Chapter 53
Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya
स तम् वृक्षम् समासाद्य संध्याम् अन्वास्य पश्चिमाम्
रामः रमयताम् श्रेष्ठैति ह उवाच लक्ष्मणम्
sa tam vṛkṣam samāsādya saṃdhyām anvāsya paścimām
rāmaḥ ramayatām śreṣṭhaiti ha uvāca lakṣmaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama, the foremost of those affording happiness to others, reached the aforesaid tree, worshipped the western twilight and spoke to Lakshmana as follows:
अद्य इयम् प्रथमा रात्रिर् याता जन पदात् बहिः
या सुमन्त्रेण रहिता ताम् न उत्कण्ठितुम् अर्हसि
adya iyam prathamā rātrir yātā jana padāt bahiḥ
yā sumantreṇa rahitā tām na utkaṇṭhitum arhasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This might which has got past us today outside the inhabited territory is the first night which has passed without Sumantra. You ought not repent over it."
जागर्तव्यम् अतन्द्रिभ्याम् अद्य प्रभृति रात्रिषु
योग क्षेमः हि सीताया वर्तते लक्ष्मण आवयोह्
jāgartavyam atandribhyām adya prabhṛti rātriṣu
yoga kṣemaḥ hi sītāyā vartate lakṣmaṇa āvayoh
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Remaining free from lassitude, we must both keep awake during nights, from today Lakshmana! The safety and welfare of Sita indeed depend on us two."
रात्रिम् कथंचित् एव इमाम् सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे
उपावर्तामहे भूमाव् आस्तीर्य स्वयम् आर्जितैः
rātrim kathaṃcit eva imām saumitre vartayāmahe
upāvartāmahe bhūmāv āstīrya svayam ārjitaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let us pass this night anyhow, Lakshmana! Let us lie down on the ground, covering it by straw, leaves and so on, procured by our own hands."
स तु सम्विश्य मेदिन्याम् महा अर्ह शयन उचितः
इमाः सौमित्रये रामः व्याजहार कथाः शुभाः
sa tu samviśya medinyām mahā arha śayana ucitaḥ
imāḥ saumitraye rāmaḥ vyājahāra kathāḥ śubhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Streching himself on the bare ground, Rama, who was accustomed to a luxurious coach, uttered the following suitable words to Lakshmana:
ध्रुवम् अद्य महा राजो दुह्खम् स्वपिति लक्ष्मण
कृत कामा तु कैकेयी तुष्टा भवितुम् अर्हति
dhruvam adya mahā rājo duhkham svapiti lakṣmaṇa
kṛta kāmā tu kaikeyī tuṣṭā bhavitum arhati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Assuredly the emperor is sleeping badly tonight, while Kaikeyi, having realized her ambitions, ought to feel satisfied."
सा हि देवी महा राजम् कैकेयी राज्य कारणात्
अपि न च्यावयेत् प्राणान् दृष्ट्वा भरतम् आगतम्
sā hi devī mahā rājam kaikeyī rājya kāraṇāt
api na cyāvayet prāṇān dṛṣṭvā bharatam āgatam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Seeing Bharata returned, queen Kaikeyi, I am afraid, may not expel the lives of the emperor for the sake of kingdom."
अनाथः चैव वृद्धः च मया चैव विनाकृतः
किम् करिष्यति काम आत्मा कैकेय्या वशम् आगतः
anāthaḥ caiva vṛddhaḥ ca mayā caiva vinākṛtaḥ
kim kariṣyati kāma ātmā kaikeyyā vaśam āgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Aged and (therefore) helpless, deprived of my presence, what will he do, dominated as he is by his passion for Kaikeyi and who has fallen into the clutches of Kaikeyi."
