Chapter 104
Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya
वसिष्ठः पुरतः कृत्वा दारान् दशरथस्य च
अभिचक्राम तं देशं रामदर्शनतर्षितः
vasiṣṭhaḥ purataḥ kṛtvā dārān daśarathasya ca
abhicakrāma taṃ deśaṃ rāmadarśanatarṣitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Eager to see Rama again, Vasishta approached that place, preceded by Dasaratha's wives.
राजपत्न्यश्च गच्छन्त्यो मन्दं मन्दाकिनीम् प्रति
ददृशुस्तत्र तत्तीर्थं रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम्
rājapatnyaśca gacchantyo mandaṃ mandākinīm prati
dadṛśustatra tattīrthaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇasevitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The king's wives, while moving slowly towards River Mandakini, saw the ford there, being frequented by Rama and Lakshmana.
कौसल्या बाष्पपूर्णेन मुखेन परिशुष्यता
सुमित्रामब्रवीद्दीना याश्चान्या राजयोषितः
kausalyā bāṣpapūrṇena mukhena pariśuṣyatā
sumitrāmabravīddīnā yāścānyā rājayoṣitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With a gloomy and emaciated face, filled with tears, Kausalya spoke to Sumitra and other royal women (as follows):
इदम् तेषामनाथानाम् क्लिष्टमक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्
वने प्राक्कलनम्तीर्थम् ये ते निर्विषयीकृताः
idam teṣāmanāthānām kliṣṭamakliṣṭakarmaṇām
vane prākkalanamtīrtham ye te nirviṣayīkṛtāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This is the ford, located in the eastern region of the forest, frequented by Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana, banished from the kingdom; those unfortunate persons of illustrious exploits who have no country."
इतस्सुमित्रे पुत्रस्ते सदा जलमतन्द्रितः
स्वयं हरति सौमित्रिर्मम पुत्रस्य कारणात्
itassumitre putraste sadā jalamatandritaḥ
svayaṃ harati saumitrirmama putrasya kāraṇāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Sumitra! Lakshmana, your son always draws water himself from here unwearyingly for the sake of my son."
जघन्यमपि ते पुत्रः कृतवान्न तु गर्हितः
भ्रातुर्यदर्थसहितं सर्वं तद्विहितम् गुणैः
jaghanyamapi te putraḥ kṛtavānna tu garhitaḥ
bhrāturyadarthasahitaṃ sarvaṃ tadvihitam guṇaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Through engaged in an inferior act (of carrying water), your son is not to be censured because all that service rendered to his brother is enjoined with virtues."
अद्यायमपि ते पुत्रः क्लेशानामतथोचितः
नीचानर्थसमाचारं सज्जं कर्म प्रमुञ्चतु
adyāyamapi te putraḥ kleśānāmatathocitaḥ
nīcānarthasamācāraṃ sajjaṃ karma pramuñcatu
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Your son too, who is not accustomed to such pains, will indeed be relived now of this mean, wretched and laborious task."
दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु सा ददर्श महीतले
पितुरिङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् व्यस्तमायतलोचना
dakṣiṇāgreṣu darbheṣu sā dadarśa mahītale
pituriṅgudipiṇyākam vyastamāyatalocanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The large-eyed Kausalya observed a ball made of Ingudi pulp, which was placed by Rama in honour of his father on the ground, on aheap of Darbha grass, the raised spikes of which pointed towards the south.
तं भूमौ पितुरार्तेन न्यस्तं रामेण वीक्ष्यसा
उवाच देवीइ कौसल्या सर्वा दशरथस्त्रियः
taṃ bhūmau piturārtena nyastaṃ rāmeṇa vīkṣyasā
uvāca devīi kausalyā sarvā daśarathastriyaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing that ball of food placed on the ground by the unfortunate Rama for his father, the Queen Kausalya spoke to all those wives of Dasaratha (as follows):
इदमिक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य राघवस्य महाअत्मनः
राघवेण पितुर्दत्तम् पश्यतै तद्यथाविधि
idamikṣvākunāthasya rāghavasya mahāatmanaḥ
rāghaveṇa piturdattam paśyatai tadyathāvidhi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"See this ball of food offered traditionally by Rama in honour of his father, the high-souled Dasaratha the Lord of Ikshvaku race."
तस्य देवसमानस्य पार्थिवस्य महात्मनः
नैतदौपयिकम् मन्ये भुक्तभोगस्य भोजनम्
tasya devasamānasya pārthivasya mahātmanaḥ
naitadaupayikam manye bhuktabhogasya bhojanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not consider this offering as befitting for that great-souled king, who was like unto a God and who lived amidst every pleasure."
