Chapter 39

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा मुनि वेष धरम् च तम्
समीक्ष्य सह भार्याभी राजा विगत चेतनः

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā muni veṣa dharam ca tam
samīkṣya saha bhāryābhī rājā vigata cetanaḥ

SYNONYMS

2| śrutvā: hearing | rāmasya: Rama's | vacaḥ: word | samīkṣyaca: and seeing | tam: him | muniveṣadharam: disguised as hermit | rājā: the king | bhāryābhiḥ saha: with his wives | vigatacetanaḥ: lost their consciousness | samtaptaḥ: consumed | duhkhena: by grief | na pratyavekṣata: he could not behold | evam: thus | rāghavam: Rama | durmanāh: being troubled in mind | na pratyabhāṣata ca: he could not reply | abhisamprekṣya: seeing in the direction of enam = him(Rama). |

TRANSLATION

Hearing Rama's words and seeing him clad in a garb of hermit, king Dasaratha with his wives fell unconscious. Consumed by grief, he could not look towards Rama. Troubled in mind as he was, the king could not speak to Rama by seeing into his face.

VERSE 3

स मुहूर्तम् इव असम्ज्ञो दुह्खितः च मही पतिः
विललाप महा बाहू रामम् एव अनुचिन्तयन्

sa muhūrtam iva asamjño duhkhitaḥ ca mahī patiḥ
vilalāpa mahā bāhū rāmam eva anucintayan

SYNONYMS

saḥ: mahiipatiH = that king | mahābāhuḥ: the mighty armed | asamña iva: was unconscious | muhūrtam: for a moment | duḥkhitascca: felt distressed and | vilalāpa: repented(in various ways) anuchintayan = thinking of raaman eva = Rama alone. |

TRANSLATION

The mighty armed Dasaratha was unconscious for some time, distressed and repented in various ways thinking of Rama alone.

VERSE 4

मन्ये खलु मया पूर्वम् विवत्सा बहवः कृताः
प्राणिनो हिंसिता वा अपि तस्मात् इदम् उपस्थितम्

manye khalu mayā pūrvam vivatsā bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ
prāṇino hiṃsitā vā api tasmāt idam upasthitam

SYNONYMS

pūrvam: "previously | bahavaḥ: many people | kṛtāh: were made | vivatsāḥ: separated from their children | mayā: by me | vāpi: or | prāṇinaḥ: living beings | himsitāḥ: were killed | manye khalu: I think | idam: this | upasthitam: has come." |

TRANSLATION

"I think that previously many people were separated from their children by me or in any case many living beings were killed. Hence, this (calamity) has befallen me."

VERSE 5

न तु एव अनागते काले देहाच् च्यवति जीवितम्
कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानस्य मृत्युर् मम न विद्यते

na tu eva anāgate kāle dehāc cyavati jīvitam
kaikeyyā kliśyamānasya mṛtyur mama na vidyate

SYNONYMS

6| jīvitam: life | nacyavati: does not decamp | dehāt: from the body | tveva: surely | anāgate: without arrival | kāle: of time | nṛtyuḥ: death | na vidyate: does not claim | mama: me | kliśyamānasya: who am being tormented | kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyi | paśyāmi: seeing | ātmajam: my son | pāvakasamkāśam: efflugent as fire | purataḥ sthitam: standing before me | tāpasācchādanam: clad in the robes of an ascetic | vihāya: having cast off | sūkṣme: fine | vasane: garments. |

TRANSLATION

"life does not decamp from the body surely without the arrival of time. Death does not claim me, even being tormented by Kaikeyi and eventhough I behold my son, efflugent as fire, standing before me clad in the robes of an ascetic having cast off his fine garments."

