Kausalya's Grief and Rama's Farewell

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.24.1)

तम् समीक्ष्य तु अवहितम् पितुर् निर्देश पालने । कौसल्या बाष्प सम्रुद्धा वचो धर्मिष्ठम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 24.1 ॥

tam samīkṣya tu avahitam pitur nirdeśa pālane | kausalyā bāṣpa samruddhā vaco dharmiṣṭham abravīt

Seeing him thus intent on carrying out his father's command, Kausalya, her voice choked with tears, spoke these righteous words:

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.24.2)

अदृष्ट दुह्खो धर्मात्मा सर्व भूत प्रियम् वदः । मयि जातः दशरथात् कथम् उन्चेन वर्तयेत् ॥ 24.2 ॥

adṛṣṭa duhkho dharmātmā sarva bhūta priyam vadaḥ | mayi jātaḥ daśarathāt katham uncena vartayet

"Born to me and to Dasharatha, righteous, speaking kindly to every being, and never having known suffering — how shall he live by gleaning fallen grain?"

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.24.3)

यस्य भृत्याः च दासाः च मृष्टानि अन्नानि भुन्जते । कथम् स भोक्ष्यते नाथो वने मूल फलानि अयम् ॥ 24.3 ॥

yasya bhṛtyāḥ ca dāsāḥ ca mṛṣṭāni annāni bhunjate | katham sa bhokṣyate nātho vane mūla phalāni ayam

"He whose very servants and attendants partake of delicious foods — how shall this lord now live on roots and fruits in the forest?"

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.24.4)

क एतत् श्रद्दधेत् श्रुत्वा कस्य वा न भवेद् भयम् । गुणवान् दयितः राज्ञो राघवो यद् विवास्यते ॥ 24.4 ॥

ka etat śraddadhet śrutvā kasya vā na bhaved bhayam | guṇavān dayitaḥ rājño rāghavo yad vivāsyate

"Who, hearing this, could believe it? Who would not be seized with fear, that Raghava — virtuous and beloved of the king — is being sent into exile?"

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.24.5)

नूनम् तु बलवान् लोके कृतान्तः सर्वमादिशन् । लोके रामाभिरामस्त्वम् वनम् यत्र गमिष्यसि ॥ 24.5 ॥

nūnam tu balavān loke kṛtāntaḥ sarvamādiśan | loke rāmābhirāmastvam vanam yatra gamiṣyasi

"Surely, then, destiny is indeed the mightiest force in this world, ordaining all things — since you, Rama, the delight of the world, are the one now to go to the forest."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.24.6)

अयम् तु मामात्मभवस्तवादर्शनमारुतः । विलापदुःखसमिधो रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः ॥ 24.6 ॥

ayam tu māmātmabhavastavādarśanamārutaḥ | vilāpaduḥkhasamidho ruditāśruhutāhutiḥ

"For this fire, born within me, fed by the wind of not seeing you, its kindling my wailing and grief, its oblation the tears poured out in weeping,

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.24.7)

चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूस्तवागमनचिन्तजः । कर्शयित्वा भृशम् पुत्र निश्वासायाससम्भवः ॥ 24.7 ॥

cintābāṣpamahādhūstavāgamanacintajaḥ | karśayitvā bhṛśam putra niśvāsāyāsasambhavaḥ

— its great smoke the tears born of anxious thought over your return, its heat arising from sighs and exhaustion — that fire, my son, having worn me utterly away,

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.24.8)

त्वया विहीनाम् इह माम् शोक अग्निर् अतुलो महान् । प्रधक्ष्यति यथा कक्षम् चित्र भानुर् हिम अत्यये ॥ 24.8 ॥

tvayā vihīnām iha mām śoka agnir atulo mahān | pradhakṣyati yathā kakṣam citra bhānur hima atyaye

— that vast and matchless fire of grief shall consume me, deprived of you, just as the fierce sun, at winter's end, consumes dry grass."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.24.9)

कथम् हि धेनुः स्वम् वत्सम् गच्चन्तम् न अनुगच्चति । अहम् त्वा अनुगमिष्यामि यत्र पुत्र गमिष्यसि ॥ 24.9 ॥

katham hi dhenuḥ svam vatsam gaccantam na anugaccati | aham tvā anugamiṣyāmi yatra putra gamiṣyasi

"For how could a cow fail to follow her own calf as it walks away? I too, my son, shall follow you wherever you go."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.24.10)

तथा निगदितम् मात्रा तत् वाक्यम् पुरुष ऱ्षभः । श्रुत्वा रामः अब्रवीद् वाक्यम् मातरम् भृश दुह्खिताम् ॥ 24.10 ॥

tathā nigaditam mātrā tat vākyam puruṣa ṟṣabhaḥ | śrutvā rāmaḥ abravīd vākyam mātaram bhṛśa duhkhitām

