Kaikeyi's Bark-Garments for Sita

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.37.1)

महामात्रवचः श्रुत्वा रामो दशरथं तदा। अभ्यभाषत वाक्यं तु विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्॥ 37.1 ॥

mahāmātravacaḥ śrutvā rāmo daśarathaṃ tadā| abhyabhāṣata vākyaṃ tu vinayajño vinītavat

Hearing the chief minister's words, Rama, well versed in courtesy, then spoke humbly to Dasharatha.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.37.2)

त्यक्तभोगस्य मे राजन् वने वन्येन जीवतः। किं कार्यमनुयात्रेण त्यक्तसङ्गस्य सर्वतः॥ 37.2 ॥

tyaktabhogasya me rājan vane vanyena jīvataḥ| kiṃ kāryamanuyātreṇa tyaktasaṅgasya sarvataḥ

"Of what use to me, O king, is an escort — I who have renounced every pleasure, cast off all attachment, and will live in the forest on wild fare?"

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.37.3)

यो हि दत्त्वा द्विपश्रेष्ठं कक्ष्यायां कुरुते मनः। रज्जुस्नेहेन किं तस्य त्यजतः कुञ्जरोत्तमम्॥ 37.3 ॥

yo hi dattvā dvipaśreṣṭhaṃ kakṣyāyāṃ kurute manaḥ| rajjusnehena kiṃ tasya tyajataḥ kuñjarottamam

"Who, having given away the finest of elephants, would then set his heart upon the rope that tied it? What use is the rope to one who has renounced the elephant itself?"

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.37.4)

तथा मम सतां श्रेष्ठ किं ध्वजिन्या जगत्पते। सर्वाण्येवानुजानामि चीराण्येवानयन्तु मे॥ 37.4 ॥

tathā mama satāṃ śreṣṭha kiṃ dhvajinyā jagatpate| sarvāṇyevānujānāmi cīrāṇyevānayantu me

"So too, O best among the virtuous, lord of the world, what use have I for an army? I am giving up everything absolutely — let only bark-garments be brought to me."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.37.5)

खनित्रपिटके चोभे समानयत गच्छत। चतुर्दश वने वासं वर्षाणि वसतो मम॥ 37.5 ॥

khanitrapiṭake cobhe samānayata gacchata| caturdaśa vane vāsaṃ varṣāṇi vasato mama

"Bring me also a spade and a basket, both of them, for I am to dwell in the forest for fourteen years."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.37.6)

अथ चीराणि कैकेयी स्वयमाहृत्य राघवम्। उवाच परिधत्स्वेति जनौघे निरपत्रपा॥ 37.6 ॥

atha cīrāṇi kaikeyī svayamāhṛtya rāghavam| uvāca paridhatsveti janaughe nirapatrapā

Thereupon Kaikeyi herself, shamelessly, brought the bark-garments before the assembled crowd and said to Raghava, "Put these on."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.37.7)

स चीरे पुरुषव्याघ्रः कैकेय्याः प्रतिगृह्य ते। सूक्ष्मवस्त्रमवक्षिप्य मुनिवस्त्राण्यवस्त ह॥ 37.7 ॥

sa cīre puruṣavyāghraḥ kaikeyyāḥ pratigṛhya te| sūkṣmavastramavakṣipya munivastrāṇyavasta ha

That tiger among men, taking those two pieces of bark from Kaikeyi, cast aside his fine garments and put on the ascetic's dress.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.37.8)

लक्ष्मणश्चापि तत्रैव विहाय वसने शुभे। तापसाच्छादने चैव जग्राह पितुरग्रतः॥ 37.8 ॥

lakṣmaṇaścāpi tatraiva vihāya vasane śubhe| tāpasācchādane caiva jagrāha pituragrataḥ

Lakshmana too, then and there, before his father, cast off his own fine garments and put on the ascetic's covering.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.37.9)

अथात्मपरिधानार्थं सीता कौशेयवासिनी। सम्प्रेक्ष्य चीरं संत्रस्ता पृषती वागुरामिव॥ 37.9 ॥

athātmaparidhānārthaṃ sītā kauśeyavāsinī| samprekṣya cīraṃ saṃtrastā pṛṣatī vāgurāmiva

Then Sita, clad in silk, seeing the bark-garment meant for her, was alarmed like a doe at the sight of a snare.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.37.10)

सा व्यपत्रपमाणेव प्रगृह्य च सुदुर्मनाः। कैकेय्याः कुशचीरे ते जानकी शुभलक्षणा॥ 37.10 ॥

sā vyapatrapamāṇeva pragṛhya ca sudurmanāḥ| kaikeyyāḥ kuśacīre te jānakī śubhalakṣaṇā

