Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 66

तमग्निमिव संशान्तमम्बुहीनमिवार्णवम्। हतप्रभमिवाऽऽदित्यं स्वर्गस्थं प्रेक्ष्य पार्थिवम्।।2.66.1।। कौसल्या बाष्पपूर्णाक्षी विविधां शोककर्शिता। उपगृह्य शिरो राज्ञः कैकेयीं प्रत्यभाषत।।2.66.2।।

tamagnimiva saṃśāntamambuhīnamivārṇavam| hataprabhamivā''dityaṃ svargasthaṃ prekṣya pārthivam kausalyā bāṣpapūrṇākṣī vividhāṃ śokakarśitā| upagṛhya śiro rājñaḥ kaikeyīṃ pratyabhāṣata

On seeing the king who ascended the heaven just as a blazing fire suddenly extinguishes, or like the ocean emptied of water or the Sun bereft of splendour Kausalya raised the head of the king on to her lap, her eyes filled with tears and body shrunk in sorrow, looked at Kaikeyi and said:

तमग्निमिव संशान्तमम्बुहीनमिवार्णवम्। हतप्रभमिवाऽऽदित्यं स्वर्गस्थं प्रेक्ष्य पार्थिवम्।।2.66.1।। कौसल्या बाष्पपूर्णाक्षी विविधां शोककर्शिता। उपगृह्य शिरो राज्ञः कैकेयीं प्रत्यभाषत।।2.66.2।।

tamagnimiva saṃśāntamambuhīnamivārṇavam| hataprabhamivā''dityaṃ svargasthaṃ prekṣya pārthivam kausalyā bāṣpapūrṇākṣī vividhāṃ śokakarśitā| upagṛhya śiro rājñaḥ kaikeyīṃ pratyabhāṣata

On seeing the king who ascended the heaven just as a blazing fire suddenly extinguishes, or like the ocean emptied of water or the Sun bereft of splendour Kausalya raised the head of the king on to her lap, her eyes filled with tears and body shrunk in sorrow, looked at Kaikeyi and said:

सकामा भव कैकेयि भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यमकण्टकम्। त्यक्त्वा राजानमेकाग्रा नृशंसे दुष्टचारिणि।।2.66.3।।

sakāmā bhava kaikeyi bhuṅkṣva rājyamakaṇṭakam| tyaktvā rājānamekāgrā nṛśaṃse duṣṭacāriṇi

O cruel one O perverse wretch, O Kaikeyi, your wishes have been fulfilled. You have forsaken the king, that was your only objective. (Now) enjoy the kingdom alone without any obstacles on your way.

विहाय मां गतो रामः भर्ता च स्वर्गतो मम। विपथे सार्थहीनेव नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे।।2.66.4।।

vihāya māṃ gato rāmaḥ bhartā ca svargato mama| vipathe sārthahīneva nāhaṃ jīvitumutsahe

Rama has gone away leaving me. My lord has ascended the heaven, traversing the wrong road. With my wellwishers gone, I do not want to live.

भर्तारं तं परित्यज्य का स्त्री दैवतमात्मनः। इच्छेज्जीवितुमन्यत्र कैकेय्यास्त्यक्तधर्मणः।।2.66.5।।

bhartāraṃ taṃ parityajya kā strī daivatamātmanaḥ| icchejjīvitumanyatra kaikeyyāstyaktadharmaṇaḥ

Which woman wishes to live, leaving her godlike husband, except Kaikeyi who has given up her sense of duty?

न लुब्धो बुध्यते दोषान् किम्पाकमिव भक्षयन्। कुब्जानिमित्तं कैकेय्या राघवाणां कुलं हतम्।।2.66.6।।

na lubdho budhyate doṣān kimpākamiva bhakṣayan| kubjānimittaṃ kaikeyyā rāghavāṇāṃ kulaṃ hatam

Like a greedy man who eats the (poisonous) kimpaka fruit without realising the defects of the fruit, Kaikeyi has destroyed the Raghu race on account of the hunchback (Manthara).

अनियोगे नियुक्तेन राज्ञा रामं विवासितम्। सभार्यं जनकश्श्रुत्वा परितप्स्यत्यहं यथा।।2.66.7।।

aniyoge niyuktena rājñā rāmaṃ vivāsitam| sabhāryaṃ janakaśśrutvā paritapsyatyahaṃ yathā

Hearing the unrighteous action ordered by the king in banishing Rama and his wife king Janaka will suffer great agony like me.

स मामनाथां विधवां नाद्य जानाति धार्मिकः। रामः कमलपत्राक्षः जीवन्नाशमितो गतः।।2.66.8।।

sa māmanāthāṃ vidhavāṃ nādya jānāti dhārmikaḥ| rāmaḥ kamalapatrākṣaḥ jīvannāśamito gataḥ

That virtuous Rama of lotuspetaleyes has left this place for good, and does not know that I am without a protector, being a widow now.

