Dasaratha's Great Lament

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.12.1)

ततः श्रुत्वा महाराजः कैकेय्या दारुणं वचः । चिन्तामभिसमापेदे मुहूर्तं प्रतताप च ।। १२.१ ।।

tataḥ śrutvā mahārājaḥ kaikeyyā dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ | cintāmabhisamāpede muhūrtaṃ pratatāpa ca || 12.1 ||

Then, hearing Kaikeyi's cruel words, the great king fell into anxiety and was tormented for a moment.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.12.2)

किं नु मेऽयं दिवास्वप्नश्चित्तमोहोऽपि वा मम । अनुभूतोपसर्गो वा मनसो वाप्युपद्रवः ।। १२.२ ।।

kiṃ nu me'yaṃ divāsvapnaścittamoho'pi vā mama | anubhūtopasargo vā manaso vāpyupadravaḥ || 12.2 ||

"Is this some daydream of mine, or a delusion of my mind, or some disturbance of the mind that has come upon me?"

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.12.3)

इति संचिन्त्य तद्राजा नाध्यगच्छत्तदा सुखम् । प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां कैकेयीवाक्यतापितः ।। १२.३ ।।

iti saṃcintya tadrājā nādhyagacchattadā sukham | pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ kaikeyīvākyatāpitaḥ || 12.3 ||

Thinking thus, the king found no comfort even then; scorched by Kaikeyi's words, he regained his senses only after a long while.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.12.4)

व्यथितो विक्लवश्चैव व्याघ्रीं दृष्ट्वा यथा मृगः । असंवृतायामासीनो जगत्यां दीर्घमुच्छ्वसन् ।। १२.४ ।।

vyathito viklavaścaiva vyāghrīṃ dṛṣṭvā yathā mṛgaḥ | asaṃvṛtāyāmāsīno jagatyāṃ dīrghamucchvasan || 12.4 ||

Distressed and shaken, like a deer that has seen a tigress, he sat on the open ground, breathing long sighs.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.12.5)

मण्डले पन्नगो रुद्धो मन्त्रैरिव महाविषः । अहो धिगिति सामर्षो वाचमुक्त्वा नराधिपः ।। १२.५ ।।

maṇḍale pannago ruddho mantrairiva mahāviṣaḥ | aho dhigiti sāmarṣo vācamuktvā narādhipaḥ || 12.5 ||

Like a highly venomous serpent bound fast by charms, the king, overcome with anguish, cried out, "Oh! Shame!"

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.12.6)

मोहमापेदिवान्भूयः शोकोपहतचेतनः । चिरेण तु नृपः संज्ञां प्रतिलभ्य सुदुःखितः ।। १२.६ ।।

mohamāpedivānbhūyaḥ śokopahatacetanaḥ | cireṇa tu nṛpaḥ saṃjñāṃ pratilabhya suduḥkhitaḥ || 12.6 ||

Overwhelmed by grief, he fell into a swoon once more; and after a long while, the deeply anguished king, regaining consciousness—

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.12.7)

कैकेयीमब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो निर्दहन्निव तेजसा । नृशंसे दुष्टचारित्रे कुलस्यास्य विनाशिनि ।। १२.७ ।।

kaikeyīmabravītkruddho nirdahanniva tejasā | nṛśaṃse duṣṭacāritre kulasyāsya vināśini || 12.7 ||

—spoke angrily to Kaikeyi, as though burning her with the fire of his eyes: "O cruel one, of wicked conduct, destroyer of this line!"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.12.8)

किं कृतं तव रामेण पापे पापं मयापि वा । सदा ते जननीतुल्यां वृत्तिं वहति राघवः ।। १२.८ ।।

kiṃ kṛtaṃ tava rāmeṇa pāpe pāpaṃ mayāpi vā | sadā te jananītulyāṃ vṛttiṃ vahati rāghavaḥ || 12.8 ||

"What wrong has Rama done to you, O sinful one, or what sin have I myself done? Raghava always behaves toward you as toward a mother."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.12.9)

तस्यैवं त्वमनर्थाय किंनिमित्तमिहोद्यता । त्वं मयाऽऽत्मविनाशाय भवनं स्वं निवेशिता ।। १२.९ ।।

tasyaivaṃ tvamanarthāya kiṃnimittamihodyatā | tvaṃ mayā''tmavināśāya bhavanaṃ svaṃ niveśitā || 12.9 ||

"For what reason then are you bent on harming him alone? Unknowingly, I brought you into this house only for my own destruction."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.12.10)

अविज्ञानान्नृपसुता व्याला तीक्ष्णविषा यथा । जीवलोको यदा सर्वो रामस्याह गुणस्तवम् ।। १२.१० ।।

avijñānānnṛpasutā vyālā tīkṣṇaviṣā yathā | jīvaloko yadā sarvo rāmasyāha guṇastavam || 12.10 ||

"O princess, unknowingly I admitted you, like a fierce venomous serpent. When the whole world sings the praise of Rama's virtues—"

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.12.11)

अपराधं कमुद्दिश्य त्यक्ष्यामीष्टमहं सुतम् । कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च त्यजेयमपि वा श्रियम् ।। १२.११ ।।

aparādhaṃ kamuddiśya tyakṣyāmīṣṭamahaṃ sutam | kausalyāṃ ca sumitrāṃ ca tyajeyamapi vā śriyam || 12.11 ||

"—for what offence, alleged against him, shall I abandon my beloved son? I could sooner forsake Kausalya, Sumitra, even my royal fortune—"

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.12.12)

जीवितं चात्मनो रामं न त्वेव पितृवत्सलम् । परा भवति मे प्रीतिर्दृष्ट्वा तनयमग्रजम् ।। १२.१२ ।।

jīvitaṃ cātmano rāmaṃ na tveva pitṛvatsalam | parā bhavati me prītirdṛṣṭvā tanayamagrajam || 12.12 ||

"—my own life, even Rama himself, but never that devoted son of mine. Seeing my eldest son brings me my supreme delight."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.12.13)

अपश्यतस्तु मे रामं नष्टं भवति चेतनम् । तिष्ठेल्लोको विना सूर्यं सस्यं वा सलिलं विना ।। १२.१३ ।।

apaśyatastu me rāmaṃ naṣṭaṃ bhavati cetanam | tiṣṭhelloko vinā sūryaṃ sasyaṃ vā salilaṃ vinā || 12.13 ||

"Not seeing Rama, my very consciousness is lost. The world could exist without the sun, a crop without water—"

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.12.14)

न तु रामं विना देहे तिष्ठेत्तु मम जीवितम् । तदलं त्यज्यतामेष निश्चयः पापनिश्चये ।। १२.१४ ।।

na tu rāmaṃ vinā dehe tiṣṭhettu mama jīvitam | tadalaṃ tyajyatāmeṣa niścayaḥ pāpaniścaye || 12.14 ||

"—but life could not remain in my body without Rama. Enough, then, O one of sinful resolve—let this determination be given up."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.12.15)

अपि ते चरणौ मूर्ध्ना स्पृशाम्येष प्रसीद मे । किमर्थं चिन्तितं पापे त्वया परमदारुणम् ।। १२.१५ ।।

api te caraṇau mūrdhnā spṛśāmyeṣa prasīda me | kimarthaṃ cintitaṃ pāpe tvayā paramadāruṇam || 12.15 ||

"I even touch your feet with my head; be gracious to me. What made you conceive this most terrible resolve, O sinful one?"

