The Sorrow of Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.33.1)

दत्त्वा तु सह वैदेह्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनम् बहु । जग्मतुः पितरम् द्रष्टुम् सीतया सह राघवौ ॥ 33.1 ॥

dattvā tu saha vaidehyā brāhmaṇebhyo dhanam bahu | jagmatuḥ pitaram draṣṭum sītayā saha rāghavau

Having given, together with Vaidehi, abundant wealth to the brahmins, the two sons of Raghu went with Sita to see their father.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.33.2)

ततो गृहीते दुष्प्रेक्ष्येअशोभेताम् तदा आयुधे । माला दामभिर् आसक्ते सीतया समलम्कृते ॥ 33.2 ॥

tato gṛhīte duṣprekṣyeaśobhetām tadā āyudhe | mālā dāmabhir āsakte sītayā samalamkṛte

Then those two weapons, terrible to behold, held by them and adorned by Sita with garlands of flowers, shone brilliantly.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.33.3)

ततः प्रासाद हर्म्याणि विमान शिखराणि च । अधिरुह्य जनः श्रीमान् उदासीनो व्यलोकयत् ॥ 33.3 ॥

tataḥ prāsāda harmyāṇi vimāna śikharāṇi ca | adhiruhya janaḥ śrīmān udāsīno vyalokayat

Then the prosperous citizens climbed up to the terraces of mansions and the tops of high buildings, and watched, downcast in spirit.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.33.4)

न हि रथ्याः स्म शक्यन्ते गन्तुम् बहु जन आकुलाः । आरुह्य तस्मात् प्रासादान् दीनाः पश्यन्ति राघवम् ॥ 33.4 ॥

na hi rathyāḥ sma śakyante gantum bahu jana ākulāḥ | āruhya tasmāt prāsādān dīnāḥ paśyanti rāghavam

For the streets, thronged with so many people, could not be walked through; hence, mounting the mansions, the grieving citizens watched Raghava from there.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.33.5)

पदातिम् वर्जितच् चत्रम् रामम् दृष्ट्वा तदा जनाः । ऊचुर् बहु विधा वाचः शोक उपहत चेतसः ॥ 33.5 ॥

padātim varjitac catram rāmam dṛṣṭvā tadā janāḥ | ūcur bahu vidhā vācaḥ śoka upahata cetasaḥ

Seeing Rama going on foot, without even an umbrella, the people, their hearts stricken with grief, uttered words of many kinds.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.33.6)

यम् यान्तम् अनुयाति स्म चतुर् अन्ग बलम् महत् । तम् एकम् सीतया सार्धम् अनुयाति स्म लक्ष्मणः ॥ 33.6 ॥

yam yāntam anuyāti sma catur anga balam mahat | tam ekam sītayā sārdham anuyāti sma lakṣmaṇaḥ

"He whom, while marching, a mighty fourfold army once followed — him alone, now, only Lakshmana follows, along with Sita."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.33.7)

ऐश्वर्यस्य रसज्ञः सन् कामिनाम् चैव कामदः । न इच्चति एव अनृतम् कर्तुम् पितरम् धर्म गौरवात् ॥ 33.7 ॥

aiśvaryasya rasajñaḥ san kāminām caiva kāmadaḥ | na iccati eva anṛtam kartum pitaram dharma gauravāt

"Though he well knows the taste of sovereignty, and grants the desires of all who ask, still, out of reverence for righteousness, he will not make his father's word untrue."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.33.8)

या न शक्या पुरा द्रष्टुम् भूतैः आकाशगैः अपि । ताम् अद्य सीताम् पश्यन्ति राज मार्ग गता जनाः ॥ 33.8 ॥

yā na śakyā purā draṣṭum bhūtaiḥ ākāśagaiḥ api | tām adya sītām paśyanti rāja mārga gatā janāḥ

"She whom once even beings that move through the sky could not behold — that same Sita, today, the people walking on the royal road can see."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.33.9)

