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306
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Lakshmana should be
 
asked of his
 
welfare, as from me. For Lakshmana is
always gentle and pure and competent and
dear to Rama.
 
यथा हि वानरश्रेष्ठ दुःखक्षयकरो भवेत् ।
त्वमस्मिन् कार्यनिर्योगे प्रमाणं हरिसत्तम ॥
 
0 best of monkeys, you are my sole
refuge in the conduct of this business so.
that Rama should end my woes.
 
राघवस्त्वत्समारम्भान्मयि यत्नपरो भवेत् ।
इदं ब्रूयाश्च मे नाथं शूरं रामं पुनः पुनः ॥
Through this attempt of yours, Raghava
should bestir himself. Tell this to my heroic
lord Rama, again and again :
 
जीवितं धारयिष्यामि मासं दशरथात्मज ।
ऊर्ध्व मासान्न जीवेयं सत्येनाहं ब्रवीमि ते ॥
 
'O Rama, son of Dasaratha, I shall
keep up my life for a month. Beyond
that month, I will not live. I tell this to
you with an oath.'
 
ततो वस्त्रगतं मुक्त्वा दिव्यं चूडामणि शुभम् ।
प्रदेयो राघवायेति सीता हनुमते ददौ ॥