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.12.16)

अथ जिज्ञाससे मां त्वं भरतस्य प्रियाप्रिये । अस्तु यत्तत्त्वया पूर्वं व्याहृतं राघवं प्रति ।। १२.१६ ।।

atha jijñāsase māṃ tvaṃ bharatasya priyāpriye | astu yattattvayā pūrvaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ rāghavaṃ prati || 12.16 ||

"If you wished only to test my regard for Bharata, good and kind or otherwise, let it be so; but what you said earlier about Raghava—"

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.12.17)

स मे ज्येष्ठसुतः श्रीमान्धर्मज्येष्ठ इतीव मे । तत्त्वया प्रियवादिन्या सेवार्थं कथितं भवेत् ।। १२.१७ ।।

sa me jyeṣṭhasutaḥ śrīmāndharmajyeṣṭha itīva me | tattvayā priyavādinyā sevārthaṃ kathitaṃ bhavet || 12.17 ||

"—that glorious Rama, senior in righteousness too, is as it were my eldest son—that, spoken so sweetly, must have been said only to win service from him."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.12.18)

तच्छ्रुत्वा शोकसंतप्ता संतापयसि मां भृशम् । आविष्टासि गृहे शून्ये सा त्वं परवशं गता ।। १२.१८ ।।

tacchrutvā śokasaṃtaptā saṃtāpayasi māṃ bhṛśam | āviṣṭāsi gṛhe śūnye sā tvaṃ paravaśaṃ gatā || 12.18 ||

"Having heard this, tormented with grief, you afflict me sorely. It is as if you had entered some empty house and fallen under another's control."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.12.19)

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले देवि सम्प्राप्तः सुमहानयम् । अनयो नयसम्पन्ने यत्र ते विकृता मतिः ।। १२.१९ ।।

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule devi samprāptaḥ sumahānayam | anayo nayasampanne yatra te vikṛtā matiḥ || 12.19 ||

"In this Ikshvaku line, O queen, rich in right conduct, this great misfortune has now come, by which your mind has been perverted."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.12.20)

नहि किंचिदयुक्तं वा विप्रियं वा पुरा मम । अकरोस्त्वं विशालाक्षि तेन न श्रद्दधामि ते ।। १२.२० ।।

nahi kiṃcidayuktaṃ vā vipriyaṃ vā purā mama | akarostvaṃ viśālākṣi tena na śraddadhāmi te || 12.20 ||

"Never before, O large-eyed one, have you done anything improper or unpleasant to me; that is why I cannot believe this of you."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.12.21)

ननु ते राघवस्तुल्यो भरतेन महात्मना । बहुशो हि स्म बाले त्वं कथाः कथयसे मम ।। १२.२१ ।।

nanu te rāghavastulyo bharatena mahātmanā | bahuśo hi sma bāle tvaṃ kathāḥ kathayase mama || 12.21 ||

"Surely you have held Raghava as equal to the great-souled Bharata; many a time, O young one, you yourself have told me so."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.12.22)

तस्य धर्मात्मनो देवि वने वासं यशस्विनः । कथं रोचयसे भीरु नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च ।। १२.२२ ।।

tasya dharmātmano devi vane vāsaṃ yaśasvinaḥ | kathaṃ rocayase bhīru nava varṣāṇi pañca ca || 12.22 ||

"Then why, O timid one, do you take delight in the fourteen years of forest-dwelling for that righteous and illustrious son?"

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.12.23)

अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्य तस्य धर्मे कृतात्मनः । कथं रोचयसे वासमरण्ये भृशदारुणे ।। १२.२३ ।।

atyantasukumārasya tasya dharme kṛtātmanaḥ | kathaṃ rocayase vāsamaraṇye bhṛśadāruṇe || 12.23 ||

"How can you delight in the sojourn, in so dreadful a forest, of one so exceedingly delicate and so firmly established in righteousness?"

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.12.24)

रोचयस्यभिरामस्य रामस्य शुभलोचने । तव शुश्रूषमाणस्य किमर्थं विप्रवासनम् ।। १२.२४ ।।

rocayasyabhirāmasya rāmasya śubhalocane | tava śuśrūṣamāṇasya kimarthaṃ vipravāsanam || 12.24 ||

"O fair-eyed one, why do you delight in the banishment of that Rama, so pleasing, who is ever attentive in his service to you?"

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.12.25)

रामो हि भरताद्भूयस्तव शुश्रूषते सदा । विशेषं त्वयि तस्मात्तु भरतस्य न लक्षये ।। १२.२५ ।।

rāmo hi bharatādbhūyastava śuśrūṣate sadā | viśeṣaṃ tvayi tasmāttu bharatasya na lakṣaye || 12.25 ||

"Rama indeed serves you always even more than Bharata does; for that very reason, I see no special favour due to Bharata in your case."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.12.26)

शुश्रूषां गौरवं चैव प्रमाणं वचनक्रियाम् । कस्तु भूयस्तरं कुर्यादन्यत्र पुरुषर्षभात् ।। १२.२६ ।।

śuśrūṣāṃ gauravaṃ caiva pramāṇaṃ vacanakriyām | kastu bhūyastaraṃ kuryādanyatra puruṣarṣabhāt || 12.26 ||

"Who else, other than that bull among men, could ever do more for you—in service, in respect, in trustworthiness, in obedience?"

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.12.27)

बहूनां स्त्रीसहस्राणां बहूनां चोपजीविनाम् । परिवादोऽपवादो वा राघवे नोपपद्यते ।। १२.२७ ।।

bahūnāṃ strīsahasrāṇāṃ bahūnāṃ copajīvinām | parivādo'pavādo vā rāghave nopapadyate || 12.27 ||

"Among thousands of women, and among many dependents besides, no censure or blame ever attaches itself to Raghava."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.12.28)

सान्त्वयन्सर्वभूतानि रामः शुद्धेन चेतसा । गृह्णाति मनुजव्याघ्रः प्रियैर्विषयवासिनः ।। १२.२८ ।।

sāntvayansarvabhūtāni rāmaḥ śuddhena cetasā | gṛhṇāti manujavyāghraḥ priyairviṣayavāsinaḥ || 12.28 ||

"Comforting all creatures with a pure heart, that tiger among men wins over the people of the realm by his kindly acts."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.12.29)

सत्येन लोकाञ्जयति द्विजान्दानेन राघवः । गुरूञ्छुश्रूषया वीरो धनुषा युधि शात्रवान् ।। १२.२९ ।।

satyena lokāñjayati dvijāndānena rāghavaḥ | gurūñchuśrūṣayā vīro dhanuṣā yudhi śātravān || 12.29 ||

"By truth Raghava conquers the world, by charity the twice-born, by service the elders, and in battle, by his bow, his foes."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.12.30)

सत्यं दानं तपस्त्यागो मित्रता शौचमार्जवम् । विद्या च गुरुशुश्रूषा ध्रुवाण्येतानि राघवे ।। १२.३० ।।

satyaṃ dānaṃ tapastyāgo mitratā śaucamārjavam | vidyā ca guruśuśrūṣā dhruvāṇyetāni rāghave || 12.30 ||

"Truth, charity, austerity, renunciation, friendliness, purity, uprightness, learning, and service to elders—all these are firmly rooted in Raghava."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.12.31)

तस्मिन्नार्जवसम्पन्ने देवि देवोपमे कथम् । पापमाशंससे रामे महर्षिसमतेजसि ।। १२.३१ ।।

tasminnārjavasampanne devi devopame katham | pāpamāśaṃsase rāme maharṣisamatejasi || 12.31 ||

"How then, O queen, can you suspect wrongdoing in that upright Rama, godlike, radiant as a great sage?"