VERSE 7

एकस्याः खलु कैकेय्याः कृते अयम् क्लिश्यते जनः
स्व अर्थे प्रयतमानायाः संश्रित्य निकृतिम् त्विमाम्

ekasyāḥ khalu kaikeyyāḥ kṛte ayam kliśyate janaḥ
sva arthe prayatamānāyāḥ saṃśritya nikṛtim tvimām

SYNONYMS

ayam: janaH = all these people | kliśyate: are suffering | kṛte: on account | ekasyāḥ: of only | kaikeyyāḥ: Kaikeyi | samśritya: who sought refuge | nikṛtim: in chicanery | prayatamānāyāḥ: with an implicit intent | svārthe: of selfishness. |

TRANSLATION

"All these people are suffering on account of only Kaikeyi, who sought refuge in chincanery, with an implicit intent of selfishness"

VERSE 8

एवम् उक्त्वा तु वचनम् बाष्पेण पिहित ईक्ष्णह
राम इति सकृद् एव उक्त्वा व्याहर्तुम् न शशाक ह

evam uktvā tu vacanam bāṣpeṇa pihita īkṣṇaha
rāma iti sakṛd eva uktvā vyāhartum na śaśāka ha

SYNONYMS

uktvā: and saying | evam: these | vacanam: words | rāmeti: "Oh Rama!" | sakṛdeva: only once | na śaśāka ha: he was not able | vyāhārtum: to speak | pihitendriyaḥ: his organs of voice being choked | bhāṣpena: by tears. |

TRANSLATION

Having uttered these words and saying "Oh, Rama!" only once, he was not able to speak any more, his organs of voice being choked by tears.

VERSE 9

सम्ज्ञाम् तु प्रतिलभ्य एव मुहूर्तात् स मही पतिः
नेत्राभ्याम् अश्रु पूर्णाभ्याम् सुमन्त्रम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

samjñām tu pratilabhya eva muhūrtāt sa mahī patiḥ
netrābhyām aśru pūrṇābhyām sumantram idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

pratilabhyevor: regaining | samñām: consciousness | muhūrtāt: after a moment | mahīpatiḥ: the king | netrābhyām: with his eyes | aśrupūrṇābhyām: filled with tears | abravīt: spoke | idam: these words | sumantram: to Sumantra. |

TRANSLATION

Regaining consciousness after a moment, the king, with his eyes filled with tears, spoke these words to Sumantra:

VERSE 10

औपवाह्यम् रथम् युक्त्वा त्वम् आयाहि हय उत्तमैः
प्रापय एनम् महा भागम् इतः जन पदात् परम्

aupavāhyam ratham yuktvā tvam āyāhi haya uttamaiḥ
prāpaya enam mahā bhāgam itaḥ jana padāt param

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | āyāhi: come | ratham: (with a) chariot | oupavāhyam: fit for driving | yuktvā: yoked | hayottamaiḥ: with excellent horses | prāpaya: and take | evam: this | mahābhāgam: highly distinguished prince | param: beyond | itaḥ: this | janapadāt: territory. |

TRANSLATION

"You come with a chariot, fit for driving, yoked with excellent horses and take this highly distinguished prince beyond this territory."

VERSE 11

एवम् मन्ये गुणवताम् गुणानाम् फलम् उच्यते
पित्रा मात्रा च यत् साधुर् वीरः निर्वास्यते वनम्

evam manye guṇavatām guṇānām phalam ucyate
pitrā mātrā ca yat sādhur vīraḥ nirvāsyate vanam

SYNONYMS

yat: since | sādhuḥ: a pious | vīraḥ: and a valiant (son) | nirvāsyate: is being sent to exile | pitrā: by father | mātrāca: and mother | manye: I think | evam: such | ucate: is said (to be) | phalam: the reward | guṇānām: of virtues | guṇavatām: of the virtuous. |

TRANSLATION

"Since a pious and a valiant son is being sent to exile by father and mother, I think such is said to be the reward of virtues of the virtueous."

