Sumantra narrates the ghastly fate of Ayodhya, both its animate and inanimate beings. Dasaratha laments and soon falls unconscious.
mama tu aśvā nivṛttasya na prāvartanta vartmani |
uṣṇam aśru vimuncantaḥ rāme samprasthite vanam || 2-59-1
1.raame = Rama; samprasthite = having departed; vanam = to the forest; nivR^ittasya = the returning; ashvaaH tu = horses; however; mama = of mine; pramuNcantaH shedding; uSNam = warm; ashru = tears; na praavartanta = did not proceed; vartmani = on the way.
"Rama having departed to the forest, horses on the return path however, shedding warm tears, did not proceed further on the way."
ubhābhyām rāja putrābhyām atha kṛtvā aham jñalim |
prasthitaḥ ratham āsthāya tat duhkham api dhārayan || 2-59-2
2. atha = thereafter; aham = I; kR^itvaa = offering (salutation); aJNjalim = with joined palms; ubhaabhyaam = to both; raaja putraabhyaam = the princes; dhaarayan = keeping back; tat = that; duHkham api = grief; aasthaaya = ascended; ratham = the chariot; prasthitaH = and moved on.
"I, on my part, offering salutation with joined palms to both the princes and keeping back from that grief, ascended the chariot and moved on."
guhā iva sārdham tatra eva sthitaḥ asmi divasān bahūn |
āśayā yadi mām rāmaḥ punaḥ śabdāpayed iti || 2-59-3
3. aashayaa = with the hope; iti = that; shabdaapayed dyadi = I shall be called; punaH = again; raamaH- (by) Rama; sthitaH asmi = I stayed; tatraiva = there only; guhena saartham = along with Guha; bahuun = for many (three); divasaan = days.
"With the hope that I shall be called again by Rama, I stayed there along with Guha for three days."
viṣaye te mahā rāja māma vyasana karśitāḥ |
api vṛkṣāḥ parimlānaḥ sapuṣpa ankura korakāḥ || 2-59-4
4. mahaaraaja = Oh; emperor; vR^iSaaH api = even trees; te viSaye = in your domain; parimlaanaH = have withered; sa puSpa ankura korakaaH = without flowers; sprouts and buds; raama vyasana karshitaaH = having emaciated due to Rama's separation.
"Oh, emperor! Even trees in your domain have withered, without giving flowers sprouts and buds, having emaciated due to Rama's separation."
upataptodakā nadyaḥ palvalāni sarāṃsi ca |
pariṣkupalāśāni vanānyupavanāni ca || 2-59-5
5. nadyaH = rivers; palvalaani = pools; saraamsi ca = lakes; upataptodakaaH = were with lot water; vanaani = groves; upavanaani cha = and gardens; pariSkupalaashaani = were with their leaves; parched up.
"Rivers, pools and lakes were with hot water. Groves and gardens were with their leaves, parched up."
na ca sarpanti sattvāni vyālā na prasaranti ca |
rāma śoka abhibhūtam tan niṣkūjam abhavad vanam || 2-59-6
6. sattvaani = Living beings; na ca sarpanti = are not moving; vyaalaaH ca = wild animals too; na prasaranti = are not roaming around; tat vanam = that forest; abhavad = became; niSkuujam = silent; raama shoka abhibhuutam = predominated by grief towards Rama
"Living beings are not moving. Wild animals too are not roaming around. That forest became silent, predominated by grief towards Rama."
līna puṣkara patrāḥ ca nara indra kaluṣa udakāḥ |
samtapta padmāḥ padminyo līna mīna vihamgamāḥ || 2-59-7
7. narendram = Oh; emperor; padminyaH = lotus-lakes (were); liina puSkara patraaH ca = with lotus-leaves hiding under water; having pressed themselves closely together; kaluSa udakaaH = with muddy waters; samtapta padmaaH = with parched lotus-flowers; liina miina vihamgamaaH = and in which fish and water-fowls having disappeared.
