Sri Valmiki Ramayanam -Ayodhya Kanda ( Book 2) Sarga 42 to 52

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar,   Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 42

Introduction

The dust raised by Rama’s chariot having disappeared for a while, Dasaratha feels dejected and fell insensible on ground. When Kaikeyi comes forward to support him he scolds and asks her not to touch him. Kausalya then lifts him up and persuades him to return to their house. His personal attendants take him to Kausalya’s apartments and seeing him plunged in grief, Kausalya seats herself beside him and began to lament in various ways.

yaavat tu niryataH tasya rajo ruupam adR^ishyata |
na eva ikSvaaku varaH taavat samjahaara aatma cakSuSii || 2-42-1

1. yaavat= so long as; rajoruupam= the appearance of dust; adR^ishyata= was seen; tasya= (while) Rama; niryataH= was going; taavat= so long; ikshhvaakuvaraH= Dasaratha the best of Ikshvakus; naiva samjahaara= did not withdraw; aatmachakshhushhii= his eyes.

As long as the dust raised by the wheels of Rama’s chariot could be seen, so long did the king not withdraw his gaze from it.

yaavad raajaa priyam putram pashyati atyanta dhaarmikam |
taavad vyavardhata iva asya dharaNyaam putra darshane || 2-42-2

2. yaavat=As long as; raajaa=the king; pashyati=was seeing; priyam=his beloved; putram=son; atyanta dhaarmikam =who was exceedingly virtuous; taavat=so long; dharaNyaam=the dust in earth; vyavardhateva=appeared to be raising; asya putra darshane=for the purpose of seeing his son.

As long as the king was seeing his beloved son who was exceedingly virtuous, so long did the dust in the earth appear to be rising for the purpose of seeing his son.

na pashyati rajo api asya yadaa raamasya bhuumipaH |
tadaa aartaH ca viSaNNaH ca papaata dharaNii tale || 2-42-3

3. yadaa= When; rajo api=the dust assuredly, asya raamasya= of the Rama,na pashyati= was no longer seen; tadaa= then; bhuumipaH= the king; aartaHcha= afflicted by; vishhaNNaHcha= dejection; papaata= fell; dharaNiitale= on ground.

When the dust raised by Rama’s chariot was no longer visible, the unfortunate king afflicted by dejection, fell insensible on ground.

tasya dakSiNam anvagaat kausalyaa baahum anganaa |
vaamam ca asya anvagaat paarshvam kaikeyii bharata priyaa || 2-42-4

4. kausalya= Kausalya; aNganaa= his wife; anvaagaat= took place; tasya dakshhiNam baahum= on his right side .kaikeyiicha= Kaikeyi ;sumadhyamaa= of charming limbs; anvagaat= took her place; vaamam= on the left; paarshvam= side.

When Dasaratha fell down, Kausalya his wife took her place on his right side to lift him up and Kaikeyi of charming limbs took her place on his left side.

taam nayena ca sampanno dharmeNa nivayena ca |
uvaaca raajaa kaikeyiim samiikSya vyathita indriyaH || 2-42-5

5. raajaa= The king, sampannaH = endowed with; nayena= wisdom; dharmeNa= virtue; vinayenacha= and discretion; samiikshhya = seeing; taam kaikeyiim = that Kaikeyi; uvaacha =said to her; vyathitendriyaH = in his agitated senses.

The king endowed with wisdom virtue and discretion seeing Kaikeyi beside him, said to her in great agitation as follows:

kaikeyi maa mama angaani spraakSiis tvam duSTa caariNii |
na hi tvaam draSTum icchaami na bhaaryaa na ca baandhavii || 2-42-6

6. kaikeyi=Oh,Kaikeyi! tvam = you dushTachaariNii= of wicked conduct; maa spraakshhii =do not touch; mama=my; aNgaani=limbs; nahi ichchhaami=I do not want; drashhTum=to see; tvaam =you; na bhaaryaa = are not my wife; na =nor; baandhavii =a relative

“Oh, wicked Kaikeyi! Do not touch my limbs. I do not wish to see you .You are no longer my wife nor a relative.”

ye ca tvaam upajiivanti na aham teSaam na te mama |
kevala artha paraam hi tvaam tyakta dharmaam tyajaamy aham || 2-42-7

7. aham= I; na= am not; ye cha= of those; anujivanti= who are; dependent ,tvaam= on you, na= nor; te= are they; mama= on me. aham= I; tyajaami= discord; tvaam= you; tvaktadharmaam= who left righteousness; kevalaarthaparaam= and interested in avariciousness alone.

“I am not of those who are dependent on you nor are they anything to me. I discord you, by whom righteousness has been discorded and who are solely interested in avariciousness.”

agR^ihNaam yac ca te paaNim agnim paryaNayam ca yat |
anujaanaami tat sarvam asmiml loke paratra ca || 2-42-8

8. tatsarvam= All that; aagR^hNaamitiyat= by taking; te= your; paaNim =hand; paryaNayamchayat= circumabubulating; agnim= the sacred fire; anujaanaami=I renounce; asmin loke= in this world; paratracha= and the next.

All that contract which I entered into by taking your hand and circumambulating the sacred fire, I now renounce in this world and the next. ”

bharataH cet pratiitaH syaat raajyam praapya idam avyayam |
yan me sa dadyaat pitr artham maa maa tat dattam aagamat || 2-42-9

9. syaatchet= In case, bharataH= Bharata; pratititaH= is cheerful man, praapya= after obtaining; idam raajyam= this kingdom ; avyayam= which is imperishable; yat= what ever; dadyaat= is given ; me = to me; pitrartham= in the form of obsequial rites; maagamat = let it reach; maam= me.

“If Bharata feels cheerful for having got this kingdom which is imperishable, let the obsequial rites performed to me after my death do not reach me"

atha reNu samudhvastam tam utthaapya nara adhipam |
nyavartata tadaa devii kausalyaa shoka karshitaa || 2-42-10

10. atha=Therafter;kausalya= Kausalya; devii= the queen; shokakarshitaa =overwhelmed with grief; samutthaapya = lifted up; tam naraadhipam= that king; reNusamuddhvastam=who was covered with dust; tadaa= then; nyavartata = returned (home).

Meanwhile Kausalya the queen overwhelmed with grief, lifted up the king who was covered with dust and returned to her house.

hatvaa iva braahmaNam kaamaat spR^iSTvaa agnim iva paaNinaa |
anvatapyata dharma aatmaa putram samcintya taapasam || 2-42-11

11. dharmaatma= The virtuous Dasaratha ; samchinthya :thinking deeply of; putram= his son ;raaghavam= Rama; anvatapyata= was desolated; hatveva= as one who has slain; brahmaNam= a Brahmin; kaamaat = intentionally; spR^ishhTvaa= or as touching; agnim= fire , paaNinaa = by hand.

The virtuous monarch, thinking deeply of his son Rama, was so desolated as one who has slain a brahmin intentionally or as touching the fire by hand.

nivR^itya eva nivR^itya eva siidataH ratha vartmasu |
raaj~no na atibabhau ruupam grastasya amshumataH yathaa || 2-42-12

12. nivR^ityaiva nivR^ityaiva =Turning again and again ,rathavartmasu =towards the track of the chariot, ruupam =the countenance ,raaG^yaH=of the king ,siidataH=in grief ,naati babhou=lost its radiance , amshumataHyathaa =like sun ,grastasya =when swallowed by Rahu .*

Turning again and again towards the track of the chariot, the countenance of the king in grief lost its radiance like sun losing its radiance when swallowed by Rahu.

*-Rahu- the inauspicious planet sent to swallow the sun at the time of eclipse.

vilalaapa ca duhkha aartaH priyam putram anusmaran |
nagara antam anupraaptam buddhvaa putram atha abraviit || 2-42-13

13. duhkhaartaaH = Afflicted by grief; anusmaran= thinking of ; priyam= his beloved; putram= son ,vilalaapacha= he lamented;.atha = Thereafter; buddhvaa= knowing ; putram= his son;anupraaptam= reaching ; nagaraantam = the end of the city ; abraviit= he said :

Afflicted by grief, thinking of his beloved son he lamented. Knowing that his son reached the end of the city, he said as follows:

vaahanaanaam ca mukhyaanaam vahataam tam mama aatmajam |
padaani pathi dR^ishyante sa mahaatmaa na dR^ishyate || 2-42-14

14. padaani=The marks of hooves; mukhyaanaam =oh excellent ; vaahanaam=horses;vahataam=which carried;mama=my;aatmajam=child ;tam=that Rama ;dR^shyante=were seen; pathi=on the way; saH=He ; mahaatmaa=the great souled; na dR^ishyate=is not seen .

“The marks of hooves of excellent horses which carried away my child are seen on the way. But he the great souled one is not being seen”

sa nuunam kvacit eva adya vR^ikSa muulam upaashritaH |
kaaSTham vaa yadi vaa ashmaanam upadhaaya shayiSyate || 2-42-15
utthaasyati ca medinyaaH kR^ipaNaH paamshu guNThitaH |
vinihshvasan prasravaNaat kareNuunaam iva R^iSabhaH || 2-42-16

15,16. yaH= He who; shete= slept; sukheshhu= in comfort ;upadhaaneshhu = on coverings ;chandana ruushhitaH = sprinkled with the essence of sandalwood; viijyamaana= refreshed by fans over him ; mahaarhaabhiH= by the most deserving ;striibhiH= women; saH= that Rama ;mama sutottamaH= the best of all my sons ;nuunam= will from now on ;upaashritaH= has to take refuge ;vR^ikshhamuulam= at the foot of a tree ;kvachideva= somewhere ;shayishhyate= lying down; kaashhTam vaa= on the trunk ; yadivaa= or ; upadhaaya= rest on; aashmaanam= a stone.”

“He who slept on comfort on coverings sprinkled with the essence of sandalwood and refreshed by fans waved over by him by the most deserving women, Rama the best of all my sons , will from now on , has to take refuge at the foot of a tree somewhere, lying down on its trunk or rest on a stone."

utthaasyati cha medinyaaH kR^ipaNaH paamsuguNThitaH |
viniHsvasan prasravaNaatka reNuunaami varshhbhaH || 2-42-17

17. kR^ipeNaH = The unfortunate one; utthaasyaticha= will wake up; medinyaaH=from the hard earth; paamshugunDitaH=stained with dust ;vivasvasan=sighing;R^ishhabhaH =like a bull elephant ,the lord of ; kareNuunaam=female elephants; prasravaNaat iva=(rising from)the side of a hill.”

“The unfortunate one will wake up from the hard earth stained with dust, sighing like a bull-elephant rising from the side of a hill”

drakSyanti nuunam puruSaa diigha baahum vane caraaH |
raamam utthaaya gacchantam loka naatham anaathavat || 2-42-18

18. nuunam= from today; purushhaaH= the men ; vanecharaaH= who are the inhabitants of the forest; drakshhyanti= will behold ; diirghabaahum= that long armed ; lokanaatham= lord of the world; raamam = Rama ; utthaaya= rising from the ground ;gachchhantam= and wandering around ; anaathavat= like an orphan.”

From today the inhabitants of the forest will behold that long armed lord of the world, Rama, rising from the ground and wandering around like an orphan”

sakaamaa bhava kaikeyi vidhavaa raajyam aavasa |
kaNTakaakramaNa klaantaavanamadya gamishhyati || 2-42-19

19. saa= That Sita; sukhasadochitaa= who was always accustomed to comforts; ishhTaa= the beloved; sutaa= daughter; janakasya= of king Janaka ; adya= now ; gamishhyanti = will wander; vanam= in the forest; kaNTakaakramaNaklaantaa= exhausted through the thorny undergrowth.”

“The daughter of Janaka, who was always accustomed to comforts, will wander exhausted in the forest through the thorny undergrowth ”

anabhijJNaa vanaanaam saa nuunam bhayamupaishhyati |
shvaapadaanrdhitam shrutvaa gamibhiiram romaharshhNam || 2-42-20

20. saa= Sita ;anabhiG^yaa= who was not accustomed ;vanaanaam= to woodlands ;nuunam= from now on; upaishhyati= will obtain ;bhayam= fear; shrutvaa= hearing ;shvaapadaa narditam= the roaring sound of wild beasts; gambhiiram= which was thundering; romaharshhaNam= causing hair to stand on end.

“Sita who was not earlier accustomed to woodlands, from now on will live in terror, hearing the roaring sound of wild beasts ,which was thundering .”

sakaamaa bhavakaikeyi vidhavaa raajya maavasa |
na hi tam puruSa vyaaghram vinaa jiivitum utsahe || 2-42-21

21. Kaikeyi= Oh, Kaikeyi! Bhava= be; sakaamaa= your desire fulfilled! aavasa= Dwell ; raajyam= in the kingdom ;vidhavaa= as a widow; na utsahe hi= I do not indeed wish; jiivitum= to live; tamvinaa= without Rama ; purushhavyaaghram= the tiger among men.”

“Oh, Kaikeyi! Let your desire be fulfilled! Dwell in the kingdom as a widow. I do not indeed wish to survive without Rama the tiger among men.”

iti evam vilapan raajaa jana oghena abhisamvR^itaH |
apasnaataiva ariSTam pravivesha pura uttamam || 2-42-22

22. ityevam= Thus; vilapam= lamenting; raajaa = the king; abhisamvR^itaH = surrounded; janoughena = by his people ; pravivesha= entered ; purothamam = Ayodhya the best of cities; arishhTam iva = like enering a disastrous house; apasnaataH= by the one who has taken the funeral bath.

Thus lamenting, the king surrounded by his people, entered Ayodhya the best of cities like entering a disastrous house by one who has taken the funeral bath.

shuunya catvara veshma antaam samvR^ita aapaNa devataam |
klaanta durbala duhkha aartaam na atyaakiirNa mahaa pathaam |
taam avekSya puriim sarvaam raamam eva anucintayan |
vilapan praavishad raajaa gR^iham suuryaiva ambudam || 2-42-23

23. aavekshhya = seeing; taam =that; sarvaam=entire; puriim =city ;shuunya chatvara veshmaantaam =with its road junctions and mansions deserted ; samvR^itaapaNa devataam =with its shops and temples closed ; klaanta durbala duHkhaartaam =with people exhausted with fatigue and plunged in affliction ; naatyaakiirNe mahaapathaam =its highways not very crowded ; raajaa = the king ;praavishat =entered ;vilaapan =wailing ;anuchintayan =thinking; raamameva =of Rama alone;ambudam iva =as the cloud ;suuryaH =by a sun.

Seeing the entire city with its road-junctions and mansions deserted, its shops and temples closed, with its people exhausted with fatigue and plunged in affliction; its highways not very crowded ,the king entered his palace wailing and thinking of Rama alone as the sun enters a cloud.

mahaa hradam iva akSobhyam suparNena hR^ita uragam |
raameNa rahitam veshma vaidehyaa lakSmaNena ca || 2-42-24

24. rahitam=Bereft; raameNa= of Rama;vaidehyaa=Sita ;lakshhmaNenacha =and Lakshmana ;veshma=the palace ;mahaahradam iva=(looked) like a big pool ; akshhobhyam= rendered unperturbed; hR^itoragam= emptied of snakes ;suvarNena =by Garuda.

Bereft of Rama Sita and Lakshmana, the palace looked like a big pool rendered unperturbed due to emptying of snakes in it by Garuda*

*Garuda was a mythical bird (chief of feathered race, enemy of the serpent race)

atha gadgadashabdastu vilapanmanujaadhipaH |
uvaacha mR^idumandhaartham vachanam diina masvaram || 2-42-25

25. atha = Thereafter; vilapan = the lamenting ;vasudhaadhipaH = monarch ; uvaacha= spoke ; gadgada shabdaH= in trembling accents; mR^idu =in soft; diinam= pitiful ; asvaram= indistinct ; mandaartham= and not clearly intelligible ;vachanam= words .

The lamenting monarch spoke in trembling accents and in soft, pitiful, indistinct and not clearly intelligible words (as follows):

kausalyaayaa gR^iham shiighram raama maatur nayantu maam |
iti bruvantam raajaanam anayan dvaara darshitaH || 2-42-26

26. nayantu=Take; maam= me; shiighram= quickly; gR^iham= to the apartment ; kausalyaayaaH = of Kausalya ;raama maatuH= the mother of Rama; na anyatra= Nowhere else ; mama hR^idayasya = my heart ;bhavishhyati hi= will indeed find; ashvaasaH = solace .”

“Take me quickly to the apartment of Kausalya the mother of Rama. Nowhere else my heart will find solace ”

iti bruvantam raajaana manayan dvaardarshinaH |
kausalyaayaa gR^iham tatra nyaveshyata viniitavat || 2-42-27

27. dvaaradarshinaH =the attendants; anayan = took; raajaanam =the king ;bruvantam =who was speaking; iti =thus ;kausalyaaH = to Kausalya’s; gR^iham =house . tatra =there; viniitavat=(he was ) gently; nyaveshyata =laid .

The attendants took the king who was speaking as aforesaid, to Kausalya’s house and there he was gently laid (on a coach).

tataH tatra praviSTasya kausalyaayaa niveshanam |
adhiruhya api shayanam babhuuva lulitam manaH || 2-42-28

28. tataH=Then; pravishhTasya= having entered; kausalyaaH= Kausalya’s; niveshanam= apartment; tasya= his; manaH= heart; babhuuva= became; lulitam = agitated; adhiruhyaapi = even though laid on ;shayanam = a coach .

Having entered Kausalya’s apartment and even though laid on a coach, his heart became agitated.

putradvayavihiinam cha snushhayaapi vivarjitam |
apashyadbhavanam raajaa nashhTachandhramivaambaram || 2-42-29

29. putradvaya vihiinam= bereft of two sons; snushhayaapi = and the daughter in law also; vivarjitam= having left; raajaa= the king; apashyat = saw; bhavanam= the house; ambaram iva= as a sky; nashhTochandram= without a moon .

Bereft of his two sons and his daughter –in-law also having deserted, the king saw that house devoid of charm as a sky without a moon.

tac ca dR^iSTvaa mahaa raajo bhujam udyamya viiryavaan |
uccaiH svareNa cukrosha haa raaghava jahaasi maam || 2-42-30

30. dR^ishhTvaa= Looking at; tat= that house; udyamya = and lifting up; bhujam= his arm; viiryavaan= the powerful; mahaaraajaH = monarch; chukrosha = cried ; uchchaiHsvareNa= in loud voice; haa raaghava= Oh ,Rama! jahaasi= you have left ; maam= us(both your mother and I).

Looking at that palace and lifting up his arm, the powerful monarch cried in a loud voice, ” Oh, Rama! You have left us both, your mother and I.”

sukhitaa bata tam kaalam jiiviSyanti nara uttamaaH |
pariSvajantaH ye raamam drakSyanti punar aagatam || 2-42-31

31. bata= Alas! Ye= Those; narottamaH = jewels among men; jiivishhyanti= who will survive; tam kaalam= the term; drakshhyanti= and see; raamam= Rama;punaH aagatam= come back ;parishhvajantaH= and embracing him ;sukhitaaH= will be happy .

“Alas! Those jewels among men who will survive the term of fourteen years, seeing Rama come back and embrace him, will be happy indeed.”

atha raatryaam prapannaayaam kaalaraatryaamiaatmanaH |
ardharaatre dasharathah kausalyaamidamabraviit || 2-42-32

32. atha= thereupon ;raatrayaam= the night ;prasannaam= having fallen; kaala raatryaamiva= (the night) resembling the hour of death ;aatmanaH= to him; dasarathaH = Dasaratha; abraviit = spoke; idam = these words ;kausalyaam= to Kausalya; artharaatre = at that midnight

Thereupon, the night having fallen, the night resembling the hour of death to him, Dasaratha spoke these words to Kausalya when the midnight struck :

raamam me.anugataa dR^ishhTiradyaapi na nivartate |
na tvaam pashyaami kausalye saadhu maam paaNinaa spR^isha || 2-42-33

33. kausalye =”Oh,Kausalya! me dR^ishhTiH =My sight ;anugataa=extinguished along with ; raamam=Rama;na nivartate =and not turned out. adyaapi=Even now; na pashyaami =I cannot see; tvaa=you;saadhu=properly ;spR^isha=touch ;maam=me ;paaNinaa=with your hand.”

“Oh, Kausalya! My sight has extinguished along with Rama and not returned. Even now, I am not able to see you properly. Touch me with your hand."

tam raamam eva anuvicintayantam |
samiikSya devii shayane nara indram |
upa upavishya adhikam aarta ruupaaupa |
vinihshvasantii vilalaapa kR^icchram || 2-42-34

34. samiikshhya= perceiving; tam narendram= that monarch; shayane= on the coach ;anuvichintayantam= absorbed in the thought ;raamam eva= of Rama alone; devii= Kausalya; adhikam aartaruupaa= appeared very sad ;upaavishya= and sitting down beside him ;viniHshvasantii= began to sigh; vilalaapa= and lament; kR^ichchham= with distressed look.

Perceiving that monarch on the coach absorbed in the thought of Rama alone, Kausalya appeared very sad and sitting beside him, began to sigh and lament with a distressed look.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe dvicatvaari.mshaH sargaH

Thus completes 42nd chapter in the Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 43

Introdction

Lamentation of Kausalya

tataH samiikSya shayane sannam shokena paarthivam |
kausalyaa putra shoka aartaa tam uvaaca mahii patim || 2-43-1

1. tataH=Thereafter; kausalyaa=Kausalya; putrashokaartaa=afflicted with the grief of her son; samiikshha=seeing; paarthivam=the king; shayane=lying down; sannam=depressed; shokena =with sorrow; uvaacha = spoke ; tam mahiipatim= thus to that monarch.

Thereafter, Kausalya afflicted with grief of her son and seeing the king lying down depressed with sorrow, spoke to the monarch as follows:

raaghavo nara shaarduula viSam uptvaa dvijihvavat |
vicariSyati kaikeyii nirmuktaa iva hi pannagii || 2-43-2

2. kaikeyii=Kaikeyi; ahijihmagaa=moving tortuously like a snake; uptvaa=planted; vishham = poison; raaghave= in Rama; narasharduule= the tiger among men; vicharishhyati=and will wander about; pannagii iva=like a female serpent; nirmuktaa= that has cast off its slough.

"Having planted her poison on Rama the tiger among men, indeed Kaikeyi of crooked ways will surely wander about freely like a female serpent that has cast off its slough”

vivaasya raamam subhagaa labdha kaamaa samaahitaa |
traasayiSyati maam bhuuyo duSTa ahir iva veshmani || 2-43-3

3. labdhakaamaa= having fulfilled her desire; vivaasya=of expelling; raamam= Rama; subhagaa=Kaikeyi, the charming woman; traasayishhyati= will frighten; samaahitaa= by clamping down; maam=on me; dushhTaahiriva=like a dangerous serpent; veshmani=in the hous.

“Having fulfilled her desire of expelling Rama to the forest, Kaikeyi the charming woman will frighten by clamping down upon me, like a dangerous serpent in the house.”

atha sma nagare raamaH caran bhaikSam gR^ihe vaset |
kaama kaaraH varam daatum api daasam mama aatmajam || 2-43-4

4. daatum api=even giving; mama= my; aatmajam=son; daasam=as a slave; varam=( would have been) better; atha=thereafter; raamaH=Rama; vaset sma= (would have) stayed; gR^ihe= in the house;kaama kaaraH=by doing the work entrusted ; charan=and roaming about; nagare=in the city;bhaikshhyam=asking alms.

“Even giving my son to her as a slave would have been better. By that Rama would have at least stayed in the house by doing the work entrusted by her and roaming about in the city, asking alms.

paatayitvaa tu kaikeyyaa raamam sthaanaat yathaa iSTataH |
pradiSTaH rakSasaam bhaagaH parvaNi iva aahita agninaa || 2-43-5

5. raamam=Rama; paatayitraa=having been thrown; sthaanaat= out of his position;kaikeyyaa= by Kaikeyi; yatheshhTaH=as per her will; pradishhTaH=indicated; bhaagaH iva= as a part (of the sacrifice)thrown to; rakshhasaam=ogres; parvaNi=on a new or full moon; aahitaagninaa=by one who tends the sacred fire.

“Having willfully thrown Rama out of his position, Kaikeyi has acted in the same way as one who tends the sacred fire throws a part of the sacrifice to ogres on a new or full moon.”

gaja raaja gatir viiraH mahaa baahur dhanur dharaH |
vanam aavishate nuunam sabhaaryaH saha lakSmaNaH || 2-43-6

6. sabhaaryaH=together with wife; sahalakshhmaNaH=accompanied by Lakshmana; gajaraajagatiH=walking like the king of elephants; dhanurdharaH=wearing a bow; mahaabaahuH=the mighty armed; viiraH= hero; nuunam=surely; aavishate=will have entered; vanam=the forest.

Together with his wife, accompanied by Lakshmana and walking like king of elephants having a bow in hand, the mighty armed hero surely will have entered the forest ”

vane tu adR^iSTa duhkhaanaam kaikeyyaa anumate tvayaa |
tyaktaanaam vana vaasaaya kaa nv avasthaa bhaviSyati || 2-43-7

7. vane=in the forest; kaanu=what; avasthaa=fate; bhavishhyati=will befall (them);adR^ishTa duHkhaanaam=who had never seen suffering (before); tyaktaanaam=who have been sent; tvayaa=by you;vanavaasaaya= to a forest life;anumate=as per the wish; kaikeyyaaH= of Kaikeyi.

“ In the forest, what fate will befall them who had never seen such a suffering before and who have been sent by you to a forest life as per the wishes of Kaikeyi?”

te ratna hiinaaH taruNaaH phala kaale vivaasitaaH |
katham vatsyanti kR^ipaNaaH phala muulaiH kR^ita ashanaaH || 2-43-8

8. ratna hiinaH=devoid of riches;te=they ;taruNaaH=theyouthful beings;vivaasitaaH=exiled;phalakaale=at the age when they should be enjoying; katham=how; vatsyanti=are they to live;kR^IpaNaaH=in misery; phala muulaiH=with fruits and roots;kR^itaashanaaH=to be eaten.

“Devoid of riches, those youthful beings, in exile at the age when they should be enjoying diversions of every kind, how are they to live in misery, having only roots and fruits for their nourishment?”

api idaaniim sa kaalaH syaan mama shoka kSayaH shivaH |
sabhaaryam yat saha bhraatraa pashyeyam iha raaghavam || 2-43-9

9. yat=when; saH kaalaH=that time ;shivaH=which; apisyaat=come; mama=to me idaaniim=now; shoka kshhayaH=that will bring an end to my sorrows; pashyayam=and I shall see; raaghavam=Rama;sabhaaryam=with his wife;saha bhraataa= along with his brother; iha=here.

“When that auspicious hour will come to me that will bring an end to my sorrows and I shall see Rama with his wife and brother returning here?”

shrutvaa eva upasthitau viirau kadaa ayodhyaa bhaviSyati |
yashasvinii hR^iSTa janaa suucchrita dhvaja maalinii || 2-43-10

10. shrutvaiva= hearing; upashtiton= the presence ; viirou =of Rama and Lakshmana,the heroes; kadaa=when all; yashasvinii= the famous ; Ayodhya= city of Ayodhya; bhavishhyati=will transform; hR^ishhTajanaa= into a city with people thrilling with rapture; suuchchhrita dhvaja maalinii=and be adorned with rows of towering banners.

“When will Ayodhya regain her pristine glory, with people thrilling with rapture and be adorned with rows of towering banners the moment it hears of the two heroic princes (Rama and Lakshmana) being present ? ”

kadaa prekSya nara vyaaghraav araNyaat punar aagatau |
nandiSyati purii hR^iSTaa samudraiva parvaNi || 2-43-11

11. kadaa=when will; purii=this city ;nandishhyati= rejoice; samudra iva=like an ocean; hR^ishhTaa=swelling jubilantly ;parvaNi=on a full moon night ; prekshhya=to perceive;naravyaaghrou=the two princes who are tigers among men ; aagaton= come; punaH=back; araNyaat=from the forest?”.

“When will the city rejoice like an ocean swelling jubilantly on a full moon night to perceive the two princes who are tigers among men come back from the forest? ”

kadaa ayodhyaam mahaa baahuH puriim viiraH pravekSyati |
puraH kR^itya rathe siitaam vR^iSabho go vadhuum iva || 2-43-12

12. kadaa= when will ; mahaabaahuH= the mighty armed; viiraH= hero(Rama);pravekshhyati= enter; ayodhyaa puriim= the city of Ayodhya; puraskR^tya siitaam= placing Sita in front; rathe= in the chariot ;govadhuumiva= as a cow; vR^ishhabhaH= by a bull?”

“When will the mighty armed hero (Rama) enter the city of Ayodhya placing Sita in his front in the chariot as a bull would follow a cow?”

kadaa praaNi sahasraaNi raaja maarge mama aatmajau |
laajaiH avakariSyanti pravishantaav arim damau || 2-43-13

13. kadaa= when will; praNisahasraaNi= thousands of men; avakirishhyanti= shower ; laajaiH= the parched grains of paddy; raaja maarge= on the royal highway; mama= my; aatmajou= two sons(Rama and Lakshmana) ; arindamou= the subduer of their enemies; pravishantou= entering the city?”

“When will thousands of men shower the parched grains of paddy on the royal highway over my two sons (Rama and Lakshmana) the subduer of their enemies, entering the city?”

pravishanau kadaa.apiyodhyaam drakshyaami shubhakuNDataa |
udagraayudhanistriimshau sashR^iN^gaaviva parvatau || 2-43-14

14. kadaa= when ; drakshhyaami= shall I see; shubhakuNdataa= (the two princes)adorned with splendid ear-rings;udagraayudha mistrimshou= and armed with excellent bows and swords; pravishantou= entering; ayodhyaam= Ayodhya;parvataaviva= like(a pair of mountains) ;sashR^ngou= crowned with peaks?”

“When shall I see the two princes adorned with splendid ear-rings and armed with excellent bows and swords, entering Ayodhya like a pair of mountains crowned with peaks?”

kadaa sumanasaH kanyaa dvijaatiinaam phalaani ca |
pradishantyaH puriim hR^iSTaaH kariSyanti pradakSiNam || 2-43-15

15. kadaa= when will; pradikshhiNam karishhyati= they make rounds clockwise of; puriim= the city; hR^IshhTaaH = with rejoice; pradikshhantaH= giving away; sumanasaH= flowers; phalaaricha= and fruits; kanyaa dvijaatiinaam= to virgins and brahmanas?”

“When will those two princes with Sita merrily go round the city clockwise, giving away flowers and fruits to virgins and brahmanas?”

kadaa pariNataH buddhyaa vayasaa ca amara prabhaH |
abhyupaiSyati dharmaj~naH trivarSaiva maam lalan || 2-43-16

16. kadaa= when will; dharmaGyaH= the pious Rama; pariNataH= grown ripe; buddhyaa= in intellect; amaraprabhaH= and shining like a god; vayasaacha= in point of age; abhyupaishhyati= return; maam= to me; lalan= cherishing (the world); trivarshhaH iva= like the propitious and timely rain?” (Literally trivarshha ” means three consecutive showers favorable to crops).

