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Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda · Chapter 59

Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 59

अयोध्याकाण्डः सर्गः 59

26 verses

मम त्वश्वा निवृत्तस्य न प्रावर्तन्त वर्त्मनि। उष्णमश्रु विमुञ्चन्तो रामे सम्प्रस्थिते वनम्॥ उभाभ्यां राजपुत्राभ्यामथ कृत्वाहमञ्जलिम्। प्रस्थितो रथमास्थाय तदुःखमपि धारयन्॥

mama tvaśvā nivṛttasya na prāvartanta vartmani| uṣṇamaśru vimuñcanto rāme samprasthite vanam|| ubhābhyāṃ rājaputrābhyāmatha kṛtvāhamañjalim| prasthito rathamāsthāya taduḥkhamapi dhārayan||

On Rāma having gone to the forest, my horses as I turned away, did not proceed vigorously on the way, and shed warm tears. And having (done homage) to both the princes by joining my hands, I turned my back, bearing as best I could that load of sorrow.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

गुहेन सार्धं तत्रैव स्थितोऽस्मि दिवसान् बहून्। आशया यदि मां रामः पुनः शब्दापयेदिति ॥

guhena sārdhaṃ tatraiva sthito'smi divasān bahūn| āśayā yadi māṃ rāmaḥ punaḥ śabdāpayediti ||

Indulging in the hope that Rāma might again summon me by any of the envoys (of Guha left there), I stayed there with Guha for many days.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

विषये ते महाराज महाव्यसनकर्शिताः। अपि वृक्षाः परिम्लानाः सपुष्पाकुरकोरकाः॥ उपतप्तोदका नद्यः पल्वलानि सरांसि च। परिशुष्कपलाशानि वनान्युपवनानि च॥

viṣaye te mahārāja mahāvyasanakarśitāḥ| api vṛkṣāḥ parimlānāḥ sapuṣpākurakorakāḥ|| upataptodakā nadyaḥ palvalāni sarāṃsi ca| pariśuṣkapalāśāni vanānyupavanāni ca||

In your dominions, O monarch, exercised by the calamity that has befallen Rāma, even trees bearing blossoms and buds and sprouts look sad; the rivers and pools and liquid lapses have their waters dried up; and the woods and groves have their foliage withered.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

न च सर्पन्ति सत्त्वानि व्याला न प्रचरन्ति च। रामशोकाभिभूतं त निष्कूजमिव तद्वनम्॥

na ca sarpanti sattvāni vyālā na pracaranti ca| rāmaśokābhibhūtaṃ ta niṣkūjamiva tadvanam||

Creatures do not move and beasts of prey cease to range about; and the forest appears to be dumb, stupefied by grief on account of Rāma.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

लीनपुष्करपत्राश्च नद्यश्च कलुषोदकाः। संतप्तपद्माः पद्मिन्यो लीनमीनविहंगमाः॥ जलजानि च पुष्पाणि माल्यानि स्थलजानि च। नातिभान्त्यल्पगन्धीनि फलानि च यथापुरम् ॥

līnapuṣkarapatrāśca nadyaśca kaluṣodakāḥ| saṃtaptapadmāḥ padminyo līnamīnavihaṃgamāḥ|| jalajāni ca puṣpāṇi mālyāni sthalajāni ca| nātibhāntyalpagandhīni phalāni ca yathāpuram ||

Streams containing lotuses with their leaves shrivelled, have their waters stained; and lotuses have their leaves burnt; and fished and (aquatic) birds have grown lean. And flowers both on land and water have been deprived of their freshness and fragrance; and they no longer retain their former condition.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अत्रोद्यानानि शून्यानि प्रलीनविहगानि च। न चाभिरामानारामान् पश्यामि मनुजर्षभ॥

atrodyānāni śūnyāni pralīnavihagāni ca| na cābhirāmānārāmān paśyāmi manujarṣabha||

The gardens are idle with their birds drooping. And, O best of men, I do not find the bowers beautiful (as before).

