Chapter 50

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

विशालान् कोसलान् रम्यान् यात्वा लक्ष्मण पूर्वजः
अयोध्याभिमुखो धीमान् प्राञ्ञ्लिर्वाक्वमब्रवीत्

viśālān kosalān ramyān yātvā lakṣmaṇa pūrvajaḥ
ayodhyābhimukho dhīmān prāññlirvākvamabravīt

SYNONYMS

yatvā: having crossed | ramyān: the beautiful | viśālān: and the extensive | kosalān: Kosala territory | ayodhyābhimukhah: and standing with his face turned towards Ayodhya | dhīmān: the wise | lakśmaṇa pūrvajaḥ: Rama(elder brother of Lakshmana) | prāṅjaliḥ: with joined palms | abravīt: spoke | vākyam: (the following) words. |

TRANSLATION

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:

VERSE 2

आपृच्छे त्वाम् पुरीश्रेष्ठे काकुत्स्थपरिपालिते
दैवतानि च यानि त्वाम् पालयन्त्यावसन्ति च

āpṛcche tvām purīśreṣṭhe kākutsthaparipālite
daivatāni ca yāni tvām pālayantyāvasanti ca

SYNONYMS

purīśreṣṭe: " Oh Ayodhya | kākutstha paripālite: ruled by Dasaratha born in kakutstha dynasty! aapR^ichchhe = I bid farewell | tvām: to you | yāni: and to those | daivatāni: deities | pālayantica: who protect you and | āvasanti: dwelling on your boundaries." |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 3

निवृत्तवनवासस्त्वामनृणो जगतीपतेः
पुनर्ध्रक्ष्यामि मात्रा च पित्रा च सह सम्गतः

nivṛttavanavāsastvāmanṛṇo jagatīpateḥ
punardhrakṣyāmi mātrā ca pitrā ca saha samgataḥ

SYNONYMS

"nivṛtta vanavāsinaḥ: after getting relieved from dwelling in the forest | anṛṇaḥ: and becoming free of debt | jagatīpate: to the king Dasaratha | drakṣyāmi: I shall see | tvām: you | punaḥ: again | sangataḥ: united with | mātrāca: my mother | pitrāca saha: along with my father." |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 4

ततो रुधिरताम्राक्षो भुजमुद्यम्य दक्षिणम्
अश्रुपूर्णमुखो दीनो।अब्रवीज्जानपदम् जनम्

tato rudhiratāmrākṣo bhujamudyamya dakṣiṇam
aśrupūrṇamukho dīno|abravījjānapadam janam

SYNONYMS

udyamya: lifting | dakṣiṇam: (his)right | bhujam: arm | dīnaḥ: and wearing a woeful look | aśrupūrṇamukho: his face covered with tears | rudhiratāmrākṣaḥ: and who was having lovely reddish eyes | abravīt: (Rama) spoke | janam: to the people | jānapadam: hailing from countryside. |

TRANSLATION

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) :

VERSE 5

अनुक्रोशो दया चैव यथार्हम् मयि वह् कृतः
चिरम् दुःखस्य पापीयो गम्यतामर्थसिद्धये

anukrośo dayā caiva yathārham mayi vah kṛtaḥ
ciram duḥkhasya pāpīyo gamyatāmarthasiddhaye

SYNONYMS

dayācaiva: mercy and | anukrośaḥ: compassion | yathārham: according to my worth | kṛtaḥ: have been shown | mayi: to me | vaḥ: by you. duHkhasya = Agony | ciram: for a long time | pāpīyaḥ: is miserable. gamyataam = Let you be gone | ardhasiddhaye: for accomplishing your desired object (viz. attending to your house-hold work)." |

TRANSLATION

"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)!"

