Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 18

स ददर्शासने रामो निषण्णं पितरं शुभे। कैकेयीसहितं दीनं मुखेन परिशुष्यता।।2.18.1।।

sa dadarśāsane rāmo niṣaṇṇaṃ pitaraṃ śubhe| kaikeyīsahitaṃ dīnaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā

Rama beheld his father reclined on an auspicious couch and by his side was seated Kaikeyi. He looked wretched with a pale face.

स पितुश्चरणौ पूर्वमभिवाद्य विनीतवत्। ततो ववन्दे चरणौ कैकेय्या स्सुसमाहितः।।2.18.2।।

sa pituścaraṇau pūrvamabhivādya vinītavat| tato vavande caraṇau kaikeyyā ssusamāhitaḥ

With all humility and wellcomposed mind, he made reverential salutation first at his father's feet and thereafter at Kaikeyi's.

रामेत्युक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः। शशाक नृपतिर्दीनो नेक्षितुं नाभिभाषितुम्।।2.18.3।।

rāmetyuktvā tu vacanaṃ bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ| śaśāka nṛpatirdīno nekṣituṃ nābhibhāṣitum

Dasaratha uttered the word 'Rama', but thereafter could neither say any more in distress nor look at him becuase his eyes were brimming with tears.

तदपूर्वं नरपतेर्दृष्ट्वा रूपं भयावहम्। रामोऽपि भयमापन्नः पदा स्पृष्ट्वेव पन्नगम्।।2.18.4।।

tadapūrvaṃ narapaterdṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ bhayāvaham| rāmo'pi bhayamāpannaḥ padā spṛṣṭveva pannagam

Never before did Rama see such frightful appearance of his father. He was seized with fear as if he trampled a serpent.

इन्द्रियैरप्रहृष्टैस्तं शोकसन्तापकर्शितम्। निश्श्वसन्तं महाराजं व्यथिताकुलचेतसम्।।2.18.5।। ऊर्मिमालिनमक्षोभ्यं क्षुभ्यन्तमिव सागरम्। उपप्लुतमिवादित्यमुक्तानृतमृषिं यथा।।2.18.6।।

indriyairaprahṛṣṭaistaṃ śokasantāpakarśitam| niśśvasantaṃ mahārājaṃ vyathitākulacetasam ūrmimālinamakṣobhyaṃ kṣubhyantamiva sāgaram| upaplutamivādityamuktānṛtamṛṣiṃ yathā

Maharaja (Dasaratha) with his senses dulled had become emaciated due to sorrow and suffering. With an agitated and troubled mind, he was breathing heavily. Although unshakable, he looked agitated like an ocean with successive rows of waves, like the Sun in eclipse, like an ascetic who has uttered falsehood.

इन्द्रियैरप्रहृष्टैस्तं शोकसन्तापकर्शितम्। निश्श्वसन्तं महाराजं व्यथिताकुलचेतसम्।।2.18.5।। ऊर्मिमालिनमक्षोभ्यं क्षुभ्यन्तमिव सागरम्। उपप्लुतमिवादित्यमुक्तानृतमृषिं यथा।।2.18.6।।

indriyairaprahṛṣṭaistaṃ śokasantāpakarśitam| niśśvasantaṃ mahārājaṃ vyathitākulacetasam ūrmimālinamakṣobhyaṃ kṣubhyantamiva sāgaram| upaplutamivādityamuktānṛtamṛṣiṃ yathā

Maharaja (Dasaratha) with his senses dulled had become emaciated due to sorrow and suffering. With an agitated and troubled mind, he was breathing heavily. Although unshakable, he looked agitated like an ocean with successive rows of waves, like the Sun in eclipse, like an ascetic who has uttered falsehood.

अचिन्त्यकल्पं हि पितुस्तं शोकमुपधारयन्। बभूव संरब्धतर स्समुद्र इव पर्वणि।।2.18.7।।

acintyakalpaṃ hi pitustaṃ śokamupadhārayan| babhūva saṃrabdhatara ssamudra iva parvaṇi

The more Rama reflected on the incomprehensible sorrow of the king, the more he became perturbed like an ocean on the new Moon day.

