Chapter 96

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

तां तथा दर्शयित्वा तु मैथिलीं गिरिनिम्नगाम्
निषसाद गिरिप्रस्थे सीतां मांसेन चन्दयन्

tāṃ tathā darśayitvā tu maithilīṃ girinimnagām
niṣasāda giriprasthe sītāṃ māṃsena candayan

SYNONYMS

tathā: thus | darśayitvā: having shown | girinimnagām: the mountaneous river Mandakini | tām sītām: to that Seetha | maithilīm: the daughter of the king of Mithila | niṣasāda: sat | giripraśthe: on the hill side | chandayan: in order to gratify her appetite | māmsena: with flesh. |

TRANSLATION

Having shown Mandakini River in that manner to Seetha, the daughter of Mithila, Rama set on the hill-side in order to gratify her appetite with a piece of flesh.

VERSE 2

इदं मेध्यमिदं स्वादु निष्टप्तमिदमग्निना
एवमास्ते स धर्मात्मा सीतया सह राघवः

idaṃ medhyamidaṃ svādu niṣṭaptamidamagninā
evamāste sa dharmātmā sītayā saha rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ rāghavaḥ: that Rama | dharmātmā: of righteousness | āste: stayed | sītayā śa: with Seetha | evam: thus speaking | idam: this | madhyam: is fresh | niṣṭaptam: was roasted | agninā: in the fire. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, whose mind was devoted to righteousness stayed there with Seetha, saying; "This meat is fresh, this is savoury and roasted in the fire."

VERSE 3

तथा तत्र आसतः तस्य भरतस्य उपयायिनः
सैन्य रेणुः च शब्दः च प्रादुर् आस्ताम् नभः स्पृशौ

tathā tatra āsataḥ tasya bharatasya upayāyinaḥ
sainya reṇuḥ ca śabdaḥ ca prādur āstām nabhaḥ spṛśau

SYNONYMS

tasya: (While) that Rama | āsataḥ: was sitting | tatra: there | tathā: in that way | reṇuśca: the dust | śabdaśca: and clamour | bharatasya sainyam: Bharata's army | upayāyinaḥ: which was approaching | prādurāstām: ascended | nabhaspṛśau: touching the sky. |

TRANSLATION

While Rama was thus sitting there the dust and clamour of Bharata's army, which was approaching, ascended into the sky.

VERSE 4

एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे त्रस्ताः शब्देन महता ततः
अर्दिता यूथपा मत्ताः सयूथा दुद्रुवुर् दिशः

etasminn antare trastāḥ śabdena mahatā tataḥ
arditā yūthapā mattāḥ sayūthā dudruvur diśaḥ

SYNONYMS

etasmin antare: meanwhile | trastāḥ: frightened | mahatā śabdena: by the great clamour | yūthapāḥ: leaders of animal troops | mattāḥ: in rut | arditā: were tormented | dudruvuḥ: fled | diśaḥ: (in different) directions | tataḥ: from there. |

TRANSLATION

Meanwhile, frightened by that gigantic clamour, the leaders of elephants and other animal - troops, in rut, were tormented and fled in different directions from there.

VERSE 5

स तम् सैन्य समुद्भूतम् शब्दम् शुश्रव राघवः
ताम्ः च विप्रद्रुतान् सर्वान् यूथपान् अन्ववैक्षत

sa tam sainya samudbhūtam śabdam śuśrava rāghavaḥ
tāmḥ ca vipradrutān sarvān yūthapān anvavaikṣata

SYNONYMS

saḥ rāghavaḥ: Rama | śuśrūva: heard | tam śabdam: that sound | sainya samuddhūtam: generated from the army | anvavaikṣatea: and saw | sarvān: all | tān: those | yūthapān ca: leaders of the animal flock | vipradrutān: running away. |

TRANSLATION

Rama heard that sound generated from the army and also saw all those leaders of the animal-flock, running away from there.

