The Gifts of Parting

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.32.1)

ततः शासनम् आज्ञाय भ्रातुः शुभतरम् प्रियम् । गत्वा स प्रविवेश आशु सुयज्ञस्य निवेशनम् ॥ 32.1 ॥

tataḥ śāsanam ājñāya bhrātuḥ śubhataram priyam | gatvā sa praviveśa āśu suyajñasya niveśanam

Then, obeying his brother's most auspicious and kindly command, he went at once and entered the dwelling of Suyajna.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.32.2)

तम् विप्रम् अग्नि अगारस्थम् वन्दित्वा लक्ष्मणो अब्रवीत् । सखे अभ्यागच्च पश्य त्वम् वेश्म दुष्कर कारिणः ॥ 32.2 ॥

tam vipram agni agārastham vanditvā lakṣmaṇo abravīt | sakhe abhyāgacca paśya tvam veśma duṣkara kāriṇaḥ

Having saluted that brahmin seated in his fire-chamber, Lakshmana said: "Friend, come and see the house of him who now undertakes an arduous task."

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.32.3)

ततः संध्याम् उपास्य आशु गत्वा सौमित्रिणा सह । जुष्टम् तत् प्राविशल् लक्ष्म्या रम्यम् राम निवेशनम् ॥ 32.3 ॥

tataḥ saṃdhyām upāsya āśu gatvā saumitriṇā saha | juṣṭam tat prāviśal lakṣmyā ramyam rāma niveśanam

Then, having performed his evening worship, he went at once with Saumitri and entered Rama's beautiful dwelling, which was the abode of Lakshmi herself.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.32.4)

तम् आगतम् वेदविदम् प्रान्जलिः सीतया सह । सुयज्ञम् अभिचक्राम राघवो अग्निम् इव अर्चितम् ॥ 32.4 ॥

tam āgatam vedavidam prānjaliḥ sītayā saha | suyajñam abhicakrāma rāghavo agnim iva arcitam

Raghava, with joined palms, together with Sita, circled around Suyajna who had thus arrived — that knower of the Vedas, venerable as sacred fire.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.32.5)

जात रूपमयैः मुख्यैः अन्गदैः कुण्डलैः शुभैः । सहेम सूत्रैः मणिभिः केयूरैः वलयैः अपि ॥ 32.5 ॥

jāta rūpamayaiḥ mukhyaiḥ angadaiḥ kuṇḍalaiḥ śubhaiḥ | sahema sūtraiḥ maṇibhiḥ keyūraiḥ valayaiḥ api

With excellent armlets of pure gold, with lovely earrings, with gems strung on golden threads, with keyuras and bracelets as well —

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.32.6)

अन्यैः च रत्नैः बहुभिः काकुत्स्थः प्रत्यपूजयत् । सुयज्ञम् स तदा उवाच रामः सीता प्रचोदितः ॥ 32.6 ॥

anyaiḥ ca ratnaiḥ bahubhiḥ kākutsthaḥ pratyapūjayat | suyajñam sa tadā uvāca rāmaḥ sītā pracoditaḥ

— and with many other precious jewels, Kakutstha honoured Suyajna. Then, urged by Sita, Rama spoke to him thus:

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.32.7)

हारम् च हेम सूत्रम् च भार्यायै सौम्य हारय । रशनाम् च अधुना सीता दातुम् इच्चति ते सखे ॥ 32.7 ॥

hāram ca hema sūtram ca bhāryāyai saumya hāraya | raśanām ca adhunā sītā dātum iccati te sakhe

"O gentle friend, take this necklace, this golden chain, and this girdle as well — Sita now wishes to give them to your wife."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.32.8)

अङ्गदानि विचित्राणि केयूराणि शुभानि च । प्रयच्छति सखी तुभ्यम् भार्यायै गच्चती वनम् ॥ 32.8 ॥

aṅgadāni vicitrāṇi keyūrāṇi śubhāni ca | prayacchati sakhī tubhyam bhāryāyai gaccatī vanam

