Dialogue between Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

Chaupais

samācāra jaba lachimana pāē. byākula bilakha badana uṭhi dhāē..

kaṃpa pulaka tana nayana sanīrā. gahē carana ati prēma adhīrā.. [2-69-1]

kahi na sakata kachu citavata ṭhāḍhaē. mīnu dīna janu jala tēṃ kāḍhaē..

sōcu hṛdayaom bidhi kā hōnihārā. sabu sukhu sukṛta sirāna hamārā.. [2-69-2]

mō kahu kāha kahaba raghunāthā. rakhihahiṃ bhavana ki lēhahiṃ sāthā..

rāma bilōki baṃdhu kara jōrēṃ. dēha gēha saba sana tṛnu tōrēṃ.. [2-69-3]

bōlē bacanu rāma naya nāgara. sīla sanēha sarala sukha sāgara..

tāta prēma basa jani kadarāhū. samujhi hṛdayaom parināma uchāhū.. [2-69-4]

When Lakṣmaṇa got the news he started up in confusion and ran with a doleful face. Trembling all over with his hair standing on end and eyes full of tears he clasped Śrī Rāma’s feet much excited with emotion. He was unable to speak and stood gazing piteously like a fish taken out of water. There was anxiety in his heart. “What is going to happen, O good heavens?” he said to himself. “All my joy and merits are over now. What will the Lord of Raghus command me to do? Will he leave me at home or take me with him? “When Śrī Rāma saw His brother with joined palms having renounced his home and reckless about his own body, He addressed him in the following words, wellversed as He was in the rules of correct behaviour and an ocean of amiability, love, artlessness and joy: “Pray do not lose your balance of mind out of affection, dear brother, and be convinced in your heart of hearts that the end will be a happy one.”

Dohas

mātu pitā guru svāmi sikha sira dhari karahi subhāyaom.

lahēu lābhu tinha janama kara nataru janamu jaga jāyaom..70.. [2-70]

Those who reverently and unconstrainedly follow the advice of their father and mother, preceptor and master have reaped the fruit of their birth or else their coming into this world has been in vain.”

Chaupais

asa jiyaom jāni sunahu sikha bhāī. karahu mātu pitu pada sēvakāī..

bhavana bharatu ripusūdana nāhīṃ. rāu bṛddha mama dukhu mana māhīṃ.. [2-70-1]

maiṃ bana jāu tumhahi lēi sāthā. hōi sabahi bidhi avadha anāthā..

guru pitu mātu prajā parivārū. saba kahu parai dusaha dukha bhārū.. [2-70-2]

rahahu karahu saba kara paritōṣū. nataru tāta hōihi baḍa dōṣū..

jāsu rāja priya prajā dukhārī. sō nṛpu avasi naraka adhikārī.. [2-70-3]

rahahu tāta asi nīti bicārī. sunata lakhanu bhaē byākula bhārī..

siarēṃ bacana sūkhi gaē kaiṃsēṃ. parasata tuhina tāmarasu jaisēṃ.. [2-70-4]

Bearing this in mind, brother, listen to my advice and wait upon the feet of our father and mothers. Bharata and Ripusūdana (Śatrughna) are not at home, while the king is aged and full of grief for my sake. If I proceed to the woods taking you with me, Ayodhyā will be rendered completely masterless and the preceptor and parents, the people as well as the family, all will be subjected to a spell of terrible suffering. Stay, then, to comfort all; otherwise, brother, we shall incur great sin. A king whose reign brings suffering to his beloved people surely deserves an abode in hell. Bearing in mind this maxim, dear brother, stay at home.” Hearing this, Lakṣmaṇa felt much distressed. He turned pale at these soothing words in the same way as a lotus is blasted when touched by frost.