VERSE 6

ताम्ः च विद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा तम् च श्रुत्वा स निह्स्वनम्
उवाच रामः सौमित्रिम् लक्ष्मणम् दीप्त तेजसम्

tāmḥ ca vidravato dṛṣṭvā tam ca śrutvā sa nihsvanam
uvāca rāmaḥ saumitrim lakṣmaṇam dīpta tejasam

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | tān: those animals | vidravataḥ: running away | śrutvā: and hearing | tam: that | nisvanam ca: sound | rāmaḥ: Rama | uvāca: spoke | lakṣmaṇam: to Lakshman | saumitrim: the son of Sumitra | dīpta tejasam: of burning courage. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing those animals running away and hearing that clamour, Rama spoke to Lakshmana (son of Sumitra) of burning courage as follows:

VERSE 7

हन्त लक्ष्मण पश्य इह सुमित्रा सुप्रजाः त्वया
भीम स्तनित गम्भ्हिरः तुमुलः श्रूयते स्वनः

hanta lakṣmaṇa paśya iha sumitrā suprajāḥ tvayā
bhīma stanita gambhhiraḥ tumulaḥ śrūyate svanaḥ

SYNONYMS

hanta: Alas! | lakṣmaṇa: O | sumitrā: sumitra | suprajāḥ: is blessed with a noble son | tvayā: in you | iha: here | śrūyate: is heard | tumulaḥ: a tumultuous | svanaḥ: sound | bhīmastanitagambhīraḥ: as terrific as that of a roaring cloud | paśya: see (what it is). |

TRANSLATION

"Alas! O, Lakshmana! Sumitra is blessed with a noble son in you. Here is heard a tumultuous sound as terrific as that of a roaring cloud. See what it is."

VERSE 8

गजयूथानि वारण्ये महिषा वा महावने
वित्रासिता मृगाह् सिंहैः सहसा प्रद्रुता दिशः २९६८

gajayūthāni vāraṇye mahiṣā vā mahāvane
vitrāsitā mṛgāh siṃhaiḥ sahasā pradrutā diśaḥ 2-96-8

SYNONYMS

gajayūthāni: The lordly elephants | araṇye: in the forest | mahiṣāḥvā: the buffaloes | mahāvane: in the great woods | mṛgāḥ: and the wild beasts | vitrāsitāḥ: frightened | simhaiḥ: by lions | sahasā: are suddenly | pradrutāḥ: running away | diśaḥ: in various directions. |

TRANSLATION

"The lordly elephants in the forest, the buffaloes in the great woods and the wild beasts frightened by lions are suddenly running away in various directions."

VERSE 9

राजा वा राज मात्रो वा मृगयाम् अटते वने
अन्यद् वा श्वा पदम् किंचित् सौमित्रे ज्नातुम् अर्हसि

rājā vā rāja mātro vā mṛgayām aṭate vane
anyad vā śvā padam kiṃcit saumitre jnātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

saumitre: O | arhasi: you ought to | j^ṇātum: know | rājā vā: a king | rāja putrovā: or a prince | mṛgayām aṭate: in roaming for a hunt | : or | anyat: any other | kiṇcit: somewhat | śvāpadam: savage beast. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! You ought to find out whether it is a king or a prince roaming for a hunt or some other savage beast."

VERSE 10

सुदुश्चरो गिरिश्चायं पक्षिणामपि लक्ष्मण
सर्वम् एतद् यथा तत्त्वम् अचिराज् ज्नातुम् अर्हसि

suduścaro giriścāyaṃ pakṣiṇāmapi lakṣmaṇa
sarvam etad yathā tattvam acirāj jnātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: O | giriḥ: mountain | ayam: this | suduścaraḥ: is difficult of access | pakṣiṇāmapi: even to birds | arhasi: you ought | z^ṇātum: to find out | acirāt: soon | etat sarvam: all this | yathā tattvam: accurately. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! This mountain is difficult of access even to birds. You ought to find out soon, all this in an accurate manner."

