Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48

तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च। बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया।।2.48.1।। अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम्। उद्गतानीव सत्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम्।।2.48.2।।

teṣāmevaṃ viṣaṇṇānāṃ pīḍitānāmatīva ca| bāṣpaviplutanetrāṇāṃ saśokānāṃ mumūrṣayā anugamya nivṛttānāṃ rāmaṃ nagaravāsinām| udgatānīva satvāni babhūvuramanasvinām

The people afflicted with sorrow followed Rama and returned to the city deeply distressed. Eyes overflowing with tears, they longed for death. Smitten with grief, they lost their highmindedness and looked as if their life had been drained out.

तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च। बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया।।2.48.1।। अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम्। उद्गतानीव सत्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम्।।2.48.2।।

teṣāmevaṃ viṣaṇṇānāṃ pīḍitānāmatīva ca| bāṣpaviplutanetrāṇāṃ saśokānāṃ mumūrṣayā anugamya nivṛttānāṃ rāmaṃ nagaravāsinām| udgatānīva satvāni babhūvuramanasvinām

The people afflicted with sorrow followed Rama and returned to the city deeply distressed. Eyes overflowing with tears, they longed for death. Smitten with grief, they lost their highmindedness and looked as if their life had been drained out.

स्वं स्वं निलयमागम्य पुत्रदारैस्समावृता। अश्रूणि मुमुचुस्सर्वे बाष्पेण पिहिताननाः।।2.48.3।।

svaṃ svaṃ nilayamāgamya putradāraissamāvṛtā| aśrūṇi mumucussarve bāṣpeṇa pihitānanāḥ

The subjects reached their respective homes and surrounded by their sons and wives broke down their faces flooded with tears.

न चाहृष्यन् नचामोदन् वणिजो न प्रसारयन्। न चाशोभन्त पण्यानि नापचन् गृहमेधिनः।।2.48.4।।

na cāhṛṣyan nacāmodan vaṇijo na prasārayan| na cāśobhanta paṇyāni nāpacan gṛhamedhinaḥ

The people had no joy in life nor did they find cheer in anything. The merchants did not offer their wares for sale. The marketplace looked graceless (lifeless). (The stocks were empty). The householders did not cook their food.

नष्टं दृष्ट्वा नाभ्यनन्दन् विपुलं वा धनागमम्। पुत्रं प्रथमजं लब्ध्वा जननी नाभ्यनन्दत।।2.48.5।।

naṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭvā nābhyanandan vipulaṃ vā dhanāgamam| putraṃ prathamajaṃ labdhvā jananī nābhyanandata

Neither loss nor acquisition of wealth mattered (to the people). No mother rejoiced over getting her firstborn son.

गृहे गृहे रुदन्त्यश्च भर्तारं गृहमागतम्। व्यगर्हयन्त दुःखार्ता वाग्भिस्तोत्रैरिव द्विपान्।।2.48.6।।

gṛhe gṛhe rudantyaśca bhartāraṃ gṛhamāgatam| vyagarhayanta duḥkhārtā vāgbhistotrairiva dvipān

In every house, women wept and in anguish heaped abuses on their husbands on their arrival at home with words (sharp) like goads on elephants:

किं नु तेषां गृहैः कार्यं किं दारै: किं धनेन वा। पुत्रैर्वा किं सुखैर्वापि ये न पश्यन्ति राघवम्।।2.48.7।।

kiṃ nu teṣāṃ gṛhaiḥ kāryaṃ kiṃ dārai: kiṃ dhanena vā| putrairvā kiṃ sukhairvāpi ye na paśyanti rāghavam

For those who do not see Rama, of what use are the houses or spouses or sons or fortunes or delight?

एकः सत्पुरुषो लोके लक्ष्मण स्सह सीतया। योऽनुगच्छति काकुत्स्थं रामं परिचरन् वने।।2.48.8।।

ekaḥ satpuruṣo loke lakṣmaṇa ssaha sītayā| yo'nugacchati kākutsthaṃ rāmaṃ paricaran vane

Lakshmana is the only fortunate person in the world who has followed Rama of the Kakutstha race along with Sita to serve them.

आपगाः कृतपुण्यास्ता पद्मिन्यश्च सरांसि च। येषु स्नास्यति काकुत्स्थो विगाह्य सलिलं शुचि।।2.48.9।।

āpagāḥ kṛtapuṇyāstā padminyaśca sarāṃsi ca| yeṣu snāsyati kākutstho vigāhya salilaṃ śuci

The rivers and the lotuspools have done some meritorious acts in the past as a result of which Rama having plunged into their holy waters will make his ablution.

