Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 42

यावत्तु निर्यतस्तस्य रजोरूपमदृश्यत। नैवेक्ष्वाकुवरस्तावत्सञ्जहारात्मचक्षुषी।।2.42.1।।

yāvattu niryatastasya rajorūpamadṛśyata| naivekṣvākuvarastāvatsañjahārātmacakṣuṣī

As long as the dust raised by the wheels of the chariot of Rama (who was departing to the forest) was visible, Dasaratha, the best of the Ikshvakus, could not withdraw his eyes (from Rama).

यावद्राजा प्रियं पुत्रं पश्यत्यत्यन्तधार्मिकम्। तावद्व्यवर्धते वास्य धरण्यां पुत्रदर्शने।।2.42.2।।

yāvadrājā priyaṃ putraṃ paśyatyatyantadhārmikam| tāvadvyavardhate vāsya dharaṇyāṃ putradarśane

So long as king Dasaratha was able to see his exceedingly virtuous and beloved son (Rama), it appeared that his body kept rising from the earth to have a sight of his son.

न पश्यति रजोऽप्यस्य यदा रामस्य भूमिपः। तदाऽऽर्तश्च विषण्णश्च पपात धरणीतले।।2.42.3।।

na paśyati rajo'pyasya yadā rāmasya bhūmipaḥ| tadā''rtaśca viṣaṇṇaśca papāta dharaṇītale

When the king could no longer see even the dust, he fell on the ground, despondent and grief stricken.

तस्य दक्षिणमन्वागात्कौसल्या बाहुमङ्गना। वामं चास्यान्वगात्पार्श्वं कैकेयी भरतप्रिया।।2.42.4।।

tasya dakṣiṇamanvāgātkausalyā bāhumaṅganā| vāmaṃ cāsyānvagātpārśvaṃ kaikeyī bharatapriyā

Kausalya reached for the right hand of Dasaratha (to raise him up) and Kaikeyi the beloved (mother) of Bharata reached for his left.

तां नयेन च सम्पन्नो धर्मेण विनयेन च। उवाच राजा कैकेयीं समीक्ष्य व्यथितेन्द्रियः।।2.42.5।।

tāṃ nayena ca sampanno dharmeṇa vinayena ca| uvāca rājā kaikeyīṃ samīkṣya vyathitendriyaḥ

The king, endowed with rectitude, virtue and also humility, stared at and said to Kaikeyi with pain.

कैकेयि मा ममाङ्गानि स्प्राक्षीस्त्वं दुष्टचारिणी। न हि त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छामि न भार्या न च बान्धवी।।2.42.6।।

kaikeyi mā mamāṅgāni sprākṣīstvaṃ duṣṭacāriṇī| na hi tvāṃ draṣṭumicchāmi na bhāryā na ca bāndhavī

O Kaikeyi you are a woman of evil conduct. Do not touch my body. I do not wish to see you. You are not my wife or my relation.

ये च त्वामनुजीवन्ति नाहं तेषां न ते मम। केवलार्थपरां हि त्वां त्यक्तधर्मां त्यजाम्यहम्।।2.42.7।।

ye ca tvāmanujīvanti nāhaṃ teṣāṃ na te mama| kevalārthaparāṃ hi tvāṃ tyaktadharmāṃ tyajāmyaham

Your dependents have nothing to do with me nor I with them. I denounce you since you are a selfseeker without any sense off righteousness.

अगृह्णां यच्च ते पाणिमग्निं पर्यणयं च यत्। अनुजानामि तत्सर्वमस्मिन् लोके परत्र च।।2.42.8।।

agṛhṇāṃ yacca te pāṇimagniṃ paryaṇayaṃ ca yat| anujānāmi tatsarvamasmin loke paratra ca

I renounce the relationship established with you through marriage by taking your hand and circumambulating the fire, both in this world and in the next.

भरतश्चेत्प्रतीतः स्याद्राज्यं प्राप्येदमव्ययम्। यन्मे स दद्यात्पित्रर्थं मामां तद्दत्तमागमत्।।2.42.9।।

bharataścetpratītaḥ syādrājyaṃ prāpyedamavyayam| yanme sa dadyātpitrarthaṃ māmāṃ taddattamāgamat

If Bharata feels pleased to secure this imperishable kingdom, then may his obsequial offerings at my funeral not reach me

अथ रेणुसमुध्वस्तं समुत्थाप्य नराधिपम्। न्यवर्तत तदा देवी कौशल्या शोककर्शिता।।2.42.10।।

atha reṇusamudhvastaṃ samutthāpya narādhipam| nyavartata tadā devī kauśalyā śokakarśitā

Then Kausalya, emaciated due to sorrow, lifted the king who was thoroughly coated with dust and returned to the palace.

