Sarga 59

इति ब्रुवन्तं तं सूतं सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्। ब्रूहि शेषं पुनरिति राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.59.1।।

Listening to the charioteer, the best of ministers (Sumantra), the king asked him to tell the rest. ...

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुमन्त्रो बाष्पविक्लबः। कथयामास भूयोऽपि रामसन्देशविस्तरम्।।2.59.2।।

Having heard him, Sumantra, overcome with tears, related further details of Rama's message.

जटाः कृत्वा महाराज चीरवल्कलधारिणौ। गङ्गामुत्तीर्य तौ वीरौ प्रयागाभिमुखौ गतौ।।2.59.3।।

O King the heroes in bark robes and with matted hair crossed the Ganga and proceeded towards Prayaga...

अग्रतो लक्ष्मणो यातः पालयन्रघुनन्दनम्। तांस्तथा गच्छतो दृष्ट्वा निवृत्तोऽस्म्यवशस्तदा।।2.59.4।।

Lakshmana walked ahead guarding Rama, the delight of the Raghus. While I returned helplessly seeing ...

ममत्वश्वा निवृत्तस्य न प्रावर्तन्त वर्त्मनि। उष्णमश्रु प्रमुञ्चन्तो रामे सम्प्रस्थिते वनम्।।2.59.5।।

When Rama set out for the forest, and I turned back, my horses shedding hot tears were reluctant to ...

उभाभ्यां राजपुत्राभ्यामथ कृत्वाहमञ्जलिम्। प्रस्थितो रथमास्थाय तद्दुःखमपि धारयन्।।2.59.6।।

Thereafter, controlling my grief and paying obeisance to both the princes with folded palms, I ascen...

गुहेन सार्धं तत्रैव स्थितोऽस्मि दिवसान्बहून्। आशया यदि मां रामः पुन श्शब्दापयेदिति।।2.59.7।।

There along with Guha I waited for (three) days that Rama might call me back.

विषये ते महाराज रामव्यसनकर्शिताः। अपि वृक्षाः परिम्लानास्सपुष्पाङ्कुरकोरकाः।।2.59.8।।

O great king even trees with their flowers, buds and shoots throughout your empire have withered bec...

उपतप्तोदका नद्यः पल्वलानि सरांसि च। परिशुष्कपलाशानि वनान्युपवनानि च।।2.59.9।।

Water in rivers, ponds and lakes has heated up while all the foliage in the forests and gardens have...

न च सर्पन्ति सत्त्वानि व्यासा न प्रचरन्ति च। रामशोकाभिभूतं तन्निष्कूजमभवद्वनम्।।2.59.10।।

No living being move about and even wild animals roam no more. Overwhelmed with grief on account of ...

लीनपुष्करपत्राश्च नरेन्द्र कलुषोदकाः। सन्तप्तपद्माः पद्मिन्यो लीनमीनविहङ्गमाः।।2.59.11।।

The water in the lotus lakes, O king, has become turbid. The blue lotuses have withered and their sh...

जलजानि च पुष्पाणि माल्यानि स्थलजानि च। नाद्य भान्त्यल्पगन्धीनि फलानि च यथापुरम्।।2.59.12।।

Bunches of flowers grown in water and on land, as well as fruits with their scant fragrance do not s...

अत्रोद्यानानि शून्यानि प्रलीनविहगनि च। न चाभिरामा नारामान्पश्यामि मनुजर्षभ।।2.59.13।।

Pleasuregardens are all deserted as the birds have vanished. O best of men, as such they do not look...

प्रविशन्तमयोध्यां मां न कश्चिदभिनन्दति। नरा राममपश्यन्तो निश्श्वसन्ति मुहुर्मुहुः।।2.59.14।।

None greeted me when I entered Ayodhya, People heaved sighs repeatedly when they did not see Rama.

देव राजरथं दृष्ट्वा विना राममिहागतम्। दुःखादश्रुमुखस्सर्वो राजमार्गगतो जनः।।2.59.15।।

Beholding the royal chariot arrive without Rama, all were on the highway shedding tears of anguish.

हर्म्यैर्विमानैः प्रासादैरवेक्ष्यरथमागतम्। हाहाकारकृतानार्यो रामादर्शनकर्शिताः।।2.59.16।।

When the women from mansions, sevenstoried buildings and from royal palaces saw the chariot without ...

आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः। अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः।।2.59.17।।

The women, with their large, bright eyes flooded with gushing tears looked in silence at one another...

नामित्राणां न मित्राणामुदासीनजनस्य च। अहमार्ततया किञ्चिद्विशेषमुपलक्षये।।2.59.18।।

I did not see any difference in the degree of anguish among friends, those who are not friends and a...

अप्रहृष्टमनुष्या च दीननागतुरङ्गमा। आर्तस्वरपरिम्लाना विनिश्श्वसितनिस्स्वना।।2.59.19।। निरानन्दा महार...

O maharaja, Ayodhya is filled with cheerless people with deep sighs, agonised voices and pale faces ...

अप्रहृष्टमनुष्या च दीननागतुरङ्गमा। आर्तस्वरपरिम्लाना विनिश्श्वसितनिस्स्वना।।2.59.19।। निरानन्दा महार...