शोभयिष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थमटव्यो रम्यकाननाः। आपगाश्च महानूपाः सानुमन्तश्च पर्वताः।।2.48.10।।

śobhayiṣyanti kākutsthamaṭavyo ramyakānanāḥ| āpagāśca mahānūpāḥ sānumantaśca parvatāḥ

Forests with beautiful groves rivers with vast expanse of waters, mountains with their slopes will enhance the lustre of the scion of the Kakutsthas (Rama).

काननं वापि शैलं वा यं रामोऽधिगमिष्यति। प्रियातिथिमिव प्राप्तं नैनं शक्ष्यन्त्यनर्चितुम्।।2.48.11।।

kānanaṃ vāpi śailaṃ vā yaṃ rāmo'dhigamiṣyati| priyātithimiva prāptaṃ nainaṃ śakṣyantyanarcitum

Whichever hill or forest Rama visits, people will receive him there like a welcome guest and will not fail to render hospitality to him.

विचित्रकुसुमापीडा बहुमञ्जरि धारिणः। राघवं दर्शयिष्यन्ति नगा भ्रमरशालिनः।।2.48.12।।

vicitrakusumāpīḍā bahumañjari dhāriṇaḥ| rāghavaṃ darśayiṣyanti nagā bhramaraśālinaḥ

Trees with bunches of cololurful flowers and clusters of blossoms hovering over with black bees will present themselves to the son of the Raghus (Rama).

अकाले चापि मुख्यानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। दर्शयिष्यन्त्यनुक्रोशाद्गिरयो राममागतम्।।2.48.13।।

akāle cāpi mukhyāni puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca| darśayiṣyantyanukrośādgirayo rāmamāgatam

The hills will exhibit their excellent flowers and fruits off season out of compassion in order to welcome Rama.

प्रस्रविष्यन्ति तोयानि विमलानि महीधराः। विदर्शयन्तो विविधान् भूयश्चित्रांश्च निर्झरान्।।2.48.14।।

prasraviṣyanti toyāni vimalāni mahīdharāḥ| vidarśayanto vividhān bhūyaścitrāṃśca nirjharān

The mountains, displaying various wonderful streams here and there, will flow with pellucid waters (for Rama).

पादपाः पर्वताग्रेषु रमयिष्यन्ति राघवम्। यत्र रामो भयं नात्र नास्ति तत्र पराभवः।।2.48.15।।

pādapāḥ parvatāgreṣu ramayiṣyanti rāghavam| yatra rāmo bhayaṃ nātra nāsti tatra parābhavaḥ

The trees on the mountain summits will enchant Rama. Where Rama goes, there will be no room for fear or dishonour.

स हि शूरो महाबाहुः पुत्रो दशरथस्य च। पुरा भवति नोदूरादनुगच्छाम राघवम्।।2.48.16।।

sa hi śūro mahābāhuḥ putro daśarathasya ca| purā bhavati nodūrādanugacchāma rāghavam

Before that valiant, strongarmed son of Dasaratha goes too far away (from us), we should follow him.

पादच्छाया सुखा भर्तुस्तादृशस्य महात्मनः। स हि नाथो जनस्यास्य स गति स्सपरायणम्।।2.48.17।।

pādacchāyā sukhā bhartustādṛśasya mahātmanaḥ| sa hi nātho janasyāsya sa gati ssaparāyaṇam

The shadow of the feet of this magnanimous lord will give us happiness. He alone is the goal and protector of all these people. He is the supreme refuge.

वयं परिचरिष्यामः सीतां यूयं तु राघवम्। इति पौरस्त्रियो भर्तृ़न् दुखार्तास्तत्तदब्रुवन्।।2.48.18।।

vayaṃ paricariṣyāmaḥ sītāṃ yūyaṃ tu rāghavam| iti paurastriyo bhartṛ़n dukhārtāstattadabruvan

We will serve Sita. You will serve Rama. Such were the words of the distressed women of the city to their husbands. (They continued).

युष्माकं राघवोऽरण्ये योगक्षेमं विधास्यति। सीता नारीजनस्यास्य योगक्षेमं करिष्यति।।2.48.19।।

yuṣmākaṃ rāghavo'raṇye yogakṣemaṃ vidhāsyati| sītā nārījanasyāsya yogakṣemaṃ kariṣyati

In the forest, Rama will look after your wellbeing and Sita will ensure our, women folk's security.

को न्वनेनाऽप्रतीतेन सोत्कण्ठितजनेन च। सम्प्रियेतामनोज्ञेन वासेन हृतचेतसा।।2.48.20।।

ko nvanenā'pratītena sotkaṇṭhitajanena ca| sampriyetāmanojñena vāsena hṛtacetasā

The people here are choked with grief. Who will like to stay here where life is disagreeable, cheerless, full of despondency and distress?

