Dasharatha's Anguish

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.34.1)

ततःकमलपत्राक्षः श्यामो निरुपमो महान् । उवाच रामस्तम् सूतं पितुराख्याहि मामिति ॥ 34.1 ॥

tataḥkamalapatrākṣaḥ śyāmo nirupamo mahān | uvāca rāmastam sūtaṃ piturākhyāhi māmiti

Then Rama, lotus-eyed, dark-hued, mighty and beyond compare, said to that charioteer: "Announce me to my father."

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.34.2)

स राम प्रेषितः क्षिप्रम् सम्ताप कलुष इन्द्रियः । प्रविश्य नृपतिम् सूतः निह्श्वसन्तम् ददर्श ह ॥ 34.2 ॥

sa rāma preṣitaḥ kṣipram samtāpa kaluṣa indriyaḥ | praviśya nṛpatim sūtaḥ nihśvasantam dadarśa ha

Sent by Rama, that charioteer, his senses clouded with anguish, quickly went in and saw the king heaving deep sighs.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.34.3)

उपरक्तमिवादित्यं भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम् । तटाकमिव निस्तोयमपश्यज्जगतीपतिम् ॥ 34.3 ॥

uparaktamivādityaṃ bhasmacchannamivānalam | taṭākamiva nistoyamapaśyajjagatīpatim

He saw the lord of the earth as if he were the sun in eclipse, like fire smothered under ash, like a lake drained of its water.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.34.4)

आलोक्य तु महा प्राज्ञः परम आकुल चेतसम् । रामम् एव अनुशोचन्तम् सूतः प्रान्जलिर् आसदत् ॥ 34.4 ॥

ālokya tu mahā prājñaḥ parama ākula cetasam | rāmam eva anuśocantam sūtaḥ prānjalir āsadat

Seeing him, his heart utterly troubled, grieving only for Rama, the wise charioteer approached him with joined palms.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.34.5)

तम् वर्धयित्वा राजानम् सूतः पूर्वम् जयाशिषा । भयविक्लबया वाचा मन्दया श्लक्ष्णमब्रवीत् ॥ 34.5 ॥

tam vardhayitvā rājānam sūtaḥ pūrvam jayāśiṣā | bhayaviklabayā vācā mandayā ślakṣṇamabravīt

Having first greeted the king with a blessing of victory, the charioteer, his voice faltering with fear, spoke softly and slowly:

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.34.6)

अयम् स पुरुष व्याघ्र द्वारि तिष्ठति ते सुतः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनम् दत्त्वा सर्वम् चैव उपजीविनाम् ॥ 34.6 ॥

ayam sa puruṣa vyāghra dvāri tiṣṭhati te sutaḥ | brāhmaṇebhyo dhanam dattvā sarvam caiva upajīvinām

"Here at the gate stands your son, that tiger among men, having given away all his wealth to the brahmins and to his dependents."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.34.7)

स त्वा पश्यतु भद्रम् ते रामः सत्य पराक्रमः । सर्वान् सुहृदाअपृच्च्य त्वाम् इदानीम् दिदृक्षते ॥ 34.7 ॥

sa tvā paśyatu bhadram te rāmaḥ satya parākramaḥ | sarvān suhṛdāapṛccya tvām idānīm didṛkṣate

"May good befall you — let that Rama of true valour see you now; having taken leave of all his friends, he now longs to see you."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.34.8)

गमिष्यति महा अरण्यम् तम् पश्य जगती पते । वृतम् राज गुणैः सर्वैः आदित्यम् इव रश्मिभिः ॥ 34.8 ॥

gamiṣyati mahā araṇyam tam paśya jagatī pate | vṛtam rāja guṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ ādityam iva raśmibhiḥ

"O lord of the earth, he is about to depart for the great forest — behold him, robed in every royal virtue as the sun is robed in its rays."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.34.9)