“When will the pious Rama, grown ripe in intellect and shining like a god in point of age ,return to me, cherishing the world like the proportious and timely rain?”

nihsamshayam mayaa manye puraa viira kadaryayaa |
paatu kaameSu vatseSu maatR^iR^iNaam shaatitaaH stanaaH || 2-43-17

17. nissamshayam= undoubtedly,puraa= in some past life; kadaryayaa= through mean mindedness; viira= oh valiant king; stanaaH= the teats ; maatR^iiNaam= of mothers; shaatitaaH= were cut off; mayaa= by me; vatseshhu= while their calves; paatukaameshhu= were longing to suck them.”

“Undoubtedly in some past life, through mean-mindedness, Oh, valiant king, I believe that the teats of cows were cut off by me while their calves were longing to suck them.”

saa aham gaur iva simhena vivatsaa vatsalaa kR^itaa |
kaikeyyaa puruSa vyaaghra baala vatsaa iva gaur balaat || 2-43-18

19. purushhavyaaghra= Oh, Tiger among heroes! vatsalaa= fond of my child; gouriva= like a cow; saa aham= I as such ; kR^itaa= who made; balata= forcibly; vivatsaaH= deprived of my child;kaikeyyea= by Kaikeyi; gouriva= as a cow; baalavatsaa= having a calf of tender age; simhena= by a lion.”

“Oh, tiger among heroes! Fond of my child like a cow, I, as such was forcibly deprived of my child by Kaikeyi in the same way as a cow having a calf of tender age may be deprived of her calf by a lion.”

na hi taavad guNaiH juSTam sarva shaastra vishaaradam |
eka putraa vinaa putram aham jiivitum utsahe || 2-43-19

19. aham= I; na utsahehi= cannot indeed wish; jiivitum= to survive; putram vinaa= without my son; eka putra= the only son; jushhTam= who is adorned; taavadguNaiH= with all virtues; sarva shaastra vishaaradam= well-versed in all scriptures.”

“I cannot indeed wish to survive without my only son who is adorned with all virtues and is well-versed in all scriptures.”

na hi me jiivite kimcit saamartham iha kalpyate |
apashyantyaaH priyam putram mahaa baahum mahaa balam || 2-43-20

20. na kimchit= not the least; saamarthyam= capacity; kalpyatehi= is indeed imaginable; me= in me; jiivite= to live; iha= here; apashyantyaaH= so long as I do not see; priyam putram= my beloved son; mahaa baahum= who is mighty armed; mahaabalam= and of great strength.”

“There is not the least capacity imaginable in me to sustain my life here so long as I fail to perceive my beloved son (Rama) who is mighty armed and Lakshmana of great strength”

ayam hi maam diipayate samutthitaH |
tanuuja shoka prabhavo huta ashanaH |
mahiim imaam rashmibhir uttama prabho |
yathaa nidaaghe bhagavaan divaa karaH || 2-43-21

21. ayam= This, hutaashaH= fire; tanuuja shoka prabhavaH= born of grief occasioned by separation from my son; diipayate= is torturing; maam= me; bhagavaan= as the illustrious; divaakaraH= sun; uddhata prabhaH = possessed of greatest splendor; rashmibhiH= by its rays; samutthitaH= appears; imaam mahiim yathaa= as to this earth; nidaaghe= in summer.”

“This fire born of grief occasioned by separation from my son, is torturing me in the same way as the illustrious sun, possessed of greatest splendor, scorches this earth with its rays in summer.”

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe trichatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 43rd chapter in the Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 44

Introduction

Establishing the greatness of Rama, Sumitra of gracious speech, assuages Kausalya’s grief.

vilapantiim tathaa taam tu kausalyaam pramada uttamaam |
idam dharme sthitaa dharmyam sumitraa vaakyam abraviit || 2-44-1

1. sumitraa= Sumitra; sthitaa= devoted; dharma= to righteousness; abraviit= spoke; idam vaakyam= these words; dharmam= which were virtuous; taam kausalyaam= to that Kausalya; vilapantiim= who was wailing; tathaa= thus; pramadottamaam= and who was best among women.

Sumitra, who was devoted to righteousness spoke the following words, which were virtuous, to the celebrated Kausalya, the foremost among women, who had been wailing as aforesaid

tava aarye sad guNaiH yuktaH putraH sa puruSa uttamaH |
kim te vilapitena evam kR^ipaNam ruditena vaa || 2-44-2

aarye= “Oh, the venerable one! tava= your; saH putraH= that son Rama; yuktaH= is endowed with; sadguNaiaH= excellent virtues; purushhottamaH= and foremost among men; kim= what is the use in; te= your; vilapitena= lamenting; evam= thus; ruditenavaa= or weeping ; kR^ipaNam= piteously?”

“That son of yours, oh the venerable one, is endowed with excellent virtues and is the foremost among men. What is the use in your lamenting in this way or in weeping piteously?”

yaH tava aarye gataH putraH tyaktvaa raajyam mahaa balaH |
saadhu kurvan mahaatmaanam pitaram satya vaadinaam || 2-44-3
shiSTaiH aacarite samyak shashvat pretya phala udaye |
raamaH dharme sthitaH shreSTho na sa shocyaH kadaacana || 2-44-4

3,4. aarye= Oh, noble lady! yaH= Which; tava putraH= your son; mahaabalaH= having mighty strength; kurvan= proving;apitaram= his father; mahaatmaanam= the high-soled; saadhu= perfectly;satyavaadinam= true-speaking; tyaktvaa= by renouncing; raajyam= the throne; sthitaH= standing firmly; dharme= in righteousness; aacharite= which is practiced; shashvat= always; samyak= perfectly;sishhyaiH= by disciples; phalodaye= which gives fruits; pretya= even after death; saH= that; raamaH= Rama; shreshhTaH= the most excellent; na kadaachana= never; shochya= deserves to be lamented. ”

“Oh, noble lady! Your son is having mighty strength. He proved his high- soled father perfectly truthful by renouncing his throne. He stood firmly in righteousness, which is always practiced perfectly by disciples and which gives fruits even after death. That Rama, the most excellent man, never deserves to be lamented.”

vartate ca uttamaam vR^ittim lakSmaNo asmin sadaa anaghaH |
dayaavaan sarva bhuuteSu laabhaH tasya mahaatmanaH || 2-44-5

5. lakshhmaNaH= Lakshmana; anaghaH= the faultless man; dayavaan= and the compassionate man; sarva bhuuteshhu= towards all beings; sadaa= always; vartate= conducts; vR^ittim= his behaviour; uttamaam= excellently;asmin= in the case of Rama. LaabhaH= It is beneficial; tasya= to him(Rama); mahaatmanaH= the high-soled man.”

“Lakshmana, the faultless man and the compassionate man towards all beings, always renders the best form of service to Rama. His conduct is beneficial to the high-soled Rama.”

araNya vaase yad duhkham jaanatii vai sukha ucitaa |
anugacchati vaidehii dharma aatmaanam tava aatmajam || 2-44-6

6. “vaidehi= Sita; sukhochitaa= who was habituated to comforts; jaanatiivai= even after knowing; duHkham= the pain; yat= whatever; anugachchhati= is accompanying; tava= your; aatmajam= son; dharmaatmaanam= the virtuous soled.”

Sita, who was habituated to comforts, even after knowing the pain whatsoever, is accompanying your virtuous- soled son.”

kiirti bhuutaam pataakaam yo loke bhraamayati prabhuH |
dama satya vrata paraH kim na praaptaH tava aatmajaH || 2-44-7

7. yaH=Who; prabhuH= the capable man; bhramayati= fluttering; pataakam= the banner; kiirti bhuutaam= of fame; loke= in the world; tava aatmajaH= that son of yours; dharmaHsatyavrata paraH= who is engrossed in virtue and is pledged to the vow of truthfulness; kim= what; na praptaH= has not been secured(by him)?”

“What has not been secured by your capable son, who is rich in virtue and is engrossed in the vow of truthfulness, and the banner of whose fame flutters though out the world?”

vyaktam raamasya vij~naaya shaucam maahaatmyam uttamam |
na gaatram amshubhiH suuryaH samtaapayitum arhati || 2-44-8

8. viG^yaaya= Having known; shoucham= purity; uttamam= and the mighty; maahaatmayam= magnanimity; raamasya= of Rama; suuryaH= the sun; vyaktam= will assuredly; na arhati= not be able; santaapayitum= to torment; gaatram= his body; amshubhiH= with his rays.”

“Having known the purity and magnanimity of Rama , the sun assuredly will not be able to torment Rama’s body with his rays.“

shivaH sarveSu kaaleSu kaananebhyo vinihsR^itaH |
raaghavam yukta shiita uSNaH seviSyati sukho anilaH || 2-44-9

9. shivaH= Auspicious; sukhaH=and delightful; anilaH=breeze; yuktashiitoshhNaH= of moderate heat and cold; viniHsR^itaH= blowing; kaananebhyaH= from woods; sarveshhu kaaleshhu= at all times; sevishhyati= will render service; raaghavam= to Rama.”

“Auspicious and delightful breeze of moderate heat and cold, blowing from woods at all times , will render service to Rama”

shayaanam anagham raatrau pitaa iva abhipariSvajan |
rashmibhiH samspR^ishan shiitaiH candramaa hlaadayiSyati || 2-44-10

10. samspR^ishan= gently touching;rashmibhiH= with its rays; shiitaaiH= which are cool; shayaanam= when he is reposing; raatrou= at night; abhiparishhvajan= and embracing him ; piteva= like his father; chandraH= the moon; ahlaadayishhyati= will refresh him.”

“Gently touching with its cool rays when he is reposing at night and embracing him like a father, the moon will refresh Rama”

dadau ca astraaNi divyaani yasmai brahmaa mahaa ojase |
daanava indram hatam dR^iSTvaa timi dhvaja sutam raNe || 2-44-11
sa shuuraH purushhavyaaghraH svabaahubalamaashritaH |
asantrasto.a pyaraNyastho veshmaniiva nivatsyati || 2-44-12

11,12. dR^ishhTvaa=Seeing; timidhvajasutam= Subahu, the son of Shambarasura; daanavendram= the chief of demons ; hatam= being killed; raNe= in battle; brahmaa= Brahma ,the god of creation; dadan= gave; yasmai= to which Rama; mahanjase= the man with great splendor; divyaani= the celestial ; astraaNi= weapons; saH= that Rama; shuuraH=the hero; purushha vyaaghraH= and the tiger among men; aashritaH= relying; svabaahubalam= on the strength of his own arms; nivatsyasi= will dwell; asantrastaH= fearlessly; araNyastho. api= even when living in the forest; veshmamiiva= as his own palace.”

“Formerly, when Rama killed Subahu the son of Sambarasura the chief of demons, Brahma being delighted , gave celestial weapons to Rama, the man with great splendor. Rama the hero and the tiger among men, relying on the strength of his own arms, will dwell fearlessly in the forest as if in his own palace”

yasyeshhupadamaasaadya vinaasham yaanti shatravaH |
katham na pR^thivii tasya shaasane sthaatumarhati || 2-44-13

13. yasya= Whose; ishhupadam=aim of arrows; aasaadya= obtains;yaanti= getting into; vinaasham= destruction; shatrvaH= of enemies; tasya= in such Rama’s; shaasane= rule; katham= why; pR^ithivii= earth; naarhati= cannot; sthaatum= be stable?”

“How can earth cannot be under the command of Rama, to whose aim of arrows, the enemies fall an easy prey?”

yaa shriiHshauryam cha raamasya yaa cha kalyaaNasatvataa |
nivR^ittaaraNyavaasaH svaM kshipram raajyamavaapsyati || 2-44-14

14. yaa= which; shriiH= splendor; raamasya= of Rama; yaa= which; shouryamcha= velour; kalyaana sattvataa= the beneficent strength that resides in him; avaapsyati= will procure; saH= that Rama; svam raajyam= his own kingdom; kshhipram= soon; nivR^ittaaraNya vaasaH= after completion of his exile in the forest.”

“The splendor endowed with Rama, the valor that is in him and the beneficent strength that resides in him lead one to believe that when he completes the term of his exile in the forest, he will speedily regain his kingdom.”

suuryasyaapi bhavetsuuryohyagneragniH prabhoH prabhoH |
shriyashcha shriirbhavedagryaa kiirtyaaH kshamaakshamaa || 2-44-15
daivatam daivataanaam cha bhuutaanaam bhuutasattamaH |
tasya kehyaguNaa devi vane vaa pyathavaa pure || 2-44-16

15,16. devi= Oh, Kausalya!; bhavet= He becomes; suuryaH= illuminator; suuryasyaapi= of even the sun; agniH= fire; (revealer) ; agneH=of fire; prabhuH= the ruler; prabhoH= of rules; shriiH= the splendor; shriyashcha= of splendor; agryaa= the foremost; kiirtiH= glory(essence); kiirtyaaH= of glory; kshhamaa kshhamaa= the forbearance of forbearance; daivatam= the god; daivataanaam= of gods; bhuutasattamaH= the foremost being; bhuutaanaam= of beings. ke hi= Indeed what; aguNaaH= handicaps(for him); vanevaapi= in the forest; athavaa= or; pure= in Ayodhya?”

“Oh, Kausalya! Rama is the illuminator of even the sun, fire of fire, the ruler of rules, the splendor of splendor, the foremost glory of glory, the forbearance of forbearance, the god of gods and the foremost being of all the beings. Indeed, what handicaps are there for him in the forest or in Ayodhya?”

pR^ithivyaa saha vaidehyaa shriyaa ca puruSa R^iSabhaH |
kSipram tisR^ibhir etaabhiH saha raamaH abhiSekSyate || 2-44-17

17. raamaH= Rama; purushharrshhabhaH=the best among men; abhishhekshyate=will be installed on the throne; kshhipram=soon; pR^ithivyaasaha=along with the Mother Earth(the consort of Lord Vishnu); vaidehyaa=Sita(princess of Vaideha kingdom)shriyaacha= and Lakshmi (the goddess of Fortune another consort oh Vishnu)”

“Rama the best among men will be installed on the throne soon along with the Mother Earth (the consort of lord Vishnu), Sita the princess of Videha kingdom and Lakshmi ( the goddess of fortune another consort of Vishnu)”

duhkhajam visR^ijanti asram niSkraamantam udiikSya yam |
samutsrakSyasi netraabhyaam kSipram aanandajam payaH || 2-44-18
kushachiiradharam devam gachchhantamaparaajitam |
siitevaanugataa lakshmiistasya kim naama durlabham || 2-44-19

18,19. udikshhya=Seeing; yam= which Rama; nishhkraamantam= departing; sarve=all; janaaH= the people; ayodhyaam= in Ayodhya; shoka vega samaahataaH=smitten as they were with upsurge of grief; visR^ijanti= shedding; ashruH=tears; duHkhajam= born of agony; devam=which Rama; gachchhantam= is departing; kushachiira dharam=clad in a garment of the sacred Kusa grass; anugataa= followed by; lakshmiH=the goddess of fortune; siiteva=as Sita; tasya= for such Rama; kimnaama= which; durlabham= is difficult to obtain?”

“Seeing Rama departing, all the people in Ayodhya smitten as they were with upsurge of grief shed tears born of agony. The goddess of fortune as Sita followed the invincible hero even as he departed for the forest, clad in a garment of the sacred Kusa grass. Indeed, what can be difficult for him to obtain?”

dhanurgrahavaro yasya baaNakhaDgaastrabhR^itsvayam |
lakshmaNovrajati hyagre tasya kim naama durlabham || 2-44-20

20. lakshmanaH=Lakshmana; dhanurgraha varaH= the best among the holders of bow; svayam= himself; baaNa khadgaastrabhR^it= wearing arrows, sword and missiles; vrajati= walking ; agre= in front; yasya =of whom; tasya= to that Rama; kimnaama= what is ;durlabham= difficult to obtain?”

“What can be difficult to obtain for, to whose front indeed walks Lakshmana himself the best among the holders of bow wielding arrows, sword and missiles?”

nivR^ittavanavaasam tam drashhTaasi punaraagatam |
jahishokam cha moham cha devi satyam braviimi te || 2-44-21

21. devi= oh, Kausalya! ; drashhTaasi=you can see; tam=that Rama; aagatam= when he comes; punaH= again; nivRitta vanavaasam= having completed the period of dwelling in the forest. jahi= abandon; shokamcha= grief ; mohamcha =and infatuation; braviimi= I tell; te=you; satyam=the truth ”

“Oh, Kausalya! I tell you the truth : you can see Rama coming back, on having completed the term of his exile in the forest . Abandon grief and infatuation.”

shirasaa charaNaavetau vandamaanamanindite |
punardrakshyasi kalyaaNi! putraM chandramivoditam || 2-44-22

22. kalyaaNi= Oh, auspicious Kausalya! anindite= the irreproachable one! Drakshhyasi=you will be able to see; putram=your son; chandramiva= like the moon; uditam= who has risen; vandamaanam=saluting respectfully; etou= these; charaNou= feet; sirasaa= with the head.”

“Oh, auspicious Kausalya, the irreproachable one! You will be able to see your son, like the rising moon, saluting respectfully your feet, by bowing his head.”

punaH pravishhTam dR^shhTvaa tamabhishhiktam mahaashriyam |
samutsrakshyasi netraabhyaam kshipramaanndajam payaH || 2-44-23

23. dR^ishhTvaa = seeing; tam= that Rama; mahaashhriyam= with great splendor pravishhTam= appearing ; punaH= again; abhishhiktam= having been coroneted; samutsryakshhasi= you will be shedding ; kshhipram= soon; payaH= tears; aanandajam= born of joy; netraabhyaam= from your eyes.”

“Seeing Rama shining with great splendor appearing before you again, having been coroneted, you will be shedding soon tears of joy from your eyes ”

maa shoko devi duHkham vaa na raaame dR^iahyRW.ashivam |
kshipram drakshyasi putram tvam sasiitam saha lakshmaNam || 2-44-24

24. devi= Oh, Kausalya! maa= Do not have; shokaH= grief; duHkhamvaa= or uneasiness. ashivam=Ill luck; na dR^ishyate= is not being seen; raame=in Rama; tvam= you; drakshhyasi= will be able to see; kshhipram= soon; putram= your son; sa siitam= along with Sita; saha lakshhmaNam= together with Lakshmana.”

“Oh, Kausalya! Do not have uneasiness or grief. Rama has no ill luck. You will be able to see soon your son along with Sita, accompanied by Lakshmana”.

tvayaa sheshhoo janashcaiva samaashvaasyo yadaa.anaghe |
kimidaaniimidam devi karoshhi hR^idi viklabam || 2-44-25

25. devi= “Oh, queen; anaghe=the faultless! Yadaa= Whereas; janaH= people; samaashvaasaH= are to be consoled; tvayaa= by you; idaaniim= now; karoshhi= you are promoting; viklabam= grief; hR^idi= in your heart ; kim= what ; idam= is this ?”

“Oh, the faultless queen! While people are to be consoled by you at this moment, why are you fostering grief in your heart?”

naarhaa tvam shochitum devi yasyaaste raaghavassutaH |
na hi raamaatparo loke vidyate satpathe sthitaH || 2-44-26

26. devi= oh, queen! YasyaaH= which; te= to you; raaghavaH= Rama; sutaaH= is your son; tvam= you as such; naarhaa= are not deserving; shochitum= to aggrieve. navidyate= None is there; loke= in the world; paraH= other; raamaat= than Rama; sthitaH= who is established; satpathe= in right path.”

“Oh,queen! You, whose son is Rama, ought not to grieve, for none is established in right path in the world than Rama.”

abhivaadayamaanam tam dR^iSTvaa sasuhR^idam sutam |
mudaa ashru mokSyase kSipram megha lekaa iva vaarSikii || 2-44-27

27. dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; tam sutam= that son; sa suhR^idam= along with friends ; abhivaadamaanau= saluting; mokshhyase= you will be shedding; ashru= tears; mudaa= with joy; kshhipram= soon; megharekheva = like a line of clouds; vaarshhikii= belonging to rainy season ”

“Seeing your son saluting with his friends, you will at once begin to shed tears, like a line of clouds in a rainy season”

putraH te varadaH kSipram ayodhyaam punar aagataH |
paaNibhyaam mR^idupiinaabhyaam charaNau piiDayishhyati || 2-44-28

28. te putraH= Your son; varadaH=who is the bestower of boons; kshhipram= soon; punaraagataH= returning; ayodhyaam= to Ayodhya; piidayishhyati= will press; charaNou= your feet; paaNibhyaam= with his hands; mR^idu piinaabhyaam=which are gentle but muscular.”

“Your son the bestower of boons, will soon return to Ayodhya, and touch your feet with his gentle but muscular hands ”

abhivaadya namasyantam shuuram sasuhR^idam sutam |
mudaasraiH prokshyasi punarmegharaaji rivaachalam || 2-44-29

29. sutam= your son; shuuram= the hero; sa suhR^idam= along with his friends; abhivaadya=saluting respectfully; namasyantam= in adoration; prokshhyasi= you will sprinkle; astraiH= tears; mudaa= with joy; achalamiva=like on a mountain; megharaajiH= by a line of clouds.”

“When your son the hero along with his friends salute you respectfully in adoration, you will sprinkle tears of joy in the same way as a line of clouds pour rain on the mountain.”

aashvaasayantii vividhaishcha vaakyai |
rvaakyopachaare kushalaanaadyaa |
raamasya taam maataramevamuktvaa |
devii sumitraaviraraama raamaa || 2-44-30

30. sumitra=Sumitra; devii= the queen; kushalaa= skilled; vaakyopachaare= in employment of words; anavadyaa= who is faultless; raamaa= and charming; evam= thus; aashvaasayantii= consoled; raamasya= Rama’s; taam maataram= that mother; uktvaa= by speaking; vividhaiH=with various; vaakyaiH= words; viraraama=and stopped.

Sumitra the queen, skilled in her employment of words, who is faultless and charming, thus consoled Rama’s mother with various words and finally stopped speaking.

nishamya tal lakSmaNa maatR^i vaakyam |
raamasya maatur nara deva patnyaaH |
sadyaH shariire vinanaasha shokaH |
sharad gataH meghaiva alpa toyaH || 2-44-31

31. nishamya= after hearing; tat= those; lakshmanamaatru vaakyam=words of Lakshmana’s mother; shokaH= the agony; raamasya maatuH= of Rama’s mother; naradeva patnyaaH= and the wife of Dasaratha; sadyaH= quickly; vinanaasha= disappeared; shariire=in her body; megha iva=like a cloud; alpatoyaH=with a little water ; sharadgataH= disappears in autumn .

Hearing those words of Sumitra the mother of Lakshmana, the agony of Kausalya Rama’s mother and the wife of Dasaratha quickly disappeared in the same way as an autumnal cloud with a little water in it disappears quickly.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe chatushchatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 44th chapter in the AyodhyaKanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 45

Introduction

Rama requests the citizens to return to Ayodhya and to show respect to Bharata the prince Regent and Dasaratha the king. The citizens try to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya, but in vain. Rama along with all of them reach the bank of Tamasa.

anuraktaa mahaatmaanam raamam satya parakramam |
anujagmuH prayaantam tam vana vaasaaya maanavaaH || 2-45-1

1. maanavaaH=The humans; anuraktaaH= who are fond of Rama; anujagnuH= accompanied; tam raamam= that Rama; mahaatmaanam= the high soled; satya paraakramam= and the truly brave; prayaantam= who is going; vanavaasaasya= for dwelling in the forest.

The people devoted to the high- soled Rama of unfailing bravery accompanied him on his way to the forest for exile.

nivartite api ca balaat suhR^id varge ca raajini |
na eva te samnyavartanta raamasya anugataa ratham || 2-45-2

2. raajani cha= when the king; balata= by force; nivartite apicha= was turned back; te= those; suhR^idvarge= group of friends; anugataaH= who were following; raamasya= Rama’s; ratham= chariot; naiva samsyavartanta=did not return.

When the king was forced (in the interests of his son) to turn back, the group of friends who were following Rama’s chariot did not return.

ayodhyaa nilayaanaam hi puruSaaNaam mahaa yashaaH |
babhuuva guNa sampannaH puurNa candraiva priyaH || 2-45-3

3. mahaayashaaH= (Rama) who enjoyed great celebrity; guNasampannaH= and richly endowed with every virtue; puurNachandra iva=resembling the full moon; babhuuvahi= had indeed become; priyaH= the favorite; purushhaaNam= for the people; ayodhyaanilayaanam= living in Ayodhya .

Rama who enjoyed great celebrity and who was richly endowed with every virtue, resembling the full moon, had indeed become the favorite for the people living in Ayodhya.

sa yaacyamaanaH kaakutsthaH svaabhiH prakR^itibhis tadaa |
kurvaaNaH pitaram satyam vanam eva anvapadyata || 2-45-4

4. yaachyamaanaH= Despite the entreaties ; tadaa= then; prakR^itibhiH=of the people; svabhiH= of his own; saH= that; kaakutstha= Rama( the scion of Kakustha); kurvaaNaH= proving; pitaram= his father; satyam= to be true; anvapa dyata= proceeded; vanameva= to the forest only.

Despite the entreaties of the people of his own, Rama(the scion of the Kakutstha), in order to honor his father’s vow; proceeded towards the forest.

avekSamaaNaH sasneham cakSuSaa prapibann iva |
uvaaca raamaH snehena taaH prajaaH svaaH prajaaiva || 2-45-5

5. avekshhamaaNaH= fondly gazing on; taaH= those; prajaaH= people; prapibanniva= as though drinking; chakshhushhaa= with his eyes; raamaH= Rama; sasneham= lovingly; uvaacha= spoke; (as follows) prajaa iva= as though children; svaaH= of his own.

Fondly gazing on the people as though drinking with his eyes, Rama lovingly spoke (as follows) as though they were his own children:

yaa priitir bahumaanaH ca mayy ayodhyaa nivaasinaam |
mat priya artham visheSeNa bharate saa niveshyataam || 2-45-6

6. “yaa= which; priitiH=affection; bahumaanashcha= and respect; ayodhya nivaasinaam= you the people living in Ayodhya; mayi= (have) in me; saa= that ; niveshyataam= be bestowed; visheshheNa= in a special measure; bharate= on Bharata; matpriyaartham= for my satisfaction.

“The respect and affection that has been bestowed upon me by you (the residents of Ayodhya) may for my satisfaction be bestowed in a special measure on Bharata.

sa hi kalyaaNa caaritraH kaikeyyaa aananda vardhanaH |
kariSyati yathaavad vaH priyaaNi ca hitaani ca || 2-45-7

7. saH= Bharata; kaikeyyaa nandavardhanaH= who enhances the delight of Kaikeyi; kalyaaNacharitraH= and who possessed excellent conduct; karishhyati hi= will indeed do; priyaaNi= pleasing things; hitaanicha=and beneficial things; vaH= to you; yathaavat= properly.”

“Bharata who enhances the delight of Kaikeyi and who possesses excellent conduct, will indeed do pleasing and beneficial things to you appropriately."

j~naana vR^iddho vayo baalo mR^idur viirya guNa anvitaH |
anuruupaH sa vo bhartaa bhaviSyati bhaya apahaH || 2-45-8

8. saH= That Bharata; N^gyaana vR^iddhaH= who is matured in knowledge; vayobaalaH= and young in age; mR^iduH= who is gentle; viirya guNaanvitaH=and endowed with virility and virtue; bhavishhyati= will become; anuruupaH= worthy; bhartaa= master; bhayaapahaH= who can dispel your fears.”

“Bharata who is matured in knowledge but young in age, who is gentle but endowed with virility and virtue, will become your worthy master who can dispel your fears"

sa hi raaja guNaiH yuktaH yuva raajaH samiikSitaH |
api ca api mayaa shiSTaiH kaaryam vo bhartR^i shaasanam || 2-45-9

9. saH= That Bharata; yuktaH= who is endowed; raajaguNaiH= with royal virtues; samiikshhitaH= is being marked; yuvaraajaH= as the prince . apicha= And further; bhartR^ishaasanam= king’s command; kaaryam= is to be carried out; mayaa= by me; shishhTaiH=and by the rest; vaH=of you.

“Bharata who is endowed with royal virtues is being marked as the prince. Further, king’s command is to be carried out by me and the rest of you.

na ca tapyed yathaa ca asau vana vaasam gate mayi |
mahaa raajaH tathaa kaaryo mama priya cikiirSayaa || 2-45-10

10. mayi= (when) I; gate= have gone; vanavaasam= to the forest for exile; yathaa= how; asou= this; mahaarajah= monarch; na santapyet= does not suffer agony; tathaa= in that manner; kaaryaH= to be done; priya chikiirshhayaa= with an intent to please; mama= me.”

“If you desire to please me, see that the king does not suffer agony when I have gone to forest for exile”

yathaa yathaa daasharathir dharmam eva aasthitaH abhavat |
tathaa tathaa prakR^itayo raamam patim akaamayan || 2-45-11

11. yathaa yathaa= more and more; daasharathiH=Rama, the son of Dasaratha; abhavat= became; aasthitaH= established; dharma eva= in his duty alone; tathaa tathaa= the more and more; prakR^itayaH= the people; akaamayan= wished; raamam= Rama; patim= (as their) master.”

The more Rama the son of Dasaratha, showed himself to be faithful to his duty, the more the people wished to have him as their master “

baaSpeNa pihitam diinam raamaH saumitriNaa saha |
cakarSa iva guNaiH baddhvaa janam punar iva aasanam || 2-45-12

12. raamaH= Rama; soumitriNaa saha= accompanied by the son of Sumitra; chakarshha= drew; janam= the people (of the city); pihitam=filled with; baashhpeNa= tears; diinam= piteously; baddhvaa iva= as though tied; guNaiH=with cords.

Rama accompanied by son of Sumitra, drew the people of the city, who were weeping piteously, after him as if tied and pulled with cords.

te dvijaaH trividham vR^iddhaa j~naanena vayasaa ojasaa |
vayaH prakampa shiraso duuraat uucur idam vacaH || 2-45-13

13. te dvijaaH= the brahmanas; vR^iddhaaH= who were elderly; trividham= in three ways; G^yaanena= by knowledge; vayasaa= by age; ojasaa= and by luster; vayaH prakampa shirasaH= with their heads shaking with advanced years; uuchuH= spoke; idam= these; vachaH= words; duuraat= from distance.”

Those brahmanas, who were triply revered for their learning, their age and their spirituality, their heads shaking with advanced years, cried out :

vahantaH javanaa raamam bho bho jaatyaaH turam gamaaH |
nivartadhvam na gantavyam hitaa bhavata bhartari || 2-45-14

14. “bho bho turaNgamaaH= Oh Noble Steeds! jaatyaaH= belonging to a breed; javanaaH= of speed; vahantaH= who are carrying;raamam= Rama! nivartadhvam= You come off. na gantaryam= Do not proceed. bhavata= Become; hitaaH= friendly; bhartari= to your master.

“Oh Noble Steeds, of speedy breed! You who are carrying Rama, do come back! Do not proceed! Be friendly to your master (since by taking Rama against our wishes, you will be doing a disservice to him)”

karNavanti hi bhuutaani visheshhaNa turamgamaaH |
yuuyam tasmaannivartadhvam yaachanaam prativeditaaH || 2-45-15

15. bhutaanihi= Indeed all beings; karNavanti= which are endowed with ears; visheshhe Na=more so; turaN^gamaaH= horses; prativeditaaH= stand appraised of; yaachanam= (our) entreaty. tasmaat= Therefore; yuuyam= you; nivartadhvam= return.