O maharaja, Ayodhya is filled with cheerless people with deep sighs, agonised voices and pale faces ...

सूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वाचा परमदीनया। बाष्पोपहतया राजा तं सूतमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.59.21।।

At these words of the charioteer, the king in deep distress replied with a voice choked with tears:

कैकेय्या विनियुक्तेन पापाभिजनभावया। मया न मन्त्रकुशलैर्वृद्धैस्सह समर्थितम्।।2.59.22।।

Incited by Kaikeyi of sinful relations and sinful motive, I did not consult expert, elderly counsell...

न सुहृद्भिर्नचामात्यैर्मन्त्रयित्वा न नैगमैः। मयायमर्थस्सम्मोहात् स्त्रीहेतो स्सहसा कृतः।।2.59.23।।

For the sake of a woman, this act was committed in great haste, without consulting friends or minist...

भवितव्यतया नूनमिदं वा व्यसनं महत्। कुलस्यास्य विनाशाय प्राप्तं सूत यदृच्छया।।2.59.24।।

Surely it is destiny and this calamity has befallen for the wilful destruction of the (entire) race,...

सूत यद्यस्ति ते किञ्चिन्मया तु सुकृतं कृतम्। त्वं प्रापयाऽऽशु मां रामं प्राणास्सन्त्वरयन्तिमाम्।।2.5...

O Charioteer, if ever I have rendered you any favour, quickly take me to Rama. My life is hastening...

यद्यद्यापि ममैवाज्ञा निवर्तयतु राघवम्। न शक्ष्यामि विना रामं मुहूर्तमपि जीवितुम्।।2.59.26।।

If my command prevails today, Rama may be brought back. Without Rama I cannot live for a moment even...

अथवाऽपि महाबाहुर्गतो दूरं भविष्यति। मामेव रथमारोप्य शीघ्रं रामाय दर्शय।।2.58.27।।

Otherwise if (you think) the mightyarmed (Rama) has gone too far then quickly put me in the chariot,...

वृत्तदंष्ट्रो महेष्वासः क्वासौ लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। यदि जीवामि साध्वेनं पश्येयं सीतया सह।।2.59.28।।

Where is that Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana who has wellshaped teeth and wields a mighty bow? If ...

लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुमामुक्तमणिकुण्डलम्। रामं यदि न पश्येयं गमिष्यामि यमक्षयम्।।2.59.29।।

If I cannot see Rama of redcoloured eyes, the mightyarmed one and wearing earrings bedecked with pre...

अतो नु किं दुःखतरं सोऽहमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्। इमामवस्थामापन्नो नेह पश्यामि राघवम्।।2.59.30।।

What else can be of greater sorrow to me who having reached this state, am still unable to see Rama?

हा राम रामानुज हा हा वैदेहि तपस्विनि। न मां जानीत दुःखेन म्रियमाणतमनाथवत्।।2.59.31।।

Ah Rama, Ah Lakshmana, Ah unfortunate Vaidehi, you do not know that I am dying like an orphan becau...

स तेन राजा दुःखेन भृशमर्पितचेतनः। अवगाढस्सुदुष्पारं शोकसागरमब्रवीत्।।2.59.32।।

The king whose mind was extremely enfeebled due to grief and who was immersed in a sea of tears whic...

रामशोकमहाभोगस्सीताविरहपारगः। श्वसितोर्मि महावर्तो बाष्पफेनजालाविलः।।2.59.33।। बाहुविक्षेपमीनौघो विक्...

O queen Kausalya, I am completely immersed in this ocean of sorrow. The misfortune due to Rama's sep...

रामशोकमहाभोगस्सीताविरहपारगः। श्वसितोर्मि महावर्तो बाष्पफेनजालाविलः।।2.59.33।। बाहुविक्षेपमीनौघो विक्...

O queen Kausalya, I am completely immersed in this ocean of sorrow. The misfortune due to Rama's sep...

रामशोकमहाभोगस्सीताविरहपारगः। श्वसितोर्मि महावर्तो बाष्पफेनजालाविलः।।2.59.33।। बाहुविक्षेपमीनौघो विक्...

O queen Kausalya, I am completely immersed in this ocean of sorrow. The misfortune due to Rama's sep...

रामशोकमहाभोगस्सीताविरहपारगः। श्वसितोर्मि महावर्तो बाष्पफेनजालाविलः।।2.59.33।। बाहुविक्षेपमीनौघो विक्...

O queen Kausalya, I am completely immersed in this ocean of sorrow. The misfortune due to Rama's sep...

अशोभनं योऽहमिहाद्य राघवं दिदृक्षमाणो न लभे सलक्ष्मणम्। इतीव राजा विलपन्महायशाः पपात तूर्णं शयने समूर...

Though I wish I cannot see Rama together with Lakshmana. Indeed this is very unfortunate. Lamenting ...

इति विलपति पार्थिवे प्रणष्टे करुणतरं द्विगुणं च रामहेतोः। वचनमनुनिशम्य तस्य देवी भयमगमत्पुनरेव राममा...

Wailing, Dasaratha fell unconscious. He was doubly grieved due to his yearning for Rama. Rama's moth...