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148
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
यद्दव्यं बान्धवानां वा मित्राणां वा क्षये भवेत् ।
नाहं तत् प्रतिगृह्णीयां भक्षान् विषकृतानिव ॥
 
That prosperity which accrues by the
death of relatives or friends, I will never
accept that, like viands made of poison.
 
धर्ममर्थं च कामं च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण ।
इच्छामि भवतामर्थे एतत् प्रतिशृणोमि ते ॥
 
O Lakshmana, I swear to you, only
for your sake do I desire dharma, wealth,
love and the very earth.
 
भ्रातॄणां संग्रहार्थं च सुखार्थं चापि लक्ष्मण ।
राज्यमप्यहमिच्छामि सत्येनायुधमालमे ॥
 
O Lakshmana, I touch my weapon to
plight this truth, for the maintenance
and happiness of my brothers it is that I
desire the kingdom.
 
नेयं मम मही सौम्य दुर्लभा सागराम्बरा ।
न हीच्छेयमधर्मेण शकत्वमपि लक्ष्मण ॥
 
O dear Lakshmana, to me this earth
girt by the oceans is not difficult of
acquirement. But through unrighteous-
ness I do not desire even the status of
Indra.