Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33

दत्त्वा तु सह वैदेह्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं बहु। जग्मतुः पितरं द्रष्टुं सीतया सह राघवौ।।2.33.1।।

dattvā tu saha vaidehyā brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṃ bahu| jagmatuḥ pitaraṃ draṣṭuṃ sītayā saha rāghavau

After giving away plenty of wealth to brahmins in charity, Rama and Lakshmana along with Sita set out to see their father, king Dasaratha.

ततो गृहीते दुष्प्रेक्षे त्वशोभेतां तदायुधे। मालादामभिराबद्धे सीतया समलङ्कृते।।2.33.2।।

tato gṛhīte duṣprekṣe tvaśobhetāṃ tadāyudhe| mālādāmabhirābaddhe sītayā samalaṅkṛte

The pair of dazzling weapons held (by Rama and Lakshmana) looked splendid decorated with flower garlands by Sita.

ततः प्रासादहर्म्याणि विमानशिखराणि च। अधिरुह्य जनश्श्रीमानुदासीनो व्यलोकयत्।।2.33.3।।

tataḥ prāsādaharmyāṇi vimānaśikharāṇi ca| adhiruhya janaśśrīmānudāsīno vyalokayat

The rich climbed their palaces and mansions, terraces of sevenstoried buildings and watched them sadly.

न हि रथ्याः स्म शक्यन्ते गन्तुं बहुजनाकुलाः। आरुह्य तस्मात्प्रासादान् दीनाः पश्यन्ति राघवम्।।2.33.4।।

na hi rathyāḥ sma śakyante gantuṃ bahujanākulāḥ| āruhya tasmātprāsādān dīnāḥ paśyanti rāghavam

The streets were so thronged with multitudes of citizens that they were impassable. Therefore, people felt miserable and ascended their mansions and gazed at Rama.

पदातिं वर्जितच्छत्रं रामं दृष्ट्वा जनास्तदा। ऊचुर्बहुविधा वाच श्शोकोपहतचेतसः।।2.33.5।।

padātiṃ varjitacchatraṃ rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā janāstadā| ūcurbahuvidhā vāca śśokopahatacetasaḥ

Seeing Rama walking without the royal umbrella, people were very much shocked. They expressed their reaction in so many words:

यं यान्तमनुयाति स्म चतुरङ्गबलं महत्। तमेकं सीतया सार्धमनुयाति स्म लक्ष्मणः।।2.33.6।।

yaṃ yāntamanuyāti sma caturaṅgabalaṃ mahat| tamekaṃ sītayā sārdhamanuyāti sma lakṣmaṇaḥ

Whenever Rama went out, powerful army of four divisions used to follow him. Today he is walking alone followed by Lakshmana and Sita.

ऐश्वर्यस्य रसज्ञः सन् कामिनां चैव कामदः। नेच्छत्येवानृतं कर्तुं पितरं धर्मगौरवात्।।2.33.7।।

aiśvaryasya rasajñaḥ san kāmināṃ caiva kāmadaḥ| necchatyevānṛtaṃ kartuṃ pitaraṃ dharmagauravāt

Rama who enjoyed the comforts of affluence gratifies those who have desires. Out of veneration for righteousness, he does not want to prove his father false (to his promise).

या न शक्या पुरा द्रष्टुं भूतैराकाशगैरपि। तामद्य सीतां पश्यन्ति राजमार्गगता जनाः।।2.33.8।।

yā na śakyā purā draṣṭuṃ bhūtairākāśagairapi| tāmadya sītāṃ paśyanti rājamārgagatā janāḥ

It was not possible even for the creatures wandering in the sky (birds) to have a glimpse of Sita before. Now passersby walking the highway can behold her.

अङ्गरागोचितां सीतां रक्तचन्दनसेविनीम्। वर्षमुष्णं च शीतं च नेष्यन्त्याशु विवर्णताम्।।2.33.9।।

aṅgarāgocitāṃ sītāṃ raktacandanasevinīm| varṣamuṣṇaṃ ca śītaṃ ca neṣyantyāśu vivarṇatām

Sita who used to apply fragrant unguents and smear the body with redsandal cream will now be exposed to the rain, the heat and the cold which will quickly discolour her body.

