Chapter 97

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

सुसम्रब्धम् तु सौमित्रिम् लक्ष्मणम् क्रोध मूर्चितम्
रामः तु परिसान्त्व्य अथ वचनम् च इदम् अब्रवीत्

susamrabdham tu saumitrim lakṣmaṇam krodha mūrcitam
rāmaḥ tu parisāntvya atha vacanam ca idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

atha: then | rāmstu: Rama on the other hand | parisāntvya: pacifying | lakṣmaṇam: Lakshmana | saumitrim: son of sumitra | susuamrabdham: who was very much agitated | krodhamūrchitam: and infatuated with anger | abravīt: and spoke | idam: these | vacanam ca: words. |

TRANSLATION

Rama on the other hand, pacifying Lakshmana (son of Sumitra), who was very much agitated and infatuated with anger, spoke the following words:

VERSE 2

किम् अत्र धनुषा कार्यम् असिना वा सचर्मणा
महा इष्वासे महा प्राज्ने भरते स्वयम् आगते

kim atra dhanuṣā kāryam asinā vā sacarmaṇā
mahā iṣvāse mahā prājne bharate svayam āgate

SYNONYMS

mahesvāse: wielding a great bow | mahāprāj^ṇe: and highly wise man | svayam: himself | āgate: is coming | atra: here | kim kāryam: what is the use | dhanuṣara: or a sword | sacarmaṇā: with a shield? |

TRANSLATION

"While Bharata, wieldin a bow and highly wise-man himself is coming here, what is the use of a bow or sword with a shield?"

VERSE 3

पितुस्सत्यं प्रतिश्रुत्य हत्वा भरतमागतम्
किम् करिष्यामि राज्येन सापवादेन लक्ष्मण

pitussatyaṃ pratiśrutya hatvā bharatamāgatam
kim kariṣyāmi rājyena sāpavādena lakṣmaṇa

SYNONYMS

kim kariṣyāmi: what shall I do | rājyena: with the kingdom | sāpavādena: by acquiring ill-fame | hatvā: killing | bharatum: Bharata | āgatam: who came (to see me) | pratiśrutya: having promised to make | pituḥ: our father's word | satyam: a reality | lakṣmaṇa: O |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! Having promised to make our father's wish a reality. What shall I do with the kingdom by acquiring an ill-fame in killing Bharata who came here to see me?"

VERSE 4

यद्द्रव्यं बान्दवानां वा मित्राणां वाक्षये भवत्
नाहं तप्त्प्रतिगृह्णीयां भक्षान्विषकृतानिव २९७४

yaddravyaṃ bāndavānāṃ vā mitrāṇāṃ vākṣaye bhavat
nāhaṃ taptpratigṛhṇīyāṃ bhakṣānviṣakṛtāniva 2-97-4

SYNONYMS

yat dravyam: which wealth | bhavat: will come into existence | kṣaye: in destroying | bāndhavānām vā: the relatives | mitrāṇām vā: or companions | aham: I | na pratigṛhṇīyām: will not partake | tat: it | viṣakṛtān iva: like poisoned | bhakṣān: food. |

TRANSLATION

"I should not enjoy the spoils obtained by slaying a relative or friend, like the partaking of a poisoned food."

VERSE 5

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च पृथिवीं चापि लक्षण
इच्छामि भवतामर्थे एतत् प्रतिशृणोमि ते

dharmamarthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣaṇa
icchāmi bhavatāmarthe etat pratiśṛṇomi te

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: O | bhavatām: arthe = It is for your sake | icchāmi: I desire | dharmam: virue | artham ca: (legitimately acquired) wealth | kāmam ca: and pleasure | pṛthivīmcāpi: or even earth itself | pratiśṛṇomi: I promise | etat: this | te: to you. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! It is for your sake I desire virtue, legitimately acquired wealth and pleasure or even the earth itself. I promise this to you."

