Guha requests Lakshmana to take rest, duly expressing his readiness to guard Rama and his consort by keeping awake the whole night. Lakshmana expressed his unwillingness to lie down in the presence of his elder brother and sister in law and preferred to remain awake. He spends night talking with Guha, voicing grief for his royal father as well as his affectionate mothers.
tam jaagratam adambhena bhraatur arthaaya lakShmaNam |
guhaH samtaapa samtaptaH raaghavam vaakyam abraviit || 2-51-1
1. guhaH = Guha; santaapa santaptaH = distressed with anguish; abraviit = spoke; vaakyam = (these) words; tam LakshhmaNam = to Lakshmana; raaghavam = who was born in Raghu dynasty; jaagratam = who kept awake; adambhena = bereft of hypocrisy; arthaaya = for the sake of; bh
Distressed with anguish (to see Rama and Sita lying on the ground) Guha said to Lakshmana, the scion of Raghu, who kept awake, through sincere love, for the protection of his brother Rama.
iyam taata sukhaa shayyaa tvad artham upakalpitaa |
pratyaashvasihi saadhv asyaam raaja putra yathaa sukham || 2-51-2
2. iyam = "This is; sukhaa = a comfortable; upakalpitaa = made; tvadartham = for you; taata = Oh friend; pratyaashvasihi = relax; saadhu = well; yathaasukham = comfortably; asyaam = on it; raajaputra = Oh; prince!"
"Here is a comfortable bed made for you, my friend! Relax well comfortably on it, Oh, prince!"
ucitaH ayam janaH sarvaH kleshaanaam tvam sukha ucitaH |
gupti artham jaagariShyaamaH kaakutsthasya vayam nishaam || 2-51-3
3. sarvaH = All; ayam janaH = these people; uchitaH = are habituated; kleshaanaam = to hardships. tvam = You; sukhochitaH = are habituated to comforts. Guptyartham = For the protection; kaakutstsya = of Rama; vayam = we; jaagarishhyaamaH = shall keep awake; nishaam = (this) night."
"All of us are habituated to hardships. You are habituated to comforts. We shall keep awake this night, for the protection of Rama"
na hi raamaat priyataraH mama asti bhuvi kashcana |
braviimy etat aham satyam satyena eva ca te shape || 2-51-4
4. kashchana naastihi = " None is; priyatamaH = dearer; mama = to me; raamaat = than Rama; bhuvi = in this world. aham = I; braviimi = speak; etat = this; satyam = truth; shape = and swear; te = to you; satyenaina = by truth."
"For, none is dearer to me than Rama in this world. I speak the truth and swear to you by truth."
asya prasaadaat aasha.nse loke asmin sumahad yashaH |
dharma avaaptim ca vipulaam artha avaaptim ca kevalaam || 2-51-5
5. aashamse = I hope; sumahat = abundant; yashaH = acclaim; asmin loke = in this world; dharma vaaptimcha = acquisition of Supreme merit; vipulaam = (and) extensive; arthaavaaptimcha = acquirment of wealth; prasaadaat = by the grace; kevalam = alone; asya = of Rama.
"I hope to acquire abundant acclaim and supreme merit in this world as also full reward of wealth, by the sole grace of Rama"
so aham priya sakham raamam shayaanam saha siitayaa |
rakShiShyaami dhanuSh paaNiH sarvataH GYaatibhiH saha || 2-51-6
6. saH aham = "As such; I; G^yaatibhiH = along with my kindred; rakshhishhyaami = shall protect; priya sakham = my dear friend; raamam = Rama; shayaanam = who is sleeping; siitayaa saha = with Sita; sarvataH = in every way; dhanushhpaaNiH = with bow in hand."
"As such, I along with my kindred, shall protect my dear friend Rama who is reposing with Sita in every way, with bow in hand."
na hi me aviditam ki.ncit vane asmimH carataH sadaa |
catur angam hi api balam sumahat prasahemahi || 2-51-7
7. "nahi kimchit = Nothing is indeed; aviditam = un known; asmin vane = in theforest; me = to me; charataH = where I wander; sadaa = continually. prasahemahi = We are able to withstand; sumahat = a vast; balam api = army too; chaturaN^gam = comprising four parts (elephants; chariots; horsemen; and foot soldiers)."