“Indeed all things, which are endowed with ears, more so horses, stand appraised of our entreaty. Therefore, you return.”

dharmataH sa vishuddhaatmaa viiraH shubhadR^iDhapratah |
upavaahyaH tu vo bhartaa na apavaahyaH puraat vanam || 2-45-16

16. viiraH= The hero; vishuddhaatmaa= of the pure soul; dharmataH= of virtuous; subha dR^iDha vrataH= and auspicious firm resolve; saH= that; bhartaa= master; upa vaahyaH= and not to be conveyed away; puraat= from the city; vanam=to the forest.”

“That hero of the pure soul, of virtuous and auspicious firm resolve, that master, deserves to be brought back to the city and not to be taken to the forest.”

evam aarta pralaapaams taan vR^iddhaan pralapataH dvijaan |
avekSya sahasaa raamaH rathaat avatataara ha || 2-45-17

17. avekshhya=Seeing; taan dvijaan= those brahmanas; vR^iddhaan= who are aged; pralapataH= uttering; evam= those; aartapralaapan= painful words; raamaH= Rama; sahasaa= quickly; avatataaraha= got down; rathaat= from the chariot.

Seeing those aged brahmanas uttering those painful words, Rama quickly got down from the chariot.

padbhyaam eva jagaama atha sasiitaH saha lakSmaNaH |
samnikR^iSTa pada nyaaso raamaH vana paraayaNaH || 2-45-18

18. atha= thereafter; raamaH= Rama; sa siitaH= with Sita; sa lakshhmaNaaH= and with Lakshmana; sannikR^ishhTa padanyaasaH= taking close strides ; jagaama iva= on foot only; vana paraayaNaH= towards the forest.

Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, taking close strides, proceeded on foot towards the forest.

dvijaatiims tu padaatiims taan raamaH caaritra vatsalaH |
na shashaaka ghR^iNaa cakSuH parimoktum rathena saH || 2-45-19

19. saH raamaH= That Rama; chaaritra vatsalaH= who was affectionate in his disposition; ghR^iNaachakshhuH= and had compassion in his eyes; na shashaaka= could not; parimoktum= abandon; taan dvijaatiin=those brahmanas; padaatiin= walking on foot; rathena= behind the chariot.

That Rama who was affectionate in his disposition and had compassion in his eyes, could not abandon those brahmanas walking on foot, far behind the chariot.

gacchantam eva tam dR^iSTvaa raamam sambhraanta maanasaaH |
uucuH parama samtaptaa raamam vaakyam idam dvijaaH || 2-45-20

20. dR^IshhTvaa= perceiving; tam raamam= that Rama; gachchhantameva= still going; (towards the forest) ; dvijaaH= those brahmanas; sambhraaanta chetasaH= perplexed in mind; parama samtaptaaH= and very much distressed; uuchuH=spoke; idam vaakyam= these words :

Perceiving Rama still going towards the forest, those brahmanas perplexed in mind and greatly distressed, spoke the following words :

braahmaNyam kR^itsnam etat tvaam brahmaNyam anugacchati |
dvija skandha adhiruuDhaaH tvaam agnayo api anuyaanti amii || 2-45-21

21. sarvam= the whole of; etat= this; braahmaNyam= brahmana community anugachchhati= is following; tvaam= you; brahmaNyam= devoted to the brahmanas. Dvija skandaadhiruudhaaH=Bearing on the shoulders of brahmanas; amii= these; agnayo api= sacred fires also; anuyaanti= are following; tvaam= you.

“The whole of this brahmana community is following you, devoted (as you are) to the brahmanas. See, they are bearing the sacred fires on their shoulders”

vaajapeya samutthaani chatraaNi etaani pashya naH |
pR^iSThataH anuprayaataani hamsaan iva jala atyaye || 2-45-22

22. pashya= look at; etaani= these; chhatraaNi= canopies; vaajapeya samutthaani= (obtained by us when observing Vajpeya sacrifice); anuprayaataani=accompanying; naH=our; pR^ishhTataH= backs; meghaaniva= like clouds; jalaatyaye= at end of the rainy season.”

“Look at these canopies (obtained by us while observing Vajpeya sacrifice*) accompanying our backs like clouds at the end of the rainy season”

*-It is laid down in the Vedas that he who performs a Vajpeya sacrifice must be supplied with a white canopy.

anavaapta aatapatrasya rashmi samtaapitasya te |
ebhiH chaayaam kariSyaamaH svaiH chatraiH vaajapeyikaiH || 2-45-23

23. te=to you; anavaaptaatapatrasya= who have not got a canopy; rashmisamtaapitasya=and are being scorched with the rays (of the sun); karishhyaamaH= we shall give; chhayaam= shade; chhatraiH= by canopies; svaiH=of ours.”

“With these canopies of ours, we shall give shade to you, who have got no canopy and are being scored with rays (of the sun.)”

yaa hi naH satatam buddhir veda mantra anusaariNii |
tvat kR^ite saa kR^itaa vatsa vana vaasa anusaariNii || 2-45-24

24. vatsa= oh, dear child! Yaa buddhiH= Which intellect; naH= of ours; satatam= forever; vedamantraanusaariNii= engaged in perusing the study of Vedic Text; saa= that intellect; kR^itaa= has been made; vanavaasaanusaariNii= to follow the course of exile to the forest.”

“Oh, Dear child! The intellect of ours, which was forever engaged in perusing the study of Vedic texts has been now made to follow the course of exile to the forest”

hR^idayeSv avatiSThante vedaa ye naH param dhanam |
vatsyanti api gR^iheSv eva daaraaH caaritra rakSitaaH || 2-45-25

25. ye= which; vedaaH= Vedas; param dharma=are the excellent riches; naH= of ours; trishhTanti=(they are) established; hR^idayeshhvena=in our hearts alone. chaaritrarakshhitaaH= Protected by their character; daraaH api=our wives too; vatsyanti=remain; gR^iheshhveva= at home.

“We will carry the Vedas in our hearts as our excellent treasure and our wives too will remain at home, protected by their character”

na punar nishcayaH kaaryaH tvad gatau sukR^itaa matiH |
tvayi dharma vyapekSe tu kim syaat dharmam avekSitum || 2-45-26

26. nishchayaH=” A decision; punaH= again( another one);na kaaryaH= is not to be done. tvadgatou= in the matter our going along with you (to the forest); matiH=determination; sukR^itaa-=has been well done. tvayi dharmavyapakshhe=If you do not pay attention to piety; kim= which; sthitamsyaat= will remain; dharma pathe=in the path of virtue?”

“We shall not revoke our decision. Our mind is fully determined to go along with you (to the forest). If you do not pay attention to piety, what being will remain devoted to the path of virtue?”

yaacitaH no nivartasva hamsa shukla shiraH ruhaiH |
shirobhir nibhR^ita aacaara mahii patana paamshulaiH || 2-45-27

27. “nibhR^itaachaara= oh, prince of resolute conduct! yaachitaH= We entreat you; shirobhiH=by the heads; naH=of ours; hamsa shukla shiroruhaiH= having gray hair like white plumes of swans; mahiipatana paansulaiH=that are solid with dust as a result of their falling on the ground(in the cause of our prostration to you). nivartasva= Turn back.”

“ Oh, prince of resolute conduct! We entreat you by our heads having gray hair like the white color of the swans, that are soiled with dust as a result of their falling on the ground (in the course of our prostration to you) (pray) turn back.”

bahuunaam vitataa yaj~naa dvijaanaam yaiha aagataaH |
teSaam samaaptir aayattaa tava vatsa nivartane || 2-45-28

28. “ye=whoever; aagataaH=came; iha=here; (such); bahuunaam= many; dvijaanaam= brahmanas; vitataaH=started; ajaN^yaas= sacrificial rites. vatsa= Oh,dear child! teshhaam= their; samaaptiH= completion; aayattaa= depends; tava= on your; nivartane= return.”

“Sacrifices have been commenced by many of those Brahmanas that have come here. Their completion, oh dear child, depends on your return”

bhaktimanti hi bhuutaani jamgama ajamgamaani ca |
yaacamaaneSu teSu tvam bhaktim bhakteSu darshaya || 2-45-29

29. “raama= Oh,Rama! Bhuutaani=Beings; jaN^gamaaja^Ngamaani= both animate and inanimate; bhaktimantihi= are indeed devoted to you. darshaya= Show; bhaktim= affection; bhakteshhu= to those devotees; yaachamaaneshhu= who entreat you to return.”

“Beings both animate and inanimate, Oh, Rama, are indeed devoted to you. Show affection to those devotees, who entreat you to return.”

anugamtum ashaktaaH tvaam muulaiH uddhiR^ita vegibhiH |
unnataa vaayu vegena vikroshanti iva paadapaaH || 2-45-30

30. “paadapaaH= trees; uddhitaha veginaH=which are raised swiftly; muulaiH:by their roots; ashaktaaH=being unable; anugantum= to accompany; tvaam= you; vikroshantiiva= appear to be weeping; unnataaH= hump-backed; vaayuvegena= by the force of mind.”

“The trees held by their roots, unable to accompany you, seen to be weeping, hump-backed by the force of wind”

nishceSTa aahaara samcaaraa vR^ikSa eka sthaana viSThitaaH |
pakSiNo api prayaacante sarva bhuuta anukampinam || 2-45-31

31. pakshhiNo api= birds too; nishcheshhTaahaara samchaaraaH= which sit motionless and are unable to go out in search of food; vR^ikshhaika sthaana vishhThitaaH=which remain fixed at one spot on trees; prayaachante= are supplicating you (to return); sarva bhuutaanukampinam= compassionate as you are to all created beings.”

“Birds too, which sit motionless and are unable to go out in search of food and which remain fixed at one spot on trees, are supplicating you to return, compassionate as you are to all created beings”

evam vikroshataam teSaam dvijaatiinaam nivartane |
dadR^ishe tamasaa tatra vaarayanti iva raaghavam || 2-45-32

32. teshhaam dvijaatiinaam= while those brahmanas; vikroshataam= were crying; evam= thus; nivartane= for the return; (of Rama); tamasaa= the river Tamasa; tatra= there; dadR^ishe= appeared; varayantiiva= as though preventing; raaghavam= Rama.”

While those brahmanas were crying thus with a view to persuading Rama to return, the river Tamasa appeared there, as though retarding the progress of Rama “

tataH sumantro.api rathaadvimuchya |
shraantaanhayaansamparivartya shriighraam |
piitodakaamstoyapariplutaaN^gaa |
nachaarayadvai tamasaaviduure || 2-45-33

33. tataH=thereafter; sumantro api= Sumantra the charioteer also; vimuchya= releasing; shraantaan= the tired; hayaan= horses; rathaat= from the chariot; shiighram= quickly;samparivartya= making them roll; piitodakaan=having drunk water; toya pariplutaaN^gaan= with their bodies drenched in water; achaarayat= allowed them to graze; tamasaa viduure= not very far from the Tamasa.

Thereafter Sumantra the charioteer too released the horses, tired as they were, from the chariot and quickly making them roll, allowed them to graze not very far from the (bank of) Tamasa once they had drunk water and had their body washed in the river.”

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe ekachatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 45th chapter in the AyodhyaKanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 46

Introduction

Having reached the banks of Tamasa river and thinking of the plight of the people of Ayodhya, Rama passes the night on the banks of Tamasa river. Waking up in the meantime, Rama instructs the charioteer to drive the chariot in such a way as to elude the citizens and lead them to think that the chariot had turned back towards Ayodhya instead of proceeding towards the forest. He then ascends the chariot along with

Sita and Lakshmana and went ahead to the forest

tataH tu tamasaa tiiram ramyam aashritya raaghavaH |
siitaam udviikSya saumitrim idam vacanam abraviit || 2-46-1

1. tataH=Then; raaghavaH= Rama; aashritya= taking his position at; tamasaa tiiram= at the banks of Tamasa river; udviikshhya= looking at; siitaam= Sita; abraviit= spoke; idam vachanam= these words; soumitrim= to Lakshmana :

Then Rama taking his position at the banks of Tamasa river and looking at Sita, spoke to Lakshmana as follows :

iyam adya nishaa puurvaa saumitre prasthitaa vanam |
vana vaasasya bhadram te sa na utkaNThitum arhasi || 2-46-2

2. soumitre=oh, Lakshmana! prahitaaH= we have been sent; vanam= to the forest. iyam=Today; puurvaa= is the first; nishaa= night; vanavaasasya= of residence in the forest . saH= You as such; na arhasi=are not required; utkaN^Thitum=to regret. Bhadram= blessedness; te= to you.”

“Oh, Lakshmana! We have been sent to the forest. Today is the first night of our residence in the forest .You ought not feel anxious. May all be well with you!”

pashya shuunyaani araNyaani rudanti iva samantataH |
yathaa nilayam aayadbhir niliinaani mR^iga dvijaiH || 2-46-3

3. pashya= look here: mR^iga dvijaiH=animals and birds; aayadbhiH=returning; yathaanilayam= to their respective abodes; miliinaani= seeking for shelter . shuunyaani= woods; rudrantiiva= are crying; samantataH= from all sides”.

“Look here: As the animals and birds are returning to their respective abodes seeking for shelter, the desolate woods seem to be crying from all sides”

adya ayodhyaa tu nagarii raaja dhaanii pitur mama |
sastrii pumsaa gataan asmaan shociSyati na samshayaH || 2-46-4

4. adya= now; ayodhyaa nagarii= the city of Ayodhya; raajadhaanii= the capital; mama pituH=of my father; sa strii pumsaa= with its women and men; shochishhyati=will lament; asmaan= about us; gataan= that have departed. Na= There is no; samshayaH=doubt.”

“Now, the city of Ayodhya the capital of my father with its men and women will lament about us that have departed (to the forest). There is no doubt”

anuraktaa hi manujaa raajaanam bahubhirguNaiH |
tvaam cha maam cha naravyaaghra shatraghnabharatau tathaa || 2-46-5

5. naravyaaghra= oh, tiger among men! manujaaH=The citizens (of Ayodhya); anuraktaaH hi= are indeed having affection; raajaanam=towards the king; tvaamcha=towards you; maamcha=towards me; tathaa=and; shatrughna bharatou= towards Satrughna and Bharata; guNaiH= by our virtues; bahubhiH= which are many.”

“Oh, tiger among men! The citizens (of Ayodhya) are indeed having affection to the king no less than to you and myself, as also to Bharata and Satrughna, for many of our virtues.”

pitaram chaanushochaami maataram cha yashasviniim |
api vaanaudha bhavetaam tu rudantau taavabhiikshNashaH || 2-46-6

6. “anushochaami=I feel repented; pitaramcha=for my father; maataramcha=and my mother; yashasivniim=who is illustrious. tou apivaa bhavetaam= Will they become even; andhou= blind; rudantou= by weeping; abhiikshhashaH= incessantly.”

“I feel repented for my father and my illustrious mother. I fear whether they will become even blind, by weeping incessantly.”

bharataH khalu dharma aatmaa pitaram maataram ca me |
dharma artha kaama sahitaiH vaakyaiH aashvaasayiSyati ||2-46-7

7. bharataH= Bharata; dharmaatmaa=the virtuous man; aashvaasayishhyati khalu=can indeed console; me= my; pitaram= father; maataraacha= and mother; vaakyaiH= by words; dharmaartha kaama sahitaiH=(containing)religious merit , material welfare and sense- gratification.”

“Bharata, the virtuous man, can indeed console my father and mother by his kind words.”

bharatasya aanR^ishamsatvam samcintya aham punaH punaH |
na anushocaami pitaram maataram ca api lakSmaNa || 2-46-8

8. “lakshhmaNa=Oh, Lakshmana! vichintya=Thinking of; bharatasya=bharata’s; anR^ishamsatvam= kindness; punaH punaH= again and again; aham=I;naanushochaami= do not grieve; pitaram=for(our) father; maataramcha api=or even (our) mother.”

“Oh,Lakshmana! Thinking of Bharata’s kindness again and again, I do not grieve for our father and mother”

tvayaa kaaryam nara vyaaghra maam anuvrajataa kR^itam |
anveSTavyaa hi vaidehyaa rakSaNa arthe sahaayataa || 2-46-9

9. “naravyaaghra: Lakshmana, the tiger among men! anuvrajataa= By following; maam= me; kaaryam= a purpose; kR^itam=has been served; tvayaa= by you. sahaayataa= a help; anveshhTavyaali= would have to be sought; rakshhaNaarthe= for the protection;vaidehyaaH= of Seetha”

“Oh, Lakshmana, tiger among men! You have done well by accompanying me, as otherwise, a help would have to be sought for by me for protecting Seetha”

adbhir eva tu saumitre vatsyaamy adya nishaam imaam |
etadd hi rocate mahyam vanye api vividhe sati || 2-46-10

10. “ soumitre= Oh, Lakshmana! adya= Today; vatsyaami= I shall stay; imaam nishaam= in the night; adbhireva= with water alone. vanye=Wild fruits and roots, vividhe= of various kinds; satyapi= though being present; etat= this is; rochete hi= indeed a preference; mahyam= to me.”

“ Oh, Lakshmana! I shall live on water alone tonight. Though there are various kinds of wild fruits and roots, this is indeed a liking for me”

evam uktvaa tu saumitram sumantram api raaghavaH |
apramattaH tvam ashveSu bhava saumya iti uvaaca ha || 2-46-11

11. “evam= Thus; uktvaa= telling; soumitrim= Lakshmana, raaghavaH= Rama; uvaacha ha= spoke; sumantramapi= to Sumitra also; iti= thus: soumya= “Oh,gentleman! Tvam= you; apramattaH= be careful; ashveshhu=about the horses.”

Thus telling Lakshmana, Rama spoke also to Sumantra as follows: “Oh, gentle man! Attend to the horses carefully.”

so ashvaan sumantraH samyamya suurye astam samupaagate |
prabhuuta yavasaan kR^itvaa babhuuva pratyanantaraH || 2-46-12

12. saH sumantraH=That Sumantra; suurye= (on)sun; samupaagate=getting; astam=set; samyamya= tied up; ashvaan= the horses; kR^itvaa= causing; prabhuutayavasaan= them to have more grass(to eat);babhuuva=(and)became; pratyanantaraH= the immediate neighbor(of Rama).

The sun having completely set, Sumantra tied up the horses, supplied them with abundant grass and immediately stood nearest (to Rama).

upaasyatu shivaam samdhyaam dR^iSTvaa raatrim upasthitaam |
raamasya shayanam cakre suutaH saumitriNaa saha || 2-46-13

13. upaasya= having worshipped; shivaam= the beautiful; sandhyaam= evening twilight; dR^ishhTvaa=and having seen; raatrim= the night; upasthitaam= come nearer; suutaH= the charioteer; soumitriNaasaha= along with Lakshmana; chakre= made; shayanam= the bed; raamasya= for Rama.

Having worshipped the beautiful evening twilight and having seen the night come nearer, Sumantra along with Lakshmana made the bed for Rama.

taam shayyaam tamasaa tiire viikSya vR^ikSa dalaiH kR^itaam |
raamaH saumitriNaam saardham sabhaaryaH samvivesha ha || 2-46-14

14. viikshhya= Seeing; taam shayyaam= that bed; kR^itaam= made; vR^ikshha dalaiH= of leaves of a tree; soumitriNaasaardham=with the help of Lakshmana; tamasaatiire= on the bank of Tamasa river; raamaH= Rama; sa bhaaryaH= along with his wife; samvivesha ha= laid down.

Seeing that bed made of leaves of a tree on the bank of Tamasa river with the help of Lakshmana, Rama along with his wife laid down on it.

sabhaaryam samprasuptam tam bhraataram viikSya lakSmaNaH |
kathayaam aasa suutaaya raamasya vividhaan guNaan || 2-46-15

15. viikshhya= seeing; tam braataram= that brother; samprasuptam= sleeping; sambhaaryam = along with his wife; lakshhmaNaH= Lakshmana; kathayaamaasa= narrated; raamasya= Rama’s; vividhaam= various; guNaan= virtues; suutaaya= to Sumantra.

Seeing that brother sleeping along with his wife, Lakshmana narrated Rama’s various virtues to Sumantra.

jaagrataH hi eva taam raatrim saumitrer uditaH raviH |
suutasya tamasaa tiire raamasya bruvataH guNaan || 2-46-16

16. raviH= The sun; uditaH= rose; soumitre= (while) Lakshmana; bruvataH= was recounting; raamasya= Rama’s; guNaaH= excellences; suutasya= to Sumantra; tamasaa tiire= at the bank of Tamasa river;jaagratohyeva= keeping awake; taam raatrim= that (whole) night.

WhileLakshmana was thus recounting Rama’s excellences to Sumantra, keeping awake that whole night at the bank of Tamasa river, the sun rose.

go kula aakula tiiraayaaH tamasaayaaH viduurataH |
avasat tatra taam raatrim raamaH prakR^itibhiH saha || 2-46-17

17. viduurataH= At a good distance ; taamasaayaaH= from Tamasa river; gokulaakula tiiraayaH= whose banks were crowded with herds of cows; raamaH= Rama; avasat= inhabited; tatra= there; taam raatrim= that night; prakR^itibhiH saha= with the citizens.

At a good distance from Tamasa river, whose banks were crowded with herds of cows, Rama passed that night there with the citizens.

utthaaya tu mahaa tejaaH prakR^itiis taa nishaamya ca |
abraviid bhraataram raamaH lakSmaNam puNya lakSaNam || 2-46-18

18. saH raamaH= That Rama; mahaateJaaH= with a great splendor; utthaaya cha= got up; nishaamyacha= saw; taaH= those; prakR^itiiH= citizens; abraviit= and spoke; (as follows); bhraataram= to his brother; lakshhmaNam= Lakshmana; puNyalakshhaNam= who was endowed with auspicious bodily marks:

Getting up from the bed and seeing those citizens, Rama with an extraordinary splendor, spoke to his brother, Lakshmana who was endowed with auspicious bodily marks:

asmad vyapekSaan saumitre nirapekSaan gR^iheSv api |
vR^ikSa muuleSu samsuptaan pashya lakSmaNa saampratam || 2-46-19

19. pashya= Look at; lakshhmaNa= Oh, Lakshmana; asmadvyapekshhaan= (the citizens) full of longing for us, nirapekshhaan= unmindful; gR^iheshhvapi= even of their homes; sampratam= now; samsuptaan= sleeping together; vR^ikshha muuleshhu= at the roots of trees; soumitre =Oh, son of Sumitra!”

“Observe, Oh Lakshmana, the citizens full of longing for us, unmindful even of their homes, sleeping together at the roots of trees, Oh, the son of Sumitra!”

yathaa ete niyamam pauraaH kurvanti asman nivartane |
api praaNaan asiSyanti na tu tyakSyanti nishcayam || 2-46-20

20. “yathaa=how; ete pouraaH= these citizens; kurvanti=are making; niyamam= coercion; asminnivartane= to take us back; nyasishhyanti= (they) will lay down; praaNaanapi= even their lives; na tyakshhyanti= but would not give up; nishchayantu= their resolve.”

“From the way in which these citizens are making coercion to take us back (to Ayodhya), it seems they will even lay down their lives, but in no case would give up their resolve”

yaavad eva tu samsuptaaH taavad eva vayam laghu |
ratham aaruhya gacchaamaH panthaanam akutaH bhayam || 2-46-21

21. yaavadeva= till which time; samsuptaa= they are asleep; taavadeva= in that time; vayam= we; laghu = quickly; aaruhya= mount; ratham= chariot; gachchaama= and obtain; panthaanam= a route; akutobhayam= which has no fear from any quarter.”

“Till which time the citizens are asleep, within that time, let us quickly mount the chariot and take a route which has no fear from any quarter”

ataH bhuuyo api na idaaniim ikSvaaku pura vaasinaH |
svapeyur anuraktaa maam vR^iSka muulaani samshritaaH || 2-46-22

22. ataH= from this; ikshhvaakupura vaasinaH= the citizens of Ayodhya;( the capital of Ikshvaku); anuraktaaH= who are longing; maam= for me; nasvapeyuH= may not sleep; idaaniim= as of now; vR^ikshha muulaani= at the roots of trees; bhuuyo api= again; bhuuyo api= and again.”

“From this the citizens of Ayodhya (the ancient capital of Ikshvaku), who are longing for me, may not sleep as of now, at the roots of trees again and again”

pauraa hi aatma kR^itaat duhkhaat vipramocyaa nR^ipa aatmajaiH |
na tu khalv aatmanaa yojyaa duhkhena pura vaasinaH || 2-46-23

23. pouraaH=the residents of city; vipramokshhyaaH hi= should indeed made free; duHkhaat= of their suffering; aatma kR^itaat= brought about by themselves; nR^ipaatmajaiH hi= by the sons of their rulers. puravaasinaH= The citizens; na yojyaaH hi= should not be burdened; duHkhena= with hardship; tu khalu= but indeed; aatmanaa= caused by (princes) themselves.

“The residents of city should indeed be made free of their suffering brought about by (citizens) themselves, by the sons of their rulers. The citizens should on no account be burdened with hardship caused by (princes) them selves as is our case.”

abraviil lakSmaNo raamam saakSaat dharmam iva sthitam |
rocate me mahaa praaj~na kSipram aaruhyataam iti || 2-46-24

24. lakshhmaNaH= Lakshmana; abravit= spoke; iti= thus; raamam= to Rama; sthitam= who is standing firm; dharmamiva= like righteousness; saakshhaat= personified : praaG^ya= Oh, wise brother! rochate= It is agreeable; me = to me; tathaa= thus. aaruhyataam= Let (the chariot) be mounted; kshhipram= quickly.”

Lakshmana replied as follows to Rama, who is standing firm like righteousness personified: “Oh, wise brother! What you say is agreeable to me. (Pray) ascend the chariot quickly”

atha raamo.abraviicchhriimaan sumantram yujyataam rathaH |
gamishhyaami tato.araNyam gachchha shriighramitaH prabho || 2-46-25

25. atha= Then; shriimaan= the glorious; raamaH= Rama; abraviit= spoke; sumantram= to Sumantra; (as follows);prabho= Oh, capable man! yujyataam= Arrange; rathaH= the chariot; gamishhyaami= I shall proceed; araNyam= to the forest. gachchha=Go; shiighram=quickly; itaH= from here.”

Then, the glorious Rama spoke to the charioteer as follows: “Oh, capable man! Keep the chariot ready. I shall proceed to the forest. Let us go quickly from here.”

suutaH tataH samtvaritaH syandanam taiH haya uttamaiH |
yojayitvaa atha raamaaya praanjaliH pratyavedayat || 2-46-26

26. tataH= then; saH suutaH=that chariot; tvaritaH= quickly; yojayitvaa= fastened; syandanam=the chariot; taiH hayottamaiH= with those excellent horses; atha= and thereafter; pratyavedayaT= informed; raamaaya= Rama; praaN^jaliH=with joined palms.

Then, Sumantra quickly fastened the chariot to its excellent horses and thereafter submitted with joined palms to Rama (as follows):

ayam yukto mahaabaaho rathaste rathinaam vara |
tvamaarohasva bhadram te sasiitaH sahalakshmaNaH || 2-46-27

27. mahaabaaho= Oh, mighty armed prince! te= Your; ayam rathaH= (this) chariot; yuktaH= is yoked. Rathinaam vara= Oh, jewel among car-warriors! tvam= You; aarohasva= ascend(it); sasiitaH= along with Sita; saha lakshhmaNaH =and with Lakshmana . bhadram= May prosperity be; te= to you.”

“Oh, mighty armed prince! Your chariot is kept ready. You ascend it along with Sita and with Lakshmana, Oh jewel among car-warriors! May prosperity attend you”

tam syandanamadhishhThaaya raaghavaH saparichchhadaH |
shiighragaamaakulaavartaam tamasaamatarannadiim || 2-46-28

28. raaghavaaH= Rama; adhishhThaaya= mounted; tam syandanam= the chariot; sa parichchhadaH= with all necessaries for traveling (viz; his bow, armor, quiver, spade, basket and so on); aatarat=(and) crossed; shiighragaam; the swift flowing; tamasaam nadiim= Tamasa river; aakulaavartaam= thickly set with whirl-pools .

Rama mounted the chariot with all necessaries (like bow, armor, quiver, spade, basket, and so on) and crossed the swift flowing Tamasa river, thickly set with whirl- pools.

sa samtiirya mahaabaahuH shriimaan shivamakaNTakam |
praapadyata mahaamaargamabhayam bhayadarshinaam || 2-46-29

29. samtiirya= Having crossed the stream; shriimaan= the glorious; saH= Rama; mahaabaahuH= the mighty armed; praapadyata= reached; mahaa maargam= a great road; akaN^Takam= free from obstacles; abhayam= and safe; bhayadarshinaam= even for those who are apprehensive of danger.

Having duly crossed the stream, the glorious Rama the mighty armed reached a great road free from obstacles and safe even for those who are apprehensive of danger.

mohana artham tu pauraaNaam suutam raamaH abraviid vacaH |
udan mukhaH prayaahi tvam ratham aasthaaya saarathe || 2-46-30
muhuurtam tvaritam gatvaa nirgataya ratham punaH |
yathaa na vidyuH pauraa maam tathaa kuru samaahitaH || 2-46-31

30,31. raamaH= Rama; mohanaartham= in order to elude; pouraaNaam= the citizens; abraviit= spoke; vachaH= words; suutam= to Sumantra : “saarathe= Oh, charioteer! tvam= You; aasthaaya= mount; ratham= the chariot; prayaahi= (and) proceed; udaN^mukhaH= northwards. gatvaa= Go, muhuurtam= for a while ; tvaritam= quickly; nivartaya= and bring back; ratham= the chariot; punaH= again; samaahitaH= Remaining careful; kuru= do(it); yathaa= in such a way; tathaa= that; pouraaH= the citizens; na vidyaH= may not locate me.”

In order to elude the citizens, Rama spoke to Sumantra as follows: “Oh, charioteer! You mount the chariot and go northward. Proceed for a while quickly and bring back the chariot again. Remaining careful, do it in such a way that the citizens may not be able to locate me”

Comment:- How can Rama elude the citizens, who came off leaving their homes, showing their immense affection towards him? Love without self-centeredness knows what love is. Then the seemingly untruth is not untruth, the hurt in appearance is not really a hurt and the said deception is not a deception. Rama the knower of love was free to do what was right and whatever he did was righteous.

raamasya vacanam shrutvaa tathaa cakre sa saarathiH |
pratyaagamya ca raamasya syandanam pratyavedayat || 2-46-32

32. shrutvaa= Hearing; raamasya= Rama’s; vachanam= advice; saH saarathiH= that charioteer; chakre= made a round; tathaa= as he was told; pratyaagamya= and on returning; pratyavedayat= reported; raamasya= to Rama; syandanam= about the arrival of the chariot.