"My friend, about to depart for the forest, gives you, for your wife, these wondrous armlets and these beautiful keyuras."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.32.9)

पर्यङ्कमग्र्यास्तरणम् नानारत्नविभूषितम् । तम् अपि इच्चति वैदेही प्रतिष्ठापयितुम् त्वयि ॥ 32.9 ॥

paryaṅkamagryāstaraṇam nānāratnavibhūṣitam | tam api iccati vaidehī pratiṣṭhāpayitum tvayi

"That excellent couch too, spread with a fine coverlet and adorned with many kinds of jewels, Vaidehi wishes to place with you."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.32.10)

नागः शत्रुम् जयो नाम मातुलो यम् ददौ मम । तम् ते गज सहस्रेण ददामि द्विज पुम्गव ॥ 32.10 ॥

nāgaḥ śatrum jayo nāma mātulo yam dadau mama | tam te gaja sahasreṇa dadāmi dvija pumgava

"O foremost of brahmins, the elephant named Shatrunjaya, which my maternal uncle gave to me — that, together with a thousand elephants, I give to you."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.32.11)

इति उक्तः स हि रामेण सुयज्ञः प्रतिगृह्य तत् । राम लक्ष्मण सीतानाम् प्रयुयोज आशिषः शिवाः ॥ 32.11 ॥

iti uktaḥ sa hi rāmeṇa suyajñaḥ pratigṛhya tat | rāma lakṣmaṇa sītānām prayuyoja āśiṣaḥ śivāḥ

Thus addressed by Rama, Suyajna accepted the gift, and bestowed auspicious blessings upon Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.32.12)

अथ भ्रातरम् अव्यग्रम् प्रियम् रामः प्रियम् वदः । सौमित्रिम् तम् उवाच इदम् ब्रह्मा इव त्रिदश ईश्वरम् ॥ 32.12 ॥

atha bhrātaram avyagram priyam rāmaḥ priyam vadaḥ | saumitrim tam uvāca idam brahmā iva tridaśa īśvaram

Then Rama, ever gentle of speech, spoke calmly to his beloved brother Saumitri, as Brahma might speak to the lord of the thirty gods.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.32.13)

अगस्त्यम् कौशिकम् चैव ताव् उभौ ब्राह्मण उत्तमौ । अर्चय आहूय सौमित्रे रत्नैः सस्यम् इव अम्बुभिः ॥ 32.13 ॥

agastyam kauśikam caiva tāv ubhau brāhmaṇa uttamau | arcaya āhūya saumitre ratnaiḥ sasyam iva ambubhiḥ

"O Saumitri, summon Agastya and Kaushika, those two excellent brahmins, and honour them both with jewels, as a crop is nourished with water."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.32.14)

तर्पयस्व महाबाहो गोसहसरैश्च मानद । सुवर्णै रजतैश्चैव मणिभिश्च महाधनैः ॥ 32.14 ॥

tarpayasva mahābāho gosahasaraiśca mānada | suvarṇai rajataiścaiva maṇibhiśca mahādhanaiḥ

"O mighty-armed giver of honour, satisfy them with thousands of cows, with gold and silver, and with precious gems of great value."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.32.15)

कौसल्याम् च याअशीर्भिर् भक्तः पर्युपतिष्ठति । आचार्यः तैत्तिरीयाणाम् अभिरूपः च वेदवित् ॥ 32.15 ॥

kausalyām ca yāaśīrbhir bhaktaḥ paryupatiṣṭhati | ācāryaḥ taittirīyāṇām abhirūpaḥ ca vedavit

"And the brahmin who, learned in the Taittiriya school, a preceptor, worthy in bearing and versed in the Veda, devotedly attends upon Kausalya with his blessings —"

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.32.16)

तस्य यानम् च दासीः च सौमित्रे सम्प्रदापय । कौशेयानि च वस्त्राणि यावत् तुष्यति स द्विजः ॥ 32.16 ॥

tasya yānam ca dāsīḥ ca saumitre sampradāpaya | kauśeyāni ca vastrāṇi yāvat tuṣyati sa dvijaḥ