चतुर्न्ताम् महीम् भुक्त्वा महेन्द्रसदृशो विभुः
कथमिङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् स भुङ्त्के वसुधादिपः
caturntām mahīm bhuktvā mahendrasadṛśo vibhuḥ
kathamiṅgudipiṇyākam sa bhuṅtke vasudhādipaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"How can that Lord of the earth, Dasartha, equal to the Lord of celestials and a mighty man, having enjoyed the earth with its four quarters, the boundaries of which are the oceans, eat a cake of Ingudi pulp?"
अतो दुःखतरम् लोके न किंञ्चित्प्रतिभाति मा
यत्र रामः पितुर्दद्यादिङ्गुदिक्षोदमृद्धिमान्
ato duḥkhataram loke na kiṃñcitpratibhāti mā
yatra rāmaḥ piturdadyādiṅgudikṣodamṛddhimān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not consider any thing painful to me on earth than when Rama the man of fortune offering a cake of Ingudi pulp to his father."
रामेणेङ्गुदिपिण्याकं पित्तुर्दत्तं समीक्ष्य मे
कथं दुःखेन हृदयम् न स्पोटति सहस्रधा
rāmeṇeṅgudipiṇyākaṃ pitturdattaṃ samīkṣya me
kathaṃ duḥkhena hṛdayam na spoṭati sahasradhā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Seeing this offering, a cake of Ingudi pulp, of Rama to his father, why does my heart not break into a thousand pieces with anguish?"
श्रुतिस्तु खल्वियं सत्य लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा
यदन्नः पुरुषो भवति तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः
śrutistu khalviyaṃ satya laukikī pratibhāti mā
yadannaḥ puruṣo bhavati tadannāstasya devatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It indeed occurs to me that the saying among men that the food eaten by man is also consumed by his Gods is true."
एवमार्तां सपत्न्यस्ता जग्मुराश्वास्य तां तदा
ददृशुश्चश्रमे रामं स्वर्गच्युतमिवामरम्
evamārtāṃ sapatnyastā jagmurāśvāsya tāṃ tadā
dadṛśuścaśrame rāmaṃ svargacyutamivāmaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Consoling Kausalya thus afflicted by grief, Kausalya's companions then proceeded further and saw Rama in his hermitage, who resembled an Immortal driven out of Paradise.
सर्वभोगैः परित्यक्तं रामं सम्प्रेक्ष्य मातरः
आर्त मुमुचुरश्रुणि सस्वरं शोककर्शताः
sarvabhogaiḥ parityaktaṃ rāmaṃ samprekṣya mātaraḥ
ārta mumucuraśruṇi sasvaraṃ śokakarśatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Beholding Rama bereft of all enjoyments, his mothers agonized as they were with grief, emitted cries and allowed tears to flow.
तासां रामः समुत्थाय जग्रह चरणान् शुभान्
मातृइणां मनुजव्याघ्रः सर्वासां सत्यसंगरः
tāsāṃ rāmaḥ samutthāya jagraha caraṇān śubhān
mātṛiṇāṃ manujavyāghraḥ sarvāsāṃ satyasaṃgaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama, the tiger among men, true to his promise raised up and took hold of the auspicious feet of all his mothers.
ताह् पाणिभिः सुखस्सर्शैद्वङ्गुलितलैश्शुभैः
प्रममार्जू रजः पृष्ठाद्रामस्यायतलोचनाः
tāh pāṇibhiḥ sukhassarśaidvaṅgulitalaiśśubhaiḥ
pramamārjū rajaḥ pṛṣṭhādrāmasyāyatalocanāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those large-eyed Queens, by means of their pleasantly touching soft fingers and palms as well as charming hands, wiped the dust from Rama's back.
सौमित्रिरपि ताः सर्वा मातृईः सम्प्रेक्ष्य दुःखितः
आभ्यावादयदासक्तं शनैरामादनन्तरम्
saumitrirapi tāḥ sarvā mātṛīḥ samprekṣya duḥkhitaḥ
ābhyāvādayadāsaktaṃ śanairāmādanantaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing all those mothers, the wailing Lakshmana too slowly paid obeisance devotedly to them all by bowing to each in turn, immediately after Rama.
यथा रामे तथा तस्मिन् सर्वा ववृतिरे स्त्रियः
वृत्तिम् दशरथाज्जाते लक्ष्मणे शुभलक्षणे
yathā rāme tathā tasmin sarvā vavṛtire striyaḥ
vṛttim daśarathājjāte lakṣmaṇe śubhalakṣaṇe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All Dasaratha's wives manifested the same affection towards Lakshmana, who was born of Dasaratha and exceedingly handsome, as they did to Rama.
सीतापि चरणांस्तसामुपसम्गृह्य दुः खिता
श्वश्रूणामश्रुपूर्णाक्षि सा बभूवाग्रतः स्थिता
sītāpi caraṇāṃstasāmupasamgṛhya duḥ khitā
śvaśrūṇāmaśrupūrṇākṣi sā babhūvāgrataḥ sthitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the grief-stricken Seetha, her eyes filed with tears, also touched the feet of her mothers-in-laws and stood before them.