VERSE 11

स लक्ष्मणः सम्त्वरितः सालम् आरुह्य पुष्पितम्
प्रेक्षमाणो दिशः सर्वाः पूर्वाम् दिशम् अवैक्षत

sa lakṣmaṇaḥ samtvaritaḥ sālam āruhya puṣpitam
prekṣamāṇo diśaḥ sarvāḥ pūrvām diśam avaikṣata

SYNONYMS

saḥ lakṣmaṇaḥ: that Lakshmana | samtvaritaḥ: quickly | āruhya: ascended | sālam: a Sala tree | puṣpitam: in flowering | prekṣamāṇaḥ: and looking | sarvāḥ: in all | diśaḥ: directions | udaikṣata: saw | pūrvām diśam: towards eastern side. |

TRANSLATION

Lakshmana quickly ascended a Sala tree in flowering and looking towards all directions, saw towards eastern side.

VERSE 12

उदन् मुखः प्रेक्षमाणो ददर्श महतीम् चमूम्
रथ अश्व गज सम्बाधाम् यत्तैर् युक्ताम् पदातिभिः

udan mukhaḥ prekṣamāṇo dadarśa mahatīm camūm
ratha aśva gaja sambādhām yattair yuktām padātibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

prekṣamāṇaḥ: looking | udaṅgumukhaḥ: towards norhern direction | dadarśa: (Lakshmana) saw | mahatīm: a huge | camūm: army | rathāśva gaja sambādhām: full of chariots | yuktām: accompanied by | yataiḥ: smart | padātibhiḥ: foot-soldiers. |

TRANSLATION

Looking in northern direction, Lakshmana saw a huge army, full of chariots, steeds and elephants accompanied by smart foot-soldiers.

VERSE 13

ताम् अश्व गज सम्पूर्णाम् रथ ध्वज विभूषिताम्
शशंस सेनाम् रामाय वचनम् च इदम् अब्रवीत्

tām aśva gaja sampūrṇām ratha dhvaja vibhūṣitām
śaśaṃsa senām rāmāya vacanam ca idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

śaśamsa: (Lakshmana) informed | rāmāya: Rama | tām senām: about that army | aśvagaja sampūrṇām: full of horses | ratha dhvaja vibhūṣitām: and chariots decorated with flags | abravīt: and spoke | idam: these | vacanamca: words also. |

TRANSLATION

Lakshmana informed Rama about that army which was full of horses, elephants and chariots decorated with flags and spoke the following words also.

VERSE 14

अग्निम् संशमयतु आर्यः सीता च भजताम् गुहाम्
सज्यम् कुरुष्व चापम् च शराम्ः च कवचम् तथा

agnim saṃśamayatu āryaḥ sītā ca bhajatām guhām
sajyam kuruṣva cāpam ca śarāmḥ ca kavacam tathā

SYNONYMS

āryaḥ: O | samśamayatu: extinguish | agnim: the fire | sītāca: let Seetha also | bhajatām: occupy | guhām: a hiding place | kuruṣva: Make | cāpam: your bow | sajyam: ready with a bow-string | tathā: and | śarāmśca: arrows | kavacam: (wear) an armour. |

TRANSLATION

"O, honourable brother! Extinguish the fire. Let Seetha occupy a hiding place. Make your bow ready with a bow-string and arrows. Wear an armour."

VERSE 15

तम् रामः पुरुष व्याघ्रो लक्ष्मणम् प्रत्युवाच ह
अन्ग अवेक्षस्व सौमित्रे कस्य एताम् मन्यसे चमूम्

tam rāmaḥ puruṣa vyāghro lakṣmaṇam pratyuvāca ha
anga avekṣasva saumitre kasya etām manyase camūm

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | puruṣavyāghraḥ: the tiger among men | pratyuvāca ḻa: replied | tam lakṣmaṇam: to that Lakshmana | anga saumitre: O | avekṣasya: see | kasya: whose | camūm: army | manyase: your think | imām: is this?. |

TRANSLATION

Rama the tiger among men replied to Lakshmana, saying: "O, Lakshmana! See, whose army do you think is this?"

