Rama's Resolve

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.19.1)

तदप्रियममित्रघ्नो वचनं मरणोपमम् । श्रुत्वा न विव्यथे रामः कैकेयीं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 19.1 ॥

tadapriyamamitraghno vacanaṃ maraṇopamam | śrutvā na vivyathe rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ cedamabravīt

Hearing that harsh word, deadly as death itself, the queller of foes, Rama, was not shaken; he spoke thus to Kaikeyi:

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.19.2)

एवमस्तु गमिष्यामि वनं वस्तुमहं त्वितः । जटाचीरधरो राज्ञः प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन् ॥ 19.2 ॥

evamastu gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ vastumahaṃ tvitaḥ | jaṭācīradharo rājñaḥ pratijñāmanupālayan

"So be it. I shall go from here to dwell in the forest, wearing matted locks and bark-garments, upholding the king's promise."

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.19.3)

इदं तु ज्ञातुमिच्छामि किमर्थं मां महीपतिः । नाभिनन्दति दुर्धर्षो यथापूर्वमरिंदमः ॥ 19.3 ॥

idaṃ tu jñātumicchāmi kimarthaṃ māṃ mahīpatiḥ | nābhinandati durdharṣo yathāpūrvamariṃdamaḥ

"But this I wish to know: why does the unassailable lord of the earth, the subduer of foes, not greet me as he did before?"

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.19.4)

मन्युर्न च त्वया कार्यो देवि ब्रूमि तवाग्रतः । यास्यामि भव सुप्रीता वनं चीरजटाधरः ॥ 19.4 ॥

manyurna ca tvayā kāryo devi brūmi tavāgrataḥ | yāsyāmi bhava suprītā vanaṃ cīrajaṭādharaḥ

"You need feel no resentment on my account, O queen; I tell you before you even ask -- I shall go to the forest wearing bark and matted hair; be at ease."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.19.5)

हितेन गुरुणा पित्रा कृतज्ञेन नृपेण च । नियुज्यमानो विस्रब्धः किं न कुर्यामहं प्रियम् ॥ 19.5 ॥

hitena guruṇā pitrā kṛtajñena nṛpeṇa ca | niyujyamāno visrabdhaḥ kiṃ na kuryāmahaṃ priyam

"Commanded trustingly by my venerable, grateful father, who is also my king, how could I not gladly do what pleases him?"

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.19.6)

अलीकं मानसं त्वेकं हृदयं दहते मम । स्वयं यन्नाह मां राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम् ॥ 19.6 ॥

alīkaṃ mānasaṃ tvekaṃ hṛdayaṃ dahate mama | svayaṃ yannāha māṃ rājā bharatasyābhiṣecanam

"Only this one delusion burns my heart -- that the king himself did not tell me of Bharata's coronation."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.19.7)

अहं हि सीतां राज्यं च प्राणानिष्टान् धनानि च । हृष्टो भ्रात्रे स्वयं दद्यां भरतायाप्रचोदितः ॥ 19.7 ॥

ahaṃ hi sītāṃ rājyaṃ ca prāṇāniṣṭān dhanāni ca | hṛṣṭo bhrātre svayaṃ dadyāṃ bharatāyāpracoditaḥ

"Unasked, I myself would gladly have given to my brother Bharata even Sita, the kingdom, my very life, all I hold dear, and all my wealth."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.19.8)

किं पुनर्मनुजेन्द्रेण स्वयं पित्रा प्रचोदितः । तव च प्रियकामार्थं प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन् ॥ 19.8 ॥

kiṃ punarmanujendreṇa svayaṃ pitrā pracoditaḥ | tava ca priyakāmārthaṃ pratijñāmanupālayan

"How much more so now, when I am urged by my father, the lord of men, himself, and act to fulfil your cherished wish and uphold his promise."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.19.9)

तथाश्वासय ह्रीमन्तं किं त्विदं यन्महीपतिः । वसुधासक्तनयनो मन्दमश्रूणि मुञ्चति ॥ 19.9 ॥

tathāśvāsaya hrīmantaṃ kiṃ tvidaṃ yanmahīpatiḥ | vasudhāsaktanayano mandamaśrūṇi muñcati

"So console him, then -- why is it that the king, his eyes fixed upon the ground, is slowly shedding tears?"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.19.10)

गच्छन्तु चैवानयितुं दूताः शीघ्रजवैर्हयैः । भरतं मातुलकुलादद्यैव नृपशासनात् ॥ 19.10 ॥

gacchantu caivānayituṃ dūtāḥ śīghrajavairhayaiḥ | bharataṃ mātulakulādadyaiva nṛpaśāsanāt

"Let messengers go at once, on swift horses, to bring Bharata this very day from his maternal uncle's house, by the king's command."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.19.11)