स सत्य वादी धर्म आत्मा गाम्भीर्यात् सागर उपमः । आकाशैव निष्पन्को नर इन्द्रः प्रत्युवाच तम् ॥ 34.9 ॥

sa satya vādī dharma ātmā gāmbhīryāt sāgara upamaḥ | ākāśaiva niṣpanko nara indraḥ pratyuvāca tam

That truthful, righteous king, deep as the ocean, stainless as the sky, replied to him thus:

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.34.10)

सुमन्त्र आनय मे दारान् ये केचित् इह मामकाः । दारैः परिवृतः सर्वैः द्रष्टुम् इच्चामि राघवम् ॥ 34.10 ॥

sumantra ānaya me dārān ye kecit iha māmakāḥ | dāraiḥ parivṛtaḥ sarvaiḥ draṣṭum iccāmi rāghavam

"Sumantra, bring here all my queens who are present — surrounded by all of them, I wish to see Raghava."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.34.11)

सो अन्तः पुरम् अतीत्य एव स्त्रियः ता वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् । आर्यो ह्वयति वो राजा गम्यताम् तत्र माचिरम् ॥ 34.11 ॥

so antaḥ puram atītya eva striyaḥ tā vākyam abravīt | āryo hvayati vo rājā gamyatām tatra māciram

Entering the women's quarters, he spoke thus to those ladies: "The noble king summons you — go there without delay."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.34.12)

एवम् उक्ताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः सुमन्त्रेण नृप आज्ञया । प्रचक्रमुस् तत् भवनम् भर्तुर् आज्ञाय शासनम् ॥ 34.12 ॥

evam uktāḥ striyaḥ sarvāḥ sumantreṇa nṛpa ājñayā | pracakramus tat bhavanam bhartur ājñāya śāsanam

Thus addressed by Sumantra at the king's order, all those women, learning their husband's command, set out for that chamber.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.34.13)

अर्ध सप्त शताः ताः तु प्रमदाः ताम्र लोचनाः । कौसल्याम् परिवार्य अथ शनैः जग्मुर् धृत व्रताः ॥ 34.13 ॥

ardha sapta śatāḥ tāḥ tu pramadāḥ tāmra locanāḥ | kausalyām parivārya atha śanaiḥ jagmur dhṛta vratāḥ

Those three hundred and fifty women, faithful to their vows, their eyes reddened with weeping, surrounded Kausalya and walked slowly forward.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.34.14)

आगतेषु च दारेषु समवेक्ष्य मही पतिः । उवाच राजा तम् सूतम् सुमन्त्र आनय मे सुतम् ॥ 34.14 ॥

āgateṣu ca dāreṣu samavekṣya mahī patiḥ | uvāca rājā tam sūtam sumantra ānaya me sutam

When his queens had arrived, the lord of the earth, looking at them, said to the charioteer: "Sumantra, now bring my son."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.34.15)

स सूतः रामम् आदाय लक्ष्मणम् मैथिलीम् तदा । जगाम अभिमुखः तूर्णम् सकाशम् जगती पतेः ॥ 34.15 ॥

sa sūtaḥ rāmam ādāya lakṣmaṇam maithilīm tadā | jagāma abhimukhaḥ tūrṇam sakāśam jagatī pateḥ

Then that charioteer, taking with him Rama, Lakshmana, and Maithili, went swiftly into the presence of the lord of the earth.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.34.16)

स राजा पुत्रम् आयान्तम् दृष्ट्वा दूरात् कृत अन्जलिम् । उत्पपात आसनात् तूर्णम् आर्तः स्त्री जन सम्वृतः ॥ 34.16 ॥

sa rājā putram āyāntam dṛṣṭvā dūrāt kṛta anjalim | utpapāta āsanāt tūrṇam ārtaḥ strī jana samvṛtaḥ

The king, surrounded by women, seeing his son approaching from afar with joined palms, rose swiftly from his seat, overcome with grief.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.34.17)