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

प्रविशन्तमयोध्यायां न कश्चिदभिनन्दति। नरा राममपश्यन्तो निःश्वसन्ति मुहुर्मुहुः॥

praviśantamayodhyāyāṃ na kaścidabhinandati| narā rāmamapaśyanto niḥśvasanti muhurmuhuḥ||

When I entered Ayodhyā, none greeted me. And not seeing Rāma, the people sigh momentarily.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

देव राजरथं दृष्ट्वा विना राममिहागतम्। दूरादश्रुमुखः सर्वो राजमार्गे गतो जनः॥

deva rājarathaṃ dṛṣṭvā vinā rāmamihāgatam| dūrādaśrumukhaḥ sarvo rājamārge gato janaḥ||

And, O revered one, seeing the royal car returned hither without Rāma, the people on the highways from grief appear with tearful countenance.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

हम्र्यैर्विमानैः प्रासादैरवेक्ष्य रथमागतम्। हाहाकारकृता नार्यो रामादर्शनकर्शिताः॥

hamryairvimānaiḥ prāsādairavekṣya rathamāgatam| hāhākārakṛtā nāryo rāmādarśanakarśitāḥ||

And from mansions, cars, and lordly edifices, ladies seeing the car come back, set up a chorus of 'Ah' and 'Alas,' afflicted with the absence of Rama.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

आयतैर्विमलैनॆत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः। अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः॥

āyatairvimalainètrairaśruvegapariplutaiḥ| anyonyamabhivīkṣante'vyaktamārtatarāḥ striyaḥ||

And becoming more distressed that ever, the fair sex with their expansive and clear eyes filled with tears, began to eye each other indistinctly.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

नामित्राणां न मित्राणामुदासीनजनस्य च। अहमार्ततया कंचिद् विशेषं नोपलक्षये॥

nāmitrāṇāṃ na mitrāṇāmudāsīnajanasya ca| ahamārtatayā kaṃcid viśeṣaṃ nopalakṣaye||

And in consequence of the general grief that prevailed, I could not perceive any difference between friends and foes and persons indifferent.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अप्रहृष्टमनुष्या च दीननागतुरंगमा। आर्तस्वरपरिम्लानविनिःश्वसितनि:स्वना ॥ निरानन्दा महाराज रामप्रव्राजनातुरा। कौसल्या पुत्रहीनेव अयोध्या प्रतिभाति मे॥

aprahṛṣṭamanuṣyā ca dīnanāgaturaṃgamā| ārtasvaraparimlānaviniḥśvasitani:svanā || nirānandā mahārāja rāmapravrājanāturā| kausalyā putrahīneva ayodhyā pratibhāti me||

O mighty monarch, distressed in consequence of the exile of Rāma, men appear sunk in dejection, and elephants and horses are spiritless; and seized with cheerlessness, they utter doleful sounds and heave profound sighs. Ayodhyā appears to me joyless like Kausalyă deprived of her son.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

सूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वाचा परमदीनया। बाष्पोपहतया सूतमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥

sūtasya vacanaṃ śrutvā vācā paramadīnayā| bāṣpopahatayā sūtamidaṃ vacanamabravīt||

Hearing the words of the charioteer, the king like an exceedingly forlorn, addressed the former in words lost in the vapour of sorrow.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

कैकेय्या विनियुक्तेन पापाभिजनभावया। मया न मन्त्रकुशलैर्वृद्धैः सह समर्थितम्॥

kaikeyyā viniyuktena pāpābhijanabhāvayā| mayā na mantrakuśalairvṛddhaiḥ saha samarthitam||

Exhorted by Kaikeyi of a sinful country, born in a sinful race and cherishing sinful designs, I did not take counsel with aged people capable of offering advice.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