VERSE 6

भ्रातृइणां संग्रहार्थं च सुखार्थं चापि लक्ष्मण
राज्यमप्यहमिच्छामि सत्येनायुधमालभे

bhrātṛiṇāṃ saṃgrahārthaṃ ca sukhārthaṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa
rājyamapyahamicchāmi satyenāyudhamālabhe

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: O | aham: I | icchami: desire | rājyamapi: the throne only | samgrahārtham: for the protection | sukhārtham cāpi: and happiness | bhrātṛiṇām: of my brothers | ālabhe: I touch | satyma: in vow | āyudham: my weapon. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! I desire the throne only for the protection and happiness of my brothers. I touch my weapon and swear this fact."

VERSE 7

नेयं मम मही सौम्य दुर्लभा सागराम्बरा
न हीच्छेयमधर्मेण शक्रत्वमपि लक्ष्मण

neyaṃ mama mahī saumya durlabhā sāgarāmbarā
na hīccheyamadharmeṇa śakratvamapi lakṣmaṇa

SYNONYMS

iyam: this earth | sāgarāmbarā: bounded by the sea | na: is not | mama: to me | durlabhā: hard to obtain | lakṣmaṇa: O | saumya: the excellent man! | na iccheyam hi: I do not indeed desire | śakratvamapi: even the position of Indra | adharmeṇa: by unrighteousness. |

TRANSLATION

"This earth, bounded by the sea is not hard to obtain for me, O the excellent man! I do not indeed wish even the position of Indra by unrighteousness."

VERSE 8

यद्विना भरतं त्वां च शत्रुघ्नं चापि मानद
भवेन्मम सुखं किंचिद्भस्म तत्कुरुतां शिखी

yadvinā bharataṃ tvāṃ ca śatrughnaṃ cāpi mānada
bhavenmama sukhaṃ kiṃcidbhasma tatkurutāṃ śikhī

SYNONYMS

yat tat: If there be | kimcit sukham: and happiness | mama bhavet: that I could obtain | vinā bharatam: without Bharata | tvām ca: or you | śatrughnam cāpi: or without Shatrughna | tat kurutām: may it be made | bhasma: to ashes | śikhī: by fire | mānada: O |

TRANSLATION

"If there be happiness that I could enjoy without Bharata or you or without Shatrughna, may it be without Shatrughna, may it be burnt to ashes by fire, O the honour-giver!"

VERSE 9

मन्ये।अहमागतो।अयेध्यां भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः
मम प्राणात्र्पियतरः कुलधर्ममनुस्मरन्

manye|ahamāgato|ayedhyāṃ bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ
mama prāṇātrpiyataraḥ kuladharmamanusmaran

SYNONYMS

11| aham: I | manye: think | bharataḥ: Bharata | āgataḥ: returned | ayodhyām: to Ayodhya | bhratṛvatsalaḥ: full of affection for his brothers | priyataraḥ: he is dearer | mama: to me | prāṇāt: than my life | anusmaram: he who is mindful | kuladharmam: of the duties of his race | śrutvā: hearing | pravrājitam: of my exile | jaṭāvalkala dhāriṇam: and that I was weraing matted locks and the antelope skin | sahitam: accompanied | jānakyā: by Janaki | tvayāca: and you | vīra: O | puruṣarṣabha: the most excellent among men! | snehena: in his companionship towards me | śokena: and by the distress | ākrānta hṛdayaḥ: that troubles his mind | akulitendriyaḥ: and with perplexed senses | eṣaḥ: his | abhyāgataḥ: has come | draṣṭum: to see | na āgataḥ: he has not come | anyathā: for any other purpose. |

TRANSLATION

"I think Bharata was back to Ayodhya, with full of affection for his brothers. He is dearer to me than my life- he who is mindful of the duties of his race. Hearing of my exile and that I was wearing matted locks and the antelope skin, accompanied by Seetha and you, O most valiant of warriors, in his devotion towards me and due to the distress that troubles his mind, Bharata has come to see me. He has not come with any other motive."