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.12.32)

न स्मराम्यप्रियं वाक्यं लोकस्य प्रियवादिनः । स कथं त्वत्कृते रामं वक्ष्यामि प्रियमप्रियम् ।। १२.३२ ।।

na smarāmyapriyaṃ vākyaṃ lokasya priyavādinaḥ | sa kathaṃ tvatkṛte rāmaṃ vakṣyāmi priyamapriyam || 12.32 ||

"I do not recall a single unkind word from him who speaks so pleasingly to all; how then, for your sake, shall I speak an unkind word to Rama?"

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.12.33)

क्षमा यस्मिंस्तपस्त्यागः सत्यं धर्मः कृतज्ञता । अप्यहिंसा च भूतानां तमृते का गतिर्मम ।। १२.३३ ।।

kṣamā yasmiṃstapastyāgaḥ satyaṃ dharmaḥ kṛtajñatā | apyahiṃsā ca bhūtānāṃ tamṛte kā gatirmama || 12.33 ||

"Forbearance, austerity, self-denial, truth, righteousness, gratitude, and harmlessness toward all beings—without him in whom these dwell, what recourse remains for me?"

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.12.34)

मम वृद्धस्य कैकेयि गतान्तस्य तपस्विनः । दीनं लालप्यमानस्य कारुण्यं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। १२.३४ ।।

mama vṛddhasya kaikeyi gatāntasya tapasvinaḥ | dīnaṃ lālapyamānasya kāruṇyaṃ kartumarhasi || 12.34 ||

"O Kaikeyi, on me, an old man near the end of his days, ascetic-like, pleading so wretchedly, you ought to have mercy."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.12.35)

पृथिव्यां सागरान्तायां यत्किंचिदधिगम्यते । तत्सर्वं तव दास्यामि मा च त्वं मन्युमाविश ।। १२.३५ ।।

pṛthivyāṃ sāgarāntāyāṃ yatkiṃcidadhigamyate | tatsarvaṃ tava dāsyāmi mā ca tvaṃ manyumāviśa || 12.35 ||

"Whatever can be attained on this sea-girt earth, all that I shall give you; only do not let anger take hold of you."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.12.36)

अञ्जलिं कुर्मि कैकेयि पादौ चापि स्पृशामि ते । शरणं भव रामस्य माधर्मो मामिह स्पृशेत् ।। १२.३६ ।।

añjaliṃ kurmi kaikeyi pādau cāpi spṛśāmi te | śaraṇaṃ bhava rāmasya mādharmo māmiha spṛśet || 12.36 ||

"I fold my hands to you, O Kaikeyi, and even touch your feet. Be a refuge for Rama; let not this unrighteousness touch me here."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.12.37)

इति दुःखाभिसंतप्तं विलपन्तमचेतनम् । घूर्णमानं महाराजं शोकेन समभिप्लुतम् ।। १२.३७ ।।

iti duḥkhābhisaṃtaptaṃ vilapantamacetanam | ghūrṇamānaṃ mahārājaṃ śokena samabhiplutam || 12.37 ||

Thus, as that great king lamented, tormented with grief, senseless, swirling, overwhelmed with sorrow—

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.12.38)

पारं शोकार्णवस्याशु प्रार्थयन्तं पुनः पुनः । प्रत्युवाचाथ कैकेयी रौद्रा रौद्रतरं वचः ।। १२.३८ ।।

pāraṃ śokārṇavasyāśu prārthayantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ | pratyuvācātha kaikeyī raudrā raudrataraṃ vacaḥ || 12.38 ||

—as he begged again and again to be carried across that ocean of grief, Kaikeyi, fierce as she was, spoke back words fiercer still.

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.12.39)

यदि दत्त्वा वरौ राजन्पुनः प्रत्यनुतप्यसे । धार्मिकत्वं कथं वीर पृथिव्यां कथयिष्यसि ।। १२.३९ ।।

yadi dattvā varau rājanpunaḥ pratyanutapyase | dhārmikatvaṃ kathaṃ vīra pṛthivyāṃ kathayiṣyasi || 12.39 ||

"If, O king, having granted the boons, you now repent again, how, O valiant one, will you proclaim your righteousness on this earth?"

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.12.40)

यदा समेता बहवस्त्वया राजर्षयः सह । कथयिष्यन्ति धर्मज्ञ तत्र किं प्रतिवक्ष्यसि ।। १२.४० ।।

yadā sametā bahavastvayā rājarṣayaḥ saha | kathayiṣyanti dharmajña tatra kiṃ prativakṣyasi || 12.40 ||

"When many royal sages gather together and speak with you of this, O knower of righteousness, what will you say to them then?"

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.12.41)

यस्याः प्रसादे जीवामि या च मामभ्यपालयत् । तस्याः कृता मया मिथ्या कैकेय्या इति वक्ष्यसि ।। १२.४१ ।।

yasyāḥ prasāde jīvāmi yā ca māmabhyapālayat | tasyāḥ kṛtā mayā mithyā kaikeyyā iti vakṣyasi || 12.41 ||

"Will you say, 'A falsehood was done by me to Kaikeyi, on whose grace I live and who once protected me'?"

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.12.42)

किल्बिषं त्वं नरेन्द्राणां करिष्यसि नराधिप । यो दत्त्वा वरमद्यैव पुनरन्यानि भाषसे ।। १२.४२ ।।

kilbiṣaṃ tvaṃ narendrāṇāṃ kariṣyasi narādhipa | yo dattvā varamadyaiva punaranyāni bhāṣase || 12.42 ||

"O lord of men, you who, having granted a boon this very day, now speak otherwise, will bring disgrace upon all kings."

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.12.43)

शैब्यः श्येनकपोतीये स्वमांसं पक्षिणे ददौ । अलर्कश्चक्षुषी दत्त्वा जगाम गतिमुत्तमाम् ।। १२.४३ ।।

śaibyaḥ śyenakapotīye svamāṃsaṃ pakṣiṇe dadau | alarkaścakṣuṣī dattvā jagāma gatimuttamām || 12.43 ||

"King Shaibya gave his own flesh to a hawk for the sake of a bird's dispute; Alarka, giving away his eyes, attained the highest state."

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.12.44)

सागरः समयं कृत्वा न वेलामतिवर्तते । समयं मानृतं कार्षीः पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन् ।। १२.४४ ।।

sāgaraḥ samayaṃ kṛtvā na velāmativartate | samayaṃ mānṛtaṃ kārṣīḥ pūrvavṛttamanusmaran || 12.44 ||

"The ocean, having made its pledge, never oversteps its shore; remembering these ancient examples, do not make your own promise false."

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.12.45)

स त्वं धर्मं परित्यज्य रामं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च । सह कौसल्यया नित्यं रन्तुमिच्छसि दुर्मते ।। १२.४५ ।।

sa tvaṃ dharmaṃ parityajya rāmaṃ rājye'bhiṣicya ca | saha kausalyayā nityaṃ rantumicchasi durmate || 12.45 ||

"So you, abandoning righteousness, would install Rama in the kingdom, and enjoy life forever with Kausalya, O ill-minded one!"

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.12.46)

भवत्वधर्मो धर्मो वा सत्यं वा यदि वानृतम् । यत्त्वया संश्रुतं मह्यं तस्य नास्ति व्यतिक्रमः ।। १२.४६ ।।

bhavatvadharmo dharmo vā satyaṃ vā yadi vānṛtam | yattvayā saṃśrutaṃ mahyaṃ tasya nāsti vyatikramaḥ || 12.46 ||

"Be it unrighteous or righteous, true or false—whatever you have promised me, there shall be no departing from it."