VERSE 6

ते।अभिवाद्य महात्मानम् कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्
विलपन्तो नरा घोरम् व्यतिष्ठन्त क्वचित् क्वचित्

te|abhivādya mahātmānam kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam
vilapanto narā ghoram vyatiṣṭhanta kvacit kvacit

SYNONYMS

abhivādya: respectfully saluting | mahātmānam: the high-soled prince | pradakṣiṇamcāpi: and going round him clockwise (as a mark of respect) | te narāḥ: those men | vyatiṣṭanta: stood | kvacit kvacit: (rooted) here and there | vilapantaḥ: wailing | ghoram: frightfully. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 7

तथा विलपताम् तेषामतृप्तानाम् च राघवः
अचक्षुरिषयम् प्रायाद्यथार्कः क्षणदामुखे

tathā vilapatām teṣāmatṛptānām ca rāghavaḥ
acakṣuriṣayam prāyādyathārkaḥ kṣaṇadāmukhe

SYNONYMS

teṣām: (while) they | vilapatām: were lamenting | tathā: thus | atṛptānām: unceasingly | rāghavaḥ: Rama | prāyāt: passed | acakṣurviṣayam: beyond their sight | arkaḥ yathā: as the sun | kṣaṇadāmukhe: at nightfall. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 8

ततो धान्यधनोपेतान् दानशीलजनान् शिवान्
अकुतश्चिद्भयान् रम्याम् श्चैत्ययूपसमावृतान्

tato dhānyadhanopetān dānaśīlajanān śivān
akutaścidbhayān ramyām ścaityayūpasamāvṛtān

SYNONYMS

10| tataḥ: then | puruṣa vyāghraḥ: that tiger among men | rathena: in his chariot | atyavartata: crossed | kosalān: Kosala territory | dhānya dhanopetān: which was rich in grain and treasure | dāna śīla janān: inhabited by men given to charity | śivān akutaścidbhayān: benevolent and free from every danger | ramyān: pleasing | caitya yūpa samāvṛtān: full of temples and sacrificial stakes | udyānāmravanopetān: adorned with gardens and mango orchards | sampanna salilāśayān: intersected by ponds full of water | tuṣṭa puṣṭa janākīrṇān: inhabited by well nourished people | gokulākula sevitān: abounded in herds of cows | lakṣaṇīyān: which deserved to be seen by | narendrāṇām: by all kings | brahmaghoṣābhināditān: and which re- echoed to the charity of religious texts. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 11

मध्येन मुदितम् स्फीतम् रम्योद्यानसमाकुलम्
राज्यम् भोग्यम् नरेन्द्राणाम् ययौ धृतिमताम् वरः

madhyena muditam sphītam ramyodyānasamākulam
rājyam bhogyam narendrāṇām yayau dhṛtimatām varaḥ

SYNONYMS

varaḥ: the best | dhṛtimatām: among the resolute | yayou: moved | madhyena: into themiddle | muditam: of a happy | rājyam: kingdom | sphītam: which is prosperous | ramyodyāna samākulam: abounding in lovely gardens | bhogyam: fit to be enjoyed | narendrāṇām: by kings. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 12

तत्र त्रिपथगाम् दिव्याम् शिव तोयाम् अशैवलाम्
ददर्श राघवो गन्गाम् पुण्याम् ऋषि निसेविताम्

tatra tripathagām divyām śiva toyām aśaivalām
dadarśa rāghavo gangām puṇyām ṛṣi nisevitām

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | rāghavaḥ: Rama | dadarśa: beheld | puṇyām: the celestial | gaṇgām: Ganga river | tripathagām: which takes a three fold course (through three tributaries) ramyaam = a lovely one | śiva toyām: carrying clear waters | aśaivalām: without a green moss | ṛṣi niṣevitām: and frequented by sages. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 13

आश्रमैरविदूर्स्थैः श्रीमद्भिः समलम् कृताम्
काले।अप्सरोभिर्हृष्टाभिः सेविताम्भोह्रदाम् शिवाम्

āśramairavidūrsthaiḥ śrīmadbhiḥ samalam kṛtām
kāle|apsarobhirhṛṣṭābhiḥ sevitāmbhohradām śivām