Having heard these words thus spoken by his mother, Rama, that bull among men, spoke in turn to his deeply grieving mother:

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.24.11)

कैकेय्या वन्चितः राजा मयि च अरण्यम् आश्रिते । भवत्या च परित्यक्तः न नूनम् वर्तयिष्यति ॥ 24.11 ॥

kaikeyyā vancitaḥ rājā mayi ca araṇyam āśrite | bhavatyā ca parityaktaḥ na nūnam vartayiṣyati

"Deceived already by Kaikeyi — if, once I have taken to the forest, he is abandoned by you as well, our father will surely not go on living."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.24.12)

भर्तुः किल परित्यागो नृशंसः केवलम् स्त्रियाः । स भवत्या न कर्तव्यो मनसा अपि विगर्हितः ॥ 24.12 ॥

bhartuḥ kila parityāgo nṛśaṃsaḥ kevalam striyāḥ | sa bhavatyā na kartavyo manasā api vigarhitaḥ

"For a woman, the abandonment of her husband is nothing but a cruel and reprehensible act; you must not do this, even in thought."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.24.13)

यावज् जीवति काकुत्स्थः पिता मे जगती पतिः । शुश्रूषा क्रियताम् तावत् स हि धर्मः सनातनः ॥ 24.13 ॥

yāvaj jīvati kākutsthaḥ pitā me jagatī patiḥ | śuśrūṣā kriyatām tāvat sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

"So long as Kakutstha, my father and lord of the earth, is alive, let service be rendered to him; that indeed is the eternal law."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.24.14)

एवम् उक्ता तु रामेण कौसल्या शुभ दर्शना । तथा इति उवाच सुप्रीता रामम् अक्लिष्ट कारिणम् ॥ 24.14 ॥

evam uktā tu rāmeṇa kausalyā śubha darśanā | tathā iti uvāca suprītā rāmam akliṣṭa kāriṇam

Thus addressed by Rama, the fair Kausalya, well pleased, replied "so be it" to Rama, who acted always without faltering.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.24.15)

एवम् उक्तः तु वचनम् रामः धर्मभ्ऱ्ताम् वरः । भूयः ताम् अब्रवीद् वाक्यम् मातरम् भृश दुह्खिताम् ॥ 24.15 ॥

evam uktaḥ tu vacanam rāmaḥ dharmabhṟtām varaḥ | bhūyaḥ tām abravīd vākyam mātaram bhṛśa duhkhitām

Thus addressed, Rama, foremost of the upholders of righteousness, spoke once more these words to his deeply grieving mother.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.24.16)

मया चैव भवत्या च कर्तव्यम् वचनम् पितुः । राजा भर्ता गुरुः श्रेष्ठः सर्वेषाम् ईश्वरः प्रभुः ॥ 24.16 ॥

mayā caiva bhavatyā ca kartavyam vacanam pituḥ | rājā bhartā guruḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarveṣām īśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

"The word of our father must be honored by both me and you; he is king, husband, foremost of gurus, lord and master of us all."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.24.17)

इमानि तु महा अरण्ये विह्ऱ्त्य नव पन्च च । वर्षाणि परम प्रीतः स्थास्यामि वचने तव ॥ 24.17 ॥

imāni tu mahā araṇye vihṟtya nava panca ca | varṣāṇi parama prītaḥ sthāsyāmi vacane tava

"Having spent these fourteen years wandering in the great forest, I shall then, with great joy, abide once more by your word."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.24.18)

एवम् उक्ता प्रियम् पुत्रम् बाष्प पूर्ण आनना तदा । उवाच परम आर्ता तु कौसल्या पुत्र वत्सला ॥ 24.18 ॥

evam uktā priyam putram bāṣpa pūrṇa ānanā tadā | uvāca parama ārtā tu kausalyā putra vatsalā

Thus addressed, Kausalya, doting on her son and now deeply distressed, her face filled with tears, spoke then to her beloved son:

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.24.19)

आसाम् राम सपत्नीनाम् वस्तुम् मध्ये न मे क्षमम् । नय माम् अपि काकुत्स्थ वनम् वन्यम् म्ऱ्गीम् यथा ॥ 24.19 ॥

āsām rāma sapatnīnām vastum madhye na me kṣamam | naya mām api kākutstha vanam vanyam mṟgīm yathā

"Rama, I have not the strength to go on living among these co-wives; take me too, Kakutstha, to the forest, as one would lead a wild doe to the woods."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.24.20)