VERSE 12

राज्ञो वचनम् आज्ञाय सुमन्त्रः शीघ्र विक्रमः
योजयित्वा आययौ तत्र रथम् अश्वैः अलम्कृतम्

rājño vacanam ājñāya sumantraḥ śīghra vikramaḥ
yojayitvā āyayau tatra ratham aśvaiḥ alamkṛtam

SYNONYMS

sumantraḥ: Sumantra | āñāya: obeying | vacanam: the words | rāña: of the king | śīghra vikramaḥ: walked away quickly | āyayau: and arrived | tatra: there | yojayitvā: fitted | aśvaiḥ: with horses | ratham: a chariot | alakṛtam: duly decorated. |

TRANSLATION

Sumantra obeying the words of the king, walked away quickly and arrived there fitted with horses, a chariot duly decorated.

VERSE 13

तम् रथम् राज पुत्राय सूतः कनक भूषितम्
आचचक्षे अन्जलिम् कृत्वा युक्तम् परम वाजिभिः

tam ratham rāja putrāya sūtaḥ kanaka bhūṣitam
ācacakṣe anjalim kṛtvā yuktam parama vājibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

sūtaḥ: the charioteer | ācacakṣe: told | rājaputrāya: the prince | aṇjalim kṛtvā: with joined palms | tam ratham: about that chariot | kanaka bhuṣitam: decorated by gold | yuktam: fitted | parama vājibhiḥ: with superb horses. |

TRANSLATION

The charioteer told the prince with joined palms about that chariot decorated by gold, fitted wih superb horses.

VERSE 14

राजा सत्वरम् आहूय व्यापृतम् वित्त संचये
उवाच देश कालज्ञो निश्चितम् सर्वतः शुचि

rājā satvaram āhūya vyāpṛtam vitta saṃcaye
uvāca deśa kālajño niścitam sarvataḥ śuci

SYNONYMS

deśakālañam: who knew proper place and time | niścitam: who had a decisive attitude | suhucim: who was clear | sarvatah: by all means | satvaram: quickl | āhūya: called | vyāpṛtam: an officr | vittasamcaye: in the treasury | uvāca: spoke(as follows) |

TRANSLATION

The king, who knew what should be done at a proper place and time and was clear by all means, quickly called an officer placed in charge of the treasury and spoke in a decisive tone (as follows);-

VERSE 15

वासांसि च महा अर्हाणि भूषणानि वराणि च
वर्षाणि एतानि सम्ख्याय वैदेह्याः क्षिप्रम् आनय

vāsāṃsi ca mahā arhāṇi bhūṣaṇāni varāṇi ca
varṣāṇi etāni samkhyāya vaidehyāḥ kṣipram ānaya

SYNONYMS

kṣipram: quickly | ānaya: bring | vaidehyāḥ: for Seetha | vāsāmsica: clothings | mahārṇāni: of great worth | bhūṣaṇānica: and ornaments | varāṇi: of high quality | samkhyāya: considering | etāni: (all) these | varṣāṇi: years (that Seetha has to spend in exile). |

TRANSLATION

"Quickly bring for Seetha, clothings of great worth and ornaments of high quality, taking into consideration all these years (that Seetha has to spend in exile)

VERSE 16

नर इन्द्रेण एवम् उक्तः तु गत्वा कोश गृहम् ततः
प्रायच्चत् सर्वम् आहृत्य सीतायै क्षिप्रम् एव तत्

nara indreṇa evam uktaḥ tu gatvā kośa gṛham tataḥ
prāyaccat sarvam āhṛtya sītāyai kṣipram eva tat

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: after | uktaḥ: being spoken | evam: thus | narendreṇa: by the king | kośagṛham: to the treasury | āhṛtya: brought | sarvam: all | tat: that | samameva: in a lot | prāyacchat: (and) gave | sītāyai: to Seetha. |

TRANSLATION

After thus spoken by the king, the officer went to the treasury, brought all that in a lot and gave to Seetha.