"— to him, O Saumitri, give a conveyance and serving-maids, and silken garments, until that brahmin is fully satisfied."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.32.17)

सूतः चित्र रथः च आर्यः सचिवः सुचिर उषितः । तोषय एनम् महा अर्हैः च रत्नैः वस्त्रैः धनैअः तथा ॥ 32.17 ॥

sūtaḥ citra rathaḥ ca āryaḥ sacivaḥ sucira uṣitaḥ | toṣaya enam mahā arhaiḥ ca ratnaiḥ vastraiḥ dhanaiaḥ tathā

"The charioteer Chitraratha, our father's noble minister of long standing — gratify him with precious jewels of great worth, with garments, and with wealth."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.32.18)

पशुकाभिकछ सर्वाभिर्गवाम् दशशतेन च । ये चेमे कथकालापा बहवो दण्डमाणवाः ॥ 32.18 ॥

paśukābhikacha sarvābhirgavām daśaśatena ca | ye ceme kathakālāpā bahavo daṇḍamāṇavāḥ

"— with all manner of livestock, and with a thousand cows besides. And these many young ascetics who carry the staff, of the Katha and Kalapa schools —"

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.32.19)

नित्यस्वाध्यायशीलत्वान्नान्यत्कुर्वन्ति किंचन । अलसाः स्वादुकामाश्च महताम् चापि सम्मताः ॥ 32.19 ॥

nityasvādhyāyaśīlatvānnānyatkurvanti kiṃcana | alasāḥ svādukāmāśca mahatām cāpi sammatāḥ

"— who, given always to the study of scripture, undertake no other austerity, who seek only sweet food and are yet honoured even by the great —"

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.32.20)

तेषाम् अशीति यानानि रत्नपूर्णानि दापय । शालि वाह सहस्रम् च द्वे शते भद्रकान् तथा ॥ 32.20 ॥

teṣām aśīti yānāni ratnapūrṇāni dāpaya | śāli vāha sahasram ca dve śate bhadrakān tathā

"— to them give eighty carts laden with jewels, a thousand bullocks bearing rice, and two hundred oxen fit for farming as well."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.32.21)

व्यन्जन अर्थम् च सौमित्रे गो सहस्रम् उपाकुरु । मेखलीनाम् महासघः कौसल्याम् समुपस्थितः । तेषाम् सहस्रम् सौमित्रे प्रत्येकम् सम्प्रदापय ॥ 32.21 ॥

vyanjana artham ca saumitre go sahasram upākuru | mekhalīnām mahāsaghaḥ kausalyām samupasthitaḥ | teṣām sahasram saumitre pratyekam sampradāpaya

"And for their provisions, O Saumitri, provide a thousand cows. There is also a great company of girded brahmacharins in attendance upon Kausalya — to each of them too, O Saumitri, give a thousand cows."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.32.22)

अम्बा यथा च सा नन्देत्कौसल्या मम दक्षिणाम् । तथा द्विजातीम् स्तान्सर्वान् लक्ष्मण अर्चय सर्वशः ॥ 32.22 ॥

ambā yathā ca sā nandetkausalyā mama dakṣiṇām | tathā dvijātīm stānsarvān lakṣmaṇa arcaya sarvaśaḥ

"So that my mother Kausalya may rejoice at my gift, honour all those brahmins, O Lakshmana, in every way."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.32.23)

ततः स पुरुष व्याघ्रः तत् धनम् लक्ष्मणः स्वयम् । यथा उक्तम् ब्राह्मण इन्द्राणाम् अददात् धनदो यथा ॥ 32.23 ॥

tataḥ sa puruṣa vyāghraḥ tat dhanam lakṣmaṇaḥ svayam | yathā uktam brāhmaṇa indrāṇām adadāt dhanado yathā