VERSE 12

अम्बाअं च कैकयीं रुष्य परुषं चाप्रियं वदन्
प्रसाद्य पितरं स्रीमान् राज्यं मे दातुमागतः

ambāaṃ ca kaikayīṃ ruṣya paruṣaṃ cāpriyaṃ vadan
prasādya pitaraṃ srīmān rājyaṃ me dātumāgataḥ

SYNONYMS

śrīmān: the glorious Bharata | ruṣya: enraged | ambām: with his mother | kaikeyām: Kaikeyi | vadan: speaking paruSam = harshly | apriyamca: and unkindly | prasādya: got cleared | pitaram: by our father | āgataḥ: and came | dātum: to bestow | rājyam: kingdom | me: to me. |

TRANSLATION

"Getting angry with Kaikeyi his mother and speaking unkind and harsh words to her, the glorious Bharata after getting permission from our further, came here to bestow kingdom to me."

VERSE 13

प्राप्त कालम् यद् एषो अस्मान् भरतो द्रष्टुम् इग्च्छति
अस्मासु मनसा अप्य् एष न अहितम् किंचिद् आचरेत्

prāpta kālam yad eṣo asmān bharato draṣṭum igcchati
asmāsu manasā apy eṣa na ahitam kiṃcid ācaret

SYNONYMS

prāpta kālam: this is the proper time | eṣaḥ bharataḥ: for this Bharata | yat draṣṭum: ichchhati = to wish to see | asmān: us | nācaret: he does not behave | manasena api: or even think | kimcit: even a little | apriyam: unkindly | asmāsu: towards us. |

TRANSLATION

"This is the proper time for Bharata to come here and see us. He does not behave or even think unkindly towards us."

VERSE 14

विप्रियम् कृत पूर्वम् ते भरतेन कदा न किम्
ईदृशम् वा भयम् ते अद्य भरतम् यो अत्र शन्कसे

vipriyam kṛta pūrvam te bharatena kadā na kim
īdṛśam vā bhayam te adya bharatam yo atra śankase

SYNONYMS

kim: whether | vipriyam: (any) harm or | īdṛśam: such | bhayam vā: a frightful thing | bharatena: by Bharata | kadā: at any time | te yaḥ: that you | śaṇkase: are apprehending | bhātam: about Bharata | adya: now | atra: here. |

TRANSLATION

"Has Bharata at any time done any harm to you previously? What so the reason for you to be so apprehensive of Bharata now?"

VERSE 15

न हि ते निष्ठुरम् वाच्यो भरतो न अप्रियम् वचः
अहम् ह्य् अप्रियम् उक्तः स्याम् भरतस्य अप्रिये कृते

na hi te niṣṭhuram vācyo bharato na apriyam vacaḥ
aham hy apriyam uktaḥ syām bharatasya apriye kṛte

SYNONYMS

te: for you | bharataḥ: Bharata | na vācya: is not to be spoken of | niṣṭhuram: harshly | na: nor | apriyam: a disagreeble | vacaḥ: word | kṛte apriyam: If an affront is offered | bharatasya: to bharata | aham: I (myself) | syām hi: will become | uktaḥ: spoken | apriyum: of unpleasantness. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed, Bharata must not hear harsh or disagreeable word from your lips. If an affront is offered to him, it is offered to me!"

VERSE 16

कथम् नु पुत्राः पितरम् हन्युः कस्यांचिद् आपदि
भ्राता वा भ्रातरम् हन्यात् सौमित्रे प्राणम् आत्मनः

katham nu putrāḥ pitaram hanyuḥ kasyāṃcid āpadi
bhrātā vā bhrātaram hanyāt saumitre prāṇam ātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

saumitra: O | katham nu: How should | putrāḥ: sons | hamyuḥ: strike | pitaram: their father | kasyām cit āpadi: (even) in anydistress | bhrātārā: or a brother | hanyāt: strike | bhrātaram: a brother | ātmanaḥ prāṇam: who is as dear to him as his life? |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! How should a son strike his father, even in a distress or a brother strike a brother who is as dear to him as his life?"

