The dust raised by Rama's chariot having disappeared for a while, Dasaratha feels dejected and fell insensible on ground. When Kaikeyi comes forward to support him he scolds and asks her not to touch him. Kausalya then lifts him up and persuades him to return to their house. His personal attendants take him to Kausalya's apartments and seeing him plunged in grief, Kausalya seats herself beside him and began to lament in various ways.
yāvat tu niryataḥ tasya rajo rūpam adṛśyata |
na eva ikṣvāku varaḥ tāvat samjahāra ātma cakṣuṣī || 2-42-1
1. yaavat = so long as; rajoruupam = the appearance of dust; adR^ishyata = was seen; tasya = (while) Rama; niryataH = was going; taavat = so long; ikshhvaakuvaraH = Dasaratha the best of Ikshvakus; naiva samjahaara = did not withdraw; aatmachakshhushhii = his eyes.
As long as the dust raised by the wheels of Rama's chariot could be seen, so long did the king not withdraw his gaze from it.
yāvad rājā priyam putram paśyati atyanta dhārmikam |
tāvad vyavardhata iva asya dharaṇyām putra darśane || 2-42-2
2. yaavat = As long as; raajaa = the king; pashyati = was seeing; priyam = his beloved; putram = son; atyanta dhaarmikam = who was exceedingly virtuous; taavat = so long; dharaNyaam = the dust in earth; vyavardhateva = appeared to be raising; asya putra darshane = for the purpose of seeing his son.
As long as the king was seeing his beloved son who was exceedingly virtuous, so long did the dust in the earth appear to be rising for the purpose of seeing his son.
na paśyati rajo api asya yadā rāmasya bhūmipaḥ |
tadā ārtaḥ ca viṣaṇṇaḥ ca papāta dharaṇī tale || 2-42-3
3. yadaa = When; rajo api = the dust assuredly; asya raamasya = of the Rama;na pashyati = was no longer seen; tadaa = then; bhuumipaH = the king; aartaHcha = afflicted by; vishhaNNaHcha = dejection; papaata = fell; dharaNiitale = on ground.
When the dust raised by Rama's chariot was no longer visible, the unfortunate king afflicted by dejection, fell insensible on ground.
tasya dakṣiṇam anvagāt kausalyā bāhum anganā |
vāmam ca asya anvagāt pārśvam kaikeyī bharata priyā || 2-42-4
4. kausalya = Kausalya; aNganaa = his wife; anvaagaat = took place; tasya dakshhiNam baahum = on his right side .kaikeyiicha = Kaikeyi ;sumadhyamaa = of charming limbs; anvagaat = took her place; vaamam = on the left; paarshvam = side.
When Dasaratha fell down, Kausalya his wife took her place on his right side to lift him up and Kaikeyi of charming limbs took her place on his left side.
tām nayena ca sampanno dharmeṇa nivayena ca |
uvāca rājā kaikeyīm samīkṣya vyathita indriyaḥ || 2-42-5
5. raajaa = The king; sampannaH = endowed with; nayena = wisdom; dharmeNa = virtue; vinayenacha = and discretion; samiikshhya = seeing; taam kaikeyiim = that Kaikeyi; uvaacha = said to her; vyathitendriyaH = in his agitated senses.
The king endowed with wisdom virtue and discretion seeing Kaikeyi beside him, said to her in great agitation as follows:
kaikeyi mā mama angāni sprākṣīs tvam duṣṭa cāriṇī |
na hi tvām draṣṭum iccāmi na bhāryā na ca bāndhavī || 2-42-6
6. kaikeyi = Oh;Kaikeyi! tvam = you dushTachaariNii = of wicked conduct; maa spraakshhii = do not touch; mama = my; aNgaani = limbs; nahi ichchhaami = I do not want; drashhTum = to see; tvaam = you; na bhaaryaa = are not my wife; na = nor; baandhavii = a relative
"Oh, wicked Kaikeyi! Do not touch my limbs. I do not wish to see you .You are no longer my wife nor a relative."
ye ca tvām upajīvanti na aham teṣām na te mama |
kevala artha parām hi tvām tyakta dharmām tyajāmy aham || 2-42-7
7. aham = I; na = am not; ye cha = of those; anujivanti = who are; dependent ;tvaam = on you; na = nor; te = are they; mama = on me. aham = I; tyajaami = discord; tvaam = you; tvaktadharmaam = who left righteousness; kevalaarthaparaam = and interested in avariciousness alone.