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.12.47)

अहं हि विषमद्यैव पीत्वा बहु तवाग्रतः । पश्यतस्ते मरिष्यामि रामो यद्यभिषिच्यते ।। १२.४७ ।।

ahaṃ hi viṣamadyaiva pītvā bahu tavāgrataḥ | paśyataste mariṣyāmi rāmo yadyabhiṣicyate || 12.47 ||

"If Rama is consecrated, I shall drink abundant poison this very day and die before your eyes, while you watch."

Shloka 48 (ayodhya.12.48)

एकाहमपि पश्येयं यद्यहं राममातरम् । अञ्जलिं प्रतिगृह्णन्तीं श्रेयो ननु मृतिर्मम ।। १२.४८ ।।

ekāhamapi paśyeyaṃ yadyahaṃ rāmamātaram | añjaliṃ pratigṛhṇantīṃ śreyo nanu mṛtirmama || 12.48 ||

"If I should have to see Rama's mother receiving salutations even for a single day, death would surely be better for me."

Shloka 49 (ayodhya.12.49)

भरतेनात्मना चाहं शपे ते मनुजाधिप । यथा नान्येन तुष्येयमृते रामविवासनात् ।। १२.४९ ।।

bharatenātmanā cāhaṃ śape te manujādhipa | yathā nānyena tuṣyeyamṛte rāmavivāsanāt || 12.49 ||

"O lord of men, I swear to you by Bharata and by myself—I shall be satisfied by nothing except Rama's banishment."

Shloka 50 (ayodhya.12.50)

एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं कैकेयी विरराम ह । विलपन्तं च राजानं न प्रतिव्याजहार सा ।। १२.५० ।।

etāvaduktvā vacanaṃ kaikeyī virarāma ha | vilapantaṃ ca rājānaṃ na prativyājahāra sā || 12.50 ||

Having said this much, Kaikeyi fell silent; and to the wailing king she made no further reply.

Shloka 51 (ayodhya.12.51)

श्रुत्वा तु राजा कैकेय्या वाक्यं परमशोभनम् । रामस्य च वने वासमैश्वर्यं भरतस्य च ।। १२.५१ ।।

śrutvā tu rājā kaikeyyā vākyaṃ paramaśobhanam | rāmasya ca vane vāsamaiśvaryaṃ bharatasya ca || 12.51 ||

Hearing this most inauspicious boon demanded by Kaikeyi—Rama's dwelling in the forest, and the sovereignty of Bharata—

Shloka 52 (ayodhya.12.52)

नाभ्यभाषत कैकेयीं मुहूर्तं व्याकुलेन्द्रियः । प्रैक्षतानिमिषो देवीं प्रियामप्रियवादिनीम् ।। १२.५२ ।।

nābhyabhāṣata kaikeyīṃ muhūrtaṃ vyākulendriyaḥ | praikṣatānimiṣo devīṃ priyāmapriyavādinīm || 12.52 ||

—the king, his senses in turmoil, did not speak to Kaikeyi for a moment; he only gazed unblinking at that beloved but harsh-speaking queen.

Shloka 53 (ayodhya.12.53)

तां हि वज्रसमां वाचमाकर्ण्य हृदयाप्रियाम् । दुःखशोकमयीं श्रुत्वा राजा न सुखितोऽभवत् ।। १२.५३ ।।

tāṃ hi vajrasamāṃ vācamākarṇya hṛdayāpriyām | duḥkhaśokamayīṃ śrutvā rājā na sukhito'bhavat || 12.53 ||

Hearing that speech, hard as a thunderbolt, unwelcome to his heart, full of pain and sorrow, the king found not a moment's comfort.

Shloka 54 (ayodhya.12.54)

स देव्या व्यवसायं च घोरं च शपथं कृतम् । ध्यात्वा रामेति निःश्वस्य च्छिन्नस्तरुरिवापतत् ।। १२.५४ ।।

sa devyā vyavasāyaṃ ca ghoraṃ ca śapathaṃ kṛtam | dhyātvā rāmeti niḥśvasya cchinnastarurivāpatat || 12.54 ||

Recalling the queen's terrible resolve and her dread oath, sighing long the name "Rama," he fell like a tree cut down at the root.

Shloka 55 (ayodhya.12.55)

नष्टचित्तो यथोन्मत्तो विपरीतो यथातुरः । हृततेजा यथा सर्पो बभूव जगतीपतिः ।। १२.५५ ।।

naṣṭacitto yathonmatto viparīto yathāturaḥ | hṛtatejā yathā sarpo babhūva jagatīpatiḥ || 12.55 ||

That lord of the earth became senseless as one deranged, disordered as one who is sick, robbed of his vigour like a venomless serpent.

Shloka 56 (ayodhya.12.56)

दीनयाऽऽतुरया वाचा इति होवाच कैकयीम् । अनर्थमिममर्थाभं केन त्वमुपदेशिता ।। १२.५६ ।।

dīnayā''turayā vācā iti hovāca kaikayīm | anarthamimamarthābhaṃ kena tvamupadeśitā || 12.56 ||

In a wretched, distressed voice he said to Kaikeyi, "Who has taught you this ruinous thing, which seems to you so worthwhile?"

Shloka 57 (ayodhya.12.57)

भूतोपहतचित्तेव ब्रुवन्ती मां न लज्जसे । शीलव्यसनमेतत्ते नाभिजानाम्यहं पुरा ।। १२.५७ ।।

bhūtopahatacitteva bruvantī māṃ na lajjase | śīlavyasanametatte nābhijānāmyahaṃ purā || 12.57 ||

"Speaking as though possessed by some evil spirit, you feel no shame. This flaw in your character I never knew of before."

Shloka 58 (ayodhya.12.58)

बालायास्तत्त्विदानीं ते लक्षये विपरीतवत् । कुतो वा ते भयं जातं या त्वमेवंविधं वरम् ।। १२.५८ ।।

bālāyāstattvidānīṃ te lakṣaye viparītavat | kuto vā te bhayaṃ jātaṃ yā tvamevaṃvidhaṃ varam || 12.58 ||

"Only now do I see your girlish mind become so utterly perverse. From what fear has this desire for such a boon arisen in you?"

Shloka 59 (ayodhya.12.59)

राष्ट्रे भरतमासीनं वृणीषे राघवं वने । विरमैतेन भावेन त्वमेतेनानृतेन च ।। १२.५९ ।।

rāṣṭre bharatamāsīnaṃ vṛṇīṣe rāghavaṃ vane | viramaitena bhāvena tvametenānṛtena ca || 12.59 ||

"—that you should wish Bharata seated in the kingdom and Raghava in the forest. Turn back from this feeling, and from this falsehood too."

Shloka 60 (ayodhya.12.60)

यदि भर्तुः प्रियं कार्यं लोकस्य भरतस्य च । नृशंसे पापसंकल्पे क्षुद्रे दुष्कृतकारिणि ।। १२.६० ।।

yadi bhartuḥ priyaṃ kāryaṃ lokasya bharatasya ca | nṛśaṃse pāpasaṃkalpe kṣudre duṣkṛtakāriṇi || 12.60 ||

"If you truly wish the good of your husband, of the people, and of Bharata himself, then, O cruel one, of sinful resolve, base and wicked—"

Shloka 61 (ayodhya.12.61)

किं नु दुःखमलीकं वा मयि रामे च पश्यसि । न कथंचिदृते रामाद्भरतो राज्यमावसेत् ।। १२.६१ ।।

kiṃ nu duḥkhamalīkaṃ vā mayi rāme ca paśyasi | na kathaṃcidṛte rāmādbharato rājyamāvaset || 12.61 ||

"—what suffering or fault, real or imagined, do you see in me or in Rama? Bharata could never, under any circumstance, dwell in this kingdom without Rama."