कैकेय्या यदि चे द्राज्यं स्यादधर्म्यमनाथवत्। न हि नो जीवितेनार्थः कुतः पुत्रैः कुतो धनैः।।2.48.21।।

kaikeyyā yadi ce drājyaṃ syādadharmyamanāthavat| na hi no jīvitenārthaḥ kutaḥ putraiḥ kuto dhanaiḥ

If Kaikeyi rules this kingdom unethically, we do not want to live here like orphans. What is the use of our progeny or property (in such a place)?

यया पुत्रश्च भर्ता च त्यक्तावैश्वर्यकारणात्। कं सा परिहरेदन्यं कैकेयी कुलपांसनी।।2.48.22।।

yayā putraśca bhartā ca tyaktāvaiśvaryakāraṇāt| kaṃ sā pariharedanyaṃ kaikeyī kulapāṃsanī

Can Kaikeyi, who has brought disgrace to the race by abandoning her husband and son for the sake of wealth, spare others?

कैकेय्या न वयं राज्ये भृतका निवसेमहि। जीवन्त्या जातु जीवन्त्यः पुत्रैरपि शपामहे।।2.48.23।।

kaikeyyā na vayaṃ rājye bhṛtakā nivasemahi| jīvantyā jātu jīvantyaḥ putrairapi śapāmahe

We swear on our sons that as long as Kaikeyi lives, or we live, we will never stay in her kingdom as servants.

या पुत्रं पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य प्रवासयति निर्घृणा। कस्तां प्राप्य सुखं जीवेदधर्म्यां दुष्टचारिणीम्।।2.48.24।।

yā putraṃ pārthivendrasya pravāsayati nirghṛṇā| kastāṃ prāpya sukhaṃ jīvedadharmyāṃ duṣṭacāriṇīm

Who can live with pleasure under the rule of Kaikeyi of unrighteous character and wicked behaviour, one who without compassion banished Rama, son of Dasaratha, king of kings?

उपद्रुतमिदं सर्वमनालम्बमनायकम्। कैकेय्या हि कृते सर्वं विनाशमुपयास्यति।।2.48.25।।

upadrutamidaṃ sarvamanālambamanāyakam| kaikeyyā hi kṛte sarvaṃ vināśamupayāsyati

The entire kingdom, for the sake of Kaikeyi, is under a great calamity. With no support or leader it will definitely go to ruin.

न हि प्रव्रजिते रामे जीविष्यति महीपतिः। मृते दशरथे व्यक्तं विलापस्तदनन्तरम्।।2.48.26।।

na hi pravrajite rāme jīviṣyati mahīpatiḥ| mṛte daśarathe vyaktaṃ vilāpastadanantaram

Now that Rama has been banished, the king will not live (long). After his death there will be evidently only lamentations.

ते विषं पिबतालोड्य क्षीणपुण्या स्सुदुर्गताः। राघवं वानुगच्छध्वमश्रुतिं वापि गच्छत।।2.48.27।।

te viṣaṃ pibatāloḍya kṣīṇapuṇyā ssudurgatāḥ| rāghavaṃ vānugacchadhvamaśrutiṃ vāpi gacchata

Where you are in deep trouble with merits exhausted, it is better to take poison, or follow Rama or walk into the unknown.

मिथ्याप्रव्राजितो राम स्ससीत स्सहलक्ष्मणः। भरते सन्निसृष्टास्स्म स्सौनिके पशवो यथा।।2.48.28।।

mithyāpravrājito rāma ssasīta ssahalakṣmaṇaḥ| bharate sannisṛṣṭāssma ssaunike paśavo yathā

Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana has been deceitfully exiled and all of us delivered to Bharata like beasts to a butcher (for protection).

पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः। आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।।2.48.29।। पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः। सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः।।2.48.30।। नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः। शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः।।2.48.31।।

pūrṇacandrānana śśyāmo gūḍhajatrurarindamaḥ| ājānubāhuḥ padmākṣo rāmo lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ pūrvābhibhāṣī madhura ssatyavādī mahābalaḥ| saumyassarvasya lokasya candravatpriyadarśanaḥ nūnaṃ puruṣaśārdūlo mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ| śobhayiṣyatyaraṇyāni vicaran sa mahārathaḥ

Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana is a tiger among men, a subduer of enemies, powerful like an intoxicated elephant, and a great charioteer. Blue in complexion, he has a face like the full Moon. He has lotuslike eyes, kneelong arms and fleshy clavicles. Endowed with a sweet nature, he always speaks the truth and the first to speak to others. When he roams the forest, charming like the Moon and pleasing to the whole world, he will surely make it look graceful.

पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः। आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।।2.48.29।। पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः। सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः।।2.48.30।। नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः। शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः।।2.48.31।।

pūrṇacandrānana śśyāmo gūḍhajatrurarindamaḥ| ājānubāhuḥ padmākṣo rāmo lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ pūrvābhibhāṣī madhura ssatyavādī mahābalaḥ| saumyassarvasya lokasya candravatpriyadarśanaḥ nūnaṃ puruṣaśārdūlo mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ| śobhayiṣyatyaraṇyāni vicaran sa mahārathaḥ

Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana is a tiger among men, a subduer of enemies, powerful like an intoxicated elephant, and a great charioteer. Blue in complexion, he has a face like the full Moon. He has lotuslike eyes, kneelong arms and fleshy clavicles. Endowed with a sweet nature, he always speaks the truth and the first to speak to others. When he roams the forest, charming like the Moon and pleasing to the whole world, he will surely make it look graceful.

पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः। आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।।2.48.29।। पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः। सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः।।2.48.30।। नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः। शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः।।2.48.31।।

pūrṇacandrānana śśyāmo gūḍhajatrurarindamaḥ| ājānubāhuḥ padmākṣo rāmo lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ pūrvābhibhāṣī madhura ssatyavādī mahābalaḥ| saumyassarvasya lokasya candravatpriyadarśanaḥ nūnaṃ puruṣaśārdūlo mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ| śobhayiṣyatyaraṇyāni vicaran sa mahārathaḥ

Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana is a tiger among men, a subduer of enemies, powerful like an intoxicated elephant, and a great charioteer. Blue in complexion, he has a face like the full Moon. He has lotuslike eyes, kneelong arms and fleshy clavicles. Endowed with a sweet nature, he always speaks the truth and the first to speak to others. When he roams the forest, charming like the Moon and pleasing to the whole world, he will surely make it look graceful.

तास्तथा विलपन्त्यस्तु नगरे नागरस्त्रियः। चुक्रुशु र्दुःखसन्तप्ता मृत्योरिव भयागमे।।2.48.32।।

tāstathā vilapantyastu nagare nāgarastriyaḥ| cukruśu rduḥkhasantaptā mṛtyoriva bhayāgame

Such was the lamentation of the women of the city. Overcome with grief as if frightened at the approach of death, they wept bitterly.

इत्येवं विलपन्तीनां स्त्रीणां वेश्मसु राघवम्। जगामास्तं दिनकरो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत।।2.48.33।।

ityevaṃ vilapantīnāṃ strīṇāṃ veśmasu rāghavam| jagāmāstaṃ dinakaro rajanī cābhyavartata

As the women of the city were thus lamenting over the scion of the Raghus (Rama) (sitting) at home, the sun set. Night fell.

नष्टज्वलनसन्तापा प्रशान्ताध्यायसत्कथा। तिमिरेणाभिलिप्तेव सा तदा नगरी बभौ।।2.48.34।।

naṣṭajvalanasantāpā praśāntādhyāyasatkathā| timireṇābhilipteva sā tadā nagarī babhau

With sacrificial fires extinguished and the reading of holy scriptures and sacred recitations stopped, Ayodhya looked as if besmeared with darkness.

उपशान्तवणिक्पण्या नष्टहर्षा निराश्रया। अयोध्या नगरी चासीन्नष्टतारमिवाम्बरम्।।2.48.35।।

upaśāntavaṇikpaṇyā naṣṭaharṣā nirāśrayā| ayodhyā nagarī cāsīnnaṣṭatāramivāmbaram

With markets closed, the city of Ayodhya cheerless and shelterless looked like the sky without stars.

तथा स्त्रियो रामनिमित्तमातुरा यथा सुते भ्रातरि वा विवासिते। विलप्य दीना रुरुदुर्विचेतस स्सूतैर्हि तासामधिको हि सोऽभवत्।।2.48.36।।

tathā striyo rāmanimittamāturā yathā sute bhrātari vā vivāsite| vilapya dīnā rurudurvicetasa ssūtairhi tāsāmadhiko hi so'bhavat

The women grieved over Rama as if a son or a brother had been exiled. Depressed and distressed, they wept and sobbed. For them, Rama was indeed more than their sons.

प्रशान्तगीतोत्सवनृत्तवादना व्यपास्तहर्षा पिहितापणोदया। तदा ह्ययोध्या नगरी बभूव सा महार्णव स्सङ्क्षपितोदको यथा।।2.48.37।।

praśāntagītotsavanṛttavādanā vyapāstaharṣā pihitāpaṇodayā| tadā hyayodhyā nagarī babhūva sā mahārṇava ssaṅkṣapitodako yathā

With the cessation of singing, celebrations, dance and music, there was no rejoicing in the city. The markets displaying merchandise were shut down. The city of Ayodhya looked like the ocean with its waters diminished. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fortyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.