She, as though overcome with shame, taking that pair of kusha-grass garments from Kaikeyi, greatly troubled in mind — Janaki of auspicious marks —

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.37.11)

अश्रुसम्पूर्णनेत्रा च धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी। गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं भर्तारमिदमब्रवीत्॥ 37.11 ॥

aśrusampūrṇanetrā ca dharmajñā dharmadarśinī| gandharvarājapratimaṃ bhartāramidamabravīt

— her eyes filled with tears, she who knew righteousness and was its very embodiment, spoke thus to her husband, who resembled the king of the Gandharvas.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.37.12)

कथं नु चीरं बध्नन्ति मुनयो वनवासिनः। इति ह्यकुशला सीता सा मुमोह मुहुर्मुहुः॥ 37.12 ॥

kathaṃ nu cīraṃ badhnanti munayo vanavāsinaḥ| iti hyakuśalā sītā sā mumoha muhurmuhuḥ

"How do the sages dwelling in the forest tie on this bark garment?" So saying, Sita, unskilled in it, grew bewildered again and again.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.37.13)

कृत्वा कण्ठे स्म सा चीरमेकमादाय पाणिना। तस्थौ ह्यकुशला तत्र व्रीडिता जनकात्मजा॥ 37.13 ॥

kṛtvā kaṇṭhe sma sā cīramekamādāya pāṇinā| tasthau hyakuśalā tatra vrīḍitā janakātmajā

Placing one piece of bark upon her neck and holding the other in her hand, Janaka's daughter, unskilled in it, stood there abashed.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.37.14)

तस्यास्तत् क्षिप्रमागत्य रामो धर्मभृतां वरः। चीरं बबन्ध सीतायाः कौशेयस्योपरि स्वयम्॥ 37.14 ॥

tasyāstat kṣipramāgatya rāmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ| cīraṃ babandha sītāyāḥ kauśeyasyopari svayam

Rama, foremost among the upholders of dharma, came to her quickly and himself tied that bark-garment over Sita's silk robe.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.37.15)

रामं प्रेक्ष्य तु सीताया बध्नन्तं चीरमुत्तमम्। अन्तःपुरचरा नार्यो मुमुचुर्वारि नेत्रजम्॥ 37.15 ॥

rāmaṃ prekṣya tu sītāyā badhnantaṃ cīramuttamam| antaḥpuracarā nāryo mumucurvāri netrajam

Seeing Rama tying that excellent bark-garment upon Sita, the women of the inner chambers shed tears from their eyes.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.37.16)

ऊचुश्च परमायत्ता रामं ज्वलिततेजसम्। वत्स नैवं नियुक्तेयं वनवासे मनस्विनी॥ 37.16 ॥

ūcuśca paramāyattā rāmaṃ jvalitatejasam| vatsa naivaṃ niyukteyaṃ vanavāse manasvinī

And, utterly distressed, they said to Rama of blazing splendour: "Child, this high-souled lady was never commanded thus to dwell in the forest."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.37.17)

पितुर्वाक्यानुरोधेन गतस्य विजनं वनम्। तावद् दर्शनमस्या नः सफलं भवतु प्रभो॥ 37.17 ॥

piturvākyānurodhena gatasya vijanaṃ vanam| tāvad darśanamasyā naḥ saphalaṃ bhavatu prabho

"When you go into that lonely forest in obedience to your father's word, O lord, let at least the sight of her be our reward until your return."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.37.18)

लक्ष्मणेन सहायेन वनं गच्छस्व पुत्रक। नेयमर्हति कल्याणि वस्तुं तापसवद् वने॥ 37.18 ॥

lakṣmaṇena sahāyena vanaṃ gacchasva putraka| neyamarhati kalyāṇi vastuṃ tāpasavad vane

"Go to the forest, dear son, with Lakshmana as your companion; this auspicious lady does not deserve to dwell like an ascetic in the forest."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.37.19)

कुरु नो याचनां पुत्र सीता तिष्ठतु भामिनी। धर्मनित्यः स्वयं स्थातुं न हीदानीं त्वमिच्छसि॥ 37.19 ॥

kuru no yācanāṃ putra sītā tiṣṭhatu bhāminī| dharmanityaḥ svayaṃ sthātuṃ na hīdānīṃ tvamicchasi

"Grant our plea, my son — let the fair Sita remain here. You yourself, ever devoted to dharma, surely have no wish to stay back."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.37.20)

