Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 19

तदप्रियममित्रघ्नो वचनं मरणोपमम्। श्रुत्वा न विव्यथे रामः कैकेयीं चेदमब्रवीत्।।2.19.1।।

tadapriyamamitraghno vacanaṃ maraṇopamam| śrutvā na vivyathe rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ cedamabravīt

The destroyer of enemies (Rama) did not feel distressed to hear these words painful like death. To Kaikeyi he said:

एवमस्तु गमिष्यामि वनं वस्तुमहं त्वितः। जटाजिनधरो राज्ञः प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्।।2.19.2।।

evamastu gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ vastumahaṃ tvitaḥ| jaṭājinadharo rājñaḥ pratijñāmanupālayan

Be it so I shall go from here to the forest and live there with matted hair and deerskin to keep the promise of the king.

इदं तु ज्ञातुमिच्छामि किमर्थं मां महीपतिः। नाभिनन्दति दुर्धर्षो यथापूर्वमरिन्दमः।।2.19.3।।

idaṃ tu jñātumicchāmi kimarthaṃ māṃ mahīpatiḥ| nābhinandati durdharṣo yathāpūrvamarindamaḥ

Nevertheless I would like to know why king Dasaratha, an unassailable subduer of enemies does not greet me as usual.

मन्युर्न च त्वया कार्यो देवि ब्रूमि तवाग्रतः। यास्यामि भव सुप्रीता वनं चीरजटाधरः।।2.19.4।।

manyurna ca tvayā kāryo devi brūmi tavāgrataḥ| yāsyāmi bhava suprītā vanaṃ cīrajaṭādharaḥ

O Devi you should not grieve. I declare in your presence that I shall go to the forest wearing tattered clothes (bark) and matted locks. Rejoice (to hear this).

हितेन गुरुणा पित्रा कृतज्ञेन नृपेण च। नियुज्यमानो विस्रब्धः किं न कुर्यामहं प्रियम्।।2.19.5।।

hitena guruṇā pitrā kṛtajñena nṛpeṇa ca| niyujyamāno visrabdhaḥ kiṃ na kuryāmahaṃ priyam

Ordered by my father who is my wellwisher, my guru, one with a sense of gratidude and, above all a king, shall I not, without hesitation do what pleases him?

अलीकं मानसं त्वेकं हृदयं दहतीव मे। स्वयं यन्नाह मां राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम्।।2.19.6।।

alīkaṃ mānasaṃ tvekaṃ hṛdayaṃ dahatīva me| svayaṃ yannāha māṃ rājā bharatasyābhiṣecanam

One thing which hurts me is that the king himself did not tell me about Bharata's consecration. That alone is burning my heart.

अहं हि सीतां राज्यं च प्राणानिष्टान्धनानि च। हृष्टो भ्रात्रे स्वयं दद्यां भरतायाप्रचोदितः।।2.19.7।।

ahaṃ hi sītāṃ rājyaṃ ca prāṇāniṣṭāndhanāni ca| hṛṣṭo bhrātre svayaṃ dadyāṃ bharatāyāpracoditaḥ

Unurged, I would have gladly given to Bharata the kingdom, wealth, my most coveted life, and even Sita.

किं पुनर्मनुजेन्द्रेण स्वयं पित्रा प्रचोदितः। तव च प्रियकामार्थं प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्।।2.19.8।।

kiṃ punarmanujendreṇa svayaṃ pitrā pracoditaḥ| tava ca priyakāmārthaṃ pratijñāmanupālayan

In order to keep the promise I shall do everything to fulfil your desire. Needless to say that my father has ordered this.

तदाश्वासय हीमं त्वं किन्विदं यन्महीपतिः। वसुधासक्तनयनो मन्दमश्रूणि मुञ्चति।।2.19.9।।

tadāśvāsaya hīmaṃ tvaṃ kinvidaṃ yanmahīpatiḥ| vasudhāsaktanayano mandamaśrūṇi muñcati

Please console him. Why is it that the king with his eyes fixed upon the ground is shedding tears drop by drop?

गच्छन्तु चैवानयितुं दूताश्श्रीघ्रजवैर्हयैः। भरतं मातुलकुलादद्यैव नृपशासनात्।।2.19.10।।

gacchantu caivānayituṃ dūtāśśrīghrajavairhayaiḥ| bharataṃ mātulakulādadyaiva nṛpaśāsanāt

With the king's orders let messengers go right away on swift horses to fetch Bharata from his maternal uncle's house.

दण्डकारण्यमेषोऽहमितो गच्छामि सत्वरः। अविचार्य पितुर्वाक्यं समा वस्तुं चतुर्दश।।2.19.11।।

daṇḍakāraṇyameṣo'hamito gacchāmi satvaraḥ| avicārya piturvākyaṃ samā vastuṃ caturdaśa

As for me, without deliberating on the propriety of my father's orders, I shall go from here at once to Dandaka forest to live (there) for fourteen years.

