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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 27
In the previous Sarga Rāma tells Seetā that he had come to take leave of her and advices her on how she should manage herself in his absence.
In this Sarga, Seetā responds by beseeching him to take her with him to the Vana. She tells that she cannot live without him and she would not seek even heaven without him. She tells him that she would not be a burden to him and would not cause any inconvenience to him. She says that she would spend time happily enjoying the beauty of the Vana along with him.
2.27.1
ஏவமுக்தா து வைதேஹீ ப்ரியார்ஹா ப்ரியவாதிநீ ।
ப்ரணயாதேவ ஸம்க்ருத்தா பர்தாரமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
ēvamuktā tu vaidēhī priyārhā priyavādinī ।
praṇayādēva saṃkruddhā bhartāramidamabravīt ॥
Seetā, who always spoke pleasantly,
and who deserved to hear only pleasantries
got angry, albeit only with love, and said to her husband:
2.27.2
கிமிதம் பாஷஸே ராம! வாக்யம் லகுதயா த்ருவம் ।
த்வயா யதபஹாஸ்யம் மே ஸ்ருத்வா நரவராத்மஜ ! ॥
kimidaṃ bhāṣasē rāma! vākyaṃ laghutayā dhruvam ।
tvayā yadapahāsyaṃ mē ṡrutvā naravarātmaja ! ॥
O Rāma! O son of the best among men!
Why are you talking so flippantly,
that I can’t help but laugh?
Custom holds that it is impolite for a wife to address her husband by name. Obviously this custom was not in vogue during the times of Rāmāyaṇa.
Notice Seetā addresses Rāma by name!
Salutations to Vālmeeki for daringly staying objective, and leaving the characters speak out their mind in the most straightforward manner.
That is one of the great qualities of this great epic. We will see this throughout the rest of Rāmāyaṇa to our surprise and delight.
Notice the veiled reference to Daṡaratha made by Seetā here.
2.27.3-4
ஆர்யபுத்ர பிதா மாதா ப்ராதா புத்ரஸ்ததா ஸ்நுஷா ।
ஸ்வாநி புண்யாநி புஞ்ஜாநா: ஸ்வம் ஸ்வம் பாக்யமுபாஸதே ॥
பர்துர்பாக்யம் து பார்யைகா ப்ராப்நோதி புருஷர்ஷப! ।
அதஸ்சைவாஹமாதிஷ்டா வநே வஸ்தவ்யமித்யபி ॥
āryaputra pitā mātā bhrātā putrastathā snuṣā ।
svāni puṇyāni bhuñjānāḥ svaṃ svaṃ bhāgyamupāsatē ॥
bharturbhāgyaṃ tu bhāryaikā prāpnōti puruṣarṣabha! ।
ataṡcaivāhamādiṣṭā vanē vastavyamityapi ॥
O scion of nobility!
Father, mother, brother, son and daughter-in-law,
reap the fruit of their own past deeds
and enjoy their own fortunes.
But, O bull among men,
a wife on the other hand,
shares her husband’s good fortune or lack thereof.
Hence, I consider myself also
to be ordered to dwell in the Vana.
2.27.5
ந பிதா நாத்மஜோ நாத்மா ந மாதா ந ஸகீஜந: ।
இஹ ப்ரேத்ய ச நாரீணாம் பதிரேகோ கதிஸ்ஸதா ॥
na pitā nātmajō nātmā na mātā na sakhījanaḥ ।
iha prētya ca nārīṇāṃ patirēkō gatissadā ॥
Neither father, nor son, nor mother, nor friends
is the ultimate for a woman.
But always, in life as well as in death,
husband is the ultimate for a woman.
2.27.6
யதி த்வம் ப்ரஸ்திதோ துர்கம் வநமத்யைவ ராகவ! ।
அக்ரதஸ்தே கமிஷ்யாமி ம்ருத்நந்தீ குஸகண்டகாந் ॥
yadi tvaṃ prasthitō durgaṃ vanamadyaiva rāghava! ।
agratastē gamiṣyāmi mṛdnantī kuṡakaṇṭakān ॥
Even if you walk into an impassable forest, O Rāghava,
I shall walk ahead of you, softening
the thorns and blades of Darbha grass for you!
What commitment and what clarity!
2.27.7
ஈர்ஷ்யாரோஷௌ பஹிஷ்க்ருத்ய புக்தஸேஷமிவோதகம் ।
நய மாம் வீர! விஸ்ரப்த: பாபம் மயி ந வித்யதே ॥
īrṣyārōṣau bahiṣkṛtya bhuktaṡēṣamivōdakam ।
naya māṃ vīra! visrabdhaḥ pāpaṃ mayi na vidyatē ॥
O Veera! Take me with you without any misgivings!
Please discard any irritation and anger
that I might have ever caused,
like the remainder of water that one has drunk!