हत्वेव ब्राह्मणं कामात् स्पृष्ट्वाग्निमिव पाणिना। अन्वतप्यत धर्मात्मा पुत्रं सञ्चिन्त्य तापसम् ।।2.42.11।।

hatveva brāhmaṇaṃ kāmāt spṛṣṭvāgnimiva pāṇinā| anvatapyata dharmātmā putraṃ sañcintya tāpasam

That virtuous Dasaratha, recalling (the sight of) his son with the robes of an ascetic, burned with remorse as if he had intentionally slain a brahmin or placed his hand in fire.

निवृत्त्यैव निवृत्त्यैव सीदतो रथवर्त्मसु। राज्ञो नातिबभौ रूपं ग्रस्तस्यांशुमतो यथा।।2.42.12।।

nivṛttyaiva nivṛttyaiva sīdato rathavartmasu| rājño nātibabhau rūpaṃ grastasyāṃśumato yathā

Turning back again and again at the trail of (Rama's) chariot, the grieving king appeared lustreless like the Sun in eclipse.

विललाप च दुःखार्तः प्रियं पुत्रमनुस्मरन्। नगरान्तमनुप्राप्तं बुध्वा पुत्रमथाब्रवीत्।।2.42.13।।

vilalāpa ca duḥkhārtaḥ priyaṃ putramanusmaran| nagarāntamanuprāptaṃ budhvā putramathābravīt

The griefstricken king began to lament thinking of his beloved son, and (suddenly) realizing that his son had crossed the limits of the city, said:

वाहननां च मुख्यानां वहतां तं ममात्मजम्। पदानि पथि दृश्यन्ते स महात्मा न दृश्यते।।2.42.14।।

vāhananāṃ ca mukhyānāṃ vahatāṃ taṃ mamātmajam| padāni pathi dṛśyante sa mahātmā na dṛśyate

I can see the marks of the hooves of the splendid horses carrying my son on the highway but not that magnanimous Rama.

यः सुखेषूपधानेषु शेते चन्दनरूषितः। वीज्यमानो महार्हाभिः स्त्रीभिर्मम सुतोत्तमः।।2.42.15।। स नूनं क्वचिदेवाद्य वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः। काष्ठं वा यदि वाश्मानमुपधाय शयिष्यते।।2.42.16।।

yaḥ sukheṣūpadhāneṣu śete candanarūṣitaḥ| vījyamāno mahārhābhiḥ strībhirmama sutottamaḥ sa nūnaṃ kvacidevādya vṛkṣamūlamupāśritaḥ| kāṣṭhaṃ vā yadi vāśmānamupadhāya śayiṣyate

Rama, the best of all my sons who, smeared with sandalpaste and fanned by graceful women used to sleep (with his head) on comfortable cushions will surely, from now on, lie down somewhere at the foot of a tree, (his head) pillowed upon a piece of wood or stone.

यः सुखेषूपधानेषु शेते चन्दनरूषितः। वीज्यमानो महार्हाभिः स्त्रीभिर्मम सुतोत्तमः।।2.42.15।। स नूनं क्वचिदेवाद्य वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः। काष्ठं वा यदि वाश्मानमुपधाय शयिष्यते।।2.42.16।।

yaḥ sukheṣūpadhāneṣu śete candanarūṣitaḥ| vījyamāno mahārhābhiḥ strībhirmama sutottamaḥ sa nūnaṃ kvacidevādya vṛkṣamūlamupāśritaḥ| kāṣṭhaṃ vā yadi vāśmānamupadhāya śayiṣyate

Rama, the best of all my sons who, smeared with sandalpaste and fanned by graceful women used to sleep (with his head) on comfortable cushions will surely, from now on, lie down somewhere at the foot of a tree, (his head) pillowed upon a piece of wood or stone.

उत्थास्यति च मेदिन्याः कृपणः पांसुकुण्ठितः। विनिश्श्वसन् प्रस्रवणात्करेणूनामिवर्षभः।।2.42.17।।

utthāsyati ca medinyāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ pāṃsukuṇṭhitaḥ| viniśśvasan prasravaṇātkareṇūnāmivarṣabhaḥ

That unfortunate Rama, having been covered with dust, will get up from the ground sighing like a bull elephant rising from mount Prasravana.

