Chapter 58
Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya
प्रत्याश्वस्तः यदा राजा मोहात् प्रत्यागतः पुनः
थाजुहाव तम् सूतम् राम वृत्त अन्त कारणात्
pratyāśvastaḥ yadā rājā mohāt pratyāgataḥ punaḥ
thājuhāva tam sūtam rāma vṛtta anta kāraṇāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, the king when recovered from loss of consciousness and again returned to his breath, he called that charioteer for the purpose of getting the report on Rama.
तदा सूतो महाराज कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थितः
राममेव अनुशोचन्तं दुःखशोकसमन्वितम्
tadā sūto mahārāja kṛtāñjalirupasthitaḥ
rāmameva anuśocantaṃ duḥkhaśokasamanvitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Sumantra, who joined his palms in reverence, approached the monarch who was repenting about Rama alone, filled with pain and sorrow, advanced in age, greatly anguished, sighing like a newly caught elephant and reflecting on something as a sick elephant.
राजा तु रजसा सूतम् ध्वस्त अङ्गम् समुपस्थितम्
अश्रु पूर्ण मुखम् दीनम् उवाच परम आर्तवत्
rājā tu rajasā sūtam dhvasta aṅgam samupasthitam
aśru pūrṇa mukham dīnam uvāca parama ārtavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The king, having great distress, spoke to Sumantra, whose body was covered with dust, his face filled with tears, who was miserable and who approached near him (as follows):
क्व नु वत्स्यति धर्म आत्मा वृक्ष मूलम् उपाश्रितः
सो अत्यन्त सुखितः सूत किम् अशिष्यति राघवः
kva nu vatsyati dharma ātmā vṛkṣa mūlam upāśritaḥ
so atyanta sukhitaḥ sūta kim aśiṣyati rāghavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Sumantra! Where can Rama the virtuous man abide, taking refuge at the root of a tree? What that Rama, who enjoyed very many pleasantries, can eat now?"
दुःखस्यानुचितो दुःखम् सुमन्त्र शयनोचितः
भूमि पाल आत्मजो भूमौ शेते कथम् अनाथवत्
duḥkhasyānucito duḥkham sumantra śayanocitaḥ
bhūmi pāla ātmajo bhūmau śete katham anāthavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Sumantra! How can Rama the prince, who was habituated to good beds, sleep with such discomfort on a floor like an orphan?"
यम् यान्तम् अनुयान्ति स्म पदाति रथ कुण्ज़्जराः
स वत्स्यति कथम् रामः विजनम् वनम् आश्रितः
yam yāntam anuyānti sma padāti ratha kuṇzjarāḥ
sa vatsyati katham rāmaḥ vijanam vanam āśritaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Foot soldiers, Chariots and elephants used to follows whenever Rama was marching ahead. How such a man can take shelter and stay in a forest devoid of people?"
व्याल्दैः मृगैः आचरितम् कृष्ण सर्प निषेवितम्
कथम् कुमारौ वैदेह्या सार्धम् वनम् उपस्थितौ
vyāldaiḥ mṛgaiḥ ācaritam kṛṣṇa sarpa niṣevitam
katham kumārau vaidehyā sārdham vanam upasthitau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"How Seetha Rama and Lakshmana entered forest filled with wild animals and black snakes?"
सुकुमार्या तपस्विन्या सुमन्त्र सह सीतया
राज पुत्रौ कथम् पादैः अवरुह्य रथात् गतौ
sukumāryā tapasvinyā sumantra saha sītayā
rāja putrau katham pādaiḥ avaruhya rathāt gatau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Sumantra! How those princes with Seetha the delicate and the poor lady went on foot, after descending from the chariot?"
सिद्ध अर्थः खलु सूत त्वम् येन दृष्टौ मम आत्मजौ
वन अन्तम् प्रविशन्तौ ताव् अश्विनाव् इव मन्दरम्
siddha arthaḥ khalu sūta tvam yena dṛṣṭau mama ātmajau
vana antam praviśantau tāv aśvināv iva mandaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Sumantra! You have seen my sons entering the forest, as though divinities of Aswini had entered the Mountain-range of Mandara. You are indeed lucky."
किम् उवाच वचो रामः किम् उवाच च लक्ष्मणः
सुमन्त्र वनम् आसाद्य किम् उवाच च मैथिली
kim uvāca vaco rāmaḥ kim uvāca ca lakṣmaṇaḥ
sumantra vanam āsādya kim uvāca ca maithilī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Sumantra! After reaching the forest, what words did Rama speak? What did Lakshmana speak? What did Seetha speak?"
आसितम् शयितम् भुक्तम् सूत रामस्य कीर्तय
जीविष्याम्यहमेतेन ययातिरिव साधुषु
āsitam śayitam bhuktam sūta rāmasya kīrtaya
jīviṣyāmyahametena yayātiriva sādhuṣu
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, charioteer! Tell me where Rama sat, slept and took food. By hearing these things, I shall survive, as Yayati survived in the company of saints."
