Lakshmana's Resolve to Follow Rama
Lakshmana begs to accompany Rama and regards service to him as his highest fortune. Rama instructs him in restraint and duty, yet Lakshmana's loving resolve prevails.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 11 / 49
Episode Text
समाचार जब लछिमन पाए। ब्याकुल बिलख बदन उठि धाए॥ कंप पुलक तन नयन सनीरा। गहे चरन अति प्रेम अधीरा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samācāra jaba lachimana pāe। byākula bilakha badana uṭhi dhāe॥ kaṃpa pulaka tana nayana sanīrā। gahe carana ati prema adhīrā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When Lakshmana received this news, he became agitated and ran forward with a sorrowful face. His body trembled, his hair stood on end, and his eyes were filled with tears. Overwhelmed with love, he seized Shri Rama's feet.
कहि न सकत कछु चितवत ठाढ़े। मीनु दीन जनु जल तें काढ़े॥ सोचु हृदयँ बिधि का होनिहारा। सबु सुखु सुकृतु सिरान हमारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahi na sakata kachu citavata ṭhāṛhe। mīnu dīna janu jala teṃ kāṛhe॥ socu hṛdayaṃ bidhi kā honihārā। sabu sukhu sukṛtu sirāna hamārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He could not say anything; he stood there looking on. [He had become so helpless, as if a fish had been taken out of water.] In his heart he thought, "O Fate, what is about to happen? Has all our happiness and merit come to an end?"
मो कहुँ काह कहब रघुनाथा। रखिहहिं भवन कि लेहहिं साथा॥ राम बिलोकि बंधु कर जोरें। देह गेह सब सन तृनु तोरें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mo kahuṃ kāha kahaba raghunāthā। rakhihahiṃ bhavana ki lehahiṃ sāthā॥ rāma biloki bandhu kara joreṃ। deha geha saba sana tṛnu toreṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
What will Shri Raghunatha say to me? Will He keep me at home, or take me along? Shri Ramachandra saw His brother Lakshmana standing with folded hands, as one who had cut all ties with body and home.
बोले बचनु राम नय नागर। सील सनेह सरल सुख सागर॥ तात प्रेम बस जनि कदराहू। समुझि हृदयँ परिनाम उछाहू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bole bacanu rāma naya nāgara। sīla saneha sarala sukha sāgara॥ tāta prema basa jani kadarāhū। samujhi hṛdayaṃ parināma uchāhū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then Shri Ramachandra, adept in right conduct and an ocean of virtue, affection, simplicity, and bliss, spoke: "O son, do not be agitated by love. Understand in your heart the joy that will come in the end."
मातु पिता गुरु स्वामि सिख सिर धरि करहिं सुभायँ। लहेउ लाभु तिन्ह जनम कर नतरु जनमु जग जायँ॥ ७० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mātu pitā guru svāmi sikha sira dhari karahiṃ subhāyaṃ। laheu lābhu tinha janama kara nataru janamu jaga jāyaṃ॥ 70 ॥
Meaning:
Those who naturally place the teachings of mother, father, guru, and master upon their heads and follow them are the ones who have truly gained the benefit of being born; otherwise, life in the world is wasted.
अस जियँ जानि सुनहु सिख भाई। करहु मातु पितु पद सेवकाई॥ भवन भरतु रिपुसूदनु नाहीं। राउ बृद्ध मम दुखु मन माहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa jiyaṃ jāni sunahu sikha bhāī। karahu mātu pitu pada sevakāī॥ bhavana bharatu ripusūdanu nāhīṃ। rāu br̥ddha mama dukha mana māhīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O brother, knowing this in your heart, hear my counsel and serve the feet of your mother and father. Bharata and Shatrughna are not at home, the king is old, and my sorrow weighs upon his heart.
