[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Rāma story (Vālmīki and later versions)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana) › [The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) › 2.68.26 # The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki 2.68.26 Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa 2.68.26 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [2.68.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.68.26) ahaṃ hy apacitiṃ bhrātuḥ pituś ca sakalām imām vardhanaṃ yaśasaś cāpi kariṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ > He saw her weep whose offspring feed > In thousands over hill and mead, > And knew that in a mother's eye > Naught with a son, for love, can vie. > He deemed her, when the tears that came > From her sad eyes bedewed his frame, > Laden with their celestial scent, > Of living things most excellent, > If she these tears of sorrow shed > Who many a thousand children bred, > Think what a life of woe is left > Kaus'alyá, of her Ráma reft. > An only son was hers and she > Is rendered childless now by thee. > Here and hereafter, for thy crime, > Woe is thy lot through endless time. > And now, O Queen, without delay, > With all due honour will I pay > Both to my brother and my sire > The rites their several fates require. > Back to Ayodhyá will I bring > The long-armed chief, her lord and king, > And to the wood myself betake > Where hermit saints their dwelling make. > For, sinner both in deed and thought! > This hideous crime which thou hast wrought > I cannot bear, or live to see > The people's sad eyes bent on me. > Begone, to Dandak wood retire, > Or cast thy body to the fire, > Or bind around thy neck the rope: > No other refuge mayst thou hope. > When Ráma, lord of valour true, > Has gained the earth, his right and due, > Then, free from duty's binding debt, > My vanished sin shall I forget.' > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse - [Previous: 2.68.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.68.25) - [Next: 2.68.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.68.27) - [Up: 2.68](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.68) ## Translations (1) - [The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki~en-griffith.2.74.p4) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, English ## Other recensions (2) - [Critical edition, Ayodhyā- and Araṇyakāṇḍa (revised e-text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*crit-revised.2.68.26) — Sanskrit - [Southern recension](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*southern.2.68.26) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.68.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.68.26) · Pramāṇa