Shloka 62 (ayodhya.12.62)

रामादपि हि तं मन्ये धर्मतो बलवत्तरम् । कथं द्रक्ष्यामि रामस्य वनं गच्छेति भाषिते ।। १२.६२ ।।

rāmādapi hi taṃ manye dharmato balavattaram | kathaṃ drakṣyāmi rāmasya vanaṃ gaccheti bhāṣite || 12.62 ||

"I hold him even stronger than Rama in righteousness. Once told 'Go to the forest,' how shall I bear to look upon Rama's face grown pale—"

Shloka 63 (ayodhya.12.63)

मुखवर्णं विवर्णं तु यथैवेन्दुमुपप्लुतम् । तां तु मे सुकृतां बुद्धिं सुहृद्भिः सह निश्चिताम् ।। १२.६३ ।।

mukhavarṇaṃ vivarṇaṃ tu yathaivendumupaplutam | tāṃ tu me sukṛtāṃ buddhiṃ suhṛdbhiḥ saha niścitām || 12.63 ||

"—like the moon eclipsed? That well-considered policy of mine, resolved together with my friends—"

Shloka 64 (ayodhya.12.64)

कथं द्रक्ष्याम्यपावृत्तां परैरिव हतां चमूम् । किं मां वक्ष्यन्ति राजानो नानादिग्भ्यः समागताः ।। १२.६४ ।।

kathaṃ drakṣyāmyapāvṛttāṃ parairiva hatāṃ camūm | kiṃ māṃ vakṣyanti rājāno nānādigbhyaḥ samāgatāḥ || 12.64 ||

"—how shall I see it scattered like an army destroyed by the enemy? What will the kings, gathered here from every quarter, say of me?"

Shloka 65 (ayodhya.12.65)

बालो बतायमैक्ष्वाकश्चिरं राज्यमकारयत् । यदा हि बहवो वृद्धा गुणवन्तो बहुश्रुताः ।। १२.६५ ।।

bālo batāyamaikṣvākaściraṃ rājyamakārayat | yadā hi bahavo vṛddhā guṇavanto bahuśrutāḥ || 12.65 ||

"'Alas, how childish this Ikshvaku king proved, who ruled so long!' When many aged, virtuous, and learned men—"

Shloka 66 (ayodhya.12.66)

परिप्रक्ष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थं वक्ष्यामीह कथं तदा । कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानेन पुत्रः प्रव्राजितो मया ।। १२.६६ ।।

pariprakṣyanti kākutsthaṃ vakṣyāmīha kathaṃ tadā | kaikeyyā kliśyamānena putraḥ pravrājito mayā || 12.66 ||

"—question me about that scion of Kakutstha, what shall I say to them then? That my son was banished by me, hard-pressed by Kaikeyi?"

Shloka 67 (ayodhya.12.67)

यदि सत्यं ब्रवीम्येतत्तदसत्यं भविष्यति । किं मां वक्ष्यति कौसल्या राघवे वनमास्थिते ।। १२.६७ ।।

yadi satyaṃ bravīmyetattadasatyaṃ bhaviṣyati | kiṃ māṃ vakṣyati kausalyā rāghave vanamāsthite || 12.67 ||

"Even if I speak this truth, it will seem a lie. And when Raghava has taken up his abode in the forest, what will Kausalya say to me?"

Shloka 68 (ayodhya.12.68)

किं चैनां प्रतिवक्ष्यामि कृत्वा विप्रियमीदृशम् । यदा यदा च कौसल्या दासीव च सखीव च ।। १२.६८ ।।

kiṃ caināṃ prativakṣyāmi kṛtvā vipriyamīdṛśam | yadā yadā ca kausalyā dāsīva ca sakhīva ca || 12.68 ||

"Having done so unkind a deed, what shall I answer her? She who has always waited upon me like a maid, like a friend—"

Shloka 69 (ayodhya.12.69)

भार्यावद्भगिनीवच्च मातृवच्चोपतिष्ठति । सततं प्रियकामा मे प्रियपुत्रा प्रियंवदा ।। १२.६९ ।।

bhāryāvadbhaginīvacca mātṛvaccopatiṣṭhati | satataṃ priyakāmā me priyaputrā priyaṃvadā || 12.69 ||

"—like a wife, like a sister, and like a mother; always wishing my good, blessed with a dear son, and gentle of speech—"

Shloka 70 (ayodhya.12.70)

न मया सत्कृता देवी सत्कारार्हा कृते तव । इदानीं तत्तपति मां यन्मया सुकृतं त्वयि ।। १२.७० ।।

na mayā satkṛtā devī satkārārhā kṛte tava | idānīṃ tattapati māṃ yanmayā sukṛtaṃ tvayi || 12.70 ||

"—that queen I never honoured as she deserved, because of you. Now it torments me, all the good I once did for your sake instead."

Shloka 71 (ayodhya.12.71)

अपथ्यव्यञ्जनोपेतं भुक्तमन्नमिवातुरम् । विप्रकारं च रामस्य सम्प्रयाणं वनस्य च ।। १२.७१ ।।

apathyavyañjanopetaṃ bhuktamannamivāturam | viprakāraṃ ca rāmasya samprayāṇaṃ vanasya ca || 12.71 ||

Like sickening food eaten with unwholesome sauces afflicts an ailing man, so does this outrage upon Rama, and his departure to the forest, afflict me now.

Shloka 72 (ayodhya.12.72)

सुमित्रा प्रेक्ष्य वै भीता कथं मे विश्वसिष्यति । कृपणं बत वैदेही श्रोष्यति द्वयमप्रियम् ।। १२.७२ ।।

sumitrā prekṣya vai bhītā kathaṃ me viśvasiṣyati | kṛpaṇaṃ bata vaidehī śroṣyati dvayamapriyam || 12.72 ||

Seeing this, how will the frightened Sumitra ever trust me again? And poor Vaidehi will hear two unwelcome things at once—

Shloka 73 (ayodhya.12.73)

मां च पञ्चत्वमापन्नं रामं च वनमाश्रितम् । वैदेही बत मे प्राणान्शोचन्ती क्षपयिष्यति ।। १२.७३ ।।

māṃ ca pañcatvamāpannaṃ rāmaṃ ca vanamāśritam | vaidehī bata me prāṇānśocantī kṣapayiṣyati || 12.73 ||

—that I have met my death, and that Rama has taken refuge in the forest. Grieving thus, Vaidehi will surely waste away my very life-breath.

Shloka 74 (ayodhya.12.74)

हीना हिमवतः पार्श्वे किंनरेणेव किंनरी । नहि राममहं दृष्ट्वा प्रवसन्तं महावने ।। १२.७४ ।।

hīnā himavataḥ pārśve kiṃnareṇeva kiṃnarī | nahi rāmamahaṃ dṛṣṭvā pravasantaṃ mahāvane || 12.74 ||

Like a female kinnara bereft of her mate on the slope of the Himalaya, without seeing Rama wandering in that great forest—

Shloka 75 (ayodhya.12.75)

चिरं जीवितुमाशंसे रुदन्तीं चापि मैथिलीम् । सा नूनं विधवा राज्यं सपुत्रा कारयिष्यसि ।। १२.७५ ।।

ciraṃ jīvitumāśaṃse rudantīṃ cāpi maithilīm | sā nūnaṃ vidhavā rājyaṃ saputrā kārayiṣyasi || 12.75 ||

—I have no wish to live long, nor to see the weeping Maithili either. You shall surely make this kingdom widowed, together with your son.