"Oh, emperor! Lotus-lakes were with lotus-leaves hiding under water pressing themselves closely together, with muddy waters, with parched lotus-flowers and in which fish and water fowls have completely disappeared."
jalajāni ca puṣpāṇi mālyāni sthalajāni ca |
na adya bhānti alpa gandhīni phalāni ca yathā puram || 2-59-8
8. jalajaani = water-born; puSpaaNi = flowers; maalyaani = flowers; sthalajaani = living on dry land; adya = now; alpa gandhiini = giving very little fragrance; phalaani ca = and fruits; na bhaanti = do not have luscious look; yathaa puram = as before.
"Water-born flowers and flowers living on dry lands now give very little fragrance and fruits do not have a luscious look as before."
atrodyānāni śūnyāni pralīnavihagāni ca |
na cābhirāmānārāmān paśyāmi manujarṣabha || 2-59-9
9. manujarSabha = Oh; best of men; udyaanaani = the gardens; atra = here; shuunyaani = are empty of men; praliina vihagaani ca = and the birds have vanished; na pashyaami = I am not seeing; aaraamaan = the gardens; abhiraaman = as charming.
"Oh, best of men! The gardens here are empty of men and the birds have vanished. I am not seeing the gardens as charming (as before)."
praviśantam ayodhyām mām na kaścit abhinandati |
narā rāmam apaśyantaḥ nihśvasanti muhur muhuḥ || 2-59-10
10. na kashchit = nobody; abhinandati = greeted me; pravishantam = entering; ayodhyaayaam = into Ayodhya City; apashyantaH = having not seen; raamam = Rama; naraaH = the people; nishvasanti = are breathing; muhur muhuH = again and again.
"Nobody greeted me, entering into Ayodhya City. Having not seen Rama, the people are breathing their sigh of lamentation again and again."
deva rājaratham dṛṣṭvā vinā rāmamihāgatam |
duḥkhādaśrumukhaḥ sarvo rājamārgagato janaḥ || 2-59-11
11. deva = Oh emperor; dR^iSTvaa = seeing; raajaratham = the royal chariot; aagatam = coming; iha = here; ninaa raamam = without Rama; sarvaH = all; janaH = the people; raajamarga gataH = going along the royal high-way; ashrumukhaH = are having their faces filled with tears; duHkhaat = by grief.
"Oh, emperor! Seeing the royal chariot returning here without Rama, all the people along the royal high-way are shedding tears with grief."
harmyaiḥ vimānaiḥ prāsādaiḥ avekṣya ratham āgatam |
hāhā kāra kṛtā nāryo rāma adarśana karśitāḥ || 2-59-12
12. aavekSya = seeing; ratham = the chariot; aagatam = coming; naaryaH = women; harmyaiH = from mansions; vimaanaiH = seven-storied buildings; praasaadaiH = and royal palaces; haahaakarakR^itaH = are crying �ha ha!'; raamadarshanakarshitaaH = being troubled by non-appearance of Rama."
"Seeing the returned chariot, women from mansions, seven-storied buildings and royal palaces are crying �ha ha!', being troubled by the non-appearance of Rama."
āyataiḥ vimalaiḥ netraiḥ aśru vega pariplutaiḥ |
anyonyam abhivīkṣante vyaktam ārtatarāḥ striyaḥ || 2-59-13
13. striyaH = women; aartataraaH = being more sorrowful; abhiviikSante = are looking at; anyonyam = each other; avyaktam = indistinctly; aayataiH = with their long; vimalaiH = bright; netraiH = eyes; ashru vega pariplutaiH = overwhelmed with a flood of tears.
"Women, being more sorrowful, are looking at each other indistinctly with their long bright eyes overwhelmed with a flood of tears."
na amitrāṇām na mitrāṇām udāsīna janasya ca |
aham ārtatayā kaṃcit viśeṣam na upalakṣaye || 2-59-14
14. aham = I; na upalakSaye = do not see; kimchit = any; visheSam = distinction; aartatayaa = in their agony; amitraaNaam = in non-friends; mitraaNaam = friends; udaasiina janasya = and neutral people.