SYNONYMS

samalamkṛtām: adorned | avidūrasthaiḥ: not very far (from one another) | śrīmadbhiḥ: splendid | āśramaiḥ: hermitages | sevitāmbhohradām: with pools overflowing with water visited | kāle: at suitable hours | apsarobhiḥ: by celestial nymphs | hṛṣṭābhiḥ: thrilling with rapture. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 14

देवदानवगन्धर्वैः किन्नरैरुपशोभिताम्
नागगन्धर्वपत्नीभिः सेविताम् सततम् शिवाम्

devadānavagandharvaiḥ kinnarairupaśobhitām
nāgagandharvapatnībhiḥ sevitām satatam śivām

SYNONYMS

upaśobhitām: graced | deva dānava gandharvaiḥ: by gods and demons | kinnaraiḥ: (and) Kinnaras | satatam: constantly | sevitām: visited by | nāga gandharvapatnīḥ: consorts of Nagas and Gandharvas. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 15

देवाक्रीडशताकीर्णाम् देवोद्यानशतायुताम्
देवार्थमाकाशगमाम् विख्याताम् देवपद्मिनीम्

devākrīḍaśatākīrṇām devodyānaśatāyutām
devārthamākāśagamām vikhyātām devapadminīm

SYNONYMS

devā krīḍa śatākīrṇām: the hills serving as the playground of hundreds of celestials | devodyāna śatāyutām: embellished with hundreds of celestial gardens | ākāśagamām: coursed through the heavens | devārtham: for the benefit of gods | vikhyātam: (and which in heaven) was named | devapadminīm: "The stream of Golden Lotuses". |

TRANSLATION

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".

VERSE 16

जलघाताट्टहासोग्राम् फेननिर्मलहासिनीम्
क्वचिद्वेणीकृतजलाम् क्वचिदावर्तशोभिताम्

jalaghātāṭṭahāsogrām phenanirmalahāsinīm
kvacidveṇīkṛtajalām kvacidāvartaśobhitām

SYNONYMS

jalāghātāṭṭahāsogrām: the sound of whose clashing waves and striking with rocks resembles deep laughter | phena nirmala hāsinīm: having a smile as white as a foam | veṇīkṛta jalām: its water reduced to the shape of a maiden's plaited locks | kvacit: at some places. | āvarta śobhitām: rendered beautiful by whirl pools |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 17

क्वचित्स्तिमितगम्भीराम् क्वचिद्वेगजलाकुलाम्
क्वचिद्गम्भीरनिर्घोषाम् क्वचिद्भैरवनिस्वनाम्

kvacitstimitagambhīrām kvacidvegajalākulām
kvacidgambhīranirghoṣām kvacidbhairavanisvanām

SYNONYMS

kvacit: at some places | smita gambhīrām: its waters were still and deep | vega jalākulām: they were disturbed with violent agitation | gambhīra nirghoṣām: making a deep roaring sound | bhairava niḥsvanām: having a terrific noise. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 18

देवसम्घाप्लुतजलाम् निर्मलोत्पलशोभिताम्
क्वचिदाभोगपुलिनाम् क्वचिन्नर्मलवालुकाम्

devasamghāplutajalām nirmalotpalaśobhitām
kvacidābhogapulinām kvacinnarmalavālukām

SYNONYMS

deva sanghāpluta jalām: hosts of gods took a dip into its water | nirmalotpala śobhitām: adorned by white lotuses | kvacit: at some places | ābhogapulinām: with expanse of small islands | nirmala vālukām: lined with white sands. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 19

हंस सरस सम्घुष्टाम् चक्र वाक उपकूजिताम्
सदामदैश्च विहगैरभिसम्नादिताम् तराम्

haṃsa sarasa samghuṣṭām cakra vāka upakūjitām
sadāmadaiśca vihagairabhisamnāditām tarām

SYNONYMS

hamsa sārasa samghuśṭām: rendered resonant by swans and cranes | cakravākopa kūjitām: with cackling of Chakrawaka birds | vihagaiḥ: (other) birds | sadāmadaiḥ: which are in rut all through | abhisannāditamtarām: kept hovering in its middle. **-Chakravaka is a species of bird |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 20