चिन्तयामास च तदा रामः पितृहिते रतः। किं स्विदद्यैव नृपतिर्न मां प्रत्यभिनन्दति।।2.18.8।।

cintayāmāsa ca tadā rāmaḥ pitṛhite rataḥ| kiṃ svidadyaiva nṛpatirna māṃ pratyabhinandati

Devoted to his father's wellbeing, Rama reflected, Why does not father reciprocate my greeting (like on other days)?

अन्यदा मां पिता दृष्ट्वा कुपितोऽपि प्रसीदति। तस्य मामद्य संप्रेक्ष्य किमायासः प्रवर्तते।।2.18.9।।

anyadā māṃ pitā dṛṣṭvā kupito'pi prasīdati| tasya māmadya saṃprekṣya kimāyāsaḥ pravartate

On other occasions even though angry he would feel pleased. But today why does he feel sad even after seeing me?

स दीन इव शोकार्तो विषण्णवदनद्युतिः। कैकेयीमभिवाद्यैव रामो वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.18.10।।

sa dīna iva śokārto viṣaṇṇavadanadyutiḥ| kaikeyīmabhivādyaiva rāmo vacanamabravīt

With a sorrowful countenance Rama made salutation to Kaikeyi and said like a wretch tormented with grief:

कच्चिन्मया नापराद्धमज्ञानाद्येन मे पिता। कुपितस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व त्वं चैवैनं प्रसादय।।2.18.11।।

kaccinmayā nāparāddhamajñānādyena me pitā| kupitastanmamācakṣva tvaṃ caivainaṃ prasādaya

Have I committed any offence unknowingly? Please tell me why my father is angry with me. You alone can pacify him.

अप्रसन्नमनाः किन्नु सदा मां प्रति वत्सलः। विवर्णवदनो दीनो न हि मामभिभाषते।।2.18.12।।

aprasannamanāḥ kinnu sadā māṃ prati vatsalaḥ| vivarṇavadano dīno na hi māmabhibhāṣate

Father has always been affectionate to me but today why is he in a dejected mood? Why does his countenance look pale and wretched? Why does he not speak to me?

शरीरो मानसो वापि कच्चिदेनं न बाधते। सन्तापोवाऽभितापो वा दुर्लभं हि सदा सुखम्।।2.18.13।।

śarīro mānaso vāpi kaccidenaṃ na bādhate| santāpovā'bhitāpo vā durlabhaṃ hi sadā sukham

Is he suffering from any physical ailment or mental agony? It is affliction of either the body or the mind. (For) perpetual happiness is indeed rare.

कच्चिन्न किञ्चिद्भरते कुमारे प्रियदर्शने। शत्रुघ्ने वा महासत्त्वे मात्रूणां वा ममाशुभम्।।2.18.14।।

kaccinna kiñcidbharate kumāre priyadarśane| śatrughne vā mahāsattve mātrūṇāṃ vā mamāśubham

Has any misfortune befallen the handsome Bharata or the mighty Satrughna or any of my mothers?

अतोषयन्महाराजमकुर्वन्वा पितुर्वचः। मुहूर्तमपि नेच्छेयं जीवितुं कुपिते नृपे।।2.18.15।।

atoṣayanmahārājamakurvanvā piturvacaḥ| muhūrtamapi neccheyaṃ jīvituṃ kupite nṛpe

If I have (ever) displeased the maharaja, my father or disobeyed his command which has angered him, I do not wish to live for a moment৷৷

यतोमूलं नरः पश्येत्प्रादुर्भावमिहात्मनः। कथं तस्मिन्नवर्तेत प्रत्यक्षे सति दैवते।।2.18.16।।

yatomūlaṃ naraḥ paśyetprādurbhāvamihātmanaḥ| kathaṃ tasminnavarteta pratyakṣe sati daivate

How can a man who owes his origin (birth) in this world to him (father) who still exists as a visible god not conduct himself (as per his wish)?