इदम् व्यसनम् आलोक्य राज्ञः च मति विभ्रमम्
कामएव अर्ध धर्माभ्याम् गरीयान् इति मे मतिः
idam vyasanam ālokya rājñaḥ ca mati vibhramam
kāmaeva ardha dharmābhyām garīyān iti me matiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Reflecting on this misfortune of the king and his mental derangement, I deem that passion alone is greater than early gain and religious merit."
को हि अविद्वान् अपि पुमान् प्रमदायाः कृते त्यजेत्
चन्द अनुवर्तिनम् पुत्रम् तातः माम् इव लक्ष्मण
ko hi avidvān api pumān pramadāyāḥ kṛte tyajet
canda anuvartinam putram tātaḥ mām iva lakṣmaṇa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"what man however deluded, what father on account of a woman, at his own will and pleasure, abandon a son like myself?
सुखी बत सभार्यः च भरतः केकयी सुतः
मुदितान् कोसलान् एको यो भोक्ष्यति अधिराजवत्
sukhī bata sabhāryaḥ ca bharataḥ kekayī sutaḥ
muditān kosalān eko yo bhokṣyati adhirājavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Alas, Kaikeyi's son Bharata (alone) is happy along with his wife. Like an overlord, he is going to enjoy the prosperous kingdom of Kosala."
स हि सर्वस्य राज्यस्य मुखम् एकम् भविष्यति
ताते च वयसा अतीते मयि च अरण्यम् आश्रिते
sa hi sarvasya rājyasya mukham ekam bhaviṣyati
tāte ca vayasā atīte mayi ca araṇyam āśrite
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Father is superannuated. I am staying in the forest. Bharata will become the prime head for the entire kingdom."
अर्थ धर्मौ परित्यज्य यः कामम् अनुवर्तते
एवम् आपद्यते क्षिप्रम् राजा दशरथो यथा
artha dharmau parityajya yaḥ kāmam anuvartate
evam āpadyate kṣipram rājā daśaratho yathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He who pursues sensuous pleasures neglecting his real interests and discipline soon comes to distress; in the same way as king Dasaratha has."
मन्ये दशरथ अन्ताय मम प्रव्राजनाय च
कैकेयी सौम्य सम्प्राप्ता राज्याय भरतस्य च
manye daśaratha antāya mama pravrājanāya ca
kaikeyī saumya samprāptā rājyāya bharatasya ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It seems that Kaikeyi came into our house, oh good brother, to bring about an end to Dasaratha, to send me into exile and to secure kingship for Bharata."
अपि इदानीम् न कैकेयी सौभाग्य मद मोहिता
कौसल्याम् च सुमित्राम् च सम्प्रबाधेत मत् कृते
api idānīm na kaikeyī saubhāgya mada mohitā
kausalyām ca sumitrām ca samprabādheta mat kṛte
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Blinded by pride of good fortune, Kaikeyi may even now persecute Kausalya and Sumitra because of their relationship with me."
मा स्म मत् कारणात् देवी सुमित्रा दुह्खम् आवसेत्
अयोध्याम् इतएव त्वम् काले प्रविश लक्ष्मण
mā sma mat kāraṇāt devī sumitrā duhkham āvaset
ayodhyām itaeva tvam kāle praviśa lakṣmaṇa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Queen Sumitra is likely to suffer hardship because of her affinity to us. From this very place, you proceed to Ayodhya next morning, oh, Lakshmana!"
अहम् एको गमिष्यामि सीतया सह दण्डकान्
अनाथाया हि नाथः त्वम् कौसल्याया भविष्यसि
aham eko gamiṣyāmi sītayā saha daṇḍakān
anāthāyā hi nāthaḥ tvam kausalyāyā bhaviṣyasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I shall proceed to Dandaka forest alone with Sita, while you will be the protector for Kausalya, who has no defender."
क्षुद्र कर्मा हि कैकेयी द्वेषात् अन्याय्यम् आचरेत्
परिदद्या हि धर्मज्ञे भरते मम मातरम्
kṣudra karmā hi kaikeyī dveṣāt anyāyyam ācaret
paridadyā hi dharmajñe bharate mama mātaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Kaikeyi of base deeds may resort to unjustified means to be disliked. Give (for protection) my mother to Bharata, oh virtuous Prince!"