यदि ते गमने बुद्धिः कृता पितुर् अपेक्षया । ताम् तथा रुदतीम् रामः रुदन् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 24.20 ॥

yadi te gamane buddhiḥ kṛtā pitur apekṣayā | tām tathā rudatīm rāmaḥ rudan vacanam abravīt

"If your resolve to go has indeed been made out of regard for father's wish —" To her thus weeping, Rama, himself weeping, spoke these words:

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.24.21)

जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतम् प्रभुर् एव च । भवत्या मम चैवाद्य राजा प्रभवति प्रभुः ॥ 24.21 ॥

jīvantyā hi striyā bhartā daivatam prabhur eva ca | bhavatyā mama caivādya rājā prabhavati prabhuḥ

"For a living woman, her husband is indeed her deity and her lord; and it is the king who now holds authority over both you and me."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.24.22)

न ह्यनाथा वयं राज्ज्ञा लोकनाथेन धीम ता । भरतश्चापि धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः ॥ 24.22 ॥

na hyanāthā vayaṃ rājjñā lokanāthena dhīma tā | bharataścāpi dharmātmā sarvabhūtapriyaṃvadaḥ

"We are indeed not without a protector, so long as that wise king, lord of the world, is there; and Bharata too is righteous-souled, speaking kindly to every being."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.24.23)

भवतीमनुवर्तेत स हिधर्मरतः सदा । यथा मयि तु निष्क्रान्ते पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवः ॥ 24.23 ॥

bhavatīmanuvarteta sa hidharmarataḥ sadā | yathā mayi tu niṣkrānte putraśokena pārthivaḥ

"He, ever devoted to righteousness, will always attend faithfully upon you — so that, when I have gone away, the king, through grief for his son,

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.24.24)

श्रमम् न अवाप्नुयात् किंचित् अप्रमत्ता तथा कुरु । दारुणश्चाप्ययम् शोको यथैनम् न विनाशयेत् ॥ 24.24 ॥

śramam na avāpnuyāt kiṃcit apramattā tathā kuru | dāruṇaścāpyayam śoko yathainam na vināśayet

— may not suffer even the slightest weariness; act, then, with unfailing care in that way, so that this terrible grief may not destroy him."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.24.25)

राज्ञो वृद्धस्य सततम् हितम् चर समाहिता । व्रत उपवास निरता या नारी परम उत्तमा ॥ 24.25 ॥

rājño vṛddhasya satatam hitam cara samāhitā | vrata upavāsa niratā yā nārī parama uttamā

"Attend always, with a composed mind, to the welfare of our aged king. Even a woman most devoted to vows and fasting, who is otherwise the finest of the excellent —

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.24.26)

भर्तारम् न अनुवर्तेत सा च पाप गतिर् भवेत् । भर्तुः शुश्रूषया नारी लभते स्वर्गमु त्तमम् ॥ 24.26 ॥

bhartāram na anuvarteta sā ca pāpa gatir bhavet | bhartuḥ śuśrūṣayā nārī labhate svargamu ttamam

— if she does not attend upon her husband, falls into a sinful state; whereas, by service to her husband, a woman attains the highest heaven."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.24.27)

अपि या निर्नमस्कारा निवृत्ता देवपूजनात् । शुश्रूषम् एव कुर्वीत भर्तुः प्रिय हिते रता ॥ 24.27 ॥

api yā nirnamaskārā nivṛttā devapūjanāt | śuśrūṣam eva kurvīta bhartuḥ priya hite ratā

"Even one who offers no obeisance and abstains from the worship of gods — let her, devoted to her husband's love and welfare, render service to him alone;

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.24.28)

एष धर्मः पुरा द्ऱ्ष्टः लोके वेदे श्रुतः स्म्ऱ्तः । अग्निकार्येषु च सदा सुमनोभिश्च देवताः ॥ 24.28 ॥

eṣa dharmaḥ purā dṟṣṭaḥ loke vede śrutaḥ smṟtaḥ | agnikāryeṣu ca sadā sumanobhiśca devatāḥ

— this is the righteousness seen of old in the world, heard of in the Veda, and handed down in tradition. And always, in the fire-rites and with fair flowers, the gods —

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.24.29)

पूज्याः ते मत् क्ऱ्ते देवि ब्राह्मणाः चैव सुव्रताः । एवम् कालम् प्रतीक्षस्व मम आगमन कान्क्षिणी ॥ 24.29 ॥

pūjyāḥ te mat kṟte devi brāhmaṇāḥ caiva suvratāḥ | evam kālam pratīkṣasva mama āgamana kānkṣiṇī