सा हृष्टा तस्य तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामस्य कैकयी। प्रस्थानं श्रद्धधाना हि त्वरयामास राघवम्।।2.19.12।।

sā hṛṣṭā tasya tadvākyaṃ śrutvā rāmasya kaikayī| prasthānaṃ śraddhadhānā hi tvarayāmāsa rāghavam

Kaikeyi, happy to hear the words of the son of the Raghus as she was convinced that his departure (to the forest) was certain, hastened him (to set out).

एवं भवतु यास्यन्ति दूता श्शीघ्रजवैर्हयैः। भरतं मातुलकुलादुपावर्तयितुं नराः।।2.19.13।।

evaṃ bhavatu yāsyanti dūtā śśīghrajavairhayaiḥ| bharataṃ mātulakulādupāvartayituṃ narāḥ

Let it be so. Messengers shall go at once on swift horses to bring Bharata from his maternal uncle's house.

तव त्वहं क्षमं मन्ये नोत्सुकस्य विलम्बनम्। राम तस्मादित श्शीघ्रं वनं त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि।।2.19.14।।

tava tvahaṃ kṣamaṃ manye notsukasya vilambanam| rāma tasmādita śśīghraṃ vanaṃ tvaṃ gantumarhasi

Since you are eager (to go to the forest), I do not think it is proper to delay. O Rama therefore it behoves you to proceed immediately from here to the forest.

व्रीडान्वित स्स्वयं यच्च नृपस्त्वां नाभिभाषते। नैतत्किञ्चिन्नरश्रेष्ठ मन्युरेषोऽपनीयताम्।।2.19.15।।

vrīḍānvita ssvayaṃ yacca nṛpastvāṃ nābhibhāṣate| naitatkiñcinnaraśreṣṭha manyureṣo'panīyatām

Out of shame the king is unable to speak to you. There is nothing other than this. O Rama, the best of men, dispel this distress (of mind).

यावत्त्वं न वनं यातः पुरादस्मादभित्वरन्। पिता तावन्न ते राम स्नास्यते भोक्ष्यतेऽपि वा।।2.19.16।।

yāvattvaṃ na vanaṃ yātaḥ purādasmādabhitvaran| pitā tāvanna te rāma snāsyate bhokṣyate'pi vā

O Rama, as long as you do not hasten to leave this city for the forest, your father will neither bathe nor eat.

धिक्कष्टमिति निःश्वस्य राजा शोकपरिप्लुतः। मूर्छितो न्यपतत्तस्मिन्पर्यङ्के हेमभूषिते।।2.19.17।।

dhikkaṣṭamiti niḥśvasya rājā śokapariplutaḥ| mūrchito nyapatattasminparyaṅke hemabhūṣite

'Fie, what a calamity' sighing thus, the king, overwhelmed with sorrow, fainted and fell back on the golden couch.

रामोऽप्युत्थाप्य राजानं कैकेय्याभिप्रचोदितः। कशयेवाहतो वाजी वनं गन्तुं कृतत्वरः।।2.19.18।।

rāmo'pyutthāpya rājānaṃ kaikeyyābhipracoditaḥ| kaśayevāhato vājī vanaṃ gantuṃ kṛtatvaraḥ

Rama lifted up the king and, urged by Kaikeyi, hastened to depart for the forest like a horse flogged by a whip.

तदप्रियमनार्याया वचनं दारुणोदयम्। श्रुत्वा गतव्यथो रामः कैकेयीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.19.19।।

tadapriyamanāryāyā vacanaṃ dāruṇodayam| śrutvā gatavyatho rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ vākyamabravīt

Rama listened to the dreadful, cruel words of the ignoble woman but, without feeling any sorrow, said to Kaikeyi, these words:

नाहमर्थपरो देवि लोकमावस्तुमुत्सहे। विद्धिमामृषिभिस्तुल्यं केवलं धर्ममास्थितम्।।2.19.20।।

nāhamarthaparo devi lokamāvastumutsahe| viddhimāmṛṣibhistulyaṃ kevalaṃ dharmamāsthitam

O Devi, I have no desire to live in this world for the sake of wealth. Know me as one with the sages who are devoted only to righteousness.

यदत्र भवतः किञ्चिच्छक्यं कर्तुं प्रियं मया। प्राणानपि परित्यज्य सर्वथा कृतमेव तत्।।2.19.21।।

yadatra bhavataḥ kiñcicchakyaṃ kartuṃ priyaṃ mayā| prāṇānapi parityajya sarvathā kṛtameva tat

If I am able to do anything which pleases my venerable father, it shall be done in every possible manner, may be even at the cost of my life.