Hearing Rama’s advice, the charioteer made a round of the chariot as he was suggested and on returning, reported to Rama about the arrival of the chariot.

tau samprayuktam tu ratham samaasitthau |
tadaa sasiitau raghavamshavardhanau |
prachodayaamaasa tatasturamgamaan |
sa saarathiryena pathaa tapovanam || 2-46-33

33. tadaa= then; raghuvamsha vardhanou= Rama and Lakshmana, the promoters of the race of Raghu; sa siitou= along with Sita; samaasthitou= ascended; ratham= the chariot; samprayuktam= yoked together. TataH= thereafter; saa saarathiH= that charioteer; prachodayaamaasa= drove forward; turangamaan= the horses; pathaa= along the route; yena= by which; tapovanam= they can reach a grove suited to the practice of austerities.

Then, Rama and Lakshmana(the promoters of the race of Raghu) along with Sita ascended the chariot yoked together. The charioteer urged the horses along the route by which they can reach a grove suited to the practice of austerities.

tataH samaasthaaya ratham mahaarathaH
sasaarathirdhaasharathirvanam yayau |
udaN^mukham tam tu ratham chakaara sa |
prayaaNamaaN^gashyanivitadarshanaat || 2-46-34

34. tataH= Thereafter; saH= That Sumantra; chakaara= placed; tam ratham= that chariot; udaN^mukham= facing the north; prayaaNa maaN^galya nimitta darshanaat= for he saw omens auspicious for journey (in that quarter). DasharathiH= Rama (son of Dasaratha); mahaarathaH= the mighty car-warrior; sa saarathiH; along with the charioteer; aasthaaya= mounted; ratham= the chariot; yayou= and proceeded; vanam= to the forest.

However, Sumantra placed that chariot by facing it to the north, for he saw omens auspicious for journey (in that quarter). Rama (son of Dasaratha) the mighty car-warrior, along with the charioteer mounted the chariot and proceeded to the forest.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe shhTchatvaarimshaH sargaH

Thus completes the 46th chapter of Ayodhya Kanda in the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 47

Introduction

The multitude that had caused Rama in his journey to the forest wake up to find Rama and his associates gone. They begin to rebuke themselves. Overwhelmed with grief, they hunt up to tracks of Rama’s chariot. Being unable to find the tracks, they helplessly return to Ayodhya in sheer despair.

prabhaataayaam tu sharvaryaam pauraaH te raaghavo vinaa |
shoka upahata nishceSTaa babhuuvur hata cetasaH || 2-47-1

1. sharvaryaam=As the night; prabhataayaam=was beginning to become day light, te pouraaH= those citizens; raaghavam vinaa= relinquished by Rama; babhuuvaH= became; hatachetasaH=perplexed; shokopahatachetasaH=their hearts stricken by grief; nishcheshhTaaH= and motionless.

As the night was beginning to become dawn, those citizens relinquished by Raghava were perplexed with grief and became motionless.

shokaja ashru paridyuunaa viikSamaaNaaH tataH tataH |
aalokam api raamasya na pashyanti sma duhkhitaaH || 2-47-2

2. shokajaashru paridyuunaaH=Made miserable with tears born of anguish; duHkhitaaH= and agony; viikshhamaaNaaH=seeing; tatastataH=in that and that place; na pashyantisma= they could not notice; aalokamapi=even a glimmer; raamasya= of Rama.

Made miserable with tears born of anguish and agony, they could not notice even a glimmer of Rama, though casting their eyes everywhere.

te vishhaadaartavadanaa rahitaastena dhimataa |
kR^ipaNaaH karuNaa vaacho vadanti sma manasvinaH || 2-47-3

3. te= They; manasvinaH= the magnanimous; rahitaaH= bereft of ; tena= that Rama; dhiimataa=the intelligent man, vishhadaarta vadanaaH=had their faces afflicted with grief; kR^ipaNaaH=and non-plused; vadantisma=spoke; vachaaH= these words; karuNaaH= which were compassionate.

Their faces distorted with sorrow, deprived as they were of sagacious Rama and therefore non-pulsed, the citizens broke into piteous exclamations, saying:-

dhigastu khalu nidraam taam yayaapahR^itachetasaH |
naadya pashyaamahe raamam pR^ithuuraskam mahaabhujam || 2-47-4

4. dhik astu=cursed be; taam nidraam= that slumber; yayaa= by which; apahR^itachetasaH= consciousness was taken away; na pashyaamahe= and could not behold;adya= today; pR^ithuuraskam=broad chested; mahaabhujam=and mighty armed; raamam= Rama.”

“Cursed be to that slumber, rendered unconscious, by which we could not behold today that mighty armed Rama with a broad chest.”

katham naama mahaabaahuH sa tathaa.avitathakriyaH |
bhaktam janam parityajya pravaasam raaghavo gataH || 2-47-5

5. katham naama= “how; saH raaghavaH= that Rama; mahaabaahuH=the strong armed; avitatha kriyaH= whose actions are never in ineffectual; gataH= leave; pravaasam= for exile; parityajya= abandoning; bhaktam= his devoted; janam= people?”

“How that Rama the strong armed, whose actions are never ineffectual, leave for exile, abandoning his devoted citizens?”

yo naH sadaa paalayati pitaa putraanivaurasaan |
katham raghuuNaam sa shreshhThastyaktvaa no vipinam gataH || 2-47-6

6. “yaH= which Rama; shreshhTaH=the chief; raghuuNaam= of Raghu’s; paalayati= who protected; naH= us; sadaa= always; pita= like father; ourasaan putraan iva= the children born of his lions; katham=how; saH= he; tyaktvaa= could leave; naH= us; gataH= and proceed; vipinam= to the forest?”

“How did the chief of Raghus, who protected us ever, like a father the children born of his loins, could proceed to the forest, leaving us?”

ihaiva nidhanam yaamo mahaaprasthaanameva vaa |
raameNa rahitaanaam hi kimartham jiivitam hi naH || 2-47-7

7. “yaamaH= (let us) invoke; nidhanam= death; ihaiva= here itself; mahaa prasthaanameva vaa= or definitely set out for a grand journey( to the north with a resolve to die) kimartham= for what purpose; jiivatam= (can be) life; naH= for us; rahitaanaam= separated; raameNa=from Rama.”

“Let us have recourse to death here itself, or definitely set out for a grand journey ( to the north with a resolve to die). For what purpose can life be good for us, separated as we are from Rama?”

santi shushhkaaNi kaashhThaani prabhuutaani mahaanti cha |
taiH prajvaalya chitaam sarve pravishaamo.atha paavakam || 2-47-8

8. “atha= or; santi= there are; prabhuutaani= a number of; mahaanti= big; shushhkaaNi= dry; kaashhTaani= logs of woods. prajvalya=Lighting; chitaam=a funeral pile; taiH= by them; sarve= let us all; pravishaamaH= enter; paavakam= the fire.”

“ Or there are a number of big dry logs of wood here. Lighting a funeral fire out of them, let us all enter the fire.”

kim vkhsyaamo mahaabaahuranasuuyaH priyamvada |
niitaH sa raaghavo.asmaabhirti vaktum katham kshamam || 2-47-9

9. kim= what; vakshhyaamaH= shall we say? AsmaabhiH= By us; mahaabaahuH= the great armed; saH raaghavaH= (that ) Rama; anasuuyaH= who is free from egoism; priyamvadaH= and who speaks kindly (to all); niitaH= has been conveyed (to the forest); kshhamam= How can we; vaktum= say; iti=so?”

“What shall we say to our fellow citizens? ‘The great armed Rama who is free from egoism and who speaks kindly ( to all ) has been conveyed to the forest by us!’ How can we say so?”

saa nuunam nagarii diinaa dR^ishhTvaa.asmaan raaghavam vinaa |
bhavishhyati niraanandaa sastriibaalavayodhikaa || 2-47-10

10. “dR^ishhTvaa = seeing; asmaan= us; raaghavam vinaa= bereft of Rama; saa nagarii= that city; nuunam= now; diinaa= desolate; sa strii baala vayodhikaa= together with women and children and the aged; bhavishhyati= will become; niraanandaa= cheerless.”

“Seeing us returning without Rama, that city of Ayodhya, already desolate, will with its women, children and the aged, become even deeply cheerless.”

niryaataastena viireNa saha nityam jitaatmanaa |
vihinaastena cha punaH katham pashyaama taam puriim || 2-47-11

11. “niryaataaH= having left the city; tena viireNa saha= thus with that hero; nityam= ever; jitaatmanaa= self-conquered man; katham= how; pashyaama= can we look on; taam puriim= that city; punaH= again; vihiinaaH= without; tena cha= him?”

“Having left the city thus with that hero, the conqueror of one’s own self, how can we look on that city again without him?”

itiiva bahudhaa vaacho baahumudyamya te janaaH |
vilapantisma duHkhartaa vivatsaa iva dhenavaH || 2-47-12

12. udyamya= uplifting; baahum=(their) arms; te janaaH= those men; duhkhaartaaH=stricken with anguish; dhenavaH= like cows; vivatsaaH=bereft of their calves; vilapantisma= lamented; bahudhaa= in various ways; itiiva vaachaH= as aforesaid.

Uplifting their arms , those men stricken with anguish, like cows bereft of their calves, lamented in various ways as above.

tataH maarga anusaareNa gatvaa kimcit kSaNam punaH
maarga naashaat viSaadena mahataa samabhiplutaH || 2-47-13

13. tataH=then; gatvaa= proceeding; kimchit= to some distance; maargaanusaareNa=along the tracks; kshhaNam= for a while; samabhiplutaaH=they were overwhelmed with; mahataa= great; vishhadena= despair; punaH=again; maarganaashaat= due to disappearance of the tracks.

Then, proceeding to some distance along the tracks for a while, they were overwhelmed with great despair again due to sudden disappearance of tracks.

rathasya maarga naashena nyavartanta manasvinaH |
kim idam kim kariSyaamaH daivena upahataaiti || 2-47-14

14. manasvinaH= the good natured citizens; maarga naashena= due to disappearance of the tracks; rathasya= of the chariot; nyavartanta=returned (to Ayodhyas) iti= saying thus; kimidam= “how is it? kim karishhyaama= what shall we do? Upa hataaH= we are afflicted; daivena= by providence.

The good-natured citizens, due to disappearance of the tracks of the chariot, returned to Ayodhya, saying thus, “ How is it? What shall we do? We are afflicted by providence”

tataH yathaa aagatena eva maargeNa klaanta cetasaH |
ayodhyaam agaman sarve puriim vyathita sajjanaam || 2-47-15

15. tataH= thereafter; sarve= all of them; klaanta chetanaH= with aggrieved hearts, aagaman= went; aayodhya puriim= to the city of Ayodhya; vyathita sajjanaam= with distressed virtuous people; maargeNa= by the path; yathaagatenaiva= on which they had come.

Therafter, all of them with aggrieved hearts went to the city of Ayodhya, which was comprising of virtuous people with distress, by the same path on which they had come.

aalokya nagariim taam cha kshayavyaakulamaanasaaH |
aavartayanta t.ashruuNi nayanaiH shokapiiDitaiH || 2-47-16

16. aalokya=beholding; taam nagariim=that city; te= they; kshhayavyaakula maanasaaH= in their minds distracted through cheerlessness; aavartayanta= shed; ashruuNi= tears; shoka piiditaiH= stricken as they were in grief.

Beholding the city, they shed tears through their eyes stricken as they were in grief , their minds distressed through cheerlessness.

eshhaa raameNa nagarii rahitaa naatishobhate |
aapagaa garuDeneva hradaaduddhR^itapannagaa || 2-47-17

17. eshhaa nagarii=this city; raameNa rahitaa= bereft of Rama; naatishobhate= was not enchanting even a little; aapagaa iva= as a river; uddhhR^ita pannagaa= whose snakes were uplifted; hradaat= from its pool; garuDena= by Garuda.

Bereft of Rama, the aforesaid city of Ayodhya was not any more enchanting than a river whose snakes were uplifted from its pool by Garuda.

chandrahiinamivaakaasham toyahiinamivaarNavam |
apashyannihataanandam nagaram te vichetasaH || 2-47-18

18. aakaashamiva= as the sky; chandra hiinam= without the moon; aarNavam iva= or the sea; toya hiinam= without the water, te vichetasaH= those disconcerted men; apashyan= beheld; nagaram= the city; nihataanandam= from which all joy had fled.

As the sky without the moon or the sea without the water, these disconcerted men beheld the city from which all joy had fled.

te taani veshmaani mahaadhanaani |
duHkhena duHkhopahataa vishantaH |
naiva prajajJNuH svajanam janam vaa |
niriikshamaaNaaH praviNashhTaharshhaaH || 2-47-19

19. te= they; praviNashhTa harshhaaH= having lost their joy; vishantaH= entering; taani= those; veshmaani= houses; mahaadhanaani= with abundant riches ; duHkhena= uneasily; duHkhopahataaH= having stricken with grief; naiva prajaG^yuH= could not dishtinguish; svajanam= their own people; janam vaa= or others; niriikshhamaanaaH= (even if) being looked at.

Entering their houses full of abundant riches with uneasiness, the citizens could not distinguish between their own people and others, even though being looked at, stricken as they were with grief, their joy having altogether extinguished.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe ekachatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes the 47th chapter of Ayodhya Kanda in the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 48

Introduction

Informed by the citizens of Rama’s departure for the forest, when they returned to Ayodhya after being unable to find out the tracks of his chariot, the wives of the citizens reproach Kaikeyi and break into

lamentation.

teshhaamevam vishhNNaanaampiiDitaanaamatiiva cha |
baashhpaviplutanetraaNaam sashokaanaam mumuurshhayaa || 2-48-1
anugamya nivR^ittaanaam raamam nagara vaasinaam |
udgataani iva sattvaani babhuuvur amanasvinaam || 2-48-2

1,2. sattvaani= the lives of; teshhaam= those; nagaram vaasinaam= citizens; evam=thus; vishha NNanaam= dejected; atiiva=greatly; piiditaanaam= hurt; baashhpa vipluta netraaNaam= having eyes filled with tears; sa shokaamaam= affected by grief; mumuurshhayaa= impatient of life; anugamya= accompanied; raamam= Rama; nivR^ittaanaam= and returned; amanasvinaam= cheerless; udgataaniiva= as though their lives are gone.

The lives of those citizens, who had returned dejected and cheerless in this way after accompanying Rama were greatly hurt, having their eyes filled with tears afflicted with grief, longing to give up their lives and appeared as though they were dead.

svam svam nilayam aagamya putra daaraiH samaavR^itaaH |
ashruuNi mumucuH sarve baaSpeNa pihita aananaaH || 2-48-3

3. aagamya= reaching, svam svam= each his own; nilayam= house; sarve= all of them; samaavR^itaaH= having been surrounded; putra daaraiaH= by their sons and wives; mumuchuH= shed; ashrooNi= tears; pihitaananaaH= their face being covered; bashhpeNa= by tears.

Reaching each his own house, all of them surrounded by their sons and wife, shed tears, their faces being covered by them.

na ca aahR^iSyan na ca amodan vaNijo na prasaarayan |
na ca ashobhanta paNyaani na apacan gR^iha medhinaH || 2-48-4

4. na chaahR^ishhyan= (they) did not make rejoice; na amodancha=did not make merry; vaNijaH=merchants; na prasaarayan= did not exhibit their wares; paNyaanicha= even their merchandise; na ashobhante= did not look charming. gR^iha methinaH= Those in charge of home; na apachan= did not cook.

None was either delightful or merry. Merchants no longer exhibited their wares, nor their merchandise looked charming. Those in charge of home did not attend to cooking.

naSTam dR^iSTvaa na abhyanandan vipulam vaa dhana aagamam |
putram prathamajam labdhvaa jananii na abhyanandata || 2-48-5

5. na abhyanandan= none was delightful;dR^shhTam= a lost fortune; dhanaagamam vaa= or on getting wealth; vipulam= in abundance. Jananii= Mother;naabhyanandata= did not rejoice; labdhvaa= on obtaing; putram= a son; prathamajam= born for the first time.

None was delightful for instance on finding out a lost fortune, or on getting riches in abundance. No mother did rejoice even on obtaining a son born for the first time.

gR^ihe gR^ihe rudantyaH ca bhartaaram gR^iham aagatam |
vyagarhayantaH duhkha aartaa vaagbhis totraiH iva dvipaan || 2-48-6

6. duhkhaartaaH= oppressed with sorrow; rudantyaH=and lamenting; gR^ihe gR^ihe=(women) in every house; vyagarhayanta= heaped reproaches; bhartaaraam= on husbands; aagatam= who came; gR^iham= home; vaagbhiH= with words; dvipaan iva= like elephants; totraiH= by goads.

Oppressed with sorrow and weeping, women in every house heaped reproaches on their husbands who came home, with words as sharp as pricks of the goad which attack an elephant.

kim nu teSaam gR^ihaiH kaaryam kim daaraiH kim dhanena vaa |
putraiH vaa kim sukhaiH vaa api ye na pashyanti raaghavam || 2-48-7

7. kim= “What purpose; teshhhaam= of theirs( will be served); ye= who; na pashyanti= do not see; raaghavam= Rama; gR^IhaiH= by their dwellings? Kim kaaryam=For what purpose; daaraih=their wives?kim=what purpose dhananivaa= by their wealth even? Kim= What purpose? PutraiH vaa= by their sons or; sukhairvaapi= even pleasures even?”

“What purpose of theirs who do not see Rama, will be served by their dwellings, wife or wealth or sons or pleasures even?”

ekaH sat puruSo loke lakSmaNaH saha siitayaa |
yo anugacchati kaakutstham raamam paricaran vane || 2-48-8

8. lakshhma NaH= Lakshmana; ekaH= alone; satpurushhaH= is a good man; loke= in this world; yaH= who; anugachchati= was following; raamam= rama; kaakutstham= belonging to Kakutstha dynasty; siitayaa saha= along with Sita; paricharam rending service; vane= in the forest.”

Lakshmana alone is a good man in this world, who was accompanying Rama belonging to Kakutstha dynasty, along with Sita ,duly rendering service to them in the forest.”

aapagaaH kR^ita puNyaaH taaH padminyaH ca saraamsi ca |
yeSu snaasyati kaakutstho vigaahya salilam shuci || 2-48-9

9. kR^ita puNyaaH= fortunate are; taH= such; aapagaaH= rivers; padminyaH= lotus-ponds; saraamsicha= and lakes; snaasyati= bathing; yeshhu= in whose; shuchi= sacred; salilam= waters; kaakutstha= Rama; vigaahya= plunged into;

“Fortunate too are the rivers; lotus ponds and lakes for bathing in whose sacred waters Rama entered into.”

shobhayiSyanti kaakutstham aTavyo ramya kaananaaH |
aapagaaH ca mahaa anuupaaH saanumantaH ca parvataaH || 2-48-10

10. aaTavyaH= forests; ramya kaananaaH= with beautiful row of trees; mahaanuupaaH= tracks of land abounding in water; aapagaaH cha= rivers; parvataaH= and mountains; saanumantaH= with alluring peaks; shobhayishhyanti= will bring splendor to; kaakutstham= Rama.

“Forests with beautiful row of trees, tracks of land abounding in water, rivers and mountains with alluring peaks will bring splendor to Rama.”

kaananam vaa api shailam vaa yam raamaH abhigamiSyati |
priya atithim iva praaptam na enam shakSyanti anarcitum || 2-48-11

11. “yam=Which; shailam vaa= mountain; kaananamvaapi= or forest; raamaH= Rama; adhigamishhyati=will visit; na shakshhyanti= they can not; anarchitum= remain without respecting; enam= him; priyaatithim iva= like a beloved guest; praaptam= who has arrived.”

“Any mountain or forest which Rama will visit, will not fail to respect him like a beloved guest who has arrived.”

vicitra kusuma aapiiDaa bahu manjali dhaariNaH |
akaale ca api mukhyaani puSpaaNi ca phalaani ca || 2-48-12

12. nagaaH= Plants; vichitra kusuma piidaaH= with many – colored flowers as their chaplets; bahumaNjari dhaariNaH= bearing copious cluster of blossoms; bhramara shaalinaH= full of bees; darshayishhyanti= exhibit themselves; raaghavam= at Rama.”

“Plants with many –colored flowers as their chaplets, bearing copious clusters of blossoms full of bees exhibit themselves at Rama.”

akaale chaapi mukhyaani pushhpaaNi cha phalaani cha |
darshayiSyanti anukroshaat girayo raamam aagatam || 2-48-13

13. giryaH=mountains; darshayishhyanti= will display; mukhyaani= principal; pushhpaaNi= flowers; phalaanicha= and fruits; raamam= to Rama; aagatam= (when) arrived; akaalechaapi= even in unseasonable ness anukroshaat= with compassion.

“Even in unseasonable ness, mountains in compassion will present principal flowers and fruits to Rama, on his arrival.”

prasravishhyanti toyaani vimalaani mahiidharaaH |
vidarshayantaH vividhaan bhuuyaH citraamH ca nirjharaan || 2-48-14

14. “mahiidharaaH= mountains; vidarshayantaH= will show; vividhaan= various; chitraamshcha= wonderful; nirjharaan= waterfalls; bhuuyaH= again and again; prasravishhyanti= streaming forth; vimalaani= uncontaminated; toyaani= waters. ”

“Mountains will show various wonderful waterfalls again and again, duly streaming forth uncontaminated waters.”

paadapaaH parvata agreSu ramayiSyanti raaghavam |
yatra raamaH bhayam na atra na asti tatra paraabhavaH || 2-48-15

15. “paadapaaH= trees; parvataagrashhu= on mountain -peaks; ramayishhyanti= will enrapture; raaghavam= Rama; yatra= where; raamaH= there is Rama; atra= there is ; na= neither; bhayam= fear; naasti= nor; tatra= there is ; paraabhavaH= overthrow.”

“Trees on apex of mountains will enrapture Rama. Where there is Rama, there is neither fear nor humiliation”.

sa hi shuuraH mahaa baahuH putraH dasharathasya ca |
puraa bhavati no duuraat anugacchaama raaghavam || 2-48-16

16. “saH= that Rama; putraH= the son; dasarathasya= of Dasaratha; shuuraH= the hero and; mahaabaahuH= the mighty armed; puraa bhavati=will become; duurat= distant; naH= from us. Anugachhaama= Let us run after; raaghavam= Rama.”

“That Rama the son of Dasaratha, the hero and the mighty armed will come to our view not far from us. Let us run after him.”

paadac chaayaa sukhaa bhartus taadR^ishasya mahaatmanaH |
sa hi naatho janasya asya sa gatiH sa paraayaNam || 2-48-17

17. “paada chchhaayaa=The shelter of feet; bhartuH= of the Lord; mahaatmanaH= and the high-souled; taadR^ishsya= is in such a manner; sukhaa= a joy; saH= He; naatha hi= indeed is protector; asyajanasya= of these people. saH= He; gatiH= the refuge; saH= he; paraayaNam= the supreme asylum.”

“The shelter of the feet of the lord and the high–souled Rama is in itself a joy. Rama indeed is the protector of all of us, he the refuge and our supreme asylum ”

vayam paricariSyaamaH siitaam yuuyam tu raaghavam |
iti paura striyo bhartR^iR^in duhkha aartaaH tat tat abruvan || 2-48-18

18. “vayam= we; paricharishhyaamaH= shall serve; siitaam= Sita; yaayamtu= while you (serve); raaghavam= Rama.” iti= Thus; poura striyaH= the citizen’s wives; duhkhaartaaH= afflicted with agony; abruvam= spoke; tattat= this or that word; bhartR^iin= to their husbands.

“We shall serve Sita; while you attend on Rama.” Thus, the citizen’s wives, afflicted with agony, spoke in so many words to their husbands.

yuSmaakam raaghavo araNye yoga kSemam vidhaasyati |
siitaa naarii janasya asya yoga kSemam kariSyati || 2-48-19

19. raaghavaH= “Rama; vidhaasyati= will secure; yoga kshhemam = the needs and interests; yushhmaakam= of yours. Siitaa= Sita; karishhyati= will secure; yogakshhemam= the needs and interests; asya janasya naarii= of these people, the women folk.

“Rama will secure the needs and interests of yours in the forest, while Sita will do the same thing with regard to us womenfolk.”

ko nv anena apratiitena sa utkaNThita janena ca |
sampriiyeta amanoj~nena vaasena hR^ita cetasaa || 2-48-20

20. “kaH nu= who will be; sampriyeta= pleased; anena vaasena= with this residence;(in this city); apratitena= which is apprehensible; sotkaNThitajanenacha= with anxious people in it; amanoG^yena= not a pleasant spot; hR^ita chetasaa= with unsettled minds?”

“Who will be highly pleased with this residence in the city, which is apprehensible, with anxious people in it and not being a pleasant spot with unsettled minds?”

kaikeyyaa yadi ced raajyam syaat adharmyam anaathavat |
na hi no jiivitena arthaH kutaH putraiH kutaH dhanaiH || 2-48-21

21. syaadyadi= If it were; raajyam= rule; kaikeyyaaH= by Kaikeyi; adharmyam= it will not be in consonance with righteousness; anaathavat= with no protector; na hi= indeed, no; arthaH= use; jiivitena= by life; naH= to us. KutaH= much less; putraiH=by sons;kutaH=much less;dhanaiH= by riches.

“If it were to be the rule of Kaikeyi, it will not be in consonance with righteousness, with no protector and indeed with no use for our lives, mush less for our sons and riches.”

yayaa putraH ca bhartaa ca tyaktaav aishvarya kaaraNaat |
kam saa parihared anyam kaikeyii kula paamsanii || 2-48-22

22. saa Kaikeyi=”That Kaikeyi, yayaa= by whom; putrascha= her son; bharataacha= and her husband; tyaktaa= were forsaken; aishvarya kaaraNaat= for the sake of power;kula paamsanii= (and)who brought disagrace to her family; kam anyam= whom else; pari haret=she will not abandon?”

“Whom else Kaikeyi will not abandon? --that Kaikeyi, by whom her son and her husband were forsaken for the sake of power and who brought disgrace to her family.”

kaikeyyaa na vayam raajye bhR^itakaa nivasemahi |
jiivantyaa jaatu jiivantyaH putraiH api shapaamahe || 2-48-23

23. kaikeyyaaH= (while) Kaikeyi; jiivantyaaH= is surviving ; vayam= we ;jaatu=ever; na nivasemahi= will not inhabit; raajye= this kingdom; bhR^itakaaH=as (Kaikeyi’s) servants; jiivityaaH=(as long as we are) living; shapaamahe= we swear even; putrairapi=even by our sons.”

“We swear even by our sons that while Kaikeyi is surviving and as long as we live, we will never inhabit this kingdom as Kaikeyi’s servants!”

yaa putram paarthiva indrasya pravaasayati nirghR^iNaa |
kaH taam praapya sukham jiived adharmyaam duSTa caariNiim || 2-48-24

24. “kaH= who; jiivet= can live; sukham= happily; praapya= on having obtained; taam= her; yaa= who; nirjhR^I Naa= without pity; pravaasayati= banished; putram= the son; paarthivendrasya= of king; adharmyaam= the impious woman; dushhTachaariNiim= of wicked conduct?”

“Who can live happily on having obtained (as one’s ruler) that impious woman of wicked conduct, who banished the son of the king without any pity?”

upadrutamidam sarvamanaalambamanaayakam |
kaikeyyaa hi kR^ite sarvam vinaashamupayaasyati || 2-48-25

25. idam sarvam= “ the whole of this kingdom; upadrutam= visited by calamities; anaalambam= having no support;anaayakam= without any leader; upayaasyati=will meet with;vinaasham=ruin;kaikeyyaaH kR^ite= through Kaikeyi’s fault.”

“The whole of this kingdom, without any leader, having no support and visited by calamities, will meet with ruin because of Kaikeyi’s fault.”

na hi pravrajite raame jiiviSyati mahii patiH |
mR^ite dasharathe vyaktam vilopaH tat anantaram || 2-48-26

26. raame=Rama; pravrajite= having gone to exile; mahiipatiH= the monarch; na jiivishhyati hi= will indeed not survive! mR^ite= After the death; dasharathe= of Dasaratha; vilaapaH= utter moaning sounds; tadanantaram= thereafter; vyaktam= It is certain.

“For, Rama having gone into exile, the monarch will not survive and when Dasaratha is dead, utter regrets will remain thereafter. It is certain!”

te viSam pibata aaloDya kSiiNa puNyaaH sudurgataaH |
raaghavam vaa anugacchadhvam ashrutim vaa api gacchata || 2-48-27

27. te= you, as such; pibata= drink; vishham= poison; aaloDya= duly stirred up; kshhiiNa pu NyaaH= since your merits are exhausted; sudurgataaH= and you are marked out by ill fortune; anugachchhadhvam vaa= or follow; raamam= Rama (to the forest); gachchhati= or reach; ashrutim vaa= (the land where the name of Kaikeyi) may not reach your ears.”

“So, drink poison duly stirred up, since your merits are exhausted and you are marked out by ill fortune. Otherwise, follow Rama to forest or reach a place where even the name of Kaikeyi may not reach your ears.”

mithyaa pravraajitaH raamaH sabhaaryaH saha lakSmaNaH |
bharate samniSR^iSTaaH smaH saunike pashavo yathaa || 2-48-28

28. raamaH= “Rama; pravraajitaH= has been sent to exile; sa siitaH= with Sita; saha lakshhmaNaH=and with Lakshmana; mithyaa= deceit fully; smaH= we have been;sannisR^ishhTaaH=handed over; bharata= to Bharata; sounike yathaa= like to a slaughterer; pashavaH= the beasts.”

“Rama has been sent to exile along with Sita and Lakshmana deceitfully. We have been handed over now to Bharata, like the beasts in the hands of a slaughterer.”

puurNachandraananaH shyaamo guuDhajatrurariMdamaH |
aajaanubaahuH padmaaksho raamo lakshmanapuurvajaH || 2-48-29
puurvaabhibhaashhii madhuraH satyavaadii mahaabalaH |
saumyaH sarvasya lokasya chandravatpriyadarshanaH || 2-48-30
nuunam purushhashaarduulo mattamaataN^gavikramaH |
shobhayushyatyaraNyaani vicharan sa mahaarathaH || 2-48-31

29,30,31. raamo=Rama; puurNa chandraananaH= whose face is like the full moon, shyaamo= dark brown of complexion; guuDha jatraH= whose collar bone is invisible (because it is covered with flesh) arindamaH= conquerer of his foes; aajaanubaahuH= whose arms descend to the knees; padmaakshho= whose eyes resemble lotuses; lakshhmaNa puurvajaH= the elder brother of Lakshmana; puurvaabhibhaashhii=who takes initiative in speaking; satyavaadii= speaking with candor; madhuvaH= and sweetness; mahaabalaH= very strong; soumyaH= benevolent; sarvasya lokasya= to all people; chandravat priyadarshanaH= charming sight as the moon; purusha shaarduulo= tiger among men; matta maataN^ga vikramaH= as mighty as an elephant in rut; sa mahaarathaH= that great car- warrior; nuunam =surely; shobhayishjyati= will adorn; araNyaani= the woods; vicharam= while roaming (through them).”

