The Coming of Winter

Shloka 1 (aranya.16.1)

वसतः तस्य तु सुखम् राघवस्य महात्मनः | शरद् व्यपाये हेमंतऋतुर् इष्टः प्रवर्तत ॥ 16.1 ॥

vasataḥ tasya tu sukham rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ | śarad vyapāye hemaṃtaṛtur iṣṭaḥ pravartata || 16.1 ||

While the great-souled Raghava was dwelling there in comfort, autumn passed away and the pleasant season of early winter, Hemanta, set in.

Shloka 2 (aranya.16.2)

स कदाचित् प्रभातायाम् शर्वर्याम् रघुनंदनः | प्रययाव अभिषेकार्थम् रम्यम् गोदावरीम् नदीम् ॥ 16.2 ॥

sa kadācit prabhātāyām śarvaryām raghunaṃdanaḥ | prayayāva abhiṣekārtham ramyam godāvarīm nadīm || 16.2 ||

One day, as night turned into dawn, Raghunandana set out for the lovely river Godavari to bathe.

Shloka 3 (aranya.16.3)

प्रह्वः कलश हसतः तम् सीतया सह वीर्यवान् | पृष्ठतो अनुव्रजन् भ्राता सौमित्रिर् इदम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 16.3 ॥

prahvaḥ kalaśa hasataḥ tam sītayā saha vīryavān | pṛṣṭhato anuvrajan bhrātā saumitrir idam abravīt || 16.3 ||

His valiant brother Saumitri, following humbly behind with a water-pot in hand, together with Sita, spoke these words to him.

Shloka 4 (aranya.16.4)

अयम् स कालः संप्राप्तः प्रियो यः ते प्रियंवद | अलंकृत इव आभाति येन संवत्सरः शुभः ॥ 16.4 ॥

ayam sa kālaḥ saṃprāptaḥ priyo yaḥ te priyaṃvada | alaṃkṛta iva ābhāti yena saṃvatsaraḥ śubhaḥ || 16.4 ||

"This is that season which is dear to you, O gentle speaker — the season by which the auspicious year appears, as it were, adorned."

Shloka 5 (aranya.16.5)

नीहार परुषो लोकः पृथिवी सस्य मालिनी | जलानि अनुपभोग्यानि सुभगो हव्य वाहनः ॥ 16.5 ॥

nīhāra paruṣo lokaḥ pṛthivī sasya mālinī | jalāni anupabhogyāni subhago havya vāhanaḥ || 16.5 ||

"In these days people's bodies grow rough with dew, the earth wears its crops like a garland, water has turned unpleasant, and fire alone delights."

Shloka 6 (aranya.16.6)

नव आग्रयण पूजाभिर् अभ्यर्च्य पितृ देवताः | कृत आग्रयणकाः काले सन्तो विगत कल्मषाः ॥ 16.6 ॥

nava āgrayaṇa pūjābhir abhyarcya pitṛ devatāḥ | kṛta āgrayaṇakāḥ kāle santo vigata kalmaṣāḥ || 16.6 ||

"By worshipping the ancestral deities with offerings of the new harvest at this solstice, and by duly performing the Agrayana rite in its season, righteous men become cleansed of sin."

Shloka 7 (aranya.16.7)

प्राज्यकामा जनपदाः संपन्नतर गो रसाः | विचरन्ति महीपाला यात्र अर्थम् विजिगीषवः ॥ 16.7 ॥

prājyakāmā janapadāḥ saṃpannatara go rasāḥ | vicaranti mahīpālā yātra artham vijigīṣavaḥ || 16.7 ||

"The people of the land, made prosperous with abundant cattle and dairy, find their desires richly fulfilled, while kings eager for conquest set forth upon their campaigns."

Shloka 8 (aranya.16.8)

सेवमाने दृढम् सूर्ये दिशम् अन्तक सेविताम् | विहीन तिलका इव स्त्री न उत्तरा दिक् प्रकाशते ॥ 16.8 ॥

sevamāne dṛḍham sūrye diśam antaka sevitām | vihīna tilakā iva strī na uttarā dik prakāśate || 16.8 ||

"As the sun steadfastly attends the southern quarter, the abode of Yama, the northern direction no longer shines — like a woman who has lost the tilaka mark from her forehead."