VERSE 17

सा सुजाता सुजातानि वैदेही प्रस्थिता वनम्
भूषयाम् आस गात्राणि तैः विचित्रैः विभूषणैः

sā sujātā sujātāni vaidehī prasthitā vanam
bhūṣayām āsa gātrāṇi taiḥ vicitraiḥ vibhūṣaṇaiḥ

SYNONYMS

prasthitā: setting out(as she was) | vanam: to the forest | sā vaidehī: that Seetha | sujātā: of noble birth | bhūṣayāmāsa: adorned | sujātāni: (her) beautiful | gātrāṇi: limbs | vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: with jewels | vicitraiḥ: which were wonderful. |

TRANSLATION

Setting out as she was to the forest, Seetha of noble birth adorned her beautiful limbs with those wonderful jewels.

VERSE 18

व्यराजयत वैदेही वेश्म तत् सुविभूषिता
उद्यतः अंशुमतः काले खम् प्रभा इव विवस्वतः

vyarājayata vaidehī veśma tat suvibhūṣitā
udyataḥ aṃśumataḥ kāle kham prabhā iva vivasvataḥ

SYNONYMS

vaidehi: Seetha | suvibhūṣitā: beautifully adorned | vyarājayata: illumined | tat veśma: that palace | ahamiva: as the sky | kāle: in the morning | prabhā: (by) radiance | vivasvataḥ: of a sun | udyataḥ: rising. |

TRANSLATION

Seetha, beautifully adorned as she was, illumined that palace, as the sky in a morning is illuminated by a rising sun.

VERSE 19

ताम् भुजाभ्याम् परिष्वज्य श्वश्रूर् वचनम् अब्रवीत्
अनाचरन्तीम् कृपणम् मूध्नि उपाघ्राय मैथिलीम्

tām bhujābhyām pariṣvajya śvaśrūr vacanam abravīt
anācarantīm kṛpaṇam mūdhni upāghrāya maithilīm

SYNONYMS

pariṣvajya: embracing | bhujābhyām: in her arms | maithilīm: that princess of Mithila | anācarantīm: who never behaved | kṛpaṇam: in self-pity | śvaśrūḥ: her mother in law(Kausalya) | upāghrāya: and smelling | mūrdhni: her head(as a token of affection) | abravīt: spoke as follows: |

TRANSLATION

Embracing in her arms that princess of Mithila, who never behaved in self-pity, and smelling her head(as a token of affection), her mother-in-law(Kausalya) spoke as follows:

VERSE 20

असत्यः सर्व लोके अस्मिन् सततम् सत्कृताः प्रियैः
भर्तारम् न अनुमन्यन्ते विनिपात गतम् स्त्रियः

asatyaḥ sarva loke asmin satatam satkṛtāḥ priyaiḥ
bhartāram na anumanyante vinipāta gatam striyaḥ

SYNONYMS

asatyaḥ: dishonest | striyaḥ: women | satkṛtāḥ: eventhough adored | satatam: all the time | priyaiḥ: by their husbands | mānumanyate: cease to esteem | bhartāram: their husband | vinipātagatam: who has befallen into evil days | asmin sarvaloke: throughout this world. |

TRANSLATION

"Dishonest women, eventhough adored all the time by their husbands, cease to esteem their husband who has come to pass into evil days, throughout this world."

VERSE 21

एष स्वभावो नारीणामनुभूय पुरा सुखम्
अल्पामप्यापदम् प्राप्य दुष्यन्ति प्रजहत्यपि

eṣa svabhāvo nārīṇāmanubhūya purā sukham
alpāmapyāpadam prāpya duṣyanti prajahatyapi

SYNONYMS

anubhūya: having enjoyed | sukham: happiness | purā: in the past | duṣyanti: (they) become spoiled | prajahatyapi: and even desert(their husband) praapya = on obtaining | alpāmapi: even the least | āpadam: misfortune | eṣaḥ: such | svabhāvaḥ: is the nature | nāsīṇām: of (bad) woman. |

TRANSLATION

"Having enjoyed happiness in the past, they become spoiled and even desert their husband, on obtaining even the least misfortune: such is the nature of (bad) women."