"I do not see any distinction in their agony, whether they are non-friends, friends or neutral people."
aprahṛṣṭa manuṣyā ca dīna nāga turamgamā |
ārta svara parimlānā vinihśvasita nihsvanā || 2-59-15
nirānandā mahā rāja rāma pravrājana ātulā |
kausalyā putra hīnā ivāyodhyā pratibhāti mā mā || 2-59-16
15-16. mahaaraja = Oh; emperor; ayodhyaa = the city of Ayodhya; aprahR^iSTa manuSyaa cha = with joyless people; diina naaga turamgamaa = with elephants and horses looking miserable; aarta svara parimlaanaa = with sighing exhaustion to cries of pain; vinihshvasita nihsvanaa = filled with sounds of moaning; niraanandaa = cheerless; raama pravraajana aatulaa = anguish due to Rama's exile; pratibhaati = as Kausalya; putra hiinaa = without her son.
"Oh, emperor! The city of Ayodhya with its joy-less people, with its elephants and horses looking miserable, with sighing exhaustion due to cries of pain, filled with sounds of moaning, cheerless and feeling anguish due to Rama's exile, appears to me, like Queen Kausalya without her son."
sūtasya vacanam śrutvā vācā parama dīnayā |
bāṣpa upahatayā rājā tam sūtam idam abravīt || 2-59-17
17. raajaa = the king; shrutvaa = hearing; suutasya = Sumantra's; vachanam = words; abraviit = spoke; idam = this; tam suutam = to that charioteer; vaacaa = in a voice; baaSpa upahatayaa = choked with tears; parama diinayaa = and very much woeful.
Hearing Sumantra's words, the king in a voice choked with tears and very much woeful, spoke to that charioteer as follows:
kaikeyyā viniyuktena pāpa abhijana bhāvayā |
mayā na mantra kuśalaiḥ vṛddhaiḥ saha samarthitam || 2-59-18
18. viniyuktena = enjoined; kaikeyyaa = by Kaikeyi; paapa abhijana bhaavayaa = with sinful birth and intention; na samarthitam = it was not deliberated; mayaa = by me; mantra kushalaiH = with people experienced in counsel; vR^iddhaiH saha = and with elders.
"Enjoined by Kaikeyi with her sinful birth and intention, I could not deliberate with people experienced in counsel or with elders beforehand."
na suhṛdbhir na ca amātyaiḥ mantrayitvā na naigamaiḥ |
mayā ayam arthaḥ sammohāt strī hetoh sahasā kṛtaḥ || 2-59-19
19. ayam = this; arthaH = act; kR^itaH = has been done; mayaa = by me; sahasaa = in haste; sammohaat = due to infatuation; strii hetoH = for the sake of a woman; na mantrayitvaa = without consulting; suhR^idbhiH = with friends; na mantrayitvaa = nor by consulting; amaatyaiH = with ministers; naigamaiH ca = or with interpreters of sacred texts.
"This act has been done by me in haste due to infatuation for the sake of a woman, without consulting with friends or ministers or with interpreters of sacred texts."
bhavitavyatayā nūnam idam vā vyasanam mahat |
kulasya asya vināśāya prāptam sūta yadṛccayā || 2-59-20
20. suuta = Oh; Sumantra; idam = this; mahat = great; vyasanam = calamity; nuunam = surely; praaptam = has come; bhavitavyatayaa = as an inevitable consequence; vaa = r; vinaashaaya = for the ruin; asya = of this; kulasya = race; yadR^icchayaa = or accidentally.
"Oh, Sumantra! This great calamity, surely, has come as an inevitable consequence or for the ruin of this race or accidentally."
sūta yady asti te kiṃcin mayā api sukṛtam kṛtam |
tvam prāpaya āśu mām rāmam prāṇāḥ samtvarayanti mām || 2-59-21
21. suuta = Oh; Sumantra; asti yadi = If at all; kimchit = any; sukR^itam = favour; kR^itam = has been done; te = to you; mayaa = by me; tvam = you; praapaya = lead; maam = me; aashu = fast; raamam = to Rama; praaNaaH = (my) vital spirits; samtvarayanti = are hastening; maam = me.