Shloka 9 (aranya.16.9)

प्रकृत्या हिम कोश आढ्यो दूर सूर्याः च सांप्रतम् | यथार्थ नामा सुव्यक्तम् हिमवान् हिमवान् गिरिः ॥ 16.9 ॥

prakṛtyā hima kośa āḍhyo dūra sūryāḥ ca sāṃpratam | yathārtha nāmā suvyaktam himavān himavān giriḥ || 16.9 ||

"By its very nature a storehouse of snow, and now further removed from the sun, the Himalaya stands, true to its name, visibly clothed in snow."

Shloka 10 (aranya.16.10)

अत्यन्त सुख संचारा मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखाः | दिवसाः सुभग आदित्याअः छ्हाया सलिल दुर्भगाः ॥ 16.10 ॥

atyanta sukha saṃcārā madhyāhne sparśataḥ sukhāḥ | divasāḥ subhaga ādityāaḥ chhāyā salila durbhagāḥ || 16.10 ||

"These days are most pleasant for roaming about, being comfortable to the touch at midday; the sun is genial through the day, while shade and water have turned unwelcoming."

Shloka 11 (aranya.16.11)

मृदु सूर्याः सनीहाराः पटु शीताः समारुताः | शून्य अरण्या हिम ध्वस्ता दिवसा भान्ति सांप्रतम् ॥ 16.11 ॥

mṛdu sūryāḥ sanīhārāḥ paṭu śītāḥ samārutāḥ | śūnya araṇyā hima dhvastā divasā bhānti sāṃpratam || 16.11 ||

"Overwhelmed now by frost, the days have a mild sun, are wrapped in mist, sharply cold and windswept; and the bare forests gleam faintly, as if desolate, in this season."

Shloka 12 (aranya.16.12)

निवृत्त आकाश शयनाः पुष्यनीता हिम अरुणाः | शीता वृद्धतर आयामः त्रि यामा यान्ति सांप्रतम् ॥ 16.12 ॥

nivṛtta ākāśa śayanāḥ puṣyanītā hima aruṇāḥ | śītā vṛddhatara āyāmaḥ tri yāmā yānti sāṃpratam || 16.12 ||

"Reclining beneath the open sky is no longer possible; led by the constellation Pushya, the nights now arrive chill and frost-reddened, greatly lengthened, their three watches slipping slowly by."

Shloka 13 (aranya.16.13)

रवि संक्रान्त सौभाग्यः तुषार अरुण मण्डलः | निःश्वास अन्ध इव आदर्शाः चंद्रमा न प्रकाशते ॥ 16.13 ॥

ravi saṃkrānta saubhāgyaḥ tuṣāra aruṇa maṇḍalaḥ | niḥśvāsa andha iva ādarśāḥ caṃdramā na prakāśate || 16.13 ||

"Its fortune overtaken by the sun, its disc reddened with frost, the moon does not shine — like a mirror clouded by the mist of a sigh."

Shloka 14 (aranya.16.14)

ज्योत्स्ना तुषार मलिना पौर्णमास्याम् न राजते | सीता इव च आतप श्यामा लक्ष्यते न तु शोभते ॥ 16.14 ॥

jyotsnā tuṣāra malinā paurṇamāsyām na rājate | sītā iva ca ātapa śyāmā lakṣyate na tu śobhate || 16.14 ||

"Even on the night of the full moon, the moonlight, dimmed by frost, does not shine bright; it appears wan, like Sita darkened by the sun's heat — visible, yet without radiance."