"I am not of those who are dependent on you nor are they anything to me. I discord you, by whom righteousness has been discorded and who are solely interested in avariciousness."
agṛhṇām yac ca te pāṇim agnim paryaṇayam ca yat |
anujānāmi tat sarvam asmiml loke paratra ca || 2-42-8
8. tatsarvam = All that; aagR^hNaamitiyat = by taking; te = your; paaNim = hand; paryaNayamchayat = circumabubulating; agnim = the sacred fire; anujaanaami = I renounce; asmin loke = in this world; paratracha = and the next.
All that contract which I entered into by taking your hand and circumambulating the sacred fire, I now renounce in this world and the next. "
bharataḥ cet pratītaḥ syāt rājyam prāpya idam avyayam |
yan me sa dadyāt pitr artham mā mā tat dattam āgamat || 2-42-9
9. syaatchet = In case; bharataH = Bharata; pratititaH = is cheerful man; praapya = after obtaining; idam raajyam = this kingdom ; avyayam = which is imperishable; yat = what ever; dadyaat = is given ; me = to me; pitrartham = in the form of obsequial rites; maagamat = let it reach; maam = me.
"If Bharata feels cheerful for having got this kingdom which is imperishable, let the obsequial rites performed to me after my death do not reach me"
atha reṇu samudhvastam tam utthāpya nara adhipam |
nyavartata tadā devī kausalyā śoka karśitā || 2-42-10
10. atha = Therafter;kausalya = Kausalya; devii = the queen; shokakarshitaa = overwhelmed with grief; samutthaapya = lifted up; tam naraadhipam = that king; reNusamuddhvastam = who was covered with dust; tadaa = then; nyavartata = returned (home).
Meanwhile Kausalya the queen overwhelmed with grief, lifted up the king who was covered with dust and returned to her house.
hatvā iva brāhmaṇam kāmāt spṛṣṭvā agnim iva pāṇinā |
anvatapyata dharma ātmā putram saṃcintya tāpasam || 2-42-11
11. dharmaatma = The virtuous Dasaratha ; samchinthya :thinking deeply of; putram = his son ;raaghavam = Rama; anvatapyata = was desolated; hatveva = as one who has slain; brahmaNam = a Brahmin; kaamaat = intentionally; spR^ishhTvaa = or as touching; agnim = fire ; paaNinaa = by hand.
The virtuous monarch, thinking deeply of his son Rama, was so desolated as one who has slain a brahmin intentionally or as touching the fire by hand.
nivṛtya eva nivṛtya eva sīdataḥ ratha vartmasu |
rājño na atibabhau rūpam grastasya aṃśumataḥ yathā || 2-42-12
12. nivR^ityaiva nivR^ityaiva = Turning again and again ;rathavartmasu = towards the track of the chariot; ruupam = the countenance ;raaG^yaH = of the king ;siidataH = in grief ;naati babhou = lost its radiance ; amshumataHyathaa = like sun ;grastasya = when swallowed by Rahu .*
Turning again and again towards the track of the chariot, the countenance of the king in grief lost its radiance like sun losing its radiance when swallowed by Rahu.
*-Rahu- the inauspicious planet sent to swallow the sun at the time of eclipse.
vilalāpa ca duhkha ārtaḥ priyam putram anusmaran |
nagara antam anuprāptam buddhvā putram atha abravīt || 2-42-13
13. duhkhaartaaH = Afflicted by grief; anusmaran = thinking of ; priyam = his beloved; putram = son ;vilalaapacha = he lamented;.atha = Thereafter; buddhvaa = knowing ; putram = his son;anupraaptam = reaching ; nagaraantam = the end of the city ; abraviit = he said :
Afflicted by grief, thinking of his beloved son he lamented. Knowing that his son reached the end of the city, he said as follows:
vāhanānām ca mukhyānām vahatām tam mama ātmajam |
padāni pathi dṛśyante sa mahātmā na dṛśyate || 2-42-14
14. padaani = The marks of hooves; mukhyaanaam = oh excellent ; vaahanaam = horses;vahataam = which carried;mama = my;aatmajam = child ;tam = that Rama ;dR^shyante = were seen; pathi = on the way; saH = He ; mahaatmaa = the great souled; na dR^ishyate = is not seen .