तासामेवंविधा वाचः शृण्वन् दशरथात्मजः। बबन्धैव तथा चीरं सीतया तुल्यशीलया॥ 37.20 ॥

tāsāmevaṃvidhā vācaḥ śṛṇvan daśarathātmajaḥ| babandhaiva tathā cīraṃ sītayā tulyaśīlayā

Hearing their words spoken in this manner, Dasharatha's son nevertheless tied that bark-garment upon Sita, whose disposition matched his own.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.37.21)

चीरे गृहीते तु तया समीक्ष्य नृपतेर्गुरुः। निवार्य सीतां कैकेयीं वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ 37.21 ॥

cīre gṛhīte tu tayā samīkṣya nṛpaterguruḥ| nivārya sītāṃ kaikeyīṃ vasiṣṭho vākyamabravīt

Seeing her accept that bark-garment, Vasishtha, the king's preceptor, restrained Sita and spoke thus to Kaikeyi.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.37.22)

अतिप्रवृत्ते दुर्मेधे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि। वञ्चयित्वा तु राजानं न प्रमाणेऽवतिष्ठसि॥ 37.22 ॥

atipravṛtte durmedhe kaikeyi kulapāṃsani| vañcayitvā tu rājānaṃ na pramāṇe'vatiṣṭhasi

"O evil-minded Kaikeyi, who have overstepped every bound and brought disgrace upon your family! Having deceived the king, you no longer hold to what is right."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.37.23)

न गन्तव्यं वनं देव्या सीतया शीलवर्जिते। अनुष्ठास्यति रामस्य सीता प्रकृतमासनम्॥ 37.23 ॥

na gantavyaṃ vanaṃ devyā sītayā śīlavarjite| anuṣṭhāsyati rāmasya sītā prakṛtamāsanam

"O woman without decorum! The princess Sita need not go to the forest — Sita herself shall occupy the very seat intended for Rama."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.37.24)

आत्मा हि दाराः सर्वेषां दारसंग्रहवर्तिनाम्। आत्मेयमिति रामस्य पालयिष्यति मेदिनीम्॥ 37.24 ॥

ātmā hi dārāḥ sarveṣāṃ dārasaṃgrahavartinām| ātmeyamiti rāmasya pālayiṣyati medinīm

"A wife is the very self of all men who cherish their wives; since Sita is Rama's very self, she herself shall rule this earth."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.37.25)

अथ यास्यति वैदेही वनं रामेण संगता। वयमत्रानुयास्यामः पुरं चेदं गमिष्यति॥ 37.25 ॥

atha yāsyati vaidehī vanaṃ rāmeṇa saṃgatā| vayamatrānuyāsyāmaḥ puraṃ cedaṃ gamiṣyati

"Or rather, if Vaidehi goes to the forest joined with Rama, we too shall follow after — and this very city will go along."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.37.26)

अन्तपालाश्च यास्यन्ति सदारो यत्र राघवः। सहोपजीव्यं राष्ट्रं च पुरं च सपरिच्छदम्॥ 37.26 ॥

antapālāśca yāsyanti sadāro yatra rāghavaḥ| sahopajīvyaṃ rāṣṭraṃ ca puraṃ ca saparicchadam

The frontier-guards too will go wherever Raghava dwells with his wife — the kingdom together with its people, and the city with all its retinue.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.37.27)

भरतश्च सशत्रुघ्नश्चीरवासा वनेचरः। वने वसन्तं काकुत्स्थमनुवत्स्यति पूर्वजम्॥ 37.27 ॥

bharataśca saśatrughnaścīravāsā vanecaraḥ| vane vasantaṃ kākutsthamanuvatsyati pūrvajam

And Bharata too, together with Shatrughna, clad in bark and roaming the forest, will live on there attending Kakutstha, their elder brother, dwelling in the woods.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.37.28)

ततः शून्यां गतजनां वसुधां पादपैः सह। त्वमेका शाधि दुर्वृत्ता प्रजानामहिते स्थिता॥ 37.28 ॥

tataḥ śūnyāṃ gatajanāṃ vasudhāṃ pādapaiḥ saha| tvamekā śādhi durvṛttā prajānāmahite sthitā

"Then you alone, of such wicked conduct and bent on harming the people, may rule this earth left empty of people, desolate, with only its trees remaining."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.37.29)

न हि तद् भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र रामो न भूपतिः। तद् वनं भविता राष्ट्रं यत्र रामो निवत्स्यति॥ 37.29 ॥

na hi tad bhavitā rāṣṭraṃ yatra rāmo na bhūpatiḥ| tad vanaṃ bhavitā rāṣṭraṃ yatra rāmo nivatsyati