“Rama, whose face is like the full moon, of dark brown complexion, whose collar-bone is invisible (because of its being covered with flesh), a conqueror of foes, whose arms descend to his knees, whose eyes resemble lotuses, the elder brother of Lakshmana, who takes initiative in speaking and expresses with sweetness, truthful of speech and possessed of extra ordinary strength, is benevolent to all, delightfully charming as the moon, that tiger among men, as mighty as an elephant in rut, that great car-warrior, will surely adorn the woods, while roaming through them..”

taastathaa vilapantyastu nagare naagarastriyaH |
chukrushurduHkhasamtaptaamR^ityoriva bhayaagame || 2-48-32

32. taaH= those; naagara striiyaH=wives of citizens; nagare= in the city (of Ayodhya); vilapantyaH= lamenting; tathaa= in that manner; chukrushuH= cried; bhayaagame iva= as though fear has cropped up; mR^ityoH= for death.

Those wives of citizens in the city of Ayodhya, lamenting as aforesaid, began weeping, as though fear has cropped up for a forth-coming death.

ityeva vilapantiinaam striiNaam veshmasu raaghavam |
jagaamaastam dinakaro rajanii chaabhyavartata || 2-48-33

33. dinakaraH=the sun; jagaama= sank; astam= below the horizon; rajaniicha= and the night; abhyavartata= fell; striiNaam=( while) the women; veshmasu= in the houses; vilapantiinaam= were weeping; ityevam= in the way; raaghavam= about Rama.

The sun sank below the horizon and the night fell, while the women in the houses were weeping in that manner about Rama.

nashhTajvalanasampaataa prashaantaadhyaayasatkathaa |
timireNaabhilipteva tadaa saa nagarii babhau || 2-48-34

34. saa nagarii= That city of Ayodhya, nashhTa jvalana sampataa= in which kindling of fires had ceased; prashantaadhyaaya satkathaa= chanting of Vedas and narration of sacred stories died out; babhou= looked; abhilipteva= as though coated; timireNa= with darkness; tadaa= at this time.

The city of Ayodhya, in which the kindling of fires had ceased and the chanting of Vedas and narration of sacred stories died out, looked as though it was coated with darkness at that time.

upashaantavaNikpaNyaa nashhTaharshhaa niraashrayaa |
ayodhyaa nagarii chaasiinnashhTataaramivaambaram || 2-48-35

35. ayodhyaa nagarii=The city of Ayodhya; upashaanta vaNikpaNyaa= in which the business of the trading class had come to a stand-still; nashhTa harshhaa= in which joy had faded out; niraashrayaa= which had become support less; aasiit= became; ambaramiva= like a sky; nashhTa taaram= in which the stars had disappeared.

The city of Ayodhya, in which the business of the trading class had come to a stand-still, in which joy had been faded out, which had become (now) support less, looked dim as though stars had disappeared in the sky.

tathaa striyo raama nimittam aaturaa |
yathaa sute bhraatari vaa vivaasite |
vilapya diinaa rurudur vicetasaH |
sutaiH hi taasaam adhiko hi so abhavat || 2-48-36

36. striyaH= the women; vichetasaH= whose minds became sick; yathaa= as one would feel on; sute= (one’s own) son; bhraatarivaa=or brother; vivaasite= having been sent into exile; aaturaaH= cried; raama nimittam= on account of Rama; diinaH= miserably; vilapya= lamented; ruruduH=(and) wept. taasaam= To them; saH= that Rama; abhavat hi= indeed became; adhikaH= more than; sutaaH= their sons.

The women whose minds became sick on account of Rama, as one would feel on one’s own son or brother having been sent into exile, cried miserably expressing their grief in various ways. To them, Rama was dearer than their very sons!

prashaantagiitotsava nR^ittavaadanaa |
vyapaastaharshhaa pihitaapaNodayaa |
tadaa hyayodhyaa nagarii babhuuva saa |
mahaarNavaH samkshapitodako yathaa ||2-48-37

37. saa=that;ayodhyaa nagari=city of Ayodhya; prasaanta giitotsava nR^tta vaadanaa= in which singing,rejoicing and instrumental music had been completely set at rest;ivyapaasta harshhaa= whose joy had departed; pihitaa pa Nodayaa= whose shops had been closed; tadaa= then; babhuuva= became; mahaarNavaH yathaa= like a great ocean; samkshhapitodakaH= whose waters had dried up.

That city of Ayodhya, in which singing, rejoicing, dancing and instrumental music had been completely set at rest, when jpy had departed forever and whose shops had been closed, looked at that time like a grat ocean whose waters had dried up.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe ashhTachatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 48th chapter in the AyodhyaKanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 49

Introduction

Having traveled for a pretty long distance, Rama crossed Vedasruti, Gomati and Syandika rivers. He presses forward in the chariot talking with Sumantra.

raamaH api raatri sheSeNa tena eva mahad antaram |
jagaama puruSa vyaaghraH pitur aaj~naam anusmaran || 2-49-1

1. raamo.api= Also Rama; purushhavyaaghraH= the tiger among men; anusmaran= remembering; aaG^yaam=the command; pituH= of his father; jagaama= obtained; mahat= a long; antaram= distance; tena= (during) that; raatrisesheNa= rest of the night.

Rama the tiger among men, revolving in his mind the command of his father, covered a long distance during the rest of the night.

tathaiva gacchataH tasya vyapaayaat rajanii shivaa |
upaasya sa shivaam samdhyaam viSaya antam vyagaahata || 2-49-2

2. shivaa= delightful; rajanii= night; vyapaayat= passed away; tasya= (while) Rama; gachchhataH eva= was traveling; tathaa= in that way. saH= Rama; upaasya= having worshipped; shivam= the blissful; sandhyaam= (morning) twilight; vyagaahata= passed beyond; vishhayaantam= the boundary of that country.

While Rama was traveling with the same alacrity, that delightful night passed away. Having worshipped the blissful morning twilight, he passed beyond the boundary of that country.

graamaan vikR^iSTa siimaan taan puSpitaani vanaani ca |
pashyann atiyayau shiighram sharaiH iva haya uttamaiH || 2-49-3
shR^iNvan vaaco manuSyaaNaam graama samvaasa vaasinaam |

3. pashyan= seeing; graamaan= villages; vikR^ishhTa siimaanaan= whose outskirts have been filled; vanaamicha=and woodlands; pushhpitaani= laden with blossoms; shR^iNvan= hearing; vachaH= the words; manushhyaaNaam= of men; graama samvaasa vaasinaam= dwelling together in mist of the village; shiighram= proceeded apace; shanairiva= as though slowly; atiyayon= and passed over those villages.

Seeing villages, whose outskirts have been tilled and the woodlands laden with blossoms and hearing as follows the words of men dwelling together in the midst of the village, Rama proceeded apace in those excellent horses as though slowly (engrossed as he was in enjoying the sights).

raajaanam dhig dasharatham kaamasya vasham aagatam || 2-49-4
haa nR^ishamsa adya kaikeyii paapaa paapa anubandhinii |
tiikSNaa sambhinna maryaadaa tiikSNe karmaNi vartate || 2-49-5
yaa putram iidR^isham raaj~naH pravaasayati dhaarmikam |
vana vaase mahaa praaj~nam saanukrosham atandritam || 2-49-6

4,5,6. “dhik= woe unto; raajaanaam= the king Dasaratha; vashamaagatam= who fell into the clutches; kaamasya= of concupiscence. haa= Alas! Kaikeyi= Kaikeyi; nR^ishamasaa= the cruel; paapaa= and the sinful; adya= now; paapaanubandhinii=is following the sin. Yaa=which Kaikeyi; pravaasayati= is sending to exile; iidR^isham= such; raaG^yaHputram= prince Rama; dhaarmikam = the pious man; mahaapraaG^yam= a great intellectual; saanukrosham= the compassionate man; jitendriyam= he who has subdued senses; tiikshhNaa= that hot tempered Kaikeyi, vartate= is abiding; tiikshhNa karmaNi= in a rude action; sambhinna maryaadaa= transgressing the bounds of propriety.

“Woe unto the king Dasaratha who fell into the clutches of concupiscence. Alas! Kaikeyi the cruel and the sinful one now is still engaged in a cruel game. She is sending to exile the prince Rama, the pious man, the great intellectual, the compassionate man and he who subdued the senses. That hot-tempered Kaikeyi is behaving in a rude manner, transgressing the bounds of propriety”

katham naama mahaabhaagaa siitaa janakanandinii |
sadaa sukheshhvabhirataa duHkhaanyanubhavishhyati || 2-49-7

7. “katham naama=how; siita=Sita;mahaabhaagaa=the venerable woman; janaka nandinii= the daughter of king Janaka; abhirathaa= who was delighted; sadaa= always; sukheshhu=in(homely)comforts; anubhavishhyati= can experience; duHkhaani= difficulties (in the forest)?”

“How Sita the venerable woman, the daughter of Janaka, who was delighted always in homely comforts can now experience hardships in the forest?”

aho dasharatho raajaa nisnehaH svasuta priyam |
prajaanaamanagham raamam parityaktumihechchhati || 2-49-8

8. “rajaa= the king; dasharathaH=Dasaratha; nisnehaH= having no love; svasutam= for his son; iha =now; ichchhati= wants; parityaktum= to abandon; raamam= Rama; priyam= who is beloved; prajaanam= to his people; anagham= and faultless; aho= what a surprise!”

“What a surprise! The king Dasaratha, having no love for his son, now wants to abandon Rama who is so beloved to the people and is even faultless.”

etaa vaaco manuSyaaNaam graama samvaasa vaasinaam |
shR^iNvann ati yayau viiraH kosalaan kosala iishvaraH || 2-49-9

9. shruNvaa= hearing; etaaH= these; vaachaH= words; manushhyaaNaam= of people; graama samvaasa vaasinaam= residing in villages and hamlets; viirah= the heroic; kosaleshvaraH= prince of Kosala; atiyayon= crossed the boundaries; kosalaan= of Kosala state.

Hearing these words of people residing in villages and hamlets, Rama the heroic prince of Kosala crossed the boundaries of Kosala state.

tataH veda shrutim naama shiva vaari vahaam nadiim |
uttiirya abhimukhaH praayaat agastya adhyuSitaam disham || 2-49-10

10. uthiirya= having crossed; nadiim= the river; shiva vaarivahaam= of auspicious waters; vedashrutim naama= named Vedashruti; tataH praayaat= he then proceeded forth; abhimukhaH= facing; disham= the quarter; agastyaadhyushhitaam= occupied by the Sage Agastya.

Having crossed the river of auspicious waters called Vedashruti, Rama then stretched forth, facing the quarter occupied by Sage Agastya.

gatvaa tu suciram kaalam tataH shiita jalaam nadiim |
gomatiim goyuta anuupaam atarat saagaram gamaam || 2-49-11

11. gatvaa= after traveling; suchiram kaalam= for a pretty time; tataH= from there; atarat= (Rama) crossed; nadiim= the river; gomatiim= called Gomati; shivajalaam= having beautiful waters; goyutaa nuupam= whose banks were adorned with cows; saagarangamaam= and headed towards the sea.

After traveling a pretty long time from there, Rama crossed the river Gomati having beautiful waters, whose banks were adorned with cows and which headed towards the sea.

gomatiim ca api atikramya raaghavaH shiighragaiH hayaiH |
mayuura hamsa abhirutaam tataara syandikaam nadiim || 2-49-12

12. raaghavaH= Rama;atikramya= crossing; gomatiimcha api= Gomati river too; hayaiH= by horses; shiighragaiH= which are swift-moving; tataara= crossed; nadiim= the river; syandikaam= called Syandika; mayuura hamsaabhirutaam= resounding with howls of peacocks and swans.

Reaching the other bank of Gomati river with the help of the swift moving horses, Rama crossed the river called Syandika which had resounded with howls of peacocks and swans.

sa mahiim manunaa raaj~naa dattaam ikSvaakave puraa |
sphiitaam raaSTra aavR^itaam raamaH vaidehiim anvadarshayat || 2-49-13

13. raamaH= that Rama; anvadarshayat= showed; vaidehiim= to Sita; mahiim= (that) land; dattaam= given; raaG^yaa= by the king; manunaa=Manu; ikshvaakave= to Ikshvaku; puraa= long ago; raashhTraavR^taam= filled with territories; sphiitaam= many in number.

The said Rama showed to Sita the land (of Kosala, the southern boundary of which was defined by Syandika river)given long ago by the king Manu to Ikshvaku and which was bounded by many territories.

suutaiti eva ca aabhaaSya saarathim tam abhiikSNashaH |
hamsa matta svaraH shriimaan uvaaca puruSa R^iSabhaH || 2-49-14

14. shriimaan= the glorious Rama; purushharshhabhaH= the foremost among men; hamsa matta svaraH= whose voice resembled the cackling of a swan in rut; aabhaashhya= addressed; tam saarathim= that charioteer; abhiikshhNashaH= with great affection; suuta ityeva= in the words “Oh, charioteer!” uvaacha= (and) spoke( as follows) :

The glorious Rama, the foremost among men, whose voice resembled the cackling of a swan in rut, addressed the charioteer with great affection, in the words “Oh, charioteer!” and spoke as follows :

kadaa aham punar aagamya sarayvaaH puSpite vane |
mR^igayaam paryaaTaSyaami maatraa pitraa ca samgataH || 2-49-15

15. “ kadaa= when; punaraagamya= coming back; sangataH= and united; maatraa= with mother; pitraacha= and father; paryaTishhyaami= shall I roam; mR^igayaam= hunting; vane= in the forest; sarayvaaH= bordering on Sarayu river; pushhpite= and laden with blossoms?”

“When, coming back and united with my mother and father, shall I roam hunting in the forest, bordering on Sarayu river and laden with blossoms?”

na atyartham abhikaankSaami mR^igayaam sarayuu vane |
ratir hi eSaa atulaa loke raaja R^iSi gaNa sammataa || 2-49-16
raajarshhiiNaam hi loke.asmin ratyartham mR^igayaa vane |
kaale kR^itaam taam manujairdhanvinaamabhikaaN^kshitaam || 2-49-17

16,17. eshhaa= this hunting; ratirhi= is a delightful sport; atulaa= made much of; loke= in the world; raajarshhi gaNasammataa= approved by a host of royal sages; naabhikaaNkshhaami= I do not hanker; atyartham= much; mR^igayaam= of hunting; sarayuuvane= in the woodlands bordering in Sarayu . mR^igayaa= hunting; vane= in the forest; ratyarthamhi= is for gratification indeed; raajarshhiiNaam= of royal sages; asmin loke= in this world ; .kR^itaam= (It was) adopted; kaale= at times; manujaiH= by the sons of Manu; abhikaaNkshhitaam= and sought after by; dhanvinaam= bowmen. taam= That hunting,(I do not long for it excessively).

“I do not hanker much after hunting in the woodlands bordering on Sarayu river. In fact it is a delightful spot, made much of in the world by hosts of royal sages. Hunting in the forest is indeed for gratification of royal sages in this world. At times; the bow- men adopted it. But I do not long for it excessively.”

sa tam adhvaanam aikSvaakaH suutam madhurayaa giraa
tam tam artham abhipretya yayauvaakyam udiirayan || 2-49-18

18. udiirayan= uttering; madhurayaa= in sweet; giraa= voice; suutam= to the charioteer; tam tam= on various; artham= topics; abhipretya= dearer; (to him) saH ikshhvaakaH= that Rama; yayou= went; adhvaanam= along that route.

Uttering in sweet voice to the charioteer on various topics dearer to him, Rama advanced thus along that route.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe ekonapaJNchaashaH sargaH

Thus completes 49th chapter in the AyodhyaKanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 50

Introduction

Rama bids farewell to his birth-place Ayodhya and reaches the bank of the holy Ganga. There, Nishadas offers welcome reception to Rama and others.

vishaalaan kosalaan ramyaan yaatvaa lakSmaNa puurvajaH |
ayodhyaabhimukho dhiimaan praaJNJNlirvaakvamabraviit || 2-50-1

1. yatvaa = having crossed; ramyaan= the beautiful; vishaalaan= and the extensive; kosalaan= Kosala territory; ayodhyaabhimukhah= and standing with his face turned towards Ayodhya; dhiimaan= the wise; lakshmaNa puurvajaH= Rama(elder brother of Lakshmana); praaN^jaliH= with joined palms; abraviit=spoke; vaakyam= (the following) words.

Having traveled the extensive and beautiful Kosala territory and standing with his face turned towards Ayodhya, the wise Rama with joined palms spoke the following words:

aapR^ichchhe tvaam puriishreshhThe kaakutsthaparipaalite |
daivataani cha yaani tvaam paalayantyaavasanti cha || 2-50-2

2. puriishreshhTe= “ Oh Ayodhya, best of cities; kaakutstha paripaalite= ruled by Dasaratha born in kakutstha dynasty! aapR^ichchhe= I bid farewell; tvaam= to you; yaani= and to those; daivataani= deities, paalayanticha= who protect you and ; aavasanti= dwelling on your boundaries.”

“I bid farewell to you, Oh best of the cities, carefully protected by Dasaratha born in Kakutstha dynasty, as well as of the deities who protect you and dwell in you.”

nivR^ittavanavaasastvaamanR^iNo jagatiipateH |
punardhrakshyaami maatraa cha pitraa cha saha samgataH || 2-50-3

3. “nivR^itta vanavaasinaH= after getting relieved from dwelling in the forest; anR^iNaH= and becoming free of debt; jagatiipate= to the king Dasaratha; drakshhyaami= I shall see; tvaam= you; punaH= again; sangataH= united with; maatraacha= my mother; pitraacha saha= along with my father.”

“After getting relieved from exile in the forest and thus freed from the debt to the emperor, I shall see you again, duly getting united with my mother and father.”

tato rudhirataamraaksho bhujamudyamya dakshiNam |
ashrupuurNamukho diino.abraviijjaanapadam janam || 2-50-4

4. udyamya= lifting; dakshhiNam= (his)right; bhujam= arm; diinaH= and wearing a woeful look; ashrupuurNamukho= his face covered with tears; rudhirataamraakshhaH= and who was having lovely reddish eyes; abraviit= (Rama) spoke; janam= to the people; jaanapadam= hailing from countryside.

Lifting his right arm and wearing a woeful look, his face covered with tears, Rama possessing lovely reddish eyes, spoke them to the people hailing from the countryside.(as follows) :

anukrosho dayaa chaiva yathaarham mayi vah kR^itaH |
chiram duHkhasya paapiiyo gamyataamarthasiddhaye || 2-50-5

5. dayaachaiva= mercy and; anukroshaH= compassion; yathaarham= according to my worth; kR^itaH= have been shown; mayi= to me; vaH= by you. duHkhasya= Agony; chiram= for a long time; paapiiyaH= is miserable. gamyataam= Let you be gone; ardhasiddhaye= for accomplishing your desired object (viz. attending to your house-hold work).”

“Mercy and compassion according to my worth (in your view) have been shown to me by you. Keeping agony for a long time is undesirable. Let each return to accomplish your desired object(attending to your house-hold work)!”

te.abhivaadya mahaatmaanam kR^itvaa chaapi pradakshiNam |
vilapanto naraa ghoram vyatishhThanta kvachit kvachit || 2-50-6

6. abhivaadya= respectfully saluting; mahaatmaanam= the high-soled prince; pradakshhiNamchaapi= and going round him clockwise (as a mark of respect); te naraaH= those men; vyatishhTanta= stood; kvachit kvachit= (rooted) here and there; vilapantaH= wailing; ghoram= frightfully.

Respectfully saluting the high soled prince and going round him clockwise (as a mark of reverence), those men stood rooted here and there, wailing frightfully.

tathaa vilapataam teshhaamatR^iptaanaam cha raaghavaH |
achakshurishhayam praayaadyathaarkaH kshaNadaamukhe || 2-50-7

7. teshhaam= (while) they; vilapataam= were lamenting; tathaa= thus; atR^iptaanaam= unceasingly, raaghavaH= Rama; praayaat= passed; achakshhurvishhayam= beyond their sight; arkaH yathaa= as the sun; kshhaNadaamukhe= at nightfall.

While they were lamenting thus unceasingly, Rama passed beyond their sight, as the sun sinks out of view at nightfall.

tato dhaanyadhanopetaan daanashiilajanaan shivaan |
akutashchidbhayaan ramyaam shchaityayuupasamaavR^itaan || 2-50-8
udyaanaamravanopetaan sampannasalilaashayaan |
tushhTapushhTajanaakiirNaan gokulaakulasevitaan || 2-50-9
lakshaNiiyaanna remdraaNaam brahmaghoshhaabhinaaditaan |
rathena purushhavyaaghraH kosalaanatyavartata || 2-50-10

8,9,10. tataH= then; purushha vyaaghraH= that tiger among men; rathena= in his chariot; atyavartata= crossed; kosalaan= Kosala territory; dhaanya dhanopetaan= which was rich in grain and treasure; daana shiila janaan= inhabited by men given to charity; shivaan akutashchidbhayaan= benevolent and free from every danger; ramyaan= pleasing; chaitya yuupa samaavR^itaan= full of temples and sacrificial stakes; udyaanaamravanopetaan= adorned with gardens and mango orchards, sampanna salilaashayaan= intersected by ponds full of water; tushhTa pushhTa janaakiirNaan= inhabited by well nourished people, gokulaakula sevitaan= abounded in herds of cows; lakshhaNiiyaan= which deserved to be seen by ; narendraaNaam= by all kings; brahmaghoshhaabhinaaditaan= and which re- echoed to the charity of religious texts.

Then Rama, a tiger among men, in his chariot, crossed Kosala territory, which was rich in grain and treasure, inhabited by men given to charity, benevolent and free from every danger, pleasing, full of temples and sacrificial stakes, adorned with gardens and mango-orchards, intersected by ponds full of water, populated by contented and well nourished people, abounded in herds of cows which deserved to be seen by all kings and which re-echoed to the chanting of religious texts.

madhyena muditam sphiitam ramyodyaanasamaakulam |
raajyam bhogyam narendraaNaam yayau dhR^itimataam varaH || 2-50-11

11. varaH=the best; dhR^itimataam= among the resolute;yayou=moved;madhyena=into themiddle, muditam= of a happy; raajyam= kingdom; sphiitam= which is prosperous; ramyodyaana samaakulam= abounding in lovely gardens; bhogyam= fit to be enjoyed; narendraaNaam=by kings.

Rama, the best among the resolute, moved into the middle of a happy and prosperous kingdom, abounding in lovely gardens and fit to be enjoyed by kings.

tatra tripathagaam divyaam shiva toyaam ashaivalaam |
dadarsha raaghavo gangaam puNyaam R^iSi nisevitaam || 2-50-12

12. tatra= there; raaghavaH= Rama; dadarsha= beheld; puNyaam= the celestial; gaNgaam= Ganga river; tripathagaam= which takes a three fold course (through three tributaries) ramyaam= a lovely one; shiva toyaam=carrying clear waters; ashaivalaam= without a green moss; R^ishhi nishhevitaam= and frequented by sages.

There, Rama beheld the celestial and lovely river of Ganga with its tree tributaries, carrying clear waters without green moss and frequented by sages.

aashramairaviduursthaiH shriimadbhiH samalam kR^itaam |
kaale.apsarobhirhR^ishhTaabhiH sevitaambhohradaam shivaam || 2-50-13

13. samalamkR^itaam= adorned; aviduurasthaiH= not very far (from one another); shriimadbhiH= splendid; aashramaiH= hermitages; sevitaambhohradaam= with pools overflowing with water visited; kaale= at suitable hours; apsarobhiH= by celestial nymphs; hR^ishhTaabhiH= thrilling with rapture.

The River Ganga was adorned with splendid hermitages within easy distance from one another, with pools overflowing with water, visited at suitable hours by celestial nymphs thrilling with rapture.

devadaanavagandharvaiH kinnarairupashobhitaam |
naagagandharvapatniibhiH sevitaam satatam shivaam || 2-50-14

14. upashobhitaam= graced; deva daanava gandharvaiH= by gods and demons, Gandharvas (celestial musicians); kinnaraiH= (and) Kinnaras; satatam=constantly;sevitaam= visited by; naaga gandharvapatniiH= consorts of Nagas and Gandharvas.

The blessed river was graced by gods and demons, Gandharvas(celestial musicians) and kinnaras and was constantly visited by consorts of Nagas and Gandharvas.

devaakriiDashataakiirNaam devodyaanashataayutaam |
devaarthamaakaashagamaam vikhyaataam devapadminiim || 2-50-15

15. devaa kriiDa shataakiirNaam= the hills serving as the playground of hundreds of celestials; devodyaana shataayutaam=embellished with hundreds of celestial gardens; aakaashagamaam= coursed through the heavens; devaartham= for the benefit of gods; vikhyaatam= (and which in heaven) was named; devapadminiim= “The stream of Golden Lotuses”.

The well known river was hemmed in by hills serving as the play- ground of hundreds of celestials and embellished with hundreds of celestial gardens; it coursed through the heavens for the benefit of gods and which in heaven was named “The stream of Golden Lotuses”.

jalaghaataaTTahaasograam phenanirmalahaasiniim |
kvachidveNiikR^itajalaam kvachidaavartashobhitaam || 2-50-16

16. jalaaghaataaTTahaasograam= the sound of whose clashing waves and striking with rocks resembles deep laughter; phena nirmala haasiniim= having a smile as white as a foam; veNiikR^ita jalaam= its water reduced to the shape of a maiden’s plaited locks; kvachit= at some places; aavarta shobhitaam= rendered beautiful by whirl pools; kvachit= at some places.

The holy river, the sound of whose clashing waves and its striking with rocks resembled a deep laughter, having a bright smile as white as a foam, its waters reduced at some places to the shape of a maiden’s plaited locks, was rendered beautiful at some places by whirl pools.

kvachitstimitagambhiiraam kvachidvegajalaakulaam |
kvachidgambhiiranirghoshhaam kvachidbhairavanisvanaam || 2-50-17

17. kvachit= at some places; smita gambhiiraam= its waters were still and deep; kvachit= at some places; vega jalaakulaam= they were disturbed with violent agitation; kvachit=at some places; gambhiira nirghoshhaam= making a deep roaring sound; kvachit= at some places; bhairava niHsvanaam= having a terrific noise.

At some places, its waters were still and deep. At some places, they were disturbed with violent agitation. At some places, they made a deep roaring sound. At some places, they were having a terrific noise

devasamghaaplutajalaam nirmalotpalashobhitaam |
kvachidaabhogapulinaam kvachinnarmalavaalukaam || 2-50-18

18. deva sanghaapluta jalaam= hosts of gods took a dip into its water; nirmalotpala shobhitaam= adorned by white lotuses; kvachit= at some places; aabhogapulinaam= with expanse of small islands; kvachit= at some places; nirmala vaalukaam= lined with white sands.

Hosts of gods took a dip into its water .It was adorned by white lotuses. It was hemmed in, with expanse of small islands and at some places, lined with white sands.

hamsa sarasa samghuSTaam cakra vaaka upakuujitaam |
sadaamadaishcha vihagairabhisamnaaditaam taraam || 2-50-19

19. hamsa saarasa samghushTaam= rendered resonant by swans and cranes; chakravaakopa kuujitaam= with cackling of Chakrawaka birds; vihagaiH= (other) birds; sadaamadaiH= which are in rut all through; abhisannaaditamtaraam= kept hovering in its middle. **-Chakravaka is a species of bird, which gets disunited with its mate by night.

The river was rendered resonant by swans and cranes, was graced with cackling of Chakrawaka** birds and other birds which are in rut all through the year kept hovering on its water.

kvachittiiraruhairvR^ikshairmaalaabhiriva shobhitaam |
kvachitphullotpalachchhannaam kvachitpadmavanaakulaam || 2-50-20

20. kvachit= at some places; shobhitaam= (the river) was adorned; vR^ikshhaiaH= with trees; tiiraruhaiH= growing on its banks; maalaabhiriva= (encircling) like garlands; kvachit =at some places; phullotpalachchhannaam= covered with widely opened lotuses; padmavanaakulaam= crowded with thick cluster of lotuses.

At some places the river was adorned with trees growing on its banks encircling like garlands, at some places crowded with thick cluster of lotuses.

kvachitkumudashhNDaishcha kuDmalairupashobhitaam |
naanaapushhparajodhvastaam samadaamiva cha kvachit || 2-50-21

21. kvachit= at some places; upashobhitaam= graced with; kumuda shhaNDaishcha= beds of water lilies; kuDmalaiH=in the farm of buds; kvachit= at some places; naanaa pushhpa rajodhvastaam= reddened with the pollen of numerous flowers; samadaam iva= as though excited with passion.

At some places, it was graced with beds of water lilies in the form of buds and at some places, it was reddened with the pollen of numerous flowers, as though excited with passion.

vyapetamalasamghaataam maNinirmaladarshanaam |
dishaagajairvanagajairmattaishcha varavaaraNaiH || 2-50-22
devopavaahyashcha muhuH samnaaditavanaantaraam |

22. vyapeta mala samghaataam= having every aggregation of dirt removed; maNinirmala darshanaam= presenting a spotlessly clear appearance like a crystal; samnaadita vanaantaraam= the interior of the forest rendered noisy; muhuH= again and again; dishaagajaiH= by the elephants guarding the quarters; mattaiH= ruttiest; vanagajaiH= wild elephants; varavaaraNaiH= elephants of excellent breed; devopavaahaiH= used for riding by gods.

Having every aggregation of dirt removed, the river presented a spotlessly clear appearance like a crystal. The interior of the forest was reddened noisy again and again by the elephants guarding the quarters, by the ruttiest wild elephants and the elephants of excellent breed used for riding by gods.

pramadaamiva yatne na bhuushhitaam bhuushhaNottamaiH || 2-50-23
phalaiH pushhpaiH kisalayairvaR^itaam gulmaiddvijaistathaa |
shimshumaraiH ca nakraiH ca bhujamgaiH ca niSevitaam || 2-50-24

23,24. vR^itaam= surrounded; phalaiH= by fruits; pushhpaiH= flowers; kisalayaiH= tender leaves; gulmaiH= shrubs; tathaa= and; dvijaiH= birds; pramadaamiva= it looked like a young woman; yat nena= carefully;bhuushhitaam= decked with; bhuushhaNottamaiH= the best of jewels. nishhevitaam= infested with; shimshumaaraishcha= dolphins; nakraishcha= crocodiles; bhujangaishcha= and snakes.

Surrounded by fruits and flowers and tender leaves, shrubs and birds, it looked like a young woman artistically decked with the best of jewels. The river was infested with dolphins, crocodiles and snakes.

vishhNupaadachyutaam divyaamapaapaam paapanaashiniim |
taam shaN^karajaTaajuuTaadbhrashhTaam saagaratejasaa || 2-50-25
samudramahiishhiim gaN^gaam saarasakrauJNchanaaditaam |
aasasaada mahaabaahuH shR^iN^giberapuram prati || 2-50-26

25,26. mahaabaahuH= Rama,the mighty armed; aasasaada= reached; taam gangaam= that river Ganga; vishhNu paadachyutaam= which flows from the feet of Lord Vishnu; apaapaam= which is devoid of sins; paapanaashiniim= and dispels all sins; bhrashhTaam= and which had fallen; shankara jaTaajuuTaat= from the mass of matted hair of Lord Shankara; saagara tejasaa= through the spiritual power of the descendent of Sagara(Emperor Bhagiratha) ; samudra krounchanaaditaam= which was rendered noisy by cranes and herons; shR^iN^giberapuram prati= in the vicinity of Sringaverapura( the modern Singraur.)