VERSE 17

यदि राज्यस्य हेतोः त्वम् इमाम् वाचम् प्रभाषसे
वक्ष्यामि भरतम् दृष्ट्वा राज्यम् अस्मै प्रदीयताम्

yadi rājyasya hetoḥ tvam imām vācam prabhāṣase
vakṣyāmi bharatam dṛṣṭvā rājyam asmai pradīyatām

SYNONYMS

tvam prabhāse yadi: If you are speaking | imām vācam: these words | rājyasya heto: for the sake of the kingdom | dṛṣṭvā: after seeing | bharatam: Bharata | vakṣyāmi: I shall tell | asai: him | pradīyatām: to give | rājyam: the kingdom. |

TRANSLATION

"If you are uttering these words for the sake of the kingdom, I shall tell Bharata to give the kingdom to you, when I see him."

VERSE 18

उच्यमानो हि भरतो मया लक्ष्मण तत्त्वतः
राज्यम् अस्मै प्रयग्च्छ इति बाढम् इत्य् एव वक्ष्यति

ucyamāno hi bharato mayā lakṣmaṇa tattvataḥ
rājyam asmai prayagccha iti bāḍham ity eva vakṣyati

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: O | ucyamānaḥ: after being told | iti: that | prayaccha: to give | rājyam: the kingdom | asmai: to him | tattvataḥ: really | vakṣyati: he will say | bāḍham ityeva: "So be it". |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! When Bharata receives this command from me, "Cede the empire to him", he will answer, So, be it."

VERSE 19

तथा उक्तो धर्म शीलेन भ्रात्रा तस्य हिते रतः
लक्ष्मणः प्रविवेश इव स्वानि गात्राणि लज्जया

tathā ukto dharma śīlena bhrātrā tasya hite rataḥ
lakṣmaṇaḥ praviveśa iva svāni gātrāṇi lajjayā

SYNONYMS

tathā: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | dharma śīlena: by his honourable | bhrātrā: brother | tsya: to whom | hite ratāḥ: he was devoted | lakṣmaṇa: | lajjayā: abashed | praviveśeva: as though sinking | svām: into his | gātrāṇi: limbs. |

TRANSLATION

At these words spoken by his honourable brother, to whom he was devoted, abashed, shrank into himself.

VERSE 20

तद्वाक्यं लक्ष्मणः श्रुत्वा व्रीशितः प्रत्युवाच ह
त्व मन्ये द्रष्टुमायातः पिता दशरथः स्वयम्

tadvākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaḥ śrutvā vrīśitaḥ pratyuvāca ha
tva manye draṣṭumāyātaḥ pitā daśarathaḥ svayam

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: listening | tadvākyam: to these words | lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshman | vrīḻitaḥ: ashamed | pratyuvāca ha: answered | manye: i think | pitā: that our father | daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha | āyataḥ: came | draṣṭum: to see | tvā: you | svayam: himself. |

TRANSLATION

Listening to these words ashamed, answered: "I think that our father Dasaratha came here to see you himself."

VERSE 21

व्रीडितम् लक्ष्मणम् दृष्ट्वा राघवः प्रत्युवाच ह
एष मन्ये महा बाहुर् इह अस्मान् द्रष्टुम् आगतः

vrīḍitam lakṣmaṇam dṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ pratyuvāca ha
eṣa manye mahā bāhur iha asmān draṣṭum āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: observing | vrīḍitam: the emberassed | lakṣmaṇam: lakshman | rāghavaḥ: Rama | pratyuvāca ha: replied | manye: I think | mahābāhuḥ: the mighty armed | eṣaḥ: Dasaratha | āgataḥ: came | iham: here | draṣṭum: to see | asmān: us. |

TRANSLATION

Observing the emberassed , Rama said, "I think the mighty armed Dasaratha came here to see us."