"Nothing is indeed unknown in this forest to me, where I wander continually. We can able to withstand even a vast army too, comprising of four parts (elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry)."
lakShmaNaH tam tadaa uvaaca rakShyamaaNaaH tvayaa anagha |
na atra bhiitaa vayam sarve dharmam eva anupashyataa || 2-51-8
8. tadaa = then; lakshhmaNaH = Lakshmana; uvaacha = replied; tam = to Guha; (as follows): anagha = "Oh; sinless Guha! rakshhyamaaNaH = Being protected; tvayaa = by you; dharmameva = who keep your duty alone; anupashyataa = in view; vayam sarve = all of us are ; na bhiitaaH = not afraid; atre = in this land."
Then, Lakshmana replied to Guha as follows: "Oh, sinless Guha! Being protected by you, who keep your duty alone in view, all of us are fearless in this land."
katham daasharathau bhuumau shayaane saha siitayaa |
shakyaa nidraa mayaa labdhum jiivitam vaa sukhaani vaa || 2-51-9
9. daasharathou = "when Rama; the son of Dasaratha; shayaane = is lying; bhuumou = on the ground; siitayaa saha = along with Sita; katham = how; shakyaa = is it possible; mayaa = to me; nidraa = the sleep; jiivitam vaa = or the enjoyment of life; sukhaani vaa = or the amenities of life?"
"When Rama, the son of Dasaratha is lying on the ground with Sita, how is it possible for me to sleep or to enjoy the pleasures of life?"
yo na deva asuraiH sarvaiH shakyaH prasahitum yudhi |
tam pashya sukha samviShTam tR^iNeShu saha siitayaa || 2-51-10
10. "pashya = See; tam = that Rama; yaH = who; na shakyaH = cannot be; prasehitum = vanquished;yudhi = in combat; sarvaiH = by all; devaasuraiH = the gods and demons; sukha samvishhTam = sleeping profoundly; tR^iNeshhu = on the grass; siitayaa saha = along with Sita."
"See that Rama, who cannot be vanquished in combat even by the gods and demons combined, now sleeping profoundly on the grass along with Sita."
yo mantra tapasaa labdho vividhaiH ca parishramaiH |
eko dasharathasya eSha putraH sadR^isha lakShaNaH || 2-51-11
asmin pravrajitaH raajaa na ciram vartayiShyati |
vidhavaa medinii nuunam kShipram eva bhaviShyati || 2-51-12
11;12. asmin = this Rama as such; yaH = who; sadR^isha lakshhaNaH = is endowed with characteristics alike; dasarathasya = of Dasaratha; ekaH = uniquely; ishhTaH = liked; putraH = the son; labdhaH = obtained (by Dasaratha); mantra tapasaa = by virtue of his charity of sacred texts and austerities; vividhaiH = (and) by various; parishramaishcha = undertakings; (in the form of sacrificial performances);pravraajite = has gone to exile;raajaa = the king; na vartayishhyati = will not live; chiram = long; medinii = (and) the earth; nuunam = will surely; bhavishhyati = become; vidhavaa = widowed; kshhiprameva = forthwith.
When Rama- who is endowed with similar characteristics as Dasaratha, uniquely beloved, the son obtained by Dasaratha by virtue of his chanting of several sacred texts and austerities and by various undertakings (in the form of sacrificial performances) has gone to exile, the king will not live long and the earth will become surely widowed forthwith.
vinadya sumahaa naadam shrameNa uparataaH striyaH |
nirghoSha uparatam taata manye raaja niveshanam || 2-51-13
13. vinadya = having cried out; sumahara naadam = in a high-pitched tone; striyaH = the women; shrameNa = exhausted; uparataaH = will have fallen silent; ataH = for that reason; manye = I think; nirghoshhoparatam = a profound stillness reigns; raajaniveshanam = in the palace.
