Sarga 64

वधमप्रतिरूपं तु महर्षेस्तस्य राघवः। विलपन्नेव धर्मात्मा कौसल्यां पुनरब्रवीत्।।2.64.1।।

Grieving for having unfairly killed the great sage the rightenous descendant of the Raghus (Dasarath...

तदज्ञानान्महत्पापं कृत्वाहं सङ्कुलेन्द्रियः। एकस्त्वचिन्तयं बुध्या कथं नु सुकृतं भवेत्।।2.64.2।।

Having committed the sin unwittingly, I was greatly agitated. I reflected in my mind as to how to at...

ततस्तं घटमादाय पूर्णं परमवारिणा। आश्रमं तमहं प्राप्य यथाऽख्यातपथं गतः।।2.64.3।।

Holding the pot filled with clean water I reached the hermitage following the path as directed.

तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ। अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ।।2.64.4।। तन्निमित्ताभिरा...

There I found his weak, blind, old parents. With no supporter, they looked like birds with clipped w...

तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ। अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ।।2.64.4।। तन्निमित्ताभिरा...

There I found his weak, blind, old parents. With no supporter, they looked like birds with clipped w...

शोकोपहतचित्तश्च भयसन्त्रस्तचेतनः। तच्चाऽश्रमपदं गत्वा भूयश्शोकमहं गतः।।2.64.6।।

Smitten with grief and my heart throbbing with fear I reached the hermitage and my sorrow became man...

पदशब्दं तु मे श्रुत्वा मुनिर्वाक्यमभाषत। किं चिरायसि मे पुत्र पानीयं क्षिप्रमानय।।2.64.7।।

Hearing the sound of my footsteps, the sage said 'O son why have you delayed? Bring me some water qu...

यन्निमित्तमिदं तात सलिले क्रीडितं त्वया। उत्कण्ठिता ते मातेयं प्रविश क्षिप्रमाश्रमम्।।2.64.8।।

'O Dear child, whatever be the reason, you have been sporting in the water so long, come at once to ...

यद्व्यलीकं कृतं पुत्र मात्रा ते यदि वा मया। न तन्मनसि कर्तव्यं त्वया तात तपस्विना।।2.64.9।।

'O Child, O Son if your mother or I have done anything disagreeable, do not take it to heart, for yo...

त्वं गतिस्त्वगतीनां चक्षुस्त्वं हीनचक्षुषाम्। समासक्तास्त्वयि प्राणाः किं त्वं नो नाभिभाषसे।।2.64.10...

'You are a support to the supportless, eyes to the blind, you are our very vital life. Why don't you...

मुनिमव्यक्तया वाचा तमहं सज्जमानया। हीनव्यञ्जनया प्रेक्ष्य भीतचित्त इवाब्रुवम्।।2.64.11।।

As I saw him, my heart was filled with terror and I stammered as I spoke in garbled sentences.

मनसः कर्म चेष्टाभिरभिसंस्तभ्य वाग्बलम्। आचचक्षे त्वहं तस्मै पुत्रव्यसनजं भयम्।।2.64.12।।

After a lot of effort, with great fear controlling my thoughts and the power of speech, I related to...

क्षत्रियोऽहं दशरथो नाहं पुत्रो महात्मनः। सज्जनावमतं दुःखमिदं प्राप्तं स्वकर्मजम्।।2.64.13।।

O magnanimous sage I am a kshatriya known as Dasaratha. I am not your son. A pathetic incident has b...

भगवंश्चापहस्तोऽहं सरयूतीरमागतः। जिघांसुश्श्वापदं कञ्चिन्निपाने चाऽगतं गजम्।।2.64.14।।

Wishing to hunt a wild elephant coming down to the water hole for drinking, I went to the bank of S...

ततश्श्रुतो मया शब्दो जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः। द्विपोऽयमिति मत्वाऽयं बाणेनाभिहतो मया।।2.64.15।।

There I heard the sound of a pot being filled with water and mistaking it to be an elephant's, shot ...

गत्वा नद्यास्तत स्तीरमपश्यमिषुणा हृदि। विनिर्भिन्नं गतप्राणं शयानं भुवि तापसम्।।2.64.16।।

Thereafter I reached the river bank and beheld an ascetic with an arrow pierced in his chest. He wa...

