Rama Seeks His Mother's Blessing

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.39.1)

रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा मुनिवेषधरं च तम्। समीक्ष्य सह भार्याभी राजा विगतचेतनः॥ 39.1 ॥

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā muniveṣadharaṃ ca tam| samīkṣya saha bhāryābhī rājā vigatacetanaḥ

Hearing Rama's words, and seeing him clad in the garb of a hermit, the king, together with his queens, lost consciousness.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.39.2)

नैनं दुःखेन संतप्तः प्रत्यवैक्षत राघवम्। न चैनमभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य प्रत्यभाषत दुर्मनाः॥ 39.2 ॥

nainaṃ duḥkhena saṃtaptaḥ pratyavaikṣata rāghavam| na cainamabhisamprekṣya pratyabhāṣata durmanāḥ

Consumed with grief, he could not bear to look at Raghava, nor, even glancing toward him, could he, his mind troubled, say anything in reply.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.39.3)

स मुहूर्तमिवासंज्ञो दुःखितश्च महीपतिः। विललाप महाबाहू राममेवानुचिन्तयन्॥ 39.3 ॥

sa muhūrtamivāsaṃjño duḥkhitaśca mahīpatiḥ| vilalāpa mahābāhū rāmamevānucintayan

That mighty-armed lord of the earth, as if senseless for a moment and stricken with grief, lamented, thinking only of Rama.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.39.4)

मन्ये खलु मया पूर्वं विवत्सा बहवः कृताः। प्राणिनो हिंसिता वापि तन्मामिदमुपस्थितम्॥ 39.4 ॥

manye khalu mayā pūrvaṃ vivatsā bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ| prāṇino hiṃsitā vāpi tanmāmidamupasthitam

"I think that surely, in the past, I must have parted many from their children, or else harmed living beings — hence has this now befallen me."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.39.5)

न त्वेवानागते काले देहाच्च्यवति जीवितम्। कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानस्य मृत्युर्मम न विद्यते॥ 39.5 ॥

na tvevānāgate kāle dehāccyavati jīvitam| kaikeyyā kliśyamānasya mṛtyurmama na vidyate

"Life indeed does not leave the body before its appointed time; even tormented as I am by Kaikeyi, death does not claim me."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.39.6)

योऽहं पावकसंकाशं पश्यामि पुरतः स्थितम्। विहाय वसने सूक्ष्मे तापसाच्छादमात्मजम्॥ 39.6 ॥

yo'haṃ pāvakasaṃkāśaṃ paśyāmi purataḥ sthitam| vihāya vasane sūkṣme tāpasācchādamātmajam

"For I, even now, see my own son standing before me, radiant as fire, who has cast off his fine garments and put on the covering of an ascetic."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.39.7)

एकस्याः खलु कैकेय्याः कृतेऽयं खिद्यते जनः। स्वार्थे प्रयतमानायाः संश्रित्य निकृतिं त्विमाम्॥ 39.7 ॥

ekasyāḥ khalu kaikeyyāḥ kṛte'yaṃ khidyate janaḥ| svārthe prayatamānāyāḥ saṃśritya nikṛtiṃ tvimām

"It is for the sake of Kaikeyi alone that all these people now suffer — she who, striving for her own selfish end, has resorted to this very deceit."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.39.8)

एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पेण विहतेन्द्रियः। रामेति सकृदेवोक्त्वा व्याहर्तुं न शशाक सः॥ 39.8 ॥

evamuktvā tu vacanaṃ bāṣpeṇa vihatendriyaḥ| rāmeti sakṛdevoktvā vyāhartuṃ na śaśāka saḥ

Having said these words, his voice choked by tears, he uttered "Rama!" only once and could say no more.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.39.9)

संज्ञां तु प्रतिलभ्यैव मुहूर्तात् स महीपतिः। नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां सुमन्त्रमिदमब्रवीत्॥ 39.9 ॥

saṃjñāṃ tu pratilabhyaiva muhūrtāt sa mahīpatiḥ| netrābhyāmaśrupūrṇābhyāṃ sumantramidamabravīt

