother," saying this, he wept.
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.
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.34 After 34ab, G2 ins.: *1247 संस्कृत्य पितरं वृत्तं भरतो धर्मवत्सलः
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.
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.
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.
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.37 K4 D1 ins. after 37: *1248 उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा प्रणिपत्य रघूत्तमम् शशंस मरणं राज्ञः सोऽनाथांश्चैव कोशलान् नाथ त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व स्वराज्यमिति चोक्तवान् तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामः परमदुःखितः चकार देवकल्पस्य पितुः स्नात्वोदकक्रियाम् अब्रवीच्च तदा रामो भरतं भ्रातृवत्सलम् पादुके मे भविष्येते राज्यगोप्ते परंतप एवमस्त्विति तं प्राह भरतः प्रणतस्तदा On the other hand, T1 (which om. 37cd) ins. after 37ab: G1.2.4, after 37: *1249 स रामो भरतं दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा स्वर्गगतिं पितुः कृत्वा तस्योदकं सम्यगुवाच भ्रातरं प्रियम् गच्छ तात प्रजा रक्ष सत्यं रक्षाम्यहं पितुः
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.
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.
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.
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.
रक्षार्थं तापसानां च राघवो धर्मवत्सलः चतुर्दश सहस्राणि जघान भुवि रक्षसाम्
AI Translation: For the protection of the ascetics, Rāghava, who was devoted to righteousness, Slew fourteen thousand demons on earth.
दूषणं च खरं चैव निहत्य सुमहाबलौ चक्रे क्षेमं पुनर्धीमान्धर्मारण्यं स राघवः
AI Translation: Having killed the very powerful Dūṣaṇa and Khara, the wise Rāghava again made the Dharma forest secure.
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.43 After 43, D1 ins.: *1250 तेन शूर्पणखा दृष्ट्वा सहस्राणि चतुर्दश हतानि युधि रामेण शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पदातिना
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).
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.
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.
स्वानमात्यान्विसृज्याथ विविक्ते तामुवाच सः केनास्येवं कृता भद्रे मामचिन्त्यावमन्य च
M. N. Dutt: And dismissing his ministers he asked her in private "O gentle sister, who has made you so by despising and disregarding me?
कः शूलं तीक्ष्णमासाद्य सर्वगात्रैर्निषेवते कः शिरस्यग्निमादाय विश्वस्तः स्वपते सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: Who is he that having got a sharp spear has rubbed it all over his body? Who is he that is sleeping in peace and security, keeping a fire near his head?
आशीविषं घोरतरं पादेन स्पृशतीह कः सिंहं केसरिणं कश्च दंष्ट्रासु स्पृश्य तिष्ठति
M. N. Dutt: Who is he that has trodden over a terrible snake? Who is he that has thrust his hand into the jaws of a mained lion?"
इत्येवं ब्रुवतस्तस्य स्रोतोभ्यस्तेजसोऽर्चिषः निश्चेरुर्दह्यतो रात्रौ वृक्षस्येव स्वरन्ध्रतः
M. N. Dutt: While he was saying thus, sparks of flame issued out from his organs of senses like those that are emitted from the hollows of a tree on fire at night.
तस्य तत्सर्वमाचख्यौ भगिनी रामविक्रमम् खरदूषणसंयुक्तं राक्षसानां पराभवम्
M. N. Dutt: Then his sister informed him of the prowess of Rama causing the defeat of the Rakshasas led by Khara and Dushana.
Supplementary Passages:
3.261.51 After 51, B2-4 Dc D1.2 (Dc D2 om. line 2) ins.: *1251 ततो ज्ञातिवधं श्रुत्वा रावणः कालनोदितः रामस्य वधमाकाङ्क्षन्मारीचं मनसागमत्
स निश्चित्य ततः कृत्यं स्वसारमुपसान्त्व्य च ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे राजा विधाय नगरे विधिम्
M. N. Dutt: Then king (Ravana) settling as to what course to adopt and making arrangements for the protection of his capital and consoling his sister, rose up in the air.
त्रिकूटं समतिक्रम्य कालपर्वतमेव च ददर्श मकरावासं गम्भीरोदं महोदधिम्
M. N. Dutt: Crossing the mountains Trikuta and Kala he beheld the mighty ocean of deep waters, the abode of the Makaras (alligators).
तमतीत्याथ गोकर्णमभ्यगच्छद्दशाननः दयितं स्थानमव्यग्रं शूलपाणेर्महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Then Dashanana (Ravana, who had ten mouths) crossing it (the ocean) reached Gokarna the beloved place of the high-souled wielder of the trident (Shiva).
तत्राभ्यगच्छन्मारीचं पूर्वामात्यं दशाननः पुरा रामभयादेव तापस्यं समुपाश्रितम्
M. N. Dutt: Then the ten-headed one went to his exminister Maricha who had long before at that very place adopted the mode of life led by the ascetics, through fear of Rama.