Chapter 111

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

वसिष्ठः तु तदा रामम् उक्त्वा राज पुरोहितः
अब्रवीद् धर्म सम्युक्तम् पुनर् एव अपरम् वचः

vasiṣṭhaḥ tu tadā rāmam uktvā rāja purohitaḥ
abravīd dharma samyuktam punar eva aparam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

uktvā: having spoken (thus) | rāmam: to Rama | vasiṣṭhastu: Vasistha | rāja purohitaḥ: the royal priest | tadā: then | punareva: again | abravīt: spoke | aparam vacaḥ: (the following) further words | dharmasamyuktam: which were righteous. |

TRANSLATION

Having spoken thus to Rama, Vasishta the royal priest added the following righteous words:

VERSE 2

पुरुषस्य इह जातस्य भवन्ति गुरवः त्रयः
आचार्यः चैव काकुत्स्थ पिता माता च राघव

puruṣasya iha jātasya bhavanti guravaḥ trayaḥ
ācāryaḥ caiva kākutstha pitā mātā ca rāghava

SYNONYMS

kākutthsa: O | rāghava: O | jātasya: from birth | trayaḥ: three | guravaḥ: spiritual instructors | puruṣasya: of a man | bhavanti: are | acāryaścaiva: his teacher | pitā: his father | mātāca: and his mother. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Kakutstha, O offspring the Raghu dynasty! From birth, the three spiritual instructors of a man are his teacher, his father and his mother."

VERSE 3

पिता ह्य् एनम् जनयति पुरुषम् पुरुष ऋषभ
प्रज्नाम् ददाति च आचार्यः तस्मात् स गुरुर् उच्यते

pitā hy enam janayati puruṣam puruṣa ṛṣabha
prajnām dadāti ca ācāryaḥ tasmāt sa gurur ucyate

SYNONYMS

puruṣarṣabha: O | pitā: the father | janayatihi enam puruṣam: gives man his life | ācāryaḥ: the teacher | dadāti: instructs (him) | prajñām: in wisdom | tasmāt: and therefore | saḥ: the teacher | ucyate: is said to be | guruḥ: the superior. |

TRANSLATION

"O, excellent among men! The father of man his life. The teacher instructs him in wisdom and therefore instructs the teacher is said to be the superior!"

VERSE 4

से ते अहम् पितुर् आचार्यः तव चैव परम् तप
मम त्वम् वचनम् कुर्वन् न अतिवर्तेः सताम् गतिम्

se te aham pitur ācāryaḥ tava caiva param tapa
mama tvam vacanam kurvan na ativarteḥ satām gatim

SYNONYMS

paramtapa: O | saḥ aham: that I | ācāryaḥ: am the spiritual preceptor | te pituḥ: to your father | tavacaiva: and to you too | kurvam: In obeying | mama: my vachanam = words | tvam: you | nātivartate: will not transgress | nītim: the path | satām: of the virtuous. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama the tormentator of the enemies! I am the spiritual Preceptor to your father and to you too. In obeying my words, you will not transgress the path of the virtuous."

VERSE 5

इमा हि ते परिषदः श्रेणयः च समागताः
एषु तात चरन् धर्मम् न अतिवर्तेः सताम् गतिम्

imā hi te pariṣadaḥ śreṇayaḥ ca samāgatāḥ
eṣu tāta caran dharmam na ativarteḥ satām gatim

SYNONYMS

tāta: O | imāḥ: these | pariṣadaḥ: subjects | śreṇayaśca: the traders and other categories of people | tathā: and | dvijāḥ: Brahmanas | te hi: are your people only | eṣu: in their case | caran: while practising | dharmam: righteousness | nātivartate: you will not transgress | gatim: the path | satām: of the righteous. |

TRANSLATION

"O, dear prince! These subjects, the traders, the other categories of people and Brahmana are your people only. In fulfilling your duty to them, you will not be transgressing your righteous path."