Dohas

utaru na āvata prēma basa gahē carana akulāi.

nātha dāsu maiṃ svāmi tumha tajahu ta kāha basāi..71.. [2-71]

Overwhelmed with emotion he could not answer, but clasped his Brother’s feet in anguish, “My lord, I am your slave and you my master; if you abandon me, what help !”

Chaupais

dīnhi mōhi sikha nīki gōsāīṃ. lāgi agama apanī kadarāīṃ..

narabara dhīra dharama dhura dhārī. nigama nīti kahu tē adhikārī.. [2-71-1]

maiṃ sisu prabhu sanēhaom pratipālā. maṃdaru mēru ki lēhiṃ marālā..

gura pitu mātu na jānau kāhū. kahau subhāu nātha patiāhū.. [2-71-2]

jahaom lagi jagata sanēha sagāī. prīti pratīti nigama niju gāī..

mōrēṃ sabai ēka tumha svāmī. dīnabaṃdhu ura aṃtarajāmī.. [2-71-3]

dharama nīti upadēsia tāhī. kīrati bhūti sugati priya jāhī..

mana krama bacana carana rata hōī. kṛpāsiṃdhu pariharia ki sōī.. [2-71-4]

My lord, you have given me a sound advice; but due to my faintheartedness it sounds impracticable to me. Only those noble men who are self-possessed and champion the cause of virtue are fit to be taught the gospel of the Vedas and moral philosophy. I am a mere child fostered by your loving care; can a cygnet lift Mount Mandara or Meru? I know no preceptor nor father nor mother; I tell you sincerely; believe me, my lord. Whatever ties of affection, love and confidence exist in the world as declared by the Vedas-for me they are all centred in you and you alone, my lord. O friend of the afflicted, O knower of the innermost heart of all ! Piety and propriety should be taught to him who is fond of glory, fortune and a noble destiny. He, however, who is devoted to your feet in thought, word and deed-should he be abandoned, O ocean of grace?”

Dohas

karunāsiṃdhu subaṃdha kē suni mṛdu bacana binīta.

samujhāē ura lāi prabhu jāni sanēhaom sabhīta..72.. [2-72]

Hearing these soft and polite words of His noble brother, the all-compassionate Lord clasped him to His bosom and consoled him, perceiving that he had lost his nerve through love

Chaupais

māgahu bidā mātu sana jāī. āvahu bēgi calahu bana bhāī..

mudita bhaē suni raghubara bānī. bhayau lābha baḍa gai baḍai hānī.. [2-72-1]

haraṣita hdayaom mātu pahiṃ āē. manahu aṃdha phiri lōcana pāē.

jāi janani paga nāyau māthā. manu raghunaṃdana jānaki sāthā.. [2-72-2]

pūomchē mātu malina mana dēkhī. lakhana kahī saba kathā bisēṣī..

gaī sahami suni bacana kaṭhōrā. mṛgī dēkhi dava janu cahu ōrā.. [2-72-3]

lakhana lakhēu bhā anaratha ājū. ēhiṃ sanēha basa karaba akājū..

māgata bidā sabhaya sakucāhīṃ. jāi saṃga bidhi kahihi ki nāhī.. [2-72-4]

Go and ask leave of your mother; then quickly return and accompany me to the woods.” Lakṣmaṇa rejoiced to hear these words from the Chief of Raghus; great was his gain and a mighty loss was averted. He went up to his mother delighted at heart as a blind man who had regained his lost vision. Approaching her he bowed his head at her feet, while his heart was with Śrī Rāma (the Delighter of Raghu’s race) and Janaka’s Daughter. Finding him depressed in spirit the mother inquired the reason, when Lakṣmaṇa related at length the whole incident. Sumitrā was alarmed to hear this cruel report as a doe on finding wild fire all about her. Lakṣmaṇa apprehended that things would take a wrong turn that day and that his mother would frustrate his plans due to her affection. He, therefore, felt nervous and hesitated in asking leave of her; for he thought within himself, “Good God, will she allow me to accompany Śrī Rāma or not?”