अद्य नूनं दशरथस्सत्त्वमाविश्य भाषते। न हि राजा प्रियं पुत्रं विवासयितुमर्हति।।2.33.10।।

adya nūnaṃ daśarathassattvamāviśya bhāṣate| na hi rājā priyaṃ putraṃ vivāsayitumarhati

Surely king Dasaratha possessed of an evil spirit spoke the way he did today. Otherwise, should a king banish his beloved son?

निर्गुणस्यापि पुत्रस्य कथं स्याद्विप्रवासनम्। किं पुनर्यस्य लोकोऽयं जितो वृत्तेन केवलम्।।2.33.11।।

nirguṇasyāpi putrasya kathaṃ syādvipravāsanam| kiṃ punaryasya loko'yaṃ jito vṛttena kevalam

Even a son who is bereft of virtues cannot be banished, what to say about Rama, who by good conduct alone has conquered the world.

अनृशंस्यमनुक्रोशः श्रुतं शीलं दमश्शमः। राघवं शोभयन्त्येते षड्गुणाः पुरुषोत्तमम्।।2.33.12।।

anṛśaṃsyamanukrośaḥ śrutaṃ śīlaṃ damaśśamaḥ| rāghavaṃ śobhayantyete ṣaḍguṇāḥ puruṣottamam

Harmlessness, compassion, learning, good conduct, restraint of senses and selfcontrol, all these six qualities adorn Rama, the greatest among men.

तस्मात्तस्योपघातेन प्रजाः परमपीडिताः। औदकानीव सत्त्वानि ग्रीष्मे सलिलसङ्क्षयात्।।2.33.13।।

tasmāttasyopaghātena prajāḥ paramapīḍitāḥ| audakānīva sattvāni grīṣme salilasaṅkṣayāt

Therefore, people are deeply pained to see Rama afflicted. They look like aquatic creatures in summer when the water dries up.

पीडया पीडितं सर्वं जगदस्य जगत्पतेः। मूलस्येवोपघातेन वृक्षः पुष्पफलोपगः।।2.33.14।।

pīḍayā pīḍitaṃ sarvaṃ jagadasya jagatpateḥ| mūlasyevopaghātena vṛkṣaḥ puṣpaphalopagaḥ

Just as severed at the root, an entire tree along with its fruits and flowers is destroyed, similarly the whole world gets afflicted when Rama, the ruler of the world, comes to harm.

मूलं ह्येष मनुष्याणां धर्मसारो महाद्युतिः। पुष्पं फलं च पत्रं च शाखाश्चास्येतरे जनाः।।2.33.15।।

mūlaṃ hyeṣa manuṣyāṇāṃ dharmasāro mahādyutiḥ| puṣpaṃ phalaṃ ca patraṃ ca śākhāścāsyetare janāḥ

Effulgent Rama personifies the essence of dharma. He is the root of (the tree of) humanity. The other people are connected with this tree like flowers, fruit, leaves and branches.

ते लक्ष्मण इव क्षिप्रं सपत्न्य स्सहबान्धवाः। गच्छन्तमनुगच्छामो येन गच्छति राघवः।।2.33.16।।

te lakṣmaṇa iva kṣipraṃ sapatnya ssahabāndhavāḥ| gacchantamanugacchāmo yena gacchati rāghavaḥ

Let all of us without delay along with our wives and relations follow Rama, like Lakshmana, wherever he goes.

उद्यानानि परित्यज्य क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च। एकदुःखसुखा राममनुगच्छाम धार्मिकम्।।2.33.17।।

udyānāni parityajya kṣetrāṇi ca gṛhāṇi ca| ekaduḥkhasukhā rāmamanugacchāma dhārmikam

Deserting our gardens, fields and houses and experiencing the same joy and sorrow of the virtuous Rama, we shall follow him.