VERSE 6

वृद्धाया धर्म शीलाया मातुर् न अर्हस्य् अवर्तितुम्
अस्याः तु वचनम् कुर्वन् न अतिवर्तेः सताम् गतिम्

vṛddhāyā dharma śīlāyā mātur na arhasy avartitum
asyāḥ tu vacanam kurvan na ativarteḥ satām gatim

SYNONYMS

nārhasi: you ought not | avartitum: to be lacking in reverence | mātuḥ: to your mother | vṛddhayā: who is aged | dharma śīlayāḥ: and of noble conduct | kurvan: by carrying out | asyāḥ: her | vacanam: words | nāti vartate: you will not deviate | gatim: from the path | satām: of the virtuous. |

TRANSLATION

"You ought not to be lacking in reverence to your mother who is aged and possessing a noble conduct. By carrying out her words, you will not deviate from the path of the virtuous."

VERSE 7

भरतस्य वचः कुर्वन् याचमानस्य राघव
आत्मानम् न अतिवर्तेः त्वम् सत्य धर्म पराक्रम

bharatasya vacaḥ kurvan yācamānasya rāghava
ātmānam na ativarteḥ tvam satya dharma parākrama

SYNONYMS

rāghava: O | satyadharmaparākramaḥ: excelling in truth and virtue! | kurvan: by fulfilling | vacaḥ: the words | bharatasya: of Bharata | yācamānasya: who is beseeching (you) | tvam: you | nātivartate: will not be false | ātmānam: to yourself. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama excelling in truth and virtue. By fulfilling the words of the beseeching Bharata, you will not be false to yourself."

VERSE 8

एवम् मधुरम् उक्तः तु गुरुणा राघवः स्वयम्
प्रत्युवाच समासीनम् वसिष्ठम् पुरुष ऋषभः

evam madhuram uktaḥ tu guruṇā rāghavaḥ svayam
pratyuvāca samāsīnam vasiṣṭham puruṣa ṛṣabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

uktassam: having been spoken | madhuram: sweet words | guruṇā: by his spiritual preceptor | svayam: himself | evam: thus | rāghavaḥ: Rama | puruṣarṣabhaḥ: the excellent among men | pratyuvāca: replied | vasiṣṭham: to Vasishta | samāsīnam: who was seated there |

TRANSLATION

Having heard the sweet words spoken by his spiritual preceptro himself, Rama the excellent among men replied (as follows) to Vasishta who was seated there.

VERSE 9

यन् मातापितरौ वृत्तम् तनये कुरुतः सदा
न सुप्रतिकरम् तत् तु मात्रा पित्रा च यत् कृतम्

yan mātāpitarau vṛttam tanaye kurutaḥ sadā
na supratikaram tat tu mātrā pitrā ca yat kṛtam

SYNONYMS

10| vṛttam: the good | yat: and whatever | mātāpitrau: a father and mother | kurutaḥ: do | yathāśakti pradānena: by giving him whatever they can | sadā: forever | tanaye: to their son | svāpanocchādanena ca: by putting him to sleep | priya vāden: by speaking kindly to him | nityamca: every moment | tathā: and | samvardhanena: even by nourishing him | kṛtam: is done | mātrā: by a mother | pitrāca: and father | tat tu: that however | na suprati karam: cannot be requited. |

TRANSLATION

"The good, which a father and mother do, by giving whatever they can, to their son constantly, by putting him to sleep, rubbing his body with oil etc, nay, by speaking kindly to him every moment, and even by nourishing him, can never be wholly requited."

VERSE 11

स हि राजा जनयिता पिता दशरथो मम
आज्नातम् यन् मया तस्य न तन् मिथ्या भविष्यति

sa hi rājā janayitā pitā daśaratho mama
ājnātam yan mayā tasya na tan mithyā bhaviṣyati

SYNONYMS

mam: my | pitā: father | saḥ: that | rājā daśarathaḥ: king Dasaratha | janayitā hi: indeed begot me | yat: that whihc | ajñātam: was promised | mayā: by me | tasya: to him | tat: that | na bhaviṣyati: will not become | mithyā: false. |

TRANSLATION

"The command laid upon me by king Dasaratha, my father, who begot me, cannot therefore be disregarded."

