Chapter 51

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

तम् जाग्रतम् अदम्भेन भ्रातुर् अर्थाय लक्ष्मणम्
गुहः सम्ताप सम्तप्तः राघवम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

tam jāgratam adambhena bhrātur arthāya lakṣmaṇam
guhaḥ samtāpa samtaptaḥ rāghavam vākyam abravīt

SYNONYMS

guhaḥ: Guha | santāpa santaptaḥ: distressed with anguish | abravīt: spoke | vākyam: (these) words | tam ḻakṣmaṇam: to Lakshmana | rāghavam: who was born in Raghu dynasty | jāgratam: who kept awake | adambhena: bereft of hypocrisy | arthāya: for the sake of |

TRANSLATION

Distressed with anguish (to see Rama and Sita lying on the ground) Guha said to Lakshmana, the scion of Raghu, who kept awake, through sincere love, for the protection of his brother Rama.

VERSE 2

इयम् तात सुखा शय्या त्वद् अर्थम् उपकल्पिता
प्रत्याश्वसिहि साध्व् अस्याम् राज पुत्र यथा सुखम्

iyam tāta sukhā śayyā tvad artham upakalpitā
pratyāśvasihi sādhv asyām rāja putra yathā sukham

SYNONYMS

iyam: "This is | sukhā: a comfortable | upakalpitā: made | tvadartham: for you | tāta: Oh friend | pratyāśvasihi: relax | sādhu: well | yathāsukham: comfortably | asyām: on it | rājaputra: Oh |

TRANSLATION

"Here is a comfortable bed made for you, my friend! Relax well comfortably on it, Oh, prince!"

VERSE 3

उचितः अयम् जनः सर्वः क्लेशानाम् त्वम् सुख उचितः
गुप्ति अर्थम् जागरिष्यामः काकुत्स्थस्य वयम् निशाम्

ucitaḥ ayam janaḥ sarvaḥ kleśānām tvam sukha ucitaḥ
gupti artham jāgariṣyāmaḥ kākutsthasya vayam niśām

SYNONYMS

sarvaḥ: All | ayam janaḥ: these people | ucitaḥ: are habituated | kleśānām: to hardships. tvam = You | sukhocitaḥ: are habituated to comforts. Guptyartham = For the protection | kākutstsya: of Rama | vayam: we | jāgariṣyāmaḥ: shall keep awake | niśām: (this) night." |

TRANSLATION

"All of us are habituated to hardships. You are habituated to comforts. We shall keep awake this night, for the protection of Rama"

VERSE 4

न हि रामात् प्रियतरः मम अस्ति भुवि कश्चन
ब्रवीम्य् एतत् अहम् सत्यम् सत्येन एव च ते शपे

na hi rāmāt priyataraḥ mama asti bhuvi kaścana
bravīmy etat aham satyam satyena eva ca te śape

SYNONYMS

kaścana nāstihi: " None is | priyatamaḥ: dearer | mama: to me | rāmāt: than Rama | bhuvi: in this world. aham = I | bravīmi: speak | etat: this | satyam: truth | śape: and swear | te: to you | satyenaina: by truth." |

TRANSLATION

"For, none is dearer to me than Rama in this world. I speak the truth and swear to you by truth."

VERSE 5

अस्य प्रसादात् आशंसे लोके अस्मिन् सुमहद् यशः
धर्म अवाप्तिम् च विपुलाम् अर्थ अवाप्तिम् च केवलाम्

asya prasādāt āśaṃse loke asmin sumahad yaśaḥ
dharma avāptim ca vipulām artha avāptim ca kevalām

SYNONYMS

āśamse: I hope | sumahat: abundant | yaśaḥ: acclaim | asmin loke: in this world | dharma vāptimca: acquisition of Supreme merit | vipulām: (and) extensive | arthāvāptimca: acquirment of wealth | prasādāt: by the grace | kevalam: alone | asya: of Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"I hope to acquire abundant acclaim and supreme merit in this world as also full reward of wealth, by the sole grace of Rama"