Regaining his senses after a moment, the king, his eyes brimming with tears, spoke thus to Sumantra.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.39.10)

औपवाह्यं रथं युक्त्वा त्वमायाहि हयोत्तमैः। प्रापयैनं महाभागमितो जनपदात् परम्॥ 39.10 ॥

aupavāhyaṃ rathaṃ yuktvā tvamāyāhi hayottamaiḥ| prāpayainaṃ mahābhāgamito janapadāt param

"Yoke a fitting chariot with the finest horses and come — take this most fortunate one beyond this realm."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.39.11)

एवं मन्ये गुणवतां गुणानां फलमुच्यते। पित्रा मात्रा च यत्साधुर्वीरो निर्वास्यते वनम्॥ 39.11 ॥

evaṃ manye guṇavatāṃ guṇānāṃ phalamucyate| pitrā mātrā ca yatsādhurvīro nirvāsyate vanam

"I think this indeed must be called the fruit of virtue among the virtuous, that a righteous and valiant son is exiled to the forest by his own father and mother."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.39.12)

राज्ञो वचनमाज्ञाय सुमन्त्रः शीघ्रविक्रमः। योजयित्वा ययौ तत्र रथमश्वैरलंकृतम्॥ 39.12 ॥

rājño vacanamājñāya sumantraḥ śīghravikramaḥ| yojayitvā yayau tatra rathamaśvairalaṃkṛtam

Obeying the king's word, Sumantra, swift in action, went and returned with a chariot yoked with horses and duly adorned.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.39.13)

तं रथं राजपुत्राय सूतः कनकभूषितम्। आचचक्षेऽञ्जलिं कृत्वा युक्तं परमवाजिभिः॥ 39.13 ॥

taṃ rathaṃ rājaputrāya sūtaḥ kanakabhūṣitam| ācacakṣe'ñjaliṃ kṛtvā yuktaṃ paramavājibhiḥ

The charioteer, with joined palms, described that gold-adorned chariot, fitted with the finest steeds, to the prince.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.39.14)

राजा सत्वरमाहूय व्यापृतं वित्तसंचये। उवाच देशकालज्ञो निश्चितं सर्वतः शुचिः॥ 39.14 ॥

rājā satvaramāhūya vyāpṛtaṃ vittasaṃcaye| uvāca deśakālajño niścitaṃ sarvataḥ śuciḥ

The king, who knew the right place and time and was resolved and pure of purpose in every way, swiftly summoned the officer in charge of the treasury and spoke.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.39.15)

वासांसि च वरार्हाणि भूषणानि महान्ति च। वर्षाण्येतानि संख्याय वैदेह्याः क्षिप्रमानय॥ 39.15 ॥

vāsāṃsi ca varārhāṇi bhūṣaṇāni mahānti ca| varṣāṇyetāni saṃkhyāya vaidehyāḥ kṣipramānaya

"Quickly bring for Vaidehi garments of great worth and the finest ornaments, reckoning for all these years of her exile."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.39.16)

नरेन्द्रेणैवमुक्तस्तु गत्वा कोशगृहं ततः। प्रायच्छत् सर्वमाहृत्य सीतायै क्षिप्रमेव तत्॥ 39.16 ॥

narendreṇaivamuktastu gatvā kośagṛhaṃ tataḥ| prāyacchat sarvamāhṛtya sītāyai kṣiprameva tat

So commanded by the king, the officer went at once to the treasury and, gathering everything together, gave it all quickly to Sita.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.39.17)

सा सुजाता सुजातानि वैदेही प्रस्थिता वनम्। भूषयामास गात्राणि तैर्विचित्रैर्विभूषणैः॥ 39.17 ॥

sā sujātā sujātāni vaidehī prasthitā vanam| bhūṣayāmāsa gātrāṇi tairvicitrairvibhūṣaṇaiḥ

