Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 65

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रातरेवापरेऽहनि। वन्दिनः पर्युपातिष्ठंस्तत्पार्थिव निवेशनम्।।2.65.1।। सूताः परमसंस्कारा मङ्गलाश्चोत्तमश्रुताः। गायका: स्तुतिशीलाश्च निगदन्तः पृथक् पृथक्।।2.65.2।।

atha rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ prātarevāpare'hani| vandinaḥ paryupātiṣṭhaṃstatpārthiva niveśanam sūtāḥ paramasaṃskārā maṅgalāścottamaśrutāḥ| gāyakā: stutiśīlāśca nigadantaḥ pṛthak pṛthak

Then on the following day (unaware of Dasaratha's death) panegyrists uttering benedictions, highly accomplished bards and genealogists proficient in reciting auspicious words, singers versed in musical science reached the palace one after another eulogising the king's glory.

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रातरेवापरेऽहनि। वन्दिनः पर्युपातिष्ठंस्तत्पार्थिव निवेशनम्।।2.65.1।। सूताः परमसंस्कारा मङ्गलाश्चोत्तमश्रुताः। गायका: स्तुतिशीलाश्च निगदन्तः पृथक् पृथक्।।2.65.2।।

atha rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ prātarevāpare'hani| vandinaḥ paryupātiṣṭhaṃstatpārthiva niveśanam sūtāḥ paramasaṃskārā maṅgalāścottamaśrutāḥ| gāyakā: stutiśīlāśca nigadantaḥ pṛthak pṛthak

Then on the following day (unaware of Dasaratha's death) panegyrists uttering benedictions, highly accomplished bards and genealogists proficient in reciting auspicious words, singers versed in musical science reached the palace one after another eulogising the king's glory.

राजानं स्तुवतां तेषामुदात्ताभिहिताशिषाम्। प्रासादाऽभोगविस्तीर्णः स्तुतिशब्दोह्यवर्तत।।2.65.3।।

rājānaṃ stuvatāṃ teṣāmudāttābhihitāśiṣām| prāsādā'bhogavistīrṇaḥ stutiśabdohyavartata

The songs of those who were eulogising the king and uttering benedictions at high pitch pervaded the entire palace.

ततस्तु स्तुवतां तेषां सूतानां पाणिवादकाः। अपदानान्युदाहृत्य पाणिवादा नवादयन्।।2.65.4।।

tatastu stuvatāṃ teṣāṃ sūtānāṃ pāṇivādakāḥ| apadānānyudāhṛtya pāṇivādā navādayan

While the bards sang the praise of the king, those who praise clapping their palms clapped, citing the wonderful deeds of Dasaratha.

तेन शब्देन विहगाः प्रतिबुद्धा विसस्वनुः। शाखास्थाः पञ्जरस्थाश्च ये राजकुलगोचराः।।2.65.5।।

tena śabdena vihagāḥ pratibuddhā visasvanuḥ| śākhāsthāḥ pañjarasthāśca ye rājakulagocarāḥ

The birds perched on the branches and some in cages awoke and began to twitter all over the palace.

व्याहृताः पुण्यशब्दाश्च वीणानां चापि निस्स्वनाः। आशीर्गेयं च गाथानां पूरयामास वेश्म तत्।।2.65.6।।

vyāhṛtāḥ puṇyaśabdāśca vīṇānāṃ cāpi nissvanāḥ| āśīrgeyaṃ ca gāthānāṃ pūrayāmāsa veśma tat

The sacred songs of bards and panegyrists, notes of veena, chantings of metrical hymns and benedictory verses filled the palace.

तत श्शुचिसमाचाराः पर्युपस्थानकोविदाः। स्त्रीवर्ष धरभूयिष्ठा उपतस्थुर्यथापुरम्।।2.65.7।।

tata śśucisamācārāḥ paryupasthānakovidāḥ| strīvarṣa dharabhūyiṣṭhā upatasthuryathāpuram

Thereafter, as usual, men observing purificatory practices and skilled in royal service assembled along with women and eunuchs.

हरिचन्दनसम्पृक्तमुदकं काञ्चनैर्घटैः। आनिन्युस्स्नानशिक्षाज्ञा यथाकालं यथाविधि।।2.65.8।।

haricandanasampṛktamudakaṃ kāñcanairghaṭaiḥ| āninyussnānaśikṣājñā yathākālaṃ yathāvidhi

The bathattendants brought water mixed with yellow sandal paste in golden vessels at appropriate times in accordance with tradition.

मङ्गलालम्भनीयानि प्राशनीयान्युपस्करान्। उपनिन्युस्तथाप्यन्याः कुमारीबहुलाः स्त्रियः।।2.65.9।।

maṅgalālambhanīyāni prāśanīyānyupaskarān| upaninyustathāpyanyāḥ kumārībahulāḥ striyaḥ

Also, a group of women mostly young maidens brought auspicious unguents, articles gratifying the senses and those necessary accessories for completion of bathing process.

सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं सर्वं विधिवदर्चितम्। सर्वं सुगुणलक्ष्मीवत्तद्बभूवाभिहारिकम्।।2.65.10।।

sarvalakṣaṇasampannaṃ sarvaṃ vidhivadarcitam| sarvaṃ suguṇalakṣmīvattadbabhūvābhihārikam

All the articles brought for the king (for his bath) were presentable and as per tradition. In quality they were excellent and auspicious.

तत स्सूर्योदयं यावत्सर्वं परिसमुत्सुकम्। तस्थावनुपसम्प्राप्तं किंस्विदित्युपशङ्कितम्।।2.65.11।।

tata ssūryodayaṃ yāvatsarvaṃ parisamutsukam| tasthāvanupasamprāptaṃ kiṃsvidityupaśaṅkitam

All the highly enthusiastic attendants waited for the king till sunrise. Unable to see the king they doubted about what had happened

अथ याः कोसलेन्द्रस्य शयनं प्रत्यनन्तराः। ताः स्त्रियस्तु समागम्य भर्तारं प्रत्यबोधयन्।।2.65.12।।

atha yāḥ kosalendrasya śayanaṃ pratyanantarāḥ| tāḥ striyastu samāgamya bhartāraṃ pratyabodhayan

The women who usually attend to the bed (maids who do the bed in the morning) of Dasaratha (king of Kosala) without any restrictions, approached the king and began waking him up.

तथाप्युचितवृत्ता स्ता विनयेन नयेन च। नह्यस्य शयनं स्पृष्ट्वा किञ्चिदप्युपलेभिरे।।2.65.13।।

tathāpyucitavṛttā stā vinayena nayena ca| nahyasya śayanaṃ spṛṣṭvā kiñcidapyupalebhire

Conducting themselves agreeably with restraint and obedience, the women touched the bed of Dasaratha but did not perceive any sign of life.

ताः स्त्रियस्स्वप्नशीलज्ञाश्चेष्टासञ्चलनादिषु ता वेपथुपरीताश्च राज्ञः प्राणेषु शङ्किताः। प्रतिस्रोतस्तृणाग्राणां सदृशं सञ्चकाशिरे।।2.65.14।।

tāḥ striyassvapnaśīlajñāśceṣṭāsañcalanādiṣu tā vepathuparītāśca rājñaḥ prāṇeṣu śaṅkitāḥ| pratisrotastṛṇāgrāṇāṃ sadṛśaṃ sañcakāśire

Those women knowledgeable in ascertaining the nature of sleep based on the actions, movements, etc. were apprehensive whether the king was alive or not. Trembling severely they seemed like the tips of reeds that stand against the current.

अथ सन्देहमानानां स्त्रीणां दृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम्। यत्तदाशङ्कितं पापं तस्य जज्ञे विनिश्चयः।।2.65.15।।

atha sandehamānānāṃ strīṇāṃ dṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam| yattadāśaṅkitaṃ pāpaṃ tasya jajñe viniścayaḥ

Having seen the king more closely, those women who were apprehensive till then, became certain of the inevitable.

कौसल्या च सुमत्रच पुत्रशोकपराजिते। प्रसुप्ते न प्रबुध्येते यथा कालसमन्विते।।2.65.16।।

kausalyā ca sumatraca putraśokaparājite| prasupte na prabudhyete yathā kālasamanvite

Overpowered by grief on account of separation from their sons, Sumitra and Kausalya were fast asleep and did not wake up as if they were possessed by death.

निष्प्रभा च विवर्णा च सन्ना शोकेन सन्नता। न व्यराजत कौसल्या तारेव तिमिरावृता।।2.65.17।।

niṣprabhā ca vivarṇā ca sannā śokena sannatā| na vyarājata kausalyā tāreva timirāvṛtā

Kausalya, with her face dull and pallid, sank down, her limbs contracted. She looked lustreless like stars enveloped in darkness.

कौसल्याऽनन्तरं राज्ञस्सुमित्रा तदन्तनरम्। न स्म विभ्राजते देवी शोकाश्रुलुलितानना।।2.65.18।।

kausalyā'nantaraṃ rājñassumitrā tadantanaram| na sma vibhrājate devī śokāśrululitānanā

There lay Sumitra next to Kausalya by the side of the king. Queen Kausalya's face was dull, drooping down on account of shedding tears of sorrow.

ते च दृष्ट्वा तथा सुप्ते शुभे देव्यौ च तं नृपम्। सुप्तमेवोद्गतप्राणमन्तःपुरमदृश्यत।।2.65.19।।

te ca dṛṣṭvā tathā supte śubhe devyau ca taṃ nṛpam| suptamevodgataprāṇamantaḥpuramadṛśyata

Having seen the two auspicious queens asleep, the women in the inner apartment thought the king died in his sleep.

ततः प्रचुक्रुशुर्दीना स्सस्वरं ता वराङ्गनाः। करेणव इवारण्ये स्थानप्रच्युतयूथपाः।।2.65.20।।

tataḥ pracukruśurdīnā ssasvaraṃ tā varāṅganāḥ| kareṇava ivāraṇye sthānapracyutayūthapāḥ

Then those women bewailed bitterly and loudly in distress like female elephants in the forest when their leader has fallen out of the herd.