VERSE 6

सो अहम् प्रिय सखम् रामम् शयानम् सह सीतया
रक्षिष्यामि धनुष् पाणिः सर्वतः ज्ञातिभिः सह

so aham priya sakham rāmam śayānam saha sītayā
rakṣiṣyāmi dhanuṣ pāṇiḥ sarvataḥ jñātibhiḥ saha

SYNONYMS

saḥ aham: "As such | ġ^yātibhiḥ: along with my kindred | rakṣiṣyāmi: shall protect | priya sakham: my dear friend | rāmam: Rama | śayānam: who is sleeping | sītayā saha: with Sita | sarvataḥ: in every way | dhanuṣpāṇiḥ: with bow in hand." |

TRANSLATION

"As such, I along with my kindred, shall protect my dear friend Rama who is reposing with Sita in every way, with bow in hand."

VERSE 7

न हि मे अविदितम् किंचित् वने अस्मिम्ः चरतः सदा
चतुर् अन्गम् हि अपि बलम् सुमहत् प्रसहेमहि

na hi me aviditam kiṃcit vane asmimḥ carataḥ sadā
catur angam hi api balam sumahat prasahemahi

SYNONYMS

"nahi kimcit: Nothing is indeed | aviditam: un known | asmin vane: in theforest | me: to me | carataḥ: where I wander | sadā: continually. prasahemahi = We are able to withstand | sumahat: a vast | balam api: army too | caturaṅgam: comprising four parts (elephants |

TRANSLATION

"Nothing is indeed unknown in this forest to me, where I wander continually. We can able to withstand even a vast army too, comprising of four parts (elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry)."

VERSE 8

लक्ष्मणः तम् तदा उवाच रक्ष्यमाणाः त्वया अनघ
न अत्र भीता वयम् सर्वे धर्मम् एव अनुपश्यता

lakṣmaṇaḥ tam tadā uvāca rakṣyamāṇāḥ tvayā anagha
na atra bhītā vayam sarve dharmam eva anupaśyatā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | uvāca: replied | tam: to Guha | (as follovs): anagha: "Oh | sinless ġuha! rakṣyamāṇaḥ: Being protected | tvayā: by you | dharmameva: who keep your duty alone | anupaśyatā: in view | vayam sarve: all of us are | na bhītāḥ: not afraid | atre: in this land." |

TRANSLATION

Then, Lakshmana replied to Guha as follows: "Oh, sinless Guha! Being protected by you, who keep your duty alone in view, all of us are fearless in this land."

VERSE 9

कथम् दाशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया
शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुम् जीवितम् वा सुखानि वा

katham dāśarathau bhūmau śayāne saha sītayā
śakyā nidrā mayā labdhum jīvitam vā sukhāni vā

SYNONYMS

dāśarathou: "when Rama | śayāne: is lying | bhūmou: on the ground | sītayā saha: along with Sita | katham: how | śakyā: is it possible | mayā: to me | nidrā: the sleep | jīvitam vā: or the enjoyment of life | sukhāni vā: or the amenities of life?" |

TRANSLATION

"When Rama, the son of Dasaratha is lying on the ground with Sita, how is it possible for me to sleep or to enjoy the pleasures of life?"

VERSE 10

यो न देव असुरैः सर्वैः शक्यः प्रसहितुम् युधि
तम् पश्य सुख सम्विष्टम् तृणेषु सह सीतया

yo na deva asuraiḥ sarvaiḥ śakyaḥ prasahitum yudhi
tam paśya sukha samviṣṭam tṛṇeṣu saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

"paśya: See | tam: that Rama | yaḥ: who | na śakyaḥ: cannot be | prasehitum: vanquished | yudhi: in combat | sarvaiḥ: by all | devāsuraiḥ: the gods and demons | sukha samviṣṭam: sleeping profoundly | tṛṇeṣu: on the grass | sītayā saha: along with Sita." |

TRANSLATION

"See that Rama, who cannot be vanquished in combat even by the gods and demons combined, now sleeping profoundly on the grass along with Sita."

