Chapter 28

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

सएवम् ब्रुवतीम् सीताम् धर्मज्ञो धर्म वत्सलः
निवर्तन अर्थे धर्म आत्मा वाक्यम् एतत् उवाच ह

saevam bruvatīm sītām dharmajño dharma vatsalaḥ
nivartana arthe dharma ātmā vākyam etat uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

saḥ: Rama | dharmañjaḥ: the knower of righteousness | dharmavatsalaḥ: who was fond of righteousness | nakurute: did not form | buddhim: the idea | netum: of taking | sītām: Sita | bruvatīm: who was speaking | evam: thus | cintayan: thinking | duḥkhāni: of difficulties | vane: in the forest. |

TRANSLATION

Thinking of difficulties one will be called upon to bear in the forest, Rama who was fond of righteousness did not form the idea of taking Sita who was speaking as aforesaid.

VERSE 2

सान्त्वयित्वा पुनस्ताम् तु बाष्पदूषितलोचनाम्
निवर्तनार्थे धर्मात्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

sāntvayitvā punastām tu bāṣpadūṣitalocanām
nivartanārthe dharmātmā vākyametaduvāca ha

SYNONYMS

sāntayitvā: soothening with kind words | tām: to Sita | bhāṣpa dūṣita locanām: when eyes were blemished with tears | dharmātmā: Rama | uvācaha: spoke | etat: these | vākyam: words | punaḥ: again | nivartanārthe: for the purpose of making her turn back. |

TRANSLATION

Soothening with kind words to Sita, when eyes were blemished with tears, the virtuous Rama spoke again as follows, for the purpose of waking her turn back.

VERSE 3

सीते महा कुलीना असि धर्मे च निरता सदा
इह आचर स्वधर्मम् त्वम् मा यथा मनसः सुखम्

sīte mahā kulīnā asi dharme ca niratā sadā
iha ācara svadharmam tvam mā yathā manasaḥ sukham

SYNONYMS

sīte: Oh | ṣita! asi: you are | mahākulīnā: born in a high lineage | sadā: ever | niratā: devoted to | dharme: righteousness | tvam: you | ācara: perform | svadharmama: your own virtue | iha: here | yathā: how | sukham: agreeable | me manasaḥ: to my mind. |

TRANSLATION

"Sita! Your are born in a high lineage, ever devoted to righteousness. Perform your own virtue here, which is agreable to my mind."

VERSE 4

सीते यथा त्वाम् वक्ष्यामि तथा कार्यम् त्वया अबले
वने दोषा हि बहवो वदतः तान् निबोध मे

sīte yathā tvām vakṣyāmi tathā kāryam tvayā abale
vane doṣā hi bahavo vadataḥ tān nibodha me

SYNONYMS

sīte: Oh | abale: the delicate! yathaa tathaa = whatever manner | vakṣyāmi: I shall tell | tvām: you | kāryam: is to be done | tvayā: by you | bahavaḥ: many | doṣāḥ hi: inconveniences indeed | vane: in the forest | nibodha: know | tān: them | me: from me | vadataḥ: speaking. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh Sita, the delicate! Do whatever I tell you. There are many inconveniencs in the forest. Know them from me."

VERSE 5

सीते विमुच्यताम् एषा वन वास कृता मतिः
बहु दोषम् हि कान्तारम् वनम् इति अभिधीयते

sīte vimucyatām eṣā vana vāsa kṛtā matiḥ
bahu doṣam hi kāntāram vanam iti abhidhīyate

SYNONYMS

sīte: Oh | eśā: this | matiḥ: thought | vanavāsakṛtā: made about forest | vimucyatām: be given up | abhidhīyati hi: It is indeed said | vanam: forest | kāntāram: the wilderness | bahudoṣayutam: is fraught with many dangers. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sita! Let your thought made about forest be given up. It is indeed said that forest with its wilderness is fraught with many dangers."