VERSE 16

एवम् उक्क्तः तु रामेण लक्ष्माणो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
दिधक्षन्न् इव ताम् सेनाम् रुषितः पावको यथा

evam ukktaḥ tu rāmeṇa lakṣmāṇo vākyam abravīt
didhakṣann iva tām senām ruṣitaḥ pāvako yathā

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | rāmeṇa: by Rama | lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | ruṣitaḥ: was irritated paavako yathaa = like a fire | abravīt: and spoke | vākyam: the following words | didhakṣanniva: as though wishing to scorch | tām senām: that army. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing Rama's words, Lakshmana was irritated like a fire and spoke the following words, as though he was wishing to scorch the army.

VERSE 17

सम्पन्नम् राज्यम् इग्च्छम्ः तु व्यक्तम् प्राप्य अभिषेचनम्
आवाम् हन्तुम् समभ्येति कैकेय्या भरतः सुतः

sampannam rājyam igcchamḥ tu vyaktam prāpya abhiṣecanam
āvām hantum samabhyeti kaikeyyā bharataḥ sutaḥ

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | kaikeyyāḥ: Kaikeyi's | sutaḥ: son | prāpya: having obtained | abhiṣecanam: coronation | ichan: and desirous | rājyam: (of making) the kingdom | sampannam: a perfect one | samabhyati: is coming | hantum: to kill | āvām: both of us | vyaktam: It is clear. |

TRANSLATION

"Bharata, Kaikeyi's son, having obtained coronation and desirous of making the kingdom free of enemies, is coming here to kill both of us. It is clear."

VERSE 18

एष वै सुमहान् श्रीमान् विटपी सम्प्रकाशते
विराजत्य् उद्गत स्कन्धः कोविदार ध्वजो रथे

eṣa vai sumahān śrīmān viṭapī samprakāśate
virājaty udgata skandhaḥ kovidāra dhvajo rathe

SYNONYMS

eṣaḥ: this | sumahāni: very big | śrīmān: and glorious | ujvala skandhaḥ: with superb branches | samprakāśate: is shining | kovidāra dhvajaḥ: the ensign bearing the device of a Kovidara (pomegranate) tree | virājati: is shining | rathe: on that chariot. |

TRANSLATION

"The gigantic and glorious tree with superb branches is shining over there prominently. The ensign bearing the device of a kovidara (pomegranate) tree is shining on that chariot."

VERSE 19

भजन्त्य् एते यथा कामम् अश्वान् आरुह्य शीघ्रगान्
एते भ्राजन्ति सम्हृष्टा जगान् आरुह्य सादिनः

bhajanty ete yathā kāmam aśvān āruhya śīghragān
ete bhrājanti samhṛṣṭā jagān āruhya sādinaḥ

SYNONYMS

ete: these | bhajanti: are cavorting | āruhya: mounted | yathākāmam: comfortably | śīghragān: on their swift | aśvān: horses | sādinaḥ: seated on elephants | bhrājanti: are bearing | samhṛṣṭāḥ: delightedly | gajān: on their elephants. |

TRANSLATION

Among the cavalry, some are cavorting merrily on their swift horses, while others are beaming with delight, mounted on their elephants.

VERSE 20

गृहीत धनुषौ च आवाम् गिरिम् वीर श्रयावहे
अथवेहैव तिष्ठावः सन्नद्धावुद्यतायुधौ २९६२०

gṛhīta dhanuṣau ca āvām girim vīra śrayāvahe
athavehaiva tiṣṭhāvaḥ sannaddhāvudyatāyudhau 2-96-20

SYNONYMS

vīraḥ: O | āvām: let us | gṛhīta dhanuṣau: take up our bows | śrayāvahai: and take refuge | girim: in the mountain | athavā: or | tiṣṭhāvaḥ: let us stay | ihaiva: here itself | sannaddhau: fully prepared | udyatāyudhau: with our weapons in our hands. |

TRANSLATION

"O, warrior! Let us take up our bows and ascend the mountain or let us stay here itself, fully prepared with our weapons in our hands."