भगवच्छशब्दमालक्ष्य मया गजजिघांसुना। विसृप्टोऽम्भसि नाराचस्तेन ते निहतस्सुतः।।2.64.17।।

O venerable one I released an arrow towards the water aiming at the sound intending to kill an eleph...

ततस्तस्यैव वचनादुपेत्य परितप्यतः। स मया सहसा बाण उधृतो मर्मतस्तदा।।2.64.18।।

Then I approached him. He was suffering from excruciating pain. I pulled out at his word the arrow f...

स चोधृतेन बाणेन तत्रैव स्वर्गमास्थितः। भवन्तौ पितरौ शोचन्नन्धाविति विलप्य च।।2.64.19।।

Grieving for both of you and crying you are blind he died as soon as the arrow was pulled out.

अज्ञानाद्भवतः पुत्र स्सहसाऽभिहतो मया। शेषमेवं गते यत्स्यात्तत्प्रसीदतु मे मुनिः।।2.64.20।।

Your son has been killed by me due to my ignorance. Since this has happened, may the ascetic be ple...

स तच्च्रुत्वा वचः क्रूरं मयोक्तमघशंसिना। नाशकत्तीव्रमायासमकर्तुं भगवानृषिः।।2.64.21।।

The venerable sage heard my cruel words about the sinful act and was not able to seriously react. (H...

स बाष्पपूर्णवदनो निश्श्वसन्शोककर्शितः। मामुवाच महातेजाः कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम्।।2.64.22।।

The griefstricken, glorious ascetic with his face filled with tears, heaving deep sighs broke down ...

यद्येतदशुभं कर्म न त्वं मे कथयेस्स्वयम्। फलेन्मूर्धा स्म ते राजन् सद्य श्शतसहस्रधा।।2.64.23।।

'O king, hadn't you yourself broken this inauspicious news, your head would have split into a hundre...

क्षत्रियेण वधो राजन् वानप्रस्थे विशेषतः। ज्ञानपूर्वं कृत स्स्थानाच्च्यावयेदपि वज्रिणम्।।2.64.24।।

'If a kshatriya kills any one knowingly, particularly when in vanaprastha (third stage) this sin can...

सप्तधा तु फलेन्मूर्धा मुनौ तपसि तिष्ठति। ज्ञानाद्विसृजतश्शस्त्रं तादृशे ब्रह्मावादिनि।।2.64.25।।

'If any one deliberately discharges a weapon upon an ascetic observing austerities or on him who exp...

अज्ञानाद्धिकृतं यस्मादिदं तेनैव जवसि। अपि ह्यद्य कुलं न स्यादिक्ष्वाकूणां कुतो भवान्।।2.64.26।।

'Since you have done this unwittingly you are still alive. If it had been otherwise, your Ikshvaku r...

नय नौ नृप तं देशमिति मां चाभ्यभाषत। अद्य तं द्रष्टुमिच्छावः पुत्रं पश्चिमदर्शनम्।।2.64.27।। रुधिरेणा...

'O king take us to that place. We wish to have the last look at him, at his garment of antelope ski...

नय नौ नृप तं देशमिति मां चाभ्यभाषत। अद्य तं द्रष्टुमिच्छावः पुत्रं पश्चिमदर्शनम्।।2.64.27।। रुधिरेणा...

'O king take us to that place. We wish to have the last look at him, at his garment of antelope ski...

अथाहमेकस्तं देशं नीत्वा तौ भृशदुःखितौ। अस्पर्शयमहं पुत्रं तं मुनिं सह भार्यया।।2.64.29।।

Thereupon, I took both of them all by myself to that spot and made the grieving ascetics touch the b...

तौ पुत्रमात्मन स्स्पृष्ट्वा तमासाद्य तपस्विनौ। निपेततुश्शरीरेऽस्य पिता चास्येदमब्रवीत्।।62.64.30।।

Both the ascetics stroking their son's body and collapsed upon it. And the father said:

नाभिवादयसे माद्य न च माऽमभिभाषसे। किं नु शेषे तु भूमौ त्वं वत्स किं कुपितो ह्यसि।।2.64.31।।

'O child why are you not greeting us today nor speaking? Why are you lying on the ground? Are you an...

न त्वहं ते प्रियं पुत्र मातरं पश्य धार्मिक। किं नु नालिङ्गसे पुत्र सुकुमार वचो वद।।2.64.32।।

'O righteous son if I am no longer dear to you, (at least) look at your mother. O tender child, why ...