Shloka 15 (aranya.16.15)

प्रकृत्या शीतल स्पर्शो हिम विद्धाः च सांप्रतम् | प्रवाति पश्चिमो वायुः काले द्वि गुण शीतलः ॥ 16.15 ॥

prakṛtyā śītala sparśo hima viddhāḥ ca sāṃpratam | pravāti paścimo vāyuḥ kāle dvi guṇa śītalaḥ || 16.15 ||

"The western wind, which by nature is cool to the touch, now blows charged with frost, doubly chill in these early hours."

Shloka 16 (aranya.16.16)

बाष्प च्छ्हन्नानि अरण्यानि यव गोधूमवंति च | शोभन्ते अभ्युदिते सूर्ये नदद्भिः क्रौन्च सारसैः ॥ 16.16 ॥

bāṣpa cchhannāni araṇyāni yava godhūmavaṃti ca | śobhante abhyudite sūrye nadadbhiḥ kraunca sārasaiḥ || 16.16 ||

"The forests, veiled in dew and rich with fields of barley and wheat, gleam forth at sunrise to the calls of curlews and cranes."

Shloka 17 (aranya.16.17)

खर्जूर पुष्प आकृतिभिः शिरोभिः पूर्ण तण्डुलैः | शोभन्ते किंचिद् आलंबाः शालयः कनक प्रभाः ॥ 16.17 ॥

kharjūra puṣpa ākṛtibhiḥ śirobhiḥ pūrṇa taṇḍulaiḥ | śobhante kiṃcid ālaṃbāḥ śālayaḥ kanaka prabhāḥ || 16.17 ||

"The paddy fields shine with a golden lustre, their grain-laden ears, bent a little low, shaped like the blossoms of the date palm."

Shloka 18 (aranya.16.18)

मयूखैः उपसर्पद्भिः हिम नीहार संवृतैः | दूरम् अभ्युदितः सूर्यः शशांक इव लक्ष्यते ॥ 16.18 ॥

mayūkhaiḥ upasarpadbhiḥ hima nīhāra saṃvṛtaiḥ | dūram abhyuditaḥ sūryaḥ śaśāṃka iva lakṣyate || 16.18 ||

"Though its rays are spreading all about, the sun, veiled in wintry mist, appears from afar to be nothing but the moon."

Shloka 19 (aranya.16.19)

अग्राह्य वीर्यः पूर्वाह्णे मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखः | संरक्तः किंचिद् आपाण्डुः आतपः शोभते क्षितौ ॥ 16.19 ॥

agrāhya vīryaḥ pūrvāhṇe madhyāhne sparśataḥ sukhaḥ | saṃraktaḥ kiṃcid āpāṇḍuḥ ātapaḥ śobhate kṣitau || 16.19 ||

"Its warmth scarcely perceptible in the morning yet pleasant to the touch at noon, the sunlight, faintly red and somewhat pale, glows gently over the earth."

Shloka 20 (aranya.16.20)

अवश्याय निपातेन किंचित् प्रक्लिन्न शाद्वला | वनानाम् शोभते भूमिर् निविष्ट तरुण आतपा ॥ 16.20 ॥

avaśyāya nipātena kiṃcit praklinna śādvalā | vanānām śobhate bhūmir niviṣṭa taruṇa ātapā || 16.20 ||

"The meadows, gently moistened by the fall of dew, and the forest floor, touched by the young warmth of the sun, both take on fresh life."

Shloka 21 (aranya.16.21)

स्पृशन् तु सुविपुलम् शीतम् उदकम् द्विरदः सुखम् | अत्यन्त तृषितो वन्यः प्रतिसंहरते करम् ॥ 16.21 ॥

spṛśan tu suvipulam śītam udakam dviradaḥ sukham | atyanta tṛṣito vanyaḥ pratisaṃharate karam || 16.21 ||

"Though its trunk is broad and it is intensely thirsty, the wild elephant, on touching the abundant, ice-cold water with ease, draws its trunk quickly back."

Shloka 22 (aranya.16.22)

एते हि समुपासीना विहगा जलचारिणः | न अवगाहन्ति सलिलम् अप्रगल्भा इव आवहम् ॥ 16.22 ॥

ete hi samupāsīnā vihagā jalacāriṇaḥ | na avagāhanti salilam apragalbhā iva āvaham || 16.22 ||

"These water-birds, huddled close together, will not enter the water at all — like faint-hearted men who dare not step onto a battlefield."