VERSE 21

अपि नौ वशम् आगग्च्छेत् कोविदार ध्वजो रणे
अपि द्रक्ष्यामि भरतम् यत् कृते व्यसनम् महत्

api nau vaśam āgagcchet kovidāra dhvajo raṇe
api drakṣyāmi bharatam yat kṛte vyasanam mahat

SYNONYMS

rāghavaḥ: O | kovidāradhvajaḥ: will this flag with the insignia of a Kovidara tree | apyāgacchet: come into our | vaśam: subjugation? | apidrakṣyāmi: Can we see | bharatam: Bharata | yatkṛte: because of whom | mahat vyasanam: a great misfortune | samprāptam: is obtained | tvayā: by you | sītayā: by Seetha | tathā: and | mayā ca: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama! Will that flag with the insignia of a Kovidara tree come into our subjugation? Can we see Bharata, because of whom a great misfortune has occurred to you, to Seetha and to me?"

VERSE 22

यन् निमित्तम् भवान् राज्याच् च्युतो राघव शाश्वतीम्
सम्प्राप्तो अयम् अरिर् वीर भरतो वध्य एव मे

yan nimittam bhavān rājyāc cyuto rāghava śāśvatīm
samprāpto ayam arir vīra bharato vadhya eva me

SYNONYMS

he vīraḥ: O | rāghava: O | yannimittam: by the reason of whom | bhavān: you | cyutaḥ: were deprived | śāśvatāt: of an eternal | rājyāt: kingdom | ayam: such | ariḥ: an enemy | bharataḥ: Bharata | samprāpataḥ: who came here | vadhya eva: is to be slain | me: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama the warrior! By the reason of whom you were deprived of an eternal kingdom, such Bharata as a foe who is coming here, deserves to be slain by me."

VERSE 23

भरतस्य वधे दोषम् न अहम् पश्यामि राघव
पूर्व अपकारिणम् हत्वा न ह्यधर्मेण युज्यते

bharatasya vadhe doṣam na aham paśyāmi rāghava
pūrva apakāriṇam hatvā na hyadharmeṇa yujyate

SYNONYMS

rāghava: O | aham: I | napaśyāmi: do not see | doṣam: a mistake | vadhe: in the slaying | bharatasya: of Bharata | hatvā: by killing | pūrvāpikāriṇam: the one who has hurt another before | na yujyate: non is charged adharmaNa = with unlawfulness. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama! I see no sin in slaying Bharata. None is charged with unlawfulness, if one strikes down an aggressor."

VERSE 24

पूर्वापकारी भरतस्य्तक्तधर्मश्च राघव
एतस्मिन्न् निहते कृत्स्नाम् अनुशाधि वसुंधराम्

pūrvāpakārī bharatasytaktadharmaśca rāghava
etasminn nihate kṛtsnām anuśādhi vasuṃdharām

SYNONYMS

rāghava: O | bharataḥ: Bharate | pūrvāpakārī: has hurt you before | tyaktadharmaśca: and his death is legitimate | etasmin: (while) he | nihate: is slain | anuśādhi: rule | kṛtsnām: the entire | vasundharām: earth. |

TRANSLATION

"Bharata is the assailant and his death is legitimate. He being dead, you will rule the entire earth."

VERSE 25

अद्य पुत्रम् हतम् सम्ख्ये कैकेयी राज्य कामुका
मया पश्येत् सुदुह्ख आर्ता हस्ति भग्नम् इव द्रुमम्

adya putram hatam samkhye kaikeyī rājya kāmukā
mayā paśyet suduhkha ārtā hasti bhagnam iva drumam

SYNONYMS

kaikeyī: (Let) Kaikeyi | rājya kākukā: who is craving for the kingdom | paśet: see | suduḥkhārtā: with great sorrow | adya: today | putram: her son | hatam: slain | mayā: by me | samkhye: in battle | drumam iva: as a tree | hasti bhagnam: is crushed down by an elephant. |

TRANSLATION

"Let Kaikeyi, who is craving for the kingdom see, with great sorrow, her son slain by me today in battle, as a tree is crushed down by an elephant."