अङ्ग राग उचिताम् सीताम् रक्त चन्दन सेविनीम् । वर्षम् उष्णम् च शीतम् च नेष्यति आशु विवर्णताम् ॥ 33.9 ॥

aṅga rāga ucitām sītām rakta candana sevinīm | varṣam uṣṇam ca śītam ca neṣyati āśu vivarṇatām

"Sita, accustomed to fragrant unguents, ever fond of red sandalwood — rain and heat and cold shall soon rob her of her radiant hue."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.33.10)

अद्य नूनम् दशरथः सत्त्वम् आविश्य भाषते । न हि राजा प्रियम् पुत्रम् विवासयितुम् अर्हति ॥ 33.10 ॥

adya nūnam daśarathaḥ sattvam āviśya bhāṣate | na hi rājā priyam putram vivāsayitum arhati

"Surely today Dasharatha speaks as one possessed by some evil spirit — for no king ought to send his beloved son into exile."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.33.11)

निर्गुणस्य अपि पुत्रस्या काथम् स्यात् विप्रवासनम् । किम् पुनर् यस्य लोको अयम् जितः वृत्तेन केवलम् ॥ 33.11 ॥

nirguṇasya api putrasyā kātham syāt vipravāsanam | kim punar yasya loko ayam jitaḥ vṛttena kevalam

"How could even a son devoid of virtue be exiled — how much more so this one, by whose conduct alone this whole world has already been won over?"

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.33.12)

आनृशंस्यम् अनुक्रोशः श्रुतम् शीलम् दमः शमः । राघवम् शोभयन्ति एते षड् गुणाः पुरुष उत्तमम् ॥ 33.12 ॥

ānṛśaṃsyam anukrośaḥ śrutam śīlam damaḥ śamaḥ | rāghavam śobhayanti ete ṣaḍ guṇāḥ puruṣa uttamam

"Freedom from cruelty, compassion, learning, good conduct, self-restraint, and tranquillity — these six virtues adorn Raghava, the noblest of men."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.33.13)

तस्मात् तस्य उपघातेन प्रजाः परम पीडिताः । औदकानि इव सत्त्वानि ग्रीष्मे सलिल सम्क्षयात् ॥ 33.13 ॥

tasmāt tasya upaghātena prajāḥ parama pīḍitāḥ | audakāni iva sattvāni grīṣme salila samkṣayāt

"Therefore, by the injury done to him, the people are afflicted beyond measure, as water-creatures suffer in summer when the water dries away."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.33.14)

पीडया पीडितम् सर्वम् जगद् अस्य जगत् पतेः । मूलस्य इव उपघातेन वृक्षः पुष्प फल उपगः ॥ 33.14 ॥

pīḍayā pīḍitam sarvam jagad asya jagat pateḥ | mūlasya iva upaghātena vṛkṣaḥ puṣpa phala upagaḥ

"By the suffering of him, the lord of this world, the whole world is afflicted — as a tree laden with flower and fruit withers when injury is done to its root."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.33.15)

मूलं ह्येष मनुष्याणाम् धर्मसारो महाद्युतिः । पुष्पम् फलम् च पत्रम् च शाखाश्चा स्येतरे जनाः ॥ 33.15 ॥

mūlaṃ hyeṣa manuṣyāṇām dharmasāro mahādyutiḥ | puṣpam phalam ca patram ca śākhāścā syetare janāḥ

"For he, the very essence of righteousness, resplendent with great lustre, is the root of humankind; all other people are but his flower, his fruit, his leaf, his branches."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.33.16)

ते लक्ष्मणैव क्षिप्रम् सपत्न्यः सह बान्धवाः । गच्चन्तम् अनुगच्चामः येन गच्चति राघवः ॥ 33.16 ॥

te lakṣmaṇaiva kṣipram sapatnyaḥ saha bāndhavāḥ | gaccantam anugaccāmaḥ yena gaccati rāghavaḥ