Shloka 23 (aranya.16.23)

अवश्याय तमो नद्धा नीहार तमसा आवृताः | प्रसुप्ता इव लक्ष्यन्ते विपुष्पा वन राजयः ॥ 16.23 ॥

avaśyāya tamo naddhā nīhāra tamasā āvṛtāḥ | prasuptā iva lakṣyante vipuṣpā vana rājayaḥ || 16.23 ||

"Bound in the darkness of the morning frost, wrapped in misty gloom, and stripped bare of their blossoms, the ranges of forest seem to be asleep."

Shloka 24 (aranya.16.24)

बाष्प संचन्न सलिला रुत विज्ञेय सारसाः | हिमाअर्द्र वालुकैः तीरैः सरितो भान्ति सांप्रतम् ॥ 16.24 ॥

bāṣpa saṃcanna salilā ruta vijñeya sārasāḥ | himāardra vālukaiḥ tīraiḥ sarito bhānti sāṃpratam || 16.24 ||

"The rivers, their waters veiled in mist so that only the cries of the cranes reveal them, now glimmer with sandbanks and shores made moist with frost."

Shloka 25 (aranya.16.25)

तुषार पतनात् चैव मृदुत्वात् भास्करस्य च | शैत्यात् अग अग्रस्थम् अपि प्रायेण रसवत् जलम् ॥ 16.25 ॥

tuṣāra patanāt caiva mṛdutvāt bhāskarasya ca | śaityāt aga agrastham api prāyeṇa rasavat jalam || 16.25 ||

"Because of the falling snow and the mild, cool nature of the sun, even the deep water of wells generally becomes sweet to the taste."

Shloka 26 (aranya.16.26)

जरा जर्जरितैः पत्रैः शीर्ण केसर कर्णिकैः | नाल शेषा हिम ध्वस्ता न भान्ति कमलाकराः ॥ 16.26 ॥

jarā jarjaritaiḥ patraiḥ śīrṇa kesara karṇikaiḥ | nāla śeṣā hima dhvastā na bhānti kamalākarāḥ || 16.26 ||

"With their petals withered by age, their filaments and carpels decayed, and only bare stalks remaining, the lotus-ponds, ravaged by the cold, no longer shine."

Shloka 27 (aranya.16.27)

अस्मिन् तु पुरुषव्याघ्र काले दुःख समन्वितः | तपश्चरति धर्मात्मा त्वत् भक्त्या भरतः पुरे ॥ 16.27 ॥

asmin tu puruṣavyāghra kāle duḥkha samanvitaḥ | tapaścarati dharmātmā tvat bhaktyā bharataḥ pure || 16.27 ||

"But at this very time, O tiger among men, that righteous Bharata, overwhelmed with sorrow, must surely be practising austerities in the city out of devotion to you."

Shloka 28 (aranya.16.28)

त्यक्त्वा राज्यम् च मानम् च भोगांश्च विविधान् बहून् | तपस्वी नियताहारः शेते शीते महीतले ॥ 16.28 ॥

tyaktvā rājyam ca mānam ca bhogāṃśca vividhān bahūn | tapasvī niyatāhāraḥ śete śīte mahītale || 16.28 ||

"Having renounced his kingdom, his honour, and manifold pleasures, that ascetic-souled prince, his food strictly regulated, now sleeps upon the cold, bare earth."

Shloka 29 (aranya.16.29)

सोऽपि वेलाम् इमाम् नूनम् अभिषेक अर्थम् उद्यतः | वृतः प्रकृतिभिर् नित्यम् प्रयाति सरयूम् नदीम् ॥ 16.29 ॥

so'pi velām imām nūnam abhiṣeka artham udyataḥ | vṛtaḥ prakṛtibhir nityam prayāti sarayūm nadīm || 16.29 ||

"Surely, even now, he must be rising at this very hour, ever surrounded by his ministers, and proceeding to the river Sarayu for his bath — of this I am certain."