न ह्यतो धर्मचरणं किञ्चिदस्ति महत्तरम्। यथा पितरिशुश्रूषा तस्य वा वचनक्रिया।।2.19.22।।

na hyato dharmacaraṇaṃ kiñcidasti mahattaram| yathā pitariśuśrūṣā tasya vā vacanakriyā

There is no greater observance of righteousness than doing service to one's father or carrying out his orders.

अनुक्तोऽप्यत्रभवता भवत्या वचनादहम्। वने वत्स्यामि विजने वर्षाणीह चतुर्दश।।2.19.23।।

anukto'pyatrabhavatā bhavatyā vacanādaham| vane vatsyāmi vijane varṣāṇīha caturdaśa

Though this has not been said by my respectable father himself, I shall live in the forlorn forest for fourteen years in accordance with your word.

न नूनं मयि कैकयि किञ्चिदाशंससे गुणम्। यद्राजानमवोचस्त्वं ममेश्वरतरा सती।।2.19.24।।

na nūnaṃ mayi kaikayi kiñcidāśaṃsase guṇam| yadrājānamavocastvaṃ mameśvaratarā satī

Since in my case you have exercised more authority (than my father) and pleaded with the king, it follows, you, for sure, do not see any virtue in me, O Kaikeyi (Or else, you should not have asked for Bharata's kingship).

यावन्मातरमाप्नच्छे सीतां चानुनयाम्यहम्। ततोऽद्यैव गमिष्यामि दण्डकानां महद्वनम्।।2.19.25।।

yāvanmātaramāpnacche sītāṃ cānunayāmyaham| tato'dyaiva gamiṣyāmi daṇḍakānāṃ mahadvanam

After taking leave of my mother and consoling Sita, today itself I shall go to that wild Dandaka forest.

भरतः पालयेद्राज्यं शुश्रूषेच्च पितुर्यथा। तथा भवत्या कर्तव्यं स हि धर्म स्सनातनः।।2.19.26।।

bharataḥ pālayedrājyaṃ śuśrūṣecca pituryathā| tathā bhavatyā kartavyaṃ sa hi dharma ssanātanaḥ

It is your bounden duty to see that Bharata rules the kingdom and serves father.

स रामस्य वचश्श्रृत्वा भृशं दुःखहतः पिता। शोकादशक्नुवन्वकतुं प्ररुरोद महास्वनम्।।2.19.27।।

sa rāmasya vacaśśrṛtvā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhahataḥ pitā| śokādaśaknuvanvakatuṃ praruroda mahāsvanam

Father (Dasaratha), too tormented with grief to speak cried out loudly on hearing the words of Rama.

वन्दित्वा चरणौ रामो विसंज्ञस्य पितुस्तथा। कैकेय्याश्चाप्यनार्यायाः निष्पपात महाद्युतिः।।2.19.28।।

vanditvā caraṇau rāmo visaṃjñasya pitustathā| kaikeyyāścāpyanāryāyāḥ niṣpapāta mahādyutiḥ

Effulgent Rama bowed at the feet of his father who had fallen into a swoon. He bowed at the feet of the ignoble Kaikeyi and set out.

स रामः पितरं कृत्वा कैकेयीं च प्रदक्षिणम्। निष्क्रम्यान्तःपुरात्तस्मात्स्वं ददर्श सुहृज्जनम्।।2.19.29।।

sa rāmaḥ pitaraṃ kṛtvā kaikeyīṃ ca pradakṣiṇam| niṣkramyāntaḥpurāttasmātsvaṃ dadarśa suhṛjjanam

Hardly had Rama withdrawn from the harem after circumambulating his father and Kaikeyi when he saw his friends .

तं बाष्पपरिपूर्णाक्षः पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह। लक्ष्मणः परमक्कृध्दः स्सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः।।2.19.30।।

taṃ bāṣpaparipūrṇākṣaḥ pṛṣṭhato'nujagāma ha| lakṣmaṇaḥ paramakkṛdhdaḥ ssumitrānandavardhanaḥ

Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra's delight, with his eyes brimming with tears, followed him in a rage.

अभिषेचनिकं भाण्डं कृत्वा रामः प्रदक्षिणम्। शनैर्जगाम सापेक्षो दृष्टिं तत्राविचालयन्।।2.19.31।।

abhiṣecanikaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ kṛtvā rāmaḥ pradakṣiṇam| śanairjagāma sāpekṣo dṛṣṭiṃ tatrāvicālayan

Rama circumambulated the vessels meant for the consecration ceremony and steadily glancing at them with attention slowly moved away.

न चास्य महतीं लक्ष्मीं राज्यनाशोऽपकर्षति। लोककान्तस्य कान्तत्वाच्छीतरश्मेरिव क्षपा।।2.19.32।।

na cāsya mahatīṃ lakṣmīṃ rājyanāśo'pakarṣati| lokakāntasya kāntatvācchītaraśmeriva kṣapā

Rama was the beloved of the people. Loss of kingdom did not diminish his splendour just like night cannot diminish the splendour of the coolrayed Moon.