"So we, together with our wives and kinsmen, shall swiftly follow, like Lakshmana, wherever Raghava goes."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.33.17)

उद्यानानि परित्यज्य क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च । एक दुह्ख सुखा रामम् अनुगच्चाम धार्मिकम् ॥ 33.17 ॥

udyānāni parityajya kṣetrāṇi ca gṛhāṇi ca | eka duhkha sukhā rāmam anugaccāma dhārmikam

"Abandoning our gardens, our fields, and our homes, sharing equally in joy and sorrow, we shall follow the righteous Rama."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.33.18)

समुद्धृत निधानानि परिध्वस्त अजिराणि च । उपात्त धन धान्यानि हृत साराणि सर्वशः ॥ 33.18 ॥

samuddhṛta nidhānāni paridhvasta ajirāṇi ca | upātta dhana dhānyāni hṛta sārāṇi sarvaśaḥ

"Their buried treasures dug up, their courtyards ruined, their wealth and grain carried off, everything of value stripped from them on every side —"

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.33.19)

रजसा अभ्यवकीर्णानि परित्यक्तानि दैवतैः । मूषकैः परिधावद्भिरुद्बिलैरावृतानि च ॥ 33.19 ॥

rajasā abhyavakīrṇāni parityaktāni daivataiḥ | mūṣakaiḥ paridhāvadbhirudbilairāvṛtāni ca

"— covered over with dust, forsaken by their household deities, and overrun by mice darting from their burrows —"

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.33.20)

अपेतोदकधूमानि हीनसम्मार्जनानि च । प्रनष्टबलिकर्मेज्यमन्त्रहोमजपानि च ॥ 33.20 ॥

apetodakadhūmāni hīnasammārjanāni ca | pranaṣṭabalikarmejyamantrahomajapāni ca

"— without water, without smoke of cooking-fires, unswept, their offerings of oblation, worship, sacred chant, fire-rite, and prayer all utterly ceased —"

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.33.21)

दुष्कालेनेव भग्नानि भिभाजनवन्ति च । अस्मत् त्यक्तानि वेश्मानि कैकेयी प्रतिपद्यताम् ॥ 33.21 ॥

duṣkāleneva bhagnāni bhibhājanavanti ca | asmat tyaktāni veśmāni kaikeyī pratipadyatām

"— broken as though by an evil age, and littered with shattered vessels — let Kaikeyi take possession of these very homes that we now abandon."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.33.22)

वनम् नगरम् एव अस्तु येन गच्चति राघवः । अस्माभिः च परित्यक्तम् पुरम् सम्पद्यताम् वनम् ॥ 33.22 ॥

vanam nagaram eva astu yena gaccati rāghavaḥ | asmābhiḥ ca parityaktam puram sampadyatām vanam

"Let that forest, wherever Raghava goes, itself become a city; and let this city, abandoned by us, become a forest."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.33.23)

बिलानि दम्ष्ट्रिणः सर्वे सानूनि मृग पक्षिणः । त्यजन्त्वस्मद्भयाद्भीता गजाः सिम्हा वनान्यपि ॥ 33.23 ॥

bilāni damṣṭriṇaḥ sarve sānūni mṛga pakṣiṇaḥ | tyajantvasmadbhayādbhītā gajāḥ simhā vanānyapi

"Let all the fanged serpents abandon their burrows, the deer and birds the mountain slopes; let the elephants and lions too, frightened by fear of us, abandon even the forests."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.33.24)

अस्मत् त्यक्तम् प्रपद्यन्ताम् सेव्यमानम् त्यजन्तु च । तृणमांसफलादानाम् देशम् व्यालमृगद्विजम् ॥ 33.24 ॥

asmat tyaktam prapadyantām sevyamānam tyajantu ca | tṛṇamāṃsaphalādānām deśam vyālamṛgadvijam

"Let them take up what we have abandoned, and abandon in turn what we now occupy — that land, subsisting on grass, flesh, and fruit, teeming with fierce beasts, deer, and birds."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.33.25)