विदेहराजस्य सुता तथा सीता तपस्विनी। दुःखस्यानुचिता दुःखं वने पर्युद्विजिष्यति।।2.66.9।।

videharājasya sutā tathā sītā tapasvinī| duḥkhasyānucitā duḥkhaṃ vane paryudvijiṣyati

In the same way Sita, daughter of the king of Videha, who does not deserve hardships will be in deep agony.

नदतां भीमघोषाणां निशासु मृगपक्षिणाम्। निशम्य नूनं सन्त्रस्ता राघवं संश्रयिष्यति।।2.66.10।।

nadatāṃ bhīmaghoṣāṇāṃ niśāsu mṛgapakṣiṇām| niśamya nūnaṃ santrastā rāghavaṃ saṃśrayiṣyati

Hearing the ghastly sounds of animals and birds, Sita will surely get frightened and take shelter in Rama.

वृद्धश्चैवाल्पपुत्रश्च वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन्। सोऽपि शोकसमाविष्टो ननु त्यक्ष्यति जीवितम्।।2.66.11।।

vṛddhaścaivālpaputraśca vaidehīmanucintayan| so'pi śokasamāviṣṭo nanu tyakṣyati jīvitam

Old and sonless Janaka, constantly thinking of Sita and overpowered with grief will surely give up his life.

साऽहमद्यैव दिष्टान्तं गमिष्यामि पतिव्रता। इदं शरीर मालिङ्ग्य प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्।।2.66.12।।

sā'hamadyaiva diṣṭāntaṃ gamiṣyāmi pativratā| idaṃ śarīra māliṅgya pravekṣyāmi hutāśanam

As his faithful wife, I shall enter the fire by clasping this (Dasaratha's) body and go to death today itself

तां ततस्सम्परिष्वज्य विलपन्तीं तपस्विनीम्। व्यपनीय सुदुःखार्तां कौसल्यां व्यावहारिकाः।।2.66.13।।

tāṃ tatassampariṣvajya vilapantīṃ tapasvinīm| vyapanīya suduḥkhārtāṃ kausalyāṃ vyāvahārikāḥ

The servants led away that unfortunate Kausalya who was lamenting in great anguish embracing the body of Dasaratha.

तैलद्रोण्यामथामात्या सम्वेश्य जगतीपतिम्। राज्ञस्सर्वाण्यथादिष्टाश्चक्रुः कर्माण्यनन्तरम्।।2.66.14।।

tailadroṇyāmathāmātyā samveśya jagatīpatim| rājñassarvāṇyathādiṣṭāścakruḥ karmāṇyanantaram

The counsellors, instructed (by Vasistha and others), placed the king's body in an oil tub with the understanding that the funeral rites were to be performed hereafter.

न तु सङ्कलनं राज्ञो विना पुत्रेण मन्त्रिणः। सर्वज्ञाः कर्तुमीषुस्ते ततो रक्षन्ति भूमिपम्।।2.66.15।।

na tu saṅkalanaṃ rājño vinā putreṇa mantriṇaḥ| sarvajñāḥ kartumīṣuste tato rakṣanti bhūmipam

The counsellors who were acquainted with all such matters (relating to the king's funeral) were unwilling to perform the obsequies in the absence of any of the king's sons. Meanwhile, they kept watch over the deadbody of the king.

तैलद्रोण्यां तु सचिवैश्शायितं तं नराधिपम्। हा मृतोऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा स्त्रियस्ताः पर्यदेवयन्।।2.66.16।।

tailadroṇyāṃ tu sacivaiśśāyitaṃ taṃ narādhipam| hā mṛto'yamiti jñātvā striyastāḥ paryadevayan

On seeing the king's body laid in the oil vat by the counsellors, the women cried Alas, the king is dead.

बाहूनुद्यम्य कृपणाः नेत्रप्रस्रवणैर्मुखैः। रुदन्त्य श्शोकसन्तप्ताः कृपणं पर्यदेवयन्।।2.66.17।।

bāhūnudyamya kṛpaṇāḥ netraprasravaṇairmukhaiḥ| rudantya śśokasantaptāḥ kṛpaṇaṃ paryadevayan

With tears flowing down their faces, piteously raising their arms, groaning in their burning grief, the women lamented helplessly.

हा महाराज रामेण सततं प्रियवादिना। विहीनास्सत्यसन्धेन किमर्थं विजहासि नः।।2.66.18।।

hā mahārāja rāmeṇa satataṃ priyavādinā| vihīnāssatyasandhena kimarthaṃ vijahāsi naḥ

When we were already deprived of Rama who was always pleasing and truthful, alas, o great king, why did you leave us?

कैकेय्या दुष्टभावायाः राघवेण वियोजिताः। कथं पतिघ्नया वत्स्याम स्समीपे विधवा वयम्।।2.66.19।।

kaikeyyā duṣṭabhāvāyāḥ rāghaveṇa viyojitāḥ| kathaṃ patighnayā vatsyāma ssamīpe vidhavā vayam

A woman of evil intentions, Kaikeyi, at first separated us from Rama. Now she deprived us of our husband. How can we live with one who is a slayer of her husband?