मैं बन जाउँ तुम्हहि लेइ साथा। होइ सबहि बिधि अवध अनाथा॥ गुरु पितु मातु प्रजा परिवारू। सब कहुँ परइ दुसह दुख भारू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ bana jāuṃ tumhahi lei sāthā। hoi sabahi bidhi avadha anāthā॥ guru pitu mātu prajā parivārū। saba kahuṃ parai dusaha dukha bhārū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
If I were to go to the forest with you in this condition, Ayodhya would become helpless in every way. A terrible burden of sorrow would fall upon the guru, father, mother, subjects, and the entire family.
रहहु करहु सब कर परितोषू। नतरु तात होइहि बड़ दोषू॥ जासु राज प्रिय प्रजा दुखारी। सो नृपु अवसि नरक अधिकारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rahahu karahu saba kara paritoṣū। nataru tāta hoihi baṛa doṣū॥ jāsu rāja priya prajā dukhārī। so nṛpu avasi naraka adhikārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Therefore remain here and continue to give contentment to all. Otherwise, O son, there will be a grave fault. A king whose beloved subjects remain unhappy in his kingdom is certainly destined for hell.
रहहु तात असि नीति बिचारी। सुनत लखनु भए ब्याकुल भारी॥ सिअरें बचन सूखि गए कैसें। परसत तुहिन तामरसु जैसें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rahahu tāta asi nīti bicārī। sunata lakhanu bhae byākula bhārī॥ siarẽ bacana sūkhi gae kaisẽ। parasata tuhina tāmarsu jaisẽ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O son, considering such wisdom, remain at home. On hearing this, Lakshmana became greatly distressed. How could he wither under these cool words, just as a lotus dries up when touched by frost!
उतरु न आवत प्रेम बस गहे चरन अकुलाइ। नाथ दासु मैं स्वामि तुम्ह तजहु त काह बसाइ॥ ७१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
utaru na āvata prema basa gahe carana akulāi। nātha dāsu maiṃ svāmi tumha tajahu ta kāha basāi॥ 71 ॥
Meaning:
Overcome by love, Lakshmana could not answer at all. In distress he seized Shri Rama's feet and said, "O Lord, I am your servant and you are my master; if you choose to abandon me, then what power do I have?"
दीन्हि मोहि सिख नीकि गोसाईं। लागि अगम अपनी कदराईं॥ नरबर धीर धरम धुर धारी। निगम नीति कहुँ ते अधिकारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dīnhi mohi sikha nīki gosāīṃ। lāgi agama apanī kadarāīṃ॥ narabara dhīra dharama dhura dhārī। nigama nīti kahuṃ te adhikārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, you have indeed given me very good counsel, but because of my own weakness it seemed unattainable to me. Only those noble men are fit for the teachings of the scriptures and policy who are steadfast and bear the pillar of dharma.
मैं सिसु प्रभु सनेहँ प्रतिपाला। मंदरु मेरु कि लेहिं मराला॥ गुर पितु मातु न जानउँ काहू। कहउँ सुभाउ नाथ पतिआहू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ sisu prabhu sanehaṃ pratipālā। mandaru meru ki lehiṃ marālā॥ guru pitu mātu na jānaūṃ kāhū। kahauṃ subhāu nātha patiāhū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
I am but a small child, reared in the affection of my Lord. Can even a swan lift Mount Mandara or Mount Meru? O Lord, I speak from my nature itself—please trust me: I know no guru, father, or mother.
जहँ लगि जगत सनेह सगाई। प्रीति प्रतीति निगम निजु गाई॥ मोरें सबइ एक तुम्ह स्वामी। दीनबंधु उर अंतरजामी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahaṃ lagi jagata saneha sagāī। prīti pratīti nigama niju gāī॥ moreṃ sabai eka tumha svāmī। dīnabaṃdhu ura aṃtarajāmī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
As far as the world knows bonds of affection, love, and trust—those too the Vedas themselves have sung of—O Lord, O friend of the lowly, O inner knower of all hearts, all of that is only You for me.
धरम नीति उपदेसिअ ताही। कीरति भूति सुगति प्रिय जाही॥ मन क्रम बचन चरन रत होई। कृपासिंधु परिहरिअ कि सोई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dharama nīti upadesia tāhī। kīrati bhūti sugati priya jāhī॥ mana krama bacana carana rata hoī। kṛpāsiṃdhu pariharia ki soī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
One should instruct in dharma and policy those to whom fame, prosperity, or good destiny are dear. But one who is devoted to Your feet in thought, word, and deed—O Ocean of mercy—should such a one also be abandoned?
करुनासिंधु सुबंधु के सुनि मृदु बचन बिनीत। समुझाए उर लाइ प्रभु जानि सनेहँ सभीत॥ ७२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karuṇāsiṃdhu subaṃdhu ke suni mṛdu bacana binīta। samujhāe ura lāi prabhu jāni sanehaṃ sabhīta॥ 72 ॥
Meaning:
The ocean of compassion, Lord Ramachandra, heard the gentle and humble words of His good brother, understood that they arose from fear born of affection, and then embraced him to console him.
मागहु बिदा मातु सन जाई। आवहु बेगि चलहु बन भाई॥ मुदित भए सुनि रघुबर बानी। भयउ लाभ बड़ गइ बड़ि हानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
māgahu bidā mātu sana jāī। āvahu begi calahu bana bhāī॥ mudita bhae suni raghubara bānī। bhayau lābha baṛa gaī baṛi hānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
[And he said:] O brother, go and seek leave from Mother, and quickly depart for the forest! Hearing the words of the noble Raghubar, Lakshmana rejoiced. A great loss was averted, and a great gain was made.
हरषित हृदयँ मातु पहिं आए। मनहुँ अंध फिरि लोचन पाए॥ जाइ जननि पग नायउ माथा। मनु रघुनंदन जानकि साथा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haraṣita hṛdayaṃ mātu pahiṃ āe। manahuṃ aṃdha phiri locana pāe॥ jāi janani paga nāyau māthā। manu raghunaṃdana jāniki sāthā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
With a joyful heart, he came to Mother Sumitra as though a blind man had regained his sight. He bowed his head at his mother's feet. Yet his heart was with Shri Ram and Janaki, the delight of the Raghu lineage.
पूँछे मातु मलिन मन देखी। लखन कही सब कथा बिसेषी॥ गई सहमि सुनि बचन कठोरा। मृगी देखि दव जनु चहु ओरा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pūṃche mātu malin mana dekhī। lakhana kahī saba kathā biseṣī॥ gaī sahami suni bacana kaṭhorā। mṛgī dekhi dava janu cahu orā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing his sad mind, Mother asked him the reason. Lakshmana told the whole story in detail. Hearing those harsh words, Sumitra was shaken, just as a doe trembles upon seeing forest fire all around.
लखन लखेउ भा अनरथ आजू। एहिं सनेह बस करब अकाजू॥ मागत बिदा सभय सकुचाहीं। जाइ संग बिधि कहिहि कि नाहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhana lakheu bhā anaratha ājū। ehiṃ saneha basa karaba akājū॥ māgata bidā sabhaya sakucāhīṃ। jāi saṃga bidhi kahihi ki nāhīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Lakshmana saw that calamity had come today. In affection, she might spoil the whole matter! So, while asking for leave, he shrank in fear, [thinking] whether she would say to go along or not.
समुझि सुमित्राँ राम सिय रूपु सुसीलु सुभाउ। नृप सनेहु लखि धुनेउ सिरु पापिनि दीन्ह कुदाउ॥ ७३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samujhi sumitrāṃ rāma siya rūpu susīlu subhāu। ṛpa sanehu lakhi dhuneu siru pāpini dīnha kudāu॥ 73 ॥
Meaning:
Sumitra, understanding the beauty, good conduct, and nature of Shri Ram and Shri Sita, and seeing the king's affection, struck her head in grief and said that the sinful Kaikeyi had played a cruel trick.