VERSE 22

असत्यशीला विकृता दुर्र्गाह्याहृदयास्तथा
युवत्यः पापसम्कल्पाः क्षणमात्राद्विरागिणः

asatyaśīlā vikṛtā durrgāhyāhṛdayāstathā
yuvatyaḥ pāpasamkalpāḥ kṣaṇamātrādvirāgiṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

yuvatyaḥ: young women | pāpa samkalpāḥ: who are evil-minded | asatya śīlāḥ: are untruthful in their disposition | vikṛtāḥ: affected by passion | tathā: and | durgrāhya hṛdayāḥ: their essence | virāgiṇaḥ: they get aversion | kṣaṇamātrāt: within a moment. |

TRANSLATION

"Young women, who are evil-minded, are untruthful in their disposition, are affected by passion and their essence, incomprehensible. They get aversion within a moment."

VERSE 23

न कुलम् न कृतम् विद्या न दत्तम् नापि सम्ग्रहः
स्त्रीणाम् गृह्णाति हृदयमनित्यहृदया हि ताः

na kulam na kṛtam vidyā na dattam nāpi samgrahaḥ
strīṇām gṛhṇāti hṛdayamanityahṛdayā hi tāḥ

SYNONYMS

nakulam: neither a noble descent | na kṛtam: nor an accomplishment | vidyā: nor learning | na dattam: nor a gift | nāpi samgrahaḥ: nor even entertainment | grihṇāti: can capture | hṛdayam: the heart | strīṇām: of women | tāḥ: they are | anitya hṛdayāhi: unstable their heart indeed. |

TRANSLATION

Neither a noble descent, nor an accomplishment, nor learning, nor a gift nor even entertainment can capture the heart of women. They are unstbale of their heart indeed!"

VERSE 24

साध्वीनाम् हि स्थितानाम् तु शीले सत्ये श्रुते शमे
स्त्रीणाम् पवित्रम् परमम् पतिरेको विशिष्यते

sādhvīnām hi sthitānām tu śīle satye śrute śame
strīṇām pavitram paramam patireko viśiṣyate

SYNONYMS

te: but | strīṇām: established | śīle: in good conduct | satye: truthfulness | śrute: sacred learning | śame: and mental quictness | patiḥ: their husband | ekaḥ: alone | paramam: is the most | pavitram: sacred entity | viśiṣyate: the best of all. |

TRANSLATION

"But, for women established in good conduct, truthfulness, sacred learning and mental quietness, their husband alone is the most sacred entity, the best of all."

VERSE 25

स त्वया न अवमन्तव्यः पुत्रः प्रव्राजितः मम
तव दैवतम् अस्तु एष निर्धनः सधनो अपि वा

sa tvayā na avamantavyaḥ putraḥ pravrājitaḥ mama
tava daivatam astu eṣa nirdhanaḥ sadhano api vā

SYNONYMS

mama: my | saḥ putraḥ: this son | pravrājitaḥ: who is sent to forest | nāvamantavyaḥ: should not be despised | tvayā: by you | sadhanopi vā: even if he is with riches or | nirdhanaḥ: without riches | astu eṣaḥ: let him be | diavam: a deity | tava: to you. |

TRANSLATION

"My son who is being sent to the forest should not be despised by you. Even if he is invested with riches or without riches, let him be a deity to you."

VERSE 26

विज्ञाय वचनम् सीता तस्या धर्म अर्थ सम्हितम्
कृत अन्जलिर् उवाच इदम् श्वश्रूम् अभिमुखे स्थिता

vijñāya vacanam sītā tasyā dharma artha samhitam
kṛta anjalir uvāca idam śvaśrūm abhimukhe sthitā

SYNONYMS

viñāya: perceiving | tasyaḥ: her | vacanam: words | dharmārthasamhitam: endowed with essence of righteousness | kṛtāṇzalaiḥ: and joining her palms | sītā: Seetha | uvāca: replied | śvaśrūm: to her mother-in-law | sthitām: standing | abhimukhe: in front of her | idam: as follows: |

TRANSLATION

perceiving her words, endowed with essence of righteousness and joining her palms, Seetha replied to her mother-in-law standing in front of her, as follows:-