क्वचित्तीररुहैर्वृक्षैर्मालाभिरिव शोभिताम्
क्वचित्फुल्लोत्पलच्छन्नाम् क्वचित्पद्मवनाकुलाम्

kvacittīraruhairvṛkṣairmālābhiriva śobhitām
kvacitphullotpalacchannām kvacitpadmavanākulām

SYNONYMS

kvacit: at some places | śobhitām: (the river) was adorned | vṛkṣaiaḥ: with trees | tīraruhaiḥ: growing on its banks | mālābhiriva: (encircling) like garlands | phullotpalacchannām: covered with widely opened lotuses | padmavanākulām: crowded with thick cluster of lotuses. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 21

क्वचित्कुमुदष्ण्डैश्च कुड्मलैरुपशोभिताम्
नानापुष्परजोध्वस्ताम् समदामिव च क्वचित्

kvacitkumudaṣṇḍaiśca kuḍmalairupaśobhitām
nānāpuṣparajodhvastām samadāmiva ca kvacit

SYNONYMS

kvacit: at some places | upaśobhitām: graced with | kumuda ṣaṇḍaiśca: beds of water lilies | kuḍmalaiḥ: in the farm of buds | nānā puṣpa rajodhvastām: reddened with the pollen of numerous flowers | samadām iva: as though excited with passion. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 22

व्यपेतमलसम्घाताम् मणिनिर्मलदर्शनाम्
दिशागजैर्वनगजैर्मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः

vyapetamalasamghātām maṇinirmaladarśanām
diśāgajairvanagajairmattaiśca varavāraṇaiḥ

SYNONYMS

vyapeta mala samghātām: having every aggregation of dirt removed | maṇinirmala darśanām: presenting a spotlessly clear appearance like a crystal | samnādita vanāntarām: the interior of the forest rendered noisy | muhuḥ: again and again | diśāgajaiḥ: by the elephants guarding the quarters | mattaiḥ: ruttiest | vanagajaiḥ: wild elephants | varavāraṇaiḥ: elephants of excellent breed | devopavāhaiḥ: used for riding by gods. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 23

प्रमदामिव यत्ने न भूषिताम् भूषणोत्तमैः

pramadāmiva yatne na bhūṣitām bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ

SYNONYMS

24| vṛtām: surrounded | phalaiḥ: by fruits | puṣpaiḥ: flowers | kisalayaiḥ: tender leaves | gulmaiḥ: shrubs | tathā: and | dvijaiḥ: birds | pramadāmiva: it looked like a young woman | yat nena: carefully | bhūṣitām: decked with | bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ: the best of jewels. nishhevitaam = infested with | śimśumāraiśca: dolphins | nakraiśca: crocodiles | bhujangaiśca: and snakes. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 25

विष्णुपादच्युताम् दिव्यामपापाम् पापनाशिनीम्
ताम् शङ्करजटाजूटाद्भ्रष्टाम् सागरतेजसा

viṣṇupādacyutām divyāmapāpām pāpanāśinīm
tām śaṅkarajaṭājūṭādbhraṣṭām sāgaratejasā

SYNONYMS

26| mahābāhuḥ: Rama | āsasāda: reached | tām gangām: that river Ganga | viṣṇu pādacyutām: which flows from the feet of Lord Vishnu | apāpām: which is devoid of sins | pāpanāśinīm: and dispels all sins | bhraṣṭām: and which had fallen | śankara jaṭājūṭāt: from the mass of matted hair of Lord Shankara | sāgara tejasā: through the spiritual power of the descendent of Sagara(Emperor Bhagiratha) | samudra krouncanāditām: which was rendered noisy by cranes and herons | śṛṅgiberapuram prati: in the vicinity of Sringaverapura( the modern Singraur.) |

TRANSLATION

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).