PURPORT
इति सूतः नर इन्द्रेण चोदितः सज्जमानया
उवाच वाचा राजानम् स बाष्प परिर्बद्धया
iti sūtaḥ nara indreṇa coditaḥ sajjamānayā
uvāca vācā rājānam sa bāṣpa parirbaddhayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As asked thus by the king, Sumantra spoke to the emperor in a voice quivering and choked with tears (as follows).
अब्रवीन् माम् महा राज धर्मम् एव अनुपालयन्
अन्जलिम् राघवः कृत्वा शिरसा अभिप्रणम्य च
abravīn mām mahā rāja dharmam eva anupālayan
anjalim rāghavaḥ kṛtvā śirasā abhipraṇamya ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, emperor! Rama, keeping up the prescribed course of conduct, making salutation with joined palms and bowing his head in reverence to you, spoke to me as follows:"
सूत मद्वचनात् तस्य तातस्य विदित आत्मनः
शिरसा वन्दनीयस्य वन्द्यौ पादौ महात्मनः
sūta madvacanāt tasya tātasya vidita ātmanaḥ
śirasā vandanīyasya vandyau pādau mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, charioteer! Tell my salutations to my father, the one with a remarkable intellect, a mighty soul and the one to be respectfully greeted."
सर्वम् अन्तः पुरम् वाच्यम् सूत मद्वचनात्त्वया
आरोग्यम् अविशेषेण यथा अर्हम् च अभिवादनम्
sarvam antaḥ puram vācyam sūta madvacanāttvayā
ārogyam aviśeṣeṇa yathā arham ca abhivādanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Oh, charioteer! Enquire about the health of all the people in the gynaeceum without any disparity and offer my appropriate salutations to them.
माता च मम कौसल्या कुशलम् च अभिवादनम्
अप्रमादम् च वक्तव्या ब्रूयाश्चैमिदम् वचः
mātā ca mama kausalyā kuśalam ca abhivādanam
apramādam ca vaktavyā brūyāścaimidam vacaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
My mother Kausalya is to be told about my welfare, about my offering salutations to her and about my meticulousness.
धर्मनित्या यथाकालमग्न्यगारपरा भव
देवि देवस्य पादौ च देववत् परिपालय
dharmanityā yathākālamagnyagāraparā bhava
devi devasya pādau ca devavat paripālaya
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, godly lady! Be always righteous and be interested in offering worship and sacrifices as per the prescribed timings in the House of Fire worship. Nurture the feet of the Lord Dasaratha, like with a god."
अभिमानम् च मानम् च त्यक्त्वा वर्तस्व मातृषु
अनु राजान मार्याम् च कैकेयीमम्ब कारय
abhimānam ca mānam ca tyaktvā vartasva mātṛṣu
anu rājāna māryām ca kaikeyīmamba kāraya
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, mother! Behave towards my other mothers, abandoning self-conceit and indignation. Make the venerable Kaikeyi, agreeable to the king."
कुमारे भरते वृत्तिर्वर्तितव्याच राजवत्
अर्थज्येष्ठा हि राजानो राजधर्ममनुस्मर
kumāre bharate vṛttirvartitavyāca rājavat
arthajyeṣṭhā hi rājāno rājadharmamanusmara
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In respect of Bharata your son, follow a respectable behaviour as with a king. Kings are indeed sovereign in substance. Remember the rules relating to kings."
भरतः कुशलम् वाच्यो वाच्यो मद् वचनेन च
सर्वास्व एव यथा न्यायम् वृत्तिम् वर्तस्व मातृषु
bharataḥ kuśalam vācyo vācyo mad vacanena ca
sarvāsva eva yathā nyāyam vṛttim vartasva mātṛṣu
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Bharata is to be enquired about his well-being and he is also to be informed as follows: "Follow good behaviour indeed judiciously towards all your mothers."
वक्तव्यः च महा बाहुर् इक्ष्वाकु कुल नन्दनः
पितरम् यौवराज्यस्थो राज्यस्थम् अनुपालय
vaktavyaḥ ca mahā bāhur ikṣvāku kula nandanaḥ
pitaram yauvarājyastho rājyastham anupālaya
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The mighty armed Bharata the son of Ikshvaku race, is to be told as follows: �Being installed in the office of Prince Regent, attend to your father who still stays in the throne'."
अतिक्रान्तवया राजा मास्मैनम् व्यवरोरुधः
कुमारराज्ये जीव त्वम् तस्यैवाज्ञ्प्रवर्तनाम्
atikrāntavayā rājā māsmainam vyavarorudhaḥ
kumārarājye jīva tvam tasyaivājñpravartanām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The king has crossed his age. But do not depose him on that score. By proceeding according to the orders of the king, you live as a prince."
अब्रवीच्चापि माम् भूयो भृशमश्रूणि वर्तयन्
मातेव मम माता ते द्रष्टव्या पुत्रगर्धिनी
abravīccāpi mām bhūyo bhṛśamaśrūṇi vartayan
māteva mama mātā te draṣṭavyā putragardhinī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Shedding tears profusely, Rama again spoke to me as follows : �My mother, who is very much longing her son, is to be looked after by you as if she is your mother'."