"The marks of hooves of excellent horses which carried away my child are seen on the way. But he the great souled one is not being seen"
sa nūnam kvacit eva adya vṛkṣa mūlam upāśritaḥ |
kāṣṭham vā yadi vā aśmānam upadhāya śayiṣyate || 2-42-15
utthāsyati ca medinyāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ pāṃśu guṇṭhitaḥ |
vinihśvasan prasravaṇāt kareṇūnām iva ṛṣabhaḥ || 2-42-16
15;16. yaH = He who; shete = slept; sukheshhu = in comfort ;upadhaaneshhu = on coverings ;chandana ruushhitaH = sprinkled with the essence of sandalwood; viijyamaana = refreshed by fans over him ; mahaarhaabhiH = by the most deserving ;striibhiH = women; saH = that Rama ;mama sutottamaH = the best of all my sons ;nuunam = will from now on ;upaashritaH = has to take refuge ;vR^ikshhamuulam = at the foot of a tree ;kvachideva = somewhere ;shayishhyate = lying down; kaashhTam vaa = on the trunk ; yadivaa = or ; upadhaaya = rest on; aashmaanam = a stone."
"He who slept on comfort on coverings sprinkled with the essence of sandalwood and refreshed by fans waved over by him by the most deserving women, Rama the best of all my sons , will from now on , has to take refuge at the foot of a tree somewhere, lying down on its trunk or rest on a stone."
utthāsyati ca medinyāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ pāṃsuguṇṭhitaḥ |
viniḥsvasan prasravaṇātka reṇūnāmi varṣbhaḥ || 2-42-17
17. kR^ipeNaH = The unfortunate one; utthaasyaticha = will wake up; medinyaaH = from the hard earth; paamshugunDitaH = stained with dust ;vivasvasan = sighing;R^ishhabhaH = like a bull elephant ;the lord of ; kareNuunaam = female elephants; prasravaNaat iva = (rising from)the side of a hill."
"The unfortunate one will wake up from the hard earth stained with dust, sighing like a bull-elephant rising from the side of a hill"
drakṣyanti nūnam puruṣā dīgha bāhum vane carāḥ |
rāmam utthāya gaccantam loka nātham anāthavat || 2-42-18
18. nuunam = from today; purushhaaH = the men ; vanecharaaH = who are the inhabitants of the forest; drakshhyanti = will behold ; diirghabaahum = that long armed ; lokanaatham = lord of the world; raamam = Rama ; utthaaya = rising from the ground ;gachchhantam = and wandering around ; anaathavat = like an orphan."
From today the inhabitants of the forest will behold that long armed lord of the world, Rama, rising from the ground and wandering around like an orphan"
sakāmā bhava kaikeyi vidhavā rājyam āvasa |
kaṇṭakākramaṇa klāntāvanamadya gamiṣyati || 2-42-19
19. saa = That Sita; sukhasadochitaa = who was always accustomed to comforts; ishhTaa = the beloved; sutaa = daughter; janakasya = of king Janaka ; adya = now ; gamishhyanti = will wander; vanam = in the forest; kaNTakaakramaNaklaantaa = exhausted through the thorny undergrowth."
"The daughter of Janaka, who was always accustomed to comforts, will wander exhausted in the forest through the thorny undergrowth "
anabhijñā vanānām sā nūnam bhayamupaiṣyati |
śvāpadānrdhitam śrutvā gamibhīram romaharṣṇam || 2-42-20
20. saa = Sita ;anabhiG^yaa = who was not accustomed ;vanaanaam = to woodlands ;nuunam = from now on; upaishhyati = will obtain ;bhayam = fear; shrutvaa = hearing ;shvaapadaa narditam = the roaring sound of wild beasts; gambhiiram = which was thundering; romaharshhaNam = causing hair to stand on end.
"Sita who was not earlier accustomed to woodlands, from now on will live in terror, hearing the roaring sound of wild beasts ,which was thundering ."
sakāmā bhavakaikeyi vidhavā rājya māvasa |
na hi tam puruṣa vyāghram vinā jīvitum utsahe || 2-42-21
21. Kaikeyi = Oh; Kaikeyi! Bhava = be; sakaamaa = your desire fulfilled! aavasa = Dwell ; raajyam = in the kingdom ;vidhavaa = as a widow; na utsahe hi = I do not indeed wish; jiivitum = to live; tamvinaa = without Rama ; purushhavyaaghram = the tiger among men."
