Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36

ततस्सुमन्त्रमैक्ष्वाकः पीडितोऽत्र प्रतिज्ञया। सबाष्पमतिनिश्श्वश्य जगादेदं पुनः पुनः।।2.36.1।।

tatassumantramaikṣvākaḥ pīḍito'tra pratijñayā| sabāṣpamatiniśśvaśya jagādedaṃ punaḥ punaḥ

Afflicted on account of the promise he had made, Dasaratha, descendant of the Ikshvakus heaved deep sighs again and again and with his eyes full of tears uttered these words to Sumantra:

सूत रत्नसुसम्पूर्णा चतुर्विधबला चमूः। राघवस्यानुयात्रार्थं क्षिप्रं प्रतिविधीयताम्।।2.36.2।।

sūta ratnasusampūrṇā caturvidhabalā camūḥ| rāghavasyānuyātrārthaṃ kṣipraṃ pratividhīyatām

O Sumantra arrange immediately four divisions of the army, wellequipped with precious stones to escort Rama in his journey to (the forest).

रूपाजीवाश्च वादिन्यो वणिजश्च महाधनाः। शोभयन्तु कुमारस्य वाहिनीं सुप्रसारिताः।।2.36.3।।

rūpājīvāśca vādinyo vaṇijaśca mahādhanāḥ| śobhayantu kumārasya vāhinīṃ suprasāritāḥ

Let the sweettongued courtesans, opulent merchants with well spreadout merchandise make the army of my son graceful.

ये चैनमुपजीवन्ति रमते यैश्च वीर्यतः। तेषां बहुविधं दत्त्वा तानप्यत्र नियोजय ।।2.38.4।।

ye cainamupajīvanti ramate yaiśca vīryataḥ| teṣāṃ bahuvidhaṃ dattvā tānapyatra niyojaya

Bestow immense wealth on those who depended on Rama for their living and on the gallant youths with whom he used to sport. Send them along with the entourage.

आयुधानि च मुख्यानि नागरा श्शकटानि च। अनुगच्छन्तु काकुत्स्थं व्याधाश्चारण्य गोचराः।।2.36.5।।

āyudhāni ca mukhyāni nāgarā śśakaṭāni ca| anugacchantu kākutsthaṃ vyādhāścāraṇya gocarāḥ

Main weapons, citizens (bodyguards), carts, wanderers in the forest and fowlers wellacquainted with the forest shall follow Rama.

निघ्नन् मृगान् कुञ्जरांश्च पिबंश्चारण्यकं मधु। नदीश्च विविधाः पश्यन्न राज्यस्य स्मरिष्यति।।2.36.6।।

nighnan mṛgān kuñjarāṃśca pibaṃścāraṇyakaṃ madhu| nadīśca vividhāḥ paśyanna rājyasya smariṣyati

Hunting the elephants and antelopes, drinking forest honey, beholding several rivers on the way, Rama will not recollect the kingdom.

धान्यकोशश्च यः कश्चिद्धनकोशश्च मामकः। तौ राममनुगच्छेतां वसन्तं निर्जने वने।।2.36.7।।

dhānyakośaśca yaḥ kaściddhanakośaśca māmakaḥ| tau rāmamanugacchetāṃ vasantaṃ nirjane vane

Let the entire contents of my granary and treasury follow Rama wherever he lives in the desolate forest.

यजन् पुण्येषु देशेषु विसृजं श्चाप्तदक्षिणाः। ऋषिभिश्च समागम्य प्रवत्स्यति सुखं वने।।2.36.8।।

yajan puṇyeṣu deśeṣu visṛjaṃ ścāptadakṣiṇāḥ| ṛṣibhiśca samāgamya pravatsyati sukhaṃ vane

Performing sacrifices in the holy places and liberally giving appropriate gifts, Rama will live happily in the forest in the company of sages.