प्रपद्यताम् हि कैकेयी सपुत्रा सहबान्धवैः । राघावेण वने सर्वे सह वत्स्याम निर्वृताः ॥ 33.25 ॥

prapadyatām hi kaikeyī saputrā sahabāndhavaiḥ | rāghāveṇa vane sarve saha vatsyāma nirvṛtāḥ

"Let Kaikeyi, with her son and her kinsmen, take up that land; and let all of us dwell happily in the forest together with Raghava."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.33.26)

इत्येवम् विविधा वाचो नानाजनसमीरिताः । शुश्राव रामः श्रुत्वा च न विचक्रे अस्य मानसम् ॥ 33.26 ॥

ityevam vividhā vāco nānājanasamīritāḥ | śuśrāva rāmaḥ śrutvā ca na vicakre asya mānasam

Thus various words, spoken by many people, Rama heard; but having heard them, his mind was not shaken.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.33.27)

स तु वेश्म पितुर्दूरा त्कैलासशिखरप्रभम् । अभिचक्राम धर्मात्मा मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः ॥ 33.27 ॥

sa tu veśma piturdūrā tkailāsaśikharaprabham | abhicakrāma dharmātmā mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ

That righteous one, moving with the gait of an elephant in rut, approached from a distance his father's palace, which shone like a peak of Kailasa.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.33.28)

विनीतवीरपुरुषं प्रविश्य तु नृपालयम् । ददर्शवस्थितम् दीनम् सुमन्त्रमविदूरतः ॥ 33.28 ॥

vinītavīrapuruṣaṃ praviśya tu nṛpālayam | dadarśavasthitam dīnam sumantramavidūrataḥ

Entering the royal palace, thronged with disciplined and valiant men, he saw Sumantra standing nearby, sunk in sorrow.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.33.29)

प्रतीक्षमाणो अभिजनम् तदा आर्तम् । अनार्त रूपः प्रहसन्न् इव अथ । जगाम रामः पितरम् दिदृक्षुः । पितुर् निदेशम् विधिवच् चिकीर्षुः ॥ 33.29 ॥

pratīkṣamāṇo abhijanam tadā ārtam | anārta rūpaḥ prahasann iva atha | jagāma rāmaḥ pitaram didṛkṣuḥ | pitur nideśam vidhivac cikīrṣuḥ

Though he saw his kinsmen so afflicted, he himself, wishing to carry out his father's command exactly, appeared untouched by grief, almost smiling, as he went on, eager to see his father.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.33.30)

तत् पूर्वम् ऐक्ष्वाक सुतः महात्मा । रामः गमिष्यन् वनम् आर्त रूपम् । व्यतिष्ठत प्रेक्ष्य तदा सुमन्त्रम् । पितुर् महात्मा प्रतिहारण अर्थम् ॥ 33.30 ॥

tat pūrvam aikṣvāka sutaḥ mahātmā | rāmaḥ gamiṣyan vanam ārta rūpam | vyatiṣṭhata prekṣya tadā sumantram | pitur mahātmā pratihāraṇa artham

There, before entering, the great-souled Rama, son of the Ikshvaku line, about to depart for the forest, seeing the grief-stricken Sumantra, paused, so that his arrival might first be announced to his father.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.33.31)

पितुर्निदेशेन तु धर्मवत्सलो । वन प्रवेशे कृत बुद्धि निश्चयः । स राघवः प्रेक्ष्य सुमन्त्रम् अब्रवीन् । निवेदयस्व आगमनम् नृपाय मे ॥ 33.31 ॥

piturnideśena tu dharmavatsalo | vana praveśe kṛta buddhi niścayaḥ | sa rāghavaḥ prekṣya sumantram abravīn | nivedayasva āgamanam nṛpāya me

That Raghava, devoted to righteousness, his mind firmly resolved on entering the forest by his father's command, seeing Sumantra, said to him: "Announce my arrival to the king."