VERSE 6

हित बुद्ध्या खलु वचो मया एतत् अभिधीयते
सदा सुखम् न जानामि दुह्खम् एव सदा वनम्

hita buddhyā khalu vaco mayā etat abhidhīyate
sadā sukham na jānāmi duhkham eva sadā vanam

SYNONYMS

etat vacaḥ: this advice | abhidhīyate hi: is expressed indeed | mayā: by me | hita buddhyā: keeping your welfare in view | sadā nagānāmi: I do not ever consider | vanam: forest | sukham: as comfortable | sadā: always | duḥkhameva: uncomfortable. |

TRANSLATION

This advice is given by me, keeping your welfare in view. I do not ever consider a forest as comfortable. It is always uncomfortable."

VERSE 7

गिरि निर्झर सम्भूता गिरि कन्दर वासिनाम्
सिम्हानाम् निनदा दुह्खाः श्रोतुम् दुह्खम् अतः वनम्

giri nirjhara sambhūtā giri kandara vāsinām
simhānām ninadā duhkhāḥ śrotum duhkham ataḥ vanam

SYNONYMS

ninadāḥ: the sounds | girinirjaharasambhūtāḥ: created from water falls in hills | simhānām: from lions | girikandharavāsinām: residing in mountain caves | duḥkḥāḥ: are unpleasant | śrotum: to hear | ataḥ: that is why | vanam: forest | duḥkham: is uncomfortable. |

TRANSLATION

"The sounds created from waterfalls in hills and from lions resding in mountain caves are unpleasant to hear. That is why living in a forest in uncomfortable."

VERSE 8

क्रीडमानाश्च विस्रब्धा मत्ताह् शून्ये महामृगाः
दृष्ट्वा समभिवर्तन्ते सीते दुःखमतो वनम्

krīḍamānāśca visrabdhā mattāh śūnye mahāmṛgāḥ
dṛṣṭvā samabhivartante sīte duḥkhamato vanam

SYNONYMS

mahā mṛgāḥ: large animals | visrabdhāḥ: which are fearless | mattāḥ: intoxicated | kṛidamānāḥ: sporting | śūnyo: in desolate forest | samabhivartane: come forward | dṛṣṭvā: after seeing | sīte: Oh | ṣita! ataḥ: that is why | vanam: forest | duḥkham: is uncomfortable. |

TRANSLATION

"Large wild animals which are fearless and intoxicated sporting in the desolate forest; come forward, after seeing. Oh, Sita! That is why living in forest is uncomfortable."

VERSE 9

सग्राहाः सरितश्चैव पङ्कवत्यश्च दुस्तराः
मत्तैरपि गजैर्नित्यमतो दुःखतरम् वनम्

sagrāhāḥ saritaścaiva paṅkavatyaśca dustarāḥ
mattairapi gajairnityamato duḥkhataram vanam

SYNONYMS

saritaścaiva: even streams | sagrāhāḥ: filled with corcodiles | paṇkavatyaḥ ca: full of mire | dustarāḥ: are difficult to be crossed | mattaiḥ gajairapi: by rut elephants also | ataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | nityam: is always | duḥkhatara: very much uncomforable. |

TRANSLATION

"Even streams filled with crocodiles full of mire are difficult to be crossed by rut elephants also. Hence dwelling in a forest is always very much uncomfortable.

VERSE 10

लताकण्टकसम्पूर्णाः कृकवाकूपनादिताः
निरपाश्च सुदुर्गाश्च मार्गा दुःखमतो वनम्

latākaṇṭakasampūrṇāḥ kṛkavākūpanāditāḥ
nirapāśca sudurgāśca mārgā duḥkhamato vanam

SYNONYMS

mārgāḥ: pathways | latākaṇtaka sampūrṇāḥ: covered with creeps and thorns | kṛkavākūpanāditāḥ: echoed with noise of wild cocks | nirapāḥ: water = less | sudurgāḥ ca: and very difficult to enter | ataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkham: is hardship. |

TRANSLATION

"Pathways covered with creepers and thorns, echoed with noise of wild cocks, are water-less and very difficult to enter. Hence dwelling in a forest is hardship."