Then Lakshmana, that tiger among men, himself gave away that wealth to the foremost of brahmins exactly as instructed, like Kubera the lord of riches.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.32.24)

अथ अब्रवीद् बाष्प कलांस् तिष्ठतः च उपजीविनः । सम्प्रदाय बहु द्रव्यम् एकैकस्य उपजीविनः ॥ 32.24 ॥

atha abravīd bāṣpa kalāṃs tiṣṭhataḥ ca upajīvinaḥ | sampradāya bahu dravyam ekaikasya upajīvinaḥ

Then, having given abundant wealth to each of his attendants who stood there with tears choking their throats, he spoke to them thus:

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.32.25)

लक्ष्मणस्य च यद् वेश्म गृहम् च यद् इदम् मम । अशून्यम् कार्यम् एकैकम् यावद् आगमनम् मम ॥ 32.25 ॥

lakṣmaṇasya ca yad veśma gṛham ca yad idam mama | aśūnyam kāryam ekaikam yāvad āgamanam mama

"This house of Lakshmana's, and this house of mine — let each of you, in turn, keep it never unattended, until I return."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.32.26)

इति उक्त्वा दुह्खितम् सर्वम् जनम् तम् उपजीविनम् । उवाच इदम् धन ध्यक्षम् धनम् आनीयताम् इति ॥ 32.26 ॥

iti uktvā duhkhitam sarvam janam tam upajīvinam | uvāca idam dhana dhyakṣam dhanam ānīyatām iti

Having thus spoken to all his grieving dependents, he said this to his treasurer: "Let my wealth be brought here."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.32.27)

ततः अस्य धनम् आजह्रुः सर्वम् एव उपजीविनः । स राशिः सुमहांस्तत्र दर्शनीयो ह्यदृश्यत ॥ 32.27 ॥

tataḥ asya dhanam ājahruḥ sarvam eva upajīvinaḥ | sa rāśiḥ sumahāṃstatra darśanīyo hyadṛśyata

Then his attendants brought all his wealth; and there appeared a heap of it, so vast and so splendid to behold.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.32.28)

ततः स पुरुष व्याघ्रः तत् धनम् सह लक्ष्मणः । द्विजेभ्यो बाल वृद्धेभ्यः कृपणेभ्यो अभ्यदापयत् ॥ 32.28 ॥

tataḥ sa puruṣa vyāghraḥ tat dhanam saha lakṣmaṇaḥ | dvijebhyo bāla vṛddhebhyaḥ kṛpaṇebhyo abhyadāpayat

Then that tiger among men, together with Lakshmana, caused that wealth to be given to brahmins, to children and the aged, and to the destitute.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.32.29)

तत्र आसीत् पिन्गलो गार्ग्यः त्रिजटः नाम वै द्विजः । क्षतवृत्तिर्वने नित्यम् फालकुद्दाललाङ्गली ॥ 32.29 ॥

tatra āsīt pingalo gārgyaḥ trijaṭaḥ nāma vai dvijaḥ | kṣatavṛttirvane nityam phālakuddālalāṅgalī

There lived a reddish-hued brahmin of the Garga lineage, named Trijata, who always earned his living in the forest by tilling with hoe, spade, and plough.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.32.30)

तम् वृद्धम् तरुणी भार्या बालानादाय दारकान् । अब्रवीद्बाह्मणम् वाक्यम् दारिद्र्येणाभिपीडिता ॥ 32.30 ॥

tam vṛddham taruṇī bhāryā bālānādāya dārakān | abravīdbāhmaṇam vākyam dāridryeṇābhipīḍitā

His young wife, sorely afflicted by poverty, taking their small children with her, spoke thus to that aged brahmin:

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.32.31)

अपास्य फालम् कुद्दालम् कुरुष्व वचनम् ममम् । रामम् दर्शय धर्मज्ज़्नम् यदि किंचिदवाप्स्यसि ॥ 32.31 ॥

apāsya phālam kuddālam kuruṣva vacanam mamam | rāmam darśaya dharmajज़nam yadi kiṃcidavāpsyasi