Vaidehi, of noble birth, setting out for the forest, adorned her lovely limbs with those many wondrous ornaments.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.39.18)

व्यराजयत वैदेही वेश्म तत् सुविभूषिता। उद्यतोंऽशुमतः काले खं प्रभेव विवस्वतः॥ 39.18 ॥

vyarājayata vaidehī veśma tat suvibhūṣitā| udyatoṃ'śumataḥ kāle khaṃ prabheva vivasvataḥ

Thus beautifully adorned, Vaidehi lit up that chamber, as the sky is lit by the rising radiance of the sun at dawn.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.39.19)

तां भुजाभ्यां परिष्वज्य श्वश्रूर्वचनमब्रवीत्। अनाचरन्तीं कृपणं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय मैथिलीम्॥ 39.19 ॥

tāṃ bhujābhyāṃ pariṣvajya śvaśrūrvacanamabravīt| anācarantīṃ kṛpaṇaṃ mūrdhnyupāghrāya maithilīm

Embracing Maithili — who bore herself without a trace of self-pity — in both arms, and kissing her head in affection, her mother-in-law spoke these words.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.39.20)

असत्यः सर्वलोकेऽस्मिन् सततं सत्कृताः प्रियैः। भर्तारं नानुमन्यन्ते विनिपातगतं स्त्रियः॥ 39.20 ॥

asatyaḥ sarvaloke'smin satataṃ satkṛtāḥ priyaiḥ| bhartāraṃ nānumanyante vinipātagataṃ striyaḥ

"Faithless women, throughout this world, though ever cherished by those dear to them, cease to honour a husband once he has fallen upon evil days."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.39.21)

एष स्वभावो नारीणामनुभूय पुरा सुखम्। अल्पामप्यापदं प्राप्य दुष्यन्ति प्रजहत्यपि॥ 39.21 ॥

eṣa svabhāvo nārīṇāmanubhūya purā sukham| alpāmapyāpadaṃ prāpya duṣyanti prajahatyapi

"Such is the nature of such women: having once enjoyed happiness, they turn corrupt and even forsake their husbands upon meeting the slightest misfortune."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.39.22)

असत्यशीला विकृता दुर्गा अहृदयाः सदा। असत्यः पापसंकल्पाः क्षणमात्रविरागिणः॥ 39.22 ॥

asatyaśīlā vikṛtā durgā ahṛdayāḥ sadā| asatyaḥ pāpasaṃkalpāḥ kṣaṇamātravirāgiṇaḥ

"Untrue in disposition, perverse, hard-hearted, and ever fickle — such women are false, evil of intent, and turn averse within a moment."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.39.23)

न कुलं न कृतं विद्या न दत्तं नापि संग्रहः। स्त्रीणां गृह्णाति हृदयमनित्यहृदया हि ताः॥ 39.23 ॥

na kulaṃ na kṛtaṃ vidyā na dattaṃ nāpi saṃgrahaḥ| strīṇāṃ gṛhṇāti hṛdayamanityahṛdayā hi tāḥ

"Neither noble lineage, nor good deeds, nor learning, nor gifts, nor even kindness shown, can win a woman's heart — for their hearts, indeed, are inconstant."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.39.24)

साध्वीनां तु स्थितानां तु शीले सत्ये श्रुते शमे। स्त्रीणां पवित्रं परमं पतिरेको विशिष्यते॥ 39.24 ॥

sādhvīnāṃ tu sthitānāṃ tu śīle satye śrute śame| strīṇāṃ pavitraṃ paramaṃ patireko viśiṣyate

"But for virtuous women established in good conduct, truthfulness, sacred learning, and tranquility, the husband alone is supreme — the most sacred of all."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.39.25)

स त्वया नावमन्तव्यः पुत्रः प्रव्राजितो वनम्। तव देवसमस्त्वेष निर्धनः सधनोऽपि वा॥ 39.25 ॥

sa tvayā nāvamantavyaḥ putraḥ pravrājito vanam| tava devasamastveṣa nirdhanaḥ sadhano'pi vā