Rama, the mighty armed, reached the river Ganga, which is devoid of sins and which dispels all sins, which had fallen from the mass of matted hair of Lord Shankara through the spiritual power of Emperor Bhagiratha, which is rendered noisy by cranes and herons, which is a consort of the ocean and which is in the vicinity of Sringaverapura(the modern Singraur).

taam uurmi kalila aavartaam anvavekSya mahaa rathaH |
sumantram abraviit suutam iha eva adya vasaamahe || 2-50-27

27. anvavekshhya= beholding; taam= that river Ganga; uurmi kalilaavartaam= having whirlpools covered by waves; mahaarathaH= Rama, the mighty warrior; abraviit= said; sumantram= to Sumantra; suutam= the charioteer; vasaamahe= “we shall halt; ihaiva= here itself; adya= today.”

Beholding the river Ganga with its waves covering whirlpools, Rama the great warrior said to Sumantra the charioteer as follows: “We shall halt here itself today.”

aviduuraat ayam nadyaa bahu puSpa pravaalavaan |
sumahaan ingudii vR^ikSo vasaamaH atra eva saarathe || 2-50-28

28. saarathe= “Oh, charioteer! aviduuraat= Not distant; nadyaaH=from the river; sumahaan= there is a very big; iyam= this one; iN^gudiivR^ikshhaH= the sacred fig tree; bahu pushhpa pravaaLavaan= with many flowers and shoots. VasaamaH= (We) shall stay; atraiva= here itself.”

“Oh, charioteer! Not far from the river stands this very large sacred fig tree with its many flowers and shoots. We shall stay here itself.”

drakshyaamaH saritaam shreshhThaam sammaanyasalilaam shivaam |
devadaanavagandharvamR^igamaanushhapakshiNaam || 2-50-29

29. drakshhyaamaH= “I shall see; saritaam shreshhTaam= the excellent river Ganga; shivaam= which is auspicious; deva daanava gandharva mR^iga maanushha pakshhiNaam= to gods, men, Gandharvas, beasts, reptiles and birds; sam maanya salilaam= whose waters are respectable.”

“I shall see (from here) the excellent river Ganga, which is auspicious and whose waters deserve to be respected by gods, men, Gandharvas, beasts, reptiles and birds .”

lakSaNaH ca sumantraH ca baaDham iti eva raaghavam |
uktvaa tam ingudii vR^ikSam tadaa upayayatur hayaiH || 2-50-30

30. uktvaa= saying; baadhamityeva= ‘So be it’ and nothing more; raaghavam= to Rama; lakshhmaNashcha= Lakshmana; sumantrashcha= and Sumantra; tadaa= then; upayayatuH= approached; hayaiH=by horses; tam= that; iN^gudiivR^ikshham= sacred fig tree.

Saying ‘so be it’ and nothing more to Rama, Lakshmana and Sumantra too then directed the horses to that sacred fig tree.

raamaH abhiyaaya tam ramyam vR^ikSam ikSvaaku nandanaH |
rathaat avaatarat tasmaat sabhaaryaH saha lakSmaNaH || 2-50-31

31. raamaH= Rama; ikshhvaaku nandanaH= the delight of Ikshvaku dynasty; abhiyaaya= reached; tam vR^ikshham= that tree; ramyam= the beautiful one; avaatarat= and got down; tasmaat rathaat= from that chariot; sabhaaryaH= along with his wife; saha lakshhmaNaH= and with Lakshmana.

Rama, the delight of Ikshvaku dynasty, reached that beautiful tree and got down from the chariot along with Sita and Lakshmana.

sumantraH api avatiirya eva mocayitvaa haya uttamaan |
vR^ikSa muula gatam raamam upatasthe kR^ita anjaliH || 2-50-32

32. sumantro api= Sumantra too; avatiirya= got down; asmaat= from the chariot; mochayitvaa= released; hayottamaan= the superb horses; kR^itaaNjaliH= with joined palms; upatasthe= (he) seated himself near; raamam= Rama; vR^ikshha muula gatam= at the foot of the tree.

Sumantra too dismounted from the chariot, unyoked the superb horses after which with joined palms, he seated himself near Rama at the foot of the tree.

tatra raajaa guho naama raamasya aatma samaH sakhaa |
niSaada jaatyo balavaan sthapatiH ca iti vishrutaH || 2-50-33

33. tatra= There; raajaa= a king; guho naama= named Guha; raamasya= Rama’s; sakhaa= friend; aatmasamaH= equal to his life; nishhaada jaatasya= Nishada by birth; balavaan= a strong man; vishrutaH= well known; sthapatishcheti= as ruler of Nishadas.

There, a king named Guha was Rama’s friend dear to him as his own life. He was Nishada by birth, a strong man and well known as a ruler of Nishadas.

sa shrutvaa puruSa vyaaghram raamam viSayam aagatam |
vR^iddhaiH parivR^itaH amaatyaiH j~naatibhiH ca api upaagataH || 2-50-34

34. shrutvaa= hearing of; raamam= Rama; purushhavyaaghram= the tiger among men; aagatam= having come; vishhayam= to his territory; saH= he; abhyupaagataH= approached; parivR^itaH= accompanied by; vR^iddhaiH= elderly; amaatyaiH= ministers; G^yaatibhishcha= and relatives.

Hearing of Rama the tiger among men having come to his territory, he approached the prince, escorted by elderly ministers and relatives.

tataH niSaada adhipatim dR^iSTvaa duuraat avasthitam |
saha saumitriNaa raamaH samaagacchad guhena saH || 2-50-35

35. dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; duuraat= from the distance; nishhaadaadhipatim= the king of Nishada; upasthitam= coming; saH raamaH= that Rama; soumitriNaa saha= along with Lakshmana; tataH= thereupon; samaagachchhat= went forth to meet; guhena= Guha.

Seeing from a distance the king of Nishada coming, Rama along with Lakshmana thereupon went forth to meet Guha.

tam aartaH sampariSvajya guho raaghavam abraviit |
yathaa ayodhyaa tathaa idam te raama kim karavaaNi te || 2-50-36
iidR^isham hi mahaabaaho kaH prapsyatyatithim priyam |

36. samparishhvajya= closely embracing; tam raaghavam= that Rama; guhaH= Guha; aartaH= who felt disturbed; abraviit= spoke to him; iyam= “This city too ; yathaa tathaa= is in every way as ; ayodhyaa= Ayodhya; kim= what; karavaaNi= can I do; te= for you? mahaabaaho= Oh, mighty armed! kaH hi= who indeed; praapsyasi= will get; iidR^isham= such; priyam= a lovely; atithim= guest?”

Closely embracing Rama, Guha who felt disturbed, spoke to him, “This city too is as much as Ayodhya to you. What can I do for you? Oh mighty armed! Who indeed will get such a lovely guest?”

tataH guNavad anna adyam upaadaaya pR^ithag vidham |
arghyam ca upaanayat kSipram vaakyam ca idam uvaaca ha || 2-50-37

37. upaadaaya=having brought; annaadyam= pristine cooked rice; guNavat= of excellent quality; prithagvidham= and other dishes of various kinds; tataH= (he) then; kshhipram= quickly; upaanayat= offered (him); arghyamcha= water to wash his hands;uvaacha ha= and spoke; idam= these; vaakyamcha= words:

Having brought pristine cooked rice of excellent quality and other dishes of various kinds, he then quickly offered him water to wash his hands and spoke as follows:

svaagatam te mahaa baaho tava iyam akhilaa mahii |
vayam preSyaa bhavaan bhartaa saadhu raajyam prashaadhi naH || 2-50-38

38. svaagatam= “welcome, te= to you; mahaabaaho= oh, mighty armed! akhilaa= All; iyam mahii= this land; tava= is yours. vayam= We; preshhyaaH= are servants. bhavaan= You; bhartaa=are the Lord. Prashaadhi= Rule over; naH= our; raajyam= kingdom; saadhu= efficiently.”

“Welcome to you, Oh, mighty armed! All this land is yours. We are your servants. You are the Lord. Rule over our kingdom in an efficient way.”

bhakSyam bhojyam ca peyam ca lehyam ca idam upasthitam |
shayanaani ca mukhyaani vaajinaam khaadanam ca te || 2-50-39

39. idam= “here; upasthitam= are arrived; bhakshhyam bhojyam= dishes of various kinds; peyam= drinks; lehyamcha= and syrups; mukhyaani= as also excellent; shayanaani= beds; khaadinamcha= and food; te= for your; vaajinaam= horses.”

“Here have arrived various kinds of dishes, drinks and syrups as also excellent beds (for you to sleep on) and food for your horses”

guham eva bruvaaNam tam raaghavaH pratyuvaaca ha || 2-50-40
arcitaaH caiva hR^iSTaaH ca bhavataa sarvathaa vayam |
padbhyaam abhigamaac caiva sneha samdarshanena ca || 2-50-41

40,41. guham= to Guha; bruvaaNam= who was speaking; evam= as aforesaid; raaghavaH= Rama; pratyuvaacha ha= replied thus: architaashchaiva= “we stand honoured; bhavataa= by you; abhigamachchaiva= by your very visit; padbhyaam= on foot; snehasamdarshanenacha= as well as your show of affection; hR^ishhTaashcha= and are pleased(with you).”

To Guha who was speaking as aforesaid, Rama replied thus: “We stand honored by you, by your very visit to us on foot, as well as your show of affection and are pleased with you”

bhujaabhyaam saadhu vR^ittaabhyaam piiDayan vaakyam abraviit |
diSTyaa tvaam guha pashyaamiarogam saha baandhavaiH || 2-50-42
api te kuushalam raaSTre mitreSu ca dhaneSu ca |

42,43. piidayam= pressing; saadhu= gently; pinaabhyaam= with his muscular; bhujaabhyaam= arms; abraviit= (Rama) spoke; vaakyam= (these) words; guha= “Oh, Guha! dishhTyaa= Thank heaven; pashyaami= I am seeing; tvaam= you; arogam= in good health; saha baandhavaiH= with your relatives;api kushalam= is all well; te= in your; raashhTre= kingdom; mitreshhu= (with your) friends; dhaneshhucha= and the treasure?”

Pressing gently with his muscular arms, Rama spoke these words: “ Oh, Guha! Thank heaven that I am seeing you in good health with your relatives. Is all well with the kingdom, the allies and the treasure?”

yat tu idam bhavataa kimcit priityaa samupakalpitam |
sarvam tat anujaanaami na hi varte pratigrahe || 2-50-43

43. anujaanaami= I know; idam priitya= this affection; yat kimchit= by which; tat sarvam= all that; samabhikalpitam= is extensively well- arranged; bhavataa= by you. na varte hi= I am not in a condition indeed to; pratigrahe= accept.”

“I know your affection by which all this is extensively well arranged by you. But I am not in a position indeed to accept it.”

kusha ciira ajina dharam phala muula ashanam ca maam |
viddhi praNihitam dharme taapasam vana gocaram || 2-50-44

44. viddhi= know; maam= me; praNihitam= as under a vow; taapasam= to be an ascetic; kushachiiraajinadharam= wearing the robes of bark and deerskin; dharma= and by piety; praNihitam= I am determined; vanacharam= to live in the forest; phalamuulaashinam= eating fruits and roots.”

“Know me as under a vow to be an ascetic, wearing the robes of bark and deerskin and by piety, I am determined to live in the forest by eating roots and fruits only.”

ashvaanaam khaadanena aham arthii na anyena kenacit |
etaavataa atra bhavataa bhaviSyaami supuujitaH || 2-50-45

45. aham =“I; arthii= am the one who desire; khaadanena= only food; ashvaanaam= for the horses; na= not; anyena kenachit= and any other else. Etaavataa= by this much only; bhavitaa= I shall be; supuujitaH= well=satisfied; atra= at this time; bhavataa= by you.”

“I desire nothing but a little forage for the horses. By being provided with this much at the present moment, I shall be duly satisfied by you.”

ete hi dayitaa raaj~naH pitur dasharathasya me |
etaiH suvihitaiH ashvaiH bhaviSyaamy aham arcitaH || 2-50-46

46. ete= “ these (horses); dayitaa= cherished; dasarathasya raaG^yaH= by the king Dasaratha; me pituH= my father; aham= I; bhavishhyaami= shall be; architaH= honored; etaiH ashvaiH= by these horses; suvihitaiH= being duly fed.”

“These horses were cherished by the king Dasaratha, my father. I shall feel honored by these horses being duly fed.”

ashvaanaam pratipaanam ca khaadanam caiva so anvashaat |
guhaH tatra eva puruSaams tvaritam diiyataam iti || 2-50-47

47. saH= that; guhaH= Guha; tatraiva= on that spot; anvashaat= commanded; purushhaan= his men (as follows); “ pratipaanamcha= “Let water for drinking; khaadanamchaiva= and forage; diiyataamiti= be supplied; tvaritam= promptly; ashvaanaam= to horses.”

Then Guha on that spot commanded his men as follows: “Let water for drinking and forage be supplied promptly to horses”

tataH ciira uttara aasangaH samdhyaam anvaasya pashcimaam |
jalam eva aadade bhojyam lakSmaNena aahR^itam svayam || 2-50-48

48. anvaasya= having worshipped; pashchimaam sandhyaam= the evening twilight appearing in the west; chiirottaraasaNgaH= with an upper garment made of bark; tataH= (Rama) then; aadade= took; bhojyam= for food; jalameva= only water; aahR^itam= brought; lakshhmaNena= by Lakshmana; svayam= himself.

Having worshipped the evening twilight appearing in the west, with an upper garment made of bark(on his person); Rama then took for food only water brought by Lakshmana himself.

tasya bhuumau shayaanasya paadau prakSaalya lakSmaNaH |
sabhaaryasya tataH abhyetya tasthau vR^iSkam upaashritaH || 2-50-49

49. prakshhaalya= having washed; paadou= the feet; tasya= of Rama; shayanasya= who was lying; bhuumou= on the ground; sabhaaryasya= along with his consort; lakshhmaNaH= Lakshmana; tataH= then; abhyetya= came; tasthou= and stationed; upaashritaH= leaning against; vR^ikshham= a tree.

Having washed the feet of Rama who was lying on the ground along with his consort, Lakshmana then came and stood near a tree.

guho api saha suutena saumitrim anubhaaSayan |
anvajaagrat tataH raamam apramattaH dhanur dharaH || 2-50-50

50. guho.api= Guha too; suutena saha= along with the charioteer; anubhaashhayan= conversed with; soumitrim= Lakshmana; tataH= and thereafter; dhanurdharaH= wielding a bow; apramattaH= alertly; anvajaagrat= kept a vigil; raamam= over Rama.

Guha too along with the charioteer conversed with Lakshmana and thereafter wielding a bow; alertly kept a vigil over Rama.

tathaa shayaanasya tataH asya dhiimataH |
yashasvino daasharather mahaatmanaH |
adR^iSTa duhkhasya sukha ucitasya saa |
tadaa vyatiiyaaya cireNa sharvarii || 2-50-51

51. yashasvinaH= the illustrious; dhiimataH= lofty minded; mahaatmanaH= and the high-soled; asya daasharathe= son of Dasaratha; adR^ishhTa duHkhasya= who had never seen suffering; sukhochitasya= and who deserved all comforts; shayaanasya= remained lying; tataH= thereafter; saa= while that; chireNa= long; sharvarii= night; vyatiiyaaya= passed away.

The illustrious, lofty minded and the high-soled son of Dasaratha, who had never seen suffering and who deserved all comforts, remained lying on the ground thereafter, while that long night passed away.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe paJNchaashaH sargaH

Thus completes 50th chapter in the AyodhyaKanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 51

Introduction

Guha requests Lakshmana to take rest, duly expressing his readiness to guard Rama and his consort by keeping awake the whole night. Lakshmana expressed his unwillingness to lie down in the presence of his elder brother and sister in law and preferred to remain awake. He spends night talking with Guha, voicing grief for his royal father as well as his affectionate mothers.

tam jaagratam adambhena bhraatur arthaaya lakSmaNam |
guhaH samtaapa samtaptaH raaghavam vaakyam abraviit || 2-51-1

1. guhaH= Guha; santaapa santaptaH=distressed with anguish; abraviit= spoke; vaakyam= (these) words; tam LakshhmaNam= to Lakshmana; raaghavam= who was born in Raghu dynasty; jaagratam= who kept awake; adambhena= bereft of hypocrisy; arthaaya=for the sake of; bh

Distressed with anguish (to see Rama and Sita lying on the ground) Guha said to Lakshmana, the scion of Raghu, who kept awake, through sincere love, for the protection of his brother Rama.

iyam taata sukhaa shayyaa tvad artham upakalpitaa |
pratyaashvasihi saadhv asyaam raaja putra yathaa sukham || 2-51-2

2. iyam= “This is; sukhaa= a comfortable; upakalpitaa= made; tvadartham= for you; taata= Oh friend; pratyaashvasihi= relax; saadhu= well; yathaasukham= comfortably; asyaam= on it; raajaputra= Oh, prince!”

“Here is a comfortable bed made for you, my friend! Relax well comfortably on it, Oh, prince!”

ucitaH ayam janaH sarvaH kleshaanaam tvam sukha ucitaH |
gupti artham jaagariSyaamaH kaakutsthasya vayam nishaam || 2-51-3

3. sarvaH= All; ayam janaH=these people; uchitaH= are habituated; kleshaanaam= to hardships. tvam=You; sukhochitaH= are habituated to comforts. Guptyartham= For the protection; kaakutstsya= of Rama; vayam= we; jaagarishhyaamaH= shall keep awake; nishaam= (this) night.”

“All of us are habituated to hardships. You are habituated to comforts. We shall keep awake this night, for the protection of Rama”

na hi raamaat priyataraH mama asti bhuvi kashcana |
braviimy etat aham satyam satyena eva ca te shape || 2-51-4

4. kashchana naastihi= “ None is; priyatamaH= dearer; mama= to me; raamaat= than Rama; bhuvi= in this world. aham= I; braviimi= speak; etat= this; satyam= truth; shape= and swear; te= to you; satyenaina= by truth.”

“For, none is dearer to me than Rama in this world. I speak the truth and swear to you by truth.”

asya prasaadaat aashamse loke asmin sumahad yashaH |
dharma avaaptim ca vipulaam artha avaaptim ca kevalaam || 2-51-5

5. aashamse= I hope; sumahat= abundant; yashaH= acclaim; asmin loke= in this world; dharma vaaptimcha= acquisition of Supreme merit; vipulaam= (and) extensive; arthaavaaptimcha= acquirment of wealth; prasaadaat= by the grace; kevalam= alone; asya= of Rama.

“I hope to acquire abundant acclaim and supreme merit in this world as also full reward of wealth, by the sole grace of Rama”

so aham priya sakham raamam shayaanam saha siitayaa |
rakSiSyaami dhanuS paaNiH sarvataH j~naatibhiH saha || 2-51-6

6. saH aham= “As such, I; G^yaatibhiH= along with my kindred; rakshhishhyaami= shall protect; priya sakham= my dear friend; raamam= Rama; shayaanam= who is sleeping; siitayaa saha= with Sita; sarvataH= in every way; dhanushhpaaNiH= with bow in hand.”

“As such, I along with my kindred, shall protect my dear friend Rama who is reposing with Sita in every way, with bow in hand.”

na hi me aviditam kimcit vane asmimH carataH sadaa |
catur angam hi api balam sumahat prasahemahi || 2-51-7

7. “nahi kimchit= Nothing is indeed; aviditam= un known; asmin vane= in theforest; me= to me; charataH= where I wander; sadaa= continually. prasahemahi= We are able to withstand; sumahat= a vast; balam api= army too; chaturaN^gam= comprising four parts (elephants, chariots, horsemen, and foot soldiers).”

“Nothing is indeed unknown in this forest to me, where I wander continually. We can able to withstand even a vast army too, comprising of four parts (elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry).”

lakSmaNaH tam tadaa uvaaca rakSyamaaNaaH tvayaa anagha |
na atra bhiitaa vayam sarve dharmam eva anupashyataa || 2-51-8

8. tadaa= then; lakshhmaNaH= Lakshmana; uvaacha= replied; tam= to Guha; (as follows): anagha= “Oh, sinless Guha! rakshhyamaaNaH= Being protected; tvayaa= by you; dharmameva= who keep your duty alone; anupashyataa= in view; vayam sarve= all of us are ; na bhiitaaH= not afraid; atre= in this land.”

Then, Lakshmana replied to Guha as follows: “Oh, sinless Guha! Being protected by you, who keep your duty alone in view, all of us are fearless in this land.”

katham daasharathau bhuumau shayaane saha siitayaa |
shakyaa nidraa mayaa labdhum jiivitam vaa sukhaani vaa || 2-51-9

9. daasharathou= “when Rama, the son of Dasaratha; shayaane= is lying; bhuumou= on the ground; siitayaa saha= along with Sita; katham= how; shakyaa= is it possible; mayaa= to me; nidraa= the sleep; jiivitam vaa= or the enjoyment of life; sukhaani vaa= or the amenities of life?”

“When Rama, the son of Dasaratha is lying on the ground with Sita, how is it possible for me to sleep or to enjoy the pleasures of life?”

yo na deva asuraiH sarvaiH shakyaH prasahitum yudhi |
tam pashya sukha samviSTam tR^iNeSu saha siitayaa || 2-51-10

10. "pashya= See; tam= that Rama; yaH= who; na shakyaH= cannot be; prasehitum= vanquished;yudhi= in combat; sarvaiH= by all; devaasuraiH= the gods and demons; sukha samvishhTam= sleeping profoundly; tR^iNeshhu= on the grass; siitayaa saha= along with Sita.”

“See that Rama, who cannot be vanquished in combat even by the gods and demons combined, now sleeping profoundly on the grass along with Sita.”

yo mantra tapasaa labdho vividhaiH ca parishramaiH |
eko dasharathasya eSa putraH sadR^isha lakSaNaH || 2-51-11
asmin pravrajitaH raajaa na ciram vartayiSyati |
vidhavaa medinii nuunam kSipram eva bhaviSyati || 2-51-12

11,12. asmin= this Rama as such; yaH= who; sadR^isha lakshhaNaH= is endowed with characteristics alike; dasarathasya= of Dasaratha; ekaH= uniquely; ishhTaH= liked; putraH= the son; labdhaH= obtained (by Dasaratha); mantra tapasaa= by virtue of his charity of sacred texts and austerities; vividhaiH= (and) by various; parishramaishcha=undertakings; (in the form of sacrificial performances);pravraajite= has gone to exile;raajaa= the king; na vartayishhyati= will not live; chiram= long; medinii= (and) the earth; nuunam= will surely; bhavishhyati= become; vidhavaa= widowed; kshhiprameva= forthwith.

When Rama- who is endowed with similar characteristics as Dasaratha, uniquely beloved, the son obtained by Dasaratha by virtue of his chanting of several sacred texts and austerities and by various undertakings (in the form of sacrificial performances) has gone to exile, the king will not live long and the earth will become surely widowed forthwith.

vinadya sumahaa naadam shrameNa uparataaH striyaH |
nirghoSa uparatam taata manye raaja niveshanam || 2-51-13

13. vinadya= having cried out; sumahara naadam= in a high-pitched tone; striyaH= the women; shrameNa= exhausted; uparataaH= will have fallen silent; ataH= for that reason; manye= I think; nirghoshhoparatam= a profound stillness reigns; raajaniveshanam= in the palace.

Having cried out in a high-pitched tone, the women having exhausted, will have fallen silent and I am sure that a profound stillness reigns in the palace.

kausalyaa caiva raajaa ca tathaiva jananii mama |
na aashamse yadi jiivanti sarve te sharvariim imaam || 2-51-14

14. naashamse= I do not expect; kausalyaachaiva= Kausalya; raajaacha= the king; tathaiva= and; mama jananii= my mother; te sarve= all of them; yadi jiivanti= to remain alive; imaam= this; sharvariim= night.

“I do not expect Kausalya, Dasaratha and my mother all of them to remain alive for this night.”

jiived api hi me maataa shatrughnasya anvavekSayaa |
tat duhkham yat tu kausalyaa viirasuur vinashiSyati || 2-51-15

15. anvavekshhayaa= by looking for; shatrughnasya= Satrughna; me maataa= my mother; jiivedapi hi= may indeed stay alive. tat= It will be; duHkham= painful; Kausalyaa = (that) Kausalya; viirasuuH= who has given birth to a hero; yat vinashishhyati= may perish.

“By looking forward to meet Satrughna, my mother might even stay alive. But it will be painful if Kausalya who has given birth to a heroic son, dies.”

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anurakta jana aakiirNaa sukha aaloka priya aavahaa |
raaja vyasana samsR^iSTaa saa purii vinashiSyati || 2-51-16

16. anuraktajanaakiirNaa= filled with devoted people; sukhaa= a source of joy; lokapriyaavahaa= and which brought pleasure to the world; saa purii= that city of Ayodhya; raaja vyasana samsR^ishhTaa= when seized with sorrow over the king’s death; vinashishhyati= will perish.

That city of Ayodhya, filled with devoted people, hitherto a source of joy and which brought pleasure to the world, when seized with agony over the king’s death, will perish.

katham putram mahaatmaanam jyeshhTham priyamapasyataH |
shariiram dhaarayushhyaanti praaNaa raajJNo mahaatmanaH || 2-51-17

17. katham= how; apashyataH= not seeing; putram= his son; mahaatmaanam= the magnanimous; jyeshhTam= and the first born; praaNaaH= will the vital airs ; dhaarayishhyanti= be maintained; shariiram= in the body; raaG^yaH= of the king; mahaatmanaH= the generous?”

“How, in the absence of his magnanimous and the first born son, will the vital airs in the body of the generous king be maintained?”

vinashhTe nR^ipatau pashchaatkausalyaa vinashishhyati |
anantaram cha maataa.api mama naashamupaishhyati || 2-51-18

18. vinashhTe= after the death; nR^ipatou= of the king; kausalyaa= Kausalya; vinashishhyati= will die; pashchaat= from behind. anantaramcha=Afterwards; mama maataa.api= my mother also; upaishhyati= will obtain; naasham= death.”

“After the death of king, Kausalya will die. My mother also will die thereafter.

atikraantam atikraantam anavaapya manoratham |
raajye raamam anikSipya pitaa me vinashiSyati || 2-51-19

19. anavaapya= not attaining; manoratham= his desire( to enthrone Rama) atikraantamatikraantam= going astray again and again; anikshhipya= and without installing; raamam= Rama; raajye= in the kingdom; me pitra= my father; vinashishhyati= will perish.”

“Having failed to install Rama in the kingdom, failed forever, which was the most cherished wish of his heart, my father will leave this world.

siddha arthaaH pitaram vR^ittam tasmin kaale hi upasthite |
preta kaaryeSu sarveSu samskariSyanti bhuumipam || 2-51-20

20. siddhaarthaaH= those who are fortunate; samskarishhyanti= will consecrate; vR^ttam= deceased; pitaram= father; bhuumipam= and the king; sarveshhu pretakaaryeshhu= in the course of all funeral rites; tasmin kale= (when) the hour; vyupasthite= has struck.”

“Those who are fortunate will consecrate our deceased father and the king in the course of all funeral rites, when the hour has struck.

ramya catvara samsthaanaam suvibhakta mahaa pathaam |
harmya prasaada sampannaam gaNikaa vara shobhitaam || 2-51-21
ratha ashva gaja sambaadhaam tuurya naada vinaaditaam |
sarva kalyaaNa sampuurNaam hR^iSTa puSTa jana aakulaam || 2-51-22
aaraama udyaana sampannaam samaaja utsava shaaliniim |
sukhitaa vicariSyanti raaja dhaaniim pitur mama || 2-51-23

21,22,23. sukhitaaH= the happy people; vicharishhyanti= will move; raajadhaaniim= in the capital; mama pituH= belonging to my father; ramya chatvara samsthaanaam=with its quadrangular places allocated at lovely sites; suvibhakta mahaapathaam= well- aligned; wide roads; harmya praasaada sampannaam= rich in mansions of well-to-do men and temples; gaNikaavara shobhitaam= adorned with the foremost of courtesans; rathaashvagaja sambaadhaam= its chariots, horses and elephants that obstruct the roads; tuurya naada vinaaditaam= the musical instruments that resound there; sarva kalyaaNa sampuurNaam= full of all blessings; hR^ishhTa pushhTa janaakulaam= crowded with merry and well- fed men; aaraamodyaana sampannaaam= well- provided with gardens and royal parks; samaajotsava shaaliniim= (and) bright with festivities carried on under the patronage of associations.

People will joyfully move in the capital belonging to my father and the city with its quadrangular places allocated at lovely sites, and well- aligned roads, rich in mansions of well-to-do men, temples and royal palaces adorned with the foremost of courtesans, its chariots horses and elephants that obstruct the roads, the musical instruments that resound there- full of all blessings and crowded with merry and well fed men, well- provided with gardens and royal parks and bright with festivities carried on under the patronage of associations.

api jiiveddhasharatho vanavaasaatpunarvayam |
pratyaagamya mahaatmaanamapi pashyema suvratam || 2-51-24

24. dasharathaH api jiivet= Will Dasaratha remain alive? pratyaagamya= After returning; vanavaasaat= from exile; vayam api pashyema= can we see; mahaatmaanam= the high-soled king; suvratam= of noble vows; punaH= again?

Will Dasaratha remain alive? After returning from exile, can we see the high-soled king Dasaratha of noble vows again?

api satya pratij~nena saardham kushalinaa vayam |
nivR^itte vana vaase asminn ayodhyaam pravishemahi || 2-51-25

25. nivR^ittavanavaase= after completion of the exile in the forest; vayamapi praveshemahi= can we enter; ayodhyaam= Ayodhya; kushalinaa= safely; asmin= with Rama; satyapratiG^ena saardham= who is faithful to his promises.

Can we safely return to Ayodhya, after completion of the exile in the forest along with Rama who is faithful to his promises?

paridevayamaanasya duhkha aartasya mahaatmanaH |
tiSThataH raaja putrasya sharvarii saa atyavartata || 2-51-26

26. mahaatmanaH= (while) the high-soled; raaja putrasya= Lakshmana;paridevayaamaanasya= thus lamenting; tishhTataH= stood on guard; duHkhaartasya= afflicated with anguish as he was; saa sharvarii= that night; atyavartata= rolled away.

While the high-soled Lakshmana thus lamenting, stood on ground, afflicted with anguish as he was, that night rolled away.

tathaa hi satyam bruvati prajaa hite |
nara indra putre guru sauhR^idaat guhaH |
mumoca baaSpam vyasana abhipiiDitaH |
jvaraa aaturaH naagaiva vyathaa aaturaH || 2-51-27

27. narendra putre=(while) Lakshmana (son of Dasaratha); prajaahite= who was concerned with the welfare of the people; bruvati= was speaking; satyam= the truth; tathaa= thus; gurusouhR^idaat= out of his affection for his elder brother (Rama); guhaH= Guha; vyathaaturaH= overcome with agony; vyasanaabhi piiditah= oppressed with adversity; mumocha = shed; baashhpam= tears; naagaaH iva= like an elephant; jvaraaturaH= tormented with fever.