Shloka 76 (ayodhya.12.76)

सतीं त्वामहमत्यन्तं व्यवस्याम्यसतीं सतीम् । रूपिणीं विषसंयुक्तां पीत्वेव मदिरां नरः ।। १२.७६ ।।

satīṃ tvāmahamatyantaṃ vyavasyāmyasatīṃ satīm | rūpiṇīṃ viṣasaṃyuktāṃ pītveva madirāṃ naraḥ || 12.76 ||

"If Rama must indeed be banished, O queen, I shall have no wish to live. You, whom I always thought faithful, I now judge to be utterly unfaithful—"

Shloka 77 (ayodhya.12.77)

अनृतैर्बत मां सान्त्वैः सान्त्वयन्ती स्म भाषसे । गीतशब्देन संरुध्य लुब्धो मृगमिवावधीः ।। १२.७७ ।।

anṛtairbata māṃ sāntvaiḥ sāntvayantī sma bhāṣase | gītaśabdena saṃrudhya lubdho mṛgamivāvadhīḥ || 12.77 ||

"—as a man is deceived who drinks wine mingled with poison, thinking it lovely to look upon. With false, comforting words you soothed and beguiled me—"

Shloka 78 (ayodhya.12.78)

अनार्य इति मामार्याः पुत्रविक्रायकं ध्रुवम् । विकरिष्यन्ति रथ्यासु सुरापं ब्राह्मणं यथा ।। १२.७८ ।।

anārya iti māmāryāḥ putravikrāyakaṃ dhruvam | vikariṣyanti rathyāsu surāpaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ yathā || 12.78 ||

"—just as a hunter, luring a deer with a melodious song, then slays it. Now surely the noble will call me base, a seller of his own son—"

Shloka 79 (ayodhya.12.79)

अहो दुःखमहो कृच्छ्रं यत्र वाचः क्षमे तव । दुःखमेवंविधं प्राप्तं पुरा कृतमिवाशुभम् ।। १२.७९ ।।

aho duḥkhamaho kṛcchraṃ yatra vācaḥ kṣame tava | duḥkhamevaṃvidhaṃ prāptaṃ purā kṛtamivāśubham || 12.79 ||

"—and will revile me in the streets, as they would a wine-drinking brahmin. Ah, what sorrow, what hardship, that I must bear these words of yours!"

Shloka 80 (ayodhya.12.80)

चिरं खलु मया पापे त्वं पापेनाभिरक्षिता । अज्ञानादुपसम्पन्ना रज्जुरुद्बन्धनी यथा ।। १२.८० ।।

ciraṃ khalu mayā pāpe tvaṃ pāpenābhirakṣitā | ajñānādupasampannā rajjurudbandhanī yathā || 12.80 ||

"This kind of suffering has come upon me as though it were the fruit of some past evil deed. Long, O sinful one, have I—sinful myself—kept and cherished you—"

Shloka 81 (ayodhya.12.81)

रममाणस्त्वया सार्धं मृत्युं त्वां नाभिलक्षये । बालो रहसि हस्तेन कृष्णसर्पमिवास्पृशम् ।। १२.८१ ।।

ramamāṇastvayā sārdhaṃ mṛtyuṃ tvāṃ nābhilakṣaye | bālo rahasi hastena kṛṣṇasarpamivāspṛśam || 12.81 ||

"—like a hangman's rope taken up unknowingly. Delighting in your company, I never once recognized you as death itself—"

Shloka 82 (ayodhya.12.82)

तं तु मां जीवलोकोऽयं नूनमाक्रोष्टुमर्हति । मया ह्यपितृकः पुत्रः स महात्मा दुरात्मना ।। १२.८२ ।।

taṃ tu māṃ jīvaloko'yaṃ nūnamākroṣṭumarhati | mayā hyapitṛkaḥ putraḥ sa mahātmā durātmanā || 12.82 ||

"—like a child who touches, in some lonely place, a black serpent with his hand. Surely this whole world of the living has every right to curse me—"

Shloka 83 (ayodhya.12.83)

बालिशो बत कामात्मा राजा दशरथो भृशम् । स्त्रीकृते यः प्रियं पुत्रं वनं प्रस्थापयिष्यति ।। १२.८३ ।।

bāliśo bata kāmātmā rājā daśaratho bhṛśam | strīkṛte yaḥ priyaṃ putraṃ vanaṃ prasthāpayiṣyati || 12.83 ||

"—saying that this evil-minded man deprived his own great-souled son of a father's protection. Shame on this utterly foolish, lust-blinded King Dasharatha—"

Shloka 84 (ayodhya.12.84)

वेदैश्च ब्रह्मचर्यैश्च गुरुभिश्चोपकर्शितः । भोगकाले महत्कृच्छ्रं पुनरेव प्रपत्स्यते ।। १२.८४ ।।

vedaiśca brahmacaryaiśca gurubhiścopakarśitaḥ | bhogakāle mahatkṛcchraṃ punareva prapatsyate || 12.84 ||

"—who, for a woman's sake, would send away his own beloved son. He, already worn thin by vows, by studies, and by service to his teachers—"

Shloka 85 (ayodhya.12.85)

नालं द्वितीयं वचनं पुत्रो मां प्रतिभाषितुम् । स वनं प्रव्रजेत्युक्तो बाढमित्येव वक्ष्यति ।। १२.८५ ।।

nālaṃ dvitīyaṃ vacanaṃ putro māṃ pratibhāṣitum | sa vanaṃ pravrajetyukto bāḍhamityeva vakṣyati || 12.85 ||

"—will now, just as enjoyment was due to him, undergo great hardship once more. My son is incapable of saying a second word to me—"

Shloka 86 (ayodhya.12.86)

यदि मे राघवः कुर्याद्वनं गच्छेति चोदितः । प्रतिकूलं प्रियं मे स्यान्न तु वत्सः करिष्यति ।। १२.८६ ।।

yadi me rāghavaḥ kuryādvanaṃ gaccheti coditaḥ | pratikūlaṃ priyaṃ me syānna tu vatsaḥ kariṣyati || 12.86 ||

"—told simply 'go to the forest,' he will only say, 'so be it.' If Raghava should act against my word, and not go—"

Shloka 87 (ayodhya.12.87)

राघवे हि वनं प्राप्ते सर्वलोकस्य धिक्कृतम् । मृत्युरक्षमणीयं मां नयिष्यति यमक्षयम् ।। १२.८७ ।।

rāghave hi vanaṃ prāpte sarvalokasya dhikkṛtam | mṛtyurakṣamaṇīyaṃ māṃ nayiṣyati yamakṣayam || 12.87 ||

"—that would please me, even though contrary to my own wish; but my darling boy will never do so. When Raghava truly reaches the forest, all the world will condemn it—"

Shloka 88 (ayodhya.12.88)

मृते मयि गते रामे वनं मनुजपुङ्गवे । इष्टे मम जने शेषे किं पापं प्रतिपत्स्यसे ।। १२.८८ ।।

mṛte mayi gate rāme vanaṃ manujapuṅgave | iṣṭe mama jane śeṣe kiṃ pāpaṃ pratipatsyase || 12.88 ||

"—and unbearable death will lead me to the abode of Yama. When I am dead, and Rama has gone to the forest, O bull among men—"

Shloka 89 (ayodhya.12.89)