VERSE 27

ताम् ऊर्मि कलिल आवर्ताम् अन्ववेक्ष्य महा रथः
सुमन्त्रम् अब्रवीत् सूतम् इह एव अद्य वसामहे

tām ūrmi kalila āvartām anvavekṣya mahā rathaḥ
sumantram abravīt sūtam iha eva adya vasāmahe

SYNONYMS

anvavekṣya: beholding | tām: that river Ganga | ūrmi kalilāvartām: having whirlpools covered by waves | mahārathaḥ: Rama | abravīt: said | sumantram: to Sumantra | sūtam: the charioteer | vasāmahe: "we shall halt | ihaiva: here itself | adya: today." |

TRANSLATION

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."

VERSE 28

अविदूरात् अयम् नद्या बहु पुष्प प्रवालवान्
सुमहान् इन्गुदी वृक्षो वसामः अत्र एव सारथे

avidūrāt ayam nadyā bahu puṣpa pravālavān
sumahān ingudī vṛkṣo vasāmaḥ atra eva sārathe

SYNONYMS

sārathe: "Oh | cariotīr! avidūrāt: Not distant | nadyāḥ: from the river | sumahān: there is a very big | iyam: this one | iṅgudīvṛkṣaḥ: the sacred fig tree | bahu puṣpa pravāḻavān: with many flowers and shoots. VasaamaH = (We) shall stay | atraiva: here itself." |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 29

द्रक्ष्यामः सरिताम् श्रेष्ठाम् सम्मान्यसलिलाम् शिवाम्
देवदानवगन्धर्वमृगमानुषपक्षिणाम्

drakṣyāmaḥ saritām śreṣṭhām sammānyasalilām śivām
devadānavagandharvamṛgamānuṣapakṣiṇām

SYNONYMS

drakṣyāmaḥ: "I shall see | saritām śreṣṭām: the excellent river Ganga | śivām: which is auspicious | deva dānava gandharva mṛga mānuṣa pakṣiṇām: to gods | sam mānya salilām: whose waters are respectable." |

TRANSLATION

"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 ."

VERSE 30

लक्षणः च सुमन्त्रः च बाढम् इति एव राघवम्
उक्त्वा तम् इन्गुदी वृक्षम् तदा उपययतुर् हयैः

lakṣaṇaḥ ca sumantraḥ ca bāḍham iti eva rāghavam
uktvā tam ingudī vṛkṣam tadā upayayatur hayaiḥ

SYNONYMS

uktvā: saying | bādhamityeva: �So be it' and nothing more | rāghavam: to Rama | lakṣmaṇaśca: Lakshmana | sumantraśca: and Sumantra | tadā: then | upayayatuḥ: approached | hayaiḥ: by horses | tam: that | iṅgudīvṛkṣam: sacred fig tree. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 31

रामः अभियाय तम् रम्यम् वृक्षम् इक्ष्वाकु नन्दनः
रथात् अवातरत् तस्मात् सभार्यः सह लक्ष्मणः

rāmaḥ abhiyāya tam ramyam vṛkṣam ikṣvāku nandanaḥ
rathāt avātarat tasmāt sabhāryaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | ikṣvāku nandanaḥ: the delight of Ikshvaku dynasty | abhiyāya: reached | tam vṛkṣam: that tree | ramyam: the beautiful one | avātarat: and got down | tasmāt rathāt: from that chariot | sabhāryaḥ: along with his wife | saha lakṣmaṇaḥ: and with Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 32

सुमन्त्रः अपि अवतीर्य एव मोचयित्वा हय उत्तमान्
वृक्ष मूल गतम् रामम् उपतस्थे कृत अन्जलिः

sumantraḥ api avatīrya eva mocayitvā haya uttamān
vṛkṣa mūla gatam rāmam upatasthe kṛta anjaliḥ

SYNONYMS

sumantro api: Sumantra too | avatīrya: got down | asmāt: from the chariot | mocayitvā: released | hayottamān: the superb horses | kṛtāṇjaliḥ: with joined palms | upatasthe: (he) seated himself near | rāmam: Rama | vṛkṣa mūla gatam: at the foot of the tree. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 33