दण्डकारण्यमेषोऽहं गच्छाम्येव हि सत्वरः । अविचार्य पितुर्वाक्यं समा वस्तुं चतुर्दश ॥ 19.11 ॥

daṇḍakāraṇyameṣo'haṃ gacchāmyeva hi satvaraḥ | avicārya piturvākyaṃ samā vastuṃ caturdaśa

"I myself shall hasten to the Dandaka forest, to dwell there for fourteen years, without questioning my father's word."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.19.12)

सा हृष्टा तस्य तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामस्य कैकयी । प्रस्थानं श्रद्दधाना सा त्वरयामास राघवम् ॥ 19.12 ॥

sā hṛṣṭā tasya tad vākyaṃ śrutvā rāmasya kaikayī | prasthānaṃ śraddadhānā sā tvarayāmāsa rāghavam

Hearing these words of Rama, that Kaikeyi, delighted and now trusting in his departure, urged Raghava to make haste.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.19.13)

एवं भवतु यास्यन्ति दूताः शीघ्रजवैर्हयैः । भरतं मातुलकुलादिहावर्तयितुं नराः ॥ 19.13 ॥

evaṃ bhavatu yāsyanti dūtāḥ śīghrajavairhayaiḥ | bharataṃ mātulakulādihāvartayituṃ narāḥ

"So be it; let messengers go on swift horses to bring Bharata back from his maternal uncle's house."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.19.14)

तव त्वहं क्षमं मन्ये नोत्सुकस्य विलम्बनम् । राम तस्मादितः शीघ्रं वनं त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि ॥ 19.14 ॥

tava tvahaṃ kṣamaṃ manye notsukasya vilambanam | rāma tasmāditaḥ śīghraṃ vanaṃ tvaṃ gantumarhasi

"But I think it not fitting for one so eager as you to delay; therefore, Rama, you should go to the forest at once from here."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.19.15)

व्रीडान्वितः स्वयं यच्च नृपस्त्वां नाभिभाषते । नैतत् किंचिन्नरश्रेष्ठ मन्युरेषोऽपनीयताम् ॥ 19.15 ॥

vrīḍānvitaḥ svayaṃ yacca nṛpastvāṃ nābhibhāṣate | naitat kiṃcinnaraśreṣṭha manyureṣo'panīyatām

"It is only shame that keeps the king from speaking to you -- nothing more, best of men; let this resentment be set aside."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.19.16)

यावत्त्वं न वनं यातः पुरादस्मादतित्वरम् । पिता तावन्न ते राम स्नास्यते भोक्ष्यतेऽपि वा ॥ 19.16 ॥

yāvattvaṃ na vanaṃ yātaḥ purādasmādatitvaram | pitā tāvanna te rāma snāsyate bhokṣyate'pi vā

"For until you have gone in haste from this city to the forest, your father, Rama, will neither bathe nor take food."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.19.17)

धिक्कष्टमिति निःश्वस्य राजा शोकपरिप्लुतः । मूर्च्छितो न्यपतत् तस्मिन् पर्यङ्के हेमभूषिते ॥ 19.17 ॥

dhikkaṣṭamiti niḥśvasya rājā śokapariplutaḥ | mūrcchito nyapatat tasmin paryaṅke hemabhūṣite

Sighing, "Alas, what misery!", the king, overwhelmed with grief, fainted and fell upon that gold-adorned couch.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.19.18)

रामोऽप्युत्थाप्य राजानं कैकेय्याभिप्रचोदितः । कशयेव हतो वाजी वनं गन्तुं कृतत्वरः ॥ 19.18 ॥

rāmo'pyutthāpya rājānaṃ kaikeyyābhipracoditaḥ | kaśayeva hato vājī vanaṃ gantuṃ kṛtatvaraḥ

Rama lifted up the king, then, urged on again by Kaikeyi, hastened toward the forest, as a horse struck by the whip.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.19.19)

तदप्रियमनार्याया वचनं दारुणोदयम् । श्रुत्वा गतव्यथो रामः कैकेयीं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 19.19 ॥

tadapriyamanāryāyā vacanaṃ dāruṇodayam | śrutvā gatavyatho rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ vākyamabravīt

Hearing that harsh word of the ignoble woman, of such cruel consequence, Rama, his agitation gone, spoke this to Kaikeyi:

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.19.20)

नाहमर्थपरो देवि लोकमावस्तुमुत्सहे । विद्धि मामृषिभिस्तुल्यं विमलं धर्ममास्थितम् ॥ 19.20 ॥

nāhamarthaparo devi lokamāvastumutsahe | viddhi māmṛṣibhistulyaṃ vimalaṃ dharmamāsthitam

"I am not one bent on wealth, O queen; I am eager to embrace this world of the forest; know me to be one settled in pure righteousness, equal to the sages."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.19.21)