कौसल्या मां च रामं च पुत्रौ च यदि हास्यति । दुःखान्यसहती देवी मामेवानुगमिष्यति ।। १२.८९ ।।

kausalyā māṃ ca rāmaṃ ca putrau ca yadi hāsyati | duḥkhānyasahatī devī māmevānugamiṣyati || 12.89 ||

"—what sin will still remain for you to commit against those dear to me who survive? If Kausalya, forsaking me and Rama and her two sons—"

Shloka 90 (ayodhya.12.90)

कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च मां च पुत्रैस्त्रिभिः सह । प्रक्षिप्य नरके सा त्वं कैकेयि सुखिता भव ।। १२.९० ।।

kausalyāṃ ca sumitrāṃ ca māṃ ca putraistribhiḥ saha | prakṣipya narake sā tvaṃ kaikeyi sukhitā bhava || 12.90 ||

"—unable to bear these sorrows, should follow after me, then, O Kaikeyi—having cast Kausalya and Sumitra and me, together with our three sons—"

Shloka 91 (ayodhya.12.91)

मया रामेण च त्यक्तं शाश्वतं सत्कृतं गुणैः । इक्ष्वाकुकुलमक्षोभ्यमाकुलं पालयिष्यसि ।। १२.९१ ।।

mayā rāmeṇa ca tyaktaṃ śāśvataṃ satkṛtaṃ guṇaiḥ | ikṣvākukulamakṣobhyamākulaṃ pālayiṣyasi || 12.91 ||

"—into hell, be happy then! That eternal Ikshvaku line, ever honoured for its virtues, unshaken until now, abandoned by both me and Rama—"

Shloka 92 (ayodhya.12.92)

प्रियं चेद्भरतस्यैतद्रामप्रव्राजनं भवेत् । मा स्म मे भरतः कार्षीत्प्रेतकृत्यं गतायुषः ।। १२.९२ ।।

priyaṃ cedbharatasyaitadrāmapravrājanaṃ bhavet | mā sma me bharataḥ kārṣītpretakṛtyaṃ gatāyuṣaḥ || 12.92 ||

"—how will you now protect it, in such disorder? And if this banishment of Rama should indeed please Bharata, then let not Bharata perform my funeral rites when my life has departed—"

Shloka 93 (ayodhya.12.93)

मृते मयि गते रामे वनं पुरुषपुङ्गवे । सेदानीं विधवा राज्यं सपुत्रा कारयिष्यसि ।। १२.९३ ।।

mṛte mayi gate rāme vanaṃ puruṣapuṅgave | sedānīṃ vidhavā rājyaṃ saputrā kārayiṣyasi || 12.93 ||

"—when I am dead and Rama gone to the forest, O worker of such deeds against that bull among men, you shall now indeed rule this widowed kingdom together with your son."

Shloka 94 (ayodhya.12.94)

त्वं राजपुत्रि दैवेन न्यवसो मम वेश्मनि । अकीर्तिश्चातुला लोके ध्रुवः परिभवश्च मे । सर्वभूतेषु चावज्ञा यथा पापकृतस्तथा ।। १२.९४ ।।

tvaṃ rājaputri daivena nyavaso mama veśmani | akīrtiścātulā loke dhruvaḥ paribhavaśca me | sarvabhūteṣu cāvajñā yathā pāpakṛtastathā || 12.94 ||

"O princess, by fate alone did you come to dwell in my house. Now boundless infamy in this world, and certain disgrace, shall fall to my lot, and contempt among all beings, as though I myself were the sinner."

Shloka 95 (ayodhya.12.95)

कथं रथैर्विभुर्यात्वा गजाश्वैश्च मुहुर्मुहुः । पद्भ्यां रामो महारण्ये वत्सो मे विचरिष्यति ।। १२.९५ ।।

kathaṃ rathairvibhuryātvā gajāśvaiśca muhurmuhuḥ | padbhyāṃ rāmo mahāraṇye vatso me vicariṣyati || 12.95 ||

"How, my own dear calf, that lord who always travelled again and again by chariot, elephant, and horse, will now go on foot through that vast forest?"

Shloka 96 (ayodhya.12.96)

यस्य चाहारसमये सूदाः कुण्डलधारिणः । अहंपूर्वाः पचन्ति स्म प्रसन्नाः पानभोजनम् ।। १२.९६ ।।

yasya cāhārasamaye sūdāḥ kuṇḍaladhāriṇaḥ | ahaṃpūrvāḥ pacanti sma prasannāḥ pānabhojanam || 12.96 ||

"He, at whose mealtime the earring-wearing cooks used to vie with one another to be first in serving him excellent food and drink—"

Shloka 97 (ayodhya.12.97)

स कथं नु कषायाणि तिक्तानि कटुकानि च । भक्षयन्वन्यमाहारं सुतो मे वर्तयिष्यति ।। १२.९७ ।।

sa kathaṃ nu kaṣāyāṇi tiktāni kaṭukāni ca | bhakṣayanvanyamāhāraṃ suto me vartayiṣyati || 12.97 ||

"—how will that son of mine now live, eating such astringent, bitter, and pungent forest fare?"

Shloka 98 (ayodhya.12.98)

महार्हवस्त्रसम्बद्धो भूत्वा चिरसुखोचितः । काषायपरिधानस्तु कथं रामो भविष्यति ।। १२.९८ ।।

mahārhavastrasambaddho bhūtvā cirasukhocitaḥ | kāṣāyaparidhānastu kathaṃ rāmo bhaviṣyati || 12.98 ||

"He, clothed till now in costly garments, long accustomed to comfort, how will he live upon the ground in ochre robes?"

Shloka 99 (ayodhya.12.99)

कस्येदं दारुणं वाक्यमेवंविधमपीरितम् । रामस्यारण्यगमनं भरतस्याभिषेचनम् ।। १२.९९ ।।

kasyedaṃ dāruṇaṃ vākyamevaṃvidhamapīritam | rāmasyāraṇyagamanaṃ bharatasyābhiṣecanam || 12.99 ||

"Whose is this dreadful, thoughtless utterance—one that speaks in a single breath of Rama's exile to the forest and Bharata's coronation?"

Shloka 100 (ayodhya.12.100)

धिगस्तु योषितो नाम शठाः स्वार्थपरायणाः । न ब्रवीमि स्त्रियः सर्वा भरतस्यैव मातरम् ।। १२.१०० ।।

dhigastu yoṣito nāma śaṭhāḥ svārthaparāyaṇāḥ | na bravīmi striyaḥ sarvā bharatasyaiva mātaram || 12.100 ||

"Shame on women, ever selfish and deceitful! I do not speak this of all women—only of Bharata's own mother."

Shloka 101 (ayodhya.12.101)

अनर्थभावेऽर्थपरे नृशंसे ममानुतापाय निवेशितासि । किमप्रियं पश्यसि मन्निमित्तं हितानुकारिण्यथवापि रामे ।। १२.१०१ ।।

anarthabhāve'rthapare nṛśaṃse mamānutāpāya niveśitāsi | kimapriyaṃ paśyasi mannimittaṃ hitānukāriṇyathavāpi rāme || 12.101 ||

"O cruel one, so given to self-interest, so set upon my torment—what displeasure do you see in me, or even in Rama, who has always sought your good?"

