Sita Resolves to Accompany Rama
Rama asks Sita to remain in Ayodhya, but she refuses separation from her lord. With love, dharma, and wifely devotion, she firmly declares her wish to accompany him.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 9 / 49
Episode Text
मातु समीप कहत सकुचाहीं। बोले समउ समुझि मन माहीं॥ राजकुमारि सिखावनु सुनहू। आन भाँति जियँ जनि कछु गुनहू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mātu samīpa kahata sakucāhīṃ। bole samau samujhi mana māhīṃ॥ rājakumāri sikhāvanu sunahū। āna bhāṃti jiyã jani kachhu gunahū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
He hesitated to speak in front of his mother. But understanding in his heart that this was the right moment, he said, 'O princess, listen to my counsel. Do not take it in any other way in your heart.'
आपन मोर नीक जौं चहहू। बचनु हमार मानि गृह रहहू॥ आयसु मोर सासु सेवकाई। सब बिधि भामिनि भवन भलाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āpana mora nīka jaun cahahū। bacanu hamāra māni gṛha rahahū॥ āyasu mora sāsu sevakāī। saba bidhi bhāmini bhavana bhalāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
If you desire what is good for both yourself and me, then obey my word and remain at home. O gentle lady, my command will be followed, and service to your mother-in-law will be proper. In staying at home, there is every kind of welfare.
एहि ते अधिक धरमु नहिं दूजा। सादर सासु ससुर पद पूजा॥ जब जब मातु करिहि सुधि मोरी। होइहि प्रेम बिकल मति भोरी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi te adhika dharamu nahiṃ dūjā। sādara sāsu sasura pada pūjā॥ jaba jaba mātu karihi sudhi morī। hoihi prema bikala mati bhorī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
There is no other dharma greater than respectfully serving and worshipping the feet of one's mother-in-law and father-in-law. Whenever mother remembers me, and in love becomes overwhelmed so that her mind grows faint and simple, ...
तब तब तुम्ह कहि कथा पुरानी। सुंदरि समुझाएहु मृदु बानी॥ कहउँ सुभायँ सपथ सत मोही। सुमुखि मातु हित राखउँ तोही॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba taba tumha kahi kathā purānī। sundari samujhāehu mṛdu bānī॥ kahauṃ subhāyã sapatha sata mohī। sumukhi mātu hita rākhauṃ tohī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O lovely one, again and again explain this to her with gentle words by telling old stories. O gentle-faced one, I swear to you many times: I say this from my very nature—that I keep you at home only for mother's sake.
गुर श्रुति संमत धरम फलु पाइअ बिनहिं कलेस। हठ बस सब संकट सहे गालव नहुष नरेस॥ ६१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gura śruti saṃmata dharama phalu pāi<a> binahīṃ kalesa। haṭha basa saba saṃkaṭa sahe gālava nahuṣa naresa॥ 61 ॥
Meaning:
[By obeying my instruction and staying at home] you obtain the fruit of dharma approved by the guru and the Vedas without hardship. But under the rule of stubbornness, Gālava and King Nahusha and others endured only troubles.
मैं पुनि करि प्रवान पितु बानी। बेगि फिरब सुनु सुमुखि सयानी॥ दिवस जात नहिं लागिहि बारा। सुंदरि सिखवनु सुनहु हमारा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ puni kari pravāna pitu bānī। begi phiraba sunu sumukhi sayānī॥ divasa jāta nahiṃ lāgihi bārā। suṃdarī sikhavanu sunahu hamārā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O gentle and wise one, listen: I too will fulfill my father's command and return quickly. The days will pass, and the time will not be far off. O fair lady, listen to this counsel of ours.
जौं हठ करहु प्रेम बस बामा। तौ तुम्ह दुखु पाउब परिनामा॥ काननु कठिन भयंकरु भारी। घोर घामु हिम बारि बयारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jauṃ haṭha karahu prema basa bāmā। tau tumhaṃ dukhu pāuba parināmā॥ kānanu kaṭhina bhayaṃkaru bhārī। ghora ghāmu hima bāri bayārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O fair one, if you persist in stubbornness out of love, you will suffer in the end. The forest is exceedingly harsh and terrifying; its heat, cold, rain, and winds are all dreadful.