सो अभिदुद्राव वेगेन रामम् दृष्ट्वा विशाम् पतिः । तम् असम्प्राप्य दुह्ख आर्तः पपात भुवि मूर्चितः ॥ 34.17 ॥

so abhidudrāva vegena rāmam dṛṣṭvā viśām patiḥ | tam asamprāpya duhkha ārtaḥ papāta bhuvi mūrcitaḥ

That lord of men ran swiftly towards Rama at the sight of him, but before he could reach him, overwhelmed with sorrow, he fell senseless to the ground.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.34.18)

तम् रामः अभ्यपातत् क्षिप्रम् लक्ष्मणः च महा रथः । विसम्ज्ञम् इव दुह्खेन सशोकम् नृपतिम् तदा ॥ 34.18 ॥

tam rāmaḥ abhyapātat kṣipram lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahā rathaḥ | visamjñam iva duhkhena saśokam nṛpatim tadā

Then Rama, and the mighty warrior Lakshmana, swiftly rushed to that king, who through grief and sorrow seemed to have lost his senses.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.34.19)

स्त्री सहस्र निनादः च सम्जज्ञे राज वेश्मनि । हाहा राम इति सहसा भूषण ध्वनि मूर्चितः ॥ 34.19 ॥

strī sahasra ninādaḥ ca samjajñe rāja veśmani | hāhā rāma iti sahasā bhūṣaṇa dhvani mūrcitaḥ

At once, a cry of a thousand women arose in the royal palace, "Alas, alas, O Rama!" — mingled all at once with the clatter of their ornaments.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.34.20)

तम् परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्याम् ताव् उभौ राम लक्ष्मणौ । पर्यन्के सीतया सार्धम् रुदन्तः समवेशयन् ॥ 34.20 ॥

tam pariṣvajya bāhubhyām tāv ubhau rāma lakṣmaṇau | paryanke sītayā sārdham rudantaḥ samaveśayan

Both Rama and Lakshmana, weeping, embraced him in their arms and, together with Sita, laid him upon the couch.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.34.21)

अथ रामः मुहूर्तेन लब्ध सम्ज्ञम् मही पतिम् । उवाच प्रान्जलिर् भूत्वा शोक अर्णव परिप्लुतम् ॥ 34.21 ॥

atha rāmaḥ muhūrtena labdha samjñam mahī patim | uvāca prānjalir bhūtvā śoka arṇava pariplutam

Then, when the king regained his senses after a while, Rama, with joined palms, spoke to him who was drowning in a sea of grief:

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.34.22)

आपृच्चे त्वाम् महा राज सर्वेषाम् ईश्वरः असि नः । प्रस्थितम् दण्डक अरण्यम् पश्य त्वम् कुशलेन माम् ॥ 34.22 ॥

āpṛcce tvām mahā rāja sarveṣām īśvaraḥ asi naḥ | prasthitam daṇḍaka araṇyam paśya tvam kuśalena mām

"O great king, I take leave of you — you are the lord of us all; look with favour upon me, now setting out for the Dandaka forest."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.34.23)

लक्ष्मणम् च अनुजानीहि सीता च अन्वेति माम् वनम् । कारणैः बहुभिस् तथ्यैः वार्यमाणौ न च इच्चतः ॥ 34.23 ॥

lakṣmaṇam ca anujānīhi sītā ca anveti mām vanam | kāraṇaiḥ bahubhis tathyaiḥ vāryamāṇau na ca iccataḥ

"Give leave also to Lakshmana; Sita too follows me to the forest — though restrained by me with many valid reasons, neither of them will agree to stay."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.34.24)

अनुजानीहि सर्वान् नः शोकम् उत्सृज्य मानद । लक्ष्मणम् माम् च सीताम् च प्रजापतिर् इव प्रजाः ॥ 34.24 ॥

anujānīhi sarvān naḥ śokam utsṛjya mānada | lakṣmaṇam mām ca sītām ca prajāpatir iva prajāḥ