I have not done anything wrong that I know of!
2.27.8
ப்ராஸாதாக்ரைர்விமாநைர்வா வைஹாயஸகதேந வா ।
ஸர்வாவஸ்தாகதா பர்து: பாதச்சாயா விஸிஷ்யதே ॥
prāsādāgrairvimānairvā vaihāyasagatēna vā ।
sarvāvasthāgatā bhartuḥ pādacchāyā viṡiṣyatē ॥
It is better for a wife to follow, at all times,
the footsteps of her husband like a shadow,
whether it is in the palaces or air cars or in the skies!
2.27.9
அநுஸிஷ்டாऽஸ்மி மாத்ரா ச பித்ரா ச விவிதாஸ்ரயம் ।
நாऽஸ்மி ஸம்ப்ரதி வக்தவ்யா வர்திதவ்யம் யதா மயா ॥
anuṡiṣṭā'smi mātrā ca pitrā ca vividhāṡrayam ।
nā'smi samprati vaktavyā vartitavyaṃ yathā mayā ॥
I have already been coached by my father and mother on
how I should conduct myself in various circumstances.
There is nothing that I need to be told anew.
2.27.10
அஹம் துர்கம் கமிஷ்யாமி வநம் புருஷவர்ஜிதம் ।
நாநாம்ருககணாகீர்ணம் ஸார்தூலவ்ருகஸேவிதம் ॥
ahaṃ durgaṃ gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ puruṣavarjitam ।
nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇaṃ ṡārdūlavṛkasēvitam ॥
I shall go to the Vana, even if it is
desolate, teeming with hosts of animals
and ranged by tigers and wild beasts.
2.27.11
ஸுகம் வநே நிவத்ஸ்யாமி யதைவ பவநே பிது: ।
அசிந்தயந்தீ த்ரீந்லோகாம்ஸ்ச்சிந்தயந்தீ பதிவ்ரதம் ॥
sukhaṃ vanē nivatsyāmi yathaiva bhavanē pituḥ ।
acintayantī trīnlōkāṃṡccintayantī pativratam ॥
I shall live in the Vana,
just as happily as in my father’s house.
I shall not be worried about
what happens in all the three worlds,
but only about being with my husband!
2.27.12
ஸுஸ்ரூஷமாணா தே நித்யம் நியதா ப்ரஹ்மசாரிணீ ।
ஸஹ ரம்ஸ்யே த்வயா வீர! வநேஷு மதுகந்திஷு ॥
ṡuṡrūṣamāṇā tē nityaṃ niyatā brahmacāriṇī ।
saha raṃsyē tvayā vīra! vanēṣu madhugandhiṣu ॥
I shall serve your needs every day
and observe austerities and discipline.
I shall enjoy life with you, O Veera,
in the woods filled with sweet fragrance of flowers.
2.27.13
த்வம் ஹி ஸக்தோ வநே கர்தும் ராம! ஸம்பரிபாலநம் ।
அந்யஸ்யாபி ஜநஸ்யேஹ கிம் புநர்மம மாநத! ॥
tvaṃ hi ṡaktō vanē kartuṃ rāma! samparipālanam ।
anyasyāpi janasyēha kiṃ punarmama mānada! ॥
O Rāma, you are capable of upholding the dignity
and taking good care of everyone in the Vana!
Then, what is there to worry about myself, specifically!
Seetā understands the additional burden Rāma has to bear to keep her safe in the Vana, which has its own perils!
2.27.14
ஸஹ த்வயா கமிஷ்யாமி வநமத்ய ந ஸம்ஸய: ।
நாஹம் ஸக்யா மஹாபாக! நிவர்தயிதுமுத்யதா ॥
saha tvayā gamiṣyāmi vanamadya na saṃṡayaḥ ।
nāhaṃ ṡakyā mahābhāga! nivartayitumudyatā ॥
Hence, I shall go to Vana along with you
and I have no second thoughts about it.
O blessed one! I cannot be dissuaded from this resolve of mine!
2.27.15
பலமூலாஸநா நித்யம் பவிஷ்யாமி ந ஸம்ஸய: ।
ந தே து:கம் கரிஷ்யாமி நிவஸந்தீ ஸஹ த்வயா ॥
phalamūlāṡanā nityaṃ bhaviṣyāmi na saṃṡayaḥ ।
na tē duḥkhaṃ kariṣyāmi nivasantī saha tvayā ॥
I shall survive every day on eating roots and fruits
and I have no second thoughts about it.
I shall not cause any trouble to you, by my living with you!
A promise that she fails to keep unfortunately, which creates a wreck in their marriage!