तत्र राजा गुहो नाम रामस्य आत्म समः सखा
निषाद जात्यो बलवान् स्थपतिः च इति विश्रुतः

tatra rājā guho nāma rāmasya ātma samaḥ sakhā
niṣāda jātyo balavān sthapatiḥ ca iti viśrutaḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: There | rājā: a king | guho nāma: named Guha | rāmasya: Rama's | sakhā: friend | ātmasamaḥ: equal to his life | niṣāda jātasya: Nishada by birth | balavān: a strong man | viśrutaḥ: well known | sthapatiśceti: as ruler of Nishadas. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 34

स श्रुत्वा पुरुष व्याघ्रम् रामम् विषयम् आगतम्
वृद्धैः परिवृतः अमात्यैः ज्ञातिभिः च अपि उपागतः

sa śrutvā puruṣa vyāghram rāmam viṣayam āgatam
vṛddhaiḥ parivṛtaḥ amātyaiḥ jñātibhiḥ ca api upāgataḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing of | rāmam: Rama | puruṣavyāghram: the tiger among men | āgatam: having come | viṣayam: to his territory | saḥ: he | abhyupāgataḥ: approached | parivṛtaḥ: accompanied by | vṛddhaiḥ: elderly | amātyaiḥ: ministers | ġ^yātibhiśca: and relatives. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 35

ततः निषाद अधिपतिम् दृष्ट्वा दूरात् अवस्थितम्
सह सौमित्रिणा रामः समागच्चद् गुहेन सः

tataḥ niṣāda adhipatim dṛṣṭvā dūrāt avasthitam
saha saumitriṇā rāmaḥ samāgaccad guhena saḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | dūrāt: from the distance | niṣādādhipatim: the king of Nishada | upasthitam: coming | saḥ rāmaḥ: that Rama | soumitriṇā saha: along with Lakshmana | tataḥ: thereupon | samāgacchat: went forth to meet | guhena: Guha. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 36

तम् आर्तः सम्परिष्वज्य गुहो राघवम् अब्रवीत्
यथा अयोध्या तथा इदम् ते राम किम् करवाणि ते

tam ārtaḥ sampariṣvajya guho rāghavam abravīt
yathā ayodhyā tathā idam te rāma kim karavāṇi te

SYNONYMS

sampariṣvajya: closely embracing | tam rāghavam: that Rama | guhaḥ: Guha | ārtaḥ: who felt disturbed | abravīt: spoke to him | iyam: "This city too | yathā tathā: is in every way as | ayodhyā: Ayodhya | kim: what | karavāṇi: can I do | te: for you? mahaabaaho = Oh | mighty armed! kaḥ hi: who indeed | prāpsyasi: will get | īdṛśam: such | priyam: a lovely | atithim: guest?" |

TRANSLATION

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?"

VERSE 37

ततः गुणवद् अन्न अद्यम् उपादाय पृथग् विधम्
अर्घ्यम् च उपानयत् क्षिप्रम् वाक्यम् च इदम् उवाच ह

tataḥ guṇavad anna adyam upādāya pṛthag vidham
arghyam ca upānayat kṣipram vākyam ca idam uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

upādāya: having brought | annādyam: pristine cooked rice | guṇavat: of excellent quality | prithagvidham: and other dishes of various kinds | tataḥ: (he) then | kṣipram: quickly | upānayat: offered (him) | arghyamca: water to wash his hands | uvāca ha: and spoke | idam: these | vākyamca: words: |

TRANSLATION

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:

VERSE 38

स्वागतम् ते महा बाहो तव इयम् अखिला मही
वयम् प्रेष्या भवान् भर्ता साधु राज्यम् प्रशाधि नः

svāgatam te mahā bāho tava iyam akhilā mahī
vayam preṣyā bhavān bhartā sādhu rājyam praśādhi naḥ

SYNONYMS

svāgatam: "welcome | te: to you | mahābāho: oh | mighty armed! akhilā: All | iyam mahī: this land | tava: is yours. vayam = We | preṣyāḥ: are servants. bhavaan = You | bhartā: are the Lord. Prashaadhi = Rule over | naḥ: our | rājyam: kingdom | sādhu: efficiently." |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 39