VERSE 27

करिष्ये सर्वम् एव अहम् आर्या यद् अनुशास्ति माम्
अभिज्ञा अस्मि यथा भर्तुर् वर्तितव्यम् श्रुतम् च मे

kariṣye sarvam eva aham āryā yad anuśāsti mām
abhijñā asmi yathā bhartur vartitavyam śrutam ca me

SYNONYMS

aham: i | kariṣye: shall do | sarvameva: just all | yathā: how | āryā: your venerable self | anuśāśi: instructs | mām: me | abhiñā: I know | vartitavyam: it is to be behaved | bhartuḥ: towards my husband | asmi: I | me: for me | śrutamca: have also heard(about it) |

TRANSLATION

"I shall do just all that, as your venerable self instructs me. I know how I should behave towards my husband. I have also heard about it earlier."

VERSE 28

न माम् असज् जनेन आर्या समानयितुम् अर्हति
धर्मात् विचलितुम् न अहम् अलम् चन्द्रात् इव प्रभा

na mām asaj janena āryā samānayitum arhati
dharmāt vicalitum na aham alam candrāt iva prabhā

SYNONYMS

āryā: your venerable self | na arhati: is not worthy | samānayitum: of equating | mām: me | asjjanena: with evil women | nālam: I am unable | vicalitum: to deviate | dharmāt: from virtue | candrāmiva: even as moon | prabhā: the moonlight. |

TRANSLATION

"Your venerable self is not worthy of equating me with evil women. I am unable to deviate from virtue, even as a moon from the moonlight"

VERSE 29

न अतन्त्री वाद्यते वीणा न अचक्रः वर्तते रथः
न अपतिः सुखम् एधते या स्यात् अपि शत आत्मजा

na atantrī vādyate vīṇā na acakraḥ vartate rathaḥ
na apatiḥ sukham edhate yā syāt api śata ātmajā

SYNONYMS

vīṇā: Vina(Indian lute) | na vādyate: does not resonate | atantrī: without chords | rathaḥ: chariot | na vartate: does not move | acakraḥ: without wheels | : which woman | apatiḥ: without husband | syādapi: even perhaps | śatātmajā: belssed with hundred children | na edheta: will not live in comfor | sukham: happily. |

TRANSLATION

"Vina (Indian lute) does not resonate without chords. Chariot does not move without wheels. Now can a wife bereft of her husband, even if blessed with hundred children, will not lie happily in comfort."

VERSE 30

मितम् ददाति हि पिता मितम् माता मितम् सुतः
अमितस्य हि दातारम् भर्तारम् का न पूजयेत्

mitam dadāti hi pitā mitam mātā mitam sutaḥ
amitasya hi dātāram bhartāram kā na pūjayet

SYNONYMS

pitā: "A father | dadātihi: indeed gives | mitam: in moderation | mātā: A mother | sutah: A son | : which woman | na pūjayet: would not adore | bhartāram: her husband | dātāram: the bestower | amitasya: of unlimitedness." |

TRANSLATION

"A father indeed gives a limited extent, a mother in a limited measure and a son in moderation. Which woman, then, would not adore her husband, the bestower of unlimitedness!"

VERSE 31

सा अहम् एवम् गता श्रेष्ठा श्रुत धर्म पर अवरा
आर्ये किम् अवमन्येयम् स्त्रीणाम् भर्ता हि दैवतम्

sā aham evam gatā śreṣṭhā śruta dharma para avarā
ārye kim avamanyeyam strīṇām bhartā hi daivatam

SYNONYMS

śruta dharma varāvarā: "having heard about the special and ordinary duties(of a wife) | śreṣṭhā: from the most excellent women | kim: how | sā aham: can I | evam gatā: despise(my husband?) | ārye: Oh | venerable self! bhartā: husband | daivatam hi: is indeed a deity | strīṇām: to women." |

TRANSLATION

"Having heard about the special and ordinary duties of a wife from the most excellent women, how can I, as such, despise my husband, Oh venerable lady? Husband is indeed a deity to women."