VERSE 11

यो मन्त्र तपसा लब्धो विविधैः च परिश्रमैः
एको दशरथस्य एष पुत्रः सदृश लक्षणः

yo mantra tapasā labdho vividhaiḥ ca pariśramaiḥ
eko daśarathasya eṣa putraḥ sadṛśa lakṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

12| asmin: this Rama as such | yaḥ: who | sadṛśa lakṣaṇaḥ: is endowed with characteristics alike | dasarathasya: of Dasaratha | ekaḥ: uniquely | iṣṭaḥ: liked | putraḥ: the son | labdhaḥ: obtained (by Dasaratha) | mantra tapasā: by virtue of his charity of sacred texts and austerities | vividhaiḥ: (and) by various | pariśramaiśca: undertakings | pravrājite: has gone to exile | rājā: the king | na vartayiṣyati: will not live | ciram: long | medinī: (and) the earth | nūnam: will surely | bhaviṣyati: become | vidhavā: widowed | kṣiprameva: forthwith. |

TRANSLATION

When Rama- who is endowed with similar characteristics as Dasaratha, uniquely beloved, the son obtained by Dasaratha by virtue of his chanting of several sacred texts and austerities and by various undertakings (in the form of sacrificial performances) has gone to exile, the king will not live long and the earth will become surely widowed forthwith.

VERSE 13

विनद्य सुमहा नादम् श्रमेण उपरताः स्त्रियः
निर्घोष उपरतम् तात मन्ये राज निवेशनम्

vinadya sumahā nādam śrameṇa uparatāḥ striyaḥ
nirghoṣa uparatam tāta manye rāja niveśanam

SYNONYMS

vinadya: having cried out | sumahara nādam: in a high-pitched tone | striyaḥ: the women | śrameṇa: exhausted | uparatāḥ: will have fallen silent | ataḥ: for that reason | manye: I think | nirghoṣoparatam: a profound stillness reigns | rājaniveśanam: in the palace. |

TRANSLATION

Having cried out in a high-pitched tone, the women having exhausted, will have fallen silent and I am sure that a profound stillness reigns in the palace.

VERSE 14

कौसल्या चैव राजा च तथैव जननी मम
न आशंसे यदि जीवन्ति सर्वे ते शर्वरीम् इमाम्

kausalyā caiva rājā ca tathaiva jananī mama
na āśaṃse yadi jīvanti sarve te śarvarīm imām

SYNONYMS

nāśamse: I do not expect | kausalyācaiva: Kausalya | rājāca: the king | tathaiva: and | mama jananī: my mother | te sarve: all of them | yadi jīvanti: to remain alive | imām: this | śarvarīm: night. |

TRANSLATION

"I do not expect Kausalya, Dasaratha and my mother all of them to remain alive for this night."

VERSE 15

जीवेद् अपि हि मे माता शत्रुघ्नस्य अन्ववेक्षया
तत् दुह्खम् यत् तु कौसल्या वीरसूर् विनशिष्यति

jīved api hi me mātā śatrughnasya anvavekṣayā
tat duhkham yat tu kausalyā vīrasūr vinaśiṣyati

SYNONYMS

anvavekṣayā: by looking for | śatrughnasya: Satrughna | me mātā: my mother | jīvedapi hi: may indeed stay alive. tat = It will be | duḥkham: painful | k͟hausalyā: (that) Kausalya | vīrasūḥ: who has given birth to a hero | yat vinaśiṣyati: may perish. |

TRANSLATION

"By looking forward to meet Satrughna, my mother might even stay alive. But it will be painful if Kausalya who has given birth to a heroic son, dies."

VERSE 16

अनुरक्त जन आकीर्णा सुख आलोक प्रिय आवहा
राज व्यसन संसृष्टा सा पुरी विनशिष्यति

anurakta jana ākīrṇā sukha āloka priya āvahā
rāja vyasana saṃsṛṣṭā sā purī vinaśiṣyati

SYNONYMS

anuraktajanākīrṇā: filled with devoted people | sukhā: a source of joy | lokapriyāvahā: and which brought pleasure to the world | sā purī: that city of Ayodhya | rāja vyasana samsṛṣṭā: when seized with sorrow over the king's death | vinaśiṣyati: will perish. |

TRANSLATION

That city of Ayodhya, filled with devoted people, hitherto a source of joy and which brought pleasure to the world, when seized with agony over the king's death, will perish.