स हि नाथस्सदास्माकं तव च प्रभुरात्मवान्। वनं रामो गतश्श्रीमान्विहाय नृपतिश्रियम्।।2.66.20।।

sa hi nāthassadāsmākaṃ tava ca prabhurātmavān| vanaṃ rāmo gataśśrīmānvihāya nṛpatiśriyam

Rama, who was always our and your selfpossessed master and protector has gone to the forest, indeed, abandoning royal wealth.

त्वया तेन च वीरेण विना व्यसनमोहिताः। कथं वयं निवत्स्यामः कैकेय्या च विदूषिताः।।2.66.21।।

tvayā tena ca vīreṇa vinā vyasanamohitāḥ| kathaṃ vayaṃ nivatsyāmaḥ kaikeyyā ca vidūṣitāḥ

Without you and without the heroic Rama, how can we live overwhelmed with grief and enduring the abuses of Kaikeyi?

यया तु राजा रामश्च लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। सीतया सह सन्त्यक्ता स्साकमन्यं न हास्यति।।2.66.22।।

yayā tu rājā rāmaśca lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ| sītayā saha santyaktā ssākamanyaṃ na hāsyati

Why will not Kaikeyi who has abandoned the king, valiant Rama and Lakshmana along with Sita cast aside others?

ता बाष्पेण च संवीताश्शोकेन विपुलेन च। व्यवेष्टन्त निरानन्दा राघवस्य वरस्त्रियः।।2.66.23।।

tā bāṣpeṇa ca saṃvītāśśokena vipulena ca| vyaveṣṭanta nirānandā rāghavasya varastriyaḥ

The excellent wives of Dasaratha, overwhelmed with profound grief and tears, are lying unconcious on the floor.

निशा चन्द्रविहीनेव स्त्रीव भर्तृविवर्जिता। पुरी नाराजतायोध्या हीना राज्ञा महात्मना।।2.66.24।।

niśā candravihīneva strīva bhartṛvivarjitā| purī nārājatāyodhyā hīnā rājñā mahātmanā

Like night without the Moon, like a woman forsaken by her husband, this city of Ayodhya without that magnanimous king has lost its earlier splendour.

बाष्पपर्याकुलजना हाहाभूतकुलाङ्गना। शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्ता न बभ्राज यथापुरम्।।2.66.25।।

bāṣpaparyākulajanā hāhābhūtakulāṅganā| śūnyacatvaraveśmāntā na babhrāja yathāpuram

With the people of Ayodhya shedding tears, the housewives crying, in anguish, 'alas alas' the courtyards houses and squares of the roads deserted, the city has lost its earlier brilliance.

गते तु शोकात् त्रिदिवं नराधिपे महीतलस्थासु नृपाङ्गनासु च। निवृत्तचारस्सहसा गतो रविः प्रवृत्तचारा रजनी ह्युपस्थिता।।2.66.26।।

gate tu śokāt tridivaṃ narādhipe mahītalasthāsu nṛpāṅganāsu ca| nivṛttacārassahasā gato raviḥ pravṛttacārā rajanī hyupasthitā

When king Dasaratha ascended to heaven due to grief over his son and when his wives were lying on the ground, the Sun ceased his journey and the night favourable to creatures of darkness suddenly set in.

ऋते तु पुत्राद्धहनं महीपतेर्नरोचयन्ते सुहृदस्समागताः। इतीव तस्मिन् शयने न्यवेशयन् वनिचिन्त्य राजानमचिन्त्य दर्शनम्।।2.66.27।।

ṛte tu putrāddhahanaṃ mahīpaternarocayante suhṛdassamāgatāḥ| itīva tasmin śayane nyaveśayan vanicintya rājānamacintya darśanam

The wellwishers who asembled, unwilling to ignite the funeral pyre of the king in the absence of any one of his sons laid the king's deadbody in that oil trough in an unexpected manner.

गतप्रभा द्यौरिव भास्करं विना व्यपेतनक्षत्रगणेव शर्वरी। पुरी बभासे रहिता महात्मना न चास्रकण्ठाऽकुलमार्गचत्वरा।।2.66.28।।

gataprabhā dyauriva bhāskaraṃ vinā vyapetanakṣatragaṇeva śarvarī| purī babhāse rahitā mahātmanā na cāsrakaṇṭhā'kulamārgacatvarā

The city, bereft of illustrious Dasaratha was filled with people sobbing in the courtyards in front of their houses and in the squares in between. That city of Ayodhya bereft of brightness, appeared like the day without the Sun and the night without constellations of stars.

नराश्च नार्यश्च समेत्य सङ्घशः विगर्हमाणा भरतस्य मातरम्। तदा नगर्यां नरदेवसङ्क्षये बभूवुरार्ता न च शर्म लेभिरे।।2.66.29।।

narāśca nāryaśca sametya saṅghaśaḥ vigarhamāṇā bharatasya mātaram| tadā nagaryāṃ naradevasaṅkṣaye babhūvurārtā na ca śarma lebhire

After the demise of the king, men and women in the city assembled in groups and denounced the mother of Bharata. Extremely distressed, they had no peace of mind. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्षष्टितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the sixtysixth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.