न सुहृद्भिर्न चामात्यैर्मन्त्रयित्वा सनैगमैः। मयायमर्थः सम्मोहात् स्त्रीहेतोः सहसा कृतः॥

na suhṛdbhirna cāmātyairmantrayitvā sanaigamaiḥ| mayāyamarthaḥ sammohāt strīhetoḥ sahasā kṛtaḥ||

Without consulting with friends or courtiers or persons versed in the Vedas, I have in the interest of a woman rashly done this thing through ignorance.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

भवितव्यतया नूनमिदं वा व्यसनं महत्। कुलस्यास्य विनाशाय प्राप्तं सूत यदृच्छया॥

bhavitavyatayā nūnamidaṃ vā vyasanaṃ mahat| kulasyāsya vināśāya prāptaṃ sūta yadṛcchayā||

Meseems, O charioteer, for the purpose of destroying this line entirely, this mighty disaster has surely befallen us through the influence of Destiny.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

सूत यद्यस्ति ते किंचिन्मयापि सुकृतं कृतम्। त्वं प्रापयाशु मां रामं प्राणाः संत्वरयन्ति माम्॥

sūta yadyasti te kiṃcinmayāpi sukṛtaṃ kṛtam| tvaṃ prāpayāśu māṃ rāmaṃ prāṇāḥ saṃtvarayanti mām||

O charioteer, if I have ever done you any good do you immediately take me to Rāma: my life urges me on (in this direction).

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

यद्यद्यापि ममैवाज्ञा निवर्तयतु राघवम्। न शक्ष्यामि विना रामं मुहूर्तमपि जीवितुम्॥

yadyadyāpi mamaivājñā nivartayatu rāghavam| na śakṣyāmi vinā rāmaṃ muhūrtamapi jīvitum||

Or let my command make Rāghava turn back. I cannot live for a moment without Rāma.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

अथवापि महाबाहुर्गतो दूरं भविष्यति। मामेव रथमारोप्य शीघ्रं रामाय दर्शय॥

athavāpi mahābāhurgato dūraṃ bhaviṣyati| māmeva rathamāropya śīghraṃ rāmāya darśaya||

But if that mighty-armed one has proceeded far, do you placing me on a car speedily show me to Rāma.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

वृत्तदंष्ट्रो महेष्वासः क्वासौ लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। यदि जीवामि साध्वेनं पश्येयं सीतया सह॥

vṛttadaṃṣṭro maheṣvāsaḥ kvāsau lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ| yadi jīvāmi sādhvenaṃ paśyeyaṃ sītayā saha||

Where is that elder brother of Lakşmaņa of a mighty bow, furnished with teeth resembling Kunda flowers? If I live so long, I will behold him in company with Sītā.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुमामुक्तमणिकुण्डलम्। रामं यदि न पश्येयं गमिष्यामि यमक्षयम्॥ अतो नु किं दुःखतरं योऽहमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्। इमामवस्थामापनो नेह पश्यामि राघवम्॥

lohitākṣaṃ mahābāhumāmuktamaṇikuṇḍalam| rāmaṃ yadi na paśyeyaṃ gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam|| ato nu kiṃ duḥkhataraṃ yo'hamikṣvākunandanam| imāmavasthāmāpano neha paśyāmi rāghavam||

What can be sadder than this, that reduced to such a pass, I cannot see here that descendant of Ikşvāku, Rāghava?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

हा राम रामानुज हा हा वैदेहि तपस्विनि। न मां जानीत दुःखेन म्रियमाणमनाथवत्॥

hā rāma rāmānuja hā hā vaidehi tapasvini| na māṃ jānīta duḥkhena mriyamāṇamanāthavat||

Ah Rāma! Ah you younger brother of Rāma! Ah you unfortunate Vaidehī! You do not know that I am through grief lamenting like one deserted.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

स तेन राजा दुःखेन भृशमर्पितचेतनः। अवगाढः सुदुष्पारं शोकसागरमब्रवीत्॥

sa tena rājā duḥkhena bhṛśamarpitacetanaḥ| avagāḍhaḥ suduṣpāraṃ śokasāgaramabravīt||