VERSE 11

सुप्यते पर्ण शय्यासु स्वयम् भग्नासु भू तले
रात्रिषु श्रम खिन्नेन तस्मात् दुह्खतरम् वनम्

supyate parṇa śayyāsu svayam bhagnāsu bhū tale
rātriṣu śrama khinnena tasmāt duhkhataram vanam

SYNONYMS

śramakhinnena: one distressed by fatigue | supyate: has to sleep | rātriṣu: in nights | bhagnāsu parṇa śayyāsu: on a bed of fallen leaves | tasmāt: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkhataram: is very much a misery. |

TRANSLATION

"One distress by fatigue has to sleep in nights on a bed of fallen leaves. Hence, living in a forest is very much a misery."

VERSE 12

अहोरात्रम् च सन्तोषः कर्तव्यो नियतात्मना
फलैर्वृक्षावपतितैः सीते दुःखमतो वनम्

ahorātram ca santoṣaḥ kartavyo niyatātmanā
phalairvṛkṣāvapatitaiḥ sīte duḥkhamato vanam

SYNONYMS

sīte: Oh | ṣita! niyatātmanā: one with mind disciplined | ahorātram: day and night | kartavyaḥ: has to necessarily do | santoṣaḥ: contend with | phalaiḥ: fruits | vṛkṣāpatitaiḥ: fallen from trees | ataḥ: henc | vanam: forest | duḥkham: is suffering. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sita! With mind disciplined day and night, one has to necessarily satisfy ourself with fruits fallen from trees. Hence, living in a forest is a suffering."

VERSE 13

उपवासः च कर्तव्या यथा प्राणेन मैथिलि
जटा भारः च कर्तव्यो वल्कल अम्बर धारिणा

upavāsaḥ ca kartavyā yathā prāṇena maithili
jaṭā bhāraḥ ca kartavyo valkala ambara dhāriṇā

SYNONYMS

maithili: Oh | the princess of ṃithila! uparāsaśca: fasting also | kartavyaḥ: is to be done | yathā prāṇena: according to one's stamina | valkalāmbaradhāriṇā: wearing clothes of bark | jatābhāraśca: and mass of matted hair(on the head) kartavyaH = is to be done. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sita the princess of Mithila! Fasting is to be done according to one's stamina. Clothes of bark are to be worn and mass of matted hair has to be worn on the head."

VERSE 14

देवतानाम् पितृइणाम् चकर्तव्यम् विधिपूर्वकम्
प्राप्तानामतिथीनाम् च नित्यशः प्रतिपूजनम्

devatānām pitṛiṇām cakartavyam vidhipūrvakam
prāptānāmatithīnām ca nityaśaḥ pratipūjanam

SYNONYMS

devatānām: the celestials | pitṟūnām ca: the ancestors | atithīnām ca: the guests | prāptānām: who arrife | kartavyam: are to be | nityaśaḥ: always | pratipūjanam: worshipped | vidhipūrvakam: according to prescribed rites. |

TRANSLATION

"The celestials, the ancestors, the guests who arrive are to be worshipped always according to the preseribed rites."

VERSE 15

कार्यस्त्रीरभिषेकश्च काले काले च नित्यशः
चरता नियमेनैव तस्माद्दुःखतरम् वनम्

kāryastrīrabhiṣekaśca kāle kāle ca nityaśaḥ
caratā niyamenaiva tasmādduḥkhataram vanam

SYNONYMS

abhiṣekaḥ: bath | kāryaḥ: is to be performed | triḥ: three times | nityaśaḥ: every day | kāle kāle: at appropriate time | caratā: by the one moving in the forest | niyamenaiva: with restraint in the mind | tasmāt: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkhataram: is very much a misery. |

TRANSLATION

"Bath is to be performed three times a day at appropriate time by the one moving in the forest, with one's mind kept in restraint. Hence, living in a forest is very much a misery."