— should be worshipped by you for my sake, O mother, along with brahmins of good vows. In this manner await the time of my return, longing for me;

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.24.30)

प्राप्स्यसे परमम् कामम् मयि प्रत्यागते सति । यदि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम् ॥ 24.30 ॥

prāpsyase paramam kāmam mayi pratyāgate sati | yadi dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho dhārayiṣyati jīvitam

— you shall obtain your highest desire once I have returned, provided our father, the foremost of the upholders of dharma, still holds on to life.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.24.31)

यदि धर्मभ्ऱ्ताम् श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम् । एवम् उक्ता तु रामेण बाष्प पर्याकुल ईक्षणा ॥ 24.31 ॥

yadi dharmabhṟtām śreṣṭho dhārayiṣyati jīvitam | evam uktā tu rāmeṇa bāṣpa paryākula īkṣaṇā

Thus addressed by Rama, Kausalya, her eyes clouded with tears and afflicted by grief for her son, spoke these words to Rama:

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.24.32)

कौसल्या पुत्र शोक आर्ता रामम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् । गमने सुकृताम् बुद्धिम् न ते शक्नोमि पुत्रक ॥ 24.32 ॥

kausalyā putra śoka ārtā rāmam vacanam abravīt | gamane sukṛtām buddhim na te śaknomi putraka

"My child, I am unable to turn back this firm resolve of yours to go; O hero, time indeed is hard to overcome."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.24.33)

विनिवर्तयितुम् वीर नूनम् कालो दुरत्ययः । गच्च पुत्र त्वम् एक अग्रः भद्रम् ते अस्तु सदा विभो ॥ 24.33 ॥

vinivartayitum vīra nūnam kālo duratyayaḥ | gacca putra tvam eka agraḥ bhadram te astu sadā vibho

"Go, my son, single-minded in your purpose; may good ever attend you, mighty one. Only when you have returned again shall I be free of this weariness."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.24.34)

पुनस्त्वयि निवृत्ते तु भविष्यामि गतक्लमा । प्रत्यागते महाभागे कृतार्थे चरितव्रते ॥ 24.34 ॥

punastvayi nivṛtte tu bhaviṣyāmi gataklamā | pratyāgate mahābhāge kṛtārthe caritavrate

"When you, most fortunate one, return, your purpose accomplished, your vow fulfilled, and your debt to your father discharged, I shall obtain the highest happiness."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.24.35)

पितुरानृण्यताम् प्राप्तेत्वयि लप्स्ये परम् सुखम् । कृतान्तस्य गतिः पुत्र दुर्विभाव्या सदा भुवि ॥ 24.35 ॥

piturānṛṇyatām prāptetvayi lapsye param sukham | kṛtāntasya gatiḥ putra durvibhāvyā sadā bhuvi

"The course of fate, my son, is ever hard to fathom on this earth — that which now impels you, cutting short my very words, Raghava,

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.24.36)

यस्त्वा संचोदयति मे वच आच्चिद्य राघव । गच्छेदानीम् महाबाहो क्षेमेण पुनरागतः ॥ 24.36 ॥

yastvā saṃcodayati me vaca āccidya rāghava | gacchedānīm mahābāho kṣemeṇa punarāgataḥ

— go now, mighty-armed one; returning safely, my son, you shall gladden me once more with your gentle and pleasing words."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.24.37)

नन्दयिष्यसि माम् पुत्रः साम्ना वाक्येन चारुणा । अपीदानीम् स कालः स्स्याद्वनात्प्रत्यागतम् पुनः ॥ 24.37 ॥

nandayiṣyasi mām putraḥ sāmnā vākyena cāruṇā | apīdānīm sa kālaḥ ssyādvanātpratyāgatam punaḥ

"Might that time come even now, when I shall see you returned once more from the forest — you, my child, still wearing your matted locks and garment of bark!"

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.24.38)

यत्त्वाम् पुत्रकः पश्येयम् जटावल्कधारिणम् । तथा हि रामम् वन वास निश्चितम् । ददर्श देवी परमेण चेतसा । उवाच रामम् शुभ लक्षणम् वचो । बभूव च स्वस्त्ययन अभिकान्क्षिणी ॥ 24.38 ॥

yattvām putrakaḥ paśyeyam jaṭāvalkadhāriṇam | tathā hi rāmam vana vāsa niścitam | dadarśa devī parameṇa cetasā | uvāca rāmam śubha lakṣaṇam vaco | babhūva ca svastyayana abhikānkṣiṇī

Thus did the queen, with all her heart, look upon Rama, resolved as he was upon his forest exile; she spoke words to Rama of auspicious import, and became eager to perform the rites of benediction for him.