"O giver of honour, set aside your grief and give leave to all of us — to Lakshmana, to me, and to Sita — as Prajapati once did to his own children."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.34.25)

प्रतीक्षमाणम् अव्यग्रम् अनुज्ञाम् जगती पतेः । उवाच रर्जा सम्प्रेक्ष्य वन वासाय राघवम् ॥ 34.25 ॥

pratīkṣamāṇam avyagram anujñām jagatī pateḥ | uvāca rarjā samprekṣya vana vāsāya rāghavam

Gazing at Raghava, who waited undisturbed for the king's permission to dwell in the forest, the king spoke thus:

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.34.26)

अहम् राघव कैकेय्या वर दानेन मोहितः । अयोध्यायाः त्वम् एव अद्य भव राजा निगृह्य माम् ॥ 34.26 ॥

aham rāghava kaikeyyā vara dānena mohitaḥ | ayodhyāyāḥ tvam eva adya bhava rājā nigṛhya mām

"O Raghava, I was made senseless by the granting of a boon to Kaikeyi. Now, holding me in restraint, become yourself this day the king of Ayodhya."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.34.27)

एवम् उक्तः नृपतिना रामः धर्मभृताम् वरः । प्रत्युवाच अन्जलिम् कृत्वा पितरम् वाक्य कोविदः ॥ 34.27 ॥

evam uktaḥ nṛpatinā rāmaḥ dharmabhṛtām varaḥ | pratyuvāca anjalim kṛtvā pitaram vākya kovidaḥ

Thus addressed by the king, Rama, foremost of the upholders of righteousness, skilled in speech, joined his palms and replied to his father:

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.34.28)

भवान् वर्ष सहस्राय पृथिव्या नृपते पतिः । अहम् तु अरण्ये वत्स्यामि न मे कार्यम् त्वया अनृतम् ॥ 34.28 ॥

bhavān varṣa sahasrāya pṛthivyā nṛpate patiḥ | aham tu araṇye vatsyāmi na me kāryam tvayā anṛtam

"O king, may you remain lord of the earth for a thousand years; but I, for my part, shall dwell in the forest — let no untruth be committed by you for my sake."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.34.29)

नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि वनवासे विहृत्य ते । पुनः पादौ ग्रहीष्यामि प्रतिज्ञान्ते नराधिपः ॥ 34.29 ॥

nava pañca ca varṣāṇi vanavāse vihṛtya te | punaḥ pādau grahīṣyāmi pratijñānte narādhipaḥ

"O ruler of men, having spent nine and five years wandering in the forest-dwelling, I shall again clasp your feet when the vow is fulfilled."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.34.30)

रुदन्नाह प्रियम् पुत्रं सत्यपाशेन संयतः । कैकेय्या चोद्यमान्स्तु मिथो राजा तमब्रवीत् ॥ 34.30 ॥

rudannāha priyam putraṃ satyapāśena saṃyataḥ | kaikeyyā codyamānstu mitho rājā tamabravīt

Bound fast by the noose of his own truthfulness, and secretly urged on by Kaikeyi, the grieving king spoke, weeping, to his beloved son:

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.34.31)

श्रेयसे वृद्धये तात पुनर् आगमनाय च । गच्चस्व अरिष्टम् अव्यग्रः पन्थानम् अकुतः भयम् ॥ 34.31 ॥

śreyase vṛddhaye tāta punar āgamanāya ca | gaccasva ariṣṭam avyagraḥ panthānam akutaḥ bhayam

"For your welfare, for your prosperity, and for your safe return, go, dear one, calmly, upon a road free of harm and free of fear from any quarter."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.34.32)

न हि सत्यात्मनस्तात धर्माभिमनसस्तव । विनिवर्त यितुं बुद्धि शक्यते रघुनन्दन ॥ 34.32 ॥

na hi satyātmanastāta dharmābhimanasastava | vinivarta yituṃ buddhi śakyate raghunandana