While Lakshmana (son of Dasaratha), who was concerned with the welfare of the people; was thus speaking the truth out of his affection for his elder brother (Rama), Guha, overcome with agony and oppressed with adversity shed tears like an elephant tormented with fever.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe ekapamchaashaH sargaH

Thus completes 51th chapter in the AyodhyaKanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 52

Introduction

As per instructions of Rama, Guha gets a boat ready. Sumantra requests Rama to take him as a personal attendant to the forest, but Rama declines his offer and after reasoning with him, sends him back to Ayodhya. Rama and Lakshmana matted their hair with the latex of a banyan tree procured by Guha. On reaching the middle of the stream, Sita offers prayers to Mother Ganga (the deity presiding over the stream) and after crossing the river, all the three halt for the night at the foot of a tree.

prabhaataayaam tu sharvaryaam pR^ithu vR^ikSaa mahaa yashaaH |
uvaaca raamaH saumitrim lakSmaNam shubha lakSaNam || 2-52-1

1. sharvaryaam= night; prabhataayaamtu= having given way to dawn; raamaH= Rama; pR^ithuvakshhaaH=the man with a broad chest; mahaayashaaH= (and) the illustrious; uvaacha= said; lakshhmaNam= to Lakshmana; soumitrim= the son of Sumitra; shubhalakshhaNam= endowed with auspicious signs.

That night having given way to dawn, the illustrious Rama with a broad chest spoke (as follows) to Lakshmana, the son of Sumitra and who was endowed with auspicious signs :

bhaaskara udaya kaalo ayam gataa bhagavatii nishaa |
asau sukR^iSNo vihagaH kokilaH taata kuujati || 2-52-2

2. taata= “Oh, dear brother. ayam= This; bhaaskarodaya kaalaH= is the hour of sunrise. bhagavatii= The auspicious; nishaa = night; gataa= has departed. vihagaH= That bird; sukR^ishhNaH= of dark plumage; asou kokilaH= the cuckoo; kuujati= is singing”.

“Oh, dear brother! This is the hour of sunrise. The auspicious night has departed. That bird of dark plumage, the cuckoo, is singing.”

barhiNaanaam ca nirghoSaH shruuyate nadataam vane |
taraama jaahnaviim saumya shiighragaam saagaram gamaam || 2-52-3

3. nirghoshhaH= the cries; barhiNaanaam= of peacocks; nadataam= resounding; vane= in the forest; shruuyate= are being heard. soumya= Oh, good brother! taraama= (let us) cross; shiighragaam= the swift-flowing; jaahnaviim**= Ganga river; saagaram gamaam= that gushes to the sea.”

“Oh, good brother! Hear the cries of peacocks resounding in the forest. Let us cross the swift-flowing Ganga River that gushes to the sea.”

--***-The river Ganga, when brought down from heaven by the austerities of Emperor Bhagiratha, followed the latter to the subterranean regions in order to consecrate the remains of his great grand uncles. In its course, it inundated the sacrificial ground of king Jahnu, who in his anger, drank up its waters. But the gods and sages and particularly Bhagiratha appeased his anger and he consented to release the waters through his ears. The river is thereafter regarded as his daughter.

vij~naaya raamasya vacaH saumitrir mitra nandanaH |
guham aamantrya suutam ca so atiSThad bhraatur agrataH || 2-52-4

4. saH soumitriH= that Lakshmana; mitranandanaH= who makes his friends happy; viG^yaaya= having understood; vachaH= the words; raamasya= of Rama; aamantrya= called; guham= Guha; suutamcha= and Sumantra; atishhTat= and stood; agrataH= in front; bhraatuH= of his brother.

Lakshmana, the delight of his friends, having understood the words of Rama, called Guha as well as Sumantra and stood in front of his brother.

sa tu raamasya vachanam nishamya pratigR^ihya cha |
sthapatistuurNamaahuya sachivaanidamabraviit || 2-52-5

5. nishamya= hearing; vachanam= the words; raamasya= of Rama; saH sthapatiH= that Guha; tuurNam= quickly; pratigR^ihyacha= received them; aahuuya= invited; sachivaan= his ministers; abraviit= and spoke; idam= these words:

Hearing the command of Rama, Guha quickly received it, invited his ministers and spoke to them as follows:

asya vaahanasamyuktaam karNagraahavatiim shubhaam |
suprataaraam dR^iDhaam tiirkhe shiigram naavamupaahara || 2-52-6

6. asya= for the sake of Rama; shiighram= quickly; upaahara= bring; tiirthe= to the landing place; naavam= a boat; vaahana samyuktaam= accompanied by a boatman; karNagraahavatiim= and having a helmsman in it; shubhaam=beautiful; suprataaraam= which can easily ferry across; dR^iDhaam= and solidly constructed.

“Let a beautiful boat that is solidly constructed, sails well and a helmsman in it, be brought to the bank to carry this hero across!”

tam nishamya samaadesham guhaamaatyagaNo mahaan |
upohya ruchiraam naavam guhaaya pratyavedayat || 2-52-7

7. nishamya= hearing; tam= that; samaadesham= command; mahaan guhaamaatya gaNaH= the chief minister of Guha; upohya= brought; ruchiraam= a charming; naavam= boat; pratyavedayat=( and) reported the matter; guhaaya= to Guha.

Hearing that command, the chief minister of King Guha brought a charming boat to the bank and reported the matter to Guha.

tataH sapraaJNjalirbhuutvaa guho raaghavamabraviit |
upasthiteyam naurdeva bhuuyaH kim karavaaNi te || 2-52-8

8. tataH= then; guhaH=Guha; bhuutvaa= became; praaNjaliH= one with folded hands; abraviit=and spoke; raaghavam= to Rama: devaH= “Oh, Lord! ; iyam= This; nouH= boat; upasthitaa= has arrived; kim= what; bhuuyaH= more; karavaaNi= can I do; te= for you”

Then, Guha with folded hands spoke to Rama as follows: “Oh, Lord! Here, the boat has arrived. What more can I do for you?”

tavaamarasutaprakhya tartum saagaragaam nadiim |
nauriyam purushhavyaagra! taam tvamaaroha suvrata! || 2-52-9

9. purushha vyaaghra=Oh, tiger among men! amarasuta prakhya= Oh, Rama resembling a son of divinity! iyam= This; nouH= is the boat; tava=for you; tartum= to cross; nadiim= the river; saagaragaam= which flows into the sea. suvrata= Oh, virtuous one! tvam= You; aaroha= ascend; taam= it.

“Oh, tiger among men! Oh, Rama resembling a son of divinity! Here is the boat for you to cross the river, which flows into the sea. Oh, virtuous one! (Pray) get into it.”

athovaacha mahaatejaa raamo guhamidam vachaH |
kR^itakaamo.asmi bhavataa shiighramaaropyataamiti || 2-52-10

10. atha= then; raamaH=Rama; mahaa tejaaH= with great splendor; uvaacha= spoke; idam= these; vachaH= words; guham=to Guha; iti= thus; asmi= “I became; kR^ita kaamaH= one whose desire has been accomplished; bhavataa= by you. aaropyataam= Let us embark shiighram= with speed”.

Then, Rama with great splendor, spoke to Guha as follows: “My desire has been accomplished by you. Let us embark with all speed.”

tataH kalaapaan samnahya khaDgau baddhvaa ca dhanvinau |
jagmatur yena tau gangaam siitayaa saha raaghavau || 2-52-11

11. tataH= then; tou raaghavou= both Rama and Lakshmana; siitayaasaha= along with Sita;samnahya=having put on; kalaapaan= quivers with arrows; baddhvaa= having fastened; khaDgoucha = the swords too; dhanvinou= and holding their bows; jagmatuH= went; yena= in which way; gaN^gaam= Ganga is situated.

Having equipped themselves with a quiver each with arrows, fastening their swords and armed with their bows, Rama and Lakshmana, with Sita, proceeded towards the river of Ganga.

raamam eva tu dharmaj~nam upagamya viniitavat |
kim aham karavaaNi iti suutaH praanjalir abraviit || 2-52-12

12. suutaH= Sumantra; praaN^jaliH= joining his palms; viniitavat= in humility; upagamya= approached; raamameva tu= only Rama; dharmaG^yam= who knew what is right; abraviit= and spoke; iti= thus: kim= :What aham= I; karavaaNi= shall do?”

Sumantra joining his palms in humility, approached Rama who knew what is right and said, “What shall I do?”

tato.abraviiddaasharathiH sumantram |
spR^ishan kareNottamadakshiNena |
sumantra shiighram punareva yaahi |
raajJNaH sakaashe bhavachaapramattaH || 2-52-13

13. daasharathiH= Rama; tataH= then; spR^ishan= touching; sumantram= Sumantra; uttama dakshhiNena= with his auspicious right; kareNa= hand; abraviit= (and) said: sumantra= “Oh, Sumantra! yaahi punareva= Return; shiighram= quickly; raaG^yaH= to king’s; sakaashe= presence; bhava= (and) be; apramattaHcha= attentive.”

Touching Sumantra with his auspicious right hand, Rama then said: “Oh, Sumantra! Return quickly to the king’s presence and be attentive in serving him.”

nivartasva iti uvaaca enam etaavadd hi kR^itam mama |
ratham vihaaya padbhyaam tu gamishhyaami mahaavanam || 2-52-14

14. etaavat= “this much service; kR^itamhi= has been done indeed; mama= to me. nivartasya=Return. gamishhyaami= I shall go; padbhyaam=on foot; mahaavanam= to the great forest; vihaaya= abandoning; ratham= the chariot. uvaacha= (he) spoke;iti=thus.

“Go now, that your service to me has been completed. Abandoning the chariot, I shall go on foot to the mighty forest,” Rama said.

aatmaanam tu abhyanuj~naatam avekSya aartaH sa saarathiH |
sumantraH puruSa vyaaghram aikSvaakam idam abraviit || 2-52-15

15. aavekshhya= seeing; aatmaanam= himself; abhyanuG^yaatam= dismissed; saH sumantraH= that Sumantra; saarathiH= was distressed; abraviit= and spoke; idam= these words; aikshhvaakam= to Rama; purushavyaaghram= the tiger among men.

Finding himself dismissed, Sumantra the charioteer was distressed and spoke to Rama, the tiger among men, as follows:

na atikraantam idam loke puruSeNa iha kenacit |
tava sabhraatR^i bhaaryasya vaasaH praakR^itavad vane || 2-52-16

16. vaasaH= dwelling; vane= in the forest; praakR^itavat= like a common man; tava= (has come) to you; sa bhraatR^I bhaaryasya= with your brother and your consort. idam= This; naatikraantam= has never been set aside; kenachit purushheNa= by any man; iha loke= in the world.

“None in the world has had to suffer such a fate as yourself; that you should have to dwell in the forest with your brother and your consort as if you were an ordinary man!”

na manye brahma carye asti svadhiite vaa phala udayaH |
maardava aarjavayoH vaa api tvaam ced vyasanam aagatam || 2-52-17

17. manye= I think; naasti= there is no; phalodayaH= reward; brahmacharye= in leading a life of religious student; svadhiite vaa= or in studying scriptures; maardavaarjavayorvaapi= or even in cultivating tenderness and strait forwardness; vyasanam chet= (when) adversity; aagatam= has come; tvaam= to you.”

“I think that there is no reward in leading a life of religious student or in studying religious scriptures or even in cultivating tenderness and straight forwardness, when adversity has come to you.”

saha raaghava vaidehyaa bhraatraa caiva vane vasan |
tvam gatim praapsyase viira triiml lokaams tu jayann iva || 2-52-18

18. viira= “Oh, heroic; raaghava= Rama! vasan= Residing; vane= in the forest; vaidehyaa saha= along with Sita; bhraatraachaiva= and your brother; tvam= you; praapsyase= will obtain; gatim= the same position; jayanniva= as one who has conquered; triin= the three; lokaan= worlds”

“Oh, heroic Rama! Living in the forest along with Sita and your brother, you will obtain the same position as one who has conquered the three worlds.”

vayam khalu hataa raama ye tayaa api upavancitaaH |
kaikeyyaa vasham eSyaamaH paapaayaa duhkha bhaaginaH || 2-52-19

19. raama= “Oh, Rama! vayam= We; hataaH khalu= are actually ruined; yena= because; upavaNchitaaH= disappointed in our hopes; tvayaapi= by you too; eshhyaamaH= we shall fall; vasham= under the sway; kaikeyyaaH= of Kaikeyi; paapaayaaH= of sinful nature; duHkha bhaaginaH = and reap suffering”.

“Oh, Rama! We are actually ruined, in that, disappointed in our hopes by you too, we shall fall under the sway of Kaikeyi the sinful woman and reap the suffering.”

iti bruvann aatma samam sumantraH saarathis tadaa |
dR^iSTvaa dura gatam raamam duhkha aartaH rurude ciram || 2-52-20

20. tadaa= then; sumantraH= Sumantra; saarathiH= the charioteer; iti= thus; bruvan= speaking; rurude=wept; chiram= long; duhkhaartaaH= stricken with grief; dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; raamam= Rama; aatmasamam= equal to his soul; duuragatam= gone to a distance.

Sumantra the charioteer thus speaking, wept for a long time, stricken with grief, seeing Rama, equal to his soul, departing to a distance.

tataH tu vigate baaSpe suutam spR^iSTa udakam shucim |
raamaH tu madhuram vaakyam punaH punar uvaaca tam || 2-52-21

21. tataH= thereafter; raamastu= Rama; punaH punuH= again and again; uvaacha= spoke; vaakyam(these) words; madhuram= which were sweet; tam suutam= to that charioteer; baashhpe= (whose) tears; vigate= had gone away; spR^ishhTodokam= who had sipped some water; shuchim= and got purified.

Then, Rama again and again spoke these sweet words as follows to that charioteer, whose tears got dried up and who had sipped some water and got himself purified:

ikSvaakuuNaam tvayaa tulyam suhR^idam na upalakSaye |
yathaa dasharatho raajaa maam na shocet tathaa kuru || 2-52-22

22. nopalakshhaye= “I do not see; suhrudam= a friend; tulyam= equal; tvayaa= to you; ikshhvaakuuNaam= for the kings of Ikshvaku dynasty. kuru=Act; tathaa= in such a way; yathaa= as; raajaa= king; dasharathaH= Dasaratha; na shochet= may not lament; maam= about me.”

“I do not see any one who is as great a friend of the Ikshvakus as you are. (Pray) act in such a way that king Dasaratha may not lament about me”

shoka upahata cetaaH ca vR^iddhaH ca jagatii patiH |
kaama bhaara avasannaH ca tasmaat etat braviimi te || 2-52-23

23. jagatiipatiH= the king; shokopahata chetaashcha= his mind afflicted with grief; vR^iddhashcha= is aged as well. Kaamabhaaraavasannashcha=(He is) pressed down by a burden of passion. tasmaat=for that reason; braviimi= I tell; etat= this; te= to you.

“The king, his mind afflicted with grief, is aged as well. He is pressed down by a burden of passion. Hence, I tell you this.”

yad yad aaj~naapayet kimcit sa mahaatmaa mahii patiH |
kaikeyyaaH priya kaama artham kaaryam tat avikaankSayaa || 2-52-24

24. yadyat= what so ever; kimchit= some act; saH= that; mahaatmaa= high-soled; mahiipatiH= emperor; aaG^yaapayet= may enjoin; priya kaamaartham= with intent to oblige the desire; kaikeyyaaH= of Kaikeyi; tat= that; kaaryam= is to be done; avikaaNkshhayaa= un hesitatingly.”

“What so ever act that high-soled emperor may enjoin you to do, with intent to oblige the desire of Kaikeyi, it is to be done unhesitatingly.”

etat artham hi raajyaani prashaasati nara iishvaraaH |
yad eSaam sarva kR^ityeSu mano na pratihanyate || 2-52-25

25. nareshvaraaH = “the kings; prashaasatihi= indeed rule; raajyaaani= the states; etadartham= with this end in view; manaH= that their will; yat na pratihanyate= may not be frustrated; sarva kR^ityeshhu= in all their undertakings.”

“The kings indeed rule the states with this end in view that their will may not be frustrated in any undertaking.”

yadyathaa sa mahaa raajo na aliikam adhigacchati |
na ca taamyati duhkhena sumantra kuru tat tathaa || 2-52-26

26. sumantra= “ Oh, Sumantra! kuru= Carry out; tathaa= in such a way; tat= that; saH mahaaraajaH= the said emperor; yathaa= in which way; yat= whatever; na adhigachchhati= may not find it; aLiikam= as anything unpleasing; na cha taamyati= nor gets distressed; duHkhena= by grief.”

“Oh, Sumantra! Carry out everything in such a way that the said emperor neither finds it unpleasing nor gets tormented by grief.”

adR^iSTa duhkham raajaanam vR^iddham aaryam jita indriyam |
bruuyaaH tvam abhivaadya eva mama hetor idam vacaH || 2-52-27

27. abhivaadyaiva= “only after doing respectful salutation; raajaanaaam= to the king; vR^iddham= who is old; aaryam= (and) venerable; adR^ishhTa duHkham= who has never known suffering; jiteN^driyam= and who has subdued his senses; tvam= you; bruuyaaH= tell; idam= these; vachaH= words; mama hetoH= on my behalf.”

“Only after performing respectful salutation to the old and venerable king, who has never known suffering and who has subdued his senses, you tell these words to him on my behalf.”

na eva aham anushocaami lakSmaNo na ca maithilii |
ayodhyaayaaH cyutaaH ca iti vane vatsyaamaha iti vaa (maheti!)|| 2-52-28

28. naiva= “Indeed neither; aham= I; na= nor; lakshmaNaH maithiliicha= Lakshmana and Sita; anushochaami= grieve; chyutaashcheti= for having moved; ayodhyaayaaH= from Ayodhya; vatsyaamaheticha= or that we are going to dwell; vane= in a forest.”

“Indeed neither I nor Lakshmana and Sita grieve for having moved from Ayodhya or that we are going to dwell in a forest.”

catur dashasu varSeSu nivR^itteSu punaH punaH |
lakSmaNam maam ca siitaam ca drakSyasi kSipram aagataan || 2-52-29

29. nivR^itteshhu= after completing; chaturdashasu= fourteen; varshheshhu= years; drakshhyasi= you will see; punaH punaH= once again; lakshhmaNam= Lakshmana; maam cha= myself; siitaam cha= and Sita too; aagataan= returned; kshhipram= quickly.”

“After completing fourteen years, you will once more see Lakshmana, myself and Sita too returned apace from the forest.”

evam uktvaa tu raajaanam maataram ca sumantra me |
anyaaH ca deviiH sahitaaH kaikeyiim ca punaH punaH || 2-52-30
aarogyam bruuhi kausalyaam atha paada abhivandanam |
siitaayaa mama ca aaryasya vacanaal lakSmaNasya ca || 2-52-31

30,31. sumantra= “Oh, Sumantra! evam= this is; uktvaa= what should you say; raajaanam= to the king; me mataram cha= and my mother; sahitaaH= all; anyaaH= other; deviishcha= queens; kaikeyiim cha= and Kaikeyi. bruuhi=tell; kousalyaam= Kousalya; aarogyam= (about my)health; punaH punaH= again and again; atha= and thereafter; paadaabhivandanam= salutations at her feet; siitaayaaH= (on behalf of) Sita; mama cha= as well as myself; vachanaat= the words; lakshhmaNasyacha= of Lakshmana; aaryasya= the faithful man.”

“Oh,Sumantra! This is what you should say to the king, my mother, all other queens and Kaikeyi. Tell Kausalya again and again that I am keeping good health. Thereafter, convey salutations at her feet on behalf of Sita as well as myself and Lakshmana the faithful man.”

bruuyaaH ca hi mahaa raajam bharatam kSipram aanaya |
aagataH ca api bharataH sthaapyo nR^ipa mate pade || 2-52-32

32. bruuyaaH= “Tell (our salutations); mahaarajaamcha= to the emperor also. anaya= Bring; bharatam= Bharata; kshhipram= quickly. aagashchaapi= after his arrival; bharataH= Bharata; sthaapya= may be installed; pade= in the position; nR^ipa mate=as desired by the king.”

“Tell our salutations to the emperor too. Bring Bharata quickly. After his arrival, Bharata may be installed in the position, as desired by the king.”

bharatam ca pariSvajya yauvaraajye abhiSicya ca |
asmat samtaapajam duhkham na tvaam abhibhaviSyati || 2-52-33

33. parishhvajya= “when you embraced; bharatam= Bharata; abhishhichya cha= and installed him; youva raajye= in the office of the Prince Regent; duHkham= the agony;asmatsamtaapajam= caused by the remorse felt by you on our account; na abhibhavishhyati= will not overpower; tvaam= you.”

“When you embrace Bharata and install him in the office of the Prince Regent, the agony caused by the repentance felt by you on our account will not overpower you.”

bharataH ca api vaktavyo yathaa raajani vartase |
tathaa maatR^iSu vartethaaH sarvaasv eva avisheSataH || 2-52-34

34. bharatasyaapi= “Bharata also; vaktavyaH= is to be told (thus): vartethaaH= “Treat; avisheshhataH= without distinction; sarvaasveva= all; maatR^ishhu= your mothers; tathaa= with the same regard; yathaa= as; vartase= (you) behave; raajani= towards the king.”

“Bharata too is to be told thus: “Treat without distinction all your mothers with the same regard as you behave towards the king.”

yathaa ca tava kaikeyii sumitraa ca avisheSataH |
tathaiva devii kausalyaa mama maataa visheSataH || 2-52-35

35. yathaacha= as is; kaikeyii= Kaikeyi; tava= to you; tathaiva= so let it be; sumitraacha= for Sumitra; visheshhataH= more so; devii= (and) the divine kausalyaa= Kausalya; mama maataa= my mother; visheshhataH= in particular”

“As is your affection for Kaikeyi, so let it be for Sumitra and also the divine Kausalya, my mother”

taatasya priyakaamena yauvaraajyamapekshataa |
lokayorubhayoH shakyam tvayaa yatsukhamedhitum || 2-52-36

36. apekshhataH= “(If you) accept; youva raajam= the princely kingdom; priya kaamana= with an intent to please; taatasya= our father; shakyam= it will be possible; tvayaa= for you; edhitum= to enhance; sukham= happiness; yat= whatever; ubhayoH= in both; lokayaaH= the worlds.”

“If you accept the princely kingdom with an intent to please our father, it will be possible for you to enhance happiness in both the worlds (in this world and the next).”

nivartyamaano raameNa sumantraH shoka karshitaH |
tat sarvam vacanam shrutvaa snehaat kaakutstham abraviit || 2-52-37

37. sumantraH= Sumantra; nivartyamaanaH= who was being sent back; raameNa= by Rama; shoka karshhitaH= agonized with grief; shrutvaa=heard; sarvam= the whole; tat= of that; vachanam= discourse; snehaat= affectionately; abraviit= spoke; kaakutstham= to Rama (as follows):

Sumantra, who was being sent back by Rama, was agonized with grief after hearing the whole of that discourse and affectionately spoke to Rama as follows:

yad aham na upacaareNa bruuyaam snehaat aviklavaH |
bhaktimaan iti tat taavad vaakyam tvam kSantum arhasi || 2-52-38

38. yat vaakyam= which mode of expression; aham=I; bruuyaam= am speaking; snehaat= friendship; aviklabaH= fearlessly; nopachaareNa= and without courtesy; tat= that; tvaam= you; arhasitaavat= are justified; kshhantum= to forgive; bhaktimaan iti= (considering me) as a devotee.”

“If I spoke to you fearlessly in a friendly tone without following courteousness, you ought to forgive my mode of expression, considering me as your devotee”

katham hi tvad vihiino aham pratiyaasyaami taam puriim |
tava taata viyogena putra shoka aakulaam iva || 2-52-39

39. katham hi= “How indeed; aham pratiyaasyaami= can I return; tvadvihiinaH= without you ; taam= to that; puriim= city; tava viyogena taavat= which through separation from you; putra shokaakulaamiva= has been reduced to the state of a mother stricken with grief due to separation from her son."

“How indeed can I return without you to that city, which through separation from you, has been reduced to the state of a mother stricken with grief due to separation from her son”

saraamam api taavan me ratham dR^iSTvaa tadaa janaH |
vinaa raamam ratham dR^iSTvaa vidiiryeta api saa purii || 2-52-40

40. tadaa= “at that time; dR^ishhTvaa= by seeing; me ratham= my chariot; saraamapi= even with Rama in it; janaH= the people; taavat= (were lamenting) so much. DR^ishhTvaa= by seeing (now); ratham= the chariot; vinaa raamam= without Rama; saa purii= that city; videryetaapi= will even be broken apart.”

“By seeing my chariot on that day even with Rama in it, the people were lamenting so much. Now, if they see the chariot without Rama the city of Ayodhya will even be broken asunder.”

dainyam hi nagarii gacched dR^iSTvaa shuunyam imam ratham |
suuta avasheSam svam sainyam hata viiram iva aahave || 2-52-41

41. nagarii= “the city; gachchhet hi= will go through; dainyam= a miserable condition; sainyam iva= like an army; hata viiram= in which its commander has been killed; aahave= in a battle; svam= and seeing his chariot; suutavasheshham= remaining with charioteer alone; dR^ishhtvaa= by beholding; imam= this; ratham= chariot; shuunyam= empty.”

“The city will be plunged in misery, like an army in which its commander is lost in a combat with the charioteer alone surviving, on seeing this chariot without you.”

duure api nivasantam tvaam maanasena agrataH sthitam |
cintayantyo adya nuunam tvaam niraahaaraaH kR^itaaH prajaaH || 2-52-42

42. chintayantyaH= “thinking; tvaam= of you; sthitam= established; agrataH= foremost; maanasena= in their minds; nivasantam api= though residing; duure= at a far away place; prajaaH= the people; adya= today; kR^itaaH= were made; niraahaaraaH= without food. nuunam= It is certain.”

“Thinking of you, who though residing far away are established foremost in their minds, the people of Ayodhya must have been deprived of their food today.”

dR^ishhTaM taddhi tvayaa raama! yaadR^isham tvatpravaasane |
prajaanaam samkulam vR^ittam tvachchhokaklaantachetasaam || 2-52-43

43. raama= “Oh, Rama! samkulam= Perplexity; yaadR^sham= of what kind; tat= that; vR^ittam= behavior;dR^ishhTam hi= was witnessed indeed; tvayaa= by you; tvatpravaasane= on the occasion of your exile; prajaanaam= among the people(of Ayodhya); tvacchoka klaanta chetasaam= whose minds were depressed through grief on your account.”

“The great perplexity that ensued, on the occasion of your exile, among the people (of Ayodhya), whose minds were depressed through grief on your account, was witnessed by you indeed, Oh, Rama!”

aarta naado hi yaH pauraiH muktaH tat vipravaasane |
rathastham maam nishaamya eva kuryuH shata guNam tataH || 2-52-44

44. yaH= “which; aartanaadaH= cry of distress; pouraiH=the citizens; muktaH=raised; tvadvipravaasane= at the time of your banishment; tataH=to that; shataguNam= hundred-fold; kuryuH= will be made; nishaamyaiva= soon after seeing; maam= me; saratham= with (an empty) chariot.”

“The cry of distress raised by the citizens (of Ayodhya) will be increased a hundred-fold, when they see me with an empty chariot.”

aham kim ca api vakSyaami deviim tava sutaH mayaa |
niitaH asau maatula kulam samtaapam maa kR^ithaaiti || 2-52-45

45. aham vakshhyaami kimchaapi= “what shall I say further? Deviim = To Kausalya; iti= that; asou= this; sutaaH= your son; niitaH= has been taken; mayaa= by me; maatula kulam= to the house of his maternal uncle; maa kR^ithaaH= do not; santaapam= grieve.”

“Further, shall I say to the queen Kausalya as follows: - ‘Your son, Rama has been taken by me to the house of his maternal uncle, do not grieve’.”

asatyam api na eva aham bruuyaam vacanam iidR^isham |
katham apriyam eva aham bruuyaam satyam idam vacaH || 2-52-46

46. aham= ‘I; naiva bruuyaam= cannot tell; iidR^isham= such; vachanamapi= words too; asatyam= which are untrue. Katham= How; aham= can I; bruuyam= tell; idam vachaH= whish are true; apriyam= (but) unkind?”

“I cannot tell such words too which are untrue. How can I tell, ‘I abandoned your son in the forest’, which words are true but unkind?”

mama taavan niyogasthaaH tvad bandhu jana vaahinaH |
katham ratham tvayaa hiinam pravakSyanti haya uttamaaH || 2-52-47

47. katham= “how; hayottamaaH= the excellent horses; niyogasthaaH=obedient; mama= to me; tvad bandhu jana vaahinaH= which carried yourselves and your relatives(Sita and Lakshmana); pravakshhyanti= will draw; ratham= the chariot; hiinam= bereft; tvayaa= of you?”

“How will the excellent horses obedient to me, which carried yourself, Sita and Lakshmana, draw the chariot bereft of you?”

tanna shakshyaamyaham gantumayodhyaam tvadR^ite.anagha |
vanavaasaanuyaanaaya maamanujJNaatumarhasi || 2-52-48

48. anagha= “Oh, the faultless Rama! tat= for that reason, aham=I, na shakshhyaami=can not; gantum= go; ayodhyaam= to Ayodhya. arhasi = You are obliged; anuG^yaatum= to permit; maam= me; vanavaasaanuyaanaaya= to accompany you to the forest.”

“Oh, the faultless Rama! For this reason, I cannot go back to Ayodhya. (Pray) permit me to accompany you to the forest.”

yadi me yaacamaanasya tyaagam eva kariSyasi |
saratho agnim pravekSyaami tyakta maatraiha tvayaa || 2-52-49

49. karishhyasi yadi= “If you do; me= my; tyaagameva= abandonment; yaachamaanasya= (even though I) solicit;tyaktamaatraH=soon after I am forsaken; pravekshhyaami= I shall enter; agnim= a fire; sarathaH= along with chariot; iha= here.”

“If you leave me even though I solicit you to take me with you, I shall enter a fire with chariot and all, here itself the moment I am forsaken by you”

bhaviSyanti vane yaani tapo vighna karaaNi te |
rathena pratibaadhiSye taani sattvaani raaghava || 2-52-50

50. raaghava= Oh, Rama! yaani= which animals; vane= in the forest; bhavishhyanti= become; tapovighnakaraaNi= creators of obstacles to austerities; pratibaadhishhye= I shall ward off; taani sattvaani= those animals; rathena= by the chariot.”

“Oh, Rama! With the help of the chariot, I shall ward off those animals in the forest, which create obstacles to your austerities.”

tat kR^itena mayaa praaptam ratha caryaa kR^itam sukham |
aashamse tvat kR^itena aham vana vaasa kR^itam sukham || 2-52-51

51. sukham= “the pleasure; rathacharyaakR^itam= of driving your chariot; avaaptam= has been obtained; mayaa= by me. TvatkRi^tena= It is through you; aham= I; aashamse= seek; sukham=the happiness; vanavaasakRi^tam= that comes in dwelling in a forest."