कस्य वाऽपररात्रेऽहं श्रोष्यामि हृदयङ्गमम्। अधीयानस्य मधुरं शास्त्रं वान्यद्विशेषतः।।2.64.33।।

'From whom shall I hear the sweet recitation of scriptures or other texts, delightful to my heart in...

को मां सन्द्यामुपास्यैव स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनः। श्लाघयिष्यत्युपासीनः पुत्र शोकभयार्दितम्।।2.64.34।।

'O son I am tortured with sorrow and fear. Who will serve me from now on after the ablution and the ...

कन्दमूलफलं हृत्वा को मां प्रियमिवातिथिम्। भोजयिष्यत्यकर्मण्यमप्रग्रहमनायकम्।।2.64.35।।

'I am incapable of doing any work, I am unable to procure anything (to meet my needs. now). I have n...

इमामन्धां च वृद्धां च मातरं ते तपस्विनीम्। कथं वत्स भरिष्यामि कृपणां पुत्रगर्धिनीम्।।2.64.36।।

'O son how can I support your wretched and pitiable mother, who is blind, old and yearning for her s...

तिष्ठ मां मागमः पुत्र यमस्य सदनं प्रति। श्वो मया सह गन्तासि जनन्या च समेधितः।।2.64.37।।

'My dear son, stay with me, do not go (now) to the abode of Yama, (lord of death). Tomorrow accompan...

उभावपि च शोकार्तावनाथौ कृपणौ वने। क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यावस्त्वया हीनौ यमक्षयम्।।2.4.38।।

'Deserted by you and without any support in the forest, afflicted with grief and feeling miserable, ...

ततो वैवस्वतं दृष्ट्वा तं प्रवक्ष्यामि भारतीम्। क्षमतां धर्मराजो मे बिभृयात्पितरावयम्।।2.64.39।।

'There seeing Yama, (lord of death), I shall say O Lord of Justice forgive me. Let this boy continue...

दातुमर्हति धर्मात्मा लोकपालो महायशाः। ईदृशस्य ममाक्षय्या मेकामभयदक्षिणाम्।।2.64.40।।

'That lord of justice, who is highly renowned, righteous and the guardian of the worlds will grant m...

अपापोऽसि यदा पुत्र निहतः पापकर्मणा। तेन सत्येन गच्छाऽऽशु ये लोकाश्शस्त्रयोधिनाम्।।2.64.41।।

'O sinless son, you are killed by a person of sinful deeds. On this truth, quickly go to those world...

यान्ति शूरा गतिं यां च सङ्ग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः। हतास्त्वभिमुखाः पुत्र गतिं तां परमां व्रज।।2.64.42।।

यां गतिं सगरश्शैब्यो दिलीपो जनमेजयः। नहुषो दुन्दुमारश्च प्राप्तास्तां गच्छ पुत्रक।।2.64.43।।

'You will attain, my son, the same supreme state achieved by Sagara, Saibya, Dilipa, Janamejaya, Nah...

या गति स्सर्वसाधूनां स्वाध्यायात्तपसाच या। या भूमिदस्याहिऽताग्नेरेकपत्नी व्रतस्य च।।2.64.44।। गोसहस्...

'You, my son, shall attain that supreme state obtained by those who are virtuous, who study the Veda...

या गति स्सर्वसाधूनां स्वाध्यायात्तपसाच या। या भूमिदस्याहिऽताग्नेरेकपत्नी व्रतस्य च।।2.64.44।। गोसहस्...

'You, my son, shall attain that supreme state obtained by those who are virtuous, who study the Veda...

न हि त्वस्मिन्कुले जातो गच्छत्यकुशलां गतिम्। स तु यास्यति येन त्वं निहतो मम बान्धवः।।2.64.46।।

'He who has killed you will alone attain that undesirable state, a member of our family will not.'

एवं स कृपणं तत्र पर्यदेवयतासकृत्। ततोऽस्मै कर्तुमुदकं प्रवृत्तस्सहभार्यया।।2.64.47।।

In this way the ascetic piteously wailed again and again. Thereafter, he with his wife set about to ...

स तु दिव्येन रूपेण मुनिपुत्रस्स्वकर्मभिः। स्वर्गमध्यारुहत्क्षिप्रं शक्रेण सह धर्मवित्।।2.64.48।।

The virtuous son of that ascetic assumed a celestial form through the merit of his good deeds and as...