"For, O dear one, delight of the Raghus, your resolve, truthful of soul and set upon righteousness as it is, cannot be turned back."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.34.33)

अद्य तु इदानीम् रजनीम् पुत्र मा गच्च सर्वथा । एकाहम् दर्शनेनापि साधु तावच्चराम्यहम् ॥ 34.33 ॥

adya tu idānīm rajanīm putra mā gacca sarvathā | ekāham darśanenāpi sādhu tāvaccarāmyaham

"But this very night, my son, do not go at all — even with just one more day's sight of you, I shall fare a little better."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.34.34)

मातरं माम् च सम्पश्यन् वसेमामद्य शर्वरीम् । तर्पितः सर्वकामैस्त्वम् स्वः काले साधयिष्यसि ॥ 34.34 ॥

mātaraṃ mām ca sampaśyan vasemāmadya śarvarīm | tarpitaḥ sarvakāmaistvam svaḥ kāle sādhayiṣyasi

"Looking upon your mother and myself, stay this one night; and satisfied with every desired thing, you may set out tomorrow at dawn."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.34.35)

दुष्करम् क्रियते पुत्र सर्वथा राघव तया । मत्प्रियार्थम् प्रियांस्त्यक्त्वा यद्यासि विजनम् वनम् ॥ 34.35 ॥

duṣkaram kriyate putra sarvathā rāghava tayā | matpriyārtham priyāṃstyaktvā yadyāsi vijanam vanam

"An utterly hard thing you are doing, O Raghava, my son, if for my pleasure alone you go, forsaking those dear to you, to the lonely forest."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.34.36)

न चैतन्मे प्रियम् पुत्र शपे सत्येन राघव । छन्नया छलितस्त्वस्नु स्त्रुया छन्नाग्निकल्पया ॥ 34.36 ॥

na caitanme priyam putra śape satyena rāghava | channayā chalitastvasnu struyā channāgnikalpayā

"This is not to my liking, my son; I swear it to you by truth, O Raghava — I have been deceived by this woman of hidden intent, like fire concealed beneath ashes."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.34.37)

पञ्चना या तु लब्धा मे तां त्वम् निस्तर्तुमिच्छसि । अनया वृत्तसादिन्या कैकेय्याऽभिप्रचोदितः ॥ 34.37 ॥

pañcanā yā tu labdhā me tāṃ tvam nistartumicchasi | anayā vṛttasādinyā kaikeyyā'bhipracoditaḥ

"Incited by this Kaikeyi, who has trampled all good custom, you now wish to redeem the deceitful pledge that has ensnared me."

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.34.38)

न चैतदाश्चर्यतमम् यत्तज्ज्येष्ठस्सुतो मम । अपानृतकथम् पुत्र पितरम् कर्तुमिच्छ्सि ॥ 34.38 ॥

na caitadāścaryatamam yattajjyeṣṭhassuto mama | apānṛtakatham putra pitaram kartumicchsi

"Nor is it any great wonder that you, my eldest son, should wish to keep your father from ever having spoken falsely."

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.34.39)

अथ रामः तथा श्रुत्वा पितुर् आर्तस्य भाषितम् । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा दीनो वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 34.39 ॥

atha rāmaḥ tathā śrutvā pitur ārtasya bhāṣitam | lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā dīno vacanam abravīt

Then Rama, hearing these words of his grief-stricken father, together with his brother Lakshmana, sorrowfully spoke these words:

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.34.40)

प्राप्स्यामि यान् अद्य गुणान् को मे श्वस्तान् प्रदास्यति । अपक्रमणम् एव अतः सर्व कामैः अहम् वृणे ॥ 34.40 ॥

prāpsyāmi yān adya guṇān ko me śvastān pradāsyati | apakramaṇam eva ataḥ sarva kāmaiḥ aham vṛṇe

"Whatever pleasures I might gain today, who will grant them to me tomorrow? Therefore I choose departure alone, over all such enjoyments."