"Oh, Kaikeyi! Let your desire be fulfilled! Dwell in the kingdom as a widow. I do not indeed wish to survive without Rama the tiger among men."
iti evam vilapan rājā jana oghena abhisamvṛtaḥ |
apasnātaiva ariṣṭam praviveśa pura uttamam || 2-42-22
22. ityevam = Thus; vilapam = lamenting; raajaa = the king; abhisamvR^itaH = surrounded; janoughena = by his people ; pravivesha = entered ; purothamam = Ayodhya the best of cities; arishhTam iva = like enering a disastrous house; apasnaataH = by the one who has taken the funeral bath.
Thus lamenting, the king surrounded by his people, entered Ayodhya the best of cities like entering a disastrous house by one who has taken the funeral bath.
śūnya catvara veśma antām samvṛta āpaṇa devatām |
klānta durbala duhkha ārtām na atyākīrṇa mahā pathām |
tām avekṣya purīm sarvām rāmam eva anucintayan |
vilapan prāviśad rājā gṛham sūryaiva ambudam || 2-42-23
23. aavekshhya = seeing; taam = that; sarvaam = entire; puriim = city ;shuunya chatvara veshmaantaam = with its road junctions and mansions deserted ; samvR^itaapaNa devataam = with its shops and temples closed ; klaanta durbala duHkhaartaam = with people exhausted with fatigue and plunged in affliction ; naatyaakiirNe mahaapathaam = its highways not very crowded ; raajaa = the king ;praavishat = entered ;vilaapan = wailing ;anuchintayan = thinking; raamameva = of Rama alone;ambudam iva = as the cloud ;suuryaH = by a sun.
Seeing the entire city with its road-junctions and mansions deserted, its shops and temples closed, with its people exhausted with fatigue and plunged in affliction; its highways not very crowded ,the king entered his palace wailing and thinking of Rama alone as the sun enters a cloud.
mahā hradam iva akṣobhyam suparṇena hṛta uragam |
rāmeṇa rahitam veśma vaidehyā lakṣmaṇena ca || 2-42-24
24. rahitam = Bereft; raameNa = of Rama;vaidehyaa = Sita ;lakshhmaNenacha = and Lakshmana ;veshma = the palace ;mahaahradam iva = (looked) like a big pool ; akshhobhyam = rendered unperturbed; hR^itoragam = emptied of snakes ;suvarNena = by Garuda.
Bereft of Rama Sita and Lakshmana, the palace looked like a big pool rendered unperturbed due to emptying of snakes in it by Garuda*
*Garuda was a mythical bird (chief of feathered race, enemy of the serpent race)
atha gadgadaśabdastu vilapanmanujādhipaḥ |
uvāca mṛdumandhārtham vacanam dīna masvaram || 2-42-25
25. atha = Thereafter; vilapan = the lamenting ;vasudhaadhipaH = monarch ; uvaacha = spoke ; gadgada shabdaH = in trembling accents; mR^idu = in soft; diinam = pitiful ; asvaram = indistinct ; mandaartham = and not clearly intelligible ;vachanam = words .
The lamenting monarch spoke in trembling accents and in soft, pitiful, indistinct and not clearly intelligible words (as follows):
kausalyāyā gṛham śīghram rāma mātur nayantu mām |
iti bruvantam rājānam anayan dvāra darśitaḥ || 2-42-26
26. nayantu = Take; maam = me; shiighram = quickly; gR^iham = to the apartment ; kausalyaayaaH = of Kausalya ;raama maatuH = the mother of Rama; na anyatra = Nowhere else ; mama hR^idayasya = my heart ;bhavishhyati hi = will indeed find; ashvaasaH = solace ."
"Take me quickly to the apartment of Kausalya the mother of Rama. Nowhere else my heart will find solace "
iti bruvantam rājāna manayan dvārdarśinaḥ |
kausalyāyā gṛham tatra nyaveśyata vinītavat || 2-42-27
27. dvaaradarshinaH = the attendants; anayan = took; raajaanam = the king ;bruvantam = who was speaking; iti = thus ;kausalyaaH = to Kausalya's; gR^iham = house . tatra = there; viniitavat = (he was ) gently; nyaveshyata = laid .