Oh, sumantra! If at all I have done any favour to you, lead me fast to Rama. My vital spirits are hastening me."
yad yad yā api mama eva ājñā nivartayatu rāghavam |
na śakṣyāmi vinā rāma muhūrtam api jīvitum || 2-59-22
22. yadyat aaGYaa = if there is the same unlimited authority; mama = of mine; yaa api = even now; raaghavam nivartayatu = let Rama be brought back; na shakSyaami = I cannot; jiivitum = survive; raamam vinaa = without Rama; muhuurtam api = even for a moment.
"If there is the same unlimited authority of mine even now, let Rama be brought back to Ayodhya. I cannot survive without Rama even for a moment."
athavā api mahā bāhur gataḥ dūram bhaviṣyati |
mām eva ratham āropya śīghram rāmāya darśaya || 2-59-23
23. athavaa = or perhaps; mahaa baahuH = Rama the mighty armed; gataH bhaviSyati = might have gone; duuram = along way; aaropya maam eva = make me to ascend; ratham = the chariot; shiighram = quickly; darshaya = and show (me); raamaaya = to Rama.
"Or perhaps Rama the mighty-armed might have gone a long way. Make me to ascend the chariot and quickly show me to Rama."
vṛtta damṣṭraḥ mahā iṣvāsaḥ kva asau lakṣmaṇa pūrvajaḥ |
yadi jīvāmi sādhv enam paśyeyam saha sītayā || 2-59-24
24. kva = where is; asau = that; lakSmaNa puurvajaH = Rama; vR^itta damSTro = having round teeth; mahaa iSvaasaH = and wearing a large bow? Pashyeyam yadi = If I can see; enam = him; saadhu = well; siitayaa saha = with Seetha; jiivaami = I can survive.
"Where is that Rama having pearl-like teeth and wearing a large bow? If only I can see him well with Seetha, I can survive."
lohita akṣam mahā bāhum āmukta maṇi kuṇḍalam |
rāmam yadi na paśyāmi gamiṣyāmi yama kṣayam || 2-59-25
25. na pashyeyam yadi = if I cannot see; raamam = Rama; lohita akSam = having red eyes; mahaa baahum = mighty arms; aamukta maNi kuNDalam = with ear-rings made of gems; gamiSyaami = I shall proceed; yam kSayam = to the world of death.
"If I cannot see Rama having red eyes, mighty arms and with ear-rings made of gems, I shall proceed to the world of Death."
ataḥ nu kim duhkhataram yo aham ikṣvāku nandanam |
imām avasthām āpanno na iha paśyāmi rāghavam || 2-59-26
26. kim nu = what is; duhkhataram = more distressing; ataH = than; saH aham = that I; aapannaH = who has got into; imaam = this; avasthaam = condition; na pashyaami = am not seeing; raaghavam = Rama; ikSvaaku kula nandanam = who is a delight to Ikshvaku dynasty; iha = here?
"What is more distressing to me after getting into this condition, in not seeing here, Rama who is a delight to Ikshvaku dynasty?"
hā rāma rāma anuja hā hā vaidehi tapasvinī |
na mām jānīta duhkhena mriyamāṇam anāthavat || 2-59-27
27. haa raama = Oh; Rama; haa raamaanuja = Oh; younger brother of Rama; tapasvinii = unfortunate; haa vaidehi = Oh; Seetha; na jaaniita = you do not know; maam = me; mriyamaaNam = as dying; duHkena = with grief; anaathavat = like one abandoned.
"Oh, Rama! Oh, Younger Brother of Rama! Oh, unfortunate Seetha! You do not know that I am dying with grief, like one abandoned."