VERSE 12

एवम् उक्तः तु रामेण भरतः प्रत्यनन्तरम्
उवाच परम उदारः सूतम् परम दुर्मनाः

evam uktaḥ tu rāmeṇa bharataḥ pratyanantaram
uvāca parama udāraḥ sūtam parama durmanāḥ

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | rāmeṇa: by Rama | bharataḥ: Bharata | paramodāraḥ: the highly generous man | parama durmanāḥ: was very much anguished | uvāca: and spoke | sūtam: to Sumantra the charioteer | pratyanantaram: who was standing nearby. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing Rama's words, the most generous Bharata felt very mcuh anguished and addressed the following words to Sumantra the charioteer who was standing nearby:

VERSE 13

इह मे स्थण्डिले शीघ्रम् कुशान् आस्तर सारथे
आर्यम् प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यामि यावन् मे न प्रसीदति

iha me sthaṇḍile śīghram kuśān āstara sārathe
āryam pratyupavekṣyāmi yāvan me na prasīdati

SYNONYMS

sārathe: O | āstara: spread | kuśān: the Kusha grass | śīgram: soon | sthaṅḍile: on the ground | iha: here | me: for me | pratyupavekṣyāmi: I shall remain facing | āryam: my illustrious brother | yāvat: till | na prasīdati me: he does not get me propitiated. |

TRANSLATION

"O, charioteer! Spread speedily the Kusha grass on the ground here for me. I shall remain facing my illustrious brother till he gets propitiated (and grant my request)."

VERSE 14

अनाहारो निरालोको धन हीनो यथा द्विजः
शेष्ये पुरस्तात् शालाया यावन् न प्रतियास्यति

anāhāro nirāloko dhana hīno yathā dvijaḥ
śeṣye purastāt śālāyā yāvan na pratiyāsyati

SYNONYMS

śeṣye: I shall remain lying down | purastāt: in front | śālāyāḥ: of Rama's hut | anāhāraḥ: withou food or drink | nirālokaḥ: and depriving myself of light | yāvat: until | na pratiyāsyati: he does not return to Ayodhya | dvijaḥ yathā: like a brahmana | dhana hīnaḥ: who is destitute (likes down at the door of his creditor). |

TRANSLATION

"I shall remain lying down in front of Rama's hut without food or drink and depriving myself of light until he returns to Ayodhya, like a brahman who is a destitute (lies down at the door of his crditor)."

VERSE 15

स तु रामम् अवेक्षन्तम् सुमन्त्रम् प्रेक्ष्य दुर्मनाः
कुश उत्तरम् उपस्थाप्य भूमाउ एव आस्तरत् स्वयम्

sa tu rāmam avekṣantam sumantram prekṣya durmanāḥ
kuśa uttaram upasthāpya bhūmāu eva āstarat svayam

SYNONYMS

prekṣya: seeing | sumantram: Sumantra | avekṣantam: who was gazing at | rāmam: RAma | sa tu: that Bharata | durmanāḥ: with low spirits | svayameva: on his own | upasthāpya: brought | kuśottaram: a heap of Kusha grass | āstarat: and spread it | bhūmau: on the floor. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing Sumantra who was gazing at Rama waiting for his command, the low-spirited Bharata, on his own, brought a heap of Kusha grass and spread it on the floor.

VERSE 16

तम् उवाच महा तेजा रामो राज ऋषि सत्तमाः
किम् माम् भरत कुर्वाणम् तात प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यसि

tam uvāca mahā tejā rāmo rāja ṛṣi sattamāḥ
kim mām bharata kurvāṇam tāta pratyupavekṣyasi

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | mahātejāḥ: of great splendour | rājarṣi sattamaḥ: and the excellent among royal sages | uvāca: spoke | tam: to him (as follows) | bharata: O | tātaḥ: my dear brother! | kim kurvāṇam tātaḥ: what wrong have I done | pratyupavakṣyasi: that you lie = down | mām: before me? |

TRANSLATION

Rama of great splendour and the best among royal sages spoke to Bharata as follows: "O Bharata my dear brother! What wrong have I done that you lie down before me?"