VERSE 32

सीताया वचनम् श्रुत्वा कौसल्या हृदयम् गमम्
शुद्ध सत्त्वा मुमोच अश्रु सहसा दुह्ख हर्षजम्

sītāyā vacanam śrutvā kausalyā hṛdayam gamam
śuddha sattvā mumoca aśru sahasā duhkha harṣajam

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | sītāyāḥ: Seetha's vachanam = words | hṛdayaṇgamam: which touched her heart | kausalyā: Kausalya | śuddhasattvā: of pure mind | sahasā: suddenly | mumoca: shed | aśru: tears | duḥkha harṣajam: born of agony and delight. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing Seetha's words, which touched her heart, Kausalya of pure mind suddenly started shedding tears born of agony and delight.

VERSE 33

ताम् प्रान्जलिर् अभिक्रम्य मातृ मध्ये अतिसत्कृताम्
रामः परम धर्मज्ञो मातरम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

tām prānjalir abhikramya mātṛ madhye atisatkṛtām
rāmaḥ parama dharmajño mātaram vākyam abravīt

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | parama dharmātmā: the most virtuous man | prāṇjaliḥ: joining his palms | abhikramya: approached | abravīt: spoke | vākyam: (these) words | tām mātaram: to that mother | atisatkṛtām: who is highly respected | mātṛmadhye: among his mothers. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, the most virtuous man, joining his palms, approached and spoke these words to his mother, who is highly respected among all his mothers:

VERSE 34

अम्ब मा दुह्खिता भूस् त्वम् पश्य त्वम् पितरम् मम
क्षयो हि वन वासस्य क्षिप्रम् एव भविष्यति

amba mā duhkhitā bhūs tvam paśya tvam pitaram mama
kṣayo hi vana vāsasya kṣipram eva bhaviṣyati

SYNONYMS

amba: Oh | mother! tvam: you | mā bhūḥ: do not | duḥkhitā: grieve | tvam: you | paśya: look after | mama pitaram: my father | kṣayaḥ: the end | vanavāsasya: of exile | bhaviṣyati: will come | kṣiprameva: rather soon. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, mother! You do not grieve. You look after my father. The end of exile will come rather soon."

VERSE 35

सुप्तायाः ते गमिष्यन्ति नव वर्षाणि पन्च च
सा समग्रम् इह प्राप्तम् माम् द्रक्ष्यसि सुहृद् वृतम्

suptāyāḥ te gamiṣyanti nava varṣāṇi panca ca
sā samagram iha prāptam mām drakṣyasi suhṛd vṛtam

SYNONYMS

nava paṇcaca: fourteen | varṣāṇi: years | gamiṣyanti: will elapse | te: (while) you | suptāyāḥ: are asleep | : you as such | drakṣyasi: will see | mām: me | samprāptam: duly arrived | iha: here | samagram: in my entire being | suhṛdvṛtam: surrounded by my well- wishers. |

TRANSLATION

"Fourteen years will elapse, while you are asleep. you as such, will see me, duly arrived here in my entire being, surrounded by my well-wishers."

VERSE 36

एतावद् अभिनीत अर्थम् उक्त्वा स जननीम् वचः
त्रयः शत शत अर्धा हि ददर्श अवेक्ष्य मातरः

etāvad abhinīta artham uktvā sa jananīm vacaḥ
trayaḥ śata śata ardhā hi dadarśa avekṣya mātaraḥ

SYNONYMS

uktvā: uttering | vacaḥ: words | etāvat: of such quality | abhinītārtham: end appropriate meaning | āvekṣya: refelected again | dadarśa: (and) gazed at | trayaḥ śata śatārdhāḥ: his three hundred fifty | mātaraḥ ca: mothers also. |

TRANSLATION

Uttering the aforesaid words of such quality and appropriate meaning to his mother, Rama thought once again and gazed at his three hundred and fifty step-mothers.