2.27.16
இச்சாமி ஸரிதஸ்ஸைலாந்பல்வலாநி வநாநி ச ।
த்ரஷ்டும் ஸர்வத்ர நிர்பீதா த்வயா நாதேந தீமதா ॥
icchāmi saritaṡṡailānpalvalāni vanāni ca ।
draṣṭuṃ sarvatra nirbhītā tvayā nāthēna dhīmatā ॥
I wish to see the rivers and the mountains, the ponds and woods,
knowing no fear whatsoever, being protected by you, the capable!
2.27.18
ஹம்ஸகாரண்டவாகீர்ணா: பத்மிநீஸ்ஸாதுபுஷ்பிதா: ।
இச்சேயம் ஸுகிநீ த்ரஷ்டும் த்வயா வீரேண ஸங்கதா ॥
haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇāḥ padminīssādhupuṣpitāḥ ।
icchēyaṃ sukhinī draṣṭuṃ tvayā vīrēṇa saṅgatā ॥
I wish to see, happy in your company, O Veera,
the pools where the lotuses bloom
and swans and moorhens abound.
2.27.18
அபிஷேகம் கரிஷ்யாமி தாஸு நித்யம் யதவ்ரதா ।
ஸஹ த்வயா விஸாலாக்ஷ! ரம்ஸ்யே பரமநந்திநீ ॥
abhiṣēkaṃ kariṣyāmi tāsu nityaṃ yatavratā ।
saha tvayā viṡālākṣa! raṃsyē paramanandinī ॥
I shall find ultimate enjoyment,
having fun with you, O wide-eyed one,
bathing in them every day without fail!
2.27.19
ஏவம் வர்ஷஸஹஸ்ராணாம் ஸதம் வாऽஹம் த்வயா ஸஹ ।
வ்யதிக்ரமம் ந வேத்ஸ்யாமி ஸ்வர்கோऽபி ந ஹி மே மத: ॥
ēvaṃ varṣasahasrāṇāṃ ṡataṃ vā'haṃ tvayā saha ।
vyatikramaṃ na vētsyāmi svargō'pi na hi mē mataḥ ॥
With you by my side, I should not know
even if a hundred thousand years pass by in this way.
I should not care even for heaven, without you!
2.27.20
ஸ்வர்கேऽபி ச விநா வாஸோ பவிதா யதி ராகவ ।
த்வயா மம நரவ்யாக்ர! நாஹம் தமபி ரோசயே ॥
svargē'pi ca vinā vāsō bhavitā yadi rāghava ।
tvayā mama naravyāghra! nāhaṃ tamapi rōcayē ॥
I would not like to live, O Raghava,
O tiger among men, without you, even in heaven!
2.27.21
அஹம் கமிஷ்யாமி வநம் ஸுதுர்கமம்
ம்ருகாயுதம் வாநரவாரணைர்யுதம் ।
வநே நிவத்ஸ்யாமி யதா பிதுர்க்ருஹே
தவைவ பாதாவுபக்ருஹ்ய ஸம்யதா ॥
ahaṃ gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ sudurgamaṃ
mṛgāyutaṃ vānaravāraṇairyutam ।
vanē nivatsyāmi yathā piturgṛhē
tavaiva pādāvupagṛhya saṃyatā ॥
I shall go to the impassable forest
where deer, monkeys and elephants abound and
shall live there as if it were my father’s house,
cleaving to your feet with all of my mind.
2.27.22
அநந்யபாவாமநுரக்தசேதஸம்
த்வயா வியுக்தாம் மரணாயநிஸ்சிதாம் ।
நயஸ்வ மாம் ஸாது குருஷ்வ யாசநாம்
ந தே மயாऽதோ குருதா பவிஷ்யதி ॥
ananyabhāvāmanuraktacētasaṃ
tvayā viyuktāṃ maraṇāyaniṡcitām ।
nayasva māṃ sādhu kuruṣva yācanām
na tē mayā'tō gurutā bhaviṣyati ॥
I have no thought for anyone but you.
I love you with all my heart.
I am resolved to die if I cannot be with you.
Grant my request and take me with you.
This, I hope, will not add to your burden!
2.27.23
ததா ப்ருவாணாமபி தர்மவத்ஸலோ
ந ச ஸ்ம ஸீதாம் ந்ருவரோ நிநீஷதி ।
உவாச சைநாம் பஹு ஸந்நிவர்தநே
வநே நிவாஸஸ்ய ச து:கிதாம் ப்ரதி ॥
tathā bruvāṇāmapi dharmavatsalō
na ca sma sītāṃ nṛvarō ninīṣati ।
uvāca caināṃ bahu sannivartanē
vanē nivāsasya ca duḥkhitāṃ prati ॥
Even while she beseeched him thus,
the best among men, who deeply loved Dharma,
would not agree to take Seetā with him.
He mentioned about the many difficulties
of forest life, to dissuade her.
Rāma’s response to Seetā’s request is in the next Sarga.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே ஸப்தவிம்ஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptaviṃṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the twenty seventh Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.