भक्ष्यम् भोज्यम् च पेयम् च लेह्यम् च इदम् उपस्थितम्
शयनानि च मुख्यानि वाजिनाम् खादनम् च ते

bhakṣyam bhojyam ca peyam ca lehyam ca idam upasthitam
śayanāni ca mukhyāni vājinām khādanam ca te

SYNONYMS

idam: "here | upasthitam: are arrived | bhakṣyam bhojyam: dishes of various kinds | peyam: drinks | lehyamca: and syrups | mukhyāni: as also excellent | śayanāni: beds | khādinamca: and food | te: for your | vājinām: horses." |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 40

गुहम् एव ब्रुवाणम् तम् राघवः प्रत्युवाच ह

guham eva bruvāṇam tam rāghavaḥ pratyuvāca ha

SYNONYMS

41| guham: to Guha | bruvāṇam: who was speaking | evam: as aforesaid | rāghavaḥ: Rama | pratyuvāca ha: replied thus: architaashchaiva = "we stand honoured | bhavatā: by you | abhigamaccaiva: by your very visit | padbhyām: on foot | snehasamdarśanenaca: as well as your show of affection | hṛṣṭāśca: and are pleased(with you)." |

TRANSLATION

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"

VERSE 42

भुजाभ्याम् साधु वृत्ताभ्याम् पीडयन् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
दिष्ट्या त्वाम् गुह पश्यामिअरोगम् सह बान्धवैः

bhujābhyām sādhu vṛttābhyām pīḍayan vākyam abravīt
diṣṭyā tvām guha paśyāmiarogam saha bāndhavaiḥ

SYNONYMS

43| pīdayam: pressing | sādhu: gently | pinābhyām: with his muscular | bhujābhyām: arms | abravīt: (Rama) spoke | vākyam: (these) words | guha: "Oh | ġuha! diṣṭyā: Thank heaven | paśyāmi: I am seeing | tvām: you | arogam: in good health | saha bāndhavaiḥ: with your relatives | api kuśalam: is all well | te: in your | rāṣṭre: kingdom | mitreṣu: (with your) friends | dhaneṣuca: and the treasure?" |

TRANSLATION

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?"

VERSE 43

यत् तु इदम् भवता किंचित् प्रीत्या समुपकल्पितम्
सर्वम् तत् अनुजानामि न हि वर्ते प्रतिग्रहे

yat tu idam bhavatā kiṃcit prītyā samupakalpitam
sarvam tat anujānāmi na hi varte pratigrahe

SYNONYMS

anujānāmi: I know | idam prītya: this affection | yat kimcit: by which | tat sarvam: all that | samabhikalpitam: is extensively well- arranged | bhavatā: by you. na varte hi = I am not in a condition indeed to | pratigrahe: accept." |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 44

कुश चीर अजिन धरम् फल मूल अशनम् च माम्
विद्धि प्रणिहितम् धर्मे तापसम् वन गोचरम्

kuśa cīra ajina dharam phala mūla aśanam ca mām
viddhi praṇihitam dharme tāpasam vana gocaram

SYNONYMS

viddhi: know | mām: me | praṇihitam: I am determined | tāpasam: to be an ascetic | kuśacīrājinadharam: wearing the robes of bark and deerskin | dharma: and by piety | vanacaram: to live in the forest | phalamūlāśinam: eating fruits and roots." |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 45

अश्वानाम् खादनेन अहम् अर्थी न अन्येन केनचित्
एतावता अत्र भवता भविष्यामि सुपूजितः

aśvānām khādanena aham arthī na anyena kenacit
etāvatā atra bhavatā bhaviṣyāmi supūjitaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: "I | arthī: am the one who desire | khādanena: only food | aśvānām: for the horses | na: not | anyena kenacit: and any other else. Etaavataa = by this much only | bhavitā: I shall be | supūjitaḥ: well = satisfied | atra: at this time | bhavatā: by you." |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 46