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.34.41)

इयम् सराष्ट्रा सजना धन धान्य समाकुला । मया विसृष्टा वसुधा भरताय प्रदीयताम् ॥ 34.41 ॥

iyam sarāṣṭrā sajanā dhana dhānya samākulā | mayā visṛṣṭā vasudhā bharatāya pradīyatām

"This earth, with its provinces, its peoples, and its abundance of wealth and grain — relinquished by me, let it be given to Bharata."

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.34.42)

वनवासकृता बुद्धिर्न च मेऽद्य चलिष्यति । यस्तुष्टेन वरो दत्तः कैकेय्यै वरद त्वया ॥ 34.42 ॥

vanavāsakṛtā buddhirna ca me'dya caliṣyati | yastuṣṭena varo dattaḥ kaikeyyai varada tvayā

"My resolve to dwell in the forest shall not waver today. O bestower of boons, let the boon that you, once pleased, granted to Kaikeyi —"

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.34.43)

दीयताम् निखिलेनैव सत्यस्त्वम् भव पार्थिव । अहम् निदेशम् भवतो यथोक्तमनुपालयन् ॥ 34.43 ॥

dīyatām nikhilenaiva satyastvam bhava pārthiva | aham nideśam bhavato yathoktamanupālayan

"— be given to her in full; be true to your word, O king. I, faithfully upholding your command as it was declared,"

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.34.44)

चतुर्दश समा वत्स्ये वने वनचरैः सह । मा विमर्शो वसुमती भरताय प्रदीयताम् ॥ 34.44 ॥

caturdaśa samā vatsye vane vanacaraiḥ saha | mā vimarśo vasumatī bharatāya pradīyatām

"— shall dwell fourteen years in the forest among the forest-dwellers. Have no hesitation — let the earth be given over to Bharata."

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.34.45)

न हि मे काम्क्षितम् राज्यम् सुखमात्मनि वा प्रियम् । यथा निदेशम् कर्तुम् वै तवैव रघुनन्धन ॥ 34.45 ॥

na hi me kāmkṣitam rājyam sukhamātmani vā priyam | yathā nideśam kartum vai tavaiva raghunandhana

"For neither kingdom nor happiness is desired by me for my own pleasure, O delight of the Raghus, so much as it is dear to me to carry out your own command."

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.34.46)

अपगच्चतु ते दुह्खम् मा भूर् बाष्प परिप्लुतः । न हि क्षुभ्यति दुर्धर्षः समुद्रः सरिताम् पतिः ॥ 34.46 ॥

apagaccatu te duhkham mā bhūr bāṣpa pariplutaḥ | na hi kṣubhyati durdharṣaḥ samudraḥ saritām patiḥ

"Let your sorrow depart; do not be overwhelmed with tears — for the unassailable ocean, the lord of rivers, is never agitated."

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.34.47)

न एव अहम् राज्यम् इच्चामि न सुखम् न च मैथिलीम् । न एव सर्वानिमान् कामान् न स्वर्गम् न च जीवितुम् ॥ 34.47 ॥

na eva aham rājyam iccāmi na sukham na ca maithilīm | na eva sarvānimān kāmān na svargam na ca jīvitum

"I do not desire kingdom, nor happiness, nor even Sita; I do not desire all these pleasures, nor heaven, nor even life itself —"

Shloka 48 (ayodhya.34.48)

त्वामहम् सत्यमिच्छामि नानृतम् पुरुषर्षभ । प्रत्यक्षम् तव सत्येन सुकृतेन च ते शपे ॥ 34.48 ॥

tvāmaham satyamicchāmi nānṛtam puruṣarṣabha | pratyakṣam tava satyena sukṛtena ca te śape

"— I wish only that you, O bull among men, remain truthful and never untrue; before you, I swear by truth and by righteous deed."