न वनं गन्तुकामस्य त्यजतश्च वसुन्धराम्। सर्वलोकातिगस्येव लक्ष्यते चित्तविक्रिया।।2.19.33।।

na vanaṃ gantukāmasya tyajataśca vasundharām| sarvalokātigasyeva lakṣyate cittavikriyā

Rama was determined to renounce the kingdom and go to the forest. So none could see any change in his mind. (For) he was one beyond all worldly affairs.

प्रतिषिध्य शुभं छत्रं व्यजने च स्वलङ्कृते। विसर्जयित्वा स्वजनं रथं पौरांस्तथा जनान्।।2.19.34।। धारयन् मनसा दुःखमिन्द्रियाणि निगृह्य च। प्रविवेशात्मवान्वेश्म मातुरप्रियशंसिवान्।2.19.35।।

pratiṣidhya śubhaṃ chatraṃ vyajane ca svalaṅkṛte| visarjayitvā svajanaṃ rathaṃ paurāṃstathā janān dhārayan manasā duḥkhamindriyāṇi nigṛhya ca| praviveśātmavānveśma māturapriyaśaṃsivān|2.19.35||

Selfpossessed Rama held back his sorrow within his mind, abandoned the auspicious umbrella, welldecorated fans and chariot, sent away kinsmen, citydwellers and others and entered his mother's residence to break the unpleasant news.

प्रतिषिध्य शुभं छत्रं व्यजने च स्वलङ्कृते। विसर्जयित्वा स्वजनं रथं पौरांस्तथा जनान्।।2.19.34।। धारयन् मनसा दुःखमिन्द्रियाणि निगृह्य च। प्रविवेशात्मवान्वेश्म मातुरप्रियशंसिवान्।2.19.35।।

pratiṣidhya śubhaṃ chatraṃ vyajane ca svalaṅkṛte| visarjayitvā svajanaṃ rathaṃ paurāṃstathā janān dhārayan manasā duḥkhamindriyāṇi nigṛhya ca| praviveśātmavānveśma māturapriyaśaṃsivān|2.19.35||

Selfpossessed Rama held back his sorrow within his mind, abandoned the auspicious umbrella, welldecorated fans and chariot, sent away kinsmen, citydwellers and others and entered his mother's residence to break the unpleasant news.

सर्वोह्यभिजनश्श्रीमान् श्रीमतस्सत्यवादिनः। नालक्षयत रामस्य किञ्चिदाकारमानने।।2.19.36।।

sarvohyabhijanaśśrīmān śrīmatassatyavādinaḥ| nālakṣayata rāmasya kiñcidākāramānane

All the glorious people around him did not observe any change in the countenance of that dignified and truthful Rama.

उचितं च महाबाहुर्नजहौहर्षमात्मनः। शारद स्समुदीर्णांशुश्चन्द्रस्तेज इवात्मजम्।।2.19.37।।

ucitaṃ ca mahābāhurnajahauharṣamātmanaḥ| śārada ssamudīrṇāṃśuścandrasteja ivātmajam

The mightyarmed (Rama) did not leave his habitual cheerfulness like the autumnal Moon his own brightness.

वाचा मधुरया रामस्सर्वं सम्मानयञ्जनम्। मातुस्समीपं धीरात्मा प्रविवेश महायशाः।।2.19.38।।

vācā madhurayā rāmassarvaṃ sammānayañjanam| mātussamīpaṃ dhīrātmā praviveśa mahāyaśāḥ

Firmminded and illustrious Rama treated all people with sweet words and approached his mother.

तं गुणैस्समतां प्राप्तो भ्राता विपुलविक्रमः। सौमित्रिरनुवव्राज धारयन्दुःखमात्मजम्।।2.19.39।।

taṃ guṇaissamatāṃ prāpto bhrātā vipulavikramaḥ| saumitriranuvavrāja dhārayanduḥkhamātmajam

Mighty Lakshmana as virtuous as his brother held the sorrow in his mind and followed him.

प्रविश्य वेश्मातिभृशं मुदाऽन्वितं समीक्ष्य तां चार्थविपत्तिमागताम्। न चैव रामोऽत्रजगामविक्रियां सुहृज्जनस्यात्मविपत्तिशङ्कया।।2.19.40।।

praviśya veśmātibhṛśaṃ mudā'nvitaṃ samīkṣya tāṃ cārthavipattimāgatām| na caiva rāmo'trajagāmavikriyāṃ suhṛjjanasyātmavipattiśaṅkayā

Rama entered the palace which was full of great rejoicing. He did not disclose the obstruction that had come on the way of achieving his objective for fear of causing distress to his friends. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकोनविंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the nineteenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.