यत् तत्रभवतः किंचिच्छक्यं कर्तुं प्रियं मया । प्राणानपि परित्यज्य सर्वथा कृतमेव तत् ॥ 19.21 ॥

yat tatrabhavataḥ kiṃcicchakyaṃ kartuṃ priyaṃ mayā | prāṇānapi parityajya sarvathā kṛtameva tat

"Whatever little thing I am able to do that pleases my revered father, that I shall do in every way, even at the cost of my life."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.19.22)

न ह्यतो धर्मचरणं किंचिदस्ति महत्तरम् । यथा पितरि शुश्रूषा तस्य वा वचनक्रिया ॥ 19.22 ॥

na hyato dharmacaraṇaṃ kiṃcidasti mahattaram | yathā pitari śuśrūṣā tasya vā vacanakriyā

"There is indeed no greater observance of duty than this -- service to one's father, and the doing of his command."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.19.23)

अनुक्तोऽप्यत्रभवता भवत्या वचनादहम् । वने वत्स्यामि विजने वर्षाणीह चतुर्दश ॥ 19.23 ॥

anukto'pyatrabhavatā bhavatyā vacanādaham | vane vatsyāmi vijane varṣāṇīha caturdaśa

"Even had I not been told by my revered father, at your word alone I would dwell fourteen years in that lonely forest."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.19.24)

न नूनं मयि कैकेयि किंचिदाशंससे गुणान् । यद् राजानमवोचस्त्वं ममेश्वरतरा सती ॥ 19.24 ॥

na nūnaṃ mayi kaikeyi kiṃcidāśaṃsase guṇān | yad rājānamavocastvaṃ mameśvaratarā satī

"Surely, Kaikeyi, you see no merit at all in me, since you, who had every right over me, spoke of this to the king rather than to me directly."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.19.25)

यावन्मातरमापृच्छे सीतां चानुनयाम्यहम् । ततोऽद्यैव गमिष्यामि दण्डकानां महद् वनम् ॥ 19.25 ॥

yāvanmātaramāpṛcche sītāṃ cānunayāmyaham | tato'dyaiva gamiṣyāmi daṇḍakānāṃ mahad vanam

"As soon as I have taken leave of my mother, and comforted Sita, I shall this very day set out for the great forest of the Dandakas."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.19.26)

भरतः पालयेद् राज्यं शुश्रूषेच्च पितुर्यथा । तथा भवत्या कर्तव्यं स हि धर्मः सनातनः ॥ 19.26 ॥

bharataḥ pālayed rājyaṃ śuśrūṣecca pituryathā | tathā bhavatyā kartavyaṃ sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

"See to it that Bharata, while ruling the kingdom, also renders service to our father -- that indeed is the eternal duty."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.19.27)

रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा भृशं दुःखगतः पिता । शोकादशक्नुवन् वक्तुं प्ररुरोद महास्वनम् ॥ 19.27 ॥

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhagataḥ pitā | śokādaśaknuvan vaktuṃ praruroda mahāsvanam

Hearing Rama's words, the father, overcome with grief, unable to speak for sorrow, wept aloud.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.19.28)

वन्दित्वा चरणौ राज्ञो विसंज्ञस्य पितुस्तदा । कैकेय्याश्चाप्यनार्याया निष्पपात महाद्युतिः ॥ 19.28 ॥

vanditvā caraṇau rājño visaṃjñasya pitustadā | kaikeyyāścāpyanāryāyā niṣpapāta mahādyutiḥ

Then that most glorious Rama, having bowed at the feet of his fainted father and of that ignoble Kaikeyi, went forth.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.19.29)

स रामः पितरं कृत्वा कैकेयीं च प्रदक्षिणम् । निष्क्रम्यान्तःपुरात् तस्मात् स्वं ददर्श सुहृज्जनम् ॥ 19.29 ॥

sa rāmaḥ pitaraṃ kṛtvā kaikeyīṃ ca pradakṣiṇam | niṣkramyāntaḥpurāt tasmāt svaṃ dadarśa suhṛjjanam

Having circled his father and Kaikeyi in reverence, Rama left the inner apartments and there beheld his own companions.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.19.30)

तं बाष्पपरिपूर्णाक्षः पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह । लक्ष्मणः परमक्रुद्धः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः ॥ 19.30 ॥

taṃ bāṣpaparipūrṇākṣaḥ pṛṣṭhato'nujagāma ha | lakṣmaṇaḥ paramakruddhaḥ sumitrānandavardhanaḥ

Lakshmana, delighting Sumitra's heart, his eyes brimming with tears and greatly enraged, followed close behind him.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.19.31)

आभिषेचनिकं भाण्डं कृत्वा रामः प्रदक्षिणम् । शनैर्जगाम सापेक्षो दृष्टिं तत्राविचालयन् ॥ 19.31 ॥

ābhiṣecanikaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ kṛtvā rāmaḥ pradakṣiṇam | śanairjagāma sāpekṣo dṛṣṭiṃ tatrāvicālayan

Rama circled reverently around the vessels prepared for his coronation, and, his gaze fixed upon them with longing, walked slowly away.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.19.32)

न चास्य महतीं लक्ष्मीं राज्यनाशोऽपकर्षति । लोककान्तस्य कान्तत्वाच्छीतरश्मेरिव क्षयः ॥ 19.32 ॥

na cāsya mahatīṃ lakṣmīṃ rājyanāśo'pakarṣati | lokakāntasya kāntatvācchītaraśmeriva kṣayaḥ

The ruin of his kingdom could not diminish his great splendour, beloved as he was of all the world, no more than night can diminish the beauty of the cool-rayed moon.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.19.33)

न वनं गन्तुकामस्य त्यजतश्च वसुंधराम् । सर्वलोकातिगस्येव लक्ष्यते चित्तविक्रिया ॥ 19.33 ॥

na vanaṃ gantukāmasya tyajataśca vasuṃdharām | sarvalokātigasyeva lakṣyate cittavikriyā

In him, who was resolved to go to the forest and was giving up the earth, no disturbance of mind was seen at all, as in a sage who has passed beyond all worldly concern.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.19.34)

प्रतिषिध्य शुभं छत्रं व्यजने च स्वलंकृते । विसर्जयित्वा स्वजनं रथं पौरांस्तथा जनान् ॥ 19.34 ॥

pratiṣidhya śubhaṃ chatraṃ vyajane ca svalaṃkṛte | visarjayitvā svajanaṃ rathaṃ paurāṃstathā janān

Declining the auspicious umbrella and the finely wrought fans, and sending away his companions, his chariot, and the townsfolk,

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.19.35)

धारयन् मनसा दुःखमिन्द्रियाणि निगृह्य च । प्रविवेशात्मवान् वेश्म मातुरप्रियशंसिवान् ॥ 19.35 ॥

dhārayan manasā duḥkhamindriyāṇi nigṛhya ca | praviveśātmavān veśma māturapriyaśaṃsivān

holding his sorrow within his mind and mastering his senses, that self-possessed one entered his mother's house, bearing unwelcome news.

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.19.36)

सर्वोऽप्यभिजनः श्रीमान् श्रीमतः सत्यवादिनः । नालक्षयत रामस्य कंचिदाकारमानने ॥ 19.36 ॥

sarvo'pyabhijanaḥ śrīmān śrīmataḥ satyavādinaḥ | nālakṣayata rāmasya kaṃcidākāramānane

All those close to him, wise as they were, could detect no trace of change on the face of that glorious, truth-speaking Rama.

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.19.37)

उचितं च महाबाहुर्न जहौ हर्षमात्मवान् । शारदः समुदीर्णांशुश्चन्द्रस्तेज इवात्मजम् ॥ 19.37 ॥

ucitaṃ ca mahābāhurna jahau harṣamātmavān | śāradaḥ samudīrṇāṃśuścandrasteja ivātmajam

That mighty-armed one did not abandon his natural cheer, even as the autumn moon, rising with its full rays, never loses its native splendour.

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.19.38)

वाचा मधुरया रामः सर्वं सम्मानयञ्जनम् । मातुः समीपं धर्मात्मा प्रविवेश महायशाः ॥ 19.38 ॥

vācā madhurayā rāmaḥ sarvaṃ sammānayañjanam | mātuḥ samīpaṃ dharmātmā praviveśa mahāyaśāḥ

Speaking sweetly, honouring everyone, that righteous, illustrious Rama approached his mother's presence.

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.19.39)

तं गुणैः समतां प्राप्तो भ्राता विपुलविक्रमः । सौमित्रिरनुवव्राज धारयन् दुःखमात्मजम् ॥ 19.39 ॥

taṃ guṇaiḥ samatāṃ prāpto bhrātā vipulavikramaḥ | saumitriranuvavrāja dhārayan duḥkhamātmajam

Lakshmana, his brother, equal to him in virtue and of vast prowess, followed him, holding the grief within himself.

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.19.40)

प्रविश्य वेश्मातिभृशं मुदा युतं समीक्ष्य तां चार्थविपत्तिमागताम् । न चैव रामोऽत्र जगाम विक्रियां सुहृज्जनस्यात्मविपत्तिशङ्कया ॥ 19.40 ॥

praviśya veśmātibhṛśaṃ mudā yutaṃ samīkṣya tāṃ cārthavipattimāgatām | na caiva rāmo'tra jagāma vikriyāṃ suhṛjjanasyātmavipattiśaṅkayā

Entering the house, filled as it was with the greatest joy, and seeing that true calamity now come upon it, Rama showed no change at all, for fear of the shock it might bring upon his own dear kin.