sa tena rājā duḥkhena bhṛśamarpitacetanaḥ |
avagāḍhaḥ suduṣpāram śokasāgamabravīt || 2-59-28
28. saH raajaa = that Dasaratha; arpitachetasaH = his mind despaired; bhR^iSam = very much; duHkena = with grief; avagaaDhaH = plunged; shoka saagaram = in an ocean of sorrow; suduSpaaram = which is very difficult to be crossed; abraviit = spoke (as follows)
King Dasaratha, his mind very much despaired with grief and plunged in an ocean of sorrow, very difficult to be crossed, spoke (as follows)
rāmaśokamahābhogaḥ sītāvirahapāragaḥ |
śvasitormimahāvarto bāṣpaphenajalāvilaḥ || 2-59-29
bāhuvikṣepamīnaugho vikranditamahāsvanaḥ |
prakīrṇakeśaśaivālaḥ kaikeyībaḍabāmukhaḥ || 2-59-30
mamāśruvegaprabhavaḥ kubjāvākyamahāgrahaḥ |
varavelo nṛśaṃsāyā rāmapravrājanāyataḥ || 2-59-31
yasmin bata nimagno.aham kausalye rāghavam vinā |
dustaraḥ jīvatā devi mayā ayam śoka sāgaraḥ || 2-59-32
33-36. deevii = Oh; queen; kausalye = Kausalya; yasmin = In which; aham = I; nimagnaH = am plunged; asau = in this; shoka saagaraH = ocean of grief; raamashokamahaabhogaH = its area of sorrow is for Rama; siitaavirahapaaragaH = its shore is Seetha's separation; shvasitormimahaavartaH = its waves and huge whirl-pools are sighs of anguish; baaSpaphenajalaavilaH = It is agitated with water and foam as tears; baahuvikshhepamiinaughaH = throwing away of arms is the swarm of fishes; vikranditamahaasvanaH = its great sounds are cries of lamentation; prakiirNakeshashaivaalaH = the scattered hair is its duck-weed. kaikeyiibaDabaamukhaH = Kaikeyi is its submarine fire; mamaashruvegaprabhavaH = which is the cause for the rust in my tears; kubjaavaakyamahaagrahaH = the words of the hump-backed are its huge crocodiles; varavelaH = with shores as boons; nR^ishamsaayaaH = of the cruel Kaikeyi; raamapravraajanaayataH = its long stretch is due to sending of Rama to a far way place; dustaraH = It cannot be crossed jiivitaa = alive; mayaa = by me; raaghavam vinaa = without Rama.
"Oh, Queen Kausalya! I am plunged in this ocean of grief. Its area of sorrow is for Rama. its other shore is Seetha's separation. Its waves and huge whirlpools are sighs of anguish. It is agitated with water and foam as tears. Throwing away of arms is the swarm of fishes. Its great sounds are cries of lamentation. The scattered hari is its duck-week. Kaikeyi is its submarine fire. Which is the cause for the rush in my tears. The words of the hum-backed are its huge crocodiles. Its shores are the boons asked by the cruel Kaikeyi. Its long stretch is due to sending of Rama to far away place. I cannot cross this ocean alive, without Rama. What a pity!"
aśobhanam yo aham iha adya rāghavam |
didṛkṣamāṇo na labhe salakṣmaṇam
iti iva rājā vilapan mahā yahāśaḥ
papāta tūrṇam śayane sa mūrcitaḥ || 2-59-33
33. saH raajaa = that king; mahaayashaaH = of great renown; vilapan = lamenting; itiiva = in the manner; yaH aham = which I; didR^ikSamaaNaH = want to see; adya = now; raaghavam = Rama; salakSmaNam = along with Lakshmana; na labhe = (I am) not able to obtain; iha = here; ashobhanam = It is very bad; muurchitaH = became unconscious; tuurNam = soon; papaata = and fell; shayane = on his couch.
"Though I want to see Rama and Lakshmana now, I am not able to see them here. It is very bad." - thus lamenting, the king of great renown soon became unconscious and fell down on his couch.
iti vilapati pārthive pranaṣṭe |
karuṇataram dviguṇam ca rāma hetoḥ |
vacanam anuniśamya tasya devī |
bhayam agamat punar eva rāma mātā || 2-59-34
34. anunishamya = hearing; tasya = his; vachanam = words; vilapati = lamenting; dviguNam ca = as much as twice; karuNataram = more pitiably; raama hetoH = for Rama; paarthive = and the king; pranaSTe = having fallen unconscious; devii = Kausalya; agamat = got; bhayam = fear; punareva = once again.
Hearing his words lamenting as much as twice more pitiably for Rama and the king having fallen unconscious, Kausalya was alarmed once again.
- - -
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe ekonaṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ
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© May 2003, K. M. K. Murthy
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