इति एवम् माम् महाराज बृवन्न् एव महा यशाः
रामः राजीव ताम्र अक्षो भृशम् अश्रूणि अवर्तयत्
iti evam mām mahārāja bṛvann eva mahā yaśāḥ
rāmaḥ rājīva tāmra akṣo bhṛśam aśrūṇi avartayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, emperor! Rama of the most beautiful appearance with red eyes resembling red lotus flowers, while even uttering these words to me profusely shed tears."
लक्ष्मणः तु सुसम्क्रुद्धो निह्श्वसन् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
केन अयम् अपराधेन राज पुत्रः विवासितः
lakṣmaṇaḥ tu susamkruddho nihśvasan vākyam abravīt
kena ayam aparādhena rāja putraḥ vivāsitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"But Lakshmana was very angry and breathing a sigh, spoke to me as follows: �On which offence this prince was expelled from home?'"
राज्ञा तु खलु कैकेय्या लघु त्वाश्रित्य शासनम्
कृतम् कार्यमकार्यम् वा वयम् येनाभिपीडिताः
rājñā tu khalu kaikeyyā laghu tvāśritya śāsanam
kṛtam kāryamakāryam vā vayam yenābhipīḍitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The king even took shelter under a wretched decree of Kaikeyi and performed an act not to be done, as though it is a proper deed, for which we are now tormented."
यदि प्रव्राजितः रामः लोभ कारण कारितम्
वर दान निमित्तम् वा सर्वथा दुष्कृतम् कृतम्
yadi pravrājitaḥ rāmaḥ lobha kāraṇa kāritam
vara dāna nimittam vā sarvathā duṣkṛtam kṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even if this was done for the good pleasure of the king or through the will of God, I do not see any justification for Rama's abandonment."
इदम् तावद्यथाकाममीश्वरस्य कृते कृतम्
रामस्य तु परित्यागे न हेतुम् उपलक्षये
idam tāvadyathākāmamīśvarasya kṛte kṛtam
rāmasya tu parityāge na hetum upalakṣaye
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even if this was done for the good pleasure of the king or through the will of god, I do not see any justification for Rama's abandonment."
असमीक्ष्य समारब्धम् विरुद्धम् बुद्धि लाघवात्
जनयिष्यति सम्क्रोशम् राघवस्य विवासनम्
asamīkṣya samārabdham viruddham buddhi lāghavāt
janayiṣyati samkrośam rāghavasya vivāsanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama's exile, an illegal decision undertaken whether due to levity of judgment or due to lack of reflection, will raise countless protests."
अहम् तावन् महा राजे पितृत्वम् न उपलक्षये
भ्राता भर्ता च बन्धुः च पिता च मम राघवः
aham tāvan mahā rāje pitṛtvam na upalakṣaye
bhrātā bhartā ca bandhuḥ ca pitā ca mama rāghavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not consider the emperor as my father. For me, Rama is the brother, lord, relative and my father."
सर्व लोक प्रियम् त्यक्त्वा सर्व लोक हिते रतम्
सर्व लोको अनुरज्येत कथम् त्वा अनेन कर्मणा
sarva loka priyam tyaktvā sarva loka hite ratam
sarva loko anurajyeta katham tvā anena karmaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Leaving Rama the beloved of all people and who is interested in the welfare of all human beings, how would all these people would be interested in you by this act of yours?"
सर्वप्रजाभिरामम् हि रामम् प्रव्राज्य धार्मिकम्
सर्वलोकम् विरुध्येमम् कथम् राजा भविष्यसि
sarvaprajābhirāmam hi rāmam pravrājya dhārmikam
sarvalokam virudhyemam katham rājā bhaviṣyasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By banishing Rama who is delightful to entire people and who is a virtuous man and by opposing all this entire world, how will you stay as a king?"
जानकी तु महा राज निःश्वसन्ती तपस्विनी
भूत उपहत चित्ता इव विष्ठिता वृष्मृता स्थिता
jānakī tu mahā rāja niḥśvasantī tapasvinī
bhūta upahata cittā iva viṣṭhitā vṛṣmṛtā sthitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, King! The wise Seetha for her part with her mind like one possessed and forgetting her own existence, stood sighing and static.
अदृष्ट पूर्व व्यसना राज पुत्री यशस्विनी
तेन दुह्खेन रुदती न एव माम् किंचित् अब्रवीत्
adṛṣṭa pūrva vyasanā rāja putrī yaśasvinī
tena duhkhena rudatī na eva mām kiṃcit abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The illustrious Seetha having not seen such misfortune earlier, could not even to speak me anything, weeping as she was with that uneasiness."
उद्वीक्षमाणा भर्तारम् मुखेन परिशुष्यता
मुमोच सहसा बाष्पम् माम् प्रयान्तम् उदीक्ष्य सा
udvīkṣamāṇā bhartāram mukhena pariśuṣyatā
mumoca sahasā bāṣpam mām prayāntam udīkṣya sā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Seeing me going back, Seetha with emaciated face, perceiving her husband, soon shed down tears."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe aṣṭapañcāśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In the same way, Rama with tears on his face and with joined palms, stood being shielded by the arms of Lakshmana. The miserable Seetha in the same manner was weeping and seeing the royal chariot and me."