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158
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Vasishtha thirsting for a sight of Rama,
went towards the same place, behind the
wives of Dasaratha.
 
तासां रामस्समुत्थाय जग्राह चरणान् शुभान् ।
मातृणां मनुजव्याघ्रः सर्वासां सत्यसङ्गरः ॥
 
Rama, foremost of men and keeper
of his word, arose and took hold of the
auspicious feet of all his mothers.
 
सौमित्रिरपि ताः सर्वा मातृः संप्रेक्ष्य दुःखितः ।
अभ्यवादयतासक्तं शनै रामादनन्तरम् ॥
 
Lakshmana, the son of Sumitra, also
looked sadly at all the mothers and saluted
them after Rama slowly and affectionately.
 
सीताऽपि चरणांस्तासाम् उपसंगृह्य दुःखिता।
श्वश्रूणामथ्रुपूर्णाक्षी सा बभूवाग्रतः स्थिता ॥
 
The distressed Sita also touched the
feet of the mothers-in-law and stood before
them with eyes full of tears.
 
पादावासाद्य जग्राह वसिष्ठस्य च राघवः ॥
 
And Rama, reaching the feet of Vasishtha,
 
took hold of them in salutation.