"Set aside your hoe and spade, and heed my word instead — go seek an audience with Rama, the knower of righteousness; perhaps you will gain something."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.32.32)

स भार्यावचनम् श्रुत्वा शाटीमाच्छाद्य दुश्छदाम् । स प्रतिष्ठत पन्थानम् यत्र रामनिवेशनम् ॥ 32.32 ॥

sa bhāryāvacanam śrutvā śāṭīmācchādya duśchadām | sa pratiṣṭhata panthānam yatra rāmaniveśanam

Hearing his wife's words, he wrapped about himself a tattered cloth that scarcely covered him, and set out on the road to Rama's dwelling.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.32.33)

भृग्वङ्गिरसमम् दीप्त्या त्रिजटम् जनसंसदि । आ पन्चमायाः कक्ष्याया न एनम् कश्चित् अवारयत् ॥ 32.33 ॥

bhṛgvaṅgirasamam dīptyā trijaṭam janasaṃsadi | ā pancamāyāḥ kakṣyāyā na enam kaścit avārayat

Radiant as the sages Bhrigu and Angiras, Trijata passed through the assembly of people, and none stopped him, even up to the fifth gate.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.32.34)

स राज पुत्रम् आसाद्य त्रिजटः वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् । निर्धनो बहु पुत्रः अस्मि राज पुत्र महा यशः । क्षतवृत्तिर्वने नित्यम् प्रत्यवेक्षस्व मामिति ॥ 32.34 ॥

sa rāja putram āsādya trijaṭaḥ vākyam abravīt | nirdhano bahu putraḥ asmi rāja putra mahā yaśaḥ | kṣatavṛttirvane nityam pratyavekṣasva māmiti

Approaching the prince, Trijata spoke these words: "O prince of great renown, I am a poor man with many children; ever tilling the soil in the forest for my living — look kindly upon me."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.32.35)

तमुवाच ततो रामः परिहाससमन्वितम् । गवाम् सहस्रमप्येकम् न च विश्राणितम् मया । परिक्षिपसि दण्डेन यावत्तावदवाप्य्ससि ॥ 32.35 ॥

tamuvāca tato rāmaḥ parihāsasamanvitam | gavām sahasramapyekam na ca viśrāṇitam mayā | parikṣipasi daṇḍena yāvattāvadavāpysasi

Then Rama replied to him playfully: "Not even a single herd of a thousand cows have I yet given away — you shall receive as many cows as the distance your staff can be thrown."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.32.36)

स शाटीम् त्वरितः कट्याम् सम्ब्रान्तः परिवेष्ट्य ताम् । आविद्ध्य दण्डम् चिक्षेप सर्वप्राणेन वेगितः ॥ 32.36 ॥

sa śāṭīm tvaritaḥ kaṭyām sambrāntaḥ pariveṣṭya tām | āviddhya daṇḍam cikṣepa sarvaprāṇena vegitaḥ

He, in his excitement, hastily wound his cloth about his waist, and whirling his staff, hurled it with all the force of his strength.

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.32.37)

स तीर्त्वा सरयूपारम् दण्डस्तस्य कराच्च्युतः । गोव्रजे बहुसाहास्रे पपातोक्षणसन्निधौ ॥ 32.37 ॥

sa tīrtvā sarayūpāram daṇḍastasya karāccyutaḥ | govraje bahusāhāsre papātokṣaṇasannidhau

That staff, flying from his hand, crossed over the far bank of the Sarayu, and fell beside a bull amid a herd numbering many thousands of cows.

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.32.38)

तम् परिष्वज्य धर्मात्मा आतस्मात्सरयूतटात् । आनयामास ता गोपैस्त्रिजटायाश्रमम् प्रति ॥ 32.38 ॥

tam pariṣvajya dharmātmā ātasmātsarayūtaṭāt | ānayāmāsa tā gopaistrijaṭāyāśramam prati

The righteous Rama embraced him, and had the cows, up to that bank of the Sarayu, driven by cowherds to Trijata's hermitage.