VERSE 37

ताः च अपि स तथैव आर्ता मातृऋर् दशरथ आत्मजः
धर्म युक्तम् इदम् वाक्यम् निजगाद कृत अन्जलिः

tāḥ ca api sa tathaiva ārtā mātṛṛr daśaratha ātmajaḥ
dharma yuktam idam vākyam nijagāda kṛta anjaliḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | daśarathātmajaḥ: Rama | kṛtāṇjaliḥ: joined his palms | tāḥ: to those | mātṛirapi: mothers also | ārtāḥ: who were distressed | tathaiva: in the same way | nijagāda: and spoke | idam vākyam: these words | dharmayuktam: which were in consonance with righteousness. |

TRANSLATION

Rama joined his palms and saluted those step mothers also, who were too distressed in the same way and spoke these words which were in consonance with the spirit of righteousness.

VERSE 38

सम्वासात् परुषम् किंचित् अज्ञानात् वा अपि यत् कृतम्
तन् मे समनुजानीत सर्वाः च आमन्त्रयामि वः

samvāsāt paruṣam kiṃcit ajñānāt vā api yat kṛtam
tan me samanujānīta sarvāḥ ca āmantrayāmi vaḥ

SYNONYMS

samanujānīta: excuse | me: me | tat: that | yat: for which reson | kiṇcit: a little | paruṣam: wrong | kṛtam: was done | añānādvā: due to ignorance or | samvāsāt: or because of our living together | āmantrayāmi: I take leave of | sarvāḥ: all | vaḥ: of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Please excuse me, if I have done any mistake either becuase of our living together or due to ignorance on my part. I now take leave of you all."

VERSE 39

वचनम् राघवस्यैतद्धर्मयुक्तम् समाहितम्
शुश्रुवु स्ताः स्त्रियम् सर्वाः शोकोपहतचेतसः

vacanam rāghavasyaitaddharmayuktam samāhitam
śuśruvu stāḥ striyam sarvāḥ śokopahatacetasaḥ

SYNONYMS

sarvāḥ: all | tāḥ: those | striyaḥ: women | śokopahata cetanaḥ: whose mind was overpowered with grief | śuśruvuḥ: heard | etat: these | vacanam: words | dharmayuktam: which were in consonance with righteousnes | samāhitam: the cool submission | rāghavasya: of Rama. |

TRANSLATION

All those women, whose mind was overpowered with grief, heard the aforesaid cool submission of Rama, which was in consonance with righteousness.

VERSE 40

जज्ञे अथ तासाम् सम्नादः क्रौन्चीनाम् इव निह्स्वनः
मानव इन्द्रस्य भार्याणाम् एवम् वदति राघवे

jajñe atha tāsām samnādaḥ krauncīnām iva nihsvanaḥ
mānava indrasya bhāryāṇām evam vadati rāghave

SYNONYMS

atha: after | rāghave: Rama | vadati: has spoken | evam: thus | sannādaḥ: an outery | nisvaḥ iva: resembling the wail | krauṇcīnām: of female cranes | jañe: arose | tāsam: (from) those | mānavendrasya bhāryāṇām: wives of Dasaratha. |

TRANSLATION

While Rama was speaking thus, an outery, resembling the wail of female cranes arose from those wives of Dasaratha.

VERSE 41

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अयोध्य काण्डे एको न चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye ayodhya kāṇḍe eko na catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

yat: which | daśaratha veśma: Dasaratha's palace | pūrvā: earlier | murajapaṇavamegha ghoṣavat: was resounding with tomtoms | tat: it | abhūt: became | vilapita paridevanākulam: filled with wails and cries | vyasanagatam: fall on evil days. |

TRANSLATION

Dasaratha' s palace, which was earlier resounding with tomtoms, large drums and Meghas( musical instruments which sound like rumbling of clouds) was now filled with wails and cries and fallen on evil days. Thus completes 39th chapter of ayodhya Kanda in glorious Valmiki Ramayana, the work of a sage and the oldest epic. Verse Locator for Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya : Chapter 39 Top of Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 © May 2002, K. M. K. Murthy