"For that will never truly be a kingdom where Rama is not king; rather, the forest where Rama comes to dwell will itself become the kingdom."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.37.30)

न ह्यदत्तां महीं पित्रा भरतः शास्तुमिच्छति। त्वयि वा पुत्रवद् वस्तुं यदि जातो महीपतेः॥ 37.30 ॥

na hyadattāṃ mahīṃ pitrā bharataḥ śāstumicchati| tvayi vā putravad vastuṃ yadi jāto mahīpateḥ

"Bharata will not wish to rule this earth left ungiven by his father, nor to live as your son — even were he truly the king's own child."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.37.31)

यद्यपि त्वं क्षितितलाद् गगनं चोत्पतिष्यसि। पितृवंशचरित्रज्ञः सोऽन्यथा न करिष्यति॥ 37.31 ॥

yadyapi tvaṃ kṣititalād gaganaṃ cotpatiṣyasi| pitṛvaṃśacaritrajñaḥ so'nyathā na kariṣyati

"Even if you were to leap from the surface of the earth into the sky, he, who well knows the tradition of his father's line, will never act otherwise."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.37.32)

तत् त्वया पुत्रगर्धिन्या पुत्रस्य कृतमप्रियम्। लोके नहि स विद्येत यो न राममनुव्रतः॥ 37.32 ॥

tat tvayā putragardhinyā putrasya kṛtamapriyam| loke nahi sa vidyeta yo na rāmamanuvrataḥ

"Therefore it is you, greedy for your own son's sake, who have done him this disservice; for there lives none in this world who is not devoted to Rama."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.37.33)

द्रक्ष्यस्यद्यैव कैकेयि पशुव्यालमृगद्विजान्। गच्छतः सह रामेण पादपांश्च तदुन्मुखान्॥ 37.33 ॥

drakṣyasyadyaiva kaikeyi paśuvyālamṛgadvijān| gacchataḥ saha rāmeṇa pādapāṃśca tadunmukhān

"This very day, O Kaikeyi, you shall see beasts, serpents, deer and birds, and even the trees, turning their faces to follow Rama as he departs."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.37.34)

अथोत्तमान्याभरणानि देवि देहि स्नुषायै व्यपनीय चीरम्। न चीरमस्याः प्रविधीयतेति न्यवारयत् तद् वसनं वसिष्ठः॥ 37.34 ॥

athottamānyābharaṇāni devi dehi snuṣāyai vyapanīya cīram| na cīramasyāḥ pravidhīyateti nyavārayat tad vasanaṃ vasiṣṭhaḥ

"Rather, O queen, set aside the bark and give your daughter-in-law the finest ornaments instead — bark is not ordained for her." So saying, Vasishtha forbade that garment.

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.37.35)

एकस्य रामस्य वने निवासस् त्वया वृतः केकयराजपुत्रि। विभूषितेयं प्रतिकर्मनित्या वसत्वरण्ये सह राघवेण॥ 37.35 ॥

ekasya rāmasya vane nivāsas tvayā vṛtaḥ kekayarājaputri| vibhūṣiteyaṃ pratikarmanityā vasatvaraṇye saha rāghaveṇa

"O princess of Kekaya, it was Rama's own dwelling in the forest alone that you asked for. Let this Sita, ever to be adorned, live in the forest decked in ornaments, together with Raghava."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.37.36)

यानैश्च मुख्यैः परिचारकैश्च सुसंवृता गच्छतु राजपुत्री। वस्त्रैश्च सर्वैः सहितैर्विधानै- र्नेयं वृता ते वरसम्प्रदाने॥ 37.36 ॥

yānaiśca mukhyaiḥ paricārakaiśca susaṃvṛtā gacchatu rājaputrī| vastraiśca sarvaiḥ sahitairvidhānai- rneyaṃ vṛtā te varasampradāne

"Let the princess go accompanied by fine conveyances and attendants, with all garments and befitting provisions — for it was never she whom you sought to send, when you asked for your boons."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.37.37)

तस्मिंस्तथा जल्पति विप्रमुख्ये गुरौ नृपस्याप्रतिमप्रभावे। नैव स्म सीता विनिवृत्तभावा प्रियस्य भर्तुः प्रतिकारकामा॥ 37.37 ॥

tasmiṃstathā jalpati vipramukhye gurau nṛpasyāpratimaprabhāve| naiva sma sītā vinivṛttabhāvā priyasya bhartuḥ pratikārakāmā

While Vasishtha — that foremost of brahmins, the king's preceptor of matchless influence — was speaking thus, Sita never once turned back from her resolve to serve her beloved husband.