भरतश्च महाबाहुरयोध्यां पालयिष्यति। सर्वकामैः सह श्रीमान् रामः संसाध्यतामिति ।।2.36.9।।

bharataśca mahābāhurayodhyāṃ pālayiṣyati| sarvakāmaiḥ saha śrīmān rāmaḥ saṃsādhyatāmiti

(While) mightyarmed Bharata will rule Ayodhya, Rama be furnished with all objects of enjoyment.

एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे कैकेय्या भय मागतम्। मुखं चाप्यगमच्छोषं स्वरश्चापि न्यरुध्यत।।2.36.10।।

evaṃ bruvati kākutsthe kaikeyyā bhaya māgatam| mukhaṃ cāpyagamacchoṣaṃ svaraścāpi nyarudhyata

While Dasaratha was saying these words, Kaikeyi was gripped by fear and her face looked pale. Even her voice got choked.

सा विषण्णा च सन्त्रस्ता मुखेन परिशुष्यता। राजानमेवाभिमुखी कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.36.11।।

sā viṣaṇṇā ca santrastā mukhena pariśuṣyatā| rājānamevābhimukhī kaikeyī vākyamabravīt

The dejected and frightened Kaikeyi with a dry countenance, looked at the king and said:

राज्यं गतजनं साधो पीतमण्डां सुरामिव। निरास्वाद्यतमं शून्यं भरतो नाभिपत्स्यते।।2.36.12।।

rājyaṃ gatajanaṃ sādho pītamaṇḍāṃ surāmiva| nirāsvādyatamaṃ śūnyaṃ bharato nābhipatsyate

O virtuous king Bharata will not take charge of the kingdom abandoned by men, drained of wealth and incapable of being enjoyed, like wine with its essence evaporated.

कैकेय्यां मुक्तलज्जायां वदन्त्यामतिदारुणाम्। राजा दशरथो वाक्यमुवाचायतलोचनाम्।।2.36.13।।

kaikeyyāṃ muktalajjāyāṃ vadantyāmatidāruṇām| rājā daśaratho vākyamuvācāyatalocanām

King Dasaratha heard the terribly cruel and shameless words of that largeeyed Kaikeyi, and said:

वहन्तं किं तुदसि मां नियुज्य धुरि माऽहिते। अनार्ये कृत्यमारब्धं किं न पूर्वमुपारुधः।।2.36.14।।

vahantaṃ kiṃ tudasi māṃ niyujya dhuri mā'hite| anārye kṛtyamārabdhaṃ kiṃ na pūrvamupārudhaḥ

O brutal Kaikeyi, you fastened me to the yoke and when I am drawing forward, why do you beat me? O vile woman why did you not prevent me in the beginning itself?

तस्यैतत्क्रोधसंयुक्तमुक्तं श्रुत्वा वराङ्गना। कैकेयी द्विगुणं क्रुद्धा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.36.15।।

tasyaitatkrodhasaṃyuktamuktaṃ śrutvā varāṅganā| kaikeyī dviguṇaṃ kruddhā rājānamidamabravīt

At these wrathful words of Dasaratha, Kaikeyi with redoubled fury replied to the king:

वैव वंशे सगरो ज्येष्ठं पुत्रमुपारुधत्। असमञ्ज इति ख्यातं तथायं गन्तुमर्हति।।2.36.16।।

vaiva vaṃśe sagaro jyeṣṭhaṃ putramupārudhat| asamañja iti khyātaṃ tathāyaṃ gantumarhati

In your own dynasty king Sagara prevented his wellknown eldest son Asamanjasa (from enjoying the kingdom). Rama also should depart in the same manner.

एवमुक्तो धिगित्येव राजा दशरथोऽब्रवीत्। व्रीडितश्च जनस्सर्व स्सा च तं नावबुध्यत।।2.36.17।।

evamukto dhigityeva rājā daśaratho'bravīt| vrīḍitaśca janassarva ssā ca taṃ nāvabudhyata

Hearing the words of Kaikeyi, Dasaratha could say only 'shame'. All the people felt ashamed, but Kaikeyi could not understand this.