Shloka 102 (ayodhya.12.102)

परित्यजेयुः पितरोऽपि पुत्रान्भार्याः पतींश्चापि कृतानुरागाः । कृत्स्नं हि सर्वं कुपितं जगत्स्याद्दृष्ट्वैव रामं व्यसने निमग्नम् ।। १२.१०२ ।।

parityajeyuḥ pitaro'pi putrānbhāryāḥ patīṃścāpi kṛtānurāgāḥ | kṛtsnaṃ hi sarvaṃ kupitaṃ jagatsyāddṛṣṭvaiva rāmaṃ vyasane nimagnam || 12.102 ||

"Fathers might forsake their own sons, and loving wives their husbands too—for if Rama were seen plunged into such misfortune, the whole world entire would rise up in fury."

Shloka 103 (ayodhya.12.103)

अहं पुनर्देवकुमाररूपमलंकृतं तं सुतमाव्रजन्तम् । नन्दामि पश्यन्निव दर्शनेन भवामि दृष्ट्वैव पुनर्युवेव ।। १२.१०३ ।।

ahaṃ punardevakumārarūpamalaṃkṛtaṃ taṃ sutamāvrajantam | nandāmi paśyanniva darśanena bhavāmi dṛṣṭvaiva punaryuveva || 12.103 ||

"As for me, simply seeing that son of mine, adorned like a god's own child, coming toward me, I rejoice; seeing him again and again, I feel young once more."

Shloka 104 (ayodhya.12.104)

विना हि सूर्येण भवेत्प्रवृत्तिरवर्षता वज्रधरेण वापि । रामं तु गच्छन्तमितः समीक्ष्य जीवेन्न कश्चित्त्विति चेतना मे ।। १२.१०४ ।।

vinā hi sūryeṇa bhavetpravṛttiravarṣatā vajradhareṇa vāpi | rāmaṃ tu gacchantamitaḥ samīkṣya jīvenna kaścittviti cetanā me || 12.104 ||

"Even without the sun, or without Indra pouring down his rain, life might still go on; but seeing Rama depart from here, my very sense tells me not one soul could survive it."

Shloka 105 (ayodhya.12.105)

विनाशकामामहिताममित्रामावासयं मृत्युमिवात्मनस्त्वाम् । चिरं बताङ्केन धृतासि सर्पी महाविषा तेन हतोऽस्मि मोहात् ।। १२.१०५ ।।

vināśakāmāmahitāmamitrāmāvāsayaṃ mṛtyumivātmanastvām | ciraṃ batāṅkena dhṛtāsi sarpī mahāviṣā tena hato'smi mohāt || 12.105 ||

"You, wishing my destruction, unfriendly, an enemy indeed—I harboured you like my own death. Alas, long have I kept in my lap a highly venomous serpent, and through sheer delusion I am now undone."

Shloka 106 (ayodhya.12.106)

मया च रामेण सलक्ष्मणेन प्रशास्तु हीनो भरतस्त्वया सह । पुरं च राष्ट्रं च निहत्य बान्धवान्ममाहितानां च भवाभिहर्षिणी ।। १२.१०६ ।।

mayā ca rāmeṇa salakṣmaṇena praśāstu hīno bharatastvayā saha | puraṃ ca rāṣṭraṃ ca nihatya bāndhavānmamāhitānāṃ ca bhavābhiharṣiṇī || 12.106 ||

"Bereft of me and of Rama together with Lakshmana, let Bharata rule alone with you—having destroyed city, kingdom, and kinsmen, gladdening my enemies as you go!"

Shloka 107 (ayodhya.12.107)

नृशंसवृत्ते व्यसनप्रहारिणि प्रसह्य वाक्यं यदिहाद्य भाषसे । न नाम ते तेन मुखात्पतन्त्यधो विशीर्यमाणा दशनाः सहस्रधा ।। १२.१०७ ।।

nṛśaṃsavṛtte vyasanaprahāriṇi prasahya vākyaṃ yadihādya bhāṣase | na nāma te tena mukhātpatantyadho viśīryamāṇā daśanāḥ sahasradhā || 12.107 ||

"O cruel of nature, striker in the hour of calamity, when you thus violently utter such a word today, why do not your very teeth fall shattered a thousandfold from your mouth?"

Shloka 108 (ayodhya.12.108)

न किंचिदाहाहितमप्रियं वचो न वेत्ति रामः परुषाणि भाषितुम् । कथं तु रामे ह्यभिरामवादिनि ब्रवीषि दोषान्गुणनित्यसम्मते ।। १२.१०८ ।।

na kiṃcidāhāhitamapriyaṃ vaco na vetti rāmaḥ paruṣāṇi bhāṣitum | kathaṃ tu rāme hyabhirāmavādini bravīṣi doṣānguṇanityasammate || 12.108 ||

"Rama does not speak even a slightly unkind word; he does not know how to speak harshly at all. How then do you recount faults in Rama, who speaks so charmingly and is ever praised for his virtues?"

Shloka 109 (ayodhya.12.109)

प्रताम्य वा प्रज्वल वा प्रणश्य वा सहस्रशो वा स्फुटितां महीं व्रज । न ते करिष्यामि वचः सुदारुणं ममाहितं केकयराजपांसने ।। १२.१०९ ।।

pratāmya vā prajvala vā praṇaśya vā sahasraśo vā sphuṭitāṃ mahīṃ vraja | na te kariṣyāmi vacaḥ sudāruṇaṃ mamāhitaṃ kekayarājapāṃsane || 12.109 ||

"Faint away, or blaze up, or perish, or enter the earth split into a thousand fragments—O disgrace of the Kekaya race, I will never carry out this most terrible word of yours, so harmful to me."

Shloka 110 (ayodhya.12.110)

क्षुरोपमां नित्यमसत्प्रियंवदां प्रदुष्टभावां स्वकुलोपघातिनीम् । न जीवितुं त्वां विषहेऽमनोरमां दिधक्षमाणां हृदयं सबन्धनम् ।। १२.११० ।।

kṣuropamāṃ nityamasatpriyaṃvadāṃ praduṣṭabhāvāṃ svakulopaghātinīm | na jīvituṃ tvāṃ viṣahe'manoramāṃ didhakṣamāṇāṃ hṛdayaṃ sabandhanam || 12.110 ||

"Sharp as a razor, ever falsely sweet of speech, corrupt in nature, destroyer of your own family—I cannot bear that you, so unpleasing, intent on burning my very heart, should go on living."

Shloka 111 (ayodhya.12.111)

न जीवितं मेऽस्ति कुतः पुनः सुखं विनात्मजेनात्मवतां कुतो रतिः । ममाहितं देवि न कर्तुमर्हसि स्पृशामि पादावपि ते प्रसीद मे ।। १२.१११ ।।

na jīvitaṃ me'sti kutaḥ punaḥ sukhaṃ vinātmajenātmavatāṃ kuto ratiḥ | mamāhitaṃ devi na kartumarhasi spṛśāmi pādāvapi te prasīda me || 12.111 ||

"I have no life left now; whence then could there be happiness? Without a son, where is joy for one in his right mind? O queen, you ought not to do me this harm. I even touch your feet—be gracious to me."

Shloka 112 (ayodhya.12.112)

स भूमिपालो विलपन्ननाथवत्स्त्रिया गृहीतो हृदयेऽतिमात्रया । पपात देव्याश्चरणौ प्रसारितावुभावसम्प्राप्य यथाऽऽतुरस्तथा ।। १२.११२ ।।

sa bhūmipālo vilapannanāthavatstriyā gṛhīto hṛdaye'timātrayā | papāta devyāścaraṇau prasāritāvubhāvasamprāpya yathā''turastathā || 12.112 ||

That lord of the earth, wailing like one forsaken, his heart utterly seized by that woman, sank down reaching for the queen's outstretched feet—the two of them together, as though both stricken by the same affliction.