द्रक्ष्यन्ति नूनं पुरुषा दीर्घबाहुं वनेचराः। राममुत्थाय गच्छन्तं लोकनाथमनाथवत्।।2.42.18।।

drakṣyanti nūnaṃ puruṣā dīrghabāhuṃ vanecarāḥ| rāmamutthāya gacchantaṃ lokanāthamanāthavat

Surely the forestrovers will be gazing upon the longarmed Rama, protector of the world, as he rises (from the ground) and wanders in the jungle unprotected.

सा नूनं जनकस्येष्टा सुता सुखसदोचिता। कण्टकाक्रमणाक्लान्ता वनमद्य गमिष्यति।।2.42.19।।

sā nūnaṃ janakasyeṣṭā sutā sukhasadocitā| kaṇṭakākramaṇāklāntā vanamadya gamiṣyati

Sita, beloved daughter of Janaka, who is accustomed to comforts, will now wander in the forest troubled by piercing thorns.

अनभिज्ञा वनानां सा नूनं भयमुपैष्यति। श्वापदानर्दितं श्रुत्वा गम्भीरं रोमहर्षणम्।।2.42.20।।

anabhijñā vanānāṃ sā nūnaṃ bhayamupaiṣyati| śvāpadānarditaṃ śrutvā gambhīraṃ romaharṣaṇam

Sita who knows not the forest will now live in terror, listening to the hairraising, horrible roars of wild animals.

सकामा भव कैकेयि विधवा राज्यमावस। न हि तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं विना जीवितुमुत्सहे।।2.42.21।।

sakāmā bhava kaikeyi vidhavā rājyamāvasa| na hi taṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ vinā jīvitumutsahe

O Kaikeyi, your desire is fulfilled. Rule the kingdom as a widow. Without Rama, the best of men, I don't desire to live.

इत्येवं विलपन् राजा जनौघेनाभिसंवृतः। अपस्नात इवारिष्टं प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्।।2.42.22।।

ityevaṃ vilapan rājā janaughenābhisaṃvṛtaḥ| apasnāta ivāriṣṭaṃ praviveśa purottamam

Thus the king, who looked like one after the inauspicious (funeral) bath, surrounded by streams of people entered the most beautiful city (Ayodhya) which portended misfortune.

शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्। क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्।।2.42.23।। तामवेक्ष्य पुरीं सर्वां राममेवानुचिन्तयन्। विलपन् प्राविशद्राजा गृहं सूर्य इवाम्बुदम्।।2.42.24।।

śūnyacatvaraveśmāntāṃ saṃvṛtāpaṇadevatām| klāntadurbaladuḥkhārtāṃ nātyākīrṇamahāpathām tāmavekṣya purīṃ sarvāṃ rāmamevānucintayan| vilapan prāviśadrājā gṛhaṃ sūrya ivāmbudam

There the mansions and squares on the highways were all deserted. The temples and marketplaces were closed. The people were weak, fatigued and tormented with grief. The highways were not much crowded. Having seen such a sight of the city on all sides, lamenting and brooding over Rama, Dasaratha entered his palace like the Sun plunging into a cloud.

शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्। क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्।।2.42.23।। तामवेक्ष्य पुरीं सर्वां राममेवानुचिन्तयन्। विलपन् प्राविशद्राजा गृहं सूर्य इवाम्बुदम्।।2.42.24।।

śūnyacatvaraveśmāntāṃ saṃvṛtāpaṇadevatām| klāntadurbaladuḥkhārtāṃ nātyākīrṇamahāpathām tāmavekṣya purīṃ sarvāṃ rāmamevānucintayan| vilapan prāviśadrājā gṛhaṃ sūrya ivāmbudam

There the mansions and squares on the highways were all deserted. The temples and marketplaces were closed. The people were weak, fatigued and tormented with grief. The highways were not much crowded. Having seen such a sight of the city on all sides, lamenting and brooding over Rama, Dasaratha entered his palace like the Sun plunging into a cloud.

महाह्रदमिवाक्षोभ्यं सुपर्णेन हृतोरगम्। रामेण रहितं वेश्म वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च।।2.42.25।।

mahāhradamivākṣobhyaṃ suparṇena hṛtoragam| rāmeṇa rahitaṃ veśma vaidehyā lakṣmaṇena ca

The palace without Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, stood like a vast, unperturbed lake with serpents snatched away by Suparna (Garuda).