VERSE 17

ब्राह्मणो ह्य् एक पार्श्वेन नरान् रोद्धुम् इह अर्हति
न तु मूर्धा अवसिक्तानाम् विधिः प्रत्युपवेशने

brāhmaṇo hy eka pārśvena narān roddhum iha arhati
na tu mūrdhā avasiktānām vidhiḥ pratyupaveśane

SYNONYMS

brāhmaṇaḥ: A brahman | arhati hi: can indeed | ekapārśvena: lie down on one | roddhum: in order to obstruct | narān: men | iha: in this world | na: there is no | vidhiḥ: rule | mūrdhābhiṣiktānām tu: for a warrior-class | pratyupaveśane: to lie down |

TRANSLATION

"A brahmana may lie down on one side in order to obstruct a willful debtor in this world. But, it is not befitting for a warrior-class.

VERSE 18

उत्तिष्ठ नर शार्दूल हित्वा एतद् दारुणम् व्रतम्
पुर वर्याम् इतः क्षिप्रम् अयोध्याम् याहि राघव

uttiṣṭha nara śārdūla hitvā etad dāruṇam vratam
pura varyām itaḥ kṣipram ayodhyām yāhi rāghava

SYNONYMS

rāghava: O | naraśārdūlaḥ: Tiger among men! | hitvā: giving up | etat: this | dāruṇam: formidable | vratam: resolve | uttiṣṭha: rise up | yāhi: proceed | kṣipram: speedily | ayodhyām: to Ayodhya | puravaryām: the excellent of cities | itaḥ: from here. |

TRANSLATION

"O Bharata, Tiger among men! Giving up this formidable resolve, rise up proceed speedily to Ayodhya the best of cities, from here."

VERSE 19

आसीनः तु एव भरतः पौर जानपदम् जनम्
उवाच सर्वतः प्रेक्ष्य किम् आर्यम् न अनुशासथ

āsīnaḥ tu eva bharataḥ paura jānapadam janam
uvāca sarvataḥ prekṣya kim āryam na anuśāsatha

SYNONYMS

āsīnastveva: still sitting like that | bharataḥ: Bharata | prekṣya: looking at | janam: the people | paura jānapadam: the citizens and the rural folk | sarvataḥ: on all sides | uvāca: and asked | kim: why | nānuśāsatha: they are not entreating | āryam: his venerable brother (to return) |

TRANSLATION

Still sitting in the same posture, Bharata looked at the citizens and rural folk around on all sides and asked them why they were not entreating his venerable brother to return.

VERSE 20

ते तम् ऊचुर् महात्मानम् पौर जानपदा जनाः
काकुत्स्थम् अभिजानीमः सम्यग् वदति राघवः

te tam ūcur mahātmānam paura jānapadā janāḥ
kākutstham abhijānīmaḥ samyag vadati rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

te jānāaḥ: tose people | paurajānapadāḥ: the inhabitants of town and country | ūcuḥ: replied | mahātmānam: to high souled | tam: Bharata (as follows) | abhijānīya: we know well | kākutthasam: Rama | rāghavaḥ: Rama | vadati: is speaking | samyak: rightly. |

TRANSLATION

Those people, the inhabitants of town and country replied to the magnanimous Bharata as follows: "We know Rama very well. He is speaking rightly."

VERSE 21

एषो अपि हि महा भागः पितुर् वचसि तिष्ठति
अत एव न शक्ताः स्मो व्यावर्तयितुम् अन्जसा

eṣo api hi mahā bhāgaḥ pitur vacasi tiṣṭhati
ata eva na śaktāḥ smo vyāvartayitum anjasā

SYNONYMS

eṣaḥ: this | mahābhāgaḥ: Rama of exalted merit | tiṣṭhati hi: is indeed standing | pituḥ: on his father's | vacasi: words | ata eva: for that reason | na smaḥ: we are not | śaktāḥ: able | vyāvartayitum: to make him return | añjasā: indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"This Rama of exalted merit is indeed standing on his father's words. Hence, we are not able to convince him to return to Ayodhya."