VERSE 17

कथम् पुत्रम् महात्मानम् ज्येष्ठम् प्रियमपस्यतः
शरीरम् धारयुष्यान्ति प्राणा राज्ञो महात्मनः

katham putram mahātmānam jyeṣṭham priyamapasyataḥ
śarīram dhārayuṣyānti prāṇā rājño mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

katham: how | apaśyataḥ: not seeing | putram: his son | mahātmānam: the magnanimous | jyeṣṭam: and the first born | prāṇāḥ: will the vital airs | dhārayiṣyanti: be maintained | śarīram: in the body | rāġ^yaḥ: of the king | mahātmanaḥ: the generous?" |

TRANSLATION

"How, in the absence of his magnanimous and the first born son, will the vital airs in the body of the generous king be maintained?"

VERSE 18

विनष्टे नृपतौ पश्चात्कौसल्या विनशिष्यति
अनन्तरम् च माता।अपि मम नाशमुपैष्यति

vinaṣṭe nṛpatau paścātkausalyā vinaśiṣyati
anantaram ca mātā|api mama nāśamupaiṣyati

SYNONYMS

vinaṣṭe: after the death | nṛpatou: of the king | kausalyā: Kausalya | vinaśiṣyati: will die | paścāt: from behind. anantaramcha = Afterwards | mama mātā'pi: my mother also | upaiṣyati: will obtain | nāśam: death." |

TRANSLATION

"After the death of king, Kausalya will die. My mother also will die thereafter.

VERSE 19

अतिक्रान्तम् अतिक्रान्तम् अनवाप्य मनोरथम्
राज्ये रामम् अनिक्षिप्य पिता मे विनशिष्यति

atikrāntam atikrāntam anavāpya manoratham
rājye rāmam anikṣipya pitā me vinaśiṣyati

SYNONYMS

anavāpya: not attaining | manoratham: his desire( to enthrone Rama) atikraantamatikraantam = going astray again and again | anikṣipya: and without installing | rāmam: Rama | rājye: in the kingdom | me pitra: my father | vinaśiṣyati: will perish." |

TRANSLATION

"Having failed to install Rama in the kingdom, failed forever, which was the most cherished wish of his heart, my father will leave this world.

VERSE 20

सिद्ध अर्थाः पितरम् वृत्तम् तस्मिन् काले हि उपस्थिते
प्रेत कार्येषु सर्वेषु संस्करिष्यन्ति भूमिपम्

siddha arthāḥ pitaram vṛttam tasmin kāle hi upasthite
preta kāryeṣu sarveṣu saṃskariṣyanti bhūmipam

SYNONYMS

siddhārthāḥ: those who are fortunate | samskariṣyanti: will consecrate | vṟ^ttam: deceased | pitaram: father | bhūmipam: and the king | sarveṣu pretakāryeṣu: in the course of all funeral rites | tasmin kale: (when) the hour | vyupasthite: has struck." |

TRANSLATION

"Those who are fortunate will consecrate our deceased father and the king in the course of all funeral rites, when the hour has struck.

VERSE 21

रम्य चत्वर संस्थानाम् सुविभक्त महा पथाम्
हर्म्य प्रसाद सम्पन्नाम् गणिका वर शोभिताम्

ramya catvara saṃsthānām suvibhakta mahā pathām
harmya prasāda sampannām gaṇikā vara śobhitām