तत्र वृद्धो महामात्रस्सिद्धार्थो नाम नामतः। शुचिर्बहुमतो राज्ञः कैकेयी मिदमब्रवीत्।।2.38.18।।

tatra vṛddho mahāmātrassiddhārtho nāma nāmataḥ| śucirbahumato rājñaḥ kaikeyī midamabravīt

An aged minister named Siddhartha who justified his name, highly respected by the king said this to Kaikeyi:

असमञ्जो गृहीत्वा तु क्रीडतः पथि बालकान्। सरय्वाः प्रक्षिपन्नप्सु रमते तेन दुर्मतिः।।2.36.19।।

asamañjo gṛhītvā tu krīḍataḥ pathi bālakān| sarayvāḥ prakṣipannapsu ramate tena durmatiḥ

That wickedminded Asamanjasa used to seize the children playing on the street and amuse himself by hurling them in the waters of river Sarayu.

तं दृष्ट्वा नागरा स्सर्वे कृद्धा राजानमब्रुवन्। असमञ्जं वृणीष्वैकमस्मान्वा राष्ट्रवर्धन।।2.36.20।।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā nāgarā ssarve kṛddhā rājānamabruvan| asamañjaṃ vṛṇīṣvaikamasmānvā rāṣṭravardhana

Watching it, all the enraged citizens said to the king, 'O enhancer of the prosperity of the kingdom, either you choose Asamanjasa or us'.

तानुवाच ततो राजा किन्निमित्तमिदं भयम्। ताश्चापि राज्ञा सम्पृष्टा वाक्यं प्रकृतयोऽब्रुवन्।।2.36.21।।

tānuvāca tato rājā kinnimittamidaṃ bhayam| tāścāpi rājñā sampṛṣṭā vākyaṃ prakṛtayo'bruvan

The king then asked them, 'Why this fear?'. And the citizens responded:

डक्रीडतस्त्वेष नः पुत्रान् बालानुद्भ्रान्तचेतनः। सरय्वां प्रक्षिपन्मौर्ख्यादतुलां प्रीतिमश्नुते।।2.36.22।।

ḍakrīḍatastveṣa naḥ putrān bālānudbhrāntacetanaḥ| sarayvāṃ prakṣipanmaurkhyādatulāṃ prītimaśnute

That insane (Asamanjasa) while throwing our children who were playing around into Sarayu river in his insanity derived incomparable pleasure'.

स तासां वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रकृतीनां नराधिपः। तं तत्याजाहितं पुत्रं तेषां प्रियचिकीर्षया।।2.36.23।।

sa tāsāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā prakṛtīnāṃ narādhipaḥ| taṃ tatyājāhitaṃ putraṃ teṣāṃ priyacikīrṣayā

That king (Sagara) heard the words of the citizens and with the intention of doing good to them, banished that malevolent son.

तं यानं शीघ्रमारोप्य सभार्यं सपरिच्छदम्। यावज्जीवं विवास्योऽयमिति स्वानन्वशात्पिता।।2.36.24।।

taṃ yānaṃ śīghramāropya sabhāryaṃ saparicchadam| yāvajjīvaṃ vivāsyo'yamiti svānanvaśātpitā

Then the father made him and his wife climb a carriage with the clothes they had at the time on them and at once ordered his servants to banish him for life.

स फालपिटकं गृह्य गिरिदुर्गाण्यलोडयत्। दिश स्सर्वास्त्वनुचरन् स यथा पापकर्मकृत्।।2.36.25।।

sa phālapiṭakaṃ gṛhya giridurgāṇyaloḍayat| diśa ssarvāstvanucaran sa yathā pāpakarmakṛt

Like an evildoer wandering about in different directions, holding a spade and a basket in his hand, he went about digging the impenetrable mountains.