समुद्धृतनिधानानि परिध्वस्ताजिराणि च। उपात्त धनधान्यानि हृतसाराणि सर्वशः।।2.33.18।। रजसाभ्यवकीर्णानि परित्यक्तानि दैवतैः। मूषकैःपरिधावद्भिरुद्बिलैरावृतानि च।।2.33.19।। अपेतोदकधूमानि हीनसम्मार्जनानि च। प्रणष्टबलिकर्मेज्यामन्त्रहोमजपानि च।।2.33.20।। दुष्कालेनेव भग्नानि भिन्नभाजनवन्ति च। अस्मात्त्यक्तानि वेश्मानि कैकेयी प्रतिपद्यताम्।।2.33.21।।

samuddhṛtanidhānāni paridhvastājirāṇi ca| upātta dhanadhānyāni hṛtasārāṇi sarvaśaḥ rajasābhyavakīrṇāni parityaktāni daivataiḥ| mūṣakaiḥparidhāvadbhirudbilairāvṛtāni ca apetodakadhūmāni hīnasammārjanāni ca| praṇaṣṭabalikarmejyāmantrahomajapāni ca duṣkāleneva bhagnāni bhinnabhājanavanti ca| asmāttyaktāni veśmāni kaikeyī pratipadyatām

Let Kaikeyi take possession of our deserted and dilapidated homes with ruined courtyards which seem as though struck by calamities. They are drained of wealth and foodgrains, covered with dust and abandoned by the gods. There is no water or smoke (from kitchen). They are infested with rats. They stand unswept. There foodgrains lie around ratholes, and broken earthenwares lie scattered. There are no offerings, no sacrifices, no recitation of sacred hymns, no libations and no invocations.

समुद्धृतनिधानानि परिध्वस्ताजिराणि च। उपात्त धनधान्यानि हृतसाराणि सर्वशः।।2.33.18।। रजसाभ्यवकीर्णानि परित्यक्तानि दैवतैः। मूषकैःपरिधावद्भिरुद्बिलैरावृतानि च।।2.33.19।। अपेतोदकधूमानि हीनसम्मार्जनानि च। प्रणष्टबलिकर्मेज्यामन्त्रहोमजपानि च।।2.33.20।। दुष्कालेनेव भग्नानि भिन्नभाजनवन्ति च। अस्मात्त्यक्तानि वेश्मानि कैकेयी प्रतिपद्यताम्।।2.33.21।।

samuddhṛtanidhānāni paridhvastājirāṇi ca| upātta dhanadhānyāni hṛtasārāṇi sarvaśaḥ rajasābhyavakīrṇāni parityaktāni daivataiḥ| mūṣakaiḥparidhāvadbhirudbilairāvṛtāni ca apetodakadhūmāni hīnasammārjanāni ca| praṇaṣṭabalikarmejyāmantrahomajapāni ca duṣkāleneva bhagnāni bhinnabhājanavanti ca| asmāttyaktāni veśmāni kaikeyī pratipadyatām

Let Kaikeyi take possession of our deserted and dilapidated homes with ruined courtyards which seem as though struck by calamities. They are drained of wealth and foodgrains, covered with dust and abandoned by the gods. There is no water or smoke (from kitchen). They are infested with rats. They stand unswept. There foodgrains lie around ratholes, and broken earthenwares lie scattered. There are no offerings, no sacrifices, no recitation of sacred hymns, no libations and no invocations.

समुद्धृतनिधानानि परिध्वस्ताजिराणि च। उपात्त धनधान्यानि हृतसाराणि सर्वशः।।2.33.18।। रजसाभ्यवकीर्णानि परित्यक्तानि दैवतैः। मूषकैःपरिधावद्भिरुद्बिलैरावृतानि च।।2.33.19।। अपेतोदकधूमानि हीनसम्मार्जनानि च। प्रणष्टबलिकर्मेज्यामन्त्रहोमजपानि च।।2.33.20।। दुष्कालेनेव भग्नानि भिन्नभाजनवन्ति च। अस्मात्त्यक्तानि वेश्मानि कैकेयी प्रतिपद्यताम्।।2.33.21।।

samuddhṛtanidhānāni paridhvastājirāṇi ca| upātta dhanadhānyāni hṛtasārāṇi sarvaśaḥ rajasābhyavakīrṇāni parityaktāni daivataiḥ| mūṣakaiḥparidhāvadbhirudbilairāvṛtāni ca apetodakadhūmāni hīnasammārjanāni ca| praṇaṣṭabalikarmejyāmantrahomajapāni ca duṣkāleneva bhagnāni bhinnabhājanavanti ca| asmāttyaktāni veśmāni kaikeyī pratipadyatām

