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228
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
What shall I say to high-minded Kau-
salya, O Prince, when she asks me at
Ayodhya Where is my noble daughter-
in-law ? and how is she ?"
 
इति रामं महात्मानं विलपन्तमनाथवत् ।
उवाच लक्ष्मणो भ्राता वचनं युक्तमव्ययम् ॥
 
To the high-souled Rama who was lement-
ing thus like one devoid of hope (support),
his brother Lakshmana spoke these appro-
priate and unanswerable words:
 
संस्तम्भ राम भद्रं ते मा शुचः पुरुषोत्तम ।
नेहशानां मतिर्मन्दा भवत्यकलुषात्मनाम् ॥
 
"O Rama, best of men, control your-
self. Good betide you: do not give way
to grief. The mind of those who like you
are clear-sighted does not, surely, become
clouded.
 
उत्साहो बलवानार्य नास्त्युत्साहात् परं बलम् ।
सोत्साहस्यास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन् न किञ्चिदपि दुर्लभम् ॥
 
O noble one, hope is indeed mighty.
There is no power which is mightier than
hope. To one possessed of hope there is
nothing unattainable in this world.