Deprived of his consciousness through that sorrow of his, the king said.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

रामशोकमहावेगः सीताविरहपारगः। श्वसितोर्मिमहावर्तो वाष्पवेगजलाविलः॥ बाहुविक्षेपमीनोऽसौ विक्रन्दितमहास्वनः। प्रकीर्णकेशशैवाल: कैकेयीवडवामुखः॥ ममाश्रुवेगप्रभवः कुब्जावाक्यमहाग्रहः। वरवेलो नृशंसाया रामप्रव्राजनायतः॥ यस्मिन् बत निमग्नोऽहं कौसल्ये राघवं विना। दुस्तरो जीवता देवि मयायं शोकसागरः॥ अशोभनं योऽहमिहाद्य राघवं दिदृक्षमाणो न लभे सलक्ष्मणम्। इतीव राजा विलपन् महायशाः पपात तूर्णं शयने स मूर्च्छितः॥

rāmaśokamahāvegaḥ sītāvirahapāragaḥ| śvasitormimahāvarto vāṣpavegajalāvilaḥ|| bāhuvikṣepamīno'sau vikranditamahāsvanaḥ| prakīrṇakeśaśaivāla: kaikeyīvaḍavāmukhaḥ|| mamāśruvegaprabhavaḥ kubjāvākyamahāgrahaḥ| varavelo nṛśaṃsāyā rāmapravrājanāyataḥ|| yasmin bata nimagno'haṃ kausalye rāghavaṃ vinā| dustaro jīvatā devi mayāyaṃ śokasāgaraḥ|| aśobhanaṃ yo'hamihādya rāghavaṃ didṛkṣamāṇo na labhe salakṣmaṇam| itīva rājā vilapan mahāyaśāḥ papāta tūrṇaṃ śayane sa mūrcchitaḥ||

I have plunged myself into this ocean of woe hard to cross, with grief for Rāma as its mighty tide; separation from Sītā, its other shore; sighs heaved, its furious billows and whirlpools; tears, rivers that rush into it; tossing of the arms, its fishes; lamentations it roar; my hair flung about, its moss; Kaikeyi, its submarine fire; my fastflowing tears, its current; the words of the humpbacked one, its terrific ravenous animals; the boon, its continents; and the exile of Rama, its expanse. And, O Kausalyā, without Rāghava, I shall sink in this ocean. O exalted dame, living, it is hard for me to cross over this ocean. It is surely owing to my sin that to-day wishing to behold Rāghava and Lakşmaņa, I do not get them (before me). Having thus lamented, the illustrious king all of a sudden dropped to the earth in a swoon.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

इति विलपति पार्थिवे प्रणष्टे करुणतरं द्विगुणं च रामहेतोः। वचनमनुनिशम्य तस्य देवी भयमगमत् पुनरेव राममाता॥

iti vilapati pārthive praṇaṣṭe karuṇataraṃ dviguṇaṃ ca rāmahetoḥ| vacanamanuniśamya tasya devī bhayamagamat punareva rāmamātā||

On the king swooning away lamenting, that exalted lady, Rāma's mother, hearing his words doubly bitter and more piteous than ever uttered for Rāma, was seized with fresh apprehension.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)

इति विलपति पार्थिवे प्रणष्टे करुणतरं द्विगुणं च रामहेतोः। वचनमनुनिशम्य तस्य देवी भयमगमत् पुनरेव राममाता॥

iti vilapati pārthive praṇaṣṭe karuṇataraṃ dviguṇaṃ ca rāmahetoḥ| vacanamanuniśamya tasya devī bhayamagamat punareva rāmamātā||

On the king swooning away lamenting, that exalted lady, Rāma's mother, hearing his words doubly bitter and more piteous than ever uttered for Rāma, was seized with fresh apprehension.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)