"You must not disregard my son, who has been sent into exile — let him, be he rich or without riches, be to you as a very deity."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.39.26)

विज्ञाय वचनं सीता तस्या धर्मार्थसंहितम्। कृत्वाञ्जलिमुवाचेदं श्वश्रूमभिमुखे स्थिता॥ 39.26 ॥

vijñāya vacanaṃ sītā tasyā dharmārthasaṃhitam| kṛtvāñjalimuvācedaṃ śvaśrūmabhimukhe sthitā

Understanding her words, imbued as they were with the essence of righteousness, Sita, standing before her mother-in-law, joined her palms and spoke thus.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.39.27)

करिष्ये सर्वमेवाहमार्या यदनुशास्ति माम्। अभिज्ञास्मि यथा भर्तुर्वर्तितव्यं श्रुतं च मे॥ 39.27 ॥

kariṣye sarvamevāhamāryā yadanuśāsti mām| abhijñāsmi yathā bharturvartitavyaṃ śrutaṃ ca me

"I shall do everything just as your venerable self instructs me. I well know how a wife should conduct herself toward her husband, for I too have heard of it."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.39.28)

न मामसज्जनेनार्या समानयितुमर्हति। धर्माद् विचलितुं नाहमलं चन्द्रादिव प्रभा॥ 39.28 ॥

na māmasajjanenāryā samānayitumarhati| dharmād vicalituṃ nāhamalaṃ candrādiva prabhā

"It is not fitting for your venerable self to class me among wicked women; I cannot swerve from righteousness, any more than moonlight can depart from the moon."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.39.29)

नातन्त्री वाद्यते वीणा नाचक्रो विद्यते रथः। नापतिः सुखमेधेत या स्यादपि शतात्मजा॥ 39.29 ॥

nātantrī vādyate vīṇā nācakro vidyate rathaḥ| nāpatiḥ sukhamedheta yā syādapi śatātmajā

"A vina without strings does not sound; a chariot without wheels does not move; and a wife without her husband cannot know happiness, even were she blessed with a hundred sons."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.39.30)

मितं ददाति हि पिता मितं भ्राता मितं सुतः। अमितस्य तु दातारं भर्तारं का न पूजयेत्॥ 39.30 ॥

mitaṃ dadāti hi pitā mitaṃ bhrātā mitaṃ sutaḥ| amitasya tu dātāraṃ bhartāraṃ kā na pūjayet

"A father gives only in measure, a brother in measure, a son too in measure; but who would not honour a husband, the giver of the boundless?"

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.39.31)

साहमेवंगता श्रेष्ठा श्रुतधर्मपरावरा। आर्ये किमवमन्येयं स्त्रिया भर्ता हि दैवतम्॥ 39.31 ॥

sāhamevaṃgatā śreṣṭhā śrutadharmaparāvarā| ārye kimavamanyeyaṃ striyā bhartā hi daivatam

"Being so instructed, and among the foremost in having learned the higher and lesser duties of dharma, how, O venerable one, could I ever disregard him? For a husband is indeed a woman's deity."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.39.32)

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा कौसल्या हृदयङ्गमम्। शुद्धसत्त्वा मुमोचाश्रु सहसा दुःखहर्षजम्॥ 39.32 ॥

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā kausalyā hṛdayaṅgamam| śuddhasattvā mumocāśru sahasā duḥkhaharṣajam

Hearing Sita's words, which touched her very heart, Kausalya, of pure disposition, suddenly shed tears born at once of sorrow and joy.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.39.33)

तां प्राञ्जलिरभिप्रेक्ष्य मातृमध्येऽतिसत्कृताम्। रामः परमधर्मात्मा मातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ 39.33 ॥

tāṃ prāñjalirabhiprekṣya mātṛmadhye'tisatkṛtām| rāmaḥ paramadharmātmā mātaraṃ vākyamabravīt