अथ गद्गदशब्दस्तु विलपन्मनुजाधिपः। उवाच मृदुमन्दार्थं वचनं दीनमस्वरम्।।2.42.26।।

atha gadgadaśabdastu vilapanmanujādhipaḥ| uvāca mṛdumandārthaṃ vacanaṃ dīnamasvaram

Thereupon Dasaratha lamenting with his throat choked addressed (his attendants) in a low, feeble, melancholic, gentle voice:

कौशल्यायां गृहं शीघ्रं राममातुर्नयन्तु माम्। न ह्यन्यत्र ममाश्वासो हृदयस्य भविष्यति।।2.42.27।।

kauśalyāyāṃ gṛhaṃ śīghraṃ rāmamāturnayantu mām| na hyanyatra mamāśvāso hṛdayasya bhaviṣyati

Take me quickly to the apartment of Rama's mother, Kausalya. There is no other place where my heart can find solace.

इति ब्रुवन्तं राजानमनयन् द्वारदर्शिनः। कौशल्याया गृहं तत्र न्यवेश्यत विनीतवत्।।2.42.28।।

iti bruvantaṃ rājānamanayan dvāradarśinaḥ| kauśalyāyā gṛhaṃ tatra nyaveśyata vinītavat

Having heard the king, the doorkeepers took him to the apartment of Kausalya and there respectfully made him rest.

ततस्तस्य प्रविष्टस्य कौशल्याया निवेशनम्। अधिरुह्यापि शयनं बभूव लुलितं मनः।।2.42.29।।

tatastasya praviṣṭasya kauśalyāyā niveśanam| adhiruhyāpi śayanaṃ babhūva lulitaṃ manaḥ

His mind tossed restlessly although he entered Kausalya's palace and climbed into the couch.

पुत्रद्वयविहीनं च स्नुषयापि विवर्जितम्। अपश्यद्भवनं राजा नष्टचन्द्रमिवाम्बरम्।।2.42.30।।

putradvayavihīnaṃ ca snuṣayāpi vivarjitam| apaśyadbhavanaṃ rājā naṣṭacandramivāmbaram

To the king, the palace deserted by his two sons and his daughterinlaw, seemed like the sky without the Moon.

तच्च दृष्ट्वा महाराजो भुजमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। उच्चैस्स्वरेण चुक्रोश हा राघव जहासि माम्।।2.42.31।।

tacca dṛṣṭvā mahārājo bhujamudyamya vīryavān| uccaissvareṇa cukrośa hā rāghava jahāsi mām

The valiant maharaja looked around that palace, lifted up his arms and shouted in a loud voice, Oh scion of the Raghus (Rama) you have forsaken me.

सुखिता बत तं कालं जीविष्यन्ति नरोत्तमाः। परिष्वजन्तो ये रामं द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुनरागतम्।।2.42.32।।

sukhitā bata taṃ kālaṃ jīviṣyanti narottamāḥ| pariṣvajanto ye rāmaṃ drakṣyanti punarāgatam

Oh how fortunate are those best of men who will live until that time to see Rama return and embrace him.

अथ रात्र्यां प्रपन्नायां कालरात्र्यामिवात्मनः। अर्धरात्रे दशरथः कौशल्यामिदमब्रवीत्।।2.42.33।।

atha rātryāṃ prapannāyāṃ kālarātryāmivātmanaḥ| ardharātre daśarathaḥ kauśalyāmidamabravīt

In the middle of the night which, for him, felt like the night of death Dasaratha said to Kausalya thus:

रामं मेऽनुगता दृष्टिरद्यापि न निवर्तते। न त्वा पश्यामि कौसल्ये साधु मां पाणिना स्पृश।।2.42.34।।

rāmaṃ me'nugatā dṛṣṭiradyāpi na nivartate| na tvā paśyāmi kausalye sādhu māṃ pāṇinā spṛśa

O Kausalya, my sight that had followed Rama has not yet returned. I cannot see you clearly. Please touch me with your hand.

तं राममेवानुविचिन्तयन्तं समीक्ष्य देवी शयने नरेन्द्रम्। उपोपविश्याधिकमार्तरूपा विनिश्वसन्ती विललाप कृच्छ्रम्।।2.42.35।।

taṃ rāmamevānuvicintayantaṃ samīkṣya devī śayane narendram| upopaviśyādhikamārtarūpā viniśvasantī vilalāpa kṛcchram

Having seen the king in bed brooding over Rama, the queen, (Kausalya), sitting by his side, sighed and lamented, deeply anguished. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.