आबभाषे च वृद्धौ तौ सह शक्रेण तापसः। आश्वास्यच मुहूर्तं तु पितरौ वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.64.49।।

The ascetic in the company of Indra consoling the aged couple for a brief moment said:

स्थानमस्मि महत्प्राप्तो भवतोः परिचारणात्। भवन्तावपि च क्षिप्रं मम मूलमुपैष्यतः।।2.64.50।।

'I have attained this supreme state by virtue of the service rendered to you. You will also attain m...

एवमुक्त्वा तु दिव्येन विमानेन वपुष्मता। आरुरोह दिवं क्षिप्रं मुनिपुत्रो जितेन्द्रियः।।2.64.51।।

The sage's son with his senses under control said this while ascending heaven on a beautiful, celest...

स कृत्वा तूदकं तूर्णं तापस स्सह भार्यया। मामुवाच महातेजाः कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम्।।2.64.52।।

The radiant ascetic along with his wife hurriedly completed the funeral libations and said to me sta...

अद्यैव जहिं मां राजन्मरणे नास्ति मे व्यथा। यच्छरेणैकपुत्रं मां त्वमकर्षीरपुत्रकम्।।2.64.53।।

'Kill me, O king with the same arrow by which you rendered me childless. Death holds no pain for me.

त्वया तु यदविज्ञानान्निहतो मे सुतश्शुचिः। तेन त्वामभिशप्स्यामि सुदुःखमतिदारुणम्।।2.64.54।।

'Though you have killed my purehearted son unintentionally, I will pronounce a disastrous and dreadf...

पुत्रव्यसनजं दुःखं यदेतन्मम साम्प्रतम्। एवं त्वं पुत्रशोकेन राजन्कालं करिष्यसि।।2.64.55।।

'Just as I am now suffering from grief caused by my son's death, you, O king, shall die from the sor...

अज्ञानात्तु हतो यस्मात्क्षत्रियेण त्वया मुनिः। तस्मात्त्वां नाविशत्याशु ब्रह्महत्या नराधिप।।2.64.56।...

'Since you, O lord of men, you have killed an ascetic unaware, as kshatriya the sin of slaying a bra...

त्वामप्येतादृशो भावः क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यति। जीवितान्तकरो घोरो दातारमिव दक्षिणा।।2.64.57।।

'Just like the merits of alms come to the giver, you are going to face very soon a dreadful situatio...

एवं शापं मयि न्यस्य विलप्य करुणं बहु। चितामारोप्य देहं तन्मिथुनं स्वर्गमभ्ययात्।।2.64.58।।

Having thus cursed me, the couple piteously lamenting for a long time, laid themselves down on the f...

तदेतच्छिन्तयानेन स्मृतं पापं मया स्वयम्। तदा बाल्यात्कृतं देवि शब्दवेध्यनुशिक्षिणा।।2.64.59।।

While reflecting about it now, O Devi (Kausalya) I recollect this sin committed by me unintentionall...

तस्यायं कर्मणो देवि विपाकस्समुपस्थितः। अपथ्यैस्सहम्भुक्ते व्याधिरन्नरसे यथा।।2.64.60।।

Just as a man eating forbidden food and drink falls sick, so have I fallen prey to grief, because of...

तस्मान्मामागतं भद्रे तस्योदारस्य तद्वचः। यदहं पुत्रशोकेन सन्त्यक्ष्याम्यद्य जीवितम्।।2.64.61।।

O gentle lady, the words of that noble ascetic have come true today. Hence I am now going to give up...

चक्षुभ्यां त्वां न पश्यामि कौसल्ये साधु मां स्फृश। इत्युक्त्वा स रुदंस्त्रस्तो भार्यामाह च भूमिपः।।2...

O Kausalya, I cannot see you with my eyes. Touch me gently, said the frightened Dasaratha, Lord of t...

एतन्मे सदृशं देवि यन्मया राघवे कृतम्। सदृशं तत्तु तस्यैव यदनेन कृतं मयि।।2.64.63।।

Whatever I have done to the scion of the Raghu family (Rama) is befitting me, O Devi. And whatever h...

दुर्वृत्तमपि कः पुत्रं त्यजेद्भुवि विचक्षणः। कश्च प्रव्राज्यमानो वा नासूयेत्पितरं सुतः।।2.64.64।।

Which clearsighted man in this world, will abandon his son even if he is of evil conduct? Which son ...