“The pleasure of driving your chariot has been obtained by me because of you and it is through you that I seek the happiness that comes in dwelling in a forest.”

prasiida icchaami te araNye bhavitum pratyanantaraH |
priityaa abhihitam icchaami bhava me patyanantaraH || 2-52-52

52. prasiida= “Be graceful. Ichchhaami= I desire; bhavitum= to become; pratyanantaraH= close associate; araNye= in the forest. ichchhaami= I wish(to hear); priityaa= (your) loving; abhihitam= assent; bhava= Be; me= my; pratyanantaraH= close associate!"

“Be graceful. I desire to become your close associate in the forest. I wish to hear your loving assent with the words ‘be my close associate!"

ime chaapi hayaa viira yadi te vanavaasinaH |
paricharyaam karishhyanti praapsyanti paramaam gatim || 2-52-53

53. viira= “Oh, hero! Ime hayashchaapi karishhyanti yadi= If these horses too can do; paricharyaam= service; te= to you; praapsyanti= they can attain; paramaam= a supreme; gatim= abode”

“Oh, hero! If these horses too can render service to you, they can attain a supreme abode.”

tava shushruuSaNam muurdhnaa kariSyaami vane vasan |
ayodhyaam deva lokam vaa sarvathaa prajahaamy aham || 2-52-54

54. aham= “I; prajahaami= am leaving; ayodhyaami= Ayodhya; devalokamvaa = or even a celestial world (heaven); sarvathaa= by all means. vasam = Dwelling; vane= in the forest; muurdhanaa= with my head bent low; karishhyaami= I shall render; tava= your; shushruushhaNam= service.”

-“By all means, I am leaving for good, Ayodhya or even heaven. Dwelling in the forest, with my head bent low, I shall render service to you.”

na hi shakyaa praveSTum saa mayaa ayodhyaa tvayaa vinaa |
raaja dhaanii mahaa indrasya yathaa duSkR^ita karmaNaa || 2-52-55

55. saa ayodhyaa= That Ayodhya; na hi shakyaa= cannot be; praveshhTum= entered; mayaa= by me; tvayaa vinaa= without you; raajadhaanii yathaa= as Amaravati the capital; mahendrasya= of Devendra; dushhkR^ita karmaNaa= by a doer of wicked deeds.”

“As a doer of wicked deeds cannot enter Amaravati, the capital of Devendra, so also I cannot enter Ayodhya without you.”

vana vaase kSayam praapte mama eSa hi mano rathaH |
yad anena rathena eva tvaam vaheyam puriim punaH || 2-52-56

56. eshhaH hi= “This is indeed; mama= my; manorathaH= desire; yat= that; praapte= after reaching; kshhayam= the end; vanavaase= of dwelling in the forest; vaheyam= I may take; tvaam= you; punaH= again; anena rathenaiva= in this very chariot; puriim= to the city (of Ayodhya).”

“This is indeed my desire that after reaching the end of your exile, I may take you back to the city of Ayodhya in this very chariot.”

catur dasha hi varSaaNi sahitasya tvayaa vane |
kSaNa bhuutaani yaasyanti shatashaH tu tataH anyathaa || 2-52-57

57. sahitasya= “Me, along with; tvayaa= you; vane= in the forest; chaturdasha varshhaaNi= fourteen years; yaasyanti= will slip away; kshhaNa bhuutaani= momentarily. Anyathaa= Otherwise; ataH= than this; shata samkhyaani= will multiply hundred-fold.”

“So long as I am with you together in the forest, fourteen years will slip away momentarily. Otherwise than this, they will multiply a hundred- fold.”

bhR^itya vatsala tiSThantam bhartR^i putra gate pathi |
bhaktam bhR^ityam sthitam sthityaam tvam na maam haatum arhasi || 2-52-58

58. bhR^itya vatsale= “Oh, prince, who cherish your dependents! tvam= You; naarhasi= ought not; haatum= abandon; maam= me; bhaktam= your devoted; bhR^ityam= servant; tishhThantam= established; pathi= in the path; bhartR^iputra gate= followed by the son of his master; sthitam= (and) keeping; sthityaam= within bounds”

“Oh, prince, who are so fond of your dependents! You ought not abandon me, your devoted servant, established in the path followed by the son of his master and (always)keeping within bounds.”

evam bahu vidham diinam yaacamaanam punaH punaH |
raamaH bhR^itya anukampii tu sumantram idam abraviit || 2-52-59

59. raamah= Rama; bhR^ityaanukampii= who was compassionate towards his dependents; abraviit= spoke; idam= these words; sumantram= to Sumantra; diinam= who was miserably; yaachamaanam= entreating; punaH punaH= again and again; bahuvidham= in many modes.

Rama, who was compassionate towards his dependents, spoke as follows to Sumantra, who was miserably entreating him again and again in many modes.

jaanaami paramaam bhaktim mayi te bhartR^i vatsala |
shR^iNu ca api yad artham tvaam preSayaami puriim itaH || 2-52-60

60. bhartR^ivatsala= “Oh, charioteer, so fond of your master! jaanaami= I knew; te= your; paramaam= excellent; bhaktam= devotion; mayi= to me. ShR^iNuchaapi= Hear; yadartham= wherefore; preshhayaami= I send; tvaam= you; itaH= from here; puriim= to the city.”

“Oh, charioteer so fond of your master! I know your excellent devotion to me. Hear wherefore I send you from here to the city of Ayodhya.”

nagariim tvaam gatam dR^iSTvaa jananii me yaviiyasii |
kaikeyii pratyayam gacched iti raamaH vanam gataH || 2-52-61

61. dR^ishhTvaa= “seeing; tvaam= you; gatam= going; nagariim= to the city; kaikeyii= Kaikeyi; me= my; yaviiyasii=younger;jananii= mother; gachchhet= will get; pratyayam= the proof; iti= that; raamaH= Rama; gataH= went; vanam= to the forest.”

“Seeing you, returning to Ayodhya, Kaikeyi, my younger mother will get the proof that Rama has gone to the forest.”

parituSTaa hi saa devi vana vaasam gate mayi |
raajaanam na atishanketa mithyaa vaadii iti dhaarmikam || 2-52-62

62. paritushhTaa= “having strongly satisfied; mayi= about me; gate= having gone; vanavaasam= to dwell in the forest; saa devii= that queen; (Kaikeyi); naatishaNketa= will not suspect strongly; raajaanaam= about the king; dhaarmikam= who is virtuous; mithyaavaadiiti= as one who speaks untruth”

“Having completely satisfied, about me having gone to forest, Kaikeyi will leave her strong suspicion that the virtuous king may be a person who speaks untruth.”

eSa me prathamaH kalpo yad ambaa me yaviiyasii |
bharata aarakSitam sphiitam putra raajyam avaapnuyaat || 2-52-63

63. eshhaH= “this is; prathamaH= the first; kalpaH= rule to be observed before any other rule; me= for me; yat= that; me= my; yaviiyasii=younger; ambaa= mother; avaapnuyaat=should get; spiitam= the extensive; putra raajyam= kingdom of her son; bharataa rakshhitam= protected by Bharata”

“This is my first priority that my younger mother should get the extensive kingdom, protected by Bharata and thus ruled by her own son.”

mama priya artham raaj~naH ca sarathaH tvam puriim vraja |
samdiSTaH ca asi yaa anarthaams taams taan bruuyaaH tathaa tathaa || 2-52-64

64. priyaartham= “for the pleasure; mama= of me; raaG^yashcha= and of the king; tvam= you; sarathaH= along with the chariot; vraja= go; puriim= to the city (of Ayodhya); yaan= which; arthaan= matters; asi= you are; sandishhTaH= told; bruuyaaH= inform; taan taan= those and those matters; tathaa tathaa= in that manner.”

“For my pleasure and pleasure of the king, you go along with the chariot to Ayodhya and inform all the matters that you have been asked to tell each in the way you have been asked to do.”

iti uktvaa vacanam suutam saantvayitvaa punaH punaH |
guham vacanam akliibam raamaH hetumad abraviit || 2-52-65

65. uktvaa= having spoken; vachanam= the words;iti= thus; suutam= in the chariot; akliibaH= the courageous; raamaH= Rama; saantvayitvaa= consoled(him); punaH punaH= again and again; abraviit= spoke(the following); hetumat= reasoned; vachanam= words; guham=to Guha.

Having spoken thus to the charioteer, the courageous Rama consoled him again and again. Then, he spoke the following reasoned words to Guha:

nedaaniim guha yogyo.ayam vaso me sajane vane |
avashyam hyaashrame vaasah kartavyastadgato vidhiH || 2-52-66

66. guha= “Oh, Guha! ayam= this; vaasaH= stay; vane= in the forest; sajane= inhabited with people. na yogyaH= is not proper; me= for me. vaasaH= The stay; avashyam= should be certainly; aashrame= in a hermitage. VidhiH= Let the action; tadgataH= directed towards that; kartavyaH= be done.”

“Oh, Guha! This stay in the inhabited woods is not proper for me. My stay should definitely be in a hermitage. Let an action diverted towards that aim be taken”

so.aham gR^ihiitvaa niyamam tapasvijanabhuushhaNam |
hitakaamaH piturbhuuyaH siitaayaa lakshmaNasya cha || 2-52-67
jaTaaH kR^itvaa gamiSyaami nyagrodha kSiiram aanaya |

67. saH aham= “I as such; hita kaamaH= wishing well of; pituH= my farther; bhunyaH= and; siitaayaaH= of Sita; lakshhmaNasyacha= and of Lakshmana; gR^ihiitvaa=having taken up; niyamam= the restraint; tapsvi janabhuushhaNam= to be adorned by ascetics; gamishhyaami= and proceed further; kR^itvaa=wearing; jaTaaH= matted hair. aanaya=(please) bring; nyagrodha kshhiiram= the milk-like exudation (latex) of a banyan tree.”

“I as such, wishing well of my father, Sita as well as Lakshmana and having taken up a discipline to be followed by ascetics, want to proceed further, wearing matted hair. Please bring the latex of a banyan tree.”

tat kSiiram raaja putraaya guhaH kSipram upaaharat || 2-52-68
lakSmaNasya aatmanaH caiva raamaH tena akaroj jaTaaH |

68. guhaH=Guha;kshhipram= immediately; upaaharat= brought; tat= that; kshhiiram= milk-like exudation (latex); raaja putraaya= to the prince. Tena= with that; raamaH= Rama; aakarot= made; jaTaaH= matted hair; aatmanashchaiva= to himself; lakshhmaNasya= and to Lakshmana.

Guha immediately brought that latex to the prince. With that, Rama made matted hair to himself and to Lakshmana.

diirghabaahurnaravyaaghro jaTilatva madhaarayat || 2-52-69
tau tadaa ciira vasanau jaTaa maNDala dhaariNau |
ashobhetaam R^iSi samau bhraatarau raama rakSmaNau || 2-52-70

69,70. diirgha baahuH= That long armed; nara vyaaghraH= tiger among men, Rama; aadhaarayat= wore; jaTilatvam= the matting; tadaa= Then; raama lakshhmaNav= Rama and Lakshmana; bhraatarov= the brothers; chiira vasanou= clad in the bark of trees; jaTaa maNdala dhaariNau= and wearing a rounded mass of matted locks (on their hair); ashobhetaam= looked bright; R^shhisamou= like ascetic sages.

Rama, tiger among men who possessed long arms wore the distinguished mark of an ascetic (in the shape of matted hair) . Then, Rama and Lakshmana the brothers clad in the bark of trees and wearing a round mass of matted locks (on their head) looked bright like two ascetic sages.

tataH vaikhaanasam maargam aasthitaH saha lakSmaNaH |
vratam aadiSTavaan raamaH sahaayam guham abraviit || 2-52-71

71. tataH= then; aasthitaH= Having adopted; maargam= the way; vaikhaanasam= of a hermit (temporarily); saha lakshhmaNa= along with Lakshmana; raamaH= Rama; aadishhTavaan= accepted; vratam= the vow (of an ascetic); abraviit= and spoke; guham= to Guha; sakhaayam= his friend (as follows):

Having adopted the way of a hermit (temporarily) along with Lakshmana, Rama then accepted the vow of an ascetic life and spoke to Guha, his friend as follows:

apramattaH bale koshe durge jana pade tathaa |
bhavethaa guha raajyam hi duraarakSatamam matam || 2-52-72

72. guha=”Oh, Guha! Bhavethaa= Remain; apramattaH= vigilant; bale= in the case of an army; koshe= the treasury; durge= the fortress; tathaa= and; janapade= the people. Matam hi= It is said; raajyam= that a kingdom; duraa rakshhatamam= is the most difficult one to protect.”

“Oh, Guha! Remain vigilant in defense, finance, internal security and public relations, for a kingdom is the most difficult one to be protected!”

tataH tam samanuj~naaya guham ikSvaaku nandanaH |
jagaama tuurNam avyagraH sabhaaryaH saha lakSmaNaH || 2-52-73

73. tataH= then; ikshhvaaku nandanaH = Rama, who was a delight to Ikshvaku dynasty; samanuG^yaaya= bade farewell; tam guham= to Guha; jagaama= and departed; tuurNam= quickly; avyagraH= remaining undistracted; sabhaaryaH= along with his consort; sahalakshhmaNaH= together with Lakshmana.

Then Rama, who was a delight to Ikshvaku dynasty, bade farewell to Guha and departed quickly, remaining undistracted, along with his consort and together with Lakshmana.

sa tu dR^iSTvaa nadii tiire naavam ikSvaaku nandanaH |
titiirSuH shiighragaam gangaam idam lakSmaNam abraviit || 2-52-74

74. dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; naavam= the boat; nadiitiire= on the bank of the river; saH ikshhvaakunandanaH= that Rama; titirshhuH= desirous of crossing; shiighragaam= the swift-flowing; gaNgaam= Ganga; abraviit= spoke; idam= these words; lakshmaNam= to Lakshmana: -

Seeing the boat on the bank of the river and keen to cross the swift- flowing Ganga, Rama spoke to Lakshmana as follows: -

aaroha tvam nara vyaaghra sthitaam naavam imaam shanaiH |
siitaam ca aaropaya anvakSam parigR^ihya manasviniim || 2-52-75

75. nara vyaaghraH= “Oh, Lakshmana the tiger among men! Tvam= you; aaroha= get into; imaam= this; naavam= boat; sthityaam= stationed; (here); parigR^ihya= having helped; siitaam cha= Sita; mansviniim= the virtuous wife; aaropaya= step into it.”

“Oh, Lakshmana the tiger among men! You get into the boat stationed here unhurriedly afterwards, having helped Sita the virtuous wife step into it.”

sa bhraatuH shaasanam shrutvaa sarvam apratikuulayan |
aaropya maithiliim puurvam aaruroha aatmavaams tataH || 2-52-76

76. shrutvaa= hearing; shaasanam= the command; sarvam= wholly; bhraatruH= of his (elder) brother; saH= that Lakshmana; aatmavaan= prudent; apratikuulayan= not resisting it; aaropaya maithiliim= having made Sita to ascend (the boat); puurvam= first; aaruroha= stepped into (the boat); tataH= afterwards.

Hearing the command completely of his elder brother, the prudent Lakshmana, by not counteracting it, made Sita to ascend the boat first and stepped into it afterwards.

atha aaruroha tejasvii svayam lakSmaNa puurvajaH |
tataH niSaada adhipatir guho j~naatiin acodayat || 2-52-77

77. atha= then; tejasvii= the glorious; lakshhmaNa puurvajaH= Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana; aaruroha= got into (the boat); svayam= himself. TataH= Thereafter; guhaH= Guha; nishhadaadhipatiH= the ruler of the Nishadas; achodayat= commanded; G^yaatiim= his kinsfolk (to row them across the river).

Then, the glorious Rama got into the boat himself. Thereafter, Guha the ruler of Nishadas commanded his kinsfolk to row them across the river.

raaghavo.api mahaatejaa naavamaaruhya taam tataH |
brahmavat kshatravachchaiva jajaapa hitamaatmanaH || 2-52-78

78. aaruuhya= after ascending; taam naavam= that boat; raaghava. Api= Rama too; mahaa tejaH= of mighty splendor; tataH= then; jajaapa= recited (a sacred text Daiviim naavam etc) brahmavat= (fit for) Brahmanas; kshhatriyashchaiva= and Kshatriyas; hitam= and conducive to the good; aatmanaH= of his son.

After ascending the boat, Rama too of mighty splendor then recited a sacred text (daiviim naavam etc) fit for brahmanas and Kshatriyas alike and conducive to his own good.

aachamya cha yathaashaastram nadiim taam saha siitayaa |
praaNamatpriitisamhR^ishhTo lakshmaNashchaamitaprabhaH || 2-52-79

79. aachamyacha= having sipped water; yathaa shaastram= as per scriptures; priitisamhR^ishhTaH= and with extreme delight, siitayaa saha= (Rama) with Sita; praaNamat= made obeisance; taam nadiim= to that river; lakshmaNashcha= Lakshmana also; amita prabhaH= of infinite splendor (followed suit.)

Having sipped water as per scriptures and with extreme delight, Rama with Sita made obeisance to that river. Lakshmana, of infinite splendor, followed suit.

anuj~naaya sumantram ca sabalam caiva tam guham |
aasthaaya naavam raamaH tu codayaam aasa naavikaan || 2-52-80

80. anuG^yaaya= bidding farewell; tam guham= to that Guha; sabalam= with his army of men; sumantram= and Sumantra; raamastu= Rama; aasthaaya= sat on; naavam= the boat; chodayaamaasa= and directed; naavikaan= the boatmen (to move on).

Bidding farewell to Guha with his army of men and Sumantra, Rama sat on the boat and directed the boatmen to move on.

tataH taiH coditaa saa nauH karNa dhaara samaahitaa |
shubha sphya vega abhihataa shiighram salilam atyagaat || 2-52-81

81. taiH= through their; choditaa= propulsion; sa nauH= that boat; karNadhaara samaahitaa= furnished with a pilot; shubha sphya vega abhihataa= obeying those splendid and vigorous oarsmen; shiighram= rapidly; atyagaat= moved across; salilam= water.

Propelled by those splendid and vigorous oarsmen, that boat furnished with a pilot, rapidly moved across the water.

madhyam tu samanupraapya bhaagiirathyaaH tu aninditaa |
vaidehii praanjalir bhuutvaa taam nadiim idam abraviit || 2-52-82

82. samanupraapya= coming to; madhyam= the middle; bhaagiirathyaaH= of Bhagirathi; aninditaa= the irresproachable; vaidehii= Sita; bhuutvaa= having been; praaN^jaliH= with joined palms; abraviit= spoke; idam= these words; taam nadiim= to the said river.

Coming to the middle of Bhagirathi river, the irreproachable Sita with joined palms, spoke as follows to the said river: -

putraH dasharathasya ayam mahaa raajasya dhiimataH |
nidesham paalayatu enam gange tvad abhirakSitaH || 2-52-83
catur dasha hi varSaaNi samagraaNi uSya kaanane |
bhraatraa saha mayaa caiva punaH pratyaagamiSyati || 2-52-84
tataH tvaam devi subhage kSemeNa punar aagataa |
yakSye pramuditaa gange sarva kaama samR^iddhaye || 2-52-85

83,84,85. gaNge= “Oh, Ganga! Ayam (let) this Rama; putraH= the son; dasharathasya= of Dasaratha; mahaaraajasya= the emperor; paalayitvaa= honor; imam= this (his father’s); nidesham= command; tvadabhirakshhitaH= under your protection! Ushhya= Having dwelled; kaanane= in the forest; samagraaNi= in full; chaturdasha= for fourteen; varshhaaNi= years; pratyaagamishhyati= (may he) return; punaH= once more (to your bank); bhraataa saha= with his brother, Lakshmana; mayaachaiva= and myself! Subhage= Oh, blessed; devii= goddess; gaN^ge= Ganga! PunaH aagataa= Returning; kshhemeNa= safely; tataH= then; pramuditaa = I, full of joy; sarva kaama samR^iddhinii= all my desires fulfilled; yakshhye= shall worship; tvaam= you.”

“Oh, Ganga! Let Rama, the son of the emperor Dasaratha honor his father’s command under your protection! Having dwelled in the forest in full fourteen years, may he return once more to your bank with his brother, Lakshmana and myself! Oh, blessed goddess Ganga! Returning safely, with all my desires fulfilled, I shall worship you with great joy.”

tvam hi tripathagaa devi brahma lokam samiikSase |
bhaaryaa ca udadhi raajasya loke asmin sampradR^ishyase || 2-52-86

86. tvam= “you; devii= Oh, goddess; tripathagaa= flowing through three regions, (namely heaven, earth and subterranean); samiikshhase hi= are indeed seeing; brahmalokam= Brahma’s realm (the outermost of the six spheres enveloping the earth); sampradR^ishyase= and are vividly seen; asmin= on this; loke= terrestrial plane; bhaaryaacha= as a consort; udadhiraajasya= of the ocean king.”

You, Oh goddess flowing through three regions (namely heaven, earth and subterranean regions), include in your basin the realm of Brahma (the outermost of the six spheres enveloping the earth) and are vividly seen on this terrestrial plane as a consort of the ocean king.”

saa tvaam devi namasyaami prashamsaami ca shobhane |
praapta raajye nara vyaaghra shivena punar aagate || 2-52-87
gavaam shata sahasraaNi vastraaNi annam ca peshalam |
braahmaNebhyaH pradaasyaami tava priya cikiirSayaa || 2-52-88

87,88. shobhane devii= “oh, charming goddess! Saa= I, Sita; namasyaami= greet; tvaam= you; prashamsaami cha= and extol you too; naravyaaghre= when Rama the tiger among men; shivena= has safely; aagate= returned; punaH=again; praapte raajye= and regains his kingdom; pradaasyaami= I shall give away; shatasahasraaNi= a lakh; gavaam= of cows; peshalam= soft; vastraaNi= clothing; annamcha= and food stuff; brahmaNebhya= to Brahmanas; priyachikiirshhayaa= with an intent to please you.”

“Oh, charming goddess! I, Sita, greet you and extol you too. When Rama the tiger among men safely returns and regains his kingdom, I shall give away a lakh of cows, soft clothing and food to brahmanas with intent to please you.”

suraaghaTasahasreNa maamsabhuutodanena cha |
yakshye tvaam prayataa devi puriim punarupaagataa || 2-52-89

89. devii= “Oh, goddess! Upaagata= After reaching; puriim= the city (Ayodhya); punaH= again; yakshhye= I shall worship (you); suraaghata sahasreNa= with thousand pots of spirituous liquor; maamsa bhuutodanena cha = and jellied meat with cooked rice; prayataa= well-prepared for the solemn rite.”

“Oh, goddess! After reaching back the city of Ayodhya, I shall worship you with thousand pots of spirituous liquor and jellied meat with cooked rice well prepared for the solemn rite.”

yaani tvattiiravaasiini daivataani cha santi hi |
taani sarvaaNi yakshyaami tiirthaanyaayatanaani cha || 2-52-90

90. yakshhyaami= I shall worship; yaami= whatever; daivataani= deities; santi= are there; sarvaaNi= all; tvattiira vaasini= dwelling on your banks; tiirthaani= sacred spots; aayatanaamicha= and sanctuaries.”

“I shall worship all deities dwelling on your banks as also sacred spots and sanctuaries.”

punareva mahaabaaurmayaa bhraatraa cha samgataH |
ayodhyaam vanavaasaattu pravishatvanagho.anaghe || 2-52-91

91. anaghe= “oh, irreproachable one! AnaghaH= (May) the sinless; mahaabaahuH= and mighty armed Rama; pravishatu= re-enter; ayodhyaam= Ayodhya; punareva=again; vanavaasaat= from dwelling in the forest; sangataH= along with; bhraatraacha= Lakshmana, his brother; mayaa= (and) myself.”

“Oh, irreproachable goddess! May the sinless Rama (with mighty arms) re-enter Ayodhya again from the forest, along with Lakshmana and myself.”

tathaa sambhaaSamaaNaa saa siitaa gangaam aninditaa |
dakSiNaa dakSiNam tiiram kSipram eva abhyupaagamat || 2-52-92

92. tathaa= then; sambhaashha maaNaa= praying (to Ganga); siita= Sita; dakshhiNaa= the efficient; aninditaa= irreproachable; abhyupaagamat= reached; kshhiprameva= rapidly; dakshhiNam= the right; tiiram= bank.

Thus praying to Ganga, the efficient and irreproachable Sita rapidly reached the right bank of the river.

tiiram tu samanupraapya naavam hitvaa nara R^iSabhaH |
praatiSThata saha bhraatraa vaidehyaa ca param tapaH || 2-52-93

93. samanupraapya= reaching; tiiram= the bank; nararshhabhaH= Rama the best among men; paramtapaH= and the chastiser of foes; hitvaa= left; naavam= the boat; praatishhThata= and further proceeded; bhraatraasaha= along with Lakshmana his brother; vaidehyaacha= and Sita.

Reaching the bank and leaving the boat, Rama the best among men and the chastiser of foes proceeded further along with Lakshmana and Sita.

atha abraviin mahaa baahuH sumitra aananda vardhanam |
bhava samrakshaNaarthaaya sajane vijane.api vaa || 2-52-94

94. “Be prepared for protecting Sita in the inhabited as well as in uninhabited areas also.” W.w.m---atha= then; mahaabaahuH= Rama, the mighty armed, abraviit= spoke; sumitraa nandanam= to Lakshmana (who heightened the joy of Sumitra); bhava= “Be prepared; samrakshaNaarthaaya= for protecting; (Sita); sajane= in the inhabited; vijane.apivaa= and in the uninhabited areas also.”

Then, Rama the mighty armed, spoke to Lakshmana (who heightened the joy of Sumitra) as follows:

avashyam rakshaNam kaaryamadR^ishhTe vijane vane |
agrataH gaccha saumitre siitaa tvaam anugacchatu || 2-52-95

95. rakshhaNam= “security; kaaryam= is to be arranged; avashyam= inevitably; adR^shhTe= and in an unforeseen; vijane= and in an uninhabited; vane= forest. soumitre= Oh, Lakshmana! Gachchha= Go; agrataH= in front. Siitaa anugachchhatu= Let Sita follow; tvaam= you.”

“Security is an inevitable need in a forest, which has unforeseen dangers and is uninhabited, Oh, Lakshmana! Go in front. Let Sita follow you.”

pR^iSThataH aham gamiSyaami tvaam ca siitaam ca paalayan |
adya duhkham tu vaidehii vana vaasasya vetsyati || 2-52-96

96. aham=”I; gamishhyaami= shall proceed; pR^ishhThataH= in the back; paalayam= protecting; tvaam cha= you; siitaamcha= and Sita; purushharshhabha= Oh, jewel among men! Rakshha = Protection; kartavyaa= must be accorded; iha= here; naH= by us; anyonyasya= to one another.”

“I shall proceed in the rear, protecting you and Sita. Oh, jewel among men! We must accord protection here to one another."

na hi taavadatikraantaa sukaraa kaachana kriyaa |
adya duHkham tu vaidehii vanavaasasya vetsyati || 2-52-97

97. atikraanta= “an over stepped; kaachana kriyaa= doing whatsoever; Na hi taavat= cannot indeed be; sukaraa= smoothly done again. Vaidehii= Sita; vetsyati= will experience; duHkham= the hardship; vanavaasasya= of staying in a forest; adya= (only) from us.”

“An act which has gone out of hand, whatsoever, cannot indeed be remedied again. Sita will experience the hardship of staying in a forest only from now.”

praNashhTajanasambaadham kshetraaraamavivarbitam |
vishhamam cha prapaatam cha vanamadya pravekshyati || 2-52-98

98. adya= “ today; pravekshhyati= (she)will enter; vanam= the forest; praNashhTajana sambaadhaam= when density of people is not seen; kshhetra araama vivarjitam= which is utterly devoid of fields and gardens; vishhamamcha= and is full of stumbles.”

“Today she will enter the forest, where density of people is not seen, which is utterly devoid of fields and gardens, has a rugged surface and is full of stumbles.”

shrutvaa raamasya vachanam pratisthe lakshmaNO.agrataH |
anantaram cha siitaayaa raaghavo raghanandhanaH || 2-52-99

99. shrutvaa= listening to; raamasya= Rama’s; vachanam= words; lakshmaNaH= Lakshmana; pratasthe= walked; agrataH= in front. Anantaram= immediately after; siitaayaaH= Sita; raaghavaH= Rama; raghunandanaH= the delight of Raghu dynasty (advanced).

Listening to Rama’s words, Lakshmana walked in front. Immediately after Sita, Rama, the delight of Raghu dynasty, advanced.

gatam tu gangaa para paaram aashu |
raamam sumantraH pratatam niriikSya |
adhva prakarSaat vinivR^itta dR^iSTir |
rmumoca baaSpam vyathitaH tapasvii || 2-52-100

100. pratatam= constantly; niriikshhya= gazing at; raamam=Rama; gatam= who reached; ashu= soon; gaN^gaa para paaram= the other bank of Ganga river; tapasvii= the distressed; sumantraH= Sumantra; vinivR^itta dR^ishhTiH= his vision having failed; adhvaprakarshhaat= due to the great distance; vyathitaH= and perturbed as he was; mumocha= shed; baashhpam= tears (of grief over separation from Rama).

Constantly gazing at Rama, who reached soon the other bank of Ganga River, the distressed Sumantra, his vision having failed due to the long distance and perturbed as he was, shed tears (of grief over separation from Rama).

sa lokapaalapratimaprabhaavavaam |
stiirtvaa mahaatmaa varado mahaanadiim |
tataH samR^iddhaan shubhasasyamaalinaH |
krameNa vatsaan muditaanupaagamat || 2-52-101

101. tiirvaa= having crossed; mahaanadiim= the great river; saH=that Rama; mahaatmaa= the high-soled; varadaH= the bestowal of boons; loka paala pratimaprabhaava vaan= equal in glory with the guardians of spheres; tataH= then; upaagamat= reached; krameNa= progressively; vatsaan= the land of Vatsa; samRidhdhhaan= and the happy; shubha sasya maalinaH= which contained rows of beautiful crops.

Having crossed the great river, Rama the high-soled, the bestowal of boons, equal in glory with the guardians of spheres, then reached progressively the prosperous and the happy land of Vatsa; which contained rows of beautiful crops.

tau tatra hatvaa caturaH mahaa mR^igaan |
varaaham R^ishyam pR^iSatam mahaa rurum |
aadaaya medhyam tvaritam bubhukSitau|
vaasaaya kaale yayatur vanaH patim || 2-52-102

102. hatvaa= having killed; tatra= there; chaturaH= four; mR^igaan= deer (namely); varaaham= Varaaha; R^ishyam= Risya; pR^ishhatam= PR^isata; mahaaruru= (and) Mahaaruru; (the four principal species of deer); aadayaa= and taking; tvaritam= quickly; medhyam= the portions that were pure; tou= Rama and Lakshmana; bubhukshhitou= being hungry as they were; yayatuH= reached; vanaspatim= a tree; vaasayaa= to take rest; kaale= in the evening.

Having hunted there four deer, namely Varaaha, Rishya, Prisata; and Mahaaruru (the four principal species of deer) and taking quickly the portions that were pure, being hungry as they were, Rama and Lakshmana reached a tree to take rest in the evening.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe dvipamchaashaH sargaH

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection