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88
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
However, I have held on believing that I
should witness it (joy) in (the case of)
my son.
 
दश सप्त च वर्षाणि तव जातस्य राघव ।
आसितानि प्रकाङ्क्षन्त्या मया दुःखपरिक्षयम् ॥
 
Ten and seven years, O Raghava, since
your re-birth ( initiation as a Kshatriya )
have been spent by me expecting the
termination of my misery.
 
अपश्यन्ती तव मुखं परिपूर्णशशिप्रभम् ।
कृपणा वर्तयिष्यामि कथं कृपणजीविकाम् ॥
 
Without seeing your face, beautiful like
a full moon, how can I, wretched, live the
life of wretchedness ?"
 
तथा तु विलपन्तीं तां कौसल्यां राममातरम् ।
उवाच लक्ष्मणो दीनस्तत्कालसदृशं वचः ॥
 
To Rama's mother Kausalya who was
lamenting thus, the dejected Lakshmana
addressed words suited to the occasion :
 
न रोचते ममाप्येतदायें यद्राघवो वनम् ।
त्यक्त्वा राज्यश्रियं गच्छेत् स्त्रिया वाक्यवशं गतः ॥