कच्चित्ते परुषं किञ्चिदभिमानात्पतिता मम। उक्तो भवत्या कोपेन यत्रास्य लुलितं मनः।।2.18.17।।

kaccitte paruṣaṃ kiñcidabhimānātpatitā mama| ukto bhavatyā kopena yatrāsya lulitaṃ manaḥ

Have you said anything harsh to my father out of anger or (injured) selfrespect for which his mind has been shaken?

एतदाचक्ष्व मे देवि तत्त्वेन परिपृच्छतः। किं निमित्तमपूर्वोयं विकारो मनुजाधिपे।।2.18.18।।

etadācakṣva me devi tattvena paripṛcchataḥ| kiṃ nimittamapūrvoyaṃ vikāro manujādhipe

O Devi I am repeatedly asking you the cause of this unprecedented change in the king please tell me the truth.

एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी राघवेण महात्मना। उवाचेदं सुनिर्लज्जा धृष्टमात्महितं वचः।।2.18.19।।

evamuktā tu kaikeyī rāghaveṇa mahātmanā| uvācedaṃ sunirlajjā dhṛṣṭamātmahitaṃ vacaḥ

When Kaikeyi was thus asked by the magnanimous scion of the Raghus (Rama) she uttered unashamed these impudent words in her own interest.

न राजा कुपितो राम व्यसनं नास्य किञ्चन। किञ्चिन्मनोगतंत्वस्य त्वद्भयान्नाभिभाषते।।2.18.20।।

na rājā kupito rāma vyasanaṃ nāsya kiñcana| kiñcinmanogataṃtvasya tvadbhayānnābhibhāṣate

O Rama, the king is neither angry, nor has any misforturne befallen him. But out of fear for you he is not able to speak out what he has in mind.

प्रियं त्वामप्रियं वक्तुं वाणी नास्योपवर्तते। तदवश्यं त्वया कार्यं यदनेनाश्रुतं मम।।2.18.21।।

priyaṃ tvāmapriyaṃ vaktuṃ vāṇī nāsyopavartate| tadavaśyaṃ tvayā kāryaṃ yadanenāśrutaṃ mama

The goddess of speech does not permit him to say an unpleasant thing to you for you are his beloved son. So you must fulfil the promise he has made to me.

एष मह्यं वरं दत्त्वा पुरा मामभिपूज्य च। स पश्चात्तप्यते राजा यथाऽन्यः प्राकृतस्तथा।।2.18.22।।

eṣa mahyaṃ varaṃ dattvā purā māmabhipūjya ca| sa paścāttapyate rājā yathā'nyaḥ prākṛtastathā

In the past the king had honoured me with (two) boons. Now like any other common man he is repenting (for the same).

अतिसृज्य ददानीति वरं मम विशांपतिः। स निरर्थं गतजले सेतुं बन्धितुमिच्छति।।2.18.23।।

atisṛjya dadānīti varaṃ mama viśāṃpatiḥ| sa nirarthaṃ gatajale setuṃ bandhitumicchati

The king bestowed on me boons saying, 'I shall grant you two boons'. But now he wishes in vain to build a dam when the water has run down.

धर्ममूलमिदं राम विदितं च सतामपि। तत्सत्यं न त्यजेद्राजा कुपितस्त्वत्कृते यथा।।2.18.24।।

dharmamūlamidaṃ rāma viditaṃ ca satāmapi| tatsatyaṃ na tyajedrājā kupitastvatkṛte yathā

O Rama, this (truth) is the basis of righteousness. The virtuous also know this. The king being angry (with me), should not abandon the truth for your sake.

यदि तद्वक्ष्यते राजा शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्। करिष्यसि ततस्सर्वमाख्यास्यामि पुनस्त्वहम्।।2.18.25।।

yadi tadvakṣyate rājā śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham| kariṣyasi tatassarvamākhyāsyāmi punastvaham

If you fulfil whatever the king says, pleasant or unpleasant, I shall relate to you everything.