इत्येनमत्यजद्राजा सगरो वै सुधार्मिकः। रामः किमकरोत्पापं येनैवमुपरुध्यते।।2.36.26।।

ityenamatyajadrājā sagaro vai sudhārmikaḥ| rāmaḥ kimakarotpāpaṃ yenaivamuparudhyate

Highly righteous king Sagara thus banished his son. What sin has Rama committed to secure a similar banishment?

न हि कञ्चन पश्यामो राघवस्यागुणं वयम्। दुर्लभो ह्यस्य निरय श्शशाङ्कस्येव कल्मषम्।।2.36.27।।

na hi kañcana paśyāmo rāghavasyāguṇaṃ vayam| durlabho hyasya niraya śśaśāṅkasyeva kalmaṣam

We see no fault in Rama. Unlike the stain in the Moon it is difficult to find any blemish in him.

अथवा देवि दोषं त्वं कञ्चित्पश्यसि राघवे। तमद्य ब्रूहि तत्वेन तदा रामो विवास्यताम्।।2.36.28।।

athavā devi doṣaṃ tvaṃ kañcitpaśyasi rāghave| tamadya brūhi tatvena tadā rāmo vivāsyatām

O Kaikeyi speak truly if you find any fault in this scion of the Raghu race (Rama). Then he will be exiled.

अदुष्टस्य हि संत्यागः सत्पथे निरतस्य च। निर्दहेदपि शक्रस्य द्युतिं धर्मनिरोधनात्।2.36.29।।

aduṣṭasya hi saṃtyāgaḥ satpathe niratasya ca| nirdahedapi śakrasya dyutiṃ dharmanirodhanāt|2.36.29||

The act of banishment of an innocent one walking the righteous path is like destroying the brilliance of Indra by restraining his righteousness.

तदलं देवि रामस्य श्रिया विहतया त्वया। लोकतोऽपि हि ते रक्ष्यः परिवादः शुभानने।।2.36.30।।

tadalaṃ devi rāmasya śriyā vihatayā tvayā| lokato'pi hi te rakṣyaḥ parivādaḥ śubhānane

O Devi, there is no use obstructing Rama's prosperity. O one with an auspicious countenance, save yourself from the censure of the world.

श्रुत्वा तु सिद्धार्थवचो राजा श्रान्ततरस्वनः। शोकोपहतया वाचा कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.36.31।।

śrutvā tu siddhārthavaco rājā śrāntatarasvanaḥ| śokopahatayā vācā kaikeyīmidamabravīt

Having heard Siddhartha, the king, stricken with grief, said to Kaikeyi in a gradually feeble voice.

एतद्वचो नेच्छसि पापवृत्ते हितं न जानासि ममात्मनो वा। आस्थाय मार्गं कृपणं कुचेष्टा चेष्टा हि ते साधुपथादपेता।।2.36.32।।

etadvaco necchasi pāpavṛtte hitaṃ na jānāsi mamātmano vā| āsthāya mārgaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ kuceṣṭā ceṣṭā hi te sādhupathādapetā

O Kaikeyi of vicious behaviour, you do not aceept even the words of Siddhartha. You woman of wicked acts, having adopted vile ways, and abjured the right path cannot know what is good either for you or for me.

अनुव्रजिष्याम्यहमद्य रामं राज्यं परित्यज्य सुखं धनं च। सहैव राज्ञा भरतेन च त्वं यथासुखं भुङ्क्ष्व चिराय राज्यम्।।2.36.33।।

anuvrajiṣyāmyahamadya rāmaṃ rājyaṃ parityajya sukhaṃ dhanaṃ ca| sahaiva rājñā bharatena ca tvaṃ yathāsukhaṃ bhuṅkṣva cirāya rājyam

Abandoning this kingdom, these comforts and this wealth, I shall follow Rama. Enjoy the kingdom for a long time happily along with king Bharata. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtysixth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.