Shloka 30 (aranya.16.30)

अत्यन्त सुख संवृद्धः सुकुमारो हिमार्दितः | कथम् तु अपर रात्रेषु सरयूम् अवगाहते ॥ 16.30 ॥

atyanta sukha saṃvṛddhaḥ sukumāro himārditaḥ | katham tu apara rātreṣu sarayūm avagāhate || 16.30 ||

"Reared in the greatest comfort and delicate by nature, how indeed can he, in these late, cold hours of the night, plunge into the icy waters of the Sarayu?"

Shloka 31 (aranya.16.31)

पद्मपत्रेक्षणः श्यामः श्रीमान् निरुदरो महान् | धर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी च ह्री निषेधो जितेन्द्रियः ॥ 16.31 ॥

padmapatrekṣaṇaḥ śyāmaḥ śrīmān nirudaro mahān | dharmajñaḥ satyavādī ca hrī niṣedho jitendriyaḥ || 16.31 ||

"Lotus-eyed, dark of hue, majestic and slender-waisted, that great one is a knower of dharma, ever truthful, unable to bear disgrace, and master of his own senses."

Shloka 32 (aranya.16.32)

प्रियाभिभाषी मधुरो दीर्घबाहुः अरिन्दमः | संत्यज्य विविधान् भोगान् आर्यम् सर्वात्मना आश्रितः ॥ 16.32 ॥

priyābhibhāṣī madhuro dīrghabāhuḥ arindamaḥ | saṃtyajya vividhān bhogān āryam sarvātmanā āśritaḥ || 16.32 ||

"Sweet and gentle of speech, long-armed, a scourge of his enemies — having forsaken every kind of pleasure, he has given himself over wholly, in every way, to you, his noble elder brother."

Shloka 33 (aranya.16.33)

जितः स्वर्गः तव भ्रात्रा भरतेन महात्मना | वनस्थम् अपि तापस्ये यः त्वाम् अनुविधीयते ॥ 16.33 ॥

jitaḥ svargaḥ tava bhrātrā bharatena mahātmanā | vanastham api tāpasye yaḥ tvām anuvidhīyate || 16.33 ||

"Heaven itself has been won over by your great-souled brother Bharata, who follows you in your life of austerity even though you dwell far away in the forest."

Shloka 34 (aranya.16.34)

न पित्र्यम् अनुवर्न्तन्ते मातृकम् द्विपदा इति | ख्यातो लोक प्रवादो अयम् भरतेन अन्यथा कृतः ॥ 16.34 ॥

na pitryam anuvarntante mātṛkam dvipadā iti | khyāto loka pravādo ayam bharatena anyathā kṛtaḥ || 16.34 ||

"'Human beings do not take after their father, but after their mother' — such is the well-known saying in the world; but Bharata has proven it otherwise."

Shloka 35 (aranya.16.35)

भर्ता दशरथो यस्याः साधुः च भरतः सुतः | कथम् नु सा अम्बा कैकेयी तादृशी क्रूरदर्शिनी ॥ 16.35 ॥

bhartā daśaratho yasyāḥ sādhuḥ ca bharataḥ sutaḥ | katham nu sā ambā kaikeyī tādṛśī krūradarśinī || 16.35 ||

"'She whose husband was Dasharatha and whose son is the virtuous Bharata — how indeed can that mother of ours, Kaikeyi, be of such a cruel disposition?'"

Shloka 36 (aranya.16.36)

इति एवम् लक्ष्मणे वाक्यम् स्नेहात् वदति धर्मिके | परिवादम् जनन्यः तम् असहन् राघवो अब्रवीत् ॥ 16.36 ॥

iti evam lakṣmaṇe vākyam snehāt vadati dharmike | parivādam jananyaḥ tam asahan rāghavo abravīt || 16.36 ||

While the righteous Lakshmana was speaking so, out of pure affection, Raghava, unwilling to bear even that much reproach against their mother, said this to him.