एते हि दयिता राज्ञः पितुर् दशरथस्य मे
एतैः सुविहितैः अश्वैः भविष्याम्य् अहम् अर्चितः

ete hi dayitā rājñaḥ pitur daśarathasya me
etaiḥ suvihitaiḥ aśvaiḥ bhaviṣyāmy aham arcitaḥ

SYNONYMS

ete: " these (horses) | dayitā: cherished | dasarathasya rāġ^yaḥ: by the king Dasaratha | me pituḥ: my father | aham: I | bhaviṣyāmi: shall be | arcitaḥ: honored | etaiḥ aśvaiḥ: by these horses | suvihitaiḥ: being duly fed." |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 47

अश्वानाम् प्रतिपानम् च खादनम् चैव सो अन्वशात्
गुहः तत्र एव पुरुषांस् त्वरितम् दीयताम् इति

aśvānām pratipānam ca khādanam caiva so anvaśāt
guhaḥ tatra eva puruṣāṃs tvaritam dīyatām iti

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | guhaḥ: Guha | tatraiva: on that spot | anvaśāt: commanded | puruṣān: his men (as follows) | " pratipānamca: "Let water for drinking | khādanamcaiva: and forage | dīyatāmiti: be supplied | tvaritam: promptly | aśvānām: to horses." |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 48

ततः चीर उत्तर आसन्गः संध्याम् अन्वास्य पश्चिमाम्
जलम् एव आददे भोज्यम् लक्ष्मणेन आहृतम् स्वयम्

tataḥ cīra uttara āsangaḥ saṃdhyām anvāsya paścimām
jalam eva ādade bhojyam lakṣmaṇena āhṛtam svayam

SYNONYMS

anvāsya: having worshipped | paścimām sandhyām: the evening twilight appearing in the west | cīrottarāsaṇgaḥ: with an upper garment made of bark | tataḥ: (Rama) then | ādade: took | bhojyam: for food | jalameva: only water | āhṛtam: brought | lakṣmaṇena: by Lakshmana | svayam: himself. |

TRANSLATION

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.

VERSE 49

तस्य भूमौ शयानस्य पादौ प्रक्षाल्य लक्ष्मणः
सभार्यस्य ततः अभ्येत्य तस्थौ वृष्कम् उपाश्रितः

tasya bhūmau śayānasya pādau prakṣālya lakṣmaṇaḥ
sabhāryasya tataḥ abhyetya tasthau vṛṣkam upāśritaḥ

SYNONYMS

prakṣālya: having washed | pādou: the feet | tasya: of Rama | śayanasya: who was lying | bhūmou: on the ground | sabhāryasya: along with his consort | lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | tataḥ: then | abhyetya: came | tasthou: and stationed | upāśritaḥ: leaning against | vṛkṣam: a tree. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 50

गुहो अपि सह सूतेन सौमित्रिम् अनुभाषयन्
अन्वजाग्रत् ततः रामम् अप्रमत्तः धनुर् धरः

guho api saha sūtena saumitrim anubhāṣayan
anvajāgrat tataḥ rāmam apramattaḥ dhanur dharaḥ

SYNONYMS

guho'pi: Guha too | sūtena saha: along with the charioteer | anubhāṣayan: conversed with | soumitrim: Lakshmana | tataḥ: and thereafter | dhanurdharaḥ: wielding a bow | apramattaḥ: alertly | anvajāgrat: kept a vigil | rāmam: over Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Guha too along with the charioteer conversed with Lakshmana and thereafter wielding a bow; alertly kept a vigil over Rama.

VERSE 51

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अयोध्य काण्डे पञ्चाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye ayodhya kāṇḍe pañcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

yaśasvinaḥ: the illustrious | dhīmataḥ: lofty minded | mahātmanaḥ: and the high-soled | asya dāśarathe: son of Dasaratha | adṛṣṭa duḥkhasya: who had never seen suffering | sukhocitasya: and who deserved all comforts | śayānasya: remained lying | tataḥ: thereafter | : while that | cireṇa: long | śarvarī: night | vyatīyāya: passed away. |

TRANSLATION

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.