SYNONYMS

23| sukhitāḥ: the happy people | vicariṣyanti: will move | rājadhānīm: in the capital | mama pituḥ: belonging to my father | ramya catvara samsthānām: with its quadrangular places allocated at lovely sites | suvibhakta mahāpathām: well- aligned | harmya prāsāda sampannām: rich in mansions of well-to-do men and temples | gaṇikāvara śobhitām: adorned with the foremost of courtesans | rathāśvagaja sambādhām: its chariots | tūrya nāda vināditām: the musical instruments that resound there | sarva kalyāṇa sampūrṇām: full of all blessings | hṛṣṭa puṣṭa janākulām: crowded with merry and well- fed men | ārāmodyāna sampannāam: well- provided with gardens and royal parks | samājotsava śālinīm: (and) bright with festivities carried on under the patronage of associations. |

TRANSLATION

People will joyfully move in the capital belonging to my father and the city with its quadrangular places allocated at lovely sites, and well- aligned roads, rich in mansions of well-to-do men, temples and royal palaces adorned with the foremost of courtesans, its chariots horses and elephants that obstruct the roads, the musical instruments that resound there- full of all blessings and crowded with merry and well fed men, well- provided with gardens and royal parks and bright with festivities carried on under the patronage of associations.

VERSE 24

अपि जीवेद्धशरथो वनवासात्पुनर्वयम्
प्रत्यागम्य महात्मानमपि पश्येम सुव्रतम्

api jīveddhaśaratho vanavāsātpunarvayam
pratyāgamya mahātmānamapi paśyema suvratam

SYNONYMS

daśarathaḥ api jīvet: Will Dasaratha remain alive? pratyaagamya = After returning | vanavāsāt: from exile | vayam api paśyema: can we see | mahātmānam: the high-soled king | suvratam: of noble vows | punaḥ: again? |

TRANSLATION

Will Dasaratha remain alive? After returning from exile, can we see the high-soled king Dasaratha of noble vows again?

VERSE 25

अपि सत्य प्रतिज्ञेन सार्धम् कुशलिना वयम्
निवृत्ते वन वासे अस्मिन्न् अयोध्याम् प्रविशेमहि

api satya pratijñena sārdham kuśalinā vayam
nivṛtte vana vāse asminn ayodhyām praviśemahi

SYNONYMS

nivṛttavanavāse: after completion of the exile in the forest | vayamapi praveśemahi: can we enter | ayodhyām: Ayodhya | kuśalinā: safely | asmin: with Rama | satyapratiġ^ena sārdham: who is faithful to his promises. |

TRANSLATION

Can we safely return to Ayodhya, after completion of the exile in the forest along with Rama who is faithful to his promises?

VERSE 26

परिदेवयमानस्य दुह्ख आर्तस्य महात्मनः
तिष्ठतः राज पुत्रस्य शर्वरी सा अत्यवर्तत

paridevayamānasya duhkha ārtasya mahātmanaḥ
tiṣṭhataḥ rāja putrasya śarvarī sā atyavartata

SYNONYMS

mahātmanaḥ: (while) the high-soled | rāja putrasya: Lakshmana | paridevayāmānasya: thus lamenting | tiṣṭataḥ: stood on guard | duḥkhārtasya: afflicated with anguish as he was | sā śarvarī: that night | atyavartata: rolled away. |

TRANSLATION

While the high-soled Lakshmana thus lamenting, stood on ground, afflicted with anguish as he was, that night rolled away.

VERSE 27

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अयोध्य काण्डे एकपंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye ayodhya kāṇḍe ekapaṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

narendra putre: (while) Lakshmana (son of Dasaratha) | prajāhite: who was concerned with the welfare of the people | bruvati: was speaking | satyam: the truth | tathā: thus | gurusouhṛdāt: out of his affection for his elder brother (Rama) | guhaḥ: Guha | vyathāturaḥ: overcome with agony | vyasanābhi pīditah: oppressed with adversity | mumoca: shed | bāṣpam: tears | nāgāḥ iva: like an elephant | jvarāturaḥ: tormented with fever. |

TRANSLATION

While Lakshmana (son of Dasaratha), who was concerned with the welfare of the people; was thus speaking the truth out of his affection for his elder brother (Rama), Guha, overcome with agony and oppressed with adversity shed tears like an elephant tormented with fever.