VERSE 26

कैकेयीम् च वधिष्यामि सानुबन्धाम् सबान्धवाम्
कलुषेण अद्य महता मेदिनी परिमुच्यताम्

kaikeyīm ca vadhiṣyāmi sānubandhām sabāndhavām
kaluṣeṇa adya mahatā medinī parimucyatām

SYNONYMS

vadjoṣyāmi: I shall kill | kaikeyīm ca: Kaikeyi too | sabāndhavān: along with her friend the hunch-back | sānubandhām: and other accomplices madinii = Le the earth | adya: today | parimucyatām: be relieved | mahatā: of a great | kaluṣeṇa: sinner. |

TRANSLATION

"I shall kill Kaikeyi too along with her friend the hunch-back and other accomplices. Let the earth today be relieved of a great sinner."

VERSE 27

अद्य इमम् सम्यतम् क्रोधम् असत्कारम् च मानद
मोक्ष्यामि शत्रु सैन्येषु कक्षेषु इव हुत अशनम्

adya imam samyatam krodham asatkāram ca mānada
mokṣyāmi śatru sainyeṣu kakṣeṣu iva huta aśanam

SYNONYMS

mānada: O | adya: today | samyatam: in the concentrated | krodham: fury | imam: this | asatkāram ca: injustice | mokṣyāmi: I shall scatter | śatru sainyeṣu: the enemy- battalions | hutāśanam iva: as a fire (consumes) | kakṣeṣu: the dry wood. |

TRANSLATION

"O, warrior bestowing an honour! Today in the concentrated fury that injustice has kindled I shall scatter the enemy - battalions as a fire consumes the dry wood."

VERSE 28

अद्य एतच् चित्र कूटस्य काननम् निशितैः शरैः
चिन्दन् शत्रु शरीराणि करिष्ये शोणित उक्षितम्

adya etac citra kūṭasya kānanam niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
cindan śatru śarīrāṇi kariṣye śoṇita ukṣitam

SYNONYMS

adya: today | niśitaiḥ: with my sharpeed | śaraiḥ: arrows | chindam: I shall slay | śatru śarīrāṇi: the bodies of my foes | kariṣye: and make | etat kānanam: this forest | citra kūṭasya: of Chitrakuta | śoṇitokṣitam: overflow with blood. |

TRANSLATION

"Today, with my sharpened arrows, I shall slay the bodies of my foes and make this forest of Chitrakuta overflow with blood."

VERSE 29

शरैर् निर्भिन्न हृदयान् कुन्जराम्ः तुरगाम्ः तथा
श्वापदाः परिकर्षन्तु नराः च निहतान् मया

śarair nirbhinna hṛdayān kunjarāmḥ turagāmḥ tathā
śvāpadāḥ parikarṣantu narāḥ ca nihatān mayā

SYNONYMS

kuṇjarān: the elephants | tathā: and turagaan = the horses | nirbhinna hṛdayān: whose breasts were laid open | śaraiḥ: with my darts | narāmśca: and the men | nihatān: struck down | mayā: by me | parikarṣantu: be dragged about | śvāpadāḥ: by savage beasts. |

TRANSLATION

"The elephants and horses whose breasts were laid open with my darts and the men too struck down by me, be dragged about by savage beasts."

VERSE 30

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षण्णवतितमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe ṣaṇṇavatitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

hatvā: by killing | bharatam: Bharata | sa sainyam: together with his army | asmin: in this | mahāvane: great forest | bhaviṣyāmi: I shall | anṛṇaḥ: discharge my debt | śarāṇām: to my arows | dhanuṣaśca: and my bow. |

TRANSLATION

"By killing Bharata together with his army in this great forest, I shall discharge my debt to my bow and arrows."