Approaching that mother, most honoured among all his mothers, with joined palms, Rama, most righteous of souls, spoke these words to her.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.39.34)

अम्ब मा दुःखिता भूत्वा पश्येस्त्वं पितरं मम। क्षयोऽपि वनवासस्य क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति॥ 39.34 ॥

amba mā duḥkhitā bhūtvā paśyestvaṃ pitaraṃ mama| kṣayo'pi vanavāsasya kṣiprameva bhaviṣyati

"Mother, do not grieve; watch over my father for me. This exile too shall very soon come to its end."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.39.35)

सुप्तायास्ते गमिष्यन्ति नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च। समग्रमिह सम्प्राप्तं मां द्रक्ष्यसि सुहृद्वृतम्॥ 39.35 ॥

suptāyāste gamiṣyanti nava varṣāṇi pañca ca| samagramiha samprāptaṃ māṃ drakṣyasi suhṛd‍vṛtam

"While you sleep, as it were, fourteen years will pass; then you shall see me returned here, whole and well, surrounded by my loved ones."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.39.36)

एतावदभिनीतार्थमुक्त्वा स जननीं वचः। त्रयः शतशतार्धा हि ददर्शावेक्ष्य मातरः॥ 39.36 ॥

etāvadabhinītārthamuktvā sa jananīṃ vacaḥ| trayaḥ śataśatārdhā hi dadarśāvekṣya mātaraḥ

Having spoken these fitting words to his mother, Rama then looked around once more and beheld his three hundred and fifty other mothers.

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.39.37)

ताश्चापि स तथैवार्ता मातॄर्दशरथात्मजः। धर्मयुक्तमिदं वाक्यं निजगाद कृताञ्जलिः॥ 39.37 ॥

tāścāpi sa tathaivārtā mātṝrdaśarathātmajaḥ| dharmayuktamidaṃ vākyaṃ nijagāda kṛtāñjaliḥ

And Dasharatha's son, joining his palms, spoke to those mothers too, equally afflicted, these words that were in keeping with dharma.

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.39.38)

संवासात् परुषं किंचिदज्ञानादपि यत् कृतम्। तन्मे समुपजानीत सर्वाश्चामन्त्रयामि वः॥ 39.38 ॥

saṃvāsāt paruṣaṃ kiṃcidajñānādapi yat kṛtam| tanme samupajānīta sarvāścāmantrayāmi vaḥ

"Whatever harshness I may have shown, whether through our living together or through ignorance, forgive it in me — I take my leave of you all."

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.39.39)

वचनं राघवस्यैतद् धर्मयुक्तं समाहितम्। शुश्रुवुस्ताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः शोकोपहतचेतसः॥ 39.39 ॥

vacanaṃ rāghavasyaitad dharmayuktaṃ samāhitam| śuśruvustāḥ striyaḥ sarvāḥ śokopahatacetasaḥ

All those women, their minds overcome with grief, heard these composed and righteous words of Raghava.

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.39.40)

जज्ञोऽथ तासां संनादः क्रौञ्चीनामिव निःस्वनः। मानवेन्द्रस्य भार्याणामेवं वदति राघवे॥ 39.40 ॥

jajño'tha tāsāṃ saṃnādaḥ krauñcīnāmiva niḥsvanaḥ| mānavendrasya bhāryāṇāmevaṃ vadati rāghave

Then, as Raghava spoke thus, a great outcry arose from the king's wives, resembling the wail of female cranes.

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.39.41)

मुरजपणवमेघघोषवद् दशरथवेश्म बभूव यत् पुरा। विलपितपरिदेवनाकुलं व्यसनगतं तदभूत् सुदुःखितम्॥ 39.41 ॥

murajapaṇavameghaghoṣavad daśarathaveśma babhūva yat purā| vilapitaparidevanākulaṃ vyasanagataṃ tadabhūt suduḥkhitam

That palace of Dasharatha, which had once resounded with drums and tabors like the rumble of clouds, now became filled with wailing and lament, sunk in calamity and utterly sorrowful.