Having cried out in a high-pitched tone, the women having exhausted, will have fallen silent and I am sure that a profound stillness reigns in the palace.
kausalyaa caiva raajaa ca tathaiva jananii mama |
na aasha.nse yadi jiivanti sarve te sharvariim imaam || 2-51-14
14. naashamse = I do not expect; kausalyaachaiva = Kausalya; raajaacha = the king; tathaiva = and; mama jananii = my mother; te sarve = all of them; yadi jiivanti = to remain alive; imaam = this; sharvariim = night.
"I do not expect Kausalya, Dasaratha and my mother all of them to remain alive for this night."
jiived api hi me maataa shatrughnasya anvavekShayaa |
tat duhkham yat tu kausalyaa viirasuur vinashiShyati || 2-51-15
15. anvavekshhayaa = by looking for; shatrughnasya = Satrughna; me maataa = my mother; jiivedapi hi = may indeed stay alive. tat = It will be; duHkham = painful; Kausalyaa = (that) Kausalya; viirasuuH = who has given birth to a hero; yat vinashishhyati = may perish.
"By looking forward to meet Satrughna, my mother might even stay alive. But it will be painful if Kausalya who has given birth to a heroic son, dies."
anurakta jana aakiirNaa sukha aaloka priya aavahaa |
raaja vyasana sa.nsR^iShTaa saa purii vinashiShyati || 2-51-16
16. anuraktajanaakiirNaa = filled with devoted people; sukhaa = a source of joy; lokapriyaavahaa = and which brought pleasure to the world; saa purii = that city of Ayodhya; raaja vyasana samsR^ishhTaa = when seized with sorrow over the king's death; vinashishhyati = will perish.
That city of Ayodhya, filled with devoted people, hitherto a source of joy and which brought pleasure to the world, when seized with agony over the king's death, will perish.
katham putram mahaatmaanam jyeshhTham priyamapasyataH |
shariiram dhaarayushhyaanti praaNaa raajJNo mahaatmanaH || 2-51-17
17. katham = how; apashyataH = not seeing; putram = his son; mahaatmaanam = the magnanimous; jyeshhTam = and the first born; praaNaaH = will the vital airs ; dhaarayishhyanti = be maintained; shariiram = in the body; raaG^yaH = of the king; mahaatmanaH = the generous?"
"How, in the absence of his magnanimous and the first born son, will the vital airs in the body of the generous king be maintained?"
vinashhTe nR^ipatau pashchaatkausalyaa vinashishhyati |
anantaram cha maataa.api mama naashamupaishhyati || 2-51-18
18. vinashhTe = after the death; nR^ipatou = of the king; kausalyaa = Kausalya; vinashishhyati = will die; pashchaat = from behind. anantaramcha = Afterwards; mama maataa.api = my mother also; upaishhyati = will obtain; naasham = death."
"After the death of king, Kausalya will die. My mother also will die thereafter.
atikraantam atikraantam anavaapya manoratham |
raajye raamam anikShipya pitaa me vinashiShyati || 2-51-19
19. anavaapya = not attaining; manoratham = his desire( to enthrone Rama) atikraantamatikraantam = going astray again and again; anikshhipya = and without installing; raamam = Rama; raajye = in the kingdom; me pitra = my father; vinashishhyati = will perish."
"Having failed to install Rama in the kingdom, failed forever, which was the most cherished wish of his heart, my father will leave this world.
siddha arthaaH pitaram vR^ittam tasmin kaale hi upasthite |
preta kaaryeShu sarveShu sa.nskariShyanti bhuumipam || 2-51-20
20. siddhaarthaaH = those who are fortunate; samskarishhyanti = will consecrate; vR^ttam = deceased; pitaram = father; bhuumipam = and the king; sarveshhu pretakaaryeshhu = in the course of all funeral rites; tasmin kale = (when) the hour; vyupasthite = has struck."