यदि मां संस्पृशेद्रामस्सकृदद्य लभेत वा। यमक्षयमनुप्राप्ता द्रक्ष्यन्ति न हि मानवाः।।2.64.65।।

Before I die, will Rama touch me once or will he come to me? After reaching the abode of Yama men ca...

चक्षुषा त्वां न पश्यामि स्मृतिर्मम विलुप्यते। दूता वैवस्वतस्यैते कौसल्ये त्वरयन्ति माम्।।2.64.66।।

O Kausalya, I am unable to see you. My memory is failing and the messengers of Yama are hastening me...

अतस्तु किं दुःखतरं यदहं जीवितक्षये। न हि पश्यामि धर्मज्ञं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।2.64.67।।

Can there be a greater sorrow than that at the last moment of my life I am unable to see my righteou...

तस्यादर्शनजश्शोकस्सुतस्याप्रतिकर्मणः। उच्छोषयति मे प्राणान्वारिस्तोकमिवातपः।।2.64.68।।

My grief in the absence of Rama of peerless deeds is drying up my life as heat dries up small pools ...

न ते मनुष्या देवास्ते ये चारुशुभकुण्डलम्। मुखं द्रक्ष्यन्ति रामस्य वर्षे पञ्चदशे पुनः।।2.64.69।।

Those who will behold Rama's countenance adorned with auspicious earrings on his return in the fifte...

पद्मपत्रेक्षणं सुभ्रु सुदंष्ट्रं चारुनासिकम्। धन्या द्रक्ष्यन्ति रामस्य ताराधिपनिभं मुखम्।।2.64.70।।

Blessed are they who will behold Rama's countenance resembling the Moon, lord of the stars with eyes...

सदृशं शारदस्येन्दोः पुल्लस्य कमलस्य च। सुगन्धि मम नाथस्य धन्या द्रक्ष्यन्ति तन्मुखम्।।2.64.71।।

Fortunate indeed are the men who will behold my son's fragrant countenance camparable to the autmnal...

निवृत्तवनवासं तमयोध्यां पुनरागतम्। द्रक्ष्यन्ति सुखिनो रामं शुक्रं मार्गगतं यथा।।2.64.72।।

Lucky men will behold Rama return to Ayodhya after the completion of his exile, like the planet Venu...

कौसल्ये चित्तमोहेन हृदयं सीदतीव मे। वेदये न च संयुक्तान् शब्दस्पर्शरसानहम्।।2.64.73।।

O Kausalya, my heart, it appears is sinking and on account of delusion I am not able to feel the sen...

चित्तनाशाद्विपद्यन्ते सर्वाण्येन्द्रियाणि मे। क्षीणस्नेहस्य दीपस्य संसक्ता रश्मयो यथा।।2.64.74।।

With the loss of my mental faculty, all the sense organs are giving way, like the rays of the lamp g...

अयमात्मभवश्शोको मामनाथमचेतनम्। संसादयति वेगेन यथा कूलं नदीरयः।।2.64.75।।

This selfcreated grief is rapidly destroying me like the bank of a river eroded by its swift current...

हा राघव महाबाहो हा ममाऽयासनाशन। हा पितृप्रिय मे नाथ हाऽद्य क्वासि गतस्सुत।।2.64.76।।

Ah, mightyarmed Rama, destroyer of my agonies, Ah, the delight of your father, Ah, my protector, Ah,...

हा कौसल्ये नशिष्यामि हा सुमित्रे तपस्विनि। हा नृशंसे ममामित्रे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि।।2.64.77।।

Ah, Kausalya, Ah, pitiable Sumitra, Ah, cruel Kaikeyi, my enemy and defiler of my race, I am going t...

इति रामस्य मातुश्च सुमित्रायाश्च सन्निधौ। राजा दशरथ श्शोचञ्जीवितान्तमुपागमत्।।2.64.78।।

King Dasaratha, thus crying in distress in the presence of Rama's mother and Sumitra reached the en...

यदा तु दीनं कथयन्नराधिपः प्रियस्य पुत्त्रस्य विवासनातुरः। गतेऽर्धरात्रे भृशदुःखपीडितस्तदा जहौ प्राणम...

King Dasaratha, a man of noble vision and lord of men, anguished by the exile of his son, kept pitia...