नूनम् जाति अन्तरे कस्मिंस् स्त्रियः पुत्रैः वियोजिताः
जनन्या मम सौमित्रे तत् अपि एतत् उपस्थितम्
nūnam jāti antare kasmiṃs striyaḥ putraiḥ viyojitāḥ
jananyā mama saumitre tat api etat upasthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In some other (past) birth, women must have been deprived of their sons by my mother (Kausalya), oh, Lakshmana! For that reason this has arisen certainly."
मया हि चिर पुष्टेन दुह्ख सम्वर्धितेन च
विप्रायुज्यत कौसल्या फल काले धिग् अस्तु माम्
mayā hi cira puṣṭena duhkha samvardhitena ca
viprāyujyata kausalyā phala kāle dhig astu mām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"At a time when Kausalya should have obtained benefits for her labors repaid by me, she has been deprived of my company by me, who was nurtured by her for a long time and brought up with great pains. Woe to me."
मा स्म सीमन्तिनी काचिज् जनयेत् पुत्रम् ईदृशम्
सौमित्रे यो अहम् अम्बाया दद्मि शोकम् अनन्तकम्
mā sma sīmantinī kācij janayet putram īdṛśam
saumitre yo aham ambāyā dadmi śokam anantakam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let no woman ever give birth to such a son as myself, who have caused perpetual grief to my mother, oh, Lakshmana!"
मन्ये प्रीति विशिष्टा सा मत्तः लक्ष्मण सारिका
यस्याः तत् श्रूयते वाक्यम् शुक पादम् अरेर् दश
manye prīti viśiṣṭā sā mattaḥ lakṣmaṇa sārikā
yasyāḥ tat śrūyate vākyam śuka pādam arer daśa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Lakshmana! I think that myna (which is kept as a pet by mother Kausalya) is more affectionate than I, since her are heard the words, "Bite, oh parrot, the foot of the enemy."
शोचन्त्याः च अल्प भाग्याया न किंचित् उपकुर्वता
पुर्त्रेण किम् अपुत्राया मया कार्यम् अरिम् दम
śocantyāḥ ca alpa bhāgyāyā na kiṃcit upakurvatā
purtreṇa kim aputrāyā mayā kāryam arim dama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"What can be done by me, her son, who cannot go to her aid even a little to her, my mother, who is weeping, who is unfortunate and who has no son, oh conqueror of foes?"
अल्प भाग्या हि मे माता कौसल्या रहिता मया
शेते परम दुह्ख आर्ता पतिता शोक सागरे
alpa bhāgyā hi me mātā kausalyā rahitā mayā
śete parama duhkha ārtā patitā śoka sāgare
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Kausalya my mother of poor luck indeed, bereft of me, is stricken with great melancholy and lies plunged in a sea of grief"
एको हि अहम् अयोध्याम् च पृथिवीम् च अपि लक्ष्मण
तरेयम् इषुभिः क्रुद्धो ननु वीर्यम् अकारणम्
eko hi aham ayodhyām ca pṛthivīm ca api lakṣmaṇa
tareyam iṣubhiḥ kruddho nanu vīryam akāraṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Enraged, I can subdue with my arrows single handed not only Ayodhya but also the earth. But it is not a question of valor here."
अधर्म भय भीतः च पर लोकस्य च अनघ
तेन लक्ष्मण न अद्य अहम् आत्मानम् अभिषेचये
adharma bhaya bhītaḥ ca para lokasya ca anagha
tena lakṣmaṇa na adya aham ātmānam abhiṣecaye
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, the sinless Lakshmana! I am terribly concerned of doing wrong and of ruining my prospects in the other world. Hence, I do not allow myself to be crowned."