तासामाक्रन्दशब्देन सहसोद्धतचेतने। कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च त्यक्त निद्रे बभूवतुः।।2.65.21।।

tāsāmākrandaśabdena sahasoddhatacetane| kausalyā ca sumitrā ca tyakta nidre babhūvatuḥ

Hearing the lamentations of the women suddenly Kausalya and Sumitra woke up from sleep, their senses recovered.

कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च दृष्ट्वा स्प़ृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम्। हा नाथेति परिक्रुश्य पेततुर्धरणीतले।।2.65.22।।

kausalyā ca sumitrā ca dṛṣṭvā spa़ṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam| hā nātheti parikruśya petaturdharaṇītale

Kausalya and Sumitra looked at the king, touched his body, cried aloud, 'Ah, lord' and collapsed on the floor.

सा कोसलेन्द्रदुहिता वेष्टमाना महीतले। न बभ्राज रजोध्वस्ता तारेव गगनाच्च्युता।।2.65.23।।

sā kosalendraduhitā veṣṭamānā mahītale| na babhrāja rajodhvastā tāreva gaganāccyutā

Kausalya, daughter of the lord of Kosala, lay on the ground writhing in pain, coated with dust, and devoid of brightness like a star without radiance fallen from the sky.

नृपे शान्तगुणे जाते कौसल्यां पतितां भुवि। अपश्यंस्ताः स्त्रियः सर्वा हतां नागवधूमिव।।2.65.24।।

nṛpe śāntaguṇe jāte kausalyāṃ patitāṃ bhuvi| apaśyaṃstāḥ striyaḥ sarvā hatāṃ nāgavadhūmiva

Dasaratha with his body lying still, all the women looked at Kausalya fallen down on the floor like a slain female elephant.

ततस्सर्वा नरेन्द्रस्य कैकेयीप्रमुखाः स्त्रियः। रुदन्त्य श्शोकसन्तप्ता निपेतुर्गतचेतनाः।।2.65.25।।

tatassarvā narendrasya kaikeyīpramukhāḥ striyaḥ| rudantya śśokasantaptā nipeturgatacetanāḥ

Then all the wives of the king led by Kaikeyi, burning with grief and weeping, lost their senses and fell down.

ताभिस्स बलवान्नादः क्रोशन्तीभिरनुद्रुतः। येन स्फीतीकृतं भूयस्तद्गृहं समनादयत् ।। 2.65.26 ।।

tābhissa balavānnādaḥ krośantībhiranudrutaḥ| yena sphītīkṛtaṃ bhūyastadgṛhaṃ samanādayat

The wailings of the women grew louder and louder until the whole palace reverberated with their lamentations.

तत् परित्रस्तन्त्रसम्भ्रान्त पर्युत्सुकजनाकुलम्। सर्वतस्तुमुलाक्रन्दं परितापार्तबान्धवम्।।2.65.27।। सद्यो निपतितानन्दं दीनविक्लबदर्शनम्। बभूव नरदेवस्य सद्म दिष्टान्तमीयुषः।।2.65.28।।

tat paritrastantrasambhrānta paryutsukajanākulam| sarvatastumulākrandaṃ paritāpārtabāndhavam sadyo nipatitānandaṃ dīnaviklabadarśanam| babhūva naradevasya sadma diṣṭāntamīyuṣaḥ

On the demise of Dasaratha, joy instantly vanished. The palace was thronged with anxious people who were exceedingly bewildered and frightened. The royal family was anguished with distress. The palace was filled all over with the tumult of cries of agony. And it looked miserable with grief.

तत् परित्रस्तन्त्रसम्भ्रान्त पर्युत्सुकजनाकुलम्। सर्वतस्तुमुलाक्रन्दं परितापार्तबान्धवम्।।2.65.27।। सद्यो निपतितानन्दं दीनविक्लबदर्शनम्। बभूव नरदेवस्य सद्म दिष्टान्तमीयुषः।।2.65.28।।

tat paritrastantrasambhrānta paryutsukajanākulam| sarvatastumulākrandaṃ paritāpārtabāndhavam sadyo nipatitānandaṃ dīnaviklabadarśanam| babhūva naradevasya sadma diṣṭāntamīyuṣaḥ

On the demise of Dasaratha, joy instantly vanished. The palace was thronged with anxious people who were exceedingly bewildered and frightened. The royal family was anguished with distress. The palace was filled all over with the tumult of cries of agony. And it looked miserable with grief.

अतीतमाज्ञाय तु पार्थिवर्षभं यशस्विनं सम्परिवार्य पत्नयः। भृशं रुदन्त्यः करुणं सुदुःखिताः प्रगृह्य बाहू व्यलपन्ननाथवत्।।2.65.29।।

atītamājñāya tu pārthivarṣabhaṃ yaśasvinaṃ samparivārya patnayaḥ| bhṛśaṃ rudantyaḥ karuṇaṃ suduḥkhitāḥ pragṛhya bāhū vyalapannanāthavat

Realising that the great and illustrious king, Dasaratha, had passed away, his wives gathered around him, weeping piteously and bitterly and holding one another's hands bewailed like orphans. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चषष्टितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the sixtyfifth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.