Shloka 37 (aranya.16.37)

न ते अम्बा मध्यमा तात गर्हितव्या कथंचन | ताम् एव इक्ष्वाकु नाथस्य भरतस्य कथाम् कुरु ॥ 16.37 ॥

na te ambā madhyamā tāta garhitavyā kathaṃcana | tām eva ikṣvāku nāthasya bharatasya kathām kuru || 16.37 ||

"'Dear brother, our second mother must never be blamed in any way; speak instead of Bharata, the lord of the Ikshvakus.'"

Shloka 38 (aranya.16.38)

निश्चिता एव हि मे बुद्धिः वन वासे दृढ व्रता | भरत स्नेह संतप्ता बालिशी क्रियते पुनः ॥ 16.38 ॥

niścitā eva hi me buddhiḥ vana vāse dṛḍha vratā | bharata sneha saṃtaptā bāliśī kriyate punaḥ || 16.38 ||

"'My resolve to dwell in the forest is indeed firm and unwavering; and yet, consumed by longing for Bharata's company, that same childlike weakness comes over me once more.'"

Shloka 39 (aranya.16.39)

संस्मरामि अस्य वाक्यानि प्रियाणि मधुराणि च | हृद्यानि अमृत कल्पानि मनः प्रह्लादानि च ॥ 16.39 ॥

saṃsmarāmi asya vākyāni priyāṇi madhurāṇi ca | hṛdyāni amṛta kalpāni manaḥ prahlādāni ca || 16.39 ||

"'I recall his words — so dear, so sweet, heartfelt as nectar, and gladdening to the mind.'"

Shloka 40 (aranya.16.40)

कदा हि अहम् समेष्यामि भरतेन महात्मना | शत्रुघ्नेन च वीरेण त्वया च रघुनंदन ॥ 16.40 ॥

kadā hi aham sameṣyāmi bharatena mahātmanā | śatrughnena ca vīreṇa tvayā ca raghunaṃdana || 16.40 ||

"'When, O Raghunandana, shall I truly be united again with the great-souled Bharata, valiant Shatrughna, and with you?'" Thus Rama spoke to Lakshmana.

Shloka 41 (aranya.16.41)

इति एवम् विलपन् तत्र प्राप्य गोदावरीम् नदीम् | चक्रे अभिषेकम् काकुत्स्थः सानुजः सह सीतया ॥ 16.41 ॥

iti evam vilapan tatra prāpya godāvarīm nadīm | cakre abhiṣekam kākutsthaḥ sānujaḥ saha sītayā || 16.41 ||

Lamenting in this way as he went, Kakutstha reached the river Godavari and, together with his younger brother and Sita, performed his bath.

Shloka 42 (aranya.16.42)

तर्पयित्वा अथ सलिलैः तैः पितॄन् दैवतानि च | स्तुवन्ति स्म उदितम् सूर्यम् देवताअः च तथा अनघाः ॥ 16.42 ॥

tarpayitvā atha salilaiḥ taiḥ pitṝn daivatāni ca | stuvanti sma uditam sūryam devatāaḥ ca tathā anaghāḥ || 16.42 ||

Then, having offered libations of that water to the ancestors and to the gods, that sinless trio praised the rising sun, and the gods likewise.

Shloka 43 (aranya.16.43)

कृताभिषेकः स रराज रामः सीता द्वितीयः सह लक्ष्मणेन | कृत अभिषेको तु अग राज पुत्र्या रुद्रः स नन्दिः भगवान् इव ईशः ॥ 16.43 ॥

kṛtābhiṣekaḥ sa rarāja rāmaḥ sītā dvitīyaḥ saha lakṣmaṇena | kṛta abhiṣeko tu aga rāja putryā rudraḥ sa nandiḥ bhagavān iva īśaḥ || 16.43 ||

Having bathed, Rama, together with Sita and Lakshmana, shone forth like the all-controlling god Rudra, radiant after his own sacred bath together with the mountain-king's daughter Parvati and with Nandi, the divine bull.