VERSE 16

उपहारश्च कर्तव्यः कुसुमैः स्वयमाहृतैः
आर्षेण विधिना वेद्याम् बाले दुःखमतो वनम्

upahāraśca kartavyaḥ kusumaiḥ svayamāhṛtaiḥ
ārṣeṇa vidhinā vedyām bāle duḥkhamato vanam

SYNONYMS

bāle: Oh | ṣita the innocent! upahāraśca: offering | kartavyaḥ: is to be done | dusumaiḥ: with flowers | āhṛtaiḥ: brought | svayam: by one's self | vedyām: at the altar | ārṣeṇa vidhinā: according to the rites prescribed by sages | ataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkham: is hardship. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sita the innocent! Offering is to be done with flowers brought by one's own self at the altar, according to the rites prescribed by sages. Hence, living in a forest is a hardship."

VERSE 17

यथालब्धेन कर्तव्यः सन्तोष्स्तेन मैथिलि
यताहारैर्वनचरैः सीते दुःखमतो वनम्

yathālabdhena kartavyaḥ santoṣstena maithili
yatāhārairvanacaraiḥ sīte duḥkhamato vanam

SYNONYMS

maithili: Oh | ṣita the princess of ṃithila! vanacaraiḥ: the dwellers of forest | kartavyaḥ: are to be | santoṣaḥ: satisfied | yathā labdhena: with whatever is obtained | tena: there | yatāhāraiḥ: the rstricted food | ataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkham: is misery. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sita the princess of Mithila! The dwellers of forest are to be satisfied with whatever is obtained there, the restricted food. Hence, living in forest is a misery.

VERSE 18

अतीव वातः तिमिरम् बुभुक्षा च अत्र नित्यशः
भयानि च महान्ति अत्र ततः दुह्खतरम् वनम्

atīva vātaḥ timiram bubhukṣā ca atra nityaśaḥ
bhayāni ca mahānti atra tataḥ duhkhataram vanam

SYNONYMS

atra: In the forest | vātāḥ: air | timiram: darkness | atīva: are very much | nityaśaḥ: always | bubukṣā: hunger | mahānti: great | bhayāni ca: fears also | ataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkhataram: is very much a misery. |

TRANSLATION

"In the forest, air and darkness are too much. There are always hunger and great fears too. Hence, dwelling in a forest is very much a misery."

VERSE 19

सरी सृपाः च बहवो बहु रूपाः च भामिनि
चरन्ति पृथिवीम् दर्पात् अतः दुखतरम् वनम्

sarī sṛpāḥ ca bahavo bahu rūpāḥ ca bhāmini
caranti pṛthivīm darpāt ataḥ dukhataram vanam

SYNONYMS

bhāmini: Oh | bahurūpāḥ: of different forms | caranti: room about | pṛthivīm: on earth | darpāt: with pride | tataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkhataram: is great misery. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sita! Various creeping animals of different forms roam about on earth with pride. Hence dwelling in a forst is a great misery."

VERSE 20

नदी निलयनाः सर्पा नदी कुटिल गामिनः
तिष्ठन्ति आवृत्य पन्थानम् अतः दुह्खतरम् वनम्

nadī nilayanāḥ sarpā nadī kuṭila gāminaḥ
tiṣṭhanti āvṛtya panthānam ataḥ duhkhataram vanam

SYNONYMS

sarpāḥ: snakes | nadīnilayanāḥ: dwelling in rivers | nadīkutilagāminaḥ: moving crookedly like rivers | tiṣṭhanti: stay | āvṛtya: obstructing | panthānam: the way | tataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkhataram: is great misery. |

TRANSLATION

"Snakes dwelling in rivers, moving crookedly like rivers, stay obstucting the pathways. Hence, living in forest is a great misery."