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.32.39)

उवाच च ततो रामस्तम् गार्ग्यमभिसान्त्वयन् । मन्युर्न खलु कर्तव्यः परिहासो ह्ययम् मम ॥ 32.39 ॥

uvāca ca tato rāmastam gārgyamabhisāntvayan | manyurna khalu kartavyaḥ parihāso hyayam mama

Then Rama, consoling that descendant of Garga, said to him: "You should not take offence — this was only a jest of mine."

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.32.40)

इदम् हि तेजस्तव यद्धुरत्ययम् । तदेव जिज्ञासितु मिच्छता मया । इमम् भवानर्थमभिप्रचोदितो । वृणीष्व किंचेदपरम् व्यवस्यति ॥ 32.40 ॥

idam hi tejastava yaddhuratyayam | tadeva jijñāsitu micchatā mayā | imam bhavānarthamabhipracodito | vṛṇīṣva kiṃcedaparam vyavasyati

"It was only this unfathomable strength of yours that I wished to put to the test. You were tried for this purpose alone — now, if you desire something else besides, ask it."

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.32.41)

ब्रवीमि सत्येन न तेऽस्ति यन्त्रणा । धनम् हि यद्यन्मम विप्रकारणात् । भवत्सु सम्यक्र्पतिपादनेन त । न्मयार्जितम् प्रीतियश्स्करम् भवेत् ॥ 32.41 ॥

bravīmi satyena na te'sti yantraṇā | dhanam hi yadyanmama viprakāraṇāt | bhavatsu samyakrpatipādanena ta | nmayārjitam prītiyaśskaram bhavet

"I tell you truly, there is no restriction placed on you. Whatever wealth of mine exists is indeed meant for brahmins; if that which I have earned is duly bestowed upon you, it shall bring me both joy and renown."

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.32.42)

तत स्सभार्य स्त्रिजटो महामुनि । र्गवामनीकम् प्रतिगृह्य मोदितः । यशोबलप्रीतिसुखोपबृम्हणी । स्तदाशिषः प्रत्यवदन्महात्मनः ॥ 32.42 ॥

tata ssabhārya strijaṭo mahāmuni | rgavāmanīkam pratigṛhya moditaḥ | yaśobalaprītisukhopabṛmhaṇī | stadāśiṣaḥ pratyavadanmahātmanaḥ

Then the great sage Trijata, together with his wife, joyfully received that herd of cows, and pronounced upon the great-souled Rama blessings that would increase his fame, strength, love, and happiness.

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.32.43)

स चापि रामः प्रतिपूर्णमानसो । महद्धनम् धर्मबलैरुपार्जितम् । नियोजयामास सुहृज्जनेऽचिरा । द्यथार्हसम्मानवचःप्रचोदितः ॥ 32.43 ॥

sa cāpi rāmaḥ pratipūrṇamānaso | mahaddhanam dharmabalairupārjitam | niyojayāmāsa suhṛjjane'cirā | dyathārhasammānavacaḥpracoditaḥ

And Rama too, his heart now fully content, moved by these words of fitting honour, swiftly bestowed upon his well-wishers the great wealth he had earned through righteous strength.

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.32.44)

द्विजः सुहृद्भृत्यजनोऽथवा तदा । दरिद्रभिक्षाचरणश्च योऽभवत् । न तत्र कश्चिन्न बभूव तर्पितो । यथार्ह सम्मानन दान सम्ब्रमैः ॥ 32.44 ॥

dvijaḥ suhṛdbhṛtyajano'thavā tadā | daridrabhikṣācaraṇaśca yo'bhavat | na tatra kaścinna babhūva tarpito | yathārha sammānana dāna sambramaiḥ

At that time, whether brahmin, friend, servant, or one who lived by begging in his poverty — there was none who was not satisfied there, with honour, gifts, and reverence, each according to his due.