यदि त्वभिहितं राज्ञा त्वयि तन्न विपत्स्यते। ततोऽहमभिधास्यामि न ह्येष त्वयि वक्ष्यति।।2.18.26।।

yadi tvabhihitaṃ rājñā tvayi tanna vipatsyate| tato'hamabhidhāsyāmi na hyeṣa tvayi vakṣyati

If you do not transgress the word given by the king I shall tell you everything. The king on his own will not tell you.

एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा कैकेय्या समुदाहृतम्। उवाच व्यथितो रामस्तां देवीं नृपसन्निधौ।।2.18.27।।

etattu vacanaṃ śrutvā kaikeyyā samudāhṛtam| uvāca vyathito rāmastāṃ devīṃ nṛpasannidhau

Very much depressed on hearing the words of Kaikeyi, Rama thus said to her in the presence of the king:

अहो धिङ्नार्हसे देवि वक्तुं मामीदृशं वचः। अहं हि वचनाद्राज्ञः पतेयमपि पावके।।2.18.28।। भक्षयेयं विषं तीक्ष्णं मज्जेयमपि चार्णवे। नियुक्तो गुरुणा पित्रा नृपेण च हितेन च।।2.18.29।।

aho dhiṅnārhase devi vaktuṃ māmīdṛśaṃ vacaḥ| ahaṃ hi vacanādrājñaḥ pateyamapi pāvake bhakṣayeyaṃ viṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ majjeyamapi cārṇave| niyukto guruṇā pitrā nṛpeṇa ca hitena ca

Alas, what a pity, O queen, it does not behove you to speak to me such words. I can jump into fire. Since he is my father, preceptor and wellwisher, I shall consume deadly poison or even get drowned in the sea if he so commands.

अहो धिङ्नार्हसे देवि वक्तुं मामीदृशं वचः। अहं हि वचनाद्राज्ञः पतेयमपि पावके।।2.18.28।। भक्षयेयं विषं तीक्ष्णं मज्जेयमपि चार्णवे। नियुक्तो गुरुणा पित्रा नृपेण च हितेन च।।2.18.29।।

aho dhiṅnārhase devi vaktuṃ māmīdṛśaṃ vacaḥ| ahaṃ hi vacanādrājñaḥ pateyamapi pāvake bhakṣayeyaṃ viṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ majjeyamapi cārṇave| niyukto guruṇā pitrā nṛpeṇa ca hitena ca

Alas, what a pity, O queen, it does not behove you to speak to me such words. I can jump into fire. Since he is my father, preceptor and wellwisher, I shall consume deadly poison or even get drowned in the sea if he so commands.

तद्ब्रूहि वचनं देवि राज्ञो यदभिकाङ्क्षितम्। करिष्ये प्रतिजाने च रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते।।2.18.30।।

tadbrūhi vacanaṃ devi rājño yadabhikāṅkṣitam| kariṣye pratijāne ca rāmo dvirnābhibhāṣate

Hence tell me, O Devi Whatever be the desire of the king: I promise I shall carry out, Rama does not say two things (does not go back on his word).

तमार्जवसमायुक्तमनार्या सत्यवादिनम्। उवाच रामं कैकेयी वचनं भृशदारुणम्।।2.18.31।।

tamārjavasamāyuktamanāryā satyavādinam| uvāca rāmaṃ kaikeyī vacanaṃ bhṛśadāruṇam

To Rama who was devoted to truth and to rectitude of conduct the ignobale Kaikeyi said:

पुरा दैवासुरे युद्धे पित्रा ते मम राघव। रक्षितेन वरौ दत्तौ सशल्येन महारणे।।2.18.32।।

purā daivāsure yuddhe pitrā te mama rāghava| rakṣitena varau dattau saśalyena mahāraṇe

O descendant of Raghu in the great war between gods and demons in the past your father had granted me two boons for protecting him when he was wounded by a shaft.