Let Kaikeyi take possession of our deserted and dilapidated homes with ruined courtyards which seem as though struck by calamities. They are drained of wealth and foodgrains, covered with dust and abandoned by the gods. There is no water or smoke (from kitchen). They are infested with rats. They stand unswept. There foodgrains lie around ratholes, and broken earthenwares lie scattered. There are no offerings, no sacrifices, no recitation of sacred hymns, no libations and no invocations.

समुद्धृतनिधानानि परिध्वस्ताजिराणि च। उपात्त धनधान्यानि हृतसाराणि सर्वशः।।2.33.18।। रजसाभ्यवकीर्णानि परित्यक्तानि दैवतैः। मूषकैःपरिधावद्भिरुद्बिलैरावृतानि च।।2.33.19।। अपेतोदकधूमानि हीनसम्मार्जनानि च। प्रणष्टबलिकर्मेज्यामन्त्रहोमजपानि च।।2.33.20।। दुष्कालेनेव भग्नानि भिन्नभाजनवन्ति च। अस्मात्त्यक्तानि वेश्मानि कैकेयी प्रतिपद्यताम्।।2.33.21।।

samuddhṛtanidhānāni paridhvastājirāṇi ca| upātta dhanadhānyāni hṛtasārāṇi sarvaśaḥ rajasābhyavakīrṇāni parityaktāni daivataiḥ| mūṣakaiḥparidhāvadbhirudbilairāvṛtāni ca apetodakadhūmāni hīnasammārjanāni ca| praṇaṣṭabalikarmejyāmantrahomajapāni ca duṣkāleneva bhagnāni bhinnabhājanavanti ca| asmāttyaktāni veśmāni kaikeyī pratipadyatām

Let Kaikeyi take possession of our deserted and dilapidated homes with ruined courtyards which seem as though struck by calamities. They are drained of wealth and foodgrains, covered with dust and abandoned by the gods. There is no water or smoke (from kitchen). They are infested with rats. They stand unswept. There foodgrains lie around ratholes, and broken earthenwares lie scattered. There are no offerings, no sacrifices, no recitation of sacred hymns, no libations and no invocations.

वनं नगरमेवास्तु येन गच्छति राघवः। अस्माभिश्च परित्यक्तं पुरं सम्पद्यतां वनम्।।2.33.22।।

vanaṃ nagaramevāstu yena gacchati rāghavaḥ| asmābhiśca parityaktaṃ puraṃ sampadyatāṃ vanam

Since the scion of the Raghu race is going to the forest, let that forest itself be our city and let the city deserted by us become the forest.

बिलानि दंष्ट्रिण स्सर्वे सानूनि मृगपक्षिणः। त्यजन्त्वस्मद्भयाद्भीता गजास्सिंहा वनानि च।।2.33.23।। अस्मत्त्यक्तं प्रपद्यन्तां सेव्यमानं त्यजन्तु च।

bilāni daṃṣṭriṇa ssarve sānūni mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ| tyajantvasmadbhayādbhītā gajāssiṃhā vanāni ca asmattyaktaṃ prapadyantāṃ sevyamānaṃ tyajantu ca|

Let all the fanged creatures leave their lairs, birds and animals the mountain slopes, lions and elephants, their haunts due to the fear caused by our presence and occupy the city left by us (on seeing us deserting).

तृणमांस फलादानां देशं व्यालमृगद्विजम्।।2.33.24।। प्रपद्यतां हि कैकेयी सपुत्रा सह बान्धवैः। राघवेण वने सर्वे वयं वत्स्याम निर्वृताः।।2.33.25।।

tṛṇamāṃsa phalādānāṃ deśaṃ vyālamṛgadvijam prapadyatāṃ hi kaikeyī saputrā saha bāndhavaiḥ| rāghaveṇa vane sarve vayaṃ vatsyāma nirvṛtāḥ

Let Kaikeyi along with her son and her relatives acquire that country which will be inhabited by birds and animals living on grass, fruits, and flesh. Withdrawn, we shall happily live in the forest along with Rama.