Shloka 49 (ayodhya.34.49)

न च शख्यम् मया तात स्थातुम् क्षणमपि प्रभो । स शोकम् ध्रारयस्वेमम् न हि मेऽस्ति विपर्ययः ॥ 34.49 ॥

na ca śakhyam mayā tāta sthātum kṣaṇamapi prabho | sa śokam dhrārayasvemam na hi me'sti viparyayaḥ

"It is not possible for me, father, O lord, to remain even a moment longer; bear this grief, for there is no turning back for me now."

Shloka 50 (ayodhya.34.50)

अर्थितो ह्यस्मि कैकेय्या वनम् गच्छेति राघव । मया चोक्तं प्रजामीति तत्सत्यमनुपालये ॥ 34.50 ॥

arthito hyasmi kaikeyyā vanam gaccheti rāghava | mayā coktaṃ prajāmīti tatsatyamanupālaye

"O Raghava, I was indeed asked by Kaikeyi to go to the forest, and I answered that I would go — that pledge of truth I shall now uphold."

Shloka 51 (ayodhya.34.51)

मा चोत्कण्थां कृथा देव वने रंस्यामहे वयम् । प्रशान्तहरिणाकीर्णे नानाशकुनिनादिते ॥ 34.51 ॥

mā cotkaṇthāṃ kṛthā deva vane raṃsyāmahe vayam | praśāntahariṇākīrṇe nānāśakuninādite

"Do not be anxious, my lord — we shall delight ourselves in the forest, thronged with peaceful deer and echoing with birds of every kind."

Shloka 52 (ayodhya.34.52)

पिता हि दैवतम् तात देवतानामपि स्मृतम् । तस्माद्दैवतमित्येव करिष्यामि पितुर्वचः ॥ 34.52 ॥

pitā hi daivatam tāta devatānāmapi smṛtam | tasmāddaivatamityeva kariṣyāmi piturvacaḥ

"For it is said, father, that even for the gods, a father is divine; therefore, holding your word as divine, I shall carry it out."

Shloka 53 (ayodhya.34.53)

चतुर्धशसु वर्षेषु गतेषु नरसत्तम । पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि माम् प्राप्तम् सन्तापोऽयम् विमुच्यताम् ॥ 34.53 ॥

caturdhaśasu varṣeṣu gateṣu narasattama | punardrakṣyasi mām prāptam santāpo'yam vimucyatām

"O best among men, when fourteen years have passed, you shall see me returned once more — let this anguish now be set aside."

Shloka 54 (ayodhya.34.54)

येन संस्तम्भनीयोऽयम् सर्वो बाष्पगळो जनः । स त्वम् पुरुषशार्दूल किमर्थम् विक्रियाम् गतः ॥ 34.54 ॥

yena saṃstambhanīyo'yam sarvo bāṣpagaḷo janaḥ | sa tvam puruṣaśārdūla kimartham vikriyām gataḥ

"You, by whom all these people, their voices choked with tears, ought to be comforted — O tiger among men, why then have you yourself fallen into such distress?"

Shloka 55 (ayodhya.34.55)

पुरम् च राष्ट्रम् च मही च केवला । मया निसृष्टा भरताय दीयताम् । अहम् निदेशम् भवतः अनुपालयन् । वनम् गमिष्यामि चिराय सेवितुम् ॥ 34.55 ॥

puram ca rāṣṭram ca mahī ca kevalā | mayā nisṛṣṭā bharatāya dīyatām | aham nideśam bhavataḥ anupālayan | vanam gamiṣyāmi cirāya sevitum

"This city, this realm, and this whole earth, relinquished by me, let it be given to Bharata; and I, upholding your command, shall go to the forest to dwell there long."