VERSE 22

तेषाम् आज्नाय वचनम् रामो वचनम् अब्रवीत्
एवम् निबोध वचनम् सुहृदाम् धर्म चक्षुषाम्

teṣām ājnāya vacanam rāmo vacanam abravīt
evam nibodha vacanam suhṛdām dharma cakṣuṣām

SYNONYMS

ājñāya: understanding | teṣām: their | vacanam: the words | rāmaḥ: Rama | abravīt: spoke | nibodha: reflect on | suhṛdām: of your friends | dharma cakṣuṣām: who see rightly | evam: thus. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing their words, Rama said to Bharata: "Reflect on the words of your companions, who see rightly."

VERSE 23

एतच् च एव उभयम् श्रुत्वा सम्यक् सम्पश्य राघव
उत्तिष्ठ त्वम् महा बाहो माम् च स्पृश तथा उदकम्

etac ca eva ubhayam śrutvā samyak sampaśya rāghava
uttiṣṭha tvam mahā bāho mām ca spṛśa tathā udakam

SYNONYMS

mahābāho: O | rāghava: Bharata! | śrutvā: hearing | etat: these | ubhayam caiva: two (my words and their words) | sampaśya: and reflecting on them | samyak: well | tvam: you | uttiṣṭha: rise up | spṛha: and touch | māmca: me | tathā: and udakam = (drink) water. |

TRANSLATION

"O the mighty armed Bharata! Having listened to their testimony and mine, reflect on the matter carefull. Rise and touch me and drink water."

VERSE 24

अथ उत्थाय जलम् स्पृष्ट्वा भरतो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
शृण्वन्तु मे परिषदो मन्त्रिणः श्रेणयः तथा

atha utthāya jalam spṛṣṭvā bharato vākyam abravīt
śṛṇvantu me pariṣado mantriṇaḥ śreṇayaḥ tathā

SYNONYMS

atha: thereafter | bharataḥ: Bharata | utthāya: rose | spṛṣṭvā: touched | jalam: water | abravīt: and spoke | vākyam: (the following) words | pariṣadaḥ: (Let) the audience | mantriṇaḥ: ministers | tathā: and | śrṇayaḥ: the guild of traders | śruṇvantu: hear | me: me. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Bharata rose, touched water and spoke as follows: "Let the audience, including ministers and the guild of traders hear me also."

VERSE 25

न याचे पितरम् राज्यम् न अनुशासामि मातरम्
आर्यम् परम धर्मज्नम् अभिजानामि राघवम्

na yāce pitaram rājyam na anuśāsāmi mātaram
āryam parama dharmajnam abhijānāmi rāghavam

SYNONYMS

na yāce: I never asked | pitaram: my father | rājyam: for the kingdom | nānuśāsāmi: nor did I counsel | mātaram: my mother (to enthrone me) | nānujānāmi: I never gave my approval | āryam: the venerable man | paramadharmajñam: who knows his duty very well. |

TRANSLATION

"I never asked my father for the kingdom, nor did I counsel my mother to enthrone me. I never gave my approval for the exile of Rama, the venerable hero, who knows his duty very well."

VERSE 26

यदि तु अवश्यम् वस्तव्यम् कर्तव्यम् च पितुर् वचः
अहम् एव निवत्स्यामि चतुर्दश वने समाः

yadi tu avaśyam vastavyam kartavyam ca pitur vacaḥ
aham eva nivatsyāmi caturdaśa vane samāḥ

SYNONYMS

avaśyam yadi: If it is absolutely essential | vastavyam: (that one of us_ should remain here | vacaḥ: and the command (of our father) | kartavyamca: be executed | ahameva: (then) it is I | nivatsyāmi: who will live | vane: in the forest | caturdaśa samāḥ: for fourteen years. |

TRANSLATION

"If it is absolutely essential that one of us should remain here and the command of our father be executed, then it is I who will reside in the forest for fourteen years."