VERSE 22

अथवा नौ ध्रुवं मन्ये मन्यमानः सुखोचितौ
वन वासम् अनुध्याय गृहाय प्रतिनेष्यति

athavā nau dhruvaṃ manye manyamānaḥ sukhocitau
vana vāsam anudhyāya gṛhāya pratineṣyati

SYNONYMS

athavā: or rather | manye dhruam: i think surely | manyamānaḥ: as he knows | nau: that we | sukhocitau: have been accustomed to comfort | anudhyāya: reflecting | vanavāsam: that we are dwelling in the forest | pratineṣyati: he wishes to bring us | gṛhāya: home. |

TRANSLATION

"Or rather, to my mind, as he knows that we have been accustomed to comfort, reflecting that we are dwelling in the forest, he wishes to take us home."

VERSE 23

इमाम् वा अप्य् एश वैदेहीम् अत्यन्त सुख सेविनीम्
एतौ तौ सम्प्रकाशेते गोत्रवन्तौ मनो रमौ

imām vā apy eśa vaidehīm atyanta sukha sevinīm
etau tau samprakāśete gotravantau mano ramau

SYNONYMS

śrīmān: the glorious | eṣaḥ rāghavaḥ: Dasaratha | me pitā: my father | yāsyati: will go | ādāya: taking back | imām: this | vaidehīm vā: Seetha possibly | vanāt: from the forest | atyanta sukha sevinīm: she who has ever lived in the heart of prosperity. |

TRANSLATION

"The glorious Dasaratha, my father possibly will take back Seetha from the forest, she who has ever lived in the heart of prosperity."

VERSE 24

एतौ तौ संप्रकाशेते गोत्रवन्तौ मनोरमौ
वायु वेग समौ वीर जवनौ तुरग उत्तमौ

etau tau saṃprakāśete gotravantau manoramau
vāyu vega samau vīra javanau turaga uttamau

SYNONYMS

vīra: O | tau: those two | etau: this | turagothamau: excellent horses | gotravantau: of noble breed | manoramau: attractively | vāyuvega samsu: vying with the wind | jananau: in swiftness. |

TRANSLATION

"O, warrior! See those two excellent horses of noble breed, shining attractively and vying with the wind in swiftness."

VERSE 25

स एष सुमहा कायः कम्पते वाहिनी मुखे
नागः शत्रुम्जयो नाम वृद्धः तातस्य धीमतः

sa eṣa sumahā kāyaḥ kampate vāhinī mukhe
nāgaḥ śatrumjayo nāma vṛddhaḥ tātasya dhīmataḥ

SYNONYMS

eṣaḥ: here is | saḥ: that | mahākāyaḥ: colossal | nāgaḥ: elephant | kampate: who is moving | vāhinīmukhe: at the head of the army | śatruṇjayo nāma: called Shatrumjaya | vṛddhaḥ: the aged | dhīmataḥ: of our sagacious | tātasya: father. |

TRANSLATION

"Here is that colossal elephant who is moving at the head of the army called Shatrunjaya, the aged companion of our sagacious father."

VERSE 26

न तु पश्यामि तच्छत्रं पाण्डरं लोकसत्कृअम्
पितुर्दिव्यं महाबाहो संशयो भवतीह मे २९७२६

na tu paśyāmi tacchatraṃ pāṇḍaraṃ lokasatkṛam
piturdivyaṃ mahābāho saṃśayo bhavatīha me 2-97-26

SYNONYMS

mahā bāho: O | na paśyāmi: I do not see | tat chatramtu: paaNDaram = that white canopy | divyam: the heavenly one | loka satkṛtam: well-known in the world | me: to me | samśayaḥ: an apprehension | iha: on this point | bhavati: is created. |

TRANSLATION

"O, the mighty armed! But I do not see that white heavenly canopy of our father, well known insignia in the world. An apprehension on this point is created in my mind."

VERSE 27

वृक्षाग्रादवरोह त्वं कुरु लक्ष्म्मण मद्वचः
इतीव रामो धर्मात्मा सौमित्रिं तमुवाच ह

vṛkṣāgrādavaroha tvaṃ kuru lakṣmmaṇa madvacaḥ
itīva rāmo dharmātmā saumitriṃ tamuvāca ha

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: O | tvam: you | avaroha: get down | vṛkṣāgrāt: from the top of the tree | kuru: act | madvacaḥ: on my word | itīva: thus | uvāca ha: spoke | dharmātmā: the virtuous | rāmaḥ: Rama | tam saumitraim: to that . |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! You get down from the top of the tree. Act on my word." Thus spoke the virtuous Rama to that Lakshmana.

VERSE 28

अवतीर्य तु साल अग्रात् तस्मात् स समितिम् जयः
लक्ष्मणः प्रान्जलिर् भूत्वा तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः

avatīrya tu sāla agrāt tasmāt sa samitim jayaḥ
lakṣmaṇaḥ prānjalir bhūtvā tasthau rāmasya pārśvataḥ

SYNONYMS

tasmāt: fromt hat | sālāgrāt: top of Sala tree | saḥ lakṣmanaḥ: that | samitinjayaḥ: the victorious in battle | bhūtvā: becoming | prāṇjaliḥ: one with joined palms | tasthau: stood | pārśvataḥ: by the side | rāmasya: of Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Descending from the top of that Sala tree, Lakshmana the victorious in battle, with joined palms, stood by the side of Rama.

VERSE 29

भरतेन अथ संदिष्टा सम्मर्दो न भवेद् इति
समन्तात् तस्य शैलस्य सेना वासम् अकल्पयत्

bharatena atha saṃdiṣṭā sammardo na bhaved iti
samantāt tasya śailasya senā vāsam akalpayat

SYNONYMS

samdiṣṭā: commanded | bharatenāpi: by Bharata | iti: that | na sammardaḥ: no trampling | bhavet: should be made | senā: by the army | akalpayat āvāsam: which encamped | samantāt: round | tasya śailasya: that mountain. |

TRANSLATION

Commanded by Bharata that no trampling of army should be made in the hermitage of Rama, the army was encamped round the mountain.

VERSE 30

अध्यर्धम् इष्क्वाकु चमूर् योजनम् पर्वतस्य सा
पार्श्वे न्यविशद् आवृत्य गज वाजि रथ आकुला

adhyardham iṣkvāku camūr yojanam parvatasya sā
pārśve nyaviśad āvṛtya gaja vāji ratha ākulā

SYNONYMS

: that | ikṣvākucamūḥ: royal army of Ikshvaku race | gaja vāji rathākulā: crowded iwth elephants | nyaviśat: was encamped | āvṛtya: around | pārśve: the edge | parvatasya: of the mountain | adhyardham youjanam: occupying |

TRANSLATION

That royal army of Ikshvaku race, crowded with elephants horses and chariots was encamped around the edge of the mountain occupying an area of one Yojana and a half.

VERSE 31

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायने आदिकावे अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तनवतितमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyane ādikāve ayodhyākāṇḍe saptanavatitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

sā senā: that army | praṇītā: brought | bharatena: by Bharata | nītimatena: the virtuous | vidhūya: having laid aside | darpam: his arrogance | puraskṛtya: placing in forefront | dharmam: the righteousness | prasanārtham: in order to propitiate | raghunandanasya: Rama | virājite: showed itself to be disciplined | citrakūṭe: in the vicinity of Chitrakuta. |

TRANSLATION

Brought by the virtuous Bharata, who laid aside his arrogance, placing the righteousness in forefront in order to propitiate Rama, that army showed itself to be disciplined in the vicinity of Chitrakuta.