Shloka 56 (ayodhya.34.56)

मया निसृष्टाम् भरतः महीम् इमाम् । सशैल खण्डाम् सपुराम् सकाननाम् । शिवाम् सुसीमाम् अनुशास्तु केवलम् । त्वया यद् उक्तम् नृपते यथा अस्तु तत् ॥ 34.56 ॥

mayā nisṛṣṭām bharataḥ mahīm imām | saśaila khaṇḍām sapurām sakānanām | śivām susīmām anuśāstu kevalam | tvayā yad uktam nṛpate yathā astu tat

"Let Bharata alone rule this earth, relinquished by me, with its mountains, its cities, its groves, auspicious and well-bounded; O king, let what you have spoken come to pass exactly as said."

Shloka 57 (ayodhya.34.57)

न मे तथा पार्थिव धीयते मनो । महत्सु कामेषु न च आत्मनः प्रिये । यथा निदेशे तव शिष्ट सम्मते । व्यपैतु दुह्खम् तव मत् कृते अनघ ॥ 34.57 ॥

na me tathā pārthiva dhīyate mano | mahatsu kāmeṣu na ca ātmanaḥ priye | yathā nideśe tava śiṣṭa sammate | vyapaitu duhkham tava mat kṛte anagha

"O king, my mind is not so fixed upon great pleasures, nor upon what pleases myself, as it is upon your command, approved by the wise. O sinless one, let your grief for my sake depart."

Shloka 58 (ayodhya.34.58)

तत् अद्य न एव अनघ राज्यम् अव्ययम् । न सर्व कामान् न सुखम् न मैथिलीम् । न जीवितम् त्वाम् अनृतेन योजयन् । वृणीय सत्यम् व्रतम् अस्तु ते तथा ॥ 34.58 ॥

tat adya na eva anagha rājyam avyayam | na sarva kāmān na sukham na maithilīm | na jīvitam tvām anṛtena yojayan | vṛṇīya satyam vratam astu te tathā

"Therefore, O sinless one, sooner than link you with untruth, I would choose neither imperishable kingdom, nor all pleasures, nor happiness, nor Sita, nor even life. Let it be as you have vowed — let your word remain true."

Shloka 59 (ayodhya.34.59)

फलानि मूलानि च भक्षयन् वने । गिरीमः च पश्यन् सरितः सरांसि च । वनम् प्रविश्य एव विचित्र पादपम् । सुखी भविष्यामि तव अस्तु निर्वृतिः ॥ 34.59 ॥

phalāni mūlāni ca bhakṣayan vane | girīmaḥ ca paśyan saritaḥ sarāṃsi ca | vanam praviśya eva vicitra pādapam | sukhī bhaviṣyāmi tava astu nirvṛtiḥ

"Eating fruits and roots in the forest, beholding its mountains, rivers, and lakes, entering that forest filled with wondrous trees, I shall be happy — let there be peace for you."

Shloka 60 (ayodhya.34.60)

एवम् स राजा व्यसनाभिपन्नः । शोकेन दुःखेन च ताम्यमानः । आलिङ्ग्य पुत्रम् सुविनष्टसम्ज्ञो । मोहम् गतो नैव चिचेश्ट किंचित् ॥ 34.60 ॥

evam sa rājā vyasanābhipannaḥ | śokena duḥkhena ca tāmyamānaḥ | āliṅgya putram suvinaṣṭasamjño | moham gato naiva ciceśṭa kiṃcit

Thus that king, fallen upon calamity, tormented by grief and sorrow, embraced his son, and, his senses utterly overwhelmed, sank into a swoon and moved no more.

Shloka 61 (ayodhya.34.61)

देव्यस्ततः सम्रुरुदुः समेता । स्ताम् वर्जयित्वा नरदेवपत्नीम् । रुदन् सुमन्त्रोऽपि जगाम मूर्छाम् । हा हा कृतम् तत्र बभूव सर्वम् ॥ 34.61 ॥

devyastataḥ samruruduḥ sametā | stām varjayitvā naradevapatnīm | rudan sumantro'pi jagāma mūrchām | hā hā kṛtam tatra babhūva sarvam

Then all the queens gathered there wept aloud, save only that wife of the king; Sumantra too, weeping, fell into a swoon; and everything there became one great cry of lamentation.