"Those who are fortunate will consecrate our deceased father and the king in the course of all funeral rites, when the hour has struck.
ramya catvara sa.nsthaanaam suvibhakta mahaa pathaam |
harmya prasaada sampannaam gaNikaa vara shobhitaam || 2-51-21
ratha ashva gaja sambaadhaam tuurya naada vinaaditaam |
sarva kalyaaNa sampuurNaam hR^iShTa puShTa jana aakulaam || 2-51-22
aaraama udyaana sampannaam samaaja utsava shaaliniim |
sukhitaa vicariShyanti raaja dhaaniim pitur mama || 2-51-23
21;22;23. sukhitaaH = the happy people; vicharishhyanti = will move; raajadhaaniim = in the capital; mama pituH = belonging to my father; ramya chatvara samsthaanaam = with its quadrangular places allocated at lovely sites; suvibhakta mahaapathaam = well- aligned; wide roads; harmya praasaada sampannaam = rich in mansions of well-to-do men and temples; gaNikaavara shobhitaam = adorned with the foremost of courtesans; rathaashvagaja sambaadhaam = its chariots; horses and elephants that obstruct the roads; tuurya naada vinaaditaam = the musical instruments that resound there; sarva kalyaaNa sampuurNaam = full of all blessings; hR^ishhTa pushhTa janaakulaam = crowded with merry and well- fed men; aaraamodyaana sampannaaam = well- provided with gardens and royal parks; samaajotsava shaaliniim = (and) bright with festivities carried on under the patronage of associations.
People will joyfully move in the capital belonging to my father and the city with its quadrangular places allocated at lovely sites, and well- aligned roads, rich in mansions of well-to-do men, temples and royal palaces adorned with the foremost of courtesans, its chariots horses and elephants that obstruct the roads, the musical instruments that resound there- full of all blessings and crowded with merry and well fed men, well- provided with gardens and royal parks and bright with festivities carried on under the patronage of associations.
api jiiveddhasharatho vanavaasaatpunarvayam |
pratyaagamya mahaatmaanamapi pashyema suvratam || 2-51-24
24. dasharathaH api jiivet = Will Dasaratha remain alive? pratyaagamya = After returning; vanavaasaat = from exile; vayam api pashyema = can we see; mahaatmaanam = the high-soled king; suvratam = of noble vows; punaH = again?
Will Dasaratha remain alive? After returning from exile, can we see the high-soled king Dasaratha of noble vows again?
api satya pratiGYena saardham kushalinaa vayam |
nivR^itte vana vaase asminn ayodhyaam pravishemahi || 2-51-25
25. nivR^ittavanavaase = after completion of the exile in the forest; vayamapi praveshemahi = can we enter; ayodhyaam = Ayodhya; kushalinaa = safely; asmin = with Rama; satyapratiG^ena saardham = who is faithful to his promises.
Can we safely return to Ayodhya, after completion of the exile in the forest along with Rama who is faithful to his promises?
paridevayamaanasya duhkha aartasya mahaatmanaH |
tiShThataH raaja putrasya sharvarii saa atyavartata || 2-51-26
26. mahaatmanaH = (while) the high-soled; raaja putrasya = Lakshmana;paridevayaamaanasya = thus lamenting; tishhTataH = stood on guard; duHkhaartasya = afflicated with anguish as he was; saa sharvarii = that night; atyavartata = rolled away.
While the high-soled Lakshmana thus lamenting, stood on ground, afflicted with anguish as he was, that night rolled away.
tathaa hi satyam bruvati prajaa hite |
nara indra putre guru sauhR^idaat guhaH |
mumoca baaShpam vyasana abhipiiDitaH |
jvaraa aaturaH naagaiva vyathaa aaturaH || 2-51-27
27. narendra putre = (while) Lakshmana (son of Dasaratha); prajaahite = who was concerned with the welfare of the people; bruvati = was speaking; satyam = the truth; tathaa = thus; gurusouhR^idaat = out of his affection for his elder brother (Rama); guhaH = Guha; vyathaaturaH = overcome with agony; vyasanaabhi piiditah = oppressed with adversity; mumocha = shed; baashhpam = tears; naagaaH iva = like an elephant; jvaraaturaH = tormented with fever.
While Lakshmana (son of Dasaratha), who was concerned with the welfare of the people; was thus speaking the truth out of his affection for his elder brother (Rama), Guha, overcome with agony and oppressed with adversity shed tears like an elephant tormented with fever.
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iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe ekapa.nchaashaH sargaH
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© Oct 2002, K. M. K. Murthy