The attendants took the king who was speaking as aforesaid, to Kausalya's house and there he was gently laid (on a coach).
tataḥ tatra praviṣṭasya kausalyāyā niveśanam |
adhiruhya api śayanam babhūva lulitam manaḥ || 2-42-28
28. tataH = Then; pravishhTasya = having entered; kausalyaaH = Kausalya's; niveshanam = apartment; tasya = his; manaH = heart; babhuuva = became; lulitam = agitated; adhiruhyaapi = even though laid on ;shayanam = a coach .
Having entered Kausalya's apartment and even though laid on a coach, his heart became agitated.
putradvayavihīnam ca snuṣayāpi vivarjitam |
apaśyadbhavanam rājā naṣṭacandhramivāmbaram || 2-42-29
29. putradvaya vihiinam = bereft of two sons; snushhayaapi = and the daughter in law also; vivarjitam = having left; raajaa = the king; apashyat = saw; bhavanam = the house; ambaram iva = as a sky; nashhTochandram = without a moon .
Bereft of his two sons and his daughter -in-law also having deserted, the king saw that house devoid of charm as a sky without a moon.
tac ca dṛṣṭvā mahā rājo bhujam udyamya vīryavān |
uccaiḥ svareṇa cukrośa hā rāghava jahāsi mām || 2-42-30
30. dR^ishhTvaa = Looking at; tat = that house; udyamya = and lifting up; bhujam = his arm; viiryavaan = the powerful; mahaaraajaH = monarch; chukrosha = cried ; uchchaiHsvareNa = in loud voice; haa raaghava = Oh ;Rama! jahaasi = you have left ; maam = us(both your mother and I).
Looking at that palace and lifting up his arm, the powerful monarch cried in a loud voice, " Oh, Rama! You have left us both, your mother and I."
sukhitā bata tam kālam jīviṣyanti nara uttamāḥ |
pariṣvajantaḥ ye rāmam drakṣyanti punar āgatam || 2-42-31
31. bata = Alas! Ye = Those; narottamaH = jewels among men; jiivishhyanti = who will survive; tam kaalam = the term; drakshhyanti = and see; raamam = Rama;punaH aagatam = come back ;parishhvajantaH = and embracing him ;sukhitaaH = will be happy .
"Alas! Those jewels among men who will survive the term of fourteen years, seeing Rama come back and embrace him, will be happy indeed."
atha rātryām prapannāyām kālarātryāmiātmanaḥ |
ardharātre daśarathah kausalyāmidamabravīt || 2-42-32
32. atha = thereupon ;raatrayaam = the night ;prasannaam = having fallen; kaala raatryaamiva = (the night) resembling the hour of death ;aatmanaH = to him; dasarathaH = Dasaratha; abraviit = spoke; idam = these words ;kausalyaam = to Kausalya; artharaatre = at that midnight
Thereupon, the night having fallen, the night resembling the hour of death to him, Dasaratha spoke these words to Kausalya when the midnight struck :
rāmam me.anugatā dṛṣṭiradyāpi na nivartate |
na tvām paśyāmi kausalye sādhu mām pāṇinā spṛśa || 2-42-33
33. kausalye = "Oh;Kausalya! me dR^ishhTiH = My sight ;anugataa = extinguished along with ; raamam = Rama;na nivartate = and not turned out. adyaapi = Even now; na pashyaami = I cannot see; tvaa = you;saadhu = properly ;spR^isha = touch ;maam = me ;paaNinaa = with your hand."
"Oh, Kausalya! My sight has extinguished along with Rama and not returned. Even now, I am not able to see you properly. Touch me with your hand."
tam rāmam eva anuvicintayantam |
samīkṣya devī śayane nara indram |
upa upaviśya adhikam ārta rūpāupa |
vinihśvasantī vilalāpa kṛccram || 2-42-34
34. samiikshhya = perceiving; tam narendram = that monarch; shayane = on the coach ;anuvichintayantam = absorbed in the thought ;raamam eva = of Rama alone; devii = Kausalya; adhikam aartaruupaa = appeared very sad ;upaavishya = and sitting down beside him ;viniHshvasantii = began to sigh; vilalaapa = and lament; kR^ichchham = with distressed look.
Perceiving that monarch on the coach absorbed in the thought of Rama alone, Kausalya appeared very sad and sitting beside him, began to sigh and lament with a distressed look.
- - -
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye ayodhya kāṇḍe dvicatvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
Thus completes 42nd chapter in the Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
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© July 2002, K. M. K. Murthy