तां परिष्वज्य दुःखार्तां माता दुहितरम् यथा
वनवासकृशां दीनां कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत्
tāṃ pariṣvajya duḥkhārtāṃ mātā duhitaram yathā
vanavāsakṛśāṃ dīnāṃ kausalyā vākyamabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Kausalya embraced the miserable Seetha as a mother her daughter, she who was emaciated because of her stay in the forest and afflicted with grief, and spoke the following words:
विदेहराजस्य सुता स्नुषा दशरथस्य च
रामपत्नी कथं दुःखं सम्प्राप्ता निर्जने वने
videharājasya sutā snuṣā daśarathasya ca
rāmapatnī kathaṃ duḥkhaṃ samprāptā nirjane vane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"How has the daughter of King Janaka, the daughter-in-law of King Dasaratha and Rama's wife, fallen into such a wretched plight that she is living in a desolate forest?"
पद्ममातपसन्तप्तं परिक्लिष्टमिवोत्पलम्
काञ्चनं रजसा ध्वस्तम् क्स्लिष्टं चन्द्रमिवाम्बुदैः
padmamātapasantaptaṃ parikliṣṭamivotpalam
kāñcanaṃ rajasā dhvastam ksliṣṭaṃ candramivāmbudaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Seetha! Seeing your face, like a lotus withered with heart or a faded lily or gold defiled with dust or a moon hidden by the clouds, the fire of grief produced by the firewood of adversity and existing in my mind burns me severely."
ब्रुवन्त्यमेवमार्तायां जनन्यां भरताग्रजः
पादावासाद्य जग्राह वसिष्टस्य च राघवः
bruvantyamevamārtāyāṃ jananyāṃ bharatāgrajaḥ
pādāvāsādya jagrāha vasiṣṭasya ca rāghavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While the sorrowful mother was speaking thus, Rama the elder brother of Bharata approached Vasishta and took hold of his feet in salutation.
पुरोहितस्यग्नि समस्य वै तदा
बृहस्पतेरिन्द्रमिवामराधिपः
प्रगृह्य पादौ सुसमृद्धतेजसः
सहैव तेनोपनिवेश राघवः
purohitasyagni samasya vai tadā
bṛhaspaterindramivāmarādhipaḥ
pragṛhya pādau susamṛddhatejasaḥ
sahaiva tenopaniveśa rāghavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Rama holding the feet of that priest, who was equal of Agni the fire and endowed with very great splendour, even as Indra the Lord of celestials would clasp the feet of Brihaspati, sat down by his side.
ततो जघन्यं सहितैः समन्त्रिभिः
पुरप्रधानैश्च सहैव सैनिकैः
जनेन धर्मज्ञतमेन धर्मवा
नुपोपविष्टो भरतस्तदाग्रजम्
tato jaghanyaṃ sahitaiḥ samantribhiḥ
purapradhānaiśca sahaiva sainikaiḥ
janena dharmajñatamena dharmavā
nupopaviṣṭo bharatastadāgrajam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, after Rama and Vasishta sat, Bharata the pious man along with his counsellors, the leading citizens, warriors and virtuous people seated himself at a lowel level at a proximity to Rama.
उपोपविष्टस्तु तदा स वीर्यवां
स्तपस्विवेषेण समीक्ष्य राघवम्
श्रिया ज्वलन्तं भरतः कृताञ्जलि
र्यथा महेन्द्रः प्रयतः प्रजापतिम्
upopaviṣṭastu tadā sa vīryavāṃ
stapasviveṣeṇa samīkṣya rāghavam
śriyā jvalantaṃ bharataḥ kṛtāñjali
ryathā mahendraḥ prayataḥ prajāpatim
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Rama in the garb of an ascetic, radiant in majesty, the extremely powerful Bharata, paying obeisance to him with joined palms, then took his place in his presence, as the devoted Indra the Lord of celestials sits before Brahma the Lord of creation.
किमेष वाक्यम् भरतो।द्य राघवं
प्रणम्य स्त्कृत्य च साधु वक्ष्यति
इतीव तस्यार्यजनस्य तत्त्वतो
बभूव कौतूहलमुत्तमम् तदा
kimeṣa vākyam bharato|dya rāghavaṃ
praṇamya stkṛtya ca sādhu vakṣyati
itīva tasyāryajanasya tattvato
babhūva kautūhalamuttamam tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A highest curiosity arose in the minds of those worthy men (assembled there) as to what persuasive words Bharata at that moment would utter, while addressing Rama, having offered salutation and homage to him.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुरुत्तरशततमः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe caturuttaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Rama endowed with truth and forbearance with Lakshmana who was bestowed with magnanimity and the pious Bharata, surrounded by his companions, were as resplendent as the three sacrificial Fires (known by the names of Garhapatya, Ahavamiya and Dakshina), accompanied by the superintending priests.