कुस कंटक मग काँकर नाना। चलब पयादेहिं बिनु पदत्राना॥ चरन कमल मृदु मंजु तुम्हारे। मारग अगम भूमिधर भारे॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kusa kaṃṭaka maga kāṃkara nānā। calaba payādehiṃ binu padatrānā॥ carana kamala mr̥du maṃju tumhāre। māraga agama bhūmidhara bhāre॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The path is strewn with kusa grass, thorns, and many stones. One must walk barefoot, without sandals. Your lotus feet are soft and lovely, and the road has great, impassable mountains.
कंदर खोह नदीं नद नारे। अगम अगाध न जाहिं निहारे॥ भालु बाघ बृक केहरि नागा। करहिं नाद सुनि धीरजु भागा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaṃdara khoha nadīṃ nada nāre। agama agādha na jāhiṃ nihāre॥ bhālu bāgha br̥ka kehari nāgā। karahiṃ nāda suni dhairaju bhāgā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
There are caves, hollows, rivers, streams, and rivulets—so inaccessible and deep that one cannot even look upon them. Bears, tigers, wolves, lions, and serpents make such cries that courage itself flees on hearing them.
भूमि सयन बलकल बसन असनु कंद फल मूल। ते कि सदा सब दिन मिलहिं सबुइ समय अनुकूल॥ ६२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūmi sayana balakala basana asanu kaṃda phala mūla। te ki sadā saba dina milahiṃ sabui samaya anukūla॥ 62 ॥
Meaning:
Sleeping on the ground, wearing bark garments, and eating roots, bulbs, and fruits—will these be available every day, always? Everything can be obtained only at its proper time.
नर अहार रजनीचर चरहीं। कपट बेष बिधि कोटिक करहीं॥ लागइ अति पहार कर पानी। बिपिन बिपति नहिं जाइ बखानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nara ahāra rajanīcara carahīṃ। kapaṭa beṣa bidhi koṭika karahīṃ॥ lāgai ati pahāra kara pānī। bipina bipati nahiṃ jāi bakhānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Man-eating demons roam about in the forest, taking on thousands upon thousands of deceitful disguises. Even the mountain water is hard to bear. The dangers of the forest cannot be described.
ब्याल कराल बिहग बन घोरा। निसिचर निकर नारि नर चोरा॥ डरपहिं धीर गहन सुधि आएँ। मृगलोचनि तुम्ह भीरु सुभाएँ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
byāla karāla bihaga bana ghorā। nisichara nikara nāri nara chorā॥ ḍarapahiṃ dhīra gahana sudhi āeṃ। mr̥galocani tumhaṃ bhīru subhāeṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Terrible serpents, fearsome birds, and hordes of demons who steal men and women dwell in the forest. Even brave people grow afraid when they merely remember its wildness. And you, O doe-eyed one, are timid by nature!
हंसगवनि तुम्ह नहिं बन जोगू। सुनि अपजसु मोहि देइहि लोगू॥ मानस सलिल सुधाँ प्रतिपाली। जिअइ कि लवन पयोधि मराली॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haṃsagavani tumhaṃ nahiṃ bana jogū। suni apajasu mohi deihi lāgū॥ mānasa salila sudhāṃ pratipālī। jiaī ki lavana payodhi marālī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O swan-gaited one, you are not suited to the forest. If people hear that you are going there, they will blame me. Can a swan reared on the nectar-like waters of Lake Manas live in the salty ocean?
नव रसाल बन बिहरनसीला। सोह कि कोकिल बिपिन करीला॥ रहहु भवन अस हृदयँ बिचारी। चंदबदनि दुखु कानन भारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nava rasāla bana biharanasīlā। soha ki kokila bipina karīlā॥ rahahu bhavana asa hṛdayaṃ bicārī। caṃdabadani dukhu kānana bhārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Does the cuckoo that sports in groves of young mango trees look graceful in a forest of karīla shrubs? O moon-faced one, reflect on this in your heart and stay at home. The forest holds great hardship.
सहज सुहृद गुर स्वामि सिख जो न करइ सिर मानि। सो पछिताइ अघाइ उर अवसि होइ हित हानि॥ ६३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahaja suhṛda gura svāmi sikha jo na karai sira māni। so pachitāi aghāi ura avasi hoi hita hāni॥ 63 ॥
Meaning:
One who does not, with due respect, accept the instruction of a guru and master who naturally desires his welfare, will regret it deeply in his heart; harm to his own good will surely follow.
सुनि मृदु बचन मनोहर पिय के। लोचन ललित भरे जल सिय के॥ सीतल सिख दाहक भइ कैसें। चकइहि सरद चंद निसि जैसें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni mr̥du bacana manohara piya ke। locana lalita bhare jala siya ke॥ sītala sikha dāhaka bhaī kaisaiṃ। cakaihi sarada canda nisi jaisaiṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing her beloved's soft, charming words, Sita's lovely eyes filled with tears. How could such cooling counsel become burning to her, as an autumn moonlit night is to a chakor bird?
उतरु न आव बिकल बैदेही। तजन चहत सुचि स्वामि सनेही॥ बरबस रोकि बिलोचन बारी। धरि धीरजु उर अवनिकुमारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
utaru na āva bikala baidehī। tajana cahata suci svāmi sanehī॥ barabasa roki bilocana bārī। dhari dhairaju ura avanikumārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Vaidehi could not bring herself to answer. She became distressed, thinking that her pure and loving Lord wished to leave her. Forcing back the tears in her eyes, the daughter of the earth, Sita, gathered courage in her heart,
लागि सासु पग कह कर जोरी। छमबि देबि बड़ि अबिनय मोरी॥ दीन्हि प्रानपति मोहि सिख सोई। जेहि बिधि मोर परम हित होई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lāgi sāsu paga kaha kara joṛī। chamabi debi baḍi abinaya morī॥ dīnhī prānapati mohi sikha soī। jehi bidhi mora parama hita hoī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
She fell at her mother-in-law's feet, folded her hands, and said, 'O lady, forgive my great discourtesy. My lord of life has given me only that instruction which brings about my highest good.'
प्राननाथ करुनायतन सुंदर सुखद सुजान। तुम्ह बिनु रघुकुल कुमुद बिधु सुरपुर नरक समान॥ ६४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prānanātha karuṇāyatana suṃdara sukhada sujāna। tumhaṃ binu raghukula kumuda bidhu surapura naraka samāna॥ 64 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord of life, abode of compassion, beautiful one, giver of joy, and wise one! O moon of the Raghu race, without you even heaven is like hell for me.
मातु पिता भगिनी प्रिय भाई। प्रिय परिवारु सुहृद समुदाई॥ सासु ससुर गुर सजन सहाई। सुत सुंदर सुसील सुखदाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mātu pitā bhaginī priya bhāī। priya parivāru suhṛda samudāī॥ sāsu sasura gura sajana sahāī। suta suṃdara susīla sukhadāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Mother, father, sister, dear brother, beloved family, circle of friends, mother-in-law, father-in-law, guru, kinsfolk, helpers, and a beautiful, virtuous, joy-giving son—
जहँ लगि नाथ नेह अरु नाते। पिय बिनु तियहि तरनिहु ते ताते॥ तनु धनु धामु धरनि पुर राजू। पति बिहीन सबु सोक समाजू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahaṃ lagi nātha neha aru nāte। piya binu tiyahi taranihu te tāte॥ tanu dhanu dhāmu dharani pura rājū। pati bihīna sabu soka samājū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, as long as there are affection and relationships, without her husband even the sun is scorching for a woman. Body, wealth, home, earth, city, and kingdom—all these, without a husband, become an assembly of sorrow.
भोग रोगसम भूषन भारू। जम जातना सरिस संसारू॥ प्राननाथ तुम्ह बिनु जग माहीं। मो कहुँ सुखद कतहुँ कछु नाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhoga rogasama bhūṣana bhārū। jama jātanā sarisa saṃsārū॥ prānanātha tumhaṃ binu jaga māhīṃ। mo kahuṃ sukhada katahuṃ kachu nāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Pleasures are like disease, ornaments are a burden, and the world is like Yama's torments. O Lord of life, without you there is nowhere in the world anything that can give me happiness.
जिय बिनु देह नदी बिनु बारी। तैसिअ नाथ पुरुष बिनु नारी॥ नाथ सकल सुख साथ तुम्हारें। सरद बिमल बिधु बदनु निहारें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jiya binu deha nadī binu bārī। taisia nātha puruṣa binu nārī॥ nātha sakala sukha sātha tumhāreṃ। sarada bimala bidhu badanu nihāreṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Just as a body without life and a river without water are nothing, so too, O Lord, is a woman without a man. O Lord, by staying with you and beholding your face, bright as the spotless autumn moon, I would attain all happiness.
खग मृग परिजन नगरु बनु बलकल बिमल दुकूल। नाथ साथ सुरसदन सम परनसाल सुख मूल॥ ६५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khaga mr̥ga parijana nagaru bana balakala bimala dukūla। nātha sātha surasadana sama paranasāla sukha mūla॥ 65 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, with you birds and beasts will be my companions, the forest will be my city, bark-cloth my pure garments, and the leaf-hut itself will be the very source of bliss like heaven.
बनदेबीं बनदेव उदारा। करिहहिं सासु ससुर सम सारा॥ कुस किसलय साथरी सुहाई। प्रभु सँग मंजु मनोज तुराई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
banadebīṃ banadeva udārā। karihahiṃ sāsu sasura sama sārā॥ kusa kisalaya sātharī suhāī। prabhu saṅga maṃju manoja turāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The benevolent forest goddesses and forest gods themselves will care for me like mother- and father-in-law, and a lovely bed of kusa grass and tender leaves will, with the Lord, be like Kama's charming couch.
कंद मूल फल अमिअ अहारू। अवध सौध सत सरिस पहारू॥ छिनु छिनु प्रभुपद कमल बिलोकी। रहिहउँ मुदित दिवस जिमि कोकी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaṃda mūla phala amia ahārū। avadha sauḍha sata sarisa pahārū॥ china china prabhupada kamala bilokī। rahihauṃ mudita divasa jimi kokī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Roots, bulbs, and fruits will be nectar-like food, and the forest hills will be like hundreds of palaces in Ayodhya. Seeing the Lord's lotus feet again and again, I would remain joyful like a kokila in the daytime.
बन दुख नाथ कहे बहुतेरे। भय बिषाद परिताप घनेरे॥ प्रभु बियोग लवलेस समाना। सब मिलि होहिं न कृपानिधाना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bana dukha nātha kahe bahutere। bhaya biṣāda paritāpa ghanere॥ prabhu biyoga lavalesa samānā। saba mili hohiṃ na kṛpānidhānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, you have spoken of many forest hardships, many fears, sorrows, and intense sufferings. But, O treasure of mercy, all of them together are not even equal to a fraction of the sorrow of separation from you.
अस जियँ जानि सुजान सिरोमनि। लेइअ संग मोहि छाड़िअ जनि॥ बिनती बहुत करौं का स्वामी। करुनामय उर अंतरजामी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa jiyaṃ jāni sujāna siromaṇi। leiā saṅga mohi chāṛia jani॥ binatī bahuta karauṃ kā svāmī। karuṇāmaya ura aṃtarajāmī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Knowing this in your heart, O crest jewel among the wise, please take me with you; do not leave me here. O Lord, what more can I plead? You are full of compassion and the indwelling knower of every heart.
राखिअ अवध जो अवधि लगि रहत न जनिअहिं प्रान। दीनबंधु सुंदर सुखद सील सनेह निधान॥ ६६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rākhia avadha jo avadhi lagi rahat na janiāhiṃ prāna। dīnabaṃdhu suṃdara sukhada sīla saneha nidhāna॥ 66 ॥
Meaning:
O friend of the poor, O beautiful one, giver of happiness, treasure of virtue and love! If you keep me in Ayodhya until the appointed term is over, know that my life will not survive.
मोहि मग चलत न होइहि हारी। छिनु छिनु चरन सरोज निहारी॥ सबहि भाँति पिय सेवा करिहौं। मारग जनित सकल श्रम हरिहौं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mohi maga calata na hoihi hārī। chinu chinu carana saroja nihārī॥ sabahi bhāṃti piya sevā karihauṃ। māraga janita sakala śrama harihauṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
As I keep looking at your lotus feet every moment, I will not grow tired on the road. O beloved, I shall serve you in every way, and I will remove all fatigue caused by the journey.
पाय पखारि बैठि तरु छाहीं। करिहउँ बाउ मुदित मन माहीं॥ श्रम कन सहित स्याम तनु देखें। कहँ दुख समउ प्रानपति पेखें॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pāya pakhāri baiṭhi taru chāhīṃ। karihauṃ bāu mudita mana māhīṃ॥ śrama kana sahita syāma tanu dekheṃ। kahaṃ dukha samau prānapati pekheṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
I will wash your feet, sit in the shade of a tree, and gladly fan you with a cheerful mind. When I see your dark-complexioned body marked with drops of sweat—how can there be any place for sorrow when I am beholding my lord?
सम महि तृन तरुपल्लव डासी। पाय पलोटिहि सब निसि दासी॥ बार बार मृदु मूरति जोही। लागिहि तात बयारि न मोही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sama mahi tṛna tarupallava ḍāsī। pāya paloṭihi saba nisi dāsī॥ bāra bāra mṛdu mūrati jōhī। lāgihi tāta bayāri na mohī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
On the level ground, with grass and tree leaves spread out, this maidservant will massage your feet throughout the night. Looking again and again at your tender form, even warm air will not trouble me.
को प्रभु सँग मोहि चितवनिहारा। सिंघबधुहि जिमि ससक सिआरा॥ मैं सुकुमारि नाथ बन जोगू। तुम्हहि उचित तप मो कहुँ भोगू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ko prabhu saṅga mohi citavanihārā। siṃghabadhuhi jimi sasaka siārā॥ maiṃ sukumāri nātha bana jogū। tumhahi ucita tapa mo kahuṃ bhogū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Who is there that can even look at me while I am with you, O Lord? No one can; just as a hare or a jackal cannot face a lioness. I am delicate, and you, my lord, are fit for the forest. Austerity is proper for you, and enjoyment for me?
ऐसेउ बचन कठोर सुनि जौं न हृदउ बिलगान। तौ प्रभु बिषम बियोग दुख सहिहहिं पावँर प्रान॥ ६७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aiseu bacana kaṭhora suni jauṃ na hṛdau bilagāna। tau prabhu biṣama biyoga dukha sahihahiṃ pāvaṃra prāna॥ 67 ॥
Meaning:
Even after hearing such harsh words, when my heart did not break, then, O Lord, it seems these wretched breaths will endure the terrible sorrow of separation from you.
अस कहि सीय बिकल भइ भारी। बचन बियोगु न सकी सँभारी॥ देखि दसा रघुपति जियँ जाना। हठि राखें नहिं राखिहि प्राना॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi sīya bikala bhaī bhārī। bacanu biyogu na sakī saṃbhārī॥ dekhi dasā raghupati jiyaṃ jānā। haṭhi rākhẽ nahiṃ rākhihi prānā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Having said this, Sita became greatly distressed. She could not even bear the thought of being separated from his words. Seeing her condition, Shri Raghunathji understood in his heart that if she were kept here by force, she would not preserve her life.
कहेउ कृपाल भानुकुलनाथा। परिहरि सोचु चलहु बन साथा॥ नहिं बिषाद कर अवसरु आजू। बेगि करहु बन गवन समाजू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaheu kṛpāla bhānukulanāthā। parihari socu calahu bana sāthā॥ nahiṃ biṣāda kara avasaru ājū। begi karahu bana gavana samājū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then the compassionate Lord of the solar race, Shri Ramachandra, said, "Leave aside sorrow and come with me to the forest. Today is not the time for grief. Quickly make ready for departure to the forest."