VERSE 21

पतम्गा वृश्चिकाः कीटा दंशाः च मशकैः सह
बाधन्ते नित्यम् अबले सर्वम् दुह्खम् अतः वनम्

patamgā vṛścikāḥ kīṭā daṃśāḥ ca maśakaiḥ saha
bādhante nityam abale sarvam duhkham ataḥ vanam

SYNONYMS

abale: Oh | frail princess! pataṇgāḥ: flying insects | vṛścikāḥ: scorpious | kītāḥ: insects | maśakaiḥ saha: including mosquiteos | damśāśca: and flies | nityam: always | bādhante: annoy | sarvam: every one | ataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkham: is hardship. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, frail princess! Flying insects, scropious, insects including mosquitoes and files always annoy every one. Hence, forest is full of hardship."

VERSE 22

द्रुमाः कण्टकिनः चैव कुश काशाः च भामिनि
वने व्याकुल शाखा अग्राः तेन दुह्खतरम् वनम्

drumāḥ kaṇṭakinaḥ caiva kuśa kāśāḥ ca bhāmini
vane vyākula śākhā agrāḥ tena duhkhataram vanam

SYNONYMS

bhāmini: Oh | ṣita! drumāḥ: trees | kuśakāśaḥ ca: 'Kusa' grass(poa cynosuroides | kaṇṭakinaścaiva: bambooes | vyākula śākhāgrāḥ: with ends of branches spread on all sides | vane: are in the forest | tena: henc | vanam: forest | duḥkhataram: is very much a misery. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Sita! Forest is full of trees, kusa grass and bambooes with ends of their branches spread on all sides. Hence, living in a forest is a great misery."

VERSE 23

कायक्लेशाश्च बहवो भयानि विविधानि च
अरण्यवासे वसतो क्धुःखमेव ततो वनम्

kāyakleśāśca bahavo bhayāni vividhāni ca
araṇyavāse vasato kdhuḥkhameva tato vanam

SYNONYMS

vasataḥ: inhabitant | araṇya vāse: living in a forest | bahuvaḥ: (has) many | kāya kleśāḥ: bodily troubles | vividhāni: (has) various | bhayāni ca: panies | tataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | duḥkhameva: really a misery. |

TRANSLATION

"An inhabitant living in a forest has to face various bodily troubles and panics. Hence, forest- life is readly a misery."

VERSE 24

क्रोधलोभे विमोक्तव्यौ कर्तव्या तपसे मतिः
न भेतव्यम् च भेतव्ये नित्यम् दुःखमतो वनम्

krodhalobhe vimoktavyau kartavyā tapase matiḥ
na bhetavyam ca bhetavye nityam duḥkhamato vanam

SYNONYMS

krodha lobhau: anger | vimoktavyau: are to be abandoned | matiḥ: devotion | kartavyā: is to be done | tapase: on asceticism | bhetavye: what needs to be feared | bhetavyam: should not be feared | ataḥ: hence | vanam: forest | nityam: is always | duḥkham: suffering. |

TRANSLATION

"Anger and greed are to be abandoned by the dwellers of forest. Devotion is to be bestowed on asceticism. What needs to be feared, should not be feared. Hence, living in a forest is a suffereing."

VERSE 25

तत् अलम् ते वनम् गत्वा क्षमम् न हि वनम् तव
विमृशन्न् इह पश्यामि बहु दोषतरम् वनम्

tat alam te vanam gatvā kṣamam na hi vanam tava
vimṛśann iha paśyāmi bahu doṣataram vanam

SYNONYMS

ta: therefore | te: to you | alam: enough | gatvā: went | vanam: forest | tava: to you | na hi: is not indeed | kṣamam: bearble | vimṛśan: reflecting | iha: now | paśyāmi: I perceive | bahudoṣataram: as having too many disadvantages. |

TRANSLATION

"Therefore, do away with the idea of your coming to the forest. Forest is not indeed bearable for you. Reflecting now, I perceive forest as having too many disadvantages."