VERSE 27

धर्म आत्मा तस्य तथ्येन भ्रातुर् वाक्येन विस्मितः
उवाच रामः सम्प्रेक्ष्य पौर जानपदम् जनम्

dharma ātmā tasya tathyena bhrātur vākyena vismitaḥ
uvāca rāmaḥ samprekṣya paura jānapadam janam

SYNONYMS

dharmātmā: The high souled | rāmaḥ: Rama | vismitaḥ: was surprised | tathyena vākyena: by sincere words | tasya: of that | bhrātuḥ: brother | samprekṣya: and by looking at | paurajānapadam: the inhabitants of town and country | vuāca: spoke (as follows) |

TRANSLATION

The high-souled Rama was surprised by the sincere words of his brother and by looking at the inhabitants of town and country, spoke (as follows):

VERSE 28

विक्रीतम् आहितम् क्रीतम् यत् पित्रा जीवता मम
न तल् लोपयितुम् शक्यम् मया वा भरतेन वा

vikrītam āhitam krītam yat pitrā jīvatā mama
na tal lopayitum śakyam mayā vā bharatena vā

SYNONYMS

vikrītam: the disposal | āhitam: the pledge | krītam: and the come by | yat: which | pitrā: by my father | jīvatā: while he was alive | tat: that | na śakyam: cannot be | lopayitum: broken | mayā vā: either by me | bharatena vā: or by Bharata. |

TRANSLATION

"The disposal, the pledge and the come-by which he was alive, cannot be broken either by me or by Bharata."

VERSE 29

उपधिर् न मया कार्यो वन वासे जुगुप्सितः
युक्तम् उक्तम् च कैकेय्या पित्रा मे सुकृतम् कृतम्

upadhir na mayā kāryo vana vāse jugupsitaḥ
yuktam uktam ca kaikeyyā pitrā me sukṛtam kṛtam

SYNONYMS

upadhiḥ: my consent to the substitute | vanavase: in respect of the sojourn in the forest | na kāryaḥ: cannot be done | mayā: by me | jugupsitaḥ: which is a distasteful thing | uktam: what was advised | kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi | yuktam: was property | kṛtam: and what was done | me pitrā: by me father | sukrutam: was a righteous deed. |

TRANSLATION

"I cannot accede to the substitute in respect of the sojourn in the forest and it is distasteful thing. What was advised by Kaikeyi was proper and what was done by my father was a righteous deed."

VERSE 30

जानामि भरतम् क्षान्तम् गुरु सत्कार कारिणम्
सर्वम् एव अत्र कल्याणम् सत्य संधे महात्मनि

jānāmi bharatam kṣāntam guru satkāra kāriṇam
sarvam eva atra kalyāṇam satya saṃdhe mahātmani

SYNONYMS

jānāmi: I am aware | (that) bharatam: Bharata | kṣāntam: has patience | gurusatkāra kāraṇam: and devotion for the elders | sarvameva: all will be kalyaaNam = propitious | atra: in the case of this Bharata | satya sandhe: who is true to his promise | mahātmani: and magnanimous. |

TRANSLATION

"I am aware that Bharata has necessary patience and due devotion for the elders. All will be propitious in the case of this magnanimous Bharata, who is true to his promise."

VERSE 31

अनेन धर्म शीलेन वनात् प्रत्यागतः पुनः
भ्रात्रा सह भविष्यामि पृथिव्याः पतिर् उत्तमः

anena dharma śīlena vanāt pratyāgataḥ punaḥ
bhrātrā saha bhaviṣyāmi pṛthivyāḥ patir uttamaḥ

SYNONYMS

pratyāgataḥ: after returning | punaḥ: again | vānāt: from the forest | bhaviṣyāmi: I shall become | uttamaḥ: an excellent | patiḥ: king | pṛthivyāh: of the earth | anena bhrātrena saha: along with my brother | dharmaśīlena: who is of virtuous nature. |

TRANSLATION

"After returning from the forest, I shall rule the earth, assisted by my virtuous brother."

VERSE 32

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe ekādaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

rājā: the king Dasaratha | vṛto hi: was indeed prevailed upon | kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi | tadvacanam: that promise | kṛtam: was fulfilled | mayā: by me | anena: for this reason | mocaya: relieve | mahīpatim: the emperor | tam pitaram: and that father | anṛtāt: from blame. |

TRANSLATION

"The king Dasaratha was indeed solicited for a boon by Kaikeyi. That word of the king has been fulfilled by me. Hence, relieve our father, the emperor from the blame."