तृणमांस फलादानां देशं व्यालमृगद्विजम्।।2.33.24।। प्रपद्यतां हि कैकेयी सपुत्रा सह बान्धवैः। राघवेण वने सर्वे वयं वत्स्याम निर्वृताः।।2.33.25।।

tṛṇamāṃsa phalādānāṃ deśaṃ vyālamṛgadvijam prapadyatāṃ hi kaikeyī saputrā saha bāndhavaiḥ| rāghaveṇa vane sarve vayaṃ vatsyāma nirvṛtāḥ

Let Kaikeyi along with her son and her relatives acquire that country which will be inhabited by birds and animals living on grass, fruits, and flesh. Withdrawn, we shall happily live in the forest along with Rama.

इत्येवं विविधा वाचो नानाजनसमीरिताः। शुश्राव रामः श्रुत्वा च न विचक्रेऽस्य मानसम्।।2.33.26।।

ityevaṃ vividhā vāco nānājanasamīritāḥ| śuśrāva rāmaḥ śrutvā ca na vicakre'sya mānasam

Such were the various words uttered by the people. Even after hearing them his (Rama's) mind remained unmoved (from his resolve).

स तु वेश्म पितुर्दूरात्कैलासशिखरप्रभम्। अभिचक्राम धर्मात्मा मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः।।2.33.27।।

sa tu veśma piturdūrātkailāsaśikharaprabham| abhicakrāma dharmātmā mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ

Dutiful Rama, endowed with the prowess of an intoxicated elephant, approached the residence of his father that resembled from a distance the peak of mount Kailasa in splendour.

विनीतवीरपुरुषं प्रविश्य तु नृपालयम्। ददर्शावस्थितं दीनं सुमन्त्रमविदूरतः।।2.33.28।।

vinītavīrapuruṣaṃ praviśya tu nṛpālayam| dadarśāvasthitaṃ dīnaṃ sumantramavidūrataḥ

Rama entered the royal palace guarded by welltrained warriors and not from very far saw Sumantra who stood a picture of dejection.

प्रतीक्षमाणोऽपि जनं तदार्त मनार्तरूपः प्रहसन्निवाथ। जगाम रामः पितरं दिदृक्षुः पितुर्निदेशं विधिवच्चिकीर्षुः।।2.33.29।।

pratīkṣamāṇo'pi janaṃ tadārta manārtarūpaḥ prahasannivātha| jagāma rāmaḥ pitaraṃ didṛkṣuḥ piturnideśaṃ vidhivaccikīrṣuḥ

Even after observing the people in grief, Rama did not reveal his sorrowful feelings. Bound by duty he went in as if with a smile to see his father.

तत्पूर्वमैक्ष्वाकसुतो महात्मा रामो गमिष्यन्वनमार्तरूपम्। व्यतिष्ठत प्रेक्ष्य तदा सुमन्त्रं पितुर्महात्मा प्रतिहारणार्थम्।।2.33.30।।

tatpūrvamaikṣvākasuto mahātmā rāmo gamiṣyanvanamārtarūpam| vyatiṣṭhata prekṣya tadā sumantraṃ piturmahātmā pratihāraṇārtham

Seeing Sumantra stricken with grief for the first time the magnanimous Rama, scion of the Ikshvaku dynasty, on the way to the forest waited there for his father to be informed of his arrival.

पितुर्निदेशेन तु धर्मवत्सलः वनप्रवेशे कृतबुद्धिनिश्चयः। स राघवः प्रेक्ष्य सुमन्त्रमब्रवी न्निवेदयस्वागमनं नृपाय मे।।2.33.31।।

piturnideśena tu dharmavatsalaḥ vanapraveśe kṛtabuddhiniścayaḥ| sa rāghavaḥ prekṣya sumantramabravī nnivedayasvāgamanaṃ nṛpāya me

Rama, lover of righteousness, determined to go to the forest in obedience to his father's command said to Sumantra, Inform the king of my arrival. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयस्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtythird sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.