एतत् अन्यच् च करुणम् विलप्य विजने बहु
अश्रु पूर्ण मुखो रामः निशि तूष्णीम् उपाविशत्
etat anyac ca karuṇam vilapya vijane bahu
aśru pūrṇa mukho rāmaḥ niśi tūṣṇīm upāviśat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama during the night in that lonely forest, wailed piteously thus and in so many other ways and sat quite, his face full of tears.
विलप्य उपरतम् रामम् गत अर्चिषम् इव अनलम्
समुद्रम् इव निर्वेगम् आश्वासयत लक्ष्मणः
vilapya uparatam rāmam gata arciṣam iva analam
samudram iva nirvegam āśvāsayata lakṣmaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lakshmana consoled Rama as follows when the later had ceased lamenting like a fire whose flames had gone out and as a sea without a violent motion.
ध्रुवम् अद्य पुरी रामायोध्या युधिनाम् वर
निष्प्रभा त्वयि निष्क्रान्ते गत चन्द्रा इव शर्वरी
dhruvam adya purī rāmāyodhyā yudhinām vara
niṣprabhā tvayi niṣkrānte gata candrā iva śarvarī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The city of Ayodhya, now that you have come away from it, has certainly been divested of its splendor and resembles a night without the moon, Oh, Rama the jewel among armed warriors!"
न एतत् औपयिकम् राम यद् इदम् परितप्यसे
विषादयसि सीताम् च माम् चैव पुरुष ऋषभ
na etat aupayikam rāma yad idam paritapyase
viṣādayasi sītām ca mām caiva puruṣa ṛṣabha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It is not proper, oh Rama, that you should grieve in this way. You cause distress to Sita and me too, oh jewel among men!"
न च सीता त्वया हीना न च अहम् अपि राघव
मुहूर्तम् अपि जीवावो जलान् मत्स्याव् इव उद्धृतौ
na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na ca aham api rāghava
muhūrtam api jīvāvo jalān matsyāv iva uddhṛtau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama! Bereft of you , neither Sita nor I will not survive even for a moment, like fish pulled out of water."
न हि तातम् न शत्रुघ्नम् न सुमित्राम् परम् तप
द्रष्टुम् इच्चेयम् अद्य अहम् स्वर्गम् वा अपि त्वया विना
na hi tātam na śatrughnam na sumitrām param tapa
draṣṭum icceyam adya aham svargam vā api tvayā vinā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama causing pain to the foes! Without you, I do not wish to see either our father or Satrughna or Sumitra or even the heaven."
ततस्तत्र सुखासीने नातिदूरे निरीक्ष्य ताम्
न्यग्रोधे सुकृताम् शय्याम् भेजाते धर्मवत्सलौ
tatastatra sukhāsīne nātidūre nirīkṣya tām
nyagrodhe sukṛtām śayyām bhejāte dharmavatsalau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Rama and Lakshmana the lovers of piety, sitting comfortably there and on seeing a bed well- prepared under a banyan tree, sought for the bed.
स लक्ष्मणस्य उत्तम पुष्कलम् वचो
निशम्य च एवम् वन वासम् आदरात्
समाः समस्ता विदधे परम् तपः
प्रपद्य धर्मम् सुचिराय राघवः
sa lakṣmaṇasya uttama puṣkalam vaco
niśamya ca evam vana vāsam ādarāt
samāḥ samastā vidadhe param tapaḥ
prapadya dharmam sucirāya rāghavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Attentively hearing Lakshmana's words which were excellent and wholistic and adopting for a fairly long period the course of conduct prescribed for hermits, Rama resolved to spend all the fourteen years in exile with Lakshmana.
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अयोध्य काण्डे त्रिपञ्चशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye ayodhya kāṇḍe tripañcaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thence forward, those two powerful offspring of the Raghu race (Rama and Lakshmana) never admitted fear or agitation (while dwelling) in that vast and lonely forest any more than a couple of lions on the slopes of a mountain.