तत्र मे याचितो राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम्। गमनं दण्डकारण्ये तव चाद्यैव राघव।।2.18.33।।

tatra me yācito rājā bharatasyābhiṣecanam| gamanaṃ daṇḍakāraṇye tava cādyaiva rāghava

O scion of the Raghus, hence I have asked the king for consecration of Bharata and your departure to Dandaka forest today itself.

यदि सत्यप्रतिज्ञं त्वं पितरं कर्तुमिच्छसि। आत्मानं च नरश्रेष्ठ मम वाक्यमिदं शृणु।।2.18.34।।

yadi satyapratijñaṃ tvaṃ pitaraṃ kartumicchasi| ātmānaṃ ca naraśreṣṭha mama vākyamidaṃ śṛṇu

O the best of men if you want to be true to the word given by you and your father, listen to what I say.

सन्निदेशे पितुस्तिष्ठ यथा तेन प्रतिश्रुतम्। त्वयाऽरण्यं प्रवेष्टव्यं नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च।।2.18.35।।

sannideśe pitustiṣṭha yathā tena pratiśrutam| tvayā'raṇyaṃ praveṣṭavyaṃ nava varṣāṇi pañca ca

Abide by your father's command. As promised by him go to the forest for fourteen years.

भरतस्त्वभिषिच्येत यदेतदभिषेचनम्। त्वदर्थे विहितं राज्ञा तेन सर्वेण राघव।।2.18.36।।

bharatastvabhiṣicyeta yadetadabhiṣecanam| tvadarthe vihitaṃ rājñā tena sarveṇa rāghava

Bharata shall be consecrated, O descendant of the Raghu dynasty with all these preparations made by the king to install you.

सप्त सप्त च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः। अभिषेकमिमं त्यक्त्वा जटाजिनधरो वस।।2.18.37।।

sapta sapta ca varṣāṇi daṇḍakāraṇyamāśritaḥ| abhiṣekamimaṃ tyaktvā jaṭājinadharo vasa

Forsake this consecration, wear matted locks and deerskin and take refuge in Dandaka forest for fourteen years.

भरतः कोसलपुरे प्रशास्तु वसुधामिमाम्। नानारत्न समाकीर्णां सवाजिरथकुञ्जराम्।।2.18.38।।

bharataḥ kosalapure praśāstu vasudhāmimām| nānāratna samākīrṇāṃ savājirathakuñjarām

Let Bharata live in Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala and rule this kingdom rich in gems of different kinds in horses, chariots and elephants.

एतेन त्वां नरेन्द्रोऽयं कारुण्येन समाप्लुतः। शोकसंक्लिष्ट वदनो न शक्नोति निरीक्षितुम्।।2.18.39।।

etena tvāṃ narendro'yaṃ kāruṇyena samāplutaḥ| śokasaṃkliṣṭa vadano na śaknoti nirīkṣitum

This is why the king with his face tortured by tears and (his heart) overwhelmed with compassion for you, is unable to look at you.

एतत्कुरु नरेन्द्रस्य वचनं रघुनन्दन। सत्येन महता राम तारयस्व नरेश्वरम्।।2.18.40।।

etatkuru narendrasya vacanaṃ raghunandana| satyena mahatā rāma tārayasva nareśvaram

O Joy of the Raghus, O son of the Raghu race, carry out the word of promise given by the king and save him by helping him keep the truth which is great.

इतीव तस्यां परुषं वदन्त्यां न चैव रामः प्रविवेश शोकम्। प्रविव्यथे चापि महानुभावो राजा तु पुत्रव्यसनाभितप्तः।।2.18.41।।

itīva tasyāṃ paruṣaṃ vadantyāṃ na caiva rāmaḥ praviveśa śokam| pravivyathe cāpi mahānubhāvo rājā tu putravyasanābhitaptaḥ

Even though she was speaking harsh words, Rama did not come to grief. But the magnanimous king was greatly afflicted to see the calamity on his son. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टादशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the eighteenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the oly Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.